PORT MACQUARIE/HASTINGS NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2018 Website:

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1 PORT MACQUARIE/HASTINGS NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2018 Website: President: John Urquhart Committee Members: Vice President: Joan Lundstrom John Banks Treasurer: Erica De Carlo Sandra Banks Secretary: Lynda Walters Lee Brown Public Officer: Erica De Carlo Nicola Herbert NEXT MEETING: 13 th FEBRUARY 2018 Our guest speaker this month will be James McAdam talking about his journey, London to Sydney in under three years. The Getting to Know You "guest" will be our Secretary Lynda Walters. Although we are already into February and a little late to say Happy New Year, we would like to extend to all our members the best of wishes for 2018, we trust you have Good Health, Good Times and Good Fortune throughout the year. NATIONAL SENIORS CHRISTMAS PARTY Once again we celebrated Xmas at the Port City Bowling Club where we were served a wonderful two course lunch. The Club did a great job to prepare the room and serve us a hearty Xmas lunch. Our MC for the day Christine Parks welcomed sixty three members (our largest attendance at a Xmas Party) and kept the entertainment rolling though out the day. Ron Poulson sang three of the most popular Xmas carols and Kevin Howell, Megan Richardson and Ian Richardson provided the music and song between courses. What great entertainers we have in our Branch. The day also provided us with an opportunity to wish Helen Parker a very happy 70th birthday. Birthday cakes were complements of Erica DeCarlo. Thanks Erica. President John Urquhart drew the Christmas raffle which raised over $160 and was won by Kevin and Viv Howell. The money raised will go towards our charity of the year 'Lifeline'. John reminded members of the kind donation from David and Helen Parker who supplied half of the Lifeline training cost for one person. Thank you David and Helen. John also thanked Joan Lundstrom, Megan Richardson and Judith Clegg for organising the Xmas Party, Christine Parks as MC and all the entertainers. On behalf of himself and Teresa, John wished everyone a joyous Xmas and a happy and healthy 2018

2 Winners of the Xmas Stocking Game. Winners of the Blind Drawing Game. NEW YEAR S BREAKFAST On Tuesday January 9th James McAdam and Anne Jackson hosted our New Year s breakfast at McInherney Park. Thirty members joined James and Anne for a BBQ breakfast and a catch up with friends. James provided some tasty chipolatas and Judy Stace some wonderful slices. Most members opted for bacon and eggs but some healthier options were evident. Gilbert's pudding brought a little bit of Scotland to the breakfast table. John and Teresa's 'mobile' Nespresso coffee machine also proved popular. The hot weather from earlier days was replaced with a calm cooler morning and a gentle breeze from the Hastings River. A great way to start the New Year. Thank you James and Anne. QUIPS When everything is coming your way, you re in the wrong lane. I intend to live forever,,,,, So far, so good. A conscience is what hurts, when all your other parts feel so good. If you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain.

3 Nearly one in two will review their health fund cover, survey shows Almost half of all Australians with health insurance will review their cover before 1 April this year when premiums are set to rise again. A survey by comparison website finder.com.au showed that 48 per cent of health fund members, the equivalent of 6.5 million members, were expected to review and make changes to their cover if their premium increases by four per cent. The average expected premium increase is 3.95 per cent. Finder s Sophie Walsh said the survey showed one in four, or 27 per cent of people with private health insurance, planned to change health insurers to get a better deal, while 12 per cent were likely to ditch it altogether. A further nine per cent will remove their extras cover and stick with a private hospital only policy to keep costs down. Finder s market analysis showed the average annual health insurance premium in Australia will rise from around $3,388 to $3,523 a jump of approximately $134 with the 3.95 per cent premium increase. MS Walsh said that yet another premium increase above the inflation rate may be too much for many policy holders who could opt out of health insurance altogether. "While 3.95 per cent is the lowest increase since 2001, this is still well above inflation and wage growth last year at 1.8 per cent and 1.9 per cent respectively, so for many Australians it could be the straw that breaks the camel's back," Ms Walsh said. Death and taxes are no longer the only certainties in life massive health insurance price rises have also joined the club. With insurers increasing their annual premiums by more than double the rate of wage growth, it s more crucial than ever to shop around and make sure you re getting the best deal to avoid paying for cover you don t need. While the average increase is 3.95 per cent, each health fund will raise its premiums at a different rate, so if you receive a notice that your policy is going up by more than the average it s worth shopping around to see if a different provider can offer you a better price. A complete breakdown of each fund and their premium increases since 2010 can be found at finder.com.au/health-insurance-statistics.

4 AUSTRALIA DAY CELEBRATIONS On our National Day, 20 members gathered at the Sailing Club at McInherney Park to celebrate the day with a picnic lunch, games and lots of laughter. The weather was very hot and steamy, but the view of the river more than made up for the temperature. Joan did an excellent job decorating the tables with green and gold tablecloths and vases of gum leaves and Australian flags. All members brought an easy picnic lunch, except for John & Teresa who bought steaks to cook on the BBQ and forgot the matches, still all was saved and lunch was enjoyed by all. After lunch Graeme & Joan had organised indoor games to get us all up on our feet, to play quoits, darts, bouleˈ and thong throwing. The winning team being Graeme, Judy, John & Sandra. Of course the day would not be complete without a good Aussie general knowledge quiz, which was won by Keith, Judith, Linda, Jeff & Pat. A traditional afternoon tea of lamingtons, mini Pavlovas, marshmallow slices and frangipani tart was served up compliments of Joan, Judy and Sandra. Thank you ladies for your contribution. A special thank you to Stuart Symons who organised access to the Sailing Club venue for the day. Thank you Joan & Graeme for the planning and great ideas for a fun day out. Happy Australia Day.

5 Quiz Winning Team True Blue Presentation to Games Winners Aussie Afternoon Tea Don't ever let this happen to you you will be misdiagnosed This is what all of us 70+ year olds, and those yet-to-be have to look forward to! This is something that happened at an assisted living centre. The people who lived there have small apartments, but they all eat at a central cafeteria. One morning one of the residents didn't show up for breakfast, so my wife went upstairs and knocked on his door to see if everything was OK. She could hear him through the door and he said that he was running late and would be down shortly, so she went back to the dining area. An hour later he still hadn't arrived so she went back up towards his room and she found him on the stairs. He was coming down the stairs but was having a hell of time. He had a death grip on the hand rail and seemed to have trouble getting his legs to work. She told him she was going to call an ambulance, but he told her no, he wasn't in any pain and just wanted to have his breakfast. So she helped him the rest of the way down the stairs and he had his breakfast. When he tried to return to his room he was completely unable to get up even the first step, so they called an ambulance for him. A couple hours later she called the hospital to see how he was doing. The receptionist there said he was fine, he just had both of his legs in one leg of his boxer shorts. I am sending this to my children so that they don't sell the house before they know the facts.

6 PROPOSED TRIP TO MOREE AND THE ARTESIAN SPRINGS. John Urquhart has been working hard to prepare an itinerary for the proposed trip to Moree in May We expect this to be available for members to review at the Monthly Meeting on 13 th February Those who are interested are requested to place their names on the information sheet provided at the meeting. We encourage members to arrange carpooling if possible. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Every Day - Sunset Cruise on the Chinese Junk. Time 6pm Cruise Terminal Clarence St. Every Friday River Cruise and Winery Tour. 8.45am Cruise Terminal Clarence St. Every Sunday Jimmy s Vinyl Sunday Sessions From 2pm The Westport Club. Every Sunday BBQ Lunch on the River Princess am Cruise Terminal Clarence St. 16 th February Carole King s Tapestry. The Concert. Time 7.30pm Laurieton United Services Club. 16 th February Mindful Handcrafts with Nannas, Nonnas & Grandmas- Free Entry, Time 10am to 12pm. The Sunset Gallery 23d February How to Transform your Life by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Port Macquarie Library Time 10.30am. REGULAR MARKETS. Every Tuesday Real Food Local Produce Markets. Port Central Forecourt, Time 3pm to 6pm. Every Thursday Summer Markets- The Glasshouse Forecourt. Time 9am to 6pm. Every Saturday- Twilight Food Markets - Town Beach Park Reserve. Time 5pm to 9pm. Every Sunday- Port Macquarie Art Society Market Bazaar. Hamilton House 198 Hastings River Drive. Time 8am to 1pm. Second Saturday: The Foreshore Market - 8:00am to 1:00pm. (Port Macquarie Hastings Farmers & Artists) Westport Park, Corner Buller and Park Streets, Port Macquarie. Third Saturday St James Cottage Crafts 9:30am to 2:00pm Opposite the Blue Poles Cafe and Gallery, Byabarra. Third Sunday Laurieton. Laurieton Riverwalk Market 8:00am to 1:00pm Corner Tunis and Short Streets, Fourth Saturday Wauchope Farmers Markets 8:00am to12:00pm Wauchope Showground, High St. Wauchope. If you know of any member who may be unwell, please let anyone on the Committee know. It is important that we offer support if one of our members is unwell and let them know we are thinking of them. If anyone is in need of a helping hand to do a small job, again, let a Committee member know. We can also arrange for transport to and from meetings if anyone is unable to make their own arrangements. And if anyone is celebrating a big "0" birthday - again, please let a Committee member know. We are now accepting advertisements for the March 2018 Newsletter. Anyone interested should send their advert to sandybanks@bigpond.com the cost is $5 for 40 words and $10 if accompanied by a photograph. This cost covers one issue only.