39 Gymea Bay Rd.,Gymea 2227

 

JANUARY 2014 HACC CLIENT

NEWSLETTERGymea Home and Community Care (HACC) Services ph: 9524 9559Email: naid@gcais.ngo.org.au or hacc @gcais.ngo.org.au

Dear Gymea HACC Clients,

Welcome back and Happy 2014! Here’s hoping the

new year is a happy, healthy one filled with love and laughter.

Christmas seems such a distance day now. Hope you had a lovely Christmas, with good food and good company. Did you receive a gift, or even a kind gesture that made you smile? Maybe your card or phone call made the world of difference to someone? January is whizzing way too fast for me. The only problem is that all the work that I said I would do in January (after not finishing it pre Christmas) is still not done and so may now have to wait till February. At this rate, maybe March!

With a new year comes new hopes and new resolutions and what a better time to make them. Do you make one, or two, and do you see them through to December?? Would anyone like to share theirs with us and tell us what their secret is to sticking to them?

I would also like to wish all our Chinese clients a Happy new year. The first day of Chinese New Year 2014 (Chun Jie / 春节 2014) was celebrated on Friday, 31 January 2014. It is the largest and most important annual festival celebrated by Chinese and Chinese descendants around the world.

Chinese New Year Festival is based on the lunar Chinese calendar, begins on first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day of the first month, that is till the Friday, 14 February 2014. As you may know 2014 is the year of the Horse. It is the jiăwŭ (甲午) year (Wooden Horse). People born in the Year of the Horse are popular. They are cheerful, skilful with money, and perceptive, although they sometimes talk too much. They are wise, talented, good with their hands, and sometimes have a weakness for members of the opposite sex. They are impatient and hot-blooded about everything except their daily work. They like entertainment and large crowds. They are very independent and rarely listen to advice. They are most compatible with Tigers, Dogs, and Sheep.

"Memories are created by what we do not by what we think." Byron Pulsifer

Welcome!Welcome to the new year! January is really the only time

our HACC group leaders and staff can have holiday leave without interrupting our programs too much. They

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are all back at work, refreshed and ready for another fulfilling year with you. Some groups may have started or are about to start. If you require any information about our groups or programs please call Janet or Angela on 9524 9559. Better still you can look at our website on www.gymeacommunityaid.org.auOver the Christmas period you may have become more aware of people who are socially isolated and could benefit from social support and contact. If so please call us on 9524 9559.Gymea HACC Services…..

For those not familiar with our services, here is a list of Gymea HACC Services available to HACC Clients: Italian Aged Activity Group Multicultural Aged Activity Group Knitting And Sewing Group Chinese Aged Activity Group Greek Aged Activity Group Indian Sub Continent Aged Activity Group Monday Aged Activity Group Wednesday Aged Activity Group V.I.P. Social Support Group Men’s’ Discussion Social Support Group Chinese High Need Social Support Group Tuesday Bus Social Support Group Thursday Bus Social Support Group Chronic Fatigue Group Peer Support Home visits Assisted shopping

Please note that many of these groups and services are supported by dedicated and skilled Volunteers. At times the need for services far outweighs the availability of Volunteers to meet these needs. While we try to meet your requests, there may be times that we just do not have available Volunteers but will assist you to the best of our capacity. We need to duplicate our many wonderful Volunteers!

2014 Public Holidays

Good Friday – 18th April

Easter Sunday – 20th April

Easter Monday – 21st April

ANZAC Day – Friday, 25th April

"If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have

another chance." Andrea Boydston

2014 Seniors Week NSW Seniors Week is an annual NSW Government campaign presented by the Department of Family and Community Services (FACS). Seniors Week will be held between Saturday 15 March - Sunday 23 March 2014.

NSW Seniors Week is the largest celebration for people over 60 in the southern hemisphere. It is also for people aged 50 and older who have a lifelong disability or people who are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.

In 2013, NSW Seniors Week celebrated 55 years. The theme for NSW Seniors Week is Live Life! and reflects the celebration of life, achievements and community engagement.

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With hundreds of free or specially discounted events held for seniors across the state, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

NSW Seniors Week provides seniors with opportunities to: be active and healthy, be independent and be recognised for their community involvement

Any information about events that we come across will be sent out but please do not be limited to this this. There is a whole community out there waiting for you to be part of it and so encourage you to take up any opportunities that come your way! Happy Seniors Week for 2014!

Book review by Carol Cosham

I'm an avid reader, never am I without one on the go. My daughter presented me with a paperback copy of "The Book Thief" for Christmas.....and it is an absolute joy from the first chapter to the last.As most people are aware, it is currently showing in cinemas now, and getting great reviews. I've not seen it yet, but I believe, as in most cases, the book is far more detailed and more involving than the movie. So I'll share with you my view of the written word.The Book Thief is a beautiful and carefully worded story following the life of young Liesel Meminger, a poor German girl who becomes separated from her family just prior to the Nazi reign of terror. She is fostered to Rosa & Hans Huberman, and it is her remarkable relationship to them, and in particular, Hans, who shows a love that surpasses all the ugliness of the tumultuous times, that features in Leisel's survival. But learning to read

becomes her steadfast goal, with the aid of Hans and Max, the Jew they hide in their basement. Whilst the book is set at an horrific time in history, it never becomes morbid or gratuitous in its prose. We know what is going on, but it is not a journey that makes the reader cringe or feel repulsed. Leisel's adventures, and that's what they are, are both funny and poignant at the same time.Surprisingly, the story is narrated by Death with humour, candour and careful observance of the human condition.The author, Markus Zusak, is a young man who just happens to have grown up in Engadine and in fact refers to Anzac Avenue in the last chapter, where Liesel's descendants settle.This book is very highly recommended.....every character, every page, every story, to be embraced and even Death takes on a personage that delights. I loved it!

*** Carol is the Assistant Group Leader for the weekly Monday and fortnightly Wednesday Aged Centre Based Activities groups. For more information about the groups please call 9524 9559

"I have seen what a laugh can do. It can transform almost

unbearable tears into something bearable, even hopeful." Bob Hope

By-Gone and not so bygone days: Mr Whippy vansThese iconic ‘Mr Whippy’ ice cream vans arrived in

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Australia in the early 1960’s stemming from the success they had had in the UK and Europe. Almost every Aussie child can remember hearing the familiar tune played as the vans would roll into their streets. Early ice cream vans carried simple ice cream, during a time when most families did not own a freezer. As freezers became more commonplace, ice cream vans moved towards selling novelty ice cream items, such as bars and popsicles. Early vans used relatively primitive techniques: their refrigeration was ensured by large blocks of dry ice so the engine was always turned off when the van was stopped for sales. The chimes were operated by a hand driven crank or a take-off from the engineThe traditional tune played by Mr Whippy is actually called “Greensleeves” but was banned from being played in public by strict anti noise pollution laws enforced by local councils in the early twenty first century. Today Mr Whippy vans are no longer allowed to do their traditional street vending but can be hired to attend carnivals, festivals and fetes.

Do you recall your children or yourself running across the hot road, barefooted, to get to the van? That the ice-cream would melt before you got back home? Was it a dilemma as to have it choc – topped or not? As a parent , did you dread the sound of “greensleaves” because it meant you would be hounded for coins? Does anyone recall how much an ice-cream, single or double cost?

Thankyou to Laura Mackay who suggested and researched this. It certainly brought lots of memories back for me, as I ate or one or two or many of Mr Whippy ice-creams! Laura originally came to us as a TAFE student to do her work placement (including assisting with front Desk duties, all of our Aged Activities groups, and social support home visiting). Can’t keep Laura away as she is currently volunteering with us! Definitely our

gain as those who have had the pleasure of meeting Laura will know!

“The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which

to burn”. David Russell

What are sunspots?

Sunspots (solar keratosis) are premalignant skin lesions ie. may turn into skin cancer at a later time. They are caused by excessive long-term sun exposure. They are seen as relatively flat, scaly, and often red areas on sun-exposed skin. They appear on areas of the skin that are most frequently exposed to the sun such as the face, ears, neck, forearms and hands. The sun exposure causing your sunspots may have occurred many years prior to their appearance. You don't need to have recent sun exposure to get sun spots! In Australia, sun spots are particularly common in fair-skinned people and in those who have spent long periods of time outdoors without protecting their skin.

A mole or freckle is a pigmented spot that appears on the skin during childhood, which develops from melanocyte cells. Most adults have around 20 pigment spots somewhere on their body which develop over the years, usually peaking in adolescence. The number of moles/freckles a person has depends upon their family history, sun exposure and other factors such as pregnancy. Most moles and freckles are harmless. However, sometimes moles and freckles can change into a potentially fatal form of skin cancer known as melanoma. If melanoma is

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detected early, it may be effectively treated. So whenever you notice a change in a mole/freckle or find anything suspicious, see your doctor as soon as possible.

Warning Signs:

Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Two out of three Australians will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer before the age of 70. In 2011, more than 2000 Australians died from this almost entirely preventable disease.It's important to get to know your skin, the type of skin you have and what is normal for you so changes will be quickly noticed. Skin cancer is often visible (but rarely painful) making it easier to detect in the early stages. Don't just rely on an annual skin check to detect any suspicious spots. Check all of your skin, not just sun-exposed areas. Develop a regular habit of checking your skin for new spots and changes to existing freckles or moles. . If you notice anything unusual, including any change in shape, colour or size of a spot, or the development of a spot, visit your doctor as soon as possible.

Slip Slop Slap Seek Slide

One of the most successful health campaigns in Australia’s history was launched by Cancer Council Australia in 1980. Sid the seagull, wearing board shorts, t-shirt and a hat, tap-danced his way across our TV screens singing a catchy jingle to remind us of three easy ways of protecting against skin cancer. Here’s the song for you to sing along to!Slip, Slop, Slap! It sounds like a breeze when you say it like that Slip, Slop, Slap! In the sun we always say "Slip Slop Slap!" Slip, Slop, Slap! Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat, Slip, Slop, Slap! You can stop skin cancer - say: "Slip, Slop, Slap!The Slip Slop Slap slogan has become institutionalised as the core message of Cancer Council’s SunSmart program. The campaign is widely credited as playing a key

role in the dramatic shift in sun protection attitudes and behaviour over the past two decades. In 2007, the slogan was updated to Slip Slop Slap Seek Slide to reflect the importance of seeking shade and sliding on wrap around sunglasses to prevent sun damage.How to check your skin in the mirror•Make sure you check your entire body as skin cancers can sometimes occur in parts of the body not exposed to the sun, for example soles of the feet, between fingers and toes and under nails.•Undress completely and make sure you have good light.•Use a mirror to check hard to see spots, like your back and scalp, or get a family member, partner or friend to check it for you.Information obtained from: www.sunsmart.com.au ; www.melanoma.net.au, and cancer council Australia website.

Have you checked your skin recently? Are you following all measures to protect your skin and prevent skin cancer? Maybe this can be part of your new year’s resolution?

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You learn something every day if you pay attention. Ray LeBlond

Life story as told by Jim.

“This is the story about some of my experiences in the Navy during World War II. I am happy to

oblige, but I cannot promise that my Navy days were as exciting as those of many others. Perhaps I should be thankful for that.

Unlike in the First World War, eighteen-year-olds were conscripted into the military during WWII when

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the news from Europe and Africa got worse and the threat of a Japanese invasion grew more serious. For a Sydney boy who loved the sea and ships the Navy was to be preferred to the army or the air force.It offered the chance of a warm, dry bed, foreign travel and interesting experiences. I was in the new entry school at Port Phillip while still 17, and after further training at the Anti-submarine School at Rushcutters Bay was posted to HMAS Nepal. There she was, a proud little fleet destroyer standing at Garden Island undergoing refit. There is something about destroyers, the greyhounds of the fleet, fast, rough, versatile and exciting, a young man's dream. I was lucky.

After stops at Melbourne and Fremantle to refuel, our ship arrived without incident at Trincomalee, a large naval base in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) though in wartime there is always danger from enemy mines, submarines, torpedoes and aircraft. A lasting memory here was when, starved for fresh fruit after weeks at sea, I went ashore and bought a dozen bananas but could only eat eleven. Trinco supplied and serviced the British Eastern Fleet with its mighty battleships and aircraft carriers in their task of supporting Lord Louis Mountbatten's campaign to drive Japanese occupying forces out of India and Burma. The little ships' job was to escort and protect the big boys, especially from submarines Always an interesting exercise was refueling mid-ocean from a battleship or oil tanker, particularly in rough weather when the two ship travelled abreast as close as 15 metres while oil was pumped across. A mishap meant a broken pipeline and a huge, black mess everywhere. An exciting moment occurred when we were anchored in the fast-flowing Chittagong River near Calcutta while half the ship's company were ashore. The ship dragged its anchors, with the possibility of

unimaginable consequences. Never were a ship's boilers fired up so fast - 20 minutes, covering the neighbourhood with thick black smoke, to get us out of trouble. Then on the Burma Coast we ran aground up a river without a paddle, damaging our propellers, which meant time out for repairs.The only untoward incident occurred during gunnery exercises at sea when a projectile from a pom-pom (a multi-barreled anti-aircraft gun) struck a funnel guy, exploding, causing injuries and giving the ship's surgeon some practice treating shrapnel wounds.

Christmas Day, 1944 was something special - a perfect day, a decent dinner and a bottle of beer on a beautiful, broad beach in Burma made for surfing, except the sand was dark grey, not quite like home. It was hard to believe there was a war waging around us. Another day we were anchored with another destroyer in a coastal inlet with half the ship's company were ashore recreating when Japanese bombers appeared and dropped their load on us. It could have been serious had their aim been better. And we visited the town of Akyab where Australian aviator Charles Kingsford Smith took to the air for the last time before he disappeared. Life in an iron ship in the tropics can be enervating without air-conditioning, but there are compensations, like walking the deck for exercise at dusk, taking the cool air as the ship moves across a calm, glassy sea. And sleeping in a hammock under the wing of a gun platform or other suitable spot in the fresh air wasn't bad, either.

As the war in southern Asia wound down the fleet moved into the south-western Pacific to join the American fleets to recapture enemy-occupied islands and for the final assault on Japan itself. Soon after the dropping of the atom bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, which we heard about on the ship's radio but did not understand, the war was

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over, and we could go ashore at Yokasuka naval base and travel to Tokyo to witness the massive destruction we had caused. Here we participated in repatriation of Australian army prisoners of war returning home, one of whom came from my home town, Bexley, where we had shared the same family doctor. The sight of 1,000 warships and support vessels assembled in Tokyo Bay will long be remembered by those who witnessed it.

The war over, the navy faced the huge task of decommissioning ships and discharging personnel as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, two Fairmile patrol boats, including ML801 to which I had been drafted after leaving Nepal, were sent on a "goodwill" tour - more like an extended picnic - for two months to Eden, Melbourne, Portland, Port Fairey and Adelaide. The welcome at each port was more than friendly as many of our visitors had never seen a warship, although they had contributed to the war effort by fund-raising and sending food and other articles for servicemen's comfort.Later I was posted to another Fairmile, ML825, and the corvette Bunbury before being discharged in September, 1946.

It was an interesting experience. The war changed people. It changed Australia. And we faced a difference society back in civilian life, which many experienced difficulty in coping with.”

Jim Ayling

Thankyou Jim for sharing your story with us. Views vary on the concept of war but I don’t believe that anyone would think it hasn’t helped change or shape Australia as we know it today. Also we can only imagine the impact it had on the individual and their return to home life.

*** Jim is a HACC client who attends the Mens Discussion group, that meets group that the 1st Thursday of the month. If you are aware of any older men who may be

interested in meeting up with other men in a social environment, please call Kylie on 9524 9559 for more information.

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All Gymea HACC Staff and Volunteers wish you a great new year and look forward to working with you through our various programs.

A happy Valentine’s day also – Saint Valentine has a lot to answer for! I hope you have someone special that you hold dear in your heart, and you them.

Thankyou to all who contributed to this newsletter – it’s great having other peoples stories included. Please contact me if you would like to include or suggest anything; I always welcome your ideas and contributions. Of course any issues/ concerns please call Janet or myself on 9524 9559.

And so, until next newsletter, Stay well,

Angela Roberto

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Our H.A.C.C. Service is funded by the Australian Government and Department of Social ServicesAuspiced by Gymea Community Aid and Information Services Inc.

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