Category Archives: Health & Lifestyle

I Never Want to Go Into An Old Folks’ Home!

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How often have you heard the elderly say this?  On their own and frequently feeling down in spirits, they can barely manage to look after themselves properly from day to day, let alone clean and maintain their home. Then, what would they do in an emergency?  Despite the pleadings of family, they won’t budge. For them, it is a step into the unknown, a loss of independence, and just too difficult to contemplate. Later perhaps!

I had the opportunity several years ago, to inspect with my son several properties on the market in Port Melbourne. One we looked at in a good location (Dank Street) was a deceased estate. It was derelict beyond belief. Most of the floor boards which remained were rotting and unsafe to walk on. It was damp and it stunk. There was no functional kitchen and just a dunny down the back. Much of the fence was falling down, the walls were crumbling and the garden a wilderness,

I imagined the owner still alive, struggling to survive without assistance in filthy and unsafe premises year after year. It was the home he/she knew and loved, and it doubtless held precious memories. Was it his/her choice to continue to live there in squalor? Did he/she not know the monetary value of the house? It sold for over A$900,000! Enough to enjoy real comfort!

The decision to move from one’s own home into a retirement village can be a painful one. But the longer it is left, the harder it becomes. It was a choice my wife and I made a year ago, in our late seventies. Despite all the effort that was involved, it was one we have not regretted, and we have the assurance of knowing that we have the support and continuing care we need as we get older.

I recently came across an article which I think aptly puts the case for the elderly to seriously consider the advantages to them of moving into a retirement complex. I do not know who wrote it, or where it was printed, to attribute credit. Evidently it was printed in a Senior Living Community Newsletter in the United States.

How often  strong and vigorous men, active and gracious women, enter retirement years and use this excuse to postpone the very decision that could liberate them and increase their enjoyment of life.

They’re not ready yet:

  • To live in an attractive and comfortable home without the effort of maintaining it.
  • To be able to forget about mowing the lawns and other tedious household chores.
  • To enjoy the companionship of others with similar desires and expectations.
  • To eliminate worry concerning health, security and transportation.

They’re not ready, in short, to simplify their lives. They wait for some sign, some failing, to justify or even compel a move from the home that’s too big, or chores and possessions which require a great deal of attention.

Sometimes they wait too long.

Sometimes they find they have wasted what could have been some of their better years. Moving to a comprehensive retirement community shouldn’t mean retiring from life, but simplifying life to enjoy new interests and activities, or the old ones there wasn’t enough time for. One doesn’t step into old age by moving to a retirement community, but it opens a new door to an active, dignified and interesting life.

What does a Retirement Village have to offer?

Independence, security, a sense of community, friendships, a place to be private.

 A gift of time to use constructively, and personalized service when needed.

Think about it. What is best for you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Nurse

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Who is it that comes at dead of night

In dark blue gown, and apron white

And gently asks, are you alright?

Our Nurse

 

Who is it then, with noiseless tread

Goes softly round from bed to bed,

And shakes your pillow, lifts your head,

Our Nurse

 

Who is it keeps to morning light

a lovely faithful watch all night,

Yet calls us with a smile so bright.

Our Nurse.

 

Who when the dim night hours are done

And the days busy work begun

Is as active then, as anyone.

Our Nurse.

 

Whoever patient, thoughtful and kind

Will no unpleasant duty mind

In whom a friend we always find.

Our Nurse.

 

Who when the day begins to wane

Cheers us with her bright smile again,

And robs the night of half its pain.

Our Nurse.

 

This poem was written in the 1950’s by a grateful patient.

 

 

The Liz Jackson Tragedy

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Australia’s highest honour for Journalism is the Walkley Award. In nearly two decades of investigative journalism for ABC’s Four Corners, talented barrister turned journalist Liz Jackson won it five times.

But her last and greatest story is her own, making public her fight against Parkinson’s disease, panic attacks and depression. Fittingly, it was presented as the final episode of Four Corners for 2016. She deserves our praise and gratitude for allowing the camera to film her at her lowest. It was painful to watch, and no doubt confronting for her and her filmmaker husband Martin Butler to record.

Her story brought to my mind that of Canadian-American actor Michael J Fox, winner of several Emmy, Golden Globe, and other Awards. Whereas Liz Jackson was 64 when her conditions were diagnosed in 2014, Michael Fox was still only 29 when diagnosed in 1991 with this career ending condition.  For 7 years he tried to conceal his problem by taking large doses of dopamine. But the relief was temporary, necessitating larger doses, and eventually he developed all too obvious, uncontrollable involuntary movements, a side effect of the prolonged use of dopamine (tardative dyskinesia).

Because harrowing stories such as these may engender a defeatist attitude, and depression, I venture to add a few comments for the benefit of the newly diagnosed. My qualifications for doing so are based on my medical background, and experience of being diagnosed with PD (Parkinson’s disease) in 2002.

Tremors occur in many conditions other than Parkinson’s disease with varying prognoses. A collective term for them all is Movement Disorders. Paradoxically not all patients may have tremor, but the main features are tremor, muscle rigidity, and slow movement (bradykinesia).

Symptoms which have troubled me include fragmentation of sleep, disturbance of balance, and restless legs. A symptom I am most grateful not to have, is loss of the ability to smile. I have become clumsy, and cannot perform the fine finger activities I once could. I find it difficult or impossible to keep food on my fork, or a glass steady without spilling it. Writing, even signing my name, is irritatingly slow, and shaky. But I can still type, despite frequent miss-hits and double or triple taps, and have become a rather prolific blogger (read by few).

Precise diagnosis can be difficult. In my case, because I have little muscular rigidity and my symptoms have been remarkably stable over the years, my diagnosis was re-appraised to Essential Tremor, a familial and more benign condition.

Not all movement disorders respond to medication (as Liz Jackson discovered). Because of the potential for side-effects, the aim should perhaps be to use it sparingly for relief. Cure is not a realistic objective.

The point I would like to emphasize to all suffers from movement disorders is to focus on what still works, and to keep as physically and mentally active as one possibly can. Hand movements may be unsteady, but limb movements are usually assured. I like exercise and aerobic balance classes; I garden and walk the dog. Many Parkinson sufferers find bicycling to be therapeutic. I took up playing croquet soon after being diagnosed, for the skills of steadiness and accuracy it promotes, whilst demanding concentration and planning. Indoor bowls is my latest recreation.

Three quotes I like from Michael Fox:

Family is not an important thing, it’s everything.
 
I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence, I can reach for; perfection is God’s business.
 
My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance, and in inverse proportion to my expectations.

 

Pop-Star sells up

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Reverse Home Loans for Seniors, to stay in their own home

We will undoubtedly hear more of a financial strategy that has been given prominence in recent years, and was in the news again this week. It enables pensioners to borrow against their home, and is known as a reverse mortgage. Most seniors are still wary of putting their home in jeopardy, despite financial institutions packaging them to avoid risk to clients’ ownership.

Their wariness is justified. Saving to own a home is a financially sound strategy because inflation works in the owners’ favour, gains are not subject to capital gains tax, it is not included in the asset test for the pension, and the value of the asset compounds each year. Furthermore there is an immediate and continuing benefit in not having to pay rent whereas money in  superannuation is locked away until retirement age, soon to be 70 years of age. Superannuation benefits are also eroded by inflation, and are greatly reduced in market collapses such as occurred in the 2008 global financial crisis.

Pros and cons of reverse mortgages

Borrowing against home equity, when unable to afford to pay off the debt, soon  sacrifices these benefits, as the debt compounds. Some retirees do not necessarily mind. They are happy to continue to spend what they have while they can, seeing no point in leaving an inheritance for their children. They reckon they have paid their taxes, and the state should look after them when their money is gone.

The state has a divided interest. On one hand they wish to cut the sky-rocketing cost of care as the population ages, with fewer workers to support the elderly.  They believe users should pay even if it means tapping into the money tied up in their home. On the other hand the cheapest option for aged care is to reduce accommodation costs by keeping them at home for as long as possible with the support of community services.

The Australian dream of home ownership is still strong, but it is becoming more unrealistic as prices climb. Many elderly Australians, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, have benefitted financially from windfall gains in the value of their homes in recent years making them asset rich but income poor. Reverse mortgages, sensibly structured to avoid forced selling, may be a solution for them, allowing them to pay their rates and continue to live at home.

It is not just the cost of remaining in the family home for the elderly that is limiting. There is the problem of health and physical vigour. Some frail pensioners live in squalor unnecessarily when if they sold their home they would have more than enough to live in comfortable retirement quarters with support when needed.

Pop-Star puts the family home on the market.

Pop-Star and Mrs Pop-Star, both not far off 80, have been mulling over these questions for some time, and a few months ago decided to shift into a retirement village after finding a unit that suited their needs.

Australian retirees have many quality options. Most conform to a high standard, resembling tourist resorts, with recreational and entertaining facilities. The social advantages of communal living, and the safety of a gated compound are other benefits. It is also appealing to know that maintenance will be attended to even when away.

It is helpful if there is a nursing home nearby so that it is easier to visit a partner who has to be admitted. Most facilities provide community care in one’s own unit when required, but this is not always adequate for example should one have a stroke. The village Pop-Star has selected also has a dementia unit.

Points worth considering when making decisions about one’s future. 

Keep your family informed. They may be affected, and could be most helpful.

Many elderly are negative and are adamant they will not move.  They should think of the many positive considerations.

Some units may be too expensive with operators setting prices above what may be realised from selling the family home. Cheaper options could be available.

It is important to read the fine print in contracts, and it may be worth the fee to have a solicitor scan and interpret the documents before signing.

Moving into a retirement village invariably impacts upon one’s financial status. Centrelink will need to be informed, and they can help with financial advice if needed.

 

Best wishes to all retirees in their enjoyment of life be it in their own home, or in a retirement village.

 

Everybody Loves Croquet

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Bough of a giant English Elm tree frames the equipment shed and shelter of the Mount Barker croquet club.

Bough of a giant English Elm tree frames the equipment shed and shelter of the Mount Barker croquet club.

Croquet is one of the oldest most traditional games in the world. But did you know that it is also one of the most social games in the world? A century ago, it was a highly social and fashionable pastime and was one of only a handful of games enjoyed by both men and women together. It was not uncommon for male players to deliberately hit their female opponent’s ball off into the bushes where time spent searching for it was an opportunity for some flirting. (Does your club need more bushes?)

Today croquet is enjoying a resurgence in popularity because of its social aspect and its flexibility as a tactical game that challenges the mind yet is not as physically demanding as some other sports. There are a variety of types of croquet to try that can take as little as 40 minutes (golf croquet) or some hours for the more traditional game of association croquet, where it has been compared to snooker on grass.

In South Australia there are 38 croquet clubs with a membership of over 1000 active players who, as well as enjoying the social aspect of the sport, may compete in local, state, national and even international championships. Australia is the largest croquet playing nation in the world with over 8000 players.

Croquet is one of those games that many people haven’t tried, so are drawn to it out of curiosity. They soon discover how enjoyable it is and how it accommodates men and women equally, and can be as competitive or as social as they like.

Members at clubs enjoy passing on their knowledge with budding new players young and old and welcome any interested member of the community to come and try croquet at their club.

Younger players are being drawn to the game by Croquet SA initiatives such as the new Hammer Time program, where the experienced members take great delight in helping them play. This interaction between generations in the community really brings people together and is a fabulous example of the State Government’s strategy for an all age friendly community.

Clubs work hard to present their facility as an inviting and modern venue where the whole community can enjoy croquet. Clubs are often located in lovely ambient surroundings, when coupled with the lush croquet lawns are a delight for anyone to enjoy. Hyde Park club, located in the Unley Council area is one such club. In an effort to make their facilities more attractive for their members and guests they recently purchased some new chairs – chairs that were safer and more comfortable that the 40+ year old ones they replaced. The Club is very appreciative of the Grants for Seniors funding it received for the chairs through Office for the Ageing.

So, step up to croquet, click here for more information or phone 8271 6586 to find your nearest club.

http://www.weekendplus.sa.gov.au/?iid=119812&crd=0&searchKey=Croquet#folio=3

This is an article is from the magazine “The Weekend Plus”, a South Australian Government Publication devoted to South Australian Seniors. It is well worth a read, even if you are not from South Australia. I trust they will not object to my reproducing it in this blog.

The early days of croquet in South Australia.

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Fellow Retiree and friend, Pharmacist Ralph Worthington and his wife Jill introduced me soon after I retired to the mysteries of croquet. Skilled player Aileen Mehaffey became my coach and Mentor at the strong Norwood Croquet Club on Portrush Road in Adelaide. At 65 I was never going to excel at the sport, but I enjoyed it and the social contacts. It kept me active, both physically and mentally, demanding constant focus on strategy and its execution.

After moving to a retirement home in the Adelaide Hills satellite township of Mount Barker, I transferred my membership to the local club.

This post is the result of a desire to learn of the beginnings of the croquet game in South Australia. I am indebted to the Croquet SA website for the following historical information.

South Australia was settled 28 December 1836 when 176 free settlers including Captain John Hindmarsh subsequently the First Governor of the new colony arrived on board the HMS Buffalo at Glenelg.

They and subsequent settlers brought with them aspects of the genteel English lifestyle they had enjoyed in their homeland.  Not surprisingly croquet was a past-time they soon introduced to the new settlements, the earliest being in the Barossa Valley in 1867.

 http://www.croquetsa.com.au/?page_id=62

History

CROQUET IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA 1867 — 2013

Croquet was brought to our state with the early English gentry. They wanted to keep their lifestyle and interests as they had in England.

Many of these people were able to build substantial homes in the Fitzroy, St. Peters, Medindie and Walkerville areas, just north of the Adelaide. A lot of these homes had their own courts, so the game was a social event.

Some of the larger families moved and bought pastoral leases in the fertile Angaston and Kapunda areas. Crops, wine and mining was very profitable.

The earliest photos we have are of a group of players in a paddock on a hill at Angaston on New Year’s Day 1867, photo below.

Recent research has revealed that it was Angaston, not Kapunda that had the first club in S.A. Croquet has been recorded as being played in the town as early as 1850.

Angaston club was officially formed in early 1867 and was played at various venues until land for a Sports Park was given to the town by Mr. George Fife Angus, whom the area was named after. This was in late 1867. The club membership was by ballot. The club celebrated its Centenary in 1967 and due the drop in membership closed in 1970 after 103 years.

Kapunda was the second club formed in 1868. Photo below of Kapunda club members.

This was closely followed by The North Adelaide Club. Membership list of this club were the who’s who of society at that time. Other than a list of the founding members and rules there is no more information of this club and it is said that when the president returned to England that the club folded after one year.

1890 saw two courts set up behind the main grandstand at the Adelaide Oval. This is where the games between clubs were played and plans were made to form our Association. These courts were used up to late 1925.

Mr T.N. Stephens was the instigator in the formation of the South Australian Croquet Association in 1917. He approached the City of Adelaide Council and obtained a part lease of Park 17 in the South Park lands edging onto Hutt Rd. South Terrace Club had previously in 1911 been allotted their area on the East side of the park. This also was obtained by Mr. T.N.Stephens.

1926 saw the first four courts set up and also the club house which was named “CROQUET HOUSE”. The opening was held in July that year.

In 1926 there were 47 registered clubs and the number was still growing.

A newspaper cutting records that in 1934 there were 1,300 players, six of whom were men. These were the first men to join the Association.

Both women and men have excelled in the game over the years. The Association and Golf Croquet interstate competitions are held annually and are in South Australia every few years. South Australia has a team of men and women representing our state in both Association and Golf croquet every year. South Australian players have also represented Australia in overseas tournaments. The McRobertson Shield is one of those.

In April 2012 we were honoured to host The 13th World Croquet Federation Association Croquet World Championships in Adelaide, they were a great success, and many local and interstate players and members of the community came to watch the best players in action.

Our School and Disabled Programs are very rewarding and we try to have Primary School Championship Games each year. The secondary school also compete in their program for the Championship.

Deaf, sight impaired, and brain injury folk love to play Golf Croquet it is a real treat for them to be able to play.

Coaching and Refereeing personnel give regular sessions and also travel to the rural areas when requested. This is very important to keep up the standard of our game.Although our membership is not what it was in 1934 and a few clubs have closed we are still a very active Association. At present there are 1,071 members and 43 clubs. Below is a photo of our clubhouse on Hutt Road as it is now.

This is only a brief outline of the history and activities of our Association, but will give you a little idea of our Croquet Life here in South Australia.

Janet Eckert
Croquet Archivist

South Australia wins third place in national croquet Tournament – the Eire Cup 2015

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Association Croquet can be played as a singles event to show-case individual competitive brilliance, or as a doubles match. The Eire Cup differs from most tournaments in being team  focused, featuring both singles and double matches, with a three hour time limit on each game. The six states nominate a team of eight, four men and four women, but with an extra woman player to share the work load.

The Eire Cup provides Australia’s top players with the honour of playing representative croquet for their state. It is the most populous states of NSW and Victoria that usually  carry off the trophy, and this year it was NSW with the home ground advantage.

The South Australian Team comprised the following members:

  1. Male Team: Simon Hockey (Captain), Harley Watts, Dwayne McCormick, Greg Rowberry.
  2. Female Team: Di Helier (Vice Captain), Leah O’Neil, Virginia Arney, Pauline Walkom, Mary Bishop.

My local Mount Barker Croquet club in the Adelaide Hills was proud to have one current member (Pauline Walcom), and two former members (Greg Rowberry and Dwayne McCormick)  selected in the South Australian Team.

History of the Eire Cup

The name Eire Cup commemorates Irish-Australian croquet duals early in the twentieth century when Dublin was regarded as the home of modern croquet. In a one-off tournament in 1937, the Australian team prevailed over the Irish, qualifying them to retain one of the four Eire Cups for domestic competition in Australia.

This address  a year ago tells the full story of the origin of the Eire Cup,.

Address and Presentation of Prizes by Her Excellency Ms Penelope Wensley AC, Governor of Queensland
Patron, Croquet Queensland
23rd March 2014

http://www.croquet-australia.com.au/Events/2014/AC%20Nats/Eire%20Cup%20historical%20aspects.htm

  I was immediately curious to know why a trophy with an Irish name has come to hold pride of place in an Australian national competition.  My curiosity only deepened when I learned that the inscription on this beautiful bowl actually reads ‘Irish International Eire Cup’.  As a former career diplomat, dedicated to promoting greater international understanding and harmonious relations between different countries and cultures, and also knowing of the penchant of Australians, including Australian sportsmen and women, to ‘souvenir’ items when traveling abroad (remember Dawn Fraser and the famous incident of the Olympic flag she stole from outside the Emperor’s Palace in Tokyo?) I was a bit worried that the Cup’s presence in Australia might involve some similar shenanigans or ‘high jinks’ that could strain our relations with Ireland, but no – obviously there are no larrikins among croquet players (!) – and the Cup, I was happy to find, travelled to Australia not like that famous flag, tucked inside a track suit, or under a croquet club jacket, but in a totally legitimate and proper way.

It was won in Dublin, Ireland, in 1937 by an Australian team and was carried proudly back to Australia and stored at the headquarters of Croquet Victoria.  (I thought that might have been because Victoria was the home of the first State Croquet Association, but actually the very first Australian State Association to be formed was in Tasmania in 1908, also, interestingly, the first place where the game was reported as being played in Australia, mentioned in the Tasmaniaalch’s Literal Intelligencer” in 1861; the Victorian Croquet Association was the second to be formed, in 1914, so I can only assume that one or some of the members of that winning Australian team were Victorians).

As far as I can establish, the Cup was first awarded in interstate competition, in Sydney in 1942 – still presumably being looked after by the Victorians.  Then, when the Australian Croquet Council was formed in 1949, the Cup became its property and has been presented, on behalf of the ACA ever since, as one of the sport’s most prestigious prizes.

The prestige it enjoys today attaches to the skill of the teams involved.  This is Association Croquet at its best (strategic and technically challenging), but the Cup does have added significance, I suggest, because of its history – not so much its history here in Australia, since 1937, but with Ireland and its connection to the historic Carrickmines Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin, considered by many to be the worldwide ‘home of croquet’.

Whilst purists might dispute the claim, tracing mallet and ball games back to the Middle Ages, Ireland firmly asserts its place as the location where modern croquet was invented in the 1830’s and the Carrickmines Club, founded in 1903, as the leading venue for international matches and larger tournaments.

The Eire Cup was introduced at Carrickmines in 1928 to celebrate a Mrs Wilson, who had spearheaded the group that had established the club twenty-five years earlier.  They must have been well-financed at the time – or in an especially expansive mood – because they ordered four identical, handsome cups, three of which are still competed for in Ireland – and the fourth is right here, thanks to that 1937 match between Australia and Ireland being declared a ‘one-off’, with the winning team able to retain the trophy.  I suspect the Irish might regret that decision, but their loss was our gain, and continues as such to this day.

2015 Aire Cup Croquet Scores

http://www.croquetscores.com/2015/ac/aust-eire-cup/summary

Aust AC Eire Cup  March 18-22, Sydney

Aust AC Eire Cup Tests Games Hoops
Wins Losses Draws Wins Losses For Against Net
New South Wales 5 0 0 78 22 2,240 1,151 1,089
Victoria 4 1 0 80 20 2,227 1,224 1,003
South Australia 3 2 0 49 51 1,704 1,654 50
Western Australia 2 3 0 43 57 1,460 1,856 -396
Queensland 1 4 0 30 70 1,410 2,119 -709
Tasmania 0 5 0 20 80 1,174 2,211 -1,037
South Australia Croquet State Team Member 2015, Pauline Walkom of the Mount Barker Croquet Club

South Australia Croquet State Team Member 2015, Pauline Walkom of the Mount Barker Croquet Club

Pauline Walkom’s story of the 2015 Eire Cup (Interstate tournament)
The Interstate Eire Cup is played yearly between all of the states of Australia. The destination is different each year with all states taking a turn in hosting the event. This year the event was held in Sydney.
The South Australian squad is selected in September and practices together at the SA Croquet headquarters in Adelaide. An equal number of men and women are
selected as the team to play consists of 4 men and 4 women each day. The SA team takes an extra woman and this allows a day of rest for each woman.
This is because the women’s game tends to go for full length of time, which is three hours, whereas the men’s game tends to be finished much quicker.
The final team is selected late in the year and then practice begins in earnest. The competition consists of a mixed doubles match and then 2 singles for each player. The time limit for the games is 3 hours. This makes for some very long days.
We headed to Sydney in March and it was great that we could all be accommodated at the same venue, the Sebel in Chatswood, Sydney. This venue was very convenient for all of our matches, 3 at Mosman and 2 at Chatswood. The evening before the event started we were welcomed to Sydney and the event by the Mayor of Chatswood and all enjoyed the ensuring cocktail party, with players who had represented the state before catching up with old friends, before competition started the next day.
Waiting for one's turn

Waiting for one’s turn

Eire Cup 2
An early start was essential each day as matches commenced promptly at 8.00am and any practice on the lawns before this time. Our first match was at Mosman against the very strong Victorian team. We left Chatswood at 7.15 in a 10 seater taxi and marvelled at the traffic in Sydney. We won quite a few games on this day and this was a big improvement on previous competitions.

The lawns and the venues were magnificent, as was the hospitality of the Mosman Croquet Club. The next day we competed at Chatswood and Killara (each venue only had two lawns) against Queensland and were victorious. This was a great result as SA had finished last the previous year. Friday saw us at Mosman again competing against WA. Another good win to SA.

Saturday however was a different result with SA going down to NSW. It was not a “whitewash” however and the players were pleased to win several games against this very strong team. Back at Mosman on the last day of competition saw the team defeat Tasmania and finish third in the Cup behind NSW and Victoria.

The last night we travelled to Darling Harbour for the presentation dinner and this was quite a thrill to travel by train across the bridge and see all of the lights of Sydney. The harbour was spectacular at night and we really enjoyed the other players and the great meal. The event was a really great experience and the team combined well both socially and during competition. Each night the team went out for a meal and relaxing time together and this helped with the cohesion of the team.

Monday morning saw us packing up and a very tired team returning to Adelaide. A great experience and some new friends made.

Association Croquet – a game of skill and strategy.

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Croquet has long been regarded as just a genteel social game mostly played by privileged families in England on  grassed areas around their homes. It was played more for fun than to win, and it entertained guests in the summer months.

Since originating (I believe) in France in the 18th century, it has evolved into a more serious sport. Most Australians would be unaware that the famous South London tennis venue Wimbledon, founded in 1868  was originally a private croquet club known as ‘The All England Croquet Club’. The name was later changed to the “All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club”

There are two forms of the game.

The traditional game is known as Association Croquet. Its intricacies may be difficult for spectators to follow but it requires great skill, intense concentration, and smart planning to excel. It is now played in many countries, and is growing in popularity among younger people here in Australia. It does not yet enjoy a high profile but many  find it to be a challenging and rewarding recreational activity and one which importantly for older players also provides a welcome social outlet.

A shorter and simplified, but still skilful, form of croquet known as Golf Croquet has overtaken Association Croquet in popularity. Indeed  some clubs depend heavily on it for their membership.

How is it played?

The information below is a brief introduction to the mysteries of croquet for novices from the website of the Croquet Club of Oxford.

 

HOW TO ADDRESS THE BALL

HOW TO ADDRESS THE BALL

Modern croquet equipment

Modern croquet equipment.

croquet-path

 

Association Croquet – Basic rules

http://www.oxfordcroquet.com/coach/simplified/

 

  • Introduction This document is intended to go part way in filling the gap between the simple synopsis and the Full Laws. In any case of dispute the Full Laws always apply.

  • Equipment The court is a flat grassed area of measuring 35 by 28 yards laid out according to the following diagram. Smaller courts can be used.

    lawn dimensions and hoop layout

    Diagram 1. The Standard Court. The corners are depicted by roman numerals. The yard-line and baulk-lines are not marked on the court and lie 1 yard in from the boundary. All distances are in yards.

    The peg is 18″ tall above ground and 1½” in diameter with a smaller dowel extension about ½” in diameter and 6″ long plugged in the top. The extension may be temporarily removed if it impedes the striker. The peg is in the centre of the lawn.

    Championship hoops are made of 5/8″ diameter metal forming a 12″ high hoop with a straight top. The gape of the hoop is approximately 3-3/4″ between the jaws (1/8″ wider than the balls). Hoops are bare metal or painted white with the first hoop having a blue top and the last hoop (rover) having a red top.

    Championship balls are 3-5/8″ diameter, coloured Blue, Black, Red and Yellow and weigh 16oz (454g).

    Clips coloured to match the balls indicate which hoop which colour ball is next for. Clips are placed on the top of the hoop if the ball is for hoops 1 to 6, or on the hoop upright for the second circuit. They can be temporarily removed if they impede the striker.

    Mallets must have parallel and identical end-faces made of wood or any other material giving similar properties.

  • The Basic Game

    1. The Object of the Game
      The game is a race around the circuit of hoops in the order and directions shown in the diagram above. The Blue and Black balls play against the Red and Yellow balls. The first side to get both of their balls through the 12 hoops in order and hit the peg is the winner. Once a ball has completed the circuit and hit the peg (is pegged out) it is removed from the game.
    2. The Turn
      The players play alternate turns. Once all four balls have been played on to the court, a player can start their turn by striking either of their balls but must thereafter strike only that ball (the striker’s ball) during that turn. A turn consists of a single stroke, after which the turn ends, unless in that stroke

      1. the striker’s ball scores its next hoop in which case it earns a continuation stroke, or
      2. hits another ball (makes a roquet) whereupon it gains a croquet stroke then a continuation stroke.

      When the striker’s ball has been through the last hoop it is known as a rover.  It can then score a peg point by striking the peg (pegging out) and be removed from the game. It may also cause another rover to be pegged out.

    3. Scoring Points
      The striker’s ball scores a hoop point for itself by entering a hoop from the correct direction and passing sufficiently through the hoop so that no part of the ball protrudes from the side of the hoop it entered by (runs a hoop). This may occur in one or more turns. On running the hoop the striker gets an extra stroke – a continuation stroke.If the striker’s ball causes another ball to run that ball’s hoop, that other ball is said to be peeled through the hoop and it gains a point. You do not gain a continuation stroke for peeling a ball. The owner of the ball which is peeled gets the hoop point.The score is the sum of the number of hoops and peg points each side has obtained.
    4. The Roquet
      If the striker’s ball hits another ball the striker gets two extra strokes. The first extra stroke is the croquet stroke and is played by picking up the striker’s ball and placing it in contact with the ball it has struck, the roqueted ball. The striker takes croquet (see below) from the roqueted ball which then becomes known as the croqueted ball. Following the croquet stroke the striker has a continuation stroke on their own ball.Summary: Roquet => Croquet => Continuation.At the start of each turn the striker’s ball may roquet each of the other three balls once. However, every time the striker’s ball scores its next hoop point it may roquet each of the other three balls again. The striker can roquet balls, run its next hoop and roquet the balls again, etc., in one turn so making a break.A ball can roquet another ball directly or after being scattered off a hoop, peg or other ball which it has already roqueted. If at the start of a turn the striker’s ball is in contact with another ball and the player chooses to play with that ball, a roquet is taken to have been made and you must take croquet immediately. Should the striker’s ball dislodge a ball it has already roqueted, the balls remain where they come to rest unless the striker’s ball subsequently hits a ball it may roquet.If a player completely runs their hoop and roquets a ball lying completely outside the jaws of the hoop then this is taken to be hoop run then roquet. Croquet must then be taken. A ball which has made a roquet is still in the game and can cause other balls to be moved and potentially peeled. Once it has made a roquet the striker’s ball may not score hoop points for itself in the same stroke, but may move other balls.
    5. The Croquet Stroke
      In the croquet stroke the striker strikes their own ball when it is in contact with the roqueted ball.  The roqueted ball must move or shake in the stroke. If it does not move it is a fault and the turn ends. After a fault the balls are either replaced as for the croquet stroke, or left where they ended up at the opponent’s option. The turn also ends if either ball in the croquet stroke leaves the lawn.If the croqueted ball is sent off the court after it is pegged out or if the striker’s ball roquets another ball, or runs its hoop before leaving the court, then the turn continues without penalty.
    6. The Continuation Stroke
      This is an ordinary stroke following the croquet stroke or hoop run in which, for example, a further roquet may be made or a point may be scored. Continuation strokes cannot be accumulated; for example if you run your hoop and make a roquet in the same stroke you must take croquet immediately.
    7. The Start of a Game
      The game starts with the toss of a coin. The winner of the toss decides whether they will take the choice of lead, i.e. which side plays first or second, or which pair of balls (Blue & Black or Red & Yellow) they will play with. If they take the choice of balls the adversary has the choice of who plays first and vice versa.At the start of a game, the side entitled to play first plays either of its balls into the court from any point on eitherbaulk-line (see diagram). At the end of that turn their adversary does likewise. In the third and fourth turns the remaining two balls are similarly played into the game.As soon as a ballis played on to the court it can immediately score points and makeroquets. Once all four ballshave been played on to the court the striker can start anysubsequent turn with either of their balls.At the end of each stroke any ball in the yard-line area other than the striker’s ball, which is played from where it lies, is brought back onto the yard-line nearest to its position. If at the end of a turn the striker’s ball lies within the yard-line it is brought back onto the yard-line. Any ball which has left the lawn is brought back onto the yard-line unless it is the striker’s ball due to take croquet.A ball goes off the court as soon as any part of it crosses a straight edge raised vertically from the inside of the boundary. If a ball cannot be exactly replaced on the yard-line because of the presence of other yard-line balls, it is replaced on the yard-line in contact with those balls.

Living longer, but can we work much longer?

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Starts At Sixty! | Do you agree with Julie Bishop on this?

Wednesday, 7 January 2015

7:02 AM

 

FOR ACTIVE OVER 60S

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January 04, 2015 Written By Starts at Sixty Writers in Current Affairs

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Yesterday, Julie Bishop made a big announcement and it is incredibly relevant to anyone reading this right now. She said, “60 is the new 40″ and called for employers to better see and understand the value that over 60s can bring to the Australian workforce.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, our Foreign Affairs Minister said, “I believe 60 is the new 40, I’d like to say 30 but that would be ridiculous.” Julie frequently works 20 hour days at the age of 58 – like many other “older” Australians so she understands what a busy working life is like.

“I think it would be good for there to be an acknowledgement that experience and the wisdom that comes from experience actually should count for more than it does.” Julie said.

Minister for Ageing was her first Ministerial appointment in 2003 so this is an issue Ms Bishop has worked closely with in the past. “I had a lot to do with this issue and the fact is employers and others in the community think people have a use-by date just because they reach a particular age,” she said.

“I think it should come down to an individual’s capability and capacity to continue to perform at a high level.”

Ms Bishop also shared that the thoughts that age limits imposed on commissioners at the industrial relations body Fair Work Australia could be counter-productive because “some of our best legal minds are just hitting their peak at age 65″.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, research by the Deloitte Access Economics commissioned by the Age and Disability Discrimination Commissioner Susan Ryan in 2012 found a five percentage point lift in the participation rate of workers 55 years and over would result in an extra $48 billion in extra GDP.

Other research has found 35 per cent of Australians aged 55 to 64 years and 43 per cent of Australians aged 65 and over have felt discriminated against when trying to get into the workforce. Seniors Australia CEO Michael O’Neill welcomed Ms Bishop’s “well-informed” comments on older Australians.

After working as a community day in and day out, we know what it is like for you and want to help you fight for better employment opportunities and workplace equality. So we want to know, whether you love her or aren’t a fan of her, do you agree with Julie Bishop’s statement?

This article was written by Starts at Sixty Writers

Adelaide Hills Residents are proud of the achievements of The Honourable Julie Bishop, MP. Born in Lobethal, SA, and educated in Law at the University of Adelaide, she has been the Member for Curtin in Western Australia since 1998, is the competent Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Deputy Prime Minister under Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Her statement that 60 has become the new 40 is a political one. It is true that life expectancy is increasing through the public adopting healthier life-styles, and having access to medical advances in treatment. This is increasing the financial burden on the national budget, and Australia’s vested interest in prolonging the working life of longer-living oldies. Her message to employers is to not overlook the abilities and value of those over 60. It will be welcomed by the many who wish to stay in the work-force.

But what measures will the government be ready to adopt to make sure that suitable work is available, and will it be at the cost of the employment of those who are younger?

We may be living longer but will we be able to work longer? The ageing process has not been halted. Thus there is the same drop off in sporting prowess. Our 40-year-old cricketers are still retired from their sport at 40,  not 60. (apart perhaps for WA’s Brad Hogg). How competitive will the elderly be in the contest for work? Who will police working conditions to decide whether the work-place is safe for them, and make sure that they are not exploited as a source of cheap labour.

This blog “Life After Work” is dedicated to increasing the joy of living after we finish working for pay. On-going paid employment is ideal, but the day always comes when for one reason or another, remuneration is no longer possible.