BRISBANE WATER (NSW) LEGACYNo 80 April 2017

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© Brisbane Water (NSW) Legacy. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written consent from Brisbane Water (NSW) Legacy. All rights reserved. Brisbane Water (NSW) Legacy does not warrant that the information available in this magazine is accurate, complete or current. Opinions expressed are those of the respective authors and not necessarily those of Brisbane Water (NSW) Legacy.

Editorial CommitteeEditor – Max Davis, 0410 541 999 Members – Russell Swinden, Betty McCleary, Mark Gattenhof, David Ferry, Kathy Patterson

NEXT ISSUE – 81Copy deadline is

June 21, 2017

Legacy ExecutivePresident : Elizabeth Ward, 0468 760 295

Vice President : Max Davis,

0410 541 999 Legacy Complex51 Masons Parade, Point FrederickPhone (02) 4323 4977 | Fax (02) 4323 4458

Front Cover The Legacy Village Residents, their Family and Friends, and the Woy Woy Ettalong Widows Club enjoyed a Scottish Afternoon in the Legacy Hall on Friday 24 February 2017.

A two course meal was served to all guests, whilst being entertained by John MacDonald, who is a Scottish entertainer, including a bag piper, traditional dancing and music.

Thank you to the Legacy Village Social Committee who organised this event, along with support from the Legacy Staff.

Brain Teasers A little girl kicks a soccer ball. It goes 10 feet and comes back to her. How is this possible? (Ever heard of gravity? She kicked it up.)

A 10 foot rope ladder hangs over the side of a boat with the bottom rung on the surface of the water. The rungs are one foot apart, and the tide goes up at the rate of 6 inches per hour. How long will it be until three rungs are covered? (Never. The boat rises as the tide goes up.)

A is the father of B. But B is not the son of A. How’s that possible? (B is the daughter you MCP’s!)

A man dressed in all black is walking down a country lane. Suddenly, a large black car without any lights on comes round the corner and screeches to a halt. How did the car know he was there? (It was day time.)

A rooster laid an egg on top of the barn roof. Which way did it roll? (It didn’t roll – since when did roosters start laying eggs?)

A truck driver is going down a one way street the wrong way, and passes at least ten cops. Why is he not caught? (Because he was not driving! He’s walking on the sidewalk.)

An electric train is moving north at 100mph and a wind is blowing to the west at 10mph. Which way does the smoke blow? (There is no smoke with an electric train.)

2016/2017 Board of DirectorsL – R (Back): Richard Korff, Chris Wilson, Tony Morton, Rick Cranna, Michael Hickey.

L – R (Front): John George, Fred Luxford, Elizabeth Ward, Max Davis, Cheryl Smith.Insert: Legatee Anne Taylor.

How can a man go eight days without sleep? (By sleeping during the night time)

How can you drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without cracking it? (The egg won’t crack the concrete floor!)

How can you lift an elephant with one hand? (It is not a problem, since you will never find an elephant with one hand.)

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CEO Update Brisbane Water (NSW) Legacy Club operates as a Company Limited by Guarantee and is a registered Charity with the Australian Charities and Not for profit Commission (ACNC), with approval given to Charities who meet the stringent guidelines to show this logo.

I raise this to ensure all readers are aware that the operation and governance of this Club does meet the statutory requirements implemented by Government in respect of how we report and spend the funds on the objectives of Legacy, and within the vision of this club.

Our Board of Directors all provide their leadership to this Club in a Voluntary capacity, and all Legatees provide their support to our dependants also voluntarily. The 10 staff supports the Legatees through our Welfare programs, and in the operation of the Legacy Village at Point Frederick.

Being mindful that we always need to ensure we are not only supporting people now, but also into the future, the Board are in the process of developing our Strategic Plan for 2017-2023 that will help us to make sure we expand and develop services where changes are happening, through the ageing or greater needs of dependants.

For those with access to the internet, our organisations governance details, and annual reports are available to be viewed at the ACNC website. (www.acnc.gov.au). All registered charities are required to lodge their information, which is open to the public to view at any time.

Peter Lawley – Chief Executive Officer

President’s MessageANZAC DAY: 1915-2017One hundred and two years on.

Tempus fugit; time passes, time passing.

The language which marks the passage of time, moving from real events into memory.

Memorial, memoir, memento, memorabilia, memorable, memorandum. Words that describe objects and ceremonies which acknowledge our debt, not only to the past, but rather to the people of times past.

The memorial ceremonies held each 25th April are when we remember the ANZACs who landed at Gallipoli Cove in 1915. An alien land and an enemy unknown.

Memoirs, the letters faded and creased, treasures in tins and boxes cherished by a past generation of wives, mothers, family and sweethearts.

Photographs studied by the generations of today who regard with puzzlement and pride the faces of men in uniform who fought a war they know little of and at a time in history they cannot ever understand.

Mementos and memorabilia; medals with ribbons dulled and frayed over time, impressive and made even more so when the stories of bravery and sacrifice are told to the astonishment of their descendants.

Memoranda, the official histories and records of the battles engaged and fought; today marvelled at by a generation who have known only peace in their land.

Monuments, both simple and grand from the gravestones in country church yards, crosses in war cemeteries under foreign skies, to the glass memorials in church windows and the magnificence of cenotaphs in marble, bronze, stone, steel and concrete. The names of the fallen inscribed for eternity.

ANZAC Day marks a significant milestone in the creation of a young nation. Over time, that significance has developed another element and that is the personal and respectful observance now shared by the young and the old. Sufficient time has passed for the “dust of battle to settle” and the anger, regret and finger pointing to be laid to rest.The noise has abated and we are now left with what is truly important, the people and their legacy to all of us.

Here and abroad, people of all ages will gather this 25th April in their homes and at public ceremonies to remember with heartfelt gratitude their forefathers and loved ones and to honour their service to country and, hopefully, with an awareness that freedoms are not given, nor can they be taken. If we are fortunate, freedom is what we have when the battle has been fought and won.

Lest We Forget.Legatee Elizabeth Ward – President

Legatee Mark Gattenhof presents 90th birthday flowers to Legacy Widow Mrs. Sarah Cunningham.

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EditorialI would like to take this opportunity to talk to you about rumours. We all know what they are, they can be amusing, boring, mischievous, sometimes even malicious and unfortunately on occasions totally wrong and distressing to some.In a community like our Legacy family it is the last group that is of concern to us, your Legatee’s.

Let me assure you that Legacy will always make any decisions regarding the care and support of you, our special family, with first consideration being “Will this be in the best interest of our people, widows, juniors and special needs dependants”. So if you hear a rumour that does not seem to fit this criteria, don’t fret about it, ask a Legatee, ask me, ask our CEO or president.

People who start rumours are at best usually misinformed or at worst have a secret agenda.

In this issue there is an important article regarding the use of personal alarms.

Allow me to share a personal episode that I think may drive home the importance of their use.

Back in the late 1960’s ( before personal alarms were

invented), my grandmother, who lived alone, was in the habit of speaking to my father face to face or on the phone every few days.

One morning dad realized that he had not spoken to her for a little longer than usual, tried to raise her on the phone, couldn’t and drove over to see her. He found my much loved grandmother under the clothes line. She had suffered a heart attack five days earlier and was past help.

Would an alarm have saved her? It may have and it may at least have given her a chance.

The moral of the story is “Alarms are available, use one, it may save your life”.

On a brighter note. Keep your eyes open for special events that will be staged. One special on the calendar will be Mothers Day high tea. More information to follow Don’t worry about transport, we can help just call the office.

As always there will be an ANZAC service at Masons Parade

Obviously this edition is focused on ANZAC Day, that special day. I know that on the twenty fifth of April every one of us will be remembering some special people, some we never met, others shared our lives. Lest we forget.

Legatee Max Davis

– Editor

Welfare Social ReportNovember 2016 saw the arrival of our new bus affectionately known as ‘DIGGER ‘’ and we said goodbye to our old bus after many years of faithful service. Shirley Campbell being the last passenger on our old bus.

Digger has been very popular with our Widows groups and with the high back seats and improved air-conditioning it has been a great improvement on what

they have been used to, the latter came in very handy during the first couple of months this year with the extreme hot weather. We have had some memorable trips over the last few months which include Avoca Theatre, Japanese Gardens, Garden Island, Wyee Nursery, Morpeth, East Maitland, Newcastle City and the Hunter Valley Wineries.

We have many outings planned this year so we encourage you all to come along and enjoy the company of our happy groups and be chauffeured around in luxury whilst enjoying the beautiful scenery our great country has to offer. You never know, you may hear a joke or two as well.

See story page 5.

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W ID OWS C LU B S

Younger Widows

We are back again now after a lovely break. I trust everyone had a lovely Christmas and that the New Year has begun a good one.

Our outing to the Discovery Centre Castle Hill at the end of last year was quite an interesting tour, so much to see and unfortunately we ran out of time, maybe we will go back again sometime.

The first outing for this year in February was to the Hunter Valley, it was a delightful sunny day, not too hot. Morning tea on the way was at Freemans Waterhole, then we moved onto Drayton Family

Wines, where the girls had a wine tasting before we were served a lovely lunch. The staff were wonderful; it was a great day.

Bye for now Mrs Judy Howard – Co-ordinator

Toukley Widows Club

Here we are at the start of another year to share in friendship.

Our first meeting on 6 February 2017 was small to what they used to be, but as all are getting older we are happy to meet all who can come.

We are very grateful for Michael (Parsons) for all the organising of trips for us to enjoy. First one was to Edogawa Gardens, which is a very peaceful place to walk around.

We will have the comfort of the new bus and driver Chris, who is very helpful to us all.

Wishing everyone a happy year ahead. Yours in friendship,

Mrs Margaret Clark

BWL Laurel Club

Well hello again ladies, our new year is already 2 months gone.

But regressing slightly a Big Thank You to Legacy for our very enjoyable Christmas Lunch, which was as usual a great day also very lovely guest artist.

Sadly our Laurel Club is losing our President of many years (Betty Cogan) due to ill health. Betty has been at the helm in one position or another for the whole 40yrs our Laurel Club has been going. We are going to miss her lovely smiling face, and all her hard work.

Hopefully I will find someone to put their hands up to help me on the committee for the coming year. Jessica has organised some interesting outings for our club for the New Year. A Fashion Parade and a Fashion Sale at Legacy Hall in April looks interesting also Christmas in July at The Fiddler – Rouse Hill and The Old Rozelle Tram Sheds in August is very different and bound to bring back a few memories.

Mrs Pat Young – Honorary Secretary

Are you having trouble attending Widows Clubs because of mobility or

transport reasons? Call Jessica Saunders on 4323 4977

for assistance!

Gosford Widows Club

Welcome back ladies, hoping you have had a wonderful time with your friends and families.

Weatherwise it hasn’t started very well with this extreme heat, I am writing this at the end of February, at 42 degrees!

Our welfare team have now planned a list of outings/entertainment for the year – looks very enjoyable, including Christmas in July. There’s no doubt the team are working very hard to ensure we are entertained and happy. Thank you Michael, Sharon and Jessica.

It was quite sad with the passing of Marie Hawes our past President during Christmas week, she was sick for some time. Several of our members attended her funeral conveying all our condolences, she will be sadly missed, Rest in Peace.

On this note, hoping you enjoy this years entertainment. Remember you’ll always have a friend at Legacy.

Mrs Mary Ewen – Honorary Secretary

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Toukley Torchbearers

Well, we start the New Year with the loss of another of our active members Dawn Chasty. Dawn used to run our jewellery stalls at our fete and jumble stalls and Dawn will be sadly missed.

We have been busy little bees so far this year already. We started the year with a garage sale in January followed by the hottest 2 days at Morisset Show in February and also a Bunnings BBQ.

March 24th we had our Torchbearers Thank you lunch at Gosford. The Village Green stall at Toukley and Torchies Market day.

April starts of with GOATS 2nd at Koala Park San Remo, a stall at Budgewoi shops 13th, then we will be at Gosford Show on 29th & 30th April. SO ALL OUR SOUTHERN FRIENDS PLEASE TRY AND COME ALONG TO SEE US AT THE SHOW.

May 11th we are back at the Village Green in Toukley then 27th another garage sale at Merrendale Ave Gorokan.

June 24th is the Torchies Market day at Lake Haven followed by a Stall at Budgewoi on 29th.

As I sit writing this report I am at Legacy Holiday House in Moss Vale. I cannot express how lovely it is. We are getting spoilt with nothing to do but sit down to our meals and hop on the bus to our many outings. Please remember ladies you can come here once a year at no cost. Ask at Legacy office for information.

Remember also we are always looking for volunteers to help in any way that you can, please contact either Sue Hartas 49761401 or Ruth Condon 43922587.

Sue Hartas – President

W ID OWS C LU B S & T O R C H B E A R E R S

The Entrance Long Jetty Legacy Widows Club

Our first meeting of the New Year was well attended by our Members, and we had two New Members come along to join us.

Woy Woy / Ettalong Widows Group

Welcome back for 2017. All our ladies were all very happy to be back at meetings after the long Christmas break to catch up on family news and their gatherings over the festive period.

We welcome to our meetings new Legatees Rae Larfield and Terry Baumback. We also welcome Welfare Officer Jessica Saunders who will assist our Sharon in conducting our meetings.

We are thrilled to be travelling in the new Legacy bus for our trips and thank you to all at Head Office for working tirelessly for this beautiful new mode of

transport. We have already had two trips out this year which were very enjoyable. Last week we had a Dietitian speak which was most informative.

We are looking forward to a busy year with our trips that are planned and the combined functions at Point Frederick with the other friends from the various Widow Clubs on the Coast.

If you are not currently coming to our meetings we encourage you to contact our Office and we will assist you to attend. The friendship and fellowship offered over a cuppa at our meetings will brighten your day and you will be made most welcome.

Legatee Anne Taylor – Widow Liaison

We had a lovely day out on our Mystery Bus trip with Chris our driver, in his new Bus, he took us up all around Soldiers Beach area and then up through Swansea for a lovely drive, then on to Maitland Club, where we had lunch, then heading back home we were taken all around Morpeth area, was a great day, everybody enjoyed themselves. Thank you, Chris from all who attended on the day.

Sadly we have lost one of our Members today Mrs. Olga Mahoney (know as Bud) to us all, we will miss her, she would have turned 97yrs on the 30th March, 2017.

Our thoughts go out to all our Members who are on the sick list and haven’t been able to attend our meetings, we wish you all a speedy recover.

Our next Social morning will be on 6th March followed by our next meeting on Monday 20th March.

Mrs Frances Brock

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W E LFA R E R E P O R T

Another year is upon us and although it could be argued that the days seem to pass so quickly, the direction of a life can similarly alter in the blink of an eye. We all value our independence and living alone, we value not only the frequency of family and friend visits or the services attending which support genuine need but more so the ‘quiet time’… how we manage the ‘alone time’ reflective of health and ability that ensures our peace of mind and safety and just ‘what’ can happen, ‘in a moment.’

Legacy is here to help and keep you informed of services designed to assist you in maintain your independence.

Gold Card holders who have the ability to operate a small electronic device (easier than your TV remote control) may be eligible to receive a Personal Response System from DVA. If you have a significant medical risk, or have a history within the past 12 months of falls and be considered to remain at risk through continued falls; or have risk factors which affect their balance and mobility.

For our dependants who may not have this eligibility, our Club has its own personal alarm program with the supply and ongoing rental of a monitored Personal Response System (PRS) through “Tunstall”. The system is monitored by an emergency alarm service with the user wearing a pendant or wrist device to activate the system and we receive next day advice of activations to follow up the health and safety of that member of our family. It is an invaluable testament to peace of mind. If you don’t have a PRS ask other ladies at Widows Club meetings or contact one of the Welfare Officers.

One lady within our Legacy family, Mrs Daphne Jenkins aged 90, had the occasion to activate her Legacy supported Tunstall unit around 7.30pm Saturday 10th September 2016 and in her own words… ‘It saved my life’. Her story is as remarkable as it is a testament to believe in the possibility of a new day… on the other side of ‘what may have been’.

Simply shared, her experience follows.

“I had returned from a 2 week family holiday with my eldest daughter and her husband to Wagga late Friday afternoon (approx. 5pm) the 9th September. The following day, Saturday the 10th, there was to be another family trip with them again to Muswellbrook, I think some family history event. It was only going to be over the day and possibly night and much closer but I decided against going as I was so tired from the previous days long car trip home, I think 8 hours, and simply wanted to rest. I didn’t make that decision until the moment my daughter and her husband called that Saturday morning to pick me up but they left me comfortably in my home around 10am. I do have

another local daughter who had believed I was still with the others and hadn’t planned to pop by till the Sunday when she thought I’d be back home.

On the evening of that fateful Saturday night, about 7.30pm, I was sitting in my lounge with my love, Tapestry, watching the TV. All of a sudden, I felt very foggy with a severe pain in my head. I activated my Tunstall unit and tried to get to the kitchen bench seat to await the ambo’s. During that time, the Tunstall operator stayed on the line reassuring me. I was unable to move any further, the pain was horrendous, and I thought I was going to pass out.

My local daughter, who had been home, received notification of my distress from Tunstall and seemed to arrive before I knew it.

I was taken to Wyong District Hospital and after assessment was taken directly to RNS. I had suffered a brain aneurism, was operated on immediately and then spent 2 full long weeks in ICU. I then went to their Cardiac ward having developed fluid around my heart. 2 weeks later I was returned to WDH for Ward observations and rehabilitation. In short, I was away from home 6 weeks.

On return to RNS for a check up review late November by the head of Surgery, Dr Curtis, he remarked how well I looked, how well I had recovered and believed that the action and reaction time in my crisis played a vital part in my survival.

I would use Tunstall again in a heartbeat and am ever so grateful to Legacy for the safety it affords me in my home.”

For those amongst you who may have a Personal Response Alarm, regardless of the provider, it’s not enough to remember where you left it. Please wear it. Please test it monthly. And remember, accidental activations are quite ok. Yours may be the next life saved.

Aurrum Aged Care Chairman David Di Pilla commented, “Aurrum is honoured to be supporting this Brisbane Water (NSW) Legacy initiative on the Central Coast. This is the second year Aurrum has supported the program and I’m pleased to see it making a positive impact within the community.”

Groom and Parsons – Welfare Officers

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AW M LE G ACY YO U T H A N Z AC V I S I T 2017

Formerly known as the H&D Florance Foundation visitThe Florance Foundation was inaugurated in 1980 by a donation from the late Mrs D. Florance of Bowral, NSW, to fund a visit by junior Legatees from interstate to the nation’s capital during Anzac week. The juniors spend a week in Canberra where they are billeted at the Australian Institute of Sport and are involved with a full calendar of activities. Highlights include attending the Dawn Service on Anzac Day, visits to the Australian War Memorial, and Parliament House.

The cost of travel is funded by the Foundation and the Memorial, with the remaining costs for accommodation, meals, transport and activities funded by Legacy.

Legacy Clubs, in each of the States and the Northern Territory, can nominate a Junior Legatee to attend each year. Junior Legatees are selected upon age criteria (where possible between 14 and 18 years of age) and having the maturity and ability to gain maximum benefit from the experience.

Brisbane Water (NSW) Legacy Juniors have been successfully selected and have attended this visit since 2006. It is our pleasure to announce that this year, between 21 to 26 April, our young ambassador will be Jessee Darge. We are sure he will represent our club to the best of his abilities as the polite young man that he is.

In correspondence received from Leigh Wrighton-Jones, Vice President Canberra Legacy, this years visit is starting to look very exciting with the AFP K9 Unit visit confirmed, and instead of the normal New Parliament House visit, there is the possibility of confirming Channel 7 Political Reporter, Mark Riley to provide a behind the scenes tour from a media perspective. Canberra Legacy are also in discussions with the Canberra Raiders Rugby League Club to see if those Legacy Youth be hosted at their match on the weekend before ANZAC Day.

Best wishes to you Jessee.

Welfare Officers Groom and Parsons

Special Needs Dependant – David O’LoughlinHappy Birthday David and BEST WISHESDavid was enrolled as a Brisbane Water (NSW) Special dependant November 1995 and since that time has been a stalwart volunteer and participant in all Legacy Fundraising activities and specifically generated outings. Despite his limitations he always finds time to devote his energies to rising to the cause and marches proudly in local ANZAC commemorations.

Unfortunately, sometime during the evening of Thursday 2nd February David suffered 2 strokes. He lives alone in a first floor Department of Housing Unit and was not found until 7am the next morning by a neighbour. Miraculously he had survived but remains to this day in Hospital receiving daily physio, speech and occupational therapies with a difficult road ahead of him and an uncertain future of his ability to ever return home. David’s the type of man that rarely asks for help BUT, perhaps, as we read this article, we could all keep him close to our thoughts.

Seems all David wanted for his Birthday was Pavlova and a Beer. Unfortunately, with a thickened fluids regimen, this was off limits but will be kept close for… ‘ONE day’. A small celebration was held at the Hospital for his 67th. His brother and greatest support, Brian was with him.

Welfare Officer Michael Parsons

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A N N O U N C E M E N T S

Legal appointments available to all enrolled dependants at

Legacy Village, 51-57 Masons Parade, Point Frederick, every Wednesday 10:00am

Please phone the Legacy Office on4323 4977

LEGACY VILLAGE, POINT FREDERICK Brisbane Water (NSW) Legacy operates a Retirement Village at Point Frederick offering two types of accommodation:

1. Independent rental units: These units are bed sitter in size consisting of a kitchenette, lounge/dining area, with a bedroom area and separate bathroom. These units are located on both ground and first floor. A lift services the first floor. Shared laundries with commercial washing machines and dryers. The rental fee is set at 34% of the Aged/DVA Service Pension. Currently $298.21 per fortnight.

2. Independent two bedroom villas: These villas are two bedrooms consisting of a kitchen, lounge/dining area, two bedrooms, separate bathroom and separate laundry. These villas are located on both ground and first floor. An inclinator services the first floor villas. They are available to purchase on a loan/licence agreement, starting at $250,000, with a maintenance fee set at 25% of the Aged/DVA Service Pension. Currently $219.28 per fortnight.

For full information and entry criteria, please contact Heather Wilby, Team Leader Village, on 02 4323 4977. An information package is available.

YORK STREET, EAST GOSFORD We currently have an upstairs villa available for purchase, $290,000. It has been recently painted, new kitchen with new appliances and new carpet. If you are interested in viewing this villa, please contact the Legacy Office on 4323 4977. The villa may suit a couple, who meet the Legacy Village criteria.

Grandpa, what did you do in the war? Jeff Cook

I'd been mowing the lawn and pulling some weeds, and slipped inside for a breather.I picked up the paper and turned on the news, not paying attention to eitherWhen my grandson came in with a look on his face and a question that hit me full bore.An innocent question, no intention to hurt, “Grandpa, what did you do in the war?”

My skin went all creepy, I had sweat on my brow, my mind shot back fifty years To bullets that thudded and whined all around, to terror, to nightmares, to tears.I was crawling through mud, I was shooting at men, tried to kill them before they killed me.Men who had wives and children at home, just like mine, just like my family.

“What did you do in the war?” he had asked, a question not meant to cause pain,But it brought back the horrors I'd left far behind in a deep dark recess of my brain.I remembered the bombs being dropped from the planes, the explosions, the screams, and the loss Of a friend – or an enemy – but a life just the same, replaced by a small wooden cross.

The visions attacked me of tramping through jungles, hot and stinking, with leeches and flies.Of orders that seemed to make no sense at all – of distrust, of suspicions, of lies I lived once again all those terrible storms, the dysentery, fever, the snakes.The blisters that lived with me month after month, all those blunders, and costly mistakes.

But how could I tell the boy all about that, ’twould be better if he didn't know.It's a part of my life that I don't talk about from a good half a century ago.So I gulped, took a breath and tried to sound calm, and bid him to sit at my side.Then opened my mouth to say a few words, but the tears welled up and I cried.

He cuddled to me with a look of concern, and I mumbled of feeling unwell,Then took hold of myself, blew hard on my nose, while I thought of some tales I could tell.“What did I do in the war,” I began, then the stories began tumbling out,And they flowed with such ease I felt better again, and got over my pain and my doubt.

I told him of how I had made many friends, how I'd trained and had gone overseas.Made a joke of how seasick I'd been on the way, almost dirtied my myself when I’d sneezed.I told of the joy of the letters from home, of the hand-knitted socks and the cakeThat I got for my birthday but three weeks too late ’cause It went somewhere else by mistake.

We talked about mateship and what it had meant to trust someone else with your life,And of when I came home to my family again, to my kids, Mum and Dad, and my wife.Of the crowd on the wharf, the bands, and the pomp, and the pride I felt in the parade.But I'm not ashamed that I hood-winked the boy, a decision I'm glad that I made.

He can grow up without seeing fear in my eyes, or know of the terror I knew

For he'd not understand - and neither he should - all those memories that hit me anew.

Maybe some day when he's older than now, I will tell him what the war did to me,

But with luck he won't ask me ever again, about wars that should never be.

Jeff Cook has written this poem as a tribute to the fallen and the returned. For many years Jeff has recited at least one of his poems at the ANZAC Day Commemoration Service in his home town of Minlaton, South Australia.

TOUKLEY TORCHBEARERS MEETING DETAILS

2nd Monday of each month at 9.30am @ Aurrum Aged Care

– Norah HeadFor more information call Sue Hartas – 0414 701 489

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LEXIE OWEN SMALL WORLDHeres another story in the ‘small world’ category from Mrs May Currington of Legacy Units, Gosford.

This lady came to live in Australia with her second husband in 1955 shortly after their marriage – they had met on board ship whilst travelling to New Zealand from Scotland.

While a member of Ourimbah Lisarow RSL Women’s Bowling Club, Mrs Currington became great friends with Mrs Peggy Steele of Wyoming and they often drove to games together.

Two years went by and one day Mrs Steels asked her friend what her maiden name had been.

‘I knew it, you were my bridesmaid in Edinburgh in 1920 – I thought it was you but I just couldn’t make up my mind!’ she told the astonished Mrs Currington.

The wedding photo was brought for her to see and there she was, aged 19, in all her bridesmaid’s glory.

The two women had lost touch completely after the newly weds emigrated to Australia.

Both women are now Legacy widows. Recreated from a news paper article

When I first became involved with Red Cross, as a volunteer, I was selling Badges at Maitland High School at the age of 13 years. After moving to Umina I was rather bored so finally got motivated and thought there’s a lot of people out there that need support or something. So I went to Red Cross at Gosford and learnt about the hospitals that needed volunteers so I took the 6 week course, which we did in those days. On learning Manicure, Hair, Facials, I was sent to the Old Rahab at Woy Woy Hospital. Then to General and Brisbane Water

Private. I also worked at the Day Care Centre at Meals on Wheels, where I did nails for the ladies. I floated around really and loved every bit of it. Also used to do home visits for four clients every 2 weeks. And now 30 years later, I’m still doing it thinking I would give up when I get to 20 years. There is a lot more involved in just doing these

things, patients health problems varied, I need to be aware of the best way to approach them and deal with patients.

So in the last 30 years I have enjoyed many experiences that have given me so much joy and pleasure, I continue to enjoy working at the Transitional Unit at Woy Woy Hospital.

Lexie Owen

I had the pleasure to meet Lexie early in 2010 when I was looking for the unit of one of our ladies. I knocked on the door of a lady that I had no idea would become one of my dear friends.

Lexie gave me directions to the address I was looking for and as I thanked her for her help and apologised for the disturbance Lexi asked “would I be entitled to be a Legacy widow”? Uncertain about the enrolment process, as I had only started with Legacy a few months earlier I asked Lexie for a couple of details that I passed on to our office for follow up.

Since her enrolment Lexie has been very involved in assisting with the Woy Woy/Ettalong Widows Club. Lexie has become their liaisons person and always

lets us know if any of our ladies are in hospital on the Peninsular. Lexie has also been very supportive of 2 of our widows assisting with their washing, shopping and just being their voice when times were tough.

Lexie you deserve recognition not just for what you have done for Red Cross but for being a wonderful human who cares about others.

Sharon Groom – Welfare Officer

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AUSTRALIAN SPIRIT – ROBYN AUSTIN

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As part of the Healthe Care Group, Gosford Private Hospital and Brisbane Waters Private Hospitaldeliver services that provide a continuum of care both during and beyond a hospital stay.Rehabilitation programs are designed to assist patients in managing a range of issues following a surgicalprocedure, trauma or as a result of an illness.Programs are individually tailored and designed to maximise patient recovery while providing practicalways of dealing with ongoing disability. Programs aim to increase an individual’s safety andindependence to assist them to live independently in the community.

Our Rehabilitation Teams have particular expertise in providing assessments and treatment to peoplewho may have experienced:

Therapy may include intervention from Physiotherapy, Hydrotherapy, Exercise Physiology, OccupationalTherapy, Social Work, Dietetics or Speech Pathology depending on your individual needs.

For more information on Rehabilitation Services, Day Program and Outpatient Services pleasevisit www.gosfordprivate.com.au or www.brisbanewatersprivate.com.au

• Stroke

• Head injury

• Parkinson’s disease

• Multiple Sclerosis

• Neuro-degenerative disorders (eg Motor Neurone Disease)

• Spinal cord degenerative disorders

• Spinal surgery

• Vestibular dysfunction

• Lymphoedema

• Orthopaedic injuries

• Fractures

• Joint replacement surgery

• Limb amputation

• Post illness / surgery – general deconditioning

• Falls and balance difficulties

• Exacerbation of inflammatory arthritis

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

• Post cardiac surgery

• Cancer Rehab

Seniors on The Coast AD_GPH & BWPH 21/04/16 12:50 PM Page 1

12 CHATTERBOX 80

HALF-NAKED, CAMOUFLAGED WOMEN SNIPERS Real, but fake…well concealed

Turkish snipers caused genuine horror for the Allies, however, this photo, once believed to have been of a newly captured marksman, was mocked up behind the lines on a Greek island.

The Times ran a story in July 1915, citing a wounded English seaman. ‘This sailor witnessed the capture of a woman sharpshooter in a little white house near the shore. She was a Turkish woman, and the house was her own. She had refused

to leave it; her old mother and her child were with her when she was taken. She had persistently fired on our men from a window, aiming in particular at the officers. She must have rifled the bodies of her victims for some 16 identification discs and a considerable sum of money were found in her possession’.

The woman and her white house also reappear in an account of action three months later and 35km away, at Suvla. This time she is identified as

a Turk soldier’s wife, living with her mother and child, who specialises in picking off stragglers, and she gets shot.

To be fair, it’s not unusual in the fog of war for times and places to get muddled in recollection. However history buffs have expended much energy in debating how unlikely it would be for the woman to have achieved 16 kills, unnoticed, in a war zone almost devoid of civilians (and be stupid enough to hoard their ID tags).

More tellingly, in an otherwise well documented campaign where snipers preoccupied our forces there’s not a single official record of a female version. Not one. Nor a photo.

Half naked and painted green “The place is simply walking with snipers and they

paint themselves green. I have heard that some female

Now here is a story with a different slant. Your editor discovered it whilst researching an article for a future edition. Interesting – you be the judge.

Half naked, camouflaged women snipers stalked the ANZACs at Gallipoli. More than a myth?

Almost naked, her body painted camouflage green, she picked off Allied soldiers from a concealed firing post in the trees, until she was caught and slain by vengeful Australians. Fully clad in traditional peasant garb, she gunned down unwitting foreign invaders from the windows of her white house, then crept out to plunder their bodies.

Sniper in a veil? Actually this picture is probably of a male Turkish marksman in cold weather cameo – there are no known photos of killer women at Gallipoli, but it fuels speculation.

The story of the female sniper/s of Gallipoli is an extraordinary one. The woman at the centre of it achieved mythical status among the ANZACs and Brits. A lot of experts reckon she was just that – a myth. But sorting the fact from fiction in this weird historical sidebar is fascinating – especially when you can talk directly to the lads in the trenches about snipers, Turks and more.

Who were the markswomen? A number of soldiers’ takes from Gallipoli mention women snipers, operating singly and in groups, in various places. But there are no official reports. The woman firing from her house, said to have been found with the identity tags of 16 of her victims, first appears in an account of April 25th as the Brits attack W Beach at Cape Helles in the south of the Peninsula.

CHATTERBOX 80 13

snipers were captured. How true it is, I don’t know’, Corporal Ronald Semmence.

The same lack of official record applies to the green painted women and girls repeatly mentioned, lurking in foliage

with their Turkish male counterparts (who were very real, and a deadly menace to the Allies). Like many a sensational social media story today the accounts repeat, recycle each other and clash without ever producing solid, traceable, first person testimony. Names are changed, units are not identified properly, and despite the many photos and sketches taken and made at Gallipoli, don’t waste your time searching for a picture of the ladykillers.

Drawing a long bow, another WWI legend lacking in solid first person account is that of the Bowmen, or Angels, of Mons who saved the Brits in France.

In some accounts analysed by The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, Aussie soldiers kill the camouflaged woman sniper. This anecdote by British Lieutenant Colonel Frank Mills, in a letter written 15 years later, certainly shows the troops hatred for the hidden Turkish sharpshooters. But note his first six words – a familiar refrain…

“I did not actually see it, but was told on the best authority of

one case, which shows how our men looked on snipers behind our lines. He was at last located, and some went out to the oak and made him come down. To their surprise he had a girl with him. She spoke a little English. They bayonetted the man at once, but the girl said ‘Ah, but you English do not kill women’. The men were so infuriated at the loss of their pals that one of them said ‘don’t we’ and put his bayonet through her. She also had been sniping, and had a rifle, and knowing the state the men were in, awful as it may seem, one can perhaps understand it”.

There is even a version, as usual, lacking detail, that talks about several woman snipers being blasted out of the trees, and one half nude markswoman who was found by Kiwis, set up with a machine gun in a dugout. Historians have already pulled that apart as pure fantasy for a number of reasons, so we won’t bother here.

One crucial detail that has been addressed by Turkish experts is that the overwhelmingly Islamic Ottoman society of the time would not have allowed for women to join the military. That has changed enormously in the past 100 years, with female fighters in many Muslim and non Muslim military and militia forces.

It is interesting but inconsequential in this context that some women did fight with Armenian groups who were locked into a desperate struggle against genocidal Ottoman forces even as the ANZACs struggled against the Ottomans at Gallipoli.

Continued on page 14.

HALF-NAKED, CAMOUFLAGED WOMEN SNIPERS

14 CHATTERBOX 80

Continued from page 13.

The anti Turks… female Armenian fighters in 1895, two decades before the genocide. Of course a rogue or psychologically disturbed civilian (such as our lady of the white house) might have disobeyed religion and convention – but would not have been recruited or supplied by the Army.

Most civilians were evacuated or fled the combat zones of Gallipoli, and many of them were ethnic Greeks who had tense relations with the Turks, which would have made them still less likely to fight a risky, one woman war against the Allies, although its not impossible. So if the female snipers didn’t exist, if they are, to quote Australian War Memorial historian Ashley Ekins ‘true furphies’ where did the stories originate?

Rumour becomes reality – there are two likely options.

Firstly, it is possible some of the few civilians who remained (by accident or design) in the battle zone may have been caught plundering dead bodies. That is a practice as old as war itself, and throughout history poor, desperate women and children have been just as likely as their menfolk to raid corpses. As historian Michael McKernan told ANZACLive, ‘on a battlefield there are all sorts of rumours and stories’.

He adds ‘With snipers everywhere in the first few weeks of the campaign it was always hard to say why a particular man had been killed, as many might just fall with a bullet wound, hit randomly, or deliberately by a sniper, or accidently by one of his own, firing at something else. Some Australians, of course, must have been shot by their own side, accidently’.

So take an unexplained death, add a civilian found nearby with plunder or even a weapon; mix it up with trench gossip and you have a gripping story that gets twisted and amplified as it is passed from dugout to dugout, up and down the peninsula, until we are left with unseen death squads of half nude Amazons prowling the hillsides.

Yarn spinning was vital to the men in making their reality less grim, periods of boredom alleviated only by terror and loss in squalid conditions with little comfort. And just like anyone today, many would be likely to spice up their tales with the unusual, controversial stuff.

Secondly.. it was simply made up. Full stop. One overactive imagination or even a jest taken as fact, feed it into the rumour mill described above and watch the story take shape. Interestingly, McKernan points out that in Australian literature and Australian bush legend there is a long tradition of women passing themselves off as men. Maybe their sniper story depends to some extent on that tradition.

Maybe. We will probably never know for sure.

CHATTERBOX 80 15

CHRISTMAS

16 CHATTERBOX 80

CHATTERBOX 80 17

The Story of the Dawn ServiceAfter the First World War, returned soldiers sought the comradeship they felt in those quiet, peaceful moments before dawn. With symbolic links to the dawn landing at Gallipoli, a dawn stand-to or dawn ceremony became a common form of Anzac Day remembrance during the 1920s.

The first official dawn service was held at the Sydney Cenotaph in 1927. Dawn services were originally very simple and in many cases they were restricted to veterans only. The daytime ceremony was for families and other well-wishers. The Dawn Service was for returned soldiers to remember and reflect among the comrades with whom they shared a special bond. Before dawn the gathered veterans would be ordered to "stand-to" and two minutes of silence would follow. At the start of this time a lone bugler would play The Last Post and then concluded the service with Reveille. In more recent times families and young people have been encouraged to take part in dawn services, and the services in Australian capital cities have seen some of the largest turnouts ever.

Reflecting this change, the ceremonies have become more elaborate, incorporating hymns, readings, pipers and rifle volleys. Others, though, have retained the simple format of the dawn standto, familiar to so many soldiers.

London Legacy Bulletin

The Truth about Anzac biscuitsOK— it's time to get into the kitchen and rattle those pots and pans!

You've just enough time to bake your next (or first!) batch of Anzac biscuits with Anzac Day closing in fast. There are some pretty spurious versions of the famous biscuit that draw on equally dubious recipes that crop up around tables with embarrassing regularity at this time of year.

Few bear any resemblance to the original ‘Anzac tile’ or ‘Anzac wafer’, which was really a bread substitute and was, perforce, hard-baked to withstand the rigours of life in the field.

The story goes that Anzac biscuits were sent by wives to soldiers abroad because the ingredients did not spoil easily and because the biscuits kept well during transportation overseas.

However, many Australians will be disappointed, even gutted, to learn that the Anzac biscuit recipe actually originated in New Zealand. The original recipe omitted eggs, due to the scarcity of eggs as most poultry farmers had joined the war effort.

Leaving out eggs also ensured that the biscuits would not spoil when shipped long distances. Rather than being sent to the front lines for the soldiers to eat as most people think (and as popular legend has it) many Anzac biscuits were commonly sold and eaten at fêtes and other public events, where their sales were used to raise money to support the war effort. At the time they were often called ‘soldier's biscuits’.

Here's a palatable recipe which bears a faithful resemblance, in spirit at least, to the original:

ANZAC BISCUIT RECIPEINGREDIENTS

• 1 cup plain flour• 1 cup rolled oats• 1 cup desiccated coconut• 1/2 cup brown sugar• 1/4 cup caster sugar• 125g butter• 1 tablespoon golden syrup• 1 teaspoon bi-carb soda• 1 tablespoon boiling water

PREPARATION AND COOKING• Put all the dry ingredients in a bowl.• Put the butter and golden syrup in a saucepan on • a low heat until butter is melted.• Mix the boiling water and bi-carb soda in a cup.• Mix in with the dry ingredients.• Roll into balls (approximately one teaspoon of

mixture per ball).• Place on oven trays and flatten with a fork.• Cook at approximately 170 degrees for 10-15

minutes, or until golden.

Now get baking, and good luck!

London Legacy Bulletin

18 CHATTERBOX 80

Only a navigator would think of such thingsThe passenger steamer SS Warrimoo was quietly knifing its way through the waters of the mid-Pacific on its way from Vancouver to Australia. The navigator had just finished working out a star fix and brought the master, Captain John Phillips, the result. The Warrimoo’s position was latitude 0 degrees x 31 minutes north and longitude 179 degrees x 30 minutes west. The date was 30 December 1899. “Know what this means?”. First Mate Payton broke in, “we’re only a few miles from the intersection of the Equator and the International Date Line”. Captain Phillips was prankish enough to take to check and double check the ships position. He changed course slightly so as to bear directly on his mark. Then he adjusted the engine speed. The calm weather and clear night worked in his favour. At midnight the “Warrimoo” lay on the Equator at exactly the point where it crossed the International Date Line! The consequences of this bizarre position were many. The forward part of the ship was in the Southern Hemisphere and the middle of summer. The stern was in the Northern Hemisphere and in the middle of winter. The date in the aft part of the ship was 30 December 1899. Forward it was 1 January 1900. The ship was therefore not only in two different days, two different months, two different seasons and two different years but in two different centuries – all at the same time.

The young woman who submitted the Tech Support message below (about her relationship to her husband) presumably did it as a joke.

Then she got a reply that was way too good to keep to herself. The Tech Support people's love advice was hilarious and genius!

THE QUERY:Dear Tech Support,

Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a distinct slowdown in overall system performance, particularly in the flower and jewellery applications, which operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0.

In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programs such as Romance 9.5 and Personal Attention 6.5 and then installed undesirable programs such as: AFL 5.0, NRL 3.0 and Golf Clubs 4.1.

Conversation 8.0 no longer runs and House cleaning 2.6 simply crashes the system.

Please note that I have tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems but to no avail.

What can I do? Signed, Desperate

The response (that came weeks later out of the blue):

Dear Desperate,First keep in mind, Boyfriend 5.0 is an Entertainment

Package, while Husband 1.0 is an operating system.Please enter command: I thought you loved me.html

and try to download Tears 6.2.Do not forget to install the Guilt 3.0 update.If that application works as designed, Husband

1.0 should then automatically run the applications Jewellery 2.0 and Flowers 3.5.

However, remember, overuse of the above application can cause Husband 1.0 to default to Grumpy Silence 2.5, Happy Hour 7.0, or Beer 6.1.

Please note that Beer 6.1 is a very bad program that will download the Farting and Snoring Loudly Beta version.

Whatever you do, DO NOT, under any circumstances, install Mother-In-Law 1.0 as it runs a virus in the background that will eventually seize control of all your system resources.

In addition, please do not attempt to re-install the Boyfriend 5.0 program.

These are unsupported applications and will crash Husband 1.0.

In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program but it does have limited memory and cannot learn new applications quickly.

You might consider buying additional software to improve memory and performance. We recommend Cooking 3.0.

Good Luck!

I used to look at my dog and think “If you were a little smarter, you could

tell me what you were thinking,” and he’d look at me like

he was saying, “If you were a little smarter, I wouldn’t have to.”

– Fred Jungclaus

CHATTERBOX 80 19

Dogs laugh, but they laugh with their tails.

– Max Eastman

Book ReviewThe Summer Before the War – Helen Simonson

It is the end of England’s brief summer. Hugh Grange, a medical student, is visiting his Aunt Agatha in the small, idyllic coastal town of Rye, East Sussex, 1914. Agatha’s husband works in the Foreign Office, and she is certain he will ensure that the recent sabre rattling over the Balkans won’t come to anything.

Meanwhile, Agatha has just risked her reputation with the Board of the local Grammar School by recommending a woman to replace the Latin master. A case is presented for women’s rights and Beatrice is elevated to heroine of a class-ridden community, each one knowing their place in society.

Beatrice Nash, 23, arrives with one trunk and several large crates of books. it is clear she is more freethinking, and attractive, than anyone believes a Latin teacher should be. Beatrice simply wants to be left alone to pursue her teaching and writing. Just as she feels at home with the village and people the unimaginable happens. Soon the old ways will be tested as Rye and its inhabitants go to war.

The men of Rye who enlist include Hugh and his sensitive cousin Daniel Bookham. Rye also welcomes a bedraggled group of Belgian refugees. The horrors of war are endured, Hugh returns and realises he is in love with Beatrice.

Helen Simonson was born in a small village near Rye and spent her teenage years there. A Graduate from the London School of Economics, she is a former travel advertising executive who now lives in Brooklyn USA with her husband and two sons.

Kathy’s Kitchen Bomboline – Italian Donuts • Heat olive oil in deep pan or wok. • ½ cup ricotta mashed • 1 cup SR flour • 1 egg • Grated orange rind • Sugar to taste but enough to semi sweeten dough • Water / Prosecco / any liquid

Beat altogether. Drop into hot oil till cooked on one side. Turn with slotted spoon. Drain and dust with extra sugar / icing sugar and grated orange rind.

Delicious!!

I can’t think of anything that brings me closer to tears than when my old

dog – completely exhausted after a hard day in the field – limps away from her nice spot in front of the fire and

comes over to where I’m sitting and puts her head in my lap, a paw over my knee,

closes her eyes, and goes back to sleep. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve

that kind of friend.

– Gene Hill

20 CHATTERBOX 80

antibiotics remain effective. Taking antibiotics when you or your children have a virus may do more harm than good. Rest, fluids, and over-the-counter products may be your or your child’s best treatment option.

In the past, there was a feeling that unless a patient left a doctor’s practice with an antibiotic prescription they felt they had been attended to poorly. That mindset has changed significantly. Consumers today are urged not to demand antibiotics when a doctor says they are not needed.

Effective treatment of symptoms is usually all that is necessary for upper respiratory tract infections such as the common cold. Choose products which are specific for your needs and ask your pharmacist to recommend appropriate symptomatic relief. For instance, the use of anti-inflammatory lozenges has been shown to be far more effective than antibiotics in relieving the symptoms of a sore throat.

Of course, you can also minimise the need for antibiotics with some simple and sensible lifestyle and behavioural strategies, by making sure your (and your children’s and grandchildren’s) immunisation schedule is up to date.

The problem of antibiotic resistance is so serious that the World Health Organization (WHO) has predicted a return towards the health problems of the pre-antibiotic era within a decade. This was a difficult time in health when safe surgical procedures were almost impossible, and when small cuts and grazes could lead to amputations. Your local pharmacy is your health destination. Talk to them about antibiotic resistance, avoiding infection, and treating common viruses. Many pharmacies also offer wound care services.

More advice about preventing or reducing the risk of infection can be obtained from pharmacies around Australia which provide the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Self Care health information. You can get detailed information on antibiotics from the Self Care Fact Card titled Antibiotics.

For the nearest Self Care pharmacy location phone the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia on 1300 369 772, or go to www.psa.org.au ‘Supporting practice’ then ‘Self Care’, and then ‘Find a Self Care pharmacy’

H E A LT H A N D S A F E T Y

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no

decent human being would eat?

Antibiotic resistanceDid you know that prior to the invention of penicillin in 1929, a simple cut or graze could cause an infection resulting in amputation or death? The first antibiotics were prescribed in the late 1930s and since then antibiotics have become an essential part of our health system.

Antibiotics are medicines used to treat infections caused by bacteria.

Unfortunately, many bacteria are now resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Infections caused by these antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become very difficult to treat. This is what is known as antibiotic resistance – when antibiotics can no longer cure bacterial infections – and has been a growing concern for years.

Wise use of antibiotics can help slow antibiotic resistance so that simple cuts and grazes can continue to be treated with ease. To ensure wise use of antibiotics, a key understanding is that the common cold and many other upper respiratory infections, as well as some ear infections, are caused by viruses, not bacteria.

If antibiotics are used too often for conditions they are unable to treat – like the common cold or other viral infections – they can stop working effectively against bacteria when really needed. International efforts over the past few years have resulted in fewer children receiving unnecessary antibiotics. But over-use, or inappropriate use, still remains a problem and continues to fuel an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Antibiotic resistance is considered one of the world’s most critical public health threats. It is also an economic burden on the healthcare system. Resistant infections cost more to treat and can prolong use of healthcare resources and decrease productivity.

As a nation, we need to be smart about when antibiotics are appropriate – that is, to fight bacterial infections. Taking antibiotics for viral infections, such as the common cold, most sore throats, acute bronchitis and many sinus or ear infections will not cure the infection. It will not keep other people from getting sick, and will not help you or your child feel better. They may cause unnecessary and harmful side effects.

It is important that everyone joins the fight to ensure

CHATTERBOX 80 21

Norma AndersonEdna AppletonNona AustinMyrtle BakerJean BarnardUna BarnesMerline BerghoferEileen BirrellMargaret BrownPhyllis BrushLucy BurgessValerie ButlerHilary CameronDawn ChastyColleen ClarkeWinifred CookIris Crawford

Valerie CupittEsme CurtisRita DeanJoan DoyleGweneth FarrellDorothy FrenchJanine GaleaEileen GalvinSybil GannMarie HawesMary HaynesJoan HoldsworthEthel HoneySarah JamesRita LewandowskyDoris LumleyOlga Mahony

Eileen MarshallEileen MarshallJames MathewsMaye MauriceAnn MoellerViolet MorganWinnie MulcahyEileen MusgraveRona NelsonShirley OgilvieGwenyth ParkerAnna PeriniJoyce ReichelEva SutherlandBeryl TanswellMarjorie VincentMargaret Wahlin

Woy Woy-Ettalong Widows Social Club meets at Ettalong

Beach Diggers Club on the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month

at 10.00 am.

The Entrance-Long Jetty Widows Club meets at Diggers @ The Entrance on the 1st and 3rd

Monday of each month at 10:00am. Contact Fran Brock

(02) 4368 4399.

Brisbane Water Legacy Laurel Club meets at Legacy

House, Point Frederick on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month

at 10:00am. Contact Pat Young (02) 4322 8923.

Gosford Legacy Widows Club meets at Legacy House, Point Frederick every Thursday at

10:00am. Contact Mary Ewen (02) 4324 0743.

Legacy Younger Widows Group meets alternate months Aurrum

Aged Care (north) and Legacy Village Point Frederick (south). Second Tuesday of each month, 10:30am. Contact Judy Howard

(02) 4332 6106.

Toukley Legacy Widows Social Club meets at Aurrum Aged Care Norah Head on the 1st Monday of

each month at 9:30am.

All Widows Clubs members can also contact the Legacy Office for further information on 4323 4977.

Chatterbox on audio CD

Many of our enrolled dependants receive copies of the Chatterbox on an audio CD. If any other sight-impaired enrolled dependants would like a copy of Chatterbox on an audio CD, please contact the Legacy Office on 43234977.

We would like to acknowledge the generous sponsorship of Vision Australia for providing this service.

22 CHATTERBOX 80

Thank you so much for the lovely flowers on my 90th birthday. I hope to be attending Legacy functions for years to come. Best wishes,

DR

Thank you so much for the birthday card you sent on behalf of Legacy. It is so nice to be remembered and of you and others to give your time. Legacy does such a wonderful job

for us so thankyou one and all. Best wishes.

PK

I want to convey my sincere thanks for approving costs for removalists. It is a big worry off my mind. If I can do without it, I will. The sale of the house has been delayed for several weeks, going into the New Year, so I have a small reprieve. Thank you for all Legacy does for all the Widows.

KM

Thank you for the beautiful flowers you gave me on my 90th birthday, delivered to my home by Max. I would like to add that I have been a member of Brisbane Water (NSW) Legacy (Gosford Branch) for 50 years, also a Torch Bearer, my children were wards. Legacy has been a big part of my life, I have made many friends and seen many changes.

EE

I want to thank you all for my birthday card, also for all the good work you do. I appreciate all you do, you make us old people feel better.

MB

Once again, I would like to thank you for the great Year 12 jacket that Legacy has provided for Ben – as he goes forward into Year 12 at Narara Valley High School in 2017.

DJ

How lovely of you and the staff to remember my birthday. Having a family who celebrate birthdays also made the day special. There are so many things to be thankful for as you grow older and organisations such as Legacy who ‘care’ that make life worth living. Bless you all. BF

Thank you for the birthday card and greeting. I appreciate it very much. We don’t get many letters these days, and it is always nice to receive a card from Legacy. Sincere thanks.

CC

CONTINUING OUR LEGACY OF CAREPlease send me information on Helping as a Legacy volunteer How to make a bequest to Legacy

Enclosed is my gift of $____________ to the Legacy family My cheque is enclosed or Debit my Credit Card

|___ |___ |___ |___ | |___ |___ |___ |___ | |___ |___ |___ |___ | |___ |___ |___ |___ | Visa Amex MasterCard

Name on card _____________________________________________________

Expiry Date ______ /______ CVN number* __________ Signature ___________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________ P/C ______

Telephone (______ ) ____________________________________

All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

Please return this coupon to: Brisbane Water (NSW) Legacy, PO Box 4252, East Gosford, NSW 2250

* This number provides extra security for online payments. It is a 3 digit number on the back of Visa or Mastercard credit cards, or a 4 digit number on the back of an AMEX card.

CHATTERBOX 80 23

New version of the Three Bears story

A far more accurate account of the events of that fateful morning.

Baby bear goes downstairs, sits in his small chair at the table. He looks into his small bowl. It is empty. “Who's been eating my porridge?” he squeaks.

Daddy Bear arrives at the big table and sits in his big chair. He looks into his big bowl and it is also empty. “Who's been eating my porridge?” he roars.

Mummy Bear puts her head through the serving hatch from the kitchen and yells, “For God's sake, how many times do I have to go through this with you idiots?”

“It was Mummy Bear who got up first. It was Mummy Bear who woke everyone in the house. It was Mummy Bear who

made the coffee. It was Mummy Bear who unloaded the dishwasher from last night and put everything away. It was Mummy Bear who swept the floor in the kitchen. It was Mummy Bear who went out in the cold early morning air to fetch the newspaper and croissants. It was Mummy Bear who set the damn table. It was Mummy Bear who walked the bloody dog, cleaned the cat's litter tray, gave them their food, and refilled their water.”

“And now that you've decided to drag your sorry bear-arses downstairs and grace Mummy Bear with your grumpy presence, listen carefully, because I'm only going to say this once … I HAVEN'T MADE THE F***** PORRIDGE YET!”

24 CHATTERBOX 80

INTERESTING CONFUSIONS1. Can you cry under water?2. Do �sh ever get thirsty?3. Why don’t birds fall out of trees when they sleep?4. Why is it called a building when it is already built?5. When they say that dog food is new and

improved, who tastes it?6. If money doesn’t grow on trees, why do banks

have branches?7. Why does round pizza come in a square box?8. Why doesn’t glue stick to its bottle?

CHILDBIRTH AT 65With all the new technology regarding fertility recently, a 65-year-old friend of mine was able to give birth. When she was discharged from the hospital and went home, I went to visit.

‘May I see the new baby?’ I asked‘Not yet,’ she said ‘I’ll make coffee and we can visit

for a while first.’Thirty minutes had passed, and I asked, ‘May I see

the new baby now?’‘No, not yet,’ she said.After another few minutes had elapsed, I asked again, ‘May I see the baby now?’‘No, not yet,’ replied my friend.Growing very impatient, I asked, ‘Well, when can I

see the baby?’‘WHEN HE CRIES!’ she told me.‘WHEN HE CRIES?’ I demanded. ‘Why do I have

to wait until he CRIES?’‘BECAUSE I FORGOT WHERE I PUT HIM, O.K.?!!’

The other night I was invited out for a night with ‘the girls’. I told my husband that I would be home by midnight, “I promise!”

Well, the hours passed and the margaritas went down way too easy. Around 3am I headed for home. Just as I got in the door, the cuckoo clock in the hall started up and cuckooed 3 times. Quickly realizing my husband would probably wake up, I cuckooed another 9 times. I was really proud of myself for coming up with such a quick-witted solution in order to escape a possible con�ict with him. Even when totally smashed ... 3 cuckoos plus 9 cuckoos totals 12 cuckoos MIDNIGHT!

The next morning my husband asked me what time

I got in and I told him - midnight. He didn’t seem at

all put out. Whew! Got away with that one!

Then he said - “We need a new cuckoo clock.”

When I asked him why he said - “Well, last night

our clock cuckooed three times, then said, ‘Oh

blow’, cuckooed four more times, cleared its throat,

cuckooed another three times, giggled, cuckooed

twice more, and then tripped over the coffee table.”

A policeman brought four boys before a judge. “They were causing an awful lot of commotion at the zoo, your Honour,” he said.

“Boys,” said the judge sternly, “I never like to hear reports of juvenile delinquency.

Now I want each of you to tell me your name and what you were doing wrong.”

“My name is George,” said the first boy, “and I threw peanuts into the elephant pen.”

“My name is Pete,” said the second boy, “and I threw peanuts into the elephant pen.”

“My name is Mike,” said the third boy, “and I threw peanuts into the elephant pen.”

“My name is Peanuts,” said the fourth boy.

A young boy has just gotten his driver’s licence and

inquired of his father if they could discuss his use of

the car. His father said he’d make a deal with his son.

“You bring your grades up, study your Bible a little,

get your hair cut and we’ll talk about the car.” The

boy thought about that for a moment, decided he’d

settle for the offer and they agreed on it. After about

six weeks his father said, “Son, I’ve been real proud.

You brought your grades up and I’ve observed you

studying your Bible, but I’m real disappointed you

haven’t got your hair cut.” The son paused for a

moment and said, “Dad, I’ve been thinking about

that and I’ve noticed in my studies of the Bible that

Samson had long hair, John the Baptist had long

hair, Moses had long hair and even Jesus had long

hair.” To this his father replied, “Did you also notice

they all walked everywhere they went?”

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