Life Begins At.....
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YOUR SAY this edition's winning letter Magical Melbourne I made my fi rst trip to Melbourne when I was 25 years old. At fi rst I didn't know what to expect, but I immediately fell in love with the history, culture, people and food. In fact, if I hadn't have fallen pregnant with my daughter I'd probably be living there today. I've been a regular visitor since and have witnessed the city and its surrounds fl ourish into a Mecca of style. There's something for everyone: festivals, entertainment, parks and gardens, coffee lounges, restaurants. I thoroughly enjoyed your article on Melbourne [Exploring Victoria – spring]. It even gave me a few ideas to add to the list for my next trip, which is just around the corner. I was most impressed with your magazine. Hayley Grimshaw Kingston, TAS Masters Games Thank you for your article on the 13th Australian Masters Games [Injuries won't stop Michelle den Dekker – spring]. It was truly inspirational to read about Michelle den Dekker's sporting achievements as well as her commitment to the development of the Australian Masters Games (AMG). I was also pleased to read of the healthy active lifestyle she has instilled in her children – something which is important to each of us. It is fantastic that over 14, 000 competitors participated in the AMG, proving that competitors of a certain age have the opportunity to participate at a competitive level. I hope all those who took part in the AMG – regardless of their age – achieved success in their chosen sport. Tony Dreyer Perth, WA Inspirational Rush write and win Express your views about issues in this edition of The Retiree for your chance to win one of two Pamper Packs from Busby Pure Tissue Oil. Naturally beautiful looking skin has never been so simple! Send your letters to GPO Box 1746, Adelaide, SA 5001, or email editor@aprs.com.au. Please include your full name, suburb and state for publication. Visit fgb.com.au for more information on Busby Pure Tissue Oil. 4 THE RETIREE SUMMER There's nothing I love more than when my new edition of The Retiree arrives in the letterbox. It's a bit of a ritual. I make a cuppa and sit down for the afternoon. Imagine my joy when I opened my latest copy to fi nd our very own Geoff rey Rush on the cover [Big screen king returns for new Aussie fi lm – spring]! Coming from Toowoomba myself I always take great pleasure in reading what he is up to. He is a terrifi c actor and us Queenslanders are very proud of what he has achieved. Thank you for a very insightful interview. Good on you Geoff rey… I don't think he'll be retiring anytime soon! Ruth Hampstead Toowoomba, QLD AUSTRALIAN MASTERS GAMES BANNER BANNER Injuries won't stop Michelle den Dekker is more than ready to compete in the 13th Australian Masters Games (13AMG), where she will participate in two sports – swimming and netball. Ms den Dekker has previously competed in the Games and thoroughly enjoys the event. She was only too happy to share some of her previous Games experiences and her sporting career achievements. For ten days in October, more than 14,000 competitors and supporters from all over Australia and the world will compete in 59 different sports. The Australian Masters Games commenced in 1987 in Tasmania and strives to make itself Australia's largest multi-sport event. The Games are held biannually and include people from all states and territories in Australia as well as international participants from places like New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Americas, Europe and Asia. The Games, which are being held in Adelaide for the fifth time, from the 7th to the 16th of October 2011, will not be an easy feat for Ms den Dekker as she recently suffered a torn tendon in her foot. However, she has a fierce desire to win and is determined to give her team, the Flames, a victory at this year's Masters Games. "I am pretty competitive and I strive to make sure my team competes at their best," she said. >>> THE RETIREE SPRING 41 41 THE RETIREE SPRING BANNER BANNER CELEBRITY FEATURE TRAVEL VICTORIA BANNER BANNER Big screen king RETURNS FOR NEW AUSSIE FILM takes you on a journey from shipwrecks to vineyards, Aboriginal art to ancient forests, and football fields to the world's largest war memorial. Before European settlement, indigenous Australians measured the distance between two landmarks as a stretch of song. Victoria, in this sense, bears the musical trails of thousands of generations of Aboriginal people. From the blue-grey eucalypts of the East, to the semi-arid plains of the West, Aborigines 'sang up' creation stories, celebrated rites of passage, and traded goods across the lands. In Victoria, we are lucky to have many natural wonders: a rugged coastline with limestone cliffs, dense rainforests leading to Stringybark trees on exposed hilltops, pink granite mountains and snowy alpine regions – listing them all is exhausting, and does little to honour the musicality and rhythms of the Victorian landscape. But whilst Victoria is topographically diverse, it also offers many experiences for travellers and wanderers alike. Melbourne was founded in 1835, 47 years after European settlement. Previously, the land had been occupied by the Wurundjeri, Boonwurrung and Wathaurong hunter-gatherer tribes. During the 1850's gold rush, Melbourne quickly became a wealthy and expansive city. These days, Melbourne thrives on its globally-recognised cultural and creative identity. With arts festivals, exhibitions, sporting spectacles, stage shows and a whole host of worldly gastronomic pleasures, it is little wonder that Melbourne is considered a melting pot of cultures. Just 40 kilometres east of Melbourne are the Dandenongs and the Yarra Valley – regions dotted by over 70 wineries. In the forested hills and rolling plains, one can find many whimsical eateries at which to taste a range of organic produce, cheeses, and wines. South of Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula provides a tranquil escape from the bustle of city dwelling. World class golf courses attract punters all year round, as do the serene Hot Springs, where steam rises ethereally from natural water pools. The Great Ocean Road stretches west for 240 kilometres. It is a place to experience nature at its wildest – volatile seas, weathered cliffs, the Great Otway National Park, and the 12 Apostles. Matthew Flinders, a British explorer, said of the area, "I have seldom seen a more fearful section of coastline." To the south-east of Melbourne, Westernport Bay hosts Phillip Island, which is famously known for its Fairy Penguins, rich wildlife and powerful surf beaches. These Victorian experiences are open to all budgets and tastes. But with everything that it has on offer, we thought it would be interesting to ask three famous and well-respected Victorians: 'Where in Victoria would you take visitors?' > THE RETIREE SPRING 17 Geoffrey Rush, one of Australia's favourite actors, will return to the big screen this year in another Australian drama The Eye of the Storm, adding to what has been a busy and successful period of his professional career. Matthew Pejkovic reports. 8 THE RETIREE SPRING THE RETIREE SPRING 9 9 THE RETIREE SPRING Kristen Scott