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Are you researching the Boomers? Check out: Are you looking for a good laugh? Check out: Are you looking for work? Check out:What was it like to be a Boomer? The editor has written some stories about his life as a Boomer. Hover over ABOUT THE EDITOR above for access. ______________________________________________________ A book for all Baby Boomers I recommend the following book ... The Rest of Your Life How to Make it as Good as You Want ... to all Baby Boomers. It will be a real asset for all those who are planning responsibly for the future. Compiled by Paul McKeon for people in their 40s, 50s & 60s who want to really enjoy the second half of their lives. Please access the link below to order your E-book copy. www.mylifechange.com.au/the-rest-of-your-life/bonza.php ______________________________________________________ BOOMER MUSIC Our favourite group of all times and their music will be played in centuries to come- THE BEATLES Paul McCartney’s new release Kisses On The Bottom is available. Also now you can watch the official EPK for the album in its entirety at the link below. The interview features Paul and Award-winning producer Tommy LiPuma chat about the process of recording KOTB. Please share the new full Kisses On The Bottom EPK with your readers at Bonza. Kisses On The Bottom Full EPK Link: http://youtu.be/J2j_Aw2SJBQ Stream KOTB on AOL Music: http://music.aol.com/new-releases-full-cds/spinner#/1 Stream KOTB on MSN Music: http://music.msn.com/music/listeningbooth/ Buy Kisses On The Bottom: http://www.amazon.com/Kisses-Bottom-Paul-McCartney/dp/B006OAB3ME/?tag=concordreco0c-20 Buy Kisses On The Bottom (Deluxe): http://www.amazon.com/Kisses-Bottom-Paul-McCartney/dp/B006RVDX00/?tag=concordreco0c-20 ‘Kisses On The Bottom’ assets: http://www.42west.biz/PMCARTNEY/assets.zip Official website: http://www.paulmccartney.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/PaulMcCartney Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PaulMcCartney ______________________________________________________ Boomer Book I recently published my second book called “Once I was a Teenager”. It’s about how life was in the 50s and 60s in Australia. It’s a nostalgic book about how life was then. Such as our mother’s pithy sayings...”no nice man will marry you if (you eat with your mouth open)”, or “wait ‘til your father get’s home”, or “wear a clean pair of knickers when you go out. What if you are in a car accident!” We are offspring of parents of WW2, and we have their values which puzzle our offspring. This is a really funny book with a foreword by Little Pattie (who remembers that Aussie 60s teen singing sensation, who is still performing today?) Often our children don’t ask how life was for us. Well, you will chuckle and reminisce with this book. Guaranteed. Little Pattie loves it. I give proceeds to an orphan charity, but would love to be in contact with you guys. Jonquil Graham You can contact me at jonquil.graham@gmail.com. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New health book just for over 50s Research shows that Health and Finances are two of the biggest issues for people who are planning or experiencing retirement. While there are hundreds of books about health on the market, there are very few that focus on the health issues that affect the lives of older people. A new book titled “How to stay Healthy, Active and Sharp in Retirement” is designed to correct this omission. It’s written by 15 leading health experts and it covers all the major physical and mental issues that people over 50 need to manage Here’s a list of the subjects covered CHAPTERS
11. Living beyond expectations ( Petrea King. Quest For Life Foundation ) 12. Relationships and Sex (Sandra Kimball . Relationship Counsellor & author) 13. Keeping your immune system healthy (Prof. Fabienne Mackay Monash University) 14. How to reduce your risk of getting dementia (Dr. Simone Reppermund -UNSW Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing) 15. Dental health (Prof Peter Barnard.) 16. Your attitude keeps you young (or makes you old) (Paul McKeon) This is not a book about sickness. The overriding message is that it’s possible to delay the ageing process and enjoy a better quality of life in our later years. It’s full of positive suggestions about how we can be happier and healthier if we follow the expert advice offered in the book. The book is only available on line. You can find out more or buy a copy by clicking on this link http://www.mylifechange.com.au/stay-healthy-active-and-sharp-in-retirement For comment or more information, please contact the Editor Paul McKeon on 02 6652 7581 ______________________________________________________ Self Employment Award winning author Diana Todd-Banks has a program for those interested in self employment. Please go to the Notice Board page to read her full email and ideas. "Just a thought: on your BONZA site would it be feasible to create a section for those who are wanting to work (with their skills)? Then promote that section to the outside world. If any of that interests you and you need help let me know, I'll help you. Cheers and keep up the great work." Diana Todd-Banks Award Winning Best Selling Author Life Change Coach * Web TV Host * Speaker cell: (61) 407 187 008 skype: ditodd-banks email: diana@dianatoddbanks.com www.dianatoddbanks.com ______________________________________________________ Media Release- 17/6/2014 Is the 70 retirement really about Boomers? The labor government decided that retirement would be 67 in 2023 because of the numbers of Boomers that would require government assistance by then in the key areas of health, aged care and pensions. I had no argument with that decision at the time as only a small percentage of Boomers will have enough superannuation to be able to be self-sustainable so working them for longer will add some personal wealth to their financial portfolio and offset some government costs. As a student of the Intergenerational reports of 2002, 2007 and 2010 I understand the intent behind that decision. Then came the LNP version this year of retirement at 70 by 2035 and once again I thought I understood why but on further examination I am no so sure now. All the current Boomers will be over 70 by 2035 as the youngest of them are 50 this year (and the older ones 68) so this decision is more for the X generationers ( 35 to 49) and even the Y ‘s ( 20 to 34) so do we really need to do it? I think not. If the Boomers are already retired then the 70 limit will only penalise the younger generations who will already have good superannuation to live on by that year (if the industry stays true) so they wont be the burden we will be on government coffers. Surely a better route to take would be to increase employer and employee contributions to achieve the 17-18% superannuation contribution level recommended by economists (only 9% now) that will be needed for us to sustain our old age by that time and therefore leave retirement at 67. The government could also legislate to stop any creative accounting by the younger generations so that they were still eligible for pension at 67 even with their generous accumulated superannuation so that the pension is a safety net only at that stage for those who have little or no wealth due to circumstances beyond their control- illness, accident or disability. Finally, readers of my web site www.bonza.com.au are adamant they want a referendum for euthanasia soon as possible so we can have more control over our future and not linger on bed ridden in our old age. That would also reduce costs for government substantially as my doctor tells me that more is spent on us in our final year of life than on all the previous years of our lifetime health care. Brian Murphy Editor BONZA __________________________________________ Superannuation- Alarm Bells are Ringing I have some real concerns about the future of superannuation for Boomers on hearing this story. Did some work for a lady and she filled me in on the hassles of superannuation. She is 72 and her partner died last year and left her his superannuation in his will. The company REST (hospitality superannuation) will not pay her anything as per Trustee decision and wont say why. She is leaving to live in Portugal. Seems such a shame but I was blown away when she said her partner's will was not enough to get the money paid. If not claimed the money goes to the government in three years. She reckons it is another revenue grab from them. I have asked some experts to comment. Brian Murphy August 2014 Noel Whittaker is a financial expert and adviser. Here is his answer to the problem- As the baby boomers retire there is a growing awareness of the importance of having a will. That’s a great start, but the sad reality is that family situations can change, and challenges to wills have become common place. Unfortunately, the outcome of any litigation is always uncertain. This is why it is often appropriate to hold assets in such a way that they fall outside the scope of the will and are thus generally secure from litigation. These include assets such as property and shares held as joint tenants, and retirement income stream products like allocated pensions and annuities when there is a reversionary beneficiary. Insurance bonds are also excluded from the will as the proceeds vest in the nominated beneficiary on the death of the bond owner. Superannuation is another asset that does not necessarily flow in terms of the will. The trustee of the fund has the final say as to who gets the proceeds, unless there is a current binding nomination requiring the trustee to pay the proceeds in the manner specified in the nomination document. The situation where assets are held as joint tenants is the most common, but in this context the term "tenants" doesn't have a thing to do with landlord and tenant, - it refers to ownership of assets such as property and shares. If you buy a house in partnership with another, usually your spouse, you normally have the ownership registered as "joint tenants". This means that, if either party dies, the co-owner, irrespective of the terms of the will, then owns the entire property. However, if the property is held as "tenants in common" the share of the deceased is transferred in terms of the will of the deceased. Which one do you choose? It depends on who you want to receive the asset if you die first. Usually couples buy the family home as joint tenants to give each other the security of knowing that it can't be bequeathed to a third party if there are family arguments and the will is challenged. There are three situations that occur regularly where it is probably best to hold an asset as "tenants in common". The first is where you are buying a property in partnership with one or more friends. In most cases you would both expect your share to go to your family if you died, not the friend. The second is when you, and other family members, are left property through your parent's will. This is similar to buying property with a friend. Almost certainly you would want your share of the estate to go to your own estate if you died, not to your siblings. Last is when re-marriage occurs. Both parties may have children from a previous marriage, and usually prefer to keep their assets separate so they can be willed to their children from that previous marriage. If the house was held as joint tenants it would go straight to the co-owner and the children may miss out. Some wills give the spouse a life interest, which leaves the family home to the children but allows the spouse to live in the family home for life. The purpose is prevent the children of the deceased being disinherited if the spouse remarries, and ensures that the spouse can never be forced to vacate the property. This strategy should not used without a full understanding of the ramifications involved as there can be social security and capital gains tax issues. Sadly, life interests tend to produce undesirable outcomes. They condemn the spouse to living out their declining years in a home that usually becomes unsuitable as they grow older and it prevents them from selling the property and moving to another. There can be arguments between the spouse and the children about who should pay the maintenance and problems finding money to pay medical expenses. In an extreme case the spouse could move to a nursing home and find themselves destitute as an unhelpful family now own what was the matrimonial home. Regards, Noel Whittaker AM Ed Note: Bottom line- check out superannuation nomination on Google and you may need to fill one in for your company __________________________________________ If You Lose Your Job, Remember This August 2014 The best memory I have of my dad from when I was growing up happened when I was about 7 years old. At the time he was looking for work in Washington state, and he, my mom, my little brother, and I were all living in a tent. My dad knew I likedAirwolf, a 1980’s TV show about a hi-tech helicopter used to fight criminals. For my birthday he made me a replica Airwolf carved of wood from a tree near our tent. This is also one of the only memories I have of my dad when I was a kid. The High Point When I was 10 my dad got a job working for a conveyor belt manufacturer as a welder and maintenance man. He worked hard and made the most of his opportunity, and rose through the company pretty rapidly. By the time I was a teenager he was traveling throughout the world, and had his picture taken on a camel in front of the Great Pyramids. He spent extended periods of time working in Chile and Germany, and had friends on almost every continent. Those years were the high point of my Dad’s life, to him. I don’t blame him—feeling important is a powerful drug. During these years the name "Dave McKissen" meant something to people who were not in our family. However, these were not good years for our relationship, and I barely saw him. But they were the best years for our family, financially. Then he lost his job during my senior year of high school, right before I turned 18. The Low Point My dad hasn’t had regular, consistent employment for the past 15 years. It’s not because of any larger economic issues, and it’s not because of a lack of talent. My dad’s hands and brain are connected in a way that mine aren’t. Though he lacks a degree, he is the most talented engineer I’ve ever seen. A treehouse that is born in his mind ends up in my yard in the time it would take me to find a hammer. I see the same talent in my son, and I am literally in awe of the two of them. My dad is also good at more than just building things—he is a good guy, with a good heart, and people love him. I love him. He is a great Grandpa. But when he lost his job, he lost part of himself. When you feel like you’ve lost a part of yourself the search to find that missing piece can take you to some very dark places. It did for my dad, and much of the last 15 years have been hard on him, and the people that care about him. Remember That You're Still Here After a recent article I received a few emails from people who had lost their job, and a couple of emails from people who are facing an impending job loss. I don’t have good advice on what to do about a stint of unemployment on a resume. What I can say is that if you lose your job, don’t lose yourself. You’re still here, even if your job isn't. The best parts of you, the parts that will be remembered, usually have nothing to do with your job. You should give your job your best, but don’t make the best part of you your job. You also may have to realize that you may never reach your prior peak. It’s hard to imagine the circumstances that placed my dad on a camel in front of the Great Pyramids occurring again. But just because that time has come and gone doesn't mean you have come and gone. As for my dad, things are finally getting better. We work at filling in the missing memories by going to a bar near my house and having a beer, or by playing horseshoes in our neighbour's yard. Last year we took a road trip together to Philadelphia, Mississippi in my Smart Car. He has a standing gig to serve as the local Catholic school’s jack-of-all-trades and handyman when they have the funds in their budget. It’s a job that’s just a few blocks from our house, and last year he painted the auditorium. The walls in that auditorium won’t last as long as the Great Pyramids, but they will be there for a few years, and his grandkids know that "Dave McKissen" painted them. Dustin McKissen is the Vice President of First Resource, an association management, economic development, and consulting firm with roots in the manufacturing sector. He is also a proud member of LinkedIn's Publishers and Bloggers Group. You can find him on Twitter @DMcKissen. __________________________________________ Business Opportunity Hi, According to the AARP, Boomers and older Americans are giving retirement a major makeover, which has led to the emergence of a new life stage – an encore career. This period can involve paid, part-time work, or revolve around an entirely new business idea. I'm with Annuity.org, where our goal is to provide relevant financial information on a multitude of topics. Recently, we have developed a comprehensive guide to investing in a business during an encore career. I've at attached a couple of resources for you to check out: http://www.annuity.org/2014/05/01/seniors-small-business-with-annuities/ http://www.annuity.org/life-after-selling/investing-business/ I would be thrilled if you were to include us on your page, alongside your other helpful sites, at http://www.bonza.com.au/links.html. Please let me know if you have any questions. Have a wonderful day! __________________________________________ Did every Baby Boomer achieve greatness in their life? No they didn’t. Some just went along for the ride and achieved small things on a small scale and what a ride it was. From the baby boom in the late 40’s, 50’s and early 60’s which was the catalyst for the dramatic changes to society over the next 50 years to changes to traditions, government focus, societal expectations, war and peace, education, arts, science, cultures almost across the board and changes bring high levels of stress. So how did the average baby boomer cope? How did it affect their everyday lives and how did they react to the changes and cope with stress? Baby Boomer advocate Brian Murphy brings a wealth of experience and research covering a 20 year advocacy period in his book “The Life of an Average Baby Boomer” released through Amazon Kindle books. Brian is an educator and life mentor and is passionate about ‘my generation” and has consistently informed Boomers about the big picture of what lies ahead for us all as Australia Ages and how it will affect us as individuals through public presentations and his web site www.bonza.com.au You will learn a lot from the book gaining new information that is relevant to you as an individual and you will also be motivated to plan for the future and move forward in your life. He shares his life memories freely and in an honest and simplistic manner that many will be able to relate to as average Boomers. His adventurous childhood and teen years, bad school experiences, his call-up for national service and related court appearances as a Conscientious Objector, mates and marriages, parenting experiences, retirement and his years in New Zealand founding and running Grey Skills and the subsequent efforts on his return to OZ in informing and educating government and society of the pitfalls of the Boomer generation and our influence on welfare, health and aged care budgets. The Life of an Average Boomer www.amazon.com.au https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0767CSQXY ________________________________________________________ Have Some Fun- Using Your Brain Brain Study: If you can read this OUT LOUD you have a strong mind. And better than that: Alzheimer's is a long, long, ways down the road before it ever gets anywhere near you. Only very good minds can read this. This is weird, but interesting! 7H15 M3554G3 53RV35 7O PR0V3 H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N D0 4M4Z1NG 7H1NG5! 1MPR3551V3 7H1NG5! 1N 7H3 B3G1NN1NG 17 WA5 H4RD BU7 N0W, 0N 7H15 LIN3 Y0UR M1ND 1S R34D1NG 17 4U70M471C4LLY W17H 0U7 3V3N 7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17, B3 PROUD! 0NLY C3R741N P30PL3 C4N R3AD 7H15. PL3453 F0RW4RD 1F U C4N R34D 7H15. If you can read this, you have a strange mind, too. Only 55 people out of 100 can. I cdnuolt blveiee that I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd what I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in what oerdr the ltteres in a word are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is that the frsit and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it whotuit a pboerlm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the word as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! This is a TEST ----------------Good Luck!!! We can all use some brain exercise!! How old are your eyes? The Eye Test Can you find the B's (there are 2 B's) DON'T skip RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Once you've found the B's Find the 1 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII1III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Once you found the 1............…;. Find the 6 9999999999999999999999999999999999 9999999999999999999999999999999999 9999999999999999999999999999999999 9999999999999999999999999999999999 9999999999999999999999999999999999 9999999999999999999999999999999999 9999699999999999999999999999999999 9999999999999999999999999999999999 9999999999999999999999999999999999 9999999999999999999999999999999999 9999999999999999999999999999999999 9999999999999999999999999999999999 Once you've found the 6…; Find the N (it's hard!!) MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMNMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM Once you've found the N…; Find the Q.. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOQOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |
BONZA View - October 2017 Euthanasia Bill passes first stage in Victorian Parliament. When people decide now to end their lives for any reason they don't care about others who suffer because of it. Whether it be hanging themselves for example at home, in the bush or in a park then someone has to find them. A work colleague and good friend did it in his garden and his daughter found him. She was ten. Another lady from my brother's workplace used a shotgun in a quarry and the police had to deal with the aftermath. Others use their cars, jump in front of trains and cars on the highway, crash into other vehicles, etc etc Voluntary euthanasia allows terminal ill people to die with dignity, surrounded by their loved ones rather than seek an alternative method because they do not want to die in pain or loose all dignity in front of their loves ones as the body deteriorates. Sounds fair to me. All the self righteous ones are now coming out with their anti- voluntary euthanasia rhetoric...it is a personal decision to be made by the individual and should be lawful in this day and age. I am not suggesting depressed people should have access to voluntary euthanasia but more the methods used by terminally ill to end their lives. Dignity is the key. _________________________________________________________ Don’t You Just Love OZ What is it about Western Australia? Why is it such an enjoyable and unique place to visit? We have just completed a 4000 km road trip in a small comfortable self-contained campervan from Perth to Adelaide so another one off the bucket list. It was simply magnificent. We flew from Brisbane to Perth in five uneventful hours and shacked up in a hotel for three days while we visited Rottnest Island, Fremantle and the delights of Perth. It was the wildflower festival in their beautiful Kings Park and the flora was exceptional mainly due to the variety of local wildflowers unique to that climate. I have never seen such a display of varied colours and plants like it and we have visited botanical gardens around the world. You must see it. Rottnest Island, the former military training camp, intern war camp and holiday destination for many West Australian is a treasure. You can circumnavigate this beautiful island by bus, bike or walk and you will never be bored. The scenery is wonderful with a variety of bays, beaches and outlooks with the unique flora and fauna to treat your senses, swim or snorkel in the crystal clear turquoise coloured water or just sit and ponder life surrounded by the sounds of silence. The Rottnest Flyer boat leaves the port city of Freemantle a couple of times a day and is only a half-hour journey. On return we walked the city up to the infamous convict prison, past the coffee strip, through the food markets and took the free bus around a city that offers a variety of healthy food options in and around the markets. We left Perth on day four and drove to the Anzac area of Bunbury, Busselton (where we walked a km out on the same jetty the Anzacs were loaded onto ships) and Albany where they trained before heading for Gallipoli and the Western Front. The quaint and alternate town of Dunsborough was our first night stop and we found a good spot to park in the volunteer rescue car park on Geographe Bay. The next morning we walked to Meelup beach along a very well kept path with outstanding views of the coast line as a great introduction to the Naturaliste-Leeuwin National Park which is a biodiversity smorgasbord. What and eye-opener for lovers of nature from the lighthouses on Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin which are joined by a 100 km coastal walk that will satisfy your every need for beauty and adventure. We camped at Prevelly/Gnarabup where we watched the sun set and stopped at the jaw-droppingly beautiful Yallingup on the way down. Woke up above the car park above beach café where we enjoyed a morning coffee and enjoyed the wildflowers that are everywhere and the blue ocean that keeps rolling into the bleached white sands and rocky headlands. The scenery is breathtaking. After passing through the wine district of Margaret River where we counted at least 50 wineries and experienced the spiritual solitude of vast grey gum forests, we drove to Pemberton for lunch and on to Walpole, before visiting the Valley of the Giant trees and finally stopping at Denmark surf club carpark for the night. From Denmark it was a short drive to MT Barker the next morning where we climbed the mountain for an hour before reaching the awesome sky walkway that sits like and eagles nest high above the surrounding country-side. It truly was a feeling of elation as we reached the sky walk which is built with stainless steel and bolted to the many massive granite boulders. It really offers a feeling of accomplishment as well in reaching it but with an added bonus of incredible far-reaching views. Nearby Albany was our next stop with two nights at the Big 4 Caravan Park nestled on beautiful Middleton beach. After a peaceful night’s sleep we ventured past the nearby coffee shops and on to the walkway leading to Port Albany and the ANZAC Centre. More wildflowers, some old lighthouse relics and an amazing view of the entrance to the harbour are an integral part of that journey. A short drive the next day to the spectacular wind farms and more WA Parks stainless steel walkways overlooking their natural bridge and gap where the waves pounded the rocks directly below where we stood. Before we hit the road again we spent the morning at the boatshed markets in Port Albany where we met our first live ATM named Albert who sits with a bag of money next to the ATM sign. He swipes your credit card then adds his fee and you are given the cash a process which we found quite unique but effective. The trip just kept on dazzling us with stays in Hopetoun, Esperance right on the beach again and a crossing of the Nullarbor Plains which justify the meaning of Nullarbor which is treeless but inspiring especially as you camp out in clear starry skies. On crossing the border South Australia surprised us with numerous whales at the Bunda Cliffs Head of the Bight, tranquil settings on the Flinders Highway at Streaky Bay and Elliston and BHP's Whyalla but nothing to match the magic of WA. Go in the spring and enjoy the experience of a lifetime in an area that is by no means over-crowded like other parts of OZ but just delightfully UNIQUE. _______________________________________ The BONZA Report- A Report on the Future of Australian Babyboomers After 17 years of listening to Boomers, talking to employers, government and community BONZA takes pride in presenting the first BONZA Report. It is a collective view and you may or may not agree with it all but it is the thoughts and ideas of "my generation". We hope it makes a difference to our lives by sowing some seeds of change. It has been sent to all Federal Government Departments and political parties for their perusal and use in planning for the future for my generation. LINK (Download the report here) The BONZA Report- 2014 __________________________________________________________ Who are Baby Boomers? Founded in 2001 BONZA is all about Baby Boomers who are aged 53 to 71 (born between 1946 - 1964) with over 5 million in Australia (ABS) and 1 million in New Zealand. (Between 1998-2001 I had the pleasure of working all over NZ and assisted hundreds of KIWI Boomers find employment through my company Grey Skills) We have always been aware of our generation and our uniqueness in that we are a constant worry for our governments due to our numbers and the predicted cost of our ageing process to them. I don't want to be a burden- do you? Let's prepare ourselves so that does not happen if we can prevent it. In 2011, the first of the Boomers became eligible for aged pensions and the numbers doubled from the previous year. In the next couple of decades aged care becomes the focus. Families and individuals will be encouraged to have ageing Boomers stay in their own homes and be cared for as they age because we cant build enough aged care homes to cope with the high numbers. Increased health problems will also dominate the annual budgets every year for the next 40 years and the security of single aged females will be another challenge to solve. We are living longer so governments are encouraging us to work longer, stay healthier and invest our money wisely by planning for our futures. I was asked by a Boomer why we are different than say Y generationers as they also have large numbers. The answer is purely lack of superannuation to look after ourselves in retirement. We need about $30 000 a year for 20 odd years of retirement and the pension is only $18 000 and we have an average of $60 000 now. Aim for around 250 000 in super at least but you will not need a million to live a good life. The Y generation will have hundreds of thousands of dollars on retirement if they work all their lives. Hope that makes sense. _________________________________________________________ BOOMER INFORMATION There are many pieces to the Boomer jigsaw puzzle and we have to put those pieces together to see the big picture and encourage Boomers to focus on planning a new career rather than retirement. In 2023 the age pension age goes up to 67 so it is better we stop thinking retirement and thinking long-term income. A 'mind switch' to the way we are thinking now is needed urgently. My advice to Boomers in 2017 is simple. You have to work as long as possible because the superannuation market is so unpredictable and you need money for what could be a 20+ year retirement. Why not do work that you choose so maybe do some study as it is never too late to start a new life. If not study then there is work to match your skills in the aged industry, child care, community services or doing your own thing in starting or purchasing a business. I believe we should be planning our future in three stages so that we get the most out of our different phases of life. Stage 1- Over 50 and still actively working and saving through superannuation. Stage 2- Over 60 and still working full time if possible (even as a volunteer) but at least part time to preserve health, superannuation and savings. Stage 3- Over 70 and retired for most (a few will continue no doubt) and downsizing so money lasts as long as you can. Working keeps you healthier and you will live more comfortably in old age rather than waiting anxiously for death. Try yoga a few times a week to stay flexible and a dispirin a day to keep the blood thinning. Many of us will be working or volunteering until our seventies so start thinking 'what can I do' and not 'who would want me at this age'. Speaking of health, please read my story on dental treatment in Thailand in the Health section above because it could be a cheaper option for you in having your teeth fixed. Bad teeth will ruin your health. Two centuries ago we were dying on average in our 40s. We are lucky enough to have twice that time on this earth so make the most of it. It is no ones fault we have to work just our time on this earth is different from our ancestors. Enjoy your family as they will be there when your time ends and you will feel complete because they are. We need to work together to make sure that we have a BONZA life as we age, enjoy each others company and leave a positive image of our time on this earth. _________________________________________________________ Feedback from surveys: Superannuation - 58% have 10-100000; 17% have 100-600000 and 25% have over $600000 so lack of super for Boomers is a real issue in Ageing Australia. Voluntary Euthanasia Referendum; 80% VOTED YES for one. I have these old survey results but have put the survey question on the front page in the new format above as it is an important and urgent issue and the same result is happening there. It runs at over 70% for yes as well so why not add it to the coming referendum for the Indigenous. Most Boomers I speak to on the matter already have a plan for euthanasia and some have the means already so why not make it legal. Interesting to listen to debate on the Tasmanian Euthanasia Bill this year which was defeated by two votes. It makes you think when one chap said, "I don't want people I love to find me after suicide." Victoria is our next hope in 2017. Let's hope they pass the bill.( and they did) Let's decide as a nation to give some dignity to the terminally ill who want to end their lives. Marshall Perron was so concerned over the issue that he has written an open letter to all state and territory coroners about the need for voluntary euthanasia now. Please go to the noticeboard page above to view his letter. It is compelling reading. Saw the movie last Cab to Darwin on the topic of euthanasia. It was a masterpiece..well acted and compelling. I believe that the title will become an Australian Boomer favourite with us announcing to friends and family that we are on the last cab to Darwin when our time comes. Also former Qld Labor Premier Peter Beattie this week (March 2014) in the Australian wrote an article under the heading...... In the end, one's thinking turns to euthanasia As premier I fought it, but ageing has forced me to re-examine my views on this thorny moral issue Further, I spoke with my doctor at a recent visit and he told me how difficult it is to get the over 80s to sign the authority to turn off the machines that keep them alive even though, "We are spending more money in the last year of life to keep people alive now than we did for the rest of their life," he said. Another good reason for voluntary euthanasia would be the trillions we would save the country if you can take the emotion out of the debate. In The Australian on 16/1/16 Nikki Gremmell wrote about her experience with her mother. Good reason for a referdendum I say. Would you want to go through this experience ? " It feels like such a modern story for modern times. My mother euthanised herself — it’s difficult to say “committed suicide” — late last year. No one really throws around that bald and loaded S word amid all the talk of “dying with dignity”. I don’t know if she fully considered the emotional depth charges her actions set off within so many lives. The fact is, my elderly mother euthanised herself, by herself, in front of the telly. Some builders — who had been taking their time renovating her bathroom, leaving her without it for weeks — found her the following morning. Everything was thought through very carefully. My mother was in chronic pain. She’d had a foot operation 10 months earlier. I’d like to talk to the surgeon who took my mother’s carefully saved money and assured her he could “fix” her; I cannot bear to. He left her with a spine thrown out of kilter by the drastic surgery; left her too angry and despairing to talk about a further fix; left her twisted around a walking stick in her final weeks like a withered crone from a fairytale."....... ....... Independence. Empowerment. A say in her own circumstances. So. In the end, she did it her way. She took care not to implicate any of her children — when the police officers informed me of her death they also pulled out a pad and took notes. Now I know why. I could have been the subject of a police investigation if I’d had anything to do with the situation. My mother was careful; she’d done her research. But in the fraught world of euthanasia in Australia, I just say this: if the family cannot by law be involved in the wishes of a person wanting to be euthanised, then you are condemning that person to a monstrously bleak and lonely death. One that I, as the daughter, will never recover from. I didn’t listen enough to her; didn’t grant her the dignity of a proper audience when she spoke of her Dying with Dignity books and forums; I’d get too emotional. Perhaps, in the end, she thought it easier to go it alone without the clutter of familial complication, to take matters into her own hands secretly and with great determination. Nothing has ever been as dramatic in my life as my mother’s leaving of it. Were her final moments an act of empowerment, or despair? A gesture of motherly love, or selfishness? A friend in her 80s gripped my fist at the funeral, tighter than it’s ever been held. “You’re now a part of the SWS,” she whispered fiercely. “What’s that?” “The Strong Women’s Society.” She spoke as if it were a highly secret organisation to which I’d suddenly been granted honorary membership. Mum was a member of that too. I have to hold on to that. To make sense of it all." _________________________________________________________________________ Brothers in Arms Memorial Ypres Belgium I returned to the Western Front and would like to share this story with you. Here died thousands of Young Australians who would never return to their families in OZ and are now part of all our families as they lie buried in this cemetery and the many others in this area that is now part of Australia forever. The French recognize our significant contribution with a Franco- Australian museum in that village of Villiers- Bretonneux which is attached to a school rebuilt with Australian donations and all over the school yard and in their classrooms are Australian flags and messages such as 'Do not forget Australia. This should be our spiritual home of World War One as our soldiers are revered here. You must go as it will humble you and also fill you with tremendous paradox of pride and sorrow. Take time to see all the Australian sites in this area of France and Belgium- you will not be sorry and these brave young men should never be left alone. This is the story though of one of them. His name was John Hunter from Nanango and his brother Jim and his story really moved me. My brother Rod, my son Beau accompanied me to the Western Front. My brother is a retired ADF Major who spent time with the 49th Battalion and he was very interested in the graves of thousands of predecessors from his battalion who lost their lives fighting on the Western Front in WW1. On a day tour near Ypres in Belgium we were asked by the guide if we wanted to see old trenches or a film that a local publican had about Aussie diggers in Belgium. After the film (by Australian by the name of Hurley who was in this area at the time) we were told a story by the publican Johan Vandewalle about how he was involved in the finding and exhumation of 5 Aussie soldiers whose remains were accidentally dug up in 2006 during road widening. One of the soldiers turned out to be John (Jack) Hunter from Nanango who was wrapped very tightly and buried by his brother Jim during the battle of Polygon Woods but he was unable to find him on returning after fighting ceased and he remained there undetected for those 89 years. Johan was severely affected by his find because he had to unwrap the body and as he did so the sun reflected off the retina of Jack's eye which had been persevered by his coat for all those years. He has been raising funds for a memorial called 'Brothers in Arms’ since to honour the brothers and their comrades. He is driven by the cause and we feel he needs assistance to achieve his target as most help at this stage is coming from local bikers in Europe. I really think it was fate that Rod met this chap and we are keen to assist him raise the funds needed to build his ‘Brothers In Arms’ memorial. Is it possible for any of you out there to raise awareness locally so that when the battle has its 100 year celebration in 2017 there is a memorial to commemorate this boy and this intriguing story of brotherly love? http://www.brothersinarmsmemorial.org/ All donations can be made directly to the memorial site on that web site.' Hope you agree that it is a worthy cause and a great way to commemorate their sacrifice. Brian Murphy April 2016 UPDATE Johan emailed me and informed BONZA that he is coming to Australia this month to help seek more donations for the memorial which now has been approved. 2017- Johan has commenced the process by purchasing land. Still needs donations for monument. See media release below. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#sent?projector=1 __________________________________________________________ Please join us in sharing those good times, innovative ideas and suggestions to make the rest of our lives a BONZA one. We advocate for:
I have never read an article that describes the Boomers as well as Jo Chandler from The Age newspaper has written. Do yourself a favour and read it...... LINK : http://www.theage.com.au/national/the-baby-boomers-at-65-20101231-19c22.html#ixzz2D4ka1ymK And this one on retirement...... http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/work/world-braces-for-retirement-crisis/story-fnic6on7-1226791660815 __________________________________________________________ 
A bucket list of things to do is a Boomer priority but there are moments when we will be challenged. Super Greys This is a story that happened in Spain on the 29 th May 2016. My mate Keith Blake was travelling with his wife Sally and he sent me this on Facebook. They were attacked by two young men. " We have felt safe in Spain so far, having only seen one incident of pick pockets on the Metro. But today we were targeted. We had been shopping and stopped at a little bar for a rest and a wine on the way home. We then walked through The Ravel to the top end of our street, but just before we got there we were approached from behind by two young blokes offering discount tickets. I was carrying my camera in one hand and the shopping bags in the other but one of them thrust a card at me and I grabbed it. He then grabbed me and swung his body around me, lifting my wallet from deep in my front pocket. In one move he swung around, still holding on to me and passed it to his mate. This is where they came unstuck. Sally was beside me and immediately put the second guy in a headlock, and screamed "Thief, Thief!". I flung the first guy off me and grabbed my wallet out of the hands of the guy in the headlock. No. 1 thief scurried off and so did No 2 when Sally released her grip. People came running to see if we were alright, but they should have been more concerned for the two would be thieves. Never pick on two grey haired Aussies, especially when one is Super Sally! Lesson learned for two young tearaways!! _______________________________________ What is BONZA? BONZA is an information site or lifestyle magazine for Baby Boomers. We want all Boomers to plan for their future and support each other. More than 20 000 thousand Australian Boomers retire each month now (around 240 000 per year) so welcome to Ageing Australia. What can we do for ourselves if we are a Boomer to prepare for life after work? This site will give you the information you need to change your life. " Who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”- Theodore Roosevelt 1910 __________________________________________________________ Should Boomers take risks with their money? I watched an ABC Four Corners program this month on real estate and its value as an investment. Among many showcased who were struggling with mortgages were a 70 plus couple from WA who were interviewed about their investment portfolio. They had owned their own home and had some real estate investments which had good equity in them as WA had a housing boom in the last decade. They were encouraged by a broker to invest in more property because of the boom and liked the idea of making some more money by increasing their portfolio using that equity and a mortgage on their home. They are now expecting to lose it all unfortunately as the real estate market plunges in that state with the end of the mining boom. We all have defining times and opportunities in our lives to invest in our financial futures to increase our worth and should accept the responsibility that comes when we take these financial risk taking options. In the 80s for instance I invested our house equity in a Mitre 10 store in central Queensland coal town called Middlemount. A sure thing I was told as the town and the company, Capricorn Coal, needed hardware as the town was being built from scratch for a projected 10 000 people. Mitre 10 signed as a partner after they researched those opportunities so our future looked rosy. The risk seemed low to us and looked like a good thing so we moved up there as a family but after less than a year of managing the store, the Hawke government stopped subsidizing mineral exploration and the town’s growth stopped. So did the sales effectively by taking away the builders and subies who purchased hardware daily. The mining company also decided in a major betrayal to buy their hardware direct and have their own hardware warehouse on site so the store closed and I went bust losing the house and eventually my marriage. I regret now taking that risk but was young enough then to start again so after 3 years of bankruptcy I worked 3 jobs a week to save a deposit on a new home and started a new journey of home ownership. And there lies the problem for Boomers now who risk their life savings and superannuation by listening to brokers who have nothing to lose and are really just keen to increase their commissions by signing you to deals. You are basically too old to start again so maybe we all need to take a moment to be grateful for what we have accumulated and don’t take any risks in losing our money by investing. Manage your lives around your money and the income from it, is my advice and be happy you have got it because others are not so lucky as they are still taking financial risks. __________________________________________________________ Reflections of an Anxious Boomer… First Year of Retirement Is retirement easy for Boomers? I was never comfortable with retirement and did so with some anxiety as the retirees of my youth had quickly disappeared into God’s waiting room and were never seen again in my eyes. But times have changed and I did retiree with trepidation but without fanfare 12 months ago. So what has the first 12 months been like? The first thing that is worth noting is the time it takes Centrelink to process your Age Pension application. Their argument is that some 20 000 Boomers retire now each month in Australia so that is a huge increase in workload compared to the Silent generation before us so I waited not so patiently for nearly 2 months for a decision even though it is back paid to application date. It is also worth noting that the local Centrelink office is absolutely in the dark with your application and nothing you do will make it go faster at that office as it is processed in age pension land somewhere else nor does the complaints line or the internet make any difference although it is good to vent when you are frustrated. I eventually contacted the Minister’s office and had it approved within a couple of days. I felt a little guilty about this approach but I had no income and anyway, why aren’t more workers hired if the work load has increased? So make sure you apply before your birthday so it is well on the way when you are eligible. It is also worth remembering that you should make an appointment with the Financial Services Officer for a free interview about your eligibility for pension as they have great knowledge that will be helpful to you as an individual. Those retirees of my youth that I previously mentioned all died fairly quickly from my recollection and I am a great believer that their death was from a feeling of rejection and accompanying ageism that killed them off before 70 on average. We are doing much better with the average death age now over 80 so we can look at life on retirement as virtually a second coming. I have a life in retirement and work 3 days a week for 2 hours each day which gives me purpose and income for coffee and breakfast on the weekend at the local café. Also keeps me fit which is the next topic in my year of reflection. The gym 2 mornings a week for toning not body building works well and a healthier lifestyle which includes a different approach to food. Forget sugar if you can as I have been able to maintain a 12 kilo weight loss by eating vegetarian food and have enjoyed it thoroughly so keep an open mind about food. I also walk each day and surf when I can plus some bike riding which is all very enjoyable. Our walks are either local, beach, hinterland or designated ones like the Milford Track which was just incredible. My finances were the next anxiety and I have been able to live off the interest of my superannuation combined with pension and work income as mentioned previously very comfortably while retaining the principle super amount. I have a travel account and the generous interest on super goes into that 50% and the rest for bills and living so we have been able to have a few holidays. If you haven’t yet retired then put as much as you can into your super account as it will allow you through generous interest on your contributions to retire with some dignity and maybe even earlier than you thought if you are a young Boomer. Living is easier for us because we shop for each meal now and therefore have no left overs each week by spending around $150 on food. My social life has been an improvement to previous work life as I have the time to meet regularly with family and friends for coffee at least one day per week which I love doing. You also get to choose who you want to spend your time with as I find I am less patient with difficult people and do not want to waste my valuable time with them. I also meet my grandkids on their birthdays and Xmas and that is rewarding as you watch them grow. My children and mostly settled elsewhere and we communicate by phone now as I found texting was non rewarding as things were taken literally even when you were joking so one huge lesson was that.. Use the phone to talk. I will never be happy being a retiree as Boomers have so much energy and never want to grow old but I will continue editing BONZA, assisting my local councillor with suggesting local change (something he has responded well to) and will keep fit and healthy for as long as I can because none of us can stop the clock so we must make the most of our time we have left. Enjoy your retirement. I am. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can Boomers expect payback from our children? I attended the 40th wedding anniversary of a good mate the other night and was taken by the effort from his children in making it a memorable night. Their children organised a surprise dinner where they did the cooking for 40 guests. Absolutely delicious array of food created by their two chef sons with the assistance of their wives which was served systematically throughout the night and their daughter and her husband did the front of house which included decorations, serving, photo display and organizing the event and most importantly serving at the bar. Their daughter also made a moving speech about her parents which showed the love the entire family have for them and how much they appreciated their efforts as parents over the years and even apologised for any anxiety they may have caused them during their growing period. The proud parents were more than happy with the night which was evident in their speech in thanking everyone for the night and my mate described it to me later as humbling but a proud moment. My wife and I were surrounded by their family and friends as they ate and drank happily and it was just a delight to be there and witness it all. It was just so entertaining with lots of stories about past events and happenings that created plenty of laughs. My hope for all Boomers is that your children do something for you as outstanding as this event as we all know how demanding, costly and time consuming raising children is with varying rewards for your efforts. I have often quoted the philosopher Gilbrand when attempting to describe my methods of parenting my children and I feel quite strongly that I achieved my aim. Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, Which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows go forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the Archer’s hand be for gladness; For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable. No doubt some of you would agree with me with this philosophy but no matter what methods you used, I was taken by the genuine show of love at this anniversary event and my hope is that you all achieve such a payback for your efforts. ________________________________________________________________________ Boomer Reunions.. Is it Time for Baby Boomers to Reminisce? BONZA organised a high school reunion around 10 years ago and we had 600 fellow high school Boomers attend..just for the one school Indooroopilly High in Brisbane but it was great to invite 10 odd years of ex-students as you saw faces from the years before and after your year..ex army cadet leaders, prefects and sportsmen and woman who made school life so vibrant. Ex teachers were also invited and many were cheered as they spoke to the crowd. I really enjoyed it and recommend it to you all..gather some ex classmates and reminisce to your hearts content. In the last 10 years I have tracked down and met many old friends who I had lost contact with in the frantic pace of life for coffee..work and raising kids in particular use up so much of our lives and I felt a need to see them again. It is the most interesting experience the way your brain opens the folder that is marked with their names and the memories poor in as you talk and remember different events and experiences that meant so much at the time. The high school reunion was like being back in class as different stories are offered by the assembled group..lots of laughs lots of great memories. Yesterday I went to lunch with a small group who used to meet after school in a cafe at Taringa in Brisbane and we talked about the innocence of the time and the dances and parties we attended together. Names were mentioned that I had not heard for 50 years as that's how long it has been since we were all together but I felt so comfortable with them..my old friends. Yes, I recommended reunions to you all. Find your friends and say hello because it just makes you feel good and you are reminded of what a lovely life most Boomers had. __I_________________________________________________________________________ Is Baby Boomer Health Better Than Previous Generations in Their Golden Years? Boomers keep on keeping on I believe because we have never subscribed to the “you’re too old for that” theory. We tend to take it as it comes and live our lives to the full as we have done in every decade of our lives. When you look at our forefathers and mothers society wrote them off at mid 60s by retiring them and labelling them as “past it” and they responded accordingly and shut down. I had neighbours when I was younger who retired at 65 and were dead a year later I believe because they stopped participating. One thing we can be sure of is that if you decide that your life is over then your brain will respond by shutting down your health and subsequently your body. We are eating better than previous generations, exercising more vigorously and more often, still playing sport, joining clubs, travelling and generally participating in life. We have web access to an enormous amount of information on body health, the causes of aches and pains and what we can do to eradicate them or just see a specialist in that area as they are trained to assist the older generations much more than their predecessors were. My day now consists of an early morning rise (in bed at 9), yoga or body stretching every morning, some apple cider vinegar in water before eating to motivate all the body organs, some porridge yogurt and blueberries for breakfast, supplements (fish oil and magnesium for joints) taken after breakfast, gym workout or a walk every day (I wear a Fitbit so I do the 10000 steps required for fitness every day), part time work 3 days a week and every other day in the garden for some physical work and an awareness of sugar so that sauces, soft drink, baked beans etc. that have a high sugar content are not part of my diet (check the labels on everything you buy at the supermarket for sugar content). I follow the 70/20/10 food plan- 70% healthy food, 20% of combined and 10% of don’t spoil the moment by preaching health (if everyone is getting an ice cream then have one as well to be part of the moment). Good for the mental health that one but everything is about a balance. Your mind also needs to be active so use the computer at home or the library, read books, volunteer and do something to keep mentally alert. I do little jobs for my neighbours as they work so it is a win/win for us all and I feel useful as well. The day ends with some great television or a movie and one aspirin to keep the blood thinned before bed at 9 winds up my day. Hope that helps you in some way Boomers and you live a long, happy and healthy life. ___________________________________________________________ How to survive on your Pensioner Income Interesting how life changes when we become a pensioner and how much more careful you have to be with your money if you want to live as comfortably as possible in your golden years. We all miss that workplace income and find it difficult to survive without it. The reality of life in 2017 is that the average woman lives to 84 and a man to 80. You need approximately $20000 a year to live comfortably as a single pensioner and around $35000 for a couple. God knows we would all like more to do more financially but we are talking realities here as the pension is still around $18000 with no superannuation. Thank heavens I have some. So how do you get your dollar to stretch more so you can make the eighties deadline (forgive the pun) in some style? I am not going to go into specifics as we all have a different income, assets and budgetary requirements so I will generalise but the key is pensioner discounts. I save hundreds of dollars a year now on some bills by using that ace when negotiating but you have to ask. One sentence is compulsory every time you are buying or financially planning- do you give age pensioner discount? Rego, transport, electricity, water, rates, movies, take-way, coffee, medication, some shops ... the list is endless. There are around 8 million of us over 50 ... one third of the population and half of that 8 million over 65 so we are important to the economy and worth discounting. My financial planning includes part pension, superannuation, part time work and DISCOUNTS. I am going okay and hope that will be the case until my deadline so do your most to benefit from being an age pensioner. Happy golden years to us all. ________________________________________________________________________ Is their a Hidden Tax on Baby Boomer Super? Went to visit the FIS (Financial Officer) at Centrelink about my superannuation. Wanted to know if it was better to take it as a pension or withdraw the investment gain only as it accumulated and leave the lump sum there. He advised me that the government take 15% of the accumulating investment each year as a tax without informing me and it is not recorded in the transactions on my super website home page. His advice was to open another investment account with the Australian Super (minimum $50000) and use the current account as a pension account (must keep 5% in there) and withdraw a set amount regularly. So talk to your super fund (mine confirmed that they do take the money each year without record (much to my dismay) but make a free appointment with the FIS first. My super offered no advice when I spoke to them just confirmed that it was correct. You can pay for an appointment with one of their financial advisers if you like after the FIS appointment. I still think it should be recorded somewhere that this amount is being deducted. ___________________________________________________________________________ My Transition to Retirement I have been truly worried about the transition to retiring for some years now. How I would survive what would I do and what sort of world I was leaving for my children and their children. Goodness knows the younger generations add to that worry by making us feel as guilty as we possibly can with their accusations of us ruining the earth for future generations and purposely trying to be different from our parents to the detriment of family values and life. Yes I admit guilt in wanting to be different from my parents but only because they were so tied down to a boring lifestyle and world and we wanted more. I suspect every generation is guilty of that but I don’t subscribe to the ruining the earth theory. The population explosion has caused tremendous strain on every aspect of our lives but we have always stayed positive, identified the problems and searched for answers and outcomes to those problems. Boomers are doers and we want a better world for all so I feel strongly that the scale is balanced without input to discover better ways of doing things in the arts, science, business, construction, medicine and a variety of other fields. My working life was always full on with over 50 jobs in a 51 year period with a sustained work ethic to them all. I never let anyone down- colleague or employer. I loved work and I love people so it was never a huge problem to go- I owe, I owe it’s off to work I go – was the general policy. I also found work to be some respite from home life and parenting which can be both very demanding and I worked as hard on my home life- my parenting and partnership- as I did my work life. Indeed I used many of the skills I was taught at work to make sure my home life was enhanced and have had a good partnership and family life due to that attitude. At 63 my work colleagues suddenly saw me ageing and changed their attitude to me from respect to tolerance. My employer upset me with what were clearly ageism practices which deflated my ego and made me feel worthless. I was seen as interfering and problematic whenever I pointed out bad practices in our workplace. My past accomplishments and high standards seem to matter little- which is common I have found to my age group. I resigned after being pressured to do so and suffered health problems accordingly as, like most men, our work is our ego. My X generation wife was devastated as she felt strongly that I should have seen out my role until retirement and she was not supportive of my stand against my employer over my principles. So I was 63 and unemployed and soon realised after numerous knockbacks from employers for other roles that I may have been unemployable. The plan was always to sell my skills and high qualifications for a similar or better role in another company if I lost my job and I formed my own consultancy to spearhead that push. I managed many interviews but could not secure a new role. I was forced to look to the future and start planning for retirement. My wife has superb skills in budgeting so with her assistance and now much appreciated support I planned my time until aged pension. Firstly an interview with the FIS officer at Centrelink who was able to calculate what I would receive in part pension. Then it was only a matter of doing my yearly budget based on past costs and decide how much money would be needed annually to supplement my living from my superannuation. I discovered through my planning that my super would easily last for another decade of living and with some luck we would also be able to travel by banking any extra income. I went to my network next and asked a good friend for work as a part time cleaner which was to bring me a few hundred dollars a fortnight for coffee and takeaways and then some bigger roles like the G20 as a security guard and the federal elections eventually enabled us to have a travel account and a trip to UK and Norway this year. All things in all life are now good. My good stressless health is supplemented by regular yoga and gym visits, walking regularly with my FITBIT in tow- 10 000 steps a day- and cutting down on the sugar intake which has shed 10 kilos from my body. I feel great and I am enjoying life to the max with my kids and grandkids and my partner so for those of you who are worried about retiring then can I say it has been like most things we have had to face in our Boomer life- take it as it comes. __________________________________________________________ Bucket List Travel Where can Boomers travel in safety? Just completed (Feb/March 2016)the Milford Track walk (over 100 000 steps on my Fitbit) and saw some pristine country that is hard to describe. A mixture of enchanted forest (everything covered in moss) to bubbling streams to rainforest ..all on day one. Then mountain terrain with huge boulders from the ice-age on day 2 and back to 21 km of first class scenery on day 3. Just marvellous..finished with a trip around the Milford Sound. Put it on the bucket-list but you need some fitness and a wish to enjoy life. It is demanding and challenging but so enjoyable. The guides were non- intrusive but kept a well-oiled infrastructure working and at night you socialise with 50 others that share the experience with you (unless you want to be an independent walker and take in all your own resources) but I enjoyed a hot shower and comfortable bed. Sept 2016 Spent some time in the Northern Territory. My better half is very budget minded when we plan a holiday so I thought it might help others to pass on how we did it. The Territory can be seen within a few days or a few weeks depending on what you have in mind. There are two seasons- wet and dry- and you can forget touring in the wet season- Nov to Feb as even the markerts are closed and much of the area is shut down. We hired a car to do it- Toyota Yarris- and it was a pleasure to drive. You don't need a four wheel drive unless you want off road but we did the triangular from Darwin to Kakado to Katherine to Darwin via Litchfield National Park and really enjoyed our holiday. Hire the car through the NT Tourism site and you get unlimited mileage whereas it is restricted to a few hundred if you hire direct from the car rentals. Loved Kakado for the scenery, indigenous heritage eg rock paintings and the Jabiru Tourist Park which was like and oasis with their lovely pool and dining outdoors.Had a meat lovers pizza with croc, buffalo and roo meat. Katherine was dry but has a magic natural springs area which the City Council has developed and is worth a swim in the crystal clear water. Katherine Gorge is unbelievable. Walk up to the lookout before you take the boat tour as it is breathtakingly beautiful from up there. The boat tour is a must and the gorge itself is an Aussie treasure for its beauty and history. So old that there are no fossils as the earth didn't even have plant life then. Saw crocs bathing on the shore as we passed up the gorge. Litchfeild National Park is quite beautiful and has a pleasant walk to rock pools and outdoor camping. We stayed at Lake Bennett resort and were well looked after (even a huge cheese and nibbles platter to feed from as I watched the footie finals) Darwin has Sunday food markets at Mindl Beach, the war museum, botanical gardens for many different plants (NT is really another world compared to other parts of OZ for plant life), outdoor movies, fantastic harbour precinct, great walks and bikeways and very friendly people. The Ghan ( Darwin to Adelaide Feb 2017) Flew to Darwin from Brisbane and spent the night at the impressive Palms City Resort near Government House. Picked up there by the Ghan bus (big production item is the Ghan trip) and driven to the Darwin Rail Station to see the 1 km long Ghan train waiting for us. Five carriages for staff, 2 locomotives, three power carriages and one last carriage for guests cars on back is a sight to see in itself. On boarding the train (some guests had to go by shuttle bus to reach their carriage) our stewardess showed us our room and a procession of staff followed to fill in a database of information about what trips would be taken at our stops at Katherine (we chose the boat cruise up the Gorge but there were museum visits and helicopter rides over the Gorge also available) and in Alice Springs (camel rides, museum trips, scenic walks and helicopter rides) where we chose to do the museum trip to Royal Flying Doctors, Pioneer women at the old goal and the reptile display. Our rooms functionality and our hours for dining were explained to us and all questions answered before the train lurched forward and moved slowly out of town. The trains manager keeps you updated on events and sites as you travel and we ate lunch in an impressive and magnificent dining room carriage that is adjacent to a lounge area where you can drink away the day on the free drinks or just relax and chat to other guests from all around the world. The social aspect is one of the highlights of the trip as you are seated with others for each meal unless you specifically ask for one table or another couple to sit with you. We met an 84 year old ex restaurant owner who was taking time out from caring for his disabled wife, a young Scottish doctor who was heading back to USA where he has citizenship after a stint in Darwin and some interesting couples from all around Australia during dining hours and others from around the world during the excursions and corridor chats. The Katherine Gorge excursion changed after arrival when we discovered it was flooded to great heights so the slow boat became a jet power boat that had us all wet but adrenaline high after the rocket trip over rocks and trees that were submerged under a large volume of water. Even the 84 year old bloke loved every minute. Stories of a 3.7 metre crocodile being trapped in the Gorge the previous week worried no one and there was some excited chatter after that ride. We were then driven back to the train on the Ghan buses to be reunited with the other groups and boarded the Ghan once more. After dinner (the food is world class and reflective of the outback with crocodile, duck, bullock and kangaroo among the menu offered but elite dining and three course), we bedded down and nestled to the rock of the train in our bunks that were made up for us (with chocolates left on the pillows) as we ate dinner. The next few days flew by but Alice Springs was a wonderful stop with the landscape reflecting a variety of Australian natural colours that were also reflected in the endless outback views from your carriage windows during the journey and were reminders of how privileged we were to see the interior of our great country. None more for instance than crossing the Finke River which is the oldest river in the world at 300 million years. The night before we disembarked in Adelaide the train slowly stopped at midnight in the Simpson desert and we all gathered out beside a large bonfire and drank Baileys and port as we gazed at the great Southern Cross above us. Love you OZ. All in all it was a great holiday and we also enjoyed Adelaide but will be back there when we do a campervan tour in September from Perth to Adelaide. More then. Norfolk Island May 2017 Just had a week at the Endeavour Lodge on Norfolk Island which is truly a paradise and was on our bucket list. Flew Air New Zealand from Brisbane International which is strange as Norfolk is now part of Australia and has been for a year but Air NZ doesn’t have a domestic terminal so you go through International. Yes, that means filling in the departure and entry customs cards confusing as it is as you are writing Australia as the country you are coming from and going to. We were told at the check-in that we had access to the lounge as we are gold members of Virgin and they are in alliance with NZ airlines but when we arrived at the lounge we were told that technically we were not international so the check-in was wrong. No apology or reason for the print out on our check- in ticket inviting us to the lounge just a no from the staff member on duty (the manager was at a MEETING) A little disappointing at the Brisbane airport but Norfolk changed all that. What a place…. fishing, walking, golf, snorkelling, canoeing, tours, historical ruins, live shows, fresh produce, sustainability, swimming, shooting, delicious food and quiet ... only 1600 people. Norfolk pine trees that Captain Cook sketched are still there (they live a 1000 years) at Emily Bay and the walks around Captain Cook lookout and the Botanical Gardens are inspiring. There is evidence of a Polynesian village also at Kingston which dates pre Cook. The plane comes in 7 times a week onto the island airport and also brings in goods but the heavier stuff comes by sea and is off-loaded onto row boats (even buses and Mack trucks) and they come in through the reef in calm weather to be unloaded at the pier. Due to the weight, the engines are removed and come separately and are refitted on land which is a sight to see in itself. Ask for Duncan and Gaewyn Evans (Duncan is a descendant of the Bounty crew) if you book at the Endeavour Lodge (very modern with all your needs catered for in your unit) they also have a house for rent on 3 levels called Rainbows End which has a bedroom and ensuite on all levels so couples can stay and it has one of the best views of Phillip Island and the coast of Norfolk you will see each day (from your bedrooms). Australia should be proud of this beautiful, inspiring and fascinating island which is now part of our heritage and worth the 2 hour flight from Sydney or Brisbane. ___________________________________________________________ BONZA History
Lots to do folks,so let’s get on with it in 2017 and have a BONZA LIFE! ( NB: BONZA is also an Aussie slang term for great or fabulous) Brian Murphy Editor |
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