Flourish - Australian Unity

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CONTINUE READING
Flourish - Australian Unity
flourish
                                      Recipe
                                      bumper edition
                                      Creativity in the kitchen

                                      Beating
                                      Loneliness
                                      Connecting through            Foot health for all
                                      technology
                                                                         The power of
                                                                             kiwifruit
                                      Arthritis
                                      support
                                      Help is at hand
AUTUMN 2020

                                      Merry
                                      music
                                      man
                                      Bob’s still entertaining
australianunity.com.au/flourish

                                  I S SUE 12
                                  AU T UM N 2020
Flourish - Australian Unity
AUTUMN
                                                                                       2020

                                                                               16
                                                                                                         IN
                                                                                                         THIS
                                                                                                         ISSUE

                                                        08
                Port Macquarie
                                                                                                  08     JULES H ARNE T T
                                                                                                         Reaching for the stars
            Bateau Bay
                                                                                                  12 ARTHRITIS
            Cromer
                                                                                                     Reassessing your lifestyle
                       Hunters Hill
                                                                                                  		 after a diagnosis
Northmead

Penshurst                Bondi                                                                    16     ALONE OR LONELY
                                                                                                         Technology-aided connection
              Bowral
                                                                                                  18     PEN PALS

                                                                                                        10
                                                                                                         The art of letter writing

                                                                                        20        20

                                                                                                  24
                                                                                                         BOB BELLINI
                                                                                                         Music for life

                                                                                                         180 YEARS

                                                                                        30
                                                                                                         Australian Unity’s legacy

                                                                                                  30     TAMMY MEYERS
                                                                                                         On the home front

                                                                                                  33     THE T WO OF US
                                                                                                         Meet Pat & Shanaye

                                                                                                  34     HOME M AINTEN ANCE
                                                                                                         Tips for autumn garden care

                                                        38
                                                                                                  36     PODI ATRIST
                                                                                                         Heart and sole

                                                                                                  03   COMMUNIT Y NEWS
                                                                                                  38		GARDENING
                                              Having trouble reading Flourish?                    40   PUZZLES
                                      Call 1300 160 170 to speak to a member of our               46   RECIPES
                                      friendly team about receiving an audio version.             52   PROPERT Y
                                                                                                  56  SEASON AL FOOD

                                                                1300 160 170                        australianunity.com.au/flourish

                                                                flourish@australianunity.com.au     facebook.com/AustralianUnity
Flourish - Australian Unity
W E LC O M E                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    COMMUNITY NEWS

        Stay safe                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     COVID-19                                                         Please practice good
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       hand and respiratory
        COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, is                                      7,500 people to provide health, wealth
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        flourish
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      (Coronavirus)                                                        hygiene by:
        top of mind for many of us now. Please                                       and living services to more than one
        understand that Australian Unity is                                          million Australians.                                                                                            Recipe
                                                                                                                                                                                                     bumper edition                                                   THE CURRENT PANDEMIC is a concerning public health
                                                                                                                                                                                                     Creativity in the kitchen

        continuing to take this situation very                                                                                                                                                                                                                        situation and many of us are anxious about how the
                                                                                     In acknowledgment of this anniversary,
                                                                                                                                                                                                      Beating
                                                                                                                                                                                                      Loneliness

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      virus may impact ourselves, our families and friends.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Foot health for all

        seriously. We are actively monitoring
                                                                                                                                                                                                      Connecting through
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     The power of
                                                                                                                                                                                                      technology

                                                                                     in this issue of Flourish we celebrate
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         kiwifruit

        the situation and taking measures
                                                                                                                                                                                                      Arthritis
                                                                                                                                                                                                      support                                                         A few key points have emerged that will help raise
                                                                                     some of our care workers. These
                                                                                                                                                                                                      Help is at hand

        to do what’s right for our customers,                                                                                                                                                                                                                         awareness and also prevention of the infection.
                                                                                     dedicated people exemplify our

                                                                                                                                                         AUTUMN 2020
        members and employees.
                                                                                     company’s values of bold, warm                                                                                    Merry                                                          The most common reported symptoms are:                           Washing your hands frequently
        We understand the recent media focus on                                      and honest.                                                                                                       music                                                          • fever                                                          with soap and water, before and
        the outbreak of coronavirus is concerning                                                                                                                                                      man                                                            • breathing difficulties/breathlessness                            after eating, and after using
                                                                                     We also hear from some of our                                                                                      Bob’s still entertaining
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   the toilet.
        and the current public health situation                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • cough

                                                                                                                                                                   australianunity.com.au/flourish
                                                                                     customers, including Bob Bellini – a                                                                            IS SUE 12

        understandably makes many of us
                                                                                                                                                                                                     AUTUMN 2020

                                                                                     long haired larrikin of 82 years who                                                                                                                                             • sore throat
        anxious about how the virus may impact
                                                                                     still performs live music and teaches                                                                                                                                            • tiredness/fatigue
        ourselves, our families and friends.
                                                                                     people about the Internet and how to                                                                                                                                             An accurate diagnosis from a health professional is crucial.
        We are closely monitoring advice from                                        use computers. And there’s Maree Rees,
        the government and likewise, we advise                                       who spoke with us about how being a                                                                                                                                              For other useful information:
        that you also follow government health                                       ‘pen pal’ writer prevents her feeling                                                                                                                                                                                                             Covering your mouth and nose
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • Visit the Department of Health website: health.gov.au.
        updates, as this situation is evolving,                                      lonely and keeps her socially connected.                                                                                                                                                                                                           when coughing and sneezing
        and advice is being regularly updated.                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • The Department of Health have created an app, called                    into a tissue.
                                                                                     I hope you enjoy this special edition
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ‘Coronavirus Australia’. Download it from the app store
        This year marks the 180-year                                                 of Flourish, as we recount the origins
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        or google play to your mobile phone. The app will provide
        anniversary of Australian Unity.                                             of our company and how we’ve kept                                                                                     PICTURED
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        up-to-date official information and advice about the
                                                                                     our commitment to our members,                                                                                        (Cover) Bob Bellini.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        coronavirus (COVID-19) situation.
        In 1840, eight ordinary people came                                                                                                                                                                (Above) Kevin is pictured here
                                                                                     customers and community throughout
        together in a Melbourne pub to form                                                                                                                                                                with Aunty Lindy, an Aboriginal                            • If you have WhatsApp on your phone, you can join the
                                                                                     the 180 years since those eight people                                                                                Home Care customer, during
        a friendly society with an ambition to                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Australian government Coronavirus WhatsApp channel
                                                                                     came together in that Melbourne pub.                                                                                  a cultural tour of Killelea
        help their fellow Australians in times                                                                                                                                                             State Park.                                                  for updates.                                                   Cough into your elbow and use
        of hardship.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • Australian Unity will be
        Fast forward 180 years and we’re still                                                                                                                                                                                                                          keeping you informed
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        via our website,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Disposing tissues into bins and
        committed to improving wellbeing of                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Coronavirus Australia
                                                                                      Kevin McCoy                                                                                                                                                                       sms messages and                                               washing your hands afterwards.
        our customers, members and the wider                                          CEO, Independent & Assisted Living,
        community– employing more than                                                Australian Unity                                                                                                                                                                  information with                               Coronavirus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        your bill.                                     Australia App
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A note
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       about Flourish:
                                                        Flourish magazine is published by                                          Managing Director                                                                    Print Blue Star Print                         See the back page of
                                                        Hardie Grant Media for Australian Unity.                                   Nick Hardie-Grant                                                                    Contributors (editorial)                                                                                                The photography in this
                                                                                                                                   Publisher Scott Elmslie                                                              Beth Wallace, Dharma Rogers,                  Flourish for information
                                                        Australian Unity enquiries
                                                        1300 160 170                                                               Editor Leanne Tolra                                                                  Emma Castle, Jane Canaway,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      on how Australian Unity                                                   edition of Flourish was
                                                        flourish@australianunity.com.au                                            Managing Editor                                                                      Louise Maskell, Narelle Harris                                                                 WhatsApp
                                                        australianunity.com.au/flourish                                            Georgia Lejeune                                                                      Maria Triaca & Margaret Barca                 Home care services are                                                   taken prior to the current
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 COVID-19 health crisis
                                                                                                                                   Art Director                                                                         Contributors (photography)
                                                                                                                                   Dallas Budde                                                                         Michael Amendolia, Jonah Blue                 managing COVID-19.
The information contained in this magazine about Australian Unity’s products or services is correct
                                                                                                                                   Design Natalie LaChina,
                                                                                                                                   Kate Slattery
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Photography, Chris Crerar, Chris
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Elfes, Dean Golja & David Young.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  and social distancing
as at the time of printing. Please visit the Australian Unity website (australianunity.com.au/assisted-
living) or phone us on 1300 160 170 to obtain further information about which of our products or
                                                                                                          Hardie Grant Media
                                                                                                          Private Bag 1600,        hardiegrant.com
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      regulations.
services may be available to you. Such information is of a general nature only. Australian Unity
strongly recommends that anyone thinking about obtaining services from us first seek independent          South Yarra, Victoria,   No responsibility is accepted by Hardie Grant Media for the accuracy
professional advice that takes your particular circumstances into consideration. You may also wish        Australia 3141           of any statement or advice contained in the text or advertisements.
to contact the Department of Health on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au                            Ph: (03) 8520 6444       All material appearing in Flourish magazine is copyright. ©2020

2        FLOURISH | AUTUMN 2020                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   A U T U M N 2 0 2 0 | F LO U R I S H   3
Flourish - Australian Unity
COMMUNITY NEWS

                                                                              Support for
                                                                                                                                                             Bushfire support
                                                                              dementia                                                                       Australia experienced devastating

                                                                              carers                                                                         loss from bushfires over summer
                                                                                                                                                             and Australian Unity is committed
                                                                              Australian Unity’s                                                             to helping where we can.
                                                                              Gemma Berridge and                                                             We donated:
                                                                              Megan Harrison run
                                                                              support groups for                                                             $100,000
                                                                              dementia carers in                                                             to the Australian Red Cross
                                                                              Mudgee, Warren and                                                             bushfire appeal in January.
                                                                              Coonabarabran in                                                               This followed:
                                                                              New South Wales. The
                                                                              groups offer safe places                                                       $29,850 raised
                                                                              for dementia carers to                                                         through our donation pages
                                                         PICTURED

                                                                                                            Flu season
                                                                              support one another and                                                        for the Australian Red Cross, WIRES
                                                       Australian Unity       share their experiences.                                                       NSW and Wildlife Victoria, a sum we
                                                    staff created packs for                                                                                  have committed to match.
                                                                              Many Australian Unity

                                                                                                            reminder
                                                     company Share the
                                                      Dignity during the      customers with dementia                                                        A further:
                                                                              are cared for by family
                                                                                                                                                             $12,625 donations
                                                       recent bushfires.

                                                                              members who require           Now is the time to book your flu
                                                                              education, training and                                                        were raised to other charities
                                                                                                            vaccination. The annual flu vaccine offers       by individual and team fundraising
                                                                              information. The monthly
                                                                              two-hour morning teas         the best-possible protection from the            events, including items produced by our
                                                                                                                                                             crafters and retirement community
                                                                              allow carers to chat          flu, as strains of influenza can change          residents, will also be dollar matched.
                                                                              about dementia-related        each season.                                     These groups have produced more than
                                                                              topics and learn from                                                          350 items for the Animal Rescue
                                                                                                            Although the current flu vaccine won’t           Collective Craft Guild (ARCCG).
                                                                              one another. Megan
     SHARE THE                                                                says “it can be lonely
                                                                                                            protect you from contracting COVID-19,

     Dignity
                                                                                                            medical professionals are urging
                                                                              being a carer” and the
                                                                              support group gives           Australians to get the flu vaccine as
                                                                              carers an opportunity         soon as possible to help ease the strain
                                                                                                            on the health system. The vaccine will           Turn to
                                                                              to “connect with
                                                                                                                                                           page 30 to
     Australian charity organisation Share the Dignity distributes            other people in the           help you to remain healthy and strong
                                                                                                                                                         read the story
     sanitary items to vulnerable women and girls, some of whom               community”.                   throughout winter and will mean              of a volunteer
     are experiencing homelessness, domestic violence and poverty.                                          attendance at medical centres and              firefighter
     Recently, Australian Unity’s New South Wales Northern
                                                                                                            hospitals is minimised – reducing your
     Rivers branch collected 23 bags containing personal hygiene
     products, items that many of us take for granted but which are
                                                                                    For information on      potential exposure to COVID-19. Book an
                                                                                    the Mudgee group,       appointment with your doctor now.
     considered a luxury to some. Australian Unity staff member                     call 1300 295 813.
     Teresa Matheson says she is “proud to be associated with                       For the Warren and
     such a caring group of people”. Teresa says three of the bags                  Coonabarabran groups,   The vaccine is free for people aged 65
     collected were distributed to fire victims and other donations                 phone 1300 295 806.     and over.
     were given to vulnerable women in the Northern Rivers area.

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Flourish - Australian Unity
COMMUNITY NEWS

    National                           Meditation                                         ALPACA
    Reconciliation                     Sometimes life’s daily challenges can get you      DELIVERY
    week                               down. But practising mindfulness and setting
                                       aside just 20 minutes each day to meditate can
    27 May–3 July                      help strengthen your mind-body connection.
    National Reconciliation Week       Meditation is simple – start by focusing on
    is an opportunity to celebrate     breathing or the sensations you experience
    Aboriginal and Torres Strait       every day. This might be the feeling of the cool
    Island culture and move towards
    a future of reconciliation. This   autumn breeze on your face or of warm water
    year’s theme is In This Together   washing over your skin. Create your happy
    and explores how we can            place and find a peaceful area where you can       Australian Unity Home Care Worker Cheryl
    all work together to achieve
                                       reflect, breathe, relax and be mindful each day.   Azzopardi took her role an unusual step further

                                                                                                                                                         Seniors
    reconciliation in Australia.                                                          when visiting her customers in Ernest Hill in New
    This year’s events have            Meditation makes us feel good and can boost        South Wales earlier this year. Cheryl’s customers
    been cancelled; however,

                                                                                                                                                         celebration
    learning, events and
                                       our memory and improve mental alertness            have a pet alpaca, which was having difficulty
                                                                                          giving birth. Once the calf was born, Cheryl
    conversations will still           and stamina.
                                                                                          quickly acted on her instincts, performed CPR

                                                                                                                                                         delights all
    take place online.                                                                    and on the baby alpaca and saved its life. She
    Online resources                                                                      says it was a “fantastic experience” and is sure
    can be accessed                                                                       to remember it for a long time.
    via the website
                                                                                                                                                         New South Wales’ Seniors Week 2020 was
    reconciliation.org.au.
                                                                                                                                                         celebrated with ponies, carriage rides and

                                                                                          Residential
                                                                                                                                                         magic tricks at Willandra Retirement
                                                                                                                                                         Village in Cromer. Groups of excited

                                                                                          community                                                      grandchildren, aged from six months to
                                                                                                                                                         15, enjoyed a miniature pony show with
                                                                                          wins award                                                     their delighted grandparents. The event,
                                                                                                                                                         attended by more than 90 people, was
                                                                                          The Victoria Grange
                                                                                                                                                         organised by Australian Unity’s Dee Why
                                                                                          residential community
                                                                                                                                                         Home Care Services Branch, Willandra
                                                                                          in Vermont South, in
                                                                                                                                        PICTURED         and the Northern Beaches Council. Kerrie
                                                                                          the eastern suburbs of
                                                                                                                                          Joanna         Smiles, the Manager at Willandra, says
                                                                                          Melbourne, was named Whitehorse
                                                                                                                                     Skonieczna, Bill    one 15-year-old attendee has requested
                                                                                          City Council’s “5-Star Food
                                                                                                                                    Bennett and Kavini   work experience at the village, while an
                                                                                          Premises of the Year” for excellence          Nishshanka.
                                                                                                                                                         11-year-old participant has asked to move
                                                                                          in food safety under the category of
                                                                                                                                                         in. Fauzia Tori, the Dee Why Branch
                                                                                          Class 1 Food Premises (catering to
                                                                                          vulnerable groups in aged care, childcare and                  Manager, says one grandparent reports
                                                                                          hospitals). The award was announced at the annual              that her three grandchildren have talked
                                                                                          Food Hygiene Assessment forum in Melbourne.                    about nothing but ponies for weeks. “It
                                                                                          Joanna Skonieczna, the general manager of the                  was wonderful to see everyone enjoying
                                                                                          Victoria Grange community, says she is “honoured               themselves,” Fauzia says.
                                                                                          to be part of a team that always strives for the best”.

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Flourish - Australian Unity
TOGETHER

                                                                                  Reaching
                                                                                for the stars
                                                                            A childhood fascination ignited a lifelong passion for
                                                                                this internationally renowned astrophysicist
                                                                                    WORDS   Beth Wallace PHOTOS Michael Amendolia

                                                          G
                                                                        rowing up on Tasmania’s remote           Starting out at Macquarie University, Jules earned
                                                                        north-west coast, Jules Harnett          honours as an undergraduate, then completed a
                                                                        would spend hours gazing out her         PhD at the University of Sydney, where she was
                                                                        bedroom window at the clear night        one of only two women in the astronomy faculty.
                                                                        skies, mesmerised by the beauty of the   She later accepted a postdoctoral position at the
                                                          stars. Little did she know then that this youthful     Effelsberg Radio Telescope in Bonn, Germany,
                                                          curiosity would one day see her pursue a career as     where she worked for two years. “I’m essentially a
                                                          an astrophysicist, allowing her to travel the world    radio astronomer. A bit like Parkes,” she says.
                                                          and make several pioneering discoveries along          Following appointments at some of the finest
                                                          the way.                                               scientific institutions in the world, including NASA,
                                                          Back in the 1950s, living on a chicken farm and        a chance encounter with an old friend led Jules
                                                          going to the local primary school in Penguin, such     on a year-long expedition to Antarctica with the
                                                          a future would have seemed as out of reach as the      Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics.
                                                          stars she so often observed.                           “Somebody had dropped out and they were looking
                                                          “Girls in that day and age weren’t supposed to do       for someone to go the next year, so I went,” she
                                                           science; you were supposed to be a hairdresser,        says. “I was very lucky.”
                                    PICTURED
                                                           nurse or teacher,” Jules says. “My dad had been a     Stationed with about 50 people, Jules became
                               Jules Harnett became        teacher, so I went off and became a teacher, too.”    the first Australian woman to winterover at the
                             the first Australian woman
                                 to winterover at the     Jules taught primary school for several years,         geographic South Pole, where she contended with
                                      South Pole.         but in the 1970s, when Gough Whitlam’s Labor           extreme cold, high altitudes that made breathing
                                                          government abolished university fees, she decided      difficult and the imminent threat of power outage.
                                                          to pursue her true calling: astronomy. “I thought,     “It was the most amazing year of my life,” she
                                                          I have to try this, because I’d always dreamed of       says. “The friends I made became like a family,
                                                          it,” she says. “My dad had always dreamed of doing      because you’re stuck there, and you look after
                                                          things and he hadn’t had the chance.”                   each other. Even all these years later, we’re

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Flourish - Australian Unity
TOGE THER                                                                                                                                                TOGETHER

                                                      all still in touch because we had that amazing
                                                                                                                       Girls in that day
                                                      experience together.”                                            and age weren’t
                                                      The astronomy component was equally                           supposed to do science;
                                                      stimulating, Jules says, explaining that her
                                                      research focused on baby stars – “we were
                                                                                                                     you were supposed to
                                                      looking at them to see how they start up and                  be a hairdresser, nurse
                                                      shine” – and confirming the existence of a black                    or teacher.”
                                                      hole at the centre of the galaxy.
                                                                                                                        JULES HARNETT, ASTROPHYSICIST
                                                      After Antarctica, Jules moved to West Virginia                        AND AUSTRALIAN UNITY
                                                      in the United States, where she spent four years                       WILLANDRA RESIDENT

                                                      assessing and scheduling observation proposals
                                                      for the Green Bank Telescope. This was yet
                                                      another remote posting; in the wooded hills
                                   PICTURED           of the National Radio Quiet Zone, where use of
                              Jules keeps active at   mobile devices, Wi-Fi and even microwaves is           account of her time in Antarctica, Diamond Dust, in
                              Willandra Village and   heavily restricted by law.                             2018. “I think I wrote it for my parents more than
                              recently published a
                                                                                                             anything else,” Jules says. “They gave me all I had
                              memoir of her time in   Returning to Australia in 2010, it wasn’t long
                                                                                                             and always encouraged me.”
                                   Antarctica.        before she and her partner of 40 years moved
                                                      from their Manly home to Australian Unity’s            Jules also returns to her hometown each year in
                                                      Willandra Village and Bungalows in Cromer,             August for TastroFest – Tasmania’s Astronomy
                                                      New South Wales.                                       Festival – as a guest speaker and volunteer.
                                                      “My partner has rheumatoid arthritis, and it’s         “They’re doing marvellous things for science
                                                       good to have a supportive place to be,” she says,      in Tasmania,” she says of the organisers, who
                                                       adding that while they live in their own unit, they    launched the event in 2015. “It’s always been a
                                                       receive weekly cleaning assistance and soon plan       great pleasure to be involved and to give back to
                                                       to access gardening services.                          the community where I grew up.”
                                                      “We originally came here because they let you          It’s a gathering of both educated and curious minds
                                                       have pets and there’s very nice bushland where        that she hopes will inspire the next generation of
                                                       you can walk your dog.”                               astronomers who, like herself, simply want to learn
                                                                                                             more about the night skies.
                                                      When she’s not exploring the local area or singing
                                                       in the Willandra Village choir, Jules enjoys          “There are so many schoolchildren getting involved,”
                                                      long-distance swimming, cycling and tai chi             she says of the festivities. “It’s such a wonderful
                                                      – the latter inspired by her former love of judo,       thing to see.” ●
                                                       which in her university days saw her train with
                                                       Olympians and earn her black belt.
                                                      She’s similarly committed to her work:                                 To find out more about women
                                                      volunteering at the University of Sydney;                              pursuing science careers, go to:
                                                      continuing research with colleagues from the                           womeninscienceaust.org
                                                      South Pole trip; and writing, having published an

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Flourish - Australian Unity
INSIGHT

                                                                                                                                                                Aids that reduce stress on joints – such as
                                                                                                                                                                ergonomic knives, compression gloves and
                                                                                                                                                                wheeled trolleys – can help people manage daily
                                                                                                                                                                tasks. Medical approaches include pain relievers,
                                                                                                                                                                anti-inflammatories and, for some types of
                                                                                                                                                                arthritis, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic
                                                                                                                                                                drugs (DMARDs), which reduce harmful immune
                                                                                                                                                                system activity. In some cases, joint surgery may
                                                                                                                                                                alleviate symptoms.

                                                                                                                                                                Financial impact
                                                                                                                                                                Franca Marine, National Policy and Government
                                                                                                                                                                Relations Manager at Arthritis Australia, says the
                                                                                                                                                                impact of arthritis on individuals, families and
                                                                                                                                                                communities can be profound.
                                                                                                                                                                “Arthritis can reduce a person’s capacity to study,
                                                                                                                                                                 work and participate in family and social activities,”
                                                                                                                                                                 Franca says.
                                                                                                                                                                Along with pain, impaired mobility, sleep disorders,
                                                                                                                                                                depression and anxiety, arthritis often prompts
                                                                                                                                                                early retirement. The need for family members
                                                                                                                                                                to become carers, combined with the cost of
                                                                                                                                                                treatment, mean family finances can suffer.
                                                                                                                                                                Arthritis costs the health system about $9 billion
                                                                                                                                                                a year. Unfortunately, Franca says, government
                                                                                                                                                                funding for arthritis research has fallen by a third
                                                                                                                                                                in recent years, despite its social and economic cost.
                                                                                                                                                                Despite the funding gap, research is continuing,

                                                                                                         M
                                                                                                                                                                particularly for the most common forms of
                                                                                                                                                                osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile

                         Coming to grips with
                                                                                                                         ost people believe arthritis is        idiopathic arthritis.
                                                                                                                         inevitable as you age. There are
                                                                                                                                                                There may be a genetic predisposition for

                     ARTHRITIS
                                                                                                                         more than 100 types of arthritis –
                                                                                                                                                                rheumatoid arthritis too though many factors are
                                                                                                                         defined broadly as a disease causing
                                                                                                                                                                usually involved, including a link to the immune
                                                                                                                         painful joint inflammation and
                                                                                                                                                                system. This link, first described in the 1940s, has
                                                                                                         stiffness – affecting people of all ages.
                                                                                                                                                                been better established in the last decade, leading
                                                                                                         About four million Australians, half of them aged      to further research into immunotherapy for
                                                                                                         between 15 and 64, have some form of arthritis.        rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
                                                                                                         The condition has no cure. Treatment varies
                                                                                                                                                                Research gives hope
                                                                                   Images: iStockphoto

                                                                                                         with the type of arthritis but generally includes
             An arthritis diagnosis is often the time to reassess your lifestyle                         medication, exercise, weight management and            Professor Ranjeny Thomas heads a research team
                                                                                                         pain management strategies such as the use of          at the University of Queensland Diamantina
                                    WORDS   Narrelle Harris                                              hot/cold packs and massage.                            Institute, where phase 1 trials – the first of their

12   FLOURISH | AUTUMN 2020                                                                                                                                                                A U T U M N 2 0 2 0 | F LO U R I S H   13
Flourish - Australian Unity
INSIGHT

     kind in the world – are underway. RA-affected
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Arthritis, Australian
     patients with specific high-risk genes are injected                                                                                                                                                         Unity and HCPs
     with liposomes – minute sacs with a membrane
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Australian Unity customers with diagnosed
     that can deliver drugs or genetic material directly
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 arthritis and a Home Care Package may
     to cells within the body – designed to alter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 be able to access government-funded
     how the patient’s immune system responds to                                                                                                                                                                 treatments and services.
     the condition.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 To be eligible for a Home Care Package,
     “It’s called an antigen-specific tolerising                                                                                                                                                                 customers first need to be assessed.
      immunotherapy,” Ranjeny says, as the liposomes                                                                                                                                                             Once approved and assigned a package,
      contain an RA joint antigen – a substance that                                                                                                                                                             Australian Unity can help you determine
      prompts a joint-specific immune response in                                                                                                                                                                how to best use the funding.
      the body.                                                                                                                                                                                                  Melanie Vaz, Home Care Package
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Program Manager at Australian Unity,
     “The exciting possibility still some
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 says eligible customers can access
      years into the future is that                Every joint has some                                                                                                                                          regular physiotherapy and nursing care,
      antigen-specific immunotherapies             capacity for repair –                                                                                                                                         massage, pain management, personal
      such as this could restore immune                                                                                                                                                                          care, domestic assistance, social support
      tolerance,” she says.
                                                  in osteoarthritis, that                                                                                                                                        and transport.
                                                   reparative potential                                                                                                                                          “The care plan has to reflect the need for
     “In practice, this would look
      like prolonged, deep remission                is overwhelmed by                                                                                                                                             services and contain sufficient funds for
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  them,” Melanie says, but privately funded
      from symptoms, or suppression                     the disease.”                                                                                                                                             services can be explored if necessary.
      of early auto-immune responses
                                                       P R O F E S S O R D AV I D H U N T E R ,
      in people who don’t yet have full-                  UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 To find out more about your eligibility
      blown RA to prevent them from                    R H E U M AT O LO G Y C L I N I C I A N                                                                                                                   for a Home Care Package or how to use
                                                                  RESEARCHER                                                                                                                                     the one you have, contact your local
      ever progressing beyond the first
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Australian Unity Home Care Branch,
      transient symptoms.”                                                                                                                                                                                       or call 1300 160 170.
     Globally, such research is in its early stages, but               However, he adds, “new therapies are coming                                                Tips and Tricks
     every paper and trial builds knowledge towards                    out that impact not only the symptoms of
     the goal of immunotherapy. Achieving it would,                    osteoarthritis, but have the potential to modify                                           Mobility aids are available for most
     Ranjeny says, be “a dream come true”.                             the course of the disease”.                                                                aspects of daily life: canes and wheeled
                                                                                                                                                                  walkers, swivel seats for the car and                                     PICTURED
                                                                      These include disease-modifying therapies                                                   support arms for furniture. Compression
     What you can do                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Mobility aids and
                                                                      still undergoing research by California-based                                               gloves, used judiciously, may relieve
     For all types of arthritis, daily management                                                                                                                                                                                    keeping active can help
                                                                      pharmaceutical company Samumed, such as                                                     swelling, pens with special grips make it                            to manage arthritis
     involves keeping active, eating well and
                                                                      the drug sprifermin, which shows signs of                                                   easier to write, and book rests save hands.                           and reduce stress
     maintaining a healthy weight. These approaches
                                                                      improving cartilage thickness in the knee and                                                                                                                          on joints.
     apply especially to those with the most common                                                                                                               Grooming aids include long-handled
                                                                      tissue regeneration. ●                                                                      sponges, while keen gardeners can keep
     form of the disease, osteoarthritis.
                                                                                                                                                                  their flowers blooming with specially
     University of Sydney researcher Professor David                                                                                                              designed tools, gloves and knee pads.
     Hunter says the description of osteoarthritis as the                                         Visit Arthritis Australia at                                    For the kitchen, bottle and jar openers,
     result of “wear and tear” is inaccurate.                                                     arthritisaustralia.com.au for more                              can ring pulls, curved cutlery and anti-slip
                                                                                                                                            Images: iStockphoto

                                                                                                  information on the condition, or call                           mats are useful. Even tilting kettles are
     “Every joint has some capacity for repair – in                                               1800 011 041 for information and advice                         available – just boil the water and tilt the
      osteoarthritis, that reparative potential is                                                about local services and programs.                              kettle in its cradle to pour into an easy-
      overwhelmed by the disease,” David says.                                                                                                                    grip cup.

14   FLOURISH | AUTUMN 2020                                                                                                                                                                                                          A U T U M N 2 0 2 0 | F LO U R I S H   15
Flourish - Australian Unity
INSIGHT

     Being alone                                                                                                                                                                Tips to help you
                                                                                                                                                                               combat loneliness

     doesn’t mean                                                                                                                                                           Keep in touch with family and friends – not
                                                                                                                                                                            just at Christmas but regularly, so that you

     being lonely
                                                                                                                                                                             can build more meaningful relationships.
                                                                                                                                                                           (See our story on page 18 about Marie Rees,
                                                                                                                                                                              a devoted pen pal, who has used letters
                                                                                                                                                                                 to keep in touch with friends and
                                                                                                                                                                                      family for many years.)

     Technology and modern ways of                                                                                                                                             Reach out to others you think might
                                                                                                                                                                                 be experiencing loneliness and
     living are helping older people feel                                                                                                                                           create new connections.
     valued and part of the community
     WORDS   Margaret Barca
                                                                                                                                                                           Use phone calls, emails, letter writing, text

     I
                                                                                                                                                                            messages and smartphone applications
                                                                                                                                                                            such as Whatsapp, Viber and Facebook
         t’s been called “an epidemic of loneliness” and it                                                                                                                Messenger to stay in touch all year round.
         embraces all levels and ages in Australian society.
         A survey of 54,000 people by ABC’s ‘Australia
         Talks’ project in 2019 revealed one in six
         Australians feel lonely, and a third say loneliness                                                                                                                 Explore new ways of using technology
                                                                                                                                                                               such as Skype, Google Hangouts,
     is a problem.
                                                                                                                                                                                Zoom, Houseparty or even the
                                                               Residential aged care                                 their favourite hobbies and pastimes,” Lauren
     Among our ageing population, loneliness is even                                                                                                                           speakerphone on your telephone.
                                                               As research sheds light on the subject of             says. “We offer many accessible, modern ways to
     more prevalent. As social contacts shrink, as
                                                               loneliness, modern retirement communities             connect with like-minded people.”
     family and friends get older and pass away, and as
                                                               are working to ensure people are engaged
     failing health often limits their ability to engage in
                                                               and feel part of both their local and wider           Staying at home                                          You can share digital challenges with
     activities, older people are more likely to experience
                                                               community, too.                                       Home Care Packages can also offer regular,             friends using smartphone apps such as
     social isolation and loneliness.
                                                                                                                     reliable connections. Australian Unity helps to       Words with Friends or use Facebook to play
                                                               Lauren Ffrost, General Manager South
     But being alone doesn’t necessarily mean being                                                                  arrange transport or support to help its customers    online board games such as Uno, Solitaire
                                                               Melbourne Communities at Australian Unity,                                                                         Story, Quiz Planet and more.
     lonely. Technology and other modern ways of living                                                              stay in touch with others through their Home
                                                               says changed community attitudes and
     are changing lives for groups in our community who                                                              Care Package. Lauren says she hears many heart-
                                                               awareness are making a difference to many lives.
     have traditionally faced social isolation.                                                                      warming customer stories about the connections
                                                               Australian Unity’s ‘Better Together’ model in         they make with their Home Care Workers.
     Local councils offer ways for older people to connect                                                                                                                  Contact your local council, either via their
                                                               residential aged care is designed to support
     with others in their community and many groups                                                                  “Our staff understand the importance of making        website, or by telephone, to find out whether
                                                               small, clustered households.
     run courses to help older people use social media and                                                            connections with people,” Lauren says. “Often it’s    you can volunteer to support others who
     digital technologies such as email and video calls, to    “In residential communities, we support                as much about making friendships as it is about         might be isolated and feeling lonely.
     discover new online and stay-at-home hobbies.              residents to live healthy, active lives and pursue    delivering the service we provide,” she says. ●

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INSIGHT

                                                                                                                  and then life was just in the suburbs from then on.

                                                         The power
                                                                                                                  But my school friends and I kept writing to each
                                                                                                                  other and shared the news of what we were doing.”
                                                                                                                  These days, staying in touch with Marie’s own

                                                         of the pen
                                                                                                                  family – seven children, 17 grandchildren and
                                                                                                                  eight great-grandchildren – who live in various
                                                                                                                  Australian states as well as overseas, also
                                                                                                                  takes time.
                                                                                                                  “My eldest son, who is almost 60, lives in the
                                                                                                                  Netherlands. When he first went overseas, we
                                                                                                                  emailed reams to each other. I can’t type any
                                                            Sharing stories has been a                            longer so it’s back to handwriting. I write
                                                           lifelong habit for Marie Rees                          to him every two weeks.
                                                                                                                  “Of course, the younger generation like everything
                                                                  WORDSMargaret Barca
                                                                                                                  to happen quickly, so I stay in touch by phone as
                                                                PHOTOGRAPHY Jonah Blue
                                                                                                                  well. I love hearing voices and I like to hear the
                                                                                                                  personality in their voices.”
                                                                                                                                                                            I find it a
                                                                                                                  The habits of a lifetime are deeply ingrained.
                                                                                                                  After Marie’s husband passed away last year           lot of fun being
                                                                                                                  and she had more time, so she decided to reach          allowed into
                                                                                                                  out and look for more writing companions.
                                                                                                                                                                         the life stories
                                                                                                                  She ran a small notice in a column in Sydney’s
                                                                                                                  Daily Telegraph asking for “pen pals for
                                                                                                                                                                           of others.”
                                                                                                                  seniors”, people who enjoyed writing about                   MARIE REES,
                                                                                                                                                                        AUSTRALIAN UNITY HOME CARE
                                                                                                                  their life stories and sharing them with others.
                                                                                                                                                                            SERVICES CUSTOMER

     F
                                                                                                                  “I got many replies, men and women, aged from
                                                                                                                  40 to 80. I’m still writing to two penfriends who
              or almost seven decades, Marie Rees has    and we stuck to it. There are only five of us now, but
                                                                                                                  replied to that newspaper ad.
              put pen to paper to stay in touch with     we still stay in touch.
                                                                                                                                                                        own experiences with other people. We all need
              friends and family.                                                                                 “I’ve just received a six-page letter from one
                                                         “We wrote when we had news. It was natural. We                                                                 encouragement and we all need hope,” Marie says.
                                                                                                                  family friend, and I smiled all the way through
             “Writing to penfriends has been a hobby     were teenagers. We had boyfriends; we went out on
                                                                                                                  when reading it. I’ll put it aside and re-read it     Marie now lives by herself on the south coast
             of mine since the end of primary school,”   Saturday night. We went to the pictures. It was a
                                                                                                                  on the weekend when I have more time, and             of New South Wales and is “very happily cared
     Marie says, and now, aged almost 82, she is still   very simple lifestyle, but we had news to share.
                                                                                                                  then reply. I have been very disciplined with my      for” with Home Care Services provided by
     penning letters.
                                                         “Initially, we just kept in touch with the two girls     penfriends. I always reply.                           Australian Unity.
     Marie went to St Peter’s School in Rockhampton,     who had left Rockhampton, but by the time we
                                                                                                                  “I find it a lot of fun being allowed into the life   “I can honestly say that I have not made a better
     Central Queensland, where there were just 50        were about 20, we had almost all moved elsewhere
     pupils from grade three to grade seven. With just                                                            stories of others.”                                   friend than those girls I got to know at St Peter’s
                                                         so there were more letters to write.                                                                           and it’s because we kept in touch and we shared the
     seven girls in Marie’s class, naturally, a strong                                                            As well as the sense of fun that Marie says is an
     bond was formed.                                    “After working for four years, I joined the Women’s                                                            lives we led,” she says.
                                                                                                                  intrinsic part of having penfriends, when talking
                                                         Royal Australian Air Force (WRAAF). I became             to her it’s clear that she also brings a sense of     Marie is keen to encourage others to take up writing.
     “Two of my friends were moving away from
                                                         engaged at 20, married at 21, and then I had to leave    understanding and sympathy to her writing.
     Rockhampton – one moved to Brisbane and one to                                                                                                                     “I find great mateship in penfriends and a sure-fire
                                                         because married women couldn’t stay in service.
     outback Queensland, to Barcaldine,” Marie says.                                                              “Sometimes you can hear the loneliness in a           remedy for loneliness, and I hope that others might
     “We made a pact to stay in touch ‘forever more’     “I was a mother at 23, we had our first home at 24       letter. I’m into encouragement and sharing my         find the same.” ●

18   FLOURISH | AUTUMN 2020                                                                                                                                                                          A U T U M N 2 0 2 0 | F LO U R I S H   19
TOGETHER

                                                            Music for life
                                                               Meet accordion player Bob Bellini, and prepare
                                                                        to leave the comfort zone
                                                                  WORDS   Jane Canaway PHOTOS Michael Amendolia

                                         B
                                                   ob Bellini doesn’t actually like the sound   Breaking the sound barriers
                                                   of accordions, but that hasn’t stopped       Bob played with his gran at old-time and Scottish
                                                   him playing one for 74 years. “If I          dances in Balmain on the other side of the harbour,
                                                   walked in on me playing somewhere, I’d       and later joined bush bands and ceilidh groups.
                                                   probably walk straight out again,” he
                                                                                                His high-tech Roland accordion works more like
                                         admits. With a cheeky grin and his long hair in a
                                                                                                a synthesiser than an old-fashioned squeeze box,
                                         ponytail, Bob also admits to occasionally making
                                                                                                and he can make it sound like anything from brass
                                         things up, but this sounds true enough.
                                                                                                or strings to wind and percussion.
                                         Bob’s main criticism of the accordion is: “I
                                                                                                Bringing technology to music is a perfect mix
                                         prefer jazz and the accordion isn’t exactly a jazz
                                                                                                for Bob, who “started off at 15 on the tramways
                                         instrument.” But it was the only instrument
                                                                                                as an apprentice electrician”. He spent most of
                                         available to learn with his gran, a professional
                                                                                                his working life at IBM, before running his own
                                         music teacher, when he was growing up in
                                                                                                consultancy. Computers are in his blood, he says,
                                         Naremburn, on Sydney’s Lower North Shore.
                                                                                                and, for the past 10 years or so, he’s been teaching
                                         “We had a piano at home when I was small, but we       seniors how to use new technology. His classes are
                                          were in this two-bedroom house with 12 people, so     held at Willandra.
                                          the piano had to go,” Bob says.
            I try to get people                                                                 He loves getting people to think – a gift learnt
                                         “Still, my music has made me a few bob and got me
         to challenge what they           a lot of friends.”
                                                                                                from his gran and great-gran, who were both
                                                                                                proud suffragettes.
           hear; it keeps your           If you live near Bob at Australian Unity’s Willandra   “They were strong ladies who understood how to
               mind active.”             Village and Bungalows in Cromer, New South              look after themselves,” he says.
                     BOB BELLINI,        Wales, you may have seen him play – he performs
                                                                                                “When I was about eight, my gran used to take
                 MUSICIAN, TEACHER AND   for “anyone who will offer me money or food”.
                  WILLANDRA RESIDENT                                                             me down to hear the speakers [at Speakers
                                         “I soon learned that sitting on your own playing is     Corner] at The Domain [in Sydney’s Royal Botanic
                                          boring as batsh*t – getting out and playing with       Gardens], and some weeks we would listen to the
                                          others is fun,” he says.                               communists, and sometimes the conservatives.

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TOGETHER

                                                                                                                                                                                      You’ve got more
                                                                                                                                                                                      chance of getting
                                                                                                                                                                                  taken by a white pointer
                                                                                                                                                                                   in the bath than some
                                                                                                                                                                                    of the things people
                                                                                                                                                                                     worry about now.”
                                                                                                                                                                                            BOB BELLINI,
                                                                                                                                                                                        MUSICIAN, TEACHER AND
                                                                                                                                                                                         WILLANDRA RESIDENT

                                                                                                                                                                                                               PICTURED

                                                                                                                                                                                                            (clockwise from far
                                                                                                                                                                                                        left) Bob often performs
                                                                                                                                                                                                       at Willandra; tech still plays
                                                                                                                                                                                                          a big part in his life; as
                                                                                                                                                                                                             one-half of music
                                                                                                                                                                                                              duo Cabalie; as
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  a child.

     “She’d have soirees and invite along priests,            who also teaches kids art, while daughter Kara is a      brilliant ideas” – and he still loves people who
      communists, poets … they would pick a topic and         pottery teacher and artist. Each has two children.       are willing to put themselves out of their comfort
      debate it.”                                                                                                      zones and try something new.
                                                              Bob’s second partner, Wendy, died five years ago
                                                              and he moved into Willandra Village. “I bought           That could be his grandchildren
     Head in the cloud
                                                              without viewing; it’s got two rooms and a bathroom       or a 97-year-old neighbour “who
     Now his thinking is inspired by the possibilities of
                                                              and balcony out the front. I have a lot of fun.”         still thinks like a 35-year-old”.
     technology. “All my information is in the cloud, so
     I don’t worry about my wallet and cards and stuff        Some of that fun involves being a bit of a stirrer, so   “When I was a kid, I thought I’d
     because it’s all in the cloud – I can be found naked     if he hears a rumour, he’s more likely to embellish       be a rock musician or a gigolo,
     in a gutter and it doesn’t matter as long as I can get   the invention than deny it. “I try to get people to       and I ended up at IBM. But it’s
     on a computer.”                                          challenge what they hear; it keeps your mind active       just as well [I wasn’t a gigolo]
                                                              and touches that inner part of you where you’re still    ’cos I’d be a bit like a dog chasing
     Sharing information is a skill he developed giving
                                                              young and alive.                                          a car; I wouldn’t know what to
     presentations at IBM. “I have a great memory for
                                                                                                                        do with it if I caught it.” ●
     sounds, but when I started giving presentations, I       “Some people worry about the world and safety but
     didn’t realise that other people didn’t remember          we’ve got it pretty good compared to the hardness
     things the same way – you have to show them.              of life back in my parents’ time – you’ve got more
     But when you realise you can control an audience,         chance of getting taken by a white pointer in
     it really feels great,” he says. Perhaps not              the bath than some of the things people worry
                                                                                                                                      To learn more about Willandra Village and
     surprisingly, Bob ended up in marketing.                  about now.”
                                                                                                                                      Bungalows, visit australianunity.com.au/
     The teaching and artistic genes have been passed          At IBM, he loved working with young people –                           retirement-communities/willandra
     down to his children: his son Peter is a fireman         “they were game to try new things and always had

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INSIGHT

                   A community
                                                                                                                                                                                           PICTURED

                                                                                                                                                                                    ANA members Edmund
                                                                                                                                                                                   Barton, Charles Kingston

                                                                              I
                                                                                                                                                                                   and Alfred Deakin helped

                      support
                                                                                                                                                                                       lead the federal
                                                                                                                                                                                          movement.
                                                                                n 1840, when eight men gathered in a Melbourne              The ANA was also central to the
                                                                                pub to form an Australian branch of the                     Federation movement and its
                                                                                Manchester Unity “friendly society” little did              network of influential members –
                                                                                they know they were laying the foundations for              including future prime ministers Edmund Barton
                                           FOR                                  one of the country’s largest and most enduring              and Alfred Deakin – pushed for a united Australia.

                              180 years
                                                                              mutual organisations.
                                                                                                                                            A century later, in 1993, Manchester Unity and the
                                                                              Friendly societies were emerging all over the                 ANA came together to form what we now know
                                                                              colonies as a new wave of immigrants sought to                as Australian Unity. Grand United joined in 2005,
                                                                              secure their futures. The societies were formed to            Lifeplan in 2009 and Big Sky in 2012. The mutual
                                                                              give members economic assistance during difficult
                                                                                                                                            company continued to expand and today it delivers
                                                                              times by establishing a common pool of funds.
                                                                                                                                            health, wealth and living services to almost one
                                                                              Members could contribute to the fund and draw
                                                                                                                                            million Australians.
                                                                              upon it when needed for medical services, funeral
             As Australian Unity marks its 180th anniversary, we reflect on
                                                                              expenses or the care of widows and orphans.                   A focus on wellbeing
              the events and changes that have shaped the organisation        In 1871, the Australian Natives’ Association (ANA)            Though both Manchester Unity and the ANA
                                                                              joined the nation’s growing catalogue of friendly             were initially founded to provide an early form
                                                                              societies. It offered financial aid to members,               of insurance, it didn’t take long for their roles to
                                   WORDS   Beth Wallace                                                                                     broaden. During the 1860s, for example, when
                                                                              who were born in Australia, but also aimed to
                                                                              influence public thinking and government policy               pharmacy dispensers around Australia were
                                                                              on significant “national questions”. It campaigned            suspected of diluting medicines and taking excess
                                                                              for seat belts in cars and swimming lessons                   profits, Manchester Unity joined other friendly
                                                                              for children.                                                 societies to create their own dispensaries.

                                                                               The proud history of Australian Unity
                                                                                                      Manchester Unity IOOF was founded in Victoria                                  Dr A F A Greeves

                                                                                                                                                                          1846
                                                                                              1840
                                                                                                      (1840) and the first lodge was established in                                  becomes Manchester
                                                                                                      Adelaide. In the late 1900s, Manchester Unity                                  Unity’s first Grand Master.
                                                                                                      had an extensive network in Victoria. A key                                    Greeves was born in
                                                                                                      feature of Manchester Unity was the Annual                                     Knaresborough, Yorkshire,
                                                                                                      Moveable Conference where the organisation                                     England and emigrated to
                                                                                                      directors for the coming year were elected.                                    the Port Phillip District in
                                                                                                                                                                                     NSW in 1840.

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INSIGHT

        Similarly, in 1870, Manchester Unity was granted                                                                                                approximately 5-hectare site will include a                         are conducted with 2,000 people to determine
        Crown land in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton                                                                                                   public rehabilitation hospital, a private hospital,                 the factors that give them the greatest sense
        to build a facility for aged and disadvantaged                                                                                                  residential aged care, retirement living and student                of meaning, purpose and satisfaction. This
        members – the organisation’s first foray into                                                                                                   accommodation, health research, childcare, a co-                    research delivers insights that allow Australian
        residential care. Fast forward 150 years and the                                                                                                working hub and education and training facilities.                  Unity to enhance its customers’ wellbeing, while
        latest additions to Australian Unity’s independent                                                                                                                                                                  simultaneously informing public debate and policy
                                                                                                                                                        Rohan Mead, Group Managing Director at
        and assisted living options include Rathdowne
                                                                                                                                                        Australian Unity, says the organisation seeks to                    makers about issues of national importance.
        Place and The Grace Albert Park Lake – in the heart
                                                                                                                                                        provide and extend valuable products and services
        of urban Melbourne.                                                                                                                                                                                                 Australian Unity also provides funding to
                                                                                                                                                        related to important aspects of wellbeing.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            organisations that make a positive contribution
        After acquiring Home Care Service in 2016,
                                                                                                                                                    “Our long history has seen us involved in providing                     to society. $1.7 million has been distributed to
        Australian Unity now delivers home care
                                                                                                                                                     a wide range of services to the community.                             groups across the country. In 2019, Australian
        services to more than 50,000 customers in New
                                                                                                                           PICTURED                  Today, we continue to develop our diverse but
        South Wales.                                                                                                                                                                                                        Unity awarded grants to organisations that have a
                                                                                                                                                     thematically linked portfolio of health, wealth
                                                                                                                     Manchester Unity building                                                                              positive impact in its focus areas of Reconciliation,
        It’s also at the helm of the $1.1 billion Herston                                                              built in Melbourne in
                                                                                                                                                     and living services for our members and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Disability and Financial Wellbeing.
        Quarter development in Brisbane, which                                                                                  1932.                customers—services with a demonstrated
        aims to give Queenslanders access to leading                                                                                                 broader social impact,” says Rohan.                                    As Australian Unity continues to support the
        health, hospital and aged-care services. The                                                                                                                                                                        community and bolster the wellbeing of its
                                                                                                                                                        Committed to the community
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            members and customers, it has remained true
                                                                                                                                                        Over the years, Australian Unity has sought to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            to the ambitions set by its founders in 1840.
                                                                                                                                                        improve more than the wellbeing of its own
                                                                                                                                                        members. Since April 2001, the company has
                                                                                                                                                        partnered with Deakin University’s Australian
       After acquiring Home Care Service of NSW in 2016, Australian Unity                                                                               Centre for Quality of Life to develop the Australian
       now delivers home care services to more than 50,000 customers.                                                                                   Unity Wellbeing Index. Twice a year, interviews

                                                                                      The construction of the
                                                                               1932

                                                                                      Manchester Unity Building in
                                                                                      1932 was the organisation’s
                                                                                      response to the need to
                                                                                      create jobs for its members.
                                                                                      The twelve-story Art Deco
                                                                                                                                                                                                       Manchester Unity Aged Members’ Centre

                                                                                                                                                                                                1962
                                                                                      marvel provided not only
                                                                                      employment but was one of                                                                                        opens in suburban Glen Waverley, Victoria
       Manchester Unity was                                                                                                                                                                            When Manchester Unity opened its first Aged
                                    1870

                                                                                      the most modern buildings
       granted Crown land to                                                          in the nation.                                                                                                   Members’ Centre in 1962, it commenced
         establish a home for                                                                                                                                                                          a path along which the care for the older
     aged and disadvantaged                                                                                                                                                                            community has continued under the banner
       members. Bounded by                                                                                                                                                                             of Australian Unity into the present day.
     Newry, Station, Freeman
          and Canning streets
                                           1871

                                                  The Australian Natives’                                                                        1937     Tree planting is promoted across
        in Carlton, Melbourne,
                                                  Association (ANA) was                                                                                   Victoria by the Australian Natives’
      and approximately 1.25                                                                                                                                                                                                Australian Unity accelerated its campaign to build its
                                                  established in Melbourne                                                                                Association in conjunction with the

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2005
           acres, the land was                                                                                                                                                                                           financial planning business in New South Wales after it
                                                  in 1871 for people born in                                                                              Forests Commission of Victoria.
         to be used to build a                                                                                                                                                                                                took over the Grand United Friendly Society in 2005.
                                                  Australia at a time when                                                                                Posters at the time describe the
       facility for aged, infirm,
                                                  most administrative jobs                                                                                society as a ‘benefit mutual non-                                  The merge allowed Australian Unity to further invest
       decayed, distressed or
                                                  were held by British born.                                                                              party progressive national all-                                    in the retirement living and healthcare client base of
            indigent members.
                                                                                                                                                          Australian association’.                                           Grand United – one of Australia’s oldest companies.

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INSIGHT

       Lifetime of service
       These five Australian Unity staff and volunteers
       from regional New South Wales have dedicated
       many years to the organisation.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Of no personal
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      influence…
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      This article is supported by
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      research from Of no personal
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      influence a book by Alex
                                                                                                                                                          Dorothy Skinner has been a care
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      McDermott produced on
                                                                                                                                                          worker for 34 years, starting out in           Delma Beetson has been a                     behalf of Australian Unity.
                                                                                                                                                          a holiday cover position when her              volunteer Community Transport
                                                     Robyn Pearson from Walgett                     Will Marr is another Nyngan local                     children were young. Based in the              driver for 19 years, taking clients
       Elizabeth (Beth) Roberts joined               began her association with Australian          who joined Home Care Service of                       small town of Baradine, in north               from Nyngan in central NSW to
       Home Care Service of NSW 35 years             Unity 34 years ago as a care worker,           NSW 19 years ago as a volunteer                       western NSW, Dorothy often knows               medical appointments, on shopping
       ago as a cleaner, but her role today          a role she continues to this day. Her          driver. Though he works elsewhere                     her clients before she works with              and personal trips, social outings
       includes other duties, such as respite        motto – “I do anything that people             as a disability carer, he uses his                    them, and says: “In some cases, I’ve           and to visit family and friends. She’s
       and palliative care. Beth works in and        want done” – has endeared her to               day off each week to take people                      looked after their mothers, and now            also an active member of the local
       around Leeton in the Riverina, and            clients over the years, as has her             to appointments, often undertaking                    I’m looking after them.” Undertaking           Meals On Wheels service and says:
       says meeting so many wonderful                constancy. Robyn’s list of long-term           the four-hour round trip to Dubbo.                    anything from housework to respite             “I just love driving and looking after
       people – including one family she             clients is extensive; in one case, she         “You get this fantastic opportunity to                care, Dorothy says she enjoys the              people.” Delma, 80, says some of
       provided care to for 32 years –               nursed a man with quadriplegia for             be in the car with people that you’d                  versatility, adding: “You might do             her clients are younger than she is,
       makes her job rewarding, adding:              27 years. Working six days a week,             normally never meet,” says Will.                      vacuuming in one place for an                  but it’s work that she enjoys, adding:
       “You can go to work having a bad              she often travels great distances to           “They tell you all sorts of fantastic                 hour, and then move off and take               “There are so many on their own and
       day, but by the time you leave you’re         see her clients, saying: “I go wherever        bits about their life, it’s a really                  somebody shopping. Every day                   they get lonely. You’ve got to be a
       laughing and they’re laughing too”.           I’m needed”.                                   interesting experience.”                              is different”.                                 good listener”.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2019
                                                                         Australian Unity progress
                                                             2009-2015

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           At the end of 2019 Australian
                                                                         with various mergers.                                                                                                                                                             Unity head office moved to its
                                                                         In August 2009, Lifeplan                                                                                                                                                          new headquarters in Spring
                                                                         merged with Australian Unity                                                                                                                                                      Street, Melbourne CBD. The
                                                                         and in 2012 Big Sky Credit                                                                                                                                                        renovation was designed by John
                                                                         Union did the same forming Big                                                                                                                                                    Wardle Architects.
                                                                         Sky Building Society.
                                                                         Both create an even stronger
                                                                         mutual organisation.
                                                                         In 2015, Australian Unity
                                                                         Personal Financial Services
                                                                         acquired Flinders Australia                                                        Australian Unity signed an agreement          of client-directed care.”

                                                                                                                                                   2016
                                                                         Limited giving Australian                                                          with the NSW Government to accept the         The transfer resulted in Home services
                                                                         Unity a broader platform                                                           transfer of the Home Care Service of
         Remedy Healthcare is a leading provider of highly                                                       Rathdowne Place Wellbeing                                                                becoming one of the largest areas of
                                                                                                          2014
2008

                                                                         of in-demand services for                                                          NSW (Home Care) to Australian Unity.
         targeted, evidence-based self-management and                                                            opened at its Carlton Precinct.                                                          operation within the Australian Unity
                                                                         clients and members.
         health coaching programs. Their services are                                                                                                       Under the agreement, more than 50,000         Group and one of the largest home care
         available to a range of clients across Australia,                                                                                                  clients across NSW and 4,000 employees        providers nationally.
         such as corporations through corporate health                                                                                                      transferred to Australian Unity in 2016.      Australian Unity has provided home care
         programs, health programs for members of                                                                                                           Australian Unity’s Group Managing Director    services for more than ten years and
         private health funds, and specialty aged care                                                                                                      Rohan Mead said, “This is an opportunity      has accreditations across a number of
         health services for older clients living in their                                                                                                  for Australian Unity to fulfill its vision    federal, state government and external
         homes or in aged care centres.                                                                                                                     to create Australia’s leading home care       accreditation bodies.
                                                                                                                                                            business based on a true continuum

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TOGETHER

                                               On the home front
                                                      Tammy Meyers’ desire to help others extends beyond her
                                                       day job helping Australian Unity customers stay in their
                                                              homes, to a role as a volunteer firefighter
                                                                     WORDS    Dharma Rogers PHOTOS Dean Golja

                                        F
                                                  or Tammy Meyers, it’s how she feels         understands that it takes time to connect
                                                  about the work she does that counts         with customers and to build trust. “I have
                                                  the most.                                   one customer who will only speak to me,”
                                                                                              she says. It took a little time, but the two have
                                                 “I just like helping people stay in their
                                                                                              formed a strong bond.
                                                  homes and helping people with day-to-
                                        day living,” says the Allocations Coordinator for     Because allocations coordinators need to
                                        Australian Unity in Ballarat, Victoria.               understand customers so they can give them the
                                                                                              best-possible service, some customers might feel
                                        It’s why she loves her role and was the motivation
                                                                                              more comfortable with certain carers. “Knowing
                                        behind her decision to become a volunteer
                                                                                              the customer makes them feel they’re not just
                                        firefighter for the Country Fire Authority in 2002.
                                                                                              another number,” Tammy says.
                                        Tammy’s day-to-day work is mostly logistics
                                                                                              While her role doesn’t require her to go out and
                                        based. “I fill services for customers or carers
                                                                                              meet customers, on occasion she does. Tammy
                                        who are off sick or on annual leave,” she
                                                                                              does this because she has known some customers
                                        says. “I arrange times for carers to go out and
          Everyone looks                help customers.”
                                                                                              since 2012 and sometimes they request to meet her.

        out for each other,              That ensures Australian Unity’s valued customers
                                                                                              “It’s nice to put a face to a name and it makes
                                                                                               them more comfortable because they know who
       because at the end of             continue to get the care they need – such as          they’re talking to on the end of the phone as well,”
                                         housework, showering assistance and shopping.
     the day, we all just want          “Without that support, some people might not be
                                                                                               she says.

      to return home to our              able to stay in their own home,” Tammy says.
                                                                                              In 2001, Tammy watched television footage of
                                                                                              firefighters battling the devastating bushfires
         families safely.”              “I started off doing a bit of reception, admin and    known as Black Christmas, which tore through
               TA M M Y M E Y E R S ,    allocations with Home Care Plus [in Ballarat] in     parts of New South Wales and the Australian
           ALLOCATIONS COORDINATOR       2002,” she says. “I’ve had a few roles since being   Capital Territory.
            FOR AUSTRALIAN UNITY IN
                                         with Australian Unity, but allocations coordinator
              BALLARAT, VICTORIA                                                              “I just thought, I’d love to be able to do that; I’d
                                         is probably my favourite and the one I’m best at.”
                                                                                               love to be out there helping, and that’s what I
                                        The work comes naturally to Tammy; she                 did,” she says.

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TOGE THER                                                                                                                                                                                                                 INSIGHT

          PICTURED

      Tammy Meyers in her
     role as the Allocations
         Coordinator for
                                                                                                                    THE TWO OF US

                                                                                                                    Pat & Shanaye
        Australian Unity
           in Ballarat.

                                                                                                                    Pat Hudson, 71, from Gosford in New South Wales, has osteomyelitis
                                                                                                                    in her foot and debilitating arthritis in both hands. Australian Unity
                                                                                                                    nurse Shanaye Finlayson coordinates the care Pat receives on her
                                                                                                                    Level 3 Home Care Package
                                                                                                                    WORDS   Maria Triaca PHOTOS Chris Elfes

                                                                                     Being able to                  PAT: “I’ve known Shanaye for just over a year. The       SHANAYE: “Pat’s got a great personality and she
                                                                                    help somebody                   nurses who cared for me for the first 12 weeks after     makes the best of a sticky situation. She improvises
                                                                                                                    my foot surgery suggested Australian Unity for           a way of doing things. She keeps going because she
                                                                                   in a time of need                ongoing care at home. Shanaye recommended Dan,           is very determined. She’s crippled with rheumatoid
                                                                                    … is an amazing                 the physiotherapist, and Lucy, another nurse who         arthritis, but there are all these little things that

                                                                                        feeling”                    also helps me.                                           she is able to do herself. For instance, she uses
                                                                                                                                                                             pliers to open jars. Other people would say ‘it’s
     In 2002, Tammy became a CFA volunteer in                                                                       Shanaye comes once a week and dresses my
                                                                                                                                                                             too difficult’ or ‘I’ll go into a rest home’, but Pat
     Waubra, near Ballarat, where she lives with her                                                                wounds. She’s here for an hour and a bit. She’s
                                                                                                                                                                             is determined to be independent. She’s in chronic
     husband, Andrew, and their three children,                                                                     helpful, she’s kind. I love everything about her.
                                                                                                                                                                             pain and is on a management plan.
     Tylor, 21, Hailey, 16, and Cody, 13.                                                                           She undoes bottle tops for me because my fingers
                                                                                                                    don’t work. I’ve only got two thumbs that work.          Her hands are affected, but her thumbs are moving
     Since signing up 18 years ago, Tammy has been on        “Everyone looks out for each other, because at the
                                                                                                                                                                             freely and, with all the assistance, slowly she’s
     two deployments, one of which was for the fires in       end of the day, we all just want to return home to    I hadn’t driven for four years because of the
                                                                                                                                                                             been able to get the movement back.
     East Gippsland earlier this year.                        our families safely.”                                 arthritis, but because of the physio I’m back
                                                                                                                    driving, which is great. The NRMA driving                She’s really come a long way in the past 12 months.
     When talking about her experiences with the             Tammy would like to return to the places she
                                                                                                                    instructor came out and took me for a drive              She’s gone from not driving to being able to drive
     recent East Gippsland fires, Tammy, who is now a        went to on her deployment “for a visit and
                                                                                                                    and I didn’t do too badly. I’m having some more          again and that’s a huge achievement. She’s an
     first lieutenant, says she felt a range of “different   some adventures”.
                                                                                                                    lessons and I’m hoping to get a restricted licence.      inspiration to others. We chat about all sorts of
     emotions”. She says it was “heartbreaking” to see       “Being able to help somebody in a time of need,                                                                 things, but mainly sport. Pat was really good at
                                                                                                                    I’ve always been very independent. I’ve worked
     people who had lost their homes, the very place          you don’t expect anything in return but to know                                                                sport. She’s also got a great sense of humour.
                                                                                                                    out how to do things for myself.
     Tammy works so hard to keep her Australian               that you’ve helped them on their worst day is an                                                               Her Level 3 Home Care Package entitles Pat to
     Unity customers.                                         amazing feeling,” she says. ●                         I’ve got a little budgie whose feathers fly around       podiatry, physiotherapy, occupational therapy,
                                                                                                                    the room, so I got a curtain rod, put some Blu Tack      shopping and domestic assistance.
     During her three-day deployment, Tammy’s job
                                                                                                                    on the end of it and use that to pick up the feathers.
      was to put out small fires that were still burning                                                                                                                     Pat’s got a book of cuttings from the local
     – this is known as blacking out hot spots. She did                     Australian Unity can help to keep you   Shanaye is not just a good nurse, she’s become a         newspaper, The Central Coast Express, about her
      this with a team of 25 to 30 people; some were                        in your home longer.                    good friend.                                             sporting achievements. It’s a great record. I love
                                                                            australianunity.com.au/home-services
      complete strangers but became more like family                                                                We love to chat and enjoy a laugh. We mainly chat        looking through it and asking her about her
      during their time together.                                                                                   about sport – football, cricket, netball and squash.”    sporting achievements.” ●

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