OPSO TO CONTINUE VAL'S LEGACY - Older People Speak Out
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MAY 2020 | VOL. 63
OPSO
Life Times
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Older People Speak Out - Since 1993 Subscribe
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OPSO TO CONTINUE
VAL'S LEGACY
Welcome to the new OPSO. My name is Irene Cayas
president of OPSO. Last month, Sadly, we farewelled
our founder, President, mentor, educator, and of
course friend, Val French AM, may she rest in peace.
The OPSO team's vision for the future is to continue
to be a voice for all in the community to speak out
and help resolve issues to achieve positive aging.
We wish to show leadership to all the people in the
development of an intergenerational voice, to provide
facilities and conduct speak-outs for all generations to
express their opinions on current social issues.
MAY 2020 | VOL. 63
We wish to encourage everyone to identify and work for the appropriate rights and
services to evolve, and for media, businesses, professionals and government levels to listen
to OPSO´s recommendations and advice. And we also aim to encourage people to develop
skills and enable them to speak out on issues that concern them.
Thank you to all who have supported us in the past and hope that you will continue to
support us in the future. OPSO has been around for 27 years, and we hope to continue to
have your support for the next 27 years.
We invite you to become a member of OPSO. Together, we can make a difference by
being inclusive and diverse, and to assist those most vulnerable to get a voice. Thank you
to the OPSO team and everyone, please stay safe and well.
“Make the most of the gifts you were born with"
- Val French
MAY 2020 | VOL. 63
FEEDING THE WORLD WITH SEEDS OF HOPE
Commencing in 2015 the inaugural recipient of this bursary was Bianca Banchetti.
...passionate about social justice, diversity and the power of media as an agent for social
and political change. Growing up in Johannesburg South Africa and being raised by a
single mother, Bianca became passionate about human rights, women’s issues and the
Law’s ability to remedy many of our social injustices...
The 2016 bursary was awarded to Susie Brodie.
...“I would also like to spend my first few years of my career out in a rural region
reporting on agricultural issues and raising awareness of hardships faced by those in
remote areas.”...
Val French AM
Bursary
Recipients
2016-2019
Lauren Martin was the 2108 recipient
...I hope to become a vocal advocate against the misconceptions of minority and migrant
peoples....
Last year, 2019, Rosemary Ball was named the Val French AM bursary recipient
...hopes to change the world one word at a time and continue her work to shed light on
pressing local and global issues. She believes behind every smile there is a story of
personal struggle or success, and everyone deserves for their voice to be heard...
MAY 2020 | VOL. 63
WHEN AN INTERGENERATIONAL FAMILY BIRTHDAY
PARTY BECOMES A ZOOMABLE FEAST
As just one brief, personal account of how swiftly this pandemic has swept into our
unaware and all too complacent lives, I’ve set out a timeline of my recent and evolving
family birthday party:
6 December 2019: Booked a whole bunch of eco cabins in the Blue Mountains, for an
extended family party for my 78th birthday on the weekend of March 28.
8 January 2019: the terrible news that all of the cabins had been destroyed by bush
fires (and doesn’t that quite recent and terrible time when Australia was burning now
seem eons ago, for those of us who were fortunate not to be directly affected?).
Anne's
78th
Birthday!
23 February 2020: Buffet lunch on a Sydney harbour cruise booked for fewer family
members.
12 March: Offer from harbour cruise company to change buffet lunch to safer option of
a sit-down lunch at no extra cost.
14 March: Cancelled harbour cruise out of concern for safety.
14 March: Smaller family party planned at home.
18 March: Smaller family party cancelled for safety reasons, as several grandchildren
would have been coming, and now considered risky for older people.
28 March: Zoom party with all children, grandchildren, some siblings (one joining
briefly a bit later, with partner [now recovered] then looking very poorly, in the throes
of COVID-19). Very successful way of coming together nonetheless, and very different
from before, while becoming a norm for many with birthdays in the time of this
pandemic.
Anne Ring ©2020
MAY 2020 | VOL. 63
THE RIGHT TO HEALTH SERVICES DOES
NOT DISCRIMINATE
One consequence of the This means that even when
Covid-19 pandemic has been service supplies are short or
the increased pressure placed there is a risk to health and
on Queensland’s health system. safety when providing a service,
Despite this pressure, all the decisions about who gets
people regardless of age or access and who misses out must
disability status are entitled to be well founded and the reasons
continue to access health clearly articulated. There are
services that they need. This multiple risk factors for Covid-
...all people right is explicitly protected 19 and age alone is not one of
under Queensland’s Human them. There are many healthy
regardless of Rights Act which states: Every
older people who do not have
age or person has the right to access
any of the medical issues which
health services without
increase risk should they
disability discrimination. A person must
contract the virus, therefore age
not be refused necessary
status are should not be used as the sole
emergency medical treatment.
criterion for determining a
entitled to In certain circumstances it will
policy response. In other
be legal to limit this right. If
continue to any service provider intends to
countries that faced this crisis
earlier, access to health services
access health limit access to a service that is
has been problematic, but
needed by an older person,
services that they need good policy grounds Australian service providers
for doing so. have had additional time to
they need... prepare and should be better
placed to do this well. More
information about rights to
health services can be found on
the Queensland Human Rights
Commission’s website and in
the Queensland Law Handbook
chapter Medical Law. Caxton
Legal Centre’s Seniors Legal and
Support Service continues to
assist people experiencing elder
abuse and can be reached on
(07) 3214 6333.
MAY 2020 | VOL. 63
ETHNIC COMMUNITIES COUNCIL OF QUEENSLAND
RESPONSE TO RACISM
The Ethnic Communities Council (ECCQ) to the cause while undergoing immense
are signatories to the national ‘Racism Stops pressure and disruption on their respective
With Me’ Campaign and it is my duty and lives in an effort to reduce the impact for
my desire as Chairperson of ECCQ to all Australians during the crisis.
support our Chinese Australians and other Recent xenophobic comments and
Asian Communities who are forced to feedback on social media attributed to two
endure the overt racism displayed by a Coalition Members of the Australian
minority of fellow Queenslanders and other Parliament are in stark contrast to the
...all people
Australians in relation to the spread of the message of the Australian Government and
regardless
coronavirus of
COVID-19 in this country. The if left unmoderated can be seen to incite
Australian Chinese Community have been racial hatred in the Queensland and
age or
the subjects of an escalating trend of overt Australian communities. The social media
disability
status are
entitled to
continue to “We Are All In This
access health Together”
services that
they need...
and covert racism attacks attributing blame comments and feedback through a lack of
on the Community for the Coronavirus in moderation by these individuals can be
China. seen to promote division in the community
The Australian Government’s broad at the expense of a section of our
message of unity in a crisis “We Are All In community and should be cause for alarm.
This Together” is a call to arms for all
sections of society to maintain a civil and The onus falls on political leaders to reduce
orderly approach to the current pandemic the impact of these actions attributed to
to enable Australia to manage COVID 19 in persons. Politicians who allow their
respective platforms to participate in this
the best possible manner. The great
behaviour without using a common sense
majority of Australians have accepted the
moderation practice, contribute to the
reality of the pandemic and are contributing
rising attacks whether they are verbal or
MAY 2020 | VOL. 63
ETHNIC COMMUNITIES COUNCIL OF QUEENSLAND
RESPONSE TO RACISM
physical into our communities. Those
politicians who allow this type of
communication would do well to remember
that - while they remain well-paid - struggling
Australian tax payers, including the Chinese
communities, have been asked to shoulder the
burden of economic and social responsibility
during the course of the pandemic.
The Council deplores the actions of the few who
display the worst examples of what it is to be
Australian. The actions of the few diminish the
remainder of the Australian and Queensland
communities in this difficult and dangerous
period for all of Australia and for all Australians
citizens.
I, as Chair of ECCQ urge other
leading Multicultural and Societal
organisations and other fair minded
Queenslanders to join with ECCQ to
condemn racism in all of its forms but
particularly the current and growing
instance of COVID 19 related racial
Alton Budd MAICD abuse toward our Asian communities.
Chairperson
MAY 2020 | VOL. 63
OPSO CALLED TO ACTION
OPSO was called by a gentleman to refurbish the flooring not already done
representative of the tenants of a and ongoing upgrade of the kitchens not
Government owned retirement complex in already done. One of the big issues
Greenslopes as OPSO had been involved in
mentioned was the lack of privacy.
drawing up of plans regarding the
Chris Carlyon (Area Manager BHSC) spoke
refurbishment of the complex back in
2010. regarding the refurbishment and the
Government’s role in budgeting etc.
Unfortunately, there are not enough dollars
to do everything so they will look at
priorities first. Joe Kelly indicated that any
safety issues are a priority and he will work
through with Chris and he suggested that
the tenants compile a priority list for the
Tenant committee to send to Joe Kelly and
A lot of the refurbishments had been
Gillian Jardine for the Buranda Housing
carried out by the Dept. of Housing, but not
Service.
to the degree that was expected by the
tenants so they requested OPSO support
once again. A meeting was arranged by
OPSO with Mr Joe Kelly MP, Buranda
Housing Service Centre and representatives
from OPSO.
The discussion also included possible
extensions to the rear balcony area of the
bedsitter units and that the loss of all
louvers front and rear had reduced air flow.
The sealing and painting to make good the
OPSO will continue to support this
ceilings of all units and to seal and paint the
project.
brick walls of all units not already done,
MAY 2020 | VOL. 63
OPSO CALLED TO ACTION
OPSO were call by a member asking if we
could help as he had purchased a Bike on
ebay and paid for the delivery.
Delivery was by Fastway door to door, but
for some reason Fashway indicated it was
held at their depot in Brisbane waiting for
collection as it was insufficiently
wrapped. He has spent two weeks trying to
get the bike delivered without success and
was feeling extremely stressed. His story:
“I'm 70 yrs old pensioner with a life threatening
heart condition and I recently broke my hip.
My wife is my official Centrelink 24 hrs a day cruel game their playing with us changing their
Carer. I can't drive at the moment and my wife minds over and over again about delivering my
is only on her learners permit. We've just moved parcel. The parcel is a racing bicycle that cost
up here to Brisbane and don't know anybody in over $2000 for my granddaughter considering
the area where we now live that could pick up the value to replace you can understand why
this bike for us. we are so stressed about this and why Fastway
couriers have been reckless, careless and
thoughtless in their dealing with a very
valuable parcel."
Outcome – the bike was delivered the next
day. The gentleman concerned was almost
in tears with relief.
OPSO are happy to help wherever we can.
I keep thinking of this why would Fastway
Couriers collect my parcel in the first place from
the sender in Bli Bli and deliver it to their
Hendra depot in Brisbane a 100k trip and then
refused to complete the delivery to the receiver
only a 30k trip remaining which I had paid
Fastway Couriers for. This is very irresponsible
and cruel etc. of Fastway Couriers all the stress
to us if you read the correspondence its like a
MAY 2020 | VOL. 63
"Feeling like baking? This sweet recipe from Maggie
Beer is just amazing"
Festive Almond, Fruit Mince & Apple Log
Method ALMOND FRANGIPANE
1. Preheat a fan forced oven to 210c and line an oven tray with parchment 60g unsalted butter,
paper. softened
2. ALMOND FRANGIPANE: Place the softened butter and sugar into the bowl 60g castor sugar
of a kitchen mixer, use the paddle attachment and beat at high speed for 5-8 60g eggs, at room temp.
minutes or until pale and aerated. Add the egg and beat, lastly fold in the 60g ground almonds
almonds and flour, mix to combine, set aside.
60g plain flour
APPLE
3. APPLE: Peel, core and cut the apples, place into a bowl with the lemon and
600g Granny Smith
sugars. Heat a large pot on the stove and add the apple mix, stir
apples, peel, core & cut
occasionally and cook on high for 8-10 minutes or until tender, but not falling
into rough
apart, set aside to cool.
2cm pieces
4. ASSEMBLY: Work on a pastry sheet or layer piece of parchment paper. Melt
2g lemon zest
the butter, using a pastry brush, butter between each layer of pastry and
8g lemon juice
layer up. With the long edge of the pastry towards you, spread the
25g brown sugar
frangipane over the bottom 1/3 of pastry leaving 1.5 inches at either end.
45g castor sugar
5. Top with an even spread of fruit mince then the apple, butter up the sides
60g melted butter
and then fold in the ends and roll in 3 to create a log, place the sealed edge
300g from a 410g jar of
on the bottom and transfer to the prepared baking tray. Brush the entire
surface with melted butter and dust a generous amount of icing sugar over. fruit mince, good quality
6. Place into the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden, or make your own
6 sheets of filo pastry
reduce to 180c and continue baking for 25-35 minutes or until golden, the
Icing Sugar
pastry is crisp and almond frangipane cooked through.
Cream, custard or ice
7. Remove from the oven and leave for 10 minutes before serving warm with
cream to serve
cream, ice cream or custard.You can also read
