Announcements
Seniors, senior citizens, retirees, those about to retire and looking for retirement planning, veterans, pensioners and carers, and baby boomer children of older parents will find our comprehensive listing of information and links extremely valuable. Here are the links of interest for seniors to federal and state government departments, national and state associations, community service groups, aged care and retirement village living, as well as to seniors’ lifestyle interests such as computing, wellbeing, finance, hobbies, sport and travel.
Apart from reading content, visitors to the YOURLifeChoices website can:
The Site Menu on the left will give you access and easy navigation to all parts of this site. There is, however, such an enormous amount of information that you may find what you are after more quickly by using the site’s advanced search facility. It is immediately below the top banner and it will help you search the entire site for your specific interest.
Our Site Map is also available for navigation. There is a link to it at the bottom of every page.
The Oddfellows
Access a mine of archives which are just waiting for you to trawl through...
Oddfellows long and varied history can be found in their archives, which contain over 70,000 pages of information, magazines and reports from the past 200 years. Should you be interested in genealogy or ancestory make use of the document search with the ability to refine results.
Swap your home for a week or so, as part of Oddfellows’ Exchange…
If you have a holiday home which you want to advertise, or are perhaps looking for home to holiday in, Oddfellows’ Exchange is the place where you can view such properties for free and browse others which are advertised. This is also the forum to arrange a house swap with other members and share information and advice about places you have visited or would like to visit.
Network with other like-minded individuals via forums social network...
Oddfellows online forums allow you to link-up with other members and with their recently launched online social network, ‘Mouse Mates’, you can keep in touch with Oddfellows from all over the world. You’ll need to complete a profile before you begin, which basically acts as your online passport, giving you access to friends with similar interests who are also socialising online. Create or join groups along the way and use it to exchange ideas and interact with others – a great way of establishing new friendships!
Join Oddfellows online community – research your history – meet Oddfellows around the world
If you wish to join this historic society which has been celebrating friendship for 200 years, then visit www.oddfellows.co.uk to view their offering, or email with your details stating your interest in International Membership.
Decision Time
On Sunday, two of the most important people in Australia face off in a climactic battle, the resolution of which could change the landscape of this country forever. Oh, and if you’re not doing anything before the Masterchef Finale is televised at 7.30pm, you might want to tune into The Leader’s Debate.
This second season of Masterchef has been an unstoppable juggernaut and has become so popular that even the electoral debate was pushed back one full hour, so it did not have to compete for viewers with the finale!
Masterchef has had such an effect on the population and should be congratulated for creating programming which is not only appealing and suitable for all but for renewing Australia’s fascination with good, healthy, home-cooked food.
So, who will take the coveted crown of Australia’s second Masterchef? Going in to battle behind the broilers one final time is the consistent Adam and the plucky Callum. Both have exhibited strong culinary ability throughout the series. One thing is for certain, this will be the program on Sunday night which triumphs in the ratings.
Have you caught the Masterchef cooking bug? Check out some of YOURLifeChoices great recipes.
Best place to die
OK, very seldom do you get to choose where you are when you leave this mortal earth but if you can swing it, dying in Britain or Australia is the best option.
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, dying in India is the least preferable option, with the quality of care given to those about to die ranking last of the 40 countries considered. Using factors such as access to painkillers and doctor-to-patient transparency, Britain topped the list, with Australia and New Zealand following close behind.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that the richer the country the better the care. The US may have the world’s largest economy but it only managed to rank ninth and the second richest country being Japan, managed a measly 23rd.
For more information, click YOURLifeChoices simple short cut.
Thank you!
YOURLifeChoices is delighted to have received the Older Persons Speak Out (OPSO) Special People’s Choice Award for the YOURLifeChoices website, and enewsletters at the Media Awards Presentation at the Queensland State Library on Monday 23 November.
As older Australians embrace new technology, the need for accurate, unbiased and simple-to-understand information online is increasing. The YOURLifeChoices team strives to offer reliable and independent information to its 20,000+ enewsletter subscribers and 165,000 monthly website visitors.
In accepting the award on behalf of YOURLifeChoices, it is important to acknowledge the work of the original founders of the website, Ged, Judy and Greg Lawrence, and their magnificent vision of a site inclusive of all older Australians keen to stay connected online.
Since its purchase by David and Kaye Fallick in 2005, YOURLifeChoices has continued to provide information on life’s four key pillars: health+wealth+travel+work, while remaining acutely aware that the vast majority of older Australians rely on the Age Pension as their sole source of income. By helping subscribers to understand the need to plan for later years, YOURLifeChoices aim is to empower individuals to make the best choices they can to create a sustainable life-income – and enjoy active and productive later years.
This website will only ever be as good as the support and feedback offered by our visitors and subscribers, so this is a sincere thank you to all who share their thoughts, ideas and criticisms.
The YOURLifeChoices community is expanding - watch this space for further opportunities to earn, learn and return (your wisdom).
A very big thank you for helping us win this OPSO award!
Warmest,
Debbie, Drew, Corey, Ellie, David & Kaye
50 years young
The world’s best loved bear is 50 years old and while some may not remember reading tales of Paddington Bear as a child, this little bear from deepest, darkest Peru was the bedtime story of choice for some of the country’s business people, politicians and parents of today’s youngsters. Created in 1958 by Englishman, Michael Bond, who bought a small bear on Christmas Eve after feeling sorry for it sitting on the shelf all alone. he gave the bear to his wife and they called him Paddington, due to the proximity of London’s Paddington Station to their home. Bond started to jot down some tales of the little bear and sent them to his agent. It was eventually accepted by William Collins & Sons (now Harper Collins), who commissioned illustrator Peggy Fortnum and A Bear Called Paddington debuted on 13 October 1958.
For more information on Paddington, visit his website.
Australia’s oldest resident turns 112
Paddington Bear shares his birthday with truly remarkable lady, Mrs Emily Beatrice “Bea” Riley, who, as Australia’s oldest person, celebrates her 112th birthday today, 13 October 2008. Mrs Reily is the 30th oldest, documented person in the world and will celebrate by having a small private birthday gathering at her Melbourne nursing home.
Passing of a theatre great
As the lead in a record 2000-plus performances in the Australian production of the Phantom of the Opera, Rob Guest was well known by many theatre goers.
The theatre world was saddened by Wednesday’s news that one of their favourites had collapsed and died after suffering a stroke. Starring as the Wizard in the Melbourne run of Wicked, Guest’s death comes as a shock as he was known to lead a relatively healthy life.
English-born Guest started his career as a pop singer in New Zealand in the 1970s and stared in television before moving to Las Vegas. Awarded an OBE in 1984, the Australian theatre scene beckoned with his first role as Jean Valijean in les Miserables. With more than 35 leading roles to his credit, Robert Guest will be a great loss to the world of theatre and its fans.
Beijing Games of the XXIX Olympiad
On Friday 08/08/2008, the Opening Ceremony for the Beijing Games of the XXIX Olympiad began with an extraordinary vision of the past and future China – a story told in music, dance, calligraphy and technology.
If you missed it, here is a video with snapshots of the opening ceremony!
Word of the Day
Learn a new word every day by visiting AboutSeniors Word of the Day page. Isn’t it interesting that the Macquarie Dictionary’s word of the year, and people’s choice are both technology-based. Pod slurping and password fatigue are the winners – but what do they mean?
Senior Australian of the Year 2009
Time is running out to make your nomination for Senior Australian of the Year 2009. It is your opportunity to vote for someone aged 60 and over, who has made a significant contribution to Australian life and continues to give heir name and energy to build better communities. If there is someone in your community who makes an important contribution on a daily basis, then make sure your nomination is in by 31 August 2008. Nonimation forms can be downloaded at www.australianoftheyear.org.au or picked up from any branch of the Commonwealth Bank.
Accreditation Australia is the independent body responsible for managing the accreditation and ongoing supervision of Commonwealth-funded aged care homes.
The main Federal Government website explaining all you need to know about Aged Care – but it does seem to need an update!
And on our own site we have collected all the information you will ever need when assisting older parents – check out our Your Parents section now.
Latest Seniors’ News
The YOURLifeChoices site is updated daily. In addition we distribute a fortnightly enewsletter full of information and resources of interest to seniors, baby boomers and all those contemplating retirement planning. There’s a lot of fun too, with DVD giveaways, book reviews, recipes, and ongoing travel suggestions and discounts. Subscribe to this free enewsletter at the top of every page or sample a recent issue here.
Thanks for the Compliments…
“Congratulations on the consistently high quality of your newsletter. I often include snippets from YOURLifeChoices in Signposts, our own monthly electronic newsletter for U3As. Keeping the mind active appears to minimise the possibility of dementia in later life and your wide range of resources provide many opportunities for your readers to do just that.”
Rick Swindell, President U3A Online
