A.I.R.

Sydney - St. George Branch

- Working for Australians in Retirement -

NEWSLETTER - FEBRUARY 2017

Meetings - 9.45 am, Grandviews Bowling Club, 821 Forest Road, Peakhurst
3rd Friday of each month, except December
New Members & Visitors - Welcome
__________________________________________________________________

You are invited to attend the February MEDITERRANEAN DIET

meeting of the St George Branch of IMPROVES MENTAL HEALTH
A.I.R. on Friday 17th February, starting The Mediterranean diet is now being hailed as
at 9.45 am. the latest weapon in tackling mental health
_______________________________________________________
problems. Researchers at Deakin University
have found that a Mediterranean diet can help
BUSINESS MEETING those suffering from mental health problems,
such as severe depression.
COMMENCING 9.45 AM
Dozens of patients with major depressive
Welcome: To new members & visitors disorders were placed on a Mediterranean-
Apologies: style diet rich in, whole grains, legumes, fresh
fruit and vegetables, olive oil and nuts.
Confirmation of Previous Minutes: After 12 weeks of healthy eating, one third of
Minutes of 20th January 2017 the patients reported a significant improve-
Business Arising from the Minutes: ment in their mood and symptoms, high-
lighting the need for better diet support for
Correspondence: patients suffering with depression.
Secretary to report Source: ABC Health Online
Reports:
Treasurer ASSOC. of INDEPENDENT RETIREES
Membership [ACN -102 164 38]
Welfare Sydney - St George Branch
PO Box 377 - Riverwood 2210
Future Speakers
Secretary - Pat Hinson:
Newsletter Ph 9554 4113
President airstgeorgesec@yahoo.com.au
_______________________________________________________
Membership - Christine Gash:
airstgeorgebmo@yahoo.com.au
FEBRUARY Assist. Treasurer - Julia Aniston
Treasurer - Syd Dickinson:
GUEST SPEAKER
airstgeorgetreas@yahoo.com.au
Welfare - Rod Lynch: Ph 9546 4888
Hon. David Coleman MP Newsletter Editor - John Palmer:
palmer1@tpg.com.au

1
 AUSTRALIAN SUPER
INVESTORS FINISHED 2016 ON TOP
After an eventful year, from the lows of Brexit to
the surprise market rally after Donald Trump's US
presidential election win, most Australians had a
positive superannuation return for 2016.
Figures recently released by SuperRatings show
that balanced option superannuation accounts -
the option chosen by 60 to 70% of Australians -
returned 7.2% for the 2016 calendar year. A
December rally, helped this result along, delivering
2.1% in the final month of 2016.
The median balanced option returned an
estimated 7.2% over the 12 months to 31
December 2016, which is just slightly below the
7.7% annual average, for the last seven years.
SuperRatings chairman Jeff Bresnahan said, "If I
had to sum up 2016, I would say it was a year of
extremes. Super funds struggled at the start of the
year, with many posting significant losses, but
recovered at the year's end as markets stabilised.
While volatility may have induced a few nose-
bleeds, funds have generally had a strong positive
year, ending the calendar year above their long-
term objectives."
The Chairman concluded, "Despite the significant
drawdowns experienced in early 2016, as well as
a series of smaller volatility spikes throughout the
year, super fund returns generally proved capable
of riding out the storm."
Source: Financial Review
________________________________________
DRINKING WATER TO
STAY HYDRATED IN THE HEAT
With increasing age, the amount of water held in
the body decreases, so that its easier for an older
person to become dehydrated. Hence in hot
weather it's important to drink water frequently,
even if you dont feel thirsty.
Exercise, medications, kidney or other diseases,
swallowing disorders, mobility difficulties in getting
to the toilet, are also factors which can lead to
dehydration in seniors.
Hence, it is imperative to takes action to remain
hydrated, in hot weather. As well as running the
risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke,
dehydration in an older person can lead to other
serious medical problems, such as low blood
pressure, which will increase the risk of falling.
Drinking the recommended amount of water each
day, around 2.6 litres for men and 2.1 litres for
women, will not only keep your organs and body
working properly, but will reduce the risk of
coronary heart disease.
Here are three tips to help maintain your fluid
level in hot weather.
1). The most obvious way to stay hydrated is to
drink more water! Little and often is the key -
drinking periodically even if you dont feel thirsty.
Some people find using water bottles filled to the
recommended daily fluid amount helps to ensure
they drink enough water.
2). Avoid coffee, alcohol and high-protein drinks.
These types of drink have a diuretic affect, so you
will lose more fluid if you drink them. So be sure to
drink other water-based beverages as well.
3). Always drink after exercising. Whether it is hot
or not - you will always lose more fluid after
exercise. Ensure you drink more water when you
are exercising, or even doing gardening or
household chores.
________________________________________
JANUARY GUEST SPEAKER
RICHARD COTTON
Richard introduced himself as a self-funded
retiree. He told members he started his career
studying at the National School of Dramatic Art
(NIDA), but found acting financially unreliable.
He later turned to writing and is now mainly writing
in rhyme, producing rhyming books for children.
Richard told members that he estimates he has
sold 8 - 9,000 books over the past 6 years and he
is now turning his books into audio books. He has
also developed as a reading aid, a text with the
title, "World of Imagination".
Richard is currently visiting schools and pre-
schools to help children learn to read through
rhymes.
At the end of his talk Richard answered questions
from the audience.
On behalf of the members present, Paul Flynn
moved a vote of thanks to Richard Cotton for his
interesting and enjoyable talk.
____________________________________
FEBRUARY
GUEST SPEAKER
The second half of the meeting will
commence at 11 am and will consist of a
talk to be given by the:-
Hon. David Coleman MP
2
 ROOFTOP SOLAR PANELS
PUTTING THE SUNSHINE STATES
POWER AT RISK
If you are thinking of installing a roof top panel to
save electricity costs, perhaps you think again in
the light of problems surfacing in South Australia
and Queensland as the result of an
unprecedented penetration of rooftop solar panels
into these two sunshine states, where the uptake
of solar panels has grown because of soaring
electricity bills, and federal and state incentives.
SA Power Networks in its annual planning report
released just before Christmas said, In recent
years, there has been an increasing trend of
customer complaints arising from voltages
exceeding prescribed limits. It is anticipated such
complaints may increase as solar PV (photovoltaic
panels) penetration increases across the network.
Some 25% of SA Power Networks customers now
have an installed PV system. Ergon Energy said it
had received about 700 service complaints in the
past year relating to solar panels, largely because
of high network voltages.
Confirming these concerns, Energy Networks
Australia chief executive, John Bradley, said
recently, The high penetration of solar panels is
creating new challenges for electric power
distribution networks which must ensure power
quality to avoid damage to customer equipment,
or the network infrastructure. Mr Bradley said that
in areas with high penetration of solar panels, the
most common issue was voltage rise. This
occurs when excess solar power is injected back
into the grid at times of low electricity demand, for
instance when people are away from their homes
at noon on weekends and on public holidays, as
this can push up the voltage on the network.
Mr Bradley said if the issue was unaddressed,
consumer equipment could be damaged. Voltage
rise could also cause solar PV inverters to trip and
disconnect from the grid. He commented, "To
manage this new situation, distribution network
operators will need to transform their role into a
more active management of the grid, with better
monitoring,
In many areas, the distribution network is moving
from a relatively passive system where power
flowed one way in a predictable manner, to a
much more dynamic and volatile system, with two
way power flows. Industry sources say
complaints about solar power problems commonly
come from the owners of solar panels, when they
find their ability to export power into the grid is
curtailed.
WHAT IS DOPAMINE
AND WHAT ITS FUNCTION?
The brain is awash in chemicals. Among them,
dopamine is the one that stands out. It is the
driving force behind every human beings sinful
predilections and forbidden cravings. It is
associated with addiction, attention, motivation,
and all the hedonistic pursuits ever known to man.
But personal feelings aside, what roles does
dopamine play in the brain that make it so highly
controversial, even in neuroscience?
Known as the feel-good chemical, the neuro-
transmitter dopamine is not as plentiful as it has
been thought to be. It is now considered to be so
scarce, that only 0.3% of the brains millions of
neurons produce it. Despite this, dopamine is
responsible for several vital bodily functions,
including for example:-
1.) Circadian rhythms - Dopamine latches onto its
receptor to signal the body to wake up by
suppressing levels of melatonin, early in the
morning.
2.) Memory - The neurotransmitter appears to
control what is retained in the memory, based on
an imagined response to certain information.
3.) Motor functions - Dopamine also regulates the
control of motor functions via the basal ganglia.
The basal ganglia depend on a certain amount of
dopamine to perform at peak efficiency. The lack
of dopamine in the brain gives way to delayed and
uncoordinated motor functions. On the flip side,
the excess of it causes the body to make
unnecessary movements, notably tics.
Dopamine is now regarded as crucial to the
learning process. When the brain is presented
with an unexpected reward, dopamine production
increases, prompting the limbic reward system to
take note of what had happened and to remember
how to repeat such a positive experience. On the
other hand, negative encounters reduce dopamine
as a memory signal, to avoid repeating them. This
is a vital learning mechanism, which also involves
memory-formation and motivation.
_________________________________________
NATIONAL DEMENTIA CONFERENCE
The 8th Annual National Dementia
Conference will be held at the Stamford
Plaza, Adelaide, on 23-24 February 2017.
The Conference organiser, Informa Australia,
has stated that dementia is now the greatest
single cause of disability in older Australians.
There are currently more than 354,000 people
living with dementia in Australia.
Continued - Page 4
3
The Conference will bring together senior Assessment. You will still need to be assessed
level experts to discuss future challenges and by an ACAT/S. This will determine if you are
opportunities, relating to the implementation of eligible to receive Government funded services,
a new national framework for dementia and what level of care you are eligible for.
services. Choice & control. The Consumer Directed Care
(CDC) model will continue under the new system.
____________________________________
Fees . There are no changes to the HCP program
fee structure, or the income tested fee, which
NEW CHANGES IN HOME CARE determines how much you will required to pay for
services. Your assets, including the family home,
GIVING MORE CHOICE & CONTROL are still excluded from the means testing
From 27 February 2017, changes will commence arrangements for home care.
in the Home Care Packages (HCP) program, _______________________________________
giving consumers more choice and control over
the home care services they receive and who
provides those services. MARCH GUEST SPEAKER
The changes may seem complex and you may be
unsure whether they will affect you. If you are Hon Mark Coure MP
currently allocated a Home Care Package [HCP]
and youre happy with your provider and the ____________________________________________
services you are receiving, then nothing will
change. You will continue to receive home care as
normal. But if you are new to the program and
have been approved for a HCP but have not yet THE ST GEORGE BRANCH OF
started receiving care, these changes will affect
you. They will also affect you if you are currently
A.I.R. LTD
receiving interim-care, because services at the
approved level were not available.
Sincerely Thanks
What will change? Instead of a HCP being
owned by the service provider, packages will be in LANHAM INVESTMENT ADVISORY
future be owned by the consumer. This means P/L
that once you have been approved for a HCP you
can contact any approved service provider to
Investment Advisory Service -
obtain the care you need. Ph 9580 7222
Because funding will be linked to you and not to &
an approved provider, it will be easier to change MUNRO SPAUL
providers, if you wish. For example, if youre
moving to a different area you can simply take Your Accounting Service - Ph 9570 8999
your package with you and find a new provider.
Access to HCP. From 27 February 2017 there will For their financial support in the printing
be a new way to get access to HCP. There will be and distribution of this Newsletter.
a national pool of all available packages. After
assessment you will be placed in a queue until a
HCP becomes available to you.
Your place in the queue will be determined by
your personal needs and circumstances and the The Association of Independent
time you have been waiting for home care.
Retirees (A.I.R.) Ltd takes no
Exit fees. If you change providers after 27
February, the provider is allowed to charge you an
responsibility for the views expressed
exit fee to cover any administrative costs, which in articles, extracts thereof or
will be deducted from any unspent funds. advertisements.
Type of care. You will still be able to receive the Branch newsletters are intended to
same type of care under each of the four Home relay information only, not give specific
Care Package levels, such as domestic
assistance, transport, personal care, social
advice or recommendations.
support, food services or medication assistance.