News

Seachangers Move In, Residents Out

THERE are lies, damned lies and then there are statistics, as the old saying goes, and this may pertain to Australia's most popular sea-change destinations, such as Port Douglas, which are actually shedding full-time residents. Despite regular complaints that coastal areas are bursting at the seams, the Australian Bureau of Statistics' Urban Centre and Locality figures show many actually lost full-time residents between the 2001 and 2006 censuses.
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Retirement Takes On A New Meaning

Increasing life expectancies, a rapidly growing number of older Canadians and a demographic gap following the baby boomers are causing old notions about retirement to go out the window.
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Bribie Island Magazine

Bribie Island Ambassador, Max, has updated us with the 'Bribie Magazine', an initiative of the Bribie Island Chamber of Commerce.
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Can You Afford To Be A Grey Nomad?

Can You Afford To Be A Grey Nomad? By Tony Rigby news.com.au THEY roam the highways in motorhomes and caravans with names like "Lingerlonger'' and "Goneroamin'' in search of that endless holiday lifestyle. They are the famous (or infamous) grey nomads -- retirees living out the fantasy that sustains workers through their toughest days -- living an easy and economical life on the road touring this great country. There is no end in sight for this interesting social phenomenon, with an estimated 17,000 caravans to be sold around Australia in the next 12 months -- and 80 per cent of those will be bought by people aged over 50. So what can the next generation of grey nomads do to make sure they are financially fit for the long road ahead? Here are five simple tips to help make this dream a reality.
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Rural Doctors Say People In The Bush Can Expect To Die Younger

The Australian Rural Doctors' Association (RDAA) says because of the shortage of doctors in rural and remote Australia people in the bush die sooner. According to the Rural Doctors' Association the shortage of doctors in such areas is very severe and at least 1,000 doctors are needed immediately in rural and remote Australia to guarantee even basic medical coverage.
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The Ambassador Max Update....Bribie Island Real Estate...

Where 2 Now Ambassador Max from Bribie Island has updated some of the real estate options from Bribie Island.
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Peter Cundall

The very popular host of ABC tv's 'Gardening Australia' program is about to 'retire' from the show. Here are a couple of his quotes regarding retirement.
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Retirement Could Be Hazardous For The Health

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), retirement could be hazardous for the health. The ABS says older workers have lower rates of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and arthritis than their peers who are retired.
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High Fuel Prices Fails To Keep Grey Nomads Away

DESPITE skyrocketing fuel prices, the migration of the grey nomad is in full swing on The Discovery Coast, with the Miriam Vale Shire Museum a major drawcard. Almost 4000 history buffs and curious tourists pass through the museum in Agnes Water each year with the majority from Easter onwards being the retirees, the grey nomads. President of the Miriam Vale Historical Society, maintainers of the museum, Barbara Homer, said while there were plenty of families who spend time delighting at the exhibits and collections it was the grey nomads who make up the bulk of the visitors. "It (the museum) is very good for the town, it brings a lot of people in," said Mrs Homer. "And it is pretty good for families, the children really enjoy parts of it too, but from Easter onwards the grey nomads come in their droves." The museum is a collection of the memories and memorabilia of what was the entire Miriam Vale Shire, a testament to its founder Arthur Jeffery. The two small buildings on Springs Road, Agnes Water house a wealth of history, including that of Capt James Cook and his second only landing in Australia, at what is now The Town of 1770. As well as the life and exploits of Cook, there is record of the amazing botanical finds of the Endeavour's botanist Joseph Banks, a comprehensive collection of Aboriginal artefacts, plus the history of the Shire and museum pieces collected since European settlement. Arthur and his brother Tom Snr were part of one of the area's best known and remembered families, the Jefferys _ some of the Agnes "originals''. The family is still strong in the region and Tom Jnr only recently retired as the last mayor of the old Miriam Vale Shire Council. Born in Miriam Vale in 1902, Arthur Jeffery was a keen student of history from an early age and began studying Cook and the settlement and characters of the area, as well as the history that predated Europeans and the flora and fauna of the Discovery Coast. He travelled all over adding to his collection, and knowledge of Cook and his voyages, in particular the master navigator's time in this part of the world. Arthur started the museum as nothing more than a timber hut in 1953 in its original location on the Jeffery family property down on the Agnes foreshore now Jeffery Court and Tom Jeffery Park. As well his extensive collection, Arthur also kept meticulous records and diaries of not only the history and settlement of the shire, but also day-to-day accounts of the times for decades, including rainfall and weather records. A Bi-Centennial grant obtained in 1988 allowed for the building of a new museum and the collection handed over to the newly formed historical society. Arthur Jeffery passed away in 1994 but left the museum in good hands with the many volunteers who still maintain and run the Agnes landmark. The buildings were shifted from the old location up onto Springs Road in 1996, where it stands today _ a monument to Arthur Jeffery and the people who still donate to, maintain and generally look after the Miriam Vale Shire Museum.
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Grey nomads are being told to plan ahead for any medical needs because country GPs are already overloaded and may not be able to help them for routine care. With tens of thousands of older Australians expected to visit areas such as the Kimberley each year, the local doctors are warning that the already stretched services cannot cope with the expected three-fold peak season increase in population. .
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Hot Women, Cold Men Will Live Longer

LOOKING to live to a ripe old age? A triumvirate of sun, sand and surf may be the key if you're a woman, while men might do well to consider relocating to cooler climes.
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