F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9

2 GOLDEN YEARS

Living the best life

WELCOME to our first issue of Golden Years for 2019.

In this issue Fleur Gardiner from Craigs Investments talks to us about savvy investing, we catch up with Leigh and David McEwen about their new life at Beetham Village, we hear about how Life Unlimited makes a difference in our community and we talk to some retirees who are finding volunteer work with the Sunshine Bus very rewarding!

If you have an idea for a story then don’t hesitate to contact me on 869 0654 or email me at cara.haines@gisborneherald.co.nz.

Cara Haines�e Gisborne Herald Features Team Leader

Door to door transport service for Elderly and Disabled

The Sunshine Service can take you to the Supermarket,

shopping, to visit a friend, the bank. Our services are not limited to just medical visits.22

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PHONE NUMBER TO BOOK 867 2905

We deliver to

• Beetham Lifestyle Village • Ryman Healthcare • Te Wiremu House • Leighton House• Albert Park Residential Village • Dunblane Rest Home • Kiri Te Kanawa Retirement Village • Riverview Rest home• Homes, units and rural addresses

Monday to Saturday

For more information please call the circulation department on 8690620

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WHEN you’ve worked hard all your life, paid off your mortgage and saved for your retirement, it’s only natural you’d be wary of trusting anyone with your money. Many New Zealanders know someone who lost money in the 1987 stock market crash or, more recently, made rushed and ill-considered investments in the boom-time early 2000s.

And, while we stop short of putting money under the mattress like our grandparents, most of us are quite happy to let the banks take care of it, because it’s safe. After all, that’s what our parents did, right?

But with low interest rates, and inflation and taxes nibbling away at your nest-egg, those term deposits aren’t returning anywhere near what they used to.

Even those of us who once would have bought a second property as an investment are doing it tough.

With the housing market out of control in many parts of the country it has become difficult for many of us to afford bricks-and-mortar investments.

Craigs Investment Partners’ adviser Fleur Gardiner says these are some of the catalysts that are now motivating people — particularly those nearing retirement — to seek help with their finances.

“Investment advice is often regarded as a realm for the wealthy, but in the age of KiwiSaver most people would benefit from some professional guidance to maximise their savings over time,” she says.

“Everyone’s goals and needs are different so it is important for you to have your own individual objectives and financial requirements.

“Some areas to consider include how

long you are investing for, whether you require an income now or in the future, the level of income you desire and how much investment risk you are willing to tolerate.

“This information helps determine the particular allocation to income and growth assets.”

How a portfolio is split between income and growth asset classes, such as cash, fixed income and shares, determines, more than any other factor, a portfolio’s risks and return profile she says.

“Each asset class has different risk and return characteristics — cash is often viewed as the lowest risk, while shares are deemed higher risk.

“As such, a balanced portfolio, where capital is diversified, provides the smoothest ride for investors over the long-term and is the best way of managing uncertainty.”

Fleur says it is also important to regularly review your portfolio’s asset allocation and the holdings within it, as investing is not a set and forget process. “While a long-term view is required, markets are dynamic and it can take time to adjust portfolios to either take advantage of opportunities, reduce risk or adjust in light of your changing objectives.”

“If it strays too far from the intended asset allocation you may take on more risk than you are comfortable with.”

Craigs offers free investment seminars and complimentary adviser consultations. Fleur Gardiner is an Investment Adviser at Craigs Investment Partners. Her disclosure statement is available free of charge under her profile on craigsip.com. This column is general in nature and should not be regarded as specific investment advice.

Savvy Investing

SUMMARY

Plan and start early:

Aim for consistent and realistic returns:

Reinvest income if you can:

Manage risk and return:

An investment plan can help people achieve their goals. There can be a real cost to you if you delay.

Investment is not about gambling — markets are volatile. It is not about timing the market, but time in the market.

Compounding your returns is not always possible. If it is, it is powerful.

Spread your investments. Get this right from the start and adjust as your horizons change.

Serviced Apartment 52 Amanda PlaceSingle BedroomSeparate South/West FacingLiving Area 39 Sqm.

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Kotare Villa - 18 Bills LaneTwo BedroomsNorth FacingMagnificent Garden 84 Sqm. $273,000*

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Refurbished VillasAvailable

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Tui Villa - 22 Bills LaneTwo BedroomsLarge LivingBay WindowNorth Facing Terrace 102 Sqm.

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Kotare Villa - 19 Beetham AveTwo BedroomsVaulted CeilingNorth Facing TerraceVery Close to the Lodge 88 Sqm.

$273,000*

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View by appointment

Contact…Graham WakeFreephone: 0800 277 000Phone: 06 868 3902Email: graham@beethamvillage.co.nz

Margaret Place, Lytton WestGisborne 4010 www.beethamvillage.co.nz

Gisborne’s Premier Lifestyle Village

Are you interested in• A well-established, friendly community• Peace-of-mind security• Having access to a range of facilities including an on-site swimming pool• Three and two-bedroom villas in park-like landscaped grounds• Rest home and hospital-level careTerms and conditions applyPlease register your interest with Graham at Beetham Lifestyle Village, 0800 277 000

Contact . . .Graham WakeFreephone: 0800 277 000Phone: 06 868 3902Email: graham@beethamvillage.co.nzMargaret Place, Lytton WestGisborne 4010

www.beethamvillage.co.nz

Serviced Apartment 52 Amanda PlaceSingle BedroomSeparate South/West FacingLiving Area 39 Sqm.

$178,000*

Kotare Villa - 18 Bills LaneTwo BedroomsNorth FacingMagnificent Garden 84 Sqm. $273,000*

Lifestyle Village & Healthcare

Villas Available Now

*Ongoing service costs apply

Tui Villa - 22 Bills LaneTwo BedroomsLarge LivingBay WindowNorth Facing Terrace 102 Sqm.

$325,000*

Kotare Villa - 41 Beetham AveTwo BedroomsSpacious LivingVaulted CeilingSolar Hot Water Available 88 Sqm.

$278,000*

Tui Duplex - 9 Bills LaneTwo BedroomsNorth Facing2 Toliets 104 Sqm.

$320,000*

View by appointment

Contact…Graham WakeFreephone: 0800 277 000Phone: 06 868 3902Email: graham@beethamvillage.co.nz

Margaret Place, Lytton WestGisborne 4010 www.beethamvillage.co.nz

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3The Gisborne Herald • Friday, February 22, 2019

4 GOLDEN YEARS

Village move

Moving into a retirement village can seem a daunting prospect but it doesn’t need to be. New Beetham Village residents Leigh and David McEwen talk to Kim Parkinson about their experience.

IT all happened rather fast, said David McEwen about the move into Beetham Village.

The McEwens were only on the waiting list for about nine months before a villa became available.

“When something becomes available you have to be positive and make a decision,” David says.

They had looked at downsizing and buying a place closer to town but after some investigation decided a retirement village would suit them better.

“We did consider both options but if we’d bought another place we’d have had to consider another move further down the track,” David said.

It’s important you know your legal position which is that you have the right to occupy but do not own the title he said.

“The opportunity is there to move into an apartment if one of us dies and this is too big or one of us needs ongoing heathcare.

Beetham Healthcare is run as a separate healthcare facility but if someone from the village needs to move into it they get preference over someone from outside.”

Once they had committed to the move they put their house on the market and sold it in just over a month.

“We were in the fortunate position of being able to finance this house if we had to so we could fix a date and were able to move in ourselves over time before the sale of our house was settled.”

Leigh said they had hoped to sell to a family as it was a quarter acre section with lots of fruit trees.

“We were lucky in that we were able to sell to a family and settle before Christmas.”

One of the pluses of moving to Beetham is that family overseas know there will be support and care at hand she says.

“With two children living overseas I think they were relieved we did it as it’s a long way to come if something were to happen.”

The couple had lived in their Mangapapa house for 52 years so it was a big decision to move and they had accumulated a lot of possessions.

“If you’ve made a decision that you’re going to move into a place like this the first thing you’ve got to do is start downsizing your belongings even before a place becomes available,” says David.

This meant going through everything in the house and decluttering.

“Start with one cupboard a day and be fairly brutal about it.”

They gave household items to Hospice Tairawhiti and the larger furniture to the

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Take care of your health at Gordon’s Pharmacy

At Gordon’s Pharmacy your health is our priority. Let us take care of the

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We offer the following services for your convenience:

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So much to do at the Gisborne Cosmopolitan ClubA social place to meet with friends – new and old.

Bistro lunches 12–2pm and dinners 5pm onwards. Great games include pool, darts, snooker, indoor and outdoor bowls.

Members, affiliated members and guests welcome.

Don’t forget our courtesy van, available on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.

Phone 867 9719 190 Derby Street, Gisborne

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Salvation Army. “We had van loads of stuff.”They said living in Beetham is much like

living in a suburb but with extra facilities available and social events should you wish to attend.

“We were made to feel very welcome in the village, especially by immediate neighbours.”

“It also helps to come in with a positive attitude.”

They would advise those considering a move to get on a waiting list.

“Entry levels are up and houses are scarce and you can always pull out without going off the waiting list if you are not quite ready to move.”

David said he thinks it’s important when you move into a place like this that you keep up your outside contacts and activities.

“We’re going out and doing all the things we did before and in some cases getting out and about more because we have more time to do so,” says Leigh.

“Be aware of the weekly charge you must pay which is not necessarily a negative when you relate it to previous costs.”

This covers rates and insurance for the building as well as the maintenance of the outside of the house, lawns and garden.

“We pay for our electricity but they have bulk buying rates so we get a discount.”

Another cost saving is on medical alarms as the villas provide emergency buttons.

“People also need to know that you are responsible for your own health so you continue to go to your own GP or specialist but if you are on your own and you slip in the shower someone will come,” David says.

As well as the safety alarms there are security gates and facilities such as a swimming pool, bowling and croquet greens, a gym and a library all freely available to residents.

Leigh says if you have a garden and you love gardening, check out the policy of the village you are going to before you start to gather your plants.

“I brought in lots of plants because I was able to but some retirement villages have a rigid policy.”

Other advice is to have all finances sorted and to notify the change of address well ahead of the move. This includes changing the address for bank accounts, passports and so on.

On moving to Beetham one of the things they appreciated the most was having a nice house to move into which was freshly painted and had new carpets, drapes and blinds.

“We were lucky we were able to select the furnishings within the range they had,” said Leigh.

“It was nice knowing we wouldn’t have to do lawns and maintenance again and would be free to go away with no worries

about security.”On the negative side of things, the

McEwens said you have to be ready to adapt to a smaller space, both house and garden, proximity to neighbours and less storage space.

But the positives of living in a retirement

village far outweigh the negatives for the McEwens, who have settled in well.

They have personalised their new home with their furniture, books and art and most importantly have a positive attitude to their new surroundings, which makes all the difference.

NEW RESIDENTS: David and Leigh McEwen moved

into their new house at Beetham Lifestyle Village

over a month ago and said once they made the decision, the process of

selling up and moving had all gone very smoothly.

Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

Lytton West Village, 2 Potae Avenue, Gisborne • Licensed under the Real Estate Agents 2008 www. buygisborne.co.nz

Call 868 8147for a chatProperties needed in all price ranges so ask for your obligation free appraisal.

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Helping people downsize their home to spend their golden years in style and comfort has been our privilege at Gisborne First National.Reward yourself with a new relaxing lifestyle at a Gold Card discount!!Our team always put you first!

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FIRST NATIONAL REAL ESTATE TEAM: Jaime Currie, Danja Simschitz, Diane Manson, Kim Lumsden, Dianne Wood, Sue Costello (principal).

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5The Gisborne Herald • Friday, February 22, 2019

6 GOLDEN YEARS

HAPPY CUSTOMER: Aileen Mudford was so impressed by the extra care and service provided by Life Unlimited in Gisborne she wrote a heartfelt thank you letter to store manager MJ Bloem.

Picture supplied

Giving thanks to an unsung hero

ANYONE who has met Gisborne Life Unlimited Store manager MJ Bloem will know she is seldom lost for words. But when regular customer Aileen Mudford stopped by the Life Unlimited Store and handed MJ a letter, she was left speechless.

Aileen, 71, who has terminal cancer was determined MJ knew about the huge

difference she had made in her life since she started visiting the store last year.

Back then Aileen explained in her letter, she was in “so much distress” as she struggled with continence following a serious back injury and the diagnosis that her bowel cancer, which had been in remission had metastasised into her liver and other parts of her body.

Someone recommended Aileen try the Life Unlimited Store.

She was feeling nervous when she first walked into the shop but “a lovely cheerful lady” behind the desk put her at ease straight away.

“She certainly went that extra mile to get the continence products to my home if I was unable to make the trip,” Aileen said. “The products I receive are perfect for my everyday life and it is a pleasure visiting Life Unlimited Gisborne.”

The thank-you letter took MJ by surprise and brought her to tears.

“Everyone’s journey is different when they’re managing a disability or condition.

“My goal is to support people to find what they need to remain as independent as possible.

“I was so touched that Aileen took the time and effort to acknowledge the work I do — even as she battles cancer,” says MJ.

“Her letter was a kind and thoughtful gift.”Aileen was born and brought up in

Gisborne, but moved away for several years working at various jobs and looking after the elderly was something she was passionate about.

She was working at Bupa Kauri Coast Care home in Dargaville when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer in August 2013.

Her family bought Aileen a little house next to their one in Gisborne and she returned home.

Thinking she had beaten cancer, she threw

herself back into the community joining the local Cancer Society and volunteering.

Then in 2016 she received the devastating news the cancer was terminal.

She has had 46 rounds of chemotherapy since.

Aileen is living day-to-day but is thankful for the products from the Life Unlimited Store and the help and care she has received from MJ.

“She is just amazing and takes away the embarrassment, making it so much easier for me,” she said.

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A special invitation to older people living at homeCome and join us for

Morning tea and lunch provided. Find out more – call us today

• Fun and friendship• Cards• Gentle exercise• Rummicub

• Bowls• Scrabble• Good conversation

A 396 Aberdeen Road | Ph 867 7675

GIVING BACK: Murray Ferris, Chris Newton and Bob Proudfoot are three Sunshine Service volunteer drivers who give their time for free transporting of Gisborne’s elderly and disabled. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

‘Feel good factor’ for volunteersMORE volunteers are needed for Sunshine

Service the user friendly door-to-door transport service for Gisborne’s elderly and disabled. They have 45 drivers and assistants but could do with about 10 more says coordinator Ross Thompson.

“Some people have a regular spot each week — some might do one shift every two weeks and others just fill in when needed,” he says.

Sunshine Service chairperson Barbara Clarke says it’s about having some flexiblity so that Ross, who coordinates it all, isn’t tearing his hair out trying to get teams together every day.

Volunteer driver Bob Proudfoot says “You need a big group because at our age people are always going away on holiday or going to see grandchildren.”

“It also means that as a driver or an assistant you’re not completely tied down — so long as you give notice, Ross will fit you in for a break,” says volunteer Murray Ferris.

Chris Newton has been driving for Sunshine for three years and said it was a great way to get back into the community when she moved back after living away.

“I love dealing with elderly people and the other drivers and assistants.”

With three vans on the road and two people in each van, Sunshine Services uses 30 drivers and assistants every week.

“For a lot of these people it might be their only outing for the week,” Chris says.

“We take them to hospital appointments, the supermarket and to community activities.”

Clients are free to use the service as they like, whether it be to visit friends or go out for lunch.

Bob said it was an opportunity to give something back.

“We don’t know how lucky we are that we are able to get out and do things.

“You don’t know how long your piece of string is, so if you can give something back while you’re able I think it’s a wonderful thing.”

“Some of these old people wouldn’t get out at all if we didn’t go and pick them up,” he says.

Chris said she enjoys the social side of being a volunteer.

“We can get very noisy in the office here having wonderful conversations and discussions.”

The drivers and assistants come from a cross section of the community.

“We’ve got retired chemists and doctors and plumbers, school teachers, bankers, farmers and accountants, says Murray.

As a casual volunteer he says he enjoys the interaction.

“They’re really good people who like a laugh — they’re from a generation where

political correctness is not in the mix so you can have some pretty hard case conversations at times and they completely trust us.

“When you go into their houses and take their groceries in for them — it’s nice.”

“There is a feel good factor to it,” adds Bob.

The Sunshine Service Inc is a not for profit community trust setup in 1982 and run by a management committee of eight people.

It has three full-height purpose-built vans

with hydraulic hoists and to use the service people must book a day in advance.

Voluntary support groups like Alzheimers Gisborne, Arohaina Resource Centre, Idea Services, Stroke Support Group and many more rely on the service to transport their members to and from meetings and activities.

To find out more about becoming a volunteer with Sunshine Services call 867-2905. Training is provided and volunteers are available to talk about what is involved.

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“It’s your life, your funeral”Why plan ahead?

Prearranging your funeral provides peace of mind for you and your family. It allows you to leave clear instructions to your family on how you would like to

be remembered and the style of farewell you would like.

Start the conversation – help take the burden off your loved ones by making your end-of-life decisions in advance, in a calm and thoughtful atmosphere. We are happy to meet with you and guide you through the prearranging and

prepayment process.

Evans Funeral Services LtdPhone 867 9150

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• Full dentures • Partial dentures • Denture repairs • Hygienic Workmanship• Mouth guards • Gold work • Quality materials • Personal Service

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7The Gisborne Herald • Friday, February 22, 2019

8 GOLDEN YEARS

ACTIVE AQUA WOMEN: The popular aqua aerobics class at Gisborne’s Enterprise pool has a group of committed regulars who enjoy this low impact workout and the friendship that comes with it. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

Keeping fit with aqua aerobicsA GROUP of Gisborne women have

been doing aqua aerobics for almost 20 years and meet twice weekly at the Enterprise Cars Swim Centre indoor swimming pool on Nelson Road.

“You work every muscle in your body,” says long time class-goer Lynley Harding who has been part of the group for 18 years.

Back in the early days they used to have

an instructor who would lead the group from beside the pool but when she left, the women decided they could take the class themselves.

Instructors Marie Preddey and Bronwen Holdsworth take turns leading the class through a sequence of exercises designed to work all the main muscle groups in a low impact way.

They use props such as noodles to perform resistance exercises accompanied by a music soundtrack they put together themselves.

“Our music playlist is made up of popular swinging songs of the 70s,” says Lynley.

Instructor Marie says: “It’s a good workout and you definitely feel like you’ve done some exercise afterwards.”

Aqua aerobics uses the natural resistance of the water to give an intense workout while still being gentle on joints.

It is designed to improve cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and endurance.

The group has a couple of social gatherings throughout the year including a midwinter and Christmas get together.

Newcomers are welcome.

THERE’S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO BUILD YOUR WEALTH

Craigs Investment Partners Limited is a NZX Participant Firm. Adviser Disclosure Statements are available on request and free of charge. Please visit craigsip.com

06 868 1155 / craigsip.com

That’s why we tailor our services and investment strategies based on your needs. It’s our business to listen and deliver. And it all starts with a conversation.

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Welcome to Chelsea Hospital

Chelsea Hospital is an Affiliated Provider to Southern Cross Health Society for selected services.

189 Cobden Street, Gisborne New Zealand Ph 06 867 2237 Fax 06 867 2239 email admin@chelseahospital.co.nz

Chelsea Hospital Trust is a private surgical hospital set in the heart of Gisborne. Our respected, skilled and experienced specialists and staff are committed to providing and attaining the highest possible standards of care to all our patients and their families. We offer a wide range of surgical procedures and provide excellent post-operative care. We look after insurance, and ACC patients as well as privately paying patients.

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MR IAN BURTONGeneral surgery /endoscopy

MRS LATHA VASANGynaecology

MR RICK CIROLLIGeneral surgery /endoscopy

MR GRAHAM WILSONOpthalmic surgery

MRS ANNE KOLBEPaediatric surgery

MRS MEREDITH SIMCOCKPlastic / reconstructive surgery

MR PETER STIVENGeneral / Laparaoscopic Surgery / endoscopy

MR GREG KASSELOrthopaedic Surgery