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What kind of Australia will we wake up to if the Voice referendum is defeated on October 14?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paul-strangio-1232">Paul Strangio</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> It was Robert Menzies, father of the modern Liberal Party, who famously remarked: “to get an affirmative vote from the Australian people on a referendum proposal is the labour of Hercules”. Menzies knew this from bitter experience. The politician with the electoral Midas touch was the sponsor of three unsuccessful referendums. Most notable was Menzies’ (thankfully) failed 1951 attempt to win public support for amending the Constitution to grant his government the power to outlaw the Communist Party of Australia. On the Labor side of politics, the feat of constitutional change has been an even more unfulfilling exercise. The party has been responsible for 25 amendment proposals and only one has been successful. It has been a truly Sisyphean quest. If the opinion polls are to be believed, history is repeating itself with the impending Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice referendum. Since the middle of the year, those polls have been relentlessly moving in the wrong direction for the “yes” case. On the current trajectory, the Voice will secure less than 40% of the national vote and also fail to win the support of a majority of states. The frontier states of Queensland and Western Australia in particular are lost causes. As it must, the “yes” camp continues to evince optimism. Its advocates point, for example, to the relatively high number of undecided voters, hoping they break heavily in their favour. I fervently pray this optimism is well placed. Yet a prudent government would now be wargaming what to do in the scenario that the Voice is defeated on October 14. For Anthony Albanese, a “no” vote will present diabolically difficult challenges. As prime minister, he will be tasked with making sense of that result. His response will need to be finely calibrated, modulating the message to different audiences. First, and most importantly, he will have to devise a formula of words to console and soothe the Indigenous population, the majority of whom will likely feel that the rejection of the Voice is another in a long line of acts of dispossession and exclusion by settler Australia. Albanese has often likened the Uluru Statement from the Heart to a generous outstretched hand. He will not only need to explain why that hand has been spurned, but give cause why First Nations people should continue to keep faith with non-Indigenous Australia. He will have to provide reassurance that reconciliation endures as a genuine project. Both at home and abroad there will be those who view a “no” vote as having exposed a dark streak of racism in Australia’s soul. Albanese will feel obliged to seek to absolve the nation of that stigma. But given some of the more noxious attitudes aired during the referendum campaign, airbrushing racism out of the picture will not be easy. On election nights, leaders are typically magnanimous in victory and gracious in defeat. There is a convenient myth about election results: that the punters always get it right. Albanese will no doubt have to publicly give lip service to that notion if the referendum fails. He will avoid recriminations, despite the sophistry and mendacity that has characterised the “no” side of the debate. In this way, he will play the role of healer-in-chief after the bitter divisions of the referendum campaign. What attacks there are on Peter Dutton for being a wrecker will probably be left to be made by other government members, but even these will have to be carefully framed so as to not indict all those who fell in behind the “no” cause. The larger dilemma Albanese and his government will face if the referendum is lost is where to next with the Uluru Statement agenda, to which the prime minister signed up lock stock and barrel on election night in May 2022. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MlulrQ1w9Zs?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Most pressing will be the question of what happens to the idea of an Indigenous Voice to parliament. The most obvious fallback position will be a legislated rather than constitutionally enshrined Voice. The complication is that Dutton has claimed some of that space and Indigenous leaders have rightly portrayed a legislated Voice as a poor substitute because it can be repealed by a future government. Somehow a legislated Voice will have to be transformed into a palatable alternative. The Voice was the low hanging fruit of the Uluru statement when compared to treaty-making. The realpolitik takeout from the rejection of the Voice referendum will be that there is next to no chance of delivering on a national treaty in the short to medium term, especially if that were to involve some form of constitutional amendment. It would provoke an even more shrill scare campaign than the one we have endured over the Voice. In the absence of progress at the national level, it will be left to the states to advance treaty making and truth telling. The defeat of the Voice referendum may set back other elements of Labor’s vision for the nation. When he won office, Albanese appointed an assistant minister for the republic in a clear signal that a move to a republic would be a feature of his government’s longer term reform program. With the Australian public’s profound reluctance to embrace constitutional change demonstrated yet again, it will likely douse enthusiasm within the government for proceeding to a referendum on a republic in its second term. The idea will continue to drift, as it has since 1999. Another probable consequence of the loss of the referendum will be a narrowing of the priorities of the government. Labor hardheads will read that result and opinion polls showing a dip in the government’s support as evidence that voters are growing frustrated by what they regard as a straying from bread and butter issues. So, we are likely to see a less expansive government as it steers towards focussing chiefly on matters such as the economy, cost of living pressures and housing shortages. These, of course, are vital issues, but they will not stir the soul or etch themselves into history as would a Voice, treaty and republic. All of this seems a desperate shame. But it is the Australia we will wake up to the morning after October 14, if indeed the referendum goes down.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/214359/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paul-strangio-1232">Paul Strangio</a>, Emeritus professor of politics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-kind-of-australia-will-we-wake-up-to-if-the-voice-referendum-is-defeated-on-october-14-214359">original article</a>.

Legal

Australians will vote in a referendum on October 14. What do you need to know?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/anne-twomey-6072">Anne Twomey</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Australians will go to the polls on October 14 to vote in a referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. We have not voted in a federal referendum since <a href="https://www.aec.gov.au/elections/referendums/1999_referendum_reports_statistics/1999.htm">1999</a>. So what do you need to know? <h2>How is a referendum run?</h2> A referendum is run by the Australian Electoral Commission in the same way as they do elections. That means most people will vote in a polling booth on Saturday October 14 at a local school or community centre. There will probably be a barbecue, with a democracy sausage or two, and a cake stall if you are lucky. But there will also be <a href="https://www.aec.gov.au/voting/ways_to_vote/">pre-poll voting</a> and postal voting, just like in an ordinary election. Voting in a referendum, like an election, is <a href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/cth/consol_act/rpa1984353/s45.html">compulsory</a>. One difference will be that there will only be one ballot paper, and it will be short and easy to fill out. So the queues at polling booths should move quickly. <h2>What will I be voting on?</h2> A referendum is used to ask the Australian people whether they approve of a change being made to Commonwealth <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2013Q00005">Constitution</a>, which is Australia’s ultimate law. In this case, the amendment doesn’t change existing words, but instead adds new words to the Constitution. If passed, the amendment would insert a <a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=LEGISLATION;id=legislation%2Fbills%2Fr7019_aspassed%2F0001;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fbills%2Fr7019_aspassed%2F0000%22">new Chapter IX</a> at the end of the Constitution, saying: <blockquote> Chapter IX — Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia: (i) there shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice; (ii) the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; (iii) the Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures. </blockquote> Despite the rather confusing public debate about other issues, all that voters are being asked to do in a referendum is decide whether or not the above words should be inserted in the Constitution. <h2>What is the question and how do I fill in the ballot paper correctly?</h2> The ballot paper does not contain the words of the amendment you will be voting on, as in many cases the amendment would be far too long. Instead, voters are asked to approve the amendment as set out in the proposed law that has been already passed by parliament. That proposed law is identified by its “long title’, which gives a brief description of its nature. In this case, voters <a href="https://voice.gov.au/referendum-2023/referendum-question-and-constitutional-amendment">will be asked</a>: <blockquote> A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration? </blockquote> A <a href="https://twitter.com/AntonyGreenElec/status/1694456812370903178">single box</a> is then provided, and you fill in your ballot paper by either writing "yes” or “no” in that box. While there are some “savings provisions” that allow <a href="https://www.aec.gov.au/media/2023/08-25.htm">votes in other forms</a> to be counted if the voter’s intention is clear, it is best not to risk it. Just follow the directions and vote “yes” or “no” to ensure your vote counts. If you want to see a copy of the amendment when you are voting, you could bring with you the <a href="https://www.aec.gov.au/referendums/files/pamphlet/your-official-yes-no-referendum-pamphlet.pdf?=v1.0">pamphlet outlining the “yes” and “no” cases</a> that the Australian Electoral Commission is currently sending to each household. It sets out the amendment and the arguments either way. Giving an informed vote is important. The people who wrote the Constitution entrusted us with the final say about changes to Australia’s most important law, in the expectation that we would perform our constitutional duty responsibly. We shouldn’t betray that trust. <h2>How is the outcome of the referendum determined and when will we know?</h2> All the votes given in polling booths will be counted by hand on the night, so the results should come in pretty quickly, as it is a single ballot paper with a simple “yes” or “no” choice. Pre-poll votes and those postal votes that have already been received will also be counted on the night. That means we should get a good idea of the result on the night, but if it is very close, we would have to wait some days until the rest of the postal votes arrive and are counted. All votes go through two counts to double-check results and the counting process can be watched by scrutineers. Unlike an election, there is a special double majority that has to be met for a referendum to pass. First, a majority of formal votes across the country (including in the territories) would need to be “yes” votes. Second, there would have to be a majority of “yes” votes in at least four out of six states (for which territory votes do not count). This means, for example, that 60% of voters in the country could vote “yes”, but the referendum could still fail if a majority of voters in three of the less populous states voted “no”. <h2>What happens if the referendum passes or fails?</h2> If the referendum passes, it is then sent to the governor-general, who gives assent to it. Once that happens, the amendment to the Constitution is made. The amendment says “there shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice”. But it also says legislation is needed to determine the composition of the Voice and how it operates. The next step would be consultation about such matters before legislation is enacted to give effect to the Voice. If the referendum fails, no change to the Constitution is made.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/195352/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/anne-twomey-6072">Anne Twomey</a>, Professor emerita, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australians-will-vote-in-a-referendum-on-october-14-what-do-you-need-to-know-195352">original article</a>.

Legal

Christmas decorations at Australian stores in October spark online debate

Christmas is still more than two months away – and some Aussies are not ready yet to embrace the spirit of the festivities. An online debate has been kicked off over whether it is too soon to bring out the Christmas decorations after a Sydneysider shared a picture on <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/sydney/comments/dkh2nu/oh_no_its_begun_macquarie_centre/" target="_blank">Reddit</a> of workers preparing to install a Christmas tree at the city’s Macquarie Centre mall. Other people shared that the trend extended to other shopping centres as well. “Is there some universal signal? North Rocks Shopping centre was setting up too,” one informed. “Myer at Parramatta has basically the entire bottom floor as Christmas stuff, has been for at least a few weeks as well,” another wrote. Some argued that the decorations should wait at least until after Halloween wrapped up. “This time of year you see retail places trying to service both Halloween and Christmas being just around the corner,” one wrote. “It’s the weirdest crossover. ‘Don’t forget the birth of our lord and saviour, Jesus Christ but also zombies!’” “Couldn’t they at least wait until November? Really ruins the whole Christmas charm when you’re advertising over 2 months in advanced,” another commented. Some joked that the Christmas ornaments meant that Easter was coming soon. “You know what that means, a month or two away from hot cross buns in Woolies,” one wrote, with another responding, “And mini eggs!”

Domestic Travel

New light installation to illuminate Darwin this October

Bruce Munro is no stranger to illumination. In 2016, the English installation artist immersed the Australian desert with Field of Light: a large-scale, site-specific, light-based artwork that spread across Uluru. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BP5xkfbBnI5/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BP5xkfbBnI5/" target="_blank">Have you seen the Field of Light display at Uluru? It's on for another year so you really should take the opportunity. Remember there is so much to see and do while you're there. Walk around Uluru, take a camel ride and visit Kata Tjuta to name a few. #traveloutbackaust</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/traveloutbackaustralia/" target="_blank"> Travel Outback Australia</a> (@traveloutbackaustralia) on Jan 30, 2017 at 12:57pm PST </div> </blockquote> Tropical Light will be the largest of Munro’s undertaken exhibitions, and is predicted to attract large crowds of domestic and international visitors. His new exhibition, Bruce Munro: Tropical Light will no doubt take Darwin by storm comparably. The glowing spectacle will run from October 2019 to April 2020, and run through the Darwin CBD and Waterfront precinct. The display will feature a collection of both existing and new work, heavily influenced by Australia and the Northern Territory: both its landscape and its people. “Every city has its own unique fingerprint and Darwin is no exception to the rule,” Mr Munro said. “It is a very relaxed, cultural and culinary melting pot located at the top end of Australia between a vast tropical forest and an aquamarine coastline. Darwin is a veritable jewel that shines bright after each tropical downpour…it’s a place of adventure and inspiration.” We’re looking forward to seeing Tropical Light in all its glory this October. Written by Jemma Newlyn. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/light-installation-darwin-october/">My Discoveries.</a>

Domestic Travel

Fury as OJ Simpson set for parole in October

The OJ Simpson saga has taken another dramatic turn on Thursday afternoon after the disgraced ex-football star was granted parole after nine years in prison. But it’s what the 70-year-old said during the hearing that shocked many Americans. Simpson was joined at the hearing by his lawyer Malcolm LaVergne, close friend Tom Scotto, sister Shirley Baker and daughter Arnelle, and according to reports was grinning ear-to-ear as the board announced their decision. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> David Smith of Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OJSimpson?src=hash">#OJSimpson</a>: “He has stable release plans and community and family support.” <a href="https://t.co/HFblja3RAf">pic.twitter.com/HFblja3RAf</a> — Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/888122874405412865">July 20, 2017</a></blockquote> He will remain incarcerated for two more months, before being released having served nine years of a 33-year jail sentence for kidnapping and armed robbery. Simpson’s statements have drawn considerable controversy, particularly when he stated, “I had basically spent a conflict-free life.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> OJ is giving this panel every reason to drop him back in prison. No remorse, just justifications--still a sociopath. Unreal. — Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixYS) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisMannixYS/status/888089851429609473">July 20, 2017</a></blockquote> Simpson maintained the items he stole were his, “It’s kind of mind-boggling that (the state of California) turned over to me my property that I’m in jail for trying to retrieve it. “It was my property; I would never try to steal from anybody.” What’s your take? Do you think justice was served?

News

What it was like getting my breast cancer diagnosis

Francien Daniels-Webb, a 65-year-old single, homeless, retired teacher has been travelling the world on her own. All done on the cheap, she home and pet sits. “You have cancer.” The surgeon tells me it’s in one breast and my daughter, Felicity, grabs my hand. But the surgeon hasn’t finished her spiel just yet. The diagram shows another area marked out in the other breast. “This is very unusual but you have two different cancers in your breasts.” We are told that one breast needs to be removed, as well as, possibly my lymph nodes at a later stage. I’ll need radiation, five times a week for five weeks! The other breast, I tell her straight away, will also be removed at the same time. Before Felicity and I arrived at the Ringwood Breastscreen Victoria Clinic I had already prepared myself to make that statement. After having two totally different methods of biopsies on two different days last week I knew in my heart and my head that I needed to come in with my plan of action, too. Both Felicity and I told the young surgeon that her job must be very difficult, suck actually. It must just as popular as a dentist! A nurse took us to the withdrawal room, telling us she would be back in a short while. Three other women were in the room with their supporters, all awaiting to hear the plan for their treatment. More women would be coming in as the day had just begun. We jumped onto our phones to call and text our family and give them the news. The first text was to my ex-husband and his partner. Then I called my dear friend who I met through house and petsitting for her and her husband while they followed their dream to visit Europe and the UK in 2014. I was trusted to care, love and spoil their six geriatric puppies for three months. Sadly, the three darlings have passed on while I was overseas last year. The nurse returned and went through what the surgeon told us and gave me a package called <a href="https://www.bcna.org.au/resources/my-journey-kit/">“My Journey Kit”</a>, which was created and published by the Breast Cancer Network Australia. I hadn’t had a mammogram since 2008, and having had a double breast reduction in 2009 with no sign of cancer or abnormalities, I continued to enjoy my much smaller and of course lighter breasts! My back and neck thanked me daily. My doctor continued to do regular breast checks on me as I had had surgery in 1992 to remove three lumps (not cancerous). I was told to stop checking and leave the mammograms to my GP as I have very lumpy breasts. I neglected the bi-annual mammograms and it was not until last month that I had a mammogram. I was then called back twice to have two different biopsies. I knew what the results would be. So no shock, no tears, just relief that I would be looked after in my new journey, which sadly is not a road less travelled for many women. The number of women being diagnosed with breast cancer is rising everyday. Do you know anyone who has had cancer? I am sure you do. And remember, cancer is not biased against gender so boys make sure you man up and get tested too! We are all touched by cancer. Only two days before my meeting my cousin in the Netherlands told me that her husband's doctors could no longer do anything for his lung and bladder cancer. So he is home for as long as they can manage. Ladies, did you know that if you are 40 or over you can make an appointment to have a mammogram? If your family has a history of breast cancer you will be welcomed and encouraged to make that booking. I will be genetically tested as I am the first in my known family history to have breast cancer, not just one form but two very different cancers needing totally different treatments! If I carry the gene then my two daughters (one who I have been estranged from for over seven years) will go together to be tested. My surgery date is the 7th November, the node biopsies at 7am then later that day the bilateral mastectomies at Maroondah Hospital in Ringwood. No reconstructive surgery for me. I am getting a pattern to crochet myself two breasts, much better then sticky plastic chicken fillets! Do you have a story to share? Head over to the Over60 “<a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/community/contributor/community-contributor/">Share your story</a>” page today. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/health/body/2016/10/scientific-reasons-to-exercise-if-you-have-cancer/">5 scientific reasons to exercise if you have cancer</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/health/body/2016/07/how-to-reduce-your-cancer-risk/">How to reduce your cancer risk</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/health/body/2016/09/how-cycling-reduces-your-risk-of-osteoporosis/">How cycling reduces your risk of osteoporosis</a>

Body

Over60 Bookworm, Jan Wild, reviews last three October books

Last week, we introduced you to the new Over60 Bookworm, Jan Wild, blogger at <a href="http://retirement-planning.info/" target="_blank">Retiring Not Shy</a>. Each month Jan will review the books for the Over60 Book Club to help you decide what you should read for the month. In her first video, Jan reviewed the first three books (out of six) for the Over60 Book Club for October: The Beekeeper’s Secret by Josephine Moon, Flesh Wounds by Richard Glover and The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney. In part two of her review of the October reads, Jan shares her thoughts on This is Gail by Juliette O’Brien, At the Edge of Orchard by Tracy Chevalier, and Dying by Cory Taylor. If you’re looking for some good reads this month, be sure to watch the video above for Jan’s review. Have you read any of the October books yet? Join the conversation with Jan by leaving a review of the books you’ve enjoyed at the <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/community/book-club?reviewMonth=October">Over60 Book Club</a>. Happy reading everyone! Missed out on Jan’s first review? Watch Jan introducing the first three books of the <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/books/2016/09/over60-bookworm-jan-wild-october-2016-books/">October Book Club reads here</a>. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/books/2016/08/50-books-every-kid-should-read/">50 books every kid should read by age 12</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/books/2016/08/what-your-book-organisation-reveals-about-your-personality/">What your book organisation reveals about your personality</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/books/2016/08/what-i-learnt-from-500-self-help-books/">What I learnt after reading over 500 self-help books</a>

Books

The best Over60 Catch ups in October

Looking to meet new people and make new friends? Here are three of the best Over60 Catch-up events across Australia this month. 1. Improving your balance workshop, New South Wales Over60 has partnered with Active Seniors Health Centre to provide you with free one hour balance workshop. The workshop will give you practical tips around improving your balance, while also giving you a better understanding of how your body works in terms of balance. These talks have been very well attended and received in the past. There are a number of dates and locations around New South Wales. Please RSVP <a href="http://www.activeseniors.net.au/event-registration/" target="_blank">here</a>. 2. Pitch and Putt Information Day, Australian Capital Territory When: 11.00am – 12.00pm, Tuesday October 11 Where: Canberra International Pitch and Putt, Jerrabomberra Avenue, Narrbundah, 2604 What: Have you ever thought about playing golf but, did nothing about it? Have you ever played golf and are now starting to think your golfing life is nearing an end? Do you want to have an exercise regime that is not overly strenuous? Would you like to have some time spent with your grandchildren? Or, do you just want to hone your short golf game skills? Then the Canberra International Pitch and Putt (CIPP) golf club is the place for you! Come along to our catch-up day to have a coffee and a chat about CIPP and the game of Pitch and Putt and what it is, what benefits it has and how you might get involved and playing. It is a game that provides a level of health and fitness physically, mentally and socially! Organiser Warren Gray is <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/09/reasons-to-give-pitch-and-putt-golf-a-try/" target="_blank">hoping the information day will lead to a regular Pitch and Putt group of grandparents and grandkids that get active and have fun together.</a> To find more information and to RSVP, please visit the <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/event/?Event=111" target="_blank">Over60 Catch-ups page</a>. 3. Cuppa Catch-up, Tasmania When: 10.30am – 12.30pm, Wednesday October 19 Where: The Beach Restaurant at Blackmans Bay, 14 Ocean Esplanade, Blackmans Bay, 7052 What: Organiser Pam Bourke invites everyone to come along to enjoy some company with a cup of coffee. For more information and to RSVP visit the <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/event/?Event=99" target="_blank">Over60 Catch-ups page</a>. 4. Cuppa at the Dome, Western Australia When: 10.30am – 11.30am, Sunday October 23 Where: Dome East Victoria Park, 897 Albany Highway, East Victoria Park, 6101 What: After meeting a lovely couple at the first catch up she organised, Barbara Jamieson is looking forward to meeting new people. She encourages anyone in the area to come along and join. For more information and to RSVP visit the <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/event/?Event=102" target="_blank">Over60 Catch-ups page</a>. To view more events or to organise your own catch-up, head over to <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/community/catch-ups/" target="_blank">Over60 Catch-ups</a>. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2016/04/tips-on-organising-an-over60-catch-up/">Tips on organising an Over60 Catch-up</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/2016/04/ways-to-make-friends-when-youre-60-plus/">6 ways to make friends when you’re 60-plus</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2016/08/over60-catch-ups-in-mandurah-growing-in-popularity/">Over60 catch-ups in Mandurah growing in popularity</a>

News

5 best places for seniors to visit in October

Planning a last minute getaway? Here’s where you want to go in October. 1. Perth, Western Australia Head west as WA’s famous wildflowers spring into bloom. With more than 12,000 species, the state has more native wildflowers than anywhere else in the world. The season starts in the far north of the state in June and by October the floral wave has made it down to Perth. You can see plenty of flowers in the city itself, with spectacular blooms in the Royal Botanic Gardens, or head further afield to Rottnest Island, the Swan Valley or the Sunset Coast. It doesn’t hurt that the weather is also gorgeous in October. 2. Bali, Indonesia One of our favourite overseas destinations, Bali is lovely at any time of year though it’s especially nice in October. It’s technically the start of monsoon season though you’re unlikely to get any rain and the temperature sits at a comfortable 27 degrees. The Ubud Writers’ Festival in early October turns the whole town into a vibrant cultural hub and offshore the surf is pumping. You’ll also avoid most of the school holidays, which means prices are lower on flights and accommodation. <img width="500" height="334" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/28210/shutterstock_208811758_500x334.jpg" alt="new england (1)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> 3. New England, USA October in New England is prime time for ‘leaf peepers’, the term given to people who travel to a specific destination to view the autumn foliage. New England is the region in the northeast of the United States made up of Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The colours begin to change around late September and are at their peak in October, when thousands of peepers make their way to these states to take in the stunning season. And it’s a serious business – there are even fall foliage hotlines you can call to find out the best peeping for the day. 4. Buenos Aires, Argentina Springtime in Buenos Aires is delightful. The weather is perfect, hovering around the mid to high 20s, and the jacaranda trees burst into bloom making the city look like she’s dressed for the ball. It’s outside of peak season so room rates will be reasonable – and that’s probably even more true this year as Rio Fever winds down. The majority of tourists don’t start to arrive in December, so you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the local culture and share a glass of malbec and a tango twirl with a Porteño (as Buenos Aires locals are known). <img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/28208/image__498x245.jpg" alt="Prague" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> 5. Prague, Czech Republic There’s something about the light in Prague in October that makes the whole city look like a dreamy Monet cityscape. The city tends to have long summers (the locals even have a phrase for it, ‘babi leto’, roughly translating to Indian summer), so the weather is just starting to turn by October. Days will be long and sunny, while nights are crisp and clear. The leaves start to turn in Prague’s many public parks and in the lush fairytale Kunratice Forest just outside the city. Have you been to any of these incredible destinations? Are there any you would add to our list? Let us know in the comments section. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/09/6-of-the-safest-cities-for-seniors/">6 of the safest cities for seniors</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/09/5-alternatives-to-famous-romantic-spots/">5 alternatives to famous romantic spots</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/09/10-european-villages-you-havent-been-to/">10 European villages you haven’t been to</a>

International Travel

10 of the best festivals and events in Australia in October

Get your diary out – there’s an action packed calendar of festivals and events on around the country in October. 1. Floriade, Canberra, September 17 – October 16 The country’s most famous flower show still has a couple of weeks to go, so get yourself to Canberra post haste. It’s the largest floral festival in the southern hemisphere with more than a million blooms on show on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. Animal lovers can even bring their pups to the park for Dog’s Day Out on October 15. 2. Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Month, October 1-31 Sydney’s most delicious month kicks off on October 1. For 30 days you can indulge with fun foodie events across the city, from the famous Night Noodle Markets in Hyde Park to exclusive long lunches hosted by celebrity chefs and everything in between. The whole city is in celebration mode and you can sample a tasty new treat every day of the month. 3. Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations, October 1-31 Grab a glass – the Coonawarra wine region in South Australia has expanded its annual festival from a weekend to a whole month. There are winery tours, tastings of rare vintages, masterclasses, workshops, dinners, high teas, chocolate and cheese pairings, live music and much more. <img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/28149/image__498x245.jpg" alt="melbourne festival" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> 4. Melbourne Festival, October 6-23 Let’s get cultural with an incredible two weeks of theatre, dance, music, circus, visual arts and cultural collisions. It's a centerpiece of Melbourne’s cultural identity and the whole city comes alive with a huge schedule of free, interactive events for all ages. The festival partners with the city’s best restaurants to keep you well fed with an exceptional menu of #festivalfeasts. 5. The Unconformity, Queenstown, October 14-16 This one of a kind biennial arts festival in Tasmania aims to create artistic and heritage experiences that have a strong sense of place. It sounds serious but there’s also a focus on activities that are bold, fresh, surprising and fun. Expect outdoor art installations, theatre, dance, music, film, photography and, of course, plenty of top quality Tassie food and wine. <img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/28148/image__498x245.jpg" alt="wine festival (1)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> 6. Orange Wine Festival, October 14-30 Head to the Central West of New South Wales to discover one of the country’s unsung wine heroes. The program is packed with events that make the most of the region’s unique cool climate wines, including wine tasting, masterclasses, night markets and ‘meet the maker’ afternoons. 2016 is set to be a huge year as Orange celebrates its 20th anniversary of being recognised as an official wine region. 7. Supercars Castrol Gold Coast 600, October 21-23 Get your motor running as some of the world’s best drivers take to the street circuit around Surfers Paradise. As well as the main attraction – heart racing supercar events – there’s also monster trucks, live music and three days of general partying. 8. Radical Reels, Darwin, October 26 An offshoot of the Banff Mountain Festival, Radical Reels brings nine of the most extreme, adrenaline pumping short films from the festival down under. October is Darwin’s time to shine as it hosts the show at the outdoor Deckchair Cinema. Your heart will be in your mouth as you watch the world’s craziest adventurers climb sheer rock faces, throw themselves off mountains or paraglide across the Rocky Mountains. 9. Good Food and Wine Show, Brisbane, October 28-30 Hundreds of local and international exhibitors will fill the Brisbane Convention Centre for three days of gluttony. As well as browsing (and sampling) the stalls, you can sign up for a masterclass with a celebrity chef, go wine tasting in the Riedel Drinks Lab or meet friends for a drink in the Grazing Garden. 10. Fremantle Festival, October 28 – November 7 This boutique arts festival in the southern Perth suburb of Fremantle is drawing some huge names in 2016, with Waleed Aly, Bernard Fanning of Powderfinger, musician Dan Sultan, and journalists Stan Grant and Clementine Ford already signed on. It’s an inspirational celebration of culture, ideas and creativity – plus plenty of fun. Whoa, that schedule is jam-packed! Have you been to any of the events mentioned above? Or are there any other October events you’d recommend? Let us know in the comments section below. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/09/10-botanic-gardens-you-must-visit-this-spring/">10 botanic gardens you must visit this spring</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/09/10-things-to-do-in-australia-during-spring/">10 things to do in Australia during spring</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/09/10-giant-dahlia-sculptures-at-the-worlds-largest-flower-parade/">Giant dahlia sculptures steal show at the world’s largest flower parade</a>

International Travel

Guest House at Graceland set to open to Elvis fans in October

Elvis Presley used to dream about building a guest house at his Graceland property, for friends who would visit the rock ‘n’ roll icon in Memphis. Presley didn’t get to see his dream come true, but his fans will. The Guest House at Graceland is a six-storey, 450-room hotel, opening on October 27 just steps from Presley’s former home. The exterior, with columns, arches and a portico, evokes the feel of a comfortable Southern Colonial home, but the interior design and amenities are modern. Presley died on August 16, 1977, and Graceland was eventually turned into a museum. Priscilla Presley, the singer’s former wife and a caretaker of his legacy, said Elvis had made plans to build a guest house at Graceland as far back as 1960. But it was never built, so when people visited Graceland, they would stay at a Howard Johnson’s down the street. “This luxury hotel is the most significant enhancement to Graceland since we opened in 1982,” Priscilla Presley said. “This is huge ... I feel that it’s just so right for fans, and our guests, and tourists.” The hotel is the first of its kind in the working and middle-class Memphis neighbourhood of Whitehaven. Droves of applicants flocked to a job fair and the hotel will employ about 450 people. When the hotel opens, room prices will range from $US149 (NZ$206) for basic rooms to $US1300 ($1801) for the highest-priced suite. The location lets Elvis fans stay within walking distance of Graceland and the tourist attractions across the street, but it will likely attract other visitors as well. It will offer the most upscale accommodation in the immediate area, which has a Days Inn and a couple of other budget hotels. Also nearby, the ageing Heartbreak Hotel is scheduled for demolition. The Guest House at Graceland also promises to become one of the city’s top lodging options, along with the Peabody and the Madison several kilometres away in the downtown area. “If you ever thought that you wanted to hang out with Elvis and feel like one of his guests, this is your opportunity,” said Joel Weinshanker, managing partner of Elvis Presley Enterprises, which manages the Graceland tours and also produces and licenses Elvis-themed live events worldwide. Weinshanker said the total investment in the hotel was about $US92 million. Memphis officials approved a tax break for the hotel project. The hotel is still under construction, with bulldozers outside and workers installing electric outlets and carpets. But colours associated with The King already are present, such as touches of purple and gold in the carpeting and hallways, gold lighting in the 464-seat theatre, and a picture of Elvis in a gold jacket hanging on the textured grey walls of guest rooms. At 35860sq m, it’s about 22 times the size of the Graceland house. “There’s not a whole lot of Elvis bling,” said Elvis Presley Enterprises CEO Jack Soden. “It’s much more subtle. It’s very cool.” The circular lobby is illuminated by natural light streaming through large windows. The lobby ceiling features mirrors shaped like elongated hexagons. The grey and purple carpet is decorated with a geometric pattern. Turn right and you get The Lobby Lounge, an eating and drinking spot with indoor and outdoor seating. Nearby is E.P.’s Bar and Grill, a sports bar-themed restaurant with televisions and a pool table. A left turn from the lobby leads to another restaurant, Delta’s Kitchen, which will feature locally sourced products and a breakfast buffet. There’s also a coffee bar, and room service will be available. Beyond Delta’s Kitchen is a large ballroom and four meeting rooms. The theatre venue can be used for musical performances and company conferences. The rooms feature textured vinyl wall coverings, a glass-encased shower with a wall-mounted body spray, and sleekly designed chairs next to a window with a blackout curtain. Rooms also have a Keurig coffee brewing system and a flat-screen TV. Priscilla Presley said suites would have unique themes. The King’s Suite would be designed like Elvis Presley’s master bedroom, with rich red and black tones and a custom-draped canopy bed. The property will also include a swimming pool, adding to the resort feel. “It really is quite beautiful, and it is subtle, and it is contemporary, and it’s classy,” Priscilla Presley said. “I think our guests will be very happy.” Tell us in the comments below, would you be keen to pay a visit to Graceland? First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz.</a> Related links: <a href="/entertainment/music/2016/08/15-photos-of-musicians-before-they-were-famous/">15 photos of musicians before they were famous</a> <a href="/entertainment/music/2016/06/15-most-iconic-album-covers/">15 most iconic album covers</a> <a href="/entertainment/music/2016/05/1970s-songs-that-defined-a-decade/">1970s: songs that defined a decade</a>

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