Men’s Health Peer Education Magazine Vol. 14 No. 1
March/April 2015 – The Creativity & Inspiration issue
Front cover lead article and Inside this issue
Lead article
Quiet please, genius at work….YES, YOU!
Creative people are long-haired, eccentric bohemians who slowly starve while
churning out mastlerpieces of music, art or literature. Or super-nerds who rocket
to fame and fortune by designing the galactanet or a new app. They are different
from the rest of us.
So we thought, until the magic of neuroscience (who created that??) teaches us
not only that there is a bit of genius in all of us, but that it is good to get him or
her out of the bottle and start creating.
Inside this issue
How to get creative
Think a creative brain is something people are born with? Not strictly true. There
are ways to improve your creative thinking without resorting to a brain transplant
(not that this surgery exists anyway). Here are seven things you can do to be
more creative…
Mental Wellbeing – Think outside the box to get out of the forest
To someone deep in the forest of mental illness, the world can seem a pretty
small and closed in place; and a guide to help find the way out can be important.
It can be frightening in the forest and when your guide isn’t there, the temptation
to hunker down and wait can be strong.
There is life after the army
There IS life after the military. Don’t just sit on the couch, letting your
circumstances control your life in a negative way. Chin up! Use the skills you
learnt during your military service – just use them in a different way to fit in with
civilian ways, accept the help and resources offered by organisations like DVA
and move on with your civilian life. Be inspired. Read Roy Mellon’s story on life
after the Army.
Also in this issue: Mulberry Harbour, Two men and a guitar, Anzac Centenary
Facebook photo app, VVCS Poppy Competition, Positive Psychology and much,
much more.
Wanted MHPE Volunteers! Turn to page 32 for information on the MHPE
programme.
Editorial
Welcome to the creativity and inspiration issue.
When we think about our health and wellbeing, we usually focus on the physical
and mental aspects. We tell ourselves that we need to exercise more, eat well
and maintain meaningful social connections. However, how many of us think we
should be creative at least once a week. Unless you’re the “creative type” you
probably don’t even think this is important or necessary. But research is
showing that there is a health benefit if we make the time to use our imagination.
Why do we stop being creative? Well, isn’t it something you do when you’re
growing up, and then you get on with the serious part of life, like earning an
income and raising a family? Maybe, but it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. It’s
wonderful to watch kids being creative: their focus and joy; not worrying about
what other people are thinking; or being concerned that what they’re doing isn’t
good enough. As adults we become more self-conscious and self-critical.
Perhaps if we thought differently about what it means to be creative, more of us
would do it.
You may have noticed the picture of Brian Thorpe and Richard Kirkman on the
back of the November magazine last year. This picture was taken at a MHPE
recall training day, and as Richard says in his article: two blokes and two guitars,
in total harmony. We also profile the VVCS Poppy Competition, the Anzac
Centenary Facebook photo app and the Victorian Story Writing & Art
competition. Thank you to all our contributors for sharing their stories.
The other theme for this issue is inspiration. I’m sure that most of us have been
inspired by some person or thing, and that this experience has filled us with the
urge or ability to do or feel something. In this issue we profile Roy Mellon, and
his inspirational story of how he turned his life around after being medically
discharged from the Army. Chris Clarke shares with us the story of Ilse Weber
and her inspirational and selfless act of shepherding a group of children when
they were sent to the gas chambers.
Being inspired by someone or something, can encourage us to make changes to
our life, and to place greater value upon it. You may have a family member or
friend who has done, or is doing, something to improve their health and
wellbeing. Congratulate them on their achievement, and talk to them about how
they did it. To help you along your way, we’ve included an article on goal-setting,
and its importance in achieving the desired outcome.
We hope this issue inspires you to welcome back and nurture your creative self.
MHPE Magazine Editorial Committee Membership
Naomi Mulcahy DVA (Editor)
Dr Warren Harrex, DVA Senior Medical Adviser
Mariusz Kalinowski DVA
Michael Correll VVCS
Chris Jones DVA
Dr Justin Harding DVA
Quiet please, genius at work....YES, YOU!
“But, I'm not creative!”
Creative people are long-haired, eccentric bohemians who slowly starve while
churning out masterpieces of music, art or literature. Or super-nerds who rocket
to fame and fortune by designing the galactanet or a new app. They are different
from the rest of us.
So we thought, until the magic of neuroscience (who created that??) teaches us
not only that there is a bit of genius in all of us, but that it is good to get him or
her out of the bottle and start creating. Ruth Richards and a team from Harvard
invented the notion of Everyday Creativity - new ways of doing ordinary things.
Others have pointed out that new ideas have survival value. Our ancient
ancestors saw knives, clubs and fish-hooks in behemoth bones, and drew the
details on the walls of their houses. In our world of warp-speed technovations
we find new ways to pay our bills, cook dinner and communicate. Every email,
text or tweet is a unique creation, and tomorrow we will have to do it differently.
But not every novel idea is creative. Wearing your pants upside down or cooking
frog's legs in chocky sauce may be new and different, but it is silly rather than
scintillating. Everyday creativity combines innovation and usefulness, and the
need for this combination is what makes creative activity so good for us. So
good indeed that some researchers have shown that it can have similar benefits
as heavy exercise for our health, happiness and even survival!
How come? Readers may recall earlier magazine articles describing the “whole
of brain” explosion of “happiness hormones” (dopamines) which we get from
exercise, black chocolate, sex, and heavy metal (or Bach). These chemical
surges help keep our brains fit, and can delay the dreaded dementia. Well,
finding an outlet for our creativity has very much the same benefit, because it
involves many different parts of our brain. The new idea or flash of inspiration is
based on a lifetime of remembered facts and feelings. Then, even before we can
shout “Eureka” those spoil-sports up in the front of the brain- the pre-frontal
cortex- check it all out to see whether it is moral, legal, embarrassing and might
actually work. There is a massive team effort from nearly every part of our brain,
both conscious and unconscious.
Yes, inventive people seem to stay younger, but people who deliberately set out
to practise creativity can have the same good feelings. All of us have particular
interests and different mental skills and we can all find something that attracts us
and set out to explore it. Carpentry, cooking and conservation are just as
legitimate as sculptures, symphonies and psycho-dramas. Learning or
recommencing to play a musical instrument or singing, possibly has a special
place as this uses so many brain functions simultaneously.
What can I do? Remembering any events which led to a moment of ‘it works!' or
'I did it!' is a good place to start. Or activities or hobbies which you really enjoy.
How about getting into these and letting yourself wonder about doing some of
these things better, or just differently. You don't have to astound the world or
even your mates at the first attempt, but you may be indeed astounded at where
you end up. Go on, have a crack. There's nothing to lose but your Nobel Prize.
Dr Tony Ireland
DVA Medical Adviser
What is the meaning of life? The meaning of life is…
Unfortunately you won’t find the answer to that question in this article, but
perhaps part of the answer is hidden in the question, meaning.
The field of ‘positive psychology’ focusses on wellbeing and happiness. It’s not
about being positive all the time, it’s about being able to get the most out of life
and experiencing enjoyment despite the inevitable set backs. Scientific research
in positive psychology has found that individuals can maximise their sense of
wellbeing and enjoyment of life by adopting strategies that help you to fill your
days with meaning, pleasure and engagement.
It may be more fulfilling to engage in activities that involve positive relationships
with other people and enable you to experience a sense of accomplishment. For
example, engagement may involve identifying what your strengths are and
undertaking activities that challenge you and enable you to utilise your strengths
in the pursuit of a goal. When you’re truly engaged in an activity you may get
into the ‘flow’. Finding opportunities to engage in activities that enable you to
experience flow (where you feel happy, creative and immersed in what you’re
doing) is extremely beneficial for mental wellbeing. When you’re engaged and in
the flow, time stops and it feels remarkable.
Being mindful of the present moment and savouring pleasurable experiences
can help improve feelings of wellbeing. If we look at it from a happiness
perspective, there are many strategies for enhancing pleasurable moments.
These can include taking pride in your achievements, sharing the story about a
valuable moment in your life with others and allowing yourself to become
absorbed in those pleasurable moments. When you are in the moment, take
mental photographs to refer back to and block out other senses while you
savour the experience, for example, closing your eyes as you enjoy a cold drink
of water after good exercise session.
So, back to meaning, doing things in your life that have some meaning to you
doesn’t have to be as grand a challenge as discovering the meaning of life. In
fact, finding meaning can take the form of simple activities that help you to
improve your connections with others and wellbeing. Take the time to thank
people who have helped you in your life at different points in time, keep an
ongoing record of the things that you’re grateful for no matter how small they
are; doing this is an opportunity to get creative about your approach to
happiness, health and wellbeing and inspire others to do the same. For
example, if you plan to do kind things for people and seriously consider forgiving
those who have wronged you, you’ll end up doing yourself a world of good in the
process. Do things that help you to find meaning, whatever that looks like for
you.
Taking the time to reflect on the things that you value and therefore prioritise can
help you to find meaning. Visit www.blackdoginstitute.org.au for more
information on positive psychology and useful links to books, research papers
and resources from this field.
Dimitri Batras
DVA National Health Promotion Adviser
Mental wellbeing – Think outside the box to get out of the forest
To someone deep in the forest of mental illness, the world can seem a pretty
small and closed-in place; and a guide to help find the way out is important. It
can be frightening in the forest when your guide isn’t there. The temptation to
hunker down and wait can be strong. The guides – doctors, psychologists and
other health professionals – are important to finding the way out of the woods,
and the tools they use to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD and other mental
health challenges can be life changing and life saving. However, with a little
lateral thinking, there is more the canny woodsman can do to help him or herself
when the guide isn’t there.
The psychological therapies and medications that mental health professionals
employ as treatments for mental illnesses are strongly based on evidence of
their effectiveness, and are increasingly effective as treatments are researched
and refined. However, reliance only on medications or psychotherapies is
unlikely to lead to the most rapid recovery.
The evidence is growing that thinking creatively about lifestyle and activity
changes can make a big difference to both feelings of wellbeing and speed of
recovery. Take some time to think about doing something different – it may be
something completely new or it may be an ‘old friend’ that you have not engaged
with for a while.
The Australian National University’s National Institute for Mental Health
Research (NIMHR) has looked at a wide range of lifestyle activities and
alternative treatments, and has identified the ones that are most likely to make a
difference to mental wellbeing. The big ticket item is exercise – being active. The
NIMHR cites evidence that physical exercise helps in relation to depression,
generalised anxiety and panic disorders.
Any sort of exercise will be beneficial, but if you have any health concerns you
would be wise to check with your doctor that the exercise you have in mind is
safe for you. Options might include walking, jogging, running, riding, swimming,
gym sessions or anything else that appeals to you. The NIMHR includes yoga
as a “promising treatment for depression” and light therapy (exposure to bright
light for around two hours a day) as “one of the best treatments for winter
(seasonal) depression”.
The NIMHR also lists a number of alternative treatments with sufficient evidence
to cautiously recommend, including acupuncture and relaxation therapy for
depression and acupuncture, dance and movement and meditation for anxiety. If
you have a diagnosed mental health condition, you should mention alternative
therapies you are thinking about or undertaking to you doctor, to ensure these
can be incorporated as “adjunct” therapies as part of a treatment plan.
The Mayo Clinic also endorses the value of lifestyle changes in supporting
treatments for anxiety and recommends physical activity, alcohol avoidance,
caffeine avoidance, relaxation techniques and healthy eating and sleeping.
Another key tool that may assist is social connections. If you feel alone, join a
support group, an ESO, a walking group, a craft or activity group, or simply take
time to visit family or friends on a regular basis.
There are good reasons to think outside the box and engage in new activities
that may help you get to the edge of the mental illness forest faster. A little
creative thinking can make a big difference to the success of treatment and can
also enhance your mental and general wellbeing when you are well.
If you are seeking information or assistance for a mental health issue, contact
your GP or the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) on
1800 011 046.
Anzac Centenary Facebook photo app
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Anzac Centenary Facebook photo
app is now available for the uploading of commemorative images to ensure the
commemoration over the Anzac Centenary period is captured and shared with
people around the world.
The app enables you to upload photos of commemorative events around the
world and will show all uploaded images on a world map, to give a sense of the
geographical spread and diversity of commemoration. The app also enables you
to share, like and comment on photos.
This app will provide a lasting legacy after the four year Anzac Centenary period
by ensuring significant commemorative events can be shared for generations to
come.
The app can be used on smart phones, tablets and desktop computers and can
be accessed at www.spirit.anzaccentenary.gov.au
Visit the app to keep up to date on how others are sharing in the spirit of the
Anzac Centenary, and share your special memories with others.
The Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service
(VVCS) Poppy Competition
The VVCS Poppy Competition encourages the online community to create their
own representation / interpretation of a poppy, as a sign of respect to the fallen
men and women of Australian warfare. The first Poppy Competition was held
last year attracting 32 entries. The poppy was represented in a variety of forms
including paintings, patchwork, embroidery and tattoos – all of which
demonstrated a respect for the symbolism of the poppy.
Entries were displayed in an online album on the VVCS Facebook page, and the
community was invited to vote for their favourite, via “likes” to the picture.
Adam Pritchard’s entry of a poppy made from wool (refer to text box), was voted
in the top 3. Visit the VVCS Facebook page to view all the entries, and be
inspired to contribute your own creative work in 2015.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Veterans-and-Veterans-Families-CounsellingService/339540802880528
For help or to check eligibility for VVCS services, call 1800 011 046 or visit
www.vvcs.gov.au
I made this picture last year, while I was admitted into hospital for my PTSD. I’m
an East Timor veteran, and was in hospital during Remembrance Day. I
attended the service at the shrine in Melbourne, whilst I was there a staff
member gave me a poppy plant and thanked me for my service. On returning
back to the hospital I had an inspiration to make this picture out of wool (felting)
in the art therapy group.
How to get creative
Think a creative brain is something people are born with? Not strictly true. There
are ways to improve your creative thinking without resorting to a brain transplant
(not that this surgery exists anyway). Here are seven things you can do to be
more creative:
1. Walk. Yes, you read that right. Professor Daniel Schwartz from Stanford
University recently discovered that walking increases creativity in up to 81%
of study participants regardless of whether individuals walked indoors or
outdoors. If improving your creativity is not enough motivation, think about
the amount of calories you can burn at the same time!
2. Learn to play a musical instrument. Time to pick up a new hobby. In 2009
a study from Vanderbilt University revealed evidence for increased creativity
in trained musicians. The musical students in the study cohort also tend to
have higher IQ scores than non-musicians (psychology students).
3. Surround yourself with blue. It helps to have blue as your favourite colour.
Associate Professor Rui Zhu from the University of British Columbia
discovered in 2009 that seeing the colour blue improves performance on
creative tasks compared with seeing the colours red or white. Time to repaint
the study!
4. Reward yourself. A no-brainer. Anyone would be motivated to perform
better if there is an incentive at the end. A recent study from the Rochester
Institute of Technology found that providing rewards can improve creative
thinking. This study also found that efforts to be creative should also be
rewarded (even if the creative outcomes were not achieved) lest the creative
behaviours are withdrawn.
5. Dream more. Another excuse to sleep more! Dreams occur during the rapid
eye movement (REM) stage of sleep, which kicks in after about 60-90
minutes of non-REM sleep. In a 2009 study from the University of California,
individuals who had REM sleep perform better in creative problem solving
than those who had quiet rest (awake) and non-REM sleep.
6. Dim lighting. Dr. Anna Steidle from the University of Stuttgart discovered
that dim lighting enhances creativity. The theory is that darkness promotes a
sense of freedom from constraints which enables an explorative thinking
style resulting in improved creative performance. This should come in handy
with the hikes in electricity prices.
7. Moderate-level ambient noise. Finally an excuse to make some noise in
the house! A moderately loud ambient noise was shown in a study from the
University of Virginia to enhance creative performance compared with noises
at higher or lower levels. Moderately loud was defined as 70 decibels which
is approximately the loudness of operating a vacuum cleaner.
What did we learn from these studies? Walk around in a dimly-lit room painted in
blue while playing a musical instrument at a moderate noise level then reward
yourself with a good rest after and you might just be the next Albert Einstein.
(Note: Einstein was actually an enthusiastic and talented violinist who started
playing at the age of six.)
Dr Dwayne Chang
DVA Medical Adviser
References are available on request.
Men’s Sheds – A Community Asset
There’s nothing new about men spending time in their backyard shed - an
acknowledged Aussie pastime. What is new is that men, particularly retired men,
are gathering together in a Community Men’s Shed and, as shed members,
contributing towards their community, being creative and socially connected.
Men’s Sheds are a peculiarly Australian phenomenon, and in the past decade a
wide range of community based Men’s Sheds has sprung up - each with its own
unique identity and purpose.
The Australian Men’s Shed Association was formed in 2007 to support Men’s
Sheds across Australia with a key aim of keeping Men’s Sheds “grass roots”.
Today AMSA has over 930 sheds as members demonstrating the need for such
facilities - each one providing a comfortable men friendly space.
AMSA has a strong focus on benefitting the health of shed members. Working
with Australia’s peak health organisations, AMSA has developed men friendly
health resources recognising the delivery and learning styles preferred by men.
This formula has proved to be highly successful with many sheds taking up
opportunities to become better health educated through various means. Having
said that, it is important to recognise that sheds are not “Health Centres” and
should not be considered to provide “health services”.
Men’s Sheds have taken a non-traditional approach to encouraging men to
share life. Place men together in a shed environment and health benefits,
through sharing life, naturally follow. The ethos of the Australian Men’s Shed
Association - “men don’t talk face to face, they talk shoulder to shoulder”, seeks
to acknowledge the way men relate, and to provide environments which foster
such interaction.
A shed is also a place for creating and productivity and, by setting up places for
older men to work on projects together, the Sheds are acknowledging that these
men have much to offer their communities. Whilst this may seem obvious, there
is in fact a common assumption that older men are of little value to their
community; this is a concept which the sheds are unanimously disproving.
Practical and meaningful activities that respect and encourage the skills of older
men is more relevant than ever with today’s ageing population.
Informal learning opportunities provided by the sheds are engaging an audience
who generally display reluctance to participate in more traditional ways of
learning. In the majority of shed participants, it was a sense of belonging (safety
and ownership) and the opportunity for meaningful participation (process is
active rather than passive) which made them more willing to learn. Members
with existing skills have the opportunity to practice and maintain these skills,
adding to their sense of self and self esteem.
The common theme in all Sheds is about men retaining self esteem, feeling
useful, contributing again to their communities and having a meaningful purpose
in life. Learning or sharing skills, making friends, networking and availing
themselves of health support information and opportunities are all benefits
commonly gained within the Shed.
Visit the AMSA website www.mensshed.org or call 1300 550 009 to locate a
Men’s Shed in your area.
Gary Green
Community Engagement Manager
Australian Men’s Shed Association
0428 133 546
gary@mensshed.net
What’s on your bucket list?
“It’s on my bucket list” has now become a common expression. The term
originated from a movie released in 2007 starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan
Freeman. In ‘The Bucket List’, two men with terminal cancer became friends
after meeting in hospital. One developed a wish list of things he wanted to do
before he “kicked the bucket”. The comedy-drama is about their vacation to
complete the bucket list.
So having a bucket list provides a list of personal goals or achievements which
are meaningful to an individual. Having a list of goals in life provides an
incentive, focuses the mind towards how to complete these tasks and helps
prevent drifting through life.
It is easy to drift through life. There has been a recent advertisement on
television in which a restaurateur explains the reason for his success: “Ships in
the harbour are safe, but that is not what ships are built for”. Life is for living.
Many ex-service personnel recount their time in the military as being the most
satisfying period of their life. Military life is full of team work, with almost a
continuous range of clear goals and targets to be met. So military training and
challenges provide an opportunity for individuals to develop a wonderful sense
of achievement, experience, fulfilment and personal growth.
Creating your own bucket list requires some thought and reflection. What do you
want out of life? What is important to you? It does not have to be complex or
difficult. Peter Greste, a reporter recently released from gaol after 400 days, just
wanted to walk on a sandy beach in bare feet, look at the stars in the sky and
watch a sunset. But it is amazing the effect derived from creating a personal list
of desires.
The brain is excellent at scanning for personally relevant objects in our
environment. For example, we have all been in the situation in a crowded room
when we have heard our name mentioned. If we buy a new car, suddenly we
notice just how many are on the road which we never noticed before. Or if we, a
friend or relative, develop a new illness or disease, we suddenly notice many
articles on the subject that we never noticed before. So our brain is always
scanning for personally relevant information without our conscious awareness.
But we need to give our brain some guidance.
Advertisements usually annoy me, but they keep advertising because it works. It
appears that just 15-30 seconds is enough to implant an idea. It focuses the
attention of the mind whether you want to or not. Creating a bucket list implants
personally relevant ideas and allows the power of the mind to identify items and
actions to achieve those goals of importance to us. With our goals clearly
defined, our brains will find or create opportunities for us to achieve our
ambitions.
Dr Warren Harrex
DVA Senior Medical Advisor
Creating and Mastering goals
Setting and striving for goals is central to any form of change. Goals will differ
from person to person; the type of goal you set for yourself can impact on how
you strive for it and whether or not you achieve it. For the people who have just
started their New Year’s resolutions, there are some goal setting and striving
strategies that might increase your chances of sustaining the change you want
to make.
Framing your goals towards achieving an outcome you want may be more
effective than goals that are all about avoiding an outcome you don’t want. The
exception to the rule is if you’re already where you don’t want to be. For
example, “I want to get rid of my beer belly” may be a more effective goal than “I
want to avoid getting heart disease” because there is a clear end point in the
first goal.
Similarly, setting goals that are framed around mastering something, helps you
maintain motivation and the belief that you’ll achieve those goals. Whereas
performance goals may become demotivating if you experience some early set
backs. For example, “I want to learn how to incorporate physical activity into my
life” may be a more effective goal than “I want to lose 10kg”. This is because
goals that are about mastering something allow for set backs because they are
viewed as a normal part of the learning process.
You may have heard of S.M.A.R.T. goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable,
Realistic, and Timely), they are popular and they work for some people because
they are realistic. Others are more inspired to take action if their goals are
aspirational and less realistic.
Once a goal has been set (for example, “I want learn how to prepare quick and
healthy meals instead of buying fast food”), there are a number of strategies that
can be employed in isolation or in combination to help an individual strive for
achievement. Planning and visualising the actions that will help you to attain
your goals is a useful strategy. For example, planning your visit to the
supermarket, and visualising yourself preparing healthy meals with the
ingredients that you intend to purchase. In addition, you might anticipate that
you’ll be tempted to eat fast food for dinner on the following day because you’re
going to be staying back late at work. To counter this, you might wake up 15
minutes earlier and get most of the preparation for dinner done, and you could
place a reminder on your phone to take the route home that doesn’t pass any
drive through restaurants.
For some people resisting the temptation to do things that are not in line with
their goals will work, while for other people, complete resistance won’t work in
the long term. Instead, they may opt to monitor their behaviour as a way of
tracking their progress. When goals to improve health link in with goals in other
areas of your life, it can help you to keep striving. For example, your work
related goal to “become an early morning riser instead of a late starter” will
probably require you to go to bed earlier, that will help you to avoid ‘late night
snacking’ and therefore contribute towards your health related goal too.
At an individual level, different things will work for different people, however, in
general, proactive goal setting that fits in well with other goals, such as “I want to
take the dog for regular walks”, and focussing on mastering a particular
behaviour, such as “I want to learn how to play golf” coupled with a combination
of goal striving strategies seems like the way to go.
Dimitri Batras
DVA National Health Promotion Adviser
There is Life After the Army
My injury and action
I joined the Army in 2003 when I was 17, straight out of high school; I had a
boy’s attitude and just wanted to drive tanks. However, my real career
progression was going to be as an Army carpenter.
My road to discharge began when I developed fallen arches in both feet, due to
being in a combat core unit and the requirement to “go go go” all the time. A
bone in my right foot started to crush the ligaments and I needed emergency
surgery. As a result I favoured my other foot and not long after during a pack
march I suffered with immense pain and required the same surgery on the other
foot. I was told I would be able to walk properly in about two months but I
couldn’t apply any pressure to my feet. I used regular hospital crutches during
that time, which then led to problems with my hands and wrists. I was then fitted
with ergonomic crutches which eased the pain. I had hoped that the surgery
would fix my foot pain, but quickly realised when I had recovered from the
surgery that it hadn’t. I was then diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both feet at just
19 years old.
After notification of my diagnosis I was not allowed to go back onto the ground
with my unit. I started working in the Ordnance Room and had a great mentor
who encouraged me to do some training as I was very young and, if I had to
leave the Army, would need transferable skills. So I studied payroll and various
other computer courses.
A new rule was introduced that all officers who weren’t a level one or two were
required to be deployable and I was unable to be deployed due to my injury.
That’s when I got in contact with DVA, who assisted in getting my liability claim
accepted. I was medically discharged just 18 months after joining the army and
with the new skills I had learned from being in the armoured corps and then
payroll, I started searching for a career in payroll.
A different path
I was pretty devastated about being medically discharged. I had just been
posted to Townsville, had made some really good friends and my girlfriend (now
wife) had finally found a job. I’m still disappointed that my fellow soldiers from
3/4 CAV deployed and I didn’t. However I look back now and know I wouldn’t be
where I am today if I had not been injured and discharged. While I was upset
then, I realise now that this path was meant to be.
Getting back to work
DVA put me through what I call a civilian conversion course which was
facilitated by my rehabilitation provider. The course taught me skills for job
interviews, how to present myself well to employers, how to use civilian terms
and also take the regimental sense out of my personality. I was also supplied
with a résumé that deconstructed my military qualifications into civilian terms. It
would be a great course for ex-military members who have been in the service
for a long time. It was one of the best courses I have done in my career.
When I landed my first job working in payroll, DVA organised a workplace
assessment for me and an ergonomic chair. I also received special business
shoes which fitted my orthotics. I require a walking stick to ease the pressure on
my right foot, which is affected the most by the arthritis. An ergonomic walking
stick was funded which is moulded to the shape of my hand to avoid any further
injury to it.
To this day, 8 years from being discharged, DVA still assists me. Currently we
have assistance with household tasks I can’t do easily, due to my injury, by
organising someone to mow the grass, do garden maintenance, and clean the
house. I’m a proud person and I like to do things myself but I often aggravate my
injury by pushing myself too hard so the household support services I get from
DVA are really appreciated and needed. DVA also funded side steps for my four
wheel drive to assist with getting in and out of the vehicle.
From Army to CEO
When I was 26 I was in between payroll jobs and my wife encouraged me to
start my own payroll business. Three years down the track and the business is
now booming. It has been an amazing journey getting to this point because I
kind of just fell into payroll and have had to prove that an Army guy can do a
civilian job. The discipline I learned from the Army is second to none because it
taught me that amongst other things you never give up and that attitude has got
me a multi-million dollar company. We currently employ 18 staff and along with
myself, three of them have a disability.
Challenges and support
My wife and her family have been a big support with my ups and downs. I’m in
pain everyday but I’ve gotten used to it. Her family pulls me up when I do
physical things that aggravate my injury. They are always willing to give me a
helping hand with physical tasks and although it can be frustrating that I can’t do
it myself, I have taught myself to accept the help. I have a 3 year old son Eli.
Due to my injury I can’t do things that other 29 year old dads can; so running
and kicking a ball at the park are out of the picture. Instead we do other activities
together that put as little pressure on my feet as possible like swimming, going
to the movies, four wheel driving and camping.
There is life after the military
Although my original career path didn’t go to plan, I am proof that you can still be
successful and live a normal fulfilling life regardless of a disability.
Even though every day is a struggle physically and mentally due to pain; I know
that my family and I wouldn’t have the lifestyle and successful business we have
today if I hadn’t had my injury.
There IS life after the military. Don’t just sit on the couch, letting your
circumstances control your life in a negative way. Chin up! Use the skills you
learnt during your military service – just use them in a different way to fit in with
civilian life, accept the help and resources offered by organisations like DVA and
move on with your civilian life.
Roy Mellon
For more information on DVA Rehabilitation services go to
http://www.dva.gov.au/health-and-wellbeing/rehabilitation or contact DVA on 133
254 (metro) or 1800 555 254 (from regional Australia)
Mulberry Harbour
Shane Casey, Senior Curator, Military, Heraldry and Technology
Australian War Memorial
Editor’s note:
The Australian War Memorial combines a shrine, a world-class museum, and an
extensive archive. A visit to the Memorial or an online search of their archive,
reveals how extraordinary circumstances produces creativity and inspiration; not
only from those who served, but also from those at home. Many of us would be
familiar with the work of official war artists, would recognise iconic photographs
and may have read a war diary. Most of the articles in this issue have focused
on the more traditional forms of creativity. However, we should broaden our
scope and the following article provided by the Memorial enables us to do just
that. It reminds us that thinking creatively has produced some remarkable feats
of engineering
Herod the Great, King of Judea, was a man of no mean ambition. Not content
with having rebuilt the Second Temple in Jerusalem, he embarked on an
engineering task that had no parallel – to construct a massive artificial harbour
off the coast at Caesarea Maritima. Using Roman engineers and techniques,
massive hollow wooden caissons were constructed and filled with hydraulic
pozzolana concrete imported from Italy. Towed offshore, the caissons were
carefully positioned and then sunk to form the basis of breakwaters and jetties.
For many years the harbour flourished, allowing cargo ships and military forces
travelling between Rome and the Eastern provinces easy and safe berthing, and
proving safe anchorage against sudden storms, but was destroyed by an
earthquake sometime after 130 AD.
Nearly two thousand years later, military strategists preparing for the Allied
invasion of Europe confronted the same technical challenges as Herod. Unable
to rely on the use of a deep-water port, their task was instead to create prefabricated breakwaters, pontoons, and jetties in England which would be towed
into place off the coast of Normandy, allowing Allied armies to pour ashore once
the initial beachheads had been secured.
With the code name “Mulberry”, design on the harbour began in 1942.
Construction work was spread over Britain, involving 25 large engineering
contractors and coordinating more than 200 companies. Despite the fact that
more than 20,000 men were involved in construction, using roughly 600,000
tons of concrete and 75,000 tons of steel, the work proceeded in absolute
secrecy, with most workers unaware of the true purpose on which they were
engaged.
Two complete ports were built, with one destined for Omaha Beach and the
other for Gold Beach near Arromanches. Each port comprised three main
elements: a breakwater, pierheads, and floating roadways. Placed in position by
D–Day plus 5, the ports allowed large vessels such as Liberty ships to moor
inside the breakwater to discharge their cargoes directly to barges and DUKWs,
with smaller ships berthing directly at floating pierheads. Flat, semi-submerged
pierheads allowed tank-landing ships (LSTs) to run their bows up onto a buffer
pontoon, so that the doors could be opened on relatively dry land. Using this
method, an LST was able to discharge 18 heavy tanks and 24 heavy lorries in
less than 20 minutes.
Just as Herod’s port was destroyed through the forces of nature, so too did the
Mulberrys suffer. A terrible storm on 19 June 1944 destroyed the harbour off
Omaha Beach and damaged the port at Gold. Although the Omaha Mulberry
was abandoned, the Gold Beach Mulberry was repaired, and continued in
operation until November 1944, by which time the deep harbour at Antwerp had
been captured and opened. By then over 2.5 million personnel had been landed,
as well as 500,000 vehicles and four million tonnes of stores. Elements of the
Mulberrys can still be seen in position off Arromanches to this day.
After the war a travelling exhibition featuring models of the Mulberrys was put
together by the Port of London Authority to raise funds for the re-building of
London, particularly its docklands. The exhibition toured New Zealand and
Australia in 1947, and concluded at the Royal Adelaide Exhibition. Rather than
incurring the considerable costs of shipping it back to England the Port of
London Authority then presented the models to the people of Australia. Parts of
a 1:48 scale detail model survive within the Memorial’s collection, including three
pierheads, a Phoenix concrete caisson, an LST, bridge-spans, and a collection
of vehicles. As with Herod’s harbour and the surviving Mulberry off
Arromanches, time and the elements have taken their toll on the model, and it
will require considerable conservation care before it can be displayed. It is
nonetheless impressive in size and complexity, worthy of admiration for the skill
of its makers.
Two men and a guitar
My guitar journey started in Vietnam in 1970. A friend by the name of Gary
Humphries left his guitar to me when his 365 N Awakey was up. I taught myself
the basic chords so that I could play along to taped music. Many a good singalong happened in the Task Force Maintenance Area boozer. Playing the guitar
gave me and others a great deal of pleasure. Whilst on leave in Vungas, I met
up with a 3RAR guy by the name of Charlie Christopolous (now known as Peter
King). He was playing a guitar in the back room of a bar. I went to the market
and bought a guitar, and there started a lifetime friendship that lasts to this day.
Every chance we got we jammed together increasing our repertoire. Back in
Australia we met up when Pete was posted at Woodside and I at Hampstead
barracks. We used to meet up on the weekends and jam in the front bar of the
Handhorf Inn. The manager then booked us to play in the lounge on Friday and
Saturday nights. We graduated to a full rock and roll band playing for many
years in the Adelaide Hills. Pete got to be the original drummer with the Angels,
and when I was discharged, I came in as the sound engineer and tours
manager. After the Angels we formed a band called Rhocky Rhode and
continued to play in the Hills.
In 1993, I joined a band called Kelly’s Revenge as a singer/banjo/guitar player
and song writer. We got to tour Texas which was a great thrill.
Some of my songs have been recorded which is a big thrill.
Over the years, the guitar has been a comfort through the highs and lows. There
is nothing better to shift your mood than a jam or a sing-along, or simply
songwriting and purging the demons through words. To this day, I still pick up
the guitar every day and practice a few numbers.
Brian Thorpe
SA MHPE Volunteer
My love of the guitar began in the late 60s when I was a teenager. I saw James
Burton on an American TV show, Louisiana Hayride, playing the guitar and
making it sing like a bird. He was just a teenager himself. At that moment I
wanted to be a guitar player and play like him. Now I needed a guitar. No money
to buy one so I set about making my own guitar. The first one, a square box
shape, was a complete failure. I didn’t know how to achieve the smooth curves
of the Spanish guitar, but I continued and switched to making electric guitars,
like the one that James Burton, Ricky Nelson and Buddy Holly used to play.
Now I could be a star.
Playing the guitar for more than fifty years has been quite an experience with
many ups and a few downs. Overall, it has brought me pleasure and friendship.
Music is like that. You can be anywhere, such as at the first MHPE recall day I
attended in 2012, when Brian Thorpe was singing a couple songs for us. When
he had finished, I asked him if I could bring my guitar the following day and join
him. Two blokes and two guitars, in total harmony. We could be from different
corners of the world, but with music, there are no barriers. I have experienced
this many times, particularly in my navy days, travelling on the high seas.
Apart from the joy of playing music with other musicians, music brings me many
other things, including health benefits. When I feel low I pick up my guitar and
play. It has a way of calming me and allows me to relax, which I often find
difficult. It also brings out the creative side in me. Whilst I haven’t composed
many songs, I have collaborated with other musicians. I prefer to use my
creative talent to arrange the music. The social interaction and sharing with
others, which I have already referred to, is like gold.
However, playing in a band and performing regularly can be quite daunting. You
need to overcome the fear that many performers experience. I guess this can
easily turn to alcohol and drugs. A quick drink to steady the nerves before you
go on stage and a couple of drinks when it’s all over. And in the early years,
smoking as well. At one particular point in my life, when I was rehearsing once a
week and also playing a couple times a week, I used to get really uptight. My
wife, and my son, used to tell me that it was the band, I was also the leader, that
was stressing me out, but of course I denied it and insisted this was how I
relaxed. Thankfully, I finally listened and started to take charge of my health and
well-being. That was in the late 90s. In January 2001, I went the VVCS to seek
counselling and now I really appreciate the joys and benefits of playing music.
Richard Kirkman
SA MHPE Volunteer
Consider learning a musical instrument, joining a choir or even just singing along
to music at home. Most of us learnt basic music skills at school, even if it was
just the recorder! If you used to play an instrument, why not take it up again?
Community colleges are a good place to start for courses, and many local
communities have their own choir. Do a website search and consider your
options.
Thinking clearly about your medicines: managing side effects
Medicines can bring many benefits but they can also have side effects that are
not intended or desired. Side effects can occur when taking a single medicine or
because a number of medicines are taken at the same time. As we get older we
can become more sensitive to medicines. This may result in more side effects.
This brochure is about anticholinergic (an-tee-kol-in-er-jik) side effects which
may occur with many commonly used medicines.
Problems that you might think are normal with ageing such as forgetfulness,
confusion and difficulty concentrating can sometimes be caused by the
anticholinergic side effects of one or more or your medicines. Medicines used to
treat a variety of conditions including airways disease, bladder problems and
allergies, can cause anticholinergic side effects.
These side effects can be found in many medicines – complementary, herbal,
those prescribed by your doctor or those purchased without a prescription.
Always talk to your doctor if you are concerned about your medicines.
Which medicines can cause anticholinergic side effects?
Many medicines can cause anticholinergic side effects, even some eye drops.
Medicines with anticholinergic side effects are used to treat many conditions
including:
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allergies
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respiratory conditions such as airways disease
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coughs and colds
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bladder control problems
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stomach problems including motion sickness
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insomnia and sleeping problems
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depression and anxiety
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neuropathic (nerve) pain.
Talk to your doctor or other health professional about all the medicines you are
taking and ask about those which can cause anticholinergic side effects. Your
doctor may consider other options.
What anticholinergic side effects should I look out for?
All medicines have possible side effects when used alone, or with other
medicines. You are more likely to experience side effects when you start a new
medicine, increase the dose, or add another medicine. Everyone responds to a
medicine or combination of medicines differently. Possible anticholinergic side
effects are shown in Figure 1.
As we age we tend to have more health issues and may require additional
medicines. However our bodies can become more sensitive to medicines, even
those we have been taking for some time, and our ability to tolerate them may
lessen.
Be aware of any changes or new symptoms that you experience, even if you are
unsure if they are related to your medicines. Talk to your doctor about any
unwanted side effects you may be experiencing.
Medicines are used to treat:
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

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sleep disorders, anxiety and depression
allergies
coughs and colds
airways disease
motion sickness
gastrointestinal cramps
incontinence
neuropathic (nerve) pain
Talk to your pharmacist about over the counter (OTC) medicines.
Possible anticholinergic side effects:
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
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decreased memory and thinking skills, dizziness
blurred vision, dry eyes
dry mouth
decreased sweating
constipation
bladder control problems
dry reddened skin
Talk to your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms, which may or may
not be related to your medicines. Never stop taking a medicine without
consulting your doctor.
What should I do if I am concerned about my medicines?
Ask your doctor which of your medicines can cause anticholinergic side effects
and if you may be experiencing some of these unwanted effects. Sometimes just
adding one more medicine can tip the balance. Be guided by your GP who may
be able to recommend a different medicine, reduce the dose, or offer a nonmedicine alternative.
The more medicines you take, the more difficult it can be to remember important
information about them. Keeping an up-to-date list of all your medicines,
including those you buy over the counter, can help your doctor assess the
cumulative effect of your medicines.
Your doctor or pharmacist can help you prepare your list with the name of each
medicine, dose, directions, storage and possible side effects. It is a good idea to
take a copy with you whenever you visit a health professional. Print out the NPS
MedicineWise medicines list or download the free smartphone app. See:
www.nps.org.au/medicines-list
Ask your doctor about a regular review of your medicines. Having a medicines
review can help you better understand your medicines and how to take them
safely with good outcomes.
Your pharmacist can visit you to review your medicines, including those that can
cause anticholinergic side effects. You may like to have a family member or
carer with you. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all your medicines,
including those you may have bought from the pharmacy, health food shop or
supermarket.
Talk to your doctor before starting, changing or stopping a medicine, including
complementary or herbal medicines.
What should I ask my doctor?
Your treatment is about you as an individual, not just about your medicines. You
know your own health problems, needs and preferences better than anyone
else. Ask your GP about all your options so that together you can make an
informed decision about what is best for you.
You play an important role in your health and wellbeing by understanding your
medicines and being comfortable talking about them. Ask your doctor about all
your choices and about the benefits and harms of each of these options. Finding
the right balance can lessen the burden of unwanted side effects and contribute
to a better quality of life.
Ask these questions:
Do any of my medicines (including over the counter or herbal medicines)
cause anticholinergic side effects?
Will I be taking my medicines for the long term or short term?
Are there non-medicine options available?
Should I continue all my current medicines?
Should I replace, reduce or stop any of my medicines?
Could any of my medicines be contributing to unwanted symptoms?
Talk to your doctor before starting, changing or stopping a medicine, including
complementary or herbal medicines.
Story Writing & Art Competition
The Story Writing and Art Competition (SWAC) is an annual art/painting, craft,
photography, story writing and poetry event run specifically for members of
Victoria’s ex-service community. SWAC is a joint initiative of Victorian ex-service
organisations, DVA and the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital. Over the years
eligibility has been extended to include current serving members of the defence
forces. This also includes the children and grandchildren of these members who
are aged 18 and over.
The competition began in 1962 at the Heidelberg Repatriation General Hospital
as therapy for returned soldiers. It continues to enhance participants’ health and
wellbeing by providing the opportunity to develop new skills, interests and social
support.
SWAC provides entrants with an opportunity to have their works publicly
acknowledged and, where appropriate, recorded for posterity. Stories submitted
under the “True Wartime Experience” category are retained in the private
records collection of the Australian War Memorial. A book is also produced to
commemorate the works of the winning entrants. A special writing category for
2015 will celebrate “Centenary of Anzac – 100 Years of Service”.
The categories for the competition include short story writing, art, craft (including
3 dimensional art & sculpture) and photography. Entries are encouraged from
novice through to advanced levels of work. Entry in to the Story Writing & Art
Competition is free. Entries open on 1 April and close on 31 July 2015. Visual art
is displayed at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in September. More
information regarding categories and eligibility can be found at the Department
of Veterans' Affairs website http://www.dva.gov.au/health-and-wellbeing/healthevents/story-writing-and-art-competition-swac Alternatively you can contact the
coordinator on 9496 2290 or via email: swac@austin.org You can also keep in
touch by following the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SWACComp
Although SWAC is a Victorian competition, we thought its inclusion in the
magazine might inspire other state and territory ex-service organisations to
develop similar creative competitions.
2014 winners include:
1st Prize Advanced Art – Kelly Manning’s “Tony Briggs”
1st Prize Portrait Photography – Gordon Traill “Ricky”
Novice Encouragement Award – Peter Ben “Wild Sea”
1st Prize 3D Art & Sculpture – Scott Turnbull “Parrot Family”
The Eternal Spring and the Triumph of the Heart
Hope may spring eternal in the human breast but a heart-felt letter to the editor
in the July 2014 issue asked about hope for those of us who are getting old
enough to contemplate our eventual spring into eternity.
It cannot be hope that we will not die – even the sun will do that. It may be hope
for how we will live until then, or for who may survive us, or that we will have left
them something of value. These hopes can be shared by those of any or no
belief.
They can be shared by those who believe in, or hope for, an after-life in some
form. These beliefs are comforting to those who hold them, and make sense to
them of the cycle of generations in which we all take our place. They can be
disturbing as well. It is as difficult to imagine continuing in a very different form,
or coming back with no recollection of your present life, as it is to imagine having
no further existence at all.
Science may seem not to offer much help on spiritual issues. But the outer
reaches of scientific thinking even from early in the last century are full of
paradox, mystery, doubt and a sheer sense of awe. Some scientists don’t
accept what they think religion is, but may have what others think it is.
The letter-writer also quoted a view that you can do without love, but not hope. I
wonder. What clue have other people left us, as an example of hope, or
enduring love, in the face of the prospect of death?
A short time ago I was at a concert called Triumph of the Heart. It was of music
composed by people who were in concentration or death camps in World War II,
or in hiding from them. Few survived. In some camps musicians continued
working. It was the only way they knew to respond.
Their works were not grim or despairing but defiantly vibrant with life and joy. As
Victor Ullman wrote at Theresienstadt “By no means did we sit weeping on the
banks of the waters of Babylon.” He died in Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1944.
In 1945 song-writer Ilse Weber also in Theresienstadt had been working with
and composing songs for the sick children, who were eventually sent to the gas
chamber. She went in with them voluntarily, and was heard singing to them her
lullaby ‘Wiegala’.
This was the last song in the concert. When it ended, no-one in the auditorium
moved or made any sound for minutes. There was no way to express what we
felt, and no-one could be the first to leave. Eventually the concert organiser had
to get up and announce the end to break the spell.
Otherwise ordinary people had left behind to we who came after them, with no
reason to hope it would ever reach us, their own response to unimaginable grief
and adversity, and to the nearness of death well before its time. Perhaps this
was love outlasting even hope.
Chris Clarke, DVA
Veterans' Health Week (VHW) – Mental Wellness theme for 2015
This year’s Veterans’ Health Week will be held from Saturday 10 to Sunday 18
October.
What is VHW?
VHW is a national public health event that gives you the opportunity to connect
with the wider community and promote healthy lifestyle options.
DVA’s Veterans’ Access Network (VAN) offices partner with ex-service
organisations (ESOs) and community groups to deliver a program of fun and
interactive VHW activities at a local level.
Thanks to these community partnerships last year more than 160 health
promoting activities were run throughout Australia during VHW, hopefully 2015
will be just as successful.
New resources for Mental Wellness
VHW celebrates the ongoing efforts being made to improve the health and
wellbeing of the veteran and ex-service community.
Recent efforts to enhance mental wellness have included the development and
release of new online resources for veterans and their treating practitioners,
including:
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a mobile-enhanced version of the At Ease website
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High Res app - mobile phone app to help serving and ex-serving Australian
Defence Force personnel manage stress and build their psychological
resilience
a tablet app for clinicians, the Veteran Mental Health Consultation
Companion,
two online learning programs for clinicians: Working with Veterans with
Mental Health Problems, Case Formulation & Treatment Planning.
a social media campaign using Facebook to focus attention on veteran
mental health, based on the book Beyond the Call.
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The following resources will be available later in the year:
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a re-developed version of The Right Mix: Your Health & Alcohol (TRM)
website,
a LifeSMART website – to help develop resilience and manage day to day
stressors
an online training program for mental health professionals, focussing on
PTSD Psychological Interventions.
The Four Year Rotational VHW Themes
DVA recognises that health begins where we live, work, learn and play. Each
year VHW focuses on one of four interrelated health themes. VHW
acknowledges that the availability of quality healthcare and addressing the
social factors that affect health are important for everyone.
Each year VHW looks for ways to promote health, happiness and a sense of
belonging in the veteran and wider community through these four promotional
themes of Physical Activity, Nutrition, Mental Wellness and Social Connection.
For more information about VHW phone your nearest VAN office on 133 254 or,
for Regional Callers, 1800 555 254, e-mail vhw@dva.gov.au or visit the website
at:
http://www.dva.gov.au/health-and-wellbeing/health-events/veterans-health-week
Spiders’ webs and bookworms
Books
Blood sugar: Inspiring recipes for anyone facing the challenge of diabetes
and maintaining good health / Michael Moore
Michael Moore, a top chef living with diabetes, suffered a major stroke while out
to dinner. This event changed his outlook on life and food forever. Being a
diabetic doesn’t mean you are stuck with mediocre food. Michael has created
inspiring recipes that will keep your blood sugar under control and will balance
the ingredients to help you maintain good health.
New Holland Publishers, 2014. RRP $24.95
What would you do if you knew you could not fail? : How to transform fear
into courage / Nina Lesowitz and Mary Beth Sammons
The authors of this book present inspiring true stories of ordinary people with
extraordinary fortitude. Read the inspirational stories of people who embrace the
life lessons of a crisis, learn to face their fears and develop effective methods to
build confidence and courage. The authors have included stories of those who
have served in current conflicts.
Cleis Press, 2013. RRP $19.99 eBook $9.67
Inspiring stories
Anzac sons: the story of five brothers in the war to end all wars / Allison
Marlow Paterson.
Anzac Sons is composed from a collection of over five hundred letters and
postcards written by the brothers who served. From the training grounds of
Victoria, Egypt and England, to the Western Front battlefields - Pozieres,
Bullecourt, Messines, Menin Road, Passchendaele, Villers-Bretonneux and the
village battles of 1918 – this compelling true story was compiled by the
granddaughter of a surviving brother. She takes us on her journey as she walks
in the footsteps of her ancestors. This is a story of mateship, bravery and
sacrifice; it is a heartbreaking account of a family torn apart by war. It is a pledge
to never forget.
Big Sky Publishing, 2014. RRP $29.95 eBook $10.70
Exit wounds: one Australian's war on terror / John Cantwell with Greg
Bearup
A deeply personal fast paced and insightful account of Cantwell's life in the
Australian Army. He commanded at the very highest levels and fought on the
front line in both Gulf Wars and as recently as 2010 where he was the General
in charge of Australian forces in Afghanistan. Melbourne University Press, 2012.
RRP $19.95 eBook $15.25
In great spirits: the WWI diary of Archie Barwick / Archie Barwick.
Archie Albert Barwick was an enthusiastic young 24-year-old when he joined the
First AIF in late August 1914 - his service number was 914. When he learnt that
he'd been accepted into the army, he was so happy he turned two somersaults
for pure joy. This is his diary, which he kept throughout the war - from Cairo to
Gallipoli, from Marseilles through to the terrible winter of 1916 in the Somme,
from Ypres to Pozieres. He was wounded three times and sent back to the
fighting, before finally travelling back home in December 1918. This diary is
simply a treasure - vivid, alive, and compelling.
HarperCollins Publishers, 2013. RRP $29.95 eBook $11.99
Lost boys of Anzac / Peter Stanley
Peter Stanley goes looking for the lost boys of Anzac: the men of the very first
wave to land at dawn on 25 April 1915 and who died on that day. There were
exactly 101 of them: the first to volunteer, the first to go into action, and the first
of the 60,000 Australians killed in that conflict. "Lost Boys of Anzac" traces who
these men were, where they came from, and why they came to volunteer for the
AIF in 1914. It follows what happened to them in uniform and, using sources
overlooked for nearly a century, uncovers where and how they died, on the
ridges and gullies of Gallipoli--where most of them remain to this day.
NewSouth Publishing, 2014. RRP $34.95 eBook $16.99
Walking wounded: the inspirational story of how the Kokoda Track is
helping our wounded soldiers / Brian Freeman with Tony Park.
Brian Freeman had a belief that walking the track could have a special benefit
for wounded Australian servicemen and the families of those killed in
Afghanistan or Iraq. In 2012, he proved his theory right by organising two treks
that produced some extraordinary results for those who took part - from the
former commando who lost both legs in Afghanistan to the father who lost his
son there. Walking Wounded is the inspiring accounts of the men and women on
those treks - how walking in the footsteps of those who fought on the track has
helped them piece their lives back together. It's also a deep insight into their
service, the actions that saw them wounded and the slow process of recovery
and rehabilitation that rarely features in our news stories. Written with
compassion and true empathy, Walking Wounded is as important as it is
moving, and paves the way for the treks with veterans and their families to
continue.
Pan Macmillan Australia, 2013. RRP 29.95 eBook $17.25
Websites
Creative ways to lower your cholesterol / Healthdirect Australia
Follow these simple yet creative ways to lower your cholesterol.
http://www.healthdirect.gov.au/how-to-lower-cholesterol
Music
Spirit of the Anzacs / Lee Kernaghan and special guests
In honour of the 100th Anniversary of the ANZAC’s landing at Gallipoli musician,
Lee Kernaghan, teams up with a host of local artists to bring you ‘Spirit of the
Anzacs’. Lee was granted unique access to the Australian War Memorial
archive, and the ‘Spirit of the Anzacs’ is inspired by the letters of diggers to their
loved ones from WWI thru to the present day. The limited deluxe edition features
20 tracks plus special packaging (64 page booklet) that includes many of the
letters, stories and images behind the songs.
Due for release mid March 2015
Today I will – Creative visualisations to make your life calm / Carmen
Warrington
A little determination is all it takes to create some much-needed space in your
day. Relax and refresh your mind with these wonderful creative meditations.
Allow the soothing voice and gorgeous music soundscapes to capture your
imagination and lead you on a gentle journey back to calmness.
RRP $22.99
Jo Wagner
DVA Librarian
Health Technology
Headspace (free, Apple & Android with in-app purchases available):
Here’s a cool app that will help you create a better you through meditation and
mindfulness techniques. It has received rave reviews: the New York Times said
it is ‘doing for meditation what Jamie Oliver has done for food’. Big praise
indeed! The app will allow you to learn the basics of 10 types of meditation in 10
minute timeslots, with reminders to keep you on track and the ability to invite
friends to share your successes. Some sessions can be downloaded for use
offline if this suits you better. With Headspace, you will be inspired to use
meditation to begin a new chapter in your life.
My QuitBuddy (free, Apple & Android):
This clever app from the Australian Government is both creative and
inspirational, and will become an essential part of your efforts to quit smoking. It
has a huge number of features that allow you to customise the app to your own
situation: you can use the ‘Quit Now’ ‘Continue Quitting’ or ‘Quit Later’ option; it
tells you about danger times; you can view your daily progress (and the amount
of money you’ve saved); you can set up a personalised slideshow to remind you
why you’re quitting and to keep you motivated; alerts can be set to keep you on
track; and you can read messages from others, as well as nominate friends or
family who can assist when needed. The My Quitbuddy app is a great example
of technology being employed in the battle for better health outcomes. Be
inspired and download it today!
505 Motivational Quotes (free, Apple & Android):
Quite often it’s the most simple of things that can motivate and inspire us. As the
name suggests, this contains 505 motivational quotes in eight categories
(Happiness, Life, Inspirational, Leadership, Personal Growth, Success, Wisdom)
that you can view on a random basis or in any of the above categories. As John
Muir (the famous American, thinker, author and conservationist) stated, ‘The
power of imagination makes us infinite.’ With inspiration like that, there’s no
holding you back now!
Google Translate (free, Apple & Android):
For those who are inspired to travel, or simply those who want to understand a
foreign language, Google Translate reflects how the world is shrinking but at the
same time allowing the individual to expand their knowledge. Is your Latvian
lacking, your Welsh wanting, or are you timid with your Thai? Well, fear no more
since the app can translate 90 (yes, 90!) languages with your voice, handwriting,
camera or keyboard. The latest version allows translation of signs in eight
languages through pictures taken with your camera without an internet
connection. If that is not enough, in camera mode you can snap a photo,
highlight the text, and get a translation in 36 languages. Plus, with automatic
language detection in the speech/conversation mode, the app will instantly
recognise the two languages being spoken for a quicker conversation. So, there
are no more excuses not to expand your horizons.
John Hall, DVA
Keeping your mind active
Challenging your brain with puzzles and games can keep your brain active and
improve its physiological functioning.
Word Change
Can you morph one word into another by just changing one letter at a time?
find
stare
bear
bead
smile
door
chili
belt
must
stall
Hink Pinks
Hink Pinks are fun rhyming word riddles. The answer to the riddle is a pair of
words that rhyme with each other. For example: Large Feline would be Fat Cat
1. Final explosion
6. Nightlike playground
2. Fresh adhesive
7. Girl friend
3. Fuzzy fruit lecture
8. Following written work
4. Finest bird home
9. Goofy flower
5. Tone down your dishonour
10. Food sale
Source: www.thinkablepuzzles.com
Introducing NSW & ACT MHPE Volunteer Representative John
Macartney
Previously I was the North QLD Volunteer Representative until we moved down
to Old Bar in NSW in 2013. I joined in with the Mid North Coast MHPE
volunteers and became their Regional Representative after Recall Day last year.
Since coming to Old Bar, I’ve joined the local men’s shed and have been the
Secretary for the last year. The men’s shed is very proactive in the community
and also in men’s health. Last Fathers’ Day all the men’s sheds in the Myall
Lakes Electorate did a fund raiser for the Forster Prostate Cancer Support
Group and raised $8,500. Lyn Mooney and I set up a MHPE stand and handed
out 150 MHPE bags. This will become an annual event.
In partnership with others such as Chamber of Commerce, Rural Health and the
local school, our men’s shed has projects in the pipeline, such as a community
garden and kitchen with the goal of improving the community’s health and well
being.
About a quarter of the shed members have a service background but don’t
belong to any ESO, so I believe the challenge is to provide support to other exservice personnel hidden away.
Introducing NT MHPE Volunteer Representative, Ron Blanchard,
I was called up for National Service in April 1970 after a two year deferment to
complete an Electrical Apprenticeship. I spent a few weeks at Puckapunyal
before transferring to Scheyville Officer Training Unit, until the Army realised I
was not officer material. Some months were spent drifting down the east coast
while the Army decided what to do with me. I eventually arrived back at
Puckapunyal Area Workshops as a “Fitter Electronics Systems” working on
Centurion tank gunnery control systems. I then went to Mob Siding in Seymour
to maintain the vehicle fleet. Canungra was the next posting in preparation for
Vietnam, but one week into the three week course the war was called off.
I discharged in December 1971 and married shortly after. I joined the
Department of Civil Aviation in 1972 and commenced a five year Electronic
Certificate course. This job took us to Tennant Creek in 1977 where my second
daughter was born and in 1980 we moved to the big smoke of Darwin. I retired
in 2003 from the now named Airservices Australia. I completed many courses
during my working life; those still relevant are Certificate IV in Workplace
Training and Assessment and a Certificate in Business Management.
I was involved in setting up the National Servicemen’s Association of Australia
(NSAA) Northern Territory and have been on the executive ever since the
inaugural meeting in July 2005. It was through NSAA NT that I was invited to
join the DVA MHPE volunteers. The MHPE NT group is very active and I am
looking forward to being involved as the state representative.
I am also involved with the Motor Vehicle Enthusiasts Club as an active
committee person. In what spare time I have leftover, I maintain a 1928 ‘A’
Model Ford roadster and am attempting to restore a 1910 Italian sports car
called a “SCAT”. These projects are carried out at the “1934 Qantas Hangar” (a
huge men’s shed) and I would recommend anyone visiting Darwin to find the
time to peruse the collection of old cars, stationary engines and memorabilia.
MHPE volunteers – What do they do?
MHPE volunteers share health information. For example, giving a talk on a
health issue at a local community group or ex-service organisation meeting;
setting up or working with ‘Men’s Sheds’, running a stand at a community expo;
or by having a one-on-one chat.
To talk to a volunteer, please contact the relevant MHPE State/Territory
Volunteer Representative below:
Name
State/Territory
Phone number
Email address
Sean O’Mara
OAM
North
Queensland
(07) 4952 4960 sean.betty@bigpond.com
or 0427 524 960
Ian Dainer
South
Queensland
(07) 5467 3393
or
kangoona@bigpond.com
0438 729 040
Alan White
Metro Victoria
(03) 9598 1007
or
askypilot@bigpond.com
0407 617 800
Gary Treeve
Regional
Victoria
(02) 6059 2765 mtreeve1@bigpond.com
or 0407 480 201
Ron Blanchard
Northern
Territory
08 8927 5638 or aileron@bigpond.com
0476 145 303
Kathleen
Behrendt
South Australia
(08) 8837 7287 kbehrendt63@gmail.com
or 0428 377 287
Laurie Harrison
Tasmania
(03) 6263 7038
trout.2@bigpond.com
or 0428 626
370
David Francis
New South
Wales & ACT
02 6665 1342 or davidfrancis61@gmail.com
0428 000 674
John Macartney
New South
Wales & ACT
(02) 6657 4165 jrmaca@bigpond.com
or 0427 787 296
Malcolm ‘Tiny’
Small
Western
Australia
(08) 9337 6773 tinys@westnet.com.au
or 0408 935 687
Keeping your mind active - answers
Word Change
Find
Stare
Bear
Chili
Belt
Bind
Stale
Boar
Chill
Best
Bend
Stile
Boor
Shill
Bust
bead
Smile
Door
Still
Must
Stall
Hink Pinks
1. Last Blast
6. Dark Park
2. New Glue
7. Gal Pal
3. Peach Speech
8. Next Text
4. Best Next
9. Silly Lily
5. Tame Shame
10. Meal Deal
MHPE National round-up
MHPE NSW and ACT
Pit Stop makes in-roads into NSW.
Over the past year we have gained some traction in introducing Pit Stop in NSW
and ACT through our recall training in Lismore; Parramatta; South Coast;
Sydney and ACT; and Newcastle in 2013. The response to Pit Stop has been
amazing as both an overall health check reminder for volunteers as they go
through the stations; and a source of inspiration for groups looking to do
something beyond the usual expo and info stand. In Newcastle/ Hunter area the
MHPE volunteers used Pit Stop to rev up their Veterans’ Health Week event, the
All Things Military Expo held in Singleton Army and Infantry Museum. The event
featured free entry to the museum and 26 stalls including representatives from
VVCS, Defence Care, local health providers, ex-service organisations and
cooking for one or two. Next year Coffs Harbour MHPE volunteers are looking
to approach organisers NSW RSL State Congress in 2015 to run a Pit Stop for
attendees at congress.
MHPE goes to Market
Another area where MHPE volunteers in NSW have been pedalling their wares
is the Coffs Harbour region. Volunteers Bob Crisp and Graeme Franklin are
regularly found in Nambucca and Wally Sweet in Macksville markets, and Wally
and Mark Brazel occasionally at Eungai Market. There has been an initial stall
at Bellingen Markets and plans to set up at Urunga! Response from the locals
has been very positive, and I suspect many men are glad for an excuse to be
diverted from the weekly shopping! Coffs Harbour volunteers also attended an
innovative and successful ‘Living Well Expo’ at Coffs Harbour Ex-Services Club
in August. These expos are held each year and a great way of distributing
MHPE magazines and sharing tips for healthy lifestyles.
John Macartney, Father’s Day and the Prostate Cancer Support
Group.
John Macartney, the best MHPE export from Queensland for a while, hasn’t
wasted any time in settling into his new environment down south either. John
has formed a partnership with the Old Bar Men’s Shed and with help from fellow
volunteer Lyn Mooney, operated a stand at a Father’s Day Display at Tuncurry.
The Father’s Day event was arranged by their local State Member Stephen
Bromhead MP who invited all of the men’s sheds in his electorate to participate
in this event as a fundraiser for the local Prostate Cancer Support Group. The
Men’s sheds stands had a chance to display and sell their wares and a project
from each shed was auctioned off. What a great way to showcase original hand
made items, get men’s attention, fundraise for a good cause and sneak in a bit
of health and wellbeing information at the same time.
MHPE VIC
To celebrate Veterans’ Health Week, a free family friendly event, named ‘Border
Pass’ was held for the first time at Sumsion Gardens in Wodonga.
The event was led by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) in partnership
with many Ex-Service organisations and supported by Defence Health and other
local businesses.
The aim was to engage contemporary clients including current serving
personnel, veterans and the local community and this outcome was successfully
achieved. ‘Border Pass’ was a course designed to move teams across the
state borders, highlighting both Wodonga’s and Albury’s significant military sites
and public spaces.
Gary Treeve, MHPE VIC Regional Volunteer Representative assisted in all
aspects of the event. Gary’s commitment, motivation, enthusiasm, great
organisational skills, local knowledge and contacts made this event seamless for
DVA. Gary worked tirelessly for months prior to the event. The VIC team
appreciates and acknowledges the wonderful
contribution Gary has made to Veterans’ Health Week.
Men’s Health Week: 15-21 June 2015
Explores MoMENTs in Time, the idea that all those little and not-so-little
moments in life can add up to make a huge difference…
Men's Health Week is a great way to encourage men, women and kids to
interact with the health and wellbeing of the males in their lives!
The aim of the week is to improve the mental, physical and social health of boys
and men in Australia, and this means working locally alongside of them, and
understanding how their health is shaped by the various aspects of their lives.
And we probably all agree that celebrating many small successes in our lives is
a great way to achieve better health and wellbeing – it empowers us to take
those small or large steps to make today a better day.
Men’s Health Week gives local communities, local families and local people an
opportunity to run events that interest boys and blokes.
It means thinking about what issues impact on the health of boys and blokes in
your community - and doing something that you think would help.
And for over a decade, this idea has shown itself to be a great way to start
having those conversations about what it means to be healthy in the
different areas of our lives.
Visit the Men’s Health Week website and you’ll find information on:
 Getting Involved
 Inspiring ideas event kit
 Resources
http://www.menshealthweek.org.au
Back page information
Produced by:
Editor
National Coordinator, Men’s Health Peer Education
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Available for download at:
http://www.dva.gov.au/mhpe.htm
Feedback, Articles and Ideas:
Email the editor: menshealth@dva.gov.au
Mail your letter to:
Editor
Men’s Health Peer Education magazine
c/- Department of Veterans’ Affairs
GPO Box 9998
Sydney NSW 2001
Would you like to order more copies of the magazine? It’s easy!
Download an order form from our website or email the Editor.
The Men’s Health Peer Education (MHPE) programme aims to raise the
veteran community’s awareness of men’s health issues and encourages men to
manage their own health and wellbeing. The programme trains volunteers from
all age groups to provide health information to members of the veteran
community.
MHPE volunteers share this information via many channels, for example, giving
a talk on a health issue at a local community group, holding a stand at a
community expo or speaking person-to-person with a veteran, such as a friend
at a barbeque. The MHPE programme is open to any member, male or female,
of the veteran, ex-service, or general community, who is able to volunteer their
time and has a genuine interest in helping veterans to learn about healthy
lifestyle choices.
For information about the MHPE programme, visit our website
www.dva.gov.au/mhpe.htm or contact the relevant DVA MHPE Coordinator
below:
Name
Location
Phone
number
Email address
DVA MHPE QLD
Coordinator
Queensland
(07) 5630
0203
MHPEQLD@dva.gov.au
DVA MHPE WA
Coordinator
Western
Australia
(08) 9366
8348
MHPEWA@dva.gov.au
DVA MHPE VIC
Coordinator
Victoria
(03) 9284
6682
MHPEVIC@dva.gov.au
DVA MHPE NT
Coordinator
Northern
Territory
(08) 8935
1415
MHPENT@dva.gov.au
DVA MHPE SA
Coordinator
South
Australia
(08) 8290
0375
MHPESA@dva.gov.au
DVA MHPE TAS
Coordinator
Tasmania
(03) 6221
6711
MHPETAS@dva.gov.au
DVA MHPE NSW
& ACT Coordinator
NSW & ACT
(02) 9213
7661
MHPENSW@dva.gov.au
Tear-out: Inspirational ideas for increasing your creativity
Day Clubs programme
Day Clubs provide opportunities for the aged, the isolated, people with
disabilities, carers and volunteers, to develop and maintain social contact
outside the home through activities such as games, sports, fitness, information
sessions and arts and crafts.
The Day Clubs program is run nationally and is administered and operated by
DVA and ex-service organisations. Each club tailors its activities to the interests
and skills of the clubs’ members.
For further information contact the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Ph: 133254
or from regional Australia 1800 555 254
http://www.dva.gov.au/health-and-wellbeing/day-clubs-programmes
Community Colleges
Many courses delivered by colleges are as much about participation, meeting
new people and trying a new hobby as they are about skill creation. Consider
learning something new this year.
http://www.cca.edu.au/
Volunteering

Volunteering creates opportunities to share skills and knowledge

Volunteering gives you opportunities to try something new – there is a
diverse range of volunteering roles you can choose from.

Volunteering is a great way for people to connect with communities, meet
interesting people, and support causes you are passionate about.
In each state and territory there is a peak volunteering centre as well as a
number of local and regional volunteer resource centres that can help you find a
volunteer role. Additionally, you might like to search for volunteering
opportunities from the GoVolunteer website http://govolunteer.com.au/
Universities of the Third Age
Universities of the Third Age, or U3As, are voluntary, non-profit organisations
which aim to offer older people low-cost educational opportunities. Most of the
groups in Australia are community based. There is a U3A network in each state
and territory. Do an online search to find a U3A in your area. You’re never too
old to learn something new.
Inspirational ideas for increasing your creativity
Right brain exercises
You can stimulate your creativity and imagination and maximize your
productivity through specific right brain focused exercises. There are many free
online courses you can do. Do an online search for right brain exercises and
work your way through the various websites until you find something that suits
you.
Six Thinking Hats by Edward de Bono
The Six Hats method is based on the brain's different modes of thinking. If
you’re interested in how we think and how to think more productively, then put
this book down on your ‘to read’ list. This book is an international best seller and
the methods described can be applied to a wide range of settings. If your want
to run better meetings, make better decisions, and develop creative solutions to
problems, then this book is for you. Online content is also available.
More ideas and helpful tips for becoming creative
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









Join a choir
Learn a musical instrument
Help out at a community garden
Visit a men’s shed and become a shedder
Buy an artist’s pad and start drawing
Attend a community college class
Choose something that you enjoy doing
Try a new recipe that challenges you
Start a journal or keep a diary
Take a dance or movement class
Repair rather than buy something new
Use your smart phone and tablet to take photos
Turn off the TV
Increase your social connections




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Keep physically active
Do a new or different activity
Set aside time each day to be creative
Be realistic and set goals
Limit the self-criticism
Next issue due out in July/August 2015
Theme: Mental Wellness: Veterans’ Health Week issue.
Deadline for articles is the 22 May 2015
If you’d like to share your story with our readers or have an idea for an article,
we’d like to hear from you. You can email the Editor at menshealth@dva.gov.au
or call 1800 555 254 (regional) or 133 254 (metro) and ask for the MHPE
National Coordinator.