SHADES OF GREY

'KNOW YOUR ONIONS'

"To the onion, as to the skunk, nature awarded a supremely effective defence mechanism; a pungent odour that can scare away the toughest of hunters."

"The lachrymators when cooked, turns sweet - fifty times sweeter, in fact, than refined sugar. Because humans crave their sweets, they have braved onion's defences for millennia, making up in taste what they have paid in tears"
(McNamee, 2006)

Onions are an excellent source of many beneficial nutrients including minerals, fibres and vitamins and chemicals including sulphurs and flavonoids.

Red onions top the list of foods and beverages containing Quercetin, ahead of black currants, broccoli, green tea and red wine.

Onions are a staple in the human diet for obvious reasons. In addition to providing flavour to food, onions contain considerable amounts of phytochemicals conferring many benefits to health. Their antioxidant scavenging free radicals are associated with reduced risks of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Allium cepo L. also has antimicrobial, antispasmodic, anti-cholesterolaemic, hypertensive, hypoglycaemic, and anti-asthmatic properties. To this effect, it constitutes one of the major unique sources of polyhenols in the diet and certainly accounts for the beneficial effect of FAV on health.

from chronica Horticultura Vol 48 no 2.
The full report is available online- www.ishs.org/chronica

AUSTRALIAN of the YEAR

a message from the Premier

I am delighted to announce that the Australian of the Year Awards 2009 are now open far nomination. These awards provide us with a unique opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and contributions of those Queenslanders who have made the Smart State and Australia the place we know and love today.

The national recipients are announced by the Prime Minister on the eve of Australia Day.

For more Information visit www.australianoftheyear.gov.au or phone 1300 655 193. I encourage you to support these important awards by nominating a fellow Queenslander.

WEBSITES OF INTEREST

• The new social networking site for anyone over the age of 50 http://www.aboutmyage.com/
• Games to keep the grey matter churning http://u3asample.googlepages.com/home (thanks Kathy Rossini U3A Online)
• U3AOnline has interesting online courses for all Third Agers. Special rates for isolated older people and Australian and NZ U3A members http://www.u3aonline.org.au

Premium high care places available at Baycrest

RSL Care's Baycrest Retirement Community in Hervey Bay features 192 Independent Living Units and following the opening late last year of the new residential care wing, 101 residential care places catering for low, high and dementia care are available.

The new high care wing not only brought new levels of accommodation in high care, but a unit is also devoted to RSL Care Premium extra-services, which is setting new aged care standards in Hervey Bay. RSL Care Premium provides residents more choice in enhanced accommodation, dining and personal services, with the same high quality care for which RSL Care is renowned.

"This state of the art facility offers residents a pleasantly furnished, private, ensuited room in a caring and supportive environment," said Baycrest Retirement Community's Lifestyle Manager, Judy Fisher.

The entertainment facilities, enhanced dining experience and premium accommodation features allow maximum comfort and style for residents, while quality care standards ensure peace of mind.

For more information on the new residential wing, or on RSL Care Premium, please phone Baycrest Retirement Community at Hervey Bay on (07) 4128 8888 or visit www.rslcare.com.au,

(Choices Autumn 2008)

OVEN GUARD

The Lee-Beau Oven Guard can reduce the oven door temperature to a safe 42 degrees C or lower, even when cooking at high temperatures. It is easy to fit as there are no screws or alterations needed, and it comes in a range of colours and sizes. The gueards are Australian made and owned and as a special offer to FDC, when purchased, they will be forwarded freight free.

They can be viewed at www.ovenguard.com.au or phone Sharon on (08)9047 1551.

2008 Women's Health and Wellbeing Expo

"Shape Your Future"
Saturday 2nd August 2008
An interactive women's health experience

The Zonta Club of Maryborough in partnership with Fraser Coast Community Health Services wishes to advise that the above event is being held in Maryborough City Hall on Saturday, 2nd August commencing at 9am.

The event will include two prominent guest speakers,
Prof Rae Weston, Financial Services & Education Consultant and Advocate - Women's Self Advancement Issues,
Josephine Tobias, Founder - Women at Work International,
together with a number of interactive workshops covering Health and Wellbeing, Personal Safety and Legal Health.

For more information, call Community Health on (07) 4122 8733
Tickets $15 including lunch and workshops

Prepaid tickets available until 31 July from
Community Health Maryborough, 167 Neptune Street
Mur-Lyns Fashion Accessories, 405 Kent Street
Community Health Hervey Bay, 34 Torquay Road.

APOLOGY CORRECTION

Sorry for the mistakes in the June Shades of Grey in the Seniors Legal and Support Service. Phone number should read 4124 6863 Taylor Street Legal Service phone number should read 4194 2663

Please note that the Taylor Legal Service will operate from the Maryborough Neighbourhood Centre from August 1st.

DO YOU HAVE TROUBLES!!

Getting to the shops? Standing for a long time? Cooking your meals?

If you answered yes. then MEALS ON WHEELS FRASER COAST can help you Nutritious meals prepared fresh daily, Special diets catered for. No referral necessary, minimum of 3 meals per week, Afternoon delivery also available.

Hot meals Monday to Friday, weekend meals delivered on Fridays. Small meals now available.

Telephone 4121 4297 and speak with Vicki to arrange delivery of your meals.

Peking duck a lifesaver

The ingredient used to colour Peking duck can cut the risk of dying from heart disease by a third and cancer by two-thirds, scientists say. Researchers looking at red yeast rice said the benefits of the Chinese food colouring even seen to outstrip those of statins — the much vaunted cholesterol lowering drugs.