in Melba`s Garden - National Ageing Research Institute

Opera
in Melba’s Garden
at Coombe
AUSTRALIAN Ageing Research FOUNDATION
A message from Associate Professor
Briony Dow, Director of NARI
It seems appropriate that our second Coombe
Cottage lunch in support of the Australian
Ageing Research Foundation is to be held on
International Women’s Day. Dame Nellie Melba
was an extremely famous and influential
Australian woman at a time when it was
unusual for women to have such a prominent
public profile. She was also highly independent,
a firm believer in gender equality, and a daringly
early and staunch public supporter of the
embattled English suffragettes. She was a
wonderful Australian and someone we should
all be proud of.
However, on this International Women’s Day, I
would like to acknowledge all the women who
play an equally important role in society but
rarely or never gain public recognition, carers.
Carers are family members or friends who care
for someone with a disability or who is frail
aged. Most caring falls to women but we
mustn’t forget that 30% of carers are men and,
in older age, men are almost equally likely to be
carers as women, as they often care for their
wives.
Caring is an important and often rewarding role.
It can mean getting closer to a parent in their
older age. There is also the satisfaction of
knowing that they are getting the best care that
they possibly could because it is given by
someone who loves and understands them.
However, caring also takes a toll on the carer’s
health and wellbeing. The stress of caring, the
physical demands and its 24 hour nature takes
its toll on carers’ physical and mental health.
They often don’t have the time or freedom to
exercise or catch up with friends. Working carers
often have to give up work to care and this
affects their financial wellbeing.
At the National Ageing Research Institute, we
are keen to find ways to better support carers,
to improve their physical and mental health and
we are working on various projects with this aim
in mind. For example, our IMPACCT study
involves taking an exercise program to carers at
home, one they can do together with the
person they are caring for, with the aim of
reducing depression and improving the physical
health of both the carer and the person they
care for.
So at our Coombe Cottage lunch, let’s
acknowledge and celebrate the wonderful role
that both men and women carers play in looking
after those who are less fortunate than
themselves and look to a future where their role
is recognised and supported and where they can
enjoy the satisfaction of caring without the
costs.
Briony Dow BSW, MA, PhD
Director of NARI and University of Melbourne
Associate Professor of Ageing
Bringing research to life
Opera in Melba’s Garden
at Coombe
In support of the
Australian Ageing Research Foundation
Presented at Coombe – The Melba Estate Coldstream
on International Women’s Day
Tuesday 8th March 2016
11:30am – 3:00pm
Ticket Price $150 each
Includes three course lunch, operatic performances and garden tour.
Operatic performances courtesy of Opera Australia
Melba Gallery includes Dame Nellie Melba’s personal collection.
Exquisite jewellery, Cartier bags, paintings by Hans Heysen,
Arthur Streeton and Margaret Preston.
RSVP 27th February 2016 • Inquiries Judith Hooper 0406 369 877
Coombe 673-675 Maroondah Highway, Coldstream VIC
www.nari.net.au
The Australian Ageing Research Foundation (The Foundation)
has been established to support the research undertaken by the
National Ageing Research Institute (NARI).
The Foundation is the fundraising arm of NARI and raises funds for research
contributing to the health and wellbeing of older people and reduces the impact of
frailty and chronic disease. Through the Foundation’s supporters, NARI will continue
to provide world class research into ageing.
AARF invites donations from individuals and philanthropists to fund research of
national and international significance. Thank you for your continuing interest in
and support for the work of NARI. For further information about NARI and to make
a donation visit: www.nari.net.au
Cover image supplied by Alan Savage