Know Your Neighbours at
OAK TREE
As the saying goes - “you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your neighbours”
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t Oak Tree Retirement Villages residents can be confident in knowing that their neighbours are of a similar age and hold similar interests in their senior years.
In such a changing environment, Oak Tree’s
The prospect of knowing your neighbours and the Village Management team offers certainty and security to hundreds of Oak Tree residents aged 65 to 85+ years.
Residents benefit from the stability of support
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“Many of our residents previously lived in their family homes for 30, 40 or 50 years and their neighbourhoods may have changed often over time,” says Managing Director Mr Mark Bindon. “Suddenly they can find themselves living in a foreign environment where life is less familiar. New neighbours can move in, family and friends will relocate and the cost of living continues to rise. They can be left with a sense of isolation and uncertainty about what the future holds.
promise of a seniors’ community which is governed by legislation, protects the residents’ best interests and offers greater peace of mind. and friendship needed at their stage of life” he said. Under State legislation, an Oak Tree Village is home to those over the age of 55 which protects the integrity of the Village as a Retirement community. “This means that our residents can relax in the knowledge that the peace, tranquillity and secure lifestyle that they buy into is going to remain relatively unchanged. The Village will be managed by friendly staff who will professionally maintain the village for all residents.
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had a friend who scuba-dived most weekends and he kept telling me how amazing it was to be under water. He dived at every opportunity and he also loved sharing his photos. I kept thinking I was too old, too unfit and not nearly brave enough. Then in June 2017 I went to Bali for a three-week holiday and my partner, Russell, and I decided we should try and get our open water certification. We had nothing to lose by trying and I was looking for a hobby that wasn’t just eating and drinking red wine! Just before my 51st birthday, I completed my PA01 open water certification and was immediately hooked. My fears of being too old, too unfit or feeling claustrophobic under water were unfounded.
The First Certification
Russell and I both completed the first level of scuba diving certification with Prodlive Bali at Tulamben. To become an open water certified scuba diver you have to learn theory, master practical exercises in a swimming pool and pass a basic fitness test. Certification generally takes three days with the first day learning how to assemble your scuba gear and practising in a pool. This is dive one and it is followed by four ocean dives and another two days where skills learned in the pool are repeated and skills like buoyancy control are practised. At the end of day three there is a written assessment which covers all theory and practical exercises. The fitness test is just treading water for five minutes and swimming 200 metres. You are then a certified open water diver and permitted to dive with a buddy to 18 metres.
MORE CERTIFICATION FOR MORE FUN
In the past 14 months, I’ve gone on to complete my advanced open water certification, wreck certificate and nitrox certification. This means I am now permitted to dive recreationally to 30 metres on enriched air. By completing my wreck certification, I can also dive inside wrecks.
T ravel
I’ve dived numerous times on the Great Barrier Reef up to Lizard Island and out to Osprey Reef (halfway between Cairns and Port Moresby) and Bougainville Reef as well as reefs closer to Cairns. Locally, I’ve dived the HMAS Brisbane near Mooloolaba often, Wolf Rock near Rainbow Beach and Julian Rocks at Byron Bay (these last two are home to grey nurse sharks). I’ve also dived around the Maldives; Gili Islands, Lombok and Lembeh Strait in Indonesia; Tubbataha Reef in the Philippines; Mabul and Sipadan Islands in Malaysia; the Red Sea in Egypt, Nusa Penida and Tulamben in Bali.
Underwater images captured by Debbie Wuoti. PHOTOS: DEBBIE WUOTI
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and understand that sharks are not something we should be afraid of. As a population we kill 100 million sharks per year. I’ve swum with tiger sharks, reef sharks, oceanic sharks and it’s a privilege to be able to see them.
MOST THRILLING EXPERIENCE
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT IT?
I love the feeling of freedom and peace when you dive. When you are in the deep blue with nothing but ocean around and sometimes the ocean floor is 800m below, it feels like you are floating in space. Every dive is different. You never know what you will see from the tiniest nudibranch to 12m long whale sharks. You can drift along coral walls covered in delicate sea fans, and colourful soft and hard corals that are hundreds of years old. Or you can float along a sandy bottom, watching hundreds of garden eels. When you are in the ocean, you notice the myriad of life everywhere and how it exceeds what you see on land. Giant groupers will let me come within 50cm of them. I can’t do that on land with the neighbour’s cat let alone a wild animal! Diving lets you see the beauty and power of sharks
My most exciting dive was at the Tubbataha Reef in the Philippines in April 2018. We saw spectacular and massive whale sharks swim past us on half a dozen occasions. Then one decided to turn around and investigate us. It swam over, under and around us for 30 minutes. I just wanted to scream I was so excited! There were times that this massive creature would swim directly at me and I had to duck out of its way so it didn’t run into me. This happened three times during that week of diving. Another highlight was diving the SS Thistlegorm, a merchant ship sunk in Egypt’s Red Sea in 1941 at the beginning of World War II. It still holds Bedford trucks, jeeps, cars, tanks, a steam train and carriages, plus gumboots and rifles. It’s like walking back in time to see these relics in their resting place under water.
NOT NEED TO FEAR
I have no fears when I dive. I am confident in the training I’ve received along with that of fellow certified divers. You always dive in buddy pairs to minimise risk. Diving has given me a huge boost of enjoyment in life and a reason to stay fit, healthy and active. There are scuba divers in their 70s and 80s and I intend to be one of them. Scuba diving has opened up a whole new world of adventure, experiences and friends from around the world. There is always a new dive buddy just waiting to be found.
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Alongside reflecting a strong sense of place in each product, Nicki enjoyed what was her final opportunity for artistic collaboration with Ann. Theirs was a partnership drawn very much on each other's artistic strengths, a special friendship and a love of Australiana. ❖ For further information regarding rehoming Dulcie’s frock collection, contact Ann Alcock at ann_alcock@outlook.com ❖ To purchase the final pieces of ‘Place Art & Design’ homewares, visit www.placeartdesign.com.au ❖ To support Ocular Melanoma Research, visit the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute website www.qimrberghofer.edu.au
ABOVE: Place Art & Design homewares LEFT: Nicki shared a special friendship with Dulcie Mason, who's frocks were the tenant of Frocks, Halls & Deb Balls PHOTOS: BEV LACEY
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Anna describes the inspirations for her art: “When I create prints, I love using our native plants to illustrate the intricate unfolding of buds to blossoms to pods to seed dispersal. I also enjoy the colours and forms of tropical flowers such as heliconias and birds of paradise.
POWER OF PASSION
“With the tropical fruits, I want to show their simplicity and complexity all at once. They take on a surreal quality, as though floating in space. I observe the details close up and then capture the essence of the fruit, rather than being botanically precise.”
BANKSIA, EUCALYPTUS, BIRD OF PARADISE
“At home, I am inspired by my water garden and vegie patch. The water lilies and lotus flowers are exquisite, and the woody lotus pods with their studded seed chambers are incredible.”
DRAGONFRUIT, FIG OR PASSIONFRUIT
For a few years, Anna lived in Darwin where she felt a deep spiritual connection with the landscape which, again, was reflected in her artwork. The annual fuelreduction bush fires, a paradox between destruction and regeneration, are portrayed in her print called Adaptation – Wildfire. “I love the contrasts and textures and the way the border of eucalyptus, banksia and pandanus pods are lit up by the glow of the bush fire. It’s one of my favourites.”
ADAPTION-WILDFIRE
EMERGING (LOTUS FLOWERS & WATERLILIES)
“My linoprint called Power of Passion was inspired by the striking and intricate passionfruit flower, its fruit, and the beauty of Middle Eastern art. The centre is a point of meditation radiating out with passionfruit halves and full hanging fruit.”
Magic from linum (flax) oleum (oil) The foundation for linoprinting is artists’ linoleum made from linseed (flax) oil and similar to linoleum used in flooring but softer for easier cutting. Anna explains her process: “I sketch ideas on paper and then draw my design on a single piece of lino with a permanent marker. Next, I carve away sections of lino leaving the raised design that I ink with a roller and then press to paper. This is the first layer of the image. “I continue carving, inking and printing different colours and details, layer upon layer, between 10 and 20 times until the final print reveals itself. And that’s why I love printmaking — there’s an element of magic to it.”
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Christine’s beautiful paintings are filled with musical energy. .....................................................................
WORDS by Jessica Kramer
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IMAGES Christine Cooper and Jessica Kramer
here are some people we meet that change our lives forever. Based on the Gold Coast, artist Christine Cooper is one of those people. As I write this, the score to the movie Inception is playing softly in the background – a testament to the impact this artist has had on just one creative. Christine has been painting to music all her life, and it shows. The energy and life emitted from her artworks is palpable in the room hosting them for her ninth exhibition at Dbar House in Coolangatta. It was easy to admire the painted nature scenes and creatures in photos online, but it is incomparable to seeing the real thing in person. Christine shakes my hand warmly with an easy, genuine smile before giving me time to take the artworks in. While abstract art is not usually attractive to me, I am immediately drawn to a piece in blues, greens and rich browns, called Inception.
Noticing my interest, Christine tells me she painted this piece to the score by Hans Zimmer for the movie of the same title. As the music plays, my eye is drawn to different aspects of the painting. When Christine plays the classical piece Labyrinth, I notice depth, shapes and paths I didn’t before in her painting of the same name. We move over to Dry Gully and I can almost hear the painted trees growing as Christine plays another track, The Trees. “It has to talk to you emotionally – like your writing has to talk to people, my paintings have to talk to people,” Christine explains. “I’m not a great believer in decor being an important part of a painting. “If someone said to me ‘Chris, paint to these colours’, there’s no way in the world I could paint to the colours that they’re prescribing because of the emotional content.” This year, Christine has been listening and painting to
“Every painting has an owner, they just need to find each other.” – CHRISTINE COOPER
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A MESSAGE FROM ITA
ABOUT POO
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When Ita Buttrose speaks the Australian population listens. This time, she’s talking about poo and her message could save your life. ..............................................................................................
WORDS by Ally Martell
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PICTURES supplied by the Jodi Lee Foundation
ta Buttrose AO OBE is a much-loved and deeply respected Australian journalist, businesswoman, television presenter and author. She is also the patron of the Jodi Lee Foundation for Bowel Cancer. Her reason for throwing her support behind the cause is personal. She lost a brother and a close female friend to bowel cancer and now she is on a mission to convince all Australians that the subject of their bowel movements shouldn’t be avoided. “Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in Australia, after lung cancer,” she said. “It is the second most common cancer after prostate cancer for men and breast cancer for women. “However, when detected early, up to 90 per cent
of bowel cancers can be successfully treated. So why is it that every two hours, bowel cancer claims a life – around 80 people every week? It’s such a terrible waste of life and it doesn’t need to be like this.”
FACTS ABOUT BOWEL CANCER
❖ It affects all age groups ❖ The best prevention is being healthy and active ❖ It might be in your family history ❖ You need to act fast on symptoms ❖ If you’re over 50, take a screening test - it’s free ❖ Remember, Australia has the highest rate of bowel cancer in the world. If detected early, 90 per cent of those diagnosed with bowel cancer will survive.
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Mackay’s
ART DECO SKYLINE .......................................................
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From Manhattan to Mackay, Art Deco architecture is distinctive — rounded corners, stepped facades, ornamental motifs and ocean liner stripes. .......................................................
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WORDS BY Avril Priem IMAGES by Pat Nelson and News Regional Media
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ackay has a cluster of handsome Art Deco buildings. We meandered downtown with local historian, Berenice Wright, who explained the flourish of Art Deco during the interwar years: “Fires in 1915 and 1916, and the 1918 cyclone destroyed or damaged 80 per cent of the timber buildings. Council decreed that masonry replace timber, so designs changed. William Forgan Smith, Member for Mackay (1915–1942) and Queensland Premier (1932–1942), ensured funding for new construction and the sugar industry, the lifeblood of the town.”
ART DECO VIGNETTES
Berenice’s eloquent historical vignettes provide a glimpse into the heritage of these significant buildings but also remember ordinary folk and life in a bygone era.
QCWA HALL
43 Gordon St Mackay-born architect, Harold Brown, designed this much-loved building. The stucco front and horizontal lines on the parapet are simple Art Deco. Shell motifs above each slit window and the wrought iron curls add a decorative touch.
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SOMETHING WONDERFUL .................................................................................................
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A unique concept, young Paris brought woodmarks to the Queensland bookish scene. .................................................................................................
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WORDS by Jessica Kramer
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aris Arthur is one of the few lucky enough to turn passionate pastime into profitable work. A Gold Coast local, born and bred, Paris has always been interested in drawing and art, but it wasn’t until she was looking for a new, unique bookmark option for her workplace that she stumbled across woodmarks. “I have always loved putting art on to the natural texture of timber,” Paris says. “I originally decided to move into bookmarks when I was at my day job in a Gold Coast indie bookstore. “At the time I was there full-time and researching bookmark suppliers, as the ones we were stocking were the same we had been selling for years, and we wanted something fresh and new.” Paris stumbled across various bookmarks that were carved or laser etched, but she wanted more.
IMAGES Contributed
“I found myself wishing there was a place I could just order some wooden bookmarks with the type of things I like to draw featured on them,” she says. “So I started my woodmark concept with the intent of getting them stocked at my workplace, and it has expanded from there.” It was thanks to this workplace and Paris’s boss believing in her that took Ink & Wonder from vision to reality in 2016. “If not for that first order (from the boss), my business would have taken a lot longer to get rolling!” Paris says. “After a week, the store had already sold enough that we were planning a second order, so I got hopeful and started the process of setting up a business.” She focused mostly on the social media aspect of the business to begin with, only launching the online store
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I was lucky enough to have a boss that believed in me and took on a trial batch of my woodmarks in the bookstore where I work. – PARIS ARTHUR once she had a large amount of engaged followers. And it seems to have paid off, with the social media pages for Ink & Wonder still buzzing and leading many people to discover the brand. These days, Paris keeps a multitude of woodmark designs in stock, but also sells prints, totes and – the newest addition – brooches. “I got into brooches purely because I like them!” Paris explains. “I knew there was an interest for them from my online following and I thought they complemented my art style and other product ranges.” Once designed by Paris, the brooches are created using heavy machinery in a factory. “The pins are cast from a mould that the factory keeps stored for me, to use whenever I order more stock. “The enamels are poured into the metal pins by hand and can feature glitter, heat-activated colour-changing enamels, or glow-in-the-dark.” While glow-in-the-dark is Paris’s personal favourite, she is working on a new design to utilise the colour-changing feature. “Everything I draw is inspired by my favourite literary or
pop culture references. Some are mash-ups of both. “I keep a notebook where I scribble down any ideas I get when I read a particularly meaningful quote or see a memorable scene on screen.” The original woodmarks are made with a slightly different process. “Firstly I consult my list of inspiration-memorable moments in books, movies or television shows that provoke imagery that I would like to draw,” Paris explains. She draws up her design on a tablet using that quote, line, or character that has caused the inspiration. “The designs are then printed on to ethically and sustainably sourced timber that is about the thickness of a credit card and very pliable.” It’s essential for the woodmarks to be so pliable as they are now shipped all over the world, and need to move smoothly through mail-sorting machines. What becomes even more amazing is that Paris runs the entire operation mostly on her own with support from partner Liam. Paris’s designs and products can be found at inkandwonder.com.au or on Instagram with the handle @inkandwonder.designs.
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