Style magazine Toowoomba - December 2022

AGAINST

Women in

Ruthven Street, Toowoomba | www.sankeyfraser.com.au

If you’re ready to look at retirement living for your 80s and 90s, you couldn’t have picked a better time.

Happy December and merry Christmas, Stylers! Can you believe it’s virtually the end of the year already?

And what a year it’s been – we’ve featured people of international fame like Kasey Chambers and local personalities such as Suzie Holt, Helen Austin, and Jacqui Walker.

We’ve had editions dedicated to preparing for a wedding, home and renovating, school leaders, Carnival of Flowers, and more.

It’s hard to top the year that’s been 2022, but we’re going to see the season out with a bang in any case, with this bumper December edition of Style magazine.

To celebrate the silly season, you can flip the magazine and discover The Chronicle Christmas Catalogue for all your festive gift and preparation needs; or stay within the pages of Style to get tips on dressing for the work party (p15) or subtle yet festive ways to do your makeup (p21).

Over Christmas already? We’ve got you covered with anything from how to wear summer’s hottest colour, lilac (p17), to easy ways to switch off and relax after work (p27).

Our writer team also had a chat with some incredible local women in business, like Kirstie Smith who was the only Indigenous lawyer working for Toowoomba’s Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Legal Service when she started there (p8); and Grace Lee who opened her own hair and beauty salon at only 18 years old (p10).

Enjoy this edition of Style, and have a relaxing festive season!

The team at Style xx

Emma Rackley and Jack Wagner tied the knot in a beautiful three-day wedding celebration

JOURNALISTS Megan Masters, Alyssa Welke, Alexandra Feiam, Melanie Collins, Savaira Ratukula, Jessica Kramer, Debbie Phillips SUB EDITOR Cam Ward, Jessica Kramer DESIGN Paul Hunter, Justine Costello GENERAL MANAGER Erika Brayshaw STYLE MAGAZINE TOOWOOMBA CONTACT DETAILS mytoow.ads@news.com.au Level 1/5 Keefe St, Toowoomba City PO BOX 40, Toowoomba

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services lawyer

Kirstie Smith was photographed by Kevin Farmer.

Womeninbusiness

Changing the system from the inside

Cultural understanding can build bridges to success, writes Megan Masters

It was a huge shock to Toowoomba lawyer Kirstie Smith to discover that there were no other Indigenous lawyers working for the city’s Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (ATSILS) when she started there, but it’s something she hopes to change in time. Ms Smith was admitted as a practising lawyer at the end of 2020 and has already set her sights on holding the door open for other aspiring Indigenous youngsters through mentoring, awareness raising and volunteering. She knows deeply some of the barriers to success that exist for both women and Indigenous people, but she also knows it’s not a lack of potential holding them back.

If the right level of cultural awareness is achieved in mainstream Australia, she believes many young Indigenous people would achieve the goals that elude them.

Coming from a single parent family from Mununjali-Yugambeh country (the Beaudesert region), one of the most difficult things about achieving her aim to become a lawyer was knowing where to find the right help.

Nobody in her family had ever been to university, or even completed grade 12, so nobody knew how to help her find scholarships, acclimatise to university life, or support her academically.

It took the best part of 10 years for Ms Smith to get her degrees through the University of Southern Queensland while working as a corrections officer, interning and later working for the Department of Public Prosecutions, going on maternity leave and caring for her young son.

She said it was all worth it though, to see how much more comfortable her clients at ATSILS were when dealing with someone who understood them culturally.

Despite never having a brush with the law herself, she grew up acutely aware of racial injustice embedded in our legal system and now works to help correct that imbalance.

“I grew up in Beaudesert and when my friends and I would go into shops we would often be

followed because people thought we were there to steal,” she said.

“Pretty early on I had a sense of injustice and I do love a good debate, so I thought, ‘why not do law?’

“When I worked with the DPP I had a matter that involved an Indigenous victim.

“The local registrar asked me to contact the police in case their reaction to the verdict caused a problem.

“How is this victim supposed to feel like the system is set up to get them justice when we’re suggesting that police should be involved? We wouldn’t suggest that police need to watch a white victim so why did they need to be called for an Aboriginal victim?”

A cherished part her work with ATSILS is becoming involved in Toowoomba’s Murri Court system and helping to identify the people who can be helped through the justice system.

Murri Court is designed to link defendants with cultural and support systems that can help them make changes in their lives and stop offending.

Murri Court can assist with providing a safety net of cultural, medical, rehabilitation and psychological support that she has seen directly change lives for the better.

In her work as a criminal lawyer, Ms Smith said it can be heartbreaking to see the number of Aboriginal children coming into connect with the justice system, particularly the ones who could be leading normal lives if they had the right support.

“The number that should have had referrals to the NDIS is so sad, so where I can see a family can get extra support and helping them find it is a big one for me,” she said.

“With some of these people the offending is directly related to their circumstances, so it’s not a cure-all but it can make a big difference.”

She said in these cases offending could be related to any number of conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or painful conditions that cause them to lash out or take illicit substances, and where the right support is offered, the person can receive help rather than a prison sentence.

As far the future goes, Ms Smith said so many Indigenous people could benefit and thrive if their culture was better understood.

“I really think it’s about providing that opportunity,” she said.

“There are people studying that are struggling to stay with it, or things come up in family life.

“Culturally, if nan says to come down for something you do whatever nan says or mum says, even if there is an assignment due or a court date to attend.

“USQ need to do a lot more in getting their Indigenous programs out there. For instance, I had no idea there was tutoring for Indigenous people.

“My study experience would have been very different if I had known and been able to study with other Aboriginal students and been able to surround myself with them and maybe learn their coping strategies.”

She said it would also be helpful to have recent graduates offering time to students to help with academic literacy surrounding things like

RIGHT:Toowoombacriminal lawyerKirstieSmith believeschangeforthe bettercanbeeffectedfrom withinthelegalsystem.

ABOVE: Kirstiewithmum KerrieSmithandaunt LorraineDawson

applying for extensions and scholarships and helping with career connections, because if you don’t come from academia, university can be a closed book and a difficult environment to succeed in.

Another thing that presented difficulties in both the legal and academic systems was a poor understanding of what Sorry Business is and why it is so important for Indigenous people to be surrounded by their community during hard times.

Ms Smith said it could be very difficult for other

community members to understand that Indigenous funerals involved a far wider network than just family and close friends, and part of showing respect involved not attending other events, meetings or consultations during the period of Sorry Business.

This could often clash with things like work or study and be part of a cascade effect that prevented Indigenous people from achieving their full potential.

Career-wise, Ms Smith said she couldn’t imagine wanting to do anything different in the

foreseeable future and loved where she worked and how she could effect change from the inside of the justice system.

She has surrounded herself with other inspirational women both in the legal profession and within her culture and is thrilled that she will have the honour of moving her Aunty Lorraine Dawson’s admission to the legal profession in the Supreme Court in February.

“Like me, she has completed her degree while working full time,” Ms Smith said.

“She is an absolute inspiration.”

Pretty early on I had a sense of injustice and I do love a good debate, so I thought, ‘why not do law?’

I never took no as an answer and business to me wasn’t scary

Taking the leap and growing success

Through determination, hard work and adaption, this local woman has built a great business empire, writes Alyssa Welke

When you think of your average 18-year-old, you think, just finished high school, perhaps about to start university … you don’t think business owner. But that’s exactly what Toowoomba woman Grace Lee was when she started her business, The Mixx, more than nine years ago.

Through determination, hard work and constantly evolving with her business, Grace has been able to grow her salon into one of Toowoomba’s most sought after hair and beauty destinations.

As a 15-year-old she left high school, and pursued her hairdressing career through a full-time TAFE course.

“School wasn’t for me; as soon as I turned 15, I left. I only did four weeks of year 10,” Grace said.

“My parents weren’t going to let me leave school without getting into a career.

“Initially hairdressing was a means to an end and once I started I realised I loved it.

“I did work experience as part of the course and I was offered a full-time apprenticeship at Price Attack Grand Central.

“By the time I was 18 I was a fully qualified hairdresser.

“All my friends were finishing school; that’s when they were starting the next stage of their life and I was fully qualified at 18.”

Grace says she also planned to start her own salon one day, but the opportunity came up a lot sooner when the opportunity came up to start her own salon in Newtown.

In her first business venture, she concentrated on building up her clientele and learning new skills.

“I always had a dream of what I wanted to do; it was different to what was on offer in Toowoomba; it was a female version of Culture Kings,” she said.

“We had fashion, a coffee bar and the hairdressing salon at the back.

“I opened in the old Garden Town, but when we moved to Margaret Street there was no need for the fashion side so we closed that part of the business and expanded the coffee and hair salon.

“The salon just got bigger and bigger. “Everything we’ve had in the business has led us to where we are today.

“My whole apprenticeship I would think ‘when I have my own salon, I’ll do this, or I’ll do that different’.”

Grace said she’s always working on growing the business and thinking of ways to add even more value for her clients, which led to the inclusion of beauty services 18 months ago. Over the past 18

months the demand for the beauty services has grown, which necessitated finding a bigger space to meet her clients’ needs.

Her and husband Steven, who is also her business partner, found that space just two doors down from their then location earlier this year and undertook a rapid renovation – taking 12 weeks to completely refit the 540sq m, two-storey space; the new salon opened on October 7.

And Grace is like thousands of female business owners, juggling family and work commitments.

In January 2021, Grace and her long-time partner Steven married and later that year they welcomed their son, Bowie, to the world. Bowie has just turned one and since his birth, Grace has been off the floor, building the business behind the scene and adapting to life as a mum.

“It really has been a juggling act and a massive team effort from me, Steve, my parents,” she said.

“We’ve had a lot of support and help with Bowie from family and friends. Now I’m back working on the floor three days a week and next year it will be four day a week.

“While I’m at work, Bowie is at a wonderful family day care. And we plan to grow our family in the future.”

Grace says a lot of her success can be put down to

Howtobuildyour ownempire

● Build your business around your passion, which creates purpose and fulfilment which will then lead to happiness.

● Always invest in self education

● Never be rigid in your plans and always be open to change as business is forever evolving

● When business throws obstacles and challenges, always look at them as a detour as they generally lead you to a better path. Every obstacle has a seed of a greater benefit.

adapting and changing to the needs of her clients and to changes in the industry.

“I always had a vision, but it changed to keep things current,” she said.

“I never took no as an answer and business to me wasn’t scary; my parents always owned their own businesses and dad had a business coaching background.”

Grace said it was challenging to let go of some of the day-to-day control of the running of the salon while she was at home with Bowie.

“I had to learn to delegate responsibility; I had to trust that my manager could do it without consulting me.

“It was hard for me to delegate, it took me a while to adapt,” she laughs.

“But now I have a beauty manager, a hairdressing manager and head of training. I had to have people in these roles to take the load off me.

“I’ve always done my own books and wages and I like to have control of that.

“My advice for other business owners is don’t be afraid to delegate roles to specialty experts and if your budget allows, delegate things like marketing to skilled teams.

“You’ll get burned out if you try to do it all yourself.”

As the business has grown, so too have Grace’s staff numbers and finding the right staff has been instrumental to the success of The Mixx.

“I worked out quite early on, you can teach someone skill, but you can’t teach them to be a good person. And I want to be surrounded by good people; in this industry it is all about service and offering a full experience to our clients, both in skills and service.”

Mainpicture:TheMixx ownersGraceand SteveLeeinthenew premisesinMargaret Stafterextensive renovations.Picture: KevinFarmer

Pictures:TallTimberStudios

Emma & Jack

Whatwasthedateofyourwedding?

October 8, 2022 – Emma has preferred even numbers her whole life, so it was a pretty easy win!

Whereweretheceremonyandreception? Whydidyouchoosethatspace?

Peter Lindores is the owner of Melrose Station and a very close family friend to us. Upon our first trip to Melrose Station as a couple, we instantly knew it was the wedding venue for us.

The location had one of the last remaining rainforests in the area, which created an experience for guests coming through the rainforest with hanging lights and candles throughout; it then opened to a view of the Darling Downs and beyond.

When our families visited the site, it was swamped by black butterflies, the family’s symbolic gesture to the memory of my mum, who passed away in 2016. There was also a row of flowers from the main gum tree to the wedding arbour, symbolising the tree of life, in which my mum believed.

Howmanyguestsdidyouhave?

210 guests

Howdidyoumeetyourhusband?

We met at the It’s A Bloke Thing Run Ride Race for Research event at the Wellcamp Airport in 2017. I had been called into the Run Ride Race for Research event in 2017 at the Wellcamp Airport the morning of to run the family fun day (free of charge) – as another lady called in sick.

Lo and behold – it didn’t go off so well but, hey, I got to meet B1 and B2, cover my face with face paint and send all the vendors home early. So, given the success, we decided to drink champagne in the VIP marquee … that’s when the true love story began.

Suddenly, this strapping young lad walks in, dressed in his RM shirt, RM jeans, and RM boots and says, “G’day, I’m Jack.” At that point, I’m sure he complimented me on my event polo and face paint. The next minute, we were making out on a friend’s driveway, probably thinking we’ll never see one another again.

We are now both on the founding committee for It’s A Bloke Thing and have been for three years and continue to be tireless advocates for prostate cancer, given its history in both our families.

Howdidhepropose?Wherewasthe proposal?

Jack proposed on Christmas Day in 2021; he was nervous, and our dogs weren’t sure what was going on, but we’ll forever treasure our Christmas tree as the special place we got engaged. I’m not keen on Christmas and can sometimes be classified as the Grinch, so Jack thought he would turn that around.

Whenorganisingyourwedding,whatwere someofthemostpersonalandimportant aspectstogetrightontheday?

For us, it was all about the guest experience and so much blood, sweat and tears went into that. Between creating a path through a rainforest, building a road to the

Thedetails

Venue: Melrose Station, Killarney

Dress: Colin Bellert Designs

Hair: Minx Contemporary Boutique

Makeup: B-Lush Studios

Flowers: Toowoomba Flower Market

Entertainment: Luke Geiger and the Bareback Band

Photographer: Tall Timber Studios

Videographer: Filmed by Bolton

Celebrant: Brendan Anning

Caterer: Alistair McLeod at Al’FreshCo

Catering

Cake: Sugar and Lace and Josie Bain

ceremony location, lighting towers, transport and caravan locations – it was pretty logistical! But nothing more than teamwork allowed us to get it perfect

It was the finer detail that really gave our guests a glimpse into the lives of us both, and that’s one thing our guests have commented on down to the tee.

Whatweresomeofyourfavouritepartsof theday?

The ceremony location and taking guests on a surprise; having our two bull terriers join us on the weekend and go campsite to campsite scouting for pats; and the speeches were beyond amazing, everyone did an exceptional job.

Our friends and family made it so incredibly special. We are so fortunate to have such tremendous support in our lives.

The beyond-amazing fireworks felt like they would never end. The rain holding off until the fireworks was a special moment.

Wheredidyougetyourdressfrom?

My dress was specially made by a Brisbane designer, Colin Bellert, and I was graciously supported by Jack’s aunty, Kate Greer, who helped with every aspect.

I wasn’t a typical bride and found dress shopping extremely challenging and not the right experience. So, it was only fitting that the dress was sketched by me with a 1950s Grace Kelly feel and small details to reflect my mother’s wedding dress. The cuffs featured this incredible crystal beading that gave a sense of grandeur and Art Deco vibes.

Didyouhaveadistinctweddingtheme? Howdoesthisrelatetobothyour personalityandfamilyhistory?

Family history would say that we should have been married in a chapel or church, given our Catholic upbringing, but that wouldn’t have been reflected in our personalities. We love the outdoors and spend the majority of our time out and about with friends, so we opted for the “destination wedding” and it was so much for than that.

The theme had fun! Camp as long as you need, party hard and most importantly, enjoy every moment.

It was our friends and family who truly made it special for us.

Emma Rackley and Jack Wagner tied the knot while reflecting their individual personalities

A new era

Hogan’s Family Jewellers launches state-of-the-art showroom and workshop

Family owned and operated jeweller, Hogan’s Family Jewellers, have been serving their loyal customer base for more than 77 years.

Now after almost 50 years in their previous location, Hogan’s has launched its new state of the art workshop and showroom experience at 241 Margaret Street, Toowoomba.

Managing Director Lachlan Hogan says as a leader in the field of handcrafted jewellery, Hogan’s ambition is to exhibit the talents of the team and the craftsmanship of jewellery making.

“The new showroom will allow the client the opportunity to witness our quality handcrafted and custom designed jewellery in construction while our team of jewellers create masterpieces,” Lachlan says.

“In a commercialised world where artisan products are diluted by low budget and lowquality manufacturing, Hogan’s will emphasise the value in Australian made, handcrafted jewellery.”

Recognised as one of Toowoomba’s, Queensland’s and even Australia’s longest established family jewellers, the Hogan’s team is now led by its third generation Hogan jeweller, Lachlan Hogan.

The team now comprises of 10 qualified jewellers, two diamond setters, three jewellery apprentices, seven highly passionate sales consultants, and now their

own in-house full time marketing executive and family member.

When putting the plans together for the new shop, the brief was simple – pay homage to the brand’s heritage as well as the surrounding historical architecture of Toowoomba’s CBD.

Occupying a multi-level building, the new showroom boasts a reclaimed antique heritage brick facade, a luxurious Turkish travertine showcase and foyer, Blackbutt timber flooring, pressed metal ceilings and brushed brass trims.

On display within the jewellery showcases are an exquisite range of bespoke Hogan’s pieces, from engagement rings to coloured gemstone jewellery, pearl jewellery and Swiss Baume & Mercier watches.

With a passion for all mediums of artistry, Lachlan has also chosen to adorn the store walls with artwork from the likes of globally renowned Australian artist CJ Hendry.

“Our slogan, ‘For Those Who Prefer Quality’, doesn’t simply end with the quality of our product,” Lachlan says.

“Quality is enforced at every step of the customer journey, and our aim is not just to meet customer expectations, but to exceed them.

“From product knowledge to the detailed design process, we give our customers a level of care and attention that only a familyowned business like Hogan’s can deliver.”

ManagingDirectorLachlanHoganisexcitedtosharethenewstorelocationat241 MargaretStreet,Towoomba.

How to dress for a work party

Dress for success this Christmas,

writes Alexandra Feiam

The jolly season is upon us, which means breaking out the tinsel and celebrating with your friends and family. It’s also the season for work Christmas parties.

From an evening with wine to a wellplanned bonding activity, it’s the perfect time to relax and hang out with your colleagues. But what should you wear?

Findingtherightbalance

Attending a Christmas work party means finding the balance between festive and professional clothing. The blurred dress code is often referred to as smart casual, and this is the perfect time to test it out.

Smart casual for women typically includes wearing conservative pieces of clothing like a blazer, tailored trousers or a well-fitted dress.

However, you can mix it up by adding casual pieces such as sneakers, bright colours, sequins or a pair of relaxed jeans. Don’t forget to add a Santa hat!

Daytimeevents

For a daytime function, you can lean further into a casual dress code. This means trying a pair of well-tailored trousers and a t-shirt, heels or loafers.

Adding a blazer will elevate the overall outfit, so you can swap out the heels for comfortable sneakers to keep it cute and casual. Bonus points if you stick to a festive colour palette.

Think green, red, gold or white.

Eveningevents

Attending an evening event? You’ll likely find yourself dressing in more formal clothing – even if the dress code is ‘smart casual’, your best bet is cocktail attire.

makeup trends to try this festive season

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

Whether you are having a festive picnic with friends or celebrating at a work event, these Christmas makeup trends are worth a try this season.

1Glazeddoughnutskin: We can thank Hailey Bieber for this skin trend! As the name suggests, this is all about looking sunkissed and radiant.

Laurisa, the founder of Injxu Cosmetics, suggests using lightweight makeup such as

tinted sunscreen and lip and cheek tint for an effortless glow.

Want to take the look up a notch? Add a pop of colour to your eyes to transform from day

to night.

“This makeup look is the ultimate and only accessory to looking flawless all day,” says Laurisa.

This means wearing a dress or skirt and a fancy top, heels and accessories. The length of your clothes should hit anywhere from the mid-thigh to your calf – it’s a little bit flirty while staying workplace appropriate.

Whatshouldyou avoid?

Generally speaking, work events mean avoiding wearing clothes that are too revealing or uncomfortable. This includes low-cut dresses, miniskirts or anything see-through. Also, be aware of the activities you’ll be doing at the event.

You won’t want to wear heels if you’re going to be on your feet the whole time or doing an activity with a lot of movement, so make sure you check out the details of the party beforehand.

2

Sparklysmokeyeye: Update your go-to smokey eye this Christmas by adding a few bejewelled elements into the mix. Using eyelash glue, apply two or three individual crystals to the eyelids or in the outer and inner corners to accentuate your eyes. You don’t need a lot to get the message across – a few key areas that catch light will have you feeling instantly jolly.

3

Metalliccateye: Sick of your regular winged eyeliner but don’t know how to do any other eye look? Simply swap out your usual colour for a metallic shade like silver or gold.

“A timeless Christmas makeup trend that I think everyone should try this year is the combination of gold eyeshadow with bold red lipstick,” shares Kirsten McKinley, the founder of Wedding and Brides.

“Gold and red are incredibly festive colours, and they pair really well together.”

4

Coralredlips: Speaking of a bold red lip, it’s time to update your shade to match the trends. Rather than your traditional bluebased colour, opt for something with an orange undertone for a fun twist. A coral hue is a flattering and stylish choice for warmer months and complements the festive season.

5

Innershimmer: You don’t have to be a makeup guru to create a festive look. According to Kirsten, all you need is a touch of glitter.

“Silver glitter or shimmery highlighter on the corners of your eyes can also make your makeup joyful,” she explains.

Lovelyinlilac

There’s something special about this soft purple shade, writes Melanie Collins

There might be more than a few ways to describe it –orchid, periwinkle, lavender, mauve – but one thing is certain: lilac is a shade you must try this summer.

The sweet, soft hue is, of course, a close relative of purple, which is known as a universally flattering colour. Complementing fair, medium or dark skin tones, purple is a colour that suits just about everyone. And so does its more subdued cousin lilac thanks to its soft pastel tone. Whatever you choose to call it, lilac is the perfect pop of colour to add to your wardrobe this summer – here is how to style it.

Blockitout

Unlike bold red or stark white, lilac can easily be worn head to toe without too much drama. Its subtle tone makes it a great choice if you want to try the colour-blocking trend – think shorts, T-shirt and blazer all in lovely lilac. Wearing head-to-toe colour also works beautifully as a summer dress or playsuit, with neutral accessories to round out the look.

Justasplash

Introducing just one item in lilac to your wardrobe is a great way to start experimenting – you’ll be surprised how many of your basics work well with this shade. For work, a well-cut

blouse is a great choice, or for the weekend try a lilac skirt or high-waisted pants with whites or neutrals. If you want to make a fashionable impression, try pairing blush pink with lilac, or go for a tonal look by wearing different shades of purple in one outfit.

Prettypair

The matchy-matchy trend is sticking around for another season but with some cute, lighthearted updates. Playful patterns, abstract designs, pretty floras and paisley prints make an all-in-one set even more fun. The key to nailing this trend is keeping your accessories and shoes to neutral tones (not a matching colour) so stick with white, stone, coffee or trusty black.

Easyaccessories

There’s a simple way to integrate lilac into your wardrobe – and that’s by adding a pop of the colour to your accessory rotation. Try a bright micro bag, kittenheel sandal or chunky framed sunglasses. For extra fashion points, try using this playful colour in make-up form: an eyeshadow, bright lip or nail colour will give you the pop of colour you’re after to get this sweet-as-candy colour into your world.

Decjubadress,$189.95

Meccaeyeliner,$17

Mimcomicrocrossbodybag,$199

H&Mdress,$119

Sportsgirlsunglasses,$29.95

Portmanssuit:blazer,$119.95,shorts,$79.95

Sportsgirlcami,$49.95;culotte,$69.95.

MeccaMorphepalette,$25

DOOLAMAI DESIGNS ART GALLERY

out.

Pundi asked Biliyana what price would have to be given for the secret of fire. Biliyana stopped for a while and said, teach me the dance of men and I will give you the secret to make ‘Kudla’ (Fire). Pundi was a wise old man and knew that secrets of men’s dance could never be given. So, he tricked Biliyana by asking for four of his largest feathers from one wing as payment. Biliyana gave his four feathers but was unaware in doing so his flight would become topsy turvy and in return gave Pundi the secret of fire, it was fire sticks. Pundi grabbed these sticks and then told Biliyana to fly up high and he would instantly know how to dance.

Off Biliyana went but to his dismay he began to fly in circles and no longer fly straight. Pundi got away with the magic fire stick and the world was no longer lived in the dark. Biliyana was tricked and never trust man again. To this day, whenever there is a big fire, you will see Biliyana circling high above still angry for being tricked by men for stealing the secret of fire and never learning the secret of men’s dance.

BILIYANA MOOROOP MENNAI

Grant Nissen

In Their Words

With a career that spans 30 years, Grant possesses an intimate knowledge of the local property market, raising the benchmark in quality service, advise and results. His strong repeat client base further exemplifes his expertise, holding reliable professional relationships with local property owners and developers. If you’re looking for an experienced and passionate property professional with a proven track record, contact Grant today.

Grants knowledge of the industry was second to none, we could not have been happier with how smooth he made the process. He got us a price that exceeded our expectations and for that we will be for ever grateful. Just an all round top bloke.

Grant was an informative, genuine and professional agent from start to fnish. We were unexpectedly placed in the position of having to prepare and sell a family home and not only was he patient and invaluable in providing advice and support, but the house was sold with a great result at auction. Grant has a high level of professionalism but has a genuine, friendly demeanour. He is well versed in the Toowoomba area and has many contacts proving advantageous in the preparation and campaign.

Grant secured 3 very strong ofers within a few weeks of starting an of market campaign. This is a testament to his knowledge of the market and the depth of his contacts within the market. He was always courteous with the vacating tenant and worked in well with everyone during the process. He’s sold 3 houses for us over the last 10 years and I recommend him very highly.

Luke Baker & Lachlan Baker Seller

Jocelyn Clark Seller

Ben Mendl Seller

Putting on a festive face

makeup for it to look festive!” explains Kirsten McKinley, founder of Weddings and Brides. “Something as simple as replacing your usual black eyeliner for a red, green, or gold one will instantly make a big difference, using the exact same skill set.”

Glittereyeshadow

From candy cane eyeliner to intricate eyeshadow portraits of Santa, Christmas is the perfect time to experiment with your makeup. But you don’t have to go above and beyond to celebrate the silly season. These subtle makeup ideas are festive and easy for anyone to try.

Aredlip

Red lipstick is the ultimate Christmas classic. Sure, the look isn’t exactly subtle, but it’s suited to all skill levels and is great for parties and work events. Celebrity makeup artist Jacqueline Kalab suggests you try fuchsia or bright orange if red is too daring. “All of these are an instant way to add festivity and fun to your look while still being on-trend,” she says.

“Test your lipstick by holding it far away. The colour should be rich and not too grey looking when viewed from a distance to pop best in photos.”

Smallchanges,bigimpact Subtle switches to your makeup routine can often have the best results.

“You don’t have to overcomplicate your

What says Christmas more than a touch of glitter? Despite what you may think, this look can be subtle. We recommend you try liquid eyeshadow in this case, with flecks of shimmer for a soft and natural feel. Try colours like silver, white or gold for a subtle way to celebrate the season. You can easily make it look glam enough for a day in the office or out for drinks with friends.

Gogold

One of the most popular colour choices for Christmas is gold. Incorporate touches of the metallic hue into your beauty look with eyeshadow or eyeliner. You can make it as subtle or bold as you like, depending on your mood. If you prefer highlighter, add a small touch to your cheekbones and your face will glow when it hits the light

Ladies’ efforts lift hospital

It has been an action-packed and very successful year for the St Andrew’s Toowoomba Hospital Ladies Auxiliary, which has worked very hard to provide much needed support to the hospital.

With their numbers increasing from last year under the exceptional leadership of Mrs Sheryl Weston, the ladies have collectively initiated numerous fundraising activities throughout 2022, enabling them to purchase a variety of new equipment pieces and comfort-enhancing items.

Collectively these have enriched the experience of both patients and the St Andrew’s team.

Purchased items have included 12 new air recliner chairs that have been placed into four wards throughout the hospital; three IBeam Bed Monitor Systems, one each to North, Central and East Wards; an oxygen concentrator into our dedicated palliative

care rooms, and five new fridges for patient rooms in West Ward.

Our patients at St Andrew’s will benefit greatly from these purchases, and we thank the ladies auxiliary for their contribution.

Further purchases have also been made thanks to the auxiliary, which will benefit not only our patients and team, but also visitors including families and relatives.

These include five new cantilever umbrellas that will provide shade in both the St Andrew’s cafe outdoor eating area, and our staff courtyard. To further complement the umbrellas, the auxiliary agreed to purchase new outdoor tables and chairs for all who enjoy the fresh air outside.

These items could not have been possible without the ladies auxiliary’s fundraising efforts throughout the year, including three Bunnings barbecues, delicious cake stalls, repertory theatre night, raffles, cabinet sales

and a first in 2022 – handmade Christmas scrubs!

We would like to say a very big thank you to the St Andrew’s Ladies Auxiliary for their invaluable support this year. We wish all members of the Auxiliary a very happy and safe festive season and a happy New Year.

We would also like to thank all our wonderful volunteers including flower ladies, buggy drivers and SATH-NAVs. Your support of our hospital is greatly appreciated.

Formoreinformationaboutvolunteering opportunitiesatStAndrew’sToowoomba Hospital,pleasecontacttheexecutive officeon46463101.

Ball brings up ton in style

Saturday, October 29, brought together more than 400 staff, doctors, local businesses and supporters of St Vincent’s for our Centenary Ball event.

It was a spectacular evening, with entertainment from Opera Queensland, Aerial Angels and Andrew Kucks Music on the stage of the beautiful Empire Theatre.

We wish to thank the wonderful sponsors who helped make this event possible.

Alliance Building and Construction was the gold sponsor for meals, and Weymouth Investments was the gold sponsor for entertainment.

A number of local businesses came on board as table sponsors, including Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise, Burstows Funerals, Queensland X-Ray, Solahart Darling Downs and Bridgestone Select Darling Heights.

We also received sponsorship from longterm supporters Cracker Print and Paper and Impressions on Scott.

Excellent donations were kindly received from individuals and businesses for our silent auction.

The Empire Theatre and Encores Restaurant did an incredible job ensuring the

night ran smoothly. Thank you to everyone who attended on the night and supported the event.

All funds raised will go towards purchasing equipment for our new intensive care unit (ICU).

Set to open in 2023, the new and improved ICU will expand our current bed capacity from six to 10, and include two negative pressure beds to help support Covid patients and others in need.

We are so grateful for the community support we have received throughout the past 100 years, and look forward to the next century of St Vincent’s Private Hospital Toowoomba.

Peace on earth

Waiting for a baby to arrive at Christmas is something that many parents dread. The “not knowing” at a time where there are so many plans often heightens anxiety and leaves families arguing about what to do.

A few simple steps can take some of the worry out and make it a little less stressful.

My Midwives managing director Liz Wilkes has a troubleshooting guide for families expecting a baby over the Christmas period. The first tip? Keep it simple.

“Do not plan to host Christmas Day with a newborn if you don’t want to be stressed.

Make sure that you have absolutely no preparation involved and can swan in with a baby or not,” Liz says.

“Make it a gift voucher year of gifts, or do your shopping super early. And don’t have an expectation that you will be able to do anything. Whatever you can contribute to with then be a super pleasant surprise.

“The early days with baby can be great or rough and for less stress not having any additional pressure is key.”

The second tip is having your professional supports well thought out and organised.

“At this time of year there are often closures

and reduced hours, including some of the essential services,” Liz says.

“Line up professional support early. Check what your trusted professionals – like your GP – are working over Christmas and consider whether you need to engage additional health. Midwife, child health nurse, lactation support – someone who can visit you at home and will be available 24/7 is perfect.

“Also look up what pharmacies are open, and what any specialists involved –obstetricians or paediatricians – are doing and whether anyone is having leave.

“Make a plan for the period where your known care provider is on leave nice and early to avoid stress. There are always professionals available outside of hours if you are organised and think outside the box.

“I suggest having a professional who can multitask on hand – like a GP specialising in mental health or a midwife who can visit at home and can care for mental health, normal care and lactation support.”

Liz is also keen that you speak to your next layer of support – family and friends – and get them on board.

“Make a list for them about what you will need, animals fed or cared for, even over the actual special days,” she says.

“If you have a baby on Christmas Eve make sure you have thought of who will do what Christmas Day. Make a list to share with a couple of really trusted family – mum or a sister – as to what you will need them to do to help out. Add a couple of layers in – if I am in hospital on Christmas Day, if I am just home with a new baby who can come to me.”

Lastly, there is your actual planning for the baby. Liz says many women decide to be induced before Christmas in order to keep some sort of planning. While this is completely understandable, she cautions that life with children is rarely predictable.

“I use the birth as the ultimate training for what is to come,” she says.

“Just go with the flow if at all possible – an induction may lead to more a more challenging experience which means this time may be even more tricky.”

Christmas is important and so is adjusting to a new baby. With good planning, both can be just a little bit easier.

Make a list to share with a couple of really trusted family – mum or a sister – as to what you will need them to do to help out

Mindful eating for the festive season

We consume more during the festive period than any other time of the year, and Christmas lunch is often the most anticipated meal of the year.

But are we truly enjoying the food? Many of us don’t know how to savour food,

and are distracted while eating by conversations with others – what’s on the television, reading, scrolling on our phone, plans for after the meal … the list goes on.

Eating this way not only means we’re not getting full enjoyment of what we’re putting in our mouth, we also are not aware of the ‘I’m

full’ signals the stomach is sending the brain until it’s too late and we’ve overeaten.

So many people aim to restrict what they eat over Christmas or go on diets to negate the effects of December – but what if it was more simple than that?

Especially at this time of year, when people

Trythis

Herearesomeideastogetyou startedeatingmindfully:

● Put your cutlery down between bites.

● Chew slowly. Most mouthfuls should take between 20-40 chews before swallowing.

● Finish one mouthful before beginning to cut or spear any other food on your plate.

● Keep the television off and books or magazines away while having meals.

●Think about the flavours you can taste while eating. See how many ingredients or favours you can name in a mouthful.

● Contemplate all the effort put into growing and preparing the food on your plate as you eat.

● Put a policy in place in your household that mobile phones don’t come to the dinner table.

● Attend a healthy eating course or workshop to gain mindful eating tips from the experts, or make an appointment with a dietitian.

● Stop eating when you’re satisfied, rather than full.

● Think about why you are eating – if you’re consuming for something to do or because it’s “time” to eat but you’re not actually hungry, consider what other activities you could introduce to fill that space.

● Enjoy your food! Let yourself relish the festive feasts without feeling guilty.

eat too much of what they’ve deemed “bad” or “wrong” food, they feel guilty – when they should just enjoy what they are eating and know when to stop, dietitians say.

Aussies have moved away from the idea of just eating when we are hungry and stopping when we are full.

Many health care professionals refer to this as “mindful eating”. It’s a simple skill to learn and can lead people to enjoy a satisfying, healthy and enjoyable relationship with food, and break free from restrictions and rules.

off after work

The boundaries between office and home have blurred thanks to the pandemic, making it harder than ever to switch from ‘work mode’ to ‘home mode’ at the end of the day.

If you’re someone who checks work emails after dinner or lays in bed at night running through the agenda for the next day, you’re probably not switching off from your 9-5 –and you’re not alone.

To help your mind and body relax after 530pm, here are 6 ways to ensure you’re getting enough downtime to keep your wellbeing in check.

1Scheduleabraindump

Every afternoon, just before you log off, write down all the things you need to do the next day. Even if you have all your jobs in an online calendar or to-do list, just the act of writing down what’s on your mind can help

clear your head. Once you’ve got all your mental notes written on paper, reassure yourself you’re in control and on top of things, so you can leave your work at work.

2Aimtodisconnect

In an ideal world, the minute you step out of your office is the minute you turn off notifications from your work emails, reminders and calendar. If that’s not realistic, use your willpower to not read or action any word-related tasks until the next day. After all, you’ve shown your commitment to your job all day, you deserve to put time and focus on yourself and your family after 5.30pm.

3Endthedaywithexercise

No surprises here: working out is good for your physical and mental health, and it’s an effective way to relieve stress, too. A postwork workout is a great way to shift your

focus from office to home, and shake off any work worries you’re holding on to. If you’re not up to a high-impact workout that’s okay, simply moving your body will do the trick –go for a short walk, take a yoga class or do some at-home stretches. If your mind is still turning over the happenings of the day while you exercise, play your favourite playlist or put on a podcast to try to tune it out.

4Recipetorelax

Sure, cooking can feel like a chore after a long day at work but it can also be a great way to refocus your thinking from work to home. From planning and prepping, to cooking and serving, by the time the meal is ready to eat, that difficult meeting from the day will be a distant memory.

5Askforcompany

While quiet time alone works for some to

switch off from the workday, it’s not always the answer. Diverting your attention off your next big project and onto the visitors in your living room can provide a welcome distraction. And if you’re not up to hosting, a simple phone call with a loved one might just do the trick.

6Practiseselfcare

When it’s time for bed, take the time to wind down by engaging in a self-care routine. Put on some calming music or a mediation podcast while you cleanse your face, wiping away both the stress and the makeup you’ve worn throughout the day.

Give yourself a gentle facial massage to help relieve any pressure and encourage relaxation, and apply your favourite face cream, serums or oils. Practising a routine of self care can feel meditative if you do it slowly and carefully.

tips, writes Melanie Collins

Casual elegance Bergen Toowoomba

There’s a new kid on the block in the Toowoomba dining scene, and it is making big waves.

Owner and head chef Clayton Costigan opened Bergen Toowoomba in Walton Stores in midOctober and the smart casual restaurant is proving a popular destination for foodies seeking quality, fresh food in a relaxed atmosphere.

Clayton brings more than two decades of experience in the Toowoomba restaurant scene, 15 of which was cooking in a fine dining establishment.

Bergen Toowoomba, which is named after the family farm he loved to visit near Armidale in NSW, also means ‘meadow between the mountains’, which Clayton sees as fitting for a Toowoomba restaurant.

Open for lunch and dinner, the menus are an eclectic mix of delicious, clean recipes.

Some favourite dinner items include the sand crab and prawn linguini, the handmade gnocchi and the Kilcoy rib fillet steak.

Clayton says the casual but inviting, relaxed atmosphere is ideal for intimate dining, and it is ideal for business lunches and small groups getting together.

“It’s a small menu at this stage but we have plans to expand it,” Clayton said. “We want to do good food and do it well.”

The intimate nature of Bergen makes it ideal for couples looking to go out for a quiet meal before going to a show or a movie, or to celebrate something.

The venue is a great place for a small gathering for the Christmas party season, with the option of booking for up to 25 in a group, or booking out the entire venue for a larger group.

Clayton’s wife, Katrina, owns Uva Wine bar, also in Walton Stores, so the restaurant has a nice wine list to perfectly complement the food.

The two businesses also tie together nicely, with patrons being able to enjoy a drink at Uva before, or after, their meal at Bergen.

Location: Walton Stores, 476 Ruthven St, Toowoomba

Openinghours: Lunch

Tuesday-Saturday, noon2pm; Dinner

Tuesday-Saturday, 6pm9pm

Reservations: (07) 4549 2261

Instagram: @bergentoowoomba

Google: Bergen Restaurant Toowoomba

HeadchefClaytonCostiganand(right)deliciousoysters.

Christmascheers

Get into the festive spirit with a great cocktail and mocktail menu. Here are three ideas to start you off

PeachyAperolspritzpunch

PutanAussiespinonthisItaliancocktailfavewith peachesandatouchofrosemary

Makes2litresPrep5mins

Ingredients

● 750ml bottle prosecco, chilled

● 750ml (3 cups) blood orange-flavoured sparkling mineral water, chilled

● 250ml (1 cup) Aperol Aperitivo

● 2 yellow peaches, cut into thin wedges

● 3 fresh rosemary sprigs

● 1 orange, rind cut into wide strips

● Ice cubes, to serve

Method

Step1

Combine the prosecco, blood orange mineral water and Aperol in a punch bowl or large jug. Gently stir to combine.

Step2

Add peach, rosemary, orange rind and ice to serve.

Note: For a lemony twist, switch Aperol for limoncello, orange mineral water for lemon, and use lemon rind.

Ginstarmartini

Saycheerstoyournewfavouritecocktail!Atwistonthe passionstarmartini,we’vereplacedthevodkawithgin andusedelderflowertonicwater.Weservedthe

cocktailinchampagneflutesbutyoucouldalsoserve theminmartiniglasses,too.

Makes 6Prep 5mins

Ingredients

● 3 passionfruit

● 125ml (1/2 cup) gin

● 750ml (3 cups) Fever Tree Elderflower Tonic Water, chilled (see note)

Method

Step1

Spoon the passionfruit pulp among six champagne flutes. Add one tablespoon gin to each glass. Divide tonic water among glasses.

Note: If you can’t find elderflower tonic water, add one teaspoon elderflower cordial to 750ml (three cups) regular tonic water.

Watermelonslushie

Lookingforasummerpartypunch?Tryournonalcoholicwatermelonslushie.

Makes4Prep4hrs25mins

Ingredients

● 3kg watermelon, rind removed, flesh coarsely chopped, plus watermelon slices, extra, to serve

● 125g punnet fresh raspberries

● 1 tbsp caster sugar

● 1 tsp vanilla bean paste

● Soda water, to serve

● Persian fairy floss, to decorate (optional)

● Edible flowers, to serve (optional)

Method

Step1

Blend the watermelon in a blender until smooth. Strain through a sieve into a jug, pressing with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids. Reserve 500ml (two cups) watermelon juice in a jug and place in the fridge to chill. Pour the remaining watermelon juice into a large plastic container or ice-cube trays. Place in the freezer for four hours or until frozen. Clean the blender.

Step2

Blend the raspberries, sugar and vanilla bean paste in the blender until smooth. Strain the mixture through a sieve into a bowl, pressing with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids. Clean the blender.

Step3

Remove the frozen watermelon juice from the freezer and set aside for 10 minutes to soften slightly. Turn onto a board and coarsely chop. Place in the blender with the chilled watermelon juice and blend until smooth.

Step4

Use a star-shaped cutter to cut stars from the extra watermelon slices. Divide the raspberry puree among four large serving glasses. Top with the watermelon mixture and soda water. Decorate with watermelon stars and fairy floss and edible flowers, if you like.

Ham with marmalade glaze

Christmas just isn’t the same without a giant leg of ham with its beautiful caramelised surface

Serves8Prep35minCook30mins

Ingredients

● 2.25kg leg of ham

● 1/2 cup (170g) orange marmalade

● 1 tbsp fresh orange juice

● 1 tbsp dijon mustard

● 2 cloves garlic, crushed

● Salt and cracked black pepper

● Whole cloves, to garnish

Method

Step1

Preheat oven to 180C. Carefully remove the rind from the ham, making sure you don’t trim off too much of the fat. Use a small sharp knife to score the fat into a diamond pattern, about 5mm deep (take care not to cut all the way through to the meat or the fat may fall off during cooking).

Step2

Place the marmalade, orange juice, mustard, garlic, salt and pepper in a small saucepan over low heat and cook, stirring, until marmalade has melted and just starts to bubble, and the mixture is well combined.

Step3

Spread the glaze over the ham then place a clove in the middle of each diamond of fat.

Step4

Place the ham on a rack in a baking dish and fill with enough water to cover the base of the dish. Cook for 25 minutes, brushing regularly with glaze mixture, until the surface of the ham is golden and caramelised. Set aside for 15 minutes to rest, then slice and serve warm or cold.

Note: The ham can be glazed and cooked up to three days ahead of your Christmas function. Store after Christmas in a damp ham bag or pillow case.

Reuben potato salad

Serves6Prep20minsCook20mins

Ingredients

● 1kg baby red potatoes, halved

● 3 cups coarsely shredded savoy cabbage

● 75g day-old sourdough bread, crusts removed

● 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

● 200g sliced pastrami, torn

● 100g Swiss cheese, shaved

● 80g (1/2 cup) baby cornichons, halved lengthways

● 1 tbsp chopped fresh chives Russiandressing

● 85g (1/3 cup) whole egg mayonnaise

● 2 tbsp tomato sauce

● 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

● 2 tsp horseradish cream

● 1 green shallot, trimmed, finely chopped

Method

Step1

Place the potato in a large saucepan. Cover with cold water. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Add the cabbage in the last 30 seconds, then drain immediately. Rinse under cold water. Drain. Set aside for 15 minutes to cool.

Step2

Meanwhile, process the bread in a small food

processor until fine crumbs form. Heat the oil in a small frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the breadcrumbs. Cook, stirring occasionally, for two to three minutes or until golden. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towel.

Step3

For the Russian dressing, combine all the ingredients in a small bowl. Season.

Step4

Place the potato mixture and ¾ dressing in a large bowl. Toss to combine. Arrange on a platter with the pastrami, cheese and cornichons. Sprinkle with the toasted crumbs and chives. Drizzle with remaining dressing.

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

Method

●

Step1

●

Preheat oven to 200C/180C fan-forced. Line two baking trays with baking paper. Place

bread pieces on one tray. Drizzle over oil, garlic and thyme. Toss to coat. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden and crisp.

Step2

Meanwhile, place bacon in a single layer on remaining prepared tray. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden and crisp. Coarsely chop.

Step3

Place the chopped lettuce in the base of a large glass serving bowl. Arrange the egg halves around edge of bowl. Place the chicken over the lettuce layer. Add the bacon and avocado and drizzle over the dressing.

Step4

Top the salad with the croutons, parmesan, any leftover egg and reserved lettuce leaves to serve.

FESTIVEFEAST

Passiona pavlova

Serves10Prep1hrCook2hrs35minsplus allowtimeforcooling

Ingredients

● 8 egg whites

● 430g (2 cups) caster sugar

● 2 tsp gluten-free cornflour

● 1 tsp white vinegar

● 1 tsp vanilla extract

● Wilton food pastes, to tint (we used lemon yellow, orange and leaf green)

● 200ml ctn double cream

● 250ml (1 cup) thickened cream

● 2 passionfruit, halved

Passionacurd

● 1 egg

● 55g (1/4 cup) caster sugar

● 60g butter, chopped

● 80ml (1⁄3 cup) Sparkling passionfruitflavoured drink

● 2 passionfruit, pulp removed

Method

Step1

Preheat the oven to 120C/100C fan forced. Draw a 21cm circle on a sheet of baking paper. Place the baking paper, circle side down, on a baking tray.

Step2

Use electric beaters with the whisk attachment to whisk four egg whites in a clean, dry bowl until firm peaks form. Gradually add 215g (one cup) caster sugar, a tablespoon at a time, beating constantly, until meringue is thick and glossy and sugar dissolves. Beat in the cornflour, vinegar and vanilla until just combined. Spoon mixture onto baking paper, inside the disc. Smooth side and top of meringue and create shallow furrows up the side and to round off the top edge. Bake for one-and-a-half hours or until the meringue is crisp and dry. Turn off oven. Allow to cool, with door closed, until completely cooled. Leave on paper. Transfer to an airtight container until

required.

Step3

Reheat oven to 120C/100C fan forced. Draw a 22cm circle on a sheet of baking paper. Draw an 11cm circle inside the large circle. Place the paper, circle side down, on a baking tray.

Step4

Prepare three piping bags: one fitted with a 1cm plain nozzle, one with a 1cm star nozzle and one with a 1cm open star nozzle. Place them upright in tall glasses.

Step5

Combine 1/2 teaspoon yellow dye with a few drops of orange dye in a small bowl to make a passionfruit colour. In a separate bowl, combine 1/2 teaspoon yellow dye with a few drops of green dye to make green-yellow.

Step6

Use electric beaters with the whisk attachment to whisk remaining egg whites in a clean, dry bowl until firm peaks form. Add remaining 215g (one cup) caster sugar, one tablespoon at a time, beating constantly, until meringue is thick and glossy and sugar dissolves.

Step7

Very lightly paint three long stripes of passionfruit colouring into the plain nozzle bag. Paint four long stripes of green-yellow

colour into the open star nozzle bag . Carefully spoon meringue mixture between each piping bag.

Step8

Use circles as a guide to randomly pipe the plain meringue, in different sizes, onto the paper to form a wreath. Repeat with remaining meringue (the colours will vary the more you pipe) until a wreath forms. Bake for one to oneand-a-half hours or until meringue is crisp and dry. Turn off oven. Allow to cool, with door closed, until completely cooled.

Step9

For the Passiona curd, whisk egg, sugar, butter, Passiona and passionfruit pulp in a large microwave-safe bowl until combined. Microwave on High, stirring every 30 seconds, for three to five minutes, until a smooth, thick curd forms. Cool completely.

Step10

Beat creams in a bowl until firm peaks form. Place meringue base on a plate. Spread an even thin layer of cream on top. Spoon some curd into the centre. Spoon extra cream around the side. Top with remaining cream. Drizzle with passionfruit pulp. Top with the wreath. Serve with remaining cream and passiona curd.

Note: Allow additional time for cooling.

Instagrammable New Years

Another option is to download a long exposure app.

Hanguppartycurtains

With New Years just around the corner, create a memorable celebration with some Instagrammable features you can easily set up at home to create a buzz among your guests and on your socials.

SetupaDIYphotobooth

Choose a background based on the theme and style of your New Years soiree, and a spot that has enough light. Remember simple is always best, and you can start by looking around your home for inspiration. Create a flower or balloon wall, a personalised photo frame out of cardboard, or gather and arrange your furniture

together in the backyard with a few props.

Snapasparklerphoto

Use a DSLR camera or smartphone to capture writings and drawings using sparklers. You’ll need your guests, some sparklers and a tripod or stationary spot for your phone. On

Androids, you can use the manual and pro modes on your camera to play around with the shutter speed and ISO settings. On iPhones, you can use Live mode on your camera to take a live picture, select it from your camera roll and choose long exposure from the effects menu to create your image.

Pick from paper streamers, fairy lights, metallic streamers or another light decoration to hang from your ceiling. Put them up in a couple of rows to create a fun curtain installation in your chosen space. Make sure they are long enough to dangle, but not cause a tripping hazard and use hanging strips or hooks to hold them up. Then let your guests walk through and have fun.

Createa

DIY

balloon garland

Assemble your own balloon garland by purchasing a balloon inflator, balloon tape, wall hooks and latex balloons. Arranging your desired look takes around two hours and you can refer to YouTube videos for guidance. The balloon garland will last up to a week, so you can prepare this feature days in advance before the big day.

at risk

writes Ros Burton Principal – The Real Estate People

With the warmer weather on our doorstep and the genuine threat of violent summer storms well and truly here, now is the time to be thinking about your property … specifically keeping it nice and safe.

Whether you’re a homeowner, a landlord or a tenant, nobody wants their roof and ceiling caving in as a result of a torrential storm.

Yet, it can so easily happen.

I’ve spent hours helping mop up my Aunty’s home after a major storm and believe me, it wasn’t much fun. Furniture, electrical appliances, photos and carpets are all at the mercy of the elements if your roof is compromised.

A dry autumn and winter can fill our gutters with all manner of leaves and debris and it’s only once the skies open (and that rain buckets down) do we realise how

dangerous those few months of neglect can be.

Blocked drains back up; and all that water needs to go somewhere – often straight back into your roof cavity, increasing the risk of

electrical faults and structural damage.

Climbing on to a roof to clear the gutters can be quite an effort, so whether you want to tackle the task yourself or leave it to a professional, it’s a job that needs to be done –

for your peace of mind AND the protection of your home.

And while it’s important to be mindful of unwanted leaf deposits, the trees that deliver them can be just as dangerous.

Old, rotten branches can easily snap off in strong winds and can then smash your home’s windows or extensively damage vehicles sitting in driveways or carports.

Give them a quick inspection and trim next time you’re in the garden and you’ll be covered no matter what the weather brings.

If you have suffered minor home damage through a downpour, then try to stop the leak/s yourself and do your best to dry and mop up the affected areas.

This is very important to prevent the onset of mould (which, of course, thrives in neglected moisture around the home).

Also, be sure to record and document any damages that have occurred; as it will be hugely beneficial should you need to submit an insurance claim.

Just remember that simple adage: “It’s better to be safe than sorry” because a little preparation now can save you a world of heartbreak down the track.

Decorating the festive table

Australiannatives

The table setting is often the last thing thought of when planning Christmas lunch, so here are some ideas to get you pre-planning.

Traditionalredandwhite

It’s hard to go past a traditional red and white table setting for a festive Christmas dinner. It’s quintessentially Christmas and is equal parts elegant and festive when done right. A traditional tablescape doesn’t have to mean Santa motifs, tinsel and bonbons — a way to bring a red and white colour palette into the modern day is via a deeper-hued red. Instead of a bright tomato red, opting for something a little darker can add a moody touch to the table that is instantly chic when teamed with contrasting white crockery or place settings. Opt for solid colours when selecting tablecloths or place settings and introduce patterns on napkins or table runners.

What better way to pay homage to the Australian environment than with a Christmas table adorned with wattle, gum, bottlebrush, and blossom? Letting native flora take centre stage on the Christmas table means you can pull back on other elements and opt for natural tones and textures. Using fabrics like linen as tablecloths or napkins work as perfect bases for native flora centrepieces, while wooden accents add to the natural tablescape.

Vibranthues

Let go of the idea that Christmas tables are restricted to red, white, and green. If colour is your bent, what better way of celebrating the gathering of family and friends than with a vibrantly decorated table in the colours of your choosing? When opting for colour, keeping to a few key hues ensures your table looks more festive lunch than kids birthday. Whether a cooler palette of royal blue, silver, and indigo piques your interest or you’re leaning towards earthier reds, oranges, and golds, there’s no rules when it comes to the

colours you choose. A vibrant colour scheme means you can have some fun, but it’s wise to keep patterns to a minimum — let the colours do the talking.

White-on-white

Another key trend in Australian Christmas tables is a white-on-white colour scheme.

Because you’re only sticking to one colour, opt for textural elements to add interest and avoid your table looking like a blank piece of paper. Start with a white tablecloth, then layer up with white crockery in unusual shapes, napkins in a different fabric to your tablecloth, and serving platters in stone and cream hues. To break up the white, fill glass or ceramic vases with stems of greenery to add just enough interest without distracting from the cleanliness of the monochrome.

Naturaltones

If you’re after a rustic approach to the Christmas table that’s fuss-free but festive, opt for a setting that looks to the natural world for inspiration. A theme that is right at home at an Australian Christmas, a natural tablescape is simple but leaves plenty of room for creativity when it comes to textures and shapes. Starting with a white linen tablecloth, use brown paper as a table runner then top with jars of greenery, from gum leaves to rosemary. Use kitchen twine to wrap cutlery in a napkin and, if dining at night, scatter tea lights along the length of the table for a simple but elegant finish.

A Christmas to remember

Now in its 25th year, The Springs has been an integral part of the garden scene in the Toowoomba region providing inspiration, quality products, service, and friendly local advice.

Boasting four distinct departmentsnursery, outdoor furniture, gift shop and cafe – this year has been a big one for the Spring Street complex, with lots of new work happening around the centre.

For over two decades, the centre has set the standard in both variety and excellence, and the business shows no signs of slowing down thanks to owners Ashley and Marie McEwan and their son Cameron. The McEwans are continually working on their expansive oasis to ensure it provides those ‘wow’ moments for every customer who walks through the doors, and Christmas time is always the most exciting time of the year for our visitors.

“Christmas has always been a special time for our family,” Ashley said.

“So we love to create something special at Christmas for our customers to enjoy.”

To create the Springs Christmas display, planning begins 18 months before the season. The trio research the latest styles and trends for Christmas and attend Australiawide trade shows to buy the right stock for our customers.

It takes the staff about three weeks to unpack and display all the Christmas trees, cards, serving ware, nativity scenes and the hundreds of decorations.

“Every year the displays get better and

better,” a regular customer remarked.

“Visiting the big English garden centres at Christmas provided us with so much inspiration,” Ashley said.

“They really know how to do Christmas.

“Seeing how the larger organisations do it reinforces our philosophy that we must create a destination to give people an outing, so that they enjoy it as an experience rather than just shopping.”

Cameron has been part of the business since he was nine years old. Now married with his own family, he has taken on the role

as store manager and oversees the largest range of outdoor furniture this side of the range. For him, the Christmas period is a very busy time of the year.

“It’s a really great time to buy a new outdoor setting,” Cameron advises.

“We always have the stock, so that customers won’t need to wait for their new setting to arrive from interstate or overseas.”

He said the centre covers all the bases, with a large range of quality outdoor settings and its superb range of complementary items such as table runners, candles, rugs,

umbrellas, and even outdoor wall art to ensure your outdoor space makes the perfect statement. The green space at The Springs is equally impressive with a large selection of plants, statues, water features and every conceivable type of pot stretching throughout the nursery.

“A plant in a pot makes a great Christmas gift,” Ashley said.

“At The Springs, a customer can choose a plant and match it with a pot and have one of our helpful staff plant it up ready for Christmas Day.”

With knowledgeable and helpful staff on site seven days a week, The Springs has the products and advice to make your home come alive this Christmas.

“Nurseries have become destination centres with diversity, and that leads to success,” Ashley said

“As an added attraction, we found the best garden centres have a great cafe, and we certainly have that with Kingfisher Cafe.”

“I think it’s important to thank the community, not only in Toowoomba, but the Darling Downs region and beyond for their support,” Marie adds.

The Springs supports numerous local and national charities including Yellow Bridge, Beyond Blue and Prostate Cancer research.

“They’ve been wonderful over the years visiting the centre, and being part of our lives for 25 years”

Ifyouarelookingforsomethingspecial thisChristmas,besuretomakethetripto TheSpringsat333SpringSt,Toowoomba

Thank-you to my Wonderful Sellers - and every amazing Buyer - who trusted us to achieve more for them in 2022. Your result was our result. You are the heart & soul of The Jacqui Walker Sells Team and we loved achieving for you. This Christmas, may your time on the roads be safe ... may many be welcome at your table ... and may there be plenty of laughter with lots of food & fun!

The search for fuel and giant crocs

Our last couple weeks in Queensland were spent travelling to the Gulf of Carpentaria and then down into western Queensland.

We explored Kurumba for the day and then back inland to Normanton where we saw a true-to-size replica of a crocodile measuring 8.6m long. This salt water crocodile is the largest ever to be captured in the wild. To be honest it felt almost unbelievable when I sat next to the statue and realised how big it really is.

We continued on our travels to Lawn Hill. On our way we stopped into a free camp by the Gregory River which was a pleasant surprise. Tucked in the trees by the river are many campsites with great water views. Little gems like these are rare to find, especially when they are free.

The town of Gregory is about 90km from our campsite near Lawn Hill, we were running low on fuel so we tried to fill up before leaving town, however the roadhouse ran out of diesel the day before due to a camp draft and weren’t sure when the next truck would arrive.

We read that our next campsite sold fuel so we didn’t think twice about it and set off to

our next destination.

When we arrived we were told the same story – no fuel and no idea when more would arrive.

After exploring for the day and trying to get our minds off the predicament we were in it was time to make a decision.

Our next destination was into a station through a private road so we weren’t able to make it there without filling up before we left. We found a dirt track on HEMA that took us directly to the community of Doomadgee.

We rolled in to that roadhouse and filled up 71 litres into a 70-litre tank; that was a close call!

Before moving on to our next destination we hired kayaks and paddled along Lawn Hill Gorge. We were able to see so much wildlife, and enjoyed the serenity.

Our next stop was Herbert Vale Station to visit Glen’s friend Alex who worked as a helicopter pilot.

The next nine days we spent helping out mustering and yard work. Alex also took us on a tour of the station and the surrounding country which was pretty special. The crew at this station made the experience so great for us, this was definitely a highlight on our trip.

We had organised work for a month at

Emily and Glen continue their grand adventure, this time exploring western Queensland – with a close call

Banka Banka Station and Tourist Park in the Northern Territory and with a few days to spare between destinations we drove down to see Devils Marbles.

We spent the next month working at Banka Banka Station. Our days consisted of cleaning the amenities and accommodation, checking campers in and every second night I would cook damper for the guests and Glen worked in the bar.

We had a great experience working at Banka and met so many awesome people. Our managers made the experience so great. After a month’s work with two days off we were very ready to get back to travelling. In the time we had spent working we had ordered a new roof top tent which we were very excited to use. We said our goodbyes to our comfy little accommodation and the staff and made our way to the Red Centre.

We hired kayaks and paddled along Lawn Hill Gorge

Lawn Hill

Herbert Vale Station

Devils Marbles

Banka Banka Station

Ravenshoe

Normanton

Kurumba

Gregory

toowoomba

ALLIN!ARTISTSOFTHE TOOWOOMBAREGION

Saturday,December10toSunday, January22,2023

WHERE: Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery

WHAT: The Toowoomba Region is home to an incredible number of artists.

This group exhibition celebrates the talent of artists who live here and showcases the diversity of their practice.

The Gallery at 531 Ruthven Street is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10.30am – 3.30pm.

BUSHCONNECTIONS

Wednesday,November16toSunday, December11

WHERE: Rosalie Gallery, Goombungee

WHAT: Artists in the Toowoomba Art Group have strong ties with western Queensland.

Bush Connections celebrates their love of nature and demonstrates searching for reconnection with the bush in their new urban surroundings.

Exhibiting artists: Jane Bridle, Diane Hill, Irena Kobald, Carol McCormack, Sue McIntyre, Megan McNicholl, Priscilla Mundell, Bob Nason and Jan Shaw.

Rosalie Gallery at 89 Mocatta Street, Goombungee is open from 10.30am to 3.30pm Wednesday to Sunday.

THEAPRONPROJECTBY AMANDADIGWEED

Wednesday,November16toSunday, December11

WHERE: Crows Nest Gallery

WHAT: Amanda’s artworks look at personal memories gifted to her from key people in her life.

Often referencing contemporary fibre artists, Amanda’s work explores the transformation of a memory into visual language.

Crows Nest Gallery, at the corner of the New England Highway and William Street is open from 10.30am to 3.30pm, Wednesday to Sunday.

Entry is free at the three galleries.

JaneBRIDLE/Leopardtree–lookingupII2022/acryliconcanvas/79x64cm©JaneBridle

AmandaDIGWEED/Badgeofhonour2021 /fabric,thread,beads,charms,pins, vintagejewelleryandbuttons/11x5cm each/©AmandaDigweed

SAGITTARIUS

Nov22–Dec21

Oh how we dance around the Christmas tree, glass of something bubbly in hand, looking at the amazing decorations for this year’s festive event. You positively live for this time of year; all of your baubles, bells, trinkets and tinsel all matching and colour coordinated. The family all being together and celebrating brings you enormous joy. As each year passes you are finding that family is all that you need to really love and get into the Christmas spirit.

CAPRICORN

Dec22–Jan20

Thank goodness it is December! You can now have a little rest over your break. Working all day and night is not good for anyone, especially if it affects your home life. You might need to go out and have a bit of fun this year. So go shopping for a swanky new outfit and dance as if everyone is watching. Pop the champagne corks because you deserve it. Make December luxurious with nothing but the best.

AQUARIUS

Jan21–Feb18th

Time to take life seriously because you have been burning the midnight oil a little too much. You are such a hard worker and party animal that sometimes the lines blur then you are caught up that creek without the paddle. It is great being inventive and taking risks but not at the expense of your family. They need you at home so do not throw so much caution to the wind, just maybe sail along on a gentle breeze this month.

PISCES

Feb19–Mar19

When you look back over the past 12 months you will realise it has been a journey, a learning experience which is a positive time in your life. Big changes may be coming, but in a good way, so get

out that cleaner and get your fish bowl sparkling. Throw a few scatter cushions around just so you have a new look to go with the great moments 2023 will bring. Think of taking a cruise or exploring the outback; everything is clearer once your bowl has a good clean.

ARIES

Mar20–Apr18

Haven’t you been a busy little ram this month - or at least you are going to be. So many people to visit, especially with that certain little someone bringing a glow to your life. It is always better to be surrounded by family and friends shaking your groove thing all around the dance floor. Just remember that while the mind may feel young at heart sometimes the body can come off second best. Don’t dance yourself into a chiropractor visit but in the long run it will be worth it if the chiropractor is cute.

TAURUS

Apr19–May20

Bah! Humbug - Taurus is not known for liking the festive season; too many people, all of those Christmas carols on repeat... Well sorry Taurus you will have

to take it in your stride; it is only once a year. You may not like all the customs but you do like to feast on the table fare. While family is important, remember close members of the family you may have taken for granted this year. Perhaps spending some quality time with each other, reminding you what love is about, will have you jingling all the way.

GEMINI

May21–Jun20

Is it a case of I saw mummy kissing Santa Claus this year? You are looking forward to getting back to your roots. Home has always been your shelter from the world and while it may appear you are coping well with tasks at hand, it may not be so underneath. Go shopping for special mementos of your home that will look great in the office when work comes begging again next year. Think of your furry family members; they need to be spoiled this December. Drink up and the days will pass with good times and friends at home.

CANCER

Jun21–Jul21

Cancerians are such beasts for the work ethic, spending time earning little extra pockets of cash they can put to good use later down the track. Yes, money does make the world go round and if they are not hard at work they are enjoying a relaxing cocktail by a pool somewhere lush and tropical. It is not unusual to see a crab running around the beach; it is their natural home after all. Their motto for life is enjoy life and regret nothing.

LEO

Jul22–Aug22

Summer is a hectic time for Leo. They do not relish summer with all those beaming rays shining down on them. While they’re ruled by the sun it does get them hot under the collar, so to speak. If you can

find somewhere cool to keep the heatwaves away then go for it. I say if the budget does not accommodate an island paradise you may just have to make the local swimming pool your place to wallow in cool water. It is not true that cats don’t like water on hot days, and Leo will be found cooling down with someone special.

VIRGO

Aug23–Sep23

December for Virgo means lots of days spent feasting and harnessing all the good energy from the past 12 months. Rise to all challenges next year, take control and take no prisoners in your quest to achieve career and personal goals. Time stops for no woman unless she herself wants to stop. It can be so rewarding to finally get all that you have longed for to come out of nowhere.

LIBRA

Sep23–Oct22

Oh Libra do you always have to be so level-headed? Of course not - there is an awesome party girl inside you, it just needs to feel comfortable to allow that inner rebel to shine. Get out and about, take it to the dance floor and remember to keep both feet on the floor at all times. Last time the Dirty Dancing move was tried it didn’t quite succeed. You get excited about Christmas; it’s a time for love, joy and feeling content with life.

SCORPIO

Oct23–Nov21

Get ready for a hot December, Scorpioespecially if in love. It will be so sizzling, you will need the Do Not Disturb sign on your door. While it was fun for your birthday it is all back to business in December with demands for your time coming in thick and fast. Remember to tell all to hide your presents well, as you cannot resist snooping around. Granted you do a great job of covering your tracks, but it only takes one bit of torn paper or sticky tape and you will be sprung. Kick your shoes off and enjoy December with your loved ones.

–Lunar

december

TOOWOOMBA’SCHRISTMAS

WONDERLAND

Saturday,December3toSaturday, December24from7pmto10pm

WHERE: Botanic Gardens, Lindsay St, Toowoomba

WHAT: Toowoomba’s Christmas Wonderland is a family-friendly event held in the Botanic Gardens, Queens Park. The event operates from 7pm to 10pm each night from Saturday, December 3 up to and including Christmas Eve. Enter by gold coin donation or ‘Tap and Go’ payment at each of the three entry points. Enjoy the traditional Christmas lights display, as well as local and roving performers, raffles, barbecue and Christmas entertainment for the whole family.

WILSONTONCOMMUNITY CAROLS

Friday,December16from4pmto 9pm

WHERE: Wilsonton Skate Park, McGregor Street, Toowoomba

WHAT: The Wilsonton Community Carols are back and this year it will be the biggest yet. Join in the fun with the Toowoomba Municipal Band, Jasper Black Band, DJ DTK and, of course, Santa at 8pm. Stroll the many market stalls, rides for the kids, food vans, and

fireworks at 8.50pm. This event is raising much needed funds for Tonys Community Kitchen, a homeless meal service open 365 nights a year (www.tonyscommunity.org.au).

DECEMBERTOOWOOMBA REGIONLIBRARIESACTIVITIES

Scheduled activities include Festive Fever –design various Christmas decorations, all ages, all day.

CecilPlains: December 14-23

Clifton: December 20-22

CrowsNest: December 12, 10-11am: Cookie Capers; December 19, 10-11am: Twinkling Lanterns

Goombungee: December 16-23

Highfields: (all 6-12 years) December 13 & 14, 10.30-11.30am Festive Fever – elf training; December 19-23: Festive Fever

Millmerran: December 12-16 and 19-23

Oakey: December 12-16

Pittsworth: Hero costume crafting (December 12 – January 20); December 14 and January 11: superhero training. Create a costume, then complete an obstacle course and create a miniature hero.

Quinalow: December 13, 1.30-2.30pm: Cookie Capers; December 19-23: Festive Fever;

Yarraman: December 14, 2-3.30pm:

See what’s happening in and around the Garden City this month

Summer activities

There is nothing wrong with allowing your child or children to just decompress for a few weeks, especially when you may be gearing up for a busy Christmas week.

Talk to any parent approaching the end of the school year and they’ll tell you the kids are exhausted and tempers are frayed.

It’s the culmination of 12 months of learning, after-school activities and end-ofyear concerts – add to that the building excitement of Christmas being just around the corner – and it’s a recipe for disaster.

But what can you do to overcome the end of year burnout and make the summer school holidays relaxing and fun for the whole family, even if you still have to work some of the time?

For the first few weeks of holidays, between school ending and Christmas, all the kids want to do is rest and not have to rush out the door every morning – embrace it as much as you can.

Plan for quiet days at home doing activities the kids enjoy doing – reading, arts and crafts, playing with Lego, board games and afternoon rest or movie time.

If your children are up for it, plan a morning or afternoon out here and there, to a local park or pool, but let them be the guide.

Toowoomba Regional Council’s Change Project runs events all year round in the region’s parks. Go to www.tr.qld.gov.au/ change for full program listings.

Before you know it, it’ll be the new year and time to start thinking about heading back to school.

Now is a great time to start getting the kids back into some sort of routine again.

Try and get the kids back into their normal morning and bedtime routines, and planning more enriching activities – visits to museums, the library, even swimming lesson blocks at your local pool or swim school.

Many museums and libraries run school holiday programs, which provide engaging educational activities.

Swimming blocks consist of a lesson every day for five days – it’s a great way for kids to build on their existing skills.

In January, Milne Bay Aquatic and Fitness Centre is holding a school holiday intensive

water safety, learn to swim and stroke advancement program.

The school holiday program is open to new and existing clients.

Intensive classes run for 30min with the same instructor for five consecutive days.

This is a great way to have fun and fasttrack your child’s swimming abilities.

Running from January 9 to January 13, the programs are suitable for children from three years of age.

Cost is $70 per child for five days (paid upfront) with bookings required, so please email milnebay-highfields.swimschool @tr.qld.gov.au or call 4688 6330 during business hours.

For regular activities at the Region’s pools and fitness centres, please visit www.tr.qld.gov.au/pools.

You might even consider enrolling the children in a school holiday program, or vacation care program.

Many programs exist and provide play and leisure opportunities that are meaningful to children and support their wellbeing, learning and development.

The programs include excursions and incursions, where activity providers come to the facility, and themed in-service days.

Handmade Christmas cards; December 21, 23.30pm: Christmas Crackers (make your own cracker).

Please note, all children under 12 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Bookings are essential for most indoor activities. For full details, please visit www.tr.qld.gov.au/facilities-recreation/ libraries/libraryprograms/12046libraryevents

ForregularactivitiesattheRegion’s Libraries,pleasevisittr.qld.gov.au/library

Council is on-hand to keep the kids occupied over the holidays

Gather and Graze

On Saturday, November 12, glamorously dressed crowds turned up to The Goods Shed for the Gather and Graze black tie dinner to raise funds for Hope Horizons. The event raised more than $200,000 for the charity which supports people living with cancer.

scenePictures:NevMadsen

Bree Miller, Tarla Duggan, Lauren Phoenix and Lisa Duggan.

Ann-Maree Dadic and Denieka Anderson.

Eilish Clanchy and Jeremy Neuendorf.

Cat Ardi Brennan, Carla Ardi Blaik and Sharleen Smith.

Kristie Laing, Lauren Staley, Bek Clayton, Morgan McGahan and Sarah Dobby.

Beau Minnett-Vesnaver and Katrina Merchant.

Jane McAlpine, Stephanie Cunningham and Madeline Duke.

Jo Capp, Kay Barrett, Steffi Jachmann and Jo Kelly.

Emma Sheppard, Laura Gleeson and Elysha Dorman.

events scene

Trophy Man with (left) Lachlan Hogan and Toni McPaul (right).

The Focus HR Business Excellence Awards, presented by Toowoomba Chamber, was hosted by Rumours International on Saturday, November 5.

Focus HR Business Excellence Awards

Pictures:SaltStudios

(From left) Alistair Green of Focus HR, the Excavation Equipment team, and Naomi Wilson, founding director Focus HR.

MC for the evening, Harrison Humphries of CG Law.

Cat Ardi of Excavation Equipment and Lachlan Hogan (Hogans Family Jewellers).

Kate Ruijter of Classic Beauty Therapy.