Exhale 04

exhale IT'S TIME TO TAKE A BREATH / ENJOY A DOSE OF FRESHNESS BY THE AVAALERS

STEEN JONES

No Risk No Reward AUS $7.95 | NZ $8.95

ISSN 2207 -5623

TRIBUTE

A Quest for the Perfect Bar of Chocolate

TOP 5 PODCASTS For Health and Wellbeing

Gotcha4Life Building Tomorrows’ Man

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28 people & places Jones 12 Steen Internationally recognised

food & drink 28

To strengthen immunity and promote health

Artist and business owner

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Ingrid & Lara Two Sydney based artists who are living their dream

Larapinta Trek A 6-day trek in Central Australia more than a walk in the bush

Incredible India A guide to the most incredible country in the world

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Asian Inspired Remedies

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Garlics’ Super Powers The surprising benefits of adding garlic to your diet

Decadent Desserts Spoil yourself with these healthy and delicious recipes

Deutz Champagne Celebrate this holiday season in style with a French classic

health & life 4 Life 44 Gotcha The schools program helping young men understand mental health

Overload 48 Overcome Ideas for organising your life and optimising your performance

54 Podcasts Our Top 5 picks for Health and Wellbeing podcasts

Walk 58 Wonderdog Take a walk with your pooch this October to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation

is Just a Number 60 Age How a group of 70 year olds are keeping fit and staying young

contents/

intro/

20 business & money 56

Stockmarket Conundrum 10 Golden rules to keep your investments on track

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Money for Nothing How a well know winemaker turned excess stock into a successful marketing campaign

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Perfect Chocolate!

A quest to create the worlds’ best chocolate bar...

And we succeeded!

Our story on page 30

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intro/ One of the questions that we really look at when filling the pages of EXHALE is whether you, the reader, is going to benefit from this? Even better would be that the information made life for you in some way – big or small – better…

To help us with that we look at these 3 things…

1. Decisions 2. Own it 3. Benefits Decisions: To change your life you need to make decisions. It could be about something new or something you have been labouring on for a long time. It could be anything from going to gym, writing your book, starting your own business or whatever. Now, whether it be a big decision of life like getting married or having a child, or a minor decision – all calls you make will influence the direction your life takes you – Our articles aim to positively contribute to that process.

Own it: Do what is required to commit to the calls you make – it’s what you do that is the basis of who you are and how you will be perceived.

BREATHE IN GENTLY SLOWLY DEEPLY / EXHALE

We want to show you examples of people like Steen Jones in this edition that have done this in some form – really leading by example.

Benefits: The benefits can change your life completely – it is entirely up to you – it is a process, from decision through owning it then to the positive benefits that come – but the journey can be incredibly rewarding.

We hope you enjoy this edition of EXHALE have fun – we certainly did putting it together…

Gareth & Mike

The AVAALER Team

exhale Co- Founders Mike Charter Gareth Pike Editorial Director Jane Pike Creative Director Kris Abbey Assistant Editor Jasmin Pike 6

Editorial Contribution Lindsay Fisher Photography Valerie Charter Unsplashed Jane Pike Advertising/ Sales Sara Senn sara.senn@avaalgroup.com

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Questions & feedback AVAAL Group Pty Ltd 2/3 Apollo Street Warriewood NSW 2102 Phone

+61 (2) 8919 2125 Email

info@avaalgroup.com

Exhale and AVAALER are registered trademarks of AVAAL Group. Reproduction of any of the Exhale magazine material without written permission from the publishers is strictly prohibited. The acceptance of advertising does not necessarily imply endorsement of services or products. Cover price is recommended price only.

contributors/ Dr Katrina Warren

Prof Adrian Raftery

Dr Katrina Warren is Australia's most-loved vet. From saving pets' lives as a vet to appearances as resident vet on Totally Wild and Harry's Practice to a stint in the US as the star of Beverly Hills Vet and Housecat Housecall, Dr Katrina Warren is principal of the Wonderdogs Program.

Adrian Raftery is the course director for financial planning at Deakin University and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a Certified Financial Planner, a CPA and a Chartered Tax Adviser. Adrian is also the author of ‘101 Ways to Save Money on Your Tax- Legally!’ and is a Director of Dr Super Strategies.

Blythe Rowe Straight shooting Blythe has spent a large part of her career training and educating people on how to deal with 'the tough stuff'! Her company, Human Incite helps organisations create the right kind of riots within their workplace - to drive people performance, biz results and create awesome places to work.

Heidi Dugan

Chef Peter Edmunds Chef Peter is an expert in great food and chocolate. His passion is creating a superior taste and the environmental benefit of quality organic food. A talented French chocolatier and chocolate connoisseur.

Heidi has been involved in magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar, Shanghai TV Weekly, Shanghai Daily and China People’s Evening Newspaper.

She has been a host and guest on numerous TV shows, such as You are the Chef, Culture Matters and Talk Talk to discuss nutrition, diet and food culture. Heidi is based in Shanghai with her family, where she has lived for the past 20 years.

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during boarding, "It's so wonderful to hear an Australian accent again; we know we are heading home!"

avaaler

One particular example was when I brought professional surfer, Mick Fanning home from South Africa, after his shark attack. He commented on how appreciative he was of all the crew, who were warm and caring and made the trip on a Qantas plane truly enjoyable, after such a traumatic time.

What does it mean to you to be able to offer support/volunteer your time to Living Ocean?

Any type of volunteer work is great for the soul. I believe that life is made up of a series of experiences, so you may as well have as many purposeful and enjoyable ones as you possibly can. Living Ocean is the vehicle for me to continue my passion and really make a difference in the world.

Sam Barripp/ “In 1994, I stood on the Ballina breakwall with a childhood friend watching the sunset, when I witnessed a wild bottlenose dolphin breach in front of me; five times! This might not seem significant but only hours before, I visited my dying mother in hospital for the very last time. This beautiful experience made me feel so positive during an incredibly sad time of my life. The ocean has always been my ‘happy place’, it makes me feel alive. This experience lit a fire of commitment and passion in me and I've been giving back to the ocean and marine mammals ever since” Sam Barripp, has worked for Qantas as a Customer Service Manager (CSM) for 26 years.

For much of that time serving Business Class passengers, a job which entails constantly juggling the needs of others and insuring a positive experience for all. With this in mind, it’s inspiring to hear that he also volunteers his spare time to Living Ocean.

Living Ocean is a charity that promotes awareness of human impact on the ocean, through research, education and creative activity in the community. All the while, celebrating and honouring the natural environment and lifestyle the ocean offers us. An example of the help Sam has provided for our marine environment is his assistance in preventing a Western Australian gas

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company from conducting seismic testing off Newcastle and Sydney waters during September 2017. At this time of year, mother and calf Humpback Whales are migrating south, back to Antarctic waters where a mother Humpback begins to teach her calf behavioural lessons.

“Timing is essential”, explains Sam “As mother and calf spend one year together before separating. If the tests had gone ahead, it would have been disastrous for the whales as noise from seismic testing would have severely impacted the ability for a mother Humpback to teach her calf these vital life lessons, as well as rerouting them off their natural migratory path.”

This is one of the many ways Living Ocean cares for the natural environment.

We believe Sam is a great example of an AVAALER and we asked him a few questions..

In your job as a CSM with Qantas, how do you add value to the travel experience of your customers?

As the CSM on-board Qantas, I set a warm and friendly, ‘Australian’ tone to every flight. I feel proud to be a conduit bringing customers home to Australia from overseas. I often hear

What does being an AVAALER mean to you?

Being an AVAALER means making connections with like-minded people. It's natural for me to read personality traits and see how people best complement each other. It comes with my job of managing crew and helping customers. I have used this attribute to bring people together and create better connections, identifying where I can help solve a problem or make an impact on others. If more of us AVAALED ourselves to others the world would be a more selfless and positive place.

For information about Living Ocean please visit- livingocean.org.au

Valentino Rudy Ad

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people and places/

people

body ink/

it’s not just skin deep 12

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Steen is creative director of ‘Few and Far’ studio, he owns ‘Few and Far Collective’, an art-inspired clothing label and is also the owner of an amazingly well decorated Brisbane café, ‘Deathproof’ which opened in June this year with a boom!

Steen’s smile, energy and passion for creativity and design, are part of his special talents. These qualities help explain how he has more than 56,000 followers on Instagram, has shipped 15,000 orders of his clothing to more than 50 countries and why his unique style is in demand by businesses all over the world.

Five years ago, Steen Jones was a two-meter tall, heavily tattooed carpenter.

Today he’s a two meter tall, heavily-tattooed internationallyrecognised artist, business-owner and much more!

His work adorns buildings right across Australia, including a new 150 square meter mural in Sydney’s Parramatta which covers the entire side of a five-storey building.

Transforming a dull space into a work of art that moves people on a grand scale.

Steen has painted murals in Hawaii, Bondi, Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland. His work can be found on just about everything from skateboard decks, surfboards, walls, coffee tables and doughnut boxes, to underwear, backpacker accommodation, cafes and shopfronts.

Now he’s designed the packaging on Australia’s newest and most exciting organic chocolate- the Tribute bar. Steen has many balls in the air and doesn’t have much time for rest, but he’s living his dream!

A move from hometown Brisbane, (where he worked as a tattoo artist) to Melbourne’s Fitzroy, proved life-changing as he immersed himself in the area’s vibrant street art scene.

“I was inspired by everything,” he says, “from graffiti and tagging to street art installations and Melbourne in general.”

“It was exciting moving interstate, into a reconditioned warehouse overlooking the city, in a street filled with art which would literally change weekly, but I needed money.

So I decided it was time to hang up the tattoo pens and dust off my hammer. Carpentry wasn’t my ideal job, but aside from working in a tattoo shop, it was all I knew.”

But so popular was Steen’s work, the commission's kept flooding in.

“The first two years in Melbourne were the hardest of my life. I was both physically and mentally wrecked,” he says. “It was carpentry by day, and painting my ass off at night, then blogging, and occasionally dabbling with aerosol paint. But the money was good and my boss was a legend. He’d go a little easier on me the mornings I’d roll into work like a zombie because I had been up working on my art until all hours.”

Two years later Steen scraped together funds and headed for street-art event Pow Wow Hawaii. It was a life-changing decision, giving him the strength, inspiration and confidence to kick off his ‘Few and Far Collective’, which enabled him to down-tools and live the creative life.

Steen’s design work and his body, is heavily inspired by traditional tattoo imagery. “Oldstyle tattoos really appeal to me because they’re simple, bold and to the point,” he says. “Then one day it hit me. Why don’t I use these themes to create large-scale artworks?

Like a tattoo on the side of a building.”

He’d stumbled on a winning idea and before long Steen’s work had been noticed, and snapped-up by US brand Sailor Jerry Rum. Since then, Steen has also worked with leading brands including Vans, Bonds, Red Bull, Delta Airlines and now, Tribute.

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biggest idols and role models. Two years on and it's still hard to believe. The craziest part about it is, I bought a laser engraver especially for the idea and the pieces were our first ever trial run! Luckily they turned out better than I imagined and Tony Hawk, Steve Cabellero and Rune Glifberg loved them! No risk, no reward.

And a tie for second would be: Designing underwear for Bonds. Never-ever did I think they would like my work but here I am with four exclusive and limited edition, Steen Jones x Bonds briefs! Crazy.

Last but not least, the branding fun with Tribute. I've recently fallen in love with designing packaging and have always loved chocolate so it’s the perfect fit.

What’s a key ingredient of your success?

I'm independent and self-motivated and I believe the key to being at peace is being yourself at your most creative. That’s when you’re able to do your best work and flourish.

When I wait for opinions or feedback it holds me back and even sometimes de-motivates me, so I made the decision to trust myself.

Staying true to myself is imperative.

What inspires you - artistically or otherwise? It doesn't seem to matter where I am in the world, I'm always finding, writing down or photographing something. I think it's important, it fuels my creativity and gives me energy. So I'm always on the lookout, whether I realise it or not.

Why did you chose to work on designing the branding for Tribute Chocolates? Well firstly I love premium chocolate! And the idea of my designs included on the packaging of a high quality product and in the hands of consumers, makes me feel super proud.

What does the TRIBUTE project mean to you? There are hundreds of thousands of incredibly talented artists out there, so for me to be selected to design the allimportant wrapper, is a huge achievement in itself. To be handpicked to work on things

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I truly love (like chocolate!) and to enjoy every second of the process is the best. The team are great guys, which makes it even more enjoyable. I'm humbled to be where I am and grateful for every opportunity especially this one with Tribute.

What do you find most amazing about your story? My whole career thus far! I went to school in a small country town in Queensland, with 100 kids and I was never really into art. I never thought in my wildest dreams I'd be an artist. But here I am and I'm definitely happier, more excited and prouder than ever.

What's the most incredible thing you’ve done? Without a doubt, the coolest is being commissioned to design and make gifts, for not only the VIPs of the world-renowned Vans Bowl-A-Rama skate contest, but some of my

And your greatest achievement? Being able to break away from the ‘normal’ and create the life I wanted. And to be honest, I don’t even feel like I have a job anymore. I don’t take days off and don’t want them – I cannot stay awake long enough or wake up early enough.

Four crazy, sleep-deprived, coffee-fuelled, ruthless and unfathomably amazing years on, I’m humbled, happier, more refined, focused and dedicated than ever.

I’ve created my groove, discovered my true passions and been supported by the most amazing, trusting and loyal clientele that I ever could have hoped for. And if that wasn’t already perfect, I’ve also been fortunate enough to work with a bunch of my favourite artists and collaborate with some of my favourite brands and companies, including AVAAL and their brand new Tribute chocolate bar.

For more visit www.steenjones.com

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people

Ingrid Bowen/ living her dream Artist Ingrid Bowen is living her dream. She spends her days immersed in the beautiful Australian bush, creating evocative artworks of muted colour and fine detail. Some would say she’s lucky. Others would say what she’s actually creating, is her own destiny.

Combining traditional watercolour and contemporary mixed media, Ingrid’s work explores heartfelt, emotional responses to landscapes.

Her work can only be described as mesmerising. By using simple observations of light, colour, detail and space, the viewer is drawn into a world caught between whimsy and nostalgia.

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Just three years ago, Ingrid took a leap of faith. She stepped away from her ‘real job’ in the travel industry to pursue her long-held ambition and launched herself as a full-time artist. Despite the hard work, the pressure, the risks, fears and self-doubts, she couldn’t be happier.

Working from a picturesque studio at the Eramboo Artist Environment in Sydneys’ Terrey Hills, Ingrid now spends her days surrounded by the flora and fauna of the National Park, doing exactly what she loves.

“It’s more than simply painting all day,” she says. “I have to treat it seriously. I have to invest time and money, to focus and commit, just like anyone does when they launch a solo venture. It’s a small business. You have to pay attention to admin, opportunities, communications and accounts. That’s easily said,” She laughs, “but not always easily done!”

If you want to survive as an artist, you have to produce the works and as many artists know, finding that inspiration can be tough. Ingrid admits to being an escapist, her love of travel keeps her inspired and never short of ideas for the next body of work.

“I really love the air and the scenery of inland rural and alpine NSW”, she says. “I live in the city but I’m a country girl at heart, with an idyllic view of rural life.”

Nostalgia and a connection to country are a large part of my practice and I’m fascinated with exploring the emotional response we have when viewing or visiting a particular place.

But taking that leap of faith wasn’t easy.

“The more art I created, the more I wanted to make,” says Ingrid. “Art was slowly taking over my life. It became more and more consuming until I was brave enough to let go of my ‘other life’ and let myself become an ‘artist’.”

Ingrid says her biggest challenge was sending her works out into the world. “I had a lot of encouragement,” she says. “Opening yourself to scrutiny is tough, but I needed to get out there, even though it wasn’t easy.

You have to be persistent and resilient” Ingrid has discovered there is more to working as an artist than being a creative

soul. “It’s a business like any other,” she says. “I needed to discover how I worked best; I had to commit the time and effort to developing my work and invest in my professional development, as well as learn to navigate the art shows and galleries. It’s important to be honest with yourself and be realistic about your aims and expectations.”

Ingrid says once she found the courage to let go of her ‘real job’, she’s never looked back.

But it’s not all self-expression and loveliness, there have also been some hard lessons to learn. “It’s easy to overwork a piece, and harder to stop yourself before you stuff it up!

I have a large pile of rejects in my studio but I’ve learnt something from each one.

“Once I’ve settled on my concept or direction, I set to work developing a theme, the colour palette and the drawings. My initial application of the watercolour is very loose, to allow the materials to respond and react in a natural way. Then I incorporate details from real life, or from memory. But I like to leave some ambiguity in the artwork so the viewer can complete their own story.”

“As a landscape painter, I’m continually moved by the connections and coincidences unearthed when studying places. I always start by looking broadly at the land, but inevitably finish by uncovering the human element," says Ingrid.

For more details visit- ingridbowen.com.au

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Lara Scolari/

The Energy of Abstract Expression

Lara Scolari is lucky enough to list her current occupation as ‘Abstract Expressionist’. Abstract Expressionism by definition is“Characterised by gestural brush strokes or mark-making and the impression of spontaneity.”

Her works are gestural, reflecting these changing emotions using experimental techniques and processes.

An artist working out of a light-filled studio in Sydney’s vibrant harbourside Balmain, Lara spends her days turning energy into magic.

Lara is acutely aware of the vibrancy of her marine environment.

Lara’s latest collection features a series of multilayered circles, which she says, create a space for contemplation and a resting place for thoughts. She uses a variety of media to create this whirling vitality, in veiled layers of translucent blues and greens, which intersect with black, grey and milky white.

Light dancing on calming waters juxtaposes with speeding motorboats and choppy waves fuelled by powerful gusts.

“I find myself floating from active energy to serene immersion”, she says. “From vitality to calmness. My work portrays this shift

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We had a chat with Lara to find out a little more about what makes an artist tick.

Where do you find your inspiration? From nature, my surroundings and my inner chi! I find such inspiration in the beautiful waters of Sydney Harbour, the light and movement of the water that is constantly changing.

Who is your favourite living artist and why? Oh... that’s a tough one, I have lots, I could not really single it out. But let's go with a couple of my most inspirational living Australian Artists - that would be Ildiko Kovacs and Ken Done, I love the way they use colour and energy to transport the viewer.

How do you know when your art/painting is finished? That is the biggest conundrum... but basically when the dialogue of the work stops and you are not sure what the next mark is. It can be very difficult to know when to step away.

and provides the viewer with the space to engage with the whole spectrum of energy.

I’m supporting other artists by visiting exhibitions and galleries.

"Contemplating my circles can transport the viewer to another state of mind I like to think they have a joyous, moving feeling and they overflow with positive energy,” says Lara.

“It’s a form of mediation. I try to let go and feel art. I have learned not to get caught up in the outcomes, but to relax and feel the energy, then just let the process happen," says Lara.

Lara does know what she’s talking about. She has a Masters Degree in Cross Disciplinary Art and Design from the University of NSW, as well as many years of developing and perfecting her craft.

When she’s not up to her elbows in paint, she’s making plans for the next time she’ll get her hands dirty. “My art-making is all-consuming”, she says. “When I’m not painting, I’m thinking about painting, or

I’m really interested in how this energy affects the viewing process, how an artwork can transform you to a state of calmness in much the same way as a piece of music

What inspired you to take the plunge into full time work as an artist? After winning a six month artist residency and taking this time from my full time job in the public gallery sector, to work on my art making practice, I was hooked!

What drives you to pursue your art? It’s just something within, I am always so excited to get into the studio, a place to play and immerse myself.

Any advice for those try to make a start in the creative fields? Do what inspires you and makes you feel energised and connected with your soul. Just go for it and make, make and make!

You can view Lara’s work at The Lara Scolari Studio/Gallery Balmain, Sydney www.larascolari.com

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PLACES

Larapinta trail/

by Jane Pike

Don't be afraid of the unknown as you never know how great the rewards can be

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Standing on the ridge I look down on the surprisingly green rolling hills and the valley we have just climbed through. Breathing deeply the fresh air that rushes up the valley and swirls all around me, I open my arms wide to feel the cool wind blowing my clothes, I feel amazing- I feel like I could fly! On the same ridge, above and below me, stand my travel companions, feeling the same exhilaration, arms also outstretched. “Woo Hoo!� one of them cries, at the top of her lungs, her voice blown away by the rushing wind. Soon we all join in with our own chorus, a joyous celebration of friends, of our beautiful surrounds of just feeling so alive! This is the moment I realise the trek I am experiencing, will be not just a walk in the wilderness, but an incredible, rewarding journey.

the trail, covering a variety of terrain, from the stunning Ormiston Pound; a vast 45km wide natural impoundment, to watching the sunrise over Mount Sonder, the third largest mountain in the NT. We are led each day by a team of three young guides who are all generous in sharing their knowledge of our surrounds, while they capably guide (and cook for- yeah!) us each day.

Earlier this year I joined two of my closest friends, plus eight other ladies for a six day trek, on the famous Larapinta Trail. The trail is 223 kms long and winds through the West MacDonnell ranges, a half hour drive west of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory (NT). Our trek will explore the highlights of

I approached the trek with an open mind, unsure of what to expect. I have never travelled to Central Australia, never completed a week long trek and never travelled with a group comprising of only women, plus we were to spend each morning walking in silence, something

A close friend decided to trek the Larapinta to celebrate her 50th Birthday and asked me if I would like to join her. As typical of many mothers I debated if I should take the trip, leaving my family to their own devices for a week, but with their encouragement I decided it would be OK to take the time out of my busy life and do something just for me!

else I had never done, or to be honest even contemplated! I was however, very excited for the adventure and had hopes of what I would experience.

The chance to explore new surroundings, be out in the open air, challenge myself physically and enjoy time with friends, as well as hopefully making new connections. What I gained from the experience however, was quite surprising and so much more than I ever imagined. It changed the way I think, in five interesting ways.

Find Beauty in the Simple Things The landscape of the MacDonnell ranges is softer than I expected. Millions of years of erosion gives an overall gentle feeling, despite jagged cliffs punctuating the landscape. In many places you can clearly see how the land was formed, the steep upward thrust of a whole range of hills, which has been forced up during the creation of the continent.

The variety of colours are unexpected. We walk each day through a patchwork of colour, grey green spinifex covers many of the rolling hills, mixed with darker greens of small curry wattles bushes, then randomly spotted with the emerald of eucalyptus. Another day takes us through Ormiston Gorge.

The square cut, sheer stone cliffs of the ancient gorge are the vibrant red you associate with this area, scattered throughout the floor of the gorge however, the same stone has been smoothed by thousands of years of running water, which has turned it a gorgeous shade of purple, the contrast is stunning. Skinny white Ghost Gums cling to the sides of the gorge, many defying gravity and seeming to rise from the rock itself with no sight of soil.

The light and colours constantly change through the day. The sparkling fresh morning light, reflective and glowing. The soft mid morning light leaves a haze over the distant hills and shadows in the creases, reminiscent of a Namatjira watercolour. While the harsher midday sun sharpens the brilliant reds and ochres of the rocks and soil.

I find beauty in surprising places. The spiky spinifex grass, prolific on the trail is dry and uninteresting during the heat of day. In the soft early morning

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light however, the sun glistens on the stems of the grass illuminating the tiny seeds along the stem. The entire hill sparkles as these stems are blown in the breeze, creating a shimmering carpet. On one ridge a recent fire has left many small trees burnt, but rather than detracting from the view they form solitary sculptures along the trail, their blackened limbs still reaching for the sun.

Time Out is Oh So Important I couldn’t believe that such a short time away from everyday life and responsibilities, could be so rejuvenating. I came back feeling so fresh, relaxed and ready to focus.

Being physically tired from the daily heat and walking, meant l slept soundly, a great starting point for recharging your energy.

Then there was the fact that we were completely off the grid, no phone, no email, no social! I know this would be hard for some to imagine, but for me it meant I was stress free and was truly able to forget about work and not constantly worry about family, or what might be happening at home. I really believe we can all benefit greatly from removing electronics from our lives, even for just a short time. This allows you to truly focus on the here and now and get the most out of your break.

We Need to Connect with Others One of the challenges of life today is staying connected with others. Social media allows us to stay in ‘contact’ with friends, past and present, but we often miss out on face to face connection. Technology means we order things on the internet rather than shopping and even voice recognition means we can easily go about our daily business, paying our bills for example, without having to talk to a real person.

My Nana turned 100 this year, she often talks of spending time in her childhood ‘going visiting’. Driving around to see friends and family, a regular Sunday outing.

Unfortunately, our busy lives don’t seem to allow as much time now for such simple socialising. One of the rewarding aspects of this journey, was enjoying companionship with a like-minded group of women.

Throughout history women have bonded

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over shared tasks, sharing parenting responsibilities, offering support and just enjoying each other’s company. Sadly we often lack these simple moments today.

and decide what is important in your life and what you just need to let go of.

One of the genuine pleasures of my trip was sitting around the campfire each night. We would bring our chairs in close to the fire, forming a tight circle. Those who wished, shared stories, insights or emotions from the day or from their lives. We created a nourishing, comfortable and feminine space, accepting and open to all, no judging, just listening. The bonds we formed in this week will be shared for many years to come.

I was surprised at the reaction I received when I explained to friends we walked in silence each day until midday. Some were shocked “I couldn’t do that!” Others looked at me quizzically “But what’s the point?”

Put Your LIFE in Perspective Each night we sleep in swags, scattered along a dry riverbed under the amazing canopy of stars. There is nothing quite as dazzling as the majesty of the stars as seen in the outback. Lying each night looking up at this sparkling wonder, helps me put the trivial aspects of my life in perspective. To appreciate the vastness of the world and remember to ‘not sweat the small stuff’.

Likewise, watching the sunrise over Mt Sonder, following a two kilometer climb in darkness, is a humbling and beautiful sight.

Each member of our group finds a quiet spot to sit as we wait the dawn. Watching the world come into focus as the sun gradually appears, first a small blush of colour outlining the hills and finally as a golden circle breaking over the horizon and beginning the day. As I look out over the endless landscape before me and witness this stunning sight, it makes me wonder about the little things that bother me in life, are they really worth the stress. It’s good to step back sometimes

Learn to Love the Silence

The point, I guess is we live in a busy world where noise is constant. Moments of silence are few and far between. It did take a little to get used to, but honestly silence was one of the most rewarding aspects of the journey.

Firstly when you shut down one sense all others are heightened, allowing you to see, smell and hear so much more than you would otherwise.

When there is no general chitchat in the group, you hear the crunch of rocks underfoot, the squawk of birds’ overhead and the swooshing of the wind as it blows through the valleys. You notice the tiny flowers growing between the stones on the path, the intricate spider webs lit by the sun or you smell the warmth and dust in the air.

Silence allows you to be completely present and really appreciate the beauty all around.

Time spent in silence also allows you to really think deeply about different aspects of your life. Helping you process and hopefully let go of some of the clutter, the noise that can fill your head, a rewarding and valuable experience. Just a week away, but I gained so much. We all need to open ourselves up to new possibilities and experiences. Don't be afraid of the unknown as you never know how great the rewards can be.

watching the sunrise over Mt Sonder, following a two kilometRE climb in darkness, is a humbling and beautiful sight.

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PLACES

incredible India/

By Kris Abbey

It is a constant cacophony of beeping horns, high-speed Rickshaws and the hubbub of people. A melange of smells - of incense, spices and decomposing anything and everything - all amplified by the heat. The constant heat. Every sense is stimulated beyond what you thought capable.

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Like an ethnic sari, India entwines the varied shades of its culture with the vibrant embroidery of its cities. Its stunning landscape stretches from towering Himalayan peaks in the north to the warm tropical coastline of the south. From the arid Thar Desert in the west to dense forests in the east. India is considered the most multidimensional country in the world. It is everything, and more, all at once. A sensory explosion of sights, sounds and smell.

India is home to more than one billion people. For those looking for an enriching spiritual experience, India presents a wide variety of sacred sites and inspiring philosophies. Meanwhile, fans of outdoor activities can rejoice in the sparkling waters of the southern beaches framed by palm trees, or mount elephants and spot big cats in the jungle, or simply breathe the scent of wildflowers during a rejuvenating walk through the forest.

sense of space (rare in this country). All the major tech companies have a presence here, contributing to the comopolitan CBD, and it is referred to as India’s Silicon Valley, adding to the juxtaposition of India - so old and traditional, yet creators of the most futuristic computer concepts.

DELHI It is highly unlikely that your first impression of Delhi will be positive, especially if it’s also your first impression of India! You will notice the pollution, over-population, smells and noises long before the real charms of the city. But it’s worth persevering, as the history of Delhi is fascinating and omnipresent: the bazaars of Paharganj are a wonderful introduction to the Bohemian India, the architecture of the monuments of the city is most impressive and the food is delicious.

Delhi is also the capital and a major business hub of India. In a word, overwhelming!

AGRA A three-hour drive from Delhi, Agra is situated in the state of Uttar Pradesh and was the centre of the cultural and imperial Mughal kingdom. A visit to India is never complete without visiting the Taj Mahal, the icon of the country and a symbol of architectural brilliance. Agra preserves a fort, beautiful palaces, mausoleums and tombs of the Mongol era that lie in the shadow of the Taj Mahal - so breathtaking and majestic that no expression of love could outshine it. Moving around the city is easy with rickshaws and taxis, however one of the most fun ways to see the city is in a ‘tonga’, a covered, horse-drawn carriage. Even with

the Taj Mahal, Agra is best as a day-trip from Delhi. Hire a car (with driver) for about $90 and you can be taken there and back in a day. Stop at some of the little villages along the way, or cheer on a game of cricket in the rice and tea fields.

BENGALURU Commonly called the ‘garden city of India’, Bengaluru is famous for public parks, bustling bazaars, colonial architecture and historic museums. Bengaluru, which many still know as Bangalore, is a city where tradition merges with modernity. The legacy of Bengaluru is reflected in the architecture of its buildings. Admire the palace of Bengaluru, a Tudor-style building built in 1887, and the opulent temple of ISKCON— the reflection of Hare Krishna movement.

The nickname ‘garden city’ is due to the numerous natural spaces, such as the famous Cubbon Park (the home of cricket). Lalbagh’s botanical gardens display one of the largest collections of tropical plants in India. A few hours’ drive from Bengaluru will take you to Bannerghatta National Park, where you can go on safari to spot a range of wildlife including deer, bison and bears.

Bangaluru is also the home of the only Yoga Hospitals and Research Centres in the world, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (S-VYASA). Although I was lucky enough to visit for the day, most people who visit are patients suffering any number of lifestyle-related illnesses, from cancer and drug addiction to stress, diet and sleep disorders. Here yoga, meditation, Ayurveda and an organic, vegetarian diet is used to treat non-communicable diseases. The positive effects of yoga are well known and the results of the S-VYASA program have been documented in over 250 research papers published in leading peer-reviewed national and international journals. Lab coats are replaced with yoga wear, and the food is prepared fresh for each meal with ingredients sourced from the large organic gardens. Western hospitals could certainly learn a lot from this ‘food as medicine’ approach to healing!

India has to be visited for you to fully appreciate its magic. You will learn the art of flexibility, and not just by doing yoga!

It’s a place where nothing goes to plan.

Expect the unexpected. And that just might be getting caught by her spell and falling in love with her chaos, crowds and roads with cows.

For me, Bangaluru is a must-visit city. More so than Delhi. It gives you a big taste of India in one place, while the large gardens give a

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food and drink/ 26

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FOOD

Asian inspired recipes/

By Heidi Dugan

There are records of the use of Chinese tonic teas as far back as 2500 years ago, one ancient text lists 52 ‘tonic’ herbs recommended for health and vitality.

Since then these tonics and teas have been refined and interestingly, are still very much a part of Chinese modern living, still being relied upon by both the old and young, to cure and prevent a wide range of ailments and needs.

The biggest benefits of tonic teas, are that they strengthen and balance the body so that it can fight illness, unlike many modern medicines, which may heal the ailment, but often weaken the body at the same time. Tonic teas are used with prevention in mind, emphasising the promotion of health, strengthening immunity so we are less susceptible to getting sick or vulnerable to what causes disease in the first place.

‘Superfood’ is a buzz word we have been hearing for a few years now, but many of these foods, such as Goji Berries, have been used in Chinese remedies and tonics for hundreds of years. Traditionally known as Chinese tonic herbs, they are said to promote happiness, longevity, and radiance, to help maintain balance in the body as well as increasing stamina and vitality.

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Traditionally Chinese herbal remedies are either steeped or boiled in hot water and then drunk. Many of the ingredients can also be found cooked into the main dishes of a meal, during the different seasons.

For us in Western culture, we can also benefit from these simple Chinese ingredients and recipes. Below are two traditional Chinese teas that are known in most households and are used whenever one is feeling

under the weather. I have also included two recipes using ingredients that Chinese would add to foods during the change of season or when immune is normally low, like during winter. I’ve incorporated these ingredients into two drinks, one blended and one juiced. Both are great for building your immune system and energy as well as for helping your body cope with the changes of season. The drinks are also easy to create and include in your daily routine.

Steep Chamomile and Goji Tea Use: Stomach upset or change of season, calming Ingredients 1 tsp Chrysanthemum or Chamomile tea 6 Goji berries 3 slices of Ginger Method Steep in hot water for 5 minutes.

Asian Pear and Mandarin Tea Use: Sore Throat, coughs, nausea Ingredients Âź Asian pear thinly sliced 2 pieces of Rock sugar 1/3 Mandarin skin Method Steep in hot water for 5 minutes.

Juice Red Hot Flu Shots Use: fights flu, cold and sore throat.

Ingredients 1 Red Chili 1 cm piece of Ginger 1 cm piece of Turmeric 1 lemon Method Juice all ingredients together.

Key ingredients and their benefits.

Chrysanthemum tea (can be substituted with Chamomile tea): used to settle the stomach and to cleanse your system, also used to calm the spirit.

Goji Berries, Chinese red dates: both of these ingredients are now considered super foods and are great to add to your diet. They help with the production, purification and circulation of blood. They are also high in vitamins C and D and are a good source of Iron.

Ginger & Turmeric: both are known to reduce pain and inflammation, they help with the flu by killing bacteria and can reduce swelling of the throat. Also used to settle the stomach and stop nausea.

Chili: boosts blood circulation, is known to clear sinus inflammation and is antibacterial.

Lemon: boosts your immune system with Vitamin C and alkalizes your body so infection has no place to live.

Mandarin skin: contains high levels of Vitamin C so helps boost your immune system, helps the flow of blood circulation and is an expectorant for chesty coughs.

Blend Energy Booster Smoothie Use: boosts energy and strengthens the blood.

Ingredients A handful of Spinach 2 large Chinese Dates 1 Banana ½ Lemon Water or coconut water To serve: 1 tsp Shredded coconut 5-6 Goji berries Method Blend ingredients and serve with shredded coconut and goji berries sprinkled on top.

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food

perfect chocolate, a gift to your wellbeing/ By chef peter edmunds 30

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CHALLENGE - CREATING THE WORLD'S BEST CHOCOLATE BAR ACCEPTED - PETER EDMUNDS, GARETH PIKE AND MIKE CHARTER TOOK UP (THEIR OWN) CHALLENGE RESULT - TRIBUTE CHOCOLATE BAR Lets see how they did it…

The guys set out on a quest to create the world’s best chocolate bar, a bar which pays tribute to quality and taste. Now, after the combination of years experience, lots of research and dedication, they think they have done exactly that.

Gareth and Mike (AVAAL Group) teamed up with Peter (Lindsay & Edmunds) to create something special with the utmost respect for tradition. Like a fine wine, the perfect chocolate is a gift to your wellbeing. It reflects its heritage, is a delight to the senses and needs only be savoured in small portions.

They created: ‘Tribute’.

As a chef and chocolatier, Peter has always been concerned with the purest and mostflavoursome ingredients, so his creations taste incredible and leave what he calls a ‘taste memory’.

“Remember how amazing it was when you first discovered a buttery mango?” Asks Peter, “or that first zing of lemon sherbet? I want your first taste of Tribute chocolate to be just as memorable.”

“The rose on the packaging signifies enduring passion,” says Gareth, “because the team at Tribute, are passionate about giving you the absolute best.”

Peter believes when it comes to quality chocolate, there are a few must-haves.

Knowing exactly what he was looking for, he boarded the plane for Belgium (renowned home of the finest chocolate producers) and began his search, taking into account the following factors:

Provenance (origin, source, birthplace): It all starts with the bean and we want to know where ours are coming from. To achieve the best and most unique flavour for Tribute we need the best cocoa beans.

Our search led us to the Dominican Republic where Conacado has been pioneering the production of high quality Hispaniola organic cocoa since the 1980’s. Made up of a cooperative of many small farms, Conacado provides invaluable support to the farmers and their families.

The guys are confident they have hit on a winning formula, creating a chocolate which is a Tribute to every sense - so much so that Harris Farm did not hesitate to stock Tribute in their stores.

Single origin Just like wine, cocoa is affected by “terroir” (French from Terre, "land", is the set of all environmental factors that affect a crop's phenotype): Put simply, where a crop is grown affects its quality and its unique flavour. When beans are mixed together from many regions around the world, the result is a confusing mix of flavours.

Even the packaging has been wellconsidered - making a call to engage the talents of Australian artist Steen Jones, who has come up with unique and recognisable branding.

Organic Cocoa is susceptible to and disease and is therefore sprayed pesticides and fungicides. This is for the environment, the growers,

Luxury is often far out of reach, think Ferraris, first class flights and fabulous homes. Our mission with a Tribute was to produce a luxury chocolate, the very best, which everyone can enjoy and really appreciate everyday. of course us, the end consumer. Tribute cocoa beans, sugar and vanilla are all grown using traditional farming practices, with no chemicals or artificial fertilisers.

We have also used milk from animals fed organically and treated with homeopathy, phytotherapy or aromatherapy, providing a completely natural product.

Fairtrade

Often, the cocoa grower doesn’t receive substantial income from their crop. The impact of this is devastating for many communities. Fairtrade is a not for profit organisation, providing support for growers, guaranteeing a minimum price for their cocoa and helping with education, health and infrastructure in developing countries, including West Africa, where the bulk of the world’s cocoa is grown.

Armed with the perfect set of raw ingredients, it was then off to Brussels,

pest with bad and

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The rose on the packaging signifies enduring passion,” says Steen, “because the team at Tribute, are passionate about giving you the absolute best.

where he met with an expert in traditional Belgian techniques. There, Peter’s selection of first-class cocoas was blended perfectly with pure cocoa butter to obtain the most divine flavours.

“The end result is incredible. We have created a 37% milk chocolate bar with the perfect balance between sweet, milky and cocoa with a hint of caramel. And our dark 72% chocolate is full-bodied with a smooth roasted cocoa taste, a warm earthiness and a touch of mushroom," says Peter.

“It’s a Tribute to your senses.”

SIGHT-

Amazing and captivating packaging designed by Steen Jones means the Tribute bar looks as good as it tastes.

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Take off the wrapper, and the embossed chocolate bar looks just as good!

SMELL-

The perfect blend of cocoa means the Tribute bar has a perfect aroma, just like a fine wine.

SOUND- Crispy perfection. Nothing sounds as good as the snap of chocolate.

TASTE- Creamy and divine. The Tribute bar tastes so good it will leave you with a ‘Taste Memory’ you’ll seek out again and again.... ahhh, and again!

FEEL- Tribute’s packaging has been carefully created to ensure the chocolate feels as good in your hand as it does in your mouth.

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food

causes of death worldwide, including heart disease, stroke, cancer and infections.

The National Cancer Institute does not recommend any dietary supplement for cancer prevention, but it does recognise garlic as one of several vegetables with potential anticancer properties.

If that’s not enough, here are five compelling reasons why you should add Garlic to your daily diet:

By Kris Abbey

garlics’super powers/ Intensely aromatic and a great flavour enhancer, garlic is used in most cuisines around the world. It is fantastic thrown into a stir-fry, added to soups and a hearty casserole and no pasta sauce or pizza is complete without a large dose of garlic.

Yet, beyond its characteristic taste, garlic can help prevent cancer, thin your blood by discouraging clots and raise the good type (HDL) of cholesterol. It also has antibacterial, antifungal and antiinflammatory qualities, helping to keep colds and flu at bay.

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Garlic is a powerful natural antibiotic that has antiviral and antibacterial properties. (If I feel a cold or bug coming on, I make a garlic, lemon honey tea that has at least 2 cloves of minced garlic in it. I drink it 2-3 times a day and it always seems to work! )

2

Garlic has numerous anti-cancer properties and appears especially beneficial in protecting you from colon and lung cancer.

3

Garlic improves the function of the cells that line arteries, boosting blood flow and lowering blood pressure.

4

arlic houses many powerful antiG inflammatory compounds, making it an all-round superfood for general disease protection. (Inflammation is a primary driver of most diseases, including obesity.)

5

Garlic is helpful for the prevention of osteoarthritis and maintaining healthy joints.

Why garlic so good for us?

Garlic is particularly high in certain sulfur compounds called Allicins, which are believed to be responsible for its scent and taste, as well as its very positive effects on human health. Garlic ranks only second to turmeric benefits in the amount of research conducted proving this superfoods medicinal properties.

What all this research revealed?

Eating garlic regularly is not only good for you; it has been linked to reducing or even helping to prevent four of the major

DID YOU KNOW According to an ‘old wives tales’, garlic was believed to heal splinters. Simply place a piece of cut garlic over the splinter and cover with a bandage or bandaid.

Leave for a day or two and the splinter should be drawn out and cut healed.

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RECIPES

raw treats/ Snickers Cheesecake Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Refined Sugar Free Ingredients Base

1/4 cup almonds 1/4 cup buckinis 1/4 cup desiccated coconut 4 medjool dates 2 tbsp cacao powder 1/2 tbsp coconut oil

Salted Caramel Peanut Filling

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1 cup cashews (soaked for 3-6 hours) 1/3 cup peanuts 1/2 cup filtered water 1 tbsp mesquite powder 1/2 tbsp tahini 1/2 cup medjool dates 1/4 tsp Himalayan salt 1 tbsp coconut oil 1 tsp vanilla bean powder 1/2 cup peanuts, sprinkled on top of the salted caramel peanut filling 1 cup peanut butter to spread on top of the caramel

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Chocolate topping

150 grams dark chocolate (we use Loving Earth)

Method Combine all ingredients for the base in a high power blender (we use a vitamix) and blend until smooth, add a little extra water if required but be careful not to make the mixture too wet or it will be difficult to remove from the tin.

Press into the base of a greased square spring from cake tin (17cm diameter) and place in the freezer while you make the salted caramel peanut filling.

Drain and rinse soaked cashews. Place all filling ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth and creamy, this takes a few minutes. Spread on top of the base and then sprinkle peanuts on top to evenly cover the surface.

Return to freezer to set for 2-3 hours. Spread a layer of peanut butter on top of the peanut caramel and drizzle with melted raw chocolate. Place in fridge to allow chocolate to set. Serve and enjoy.

Pic’s Peanut Butter Cups Ingredients

1/2 cup cacao powder 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted 2 tbsp cacao butter, melted 2 tbsp coconut nectar 2 tbsp cashew butter 1/8 tsp Margaret river salt 1/2 cup Pic’s Peanut Butter

Method Mix the cacao powder, coconut oil, cacao butter and coconut nectar together in a bowl to make the raw chocolate

Pic’s Peanut Butter Nice Cream Ingredients

4 large frozen bananas, cut into small pieces 1/4 cup Pics Smooth Peanut Butter 1 tbsp mesquite powder 1/2 tsp vanilla bean powder 1/4 tsp Himalayan salt

Method Combine all ingredients in a blender, blend until smooth. Top with banana, Pic’s Peanut Butter, cacao nibs and your choice of granola.

Pour a small amount of chocolate (1-2 teaspoons) into each candy mold to create the bottom.

Place in the freezer for 5 minutes until completely firm.

Mix the remaining ingredients together to create the filling.

Place a small dollop of the filling mix (I use my ½ teaspoon) onto the center of each cup.

Pop the tray back in the freezer for a few minutes to solidify.

Add more raw chocolate to each cup until it is filled to the top.

Place back in the freezer for another 5-10 minutes until solid. Store in the fridge or freezer.

Created by Sophie Fisher from Coconut and Bliss, and Hannah Singleton from Health Synergy www.coconutandbliss.com and Instagram:www.instagram.com/coconutandbliss/ www.healthsynergy.com.au and Instagram: www.instagram.com/healthsynergy/

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drink

pop the cork/

By Tyson Stelzer

Celebration Season is Approaching Celebrate in Style with Champagne - Deutz 38

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As long as I could find the grapes, I could do it” he reflects.

“And not only did we do it, we exceeded it!”

“Fabrice, you are crazy!”This was the response when Deutz President Fabrice Rosset joined the house in 1996 and set a mandate to grow sales from 576,000 bottles to 1.5 million in just six years. No easy task in a region where quality grapes are highly sought after and houses offer ever-spiralling prices to secure supply. “As long as I could find the grapes, I could do it” he reflects. “And not only did we do it, we exceeded it!”

The Deutz Champagne house was founded in 1838 by William Deutz and Pierre-Hubert Geldermann and has since been run by successive generations of the Deutz and Geldermann families; it is based in the historic Aÿ region of Champagne.

Deutz continued to grow like a mad thing, more than tripling production to over 2 million bottles every year, from 2004 to 2008, dipping only slightly in response to the global economy and reaching 2.2 million bottles today. For such a breathtaking pace of expansion, the standards Deutz has maintained are not only admirable, they’re downright remarkable. There isn’t one wine out of place in this line of crisp, pure champagnes, impeccably crafted in a style of elegant finesse.

An investment of some €20 million was made in the winery alone, with a completely new press house erected just in time for vintage 2011, with new four- and eight-tonne presses, a new bottling line and increased capacity for reserve wines.

Deutz is still setting a cracking pace. The main press house in Aÿ was razed in 2010 and two new layers of cellars dug underneath.

These extensions increased cellar capacity from 8 million to 11.5 million bottles, and Deutz is now bottling its annual production target of 2.5 million bottles, having secured the grape supply to sustain it.

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Rosset is an inspiration in his ambition, leadership and tenacity. Over more than two decades he has driven one of the most phenomenal success stories of the modern era of champagne. “The key to Deutz is elegance” expounds Rosset. “The Deutz style is made on refinement and harmony – this is the quintessence of champagne.” Then he checks himself and grins warmly. “I am exaggerating!”

But he’s right. In its classic, eloquently labelled bottles, Deutz has upheld its air of consistently refreshing, pure lemon sunshine.

Currently owned by Louis Roederer, the house lays claim to just 42 of the total 200 hectares from which it sources fruit, all in grand and premier cru villages, in the central Champagne district of Marne. Chardonnay and pinot noir are the focus for Deutz, with meunier comprising just 5% of its fruit.“We are looking for vineyards to buy, but the availability of good vineyards is not high” reveals Rosset, still very much the dynamic powerhouse behind the house. Most of the supply increase in recent years has come from purchased fruit. “There is as much rivalry and fighting upstream in searching for good grapes as there is downstream in our markets!” he discloses.

is to uphold the same suppliers, continuing to source from within 35 kilometres of our village of Aÿ. He is confident the investments in the new winery and cellars will only aid the pursuit of quality.

To reward quality, growers are paid based not only on the standard of their village, but the quality of grapes delivered. Growers are hearing of Deutz’s reputation and calling the company to offer their grapes. “This is the highest compliment we could be paid!” exclaims Rosset.

Rosset personally joins the winemaking team at every blending session throughout the year, tasting every vat. Any of the batches not up to scratch are discarded, but even these are tasted four times, to ascertain which to sell.

Can the house continue to maintain quality while following such a steep trajectory of growth? “It is crucial that we maintain the same quality of supplies” chef de cave Michel Davesne emphasises. The intention

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Assuming the house can maintain reliable supply channels, Deutz will be well equipped to uphold its production target.

Recently modernised disgorgement and warehousing facilities are already in operation, and 10 million bottles wait in anticipation for between three and 12 or more years in three kilometres of cellars extending into the hill, up to 65 metres deep beneath the vineyard behind Aÿ.

When I visited during blending tastings in February 2016, Rosset and his team had already identified 776hL to sell off (from a total production of 17,000hL). It is such exacting attention to detail that defines the purity and precision of the house.

Deutz does not yet enjoy the popularity in Australia that its refined champagnes deserve. At my invitation, Rosset is travelling to Australia from Champagne to host three intimate dinners in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in October. He is bringing with him a very special selection of champagne magnums and bottles from the depth of his cellar, including the prestige cuvées William Deutz 2000 and 2006, Amour de Deutz 2002 and the remarkable old vintage of 1990 Brut Millésimé, otherwise unavailable.

Full details at http://tysonstelzer.com/

Rosset is an inspiration in his ambition, leadership and tenacity. Over more than two decades he has driven one of the most phenomenal success stories of the modern era of champagne.

Winemaker AD

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health, wellbeing & lifestyle/ 42

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lifestyle

TOMORROW’S MAN HAS GOTCHA4LIFE There’s no doubt our kids are blessed by incredible education system. They learn to read, to write and to form an opinion on the world. But are they learning the skills they really need to become happy, fulfilled adults?

Somewhere, something has gone horribly wrong.

In Australian society, depression and mental illness are now significant and growing concerns.

Economic and technological advancements appear to be surging ahead at the expense of true quality of life and humanity is suffering.

Pressures have become so great and our ability to cope so impaired that every day, six Australian men take their own lives and another 30 try. That’s where Gotcha4Life’s ‘Schools Program’ comes in.

Gotcha4Life is a foundation set up by media personality Gus Worland and businessmen Gareth Pike and Mike Charter to combat Australia’s male suicide crisis on a variety of fronts.

They’re working with Lifeline, with mental-health sector start-ups and on a campaign to encourage men to have a serious conversation with their mates and seal it with a man hug, so our men know they are valued and supported.

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tomorrow’s man has Gotcha4Life/

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Gotcha4Life is also committed to improving the mental health of our kids. The charity is now supporting a powerful initiative that will be taken into at least 100 schools nationwide to educate our 1.4 million teenage students, about what it really means to be an Australian man.

‘Tomorrow’s Man’ is a no-holds barred presentation and conversation with students and their ‘significant male’ about the state of men and how to look after yourself, your mates and your family.

of Gotcha4Life. Boys are learning unrealistic expectations and this is leading to feelings of insecurity and failure. We will help smash the stereotype and let the kids know they don’t have to live up to anything.”

The first of the Father and Sons programs has been launched at Sydney’s Knox Grammar School where more than 240 men and their boys, students from Years 7-12, gathered for the event.

And it began with awkward silence.

The program has been created by a team highlyexperienced in the male youth space. It is facilitated by ‘bloke whisperer’ Tom Harkin who will let the boys know being a man is NOT about being tough, strong and invulnerable and that in a life filled with ups and downs, it’s OK to ask for help.

The program operates on two levels. Firstly, Tomorrow’s Man goes into our schools and speaks directly to groups of teenagers about masculinity, letting them know it’s acceptable to ask for help.

The program also runs Father and Son events, where boys and their significant male learn to trust one another and are empowered with the strength and confidence to express their feelings.

“We’re looking at where the current man-code has taken us and what tomorrow’s man might look like,” says Gotcha4Life’s Gus. “This a vital aspect

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“That’s the whole problem,” says Gus. “If it was a room full of women you wouldn’t be able to hear yourself think,” he laughs. “Tom drew everyone’s attention to the quiet- because that’s the essence of what he’s saying. Men don’t talk enough. It was a powerful message.”

“Tom went on to speak of his own experiences; he encouraged conversations and discussed the pressures placed on men by both our society and by themselves.”

“There were tears and there were serious man hugs,” says Gus. “It was life changing for every man and boy in the room and it certainty affirmed our commitment to taking this program into schools right across Australia.”

Connecting our youth to sport participation, pathways and performance from local clubs to elite levels.

ACTIV8 creates an opportunity for our youth to participate in sport, challenge themselves and develop new friendships improving overall wellbeing.

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by Blythe Rowe

Tips to Overcome Overload and Optimise Your Performance 48

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We live in a digitally connected world. Technology and the dissemination of information is getting faster, sleeker and more accessible than ever before.

Exciting in many respects, but equally overwhelming.

Technology’s hold on us can be powerful, and a new, infectious disease has emerged: FOMO! More commonly known as the ‘fear of missing out’.

As a cousin to boredom, FOMO drives many of us to our devices, to check emails, log onto social media, click on an app or consult our feeds.

This isn’t assisting us in our quest for optimal performance. On the contrary, it's simply more interruption, which breeds an epidemic of overload.

We are often left with feelings of frustration and anxiety and increased stress levels, which result in a reduction in our effectiveness at work and home.

Here’s the challenge: This is the reality and it’s unlikely to change anytime soon. The following three tips are simple ideas to help you to overcome overload and optimise your performance:

TIP 1: GET CLEAR ON YOUR PRIORITIES: PUMP OUT, PLAN OUT, PALM OFF OR PUSH BACK Yes, you are busy. Who isn’t? But are you busy doing the right stuff?

To answer this question, you need to be clear on what your priorities are and why.

What really matters to you? Why do these things matter? What activities will add most value to you, your family, your team or your organisation?

Once your priorities are clear, you can divide your precious time accordingly. You can plan

which activities or actions you should: i. Pump out and get done: value-adding activities, important to you and others Plan out: not urgent but still important (holidays, personal development, date night) Palm off: less value adding activities that someone else can do for you (housework, filing) Push back: trivial, time wasting activities that add little value to your day (scanning social media, some meetings, watching TV)

First and foremost, be clear on your priorities.

First and foremost, be clear on your priorities.

Also remember to celebrate the wins. It's very tempting to beat ourselves up for the things we haven’t done on our never ending to do list. Instead, stop and reflect on all the achievements you have made,

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even the small ones. Research from Harvard suggests that when we feel like we are making progress, moving in the right direction, it sparks internal motivation which in turn sparks more action.

TIP 2: FOCUS YOUR ENERGY: DITCH THE MULTITASKING & CLEAR THE CLUTTER Next, you need to focus your energy on the priorities.

Contrary to how we behave, our brains are not designed to do lots of things at once. Yes that’s right, our brains were not actually designed to multitask and as such, we need to ditch the multitasking.

According to Dr Jenny Brokis, author of “Brain Fit”, the science around the cognitive cost of multitasking is frightening. The reduction in our ability to pay attention, the increase in errors, the loss of creativity and the sheer exhaustion that comes from asking the brain to work in a way it was not designed to. It's little wonder multitasking and task switching are associated with a drop of 40% in our productivity levels. According to Dr Brokis, even a 2.8 second interruption, “Have you got a moment?” or that quick flick to Instagram, can translate to 24 minutes of lost focus time.

Ditching the multi-tasking is not easy. It takes active attention to try to focus on one task at a time.

Ask yourself: “Is this a good use of my time? Will this get me closer to what matters most and my end goal?” Then focus solely on the task at hand.

To help you focus, you need to first clear the clutter.

Look for ways to form a routine or simplify some of the decisions you need to make each day. Plan your day the night before and get some things pre-organised. Perhaps you need to relinquish some control by allowing someone in your team or family to make some of the decisions. Surround yourself with the right people, your support team- those who lift you up and inspire you to be a better person.

Even ordering a coffee these days can be exhausting! “Will that be regular, skim, soy, almond or coconut? Sugar, no sugar? Full strength, half strength, decaf? Small, regular, large?”

Even ordering a coffee these days can be exhausting! “Will that be regular, skim, soy, almond or coconut?

Sugar, no sugar? Full strength, half strength, decaf? Small, regular, large?” Arghhh, “Just give me a black tea thanks!

Arghhh, “Just give me a black tea thanks!”

TIP 3: REFLECT, REST & REBOOT: BODY & BRAIN

To avoid information overload and decision fatigue we need to clear the clutter.

Do you ever find yourself in that rut of back-to-back meetings with limited time to go to the bathroom, let alone eat lunch? Do you

Did you know President Obama’s secret to getting so much done?

Part of it was he always wore the same thing everyday- a gray or blue suit. Why? Because in doing so, he was reducing the number of decisions he had to make each morning.

The act of making a decision erodes our ability to make later decisions.

It’s little wonder with the information overload we are exposed to, we experience what psychologists call decision fatigue.

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snack on sugary foods or caffeine just to get you through the day?If we want to perform to our peak, we must set our bodies and brains up for success. Dr Adam Fraser in, ‘The Third Space’ says that taking time to reflect, rest and reset, helps us to transition between different aspects of our life and optimise our performance.

Do something active. Get up and away from your desk, go for a walk and get some fresh air. Yes, even when we feel like there is no time or you don’t have the energy to do so. Counter-intuitive I know! Exercise releases the chemicals of calmness (serotonin) and strengthens our brain in many ways, even a short session of exercising can be just what you need to reset.

Fuel yourself with food that is nourishing for your body and your brain. Perhaps take five minutes of quiet time in the car before you head into the crazy household at night, or maybe you need to prioritise an early night sleep over watching your favourite episode of Suits (yes, Harvey can wait!) Sleep trumps all.

You have to give your pre-frontal cortex a rest, an opportunity to reboot, to allow you to think, rationalise and perform at your best.

Why not offer a variety of puddings?

You may prefer to vary the selection and recipes of puddings to satisfy different Gift ideas or reward levels, from 500gm to 3kg sizes.

We decorate the puddings, printing your Company’s logo on the Pudding Cloth bags Orders are received, including logos and processed with the efficiency of email.

Dispatched FREE AUSTRALIA-WIDE All Puddings ordered for Corporate Gifts are at Wholesale prices.

We are human, we are going to make mistakes, things won’t always go to plan and when they don’t, we have to give ourselves a break.

When times get stressful, give yourself permission to laugh, to put things back in perspective and more importantly to learn from the your mistakes.

Obviously, each individual is different and our needs and circumstances change. So while there is no proven formula for optimising performance, these tips will help give you, your body and brain, the best opportunity to overcome overload and operate at your best. Try them out!

Once-only charge applies to set up new customer films of $40.00.

Two colour screen printing is included in the wholesale pricing.

Delivery to 1 location within Mainland Australia is FREE

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health

Support breast cancer research in October by hosting a Pink Ribbon Breakfast It’s Simple. It’s Social. It Saves Lives The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is encouraging Australians to get together with friends, family and work colleagues to support life-changing breast cancer research, through its Pink Ribbon Breakfast campaign, this October during Breast Cancer Awareness month.

This year’s Pink Ribbon Breakfast marks the 14th year of NBCF’s most iconic campaign. While inspiring Australians to host a fun event and enjoy time with friends, family and colleagues – Pink Ribbon Breakfast also has a serious call to action: to raise much-needed funds for research to help stop deaths from breast cancer.

The 2017 campaign focuses the lens on metastatic breast cancer, or breast cancer which has spread beyond the breast the main cause of death from breast cancer. A third of women with breast cancer will develop metastatic breast cancer later in life. Whilst the five year survival rate for breast cancer is currently at 90 per cent, the five year survival rate for women with metastatic breast cancer is alarmingly

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low, at 40 per cent. The lack of effective and direct treatments for this stage of breast cancer highlights the crucial need for targeted and robust research.

“Metastatic breast cancer is the biggest killer for patients with this condition and is a major area of focus for the National Breast Cancer Foundation,” said Dr Alessandra Muntoni, Director of Research Investment at NBCF. “Right now, researchers are tackling metastatic breast cancer from many angles and each has the potential to make a life-changing difference for women in Australia and across the globe. We are doing our part, with 50 per cent of the projects funded by NBCF in 2017 focusing on metastatic breast cancer,” continued Dr Muntoni.

By hosting a Pink Ribbon Breakfast this October, you can help NBCF fund research like Dr Kylie Wagstaff’s from Monash University in Victoria, whose work has the potential to develop new and more

effective treatments for metastatic breast cancer.

Right now, the standard treatments currently available for women with metastatic breast cancer can prolong life, but ultimately do not prevent death. These treatments include toxic chemotherapy which, although initially effective at killing cancer cells, simultaneously attacks some healthy cells and causes unpleasant side effects.

Dr Wagstaff’s work is focused on finding a specific biomarker that differentiates healthy cells from cancer cells. This discovery could firstly lead to easier and more accurate detection of metastatic breast cancer and, secondly, aid the development of drugs that recognise and target only cancer cells.

"Research is the key to everything. Better diagnosis, better treatment and better

outcomes. Without understanding of the core workings of the disease we can’t progress towards better treatment,” added Dr Wagstaff.

Each Pink Ribbon Breakfast event will contribute to NBCF’s collective goal of $2 million for the campaign. This could help NBCF invest in research for far more effective treatments, such as immunotherapy, for metastatic breast cancer. With up to a third of women and men diagnosed with breast cancer likely to experience a relapse later in life, this has the potential to save thousands of lives.

There are many ways that Australians can host a Pink Ribbon Breakfast event: a morning tea with friends or workmates at the office, a Pink Ribbon trivia night, dinner party or even a sports event. The only limit is your imagination!

“By hosting a Pink Ribbon Breakfast for the National Breast Cancer Foundation, you are ensuring that we continue to fund the very best cancer research in Australia,” said Professor Sarah Hosking, CEO of NBCF. "On behalf of everyone at NBCF and all the women and men affected by breast cancer, thank you for your support. Your commitment makes a huge difference,” she continued.

NBCF is the only national body that funds life-changing breast cancer research with money raised entirely by the Australian public. Through its 2017 Pink Ribbon Breakfast campaign, NBCF hopes to raise more than $2 million through community and corporate support, to fund breast cancer research.

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wellbeing

Top 5

Podcasts: Health & Wellbeing

By Sara Senn

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TEDTalks Health

As they say “ideas worth spreading”. TEDTalks Health brings together the most engaging and expert speakers from the health industry.

Covering a large range of health subjects such as why some people find exercising harder than others, to the consequences of mixing medication. Thought-provoking and informative this podcast is for all those who want to keep up with new discoveries in the health industry.

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One Minute Mindfulness

Strengthen your own mindfulness practise with this down-to-earth show full of tips & tools to help you slow down. Ranging from traditional mindfulness practices, to modern developments in the field of contemplative science, this podcast introduces you to the positive impact mindful living can have on your wellbeing. A good place to start: “The Ritual of Silence and why it matters”.

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Dishing Up Nutrition

Dishing Up Nutrition gives solid nutritional advice covering many dietary topics. The hosts are experts in the field who keep abreast of the latest research in nutrition.

Discover how your food choices can increase energy, stabilise your mood, eliminate cravings, help you manage health conditions and so much more.

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Sleep With Me

Bedtime stories for grown-ups. Interesting & distracting, but not too engaging - perfect to help switch your mind off and allow you to drift into sleep. The stories cover a wide range of topics such as travel, relationships and holidays. Each story is designed to stop your mind from engaging in too much thought and progressively get more tedious, helping you fall asleep.

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Food For Fitness

If you want science-based advice this podcast is for you. Subjects range from the best nutrition for training success to the truth about cholesterol. A good dose of expert knowledge from sports scientist and doctors makes sure you get all the advice you need to support your fitness & health goals.

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money

TOP 10 GOLDEN RULES FOR INVESTING IN THE STOCKMARKET

By Associate Professor Adrian Raftery

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credit of 30% company tax already paid. It means that those earning less than $80,000 effectively get dividends tax free.

7. Borrowing for a borrowing strategy to work, you need to get a return greater than the cost of the interest rate that you are paying. Otherwise you are falling further behind. Excellent strategy to consider in a rising market and remember the interest is tax deductible.

8. Stick to your original plan

While it’s natural to be nervous when financial markets are uncertain, it’s important to stick to some basic investment rules to help keep current market fluctuations in perspective.

Here are TEN golden rules from Adrian Raftery to help you keep your investments on track.

1. Market timing- buy low, sell high while it is impossible to predict the market lows, the greatest returns in share market history are made when you can pick the share price at its lowest.

2. Dollar cost averaging don’t buy 100% of your portfolio on the same day. Spread it out over a number of months to avoid the problems associated with market volatility.

3. Time in the market if you bought when the share market was higher, then an important maxim is to stay

in the market and don’t panic. Generally in the market, what goes down will invariably go up over time.

4. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket the risk of losing all your money in the share market actually reduces the more stocks you have via diversification. However I would advise not to have more than 15 different stocks as the brokerage costs will start outweighing the marginal benefits.

5. Pick quality stocks when markets fall we often see that some great stocks have been reduced and are actual at a discounted price. I have seen more people lose money on speculative stocks than make money on them.

6. Fully franked shares companies that pay fully franked dividends provide a better after tax yield than those that pay unfranked because you get a

Understand what you’re trying to achieve and how long you’re prepared to invest, rather than focusing on what’s happening in the market. Keep in mind that the longer you invest, the more likely you are to experience some form of short-term market volatility. Also understand how much risk you’re comfortable with and make sure it’s reflected in your investment plan – for example, investing in growth assets like shares can increase your long-term returns, but it’s likely you’ll experience greater shortterm fluctuations than conservative assets like cash. Speak to your adviser to help you determine your tolerance to market movements.

9. Don’t overreact to short-term market movements ie don’t panic! Investment markets move in cycles, so it’s difficult to forecast when they will rise or fall. Moving your money in and out of the market during a downturn means you could potentially miss out on any positive ‘bounce’ gained in a strong market recovery. This view is supported historically.

For instance, research on the Australian market since 1985 shows that the Australian share market returned an average of 28% in the year following a negative return.

10. Get advice from a qualified source A financial adviser can help you make informed investment decisions based on your needs, objectives and personal circumstances, while taking into account your attitude to risk. They help you decide what your money goals are and help you develop a strategy to achieve them.

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pets

wonderdog walk/ Dogs and their owners from all over Australia will this month walk to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

We are all being encouraged to take part in the inaugural ‘Wonderdog Walk’, by getting together with friends on October 29 and enjoying a stroll with our dogs, then throwing-in a few dollars to help raise money for breast cancer research.

Headed up by celebrity vet Dr Katrina Warren, it’s hoped dog-owners all across the country will come together and hit the streets with their four-legged friends to help raise money for this amazing organisation.

“We are encouraging people to gather friends and go for a walk. It’s an excuse to spend time with your buddies and help win the fight against breast cancer.”

Dr Katrina has long been a supporter of the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and says

there is a clear link between wellbeing and owning a dog.

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“I have seen time and time again how the unconditional love and companionship of a dog can help people during life’s darkest periods,” she says. “And that includes cancer treatment.”

“Our dogs are valued members of the family and we know the more time you spend training and socialising them, the closer your bond will be. Just 10 minutes a day of training can make a huge difference to your dog’s behaviour, so you can confidently take them on outings like a ‘Wonderdog Walk’. I know we will see some beautifullytrained dogs, as well as a few who could probably benefit from the Wonderdog School, walking the streets on October 29.”

“All we are asking is for dog owners to organise a gathering, small or large, collect a few dollars, then donate the money via our GoFundMe page. It’s that simple!

“So please, grab some mates and take your dog for a walk then throw in a few dollars. It’s a fun way to show support for your four-legged friend and the National Breast Cancer Foundation.” https://nbcf-hostyourown.gofundraise.com.au/page WonderdogWalk

LIFESTYLE

bad to well behaved/

How to train your naughty puppy into a best-of-breed 'wonder' dog The Wonderdog School is an interactive online training program for puppy and dog owners. It provides expert guidance so you soon become a confident, knowledgeable dog owner with a sociable, well-behaved and happy dog!

WHAT YOU RECEIVE: Expert Trainers TV vet Dr Katrina and professional dog trainer Kelly Gill Live Interactive Chat Online Q & A sessions and forum with Dr Katrina Warren Interact with other Wonderdog School members.

Join the Wonderdog School fun and in just four weeks you will have a well-behaved canine friend! https://wonderdogschool.com

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health

Age Is Just A Number Dr Steve Cannon Neurohealth Chiropractic Well I have just returned from the recent World Masters Games in Auckland, New Zealand. This event, along with other events in this category, are inspirational, it’s amazing to see what the human spirit can endure. People, with ages ranging from 30 years to a lady from India who was 101 years (competing in the shot put and 100m sprint) gathered together with a hunger to compete with fellow athletes in their chosen sports.

Yes, they are not as fast as their younger selves but seeing their desire to keep moving is motivational to those of us that are sitting on the couch. These athletes are the epitome of aging gracefully.

I had the pleasure of coaching the over 75 Basketball team from Australia. Their ages ranged from 75 to 83 years old, the oldest basketball player competing in the event. He was quick in the mind and still had the ability to move up and down the court, rebound, pass and he even made a few baskets. The players’ competitive drive is still there, not matter how old they are. They refused to give in, which was evident in the gold medal game of the 75+ men.

Our team were down nine points to the Russians at halftime, they clawed back the game a to tie, with only minutes of the game remaining. Unfortunately, the Russians hit a lucky bucket with 30 seconds left. Overall, an entertaining game for men that were over 75 years young - they vowed to be back next time to take down those Russians.

No matter what age we are, movement is crucial. Bottom line- find something that you enjoy doing that involves movement and start

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now, as this story shows, it’s never too late to start. You must move. If you have problems with the way you move due to stiffness, tightness or pain, that might be inhibiting you, talk to your health professional and get to back to enjoying life and all its wonders.

No matter what age we are, movement is crucial. It keeps the joints lubricated, the muscles strong, produces endorphins for a positive mind set, the list is endless!

by MIKE CHARTER

KIDS GET OUT OF DEBT/ Parents are your mornings a stress - then try this.

Picture this, its 7:30am Tuesday you’re mentally prepping for an important day whilst mobilising the kids into action.

From 7:20 to 7:45 your kids have not made any progress to get ready for school. One child Alex, is on his iPhone after breakfast, playing a very important game, Megan is struggling to find her school sports clothes. Luke is refusing to eat breakfast as he’s bored and there’s nothing to eat after staring at a cupboard full of cereal options. You are drinking a NutriBullet and organising lunches.

Until you kids have done these four things you are not out of debt.

Which means you are not free to be on iPhones, play with toys, etc For Megan, this worked an absolute treat. On the first day, she came into the room and announced “I’m out of debt and I’m free!” With a big smile on her face. It now works for everyone, especially us parents and gives us some energy back in our tank. Now we just say: “C’mon kids are you out of debt yet?” It literally has changed our mornings, our family dynamic and our start to the day. Hope it add some value to your family as well.

It’s now 7:45 and the three kids haven’t moved position or made any progress towards getting ready to exit the door. You yell, Alex clean your teeth, get dressed and make your bed. Megan come and have breakfast, Luke, eat this whole grain toast with Vegemite, we’re going to be late. It’s ground hog day - every day! Your going to be late, your exhausted already and you’re thinking, how can I make this better?

Enter DEBT. So you put this image on the fridge, but covered up. Tell your kids you have a huge announcement. You ask your kids (8-13yrs) who knows what debt means? Alex’s Answer: it’s when you owe some money.

Bingo - but it also means when you owe someone something. Until you have cleared your debt, you’re not free. So you now reveal your poster image to show:

D - dressed E - eat breakfast B - bed made T - teeth cleaned www.exhalepublications.com

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After identifying a gap in the marketplace for unusually packaged wines with an edge, the Sydney-based entrepreneur launched Lisa McGuigan Wines in 2010. Today she runs a successful company that’s pushing industry limits.

Lisa joined Bartercard, a cashless marketplace, as a test to sell older vintages.

“Bartercard members buy and sell products and services using an alternative currency” said Lisa. “I sold the excess stock quickly and soon built up a considerable sum of Bartercard trade dollars.”

Spending up “I decided to run a three month competition in 10 retail stores, that stock my brand. I sourced everything for the competition using my trade dollars and boosted sales by over 30% in those three months. It would have cost me around $10,000 had I paid cash.”

Unpacking the campaign “The competition was called ‘On Ya Bike’ and customers who purchased three bottles of Lisa McGuigan Wines went into the draw to win a bicycle. I paid for the 10 bikes, design, posters, digital artwork and shop displays with my trade dollars. Bartercard essentially gave me a marketing spend off the back of excess stock.”

Expanding local reach

How to create a $10,000 marketing campaign for $0 Most business owners are forever crunching return on investment and sizing up the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. Thinking outside the box, Lisa McGuigan used Bartercard to increase her cash sales by 30%, with a marketing campaign that cost her $0 cash.

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“Bartercard can help you break out of the local market to expand your reach and really get seen,” said Lisa. “I’ve also approached restaurants on Bartercard who quickly picked up my label to save on cash costs (using their trade dollars instead). It was as simple as curating and designing a wine list then, emailing it out to bars and restaurants on Bartercard, which helped me get on a lot of wine lists.”

Lessons learned Lisa said that rather than pouring all your effort into going global, look around your business and see what else is in front of you. “Take a look at the opportunities available on Bartercard, like I did. I found there was extra business right outside my front door.”

Does your business need a boost? Bartercard is a cashless business marketplace that helps its members attract new customers, free up cash flow and grow profits across almost every industry imaginable.

Visit bartercard.com.au.

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fun facts/ Wonderful Watermelon 1

Watermelon is one of summers best treats. Did you know that watermelons are actually not a fruit, but a vegetable instead? They belong to the cucumber family!

2

he Eiffel Tower actually grows in the heat of summer. Due to iron expanding, the tower grows about six inches every summer.

3

Popsicles, a popular summer treat, were accidentally invented by an 11 year old boy in San Francisco in 1905. He left a glass of soda sitting outside and by the next morning the soda had frozen.

4

Many yoga groups participate in mass yoga celebrations on the summer solstice. They see the summer solstice as a sacred transition in the flow of life on earth and a time to do sun salutations.

5

The record for the most people applying sunscreen at the same time, was on January 8, 2012, in Terrigal, with 1006 participants applying sunscreen for two minutes.

The World’s Best Kept Secret

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PACIFIC RESORT HOTEL GROUP - Cook Islands leading boutique resort operator www.exhalepublications.com www.pacificresort.com

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