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Looking forward To Tony and all the team at Business Times: We would like to congratulate you on your very informative and high quality magazine. The stories were great and well presented which kept our interest. We all read it from cover to cover. Overall a very interesting magazine. We look forward to the next issue. – John and Chris Blogg Signforce, Somerville
Dividend change ON July 1 the federal government amended Section 254T of the Corporations Act 2001 so that company directors now have to satisfy each of three separate criteria before declaring to pay a dividend: 1. The company’s assets must exceed its liabilities before the dividend is declared and the excess must be sufficient for the payment of the dividend; and 2. The payment of the dividend must be fair and reasonable to the holders of shares in the company as a whole; and 3. The payment of the dividend must
4. 5.
not materially prejudice the company’s ability to pay its creditors. Before, directors could declare a dividend by ensuring the dividends were only paid out of the profits of the company. The impact of this change is that, as a director of your company, you will now not be able to declare a dividend from your company unless your constitution has been updated to reflect these changes. We recommend that you take steps to have your constitution updated as soon as possible, as a failure to act could lead to devastating results. MBA Business Solutions is able to assist in implementing this change. – Dereen Wallace, Senior Accountant MBA Business Solutions, Mornington
BusinessTimes / ISSUE 4 / SEPTEMBER 2010 TONY MURRELL KEITH PLATT MARG HARRISON DAVID HILET MELANIE LARKE SIMON BROWN Design MARLON PLATT
Publisher / Director Editorial Director Sales Director Managing Director Material production / Prepress
Email: General: inquiries@businesstimes.net.au Editorial: news@businesstimes.net.au Advertising: sales@businesstimes.net.au Artwork: production@businesstimes.net.au Internet: www.businesstimes.net.au BusinessTimes (Frankston/Mornington Peninsula) is published 11 times a year by BusinessTimes Pty Ltd and printed by Galaxy Print & Design, 76 Reid Parade, Hastings, Victoria 3915. Postal: PO Box 428, Hastings, Victoria 3915 Tel. 035979 7744 Fax. 035979 7944
Are you in BusinessTimes? For advertising, contact Marg Harrison on 0414 773 153 or marg@businesstimes.net.au Make sure every business knows your business. DISCLAIMER: Information in BusinessTimes contains general advice only. No article or column has been prepared taking into account any individual reader’s financial situation, investment objectives or particular needs. Readers should personally consult professionals for advice on any matter, including investment, health and the law. While all care is taken, BusinessTimes accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions in the published material. Views expressed are not necessarily those of BusinessTimes Pty Ltd. All content is copyright.
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contents / SEPTEMBER 2010 Silver Linings: Decor: Engineering’s Tim Dash takes a shine to Terminator and a friend.
Features
10 21
That IT word : Carolyn Kruger’s Melbourne IT Solutions has expanded into larger headquarters in Carrum Downs. Cover : Christ Scurrah, doing surfing surfari business aboard his boat off the coast of Sumatra
The Good Sports: Pain is their specialty
Roomy Skoda: Czech the size
Departments Busy Bites News Networking Contributions Theatre
Columns 6 8 13 14 22
Health: Mike Ellis Managing: Hamish Petrie Market: Richard Campbell Law: Robert Knight Motoring: Ewen Kennedy
16 18 19 20 21
Cover: Pippa Hanson and Michelle Blake of the Sports Injury Clinic, Frankston.
Monash Business Associates’ latest business breakfast was at Peninsula Country Club on July 27. Pictured are Michael Anderson, CEO of Woorinyan, Frankston (left): Dianne Johnes, manager, White Lady Funerals, Mornington; Alex Anderson, manager of training, RMDSTEM; and Allan Williams, partner, Flinders Partners. See P. 13 for this and other networking events
DiD you know? Did you know that over the past 5 years, we’ve invested over $2 billion in building a mobile network that rivals our biggest competitor? Or that our mobile dual band network now delivers 3G services to over 96% of the population?^ Or that we serve over 8 million customers each day? In fact, an independent market analyst has recently said: “With Optus’ network significantly improving in coverage performance over the last 12 months, Telstra will need to explore other options in order to justify maintaining a price premium over Optus”.* So if you want a high performance network that’s great value for money, it’s time to say, ‘yes’. Call in and speak to Craig Dooley, Sales Manager and his team for a solution that suits your business.
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BUSY bites
Dispute resolution The Australian International Disputes Centre (AIDC opened on August 3 gave companies a dedicated facility to resolve commercial disputes quickly and fairly, according to Mrs Heather Ridout, of the Australian Industry Group. Ridout said a reality of commercial life was that disputes occurred and Alternative Dispute Resolution was a cost effective substitute for litigation. “The centre will be an important domestic and international facility at a great time for Australian and regional businesses,” Ridout said.
Record trips Australian residents made a record 6.8 million short-term trips overseas in 2009-10, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This is up from 5.8 million trips in 2008-09, and more than double the trips 10 years ago. The most popular destination for Australian residents going overseas on short-term trips (less than a year) was New Zealand, with more than a million movements across the Tasman occurring in the last financial year. The next most popular destinations were: • Indonesia (650,000 trips) • USA (630,000), • UK (460,000) and • Thailand (430,000). These top five destinations alone, accounted for just under half of all short-term resident departures for the year. The most frequently cited reason for journey was holiday, contributing 55 per cent of all short-term resident departures. Other common reasons were visiting friends and relatives (24 per cent) and business (11 per cent). During the 2009–10 period, Australian residents on short-term trips revealed that their average time overseas was 15 days.
Victorians prefer property, then a holiday… shares are last
Forget shares: buying a new home is set to be the biggest spend for Victorian consumers this financial year, the Homeloans Homebuyer Barometer has revealed. And the second biggest spend? Renovations and holidays. Shares are last on the list. According to latest research by mortgage provider Homeloans Ltd, 26 per cent of Victorian respondents said a new home would be their largest outlay in the 2010/2011 financial year. That’s ahead of Queensland (23 per cent) and South Australia (18 per cent), but behind Western Australia (27 per cent) and New South Wales (29 per cent). “Findings from the Homebuyer Barometer confirm that Victorians’ passion for property continues to outstrip other major purchases,” says Will Keall, Homeloans’ marketing manager. “Bricks and mortar investment is obviously a permanent fixture on the must-have list of Victorian residents. Shares, on the other hand,
were pretty lacklustre, with only five per cent of respondents saying they would be their biggest spend this financial year.” In equal second place for Victorian residents are a holiday and renovations/extensions (18 per cent respectively). This was followed by a new car (16 per cent), other property (14 per cent) and shares (five per cent). When asked to list the greatest financial concerns for the 2010/2011 financial year, rising interest rates led the list among respondents from all surveyed states. In Victoria, more than a quarter (31 per cent) of respondents ranked rising rates as their biggest concern, on par with Queensland, also at 31 per cent. South Australian respondents held the biggest fears overall about interest rate increases (35 per cent), followed by NSW and Western Australia (32 per cent respectively). Increased living expenses was the second biggest financial concern for 25 per cent of Victorian respondents. Of the different age groups, those aged over 60 (43 per cent) and 50-60 (33 per cent) were most concerned about the cost of living. For those 25 and younger, rising interest rates far outstripped the cost of living as the greatest worry (31 per cent versus 18 per cent). Next on Victorians’ list of financial concerns were: increasing property prices (10 per cent) and job security (nine per cent); costs associated with raising a family (seven per cent). A mere seven per cent of Victorian respondents ‘have no financial concerns’ for the 2010/2011 financial year.
Retail figures reflect GFC ‘hangover’ - ANRA RETAIL growth of only 0.2 per cent in June was disappointing and pointed to tough times for retail as it climbs out of the crater left by the global financial crisis, according Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) CEO Margy Osmond. “Clearly the stimulus package in 2009 made for strong sales in difficult times. However, the good times of early last year have been followed by the sluggish growth and the hangover retail is suffering now. We are still some way from the Berocca kicking in for the retail sector,” Osmond said. While retail figures have increased consistently in the past four months, for the first time in two years, the growth is slow and the sector does not look like
6 | BusinessTimes Frankston Peninsula | September 2010
making significant recovery until well into 2011. June figures were expected to be higher, with no interest rate rises in the month, and the traditional sales season. The non-stop sales of the past six months may also have impacted on the June spend. “We know from the ANRA/AMEX survey, released early August, that Australians with a mortgage are delaying purchases or waiting for sales and that’s likely to get worse in the next six months. “Of the 1000 people interviewed in our survey 24 per cent of respondents had delayed purchases of items costing over $500 and in the next six months 47 per cent of the same group anticipated interest rates making an impact on their spending choices.”
Savings suffer as debt rises The Finance Sector Union has renewed calls for banking regulation as ING Direct’s new quarterly Financial Wellbeing Index showed that Australian households are under increasing pressure to get personal debt under control. The FSU claims that banks actively engage in marketing and sales strategies that pressure their workers to promote credit cards, lines of credit and other debt products onto customers. FSU national secretary Leon Carter said that balance between the public interest and banks’
pursuit of profits must be redressed. “The fact that banks engage in debt-pushing practices at such a significant rate, on top of exceeding RBA interest rate rises, charging interest upon interest and fee gouging are all practices that impact severely on Australian households and personal debt levels,” Carter said. “The ING Direct’s Quarterly Financial Wellbeing Index shows that savings are depleted by the need to repay debt, with 31 per cent of households ‘very uncomfortable’ about their personal savings,” Mr Carter said. He said government had a responsibility to regulate banks engaging in practices that saw Australian debt levels skyrocketing. FSU says its Better Banking Charter seeks regulation of: • Off-shoring of bank jobs where sensitive personal data is handled • Use of debt sales targets as a performance measure • Interest rate movements outside Reserve Bank parameters • Control of short-term measures for bonuses for senior executives; and • Tighter controls of bank fees
Esplanade comes to a halt
VICROADS is checking the stability of one of the main links between Mornington and Dromana. The testing of the entire Esplanade follows a landslide on a bend near Safety Beach during heavy rains on Wednesday, August 11. Backfilling and repairing the road is unlikely to be completed before the end of October. The landslide into a gully saw the ground level drop about nine metres, forcing vehicles to detour around Mt Martha in the north and Safety Beach in the south. Local traffic - including weekend cyclists
- must go through a series of other, smaller roads to get around the closed section of the Esplanade. “VicRoads will undertake a stability assessment of the full length and width of the Esplanade, including the adjacent land. At this stage the section of road near Ellerina Road is expected to be closed for six to eight weeks (weather permitting) while repairs are completed,” Duncan Elliott, regional director, VicRoads Metropolitan South East, said on Friday, August 21.
Change in emphasis A BEACH St Frankston nursery and cafe is getting council backing for its plan to transform its business into a restaurant. Beach Street Garden Gallery and Amici Cafe will retain the nursery as a sideline but concentrate on food service. Council has signalled support for a variation of on-site parking requirements because parking is available on both sides of Beach St. The site has 14 spaces but would need 24 under council’s planning rules. The restaurant will open 9am to 11pm seven days a week and is limited to 74 patrons. Ten objections to the change cited problems associated with parking, noise and littering.
Highway lighting FRANKSTON’S night lights may get a $155,000 boost as council considers feature lighting along the highway through town. Councillors shied away from a proposal to decorate the 60 median strip Moreton Bay figs with bud lights and up lights after the favoured quotes topped out at about $1.5 million. Electricity supply costs were estimated at $120,000 for the strip from Fletcher Rd to Gould St. A report to council stated that solar power for bud and up-lighting would be even more expensive and add intrusive and unsightly infrastruture to the medians. The city is now looking at feature, sculptural or gateway lighting for around $155,000, the cost it took to construct the illuminated Frankston waterfront entry sign. The lighting will be decided in the 2111-12 capital works program. GreenPower electricity, which council buys at a 6.5 cent per kWh premium, will be used to power the lighting scheme. Council sources 20 per cent of GreenPower for its streetlighting and five per cent for its major sites.
September 2010 | Frankston Peninsula BusinessTimes | 7
news
$25 m housing plan a high quality monthly art and craft market along Frankston’s Kananook Creek Blvde has been suggested for the warmer months as a way of livening up the creek area. The council has requested more detailed costings before making a decision. Surveys of other craft markets indicated that stallholders who traveled from market to market would come to Frankston. Frankston already has a Sunday market, run by Frankston Football Club on the Sherlock and Hay site. Also, Seaford Farmer’s Market is held monthly on the third Sunday selling grown, baked, made and farm-gate produce. An additional farmer’s market is being considered for the Karingal. Craft Markets Australia, the private company running eight regional markets, including Red Hill, Emu Plains and Mornington Racecourse, was not keen on the site. They said it was too small and had too much street furniture and infrastructure to work around. They also felt that it was too close to Melbourne CBD to be viewed as a ‘day out’.
at the new entrance. The developer has applied for the closure of Pearson St, off Barkly St, which will become part of the development. Mornington Primary School Council is one of 11 objectors, citing visual bulk and overshadowing of the school’s playground caused by the four-storey buildings. The school also argued that land along Pearson St was donated to the Crown to ensure access to the school from Barkly St. However, the street is not identified as Crown Land on the title. The planned apartments are a mix of one, two and three bedrooms. Basement car parking is planned.
ARTIST’S impression of the four-storey apartment building facing Mornington Primary School’s playground..
Relay for Life: a journey for cancer supporters RESIDENTS, groups, clubs and businesses are being asked to support the return of Frankston Relay For Life, a team event raising money for cancer research. The relay will be on October 23 and 24. Past Frankston events have raised about $400,000. Frankston Relay For Life will see teams take turns to walk through the night, taking part in special ceremonies, live entertainment, and
SHOUT OUT LOUD
IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING SELLING OR LEASING
IndustrIal • CommerCIal • retaIl 8 | BusinessTimes Frankston Peninsula | September 2010
activities for all ages. Relay For Life committee chair Vaughnn Brooks said joining the relay would be an opportunity for every Frankston resident to celebrate with cancer survivors as well as remembering loved ones lost and those fighting back against the disease. People wishing to indicate their interest can email frankston@ relayforlife.org.au or call 1300 65 65 85.
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Creek market idea
A PROPOSED $25 million townhouse and apartment development on Mornington’s commercial fringe has conditional council support. The plan heading for a Merits hearing at the Victorian Administrative Appeals Tribunal on October 20-21 includes 12 two-storey townhouses and 107 apartments in four four-storey buildings at 71, 73-75 and 77-79 Barkly St. The townhouses facing Barkly St and the apartments backing on to Mornington Primary School’s playground will be accessed from the town’s eastern ring road. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is requiring the developer to foot a $300,000 bill for a roundabout on the ring road
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September 2010 | Frankston Peninsula BusinessTimes | 9
COVER
words/pictures KEITH PLATT
C
oordination has been a key factor in the steady growth of The Sports Injury Clinic since its beginnings in Frankston six years ago. The modern building in Nepean Highway symbolises the expansion that followed the decision by directors Pippa Hanson and Michelle Blake to make the clinic a one-stop-shop for treating sports injuries and regaining patients’ fitness. They saw the synergies and economic sense of sharing their new space with complimentary health care practices: rehabilitation, physiotherapy, podiatry, pilates, acupuncture, exercise physiology, weight loss and myotherapy. The various practitioners benefit from sharing the same reception area and marketing programs. Clients can access all the professional help needed to bring them back to peak health under the one roof. “People are time poor and clients don’t necessarily need separate appointments as there is a lot of communication [about clients needs] between the health professionals. “It’s a unique model,” says Blake, who is also the The Sports Injury Clinic’s business manager. “We knew we’d be successful because we ran out of space within three years at our first premises, a house next door to our new building.” The early space shortage necessitated Blake finding office space elsewhere in Frankston until the new building was ready in mid-2008. Physiotherapist Hanson remained in the converted house and the pair “kept the local cafe industry
Sports Injury Clinic directors physiotherapist Pippa Hanson (left) and business manager Michelle Blake ... trying to stay a step ahead of where the government is moving on health care issues.
10 | BusinessTimes Frankston Peninsula | September 2010
THE
E GOOD SPORTS ‘We knew we’d be successful because we ran out of space’ September 2010 | Frankston Peninsula BusinessTimes | 11
COVER
being initially keen and then dropping out of gym classes. The dropout rate from gymnasiums is estimated at 80 per cent. “Many activities are low grade and they should be taking about 5000 steps a day. Personally, I reckon that should be 10,000 steps.” With most steps measuring about 50 centimetres, Blake says walkers should try to cover eight to 10 kilometres a week. “It’s all about what can be achieved. We should make sustainably chronic lifestyle changes as distinct from having chronic illness. Here at the clinic we see ourselves as facilitators and collaborators for people to achieve optimal health.”
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busy” providing informal venues for their regular tv management meetings. Hanson said the business case for a purpose-built new centre allowed them to be assured of tenants with “collaborating synergies”. “We get input as their businesses grow and vice versa,” says Blake. Hanson: “The leaders of each business in the clinic get together regularly and we can streamline our marketing. “We now see about 1100 people a week coming here with anything from active back pain to sports injuries and arthritis.” While the number of clients remains steady all year, the sports injuries follow the seasons, football, skiing and snow boarding in winter to cricket and basketball in summer. With many of the clinic’s services being covered by insurance, Blake keeps an eye on health treatment “trends”, following such leads as where governments are placing various grants to combat health deficiencies within the broader population. “I try to be a step ahead of where the government is moving to. What it is promoting and where funding is happening. Type 2 diabetes was in the pipeline more than a year ago. We have the Australian statistics on such things as obesity. “People realise we are experts in these fields, not just for sports injuries. We get injured workers back to work as soon as possible.” About 30 per cent of patients at the clinic come through referrals from doctors and 45 per cent by word of mouth. Hanson and Blake also give and arrange talks at schools, sporting clubs and workplaces. “We’ve done this since day one, trying to educate people.” The talks and seminars regularly held at the clinic cover such topics as injury management; core stability and stretching sessions; spinal care and postural correction; child and adolescent injury; real time ultrasound workshop; workplace assessment and injury prevention; manual handling in the work place; and recovering with cancer. Despite the visible evidence of cyclists on roads and joggers and walkers on the footpaths, Hanson says people in general do less exercise than 30 years ago. “We’re motorised and control things with a remote.” Blake says studies show most people take less than 1000 steps a day, driving and parking as close to work as possible,
NETWORKING
Magpie players on hand for Rosebud Telstra store opening ROSEBUD Telstra Store opening was a trafficstopper when hundreds of children and adults flocked to see Collingwood stars Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury who signed autographs and memorabilia. Pictured (left) are owners Peter and Melinda Bennett-Hullin with their children Tayla, 13, and twins Laura and Jackson, 10.
DIARY Business and networking events for Frankston Business Chamber members
1
Training cafe opening
Monash Business Associates’ breakfast MARGOT Spalding, owner of Jimmy Possum furniture makers, was the guest speaker at Monash Business Associates Breakfast at Peninsula Country Club, Frankston, July 27. Below: Lois Gray, executive officer, Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University Peninsula Campus ; David Osborne, chairman of the Monash University, Faculty of Business and Economics Advisory Board; and guest speaker Margot Spalding, owner of Jimmy Possum furniture.
SEPTEMBER
n September 21 Networking Night 5.30pm-7.30pm, Brooklands of Mornington
2
OCTOBER
n October 15 Corporate Golf Day 11.30am Long Island Golf Club, 161 Dandenong Rd, Frankston n October 19 Networking Night 5.30pm Frankston High School, Towerhill Rd, Frankston
Westpac Karingal & Women’s Connect
PRAGMATIC Training opened its Old Cinema Restaurant Training Centre at Frankston on Friday, August 13. The cafe will be open to the public 10am-3pm Thursday and Friday. The restaurant offers certificate training in hospitality and kitchen operations for 15 year old to the retrenched and unemployed. 1. From left Frankston Dolphins coach Simon Goosey, Frankston state Liberal candidate Geoff Shaw, Dunkley MP Bruce Billson and Sean Farmer, CEO of Pragmatic Training. 2. Student David Rattle with Frankston mayor Christine Richards. 3. From Left Edy Wilfling, of Pragmatic Training, Marie Myers and John Hartnett, of SuperPages.
NOVEMBER
Frankston-Mornington Peninsula Women’s Connect business lunch at Frankston RSL on July 22. Above (from left) are Julie Thompson, Web Design By the Bay; Emily Saunders, Kym Smirhoff (back) of Regroup Enterprises; Jacqui Gordon, business development manager of New Litho; Adrian Mills, manager of Westpac Karingal; Sarah Coe and Sandra Johnson, both of the Port of Hastings.
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September 2010 | Frankston Peninsula BusinessTimes | 13
CONTRIBIUTIONS
Signs of financial stress IT’S said that “profit is pointless and cash is king”. But do you know why? Knowing exactly where you stand financially – your cash position – means that you don’t have to wonder whether there’s enough money in the bank to cover rent and wages. The health and vitality of your business is dependent upon your ability to cover all tax obligations, payments to suppliers and basic operational expenses as they come due in your business. Unfortunately, knowing where you stand is not as simple as merely looking at the balance in your bank account(s) or estimating your cash needs at a future point. Your bank account will indicate your cash on hand (at a point in time) but it will not tell you what your cash flow is. Cash and cash flow are not the same thing. Cash flow is about the movement of cash in and out of your business as it operates over a period of time. This distinction is critical – if your company is profitable yet it maintains a negative cash flow for an extended period of time, eventually it will run out of money and
you will not be able to continue to operate. Therefore, “cash flow is king” and knowing your cash flow is critical to staying afloat. You can have the most brilliant product or service but if you don’t have positive cash flow, your business will go under. Almost every business will experience financial distress or pressure at some point in time – the key to survival lies in the owner’s ability to diagnose problem areas and take corrective action quickly. This requires careful monitoring and measurement of key financial metrics that highlight possible areas of financial pain. Despite the importance of tracking profitability as well as cash flow, many business owners fail to measure even a handful of key performance indicators each month and often ignore the classic warning signs, which if left unaddressed, could foreshadow the death of their business. Every business that is in distress shows clear symptoms of impaired profitability and cash flow. Nine warning signs are: • lack of up-to-date financial information (timely financial statements, management reports); failure to calculate and forecast cash flow;
• continued erosion of gross profit margins (signifies an inability to control the variable costs of doing business, a reliance on price discounts to entice sales and/or the failure to pass on price increases from suppliers); • uncontrolled growth/expansion (the business has insufficient working capital to finance the increases in receivables, inventory and payables that come from a substantial increase in the volume of business over a short period of time); • over-reliance on borrowed funds (the company is not able to run on internally generated funds and cannot service the loan plus all of the other fixed costs of doing business); • business is experiencing difficulty paying creditors and tax obligations as they become due • return on assets continues to decline over a period of time indicating the business is making less and less profit for each dollar of assets invested; • high employee turnover; reduced productivity • increasing marketing/advertising spend (as a percentage of sales) over a prolonged period of time (may indicate that the business is
Equipment Finance Specialist. Servicing the Mornington Peninsula.
ELECTION 2010 Mornington’s No 1 Choice
Working with business and individuals to tailor tax effective finance solutions for the purchase of any plant & equipment. WE TAKE THE PAIN OUT OF FINANCE We can offer an extensive range of finance facilities and services to suit your needs servicing the sole trader through to large publicly listed companies; we are accredited with over 40 major financial institutions enabling us to quickly locate the most competitive funds available for your needs. This results in the most effective finance options which include, however are not restricted to, Finance Leases, Operating Leases or Rentals, Commercial Hire Purchase, Chattel Mortgage, Letters of Credit and Lease in Escrow.
Money Resources Group South East 9787 3205
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Ron Chowanetz 0412 534 503
If you are thinking of selling or renting your property ring the girls at Honor Baxter Real Estate for a free market appraisal.
A Paris Group firm
Simply the best and nothing less
What does MBA mean? Accounting
Modest But Awesome? Financial More Business Acumen? Mornington’sTaxation Brightest Accountants?
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Contact342 Jason Beare, Dereen Wallace, Amy Bignell Main Street, Mornington, 3931. or Irena Lioudvigova on 03 5970 8100 Tel 59 70email 8100, team@mbabusinesssolutions.com.au Email team@mbabusinesssolutions.com.au
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Your Local Specialists 342 Main Street, Mornington 3931
14 | BusinessTimes Frankston Peninsula | September 2010
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Accounting team members - Jason Beare, Dereen Wallace, Amy Bignell and Irena Lioudvigova.
Blueprint for wealth Property is a key factor in providing holistic financial advice: This statement sums up MBA Business Solutions’ approach to Financial Advice. Many clients have successful property portfolios and create strategies for their wealth and financial independence through this medium. This approach to wealth accumulation is commonly used by clients but is only one component to consider when protecting your wealth and planning for the future. Holistic financial advice relies on more than whether to purchase residential and/or commercial property, it extends to your estate planning; succession planning; superannuation; risk insurances and other investments. Quality, holistic financial advice will ensure that all these areas of your wealth accumulation are considered. The two most important questions that we ask our clients are: 1. “What is your desired annual income for the duration of your life?” and; 2. “At what age do you want this income to come from your investments?” When these two questions are answered
with the potent mix of optimism and realism, they will naturally create a target for your financial goals and thus become the two pillars to create your working financial blueprint. The Blueprint will forecast the potential growth in your current portfolio; identify other investments that should be considered in the ensuing years and identify what impact significant issues like gearing, income tax and capital gains tax have on your blueprint. Once your blueprint is created we revisit as required and this remains the working document for your future and is adjusted to reflect your lifestyle changes. A blueprint, sophisticated in its financial construction, provides clients with clarity, clear direction and a final destination. Off the back of your personal financial information, risk profile and investment strategy, the blueprint answers the most sought after question that our clients ask us, “How do I get there”, and there can be no more powerful way we can help you achieve your goals. Darren Foster, authorised representative of Capstone Financial Planning Pty Ltd AFSL No 223135. MBA Business Solutions.
A nugget in Dandenong SPACE like this in Dandenong is like gold, says Andrew Smith, of Crabrees “This is a rock solid Dandenong investment, currently returning $123,000 a year” according to Smith who has the property of 4556m2 of industrial land for sale. Improvements include a 694m2 office/warehouse with canopy plus plenty of secure yard space and hardstand.
Rock solid investment in Dandenong, says agent
Call Andrew Smith, of Crabtrees, 0418 358 700 for details and to arrange an inspection.
Shire rebuffs ferry plan Bass Coast Council has ruled out a berth for a vehicle ferry at Cowes, Phillip Island. The council voted unanimously against building a new jetty at Cowes and said it would investigate establishing an exclusion zone for beaches near the town. The decision is a setback for Mornington Peninsula Shire which favoured the proposed service and had agreed to spend up to $235,000 on the $670,000 planning process, with Bass also contributing $235,000 and Tourism Victoria and Regional Development Victoria each contributing $100,000. If Bass had agreed to a berth at Cowes the state government would have been asked to pay the estimated $47 million to build ferry terminals at Stony Point and Cowes. Four private companies had responded to calls for expressions of interest in providing a boat and running the ferry service. The new pier at Stony Point would be 230 metres long and 10 metres wide, with car parks, ticket office and a kiosk onshore. Bass Coast’s decision is a major blow to a plan that received its first impetus in the early 1990s.
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chasing customers and sales at the expense of profitability); and • a continual need for capital injections/loans because the business is not generating enough operating income internally. The key to avoiding financial distress and failure in your business is of course, early detection. If you would like some help and or just some free general information on how to monitor your business correctly call or drop Peter Wrench a line: peterwrench@actioncoaches.com Call 0407 846809.
September 2010 | Frankston Peninsula BusinessTimes | 15
health
So many people enter so many medical clinics, alternative and mainstream, including mine, with a common complaint: “I eat well, I do all the right things nutritionally but – excuse my vernacular – I feel like crap.â€? These people have diligently followed the advice of the experts – practitioners, self-help authors, friends, websites ... They’ve done the all-vegies regime, tried the low-carb, high-protein diet, obsessively avoided carbs after 6pm, juiced every morning, eaten according to their blood group, got on board with the CSIRO diet because, hey, those guys must know their stuff ‌ they’ve steamed Chinese broccoli, shopped at the organic shop, and they’ve possibly even googled purple carrots (which are either the next super food or the next hoax). And they’ve drunk their two litres of filtered water a day. In short, they’ve done the lot. But they feel no better for it. Frankly, actually, they feel like crap. The reason is that as with many aspects of health in the West, our attention is too much on the detail and too little on the big picture. The problem is not your diet, but your digestion. There’s a difference. A healthy, functioning digestive system can cope with just about any food. It can separate the useful nutrients from the waste, absorb the former and efficiently dispose of the latter. But if your digestion is weak, it doesn’t matter how “healthyâ€? the food you eat, your body will struggle to derive the benefit. It’s very much like receiving a big pay packet, but having a hole in your pocket. So Chinese medicine is concerned less with what you eat, more with HOW. And it’s pretty simple. We have this image
It’s not WHAT you eat #ARROLL'OLDSMITH PDF
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So our first suggestion is to eat warm, well-cooked foods – even if in theory the longer cooking time destroys some of the of the stomach as being like a great iron nutrients. cooking pot, sitting on top of the digestive Better to help your digestion absorb some fire. Everything that comes down your throat nutrients at minimal energy cost than to have and enters this great pot must be warmed up the entire nutritious lot pass through largely to body temperature and broken down into undigested (the hole in pocket principle). soup-like consistency (just like what comes up Here in Australia, we eat extraordinarily in those occasional unfortunate moments). well – a little too well, probably. Both the warming to body temperature and Our staple foods, like dairy, are highly the action of breaking down complex foods nutritious. But the downside is that they takes energy; that is, it draws on the digestive are rich, complex foods and we tend to eat fire. Essentially, the closer your food resembles them cold – and to over-eat them – and as a a 38-degree soup, the less energy is required consequence they tax that digestive fire. to digest it – the less taxing on the fire. Actually, many people’s digestive systems The more complex, or cold, your food, the don’t handle dairy well at all (and certainly harder that digestive fire has to work. not the immature digestions of infants, but Think how you feel about half an hour that subject is an entire column or three after finishing that enormously complex on its own). And it’s not only dairy. Fruit Christmas lunch. Slumped in an armchair – that most overrated of foods – and even with barely enough energy to keep your vegetables, if eaten raw or only lightly cooked eyelids up. All your body’s available resources – or microwaved – can be “cold� in effect. are tied up in digestion. So a patient at a Chinese medicine clinic Michael Ellis*
#ARROLL'OLDSMITH PDF
Chinese Herbalist
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The Mornington Peninsula’s Commercial Lawyers Professional expertise distinguished by personalised service
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• physiotherapy • pilates • personal training • podiatry • massage • hand therapy • psychology • naturopath
16 | BusinessTimes Frankston Peninsula | September 2010
www.carrollgoldsmith.com.au
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5975 7588
WORKPLACE HEALTH
Sweet cravings accompany digestive weakness, and are a sign that your digestion is not coping.
who asks the question: “What should I eat?” rather than getting dietary suggestions, will get advice along the lines of these digestive “seven commandments”: 1. Chew thoroughly, savour the food. Nothing drains the digestion more than gulping down a meal, while busily concentrating on other tasks. 2. Stop eating before you are full. Leave some space for digestion to take place. 3. Avoid regimes. Restrictive diets, while sometimes initially beneficial, weaken the digestion. The best diet includes a wide variety from all food groups. All things in moderation. 4. Eat seasonally. Don’t eat raw foods (such as salads) in winter, but only in summer when the earth produces them and the hot climate requires them. Winter is the time for well-cooked meals, root vegetables, soups and stews. 5. Eat foods that are well cooked and warm. That way the digestive process is already begun. Your body expends little energy warming the food or breaking down fibrous cell walls to get to the nutritious stuff. Fruit is cold and raw. It is summer food. If you insist on eating fruit outside the hot summer season, stew it. 6. Minimise rich or excessively sweet foods Although nutritious, rich foods tax the digestion and can leave you feeling bloated, heavy and tired. Sweet cravings accompany digestive weakness, and are a sign that your digestion is not coping. 7. Don’t wash down your meal with a cold drink. This dilutes the digestive secretions, saliva and stomach acids, and puts out that digestive fire. * Michael Ellis is a registered Chinese herbalist in Mt Eliza. www.mtelizaherbal.com
Get the staff on board LAST month Michelle Blake’s first part of working toward a healthy workplace identified ways to develop a healthy workplace culture. Michelle now stresses the need for commitment by both staff and management. Feedback and action are keys to any program’s success. A HEALTHY workplace culture requires commitment from management and staff: leadership by management, staff participation in identifying needs and planning healthy workplace activities, assessment of the workplace environment and setting benchmarks to measure improvements in health and wellbeing. If workers are sitting for most of the day the pressure on their spines is up to three times their static body weight. Commonly, this creates back pain directly related to sitting, despite ergonomic set ups. And we know pain impedes workers’ motivation to exercise. Simple educational sessions by physiotherapists or exercise physiologists can show workers how to use their muscles while sitting so that stiffness and back pain are reduced. Some strategies include: • A fit ball for sitting • A program of back, neck and shoulder stretches as options during breaks. Supportive posters drive home the message. • Inexpensive equipment (pilates roller, fitball, mat and trigger point massage balls) in the staff room for employees’ use. Programs to instruct workers about relieving tight and painful muscles at work are cost effective and beneficial and again actively demonstrate a business’s commitment to workers’ health and
wellbeing. Consult with workers and identify their physical activity preferences. Trained health care professionals will design and promote a program that offers variety and choice based on seasons and best practice programs. Also, they can build individual knowledge and awareness of workers regarding health and lifestyle and then develop behaviour change strategies as well as evaluating programs. Having implemented a healthy workplace program, it has to be evaluated. These measurements are used to promote the benefits of health and wellbeing programs and to develop future initiatives. The key to effective program evaluation is getting feedback from workers and then acting. If engaging health care professionals, the business should expect information about whether the program has been implemented as planned, whether improvements have been identified and whether the program has attracted the expected number of people. The Sports Injury Clinic offers a variety of Work Health, Work Well Programs to suit any business of any size. Contact info@tsic.com.au or call Pippa Hanson on 9789 9990 for more information or visit www.tsic.com.au
Let Us Be Part Of Your Business Team
michael@carleyadvisory.com.au
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• Service & Solutions • Business Planning • Risk Management
September 2010 | Frankston Peninsula BusinessTimes | 17
managing
Why diversity? The topic of diversity has been a global debate in the past couple of decades and most companies in the western world have been involved in the debate in some way. Despite this debate, many businesses have not made material progress to improve the representation of women and minorities throughout their organisations. Unfortunately, this has led many governments to get involved to try to help drive substantial improvements by mandating reporting of diversity. The US led the way with complex rules regarding reporting of minorities with the result that there was a substantial distortion of the processes to select and appoint people at all levels of organisations. Most companies subscribe to the concept of meritocracy where the person who is appointed to the job is the one who is evaluated to be the best for that specific job. However, meritocracy was often forgotten and inferior candidates appointed simply to get the right diversity numbers. This tended to build a resistance against diversity among mainstream employees with the result that diversity reporting was seen as a non-core business process that was often delegated to an HR person, if they had one. Late last year, the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) released a new set of regulations which require companies listed on the ASX to adopt and disclose a diversity policy that includes measurable objectives relating to gender and to report on their progress on an “if not –why not basis”, starting from January, 2011. The ASX is also encouraging non-listed companies to adopt these reporting recommendations. These types of mandated reporting requirements have usually forced businesses to set diversity targets and to report on their structure, processes and results. While this can be helpful, it can also raise some major issues over time. The primary issue is that businesses fail to develop a strong business case for diversity for their specific business niche with the result that reporting becomes perfunctory and seen internally as not really helpful to the business. This misses the whole point of having the business leaders discuss and debate why diversity
Hamish Petrie* Business Consultant
‘Leaders must encourage their diverse team members to bring their differences to every business discussion.’
to going to improve their business. Irrespective of the size or type of business, all businesses can really improve their results if they engage in a constructive discussion about how diversity can improve aspects of their business. This does require some analysis of diversity in areas such as customers, present and future employees, and other stakeholders like suppliers and local government bodies. This should then be blended with the knowledge of their products and/ or services to produce a comprehensive picture of the full dimensions of diversity for the business. In this context, diversity extends way past gender to include such things as age, ethnicity, geographic history, education, professional background and sexual orientation. So why does diversity help a business? Sometimes, just the physical presence of a person with a different appearance can help a team make a better business decision, but the maximum value is achieved when they also contribute to the intellectual discussions of running the business. Intellectual diversity is difficult to manage as team dynamics can often suppress the contribution of individuals who are seen as the outsiders in a team.
18 | BusinessTimes Frankston Peninsula | September 2010
This means that mainstream employees have to respect the person with a diverse view and to be sensitive to, and ready to listen to the different perspective that they may have on a topic. This does require good team leadership to ensure that the majority view does not just rule in all decisions. Seeking out the view of the diverse member is a great process that will result in better business decisions. Even within a team of physically similar people, there can be widely divergent personality types and these, too, need to be respected and encouraged to produce better business outcomes. Again, people with diverse backgrounds must be encouraged to speak out on business issues, otherwise there will be little benefit from having them in the organisation. Leaders must encourage their diverse team members to bring their differences to every business discussion. Obviously, it is much easier to measure physical differences than intellectual differences and so measures of diversity all tend to be physical ones. It is ultimately the intellectual differences that will help to enhance a business and these can be measured, but with more complex tools. For example, there are personality type or preference tools that can be very useful in understanding how individuals will normally think and behave. Use of these can really enhance the dynamics within a team, thereby helping to harvest benefits that flow from diverse team structures. If you can see these connections between your business strategy and diversity in both its physical and intellectual forms, then you have developed a business case for diversity that will help you in your quest to develop and implement your business strategy.
Action Planning Guide:
• Which aspects of your business will be most impacted by facets of diversity? • Which facets of diversity will most enhance your business strategy? • Where do your largest opportunities exist to rapidly enhance your business? • How do you evaluate your team leaders on their diversity behaviours? *Hamish Petrie had a 37-year corporate career including 29 years with Alcoa Inc. His last position was as VP–People and Communication for the global Alcoa corporation based in New York, NY. He can be contacted at hamish@nitroworld.net or on 0404 345 103.
MArkets
US dip or Asian growth? Forecasts of a double dip US could prove correct, but the new breed of “permabears” growling in syndicated press columns have one obstacle to overcome: Asia. From the US perspective gloomy omens may be understandable. It is barely two years ago that first Lehman Brothers and then Merrill Lynch, the world’s largest US broker, imploded. Richard Campbell* Stock Analyst
Lehman Brothers ... first to fold
US complains its consumers are supporting China’s export economy, but China’s exports are often disguised US exports. The volumes are recorded as China’s, but the profits accrue back home for shareholders of Walmart, Nike and Apple. It is also the case that China’s rising internal demand is lifting the region. Former tributaries are now trading partners. Korea’s exports to China rose 38 per cent in July. In June the old enemy Japan had the satisfaction of recording a trade surplus with China after 20 years of deficits.
*Richard Campbell is Executive Director of Peninsula Capital Management, Tel. 9642 0545, 350 Collins St, Melbourne 3000. email: rcampbell@peninsula capital.com.au
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Then the massive insurer AIG tottered on the brink. GM swayed and was effectively nationalised while the two giant mortgage insurance organisations, Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac, managers or owners of almost 60 per cent of US mortgages, shrivelled to nothing. The shares of both were quietly delisted a few weeks ago. The list goes on. This parade of fraud, chicanery, inept or negligent supervision and plain self destructive idiocy is unprecedented even in the long list of slumps, panics and scams perpetrated on the US pubic over the past 200 years. To add to salt to the wounds, only three months ago China’s annual vehicle production surpassed US production figures. This record was aided by the slump in US output, but China will not stop at a mere 13 million units a year. It aims to double vehicle production by 2025. That means more steel, more aluminium and especially more coal, copper and lithium. Since China’s policy is to make half of its fleet fully electric or hybrid by 2030 copper is needed for coils, lithium for batteries and uranium to power 30 pending nuclear plants. US observers may also be troubled to learn that by June of this year the Asian recovery was so strong that intra-Asian container movements were for the first time greater than ex-Asian shipments to the US. The
Through US eyes this may look troubling, but from our perspective it means that the region which takes 70 per cent of our exports is growing richer by the day. This flows on to the likes of Rio and Leighton. During July alone Leighton’s new Asian orders were $1.4 billion. None of this precludes a double dip in the US. Some 9.5 per cent remain unemployed and about 30 per cent of mortgagees owe more than their house is worth, but it is also possible that animal spirits – the urge to make a buck – will kick in again. Big US companies are groaning with cash. They collectively hold $1.84 trillion on deposit. High cash balances may be a sign of worry, but with interest rates at almost zero, sooner or later many will decide that cash is a worry, too. Not only will inflation erode capital, inaction will mean that the 1.4 billion Asians who can now be classed as “middle class” will be buying goods from Asians, not Americans. Since the Chinese cash hoarding understates the economy by about 30 per cent and since Chinese economists tell us the population is really 1.6 billion not 1.3, those figures look conservative. We will continue to hear the echo of hurt US egos and cringe at the pronouncements of short sellers keen to fan every kind of depressive thinking, but the current American experience is not the Asian experience. China is expanding: India is expanding. And to expand they need materials and energy. Australia has both in abundance.
Shop 61, Station Street Mall, FRANKSTON
Ph 9769 6660
www.rjsanderson.com.au
September 2010 | Frankston Peninsula BusinessTimes | 19
legal
My will, my rights? It is generally believed that a legally competent person (let’s call him or her “the testator”) can make a will which leaves the testator’s assets entirely in accordance with his or her personal inclination. This is true - a will is legal if it is properly drawn, signed and witnessed. However, the ultimate and actual distribution of the testator’s assets might well differ greatly from the terms of that valid will (and accordingly from the testator’s express wishes) depending on a range of factors. A testator should first understand that certain “assets” will not actually form part of the estate dealt with by the will. Examples are assets which are held within external legal structures such as a family trust, a superannuation fund, an insurance policy or are jointly owned with another person. A jointly-owned asset will pass to the surviving co-owner, a superfund will benefit those “entitled” under the superannuation deed and assets held by the family trust will continue to be administered within the trust, for its beneficiaries.
Unfair contract terms amendments to consumer protection laws from July 1 introduced ‘unfair contract terms’ provisions that will affect all businesses across Australia using standard form contracts. Businesses will need to consider whether the terms in any standard form contracts they use with customers are unfair. Ultimately the courts will decide if a term is unfair, however some careful consideration of what may be unfair terms may save your business time and unnecessary angst. First and foremost, the unfair contract terms law covers standard form consumer contracts only. Consumer contracts are generally those contracts that relate to goods and services provided to an individual wholly or predominantly for personal, domestic or household use or consumption. The consumer contract is presumed to be a standard form contract. Typically it will be a contract prepared by one party with no negotiation as to the terms and presented on a ‘take it or leave it’ basis to the other. Where there is a disputed term, it is up
Robert Knight* Lawyer
In the absence of a binding nomination (superfund) or a named beneficiary (insurance policy) both superfunds and life insurance proceeds will pass to recipients decided by trustees, with an unfettered discretion, within a class of possible proper claimants. Returning now to assets which are actually solely-owned by the testator (and accordingly are dealt with by the will) a capricious exercise of the testator’s absolute right to make the will as he, or she, sees fit, will often result in a legal claim (under the Administration & Probate Act 1958) by a person or persons alleging that they should have received a benefit, or a greater benefit, under the will. This is the
to the party seeking to rely on that term to prove to the court that the contract is not in a standard form. The court must consider several factors when determining whether a contract is standard form. These include the relative bargaining power of the parties to the contract and whether there was any opportunity for negotiation of the terms. There is a three part test to be applied by the court when deciding if a term of a standard form consumer contract is unfair. Each part of the test must be satisfied for the term to be unfair. A term of a consumer contract is unfair if: 1. It would cause a significant imbalance in the rights and obligations of the business and consumer who are parties to the contract; 2. It is not reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the party that would be advantaged by the term; and 3. It would cause detriment (whether financial or otherwise) if it were to be applied or relied on. In deciding whether a term is unfair, the court may consider any matter it considers relevant, but it must also consider: 1. The extent to which the term is transparent
20 | BusinessTimes Frankston Peninsula | September 2010
hidden shoal on which the stated intentions of the testator might well founder. If any person (whether or not related to the testator) has a credible argument that he or she should morally have been considered for benefit by the testator and (if that is the case) would also credibly be considered by the judge to satisfy a number of pertinent guidelines under the Act, then that person might well be legally advised to institute a claim. Obviously, matters such as the value of the estate, competing claims by beneficiaries and others, the financial and other circumstances of the claimant’s family relationships and prior gifts are relevant and will enhance or detract from the credibility of the claim. But, be sure of this – a testator who allows petty current attitudes and emotions to override a broad and balanced view of his or her possible heirs must be warned that the resulting will might well, in the end, be of very different effect – and the estate could well contribute to the support of members of the legal profession involved in an ensuing claim. *Robert Knight, Consultant , White Cleland Lawyers . Tel. 9783 2323 email: rdk@whitecleland.com.au
2. Is it expressed in reasonably plain language and presented clearly in the contract, or is it hidden in fine print or expressed in legalese or in complex or technical language? The fairness or otherwise of a term can only be assessed in the context of the contract as a whole. For example, a term that seems fair in one contract may seem unfair in another depending on the other terms in the contract. If a court declares a term unfair, that term is void. This means that the term is treated as if it had never existed, though the contract remains binding to the extent that it can operate without the unfair term. Any business that attempts to enforce or rely on a term that has been declared unfair is breaching the law. In those circumstances the court can make orders to stop actions or payments or to provide remedies or compensation to the consumer. If you would like to discuss the implications of the new unfair contract terms on your business, call Richard Goldsmith from Carroll Goldsmith Lawyers on 5975 7588.
MOTORING
Where there’s room to move Here is another entrant in the Australian family car market. One that’s so completely different it may not be noticed the first time you draw up your short list of vehicles. Skoda Superb comes from the Czech Republic. The company is a major part of the Volkswagen Group and uses mechanical components designed by the Germans, often with changes to suit the specific needs of the Czech people.
instead of a bootlid you have a large opening hatch and ease of loading bulky items. The idea is that if you don’t need the full-sized opening offered by the hatchback the cabin isn’t exposed to the outside air with all that can mean in the way of wind and traffic noise and fumes. A wagon variant added to the range in May is based heavily on the sedan, with the front of the vehicle and the cabin being virtually the same. Current Superb owners will no doubt be pleased that the large cargo area in the wagon does not intrude on the limousine-size rear seat legroom for which Superb is famed. Head room for both front and rear seat passengers has been slightly increased. Skoda Superb comes in two model grades: Ambition and upmarket Elegance. Recommended prices for the Superb begin at $38,990.
Ewen Kennedy Motoring Journalist
While it’s longer than the Aussie family sixes, the Skoda Superb is similar in width to a typical medium-sized car, so it doesn’t have the interior width to carry three adults in the rear without a fair bit of shoulder rubbing. The Superb’s boot is huge. Its total volume is 565 litres with the security screen in place, increasing to 1670 litres when the split-fold rear seats are folded down completely. It’s almost station wagon-like in its carrying capacity. A fascinating feature of the superbly spacious Superb is that there are two way of accessing the load area. Push one button and the boot lid opens in a conventional manner like any other sedan. Press another button and
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And one of the things the Czechs love is room to move in their cars. The body of the Superb is an all-Czech design and its biggest feature is a huge amount of interior space. Rear legroom in the Superb sees it catering for families with teenagers on the high side of two metres tall. The rear-seat legroom in the new 2009 Skoda Superb is achieved in several ways. Firstly, it’s a big car, being slightly longer than a Holden Commodore or Ford Falcon. Secondly, its transversely mounted engine takes up less length than a longitudinal powerplant, so the cabin can be moved further forward. Thirdly, the Skoda engineers raised the back seats to enable a more efficient seating angle. Headroom may be restricted for very tall people, though my 1.82-metre frame fits with a few centimetres to spare.
Distinctive styling of the Skoda Superb stands out from the European crowd.
September 2010 | Frankston Peninsula BusinessTimes | 21
insideout by Mary Rachel Brown With VALERIE BADER and BENN WELFORD
October Friday 8 @ 8pm & Monday 11 @ 11am Free Mental Health Forum: 11 October @ 1pm Inside Out is a new Australian play that tells the story of Simon, a 19 year old diagnosed with schizophrenia, and the impact that disease has on him and his family – specifically his mother Sue. It’s a powerful and moving drama, with moments of unexpected humour, which traces the journey from the onset of Simon’s symptoms, through to treatment and the hope for the future. VICTORIAN PREMIERE SEASON Inside Out is proudly presented by the Frankston Arts Centre and the Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria as part of MENTAL HEALTH WEEK Frankston Arts Centre Tickets & Enquiries: 9784 1060 or www.artscentre.frankston.vic.gov.au
WORLD PREMIERE See it first at FRANKSTON
Saturday 18 September, 8pm Presented by Bold Jack Productions, producers of the sold-out Melbourne Season of Man in Black. With
Daniel de Borah
22 | BusinessTimes Frankston Peninsula | September 2010
as Dudley Moore.
Tickets: 9784 1060 or www.artscentre.frankston.vic.gov.au
THEATRE
Dud’s serious musical side MEMORIES of Dudley Moore can conjure up contradictory images: a dazed man standing on a beach watching a scantily clad Bo Derek run towards him; the comedic partner of Peter Cook in Beyond the Fringe; the outrageous recordings of Derek and Clive; the hapless victim of the Devil’s jokes in the original version of Bedazzled; or the drunken millionaire Arthur waiting for the world to cater to his every whim. Even in his most slapstick moments, Dudley Moore could capture an audiences attention by sitting at the piano. Music was his first love and the one thing that he could count on over a life that included four marriages, stardom and illness. Moore’s inner life was ruled by the classical and jazz composers he loved and the world premier at Frankston Arts Centre of The Man and his Music gives an insight into the man that is often at odds with the well-remembered image of the
Mother and son
endearing clown. In The Man and his Music pianist Daniel de Borah follows Dudley Moore through a wide variety of the music that ruled his life - from Chopin to Gershwin, from Ravel’s Bolero to jazz standards. A string quintet, rhythm section and singer join de Borah to take the audience on a journey from Dudley Moore’s birth in East London to the University of Oxford, to the Hollywood hills and a disastrous Australian tour that heralded his final illness. Dudley Moore - The Man and His Music, Frankston Arts Centre, 8pm Saturday, September 18. Bookings: 9784 1060.
A MOTHER’S intuition and the close relationship with her 19-year-old son provide a heartfelt basis for the emotional play Inside Out. Mary Rachel Brown’s narrative explores emotional depths as mother Sue (Valerie Bader) finds her life turned upside down as she realises something is wrong with her son Simon (Benn Welford). The pair have always been close and Simon is talented, smart and loving, but Sue needs to find more love, strength and resiliance than she ever thought possible. Awarded the Rodney Seaborn Playwrighting Award in 2008, Inside Out is a journey into a young man’s mind, where borders are shifting and battle lines are drawn - and into his mother’s struggle to understand what is happening, to keep her relationship with her son alive and somehow find a way to help. Inside Out, Frankston Arts Centre 8pm Friday, October 8 and 11am Monday, October 11 as part of a national tour. Bookings 9784 1060.
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September 2010 | Frankston Peninsula BusinessTimes | 23
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S AV E 1 6 % O N E L I G I B L E C A L L S W I T H A M O N T H LY R E B AT E O N A 6 0 - M O N T H T E L ST R A B U S I N E SS P H O N E S Y ST E M CO N T R A C T
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