Cairns Life September Issue

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CONTENTS

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What’s On: Events, Music, Art With festival season in full swing, we take a look at what’s on from jazz to contemporary art.

Readers’ Picks Each month we bring you an array of interesting and talented people from all walks of life. This month we focus on Dynamic Duos, partners in business or life.

Literature This month we introduce Amanda Cranston’s top 5 books. Reviewed with love and detail.

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Fashion, Beauty & Style Our inhouse fashion editor Riyani has some interesting insights into the tropical fashion landscape.

Food, Wine & Dine Stephen Borzi takes us on a ride around the local restaurant scene, talking to chefs, managers and even having a really long lunch with our favourite legel eagle over a bottle or two of his favourite wines.

HomeLife This month we interview Karon Donato, Joanne Pyne, Steve Habjan and Adam Cain, Lisa Slatyer and the Vannella family

CairnsLife magazine published by CairnsLife Pty Ltd. Shops 7 & 8 The Walk. 84 Lake Street. Cairns. 4870 • T: 4041 6981 F: 4041 6889 www.cairnslifemag.com.au


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LETTERS What an action packed month! I’ve celebrated my 31st, found my first grey hair and interviewed some of Cairns’ most talented Dynamic Duos. Let’s just say it was an office full of tears and laughter putting this edition together. One part I truly love about being editor of Cairns Life is choosing who we interview and hearing the interesting stories from the talented people in this city. Now we want to introduce the “Readers Picks” initiative. This is your opportunity to let us know who you think is worthy to be profiled in our publication. Next month we are featuring ‘Women in Business’ and want your input. Let us know who you would like to read about or someone you know that we should let the rest of Cairns know about. Send to jacqui@cairnslifemag.com.au I can’t wait to hear your suggestions, ideas and opinions. Happy reading, Jacqui x

Contributors Amanda Cranston Julietta Henderson Danny Betros Andrew Griffiths Vlasta Eriksson Leanne Peard Pip Miller Craig Squire Brett Claxton Stephen Borzi Display Sales Jacqui Nolan Business Lifestyle Riyani Martorejo Fashion Beauty Alex Drewniak Eat Play Drink Graphics Stephen Borzi Gordi Avila Photography Brad Newton Daniel Blake Chris Baker Paul Dymond

Letter of the month...

MR and MR’s Misery Guts

I think one of the worst jobs around Cairns would have to be the poor bloke who reads all of the Letters to the Editor at the Cairns Post before deciding which ones to publish. Gee there are some real fruitcakes out there walking amongst us. I love the exaggerations and generalisations over the past few weeks such as, “My whole street is sick of Cairns and the cost increases and we are leaving town” “99% of people won’t use a new entertainment precinct”, “no one supports this project”, or “all of the Grey Nomads are avoiding Cairns because we treat them with contempt and they are going elsewhere to stay for free”. What a lot of crap! These are just a few of my favourites. They are miserable whinging people who feel the need to publicly express their hasty over generalisations. As part of becoming a GOM (Grumpy Old Man) or pain in the arse (as my wife would prefer), my

attitude is short and sweet. If Cairns isn’t your place anymore for whatever “real “reason then please leave quickly and don’t slam the door as you go. Just go off and search for your Utopia and then moan about something else when you get there as you will never be happy. Our community needs to regain its positive and proud attitude and not be brought down by people who try to turn their own personal situations into a failure by the community. Cairns needs a new Civic Theatre; call it what you like but for goodness sake let’s get on with it. The current place is a dump and the only thing that kept me awake through my daughter’s last dance concert, was how uncomfortable the seats were. The money we are wasting on ads and consultation for this and other projects (rectangular stadiums, channel dredging etc) could be put to better use on our CBD. Do all retirees who buy a van and travel around Australia really expect to come to Cairns and stay somewhere for nothing? Do we all become that miserable after becoming grumpy? I don’t know a lot about the cost of staying in a park but I do know how expensive it is to own and run van parks. People who want to stay in the Showground for $10 night are just plain hilarious. Could you imagine how this would end up? I couldn’t think of anywhere worse to stay, it’s a hole of a place to camp. . Towns with free parks for vans have nothing else to offer, that’s why it is offered. Enough said as I don’t want to be accused of being grumpy about people being miserable. Danny Betros CB Richard Ellis

Put pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard. Let thousands of our readers, public leaders and concerned residents know what ticks you off or puts a smile on your face. Letter of the month wins dinner for two at Salt House or Villa Romana

Letters to: CairnsLife magazine Shop 7, 84 Lake Street Cairns CBD. 4870 or email to lance@cairnslifemag.com.au


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EVENTS As the days start getting warmer and that summer heat is in the air, we start the month of September with some hot jazz! Renée Geyer & Sextet is certainly not one to be overlooked. ARIA Hall of Fame inductee, and Australian music legend, Renee Geyer will wow you with her sensual, velvety voice. With a career spanning four decades and with 23 albums under her belt, she is an inspiration for budding singers. ‘A consummate entertainer with a proud body of work, Renée is a true and undeniably unique talent who transfixes a room with the power of her song. Don’t miss Renée Geyer & Sextet, performing live for one night only, as headline act of the 2011 Jazz Up North series at Tanks.’ Tickets cost $45 and can be purchased from Ticketlink: 1300 855 835 or www.ticketllink.com.au. The doors open at 6:30pm and the show starts at 7:30pm in Tank 5 (MA15+). If jazz isn’t your thing then you may be interested in folk/blues/country singer Kirsty Larkin playing at Blue Sky Brewery on the 2nd and 3rd of September. ‘Kirsty's refreshingly honest and cheeky stage presence make all of her performances entertaining and heartfelt, and this small girl's massive voice is sure to knock your socks off ! Kirsty's "We're all in this together" attitude has enabled her to draw on personal experiences to relate to her audience through stories of heart ache, self empowerment and the beauty of life.’ Not one to miss if you need a good fun night out. Her gig starts at 8pm both nights, but get to Blue Sky earlier to sample some of the home brews!

Alternatively (and very alternatively), on the 3rd you could always make your way to Havana Music Café for the Lush Late Night Supper Club. Featuring a selection of burlesque and cabaret performances with a great range of cocktails, canapés and food on offer, a night here will definitely break up the nights at Gilligans and the Woolshed. ‘Queen Fanny Wood will meet you at the door, and issue you with your Lush golden pass, whereupon our hostess Carmen Geddit will show you to your seat, and offer you a festive treat or two! Relax, imbibe and be bamboozled by The Uncredible Si Mann's card, rope and sleight of hand amazements, before your toes start tapping to the saucy tunes and thrilling melodies of The Hot N Wet Swing Set. The Saturday night hangout will feature not one but two fabulous

burlesque artistes, the feathered antics of Mz Panty Rebellion, the contortions of Lu Lu La Bent, the extraordinary circus feats of Monsieur Pepe, the hot pole manoeuvres of The Boy Eros, the utterly edgy Balloon Boy and Grinder Grrl!’ Starting late at 10pm, get there early for great drinks and great food, or swing by when it starts, just make you don’t miss any of the action! The amazing voice and performer that is Lisa Hunt is back in September. Come along at 10pm to Vertigo Bar at the Reef Hotel Casino on the 3rd to hear her belt out classics new and old. Last time it was PACKED… a testament to Lisa Hunt’s popularity. At the Green Ant Cantina every Sunday night is Anarchy- an awesome combination of snakebite jugs with your favourite Indie and Brit Pop! (I’m getting flashbacks to the UK already) Starts at

4pm till late. Don’t forget The Green Ant Cantina serves amazing food to satisfy any craving so make a night of it! Casey Chambers, one of Australia’s most well known country music acts is coming to Cairns after cancelling her tour earlier in the year following the Brisbane floods. An ARIA award winner after her music made it into the mainstream music scene she is a classic Aussie act that must not be missed if you want that little extra slice of Australia. Performing on the 4th at 8pm at the Cairns Civic Theatre. Also at the Reef Hotel Casino this month is Chukale on the 8th, The Big Swing Thing on the 9th and 10th and The Giles Smith Band on the 30th. All gigs start at 9pm.


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The highlight of the month though, sits with Architecture in Helsinki as they come to Cairns for one night only! This popular modernist pop quintet has been travelling Australia, USA and Europe gaining fans and support along the way. Their recent album Moment Blends has gained much acclaim, especially the second single Escapee that has recently been released. It sounds like the album they’ve waited their whole lives to make, retaining the fizzing immediacy of its three predecessors but re-moulded with a more sophisticated touch. Do not miss what will be an awesome gig! Tickets cost $40 and can be purchased through Ticketlink: www.ticketlink.com.au or 1300 855 835. Doors open at 6:30pm and the show starts at 7:30pm in Tank 5.

Mark Seymour is best known as the songwriter and front man of Australian Band, Hunters and Collectors. Now pursuing a solo career, he heads up to Cairns to play at Brothers Leagues Club on Friday the 9th. He brings with him a collection of work from his latest album ʻThe Undertowʼ. ʻMusically itʼs an album of root based blues with a touch of country and folk, performed and collaborated with Markʼs regular band mates, also known as ʻThe Undertowʼ.ʼ Tickets cost $30, and can be purchased from www.brotherscairns.com.au. Doors open at 8pm with the show starting at 8:30pm.

To end the month in music we head back to the Tanks on Friday the 23rd of September, for Martinez, some of the greatest Avant Garde guitarists in the world. Hailing from Chile, the Martinez Family (Victor, Andro and Dauno) bring their charismatic and entrancing show to Cairns at the Tanks. ‘One minute they play in unison, the next in harmony, then across and against each other, it’s calm then chaotic, beautiful then forceful. It’s difficult to fully describe them until you’ve heard them. The interplay and understanding that flows through them is inspiring, endearing and infectious. They truly captivate their audience as they stretch each other’s ability. Anyone who plays a guitar, aspires to pla ying, or enjo ys listening to guitar, must see these incredible players.’ The gig starts at 7:30pm with the doors and bar opening at 6:30pm. Tickets cost $30 and can be purchased through Ticketlink: www.ticketlink.com.au or 1300 855 35.


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ART At Cell Art Space from the 3rd of September is Aquarium As Still Life, a ceramic installation by artists Lynette and Diann. Both passionate about art, the environment and the development of art practice in the Torres Strait, this pair brings you a slice of Erub (Darney Island). ‘Erub is one of the most remote communities in Australia, located 260km north east of Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula. This beautiful volcanic island situated in the turquoise waters of the Torres Strait, is home to approximately 400 Meriam Mer people.’ Inspired by these turquoise waters and their close association and connection to the sea and reef, Aquarium As Still Life, creates an aquatic, fantasy, wildlife environment using wood fired clay baked in the most northerly kiln in Australia.

For something a little more tropical we have Reef Cosmos: Stephanie Milne, an exhibition that attempts to re-create the act of visiting the reef (after your dive check it out to see if it measures up!). The aim of the body of work is to capture the complex environment, from the large spectacular coral reef walls to the smallest of creatures or even an individual coral polyp. ‘In addition to creating a variety of mixed media works, I am planning to take a number of the pieces to the reef and to photograph them underwater, on site in the environment which inspired them. In an ideal world, I would love to leave the works on the reef for an extended amount of time, to see how the reef interacts with the piece and document the transformation. However this is not possible, so the works will simply be photographed as a temporary installation, to be shown alongside the original work. A number of the works will contain reclaimed objects which have been rescued from the reef. This inclusion aims to comment on the continuing problem of refuse which finds it’s way to the reef environment and how the reef has its own natural reaction to these objects by reclaiming them so they are often no longer distinguishable’ - Stephanie Milne. Opening day is on the 19th of September at 2:30pm and you can view the exhibition until the 16th of September, so get in quick and don’t miss it!

Also on display this month at the Cairns Regional Gallery is Strike A Pose: Fashions of the 60’s and 70’s curated by Lee Lin Chin. This exhibition explores the history and world of Australian style and fashion 40 years ago, when traditions were broken and fashion broke out of the confines of the 1950’s. “These pictures are not about art,” writes Lee Lin Chin in an introduction to the exhibition. “They are not even just about fashion because, from today’s perspective, they’ve recorded a transcendent historical moment when nothing was going to be quite the same again.” Including a collection of 89 photographs taken by Australian Government photographers during the two decades, the exhibition consists of posed fashion shots, capturing the essence of the period and the cultural changes and reactions to the change in the industry.


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The annual Energy Exhibition is back at the Tanks Art Centre this month, showcasing art produced by schools in the region. The collection includes a range of artworks from paintings, drawings, photography, installations and other media. ‘It’s an eye-opening and heart warming insight into the thoughts and inspirations of the youth of Far North Queensland.’ The exhibition runs from the 2nd to the 30th of September and can be viewed in Tank 4 from 9am to 4:30pm weekdays and at Carnival on Collins. This is a FREE exhibition!

In the same vein as the Energy Exhibition, Creative Generation is a touring exhibition showcasing the work of 34 talented young artists who were recipients of the 2010 Creative Generations Excellence Awards in Visual Arts and Design. Running for 21 years, the awards are a chance for young artists to be recognised, celebrated and honoured. This exhibition also showcases a selection of mixed media works, which include paintings, sculptures, drawings and more. Available to visit from 9am to 4:30pm weekdays and at Carnival on Collins. The exhibition runs from the 2nd to the 30th of September. This is a FREE exhibition!


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SOCIAL EVENTS: CAIRNS CUP 2011 Shot by Ste phen Borzi on Race Day


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Local Artist of the Month Regan O’Neill has had a love of painting since she was in primary school, but it was in high school she was encouraged by teachers to explore her artistic abilities. At the age of 17 an art gallery director saw Regan’s work and asked to hang one of her paintings in a gallery in Cairns- it sold that same day. Ever since then her work has been selling galleries and shops in Port Douglas, Cairns, Mission Beach, Brisbane and Yamba, NSW. “My grandfather was very artistically talented which is where I think I got my creative streak from” she says. After encouraging her father to enter a wood carving in this year's Cairns Show Art Exhibition, he came second. “It must run in the family.” “All my family and friends support me in everything I do which means the world to me.” O’Neill workshops at primary schools where she encourages students to have a go and experiment with different styles of painting. “I remember when I was painting in an art gallery and a little girl came up to me and was watching me, then proceeded to run her fingers through the wet paint on my painting, she was so interested and obviously wanted to be part of it. I couldn't help but laugh.” In 2000-2001 whilst travelling through Europe and the UK, O’Neill continued to paint and sent paintings back to Australia to an art gallery in Yamba, NSW, where they sold and helped fund her working holiday overseas. O’Neill has just returned from a holiday down in Byron Bay, Bangalow and Yamba, NSW, where she has been inspired immensely. O’Neill’s art studio overlooks the Cairns Inlet which provides her with amazing ideas and inspiration for her work. “I love experimenting and trying new things with my art. One thing I hear people say the most is that my work is constantly changing and very diverse. There is no theme to my artwork, which I like and I hope that there's something for everyone.” Regan O’Neill has a solo exhibition for one night only. Fri 30th Sept at Buddha Bar, 59 The Esplanade Cairns, upstairs. Gala opening 6-8pm, canapés will be served & drinks available. All works will be available for purchase.

Regan O’Neill


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PICKS 12

Special Feature

Each issue w e are asking r eaders to email us their ideas on who we should go out ther e and interview. Every issue we feature a different subject. In August we highlighted Young Professionals, people hitting goals at an early stage of their careers and this issue we feature Dynamic Duos, partners in business or life. Next issue we are featuring Women in Business. So if you have a fa vorite, send us y our choices to jacqui@cairnslifemag.com.au All suggestions are welcome and hopefully yours will appear in our next issue as a “Readers’ Pick!”

TRAILBLAZERS

READERS’ PICKS


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DYNAMIC

DUO’S READER’S PICKS: DYNAMIC DUO’S

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN

by Julietta Henderson

In the w orld of business it seems nice guys actually can finish fir st. Ste ve ‘Skullsy’ Corradi and Mark Wollin from Happy Days Media, aren’t just leading the race , they’re giving the media industr y in Cair ns a shake up with their positiv e spin and infectious enthusiasm. Mark and Ste ve are of that rare breed that not only talk the talk, but walk the walk too, and down at the Happy Days office it e ven smells like progress. The scent of fresh paint is do wn to e xpansion f or their new est investment in HR - a team of in-house creatives and social media specialists . It’ s obvious that the success of Happy Days is down to the people; the of fice hums with positivity and smiles ar e in gener ous supply. “We aren’t hard taskmaster s, our aim is to create a happ y w ork en vironment”, says Steve. “We like to enjoy ourselves, but Happy Days is all about assisting our clients to get to that point of ‘happy days’ themselves.” Happy Days are a full service agency, able to manage a marketing campaign from concept to completion. “We are solution pr oviders”, says Mark. “We can be as little or as much as you want. Ob viously the g reater control we have over the total marketing mix, the better we can work, but we are what we are.” Steve adds, “We focus our ener gies on w hy things can be done, not why they can’t.” With core values of ‘accountability , pr oactivity, flexibility and integ rity’, the compan y mantra, “Yes We Can”, is not just lip service. Both men ha ve e xtensive backg rounds in television and radio: “I hear d the media game was all long lunc hes and golf g ames and I signed up”, quips Mark; while Steve’s career began when he realised while working in pubs, all the $100 notes coming across the bar were from people w orking in tele vision. “I wanted some of tha t!” he laughs . T his

match made in hea ven was sealed o ver a Corona at the legendary Verdi’s, and they’ve never looked back. On the job, their dynamic is a winning formula, but the two are clearly best ma tes as w ell. Mar k and Ste ve understand the need f or a balance betw een work and life and make sur e that after the work is done the y celebra te the victories . However, while happ y to be labelled ‘knockabouts’, when it comes to their clients, the boys are deadly serious. When the two went into business in the midst of the GFC, it was one of the toughest times in Australia’s economic histor y. They came out of the b locks at 100 miles an hour , and while the y admit things w eren’t easy, the y rolled with the punches. Steve says, “There’s no doubt w e did it tough, like all Cair ns businesses, but we just had to keep going and remain positive and aim f or the light a t the end of the tunnel.” Happy Days went on to forge success on the back of some innovative campaigns and the willingness to go tha t bit further f or their existing clients. They also sought out other markets inter state and o verseas; b ut, with representation in Brisbane and futur e plans for a presence in Sydney and Melbourne, the boys are adamant head of fice will remain in Cairns. “It was the people of Cairns that got us through, by putting their faith in us”, Steve says. “Cairns people ar e extremely resilient and don’t sit back and let things happen to them. They go out and find solutions”. Mark adds, “W e liv e in a city with a fantastic climate and beautiful natural surrounds, and this countr y has some of the w orld’s best natural r esources and str ongest banks . We really should all take time to r eflect on ho w lucky we are” So, can we believe then that, in Cairns, happy days are here again? “Yes we can”

“Loving Cairns Life” Here’s what the boys from Happy Days Media are loving about Cairns right now. Food: Skullsy: Villa Romana, for breakfast lunch and dinner! Mark: Early morning coffee from Silke or Re-Hab & a BBQ at home with the family Nightlife: Skullsy: A good mix of the best venues in Cairns with a cold Corona in my hand. Mark: Usually one step behind or in front of Skullsy! Fashion: Skullsy: Victor Mellicks – the girls there know how to sell you a suit or pair of jeans Mark: Man Overboard, Victor Mellicks – whatever I like on the day! Relaxation: Skullsy: Walking along the Esplanade, up near the white boats, in the early morning is an absolute joy. Mark: 18 holes at Paradise Palms Golf Course Events: Skullsy and Mark: Saturday at Brothers Leagues Club for a beer and a bet


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“DRIVING CAIRNS’ SUCCESS”

READER’S PICKS: DYNAMIC DUO’S

Greg Eastment and John Henrison Pacific Toyota

“Loving Cairns Life” Here’s what Greg and John from Pacific Toyota are loving about Cairns right now. Food: Water Bar, Villa Romana, Tamarinds, Barnacle Bills, Hannamans at the Hilton Fashion: Victor Mellick’s Nightlife: The Salt House Relaxation: Greg – Paradise Palms Golf Course John – On a boat out on the reef. Events: Greg – The Port Food and Wine Festival John – The Amateurs

Greg Eastment and John Henrison of Pacific Toyota are the epitome of the ‘dynamic duo’ label - at the helm of a successful business with their eyes on the future. However, from the outset, the pair makes it very clear that they do not see themselves as simply a business duo; they credit their entire team of committed senior and middle management, sales people, and administration personnel as being crucial to, and indeed the reason for, the company’s success. Before their venture in Pacific Toyota, Greg and John had been work colleagues on the Gold Coast. When, in 2008, Greg approached John with the offer of a collaboration he jumped at the chance. With over 25 years combined experience in the car industry it makes for a formidable pairing: Greg as Managing Director developing strategy and direction, and John as Group Business Manger leading the team of finance managers and staff. As John puts it, “Our business is staff. Their happiness is the most important thing.” Taking on a business in receivership at the height of the GFC may have seemed like folly to some, but for Greg and John it made good business sense and has, in fact, shaped their business model of today. “Cairns is a great place for those who take up the challenges and the GFC actually created an opportunity for us”, says John. Greg continues, “In every down turn there are doors closing and doors opening; if you find the closing ones the hard times can be a time of opportunity.” He continues, “We structured the business around what was there at the time, and that was the GFC. We asked ourselves, ‘how do we do it?’ - and we’ve been doing it that way since we started. People who have been in business at times of boom don’t always have

by Julietta Henderson

the advantage of knowing how to strategize for the hard times. But we are confident there are great times ahead and we’re looking forward to them now!” Citing recent statistics that, in fact, the new car industry in Cairns is keeping up with national record levels, their faith in the resurgence of the good times in the Far North seems well founded. Focusing firmly on the positive outlook for Cairns, John and Greg see Pacific Toyota’s future as more than just financials. “Cairns really rallies around their business people and the locals have supported us since the beginning. We’re looking forward to the return of the good times allowing us to grow our contribution back into the community. Our plans are to invest in helping the youth of Cairns with projects that lack government funding, as well as continuing to offer traineeships and apprenticeships.” The Far North community is clearly important to family men John and Greg and both have a vision for Cairns that goes beyond their business interests. John says, “All that my friends in Europe hear about seems to be the natural disasters we have here. The world needs to cut Cairns a break and start focusing on the positives – there are so many!” Greg agrees, continuing, “I would love to see more diversification of industry to create a more stable environment, but what’s really great about Cairns is that everyone has time to stop and say ‘g’day’. I believe we have a more genuine class of people here in Far North.” John and Greg are leading their loyal team at Pacific Toyota by example with their positive attitude; their own commitment to Cairns is perhaps best summed up by the simple statement on their business cards - “Better by far, north QLD!”


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“SEASONING THE CITY”

Lui Garozzo and Fintan Rafferty

by Julietta Henderson

If ever there was a place that Cairns was waiting for, it’s Salt House. A pair of local entrepreneurs identified the need for a dining and entertainment venue that could take advantage of the city’s most tangible assets: the enviable climate and the wraparound tropical landscape. Fintan Rafferty and Lui Garozzo dreamed the dream, did the sums and came up with Salt House. When Salt House opened two years ago it was unlike anything Cairns had seen before, with a subtle blend of contemporary sophistication, a laidback tropical ambience and a genuine, unpretentious local vibe. Occupying its front row seat to the ocean, Salt House is not so much on the waterfront as of it, seamlessly integrated into its surrounds as if it has always been there. But, as with everything, it takes a lot of effort to look this good and behind the scenes these two men have poured more than a little blood, sweat and tears into their venture. Do your sums and you’ll realise that May 2009 was not the easiest time to be opening a business in Cairns. But Salt House was a dream that was three years in the planning and

“Loving Cairns Life”

far longer in the conception. “Five months into business the GFC struck, but we were too far gone,” says Lui. “To be honest, if we could have pulled out we probably would have, but we were too heavily invested.” When you see the vision and passion that Lui and Fintan have for Salt House, it’s clear that finances aren’t the only heavy investment they’ve made. Friends for 23 years, many would ask what took the two so long to go into a joint venture. “We always knew we would go into business together,” says Fintan. “It was just a matter of finding the right project.” In fact, Fintan had been quietly biding his time for over eight years, when he had originally approached the Port Authority about a different site. Enlisting the expertise of renowned designer Michael McCann, the duo’s winning bid to develop the site where Salt House now sits was one of four major proposals, but the only truly local Cairns one. The old mates’ business relationship works so well not in spite of their differences, but because of them. “What’s important to Fintan is not so important to me, and vice versa,”

says Lui. Fintan continues, “We have our differences but we allow each other to table those differences and we work through them. Business is based on trust and respect and we already had that as mates.” Proving that you can, in fact, mix business with pleasure the two even go on holidays together. If there is a magic formula behind their success, it is Lui and Fintan’s unerring commitment to the Cairns locals. While they promote Salt House nationally and internationally, their focus is firmly on the local market; played out in the form of a diverse range of entertainment (check the website for the impressive line-up) from trivia nights, tango dancing, a wine club, extensive events facilities, live music and big name comedy acts. Every curve, every corner, every fixture and every fitting of Salt House was purpose made for this magnificent site. From their original vision, Fintan and Lui stuck to the recipe without compromise or deviation. That devilish attention to detail cost them dearly but the results have provided Cairns with a truly worldclass venue. Not bad for a couple of local lads.

Here’s what Fintan and Lui from Salt House are loving about Cairns right now. Food: Salt House, La Pizza on the Esplanade, Vanilla for ice cream. (Those in the know may see a theme!) Relax: Lui – Freshwater Creek Fintan – An early morning coffee on Green Island (transport: jetski) Drinks: On the balcony at Fintan’s place. Fashion: Victor Mellick, Paris (Lui’s son works in fashion in the French capital!) Shopping: Boys don’t shop! Events: Cairns Amateurs, Reggae Town


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READER’S PICKS: DYNAMIC DUO’S

“Breakfast for Two” - Baz and Pacey – Sea FM Breakfast Show

by Julietta Henderson Intro:

We know it’s early, so we only asked Baz and Pacey the easy questions… Q: Describe your day in five words or less. A: Chaotic, tiring, fun, unpredictable Q: What’s your tip for coping with early mornings? Baz – I have no tips, I don’t cope! But my one piece of advice is to hit snooze and worry later. Pacey - I loathe the 4am alarm and my only tip is don’t work with Baz. Q: Tea or coffee? Baz - Coffee. I prefer to wait till it gets cold, sometimes carrying around the same coffee for several hours. Pacey - Tea, English breakfast. I blame Mum, who is a contender for the title of “World’s Biggest Tea drinker”. Q: Why does your on air relationship work so well? We are very up front with one another. It’s like an older sister, younger brother type of relationship – nothing’s really sacred. Q: Most annoying thing about each other? Where do we start? Baz is a procrastinator and Pacey is BOSSY. Q: Most endearing thing about each other? Baz will have a chinwag with everyone and anyone – it’s just hard to shut him up! Pacey’s got Baz’s back when he has seniors’ moments. Q: Best thing about the job? We get paid to talk to heaps of great people from all walks of life; no day’s the same.

Q: Worst thing about the job? Early mornings – we feel old 24/7. Q: Dream guest you have had on the show? Colin, the gorgeous British Bulldog pup who is a star of the new TV mini-series ‘The Straits’ (where you’ll also be able to catch Baz). Pacey got a little bit clucky when Colin was a guest. Q: Dream guest you would have if you could get them? Oprah. Still can’t believe she passed up the opportunity when she was in Cairns. Q: Your ‘desert island disc’? We both love ‘Live – Throwing Copper’. Pacey would also take ‘Nirvana – Unplugged’, and Baz would also take ‘The Best of Fleetwood Mac’ and Garth Brooks. Pacey would also have to grab the full Beatles catalogue… Q: Worst thing that’s ever happened live on air? Baz getting a full body wax for Sea FM’s Give Me 5 for Kids – it was for a good cause but Pacey still hasn’t recovered… Q: If you weren’t in radio what would you be doing? Pacey would be up the duff and Baz would be a hobo. Q: What do you love about Cairns? The wonderfully creative locals and the way that people just have a go and make their own success – it’s uplifting. Right now is a great time of year –

He’s the ‘naughty kid brother’ who makes his fun by spreading rumours about her (no, she’s NOT pregnant!), and she’s the ‘bossy big sister’ who, in her own words, loves the sound of her own voice. Barry Lea and Nerissa Pace - AKA Baz and Pacey - paired up six months ago for the Sea FM’s Breakfast Show and they haven’t stopped talking since. They are the perfect foil for each other and the pairing not only works, but has endeared them to us so much that you kind of feel like you could ask them over for a Sunday BBQ at the beach. Baz, bring your tinnie and we’ll show you how to catch those fish… the weather, the festival vibe and the success of some talented locals like Nikki Jensen and Emma Louise. Q: What drives you crazy about Cairns? Pacey – The humidity of the wet season. I mean, seriously – the hair! Baz – The fact that everyone else can catch a fish and I still can’t. Q: What do you think is the outlook for the future in Cairns? Pacey – I think Cairns has an amazing future; it’s an international destination, we have the Great Barrier Reef, people will never stop wanting to come here. Baz – Yes, name me one other place in the world where they have a reef and a rainforest. The world is Cairns’ oyster; hang on, Cairns is the pearl in the world’s oyster! Or something like that… Q: So…no plans to leave anytime soon? Pacey – Nope. I’ve bought a house and I have dogs! I’m never leaving now! Baz – No, I do what my wife tells me and she tells me we’re staying! Q: Your message in a bottle – last words of advice to pass on? Only the good die young, so kick off your Sunday shoes and you better be home soon because it’s a long way to the top if you want to Rock ‘n’ Roll.


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CAST YOUR VOTE

READER’S PICKS! SEND US AN EMAIL

WITH YOUR FAVOURITE PICK OF A

WOMAN IN BUSINESS IN OUR GREAT CITY!

ALL WELCOME EDITOR WILL CHOOSE FROM YOUR VOTES

EMAIL jacqui@cairnslifemag.com.au


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READER’S PICKS: DYNAMIC DUO’S

–Jennifer McCabe and Rita Suavai Mooroobool Community Support Service (UnitingCare Community)

by Julietta Henderson

“LADIES IN THE HOUSE” Behind the doors of an ordinary house in Mooroobool, Jennifer McCabe and Rita Suavai are two ladies forging an extraordinary relationship with the local community. You may not have heard of the Mooroobool Community Support Service, but over the last few years it has become an integral part of the urban landscape and Jennifer and Rita have been quietly getting on with the job of helping the local residents. Making a difference is what it’s all about for Jennifer, who says, “One of the reasons I love this job is that it really is working at the grass roots level. There are people in this neighbourhood living in poverty and experiencing homelessness, and our service really can make a difference to their lives.” Rita agrees, saying, “I do the job not only because I love the people, but it is so rewarding for me to see a positive change when I can help them get housing or emergency relief.” While officially their roles as Co-ordinator (Jennifer), and Family Support Worker (Rita) are to provide information, referrals and advice (they are funded by the Department of Communities), it is obvious that it goes much deeper than that. “We strive to create a nurturing environment,” says Jennifer. “What we offer is a chance to drop in for a cuppa or a chat; and while we always ask “how can we help you today?” sometimes that help is just providing company.” As well as Rita’s practical outreach work transport to and from medical, Centrelink and housing appointments - clients can utilise the library, the community garden, the ‘plenty box’, and group activities. Jennifer’s ‘Flavours of the World’ cooking classes -funded by a grant from the Cairns Regional Council - have become a firm favourite. There is also a craft group, and a

‘Play and Progress’ group run by the Cairns West School. While the welcoming environment of the centre is a testament to their professional success, the nurturing clearly extends to the relationship between the two women themselves. Their special bond is based, says Jennifer, on mutual admiration and respect for each other’s roles in the workplace. “We are a cohesive team with an equal sharing of power,” says Jennifer. “It’s incredibly busy and sometimes we have to make do with a wave or a nod over the top of clients’ heads. But it’s enough.” Jennifer continues, “The minute I walked into this place two years ago, I took one look at Rita’s beautiful smile and we just clicked. She takes the time to personalise every individual that comes through the door, and she also cares for me she’s one in a million.” Rita is equally complimentary, saying, “Jenny really opened me up to other ways of helping clients in a nonjudgemental way. She’s made me feel more confident in my own abilities. She’s just a wonderful person.” They are indeed two pretty inspirational women. Jennifer graduated with her social work degree at the age of 49 and now, in addition to her work at the centre, also runs a successful private counselling practice. Superwoman Rita is the proud mother of five children with another on the way. To the obvious question of timemanagement, she just laughs and says, “My husband Otto and I are very lucky to have supportive families!” Whilst the service is clearly a much-needed project meeting the needs of the community, one suspects that the real roots of its success lie firmly with the ladies of the house.

“Loving Cairns Life” Here’s what Jennifer and Rita from the Mooroobool Community Support Service are loving about Cairns right now. Food: Jennifer – Dinner at the Bay Leaf for their chicken sates. Coffee and cake has to be Mama Coco’s on Aumuller St for their ginger and orange cakes. Rita – Because I’m pregnant I’m craving home cooking at the moment, and the best thing is I’m making my husband Otto cook it! Nightlife: Jennifer - The cocktail bar at Rydges. Rita – Ha ha! My only nightlife is looking forward to heading to bed about five minutes after the kids! Fashion: Jennifer – Myer! I can always find something I like there. Rita – I love shopping at DFO. Hair: Lee at Lee’s Enviro Hair in Edge Hill. My own personal stylist Toni Brown! She’s wonderful. Events: Jennifer - The Kulture Day at the Mooroobool Community Support Centre! It was FAB, see you there next year! Rita – Yes, of course our very own Kulture Day. We had Tara from Drum Up Big and Rick and Gabby from the Ukulele Club; it was such an amazing experience for me. Art: Jennifer – CIAF (Cairns Indigenous Art Fair) – so looking forward to it this afternoon! Also love COCA for their regular exhibitions. Rita – Yes, CIAF. I went along for the first time this year and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was fantastic.


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Local Hairdresser of the Month

“I was only 12 years old when I started working in a salon as a tea and tidy, so I guess that you can say I knew what I wanted at a very young age.” Melissa’s passion for hairdressing has taken her abroad, to places such as Norway and London. When working in Norway with Adam and Eva, Melissa experienced styling for the opening of an opera house, numerous fashion shoots, and working with a prestigious academy. “Working behind the scenes at Fashion Week internationally has been the most frantic but exciting experience. I especially loved the fact that the Norwegians are not afraid to push the fashion to its limits.” It’s this attitude that Melissa brings to her artistic direction at Adam and Eva Cairns. She is always thinking forward without letting her styling overwhelm her client. When in England Melissa worked right in the heart of London's fashion district, for world renowned Toni and Guy on Oxford Street. “It was all about doing fabulous hair cuts then going shopping and spending all my money on fabulous clothes!” “I feel really lucky to be in a job that still inspires me, not only do I love the work but its all the great people that I meet along the way.” Melissa is currently working as an Art Director at Adam and Eva Cairns.

Melissa Peltzer Art Director


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LITERATURE by Amanda Cranston

AFRICAN DAWN Tony Park, Macmillan From the master of adventure in the African countryside, Tony Park’s latest book will not disappoint and tells the story of three families – the Bryants, the Quilter-Phippses and the Ngwenyas – who all equally share a history as complex and bloody as Zimbabwe itself. Dedicated conservationists Paul and Philippa Bryant are struggling to save their farm and a small herd of endangered black rhinos from seizure by corrupt government minister Emmerson Ngwenya. Twin brothers, ex-soldier Braedan and environmentalist Tate Quilter-Phipps join the fight. But when the brothers fall in love with same woman, Natalie Bryant, their rivalry threatens to put the lives of all involved at risk. And with Emmerson vowing to stop at nothing until he gets what he wants, a bloody showdown seems inevitable. In the broken country that is Zimbabwe, only the strongest can survive.

YOU’LL BE SORRY WHEN I’M DEAD Marieke Hardy, Allen & Unwin From childhood dreams of prostitution to her unabashed passion for heavy drinking, from growing up wide-eyed on the set of Australian soaps to her infatuation with Bob Ellis, these are the outrageously entertaining and deeply revealing reminiscences of a multimedia star. There is nothing Marieke Hardy will not write about, telling of stalking and eventually meeting her Young Talent Time idol when she was twelve, to a particularly abhorrent encounter at a high-quality swingers night, and a mildly perverse obsession with Bob Ellis. She shares her chronicle of broken hearts, fervid pursuits, passionate friendships, deranged letter writing, the allure of the bottle, the singular charms of musicians, the lost song of youth, and three very awkward evenings with varying prostitutes (exactly zero percent of which the author’s parents will want to read). THE SLAP Christos Tsiolkas, Allen & Unwin With over 600,000 copies of The Slap sold around the world, this award-winning novel will premier this month as a prime time TV series on ABC1. The story starts one afternoon at a suburban barbecue when a man slaps an unruly boy, but the boy is not his own. It is a single act of violence, but the slap reverberates through the lives of everyone who witnesses it. Told through the eyes of those present at the barbecue, this acclaimed bestseller is an unflinching interrogation of the life of the modern family. Poignant and provocative, it makes us question the nature of commitment and happiness, compromise and truth. Whose side are you on?

IT TAKES A VILLAGE Christine Stinson, Macmillan Growing up in conservative, postwar Australia isn’t easy for eight-year-old Sophie. She has just been told that she’s a ‘bastard’ and she feels she lives in a world of secrets, unanswered questions and whispers. Who is her father and why did her mother never tell anyone who he was? With only her reclusive grandfather to raise her, and more than one neighbour expecting her to go off the rails like her mother – after all, apples rarely fall far from the tree – Sophie struggles to find her place in the world. In the author’s follow-up to her acclaimed Getting Even With Fran, she explores the idea ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ and that sometimes it takes more than blood ties to make a family.

THE COLOUR OF TEA Hannah Tunnicliffe, Macmillan “I think of me and Mama lifting macarons from a white box as if they were jewels. Colours like precious stones – ruby red, soft turquoise blue, pale as a pearl. Letting the flavours rest on our tongues, closing our eyes to the decadent sweetness. Of course we would have no money to pay hotel bills later, but she bought Laduree mararons for breakfast. For a child, no less.” Lost among the gaudy, busy streets of Macau, Grace’s life is slowly unravelling. Her marriage to Pete, her Australian husband, is fraying and her dreams of having a family seem hopeless. With the heralding of a new year she resolves to do something bold, something her impetuous mama might do. In this pocket of China, filled with casinos and yum cha restaurants, she opens her own small cafe called Lillian’s. This sanctuary of macarons and tea becomes a place where the women of Macau come together, bridging cultural divides, to share in each other’s joys and heartbreaks. For Grace, life seems to be finally coming together. But when Pete does the unthinkable, the secrets Grace thought she had buried rise to the surface, and it’s now or never to lay old ghosts to rest and trust her heart to lead her.


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SOCIAL EVENTS: LEXUS GOLF DAY Shot by Ste phen Borzi


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Ryan Skrillex 28.5

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28 CairnsLife

What are you listening to? Watch the throne – Jay Z and Kanye West How do you drink your coffee? Long macchiato Where is your outfit from? Shirt is from Carhartt Shorts are Insight Shoes are Verge Hat is from online store What favourite store in Cairns? Twenty Four

Street Fashion

Thuraya Kasreh 17 What are listening to? Andy Bull and Paul Dempsey both Australian songwriters. How do you drink your coffee? Long black with cold milk on the side Where is your outfit from? Shirt from Cotton On – altered. Converse from year 9 Skirt is from online store Urban Outfitters What favourite store in Cairns? I Love Lucy.

Hayden Kemp (30 in two weeks) What are you listening to? Ministry of Sound sessions How do you drink your coffee? Regular latte full of sugar Where is your outfit from? My entire outfit from YD What favourite store in Cairns? YD Cairns Central


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One to watch...

In a town where tourism dominates, Caitlin Eve and Annelise Carmen are determined to get recognition for their fashion label. The idea was formed only six months ago whilst the two were pondering at their dining table. Now with an entire collection up their sleeve the Spring/Summer collection, “Stella�, shows the duo has a great future ahead of them. They have multiple awards in fashion and art under their belt as well as quirky and fun personas. They both share the same interests and draw their inspiration from vintage clothing, art, music, femininity, and other successful Australian labels such as Sass & Bide, Romance Was Born, and Marchesa. They love playing with different lengths, colours and textures without overcomplicating an outfit.


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CairnsLife card Let’s face it, we’re in tough times and things need a litttle push along. CairnsLife have come up with a loyalty programme to help save you a little money, get retailers a little business and encourage everyone to buy locally. CairnsLife Loyalty Card will be the first of its kind. You can use this card anywhere the shop owner displays the card in the window or next to their cash register. This card can be used across all sorts of businesses from fashion stores, cafes, restaurants, accountants, car dealerships, beauty salons and hair dressers, to name a few.

Cairn sLife L O Y A L T Y

Plastic card

Over the next year we will be infiltrating businesses who want to get with the programme to contact us to come on board to offer something to CairnsLife Card holders. It could be that we start out with a few businesses then move into the hundreds! Send us an email to get your very own card. riyani@cairnslifemag.com.au We have 10,000 cards ready to go, and need businesses who want to get with the programme to contact us. It’s simple just offer a local deal... 10% off coffee, waiver a fee or add a bonus (buy one get one free, or a glass of wine with the meal). Cardholders, don’t be afraid to flash your card or keyring, we need to help retailers get it back on track... together we can make a difference!

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BEAUTY ADVICE/TIPS/TRENDS

Beating the Winter Blues Dry Brushing Dry brushing helps detoxify the skin and also stimulates the other methods of detoxification due to its internal massage. Its benefits include: removes cellulite, tightens the skin, tones the muscle, helps digestion and removes dead skin layers. Always dry brush before bathing or showering and use strokes towards your heart. This helps lymph fluid drain back towards the heart.

Bio Oil Bio Oil is a specialist skincare oil that helps improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks and uneven skin tone. It is also effective for aging and dehydrated skin. The surface of the skin has an invisible oil layer which acts as a barrier to stop moisture from escaping. In a very dry climate this lipid layer is often unable to cope and too much moisture is drawn out of the skin. Daily bathing or showering may exacerbate this by stripping away the lipid layer due to the astringent effects of soap and water. Bio Oil supplements the skin’s natural oil layer, helping to restore its barrier function of retaining moisture. Bio Oil should be applied twice daily. Results will vary from individual to individual.

Top 5 makeup tips from Makeup by Phennapha! 1. On top of your daily cleansing routine, exfoliate 1 to 2 times a week. Especially during winter! 2. For a defined and sharp lip colour eg. red use an angled liner brush for best precision. 3. The key to the 'smokey eye' look is not being afraid to use black shadow or gel liner and blend with soft dome shaped brushes. 4. When testing foundation colours let it warm to your skin a few minutes. Foundation changes colour to your body's heat. 5. Never neglect your eyebrows. Comb out any powder that may have fallen on or fill in any sparse areas. Eyebrows frame your face.

Nails OPI Black Shatter Top Coat brings a new dimension to nail design. Applied as a topcoat, the polish shatters to create a cracked pattern similar to a leopard print. Shatter is apparent in less then a minute.

extra hydration For extra hydration and care coming out of the dry winter months Paivi from The Skin Care Centre of Cairns suggests Environ. AVST Hydrating Lotion · The gentle non-toxic Alpha Hydroxy acids help to soften smooth the skin · Aids in hydrating and improving the appearance of rough, dry, calloused skin on areas of the body such as the elbows, knees, heels and feet · Helps to prepare the skin and improve the effectiveness of the vitamins


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Photographed by Chris Baker / Styled by Riyani Martorejo / Model Ellie-Cook Roges / Hair Kirby Marsh / Makeup by Phennapha


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Its about time you learnt how to wear the pants… Don’t be afraid of the climate; mix textures and experiment with fabrics to keep on trend this season.

Gerry Shaw Sequined Jacket, $199 Shine Neemah boobtube, $55 Shine Joesph Ribkoff pant, $195 Shine Peter Lang black frill necklace, $219.95 Sassi


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Rachel Gilbert sequined tee, $594.99 Viva Dusk golden pant, $149 Shine Nude Dina wedge, $169.95 Sassi

Morrison Claire Pant, $249.95 Viva Lisa Brown Moriko braidback top, $370.99 Viva Tilly Rose Maddie heel, $299.95 Sassi Peter Lang necklace, $141.95 Sassi

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Shilla wide leg pant, $109 Anise cream bodysuit, $89.95 Samantha wills necklace, $199 Siren orange pump, $129.95 All available at Affair


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Lounge Apparel slouch top, $179 Shine Seduce pant, $149.95 Twenty Four Neemah silver necklace, $59 Shine


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Digitsl prints Pasucci Zebra tropic dress $210 The Eye Mokdasi boulevard shirt Tropical floral $130 Twenty Four

Kitchy Ku dress $129.95 The Eye

Mokdasi boulevard shirt Orient floral $140 Twenty Four


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Peter Lang Noire Jewel ring $102.95 Sassi

Seven Sister $125 Tea Lilly Amiesse Bag $110 Tea Lilly

Seven Sisters top $99 Tea Lilly

Peter Lang Noire Jewel necklace $332.95 Sassi


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Coco Lane Karleen Marie / Nathan Saunders

Designer, Pre loved, Vintage Inspired.

When I stumbled across this gem my senses were immediately stimulated. Positioned in “graffiti lane” (as the locals call it) the six-week-old Coco Lane adds another unique dimension to the popular Grafton Street precinct. With sequined vests, fur berets and fluoro high tops. I had entered a world reminiscent of a small crowded boutique on Brunswick Street, Melbourne. Along with Love Lucy and Kaotica our other vintage stores, Coco Lane definitely possesses its own distinct personality. Coco Lane’s style moves towards art deco and art nouveau and features a lot of hand made pieces. Karleen, one half of Coco Lane, has spent the last three to four years collecting all the clothing, accessories and

furniture and compiled it beautifully in the small arcade shop off Grafton Street. The store comprises everything from high-end Australian designer dresses to retro sunnies and limited edition shoes. After previously owning Jade Anne Marie boutique, Karleen found that customers loved her clothing style but not the price tag that comes with designer labels. She decided to open Coco Lane as a pre loved, vintage inspired store to continue selling her hand picked clothing without the hefty price tags. Karleen chooses all her stock with a very specific eye, ensuring the cuts, fabrics and colours all inspire her in some way. Karleen and Nathan are planning to extend the menswear section of the store and also branch out to costume hire. Movie replica costumes are being made at the moment and will hit the store shortly. “Vintage can be worn with current trends, people just need to have the confidence to mix the two.” “ I don’t read fashion magazines, I feel like it starts to affect your style and you end up looking like everyone else.”


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SOCIAL EVENTS: ATTIC MISS PIN UP 2011 P h o t o ’s t a k e n at T h e A t t i c o n F i n a l s N i g h t


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WINE

LOCAL FOODIES FOOD & WINE

The Riebke Shiraz 2010 Let’s face it, times are tough and North Queenslanders are shouldering their fair share. With that in mind, when I was asked to pen a few words about a good drop, it occurred to me that not many of us are likely to be splashing out at the moment for albeit brilliant, but often pricey, iconic Australian wines. Funnily enough I’ve always found one of the greatest pleasures of collecting and drinking wine to be identifying a bottle that is batting well above its average relative to price. In other words, a cracker that’s a real bargain. This month, with my brief to identify a great wine at a great price, I began my search in arguably one of the finest wine producing regions in the world, the Barossa Valley. The problem of course is to recommend but one, which lead me to a winery that has garnered a reputation for consistently producing exceptional wines at a reasonable price – Teusner, Barossa Valley. The Teusner story began in 2001. Kym Teusner and Michael Page, who back then, in their words, were “a couple of monkeys playing with grapes”, came to learn the Riebke brothers were planning to tear up their old vine Grenache vineyard due to the unsustainable prices being paid for the grapes by wineries at the big end of town. It is recorded in the Teusner story that Kym and Michael hatched a plan and scratched together some money. A vineyard was saved and a winery was born with the first release of a Teusner wine in 2002. Fortunately for us North Queenslanders much of the Teusner range is readily available at the major outlets and more particularly, this month’s wine, The Riebke Shiraz 2010, is on the shelves now for around $17 a bottle. The long cool ripening conditions of the 2010 vintage have resulted in a juicy Shiraz with the palate described as densely packed, bursting with dark fruits, kirsch and plum, a touch of Asian spice, licorice and a healthy dollop of Barossa earth. Its concentrated, opulent fruit finishes long, dry and savoury with chalky super ripe tannins. In summary a delicious, affordable wine, characteristic of the region and soils from which it derives. You could cellar this one for 5 or 6 years, but I’m guessing you won’t. For more information on the full range, have a look on the website, www.teusner.com.au and if you pick a winner at the Amateurs I strongly recommend you get your hands on the Albert Shiraz or Righteous Mataro. Happy sampling. Steve.

Steve & Stephen O'Reilly Criminal Lawyer / Wine Aficionado


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FOOD

In the past we were told that white wines were to be served with white meats and of course red wines to be served with red meats. However, as both our palates and quality of our Australian wines have matured and developed, there is of course, other options. Broadly speaking there are two approaches to food and wine matching – marriages and contrasts. The marriage approach is all about like with like, striking harmony between flavours and textures on the plate and in the glass, or matching the weight of a wine. Whether full, medium or light-bodied, wine should match the weight of the dish. The contrasts approach is about pitching wine and food at opposite ends and striking a balance of flavour intensity and texture through their interaction. So this month I have gone for the marriage approach, matching the spicy, earthy and fruity finishes of this Shiraz Steve has chosen with my dish‌

Moroccan Lamb withShanks Couscous Preparation Time - 20 minutes / Cooking Time - 110 minutes

Ingredients (serves 6) 1 tablespoon olive oil 6 (about 1.2kg) small lamb shanks (you can French trim if you like) 1 brown onion, finely chopped 2 carrots coarsely chopped 3 garlic cloves, crushed 2 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 1 teaspoon sweet paprika 1 x cinnamon stick 3 bay leaves Salt & pepper 1 cup of plain flour 1L (4 cups) chicken stock 2-3 sweet potatoes, peeled & chopped 1 x 400g can diced tomatoes 100g pitted dried dates, quartered 100g dried apricots, quartered

Served with cooked couscous with slivered almonds and fresh coriander leaves. Method Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Season the flour with salt & pepper and lightly dust lamb shanks. Heat the oil in a heavy casserole dish over medium-high heat. Cook half the lamb, turning occasionally, for 4-5 minutes or until browned. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining lamb shanks. Add the onion, carrot and garlic to the pan and sautĂŠ for about 5 minutes. Add the cumin, turmeric, paprika, cinnamon and bay leaves and cook for a further 30 seconds or until aromatic. Put the lamb shanks back to the pot with its juices, then add the stock. Cover and bring to boil. Then add sweet potato, dates, apricots and tin tomatoes. Cover dish and put into preheated oven and bake for about an hour or until the lamb is tender. Set aside for 10 minutes to rest. If sauce is still a little runny, place casserole dish on cooktop over a high heat and bring to the boil. Simmer for a further 15 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper. Cook the couscous as per instructions and add a sprinkling of slivered almonds. Add portions to individual plates, then top with lamb shanks and sauce. Sprinkle with coriander leaves to serve. Buon Appetito!

& Stevo Stephen Borzi Artist / Designer / Amateur Cook


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CairnsLife COOKBOOK We want you... CairnsLife magazine is seeking to publish a CairnsLife cookbook, dedicated to all you home chefs out there. Get your recipes out and send us your very best signature dish. Each issue of Cairns Life we will publish someone’s piece de resistance. At the beginning of next year, we will collate all your recipes, and with photos of your dishes publish "CairnsLife on a Plate"‌ your very own cookbook for the Tropics. So get emailing. Send to steve@cairnslifemag.com.au

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Well what can I say I'm so used to reviewing beers for faults or for competition and of course tasting all of our beers on a daily basis to ensure the flavours are spot on! To be completely honest choosing my favourite beer is very hard due to the nature of my job I have to appreciate all flavours and then pick and choose the ones I think will appeal to the general public here in Sunny Cairns. Being winter at the moment I have selected our True Blue Stout as my flavour of the week and I must say the current batch is outstanding! I'm so proud of our Stout because of all the hard work the Brewing Team - Mark Borg, Benn Britton, Morgan Hind , Sean Seymour and I have put in to perfecting it. The True Blue Stout started its life at 6.4% Alc and with much more heavy malt and hop flavours, comparatively the latest batch has 4.6% Alc/volume and whilst it still has the full flavour it is much more balanced and much smoother! I would describe the flavour profile of the Stout as rich chocolate aroma and after-taste, slight roasted coffee aroma, a smooth velvety flavour with a hint of bitterness for balance. I would match the Stout with raw oysters, most cheeses and a mud cake! Cheers, Hayden Mokaraka Brewmaster


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54 54 CairnsLife

Q&A Alberto Torcia Restaurant: Ciao Italia

Born 1971 in Napoli, Italia Trained in Italian cuisine at Alma International School of Italian Cuisine, under its great rector Gualtiero Marchesi, the man who enlightened the Italian cuisine scene. Alberto became a professional chef after having been an adventurer for many years. He then worked in a few Michelin rated restaurants where he learnt what cuisine truly is…a faith.

Your personality in three words: Passionate, faithful, reliable Inspiration for cooking? My cuisine mentor, Gualtiero Marchesi, a great man of culture as much as a great chef Your food in three words: Perfect, traditional Italian Your go-to comfort food? Any kind of pasta with any kind of sauce The most daring dish ever attempted? Sferificazione di carpione, the spherification is a new alchemy from the great Spanish chef Ferràn Adrià Top three dinner guests? I’ve never had this kind of ambition, even if I serve some very important people for me they are not any better than anyone else capable of understanding the good cuisine Biggest mistake a chef can make? Bad behaviour with his staff and with his boss Food you could not be paid to eat? Any food cooked without care or love Sweet or savoury? Why do I have to pick one? Following a very old southern Italian tradition, in my city, we often used to eat sweet and savoury together. But I choose savoury, if I have to. Your favourite food trend right now? I like my personal trend, a kind of Australian revised traditional Italian cuisine, a kind of crazy...


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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF

A PARAMEDIC

As we celebrate ‘Ambulance Week’ this month, it is a good time to reflect on the tireless work our paramedics do and just why we couldn’t survive without them. When Cair ns Life Mag azine caught up with paramedic Jan Johnstone at the Cairns Ambulance Station, she had alr eady been called out on tw o jobs that morning and had just enough time for a quick coffee with us before heading off on another job. Warm hearted, ener getic and ma tter-of-fact, Jan has seen man y things and sa ys while the job can be tough at times, paramedics are able to put their own emotions aside to get the job done. Although it doesn’t mean she hasn’t been tested at times. The worst possible job for any paramedic is being called out to an emer gency involving one of their o wn family members, and that’s exactly what happened to J an man y y ears back. “I used to w ork as a Community Ambulance Officer in Mallacoota, a small remote town in Victoria where I raised m y three children,” Jan says. “One afternoon I had a call come through from the communication centre saying there had been an accident with an 18 year old suffering a suspected spinal injury after falling off a hor se. T hen the y added, I think it’ s your daughter!” Jan confirms it was her daughter and that she had br oken her T12 v ertebrae w hich resulted in a long r ecovery, but she sa ys nothing can prepare you for that kind of scenario. Here in Cairns, Jan also supports her 27 year old disabled son and sa ys she is lucky to w ork in suc h a supportive organisation that allows her a r oster

that fits in with her family commitments. Jan says after a three years working at the Atherton Station, she joined the Cairns Ambulance Station in November 2010 and sa ys she lo ves the team environment and peer support within the job. She explains that every paramedic must update their skills e very 12 months to kee p abr east of new procedures, new equipment, new drug pr otocols and to al ways be familiar with the emer gency vehicles. There are also weekly lectures given at the station on topics of interest. “As part of our role we also giv e man y hour s mentoring students completing their Deg rees or Diploma in Paramedical Science (amb ulance),” she sa ys. Added to this ar e logistical jobs tha t J an does ensuring tha t the stocks of equipment, drug quantities and unif orm orders are sufficient and ordered. A typical day at work for Jan would start at 6.45am checking over the vehicles to make sur e they are operational and stocked, then b y 7.05am she would call in on the radio to let the communication centre kno w the y ar e r eady to go . “If jobs ar e pending we head straight out, and on average most jobs take up to 45 minutes,” Jan says. She explains each job comprises tra vel time to and fr om the locations, assessment and treatment if required of the patient, logistics of getting the pa tient to the ambulance, notifying the comm unication centre

for back up crew if needed, the notification to the receiving hospital of the situation when leaving the scene and the completion of associa ted documentation relevant to this case. Every day is different and Jan says they get called out to all types of jobs. “The most common jobs are to a ttend and or transport people with c hest pains and those suffering shortness of breath which can be asthma-r elated or due to a r espiratory infection,” she says. “But we also deal with people suffering e xacerbation of e xisting conditions , traumas from the v ery young to the elder ly, road accidents and non-urgent jobs where people want advice. We also never know where we may be sent like helping cover other sta tions from Innisfail in the south, Kuranda to Mossman, and up to the Tablelands, or to complete emergency callouts or to attend sporting e vents such as hor se races or rodeos or emergency standbys at grass fires.” During Cyclone Yasi the paramedics w ere busy transporting people to e vacuation centres, some were sta tioned a t these e vacuation centr es and others were involved in e vacuating the hospital. Jan adds that no matter what the job is or hour of the day, the public can always be guaranteed the next available ambulance. And to be honest, she couldn’t think of another mor e r ewarding and diverse job she would prefer to be doing.


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LAW WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS? “Mankind owes to the child, the best it has to give.” Separation and divorce can be a distressing, sad and confusing experience for children. Children at any age may feel uncertain about their future. A Family Consultant recently commented: “The majority of parents love their children and always try to put their welfare first. Most parents are reasonable, kind and c hild-centred in their decision-making BUT divorce and se paration brings out the worst in people too.” The involvement of both parents in a child’s life is fundamental to the c hild’s w ellbeing and development. However, where there are chronic levels of par ental conf lict, or w here c hildren have experienced or are likely to be e xposed to continuing domestic violence or c hild ab use, ongoing contact with both par ents ma y be highly inappr opriate and ma y in fact cause harm to the child. Divorce is not easy , b ut as a par ent, you can make the process and its ef fects less painful f or

your children. It may be unchartered territory, but you can help your kids emerge from it feeling loved, confident and strong. Children’s views ar e not to be ignor ed in the process. For a child to be truly heard, it must be accepted that each child is unique and what one child can deal with, another cannot. When competing claims are very closely matched, the views of children are of great significance and can be the deciding factor. Factors r elevant to the w eight giv en to the children’s views by the Family Law Courts may include: • the child’s age and maturity; • the str ength of the views and the length of time held by the child; • the extent to which the child’s views are based on a choice that is well thought through;

• the e xtent to w hich the c hild’s views ar e the result of pr essure on the c hild, or emotional attachment; • the likely consequences of the Court making an Order contrary to the child’s views. I commenced by saying that divorce is not easy. In conclusion, I sa y tha t a good div orce is possible, and is worth the effort. The secret to a good div orce is tha t ther e ar e standar ds of conduct. Like a good marriage, a good divorce also takes work. One cannot str ess enough the wa y in w hich parents relate to each other: children do poorly when their par ents ar e eng aged in open hostilities and e ven worse when their par ents involve them in the battle. The longer and more intense the war, the more potential for long term damage to the child.


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What are the things you have STOPPED doing in your business and how much is this costing you?

Andrew Griffiths

I recently caught up with a client who was experiencing a big financial downturn in her business. In fact her revenue had dropped by almost fifty percent in the past two years. This decline had been gradual but the end result was that her business was now in big trouble. We sat and chatted about the things she had been doing over the past couple of years to try and get a grip on what was going wrong. Sure, we could blame some of the impact on the economic conditions, but nowhere near a drop of fifty percent. This lady had built her business up to a very successful level over about five years and then she started to expand, setting up some satellite offices and even a franchise or two. This expansion started about two years ago you guessed it, the same time that her main office started to go downhill. Of course it is easy to see that her focus was on the other new and exciting business opportunities, not on her core business and that is what caused the problem. But how did this lack of focus actually translate into day to day activity in her primary business? Well I will get to that. Once we had figured out the lay of the land and where she was right now, it became clear that we had to put some serious effort and energy into the main business and we had to do it fast. So I started to rattle off the list of things that I would do to get the cash register smoking such as increasing communication with existing clients, develop more targeted

and inspirational promotional material, follow up sales religiously, instigate a refer a friend campaign, get out in the community and tell the network what is happening in the business, do some media releases etc etc. As I worked through this list my client was shaking her head somewhat forlornly and I asked her why? She said she used to do all of the things I was suggesting when she was building her business, but she stopped doing them a while back, actually about two years back, because she got too busy focusing on her expansion. Sadly this is a common story that I hear on a regular basis. Businesses often struggle financially not because of what they are doing but because of what they are not doing, or what they have stopped doing. Now as we gradually stop doing the things that we did to build the business, the negative impact is general not felt immediately. It tends to be gradual, leading to a downward spiral, just as it did with my client. I know that it is hard to keep going, to keep putting energy into your business day in and day out, but it easier to do a little every day as opposed to having to do a huge amount to save the business if it gets into grief. My question to you is “what have you stopped doing in your business and what impact is it having?"


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Appraisals That Empower Not Damage

Vlasta Eriksson Signature Staff

Finding qualified candidates for an available career opportunity means going abo ve and be yond in order to make sur e that the individual hir ed is the right fit for the job. Being in c harge of a g roup of employees is no easy task, w hich is w hy it is important for every employer to make the effort to initiate actions tha t will kee p everyone happy and on the same page . T he last thing an y compan y wants is a hostile working environment. Evaluate the Situation Before Taking Action When everyone is performing their jobs optimally, this makes f or a m uch mor e ef ficient w orkplace. Companies, both large and small, do best when run like a w ell oiled mac hine. If there is an emplo yee that needs to improve their performance, make sure to approach this subject properly. Before talking to the emplo yee in question, do a thorough evaluation of his/her perf ormance thus far and compare it with the current issues you have identified. Has this per son consistently done w ell and has a good track record? Then perhaps he/she is simply going thr ough a rough patch and needs some time to w ork things out. Does the emplo yee have a history of making errors? Or is he/she new? In the case of the la tter, make sur e to take this situation into considera tion w hen giving y our feedback. Car eer de velopment is not without its trials and tribulations and if the person is fairly new to the position, sta te tha t y ou under stand their situation but just need them to impr ove in certain areas. Criticism vs. Constructive Criticism Feedback should be in the capacity of constructive criticism, not an outright putdown. There is a way to effectively communicate what a per son is doing

well and where they can do better. Instead of saying something neg ative upfr ont, phrase y our constructive criticism in a way that not only explains where they need to impr ove but the how and why. These types of explanations make it easier f or an employee to grasp the concept and properly apply it to their situation as well as their career path. Stating what needs to be fixed and leaving it at that doesn’t positively contrib ute to tha t individual’ s w ork experience, nor does it make them feel empowered. Play Up Their Role One way to get your employees excited about their career and position in the w orkplace is to pla y up their role. Where applicable, praise your staff for their great performance and remind them that it is because of their time and ef forts the compan y is doing w ell. Suc h w ords ar e enough to boost productivity and cr eate enthusiasm, w hich makes for an ideal w orking en vironment. T he most important part of this conce pt is to be gen uine. Show your staff that you appreciate them and what they do. Looking f or a job to be filled in y our compan y? Improving your employee search by working with a recruitment agency is a con venient and ef fective method of locating individuals with the right skill set to meet your requirements. Recruit Right the First Time with Signature Staff. For a FREE HR E-book “How to Recruit, Retain and Increase Productivity plus Save Time and Money” email us HRSupport@signaturestaff.com.au and write Free E-Book in the subject line

Social media and its effects.

Leanne Peard Social Media Plus

A g reat n umber of b usiness enter prises ha ve embraced the use of social media as a wa y of gaining some commendab le exposure as w ell as being able to enhance the visibility of their brand. As a ma tter of fact, the impact of the so called online communities is a force to reckon with. They offer a g reat, cost ef fective and ef ficient way of making contact with potential clients as w ell as existing clients. Online communities such as the numerous social networking sites offer an arena for millions of people to get in touch on a daily basis. Their membership is incr easing on a daily basis . Facebook has been extremely successful recording

hundreds of millions of users globally. Twitter also hosts millions of tw eets e veryday fr om its members. A good number of businesses the world over are using these social media sites to gain access to new markets and clients. The online community offers an excellent arena for businesses to showcase their services and products without any hassles. A good number of b usinesses ar e cur rently putting strategies in place so that they can socially optimize their organizations. The adv antages of social media as concer ns businesses are many and varied. One of the most prominent of these advantages is that a business is able to gain access to millions of potential clients over the inter net. You as a business entity can be able to tap into the online comm unity potential. In this way, you get to interact with a large business audience in one go. Adverts placed in these online communities also reach millions of people globally which offers good returns. The same social media outlets ensure that you are able to communicate with your clients as fast as possible as well as ship a product or a service to them in record time. All that you ha ve to do is to ensur e tha t y ou ha ve a meticulous plan on ho w to go about this as w ell have a winning stra tegy. Online interaction is quite cost ef fective and simple as compar ed to other forms of making contact with a client. Social media ensur es tha t businesses have a far better presence and visibility on the domain. Some of the mar keting campaigns emplo yed in the online comm unities ha ve been f ound to be extremely appealing to clients . Suc h stra tegies

include newsletter mar keting as w ell as e mail campaigns. Newsletter campaigns ha ve the potential of converting a visitor to your page or site into a client. Mor e often than not, toda y’s tech savvy clients surf the web looking for reviews on a particular product or service . T his is w here the online community presence for a business really makes sense. If you as a b usiness have some kind reviews from other online comm unity users, then you stand a better chance of making a sale. It is ther efore important to post r eviews to y our website now and then so that potential clients can go through them and decide w hether or not the y will buy your product or not. Not withstanding the cur rent economic client of Cairns and Sur rounds to sa y the least, I w ould have to ask “Can Y ou Afford Not To Be Pr esent On Social Media Sites?” The little bar code to the right is an indica tion of the social media and mobile w orld growing, this little barcode if scanned with a qr code reader that can be downloaded from itunes for free, will give your business the edge ag ainst your competitors, You can have your Vcard, Website, Location, A special message or text, or your social media links, Download the QR code reader now and see where my barcode reader takes you.. Don’t f orget I can customiz e your social media services and training , Please contact me on 0427695947 or goto facebook www.facebook.com/socialmediaplus or follow me on twitter @leannepeard. Make It A Great Day !!!


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The Long Lost Art of Writing a Letter

I chose to write letter one to my grandmother. As a small child I wrote letters to both sets of grandparents and have continued to this day, although sadly tw o ar e no longer with us . I write to them because I kno w tha t is w hat they would like – and w hile tempting to type off a long and newsy y arn about this c hild and tha t, it is , in m y opinion, far mor e personal to ‘pen ’ heartfelt thoughts and wishes. I wrote letter two to some good friends. They only liv e a few str eets a way – b ut,hey, w hat the hell! They are special enough to warrant the effort and will be nicely sur prised to find it – no doubt mixed in with their latest batch of bills. I have tried to instill this same ritual in m y children, but really, it is an ‘epic fail’. When I am going out to b uy the car ds, write the envelopes, stick on the stamps and post the darn letter s – plus pr oviding the r ough copy – seems pointless . T he letter s in this case , are ag ain meant as thank y ous – f orget the general well-wish letters that we used to write. Boarding school memories of break time and

prefects r eading the mail e vokes special memories. “Please r ead out m y name, please be me ...” Mor ning tea could be r eally successful – with a haul of up to six letter s – or just do wnright depressing with none. But generally, w e w ere all pr etty good a t generating r egular mail thr ough constant attention to letter s. T hat is ho w w e ke pt in contact with family , beg an (and ended) relationships with the opposite se x and celebrated birthda ys. Oh, and f or r eally special occasions – like our lea ving e xams – there was the humble –telegram. Letters used to pr ovide the memories , w ere special kee psakes –r eturned to the writer in big piles tied with ribbon – from parents who had lovingly ke pt eac h and e very letter sent from afar – be it as a teenager a t boar ding school or a backpacker tra velling the w orld. Remember the air y-fairy w eight of an air letter? When it comes to love – there is nothing more romantic than a handwritten letter. In history we lear ned of the lo ve betw een Napolean Bonaparte and J osephine De Beauhar nais,

Beethoven and His Immortal Beloved, Robert Browning, Elizabeth Bar rett Br owning or more recently, Princess Diana’s letters to Dodi Al F ayed. T hese da ys and somew hat less romantic, we gain up to the second accounts of celebrity lo ve thr ough T witter.....think Warney and Liz as our 2011 courting r ole models. And while St Valentine’s Day is used to be mor e about sending anon ymous car ds than diamond encrusted presents and dinners for two, what is stopping us from keeping this wonderful tradition alive. So next time you want to make someone feel special, thank them f or their friendship , recognise the support of a colleague or associate or just sa y ‘hello’ – sit do wn and write them a letter!

P ip M ill er

Last week I sat down and wrote two letters using paper, pen and a post box. Sounds strange in this day and age – in 2011 we type quicker than we think and seem to do most of our communication via our Facebook status or sms.


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SMALL CAR

REVOLUTION Volkswagen Australia has announced availability of the range-topping 2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI, following its local unveiling in Sydney. Powered by Volkswagen's turbo- and super-charged 1.4 litre TSI petrol engine, the 2011 Polo GTI delivers 132kW and a respectable 250Nm of torque, online between 2000 and 4500rpm. Fuel consumption is listed at 6.1 l/100km, with carbon emissions of 139g/km. By comparison, the previous-generation Polo GTI, producing the same 132kW, consumed 7.9 l/100km of fuel and released 188g/km of CO2 - making the new GTI 25 percent more efficient than its predecessor. Weighing in at just 1184kg, the Polo GTI rockets to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds, going on to a top speed of 228km/h. Like the regular Polo and larger Golf GTI cousin, the Polo GTI is driven at the front wheels with power transferred through a sevenspeed DSG transmission. Upgraded sports suspension figures among the little GTI's performance features, along with a self-locking electronic differential. The 2011 Polo GTI wears 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels that look significantly larger on the Polo body than on the Golf GTI it shares them with. In true GTI fashion, the sporty Polo gets honeycomb upper and lower front grilles, a sports exhaust and a faux diffuser insert to the rear bumper.

Despite the numerous advantages of a small compact car, luxury is seldom listed as a key attribute. Think of the typical city runabout and words like practical, economical, efficient, and spartan are likely to place in the first four spots of your word association test. But Audi wants to change all that with its brand new 2011 Audi A1 -- a car Audi says combines a fun-todrive nature with the conveniences of a technology-geek's living room, all while being easy on the gas card and practical enough for daily use. The A1 is the car that Audi believes will become the world's defining premium subcompact automobile. Dimensionally, the Audi A1 is small. At 155.5 in. long, 68.5 in. wide, and 55.9 in. tall, the A1 could only be classified as a subcompact vehicle and indeed is just shorter in length and height than a Mini Cooper. To keep ride quality and handling standards high, the wheelbase is 97.2 in. (also shorter than the Mini), mandating relatively short overhangs front and rear. Despite its diminutive size, Audi has fit four seats to the two-door hatch, and the rear seats can be folded down to offer 32.5 cubic-feet of cargo space. Audi has fine-tuned the A1's weight distribution so that depending on engine choice, just 61- to 63-percent of the car's heft is up front. A space-saving MacPherson setup is found up front with lower triangular wishbones. At the rear, a torsion beam axle is found with separate springs and dampers. Further, an electronic differential lock is fitted to the A1 in a further effort to neutralize handling, reduce understeer and increase traction. The A1's design could only belong to an Audi. With its low-reaching grille, taut body lines and angular headlights, it certainly hints at aggression. Twin air intakes at the lower corners of the front fascia also serve to house optional circular fog lamps and the familiar strip of optional LED daytime running lights can be found in each of the headlight housings (non-LED daytime lights come standard). Special attention was given to how the A1's hood meets its front fenders, and the effect is similar to that of the TT sports coupe, culminating in what Audi refers to as the 'tornado line' that runs back through the doors and rear fenders. Out back, LED taillights are also included with the Xenon light option, while a black diffuser lowers the rear end visually, and sits beside either a single- or twin-outlet exhaust system, depending on engine grade.

The recently released new Kia Rio is honest. It represents an honest advance over the previous model and it’s honest budget transport. Buyers even have a choice of a four-door sedan or five-door hatch. The Rio’s 1.6-litre, variable valve timing engine is a willing worker and, in class segment terms, offers good performance. Highway passing still requires some forethought though and when cruising on the highway at 100 km/h the engine feels a little busy, spinning at more than 3000 rpm. The light, easy clutch and functional control layout mean the Rio isn’t a chore to drive. The steering is also light and easy around town, but lacks feel and displays rack rattle over rougher surfaces. Handling is acceptable around town. However, it leans heavily on the outer front tyre when cornering speeds rise and the Korean tyres offer modest grip. Better tyres are likely to improve overall handling and grip levels. An area of obvious improvement over the old model is the overall finish and quality of the new Rio, and it’s also larger. This includes paint and panel fit and the functional, if not stylish, interior trims. For light car buyers with more dollars to spend, there are better cars in the class. But at its driveaway price and offering standard dual airbags, airconditioning and a 1.6-litre engine, the new Rio looks a convincing enough argument for value-driven buyers.


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What’s in a Hybrid The hybrid car is a technology that has been around in form since cars were introduced in the 19th century, as most vehicles use a combination of energy sources for power. All cars, for example, have a battery that starts the car and can power the car's accessories, including headlights. In the late 1990s, a hybrid car with more power began to be considered a viable and popular alternative to conventional gasoline-only vehicles, and several models broke out onto the market and became popular sellers. In short, a hybrid car is a vehicle that utilizes two types of technologies for energy. This could be a bus that uses electrical power through overhead lines and diesel power to run an engine, for example. However, the term “hybrid car� usually refers to an automobile that has both a conventional gas engine and a bank of batteries, and shares the demand for power between these two sources. The hybrid car is an excellent alternative to conventional ones, first and foremost because it is more gas efficient. Many have a gas efficiency double that of conventional gasoline-only models, which provides a significant savings when gasoline is expensive. In addition, hybrid cars tend to be less polluting, because they burn less fuel.


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Carbon Tax & the cost of your next home... I came across this article on a home reno website I frequent regularly and it got me thinking about carbon tax and the cost of building my next house. See what you think. www.homeiown.com “Everyone is discussing now how a carbon tax will make our energy bills higher. Yet there’s another negative effect to a carbon tax that doesn’t get much coverage in the media - and it really should. At a first glance housing prices and carbon tax may seem unrelated, but a closer look reveals that there is a connection. Even though the house construction itself is not polluting the environment and therefore shouldn’t be subject to a carbon tax, the manufacturing of building materials is. When building materials suppliers face raising costs because they have to pay $30 a ton of CO2 emissions, they are likely to pass this on - let this reflect in their prices. When a construction company pays more for building materials, fixtures and fittings, it is likely to pass that on to the home buyers, to keep its profits on the same level. HIA (Housing Industry Association) estimates the effect of a carbon tax on the cost of an average new house to be $6000, which may result in a new home buyer paying an extra $12,800 over a 25-year loan. Another possible outcome is that construction

companies will source the building materials overseas, to get a better deal, as not all countries in the world have introduced (or will ever introduce!) a carbon tax. Therefore imported building products may have a competitive advantage over Australian made ones. However, the hidden danger of this situation could be that imported products won’t be made to Australian Standards, and may not have the same quality / credibility. So even if we were to buy a new house and not pay more, it could be of lesser quality. Not only will this affect new houses, but also any major reno projects will become more expensive for the same reason of the building supplies, fixtures and fittings, costing more. So in turn, this will add to price of any renovated established homes, and worsen the housing affordability. The government is promising to compensate us for the obvious effects of a carbon tax - the easy to see ones on the utility bills. Not sure whether or not this will happen or how it will work. But even if it does … what about the housing prices?”

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ed


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Homes For Your Future Home building is coming of age. New technologies, building systems and materials are all pointing towards better homes for the future. Add this to ever increasing awareness of energy efficiency and a real interest in saving money, homeowners are going to be the real winners. With Better Homes Director of Technology Troy Cavallaro Looking to 2020, there are some exciting changes in store for the modern home. Some are truly amazing like interactive surfaces which will allow us to store, alter and access information from the fridge door or a doorbell intercom system linked to your mobile phone so you can let tradesmen in while you are out. In the past decade, the biggest innovations to the home have been the addition of ensuites and air-conditioning. In the next 10 years we will see technology playing a more important role. Many of us have been quick to take up the smart phone so we can have technology at our fingertips no matter where we are. The smart home is the next step.

Changes are already underway with digital television and the National Broadband Network being rolled out. Here in Cairns all new sub-divisions, developments and estates must run fibre optic cable from the exchange to each house which will be used for the internet, phone and television. In the smart home, the phone and data/voice cabling goes from the optical network terminal box to a patch panel where the phone can be patched to where it needs to go in the house. This same cabling can be used for data or internet connections and it can feed a wireless access point for wireless devices. The television can be patched around the house in a similar way, but uses standard coaxial cable.

While home automation systems have been available for some years, the technology has been slow to be accepted. The mobile phone will be the key to it becoming more popular and we will explore more of these advancements in coming editions. In future columns we will also focus on trends for specific rooms of our house. The big ones are the kitchen and bathroom where innovations include touch screens on your bathroom mirror displaying weather and news. Green power is another subject dear to our hearts, so we’ll look at new technologies such as a turbine to harness wind power for individual homes and clear solar panels which can be used instead of glass windows.


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“The mobile phone will be the key to digitalising your home!”


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READER’S PICKS: DYNAMIC DUO’S

A LITTLE PIECE OF

ITALY! Growing up in Italy it’s easy to see how one could develop a love of cheese, wine, olives, cold meats and fresh food of all sorts. For the Vannella family, making cheese has been a family tradition passed down for generations.

Vito Minoia grew up in a farming family raising cattle, but he worked in many cheese factories throughout Italy. He and his wife Pina Vannella worked in the Vannella family cheese factory in Conversano, a little town near Bari, before selling the business and moving to Australia. “I worked long hours and long days in Italy because there was a lot more competition for cheese over there,” Vito says. The Vannella Cheese Factory was first established in 1985 with an annual turnover of $20 million, showing how important the cheese industry is in Italy. After settling in Sydney for a few years with their adult children Giuseppe and Anna, the family relocated to Cairns in 2004 to start up the Vannella Cheese Factory here. They chose Cairns not only for its tropical location, but also because their supplier of buffalo milk is located in Milla Milla in the Tablelands. The Vannella family produce most of their cheeses from buffalo milk, which is stated to have less cholesterol than cow’s milk, higher protein, superior calcium, iron and phosphorous than cow’s milk and contains seven to eight percent fat. The Vannella family win yearly awards for their cheeses and are recognised as leaders in buffalo cheese production in the southern hemisphere. Vannella specialises in buffalo mozzarella, buffalo feta, buffalo ricotta and bocconcini, as well as producing buffalo yoghurt. While Vito and Pina run the cheese factory with two staff, Giuseppe and his girlfriend along with Anna and her husband run Il Convivio Cafe and Deli in the centre of Cairns. However, they are all involved in the family business. The Vannella Cheese Factory supplies 80 percent of their cheese to local businesses through a

distributor, and late last year they secured a deal to supply Woolworths with buffalo cheese. “We approached them a few times and then started working with them in October 2010, but in the end their minimum orders were too low and not very cost effective for us as a small business so we stopped supplying them in April this year,” Giuseppe says. When asked if there are many other competitors in the industry, Giuseppe says he only knows of one other buffalo cheese maker in Sydney, one in Melbourne and one on the Sunshine Coast. But Vito says there is nothing else he would rather be doing and loves the versatility of working with cheese. His day starts at 4am when he cultures the milk, then once the curd is mature, which takes between six and eight hours, he starts making the cheese. “I stretch the curd and mix it with hot water, let the cheese cool down then pour it into brine and pack away,” Vito says. His next goal is to introduce some new buffalo cheeses on to the market in the next 12 months.


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READER’S PICKS: DYNAMIC DUO’S

FIX IT

THE REAL ESTATE

GUYS Known as the ‘Fix It Guys’ in the real estate industry in Cairns, Steve Habjan and Adam Cain of Habjan & Cain Estate Agents have built a solid and reliable reputation thanks to their honesty, integrity and good old fashioned service.

by A m a n d a C ra n s to n

“Real estate is an industry where traditional service is still as important as ever, Steve says. “Relationships are built on trust and performance, and we are often called in when other agencies have overestimated prices and not sold a property, the vendors have then become disillusioned and want an honest solution.” Both Steve and Adam agree that with over 300 real estate agents and around 50 real estate agencies in Cairns, there is an oversupply of agents for such a small region and as a result it is creating an environment where many agents overinflate valuation prices in order to secure business. “We are all competing for the same business. In a regular downmarket there is normally a large supply of listings and not enough buyers, but at the moment there is actually a shortage of listings and an oversupply of agents,” Steve explains. However he is quick to point out that it is not all doom and gloom and while the next 12 months may remain the same, others in the industry also share faith the market will recover. “I think a lot of people have lost faith in the local council and state government regarding investment and until we have a fresh approach to the region, it will take a while for people to rebuild their confidence and become active in the

market again,” Steve says. “But on the upside, for locals wanting to buy or sell it is actually the perfect time to upgrade or downsize because what you lose in the sale you gain in the purchase.” Adam agrees that like all industries there are highs and lows and constant change. The industry has progressed in many ways since he and Steve first started in the business, with technology and the internet being the predominant factors. “The public is a lot more educated today on what their property is worth, they can research other properties online and see photos, prices and learn of open times, “ he says. “But while the internet is a great research tool, it should not replace actually attending an open house viewing as most people need to build an emotional attachment to a home before committing to buying it.” He explains that properties are usually bought on the 80/20 rule, which is 80 percent emotion and 20 percent location. “Open homes help you get a feel for a property and is such an important part of the buying and selling process. We encourage our clients to walk through a property as many times as they need to, as buying a property is a long term investment and one of the biggest financial decisions a person will ever make,” Adam says.

Both Adam and Steve say there are great deals to be found in all suburbs, but prices in the blue chip suburbs of Edge Hill, Whitfield, Stratford, Freshwater, Parramatta Park and Cairns North will not drop too much. “When the market dips there are often opportunities to buy homes in these suburbs which may have previously been beyond budget, but prices don’t normally drop too much. Even in the worst of times, if properties are well presented and well priced there will always be buyers,” Steve says. “And at the moment most of our market is locally driven, which at the end of the day is a good thing because at least people aren’t selling up and leaving Cairns. There is nowhere else I would want to live!”


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Interior Style Profile

“A Haven Where the Heart Is”

Lisa Slatyer Haven and Space

“Loving Cairns Life” Here’s what Lisa Slatyer from Haven and Space is loving about Cairns right now. Food: Mecca Bah for their lamb and rocket pide; also Tamarind, Piccolos, Mother India, and Perottas for breakfast. Nightlife: At home with the kids! Fashion: Country Road and Witchery. Hair: Sarah-Jane from Scene Hair on Grafton St. Relaxation: On my deck by the pool, and any night after 9 p.m. when the kids have gone to bed!

by Julietta Henderson

Lisa Slatyer’s vision for Haven and Space was a homemaker’s warehouse where Cairns locals could find unique décor pieces without having to take out a second mortgage to buy them. One step into the airy, converted industrial space and you realise that is exactly what she has achieved. Polished concrete floors, coloured feature walls and high ceilings exude a casual elegance without the starkness of chain home stores. In a shop this size it would be easy to create confusion, but the cleverly thought out displays lead you around the shop in a seamless flow – albeit with many stops along the way. Lisa moved to Port Douglas from Sydney when her husband was headhunted for work. While working with an interior designer in Port, remodelling and redecorating private residences, Lisa recognised a gap in the market for a niche homewares outlet in Cairns that could provide décor items different from the mass produced products available in the large chain stores. Lisa says, “Cairns was missing that spark, that something different, and I saw

the need for a price-driven homewares shop with individually sourced stock.” When Lisa opened Haven and Space in 2005, the missing piece of the puzzle had arrived – and it was a perfect fit. Lisa’s concept of a decorator’s supermarket, where goods were taken straight from the container to the shop floor on pallets, and boxes simply stacked and slashed open to sell, has changed dynamic slightly to meet the needs of her clients. “It became clear that our customers wanted guidance,” she says. “They needed to see the products displayed creatively so they could visualise them in their own homes”. Merchandising and display have now become a focal point for Lisa and her talented team. “Everyone here has something valuable to add, in terms of their skills, and it works well.” When asked how the tenuous economic climate has affected business, Lisa is unfailingly positive. “With the dollar being so strong, because we work to a margin we have actually been able to pass on savings to the customers. I never sit back and wait for the bad times; I like to

think outside the square and approach things in a proactive way.” It’s obvious she practices what she preaches by not being scared to try something new – including the addition of an instore coffee shop. “I wanted to put in the coffee shop, but I didn’t want to actually be making coffees all day, so I approached Bang with the offer of coming on board.” They did, and since December, Bang at Haven and Space has been quietly gathering fans amongst local workers, as well as Lisa’s customers. In terms of stock, too, Lisa has strived to stay unique by travelling abroad to source exotic pieces. As well, she has looked closer to home by collaborating with local photographer, Suzanne Ashmore, to create a range of decorator canvases that have become instant bestsellers. Far from being a lady who lunches, Lisa is in the store nearly every day. By being invested at every step of the business, in Haven and Space Lisa has achieved what so many larger retailers fail to deliver - an experience. Warm, welcoming, with a touch of colour - a bit like Lisa herself really.


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New Innovations Profile by Amanda Cranston

Karen Donato

ALL LENDING & FINANCE As a businesswoman in Cairns, Karen Donato says she is incredibly lucky to work in a community that embraces and supports women in business. She says 85 percent of her business comes from word-ofmouth referrals and she is fortunate to work with a wonderful team of dedicated and experienced professionals. As a mortgage broker with experience in both residential and commercial lending, Karen loves being able to help others achieve their dreams of home ownership, paying off a debt or saving money.

calculation and it lets customers know if they are looking at properties outside their borrowing capacity which is a waste of time for everyone. Secondly, choosing the wrong property can be detrimental and is often the result of a customer rushing and not considering their needs such as the distance to schools, work, shopping, recreation, the neighbourhood, land size and condition of the home.

Why choose a mortgage broker? Many home buyers can find the whole mortgage process and filling out the paperwork a little daunting and we help guide them to make it as easy as possible. We are there every step of the way from helping them choose a mortgage most suited to their needs, making sure they understand the terms of their mortgage, being present when they sign the contract through to settlement and post settlement.

What is the best advice you would give those looking to buy? Know your budget and what you can afford. Don’t choose a home loan based on interest rates alone as you need to consider other factors like entry fees and mortgage insurance. Consider your long term needs and whether your current home loan will suit your needs in three to five years, and lastly, choose a loan with features that match your lifestyle. Will you be able to make additional payment and reduce the interest expense and will you want offset accounts or redraw facilities? These are all things to consider.

How can a mortgage broker save customers money in the long term? As a one-stop-shop in finance we work with an extensive number of lenders offering favourable mortgage rates and terms, so we are able to help customers find the right loan for them. Customers also benefit because the more lenders there are vying for their business, the more money they will save.

How can All Lending Finance Cairns help? We offer a fully mobile service to home or business and with a combined 45 years knowledge and experience in the finance industry we will always provide a recommendation most suited to our customer’s needs.

What are the biggest mistakes people make when choosing a mortgage and buying a property? Firstly, not getting a mortgage pre-approval because the approval provides a credit history status, it gives an accurate income


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Training... Is TNQ TAFE really Cairns’ best kept secret? by Amanda Cranston

Sitting across from Joann Pyne it is easy to see how this engaging woman has been able to bring great change to the Tropical North Queensland TAFE since taking on the role of Director. With initial aspirations to be a journalist, J oann actually spent man y years as a corporate planner for Brisbane City Council bef ore family commitments brought her back to Cairns where she took on the job of corporate planner a t TNQ TAFE. Now in her f ourth year as Director, Joann actually spent 12 y ears working at the TAFE before taking on the top job. Now she oversees 420 staff, 12,000 students, around 300 courses and an ann ual budget of $57 million. “TAFE is a real resource for the community. It’s one of Cairns’ best kept secr ets,” Joann sa ys, “We ar e very connected with local industr y and the community as a w hole and don’t run cour ses in isola tion. With local businesses doing it tough at the moment, we need to make sur e we are providing training and courses so skilled workers are ready to fill positions when jobs become available.” Joann says working in educa tion is incredibly rewarding and she lo ves knowing that TAFE can change people’s lives and give them skill de velopment, confidence, enthusiasm and passion to start a career. “TAFE is a real economic driver for our r egion and benefits all industries . We work with Adv ance Cair ns and the Chamber of Commerce so w e can meet their needs ,” Joann says. “We also w ork as close as w e can with local industry so our training is relevant and our students benefit fr om the e xperience.” For e xample, the fashion, beauty and hairdressing students get involved in the Cairns Amateurs and racing e vents thr ough fashion parades, the indigenous arts students are involved with the Cairns Indigenous Arts F air (CIAF) with teachers and ex-students exhibiting, and trades cour ses are run a t times

that suit their particular industries such as low season. TAFE offers such a br oad range of cour ses fr om health and comm unity services (nursing, aged car e, c hildcare and youth), landscaping , horticultur e, marine, art and design, b usiness, hospitality, tourism, science, beauty, trades and specific Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs. While the course structure is incredibly important to J oann, ther e ar e also other elements to the job tha t are equally important. T he new TAFE b uilding has been designed and built to be sustainable and ecofriendly using as many recycled materials as possible, water tanks, solar panels, gas powered air conditioning and the b uilding has been b uilt around a dr y g ravel cr eek. T he building is now a teaching tool in its own right. Joann also points out that because of the pr ecious region we live in, sustainability training is being incorporated in to eac h and e very course run a t the TAFE. “Our aim is f or e very student to undertake some form of sustainability training, so they can better understand issues in their own industries and how they can be pr oactive in pr otecting our environment here,” she says. Joann says she is also pr oud of the fact the T AFE is no w financially stronger than it ever was. “More and more T AFES ar e being asked to compete f or funding to run their programs, and as the mar ket becomes more contestable TAFE has to be in a position w here we can be competitive,” she explains.”Over the last few years TAFE has been v ery successful at this and tw o thirds of our b udget comes fr om sour ces we’ve competed f or.” Looking

ahead, Joann says she is in discussions with James Cook University to align more of their cour ses so the y can utilise both campuses pr oactively. “We have a great relationship with JCU and alr eady work closely with them. W ith the federal and state go vernment wanting to increase the n umber of people in r egional comm unities with higher education qualifications, I think between JCU and the T AFE we can manage this,” Joann says.


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Architectual Style

DOES CAIRNS HAVE STYLE? Have y ou e ver noticed tha t e very second house here is made of standard besser blocks? While besser b locks are cheap, long lasting and structurally strong, surely we could come up with a mor e attractive design of housing in Cairns that truly reflects tropical living. by Amanda Cranston

Traditionally Queensland boasted the ‘Queenslander’ home built high off the ground to catch the breezes and withstand flooding. These homes were built with timber using traditional carpentry. Today it seems masonry is the most cost-effective option to build with, but in the long term is it really saving home owners money? While initially it may seem cheaper, the actual lack of sustainable design elements incorporated into the home, mean that home owners pay higher running costs in air conditioning and electricity costs. Studio Mango senior architect and project manager, Nicole Ewing, says housing design should reflect climate and environment, and people’s lifestyles need to be considered


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Does Cairns have style...continued

The team at Studio Mango

too when designing a home. “Instead of people buying generic house plans to suit their site, they should choose a design that is responsive to the actual environment and which will provide long term sustainability,” she says.

Nicole says when living in a region like Cairns, there are many elements to consider. “With a climate like ours there are many ways to cool a home without needing to use air conditioning which benefit the environment as well as household budgets,” she says. Nicole says block houses have a thermal mass in the walls that make them harder to cool down, whereas walls made from timber and steel are more effective at


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letting heat dissipate quickly. She also suggests installing louvre windows, having large eaves with overhangs for more shade, wider door openings, cross ventilation, ceiling fans in every room and high level venting because when hot air rises it needs somewhere to escape. She says if building from scratch, consider orientating the utility spaces of your house to block the western sun, and when planning outdoor areas to be mindful that breezes, as well as rain and bad weather come from the south east and north east. Successful outdoor rooms capture these breezes yet protect you from these elements through the building of walls, adjustable screens or established gardens. After all, south east and north east breezes are still important. When asked if she thinks Cairns should have a unique design style specifically for this region, Nicole stresses that style is very subjective. She does believe though that more houses in the region should be built to better fit in with the environment and contain design elements to utilise sunlight and breezes. She doesn’t believe that the money saved by building houses cheaply actually benefit homeowners or the community in the long run.


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SAFETY & SECURITY

Assistant Commissioner of Police

KATARINA CARROLL Being a w oman in w hat was once seen as a man ’s w orld doesn ’t phase Assistant Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll in the slightest. In fact, she would like to see more females in the police force, and more police in general in the far north.

Interviewed by Amanda Cranston

Statistics show that women often shy away from traditionally male careers. Women make up just 27 percent of the police service (of which there are some 10,700 officers), however only about 4 percent make it to senior management and high ranking positions. “It’s a shame because I think women often tend to be better at multi-tasking and they often bring different skills to the job,” Assistant Commissioner Carroll says. “I knew from a young age I wanted to join the police and was very focused on my goals.” She says she was actually a gifted tennis player when she was at school but back then sport wasn’t as advanced as it is today and so she had to choose a different career. She had grown up on a tobacco farm in the Tablelands and spent most of her holiday breaks working on the family farm, joking that it was an uncanny coincidence that all her school holidays coincided with growing or picking season. Two of her school friends had fathers in the police service and she was always fascinated by their job. “When I was growing up police were always held in high regard in their community, they were good people and great role models, and I guess that really appealed to me,” she says. Unable to join the police service straight out of school as she wasn’t old enough, Assistant

Commissioner Carroll enrolled in an Associate Diploma in Community Welfare at James Cook University in Townsville. As soon as she turned 19 she joined the police and went on to study a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice. “After going through the academy in Brisbane and spending a short time in uniform I worked as a plain clothes officer in the licensing branch for a few years which was just like vice squad,” she says. “As a 23 year old it was very insightful as I was dealing with prostitution and illegal gambling, and at the same time there were corruption investigations going on because of the Fitzgerald Inquiry.” She says it was a difficult time for the police service as the actions of only a few people meant the entire organisation suffered. Over her career Assistant Commissioner Carroll has worked in the drug squad, the Commission of Inquiry into Psychiatric Ward 10B, various criminal investigation branches, the joint organised crime task force and covert unit, is the Queensland representative on the National Counter Terrorism Committee for Forward Command, is an umpire for National Counter Terrorism Exercises, and was the Australian

recipient of the Australia Police Medal in 2008. She took up the position of Assistant Commissioner for the Far Northern Region in November last year, relocating to Cairns (where she was previously Inspector in Charge with the Cairns Police Division between 2003 and 2006 and the Superintendent in Charge of the district in 2007 and 2008). She admits that while many police issues are still the same as when she previously lived here, much progress has been made and issues have evolved. “Now there are stricter alcohol management plans in place in many regional indigenous communities. We are also involved in many community and agency partnerships and initiatives and strategies to prevent crime. Since November 1, 2010, police have taken over a lead role in disaster response, which meant a full scale operation response to cyclone Yasi,” she says. ‘We do a lot that people just don’t see, as well as trying to constantly maintain our visibility in the CBD,” she says. “One of the biggest issues we deal with as police is the misuse and abuse of alcohol. At least 60 percent of our time is taken up with alcoholrelated issues, and on Friday and Saturday nights it could be over 80 percent.” On a positive note, the Queensland road toll last year was the best in Australia with the lowest recorded road toll in recorded history. While Assistant Commissioner oversees a large region including the Cape, Torres Straits and down to the Cardwell range, she says her main focus at the moment is on community safety, reducing the road toll, ensuring the front line police is at full capacity and supporting her staff. She is focused on ensuring her staff are well trained and equipped and that they maintain a high level of professionalism and ethics at all times. “My staff are great people and often work in really harsh environments and deal with all sorts of unenviable issues, but at the end of the day we are part of the community, we all have families of our own and are here for the right reasons.” she says.


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