PETS

12 Selfs Point Road, New Town Open Mon - Sat 10.00 - 4.00 Sun 10.00 - 2.00 6278 2111 tenlives.com.au

ADOPT

Sam

1 Years Old Male #15822 Lovely Boy!

Sam’s an independent boy who is ready to find his furever home. Sam may be shy at first but he has a bold personality and loves to play. He is particularly affectionate in the evenings and will come up to demand pats and scratches. Sam will sit with you and watch TV but doesn’t like to be held.

Sam is learning the difference between soft paws and claws. He tends to accidentally scratch when over stimulated and will need love and patience in this area. His ideal home is one where he can be the only fur child as he does not get along with other pets. Head bumps and winding around your legs are his ways of saying he loves you. Ask for Sam at reception.

You can find our more about Sam along with all of our kitties available for adoption at tenlives.com.au Every cat has a story. Are you part of it? ADOPT DONATE FOSTER VOLUNTEER EDUCATE

Volunteers Vaiva and Anne welcome River to his temporary home at the Ten Lives Argyle St Op Shop

Cats in op shops makes life for felines and humans brighter

Rich East, of Ten Lives Cat Centre

YOU may have seen the colourful Ten Lives car (the Winkie-Mobile, named after the cat emblazoned on its sides) travelling between the Centre and our Margate and North Hobart Op Shops.

We have a team of dedicated volunteer drivers who run donations and supplies between the sites as needed.

A few weeks ago, however, we had a gap in the roster and some precious cargo that couldn’t be kept waiting!

Six-month-old tabbies Olive and River needed to be transported to North Hobart, so I put my hand up.

Olive and River are what we call a bonded pair; two cats that are deemed dependent on each other, who would not cope with the adoption experience alone.

The friendly and affectionate pair were surrendered to the Centre in early February and spent a week in foster. They were vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and desexed before being cleared for adoption.

So, there we were, Olive and River each in a carrier in the back of the Winkie-Mobile as I drove up to North Hobart.

We have had cats available for adoption from our Margate shop since 2019 and in North Hobart since its opening in 2020. It allows us to draw a stronger connection to our supporters and for them to see what Ten Lives is all about.

“We do it because our volunteers and customers love it, and it’s a great opportunity for cats that may find it difficult in the shelter,” Ten Lives manager Noel Hunt tells me.

As I walked into the shop with the carriers, Olive and River were greeted enthusiastically by Op Shop volunteers Vaiva and Anne, who were keen to meet their new friends.

Anne organised their food and water, while Vaiva placed them in their enclosure for them to explore. Olive and River will spend most of their time in the large enclosure in the front window, watching the people walk by and snoozing in the sun.

But it won’t take them long to discover the impressive cat run, which leads them high above the clothing racks and bric-a-brac treasures through to the back of the store. There, they’ll find another enclosure where they can have some quiet time by the bookshelves.

On mornings before opening, the cats get to run around the shop. Though, as I’m told, it’s sometimes a struggle to get them back into the enclosure.

Sylvia, another volunteer, told me that one cat had them doing circles of the shop before the sprightly feline thought it best to return for her morning nap.

When I asked Vaiva what she thought of having cats in the Op Shop she told me it just might be the best part of being there!

The customers agree, with many dropping in every few weeks to see the latest Op Shop stars, or to say hello again to a favourite, before rummaging through the bargains.

Recently, a one-yearold white tabby named Skittles spent two weeks at the shop before finding his new family, and before him there is a long list of furry faces with similar success stories.

Apart from the inclusion of our furry feline friends, our Margate and North Hobart stores are traditional Op Shops which raise much-needed funds for the work undertaken by Ten Lives.

They help fund more than 10,000 vet procedures every year and provide hope for kitties in need.

Yes, there are a lot of unique items to be discovered in store, but when it comes to cats, there are no impulse buys - potential adopters who find a cat they love in our Op Shops must register their interest and wait 24 hours before they can take home their new best friend.

With Olivia and River settled into their temporary home, I returned to the Centre. It was only four days later that I heard that the two tabbies had been adopted - another success story for our cats in Op Shops.

I asked Vaiva if it’s sad to see them go.

“You do miss them sometimes but knowing that they are adopted, that’s the main thing,” she said.

It won’t be long before there’s a new face in the window, eagerly looking down Argyle Street to see who might come in to meet them!

Visit our shops at 1717 Channel Highway, Margate and 222 Argyle Street, North Hobart, and who knows what you might find. You might even find a best friend.

Ten Lives Cat Shelter is a self-funded animal charity that relies on donations and volunteers to care for and rehome the unwanted cats and kittens of Tasmania. See how you can get involved: tenlives.com.au

Tasmanian-made ugg boots

PROUD to be the first and only manufacturers of ugg boots and slippers in Tasmania, husband-and-wife team Brett and Christine Kinnear hand-make all their Nicky River brand footwear, plus a range of sheepskin and leather accessories and gifts, from their rural workshop in the beautiful Huon Valley.

Brett and Christine made a tree-change from Western Australia in 2013 and found their corner of paradise, building a house on 28 acres in Nicholls Rivulet.

They began selling Australian-made ugg boots and slippers at Salamanca Market in 2013, and wanted to stock a local Tasmanian product.

But when they couldn’t find anyone in Tasmania who made sheepskin boots and slippers, the couple decided to do it themselves.

They set up a workshop on their property and in June 2019 set about making their own high-quality yet affordable boots.

Nicky River Uggs has grown a lot since then, and now make a full range of ugg boots, slippers and scuffs for men, women, children and babies.

Made from doublefaced A-Grade Australian sheepskins to ensure durability while feeling soft and luxurious, Nicky River Uggs are comfy, warm and Tasmanian!

Hot water bottle covers, stubbie holders and patchwork rugs are proving to be popular gifts; while their sheepskin innersoles are great for rejuvenating ageing ugg boots and terrific in hiking boots.

When Salamanca Market closed in 2020 because of the COVID pandemic, Christine and Brett opened their workshop to customers, who could now be fitted and purchase their new footwear direct from the maker.

This proved so popular with customers that workshop direct sales are still available three days a week.

Visitors to the workshop can chat with Brett and Christine, watch the boot-making process in action and meet Molly the dog, Forest the alpaca and the rest of the family’s animal friends.

Over summer, Brett and Christine have been busy building up their stock of boots and slippers ready for the Tasmanian winter months.

Christine also developed a website so customers can buy online. Just visit www. nickyriveruggs.com.au to view the full range of styles, sizes and colours. You can also follow Nicky River Uggs on Facebook.

Nicky River Uggs offers a flat rate of postage per parcel within Australia, whether it be one, two or three pairs.

Nicky River products are exclusively available from site 206 at Salamanca Market every Saturday; direct from the workshop at 935 Nicholls Rivulet Road (Wednesday to Friday, 10am to 4pm); and www.nickyriveruggs. com.au

Brett and Christine Kinnear at their Salamanca Market stall. Photo credit: Karen Brown

Hand made in

Tasmania’s Huon Valley

Nicky River Uggs stall, site 206, at Salamanca Market every Saturday 8.30 - 3pm

Workshop direct sales 935 Nicholls Rivulet Rd, Nicholls Rivulet, Wed - Fri, 10am - 4pm 0419 858 233 nickyriveruggs@gmail.com

Online store available www.nickyriveruggs.com.au

Is self-employment for you? Turn your idea, product, or service into a business

HAVE you got an idea for a small business, but not sure what to do next? You’re not alone.

Business South’s Entrepreneurship Facilitator program, an Australian Governmentfunded initiative, can help make your small business idea a reality by offering free, practical and confidential guidance and support to potential business owners in the greater Hobart area and south-east Tasmania.

The program offers one on-one mentoring covering all aspects of starting and running a small business – from registering business names, website domains and your ABN through to financial, marketing, and strategic advice.

Business South also runs monthly workshops and information sessions and can refer potential start-ups to other services for further training, mentoring and possible funding.

“When you’re playing with the idea of starting a business, it can be really overwhelming if you go online and search for support,” Entrepreneurship Facilitator Sharon Harvey said.

“The advantage of our program is that we offer the opportunity to sit down and talk to a real person, brainstorm your idea and talk through the things you need to consider.

“Once we understand where someone’s at in their small business journey, based on their needs we can do further one-on-one mentoring with them or refer them to other relevant programs and services, remembering our services are completely free.”

This March, the Entrepreneurship Facilitator program is offering three free online workshops:

Healthy business and workplace check up

Early detection and being proactive are key to better performance outcomes and overall good mental health for business owners and their employees.

Join nutritional therapist Jill Cooper and Lifeline Tasmania program manager James Ryan as they discuss topics including the best food choices for productivity; work-life balance; how to ask “are you OK”; how to spot the signs of mental fatigue; how to ask for help; and resources available to help you through the process.

What you need to know when getting started in small business

This short online information session will cover all the basic concepts any potential small business owner needs to consider before going into business.

Topics will include things to consider before you start out; how to assess your business idea; the basics of planning and marketing; and how to best set yourself up for success.

Working from home – how to stay productive and connected in the home office

Join Sharon from Business South as she walks you through ten work-from-home tips to stay “on point” but mentally and physically active.

For more information or to book your FREE place in the program, go to www. businesssouth.org. au or email sharon@ businesssouth.org.au

Start your business journey

Have you got an idea for a business? Where to from here? There’s free assistance to support you on your journey through the maze to self-employment. An Australian Government Initiative.

The Entrepreneurship Facilitator program, delivered by Business South in the Greater Hobart and South East Tasmania, can help you with free, practical, and confidential guidance and support on all aspects of starting and running a small business, from registering a business name and ABN to marketing guidance and on-going general support. We offer one-on-one mentoring, referral into other relevant support programs and services, as well as monthly free workshops and information sessions. In March 2022 we have some great topics on offer for you to book in for (FREE and online). • What you need to know when getting started in small business • Working from home and staying connected • Healthy business and workplace check-up. Bookings are essential. Full details and to book are on our website www.businesssouth.org.au (upcoming events) or contact Sharon, Entrepreneurship Facilitator on her mobile, at 0455 372 023, or through her email, at sharon@businesssouth.org.au