Central Coast Life & Style | Edition 7

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EDITION 7

central coast

LIFE and STYLE

The inspirational

LISA

MESSENGER 1


STYLING + DESIGN

I N T E R IOR D ESIGN

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FIND INSIDE

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HIGH-FLYER LISA MESSENGER TELLS US ABOUT HER MOVE TO TEXAS

WILSON: 10 MATILDA THE NAME BEHIND

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TOP LOCAL BRANDS ON LOCAL 12 SPOTLIGHT ABORIGINAL ARTIST, 'THE WHALE LADY' FOUR TOP 14 CELEBRATING WOMEN WINEMAKERS IN THE HUNTER VALLEY STEPHANE 19 INTRODUCING POMMIER, HOST OF OUR NEW WINE CLUB TO THE 22 WELCOME NEW-LOOK QUARTERS FORRESTERS BEACH TO HOTEL GOSFORD 30 HEAD FOR WINTER WARMERS! TEST-DRIVE THE NEW 32 WE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE L ON A TRIP TO THE SNOW INTO THE 36 CHECK A BY ADINA ON YOUR NEXT VISIT TO CANBERRA

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Central Coast Life & Style is so much more than just another magazine – we are currently one of the largest social media voices on the Coast, with a following of more than 65,000 users across our digital platforms plus a substantial database. With our editor-in-chief, Cathy Baker, at the helm, you will also have access to Belle Property Escapes’ majority stake in the Central Coast’s holiday and weekend traffic, a significant contributor to our region’s success. Offering a unique, distinguished style like no other, we are the integrated solution to your advertising needs. Please contact amanda@centralcoastlifeandstyle.com.au to find out how we can design a tailor-made solution that’s right for you!

ABOUT OUR COVER: Collective Hub founder and high-profile business leader Lisa Messenger grew up with horses in Central West NSW and says that horse-riding is her “first love”. So, when she was staying at Amani Eco Lodge in Terrigal just before she flew to Austin, Texas, she was thrilled to discover that The Outlook Riding Academy is just across the road. Our talented photographer and photo editor, Josef Nalevansky, says that Lisa clearly had a natural rapport with her co-star – and his cover photo captures yet another side of this inspirational businesswoman. Cover photo: Josef Nalevansky 3


EDITOR’S Letter Welcome to the winter edition of Central Coast Life & Style. We’re delighted to feature Lisa Messenger on our cover. Lisa is one of life’s great success stories – she has changed countless people’s lives with her message of living life to its fullest through creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship, she is absolutely dedicated to her online Collective Hub community and millions of readers around the world – and yet she remains remarkably down-to-earth. Lisa recently moved to Texas and as you’d expect, she is embracing her new life there with enormous enthusiasm. The only downside is that she is missing her gorgeous dog Benny, who is being looked after by her head of content, Tara, on the Central Coast until Lisa returns in December. You can read more about Lisa’s new ventures on page 6. This edition of CCLS celebrates the achievements of several outstanding women. On page 14, we meet four renowned Hunter Valley winemakers who are shaking up the traditionally maledominated wine industry. Lisa McGuigan, Karin Adcock, Liz Silkman and Savannah Peterson not only produce highly regarded, award-winning wines but they are also changing the face of cellar doors (hello, Vamp!), wine-tasting experiences, events and accommodation in our neighbouring Hunter Valley region. On page 12, Aboriginal elder, painter and storyteller Aunty Lila, known around the Coast as ‘The Whale Lady’, talks about what inspires her art. And in this edition’s Book Club Extra, leading business strategist and author Tina Tower, who kicked off her career building a franchise empire, tells how she runs her highly successful company and still finds time for family, travel and fun. Turn to page 52 for more about this inspirational Central Coast-based businesswoman. Many of us locals love to head to the snow for a weekend or longer, and it’s looking like a bumper season. Our photo editor Josef Nalevansky took the new Jeep Grand Cherokee L on a test-drive in search of the first snow of the season, and he wasn’t disappointed – by the cool SUV or the weather – see page 32 for his story. Meanwhile, did you know that the Central Coast is now an official ECO Destination? The region recently achieved Eco Destination certification through an Ecotourism Australia and WWF-Australia funded partnership, as part of WWF-Australia’s Wildlife & Nature Recovery Fund. This is fantastic news for all residents, visitors and environmentally conscious tourism operators – and great timing for the whale-watching season! Cheers,

central coast

LIFE and STYLE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CATHY BAKER EDITOR SALLY MACMILLAN CONTENT & EVENTS DIRECTOR AMANDA HUGHES-NALEVANSKY CREATIVE DIRECTOR KRISTIE LOWE PHOTO EDITOR JOSEF NALEVANSKY MARKETING MANAGER SOPHIE CRENIGAN-EDWARDS WRITER / DIGITAL CONTRIBUTOR JACQUELINE O’NEILL

FOLLOW US AT FACEBOOK centralcoastlifeandstyle INSTAGRAM @centralcoastlifeandstyle

CATHY BAKER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

SUBSCRIBE Make sure you don’t miss an issue www.cc-style.co GET IN TOUCH info@centralcoastlifeandstyle.com.au www.centralcoastlifeandstyle.com.au ADVERTISING to advertise in the next issue of Central Coast Life and Style please email amanda@centralcoastlifeandstyle.com.au

Clockwise from above: Tina Tower, Aunty Lila Kirby, Lisa McGuigan’s wine. Right, celebrating Women in Australian Wine at The Cowrie, Terrigal. 4

Central Coast Life and Style Magazine has taken all reasonable precautions and effort to ensure the accuracy of material contained in this magazine is correct at the time of publishing. The views expressed in our articles do not necessarily reflect that of the editor and publisher. All adverts and editorial features are published in good faith. Central Coast Life and Style Magazine cannot guarantee and accept no liability for any loss or damage of any kind, errors or inaccuracy of claims made by the advertisers.


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COVER

Another

GIANT LEAP

She is a bestselling author, founder of Collective Hub and an internationally renowned speaker. Lisa Messenger is always looking for the next challenge – here, she tells us about her recent move to the US. WORDS LISA MESSENGER

PHOTOGRAPHY JOSEF NALEVANSKY

CCLS: Why would a successful businesswoman who loves her bases in Bangalow and Bondi decide to up sticks and set up home in Austin, Texas? LISA: Here’s a bit of background. This is the 21st year of having my own business and it has been through many iterations since 2001. But in short, in 2013 I launched my print mag Collective Hub. Within 18 months it was in 37 countries and the US was a big market for us. In 2014, after receiving an email from Anna Wintour’s office, I flew to New York to meet with her and the global chair of Condé Nast, Chuck Townsend, to discuss licensing Collective Hub under the Condé Nast brand in the US. For various reasons we didn’t go ahead. The following year, I made a global rights deal with Simon & Schuster for Daring & Disruptive, the first in my series of business books. Largely because I wasn’t on the ground in the US, it didn’t do so well. Then last November we received an order from Indigo to trial us in 176 stores. About 11 per cent of our Collective Hub social and digital audience (800,000) is based in the US and my fiancé needed to go to the US to expand his business, so the timing just seemed right. I am beyond excited about what we can do over here. And, as always, I am documenting it all as I go and will be turning it into a book (of course!) to support other Aussies wanting to grow into the US market.

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What were your initial impressions of Austin? I threw myself one thousand per cent into the unexpected life I found myself in. Mostly, I spent the first few days meeting with as many people as I could, immersing myself in the culture, joining a gym and finding the local coffee spot to feel a part of the community and integrate as soon as possible. Dare I say it, the best coffee I’ve found is at a place called Two Hands, which fortunately is right next to my gym. It’s an Aussieowned brand and they know exactly how to make the perfect iced latte. I’m getting used to saying “ya’ll” which literally everyone says. And I now have a custom-made cowboy hat, so I’m starting to feel the part. What are you most enjoying about living in a new city? Austin is the fastest-growing city in the US and it’s a fabulous melting pot of tech entrepreneurs, start-ups, big tech companies and a lot of traditional, old-school Texans. It’s not unusual to see a cowboy riding down the main street on a horse – it’s a true juxtaposition of cultures. The Austin tagline is ‘keep it weird’, which seems to fit. Anything is possible. The music scene is amazing and the people are probably the friendliest I’ve ever met anywhere in the world. I’m not sure if it’s because about half of them carry guns so they are always super-nice to each other 8

for fear of being shot. I’ve not experienced any road rage or any unpleasantness of any kind. Everyone is genuinely so welcoming and helpful. What I love, love, love is that everyone is into positive affirmations. They wear them on their clothing. They paint them on bridges and murals. So, for my products, it is probably the most excited I’ve been in years about the enormity of the opportunities. As a water baby, how are you adapting to living away from the ocean? And as a long-time lover of horses and riding, are there opportunities for riding locally? I usually live very close to the beach. When in Sydney we live in Bondi and when in the Northern Rivers we live in Bangalow and drive to the beach every single day. So, Austin is a little confronting. But I did grow up in Coolah (Central West NSW) where it was hot and dry most of the time, so I can do it. Having said that, there are beautiful lakes, swimming holes, rivers and green spaces around the city. We’ve done a lot of kayaking. And yes, horse-riding is my first love. I grew up riding every day. My first job after school was as a horse-riding instructor in England. I haven’t found great horse-riding yet but trust me – it’s on the list.


What can you tell us about your new online Start Up Smart business course? This course has been a long time coming. And while I’ve now written about 38 books, I hadn’t done one until Start Up to Scale Up that encapsulates everything you need to know to start and grow a business end to end. On the back of the book, we decided to create an online course to guide start-ups. It goes over six weeks and has seven modules. Each week, for the first time ever, I will be doing live sessions with my cohort and guiding them every step of the way. There will be one intake a year but if there is lots of interest (and early signs are good) we may run it twice a year. What do you love most about your work? I love being creative every single day. I come up with all the product ideas and I love thinking differently and creating things that will really help our audience. I also love the marketing side. There is nothing better than the buzz of getting into a new store or onto a new marketplace. I love the daily feedback from our customers – we receive the most beautiful heartfelt messages about how we’ve changed their lives. And I love the big stage speaking gig stuff. For a short while I get to sink into the full essence of my power and feel like a rock star. I’ve worked with a lot of 7,000-plus audiences now and shared a stage with Sir Richard Branson five times. Here are a few unknowns. A few days before I go on, I kick and scream and say I don’t want to do it. Twenty minutes before I go on, I meditate to deep house. I get in the zone. I breathe deeply, step onto that stage and every single time I get off it, my fiancé says, “How did you go?” and every time I say, “10 out of 10”. I am so predictable it’s ridiculous. What do you love least about your work? I have grown to love finance and data. It doesn’t come naturally to me and I used to fight it, but it’s an imperative. What I really don’t like is granular detail and I can’t stand mindless bureaucracy that I sometimes encounter with third parties. I am a big-picture visionary so that stuff I find tedious and cumbersome. The rebel in me fights it all the way. Who inspires you, professionally and personally – and why? There are so many people I can’t list them. I feel it’s important to build a really solid inner circle of trusted people. I also get so inspired every day by our community and anyone who is courageous enough to just have a go. Find out more at collectivehub.com, lisamessenger.com and on socials @lisamessenger 9


MATILDA WILSON CREATIVE The Name Behind the Brands

Have you just started a small (or big) business? Or maybe you’re planning to relaunch your existing product range with a new and exciting look, packaging and online presence? Meet Matilda Wilson. With an ethos cemented in helping brands stand out in a crowded market, local art director and designer Matilda Wilson is the ‘behind the scenes’ creative responsible for the brand identity, strategy and art direction of some of the Central Coast’s most talked-about brands. From the recent design and e-commerce development of FWD FORM Nutrition to the rebranding of renowned bridal atelier KOUKLA by Natasha Prestidge and the national roll-out of Pearls of Australia’s new look across their WA and Broken Bay locations, to name a few, Matilda believes that everything created, communicated and developed by her studio is fully client-centric and tailored to the brand at hand. Specialising in brand identity, website development, print and packaging, Matilda – or Tilly, as you’ll come to know her – is rapidly establishing

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her position as the one-stop-studio for all things creative on the Central Coast for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Matilda is passionate about empowering developing brands – particularly local brands – to achieve their goals. She has spent several years meticulously building a resource bank of commercial printers, packaging developers and resources that, firstly, make her clients’ lives easier and secondly, provide viable, environmentally responsible options – a factor that is increasingly imperative to the success of brands in our current climate. This environmental consideration has been central to Matilda’s process since the inception of her business. One per cent of Matilda Wilson Creative's annual income is donated to not-for-profit organisation GreenFleet Australia, which offsets carbon emissions through the restoration of native forests and biodiverse sites across the country.


PROMOTION

High-profile Central Coastbased businesses that Matilda has worked with include FWD Form Nutrition, You by Shauna Watts at The Quarters Forresters Beach, SŚAINT Parfum and Honour Wellness.

To get to know Matilda better, start your next project with her team or see the studio’s most recent work, visit matildawilsoncreative.com or the studio’s instagram at @matildawilsoncreative.

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SPOTLIGHT

The

WHALE

LADY

Central Coast Aboriginal elder Aunty Lila, a talented storyteller and artist, tells us what inspires her remarkable paintings.

WORDS JACQUELINE O’NEILL

PHOTOGRAPHY CLAIRE @ OAK STREET IMAGES

An avid storyteller, artist and songwriter, Aunty Lila Kirby (known affectionately by all as ‘Aunty’) is a Central Coast local Aboriginal elder. A descendent of the Waradjiri and Yorta Yorta tribes, from Central NSW and the Murray and Goulburn River regions respectively, Aunty has been painting for about 30 years in a style that fuses traditional and contemporary techniques. She uses acrylic paints, paintbrushes and her hands. Every one of Aunty’s paintings tells a unique story. These stories come to her from the ancestors of her land and the journeys that she has taken – whether through her travels across Australia and extensive time spent in Arnhem Land, where she lived for 12 years, or from her various trips overseas. Aunty insists, though, that these stories aren’t hers. “The spirits visit me, and they take me on the most incredible journeys as I paint,” she says. “Sometimes, it’s a long and complex story, like a dream. Other times, it’s simply a moment in time where I’m lucky enough to be a guest – like a fly on the wall. I paint what I observe. These moments are at ceremonies, gatherings of women and tribes, all sorts of occasions – but always a long time in the past. And there’s always an insistence from the spirits that I get it right.” Throughout her life, Aunty has travelled to the USA, Hawaii and Fiji, and attended gatherings with other cultural leaders to share her engaging stories and complex knowledge of the land. Along the Sydney coastal line, she is known by other Aboriginal people as ‘The Whale Lady’ – fittingly, her whale stories and paintings are her favourites. Aunty’s artworks have made their way to all corners of the globe, including America, Japan and India, and hang in the home of actor Chris Hemsworth and his wife, actress Elsa Pataky. Her style is distinctive and mesmerising, as is her personality – you can tell that she possesses a deep wisdom from the moment you meet her. At the heart of her work, she believes that all Australian people could learn a lot from Indigenous customs, traditions and ways of life. “Everything we need is on this land. Medicine, food, shelter. That’s the first thing. The second is that this must be respected – tamper too much with the plants, the animals, the earth – and you’ll set it all off balance. Some of the modern ways are no good,” she says. And the third thing? She laughs and winks. “The third thing is us women – we are like royalty in our culture, and rightly so. We carry everything.” For enquiries about Aunty Lila’s paintings, please contact Sarah Tammer, email sarahktammer@gmail.com, phone 0404 086 524.

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EAT + DRINK

WOMEN IN AUSTRALIAN WINE Meet four inspirational winemakers from the Hunter Valley who are producing award-winning wines and shaking up the traditionally male-dominated industry. WORDS SALLY MACMILLAN

The Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest wine region, with a history of winemaking dating back to the 1820s. Several of the big-name wineries have been there for six or more generations and today it’s home to more than 150 cellar doors and many of the country’s most renowned winemakers. While the Hunter is best-known – especially internationally – for its classic shiraz, semillon and chardonnay wines, other varieties are emerging and a tasting tour always reveals exciting new discoveries! Some wine enthusiasts might also be surprised to discover that four acclaimed wineries in the region are run by women: Lisa McGuigan Wines in Pokolbin, Karin Adcock’s Winmark Wines in Broke Fordwich, Liz Silkman’s Silkman Wines in Pokolbin, and Savannah Petersen’s Savannah Estate in Mount View. These distinguished winemakers are not only smashing through glass ceilings in a traditionally male-dominated industry to produce top-rated wines, they are enhancing the Hunter Valley’s reputation as a must-visit destination with stunning accommodation and an innovative approach to wine-tasting. 14


You could say that wine runs in Lisa McGuigan’s blood. Her father, grandfather and great-grandfather made the name famous in the industry, but she diverted from the family path to make a name for herself in hospitality before returning to the Hunter to blaze her own highly individual winemaking trail. Lisa produces four collections of wines – Silver, Platinum Renaiisance and Velvet – made or finished in the Hunter Valley and sourced from growers around Australia and the world. The latest is the Renaiisance collection, which features her famous prosecco, the unfiltered vermentino, rosé and Spartacus shiraz. Lisa’s cellar door, the edgy, monochromatic Vamp Wine Rooms, reflects her passions for design, fashion, art, hospitality and, of course, wine. Vamp is home to Lisa McGuigan Wines and is also a venue for tasting wines from Lisa’s collection of favourite Australian and international labels. “Vamp is one of my proudest achievements,” Lisa says. She opened Vamp in 2019, having established her first winemaking venture in the 1990s, winning accolades for Tempus Two and subsequently launching Lisa McGuigan Wines in 2010.

LISA McGUIGAN LISA McGUIGAN WINES: VAMP, POKOLBIN

It is not a typical cellar door – rather it is a ‘wine adventure’ set in striking, Gothic-glam surroundings. As Lisa has said, she didn’t want to copy anyone – “it has a feel and a look all of its own”. Visitors can book tasting sessions in four tasting rooms, accessed through hanging chainmail curtains, and the larger, private Bondage Room – a custom-made circular bar set beneath a dramatic chandelier – seats up to 24 guests. Wine-tastings, lunches, dinners and special events are also held in the equally stylish courtyard, weather permitting. Coming up in August is Lisa’s first Medieval Dinner. She will host the dinner, which will be catered by one of her favourite chefs and limited to 60 guests, who will each receive a bottle of wine that will be released on the day. For info and bookings, please call 02 4998 7854. Vamp by Lisa McGuigan, 2198 Broke Rd, Pokolbin, NSW 2320; call 02 4998 7854, email vamp@lisamcguiganwines.com, see lisamcguiganwines.com 15


KARIN ADCOCK

WINMARK WINES: BROKE FORDWICH

Many people know Karin Adcock’s name from her hugely successful Pandora jewellery business, but for the past six years Karin has been deeply immersed in winemaking. She has invested a considerable amount of time and money into reviving the once neglected Pooles Rock vineyard and today the picturesque, 130-acre estate is not just a premium chardonnay producer but a destination in itself. The former Pooles Rock storage sheds were converted into a beautifully designed cellar door that overlooks the 28-acre vineyard, alongside the Winmark Art Gallery and Sculpture Walk. Guests can discover fabulous wines on a day visit or stay at the property for a weekend – or longer – in four beautifully appointed properties dotted around the vineyard. For half a century, the vineyard has grown exceptional fruit, with a proud history of producing highly acclaimed chardonnay. In acknowledgement of this, Winmark Wines has devoted the entire estate to chardonnay. “When I purchased the property, the Pooles Rock name was not part of the sale so I named it Winmark Wines, which in my native Danish tongue means Fields of Vines,” says Karin. “I am so proud to now call this property my home, and I love welcoming guests to our cellar door to taste our beautiful chardonnay.”

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Karin’s team of highly skilled and passionate wine experts include vineyard manager Dave Grosser from VitiGro, award-winning viticulturist Liz Riley from Vitibit, and international consultant and winemaker John Belsham. The team is particularly excited about its latest wine, the Winmark 72 Chardonnay, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the planting of Block 4. The first vines were planted with a Penfolds clone on this block in 1972 and the Winmark 72 heralds the move to produce a chardonnay exclusively using the hand-harvested premium fruit of Block 4. The small-batch chardonnay will only be produced in outstanding years. Winmark 72 is whole bunch pressed, fermented with indigenous yeast and spent 11 months in Marcel Cadet French oak barrels. It can be cellared for eight to 10 years and retails for $89. Karin and John suggest this “opulent” chardonnay should be paired with rich seafood, and “all the classics”. Winmark Wines 189-229 Wollombi Rd, Broke, NSW 2330 call 02 9997 5373 email info@winmarkwines.com.au see winmarkwines.com.au


LIZ SILKMAN

SILKMAN WINES: POKOLBIN

Not only did Liz Silkman win the prestigious Hunter Valley Legends and Wine Industry Winemaker of the Year Award earlier this year, she also won the title in 2011 and 2016 – the first winemaker to win it three times. Liz and Shaun Silkman founded Silkman Wines in 2013 and within a couple of years it had been named as one of the 10 Best New Wineries in Australia. They won Best Semillon at the 2014 NSW Wine Awards, Top Gold at the Hunter Valley Wine Show for their 2014 Reserve Shiraz, and countless other medals around the country. In 2015, the Silkman Reserve Chardonnay beat 600 other wines to win the James Halliday Chardonnay Challenge, and Shaun was nominated as Rising Star of the Year at the 2016 Hunter Legends Awards.

We produce a couple of thousand cases a year of the classic Hunter Valley wines – semillon, chardonnay (our favourite), shiraz and shiraz pinot noir.” Liz says that Silkman Wines' most recognised wine is their chardonnay, but their semillon is very popular in the US – “American buyers love the low alcohol content and elegance of these wines”. Her personal favourites are Silkman Wines' reserve chardonnays. “They speak of the vineyard, site and our philosophy of letting the fruit speak in the wine. The winemaking is very minimal with the wine fermented and aged in oak puncheon, and is not handled until it is gently racked from oak and off to bottle.”

Despite this incredible success story, Silkman Wines is a ‘part-time’ job for the hard-working couple. They both work at First Creek Wines in Pokolbin, where Shaun is chief operating officer and Liz is the chief winemaker.

Keep an eye out for Silkman Wines’ 2021 Reserve Chardonnay, an elegant and complex wine that showcases the beauty of Hunter Valley chardonnay. Liz and Shaun are also excited about their plans to open a cellar door later this year. “We can’t wait to share it with everyone!”

Silkman Wines sources fruit from a number of local vineyards that Liz has worked with over the past 10 years. “Our relationships with growers are very important to us,” says Liz. “Without great fruit we can’t make great wine.

Silkman Wines 600 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin, NSW 2320 email Liz@Silkmanwines.com.au see silkmanwines.com.au 17


SAVANNAH PETERSON SAVANNAH ESTATE: MOUNT VIEW Savannah Peterson is a third-generation Hunter Valley winemaker, and justifiably proud of her family’s heritage. Back in 1971, her grandparents, Ian and Shirley Peterson, planted 10 acres of their farm with semillon vines to supply the fruit for McWilliams Wines. Over the next 10 years, the Petersons expanded their vineyard to 40 acres and added chardonnay, viognier, shiraz cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir. They established Peterson Wines in 1981, opened a cellar door at scenic Mount View and the Peterson name continues to be one of the best-known in the Hunter. Ian and Shirley’s son Colin now manages the extensive Peterson wine empire – there are cellar doors in Mount View and Pokolbin as well as numerous affiliated businesses. Colin and his wife, Judy, passed on their love of winemaking to their youngest daughter, Savannah, and she now runs the extremely successful winery named after her – Savannah Estate. Savannah Estate is renowned for its sparkling wines and its sparkling brut and malbec varieties are getting plenty of attention. The estate is also well-known for its chardonnays and alternate whites such as grüner veltliner, arneis, vermentino and marsanne, while popular red wines include shiraz and cabernet sauvignon. The wines are produced from select parcels of premium fruit grown in Australia’s best viticulture regions and Savannah works with famed Hunter Valley winemaker Gary Reed to create new varieties and styles. However, exploring new techniques is paired with a healthy respect and love for the traditional methods followed by her father and grandfather. As Savannah says, “Consistency is key at Savannah Estate; wine trends may come and go, but quality will forever be in fashion.” Visitors to Savannah Estate’s cellar door can always expect a warm welcome – Savannah loves sharing her wines over a delicious paired cheese plate in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. A new cellar door is set to open in the near future and Savannah says she's incredibly lucky to work in the world of wine. “Making wine is less about business than it is a passion or a hobby. The fact that people buy our wine to take home and enjoy it – that’s our reward.” Savannah Estate 312 Mount View Rd, Mount View, NSW 2325 call 02 4990 6326 email wine@savannahestate.com.au see savannahestate.com.au 18


WINE CLUB Introducing sommelier Stephane Pommier

Highly regarded in the wine world both here and overseas, Stephane Pommier is writing our new Wine Club page, sharing his expert knowledge of all things wine in every edition. But first things first: who is Stephane Pommier and what exactly does a sommelier do? He tells us that he has asked his mother several times, “Are you sure that I wasn’t born in a barrel?” He has vivid childhood memories of sitting with his winemaker father and his friends in France, listening to long conversations about vines, vintages, terroir and the ever-present vagaries of the climate, so it was no surprise that he decided to go into the business. Stephane started his wine journey in 1989 studying Oenology Viticulture at Maison Familiale Rurale De Grandchamp in Beaune, in the heart of the Burgundy winemaking region. During this time, he worked at a local vineyard called Domaine Jean Paul Droin and after completing his studies he further developed his craft working at well-known vineyards Moreau-Naudet and Domaine Hervé Azo. In 2004 the Land Down Under was calling, so Stephane moved to Australia and started working for McWilliams Wines. While working there, an opportunity to become a sommelier at Rock Restaurant in the Hunter Valley presented itself and this is where Stephane transitioned from winemaker to sommelier, transferring his skills from the vineyard to the table. In 2013 Stephane became head sommelier of two-chef-hat restaurant Muse in the Hunter Valley and continued working there until 2019. Today, Stephane runs his own company, SOM Wine. He produces and imports his own wine from France, while also representing a variety of other cellar doors. He loves to share his knowledge and passion through wine masterclasses, education, training and events.

WHAT DOES A SOMMELIER DO? “A sommelier is essentially a wine expert,” says Stephane. “My job is to describe the wine before you taste it and also to choose the best wine to best complement your food, your tastes, the occasion and your budget. “When I’m serving wine I always want to pay respect to the winemaker and I like to create a bit of theatre with a memorable experience with each glass that I pour.”

BEST WINES FOR WINTER As the weather gets colder, the refreshing crisp white wine should stay in the fridge and the red wine should appear on the table. The comfort and warm feeling that a red wine gives is like wearing a winter coat. FAVOURITE WINTER FOOD AND WINE PAIRINGS Creamy Tuscan chicken with a pinot noir from Tasmania Beef stroganoff with a shiraz from the Hunter Valley, NSW Bolognese pasta with a cabernet sauvignon from Wrattonbully, South Australia For more information about Stephane’s company SOM Wine, see somaustralia.com.au. 19


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Winter

WARMERS

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1 Boots: Mimco, $399 2 Hat: Seed Heritage, $69.95 3 Scarf: Tigerlily, $89 4 Cardigan: Myer, French Connection, $149.95 5 Jumper: Forever New, $109.99 6 Jumper: Myer, French Connection, $99.95 7 Bag: Mimco, $450 8 Books: Persuasion by Jane Austen and Home Body by Rupi Kaur, Bookface 9 Pen, $2.99, Typo. 20


EAT & DRINK

LOCAL HEROES Executive chef Dimitris Aronis invites you to enjoy fine dining that celebrates regional producers, artisans and winemakers at his award-winning restaurant, The Cowrie. WORDS JACQUELINE O’NEILL PHOTOGRAPHY TOM ANTCLIFF

Settling into his ownership of The Cowrie, executive chef Dimitris Aronis is focusing on his longer-term vision for the AGFG chef-hatted restaurant – one that features local and regional producers, artisans and winemakers. The Cowrie’s new seasonal menu showcases the very best that the Central Coast and wider NSW has to offer. The recently updated winter menu is designed to be a more organic take on The Cowrie’s traditional fare. “Seasonality of produce and the weather play a huge role not only in the availability of produce, but also what is going to provide us with the best possible quality in our meals,” Dimitris explains. “By allowing these elements to guide us when creating new menus, and determining what is flourishing in the garden and beyond, we are able to give our visitors the best possible experience.” The new menu features added grazing options, perfect for when you arrive, while locally sourced standouts such as the Hunter Valley duck breast or pork loin are sure to impress. Our personal favourite? The ‘Importance of Cheese’ course which showcases the best cheeses from around Australia, France, Spain and Italy. There is also a strong emphasis on sustainable seafood throughout, and the exceptionally diverse updated plant-based menu can be matched with Ikou teas, courtesy of local founders Naomi and Paul Whitfeld.

At the bar, craft beers from Block ‘n’ Tackle, Six Strings and Moo Brew are now on offer, while the wine list has further expanded, showcasing more than 60 fine wines from regional NSW, Australia and overseas. The Cowrie is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday to Saturday and for lunch on Sunday, at 109 Scenic Highway, Terrigal. To book, call 02 4384 3016 or see thecowrie.com.au. 21


The

QUARTERS FORRESTERS BEACH

Welcome to the new-look Quarters Forresters Beach! Taking on a starring role is The Olive Grove, a stylish, versatile space that provides the perfect setting for weddings, parties and corporate events – and is now the Coast’s latest live music venue. 22


EAT + DRINK + STAY

The OLIVE GROVE With its high ceilings, arched windows and ample room for up to 200 guests – or 150 seated around tables – the versatile Olive Grove ballroom can be set up to cater for a multitude of special events. This lovely space opens onto a private courtyard which features a covered colonnaded pavilion and an attractive sandstone platform that is used for wedding ceremonies and speeches. The Olive Grove also has its own street entrance, separate from the main entrance of The Quarters – a feature much appreciated by bridal parties. The Olive Grove’s dedicated events team can tailor everything from the décor to catering, table-settings, flowers, audio-visual equipment and music to suit your taste and budget. “We’re a one-stop-shop,” says events manager Emma Paulley-Hughes. “Whether you’re looking for a wedding celebration, a splashy

birthday party or a corporate function, we work with each client to create a truly individual, memorable event.” Although The Olive Grove is a standalone venue, many guests attending special events choose to book into The Quarters’ accommodation overnight or for the weekend – after all, it’s just next door! And now that The Olive Grove is hosting regular live music gigs, an overnight stay means you can enjoy a few drinks with dinner while taking in the performance. Tickets for Live Music at The Quarters shows include a drink on arrival and a single-course dinner; prices start at $135. For more information and bookings, visit The Olive Grove, 960 Central Coast Highway, Forresters Beach, call 02 4384 1222 or see theolivegrove.com.au

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ACCOMMODATION In 2021, The Quarters’ accommodation was completely renovated and restyled under the direction of interior designer and co-owner Donna Hughes and it now offers 34 stylish rooms that cater for couples, families, corporate visitors and groups of friends.

The overall design of the accommodation is Hamptons-inspired – there’s lots of whitewashed wooden panelling, a subtle coastal colour palette, contemporary minimalist furniture and high-quality soft furnishings. Every room has in-room entertainment and uninterrupted views of the landscaped tropical gardens and access to the resort pool and heated spa. The Quarters accommodation reflects an effortless sense of relaxed, indoor-outdoor living – at surprisingly affordable rates.

Guests can choose from a selection of King, Queen and Family rooms in various configurations – some have private balconies and two-person spas. Amenities throughout include pod coffee machines, a kettle, microwave, mini-fridge and free WiFi. Breakfast is served at The Pantry – or you can order takeaway to enjoy in the privacy of your home from home. Call 02 4384 1222, email info@tqfb.com.au, see tqfb.com.au 24


The PANTRY Open from 7am to 3pm seven days a week, The Pantry offers an all-day brunch menu along with a range of delicious main dishes, excellent coffee, cocktails, beers and a well-researched selection of wines. The Pantry was created by friends Nick Howe and Tara Dickinson, who between them have some 30 years’ experience in cafes, restaurants and coffee-roasting. Many readers will know Tara’s popular Pinocchio’s in Gosford and Motel Mezza in Wyong, and The Pantry serves up similarly fresh, imaginative menus. The attractive interior opens on to courtyard seating by the pool – it’s a lovely spot to catch up with friends for coffee or a leisurely lunch. Call 02 4380 8272, email info@tqfb.com.au, see thepantryfb.com.au

The CAPTAIN’S TABLE This is The Quarters’ second, smaller conference space, designed to accommodate 50 guests ‘cocktail style’ and 25 seated comfortably. It is equipped with the same state-of-the-art IT infrastructure as The Olive Grove and is a popular option for executive team meetings and corporate presentations as well as christenings, birthday parties and baby showers. You can book The Captain’s Table for morning, afternoon and evening events, seven days a week and the events team is at your service for everything you need in the way of catering, room decoration, music and flowers. Call 02 4384 1222, email events@tqfb.com, see theolivegrove.com.au

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The BOTANICAL WORKSHOP Katie Clare and her team run The Botanical Workshop, a gorgeous florist shop that also stocks a selection of handmade candles and homewares. Their services include providing beautiful blooms for weddings and events, and fresh flower deliveries on the Central Coast every Wednesday and Friday. Open 9.30am to 4pm seven days a week. Shop: call 0438 686 046, email shop@thebotanicalworkshop.com.au, see thebotanicalworkshop.com.au Weddings & events: call 0416 571 844, email katie@thebotanicalworkshop.com.au, see thebotanicalworkshop.com.au

The GILDED ANCHOR It’s full steam ahead for the Coast’s newest cocktail bar and restaurant – The Gilded Anchor has been a success story from the moment it opened its doors. Locals and visitors alike drop in for a drink at the nautical-themed cocktail bar – the staff whip up some seriously good cocktails – or linger longer over dinner in the restaurant space. The Gilded Anchor specialises in Modern Pacific cuisine and the share-style menu includes ‘Easy Eats’ as well as delicious mains and side dishes. Sunday lunch is popular with families and the kids menu will tempt the fussiest little eater. Open Wednesday and Thursday 5pm-10pm; Friday 5pm-11pm; Saturday 3pm-11pm; Sunday 11am-4pm. Bookings for dining are essential. Call 0411 944 909, email info@thegildedanchor.com.au, see thegildedanchor.com.au 26


Something BY GRACE Grace Taylor is a sought-after hairstylist with 11 years’ experience in the business, and her chic salon at The Quarters, Something by Grace, is very popular with new and longtime clients. Grace and her team provide a warm, welcoming atmosphere while expertly cutting, styling and colouring your locks – morning coffee or maybe an afternoon glass of wine all add to the thoroughly relaxing experience. Call 0409 556 252, email somethingbygrace@outlook.com, see facebook.com/somethingbygrace

YOU by Dr Shauna Watts Dr Shauna Watts is a leading practitioner of aesthetic medicine with more than 20 years of medical experience, so you know you’re in safe hands when booking a cosmetic procedure at her clinic. YOU by Dr Shauna provides a range of individually tailored treatments, from peels to fillers and more, for men and women of all ages, skin tones and body types, using the latest technology and finest medical grade products. Call 02 4302 8390, email admin@youbydrshaunawatts.com, see youbydrshaunawatts.com

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PROMOTION

NOURISHED

+NURTURED Bespoke Whole-Foods Catering

If you’re seeking a caterer for your next gathering, birthday, corporate event or retreat with a difference, look no further. Nourished + Nurtured specialises in whole-foods catering and creates fresh and flavoursome bespoke menus based on your specific requirements. Owner and head chef Shakti Grace is a professional holistic chef and accredited yoga teacher and healing arts practitioner. Building on her previous life as executive chef on the private yachts of high-profile clients around the world, Shakti combines her experience with her passion for food alchemy to build menus that are wholesome, clean, full of superfoods and great for the body. Shakti and her team specialise in plant-based, vegetarian and gutfriendly meals, but can also create dazzling seafood and meat menus as well as delicious clean sweets and canapes. From grazing boards to private services for busy families, couples and those with special dietary needs, the team at Nourished + Nurtured can tailor a package for any requirement, both short and long term. For a specially curated menu like no other, you can contact Shakti and her team through their website at nourishedandnurtured.org, where you can also buy Shakti’s Alchemy Wellbeing products, or book her for your next group retreat incorporating holistic foods, nutritional workshops, breathwork, yoga and more.

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NO FANCY TOOLS OR KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED JUST SHAKE, POP

100% AUSTRALIAN HANDCRAFTED PREMIUM COCKTAILS BUY ONLINE AT GENIEINABOTTLE.COM.AU OR AT PARTICIPATING BOTTLE SHOPS LE PONT WINE STORE, TERRIGAL | BERKELEY VALE CELLARS 29


EAT & DRINK

Hot

SPOT

When it’s cold outside, head to the heritagelisted Hotel Gosford for some traditional winter cheer!

WORDS SOPHIE CRENIGAN-EDWARDS PHOTOGRAPHY JOSEF NALEVANSKY

As colder weather sets in, you might be on the hunt for somewhere cosy where you can escape the chill and enjoy a hearty meal – and you can’t beat the traditional pub atmosphere. Picture yourself catching up with friends, a glass of red wine in hand, as you warm yourself by the roaring fire – and where better to do this than at the newly renovated, heritage-listed Hotel Gosford? A Central Coast institution and a firm favourite with locals and visitors alike, Hotel Gosford is the ideal foodie destination to savour in winter. At the heart of the hotel is Earl’s Kitchen, where head chef Ryan Small and his talented team produce a menu featuring delicious pub classics along with locally sourced seafood, steaks and fresh healthy salads. 30


PHOTO KITTI GOULD

PHOTO KITTI GOULD

In line with the new season, Ryan and the team have introduced a selection of flavoursome winter warmers to the Earl’s Kitchen menu. New additions include ‘classics with a twist’ plus a variety of blackboard specials. Think tasty pappardelle pasta dishes, perfectly cooked Sunday roasts, seasonally inspired soups and seriously indulgent desserts. Hotel Gosford has always prided itself on supporting local business owners wherever possible and many top-quality ingredients come from Central Coast suppliers, growers and producers, including Little Creek Cheese, Coastal Providores and The Local Yolk. When it comes to beverages, nothing has changed. There are still an impressive 32 taps rotating across all the bars, featuring all the best-known brews along with a range of boutique and independent

craft beers. For those who appreciate a glass of wine or two, there’s a variety of hand-picked labels along with an impressive cocktail list. Just because the temperature has dropped, it doesn’t mean the fun has to stop at Hotel Gosford. There’s plenty of entertainment, weekend DJs plus Sunday sessions in the beer garden with local musicians. No matter the occasion, there’s something for everyone this winter. Our tip? Make sure you book ahead and request a table by the spectacular fireplace. See hotelgosford.com.au And if you’re heading to the snow, Hotel Gosford’s sister venue the Banjo Paterson Inn in Jindabyne has just undergone the first stage of a multi-million-dollar refurbishment and is ready to welcome guests from the Central Coast and beyond for winter. See banjopatersoninn.com.au 31


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DRIVE

IT’S

SNOWTIME! Central Coast Life & Style photo editor Josef Nalevansky puts the new Jeep Grand Cherokee L through its paces as he heads off from the Central Coast in search of the season’s first snow. WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY JOSEF NALEVANSKY

It had been years since I’d been to the snow – thanks, covid – so needless to say I jumped at the chance to trial the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee L in search of the season’s first snow, just as it turned unseasonably cold for June. If there’s anything I love more than image making, it’s four-wheel-driving, good coffee and craft beer, so this assignment was shaping up to be quite promising. There was a definite hint of snow in the air when I left Bensville at 5am, as snowfalls had been reported in the Hunter Valley the night before. Bypassing the big smoke as quickly as possible, I was determined to reach my favourite cafe in Bowral for a late breakfast. Having grown up in Southern California, it never fails to amaze me when driving in Australia how quickly you leave capital cities, finding yourself amid the majestic colours of the bush. Though the M7 was clear, with nine points on my record I waited to open the Cherokee up between cameras. Wow, hitting the 210KW 3.6L V6 was a “grand” departure from the former model’s diesel, which was all torque and no manners – finally a Grand Cherokee that was quiet, smooth and well-mannered; very unAmerican.

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Before arriving in Bowral, I accelerated up the curves of Mount Gibraltar, which at 860 metres above sea level has incredible panoramic views over Bowral and deep into the Mittagong Valley. Jumping out for a photo-op, the drop in temperature was a shock to the system, and I was more than happy to get back in the Jeep after shooting to turn on the heated steering wheel and seats. Indulgent I know, but all in the name of research! The Press Shop in Bowral’s photogenic Bong Bong Street still serves up great coffee and food. A substantial dish of avocado, feta, poached egg, garlic and sesame on toasted sourdough is millennial heaven – and at $14 you can afford to have a mortgage, too. With my stomach suitably lined for a keenly anticipated wine-tasting in the afternoon, it was time to head off road and put the Jeep’s quad track system through its paces.

My next stop was Bendooley Estate, a seriously stylish 200-acre farm, vineyard and wedding and event venue. Book-lovers might know that the estate is the childhood home of Paul Berkelouw, of Berkelouw Books fame; it’s where Paul’s father, Leo, set up the family book business, which actually dates back over several generations to Holland in the 1800s. Paul and his wife, Katja, have done a magnificent job of transforming the estate. Its centrepiece, the historic Book Barn, is now both a restaurant and bar and probably the most beautiful bookstore in the country. 34

I digress. The manager had kindly agreed to let me go paddock-bashing on the estate’s less manicured grounds, so we let it rip. The autumn rain had created a soggy, rutted farm track for the challenge, and I can report that even with touring rubber the Jeep measured up – it was certainly fit for doing the milk run from udder to cereal bowl! An overnight stay in one of the estate’s cottages after sampling a couple of Bendooley’s finest reds was a tempting prospect but my mission was to find snow, so it was onwards to Canberra for an overnight stay at A by Adina.


Jeep Grand Cherokee L: Specs • Engine: 3.6 litre V6 petrol • Drive type: 4-wheel drive • Transmission: 8-speed torque convertor automatic • Selec-Terrain® Traction Management System and Quadra-Lift® Air Suspension allows all-weather driving • Selec-Terrain® Traction Management System features up to five modes: Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow or Mud / Sand at the flip of a toggle switch • Storage: up to 2395 litres of cargo space • Seating: 3 rows accommodating up to 7 passengers • Uconnect 5 Navigation with 10.1-inch Touchscreen Display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

That evening I caught up with renowned ACT photographer and good friend Paul Chapman, whose extensive local connections could no doubt find the season’s first snow. Over a few martinis and WhatsApp broadcasts, a local park ranger reported snow from 3pm at a place bizarrely called Piccadilly Circus. Unless you’re planning on visiting London, bypass Apple and go straight to Google Maps. WhatsApp groups with locals is a wonderful thing. About an hour’s drive from Canberra, back in NSW on the way to Brindabella, the road turned from red dirt to slushy grey and then to white as we drove further uphill. At last, I had to engage the quad rack snow system. You just flip a switch – too easy – and the differential held perfectly in the soft white powder. Shooting conditions were ideal and as we reached the peak of the hill, right on cue it started to snow – Hollywood had arrived in Piccadilly Circus! Mission accomplished. Well, not quite. No trip to the ACT is complete without a visit to the BentSpoke Brewing Company in Braddon. First introduced to BentSpoke at the Annual Kincumber Pub Brewfest, a few school dads and me have been devotees ever since.

An excellent lunch washed down with a pint of Sprocket set me up nicely for the return trip. THE VERDICT My daily drive is a custom 5Litre V8, 2001 Disco II so my initial impression when I got behind the wheel of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L was that I was getting into a La-Z-Boy on four wheels. Something that might be useful for navigating the Central Coast's potholes, or the gravel driveway at Georges Fruit Barn while charging wirelessly and dictating to Siri. Well, I’m the first to admit I was wrong. The Jeep performed as promised on rough tracks, in snow and on the highway. It has enough room to comfortably accommodate a kids basketball team or, in my case, all the photography kit I need to lug everywhere. The highlight for me was the heated steering wheel. After shooting for long periods in freezing conditions (real men don’t wear gloves) that warmth was as welcome as a double of Woodford Reserve. To find out more about the Jeep Grand Cherokee L or arrange a test drive, see ccjeep.com.au/new-vehicles/grand-cherokee-l 35


CAPITAL

The super-stylish A by Adina Canberra is the latest must-visit destination in the city’s buzzy Constitution Place.

Check in at A by Adina Canberra’s minimalist lobby before you head up to your super-stylish self-contained studio or one- or two-bedroom apartment.

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CITY ESCAPE

If you’re heading to the snow this season, a stopover at A by Adina Canberra takes your trip to the next level. The gleaming new apartment hotel, set on the doorstep of Lake Burley Griffin’s Parliamentary Triangle, offers the perfect balance of apartment living and your choice of luxury hotel extras. A by Adina Canberra has 130 beautifully designed, contemporary rooms – studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments – all featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, kitchenettes or a full kitchen, laundry and lovely Hunter Lab bathroom products. You can take your pick of in-room amenities to personalise your stay, or even take home with you – everything from the Dreamcatcher Bed and pillow menu to designer teapots are available to buy on the digital compendium for delivery 24/7.

Above: Book a Destination A one-bedroom apartment for stunning city views and exclusive amenities. Below: ARC Café is perfect for breakfast or brunch; work out at A by Adina Canberra’s gym.

If you opt for the signature Destination A experience, you’ll be staying in the A by Adina Canberra’s top-level rooms. Perks include a full English breakfast, served at ARC Café; The Daily Pause cocktail and grazing board service, delivered to your door; in-room movies; and flexible check-in and check-out times. Flexible dining arrangements mean you can eat at awardwinning local restaurants and charge meals to your hotel account. A by Adina Canberra is home to the city’s most exciting dining precinct, where you’ll discover renowned steakhouse Meat & Wine Co; delicious breakfast, lunch and coffee at ARC Café; cocktails at Cicada Bar; and the freshest Japanese cuisine for dinner at the intimate Mu Omakase. Or if you feel like staying in, A by Adina Canberra has partnered with Deliveroo for fabulous meals delivered to your door. Working off delicious indulgences is easily done, too – A by Adina Canberra’s state-of-the-art gym is open from early in the morning until late at night. A by Adina Canberra 1 Constitution Avenue +61 2 5134 6444 abyadina.com/luxury-hotels/Canberra 37


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PROMOTION

SMILE ON CLINICS Not too keen on your next dentist appointment? A new network of dental practices is revolutionising treatments for patients – you’ll actually enjoy visiting their clinics! WORDS JACQUELINE O’NEILL

Smile On Clinics comprise of a network of premium dental practices across the Central Coast, Hunter Valley and Sydney regions. With their flagship clinic, Mingara Dental, located in Tumbi Umbi, and other clinics including Tailored Teeth in Burwood as well as practices in Avoca Beach, Bonnells Bay, Empire Bay, Saratoga and Warnervale, Smile On Clinics’ approach to dentistry is gaining momentum. Focusing on putting patients at the centre of their own dental journeys, Smile On Clinics have developed a model for their business that looks after both patients and dentists, ensuring that every clinician is invested in their patients for the long term. The group’s two founding clinicians, Dr Ned Restom and Dr David Bassal, sat down with us recently at their Mingara clinic to chat about their careers so far, their passions within the field of dentistry, and how Smile On Clinics are different to any dental clinic you may have experienced before. ABOUT DR NED AND DR DAVID After graduating from the University of Sydney in 2004, Ned worked in rural practice for two years before moving to the Central Coast in 2006 and promptly falling in love with everything that the beautiful region has to offer. He founded Avoca Beach Dental in 2010 with a mission to provide comprehensive, high-quality dental services to the Central Coast, and has a particular passion for cosmetic dentistry and implantology. Ned is also one of the founding members of the Australasian Implant Academy, which provides specialist education to dentists by engaging top lecturers from around Australia and the rest of the world. David trained on the Gold Coast at Griffith University and shares Ned’s commitment to continuing education, co-founding the Australasian Implant Academy. His expertise lies in cosmetic and functional smile rehabilitation using the latest in predictive smile design techniques. His entrepreneurial and personable nature has led him to provide an allround exceptional dental experience, founding Warnervale Dental in 2018 and Mingara Dental later in 2020 with Ned and general manager Claudine Restom-Narciss. He is passionate about digital dentistry and modern techniques that enable minimally invasive treatment, exceptional patient comfort and predictable results.

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WHY DENTISTRY? For both Ned and David, dentistry is about relationships and trust as much as it is about teeth. “We don’t just do day-to-day dental, we perform a lot of ‘terminal dentition’ work – on people who have lost teeth, function and aesthetic value,” says Ned. “We see patients who don’t like to smile, and they aren’t comfortable socialising, eating or drinking with friends. Our work has the power to change how someone sees themselves. Smiling and being more social can impact an individual’s mental health in such positive ways.” For David, it’s about watching Smile On Clinics grow, too. “We’re building practices, mentoring staff and passing on the knowledge that we have learned to the new dentists coming through.” SMILE ON CLINICS ARE DIFFERENT At Smile On Clinics, patient experience is the key focus. Whether patients are in for routine care, like a scale and clean, or want to transform their smiles, every patient is well looked after. With dedicated consultation spaces and large screens in every treatment room, the priority is that patients are comfortable. “We know that more than 50 per cent of patients have some kind of anxiety about going to the dentist,” explains David. “A large number of our treatments require action from both us and the patient, and for our best chance at success, we need communication and trust.”

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Building rapport in a consultation room first, then discussing expectations and the treatment plan, ensures that patients are as relaxed as possible. Depending on their treatment, patients can also often visualise the outcome of their treatment plan with the aid of the many technologies. Local business figure John Singleton has recently come onboard to support Smile On Clinics in their long-term vision for dentistry on the Central Coast and beyond. “John’s support further extends our model, and brings additional knowledge to our mission,” says David. WHAT IS DIGITAL SMILE DESIGN (DSD)? In the past, patients have had minimal control of the outcome when requesting a ‘new smile’ from their clinician. Using modern technology, orthodontic treatments and dental prosthetics are created with measurements taken from digital 3D scans and coupled with the patient's vision of their ideal smile. At Smile On Clinics, the Digital Smile Design algorithm gives patients the ability to visualise an ‘architectural plan’ of their new look. This technology can create the ‘perfect’ natural smile specific to each patient – because no smile is the same. “We collaborate with the patient and change the size, width, colour or texture of teeth as part of the design, while being able to inform the patient of any positives or drawbacks of these changes,” Ned explains. “The final design is an exact representation of what the patient receives, and we can even create a 3D-printed example for the patient to try.”


INVISALIGN, VENEERS AND TEETH ON IMPLANTS® Your final Digital Smile Design is the result of one or more treatments that Smile On Clinics have to offer. Sometimes, you’ll need orthodontics such as Invisalign, which straighten your smile without braces to improve the function and appearance of your teeth. You can improve the colour of your teeth, reshape them and hide imperfections with veneers, which are very thin, custom-made shells added to the front of each tooth. Veneers are crafted from either porcelain or composite resin, depending on your needs. Once affixed, they appear natural-looking and perfectly complement your facial features. If you have missing, decayed or chipped teeth, TEETH ON IMPLANTS® can also help you smile again. This treatment offers permanent replacement teeth that look, feel and function just like natural teeth. They are perfectly aligned, and the shade is customised to match your existing teeth. With minimal maintenance and only a single-visit procedure required, TEETH ON IMPLANTS® also help to prevent further bone loss associated with missing teeth.

BECOMING A PATIENT At Smile On Clinics, it’s clear that all patients are considered patients for life. It’s a long-term relationship, and Ned and David spent a good part of our time together explaining how good oral health and a great smile have countless positive effects on patients’ overall health – whether physical, mental or otherwise. Smile On Clinics are currently welcoming new patients (including us, immediately after we sat down with them – we were genuinely that impressed). Payment options are available depending on individual treatments, and Smile On Clinics work with several private health funds. To find a clinic near you or book an appointment, head to their website at smileon.com.au. 41


PROMOTION

THE BIG PICTURE Do you need impressive new brand images? Claire Miles from Oak Street Collective Co is your go-to personal branding photographer on the Central Coast. Personal branding photography gives you a chance to showcase your business through professional and stunning photos that represent your brand. Claire has worked with many businesses, both locally and overseas, to help them create a personal brand that not only showcases their unique talents but helps attract their ideal clients. Claire has a number of amazing locations she can use to run a branding photo shoot, or she can come to your home, office or preferred outdoor space.

And if the whole notion of having your photo taken makes you queasy, don’t worry! Claire’s specialty is making her clients feel confident and at ease in front of the camera so you can truly enjoy the experience and get the branding photos that you deserve. If you’re looking for a complete branding package to take your business to the next level, then contact Claire at Oak Street Creative Co: call 0412 091 439, email hello@oakstreetimages.com.au, see oakstreetcreativeco.com.

Book your escape now!

02 4360 1717 belleescapes.com.au/central-coast

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HOLIDAY BLISS Looking for a relaxing mid-year break? Escape to the Coast for a change of scene, healthy sea breezes and ultra-stylish surrounds. Belle Property Escapes' extensive collection of holiday homes includes stunning beachfront residences located in the best positions along the Central Coast, as well as peaceful bush and lakeside properties. Belle Property Escapes’ concierge team is ready to help you make the most of your time on the Coast and organise unforgettable experiences for you, from arriving by seaplane, boat or helicopter to booking a table at the best restaurants in the area. When you book a romantic weekend, they can arrange an in-house chef and a home visit by one of their expert massage therapists. And if you are hosting an intimate corporate retreat, the team can cater to your needs, supplying retreat-style yoga, fitness trainers, cooking classes and lots more. Call 02 4360 1717 or see belleescapes.com.au/central-coast

DRESS: HOUSE OF LACUNA

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44


ON THE BEACH

BOOKER SEASIDE

Booker Seaside is the idyllic escape you’ve been looking for. Located on a pristine stretch of beach just 80 metres from the Palm Beach-Ettalong ferry service and a few minutes’ walk to Ettalong’s restaurants, bars, cafes and Cinema Paradiso, this sophisticated, contemporary apartment is perfect for couples, families and groups of friends. Designed by renowned architect Darren Tye with interiors by Coco Republic, its soaring cathedral ceilings and natural finishes embrace beachside living. Three spacious bedrooms include a master bedroom with designer ensuite and walk-in robe and both bathrooms feature underfloor heating. The elegant living space – complete with a fully equipped gourmet kitchen – flows seamlessly to a huge, covered deck overlooking the beach and water. The deck has a gas barbecue, and outdoor furniture and heaters for all-season al fresco entertaining. Lush lawns and manicured landscaping complete the relaxed, stylish holiday ambience. Up to six guests. Contact Belle Property Escapes: 02 4360 1717.

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ÁLAYA AT TOOWOON BAY

HEADLANDS AT KILLCARE

TOOWOON BAY

KILLCARE HEIGHTS

This magnificent, five-bedroom home makes the most of its natural environment, with vast decks on all four sides, a heated plunge pool and a luxurious poolside cabana. The open-plan living areas on two floors provide the perfect set-up for families and groups of friends, and entertaining is a breeze with an ultra-modern kitchen and covered deck overlooking the ocean. Ducted climate control and a gas fireplace make the living easy all year round.

This modern beach house delivers spectacular views down the coastline from Box Head to Manly. The rear-north position fills the interiors with natural light; you’ll love the fresh sea breezes and beach proximity. Headlands at Killcare is a polished architectural property framed by endless ocean views. It offers a superb selection of living and entertaining options, including several decks, across two levels – perfect for families and friend groups.

Up to eight guests. Contact Belle Property Escapes: 02 4360 1717.

Up to eight guests. Contact Belle Property Escapes: 02 4360 1717.

KINGFISHER AT DALEYS POINT

OCEAN BREEZE AT KILLCARE

DALEYS POINT

KILLCARE HEIGHTS

Relax in one of the quietest pockets of Daleys Point with beautiful views over Brisbane Water. This four-bedroom, two-bathroom home captures the simplicity of life by the water while offering convenience and a splash of luxury. The master suite has a king bed and ensuite bathroom, while the queen bedroom downstairs has its own balcony. Packed with character, there is a wood-burning fireplace and air conditioning for year-round living.

Offering a superb selection of living and entertaining options across two levels, plus an inviting saltwater swimming pool, this polished architectural property seamlessly blends inside and outside with expansive covered decks. The open-plan kitchen is immaculately fitted out with quality appliances, and there is ducted air conditioning throughout as well as a gas fire in the living room. The master bedroom features a custom walk-in robe and bathtub.

Up to eight guests. Contact Belle Property Escapes: 02 4360 1717.

Up to eight guests. Contact Belle Property Escapes: 02 4360 1717.

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AVOCA BEACH PENTHOUSE

THE KILLCARE COTTAGE

AVOCA BEACH

KILLCARE

A spacious penthouse apartment claiming an entire two floors and delivering spectacular views across Avoca Beach, this residence offers all you could desire from a holiday retreat. Styled by Coco Republic, it’s that perfect combination of exceptional quality, inspired design and effortless liveability. The elegant open-plan design features a seamless merging of indoor and outdoor living, with bifold doors opening onto a massive entertaining terrace. Two bedrooms have Juliet balconies while the master bedroom has a deluxe ensuite.

Recently renovated, this delightful character-filled cottage sits directly opposite the tranquil waters of Hardys Bay. It’s a short drive to Killcare Beach and fabulous walks in nearby Bouddi National Park. Sliding doors across the front living room invite the bay views inside, and the all-new kitchen opens out to another living space that leads out onto a private outdoor entertaining area at the rear. Up to six guests. Contact Belle Property Escapes: 02 4360 1717.

Up to six guests. Contact Belle Property Escapes: 02 4360 1717.

SALT HOUSE

STONE'S THROW AT MACMASTERS

BATEAU BAY

MACMASTERS BEACH

Set over one level, this spacious, three-bedroom property is the perfect year-round getaway for a family or group of friends. It’s surrounded by lush gardens which feature a lovely solar-heated pool, and the open-plan living and kitchen space opens to an outdoor dining area. Salt House is just a few minutes’ walk from Bateau Bay’s beach and coffee shops, while Wyrrabalong National Park is on the doorstep.

This stunning holiday home is literally a stone’s throw from one of the Central Coast’s best beaches – a two-minute walk, at most. The architecturally designed, five-bedroom house has two separate living areas, three spacious entertaining decks and a separate kitchen equipped with modern appliances and plenty of storage space. A large backyard makes an ideal play area for children and boogie boards are supplied!

Up to six guests. Contact Belle Property Escapes: 02 4360 1717.

Up to nine guests. Contact Belle Property Escapes: 02 4360 1717.

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PROPERTY INSIGHT

Luxury

UNLIMITED Belle Property Central Coast principal Cathy Baker looks at what’s driving the rise and rise of the Coast’s prestige property market. It’s no secret that property prices on the Coast have boomed spectacularly over the past couple of years, across all sectors of the real-estate market. And although sales for properties at the mid to low end of the scale are slowing down, demand and prices at the high end continue to soar. A glorious waterfront home at 6 Bulkara Street, Wagstaffe exceeded the $13.5 million price guide and realised more than $15 million when Belle Property Central Coast sold it in February – setting a new record for Central Coast sales. This same home 48

WORDS SALLY MACMILLAN PHOTOGRAPHY JOSEF NALEVANSKY

achieved a record price of $9.5 million in 2020, showing just how much has changed in two years. Another record-breaking sale for Belle Property Central Coast was the three-level, Mark Eastham-designed property in Toowoon Bay. It sold in 2021 for more than $9 million, the highest price ever for a beachfront property on the Coast. Cathy Baker, Belle Property Central Coast principal and a specialist in prestige properties, explains that there are several factors driving the phenomenon.


“Everything started to change when the covid pandemic hit in 2020,” says Cathy. “People were working from home and stopped travelling overseas and interstate. It was a paradigm shift; spending more time at home gave many of us a fresh appreciation of home and family life, and an insight into leading a different lifestyle. “The Central Coast was classified as part of Greater Sydney and with shorter travel times thanks to the NorthConnex, the region became an easily accessible sea-change destination for Sydneysiders. Homeowners in Sydney were also seeing massive increases in the equity in their properties, which allowed them to invest in a second property on the Coast. We’re now seeing the dual ‘Coast-City lifestyle’, whereby a house on the Coast can be both a base for work within easy distance of the city and a family holiday home for extended weekends.” A significant number of new buyers are Sydneysiders who formerly owned holiday properties in Queensland or interstate and decided to sell up because unreliable flights and border closures made access too difficult. “Both investors and lifestyle buyers can see the benefits of investing in high-end homes where they can enjoy the lucrative holiday home returns on offer and the impressive capital growth,” says Cathy. The limited supply of high-end, luxury properties on the Coast, coupled with buyer demand, have also forced prices to go higher – and they continue to rise. “Over the past 12 months we have seen a huge increase in buyer demand for properties in the $5 million-plus bracket,” Cathy says. “The gap between prices for prestige homes on the Northern Beaches and the Central Coast is narrowing all the time. “What I hear from our clients, though, is that the lifestyle on the Coast is just that little bit more relaxed and removed from the pace of the city than it is on the Northern Beaches. Once you leave the freeway you’re in a completely different environment, whether you’re on the beach, waterfront or in the countryside.” You just have to take a look at the stunning waterfront house on the next page, currently in Cathy’s portfolio, to see what the Coast lifestyle is all about. For more information, contact Cathy Baker on 0414 241 005, cathy.baker@belleproperty.com

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To arrange a private inspection, contact Belle Property Central Coast principal Cathy Baker on 0414 241 005 cathy.baker@belleproperty.com

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PROPERTY INSIGHT

Resort-style deep waterfront at its finest 57 VILLAGE ROAD, SARATOGA If you’ve been searching for your Central Coast dream home, this impeccable residence in the heart of sought-after Saratoga is ‘the one’. Perfectly positioned on a level, north-facing 2,000-square-metre block, this architecturally designed masterpiece spans 38 metres of water frontage and includes a private jetty, floating pontoon and slipway with drive-in access. With four well-appointed bedrooms, including a private first-floor guest suite and separate teenagers retreat (both with their own lounge, ensuite and kitchen), this resort-style home has ample room for a large family, several guests or even hints at dual-living potential (subject to council approval). Six luxurious bathrooms and two three-car garages with internal access add value to an already impressive 900-square-metre floor plan. Constructed to the highest standard, this property is built of Western Australian limestone with charming cedar joinery, high ceilings, timber flooring and marble features throughout – every detail has been thoughtfully considered. The property features multiple indoor-outdoor living areas, balconies, terraces, decks and a sunroom, all built around the home’s 15-metre heated pool and spa. A versatile and spacious family entertainer, this landmark residence offers endless lifestyle potential that must be seen to be believed, in one of the Coast’s premier locations and positions – and all only 90 minutes from the Sydney CBD. 51


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BOOK CLUB EXTRA

TOWER POWER

Internationally renowned author, speaker and consultant Tina Tower proves you can have it all – a highly successful business and time for family, travel and fun. Here’s how she does it… WORDS JACQUELINE O’NEILL PHOTOGRAPHY CLAIRE @ OAK STREET IMAGES

A Central Coast local who currently calls beautiful Forresters Beach home, Tina Tower is an Australian businesswoman, world traveller, high-performance business consultant and author. Starting her first business at age 20, Tina grew a small suburban tutoring centre and educational toy store into a licensing program, then a franchise. After five years, the result was 35 ‘Begin Bright’ learning centres with 120 staff between them. After her business was acquired by an international education company in 2016, Tina began to coach others on how to grow their service-based businesses, and soon realised that she was delivering the same fundamentals to several private clients who were all paying a premium for her time. She created an online course to cover this content, saving herself time and her private clients money. The course was more popular than she could have ever anticipated, and the rest was history. Tina’s digital empire continued to grow and has allowed her to travel the world with her family, achieve a three-day work week and create meaningful impact with minimal staff when compared to a service-based business. In 2018, she published her first book, One Life – How to Have the Life of Your Dreams. Her second, Million Dollar Micro Business, was released in 2021 and became a global success, hitting the bestseller list in its first week and remaining on top. She also hosts a podcast called ‘Her Empire Builder’. She credits a lot of her success to a handful of things that she does well – personal branding, public speaking, time management and routine, among others. She started speaking publicly when she was 18. “I had no money in the beginning and was once told that you can either buy marketing with money or time. I had time, so started speaking at my local business chamber, high schools, Rotary Clubs, anywhere,” Tina explains. “I spoke every week for 12 weeks at the start and just kept going, building a personal brand. I wasn’t good at social media, but I got good at it. I just kept working at the things I needed to, and the rest followed.” A typical morning for Tina involves coffee, meditation, and cardio – the perfect combination cited by many other successful people. She shared some other fun organisation hacks with us, too – one day a month is set aside for batching her social media content, she swears by using Monday.com to prioritise her tasks (with the most difficult at the top of the list), and she crams everything that she can into a three-day work week in order to spend time with her family from Thursday to Sunday. Tina lives on a property with her husband, two children and several dogs – she and her husband grow a lot of their own food and there is always time for a walk on the beach to clear her mind when the need arises. “Every year, I choose a word to set the tone for my year – last year, it was ‘focus’. It was the second year of the pandemic and, for me, a time to knuckle down and get things done. Now, this year’s word is ‘fun’ – I’m enjoying what I’ve built, getting back to travel and speaking abroad, and figuring out how to grow my businesses with minimal impact on my family’s current lifestyle.” Tina’s favourite thing about what she does? It’s not the three-day weeks, the travel or even the handsome pay – it’s the impact. “I get to positively change women’s lives in the most purposeful way. I’ve seen my clients retire their husbands through their businesses, and just generally do all sorts of things that they didn’t believe they could do before. I’ve sent girls to school in Kenya through my work, too – the flowon effects of my work are huge and endlessly rewarding.” You can find Tina’s books at tinatower.com 53


BOOKCLUB

Hot reads for chilly nights WORDS SALLY MACMILLAN

REAL LIFE

FABULOUS FICTION

Fashion queen Dame Anna Wintour, the longtime editor-in-chief of US Vogue magazine, is a fascinating if enigmatic figure – she’s been nicknamed ‘Nuclear Wintour’ and the chilly Miranda Priestley character in the book and movie The Devil Wears Prada is widely believed to be based on her. Journalist Amy Odell has woven together interviews with Wintour’s closest friends and colleagues with a riveting account of the cut-throat global fashion industry in her biography, Anna. Packed with insights into Wintour’s ascent to power at the influential Condé Nast publishing empire, it’s a must-read for all fashionistas. Allen & Unwin, RRP $34.99

Actor John Wilkes Booth assassinated US President Abraham Lincoln in a Washington theatre in 1865 – a shocking event that led to one of the country’s biggest-ever manhunts. While much has been written about the infamous assassin, Karen J Fowler’s Booth tells the story of the entire bizarre Booth family in an epic novel that spans some 80 years. It’s gripping stuff, involving bigamy, alcoholism, theatrical life and rural poverty – and that’s just at home. Fans of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves will marvel at Fowler’s mastery of yet another completely different world. Allen and Unwin, RRP $32.99

Award-winning journalist, author and TV commentator Madonna King consulted 1,000 young women, along with parents, senior educators and health-care professionals when she researched L Platers. The resulting book is an invaluable guide for parents who want to understand and support their teenage girls as they navigate increasingly uncertain times. More than two years of dealing with the disruption of lockdowns and remote learning have added to the pressure of teenage girls’ worries about friendships and relationships, school, gender identity, alcohol, and sex, body image and mental health. L Platers is here to help. Hachette Australia, RRP $32.99

THRILLS & CHILLS The Murder Rule is the latest page-turner from Dervla McTiernan, author of the bestselling crime series starring Irish detective Cormac Reilly. This standalone legal thriller – inspired by a true story – features Hannah, a young law student who joins the Innocence Project at the University of Virginia. The Project tracks down new evidence in cases of people convicted of a crime but who profess their innocence – however, Hannah’s motivations when she uncovers evidence about the Michael Dandridge death-row case she’s working on are twisted, to say the least. HarperCollins, RRP $32.99 Melanie Blake worked in showbiz as an agent for many years, representing leading actors from long-running UK soapies as well as stars of the massive ’80s TV shows Dynasty and Dallas. Her first novel, Ruthless Women, was a bestseller, earning Blake the title “new queen of the bonkbuster”. Guilty Women features the same cast of TV stars, working on the glamorous Channel Islands setting of Britain’s favourite TV soap. Someone is missing and a scandal is about to erupt, but the show must go on. Can they get away with murder? Harper Collins, RRP $32.99 54

French Braid is the 24th novel from the muchloved, prize-winning author Anne Tyler and like many of her previous family-focused tales, it is set in Baltimore. Tyler quietly but humorously details the ups and downs of three generations of the Garretts, starting in the 1950s when husband and wife Robin and Mercy take their three children, Alice, Lily and David, on their one and only family holiday to a cabin by a lake. The tensions hinted at reverberate through the decades leading up to the present day – you won’t want this beautifully written book to end. Penguin Random House, RRP $29.99 Steve Toltz’s highly anticipated new novel is as bitingly funny as his 2008 triumph, A Fraction of the Whole. Our hero, Angus Mooney, is languishing in the afterlife, having been murdered by a man who was in love with his pregnant wife, Gracie. Angus sees his killer seducing Gracie while he contends with the same insecurities that plagued him while he was alive – it appears he’s been wrong about everything. Then the pandemic hits and the afterlife becomes even more uncomfortable. Here Goes Nothing is a brilliant take on some eternally big questions. Penguin Random House, RRP $32.99 Geraldine Brooks, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of March and People of the Book, is renowned for her meticulously researched historical fiction. Horse is an enthralling, complex saga that draws on the true story of Lexington, a famous 19th-century racehorse. Ranging from Washington D.C. in 2019, when two leading characters discover a discarded painting in a roadside clean-up and forgotten bones in a research archive, back to 1850s Kentucky, the novel shines a light on racism, slavery and injustice across American history. Oh yes, and there’s a powerful love story going on, too. Hachette Australia, RRP $39.99


HERE FOR FA S H I O N , B E A U T Y, L I F E S T Y L E B R A N D S

Visit Erina Fair today

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Imagine your dream life, ten years from now… What does it look like? Feel like? Smell like? Whatever it is, Belle can be there to make your dream happen. You see, Belle are not Real Estate Agents who just sell homes, we’re Lifestyle Advisors who start with your ten-year Lifestyle Plan; the blueprint to your best life. Belle connects you with the right partners. From financial planning to investment advice. From managing renovations to styling and relocation services. From Pretty Beach to Blue Bay, Belle has your Central Coast dream covered. Come and experience the Belle way with your complimentary Lifestyle Planning consultation today.

Contact Belle Property Central Coast Killcare 02 4360 1717 I Terrigal 02 4385 2141 belleproperty.com/central-coast

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