Classic Lifestyle Magazine by Matt Brockie

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Publisher’s Note How times have changed… From leather jackets to the more conservative, high end fashion of last year’s Herringbone suit… This year’s publication is a celebration of many things, and one of my favourite things is the resurgence of that great Aussie brand, Mambo, and ‘the farting dog’. To my good friend, Matt Giteau and his beautiful wife Bianca, we celebrate a great career with Matt being one of our legendary Wallabies, now moving to France, and guess what, They’ve just welcomed their first child. A healthy baby boy, Levi James. Our congratulations to the Giteau family. Let’s not forget the nuptials of Australia’s most celebrated and loved anchor women, Sandra Sully. Her big day at the Opera House in September 2011 to a great guy and a good mate, Symon, will never be forgotten. Our big announcement for this year is the biggest event ever – the World Firefighters Games. This will eclipse any event we’ve done over the last 20 years. Coming to Sydney in October 2012, the World Firefighters Games will be spectacle not to be missed, and we’re truly excited to be part of this ground-breaking event. One thing that comes to top of mind with this year’s publication is how certain things touch our lives, and how people come and go but true friends stay with us forever. Hats off as always to the real force behind this year’s Classic Lifestyle Magazine… Sincere thanks and a very big ‘well done’ to Christina McIver and Tyler Berry who again have dished up another top-class publication. Please enjoy this year’s read.

Phil Harte with Ryley Harte Mambo transcends the generations

Matt & Bianca Giteau

LIFESTYLE 6

Sandra Sully & Symon Brewis-Weston

World Firefighters Games, Sydney

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CONTENTS Features 24

Reaching New Heights – the Glamour 747

Aussies – How Good Are We

G’Day Meets Kia Ora – Benji’s Story

ASICS – The Eye Of The Tiger

TAG Heuer - Mastering Speed for 150 Years

Weddings with Harte

Mambo – Excess All Areas

24 44

130 Global Crisis – Where Do We Go From Here 142 Seven Deadly Sins 206 Wine – The Natural Debate

Travel & Leisure 18

Hayman Honeymoon

Sanctuary Cove Resort

108 The Classic Safari Company 120 Kenya Airways 124 Vomo Island, Fiji

142

150 St. Michaels Golf Club 160 Terrace Downs Resort 164 The George, Christchurch 166 Istanbul, Turkey 172 Asiana Airlines 180 Soﬁtel SO Mauritius Bel Ombre

108

228 Doltone House – Sydney 244 The Glorious Gold Coast 258 Gold Coast Airport

124

CONTENTS Proﬁles 90

Jon Stevens

176 Shaun O’Hare 188 Christian Blair 190 GG Foundation 212 Neil Perry 220 Rae Blair & Janine Allis 238 Chandru Tolani 268 Nigel Spicer 272 Pricecorp

Wining & Dining

220

192 Restaurant of the Year – The Poseidon Adventure 195 Lee’s Fortuna Court 200 Ioesco cucina & bar 209 Ristorante Fellini 214 Jacobs Creek 216 Asti Restaurant

192

226 Signorelli Gastronomia 234 G.H. MUMM

Technology, Health & Fitness 34

Bose

Family Fitness

214

104 Videopro 264 World Fireﬁghters Games

234

www.perrier-jouet.com

Crafting our Heritage since 1811

E N J OY O U R D R I N K R E S P O N S I B LY

PUBLISHER Phil Harte

GROUP EDITOR

ART DIRECTOR

Christina McIver - christina@classiclifestylemag.com

Tyler Berry - info@graphx.com.au

FEATURES EDITOR

COPY WRITER

Adrienne Porter

Rae Blair

INTERNATIONAL SALES MANAGER

MANAGING PUBLISHER AND CEO OF THE GOLFER PTY LTD

Phil Harte

Greg Hough - greg@lifegc.com.au

CONTRIBUTORS

Danielle Harte

Tayla Harte

Nicole Lenoir-Jourdan

Mark Rix

Zoe Rix

CLASSIC LIFESTYLE CONSULTANCY

THE GOLFER PTY LTD

PO Box 354 Chirn Park, Queensland, Australia 4215 Phone +61 (0) 410 552 364

PO Box 4305 Robina Town Centre, Queensland, Australia 4230 Phone +61 7 5553 5300 Fax +61 7 5553 5399

Classic Lifestyle Magazine is published by Varsity Publishing Pty Ltd ABN 55 123 818 600 ACN 123 818 600 on behalf of Classic Lifestyle Consultancy ABN 19 339 290 766. Varsity Publishing Pty Ltd uses due care and diligence in the preparation of this magazine, but it is not responsible or liable for any mistake, misprint, omission or typographical error. Varsity Publishing Pty Ltd. prints advertisements provided to the publisher but gives no warranty and makes no representation as to the truth, accuracy or sufficiency of any description, photograph or statement. Varsity Publishing Pty Ltd accepts no liability for any loss which may be suffered by any person who relies either wholly or in part upon any description, photograph or statement contained herein. Varsity Publishing reserves the right to refuse any advertisement for any reason. ÂŠcopyright - no part of Classic Lifestyle Magazine may be reproduced in part or in whole without the written permission of the publisher. No spam. Email addresses are published for professional communications only and do not constitute an invitation to send unsolicited commercial emails.

LIFESTYLE 17

Sydney to Sunset The Ultimate Honeymoon Idyllic Hayman Island was the place that newly married Sandra Sully, and her husband Symon Brewis-Weston, chose to honeymoon. A week of R & R in Australia’s most awarded resort was just what was needed, and well deserved, after their Opera House wedding. Sandra says “Hayman was everything we expected, and then some”.

ayman, in the Great Barrier Reef, features unsurpassed luxury, a totally relaxing environment, indulgent dining and breathtaking scenery. Sandra says “The new Beach Villas delivered, they were gorgeous and decadent in every way, while the service and food were outstanding”. The spectacular resort is a perfect spot for a private honeymoon – the romance, tranquility and private nature of Hayman means you can do as much, or as little, as you like. Being a Queensland girl, Sandra said that she really wanted to support the local tourism industry after a devastating year of floods and cyclone, but still find something that was luxurious and accessible for their honeymoon. If you’re looking for a romantic, tranquil honeymoon in an awardwinning tropical paradise, Hayman definitely lives up to its hype and reputation as one of the world’s most desirable private island destinations.

LIFESTYLE 18

“Hayman was everything we expected, and then some” - Sandra Sully

LIFESTYLE 19

LIFESTYLE 20

Magnificent Hayman Beautiful Hayman continues to welcome guests from throughout Australia and overseas to enjoy unique and memorable experiences at this top travel playground of the world.

ew and refreshed experiences following a major restoration in 2011 are set to ensure Hayman remains a favourite hideaway for its guests and residence owners, including a long line of business and political leaders, dignitaries and celebrities.

The award-winning Chefs’ brigade has also created innovative menus featuring the finest of produce and some surprise dishes for the much-loved Oriental and La Trattoria restaurants.

The extensive works carried out have given rise to refreshed and rejuvenated experiences to be enjoyed on the island and in nature and the reef surrounds. Hayman presents an incredible new garden landscape weaving its way throughout the resort, innovative and reconcepted dining in the much awarded restaurants, fabulous new resort and reef activities and adventures and a true unveiling of eight breathtaking Beach Villas. Respected landscape designer, horticulturalist and personality, Jamie Durie has been recreating the breathtaking and tranquil Hayman garden setting which has always formed part of Hayman’s unstaged nature. This masterpiece of 16 hectares reveals a stunning botanical garden in which some 33,000 new plants and 327 new plant species have been introduced, providing tranquility, colour and an incredible variety of perfumes as the native birds, butterflies and wildlife, have regained their wonderful island home. In keeping with Hayman’s culinary tradition, new restaurant concepts have been introduced in the beachfront Azure, famous for its bountiful breakfast offerings and evening grills, overlooking the Hayman Beach, and the new Nic Graham-designed Fontaine, which is set to become Australia’s signature resort restaurant presenting contemporary Australian cuisine and the best of Australian wines from the Hayman Cellar.

A new style of Hayman Gourmet is all about delivering the ultimate Australian picnic experience to anywhere on the island or in the reef surrounds. Guests on day trips to neighbouring beaches and islands can even place special orders including pizzas delivered by helicopter. A memorable dining event at night includes The Chef’s Table being taken out of its traditional Main Kitchen setting to an intimate rainforest location under the stars for a 6-course degustation menu of fine food and paired wines.

“Yachts, cruisers, seaplanes and helicopters continue to take guests on amazing reef adventures”

LIFESTYLE 21

Leisure pursuits can be enjoyed at the upgraded Hayman Activities hub featuring new floodlit tennis courts (including the main plexipave championship court), plus squash courts, a basketball court and golf putting green and chipping range. The centre has introduced a personal training room and is presenting yoga, Pilates, cardio vascular fitness programs and group workout sessions and indoor and outdoor recreation, sports and fitness facilities. This is also the starting point for the new Hayman walking trail. Refreshed therapies and treatments are now available in more outdoor locations presented by Hayman Spa. Yachts, cruisers, seaplanes and helicopters continue to take guests on amazing reef adventures with fishing, coral viewing from underwater vessels, plus diving and snorkelling – including a special night tour – for the experienced and beginners. For the famous Whitsunday Passage crossings between Great Barrier Reef Airport and Hayman, enhancements have been made to one of the sleek white luxury launches, Sun Goddess, which partners Sun Eagle in transferring Hayman guests arriving and departing on aircraft at Great Barrier Reef Airport. Hayman has reintroduced its eight fabulous Kerry Hill-designed Beach Villas, overlooking the sparkling Coral Sea. Each features a large private pool in an open air gallery with a day bed, a private terrace and outdoor shower, and a vast bathroom. Villa guests receive a dedicated Butler service and exclusive dining experiences including Chefs’ tasting menus. Kerry Hill is also the designer of the new Hayman Private Residences, being located on the hillside of the island and Hayman Marina Residences with absolute waterfront locations, in which private ownership is being offered for the first time on Hayman. “We are proud to be showcasing new and exciting enhancements and welcoming guests to enjoy a special island experience at one of the world’s truly great travel destinations,” said Lloyd Donaldson, Head of Hotel Investments, Mulpha Australia Limited and Managing Director, Hayman.

LIFESTYLE 22

4-Night Hayman Escape packages priced from $932 per person twin share including breakfast. Contact Hayman Reservations on T 1800 075 175, E: reservations@hayman.com.au or W www.hayman.com.au

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Reaching New Heights Words by: Phil Harte

In arguably the most competitive and volatile industry in the world, the aviation business has become one that we treat scathingly or we absolutely love. We complain about flights never being on time, food never being quite right, strikes, lost baggage - a whole plethora of problems that face the industry. As we work our way through our worst recession of all time, we still see many billions of dollars being invested into new and exciting aircraft. To date, we’ve seen everything from the Dreamliner to the A380 to the new 777’s. All carriers are constantly trying to outdo each other. With the introduction of cocktail bars, mood lighting, 32’ plasma screens, flat beds, and of late, your own shower, it’s clear that there is plenty of investment to be made in the aircraft of tomorrow. I remember sitting at Heathrow, having been away for 3 weeks, nothing but meeting after meeting and flight after flight through Europe and the US. My last connecting flight back to Sydney was on the great national carrier. As I sat in the Business Class Lounge, it was great to see the ever-faithful 747-400 parked in its bay, taking on baggage, catering, and preparing to take us home. It’s quite amazing, the sense of patriotism that seeing the Flying Kangaroo gives you. Having flown as much as I have, and I can assure you there isn’t an aircraft I haven’t been on, there’s something about this 747 that gives me an incredible sense of confidence and comfort. To me, it epitomises air travel. It was really the first ground-breaking plane that came onto the market, and it’s been with us for as long as I can remember.

LIFESTYLE 24

The great news is that of late 2011, Qantas has decided to take all of the fabulous attributes of the A380 interior, seats and inflight entertainment, and fit out it’s flagship Boeing 747 product. Since Qantas introduced the A380 in October 2008, there had been unprecedented demand for seats on the A380 fleet. The newly fitted B747 means a new premium flying experience for Qantas customers and all the important things like more comfort, more space and fully flat Skybed seats in Business.

Each aircraft will be fitted with 364 seats: 58 Business, 36 Premium Economy and 270 Economy… And the good news isn’t just for the Business travellers… The new B747 product means that a more tailored approach to Qantas’ International Economy service has been introduced. And Qantas hasn’t looked past the food component – a variety of new meal options have been introduced. From October 2012, Qantas will have 21 aircraft (12 A380s and 9 747s) with the latest Marc Newson product and state of the art entertainment operating across its long haul network. It’s great to know that our national carrier still continues to raise the bar.

LIFESTYLE 25

Neil Perry lunch A taste of International Business in Australia

No time for breakfast

Having made yourself comfortable onboard in Business, you can indulge in Neil Perry’s new menus. His philosophy is simple – use the freshest local produce to develop uniquely Australian cuisine with a truly global ﬂavour. Washed down with a glass of Australia’s ﬁnest wines and that meeting in Perth becomes something to look forward to. It’s domestic travel, with international quality.

Enjoy the journey

qantas.com

Qantas Airways Limited ABN 16 009 661 901.

God bless Australia or… Advance Australia Fair? Words by: Phil Harte

Being branded as a narcissistic nation, tainted with a bitter taste of tall poppy syndrome, and a healthy serving of the ultimate sledge, the average Australian is always going to sit back and sling the proverbial in the direction of its very own forbearers and foes – be it the Poms, the Kiwis, the Yarpees or anyone who dare challenge our national pride, sporting heritage, or just our bloody enviable lifestyle.

must say, from a personal perspective, I am super envious of those nations that sit back in awe of their national academic, community and sporting heroes. It hits home when I see the total Samoan population sit back until all hours of the morning, with families and friends passionately supporting their rugby team playing on the other side of the world. And then there’s the land of the long white cloud… popping to mind are such feats as when John Walker raced the race of a lifetime to win the 1500m in the 1976 Olympics, Michael Campbell secured the US Open, and the America’s Cup win… oh and let’s not forget the dizzy heights the average Kiwi puts their beloved All Blacks on and off the field and their very successful netball juggernauts, the Silver Ferns. I use NZ as an example as they have an extremely small population to choose from when it comes to selecting their elite athletes, or for that sake, anyone to succeed or shine in the international arena. But let’s get back to the great Aussies… When you hear the term ‘the greatest fighter, pound for pound’ there is no doubt that as Australians, we must fit that bill. I think if there’s one thing we’re very guilty of, it’s complacency. We just seem to be all too blasé about how damn good we really are. With 22 million and change, how is it possible we are always in the top handful at the Olympic Games? Over the past two decades, we lead the universe with the baggy green. Our Wallabies have not only been the nemesis of the legendary All Blacks, but we’ve certainly held our own, and up until October 2011, we’d won more World Cups. Let’s not forget who it was that stole the America’s Cup from the Yanks and who it was that had several world Formula 1 Champs. Our web-feet marvels Dawn Fraser, Michael Wendon and Ian Thorpe collectively racked up more Gold than Fort Knox. And again, who it was that had athletics superstars Betty Cuthbert and Peter Newman, who’s record from the 1968 Mexico Olympics, 20.06 seconds still stands as the Australian 200m record. Of late, Sally Pearson continued the tradition of running the world ragged, showing everybody that we still have one of the fastest chics on the track. But it still takes me back to this very question… why do we continue to take for granted these great exports? Our tennis stars – from Margaret Court to Evonne Cawley, John Newcombe, Rod Laver - we set the benchmarks. Let’s just hope Sam Stosur can keep her form, and our flag flying on the court.

LIFESTYLE 28

If the Olympic Games in its wisdom would have included squash, that’s played in 52 countries, in the 1990’s, Australia would have won the women’s gold, silver and probably bronze, the men’s silver and bronze, the teams’ gold and silver, the junior men and women’s gold and silver. In total, we have had four decades in that sport commanding the top spots in both men’s and women’s categories with Geoff Hunt and Heather McKay, the Martin family (Rodney, Brett and Michelle) and names like Chris Dittmar and Danielle Harte. Always in the top tier, we could have achieved so much. This nation has seen some of the world’s greatest sporting achievements of all time this (and last) century. Firstly one of our greatest exports, the Great White Shark, took golf to incredible heights, and chipped it on to Tiger to continue. Then there is, or was, this little known guy from Melbourne in yellow spandex careering down the Champs de Elysees, and winning the near unwinnable Tour de France, Cadel Evans. Let’s make sure we sing about our music and entertainment and cultural contributions of The Body Elle Macpherson and the pop superstar Kylie Minogue – we either love or hate her, but she couldn’t be any more successful. When you stroll into the theatre, we’re producing, directing or starring somewhere on the silver screen, with Mel Gibson, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett. And let’s agree to disagree that good old Russell Crowe is 50/50 with the Kiwis anyway. How do the Yanks and the Russians feel, with millions and millions to choose from, with China at 1.4billion, and India with 1.2billion, it really is a remarkable feat that ‘little old Australia’ sits so high on the tree time after time. I think all Australians are secretly incredibly proud of our achievements. If we’re truly honest, we should look at ourselves in the mirror, give ourselves an upper cut, and make a New Year’s resolution to do all we can to admire and support these great champions of ours instead of slagging them off and calling out the word ‘choker’ or some other disrespectful comment that is all too frequently heard. We are very unique as a nation. If you take the kids and the elderly out of the equation, how do we do so well with a selection pool of only a couple of million? It’s either something in the Vegemite or perhaps we really are just that good.

Elle Macpherson

Ian Baker-Finch

Russell Crowe

Delta Del eltta el ta Goodrem Good G Goo ood oodre drem drem

Greg Norman

Peter P Pet etterr Norman Nor Nor o man an

Hugh Jackman

Cadel Evans

Danielle Harte

Samantha Stosur

INXS

Sal Sal allly ly Pea P ea arso r n rson Sally Pearson

Kylie Minogue

LIFESTYLE 29

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AT HOME VIDEOWAVE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM ®

A different approach that combines both HD picture and home theatre sound. The lifelike sound delivered by premium home theatre systems evokes emotions that transform the viewing experience. However, home theatre systems – as they exist today – can be obtrusive and can complicate television viewing. They require customers to make room for five or more speakers, a separate bass module and clusters of wires. And they can be difficult to set up and use. The VideoWave® entertainment system is a new and different approach that combines both picture and home theatre sound, making it easier than ever to enjoy the rich experience available from high-definition programs and movies, but without the clutter and complexity of a conventional home theatre system connected to a TV. A 46” 1080p LCD display with built-in Bose® sound delivers a wide, spacious home theatre experience that goes well beyond the screen. The bass module and speaker arrays are completely hidden inside the display, so there’s no need to deal with separate speakers and wires.

Inside the system is a host of Bose innovations, including proprietary waveguide speaker technology. It delivers the lifelike performance you expect from today’s HD content without the need for a separate bass module. And exclusive PhaseGuide™ sound radiator technology, combined with a seven-element speaker array and advanced Bose digital signal processing, create the illusion that sound is coming from places where there are no speakers. In addition, an intuitive onscreen display and a new kind of remote control make using the system easier than ever. The Bose click pad remote control is surprisingly uncluttered because it has only the controls necessary to serve the most basic viewing functions, such as power, volume and source switching. It works with the onscreen interface in a way that is easy for users to learn. Engineered with proprietary ADAPTiQ® technology, the VideoWave system customises its own sound to the unique acoustics of the room it’s in, ensuring a consistent, high-quality performance.

NEW LIFESTYLE 135 HOME ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM ®

Imagine the home theatre sound you want without a roomful of speakers. It’s all made possible by a Bose® innovation that delivers spacious sound as wide as your room – from one visible speaker that ﬁts neatly beneath your TV and a wireless, hideaway Acoustimass® module. And with the Unify® intelligent integration system, your attached entertainment sources work easily as a single system. This exclusive Bose technology enables the Lifestyle® 135 system to use both the remote control and navigation menus to make the system so easy to use, you may not even need the instructions. Enjoy up to six HD video and audio sources – such as your 3D Blu-ray Disc™ or Blu-ray Disc player, cable box and gaming

system – plus your iPod or iPhone, with proprietary Bose technology that customises the audio to your room’s acoustics, so the system sounds as good as it can. In addition, this system can be expanded to be part of a whole-home or multi-room music solution with Bose link technology. Hear the Lifestyle® 135 system for yourself and discover how Bose can change the way you think about home theatre.

Hear wide, spacious sound. See one slim speaker. For more information or to ﬁnd your nearest reseller visit www.bose.com.au To ﬁnd your nearest Bose store call 13Bose (2673)

AT HOME

251 OUTDOOR SPEAKERS ®

Five Winters. Five Summers. Five Years Of Outdoor Performance. Guaranteed. Our best wall-mount outdoor stereo speakers deliver balanced stereo sound over a much wider area than most conventional outdoor speakers. And these award-winning exterior speakers are guaranteed to withstand harsh weather. Mount 251® outdoor stereo speakers to your exterior walls, connect to your stereo components or Lifestyle® system and SA-3 ampliﬁer, and enjoy quality Bose sound across a much wider listening area. With conventional outside speakers, stereo sound can be heard in only a few “sweet spots” and not throughout the broader range of your patio, pool or yard. And they often can’t

reproduce the low frequencies that provide impact. But innovative Bose 251 speakers use an Articulated Array® speaker design to produce an extremely wide sound ﬁeld. Each outside speaker cabinet houses two speakers set at precise angles so you experience consistent stereo effects as you move around outdoors. And the unique multi-chambered design of the Bose 251 exterior speaker cabinet minimises audible distortion from low frequencies, for sound with clear, natural impact.

Bose outdoor speakers are designed for harsh conditions. These weather resistant speakers are engineered and tested to withstand snow, rain, salt and temperature extremes of 60° C to -30° C. They are also protected by a ﬁve-year limited warranty.

COMPANION 20 MULTIMEDIA A SPEAKER SYSTEM ®

Powerful sound. From just two speakers. Dramatically improve the audio from your computer with Bose® Companion 20 speakers. Our best two-piece computer speaker system reproduces full, natural sound whether you’re inches from the screen or way across the room. Proprietary technology and an advanced port design make your music, games and videos come alive with striking clarity and impressive low notes at any volume. And all that sound pours from just two speakers—no need for a bass module. With a few quick connections, you can enjoy the wealth of content on your computer with rich Bose sound. An advanced port design and powerful drivers are key to the low-note performance that adds depth to music, games and videos. Anyone listening for the ﬁrst time might scan the ﬂoor for a subwoofer, but there’s none to be found. All the sound comes from just two sleek speakers. A unique control pod pairs a fair amount of function with its form. The pod features rotational volume control and one-touch mute functionality, plus convenient dual inputs for connecting headphones and/or a second audio

source, like an iPod® or a tablet. Enjoy room-ﬁlling sound—right from your computer—with Bose Companion 20 speakers.

For more information or to ﬁnd your nearest reseller visit www.bose.com.au To ﬁnd your nearest Bose store call 13Bose (2673)

ON THE GO SOUNDDOCK PORTABLE DIGITAL MUSIC SYSTEM ®

Performance meets portability. Music has the power to move you—and Bose has an iPod speaker system that moves with your music. The SoundDock Portable digital music system reproduces your favourite tunes with fullness and clarity unusual for a portable system. And it’s so compact, you can take it just about anywhere, even outdoors.

A rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included) provides more power and longer playing time than most rechargeable batteries. The rotating iPod docking station disappears for storage and protection during transit. And a moulded handle makes it easy to carry this iPod accessory from place to place. Just dock and play your compatible iPod. It charges while you enjoy music with no interruptions. A custom remote easily controls the system and basic iPod functions including playlist navigation. And the auxiliary input lets you play other portable sources, too. Take your iPod listening to exciting new places with the SoundDock Portable digital music system.

The SoundDock Portable system was engineered so your iPod can be enjoyed out loud in more locations, without compromising sound quality. Bose® proprietary waveguide speaker technology and powerful neodymium speakers provide efﬁcient, high quality audio from a slim proﬁle.

Compare it to any other sound system for the iPod. Portable or not.

NEW SOUNDLINK WIRELESS MOBILE SPEAKER ®

Music. Whenever. Wherever. Start the party wherever you are. You’ve got the music on your phone. Now ﬂip open your Bose® SoundLink® Wireless Mobile speaker. It makes a quick Bluetooth® connection, and you’re getting things going with bigger sound than you thought you could get from a speaker this small. It’s all thanks to unique technologies you can only get from Bose. The SoundLink® Mobile speaker works with any Bluetooth enabled device, while its battery keeps going for hours. And when you’re ready to go, the integrated cover protects the speaker in your bag. Share your music everywhere you go, with the SoundLink Mobile speaker.

For more information or to ﬁnd your nearest reseller visit www.bose.com.au To ﬁnd your nearest Bose store call 13Bose (2673)

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ON THE GO

IE2 AUDIO HEADPHONES You’ll notice the difference the moment you put them on. Bose® IE2 audio headphones set a new standard for sound reproduction that conventional earbuds can’t match. Re-engineered from the inside out, they feature an enhanced acoustic design that helps music sound smoother and more natural. And our new construction provides a more secure ﬁt and improved durability. IE2 headphones reproduce music with more range and realism than most typical earbuds. A modiﬁed port design, in concert with our proprietary TriPort® acoustic headphone structure results in a richer audio performance, with more natural-sounding lows. IE2 headphones also deliver more clarity, even at louder volume levels, and an overall presence you’d expect from much larger headphones. Designed to stay put while you move Proprietary StayHear™ silicone tips offer greater

in-ear stability during exercise and other active sports. Advanced materials and design allow the tips to nestle inside the bowl of the ear while also naturally conforming to the ear’s upper ridge. The tips come in three sizes to fit listeners comfortably for hours on end. StayHear tips also are designed to remain more securely on the headphone itself. Overall, they provide a better on-the-go listening experience. IE2 headphones are sturdier than ever, thanks to advanced materials, construction and manufacturing techniques—all adding up to more lasting quality for you. Each pair undergoes rigorous testing to meet Bose standards for performance and durability. Bose IE2 headphones are engineered specifically for listening with MP3 players, laptops and portable CD players. The cable’s angled plug fits directly into sources with recessed headphone jacks. Also included: a sleek, protective carrying case with room for a portable MP3 player, plus tips in three sizes.

Unconventional design. Unconventional performance.

QUIETCOMFORT 15 ACOUSTIC NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES ®

Since Bose® Introduced the world’s first noise cancelling headphones more than 20 years ago, they have conducted continuous research to improve this technology. Significant advances in noise reduction make the Bose QuietComfort® 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® headphones our quietest ever. Exclusive Bose technologies electronically sense the sounds around you, reducing noise across a wide range of frequencies. And the ear cushion further reduces unwanted noise. It works in harmony with the electronics to deliver a better listening experience and a comfortable fit. When you fly, the engine roar fades even further away. When you listen to music at home or at work, fewer distractions get in the way. Less noise, along with acclaimed lifelike sound, a fit that stays comfortable for hours and the quality you expect from Bose. It all adds up to a combination of benefits unmatched in the industry. So you can relax and appreciate music, movies or just some serenity more than ever before. And now, an additional cable with inline remote and microphone is included for convenient control of select Apple products.

For more information or to ﬁnd your nearest reseller visit www.bose.com.au To ﬁnd your nearest Bose store call 13Bose (2673)

Benji Marshall

ASICS Ambassador

LIFESTYLE 44

G’Day meets Kia ora, A Trans-Tasman Dream Words by: Nicole Lenoir-Jourdan

Aussies and Kiwis never agree on anything sports related except when it comes to one Wests Tigers ﬁve eighth, Benji Marshall. This legendary rugby league player has brought both sides of the Tasman together to concur that he is certainly an immortal in the making. Hence it was with some intrepidation that I arrived at the Sydney home of Benji’s manager to interview this New Zealand representative along with my eleven year old son, clad in his West Tigers jumper, cap and socks, a true little Tigers fanatic who cried whenever they lost.

e were shown into a study where Benji sat at a desk playing on a laptop. We positioned ourselves on the couch and I gratefully put down the bag filled with West Tigers jerseys, flags, balls and other paraphernalia which I was not looking forward to asking Benji to sign at the end of the interview. We also brought with us a Rubik’s cube. I’d read Benji could complete this frustrating puzzle in a record 30 seconds so we decided we would put him to the test. Jack, my son, handed it over. There was an instant sense of camaraderie as Benji’s eyes flickered. He was a modern day Pied Piper. I could tell he had Jack then and there. This moment would never be forgotten. Jack kicked off the interview, with a bit of encouragement, wanting to know if Benji had ever eaten at team mate, Robbie Farrah’s Leichhardt restaurant, Tiger Tiger. He had, choosing the Benji Wagyu Burger. “I’d give it a 9.5 out of 10 and it would have got full marks if I didn’t have to look at Farrah,” Benji said with a smile but then put his head quickly back down to fight this Rubik’s cube which he had complained didn’t have any white squares, making it more difficult to complete. Of course he wouldn’t give up. He said, it may just take him a little longer to finish the puzzle. His connection with my son was quite mesmerising. Jack’s eyes were affixed to Benji as he deftly moved the coloured squares. No wonder

Benji had earned the label ‘King of the Kids’. Benji was loved by kids everywhere and ones that weren’t even Wests Tigers’ fans. Benji loved children and has helped to develop them and to have made their lives brighter whenever he could. He really has enjoyed participating in junior development squads and has started the Benji Marshall Foundation to raise funds to help young kids with cancer. Marshall’s growing commitment to helping children that are battling cancer has seen him take on a role as the ambassador for the Oncology Children’s Foundation. He and his Wests Tigers team mates helped make a dream come true for five-year-old Lleyton, who has a terminal liver condition, with this avid Wests Tigers fan running the team out for a match against the Panthers last year. After the game Marshall lifted Lleyton up on his shoulders and walked him around the field before running through an honour guard of Wests Tigers. This congeniality has flowed through into business success. Although this Sudoku genius may not have gone down the restaurant route of Robbie Farrah, at just age 26 he has both an authorised and an unauthorised biography being released (make sure you buy the authorised one - Benji Marshall, my game, my story), just signed with Mambo as their new fashion designer with a range of Benji T-shirts. These include “The year of the Kiger,” (a kiwi/tiger cross) “the Heroic Kiwi with eagle wings” and the “Marshall Law” T-shirt, is a columnist in the Sun-Herald and a presenter on Channel 9’s The Footy Show.

LIFESTYLE 45

He has also just become the face of Spartan, the Australian sporting goods company who also boast Mitchell Johnson as another of their ambassadors. Spartan is set to produce a quality range of unique Benji football gear including custom footballs, protective equipment and fitness gear. A head for business, a loyal team member, and one who gives back to the community, it’s no wonder he is thought of so highly by his team mates. “The world is his oyster. Benji can be anything. He’s one of those people who can do anything, whether it’s playing the piano, playing the guitar, playing the drums,” said West Tigers’ team member Gareth Ellis. Benji lives with Tim Moltzen in an apartment he bought and counts the West Tigers team mates amongst his great friends. He soon may be playing with his brothers, both who have been signed by the Tigers at ages 19 and 15. Benji who has a strong sense of family, brought his mother and brothers to Australia and bought them a house in Parramatta and helped his mother find a job. She was only 16 years old when she had Benji. Being so close in age, Benji regards her as a friend as well as a mother. He recounts his life in Whakatane where he grew up on tomato sauce sandwiches and Weetbix and butter. “We were poor but it didn’t matter. I had a great extended family. We were always outside playing sport. My uncles who were black belts owned the local martial arts club, Rangataua o Aotearoa, and I learnt kick boxing there. I loved and still love playing all sports, squash, rugby union, surfing, tennis, golf. I wasn’t much with the bat and ball at cricket but I was a pretty good fielder. When I’m not training, I’ll be playing golf or tennis,” he said. At just 15 Benji received a sporting scholarship to Keebra Park on the Gold Coast and left his family to take up residence in Queensland. He worked at Hungry Jacks (so he knows a good burger, Robbie) and as a concreter in order to fund his sporting career. However he loved school and excelled at maths. I’d been with him in this interview for almost forty minutes and he hadn’t cracked the cube yet, he was close though.. “It’s been ages since I’ve done one of these. I will do it,” he said. I had no doubt it would be done before we left. He had determination written on his face in an expression of concentration.

LIFESTYLE 46

Benji Marshall with Jack James

‘I’m a simple person with simple tastes,” he said. “I recently had a degustation dinner at a beautiful restaurant in Queenstown. I enjoyed it but I prefer simple things. I love my mum’s chicken schnitzel and I’m happiest with a plate of steak and chips in front of me.” He loves a good hangi as well. “At Christmas time I’ll go home and prepare a hangi with 15 of my family members. I’ll be up at 5 am to start the cooking.” There’s even more to Marshall. He loves music, soft music such as Usher, and writes his own songs. He has self taught the piano, drums and guitar. What a catch. Although his current girlfriend, Zoe Balbi, didn’t know who he was when she met him. He told her he was a soccer player as he knew girls didn’t like the stigma of going out with rugby league players. Yet after accompanying him to the Dally M, she has a good idea of what he does for a job now. Although narrowly missing out on this award, Benji will take it home one year. He has already been awarded the prestigious 2010 Golden Boot, the international prize for the best player in the game. He is the first Wests Tigers player to win this award, and only the third New Zealander. Benji finally looks up at me with a smile. He has finished the Rubik’s cube. I look at him with dread as I know the interview has finished. Umm would you mind signing a few things for my son. Yes sure, he obliges. He doesn’t know what he is in for as I start unpacking our whole house. Yet he signs away with the Sharpie that Benji’s sponsor, Spartan, gave to us. First the jumper with a personal message for Jack, ‘Practice makes Perfect.’ Benji explains how after training he will go and practice his goal kicking even more than required because he wants to give the best he can. We finally reach the last item and my son Jack says, “would you mind signing a few pieces of paper for my friends.” “No that’s enough” I say to Jack, But Benji good humouredly signs the papers. I’m sure he must think we’re going to make a fortune on eBay when really I just have one mesmerised 11 year old groupie. I thank Benji profusely. My son is star struck, still. Just before we leave, Benji stops us. “What about this? What about the Rubik’s cube. Here I will sign this for you too.” I get into the car with my son and drive home. There is silence for about 15 minutes and then my son screams, “I met Benji Marshall.” The realisation has sunk in. The Kiwi magic has spread. I even find myself barracking for the Wests Tigers for the rest of the season, which is a strange thing for a Manly supporter!

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LIFESTYLE 48

What’s in a name? Words by: Phil Harte

The year was 1970, and I remember securing a job as an 11-year-old schoolboy at the All Round Sports Centre in Liverpool, Sydney. It was then, as a young school-boy footballer, that I was infatuated with any new boot, running shoe or spike on the market, frankly anything to do with sports goods.

y mates and I had to have the best of them all. As years went on, I started seeing the different brands and appreciating the heritage of products from Germany and the Adi Dassler dynasty that heralded 2 brothers that eventually parted ways leaving 1 brother with the world renowned Adidas ‘3 stripes’ and the other delivering the Puma brand to the world. A few years on, and it was Phil Knight brought us the famous ‘swoosh’ and the Nike waffle trainer was the first shoe to come into Australia. As we all know, good things come in threes.

memory was called the Tiger Rotation. My family knows something about good shoes with my wife being the former world number 2 squash player. She had the opportunity to be sponsored by many footwear companies, yet never compromised on her footwear and has only ever worn the great brand of ASICS. You’ll see this consistently through the sports where many world class competitors will look at the ASICS brand first and foremost. And if you watch the Olympics, past and present, on the dais there are more gold medallists wearing the ASICS logo than any other competitor.

It was the great Onitsuka that brought us what we now know today as the ASICS brand of athletic footwear and clothing. I started playing squash at an early age, and for the past 30 years I have never worn anything other than the ASICS squash shoe, that from

Enjoy the read of this historic brand and its founder and the milestones it has reached. When you next walk into your local sports store, you really only need to go and ask for the one brand of sporting footwear, and that is ASICS.

LIFESTYLE 49

ASICS Eye of the Tiger 1949

1977

1999

Kihachiro Onitsuka reorganises Onitsuka Shokai and founds Onitsuka Co., Ltd

ASICS Corporation is born

50th anniversary of founding

Onitsuka Co., Ltd., GTO Co., Ltd., and Jelenk Co., Ltd. combined in a merger of equals to form ASICS Corporation, a general sports equipment manufacturer. The three companies sealed a memorandum of merger and made a press announcement on January 12, 1977, and merged six months later, on July 21.

This was the 50th year since Kihachiro Onitsuka founded Onitsuka Co., Ltd. in 1949. An anniversary party was held in Seville, Spain, and 150 people from the sports industry, clients in Europe, and the press attended. Marathon runner Rosa Mota (Portugal), triple-jumper Jonathon Edwards (UK) and other contracted athletes gave speeches.

After being demobilised from war in 1945, Kihachiro Onitsuka worked as a “salaryman” at a trading company in the city of Kobe, Hyogo Perfecture, for almost three years before resolving to form his own company and manufacture and sell sneakers for schoolchildren, which were in short supply at the time. He studied the techniques and know-how of making sports shoes for one year in the Nagata area of Kobe, where there were numerous rubber shoe manufacturers both large and small, and in March 1949 founded Onitsuka Shokai in Kobe. In September of the same year, he reorganised the business and established Onitsuka Co., Ltd. with a capital of \300,000 and four employees. Onitsuka consulted about the business with Kohei Hori, a former comrade in arms an then-head of the Health and Physical Education Section of the Hyogo Perfectural Board of Education who offered as a maxim the words of Juvenal, a satirist of Imperial Rome: “If you pray to God, you should pray for a sound mind in a sound body” (“Anima Sana in Corpore Sano”). These words made a great impression on Onitsuka, and became the motivating force for him to create proper sporting Shoes in order to foster healthy young people through sports. Later, they would also become the source of the acronym ASICS.

1957 Tiger Rubber Factory is reorganised into Onitsuka Co. Tiger Rubber Factory was reorganised into Onitsuka Co., Ltd. Its capital was \6,000,000. The same year, the company was awarded the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Director’s Award as a model business. The following year, in 1958, Onitsuka Co., Ltd. and Tokyo Onitsuka Co., Ltd. were merged and integrated into Onitsuka Co., Ltd.

1965 Brand Logos are Unified The Onitsuka Tiger brand logos of Onitsuka Co., Ltd. were unified.

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The owners of the three companies had found that they had much in common during the Seiwakai study group meetings for sports equipment manufacturers in the Kansai region, and later jointly formed the Clover Group. With the first Oil Shock, when the Japanese economy was left stagnant and its future uncertain, the top management of the three companies decided on the merger as a survival strategy aimed at the global sports market. The origin of the company name, ASICS, is the initial letters of the phrase “Anima Sana in Corpore Sano” by the ancient Roman satirist Juvenal (with “Mens” in the original rather than “Anima”). It means “[If you pray to God, you should pray for] a sound mind in a sound body.” The phrase itself is the company’s philosophy, which embodies a strong wish that “people around the world may live in health and happiness through sport; and we wish to help that goal by contributing to the global sports culture as a general sports equipment manufacturer.” The “asics” logo was designed by Herb Lubalin, known as the God of Typography. In addition, with the merger, Jelenk USA Inc. was renamed ASICS Sports of America Inc.

1977 The corporate slogan is established “Sport: the Universal Language” was established as the corporate slogan of ASICS, which became the first sports manufacturer in Japan to adopt a corporate identity (CI) and implement a brand strategy that targeted the world.

Also, as a commemorative project within Japan, a limited number of eight shoe models from the past were sold at the prices at which they were originally released. The revival shoe models and their prices were: MAGIC RUNNER (\950), LIMBER UP (2,200), NYLON CORDAIR (\4,700), SILVER TIGER (\1,100), SOCCER KAWA AA (\4,200), ROTATION 6 (\750), TIGER PAW DS-5700 (\12,500), AND PASSING (\850).

2007 ASICS Chairman Kihachiro Onitsuka dies Kihachiro Onitsuka was the President and Representative Director of Onitsuka Co., Ltd., appointed President of ASICS when the company was created in 1977, then appointed Chairman of the Board and Representative Director of the same company in 1922, and thereafter continued to worked for the development of ASICS. He left behind a great legacy for the sports world during the 58 years since he founded Onitsuka Shokai until the curtain lowered on his life due to heart failure on September 29, 2007. He was 90 years old. Since Onitsuka loved to create oil paintings of sunflowers at an art school on Kobe during spare moments between flying around the world, paintings of sunflowers from all over Japan were collected as a tribute and offered at his funeral in place of real flowers. Top Japanese athletes including Naoko Takahashi, and Mizuki Noguchi paid their respects at his funeral.

Sporting visionary & ASICS founder Kihachiro Onitsuka

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A number of prototypes were made at Yoshikawa Rubber Industry, a local shoe manufacturer in Nagata Ward, Kobe City, and the first model was released in the spring of 1950. The tigers face emblazoned on the arch of the shoe later became the basis for the Onitsuka Tiger trademark. Onitsuka took prototypes to the Kobe High School basketball club, at the time one of the strongest teams, and repeatedly tested and refined the shoes.

FIRST TRANSITION

The first competition sports shoes made by Onitsuka Co., Ltd. were a pair of basketball shoes. At the time, basketball shoes were said to be the most difficult sports shoes to manufacture, so it was Kihachiro Onitsuka’s idea that if he could overcome a high hurdle at the start, he would be able to keep overcoming other hurdles as well.

1950 OK basketball shoes are released Half a year after the release of the first basketball shoes, in the autumn of 1950, the OK basketball shoes bearing the initials of Onitsuka Kihachiro were released. With the entire sole dimpled, the product can be termed the archetype of the suctioncup basketball shoes that were to be released later. They were featured on the back cover of Basketball Journal Vol.9 issued on October 30, 1980, by the Japan Basketball Association. The model came in two colours, black and white. The white shoes were like a shooting star in the sports shoes sky at the time, which was dominated by black.

1953 Suction-cup basketball shoes are released Since the release of the OK basketball shoes in 1950, Kihachiro Onitsuka had sought to develop shoes with even more stopping power, and had an epiphany one night when he saw vinegared octopus on the dinner table. This is the episode of the development of the suction-cup basketball shoes. By deepening the dimples on the soles like octopus suckers, both starting and stopping power were improved. However, since the first product stopped too well, several athletes got injured. Six months later improvements were made and a more evolved sole was created.

1953 First marathon Tabi are released Shizo Kanaguri, who participated in the marathon in Stockholm Olympic Games (1912), and Sohn Kee-chung, who won a gold medal for the Japanese delegation in the marathon in the Berlin Olympic Games (1936), wore tabi socks for their races. At the time, indoor tabi were still the standard footwear at sports meets in Japan, and the marathon tabi were also based on indoor tabi. The initial prototype had an elastic ankle closure, which was changed to laces, then hemp was layered on the sole to increase wear resistance, eyelets and a part known as a “hanging band” were added on the arch for an improved fit, and through several trials were given the functionality, durability, and external appearance appropriate for marathons. The first model was released with rubber soles. The marathon tabi were featured in track and field magazine ‘Runners’, and it was here that the glorious history of ASICS marathon shoes truly began. The marathon tabi were given a rounded toe and released as the Marup marathon shoes the same year. This grabbed the attention of Japanese users, and marked the transition from the era of marathon tabi to that of marathon shoes.

FIRST TRANSITION

FIRST TRANSITION SECOND TRANSITION THIRD TRANSITION

1950 First basketball shoes are released

1953 Volleyball shoes with 12 special features are released The Tiger mark volleyball shoes released the previous year, which had been used in international competitions with authorization from the Japan Volleyball Association, evolved to incorporate 12 special features, including a special rubber sole that could withstand quick stops and dashes, reduced burden on the feet, toe protection, and shock absorbing cushioning. Where the soles needed durability, a carbon roll was cut and hand-patched in a shape that took into account strengthening. But since patching techniques were not yet perfected at the time, and the soles peeled away and left black rubber marks on the court, further improvements were made.

The shoes were the first produced in the world as specialty training shoes with sponge soles to protect sprinters’ and jumpers jumpers’ jumping muscles and Achilles tendon. The cushioning on the ball and the heel were further improved by combining conventionally used cushioning material with varying degrees of firmness.

FORTH TRANSITION

1957 Spring-Up shoes are released

FIRST TRANSITION

The After Runner shoes were developed as the delegation shoes for the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. At the time, training shoes were not split up by event, and while athletes used competition shoes suited to their sport, they all used the same training shoes. The conventional rubber sole was changed to a synthetic rubber sponge sole, forming a light soft structure that helped protect against shock in sprints. The ankle area was designed to protect the Achilles tendon using X-shaped lines. The Olympic edition had two lines in three colours (red, green, white) to hold the ball of the shoe, which differentiated from the commercial product.

1958 Nylon basketball shoes are released

1958 First tennis shoes are released

FIRST TRANSITION

FIRST TRANSITION SECOND TRANSITION

1957 After Runner shoes are released

1958 First wrestling shoes are released

Onitsuka developed the world’s first Nylon basketball shoes. Since it was not possible to adhere the nylon material used in the upper with conventional methods, a special hardening agent was added to the glue to complete the product. The company also used Tetoron fabric, tested functions to improve fit at the arch, and conducted a variety of other development activities.

The Winning tennis shoes were released in time for the first tennis boom. A ventilation treatment was carried out to create an upper fabric with breathability. The area around the sole was creative as well. For example the toe was patched with reinforcing rubber for improved wear resistance, an allsponge midsole was used for arch support, and a special compound was used on the outsole to increase grip on the court surface.

Natural leather was used on both the inside and outside of the toe for structure that improved durability and adhesive strength at the same time. The metal eyelets were not placed on the outside but hidden to prevent injuries during competitions. The ventilation holes in the toe area were also a notable characteristic. In addition, the rolled design of the sole offered superior grip and slip prevention while also providing durability. The archetype of the wrestling shoe that would later rack up record sales in the US was already developed at this stage.

LIFESTYLE 53

THIRD TRANSITION

SECOND TRANSITION

1959 Magic Runner marathon shoes released

The Himalayan Tiger Nylon climbing boots released in 1958 became the archetype of the Himalayan series (SP, A, LIGHT, and PEAK) released in 1966. There are many common points in design, reinforcing, stitching, and sole design, such as the positioning of sponge in the ankles area, the attachment of a lifting belt on the arch, the increased size of the bumps, and the sole designed to improve grip.

FIRST TRANSITION

1958 Himalayan Tiger climbing boots are released

The toe area and tongue were separated to make the shoe more three-dimensional. The sole was thickened in parts that wear easily so as not to damage to the court. The model was released as Gold Tiger tennis shoes the following year.

1960 After Runner leather shoes are released

1962 First soccer shoes are released

THIRD TRANSITION

SECOND TRANSITION

1958 A tennis shoes are released

1963 Passing shoes are released

With marathon shoes at the time, everyone got blisters – it was something athletes expected – so Kihachiro Onitsuka embarked on a new challenge of creating shoes that would not cause blisters. Since blisters from marathons were caused by the heat from shock and friction between the foot and the ground, Onitsuka took inspiration from automobile water cooling systems, and organised a test run with water in the shoe sole. However, this was a failure as the shoes themselves became too heavy, and the feet got soaked and wrinkled. Next, he looked to air cooled engines of motorbikes, and incorporated and air vent system to circulate air within the shoe. This was the Magic Runner. He opened holes in various parts of the shoe, making it possible to pump out heat when the athlete’s foot hit the ground using the bellows principle, and succeeded in keeping blisters to a minimum. The sole was curved deeply at the arch to ensure air was smoothly pumped in and out.

LIFESTYLE 54

With the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, Onitsuka started producing delegation shoes that the athletes wear in the Parade of Nations. For the 1960 Rome Olympic Games, it produced a line of shoes with a rising sun motif on the sides of the arch. The body colour was divided into red for women and green for men.

The first cloth soccer shoes were released in April 1962. There were three studs on the heel and four on the ball of the shoe, with that at the ball of the big toe being a lengthwise oval shape. Each stud had a far larger contact area with the ground than exsisting models. In 1964, leather soccer shoes were also released on a trial basis.

The ball of the shoe oe and the heel were designed thicker than other areas in consideration of durability. The round black compound pound rubber is simultaneously pressed for stopping power er and wear resistance, and the overlapping structure of the reinforcing rubber at the toe different.

is is

The Runspark track and feild spikes, which were being developed for the Tokyo Olympic Games, were completed in 1961. The Tokyo Olympic Games delegate spikes that were released in 1964 and were made with different sole material from the TP-08. A velour-type blue leather was used, and the spikes on the ball of the shoe e were white leather with silver.

SECOND TRANSITION

The Marup marathon shoes were born in 1953, at the same time as Onitsuka’s directly operated Tiger Rubber Factory. The name Marup was a contraction of “marathon up”. In 1957, the rubber sole was changed to a synthetic rubber sponge sole. This model gained support from runners in numerous events like marathons and ekiden long-distance relay races.

1966 Soccer shoes Kawa A and Kawa AA are released

FORTH TRANSITION

THIRD TRANSITION FIRST TRANSITION

1964 Fixed-pin track and ﬁeld spike shoes are released

FIFTH TRANSITION

1964 Super Marup marathon shoes are released

1966 Marup Clarino artiﬁcial leather marathon shoes are released

Like the revision made in track and field spikes, soccer shoes were also developed to enable swapping the studs to match the ground. A resin (nylon) sheet is used on the sole to provide the twin benefits of repellence and bounce prevention. Since adhesive agents used at the time still had a number of problems with strength, a sponge was added between the upper and the sole, and further reinforcement was provided for with nails around the edge.

Clarino artificial leather was known as a water-resistant water resistant material, but had been extremely difficult to develop into sports shoes because of its stiffness. It was improved and made strong and tenacious yet soft per suggestions by runer Toru Terasawa, who went on to win the 1965 Beppu-Oiya Mainichi Marathon in shoes made from the material. This triggered commercialisation and spread the use of the material in other products.

1965 Basketball shoes DX are released A special double weave was used for the upper to improve ve durability, sweat release, moisture absorption, and ventilation. n. The mesh material on the instep trimmed with red and blue lines es of foxing tape added to the design gn quality and quickly boosted ed market share.

LIFESTYLE 55

The track shoes, the Marup, the Limber Up, and the track and field spike shoes were sold in the US market at the time through Onitsuka’s sale agent, BRS (Blue Ribbon Sports). However, the cushioning was unwelcome due to differences in body type. Taking the advice of BRS consultant Bill Bowerman for a new structure, development activities were conducted to increase cushioning, leading to the Cortez (later, the Corsair) released exclusively in the US market. The shoe had the combined properties of the cushioning of the Spring Up training shoes for jumpers and the upward-curving toe structure of the Track Kawa AA training shoes for short-distance tracks to alleviate the shock upon impact with the ground. The thickness of the heel was also greatly increased, from previous 16mm to 24mm. Mr. Bowerman had introduced the concept of jogging to the United States in the late 1960s, and the boom gained momentum with the advent of the Cortez. The model became the turning point from sports shoes to sneakers as a fashion item.

THIRD TRANSITION

1970 Cortez is released in the US

SECOND TRANSITION

Runspark DS-SP made its appearance with the catchphrase “break the record” in 1966 as Japan’s first track and field spikes with interchangeable pins. Track and field events took place on dirt tracks at the time, and since the track conditions changed according to the weather, athletes who previously used fixedpin spikes had to file and sharpen their own pins. Runspark DS-SP, were revolutionary in that they came with four different interchangeable pin lengths, which allowed adaption to both long and short-distance events. A polycarbonate fixture is featured on the nut to which the pins are attached.

1972 Munchen DX soccer shoes released

1971 yball shoes with 12 special Volleyball res are released features

FORTH TRANSITION

SECOND TRANSITION FIFTH TRANSITION

1966 Runspark DS-SP track and ﬁeld spike shoes are released

1973 Bomber 55 soccer shoes are released

Soft natural leather was used to enhance fit on the foot. Sponge was added to the ankle to prevent the entry of foreign substances and to protect the ankle, and the studs consisted of resin (polycarbonate) rather than aluminium.

Sweat release lease and ventilation were improved proved by using a mesh made ade of new vinyl on material, ial, which itself was breathable. athable. The current ASICS SICS stripe e was adopted pted for international onal events.

Following the earlier release of the Injector 103, the Bomber 55 was released in the spring of 1973. The model was an improved version of the existing Soccer Nuno series, with a combination of canvas and synthetic leather on the upper. The toe area consisted of synthetic leather for durability. The rubber sole that symbolised the Bomber series was polished to a gloss to ensure that any dirt that adhered to it would soon come off. The bomber 77, a high-end line of the Bomber 55, came with additional heel pads, ankle sponge, batting in the midsole, and the Mexico line (the current ASICS stripe) in yellow. (th A new, practical proposals adopted in All the soles of Onitsuka soccer shoes at the time were made to ensure a constant forward leaning stance.

LIFESTYLE 56

In order to avoid using nuts that were buried in domed areas on the upper part of a thin board, a method that was patented by another company at the time, the entire pin was made concave, save for each of the functional parts (nut retention, projection, etc.) from the thickness of the required parts, using a method that provided for both lightness and flexion. Though the completition regulations of the Japan Association of Athletics Federation (JAAF) specified six spikes, the shoe had seven, with one used for adjustments so that athletes could change the location of the spikes according to their preference. The model was launched at the Japan Championships in Athletics in June 1973 an instantly gained the support of athletes around the world, becoming the first product to take leadership in the Japanese track and field spikes market. Two heel types, round and flat, were created.

1978 California jogging shoe is released The California jogging shoes embodied the evolution of various Onitsuka Co. Ltd. training shoes such as Spring Up, Track Kawa, and Corsair. Unlike conventional jogging shoe construction methods, the toe and heel were curled up and secured on the outside. The sole was flared, where the ground contact area was wider than the adhesive area.

SEVENTH TRANSITION

A turning point arrived for track and field spike shoes with the appearance of polyurethane rubber all-weather tracks in the year of the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games. Since there was far too much resistance with conventional shoes that had sharpened pines, Onitsuka thoroughly analysed and researched the qualities of the new track, and developed spikes with flattened pins that gripped the ground surface.

1981 Marathon Sortie are released

EIGHTH TRANSITION

THIRD TRANSITION SIXTH TRANSITION

1974 Tiger Paw DS-5700 are released

1986 Marathon Sortie UL-100 Lightweight marathon shoes are released

The Marathon Sortie was the first marathon shoe to incorporate EVA sponge in the sole. The EVA material had been avoided since heat was readily generated in long distance running, but it was adopted in this model with options that lightness should be pursued. The shoes were an important turning point that encouraged research into demands for improved cushioning.

The Marathon Sortie had a polyurethane foam sole sewed in a sack-shape, on which was attached a double layer of EVA resin and the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own special lightweight synthetic rubber RB Dulite. Each shoe weighed 100g, about 50g lighter than previous track and field shoes. In order to overcome the contradictory issues of lightness and durability, a nylon taffeta for parachutes was used on the outside of the polyurethane foam and then reinforced with Ecsaine. The body was made in white, with the reinforcing and the eyelet decoration in blue, and the ASICS stripe in flash orange for a colourful upper, and the sole was yellow so that the entire shoe created the impression of lightness and airiness

While the jogging boom in Japan had not yet reached its full flowering, most joggers at the time preferred to jog at night rather than in the day. Since safety was a major consideration, reflective tape was added to the heels. The model encapsulated a new DNA and became the prototype of colour variations in future jogging shoes.

LIFESTYLE 57

Rocky Elsom ASICS Ambassador

Joel Selwood ASICS Ambassador

2011 WORLD RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Spartan Sporting Goods Ph. 02 4297 4700 www.spartansports.com.au

TAG HEUER Mastering Speed for 150 years 1860 - In tune with the future It was 1860. Inventors everywhere were obsessed with the idea of speed. Among them was Edouard Heuer. That was the year he founded the Swiss company that is today’s TAG Heuer. In 1866 he moved his workshop from St Imier to Bienne. There the Henriod family, who were machine manufacturers and neighbors of Edouard’s, were developing prototype automobiles. The age of speed was beginning. During trips to Britain and the United States in the 1870s and 1880s, Edouard Heuer saw first-hand how quickly the pace of life was changing, and how popular horse racing was. He could see that he would have to create timepieces more accurate than ever before to keep pace with the tempo of this new era. In 1882 he became one of the first watchmakers to manufacture large amounts of chronographs. In 1887, he patented a revolutionary mechanism which is still in use today: the oscillating pinion. It meant chronographs could start in less than 2/1000ths of a second. The automobile age was just dawning, and with it a new era of precision, pioneered by Heuer.

1911 – Motor racing in the blood Motor racing is not just part of TAG Heuer’s DNA: it’s in their blood. When cars and racing were in their infancy, the Heuer family were already keen motorists. They could see where the future lay, and by 1900 were buying their first automobiles. As cars became ever faster, ever more sophisticated, the Heuers were always there, creating the equipment designers and drivers needed, when they needed it. By 1911 the Heuers had pioneered dashboard chronographs. In 1916 they launched a new era in precision with the Mikrograph, the first stopwatch to measure 1/100ths of a second. For long-distance races, in 1958 the Heuer firm produced an onboard timer, the Rally Master, which comprised an eight-day clock and a twelve-hour stopwatch. Throughout the twentieth century TAG Heuer refined precision—time and time again. The Microtimer became the first portable timekeeping system to measure 1/1,000ths of a second … and TAG Heuer was the first to achieve the incredible 1/10,000th of a second accuracy required for the motor racing speeds of today.

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TAG Heuer’s passion for racing means more than supplying the most innovative equipment. It means supporting and nurturing teams and drivers. Not only were they the first watch brand to sponsor top racing drivers, they were also the first to partner a whole F1 team— none other than the legendary Scuderia Ferrari. Every advance they have made in race timing has perfected their watch making. That’s why TAG Heuer’s most emblematic chronographs, like the Carrera and the Formula 1 series, bear names that resound with their commitment to racing. Likewise, the Monaco series has been pushing the boundaries ever since its launch, and the Monaco V4 has turned tradition on its head yet again. Instead of standard gears, its mechanical movement uses transmission belts as fine as a human hair, and a revolutionary linear mass has replaced the oscillating mass. For over 150 years TAG Heuer has embraced the values that drive motor sports. By bringing together state-of-the-art materials and avant-garde design they consistently produce the most precise, reliable and thrilling timepieces.

1969 – Motor racing giants At TAG Heuer only the very best is good enough. That applies to the brand ambassadors they sponsor as much as to their chronographs. TAG Heuer were the first watch brand ever to sponsor drivers. It started in the family, when Jack Heuer partnered Jo Siffert in 1969. The stars TAG Heuer has supported since then read like a motor racing hall of fame. Dozens of immortal names have worn the logo, from Jacky Ickx and David Coulthard to Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button today. In between they’ve backed F1 multi-champions Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Fernando Alonso, Ayrton Senna, and Mika Häkkinen. One of their most iconic ambassadors was Steve McQueen. A passionate amateur racing driver, he not only lived to race, but with ‘Le Mans’ he directed and starred in a classic movie capturing the very essence of endurance racing. To make sure every detail in the film was authentic, the first TAG Heuer ambassador, Jo Siffert, acted as technical consultant. McQueen insisted on wearing exactly the same racing overalls as him … as well as the blue-faced Monaco watch which shot to fame around the world because of the movie. TAG Heuer’s ambassadors’ sporting success is reward enough in itself for TAG Heuer. It also provides constant inspiration to all of TAG Heuer’s creative and technical teams: the inspiration to better their previous best.

1971 – Two winning teams working together: the Ferrari years Some F1 teams seem to dominate a whole era. That’s what Ferrari achieved in the 1970s. They were determined, they were dynamic, and they scooped up a total of seven Formula 1 World Championship titles. Throughout the decade TAG Heuer were their personal, in-house timekeepers, and also sponsored the whole team.

The performance you cheer on a Grand Prix circuit doesn’t happen by magic. Behind it lie grueling weeks and months of practice. Drivers must constantly push themselves to improve on their best. In 1971, on their private test track at Fiorano, the Ferrari team were training hard. The problem was, in those pre-computer days no equipment was accurate enough to record the split-second timings they needed to ratchet up their performance. To meet that need, TAG Heuer engineers devised the electronic ‘Le Mans Centigraph’. Thanks to it, Ferrari were able to record timings to within a 1/1,000th of a second. Practice makes perfect, and the mouldbreaking technology paid off with F1 World Champion titles for drivers Niki Lauda and Jody Scheckter in 1975, 1977 and 1979, and Constructors titles in 1975-77 and 1979. TAG Heuer’s next leap forward was to build that 1/100th of a second technology into a chronograph. That’s how the ‘Chronosplit’ was born: the world’s first quartz wrist chronograph equipped with a double digital display. Its fusion of glamour and hi-tech appealed so much to Enzo Ferrari, founder of the company, that he ordered a limited edition of fifteen, embellished with the famous prancing horse logo. The Chronosplit is still a groundbreaking symbol of groundbreaking teamwork.

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1985 – A lasting partnership of like minds The McLaren name is a legend, renowned for fielding some of the greatest drivers and the most advanced cars ever. For over 26 years, TAG Heuer and McLaren have been official partners, working together to push the boundaries of Formula 1. Their joint track record is spectacular. Since they joined forces in 1985, TAG Heuer has provided McLaren drivers with cutting-edge timekeeping technology for their test sessions. So, it is no coincidence that TAG Heuer and McLaren have notched up over 120 Grand Prix wins, and been victorious in the World Drivers’ Championship nine times. All the winning drivers have earned a place in the F1 Hall of Fame: Senna, Prost, Häkkinen, Hamilton. All of them have been TAG Heuer brand ambassadors. It takes a very special partnership to last so long. So what binds two such dynamic companies as TAG Heuer and McLaren together in this enduring meeting of minds? Shared values: a common belief in innovation, performance and prestige... The shared need ‘to be the best at everything they do’.

1992 - Mastering time Mastering time is TAG Heuer’s business. It always has been. It always will be. Almost a century ago they broke the 1/100th of a second barrier. Today they are the only masters of timing 1/100ths, 1/1,000ths, and 1/10,000ths for motor racing. TAG Heuer’s pioneering precision has put them at the forefront of Formula 1 since the very beginning. It has made TAG Heuer the official timekeeper on the most prestigious circuits for the world’s top-performing teams. For eleven consecutive seasons from 1992 TAG Heuer was official timekeeper for the F1 World Championships. The advanced technology that won them that role is on a staggering scale.

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We’ll let the figures speak for themselves: 18 tons of equipment; 20 kilometers of wiring; 19 antennas embedded in the track; 20 technicians monitoring 20 cars simultaneously through 150 on-site monitors. And those pioneering techniques made sure that in over 175 Grand Prix races not a single time was contested or corrected. Equally impressive is TAG Heuer’s mastery of the most challenging number in sports timing: the 1/10,000th of a second demanded by the Indy Racing League for the Indy 500 race. They were official timekeepers of the race from 2004 to 2006, and are still the ‘Official Watch of Indy 500’. TAG Heuer’s state-of-the-art timekeeping gave them a still unbeaten world record— for the closest finish in the whole of motor racing history. It happened in France, in the 2006 Race of Champions, a highlight of the season, when top drivers from different racing categories go head to head. A mind-boggling 2/10,000ths—0.0002— of a second separated winner Mattias Ekström from Heikki Kovalainen.That minuscule fraction of time represents an astonishing 10 millimeters between cars travelling at over 220 mph. When it comes to ultra-precision timekeeping, no other watch brand can overtake TAG Heuer.

2010 - A journey into the future of GT Right from the starting line, TAG Heuer has kept level with every breakthrough in automobile speed, precision and design. TAG Heuer has invented timing technology for the most advanced GT cars. Today, TAG Heuer works with the makers of the world’s most glamorous and forward-looking sports cars, from the Audi R8 to the McLaren MP4-12C. The pundits say the future is electric, and TAG Heuer is backing the future again. They are partners with GT producers Tesla, the Silicon Valley entrepreneurs who are already revolutionizing GT technology and creating the cars of tomorrow.

A 100% electric car, that accelerates to 62 mph in 3.7 seconds? It may sound like science-fiction, but the TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster has achieved it. In 2010 TAG Heuer devised, organized and managed the ‘Odyssey of Pioneers’, an epic journey round the world by this groundbreaking GT car. The most energy-efficient car on the planet, the Roadster caught the imagination of the media and created a stir in the world’s major capitals. It was welcomed everywhere by celebrities, and driven in London by racing legend Sir Stirling Moss. On its journey, it helped spread the TAG Heuer message: by daring to innovate you achieve ultimate performance.

2010 - At Le Mans, with Audi Sport TAG Heuer has joined forces with Audi Sport as official partner and timekeeper, and achieved in 2010 a sensational result on the world’s most famous circuit, Le Mans. First, second and third place all belonged to Audi Sport and TAG Heuer. The nine winning drivers proudly celebrated their triple win in customary style, wearing the TAG Heuer logo and sporting Carrera timepieces. Drivers at Le Mans are not only battling against other drivers: they’re in a battle with the elements. By day their eyes need protection from blazing sun. By night they are competing against reduced visibility. Apart from being Audi Sport’s official partner and timekeeper, TAG Heuer supplies Audi Sport with hi-tech sunglasses and night-vision glasses. When one of the winning team’s drivers tested them in the extreme conditions of Le Mans, it enabled the R&D team to refine the technology to the limit. TAG Heuer and Audi Sport - partners in technology, precision and performance.

Mastering Speed for the next 150 years In celebration of Mastering Speed for 150 years, TAG Heuer introduces a diverse selection of timepieces in early 2011 that reference it’s superior involvement in the world’s most prestigious, historic and glamorous motor races. For haute horlogerie connoisseurs more classical in style and historical in taste, the Heuer CARRERA MIKROGRAPH 1/100th Second Chronograph, in a rose gold limited edition of only 150 models, mixes the iconic Carrera with a 1916 Heuer invention, the Mikrograph, which was the first stopwatch to measure 1/100th of a second. And exclusively for the ladies, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Lady Steel and Ceramic Chronograph brings the glamorous energy of Formula One racing to purely chic timepieces. A chronograph larger in circumference than the first Steel and Ceramic watches launched last year, it debuts in four styles, three of which feature diamonds, with either black or white dials and sleek ceramic bezels. The TAG Heuer CARRERA MP4-12C Chronograph, in a limited edition of only 1000 models exclusively sold in McLaren showrooms, takes legendary Carrera style to contemporary extremes, and commemorates the 26-year partnership between TAG Heuer and McLaren Automotive. The first to develop chronographs specifically for sports cars and to break barriers in measuring 1/10,000th of a second digitally and 1/100th of a second mechanically, TAG Heuer is at the top of its game. In the quest for mastering time, TAG Heuer claims over 150 years of innovation-driven history, with substance and style in equal force.

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Shooting Stars Ruth Petre, Wet Paint Photography, is undoubtedly one of Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most talented photographers specialising in wedding and event photography. With a creative eye second to none, and an ability to calm jitters and capture candid, intimate moments without being intrusive, it is unquestionable why Ruth has been enlisted to photograph Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous on their big day. Ruth offers a highly creative professional photography service based on the Gold Coast. Her strengths lay not only in weddings and events, but also portraiture, fashion, media and studio photography.

Contact: wetpaintphoto@aol.com

Ruth Petre

Weddings With Harte If there is a wedding that needs a significant point of difference, one that will undoubtedly be the most memorable moment of your life, the question is who do you call to deliver this? Just ask Sandra Sully, Matt Giteau and Mat Rogers and the answer will be very clear. When you need nothing less than the very best for the biggest day of your life, everything from flowers to fireworks, to penthouses to free flowing French champagne, and you rank yourself up there with the stars, the answer is call Harte International. There may even be a magazine deal in it for you.

Call Harte International on 0410 552 364.

Sandra Sully

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Bianca Giteau

Mat & Chloe Rogers ceremony

Chloe Rogers

Matt & Bianca Giteau with their wedding party

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A True Aussie Icon’s Special Day Sandra Sully, unquestionably one of the most popular newsreaders on Australian television, wed her dream man, Symon Brewis-Weston, in an elegant ceremony in September 2011.

uests were summoned to the fabulous Treasury Room at the InterContinental Sydney for a pre-ceremonial glass of Mumm, with the wonderment and anticipation of where they’d be moved to for this momentous occasion. A cavalcade of Audi Q7’s arrived to whisk them away to the iconic yet appropriate Opera Point Marquee at the Sydney Opera House for the nuptials of the romantic couple. Looking exquisite in her Elie Saab dress, Sandra entered the intimate ceremony at the picturesque location, with Symon waiting for her on the dais. Smiling close family and friends surrounded Sandra as she walked down the aisle, joining her and Symon in this most special occasion.

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“Symon is the best thing that ever happened to me,” says Sandra. “He came into my life at exactly the right moment”. Sharing the same energy, enthusiasm and passion for life and work, Sandra and Symon’s meeting was a serendipitous moment, and they haven’t looked back since. Symon says “We feel as though we have been together forever”.

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Gits Kicks Biggest Goal Rugby star, Matt Giteau, wed his long time sweetheart, Bianca Franklin, in a romantic, sunset ceremony at Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove in December 2010. The pair’s union as husband and wife was sealed with a spectacular fireworks display to a Michael Jackson medley.

earing a stunning Collette Dinnigan dress, Bianca was flanked by her 3 sisters as bridesmaids. Matt and his groomsmen were just as impressively dressed in smart Herringbone suits. The sporty couple invited 110 of their nearest and dearest to celebrate their special day with them. An impressive 5-tier wedding cake was handmade by celebrity cupcake patissiere, Pruenella Drady. The Moet flowed freely as guests danced the night away at the elegantly casual reception to the live tunes of Danny Faifai. Bianca says “I feel so lucky to have married the man of my dreams”.

It was a truly international affair with best man, Drew Mitchell, and groomsman Matt Henjak flying in from France. Phil Harte, of Harte International who staged the event, flew in from Dubai to ensure the nuptials went off without a hitch. The Giteau wedding was a deservedly spectacular celebration!

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Matt Henjak, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Ben Giteau, Justin Giteau

The happy couple with Mat & Chloe Rogers

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Paradise On Earth Vomo Island, the luxurious 5-star Fijian resort, played host to laidback sporting celebrity couple Matt and Bianca Giteau for their weeklong honeymoon after their romantic wedding at Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove. Sand, snorkelling, massages, cocktails and sunshine made for a perfect setting for their memorable, relaxing honeymoon. A picnic on Vomo’s secluded private island, Vomo Lailai, was an absolute highlight for the Giteau’s. Delighted by the locals and the island’s staff, the Giteau’s said it was like having family around, providing privacy when they wanted it, yet everyone was so hospitable and welcoming.

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FORMER WORLD #2 SQUASH CHAMPION

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Newly Redesigned Ross Watson Palms Golf Course Is Now Open For Play

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$9 Million Upgrade Leisure and Corporate bookings of all sizes available

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www.sanctuarycovegolf.com.au LIFESTYLE 81

Golf in Sanctuary Cove Words by: Mark Rix, Chief Executive ‘7 Days’ Dubai

Anybody who has experienced it will confirm that the great outdoors in August in Dubai is generally akin to climbing into a furnace with your clothes on. You have to be pretty resilient to take to the fairways too and this year my wife Zoe and I had the perfect alternative.

olf on Australia’s stunning Gold Coast. In fact, let me be specific here... Golf in Sanctuary Cove, one of Australia’s top resorts and compared to my golfing trips over the years on varying continents, I would have to say, an outstanding location that must surely rank in the world’s best group of exclusive golf properties. Too add to the experience, what was supposed to be winter in Queensland turned out to be a warm trip and was perfect weather for shorts and T-shirts and the odd dab of Ambre Solaire. As guests of Phil and Danielle Harte we had the run of Sanctuary Cove and even their ‘custom’ golf cart was available to us for the short trundle to the Clubhouse at Sanctuary Cove’s very own The Pines and The Palms Courses. My first round was on the ‘The Pines’ which is a par 72, 6682 yard, 18 hole championship course and the beautiful pine forest through which the course weaves, creates an excellent challenge for golfers of all standards. My hopes of getting round this Arnold Palmer signature course on my handicap of 5 were quickly dashed even though I opened with four pars. (Phil had conceded defeat by the third hole and was attempting to hedge his bets with a squash challenge – I don’t think so!).

The Pines 16th

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The Pines is a beautiful setting and demands that your shots are long and straight to avoid the tall pine trees flanking the fairways and also to avoid the watery grave presented by the well placed lakes around fourteen of the holes on the course. As with most club level golfers, we think we hit it longer than we actually do and on The Pines that is fatal, especially on the par 4 6th hole which is probably the most memorable for me. From the tee it appears possible to drive the green across the lake, but resisting that temptation leads you to a 3 or 4 iron to achieve a sensible position for the approach across the lake and bridge. Not to be and the triple bogey here sticks in my mind almost as much as the amazing sights we witnessed around the Course. I had heard that, at Sanctuary Cove, you are literally playing with, and beside kangaroos and other Australian wildlife. Wildlife is an important facet of the Sanctuary Cove community and the health and wellbeing of the animals is focal. Staff and residents have been contributing to the cause for many years. A proud member of Audubon International, Epar and Land for Wildlife, you can literally sometimes walk or drive past kangaroos in their natural environment, and Phil and I witnessed this first hand. On the 17th fairway, there were two large kangaroos only metres away from the Korean gentlemen and his wife in front of us. Quite a spectacle! I finished the long par 4, 18th with a scrambled 4 as the sun set over this beautiful golf course.

Our next outing two days later was on ‘The Palms’ course, another outstanding 5904 yard, par 70 championship track, designed around ancient groves of cabbage palms. The ‘Management’ joined us on this occasion (Danielle and Zoe) and it was a fierce duel of the Rix and Harte clans. Compared to its illustrious neighbor, the prospect from the first tee was more daunting with a menacing lake curving all the way down the right side of the narrow fairway of this par 5 opener. We halved the hole and moved on. It has to be said that The Palms offers greater scope for recovery from wayward strokes due to the absence of the pine trees guarding ‘The Pines,’ however, the bunkers on this recently redesigned course have been cleverly positioned and demand skillful approach shots to the creative, undulating greens. The water hazards on The Palms are again well situated and demand your constant attention and finest play to avoid them. For us, an additional distraction was in coping with the attention of a large population of Kangaroos that enjoy their golf spectating; a larger audience than I am accustomed to. I was too wrapped up in the majesty of the surroundings and quality of the course to notice that the Rix clan had fallen behind with 3 holes to play, it would of course have been rude to embarrass our hosts with victory and we also elected to ignore the creative handicap system employed by ‘Team Harte.’ Needless to say, the trophy stayed in Sanctuary Cove, for this year at least. My bitterness from defeat aside, Sanctuary Cove offers a spectacular and memorable golfing experience for players of all levels and I for one look forward to returning soon.

“The bunkers on this recently redesigned course have been cleverly positioned and demand skillful approach shots to the creative, undulating greens.” The Palms 17th

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Health In Mind Profile: Ryan Fishburn, The Sanctuary Cove Country Club Operations Manager and Personal Trainer.

You never know who you might be rubbing shoulders with during your next gruelling gym workout – it could be anyone from Jon Bon Jovi to singer Pink - to the guy who owns a restaurant in the village and that’s exactly how Ryan Fishburn likes it.

iving healthily comes as second nature to Ryan, who has called The Sanctuary Cove Country Club, home for the past 10 years. “I’ve been here since I left school,” he says.

With more people wanting to adapt to a healthy lifestyle, Ryan says it’s not just physical activity but rather combined with a lifestyle change that will see people’s health increase as well as their general well being.

Initially starting out as a personal trainer, Ryan is now Operations Manager of The Country Club at Sanctuary Cove during the day, as well as finding time to fit in personal training sessions. “I’m still doing 30 hours of personal training a week too, but I don’t see that as work, it’s all part of a healthy lifestyle,” he says with more enthusiasm than you’d expect first thing in the morning but by the time he starts his operations role at 9am, Ryan’s already been up five hours. “I get up at 4am every morning and eat a healthy breakfast before meeting my first client – which is usually at 5am.”

“People these days lead very busy lives so it’s even more important to eat a healthy and well-balanced, nutritional diet – we are helping our clients with plans to ensure they are putting the right things into their bodies in order to help them achieve their goals.” And Ryan says yoga, Pilates and the more gentle forms of exercise have seen an increase in recent times. “These are becoming more popular as it’s low impact on the body. Those with flexibility problems will gain from it as well as those who lead very stressful lives. It’s a really good way to unwind.” For further details please contact The Country Club reception.

Phone (07) 5699 9070 | reception@scgcc.com.au www.sanctuarycovegolf.com.au

It’s this very lifestyle that has Ryan languishing a role he sees as evoking passion for success. “At school I did a bit of trade work in construction but it just wasn’t me, it was too monotonous and repetitive. My mum was seeing a personal trainer at the time and suggested I might try that so I did and I loved it.” Ryan then enlisted to study at The Australian Institute of Fitness while working part-time in the carpark of The Country Club to earn some extra cash. “I was washing cars and doing anything I could and then I got my big break.” Now he’s in a role that has seen the centre develop its premises into an impressive health compound. Already boasting a fully equipped gymnasium, tennis courts, sauna, spa, crèche, personal trainers, massage and natural therapies, now with the newly developed facility, The Country Club also boasts a driving range, practice putting and chipping green, cards room, cafe, restaurant, function rooms, billiards, locker facilities, a six-lane 25-metre heated pool, five new tennis courts, plus yoga studio and weights room. “Since we’ve moved to the new premises, we’ve had 230 new members,” Ryan adds.

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Equity Membership The Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club has recently undergone a major transformation with a new $13m clubhouse and over $9m spent on the improvement of The Palms Golf Course under the expertise of renowned Golf Course designer Ross Watson. The Palms now represents a true golfing challenge with water hazards, bunkers and wonderfully designed greens strategically located to test golfers of all abilities. The Pines Golf Course which holds the prestige of being the only Arnold Palmer designed facility in Australia is still arguably one of the best and most stunning golf courses in Australia. As an Equity Member you will enjoy the amazing facilities including 2 championship Golf Courses, an outstanding Clubhouse with amazing views covering the 18th hole of The Pines, fully equipped gymnasium and locker facilities, 25m heated lap pool, 5 tennis courts, card room and one of the best dining opportunities the Gold Coast has to offer in the Jabiru Restaurant and Lakeview Bar. With a world class marina, shopping village and the exclusive Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove all located only minutes from the golf club, Sanctuary Cove will fill your every leisure or corporate desire.

For further details please contact Membership Services. Phone: (07) 5699 9000 Email: info@scgcc.com.au | www.sanctuarycovegolf.com.au

Corporate Access Program The Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club offers a Corporate Access Membership that is amongst Australia’s most exclusive and incorporates access to two very distinct Golf Courses, an exclusive Golf Clubhouse and The Country Club at Sanctuary Cove. A strictly limited number of memberships is now offered to those businesses which seek the very best in corporate entertainment for themselves and their guests. A membership will be tailored to suit your specific requirements.

Sanctuary Cove Corporate Package Options • Unlimited golfing privileges for each nominee. • Specified number of golf rounds shared between the nominees and unlimited golf rounds at guest rate once used up. • Complimentary cart hire for nominee’s guests. • Full access to The Country Club for each nominee for the duration of the membership including gymnasium, fitness classes, swimming pool, tennis courts and more. • Complimentary function room hires.* • The option of exclusive course hire of The Palms Golf Course. *Subject to availability

For further details please contact Membership Services. Phone: (07) 5699 9000 Email: info@scgcc.com.au | www.sanctuarycovegolf.com.au

Golden Greens Profile: Robin Doodson, Superintendent Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club

There are not too many golf clubs around the nation who can boast two worldstandard 18-hole courses but Robin Doodson, Superintendent at Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club who has made the course a labour of love over the past three years, believes he has.

ith the newly redeveloped 6000m Palms Golf Course receiving rave reviews, Robin says it has more than exceeded his, and the Club’s expectations.

“The Palms is world class. Ross Watson – the Golf Course architect – has done a fantastic job and we’ve had almost 100% positive feedback from our members.” There is an impressive list with over 1200 private members, Robin says Sanctuary Cove has gone from strength-to-strength and when you count golfing greats like Adam Scott – who has a home close to the course and plays the grounds regularly when he’s in Australia – as well as Ian Baker Finch and John Daly playing your course, you know you’re in good steed.

As well as having two of the best courses in one location, Sanctuary Cove has also seen a makeover of the Clubhouse to the tune of $13 million that should see it’s members relaxing in style. “They get two courses, plus the use of The Country Club and practice facilities and this is unrivalled in Australia. We have guests from Sydney and Melbourne who are amazed by the facility we offer here.” So what lays ahead for Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club? Robin says only that things will get better and better. “We are looking forward to really exciting times ahead here,” he says with a warm smile.

“The Pines is actually rated as one of the hardest courses in Australia and is rated very highly on the top 50 courses scale,” Robin adds. Adam Scott has been quoted as saying of the course – which as an AGU rating of 76, ‘When I think of great golf in Australia, I think of The Pines at Sanctuary Cove, a true test of the game’. With his wife and twin four-year-old girls, Robin says he attempts to make the most of his working environment that would be rivaled by many and ensures to play a few holes whenever he gets the chance, “which is probably too often if you ask my wife,” he laughs. As for slower economic times affecting the course’s memberships from increasing at a rapid rate, Robin believes Sanctuary Cove has been slightly insulated from the global affects and while numbers are not growing as steadily as he would like, they are still maintaining an upward spike. It certainly helps that Sanctuary Cove has Equity Membership, Corporate golf days and social play available at the facility. “We didn’t see it as much as other courses might have who are not in an area like Sanctuary Cove. We have now also opened the course up to the public – where we once only allowed private members but there are still guidelines, and a handicap that you must adhere to in order to play the Course.” “I have also worked as project manager on the redevelopment of The Palms, ensuring we achieved the course the club wanted and for a new course, it’s going exceptionally well – especially having only been open six months.” Sheltering from the after affects of Queensland’s horrific floods and weather conditions at the start of 2011, Robin says they were lucky to escape with only a one-week set back on their launch date in April. “We had two years to build the course and the floods only meant it set us back about a week, which in the scheme of things, we were very lucky.”

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Danielle Harte, former World #2 Squash Champion

Family Fitness Words by: Danielle Harte

When asked to put this family piece together, and having written many previous articles, I thought this would be a breeze. Talking about family health and fitness, what could be so hard? For the past 25 years, my entire life has been consumed with health, fitness and performing at the highest level in the sporting arena. From 17, I was part of the Australian Institute of Sport and went on to win many national and international squash tournaments. I lived overseas, scouring the squash circuit for the next win, and at the same time, ensuring I kept in the best shape possible. I ate only the best foods available, and did all I could to be the best that I could be. I thought that was to be my greatest challenge in life. How wrong I was!

I have since become a fully qualified personal trainer and international squash coach. Via these new skills, I have found that I am in the front line every day in advising and consulting to families, to my girlfriends and kids on the importance of health, and leading by example in the household. For those of you that think ‘well it’s easy for her, she’s a sportsperson’ I can promise you I have just as many challenges every single day to keep my kids focused and doing the right thing by themselves (which is by far the most important part).

Getting married 16 years ago, was just the start of big changes to come. Even more challenging was having a family. The introduction of Tayla, now 16 years old, and then Ryley, now 11, made me realise that the greatest task of all is trying to empower your kids with the right philosophies and trying to get them to do the right thing by themselves, their bodies and health and not falling into the majority of unfortunate families and kids that are misinformed, or in some instances, completely uneducated in the field of health, fitness and food.

Having lived in Dubai for the last 3 years, I have been not only amazed but sickened by the level of obesity and diabetes that is rife here in the UAE. Even more disturbing, my home country Australia has been placed in the top 5 obese countries in the world. So what can we do about that? As families, we need to take stock of ourselves, take responsibility, we need to lead our kids every single day. The easy way out is to just turn a blind eye, to say no, to argue and fight, to be challenged by the kids who want to bury their

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heads in some fat and sugar laced heartattack material at local fast food outlets. We know as parents, sometimes the easiest thing to do is give in. With the help of Spartan Sporting Goods, Phil, Tayla, Ryley and I have put together, a fantastic family fitness product that will be available in 2012. It’s literally fitness in a box. Exercise equipment, weights and skipping ropes, something the whole family can take out and experience together. You’ll no longer have to worry about exorbitant membership fees at the health club, worry who’s watching, you’re simply have fun in the backyard or the park. The key to a better life is having Mum and Dad lead the way, and if they’re doing it, it must be good. You’re giving the kids something to aspire to. Next time you’re in the bathroom, or running down the beach and people are looking at you strangely, you might just think that there’s a little bit of junk in the trunk, or maybe it’s time to really do something about yourself.

Danielle Harte, Tayla Harte, Ryley Harte & Phil Harte

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Living On The Edge Words by: Adrienne Porter

After a close shave with death saw singer Jon Stevens evaluate his life and ensure he would never again take anything for granted, a new album and a new love for living has seen a calming inﬂuence take over this former rock god.

e has lived the proverbial life of a rock star for the better part of the past four decades…that was until his rock n’ roll lifestyle – and genetics – caught up with him, giving the talented Kiwi singer one almighty shock. Rock star, singer, songwriter and sometime god of early Australian rock, Jon Stevens says his near-death experience was a cathartic one. “Yeah, it’s a bit clichéd but I guess you could say it was the old wake up call. It’s made me more aware of my mortality. It makes you really wake up and try to be a better person, try to live better and be more conscious of your health and well-being.” This charismatic rock legend’s brush with death came when he was rushed to hospital after his doctor’s hunch led to an MRI. “I’d been quite fatigued all the time. I’d just come home from being on the road and I went for a check up because my doctor who had then insisted on booking me in with a specialist. It was lucky she did or I might not still

be standing here. I was 47, I was past my use-by date for a check up and during the MRI scan they saw that something wasn’t right and twenty minutes later I was rushed into surgery.” That surgery led to a double-bypass heart operation after it was revealed his main artery to his heart was blocked. Any slight excursion would have meant the singer could have dropped dead on the spot. “My dad died when I was 15, due to heart disease and my family have a history of heart issues. He never even got to see me sing. That was really hard, not having my dad. I’ve lived a hard life but I’m also predisposed to blocked arteries, that part is genetic. I sort of felt like he was looking out for me, you know, encouraging me to go and see the doctor because I knew inside that something wasn’t quite right. It was a timing thing and who knows, maybe it was his way of getting in and saving me.” Jon spent the next month in hospital and then a further three months in recovery but it was another year before he could do anything extremely physical. “When I was laid up in that hospital bed one of the only things running through my head was ‘I want to live to see my grandkids’. My dad never got to do that and I want to be able to see them come into the world and share a life of enrichment with these little people when they finally do arrive. I’d like to think I’ve got at least another 20 years left in me yet,” he laughs. His children – a daughter who is 21 and a son, 19, have also vowed to take care of their dad. “I’m very close to my kids, very close. My son raps and he’s awesome at it. He writes all his own stuff and I say to him, ‘Son, be creative. When it comes from you, it comes from the heart. It’s real. Don’t ever be someone else’s parrot.’” But, the singer adds, emphatically, a life of rock stardom is certainly no easy path to tread. “It’s a tough road to hoe. I’ve played at Wembley and I’ve played at the local pub with my guitar and two people sitting in front of me. It’s about the love of music, not the love or want of fame.” Coming from a musical background, raised in the depths of Wellington’s Upper Hutt, in New Zealand and surrounded by plenty of kids and Maori culture, Jon says it was always going to be in his veins. “Dad was a weekend singer. He was Scottish, from Glasgow and mum is a Kiwi. She was always singing in harmony – we had a very strong family connection and music was a huge part of our life.”

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But, he’s quick to point out, not all indigenous families from New Zealand are like those depicted in the socially horrific epic tale Once Were Warriors. “Yeah I saw it a bit, you know there was the odd family like that but they still had a good life. They raised their kids and got on with it. There were always generations of family around. For those with the bigger families – like one had 19 kids – times were definitely pretty tough though.” Realising his love and passion for music, Jon soon outgrew the small sights of his hometown of Wellington and in 1981, had packed his bags and headed for Sydney. Eight months later, the lead singer of Noiseworks was living in the US and fighting off the hordes of screaming fans. “But you know what, no matter where you go – and we are one of the most well-travelled nations in the world, both Kiwis and Aussies – but you will never ever get a better place to live than right here in Oz.” And even after a lifetime of fame, a string of top 10 albums, sell-out concerts and writing songs that span many generations, Jon says it is his latest album Testify (released last year) that has been his most raw work to date. “This is raw, soul blues. The album includes some of my favourite songs. A couple of them I wrote after my health scare – ‘You Can’t Do Anything to Me I Haven’t Already Done to Myself’ – this was about what I went through. It is full of that real raw emotion, that fear of death and mortality. “I’m a lifer,” he adds, cautious not to denigrate those he describes as instant just-add-water pop stars. “I’ve sung all my life but I do think some of these new artists are a little lacking in passion and substance.” Jon, who was once a guest judge on New Zealand Idol, believes some young talent are being exposed to too much exploitation. “I’ve got a lifetime of experience. We had to work hard at it to get noticed, to make it in the music world. We didn’t just go on and win something and then it’s ‘hey, instant fame.’” Although he adds, young Australian Idol talent Stan Walker has got more street cred and talent than most of them. “He is a real talent. A great kid. He’s carving out a career and he has the talent to see it through.” As the sun sets on another year, Jon genuflects on the prospect of living a long and healthy future, filled with healthy living. “For me it’s about keeping breathing,” he says with a heart-warming belly laugh. “But no, seriously, it’s about staying healthy and appreciating how lucky we are to still be on this planet, with the people we love.”

www.jonstevens.com.au www.ralphcarr.com

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SIRIKOI The Classic Safari Company Having spent a night in any one of a number of Nairobi’s character-filled boutique hotels situated in the city’s leafy suburbs, away from the bustling noise and traffic, it is only a 50 minute charter flight from Wilson Airport to the Lewa Conservancy in Kenya’s northern region, home to the world’s largest concentration of endangered Grevy’s zebra and a handful of both black and white rhino. As the black rhino officially succumbs to the list of animals considered extinct, places like the Lewa Conservancy become increasingly important in the preservation of endangered animals that continue to diminish in number and remain the target of poachers.

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n 1983, David and Delia Craig set aside 5,000 acres of their ranch for rhino conservation, and the programme was so successful that as more space was needed, the Craigs made the decision to dedicate their entire ranch to conservation in 1995. The 62,000 acre Lewa Conservancy now comprises not just the Craig’s land, but the addition of land from other owners and national forest. Sirikoi is a spectacular game lodge situated on private land and surrounded by the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, on the northern slopes of Mount Kenya. Set in a shady acacia grove and overlooking a natural waterhole fed from a mountain spring, Sirikoi offers some of the best game viewing in East Africa. Aside from the Grevy’s zebra and the protected rhino on the Conservancy, Lewa has a huge variety of other wildlife with over 70 different species of mammal. Amongst many other mammal species, visitors are able to view elephant, buffalo, greater kudu, oryx, lion, leopard and cheetah. Fantastic views of distant mountain ranges and a beautiful backdrop of snow-capped Mount Kenya provide a perfect setting for game drives and bush walks. Visitors to Sirikoi enjoy evening sundowners in the context of this magnificent setting, and delicious meals are served under the stars next to a roaring fire with the sounds of animals in camp late at night - a truly magical experience. A wide range of activities are offered, including helicopter and biplane trips, horseback riding, bush walks and picnics, and visits to a local Masai community.

“For those visitors who simply wish to stay and enjoy the surrounds of the lodge, the infinity swimming pool and veranda deck are set within extensive lawns, scattered acacia trees and overlooking a natural waterhole where wild animals frequently visit to wallow and drink.”

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You can also enjoy the beauty and solitude of remote and rarely visited destinations in Kenya by flying from Sirikoi to a luxury mobile camp for a night or two. For those visitors who simply wish to stay and enjoy the surrounds of the lodge, the infinity swimming pool and veranda deck are set within extensive lawns, scattered acacia trees and overlooking a natural waterhole where wild animals frequently visit to wallow and drink. There is something for everyone, and for people who are particularly

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interested in the birds of East Africa, the Conservancy is teeming with over 350 species across the diverse topography which includes rolling open plains, hills and kopjes, thick forest, valleys, escarpments, wetlands and rivers. Offering unparalleled hospitality in breathtaking surroundings, Sirikoi is one of the most outstanding lodges in Kenya, where you will be part of a unique African adventure that endeavours to make sure that future generations are able to experience some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remaining stocks of rhino and Grevyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s zebra.

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LEMARTIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CAMP The Classic Safari Company On a continent famous for its other-worldly, luxe safari camps and lodges, lies a camp with a difference.

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he Lemarti’s experience, borne of a dream by Loyapan Lemarti and Anna Trzebinski, offers visitors to Kenya a cultural experience through its ‘Rites of Passage’ safari that concentrates on its interaction with the local Samburu and Laikipiak Masai people. Lemarti’s Camp, located on the Koija group ranch and along the banks of the Ewaso Nyiru River in Kenya’s Samburu region, provides a unique opportunity for people to share a connection with the African bush and an insight into the intimate relationship that the local people have with their environment. Guests quite literally walk into the wilderness with Samburu warriors armed only with their traditional weapons, their sharp senses and generations of knowledge. These gentle tribesmen will talk with you about their ways, connect you with amazing wildlife and take you into a moment in time that is both authentic and other worldly. Game viewing, guided walks, tracking big game on foot, ornithological treats, camel trekking, high altitude running, and authentic cultural experiences that are unparalleled in Africa today, all await. Be included in the community of Koija, visit the women's groups, get an invitation to a local homestead, harvest honey with the elders on the river banks and attend secret ceremonies in the area. The emphasis at Lemarti’s is on walking, usually during the cooler early morning hours or late in the afternoon. Camels regularly bring sundowner drinks to walkers late in the day, and dinner under the stars and bush breakfasts are regularly hosted. The camp itself is an unforgettable safari hideaway in Kenya’s breathtaking Northern Laikipia Plateau, and in one of the last frontiers of virgin wilderness, lies a series of luxury en-suite tents nestled in an oasis in a spectacular setting beneath a grove of palms and centenary fig trees. The camp is designed and built by Anna with unbelievable attention to detail, and this stylish retreat has been nominated for a number of design awards. The tents have been designed to impact minimally on the environment, and the camp is without network coverage making it a peaceful and relaxing experience.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Guests quite literally walk into the wilderness with Samburu warriors armed only with their traditional weapons, their sharp senses and generations of knowledgeâ&#x20AC;?

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THE CLASSIC SAFARI COMPANY The Classic Safari Company offers tailor made, unique journeys to Africa, India, Latin America and the Indian Ocean Islands. Our safari specialists have a genuine passion for travel, the wilderness and the creation of the perfect safari. Our journeys are to places people thought they could never go. We partner only with the premier safari camps, lodges and boutique hotels who offer exceptional hospitality, professionalism in the fields of guiding and conservation and who deliver an authentic wilderness experience. Our unmatched skill in arranging safaris to the world's exotic destinations assures you of the highest quality adventure and sophisticated, expertly crafted itineraries. Est. 1992 - Celebrating our 20th Anniversary Ph. +61 2 9327 0666 W: www.classicsafaricompany.com.au

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African Dreaming Kenya Airways seeks to be a partner in the sustainable development of Africa. In order to service this mission, the airline has embarked on a plan to interconnect Africa and connect Africa to the world through a robust route and ﬂeet expansion plan.

nterconnection of Africa is about opening up the continent, an emerging market, to global opportunities by facilitating the expansion of trade in goods and services as well as investment through transport and communication. Over the past one year, the airlines route map has seen the addition of four key African destinations. These are South Sudan’s new capital city Juba, Luanda in Angola, Northern Mozambique’s hidden gem Nampula and Kenya’s coastal town of Malindi. Driven by a continuous effort to meet customer needs for increased business and leisure travel, the airline increased frequencies on various routes. Kenya Airways now has triple daily flights to Kigali and Johannesburg, while Lagos, Accra, Bujumbara, Douala, Dubai, Addis, Free Town, Harare and Lusaka got additional flights

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respectively during the course of the year. The local market has also benefited from renewed focus with 2 Boeing 737-700’s currently dedicated to service the Mombasa route. Dubbed the ‘Mombasa Shuttle’, this service now offers 10 flights daily during the week and up to 12 flights over the weekend to the popular coastal resort. Outside Africa, the airline commenced flights to Muscat in Oman thus offering more options for passengers to the Middle East. The commencement of flights to Rome was an apt way to conclude the year 2010. Kenya Airways now offers three flights a week to Rome, its fourth destination in Europe and a major source market for tourists to Kenya. The signing of code share agreement with Qantas of Australia also provides more convenient connections for our customers.

“Kenya Airway’s robust route and fleet expansion plan continues to make headway”

To support this increase in destinations while maintaining efficiency, Kenya Airways took possession of 5 new aircraft last year. This included 2 Embraer E-170’s and 2 Boeing 737-300 jets. With the delivery of an Embraer E-190 in December 2010, the airline’s fleet count now stands at 31 aircraft with advanced plans for additional aircraft to be delivered in 2012.

an intensive use of non motion training devices and equipment in initial and recurrent training, prior to training in a full motion environment. Kenya Airway’s operates daily flights between Bangkok and Nairobi and 3 flights per week between Hong Kong and Nairobi with connections from major cities in Australia and New Zealand.

Optimal Service Delivery remains at the top of the agenda for Kenya Airways and this is the driving force behind continued investment in staff training and development. The KQ Pride Centre is a world class facility where the airline’s staff receive regular training. The Centre recently took delivery of a flight simulator making Kenya Airways the second airline in sub Sahara Africa to have its own such facility and placing it at par with many other developed nations. The device will support Kenya Airway’s pilot training program. The concept is based on

Kenya Airway’s codeshares daily with Qantas between Sydney and Bangkok to connect daily between Bangkok and Nairobi. This offers passengers a very convenient and efficient way to travel to Africa. Kenya Airways fares are very competitive and flexible and offer many combinations in conjunction with airline partners Qantas, Thai Airways and Cathay Pacific. One of the more popular routings includes travel ex-Australia to Nairobi via Johannesburg in one direction and Bangkok or Hong Kong in the other.

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With the strength of the Australian Dollar, there is increased interest from Australian passengers wanting to experience the magic of Kenya and Africa in particular the extraordinary annual migration of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle across the Serengeti Mara ecosystem. Kenya Airways today serves over three million passenger annually and flies to over 56 destinations worldwide â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 43 of which are in Africa. The airline covers over 70% of Africa continent. For enquiries, please contact Kenya Airways on 9767 4310 (Sydney metropolitan) or 1300 787 310 (toll free) or email sales@kenyaairways.com.au

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Kenya Kenya is is famous famous for for itsits wide, wide, open openspaces. spaces. Kenya is famous for its wide, open spaces. Amsterdam Amsterdam Amsterdam London London ParisParis London RomeRome Paris Bamako Bamako DakarDakar Rome CairoCairo Bamako Guangzhou Guangzhou Dakar Cairo Guangzhou Jeddah Jeddah Lagos Lagos AccraAccra Dubai Dubai Hong Hong Kong Kong Abidjan Abidjan Jeddah Accra Lagos Muscat Muscat Dubai Hong Kong Khartoum Khartoum Abidjan Djibouti Djibouti Bangkok Bangkok Mumbai Mumbai Yaounde Yaounde Muscat Freetown Freetown Douala Khartoum Douala Djibouti Bangkok Mumbai Yaounde Addis Addis Ababa Ababa Freetown Douala Kisangani Malabo Malabo Kisangani JubaJuba Addis Ababa Kisumu Kisumu Libreville LibrevilleKisangani Malabo Juba Entebbe Entebbe LamuLamu Kisumu Libreville Kigali Kigali Brazzaville Brazzaville Malindi Malindi Entebbe Nairobi Nairobi Lamu Bujumbura Bujumbura Mombasa Mombasa Kigali Brazzaville Malindi Nairobi Zanzibar Zanzibar Bujumbura Mombasa Kinshasa Kinshasa Dar es Dar Salaam es Salaam Seychelles Seychelles Zanzibar Lubumbashi Lubumbashi Kinshasa Dar es Salaam Seychelles Luanda Luanda Lilongwe Lilongwe Lubumbashi Ndola Ndola Lusaka Luanda Lusaka Lilongwe Mauritius Mauritius Gaborone Gaborone Ndola Lusaka Harare Harare Mauritius Maputo Maputo Gaborone Harare Maputo Johannesburg Johannesburg Johannesburg Australia Australia Australia

NewNew Zealand Zealand New Zealand

Discover Discover the the world world with with Kenya KenyaAirways Airways Discover the world with Kenya Airways To book To book special special combination combination faresfares withwith Qantas, Qantas, Cathay Cathay 1BDJmD 1BDJmD and and ThaiThai Airways Airways ex Australia ex Australia call call youryour AFTA AFTA licensed licensed travel travel agent agent or call or call Kenya Kenya To book special combination fares with Qantas, Cathay 1BDJmD and Thai Airways, Airways, Sydney Sydney PGmDF PGmDF (02) (02) 97674310 97674310 or or Airways ex Australia call your AFTA licensed travel agent or call Kenya Airways, Sydney PGmDF (02) 97674310 or

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VOMO Island Celebrity hide-out We can see why guests love Vomo; it’s only a 3-hour flight from Australia and New Zealand and the laid-back and relaxed nature of Fiji suits the Australasian personality perfectly, all the while Vomo gives guests from the Northern Hemisphere a real taste of privacy and unspoilt idyllic luxury.

ecause Vomo is such an idyllic and private escape, many recognisable Australasians have visited Vomo’s shores. Elle Macpherson, international businesswoman and supermodel spent a fortnight on Vomo and loved every minute. Barefoot and with her trademark long hair loose, she was able to enjoy the very best of a tropical holiday without the usual crowds of her European and Caribbean haunts. She said, “I chose Vomo because it is the perfect getaway - a genuine slice of paradise that combines luxury, natural beauty and privacy in one of the most beautiful places in the world. To be able to snorkel and swim from the doorstep of my villa allowed me to relax and recharge.” Vomo’s reputation stretches far afield as during the recent Rugby World Cup held in New Zealand, the island’s history as Fiji’s Royal Island was reiterated with the arrival of a very special royal couple. Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco visited Vomo for a private dinner in The Residence and after enjoying Vomo’s excellent cuisine they stayed on to watch the RWC2011 semi final between France and Wales. After spending the night on his luxury yacht the party returned the next day to sample the excellent snorkelling surrounding Vomo. Another sight to behold was swimming giant Ian Thorpe in the resort pool. Despite the fact that his arm span was shockingly close to spanning the width of the pool, his gentle giant nature was on display as he gave the children lucky enough to be holidaying at the time some tips in the pool before he challenged them to a few races. He thoroughly enjoyed the peace and quiet of Vomo. Fiji has long been an adored destination for rugby union players and both Matt Giteau and John Eales visited Vomo in the same year. Matt enjoyed a week on Vomo celebrating his honeymoon and the end of long, hard seasons with the Brumbies and the Wallabies. It clearly did the trick as shortly after such a glorious honeymoon Matt and Bianca have embarked on their next big challenge, a baby. Matt told us, “The honeymoon on Vomo was absolute paradise”, and that their beachfront hammock was their favourite place on the island.

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John Eales came to Vomo and was impressed with the food, the beach and the enthusiasm the staff have for footy! Joining the staff for a run around showed there was no dulling of this Wallaby great’s skills and naturally it was all the staff talked about for weeks. Eales said, “The 5.30pm scenes on Vomo are duplicated throughout the islands and villages of Fiji and for the Fijians, it is not the fact that they play touch rugby that matters most, but how they play it. After playing onetouch-touch, my vocabulary expanded. I quickly learnt the word for forgiveness, vosota; “Vosota, that was a bad pass”, “Vosota, he was my man” – “Vosota, I think I’ve torn my hamstring”. Miss Universe and the face of Myer in Australia, Jennifer Hawkins went to Vomo to shoot a swimwear catalogue for her range, Cozi. She charmed guests with her relaxed manner and huge smile and enjoyed a few extra days on the island after all the work was done with her now-fiance, Jake Wall. Emerging Hollywood talent Teresa Palmer spent a week relaxing on the island preparing for an international press trip to promote her movie, ‘The Sorcerers’ Apprentice’. A brief period of stormy weather at the beginning of her stay meant massages and afternoon naps were de rigeur and she quickly embraced the laid back welcome she received from the staff. The Vomo staff made such an impression that Teresa said, “I felt really immersed in the Fijian culture. The standout thing for me was how beautiful they are - the nicest, kindest people you will ever meet”.

Elle Macpherson I chose Vomo because it is the perfect getaway - a genuine slice of paradise that combined luxury, natural beauty and privacy in one of the most beautiful places in the world. To be able to snorkel and swim from the doorstep of my villa allowed me to relax and recharge. Vomo quickly became one of my favourite holiday destinations - and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been fortunate enough to visit some of the most stunning beaches and islands in the world.

Elle Macpherson

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a small but perfect tropical paradise surrounded by coral and teeming with fish and marine life. I also fell in love with the gorgeous Fijian people who live and work at Vomo. The simple but elegant villas scattered along the beach provide privacy for every guest and a luxury escape from the rat race.

Other Celebrity Guests

Teresa Palmer

Prince Albert II of Monaco

Jennifer Hawkins

Matt Giteau

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Greed Reaps Havoc Words by: Phil Harte

I am the ﬁrst to say that I’m unqualiﬁed to give a true, accurate and informed report on the current economic crisis that our world faces. But, I can take the view that I am just as scared and concerned as the average Joe, the family breadwinner, or the business man trying to make ends meet on a daily basis...

he guy who has a mortgage, bills and school fees to pay each month. The guy who has the responsibility to make ends meet, and to create a future for his family, but more importantly, for his kids.

Having spoken to many hundreds of students over the past several years, I have continued to be concerned at not only the state we’ve put ourselves in, but the naivety of these students who simply assume there’ll be jobs and opportunities waiting for them on the passing of our greatest ever recession. How many of you, of late, have been called up by financial advisors offering up fabulous and once-in-a-lifetime-money-can’t-buy offers, or quick fix ways of making cash, incredible returns on investment and banks that are offering deals that are just too good to be true. In most instances, they ARE simply too good to be true. I have taken a position to say no to every single one of these offers. I have gone back to simply consolidating and placing cash or ready funds into short-term, interest bearing deposits into a bank that I feel is the best of a bad bunch. I think as a community we’ve lost all trust in any financial institution to have them at least tell the truth. The desperation that is showed by investment bankers and individuals who are representing institutions, and who – let’s be frank – only survive on bonuses or commissions, create such confusion in the marketplace that we don’t know which way to turn.

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Property developments are still continuing to sell off the plan, when often there is, in fact, no plan. To see this in its glory, take a trip to Dubai, and you can talk to many hundreds of scarred individuals who have been deceived, written off, led up the proverbial garden path, and are teetering on bankruptcy. These people are families who have the challenge of starting all over again and starting again in a recession that really has no end in sight.

“The very idea of ‘capitalism’ in its current form is being challenged with Occupy Wall Street protesters bringing focus onto the widening gap between the rich and the poor” Then let’s look at Europe, whose currency is supposed to underpin the largest economy in the world. And then we have countries such as Greece where their people refuse to pay taxes, where there are massive flaws in their own systems, and are ripping off family and friends on a daily basis. It’s astounding that a country of 10 million has a debt of over $100 billion and a stunning 36% of youth unemployed. Then there’s the Italian economy, which has been one that has been on a gentle slide for many years, and is now about to come crashing down.

However, in Australia, it could be argued that those who have managed to keep their jobs, are potentially in a better situation than before this global crisis. Mortgage interest rates are dropping, putting more dollars in the pocket and many more retail stores are offering their goods on genuine sales earlier than before. However, if the media is to be believed, Australians shouldn’t be so smug about the strength of their economy, and that when the rest of the world sneezes, Australia will catch a cold.

We don’t have enough time or pages to talk about the dire straits that America today is in. Americans have been walking away from homes, families and their livelihood; their dollar is terminal. The very idea of ‘capitalism’ in its current form is being challenged with Occupy Wall Street protesters bringing focus onto the widening gap between the rich and the poor. US Senator Bernie Sanders is quoted as saying “Class warfare is being waged in America today – the problem is, the wrong side is winning. In America now you have the most unequal distribution of income and wealth of any major country on Earth, with the top 400 wealthiest people owning more wealth than the bottom 150 million Americans.” Something has to give.

I am always inspired by examples of where adversity is the mother of invention. In this restrained climate, consumers are more actively seeking greater value and clever entrepreneurs are responding. The explosion of online shopping is testament to that. Greater consumer confidence in this new medium of purchase has given birth to a myriad of online shopping experiences. We still want our stuff, but we don’t want to pay too much for it. The flip side of this particular coin is that it is putting retailers under increasing pressure. The demise of the Borders book store chain is an example. The response by Gerry Harvey, in a case of “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” launched just before Christmas, Harvey Norman’s own direct import website to take advantage of GST-free sales for overseas purchases which sells video games at much cheaper prices than Harvey Norman stores. So what does this mean for my 16-year-old daughter when she asks what her future holds for her? In 2013, she’s expected to leave school and assume a career of some kind. As her Father, and someone who is trying to provide and a person who thinks they have always had an appropriate solution to a problem today, I’m not so sure. I see many opportunities, but also many warning signs.

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Deﬁning Dubai Words by: Mark Rix, Chief Executive ‘7 Days’ Dubai

Running a daily newspaper anywhere in the world puts you right in the thick of things and Mark Rix, Chief Executive of the United Arab Emirates’ most popular English language daily newspaper, ‘7DAYS’ talks to Classic Lifestyle Magazine about doing business and living in this exciting Middle Eastern city.

hen I arrived in Dubai in January 2009, the global financial crisis had just turned up in Dubai too. An interesting phenomenon followed, with friends and family back home regularly texting or calling during the next 12 months to ask “Was I OK”, a response to reports they had seen or heard that Dubai was in trouble. Apparently, millions of cars were abandoned at the airport as people fled the country and tumbleweeds were blowing up and down the highways. Dubai certainly felt the effects of the crisis. Which economy escaped that?

The reality was and in some cases remains, that most commentators had never even been to the Middle East, let alone Dubai and whilst certain major projects were inevitably delayed, governments and businesses around the world were forced to re-examine their operations and make sense of the changing environment. For some it has spelled the end and for most it has resulted in leaner, more focused organisations with a global business community that is less inclined to indulge in reckless speculation and underpinning this is more efficient regulation and transparency in financial markets. Despite this global turmoil, Dubai pressed ahead and completed the construction of the World’s tallest Tower, the Middle East’s first railway system, Dubai Metro was launched, the biggest shopping mall on the planet opened its doors, Emirates Airline continued to invest in its fleet whilst its competitors suffered, Dubai’s international airport opened a stunning new terminal and everyone of my sixteen visitors since has been overwhelmed with Dubai and what it has to offer.

The UAE is the only Arab country to appear in the group and joins nations such as, Japan, Australia, Canada, United States of America, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, United Kingdom and Singapore. Consider the aforementioned iconic buildings such as the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, the city’s stunning transport infrastructure including the Dubai Metro railway system, the phenomenally successful Emirates Airline and continuing growth of Dubai’s International Airport and Al Maktoum Airport, world class shopping malls and hotels underpinning a vibrant, growing tourism sector and a host of global sporting events, from International Rugby 7s, International sailing, European Tour golf, ATP Tennis championships, World FINA swimming championships and World Cup horse racing – to name but a few. An impressive list and yet only partially representative of a city that never fails to inspire with its unique architecture gracing the Dubai skyline, to the traditional wooden water taxis ferrying residents and tourists alike across the Dubai Creek (for only 1 Dirham). As an expatriate with 2 years experience in Dubai, I can testify to the many benefits of living and working in this city and indeed the wider United Arab Emirates. Unlike most cities on the planet, there is virtually no crime, the country is a gateway to the world and served by the best airlines, the tax free status remains an outstanding draw for foreign workers and the weather is pretty good too !!

In his 2008 book Dubai & Co, Aamir A. Rehman comments that “Dubai captures international attention because of its open business environment, fast-paced development, media savvy and assertive global ambitions and Dubai has quickly become the region’s economic hub, but it is not stopping there – it is also rapidly becoming a leading business player on the global stage.”

The man behind the emirate’s success, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, states on his official website: “The global financial crisis, despite its temporary effects, will not dissuade Dubai from its ambition of development; it will not topple Dubai from its leading position; it will not distance Dubai away from playing an integral part in the Global economy; and it will not break the determination of our people to continue the process of development.”

The Global Competitiveness Report 2010-2011 published by the World Economic Forum has ranked the United Arab Emirates (UAE) 25th in the world for competitiveness, with the UAE being included for the second year in the third and most advanced stage of ‘Innovation-driven economies’ which includes the highest-ranking countries, classified on the basis of their adoption of factors that promote innovation in economic development.

As with most things in life you have to experience it first hand to know the truth. This is a beautiful city that offers an unforgettable experience to visitors and residents alike. Whether visiting for business or pleasure, a warm welcome awaits in Dubai.

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Mark Rix - Bio: • British, Born in Liverpool UK – 46 years old • Joined Royal Navy at 16 (1980) • Emigrated in 1982 to South Africa – trained and qualified as a gold miner – worked for Anglo American mining • Returned to UK in 1984 and began a career in newspapers • Appointed Managing Director of Manchester Evening News in 2005 • Joined Daily Mail & General Trust Plc in 2008 • Appointed Chief Executive Officer of 7DAYS in Dubai January 2009 • Married to Zoe • Holds an MBA from Salford University Business School UK • Studying Arabic language at Eton Institute of Languages for last 18 months

7DAYS WWW.7DAYS.AE

MONDAY OCTOBER 11, 2010

NEWS:

LIFE:

page 5

page 14

Iraq casualty count higher than reported

DUBAI

Mark Rix

SPORT:

Vettel gets Korea boost in title bid page 22

Dubai Fashion Week struts into town

SCHOOL ESCAPE IS CHILD’S PLAY BPA Audited

Education authority alerted as four-year-old found wandering streets after strolling out of class

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into how a four-year-old boy was able to walk out of a Dubai school right under the noses of staff. Aiden Elsayed was found near a main road after strolling out of class at the American International School (AIS) in Al Qusais on the first day of term. His parents have pulled him from the school and made a formal complaint to Dubai’s education regulator, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). A spokesman for the KHDA confirmed: “We have received a complaint and we are investigating as a matter of urgency.” Aiden’s mum, Minerva Elsayed, claims her son had been missing for 45 minutes before she

SAFE NOW: But Aiden was able to walk out of school on his own

By Nichola Jones received a call from a stranger saying they had found him. She said: “We had dropped him off in class and by the time I got to work I had a call from someone who could barely speak English asking me if I had a son. I had no idea what was going on, I felt sick.” Her husband rushed to collect Aiden and confronted staff. Minerva said that Aiden, who wears an identity tag bearing his parents’ contact details, told her: “I wanted to tell you I love you. It was easy. I just walked out when the teacher wasn’t looking.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

7DAYS is the most popular English language free daily newspaper in the United Arab Emirates and is part of the UK based Daily Mail and General Trust Plc media stable.

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Viva Las Vegas As the world continues on its recovery effort to lick the wounds left by the GFC crisis of 2009, Las Vegas – a city known for its predisposition for lavish luxury and utter excess – begins the long climb home to the glittering success of its heyday.

hen you think of Las Vegas, you conjure up images of lavish parties, rock star lifestyles, extravagantly excessive spending, the finest champagne, dripping gold from head to toe, maybe a hangover or two and gambling…lots and lots of gambling. And this has always been the case, well right up until 2007 – the year Las Vegas and MGM Resorts International in particular was lavishing in its success of one of the best year’s in the casino’s history. Hollywood has even shown a distinct favouring of the glamorous casino haven, as the set for many of this past decade’s blockbusters. But then that three-lettered word changed everything. The GFC. It struck with an almighty force and the first place that took it straight to the heart was the home of excess…Las Vegas.

Chris Bond

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Chris Bond, Executive Director of Sales at New York-New York Hotel & Casino says it will be a while before the city is all the way back to living up to its usual name of the city that never sleeps. But, he says, Las Vegas is finally showing signs it’s on the rebound. “We’ve had a very good year this year. Convention rooms are up 20 per cent and room revenue is up 35 per cent,” he says of what he terms his ‘boutique’ 2024-room hotel.

“Next year is already well ahead of pace and our booking window for groups is pushing out further. It is a steady and healthy increase from last year. Those larger groups’ budgets are increasing,” he adds with relief.

And it’s a stark contrast to what his company was relishing four years ago. “Whether we can ever go back to the glory days of 2007 remains to be seen. That’s at least another four to five years away. There are certain factors that may not allow us to replicate that time,” he says.

Because of the global economic crisis, expenditure on lavish luxury as well as marketing and functions is the first place companies will cut back. “When things were really tough, people were requesting to project their presentations onto a wall, as opposed to purchasing a screen. Things were being cut back left, right and centre.”

While the hotels and casinos of Las Vegas rely heavily on the citywide expos of consumer electronics and heavy machinery conferences – a time when the city is virtually booked out – Chris says these also need to steadily increase to aid in the recovery of the city. Even though they see events that are the lifeblood of the city trickle through in the form of the various rodeo nationals, top name concert events and title fights that also bring the city to full capacity, “We need more of these type of events to keep momentum going,” he adds.

For a city whose reputation relies largely on an over-the-top party scene, Vegas still has a great value rating – rooms are relatively well-priced, there is a plethora of shopping, dining and entertainment venues and of course a non-stop carnival atmosphere. “Now we are beginning to see the economy turn around for Vegas, resort-wise. Whereas before we had a lot of fear and anxiety and while unemployment here is still higher than the national average and there are still foreclosures on mortgages and it’s been extremely stressful for a lot of families, we have weathered the worst of it. We won’t recover immediately, it will still take some time but the future is less bleak than before.”

But, says Chris, optimism is key in successful revenue increases and Chris believes his hotel and casino group as well as Vegas itself, can see a light at the end of the tunnel in terms of economic recovery. “There have certainly been days where I’ve said to myself, ‘I hope I still have a job to go to in the morning’ but we’ve ensured MGM Resorts International has maintained in the black. The opening of CityCenter and the Aria Resort – the largest of its kind in the country – at times could have been the cause of failure but it has been a pillar of our company’s success. We have the finest collection of properties in Vegas and hopefully will one soon day see a return to the high-flying glory days we are known for.”

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What Happens to us? Words by: Tayla Harte

Imagine you’re in the mall, every store has a brand name or a label; Gucci, Chanel, Prada, Dior - everything and everyone is labeled. Even in school’s you are labeled, your appearance is what you are & people seem to judge you on this more than who you really are and what you have to offer as a person.

riendship groups known as “cliques” define you in school. You have your preps, nerds, emo’s, druggies, burnouts, jocks and you always have the popular students. When we watch movies about American high school’s we see a lot of things that we think aren’t actually going to happen in high school; people in cliques, people getting bullied, people getting in gangs hurting and killing people, people failing in school because of families divorcing and abusive things happening to people. The sad fact is that the majority of what we see in movies is actually true…

50% of girls between 8 and 14 are dieting due to the way they are treated or labeled in school. In a recent study, 77% of students said they had been bullied. I am also part of that study. I was bullied for how I looked, then for my personality. Your personality should be what matters the most to people, shouldn’t it? That majority isn’t always the case. Being bullied in school lowered my self-esteem yet pushed me to be a stronger person and to be able to say “NO” and “enough is enough”. But sometimes people just crack and can’t deal with it anymore. In 2003 – 2004, 24,087 students were hospitalized in Australia for self-harm and in America the number was a staggering 3,000,000. In December 2008, my family and I moved to Dubai. This was a massive shock to me because it wasn’t as if I was moving schools or suburbs or states, but moving to a country I had never heard of! We arrived to Dubai just when the global financial crisis had hit Dubai. Apparently, hundred’s of cars were abandoned at the airports as people were forced to flee the country due to being made redundant. It seemed hard to believe that Dubai was in trouble at first because loads of new buildings were still in progress of being built. It wasn’t until I started school that I realized that Dubai had been hit quite badly. 15 students were forced to leave in January alone because their dad’s had lost their jobs.

Tayla with her life friend Miranda Tanner

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Over the few years that I have lived in Dubai I have learnt many life changing things and met some amazing people. Being in an international school absolutely changed how I am. Being “different” was a good thing; everyone is from different cultures and backgrounds, which made everyone unique. People accept you for you. I mean yes, there are people that you don’t get along with in school but you can’t get along with everyone. The challenges that teenager’s faces in Dubai are similar to what you face in Australia but with serious consequences. The drinking age is 21 in Dubai, whilst in Australia it is 18. In Dubai if you are buying alcohol you must have an alcohol license and if you are caught drinking under age, you get thrown in jail for a minimum of a month and possibly deported, depending on your age.

I’m now 16, going on 17 in April, and its been three years since I first moved to Dubai. It’s extremely intimidating thinking about universities, where I want to go after school and what I want to do with the rest of my life. Everyone has their own ambitions and goals but we all want to know if that’s enough to survive in life. The price of living is increasing rapidly and no one is hiring. Businesses aren’t hiring people with university degrees because it doesn’t set people up for the real world of business. Where do we go after school and universities? The bigger question is; what happens to the students that come out of university and school and the global economic crisis is over and there still aren’t any jobs available? Who will help then?

The driving age is 18 in Dubai instead of getting your learners in Australia at 16. You can’t get a part time job in Dubai because you have to have a working visa so therefore teenagers always have to ask their parents for money. The smoking age is 20 in Dubai instead of 18 in Australia and if caught underage in Dubai you get fined 5 thousand Dirhams (approximately AUD$1500). Couples that aren’t married and have sexual relations and get caught, go to jail for adultery and then get deported. When I was 15, my close friend died in Dubai – he sniffed solvents (butane) at a party, was punched in the ribs and his lungs collapsed. The ambulance couldn’t save him…I was in Australia when that happened. I didn’t really know what to think or say for a long time when I found out. I really learnt the value of friendship when my friend passed away. His sister and family still struggle with the pain of his death a year later, they are very strong people. Anton was a great and caring friend. RIP Anton.

Tayla with her friends on a school trip to Poland

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WORLD MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION

Spartan Sporting Goods Ph. 02 4297 4700 www.spartansports.com.au

S even D e a d l y Si n s In last year’s publication we threw the spotlight on greed and corruption. This year we introduce you to the mother of all indiscretions and the profile of one Mr Sepp Blatter, whom has now been classed as a repeat offender, embroiled in many of the deadly sins, specifically that of greed, corruption, misappropriation, and one of the worst, insulting us all by having us believe that he actually knows what he’s doing, when he in fact he has been hoodwinking the larger community for far too long. We also introduce the despicable conduct of the International Olympic Committee by highlighting their pathetic treatment of one of Australia’s finest sporting heroes, Peter Norman. And finally, we showcase the incredibly excessive life of Kim Kardashian, a celebrity gorging herself on the pathetic needs of the docile and gormless paving a career with utter disregard for class or style. We decided not to revisit ‘Jailing the Pope’. As you would have seen over the past 12 months, this despicable individual and his cronies have continued in their ways. There is no doubt that the so-called almighty should, and we hope does, have the last laugh.

Disclaimer The content of this article purely presents the opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the publisher.

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WTF Words by: Phil Harte

I recall in 1964, having my pants pulled down, and my mother giving me the biggest hiding of my then short life, and threatening to make me walk up the street with my pants down. At the time, I didn’t really understand the reaction the word would cause, only that it was something I had never said before, and there was a delicious sense of ‘danger’ about it. My mother considered the utterance of that world equal to a national crime.

ast forward to today, and that word is well and truly in mainstream use. We can thank Hollywood for that – the harbingers of our modern culture. Although I have never heard my mother utter the word – and I’ve given her plenty of reasons to use it – our society appears to have a grudging acceptance of its use. What was once frowned upon and completely taboo and outrageous has today become about as beige as First Bloke, Tim’s trousers. In a sense, because we are constantly bombarded with it, many of us have become quite desensitised to it. In an episode of ‘A Can of Worms’ this year, Backyard Gardener, Don Burke, went on national television and said how much he embraced, no “loved”, the use of the word in his everyday vernacular. Whilst it was clearly offensive to Jessica Rowe, one of the other show’s guests, Don let fly with various uses of the word, to demonstrate how thoroughly it helped him to communicate. Don’s view was that the word helped men to bond, and that until this modern age of equality of the sexes, swearing was segregated from women. I regard it as being one of the most dramatic, exciting, demeaning, creative forms of expression that exists in the English language. It can be used in ways that no other word can.….to fight somebody off, to lather praise on a friend, to congratulate, to ridicule, to threaten, to express surprise, anger, fear or frustration, or to boast… it is in fact a quite remarkable form of expression. As a word in English, it is one of the few that has legitimate colloquial usage as a verb, adverb, adjective, command, conjunction, exclamatory, invective, noun and pronoun – all that with just four letters! The simple question that one asks of this scandalous expression is where did it all come from, where did it begin, what was the inglorious beginnings?

and Anglo-Saxon texts in the 1500s, and also in the Germanic languages; and there are some ‘scholars’ of the word who believe the English word of today is most likely a derivation from the Germanic languages. You may have heard that the word is an acronym made up from various words, such as ‘Fornication under the consent of the King’ or ‘For unlawful carnal knowledge’. It is amusing to think that married couples in Old England had to obtain royal permission during the Black Death in the Middle Ages, to join in matrimonial harmony, and if this truly were the case, the King would have little time to do anything else. I also put it to you that the dictionary definition of ‘fornication’ is “consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other” – so this acronym is an unreliable source of the etymology of the word. Another legend is that the word comes from Irish law and relates to adultery. A couple found committing adultery would be punished ‘For unlawful carnal knowledge’ and the acronym would be written on the stocks above them to denote the crime. It seems unlikely that the word ‘for’ would be included in the acronym, if indeed this were the case, as other crimes such as thievery would not have been described as ‘for stealing’, rather they were shown as ‘thief’. In any respect, there are very little recorded uses of acronyms before the 20th century, which sways the evidence that the word is not an acronym but rather derived from the Germanic languages such as German ficken; Dutch fokken (to breed, to strike, to beget); dialectal Norwegian fukka (to copulate), and dialectal Swedish fokka (to strike, to copulate) and fock (penis). The word is well and truly in our language and it is here to stay. Let’s stop ‘freaking well frigging about’ with the word. For many, it has a time and a place and it can make you feel good to use it. Just don’t let my mother hear you say it!

There does not appear to be any definitive original use of the word, although there are many ‘urban legends’. There are early references in Latin

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Snouts in the trough given the Ground Hog Day treatment Words by: Phil Harte

I take great pleasure in shining the torch on indiscretions and scurrilous criminal activity from individuals that we, as a community, largely despise. In our last edition, our 7 Deadly Sins article ramped up the wattage on those corrupt thieves on the International Olympic Committee who, for many years, have not only been deceiving the general public, but discrediting world sport as we know it. There is a plethora of stories and accusations backed up by absolute fact regarding these individuals but bizarrely we, the public, still continue to tolerate these liars and corporate criminals – things will have to change.

he message seems not to be getting through, and it might well be a general perception that individuals on their own are powerless to create change for the better – but they can. Just look at the other side of the coin – just look at what damage individuals are doing.

Literally weeks after our last years Classic Lifestyle Magazine was launched, my attention was drawn to arguably one of the most distasteful and despised individuals of world sport: Sepp Blatter, the chairman of FIFA. He should be called Mr Teflon. If charges can’t be proven against him of criminal acts of bribery, corruption and misappropriation, he should certainly be charged with blatant stupidity and incompetence. Mr Blatter and his cronies have continued to drive the sport called ‘THE WORLD GAME’ into the gutter. After widespread calls for reform following allegations of sleaze surrounding the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, awarded to Russia and Qatar, any reasonable person would have assumed the Chairman would take responsibility and step down. It is beyond belief that the FIFA Board voted him back to the top position again. The crime or the mistake is not him holding the position in the first place, it is the continuing support of the Board of this unworthy individual, and by their very actions put themselves under a cloud. This guy’s been doing the wrong thing, over and over again, to the life-threatening damage of this wonderful world game. Why do we, the public and the players, tolerate this?

Mr Blatter goes to great lengths to assure the public that there is no discrimination in world football, and that everyone is equal. Why then did FIFA award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar; a country that discriminates with law against homosexuals. One of the more cringeworthy moments was when Mr Blatter was questioned as to how fans of the game, who were homosexual, could fully participate in the World Cup. His response was that “they should refrain from having sex”. If the idiotic comment wasn’t bad enough, it elicited school-yard giggles from the gathered media. This gaffe, followed widespread criticism he received a few years ago from his comments on how to make women’s football more popular. His thoughts on that? Women should wear tighter shorts. And now, just recently, furious back-pedaling from Mr Blatter after he caused an absolute uproar that that there was no racism in football, and that players involved in any racist confrontations on the pitch should settle their differences with a handshake at the end of the match. It was only after he was thoroughly lambasted in the media and many calls for him to step down that he again had to apologise for his comments. Is it only now, when major sponsors are considering distancing their precious brands away from the thoughtless and hurtful comments of Mr Blatter and the scandal-ridden FIFA, that Mr Blatter pledges to clean up FIFA’s act – of course, without him stepping down. As in his own words, “Why should I?” Quite simply, the man does not learn. Grasping for some positive media, it was reported that Mr Blatter invited the 88-year old, Henry Kissinger, to head up a ‘Solutions Committee’ to help clean up the sport, but to me is simply smacks of cronyism. Sepp Blatter is clearly, by definition, an idiot. He continues to be an embarrassment on the world stage, yet continues to enjoy the Board’s support. As the old saying goes: the fish always rots from the head.

Sepp Blatter

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A Salute To A Worthy Australian Words by: Phil Harte

Whilst sitting on yet another long-haul ﬂight, I came across one of the very few movies I’ve never seen and never heard of. Not being able to ﬁgure out what it was about, I took a gamble and watched ‘The Salute’. The gamble paid off as I spent the next two hours totally engrossed in a fascinating story about three athletes who changed the face of sport forever.

t the 1968 Mexico Olympics, the final of the Men’s 200m was run. Tommie Smith from the US won the race in a world-record time of 19.83 seconds, with Australia’s Peter Norman second with a time of 20.06 seconds, and the US’s John Carlos in third place with a time of 20.10 seconds. Many of you will remember what happened on this historic day when both Americans on the podium, upon the playing of the American national anthem, raised their fists wearing black leather gloves in a traditional ‘Black power’ salute (although Smith wrote later in his biography it was a ‘Human Rights’ salute). All three athletes wore OPHR badges (the Olympic Project for Human Rights). The organisation was established in October 1967 with the aim to protest against racial segregation in the US and elsewhere (such as South Africa) and racism in sport generally. As Norman was a critic of Australia’s then ‘White Australia policy’ he supported the organisation.

Incredibly, Australia’s most successful Olympic male track performer, Peter Norman, was not included. The Australian organising authorities overlooked Norman as being involved in any way with the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He was, however, eventually part of the event after being invited by the Americans when they heard that his own country had failed to do so. As I watched this movie unfold, I was going through an incredible sense of pride, disgust, exhilaration, disappointment and shame. Peter Norman passed away on 3 October 2006 from a heart attack at the age of 64. The US Track & Field Federation proclaimed 9 October 2006, the date of his funeral, Peter Norman Day. Thirty-eight years after the three made history, both Smith and Carlos gave eulogies and were pallbearers at Norman’s funeral. Norman’s values are truly Australian values, and today Australian sports of every code actively embrace anti-racist and inclusive values. Peter Norman is an athlete Australia should be proud to claim and venerate. I urge you to find this movie and watch it. I also urge you to write to the Australian Olympic Committee and insist that we, as a nation, somehow never forget Peter Norman.

The astonishing part of the movie wasn’t the political statement by the athletes. I was fixated on the lone Australian caught up in this. No Australian has ever run faster than Peter Norman over 200 metres. However, because of small-minded and shortsighted committees of the Australian Olympic movement, his achievement has not been recognized for more than 40 years, and incredibly he has been ostracized. In 2000, when we had the opportunity to showcase this great country of ours, in what has been remembered as the ‘best Olympics ever ’, the Australian Olympic Organizing Committee walked out the historic holders of Olympic glory: Betty Cuthbert, Dawn Fraser, Suzie O’Neill, Ron Clarke, Murray Rose, and the list goes on.

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Peter Norman

U.S. athlete Tommie Smith won the 200m race in a world-record time of 19.83 seconds, with Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Peter Norman second with a time of 20.06 seconds, and the U.S.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s John Carlos in third place with a time of 20.10 seconds

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Shake Your Money Maker Words by: Phil Harte

Ten years ago, the name Kardashian would barely have been recognisable – except for the fact that one Robert Kardashian (deceased) defended OJ Simpson at his murder trial. Fast forward a decade or two and there’s barely a soul on this earth who hasn’t at least heard of the Armenian-American clan. With everything from perfumes to bag collections, to more spin-offs of reality TV shows than Survivor, jewelry collections and gym shoes – the Kardashian family has built an empire from its name and fame.

rom phony weddings to alleged phony charity visits to impoverished and ravaged nations, Kim Kardashian has had to go into overdrive to defend her slowly tarnishing image. Even goddess of TV herself, Oprah Winfrey, jumped on the anti-KK bandwagon labeling the reality TV star a “phony” because of her recent trip to Haiti – reportedly as a charity endorsement. Winfrey and Kardashian were both in Haiti – Oprah to film an episode of her new talk show “Oprah’s Next Chapter” and Kim for charity events with ‘We Advance’. According to the National Enquirer, Oprah slated Kim for using the trip to rebuild her own image for her own selfish ends rather than for real charity work. The Enquirer also claimed Kim spent a fortune pampering herself, insulted Haitian people and attended fashion shows in luxurious settings while Oprah joined Sean Penn at his camp for internally displaced persons from the earthquake of January 12, 2010. In November 2011, I was commissioned to partake in a wellness and lifestyle feature in Dubai. At first I declined purely through workload, but when I was given the brief, that Kim Kardashian was to be the topic of conversation I couldn’t help but take the opportunity to vent my disgust on this serial media offender who unfortunately many of our youth and desperate housewives have embraced.

The article previously written was one where Kim K was planning a comeback on her ability to lose weight. She then proceeded to blame Dubai and New York for gaining the kilos.

“The final slap in the face that I think should teach viewers at large was the outrageous thought was that her marriage to Kris Humphries could have been real in any way” Over the time we have tolerated not only her uneducated stupidity and her unappealing features, but we now have to suffer her entire family and the fact that they’ve chosen to ambush viewers with their pathetically staged lives and relationships, played out in front of millions. And these relationships are one that, in my opinion, no sane male would never enter in to. In fact if you woke up in the morning having been on a date with any of them, there’s no doubt you’d be tempted to chew your own arm off. The final slap in the face that I think should teach viewers at large was the outrageous thought that her marriage to Kris Humphries could have been real in any way. As if it wasn’t completely masterminded by this group of misfits! But Kim, you’re not on your own. If you are that desperate that you watch reality television, you probably continue to poke yourself in the rear with a stick and listen to the ramblings of Kendra, Hugh Hefner’s ex-bunny, who again is a talentless and pathetic excuse for a celebrity. Don’t get me wrong when I say I don’t condone anyone taking advantage of celebrity. When it starts to impact on kids and the desperately stupid, who sit back in awe of these reality buffoons, and think that they’re cool, is when I get a tad pissed off.

Khloe Kardashian, Kylie & Kris Jenner, Kourtney & Kim Kardashian & Kendal Jenner. We have somehow, over the years, managed to survive the blatant stupidity, talentless and disgusting conduct of one Paris Hilton that has left a dirty and caustic mark in the community. Then we’ve had the unfortunate misfortune to then be poisoned further by this dysfunctional family, night after night after night.

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My heart actually goes out to Bruce Jenner, who’s married to the mother of the Kardashian clowns. Not many people actually know that he won a gold medal for decathlon in the Montreal 1976 Summer Olympics. He must have fallen on his head at some point, as he has not realised how incredibly pathetic he in turn now looks for being involved with this group.

Kim Kardashian

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St. Michael’s Golf Club Words by Phil Harte

It’s 1995 and I have just completed a major squash event, the World Outdoor Squash Pro-Am. I’m then called from one of our sponsors telling us how wonderful the event was, and asking if we’d be interested in putting on their annual corporate golf day. Being absolutely guilty of saying yes to any task, irrespective of the expertise or knowledge of the subject matter, I meet up with them to discuss their needs.

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t was at this meeting that I realized that I really had no idea about running a corporate golf day. The client rambled on about an Ambrose, a shotgun start, Scramble, and all different terms that were quite foreign to me. Rest assured, it took me 48 hours, a cup of tea with my father (a regular competition golfer) and a couple of other enthusiasts and I became an expert in no time. The challenge then was where we initiated ourselves, where we ran the gauntlet and rolled the proverbial dice… Where would we run our first golf day? I went wandering around a few courses, and made a few calls, and wound up at La Perouse, having a coffee at the Clubhouse at the St. Michaels Golf Club, a picturesque golf course on the Botany Bay peninsula. We locked in the pricing and the schedule, and before I knew it, I was committed up to my eyeballs. I realized quite nervously that I had to do this. Much to my surprise, it wasn’t that hard. The average golfer plays rain, hail or shine. As long as he gets a bag of golf trinkets, a BBQ and a few cold beers, everyone seems to be relatively happy.

The day turned out to be something quite extraordinary. We ended up sending the winning 4 first class to LA, to be guests of the fabulous Pebble Beach course in Carmel, plus brand new set of Taylormade golf clubs and a mobile phone. I was quickly reprimanded by the PGA of Australia for infringing on their amateur status. To this day, I still can’t quite come to grips with the amateur status rule, so I opted to tell them what I thought of their rule, issued the prizes, and here we are now, 16 years later, with some thousands of golf events under our belt, in over 22 countries around the world, and staging the world’s most successful corporate golf series, the Qantas Global Classic. It’s even more ironic that I’m writing this article sitting at the ‘new look’ St. Michaels with its newly refurbished Clubhouse, and more importantly, it’s significantly highly experienced and professional team, headed up by none other than Murray Watts, the General Manager. I ran into Murray many years ago when he was looking after the famous Australian Golf Club. Murray comes with some incredible pedigree, but more importantly, he’s one of those very rare golfing entrepreneurs and gets the importance of the corporate golf dollar, and doesn’t see this as a necessary evil, but sees it for what it is and

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that is the life blood of golf courses around the world. The corporate golfing dollar has become an absolute priority to sustain necessary cash flow and keep the clubs out of bankruptcy. St. Michael’s has established its niche in the corporate golf market by consistently delivering a complete corporate product that will tick all the boxes and exceed the expectation of your business partners, clients and guests. So if you’re thinking about putting on a day that will be one of those memorable corporate outings, St. Michael’s is undoubtedly the place to do it. I can absolutely guarantee you that your guests will be talking about it for a long time after they finish at the 18th.

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“Our wedding day was a complete success, and we thank all the staff at St. Michael’s Golf Club for hosting one of the best days of our lives” LIFESTYLE 154

Weddings at St. Michael’s Golf Club A little over 3 years ago the Board and management team at St. Michael’s reviewed the organisations business plan and the usage of the clubhouse. Perched immediately over the coastline of the Pacific Ocean and the Botany Bay National Parkland and watching the 4 month migration cycle of the majestic Humpback Whale – we decided to do two things; find a professional and eager Head Chef and put together a Wedding package difficult to knock back. Peta Goodwin (Functions Manager) was employed at the Club at the time and tenaciously stepped forward and said “Leave it to me, I will make it work”. Now, 3 years on, 35 weddings per year – finalist in the Australian Bridal Industry Academy for Function Coordinator, Club Reception and Ceremony Venue 2010 / 2011- Peta really has the Club’s success at heart.

“From the moment that we inspected the St. Michael’s Golf Club, we knew it was the venue for our wedding day. For us, we were taken with the exceptional value of what the Romance Package offered compared to what we had seen shopping around Sydney, and the reception room with its amazing ocean and golf green view was spectacular, so the decision was easy. After we booked, we were astonished at Peta’s constant calm and patient assistance with whatever requests or changes we had. My husband and I wanted a hassle-free day, so we also decided to have our ceremony on the golf course as well and we are so glad we did. The weather was superb and the golf buggies taking us to the cliffs enabled us to have exceptional photographs we will treasure forever. Our wedding day was a complete success, and we thank all the staff at St. Michael’s Golf Club for hosting one of the best days of our lives.” Best Wishes, Shallan & Michael

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Grass Roots PROFILE: Murray Watts, General Manager, St Michael’s Golf Club.

You would be forgiven for saying Murray Watts, General Manager of St. Michael’s Golf Club, has green blood running through his veins – because you wouldn’t be far from the truth. Having held a long love affair with the green – which spans over 25 years – Murray has made golf courses not just a passion but a lifestyle, getting in at the grass roots of an Australian golfing lifestyle.

olf is a major part of my life. When I haven’t been raising teenagers and working long hours, I try and play at least once a month,” he says. Those teenagers are an 18-year-old son who has opted for soccer boots rather than golf clubs and a 15-year-old daughter who have kept him on his toes. “And when I’m not playing golf, my other passion is surfing. It’s really good to clear the head. I’m up at 6am every morning and try and get out to Maroubra when I can or if I’ve had a stressful day, I’ll go in the evening. Gives me a chance to wind down,” Murray says with a laugh. For the past three years, Murray has been part of a team of great golfing specialists leading St. Michael’s into a prosperous future, including Rick Buckley; President of the Club who he says has pulled the Club into great success with the course upgrade, keeping it ahead of the game.

But in times of tough economic growth across the board, he says its initiative that will keep them ahead of the rest. “It’s hard not to be dollar-oriented, we try not to concentrate on that, but in this climate it’s difficult. The tradition of golf clubs has always been member-oriented and non-profit but you need to be smart with the dollars while still remaining compliant.” Compliance means maintaining St. Michael’s as not just a golf course but also one of bush conservation – a large obligation when leasing land from the crown – it must maintain a park environment. “We are replanting Windsor Green couch - a hardy grass that performs well by the sea. We want to bring it back to what it once was. Couch grew naturally here, so we’re getting back to that, it’s environmentally friendly because it requires less upkeep.” Keeping members happy while encouraging growth has been a priority at the Club. “We’ve experienced a change in categories of members,” Murray adds optimistically. “Our members remain the same but we’ve diversified. Golfing

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is still strong even at times like these – and especially at St. Michael’s. Our superintendent is a greens expert and if the greens are good, ultimately, people are satisfied.” Part of the Club’s diversification has been introducing a weddings and functions facility. “We’ve upgraded and built areas to hold these types of functions. You can hold your ceremony on site, then golf carts can take you to the cliff faces of Little Bay for photographs – it’s a beautiful and picturesque package,” Murray says. “And we have Peta Goodwin in charge of functions, she does an amazing job of ensuring these occasions come together seamlessly.” And what do the members think of this new venture? “They’re absolutely supportive of the venue being utilised for these types of functions.” It’s also part of the Club’s curriculum to encourage younger members to the course. “We have 50-70 keen young members in the under 21 category who are coached by John Serhan and Jeff Wagner, who is also involved in mentoring them. The club has been very successful in encouraging these young players to reach their potential. They get not only support from their coaches and families but also from the board who recognise the importance of filtering talent through the Club.”

79 CITIES. 22 COUNTRIES. 1 AIRLINE. ASIANA Fly 5 star. Fly easy. Fly ASIANA. Get more with 2010 Skytrax ‘Airline of the Year’ service. When it comes to travel to our World, come to ASIANA AIRLINES and experience the incredible comfort, entertainment, cuisine, and award-winning passenger service that has set the standard throughout Asia, and the world. And now, with even more destinations, no matter where you’re going to, the numbers always add up... to ASIANA. The global airline in Asia.

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For reservations see your AFTA licensed travel agent or call ASIANA Reservations on 1300 767 234 Number of destinations based on April 1st, 2011 and can be changed.

Head to the High Country TERRACE DOWNS

Imagine a place where towering mountains descend to crystal clear lakes and burbling rivers; where tussock rolls into sweeping plains and the only disturbances to the peace are the sounds of the wildlife and wind rustling though the trees; a place where time stands still and the only pressing item on your â&#x20AC;&#x153;to do listâ&#x20AC;? is to be pampered.

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errace Downs Resort is such a place. A New Zealand icon, it is the ultimate luxury and leisure retreat. With a passionate team and inspirational leadership, the resort welcomes visitors from all over the world to experience this truly magical piece of New Zealand paradise. Perched beside the spectacular Rakaia River in Canterbury, New Zealand, Terrace Downs Resort boasts both stunning gorge and alpine views. Terrace Downs is truly unique. Its facilities are first class, the service is unrivalled and its natural beauty lends itself to an exceptional experience in every season. Catering to guests of all ages, the resort features luxury accommodation, three on-site dining options offering exquisite cuisine, and together, with a selection of resort-operated leisure and adventure activities, Terrace Downs is the ideal starting point for a memorable day trip in to Canterbury’s High Country. Just a 50 minute scenic drive from Christchurch International Airport, the resort is reached by an effortless drive which showcases the famous Canterbury Plains and breath-taking New Zealand rural and alpine scenery. On arrival at the Resort, guests are treated to expansive views of the Southern Alps, the championship 18-hole golf course and manicured Resort grounds. Whether you stay a day or several at the resort, your experience will not only treat you to opulence and luxury but also introduce you to a special part of New Zealand and true Kiwi hospitality. When Mother Nature formed the contours of Terrace Downs, little did she know that she provided the foundations for the perfect golf course. The resort’s 550 acres of pristine high country are set against the spectacular backdrop of the Southern Alps - creating a course that is as picturesque as it is challenging. This combination is not seen in any other part of New Zealand and with a clean green image and rural tranquility in mind the course reflects the peaceful environment and dramatic surrounds. Designed in part by internationally renowned golf architects, Sid Puddicombe Associates, Terrace Downs is rated one of the top courses in New Zealand, and is surely on the “must-play” list of any discerning golfer. Terrace Downs offers an interesting golf test:, players will remember every hole, use every club in their bag, and eagerly anticipate the next day’s play. The 18-hole, par 72 championship course features four different tee positions for the enjoyment of players of all abilities. At a length of 6,440m, the golf course includes 11 lakes and 70 bunkers, providing plenty of challenges to test even the most experienced golfer. The golf course is complemented by a generous driving range and short-game area, as well as world-class services including a large fleet of electric carts, high quality standard and executive hire clubs, shoes and trundlers. The spectacular Clubhouse features a full-service proshop.

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In addition to the stunning golf course Terrace Downs offers a full range of onsite activities including archery, clay bird shooting and horse treks so you will not need to worry about how to pass the time. An excellent selection of fun on and offsite activities are available for all guests and offer great corporate incentive experience options through to team building solutions for any group retreat. Taking advantage of the location, the activities go hand in hand with the High Country lifestyle Terrace Downs encompasses. Close by, is the Terrace Downs Discovery Jet, great for jet boat tours of the intricate Rakaia River or for day trips fishing for salmon or trout; there is a long list of beautiful native bush walks, mountain bike tracks and challenging short hikes. The access road to Canterburyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading commercial ski area, Mt Hutt, is located only 20 minutes from the Resort or the slopes can be reached in just a few minutes via an NZ$85 heli-taxi transfer.

meeting spaces are available at the Resort and can be tailored to meet the requirements of each group. Each room offers great break out spaces ideal for workshop sessions throughout the day. Offering a variety of unique and conventional style meeting spaces, Terrace Downs prides itself on hosting enjoyable and entertaining conferences and the team is committed to delivering exceptional experiences for all groups who visit the Resort.

Also close are the idyllic Canterbury club fields, Craigieburn, Broken River, Temple Basin and Mt Cheeseman to name a few, as well as Porters Ski Area, offering the steepest off-piste runs in the Southern Hemisphere.

Terrace Downs also offers a range of beautiful wedding ceremony locations on site that not only present unsurpassed views of the Canterbury High Country but also offer the grandeur and opulence of the Resort grounds and facilities, ideal for stunning wedding receptions! The Resort combines tranquility, stunning photographic vistas, luxury accommodation, gourmet cuisine, and sophisticated service for a perfect wedding venue. The Spa at Terrace Downs is another superb onsite facility. Located among four hectares of manicured grounds overlooking the championship Terrace Downs golf course, beautiful lakes and the stunning Southern Alps, The Spa basks in a setting like no other.

Terrace Downs has spent the past 10 years developing a well regarded profile in golfing circles, and is now making waves within the Conferencing and Incentives industry. A variety of conference and

The treatments offer benefits for balancing chakras and the energy centres of the body, in addition to deep tissue massage. The main products used in The Spa, HARNN and THANN, were specifically

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chosen for their scientifically proven beneficial properties, their world renowned qualities and their respect for Mother Nature. HARNN’s and THANN’s approach focuses on restoring and maintaining the natural balance through the use of botanical extracts with inspirations from traditional herbal medicine. They rely on active ingredients from plant extracts and essential oils to counter the effects of stress and pollution from urban lifestyle. Terrace Downs is the ultimate leisure retreat and in true form to its Kiwi roots, the resort is passionate about supporting all sports. Terrace Downs is home to possibly New Zealand’s most picturesque rugby and soccer fields and has hosted boot camps and games from grass roots level right through to the All Blacks. When the air is still and the sun is shining, there is no better location to embrace the landscape and enjoy the sports field facilities. There are also two onsite tennis courts, a cricket pitch and a small cardio gym, a great place to wind down while overlooking the 10th hole of the pristine 18 hole Golf Course, before hitting the well-appointed and truly luxurious shower and changing facilities. The Terrace Downs Resort continues to flourish and develop. The unique and luxurious destination offers investment opportunities at a level currently unavailable in New Zealand. The developments have been given a new lease on life in recent months, and with an exciting 2012 planned, Terrace Downs is motivated to become one of the world’s finest. More at www.terracedowns.co.nz

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The George, Christchurch Australasia’s Leading Boutique Hotel 2010

Overlooking picturesque Hagley Park and Avon River, award-winning luxury boutique hotel, The George is the ideal base in Christchurch for the discerning traveller. The only Christchurch hotel with a one-to-one staff to guest ratio, The George embodies all the attributes of supreme comfort, with a reputation built on personalised service, attentive staff and two highly acclaimed restaurants.

Member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, The George has an international reputation as one of the best hotels in New Zealand, which its numerous awards will testify: Travel & Leisure World’s Best Hotels Survey #1 City Hotel in NZ 2010; World

Travel Awards NZ’s Leading Boutique Hotel 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010. World Travel Awards Australasia’s Leading Boutique Hotel 2010; Condé Nast Traveler (US) Reader ’s Choice Awards #2 City Hotel in NZ 2009. A Qualmark 5-star rated hotel, The George

has also obtained Envirogold status for its commitment to Caring Luxury. Impeccable service in an intimate ambience is guaranteed at The George, just steps from the cultural precinct and key attractions as well as a myriad of enthralling boutiques.

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Where East truly meets West Words by: Phil Harte

Our travels over the years have taken us places that I was thinking would be hard to top. We have always heard the old adage where ‘East meets West’. As we took off from Seoul, our Asiana ﬂight found us over the Himalayas and descending through to Istanbul, Turkey. You sometimes sit in amazement as you gaze outside your window at about 30,000 feet and drift off mesmerised at what you see. As we were descending, it became quite apparent that we were at ‘that’ spot where East did actually meet West. From the shores of Turkey, we could literally see the shores of China.

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Asiana Airlines commenced services from Incheon International Airport to Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport in March 2011 to cater for commercial, religious and leisure interests of the Koreans. This has benefited the Australian leisure and VFR (Visiting Family and Relatives) market as Turkey has great significance for Australians due to the World War 1 battle at Gallipoli for which the ANZACs received praise and everlasting admiration from the Turks and a large Turkish community. In remembering our fallen and the pilgrimages back to Gallipoli each April for many of us, Australians have fallen in love with the country and its people and as a result are now using their holidays to tour and enjoy the marvellous sights and tastes around Turkey. For 5 days, we took an amazing guided tour throughout some of the most historical landmarks and incredible pieces of history, starting in Istanbul with the Blue Mosque and the Sophia mosque, the grand bazaar, the spice market, cruise Bosporus and ancient water reservoirs. We were lucky enough to be invited to the latest hotel in the European market, the fabulous Park Hyatt Istanbul. As we were chauffeured through the back streets, past the mosque, we pulled up at what is currently renowned as Europe’s latest number 1 hotel. That seems quite a hefty statement, but it was far from an overstatement when we were taken up into a suite that was something quite amazing. It swept half of the top floor, had 3 bedrooms, 60’ plasma screens in each of the rooms and our own Turkish bath. The one thing that really stood out, and as I’ve said we’ve seen most trappings, this suite had its own steam room. Danielle was also able to enjoy a personalised refrigerator set aside only for her make-up. It was touches like this throughout the suite that really were something different, things we’ve never seen before. Once outside of Istanbul there are the ruins of Aphrodisias, Ephesus, Lyceum Tombs, amphitheatres in nearly every town or village, there is Olympos and the eternal flame and Phaselis with ancient Roman tiling then onto seaside resorts like Kusadasi, Bodrum, Kas, Feythiye, Oludeniz. Then there is Cappadocia, land of the Fairy Chimneys, a landscape carved by the elements to form chimney like structures that in the distant past Christians dug into and made secure places of residence to escape the marauding armies. In fact, locals still live in dwellings dug out of the cliff faces today. As I’m sitting in Dubai penning this, our heart goes out to the community of Istanbul post the last earthquake and we all hope there’s not much damage done throughout this historic haven. The world truly needs this piece of history to stay with us for many years to come.

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Asiana Airlines operates a Boeing 777ER three times a week from Incheon to Istanbul and has a range of competitive Business Class and Economy Class airfares. Itineraries to Istanbul can be combined with the other Asiana European destinations, being London, Paris and Frankfurt so Asiana passengers have the opportunity of touring not only Turkey, but other parts of Europe as well. For the past 5 years, Asiana has been awarded a 5-Star ranking from Skytrax and earlier this year was named as the airline with the Best Economy Class product of any airline. Recently, Asiana Airlines introduced two new services as a result of recognising the needs our young families travelling - the “Happy Mom” Service which is for passengers travelling with infants and the “Pre Mom” service making travel for pregnant women easier and more comfortable.

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Your Ideal Stay at Park Hyatt Istanbul - Maçka Palas

Experience the relationship between old and new displayed throughout the hotel and encounter what we call “unexpected pleasures” of the Park Hyatt Istanbul – Maçka Palas.

Reservations +90 212 315 1234 or istanbul.park.hyatt.com

Superior Skies Award-winning airline Asiana pips its competitors at the post as the South Korean-based company continues to offer luxurious inﬂight comfort, coupled with entertainment and service in a class all of its own. Airline travel has become commonplace for those who want to experience the world at the drop of a hat, while taking in a vast array of different cultures, scenery, food, leisure and landscapes while being able to relax in comfort. But not all airlines are the same, for some there is a whole new level of comfort and class, superior to that of its contemporaries and it is for this reason, Asiana Airlines has been awarded the World’s Best Airline. Offering world-class business class seating, service and refreshments as well as entertainment, Asiana demonstrates a level of airline travel that has given it a world class status. With flights going into 22 different countries, 68 cities and over 80 different routes, Asiana Airlines offers an unparalleled superior service of air travel which has been recognised by their recent announcement of awards, including taking out Global Traveller magazine’s Airline of the Year award in June as well as being awarded Skytrax World Airline Awards’ Best Cabin Staff and Best Economy Class Awards. And with the announcement also came a Grand Slam for Asiana who are now the world’s first airline to win Airline of the Year from three major awards for three consecutive years and in doing so have raised the status of the local airline industry to the world. Asiana Airlines President and CEO Young-doo Yoon has proudly welcomed the company’s prestigious achievements. “With the management philosophy of customer satisfaction, all of Asiana staff joined hands in which Asiana was able to win the Airline of the Year award for three consecutive years. This achievement has never been accomplished in the history of the airline industry. We will return this

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gratitude to our customers by the best of services and safety which suits the reputation of the Golden Grand Slam airline,” he says. And it’s not just local interest in the airlines awarding of accolades, with American influential daily newspaper The Wall Street Journal also commenting, ‘So many travel awards, but who’s the best,’ and praising Global Traveler Magazine’s rigorous judging criteria in a highly-competitive market. Of awarding Asiana with its most prestigious bestowal, Global Traveler believes Asiana has ‘excelled in the category of onboard service and flight attendants for many years, due to the unique inflight services.’ And far from the norm of hot towels and a packet of nuts, Asiana includes a carefully designed array of entertainment for all who choose to fly with the luxurious carrier – including magic shows, makeup services, onboard chef services and even sommeliers. “The upgraded cabin facilities and customer oriented service are examples of the differentiated and high-class characteristics of services which have been highly recognized to win the award,” comments the magazine. With six flights running from Sydney to Seoul every week, including stopovers in Incheon, Asiana’s Boeing 777 aircraft offers a superior flying class. Their business class seating offers the ultimate in privacy with capsule style seating that reclines to 161 degrees and has a pitch of 60 inches, with a seating configuration of 2, 3, 2, business class seats also have a satellite phone, facsimile and PC power outlet.

Continuing their commitment to its passengersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; service and comfort, Asiana provides a warm blanket, writing instruments, as well as simple medical supplies. And for the long-distance traveler, an amenity kit containing high quality cosmetics and other essential travel items including earplugs, slippers, and eye coverings are also available. The food and beverage service in business class for a European meal includes entrĂŠe, salad, main course and dessert followed by cheese, fruit and crackers, and these dishes are each accompanied by fine European and American wines and spirits. While the Korean meal includes Bibimbap - a tradition Korean meal of vegetables, rice and accompliments (assorted marinated vegetables) along with miso soup. While superior service and luxury are paramount, the airline has also shown its commitment to a safer, greener world becoming the first carrier to obtain the ISO14001 (Environmental management system) certification in 1995, and defined the environment as a matter for decision-making based on ISO140001. Consequently,

To prevent environmental pollution, Asiana has established an environmental policy and objectives in detail, and implements them in order to minimize pollution. As the noise and exhaust gases generated by the aircraft operation are an important issue, Asiana maintains and operates Stage III engines only, which comply with the noise regulation criteria set by the IATA (International Air Transport Association) for all operational aircraft to minimize noise and exhaust emissions. Accordingly, each team implements the environmental management program continuously in order to manage the environmental impact, and improves the program by management review after internal and external inspection once a year. With style, customer service and innovative entertainment programmes constantly evolving, there is every chance Asiana will continue to dominate the airline market year after year with its superior success.

Asiana Airlines recognises the social responsibility for environmental pollution prevention besides the fundamental objective of the company â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the quest for profit.

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Reservations • 1300 767 234 • au.flyasiana.com

Flying The Flag Asiana Airlines is proud to be the ofﬁcial carrier for the 2015 Presidents Cup Golf Tournament in Korea.

n a coup for both Korea and one of its leading airlines, Asiana Airlines will fly the nation’s flag as the official carrier for the President’s Cup Golf Tournament in 2015. This will be the first time the tour will be held in Asia, with the nation’s golfing greats Choi Kyoung-ju, Yang Yong-eun and Kim Kyung-tae in great steed to represent their proud country. General Manager for Asiana Airlines Sydney, Kinwan Kim says he is extremely proud to be associated with this event. “This is a fantastic opportunity for both Korea, and for Asiana Airlines to be representing and hosting such a prestigious sporting event,” he says. “We are very pleased to offer the world’s top golf players who will come to this event, the award-winning pleasure of flying with our carrier, Asiana Airlines.” As one of the golfing world’s most revered tournaments, the Presidents Cup pits American players against a team of international golfers representing non-European countries in match play over four days. “The growth of the game in Asia is well documented,” says PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem. “And the fact that we have three South Korean players on the international Presidents Cup Team this year illustrates the strength of golf in that country, which is only going to get stronger in the next four years. Each Presidents Cup has been bigger and better than the one before, and I’m confident South Korea will serve as the perfect stage for the event when it enters its 21st year.”

Under the rotation system, the competition is held alternately between the U.S. and a non-European nation each tour. And while the tournament has previously been held in Australia, Canada and South Africa, Korea now has its chance to step up to the fore. But while there are a number of possible courses for the South Korean venue, Finchem says the tour has “a number of options” for the South Korean venue, the specific course will not be announced until the first half of next year. South Korean women have dominated the LPGA Tour for years, but male golfers have also made strides. Yang famously edged Tiger Woods in the final round to win the 2009 PGA Championship, becoming the first Asian to win one of golf’s four majors. And Choi won this year’s Players Championship, called the “fifth major” as the most lucrative PGA tournament. And this may prove to be the perfect opportunity for Korean players to shine as their entire nation – and the world – watches on. Last year, Kim Kyung-tae became the first Korean to win the money title on the Japanese tour and although he’s not yet a full-time PGA Tour member, Kim is ranked 24th in the world.

General Manager for Asiana Airlines Sydney, Kinwan Kim says he is extremely proud to be associated with this event.

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Eutility Saving time, energy and profits Clients of Eutility all have one objective – to reduce and manage energy running costs. The story behind the company is a classic example of evolving to suit the climate, and in doing so, carving out and dominating a niche.

haun O’Hare has built on his family company, established by his father in the 70s under the Professional Energy Services brand, shifting the focus from management of electricity, gas, and telecommunication costs to today’s mission of “full management of energy to Australian firms, inclusive of procurement, reduction of usage, using government subsidies as well as carbon neutral accreditation”. “The deregulation of the electricity industry forced me to change the direction of the company,” explains Shaun. “We diversified in to energy management at a time when global warming and sustainability became topical and pertinent to businesses. We happened on a niche market and now we have contracted client expenditure over $2 billion, 3,000 large market clients around Australia and offices in New Zealand and the UK.” Eutility, positioned as the “utility cost savings champion”, is signing up 100 new large market customers a month, and the activity is only going to increase, forecasts Shaun, in the lead up to the introduction of carbon pricing from 1 July 2012.

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“The energy market is extremely volatile and competitive, which impacts on pricing. As energy costs are usually on the rise, it makes sense to lock in forward contracts, whilst the rates remain reasonably low. We provide organisations with the expertise and contacts to deliver a significant saving on utilities, making sure they are the best available for a business – in most cases lower than they’re currently paying.” Since taking over the business in 1999, Shaun focused purely on procurement tendering and negotiating energy contracts. “Now we have established phase two of the business, which is energy management. After the procurement contract is negotiated and reconciled, the energy management program steps in. The live, halfhour electricity feeds for all our customers are fed in to our server and supplied to 3000 customers around Australia.” According to Shaun, “these feeds are the crucial piece of information”.

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“We provide management reports, advice on energy reduction technologies such as efficient lighting, air-conditioning and voltage optimisation, power factor correction – any energy efficiency technology that we can install but most importantly, that we can measure the impact of the savings from the live half hourly feeds.” There’s a lot in it for corporates. “The benefits are achieving the lowest price for electricity and gas through volume customer base, a reduction of energy consumption and demand, measurement of that reduction, and carbon neutrality – which is a powerful marketing asset to differentiate a company from its competitors.” Specialists in the industry, Eutility can access subsidies and funding for accredited technologies. “We know the various government schemes, and if it’s appropriate, we recommend it for our clients,” says Shaun.

“The beneﬁts are achieving the lowest price for electricity and gas through volume customer base, a reduction of energy consumption and demand, measurement of that reduction, and carbon neutrality – which is a powerful marketing asset to differentiate a company from its competitors.” “In many cases, financial controllers and managing directors may not be aware of the new legislation and requirements, as well as the rebates available.” The further good news for businesses is there is usually no fee. “Generally, the providers pay a brokerage margin to maintain the value-add.” And there’s still more to Eutility, a third phase that follows energy reduction and management. Our recent acquisition of The Carbon Reduction Institute completes an entire lifecycle, allowing our customers to become accredited with carbon neutrality. Here carbon output is measured and offset via the purchase of energy certificates, investing in renewable energy. That is offsetting the carbon footprint. “Once a company has attained carbon neutrality, it can boast in its marketing that it is ‘NOCO2’, a clear statement that it is carbon neutral.” Eutility is a carbon neutral company.

Shaun O’Hare, Chief Executive Director, Eutility

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reďŹ&#x201A;ect your

brilliance.

Maui Jim does. Style Shown: Maui Cat III. Available in prescription.

Heaven on Earth Sofitel SO Mauritius Bel Ombre Words by Phil Harte

Whilst growing up, we always used to fight for TV and programming at home, which is not unfamiliar in many households. There was one show that I always hung out to watch, and that was 'Lifestyle of the Rich & Famous' with presenter Robin Leach. As cheesy and over the top as he was, this guy had the best job in the world, literally running around the world on someone else's dime, experiencing some of the great jewels from resorts, fabulous homes, hanging out on some of the great marine crafts, private Lear jets and alike. I always wondered how he managed to get this kind of job and it wasn't until many years later, becoming a so-called publisher of a lifestyle magazine, it became clear. Just simply go out and ask if someone would like to appear in the best publication, and all of a sudden, you find yourself sitting on some of the most amazing beaches in secluded locations that are difficult to explain.

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his year I find myself sitting on the shores of Mauritius and a property which, to be quite frank, I was amazed to find in this humble village area. This Mauritius hotel is on the wild south coast of the island and is situated in some of nature’s finest settings, on a wide open beach. We landed in Mauritius around 3pm and we were picked up in a fabulous new 4WD BMW and chauffeured along the shoreline to what I promise you is one of the great boutique hotels of the world - the Sofitel SO Mauritius Bel Ombre, a true luxury style resort. The SO has become a gem in the market as the very trendy side of the Accor Group’s Sofitel products. I think from memory they only have 2 or 3 currently open, with the view of launching them worldwide.

“A radiant oasis surrounded by lush vegetation and a turquoise lagoon” We spent 5 nights at the SO - a radiant oasis surrounded by lush vegetation and a turquoise lagoon. On arriving we were absolutely amazed at the uniqueness, and the style of which this property had been built. Having read further into the design and development, it then became quite obvious why this property was such a standalone. The design coming from Thai architect Lek Bunnag’s incomparable architecture is enhanced by exclusive designs by fashion designer Kenzo Takada. The following morning we were picked up by our butler and taken down to the beachside restaurant and we felt like we were the only people at the resort. It didn’t really matter what you asked for, it was there. Chef’s and wait staff were simply just on stand-by for any guests that appeared. At the end of breakfast, we were taken on a private safari and spent the next several hours hanging out with some cheetah’s, white tigers and lions, and when I mean hanging out, we were literally in the cages with the animals, and our kids were patting these incredible animals.

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Phil Harte with chef Mme Isabelle Alexandre Evening came, and we found ourselves sitting on beach chairs at sunset, and the head waiter came down and asked what we'd like to eat, no menus, just what it was that we felt like at the time. This was the theme over the next 4 days.

a lunchtime snack or evening meal. Right in the heart of the hotel is Le Flamboyant, a more contemporary, intimate restaurant. Here, we enjoyed intense flavours of Mauritian-inspired cuisine where the richness of local produce meets French.

So after spending the day out on a catamaran, snorkelling and working out in their gym, we finally met up with one of the world's great chef's, and the only female chef on board with the Accor group - Mme Isabelle Alexandre - who we found absolutely enchanting. We spent over an hour swapping recipes and stories about our days in the kitchen.

The nature of the Mauritian people, not unlike other island communities, is quite amazing, and add that to the suave and sophisticated nature of the French, it's always a difficult mixture to beat.

Two fabulous restaurants feature in the property. La Plage beach restaurant faces the lagoon and serves a selection of inspired Mauritian specialities. Chic and laid back, it's the perfect location for

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When people ask, as they always do, what's your favourite place, I'm not going to be silly enough to say that this is it, but it's damn close. I have not stopped sincerely recommending the SO on Mauritius to everyone I speak to. If you're looking for something quite extraordinary, and a money can't buy experience, this is the place to go. And it's called, SO.

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Southern star Profile: Christian Blair

Adelaide’s hottest bartender is shaking it up at Sydney’s hottest speakeasy cocktail bar, Eau de Vie.

oning his craft in Sydney is Adelaide’s Christian Blair, who brings with him a slew of professional awards. Christian started his hospitality career at Pier One Hotel in Glenelg eight years ago. At this time he was also pursuing a visual arts degree, but it wasn’t long before his passion for all things cocktail took over.

During this time, I was nominated as one of the seven best Australian bartenders in the ‘Magnificent 7’ competition,” he said. Christian quickly followed up that accolade by taking out the 2010 South Australian Rum Master title. He was also nominated for Bartender magazine’s ‘Bartender of the year’ in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

“I found the hospitality environment suited me and it was something I wanted to pursue,” said Christian. From Glenelg, Christian became part of the crew who were there at the inception of Adelaide club Electric Circus. A stint at the newly opened Rocket Bar followed in 2005. “That was a good experience for me,” said Christian “Following the successful opening of Electric Circus, I was again there for the opening of the Rocket Bar and was involved in many aspects of setting it up. Both of these clubs have become Adelaide institutions.”

Whilst at the ‘Sceptre’ Christian took on a trainer role with the Sydneybased Behind Bars; a training and bar consultation firm run by Sven Almenning. “I wanted to share my knowledge and experience and this proved to be a perfect avenue to meet with like-minded bartenders who wanted to perfect their craft. Behind Bars has been voted ‘Training Program of the Year’ for the last five years at the Bartender magazine Australian bar awards, and I am proud to be a part of that.”

But it wasn’t until 2006 when Christian moved to the Hotel Richmond in Adelaide’s Rundle Mall that he developed an interest in cocktails and spirits. “The Hotel Richmond gave me my first taste of a serious cocktail list and I became fascinated to learn more about the different flavours, mixtures and interactions involved in cocktails.” After a short stint at Adelaide’s Botanic Hotel, followed by a role at Escobar, where he literally dodged some bullets, Christian joined the team at the Crown and Sceptre – an establishment well respected for its wine, spirits and cocktail lists. “The Crown & Sceptre is highly regarded for its cocktail lists and is considered the mecca of hospitality in Adelaide. It was here that I was able to develop my knowledge and passion for the craft and for service.

His bartender bartende and trainer role has been supplemented with writing articles for the th trade magazine Bars and Clubs. “The spirits industry is so interesting and an has so much history,” he said. “I enjoy the research into to learn about the characters who created them and traditional cocktails co the stories that th surround them.” focusing more on a managerial role at the Sceptre 2011 saw Christian Ch however, he still managed to take out the and less on competition, c annual ‘Grand Poohbar’ competition which aims to identify second annu Adelaide’s best be bartender. He won the title jointly with Darren Leaney. As 2011 was drawing to a close, Christian was looking for new experiences, so he pursued and was offered a job working at Eau de Vie “I have great respect for the product on offer in Sydney’s Darlinghurst. D Vie,” said Christian. “The people behind the bar are experts at at Eau de Vie their craft and the focus is on giving the customer the ultimate cocktail experience. I am really enjoying the challenge of stretching myself to this Eau de Vie has received a raft of awards including most new benchmark.” benchma recently the ‘Best ‘B New Cocktail Bar’ at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited industry’s biggest and most influential awards world-wide. Awards, the in privileged to be a small town boy from Adelaide now working in one “I feel privileg bars in the world. I have a lot of passion for the industry and of the best ba look forward to learning and furthering my experience and knowledge in the cocktail culture.” c pressed to disclose his favourite tipple, he dodges the question. “I When presse favourites with beverages,” he said. “I feel it is the duty don’t like to play p bartender in a professional sense to be able to at least appreciate of a bartende wine and spirits included, and for me it’s translated as a everything, beer, b It’s like asking a parent to pick their favourite child. I love for everything. every always find it hard to choose what I’ll drink at a bar, but I love discovering new spirits and an then imagining them into new cocktail concoctions.”

Christian Blair

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Playgrounds of Pure Joy The George Gregan Foundation is making childhood fantasies come true, creating the spaces that let kids in hospital escape and explore, alleviating some of the reality of illness.

laytime is something we take for granted, as a carefree part of childhood. “Free play” or unstructured gross motor activity as it’s known in educational circles, is extremely valuable for young children to explore their world, discover new meanings and develop more complex understandings and skills. Play is vital for children to experience control of their environment. Imagine then how valuable play is to a child trapped in the four walls of a hospital room, whether that’s while a broken arm heals, or for months on end with a critical injury, prolonged illness or terminal disease. The George Gregan Foundation has put these principles into practice, with the long-term vision of constructing playgrounds in Children’s hospitals around Australia. As Erica Gregan explains: “When our son Max was diagnosed with epilepsy, we spent time in hospital with Max and experienced firsthand the routine of many sick children and their families. Having a special space to enjoy outside gives sick children something to look forward to and their siblings and parents somewhere to spend quality time as a family. Playing outside takes their mind off treatments.” Established in 2005, the Foundation aims to raise funds to build outdoor specialised playgrounds in children’s hospitals as well as training doctors who specialise in the treatment of children with epilepsy and other neurological conditions.

George Gregan and GG Foundation Ambassador, Katie Power

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George Gregan Foundation playgrounds are unlike any other playground in Australia. The outdoor spaces have walkways, play equipment, shade and rest elements for sick children. Each playground is tactile, interactive and enjoyable. Architects, children’s therapists, educators, doctors and patients collaborate on the designs, ensuring they are therapeutic as well as pure fun! To date, playgrounds have been built by the George Gregan Foundation at Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney and the Royal Children’s Hospital Brisbane. Playgrounds at the Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick and The Canberra Hospital are well underway. The GG Foundation will work tirelessly to continue to achieve their goal of building playgrounds in as many children’s hospitals as possible. Former Rugby international and Australian Captain, George Gregan says the reward for the hard work behind the playgrounds is knowing that so many lives are touched and always enhanced by these sanctuaries of recreation and relaxation. The other facet of the George Gregan Foundation raises funds towards the training of medical practitioners who specialise in the treatment of children suffering from epilepsy and other neurological conditions.

More at georgegreganfoundation.com.au

We r e a l l y k n o w c o f f e e

· 56 Pitt Street, Sydney t: 02 9251 5177 · 40 Miller Street, North Sydney t: 02 9954 3466 · 110 Paciﬁc Highway, St Leonards · · 65 Berry Street, North Sydney t: 02 9956 7766 · 55 Hunter Street, Sydney t: 9223 5320 · 40 Mount Street, North Sydney t: 9922 2772 · · 10 Mallet Street, Camperdown t: 9550 4772 · 123 Epping Road, North Ryde t: 02 9889 4884 · · Sydney Antique Centre, 531 South Dowling Street, Surry Hills t: 9368 0069 ·

The Poseidon Adventure Words by: Phil Harte

As the famous SS Poseidon was turned upside down by a freak tidal wave, lightening has struck twice. One of Australia’s leading chefs, James Brady, has completely capsized eating experiences on the Gold Coast. How is it possible that this remarkable chef, formerly of Vue de Monde in Melbourne, has come to the Gold Coast, joined forces with well-known restaurateur Max Alﬁeri, and won Gold Coast Restaurant of the Year in only 6 months.

had the opportunity to sample Chef Brady’s incredibly unique style and what he does from the kitchen to a plate is truly remarkable. James Brady and Poseidon are clearly in a league all of their own. As of 1 January 2012, Poseidon has now been given 2 hats. Something that is a bit uncanny, the restaurant that James was previously at, Vue de Monde, was also voted as Australia’s Restaurant of the Year. Poseidon is the sister restaurant of Ioesco cucina & bar at Sanctuary Cove. It is nothing less than first class food and service at this great new restaurant that sits on Ephraim Island at Paradise Point, on the Northern tip of the Gold Coast. The wonderful experience isn’t just the food, but the way in which Julian Alfieri sets his restaurant up and presents his unique and exciting menu. Surrounded by floor to ceiling glass, Poseidon is a unique dining experience. Food is the emphasis here and it is obvious the years of experience in the industry delivers in spades to the lucky diners. Julian’s excellent wine pairings to his menu round out the experience. Just let me say that if you are on the Gold Coast for some time away, or you’re a local, you absolutely have to try this quite amazing experience. I can’t remember the last time that I was as pleasantly surprised for dinner. I assure you, Poseidon will not disappoint.

Now, onto more restaurants... for me, it’s the real signature dishes of the 70s and 80s such as Beef Wellington, Chateaubriand and Chicken Kiev I love – I always knew what to expect when the plate was bought out. But today, as competition for share of stomach is fiercely contested, and with the rise and rise of the celebrity chef phenomena, restaurants have totally bought into the esotericism of their industry. And we, the customers, are just left feeling bewildered and belittled faced with all-too-challenging menu decisions. Now that I have that off my chest, I want to share with you some excellent dining experiences that I’ve come across in my travels. There’s a couple in Sydney that I think you should go out of your way to have a look at. Our first one is Asti run by up and coming chef Mathieu Astier. Located on Harris Street, Ultimo, which for many years was associated with the Colonial Sugar Refinery that dominated the peninsula, the restaurant offers a contemporary and elegant European inspired menu underpinned in its authenticity by Astier. It was extremely pleasing to see a menu with only 20 dishes on it. It was uncomplicated, but still of the highest standard. With a background of French cuisine, Astier cooked for us a 7-course meal that absolutely blew all of us away. His lamb Wellington was a treat.

Poseidon, Gold Coast

Poseidon’s chef, James Brady

Poseidon, Gold Coast

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We couldn’t stop eating his pork belly. What really did us in, though, was his chocolate fondue. It took us days to recover. It was truly one of those culinary experiences that we will long remember. So when calling make sure you mention me to the chef, and try the lamb, and certainly don’t forget the chocolate fondue. There’s no doubt that Chef Astier is a world-class executive chef. My second recommendation to you in Sydney is Signorelli’s at Jones Bay Wharf. Having grown up in Sydney and living there for 50 years, I had no idea that this fantastic Italian family restaurant was sitting at the bottom of Doltone House. The significance of a family Italian restaurant is exactly that – the food and the service is simple and uncomplicated, and you are treated as one of the family. It’s the type of restaurant that will never be confused with any other you go to, as the food is quality home-style cooking at its best. The Signorelli family goes back many, many years, and their signature restaurant is only open three nights a week. We took a group of 16 to the restaurant and I’ve been back twice since, to share some excellent Australian Italian food with my international guests. One of the gems of the Signorelli restaurant is their waiter, Gino (you won’t miss him with his hair cut like George Gregan). He is a master of his trade and I recommend you let him advise you on the menu. If you don’t have time to sit down for a meal, the restaurant itself is also a little retail delicatessen where you can take away their home made sauces, prosciutto, salami, cheeses, and have a walk through their second-to-none wine cellar. Not ever being able to forget the Gold Coast, my all time favourite place to eat is still Max and Amanda’s ioesco cucina & bar at Sanctuary Cove. This restaurant can stand up against any Italian restaurant around the world. We come back each summer, and even before we go home and unpack after the trip, we go there for a bite to eat, and it is then that we really feel like we are ‘home’. Here’s an interesting one for you. The next time you drop into Dubai, head down to the Dubai Marina, and walk along the boardwalk, and you’ll run into a place called 800 Pizza. I know I might have lost you already with the name of this place, and I have had the discussion with the owner that he’s not doing himself any favors with the name. But thankfully I didn’t ‘judge the book by its cover’, because I found this to be an über-cool outdoor Italian pizzeria that has remarkable pizzas, pastas and caprice. You’ll find me there a couple of times a week when I’m home. And I have friends who will only eat there when they fly in for a visit.

Signorelli’s, Sydney

Ioesco, Gold Coast

The Buddha Bar in Grosvenor House, Dubai, stands up against over 400 restaurants and bars in the City that are arguably some of the best in the world in which there has been absolutely no expense spared in the fit-outs, the runnings, and the international celebrity personnel that have been attached to many of these gourmet magnets. The world-famous Buddha Bar is ranked as the number 2 most popular and well run eatery in Dubai. In December 2011, Danielle and I had a chance to spend a couple of hours before heading back to Australia for Christmas, and if there’s one dish that we can highly recommend is the Peking duck and the blackened cod. These 2 dishes are absolutely world class. The Buddha Bar fuses décor, food, and music to create a relaxed ambiance. A Vietnamese lounge, sushi bar, and Japanese private rooms set the tone. If you get a chance to spend some time at the Buddha Bar, I have no doubts you’ll agree with my recommendation.

800 Pizza, Dubai

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The Buddha Bar, Dubai

Now just a quick snap-shot of some other great places to make sure you dine at on your travels. In New York City, go to ABC Kitchen. In Sydney for a great schnitzel, go to Una’s on Victoria St. One of the best Chinese restaurants in Australia is Lee’s Fortuna Court on Falcoln St at Crows Nest, and make sure you have the lamb pancakes. If you’re in London, don’t forget the Light of India at the Montana Hotel in Kensington, or Langan’s opposite The Savoy. On the Gold Coast, KOI Dining & Lounge bar in Broadbeach, and Fellini’s at Marina Mirage are a must. If you’re in Hong Kong, get into the Grand Hyatt and try Grissini’s or One Harbour Rd and in Singapore, the Grand Hyatt has Mezzanine which you should absolutely dine at if you’re in the area.

Latest On The Gold Coast By the time you’ve read this piece, our good mate Max from ioesco will have opened Australia’s number 1 pub concept, Cove Tavern. With a wine cellar boasting Australia’s first wine tasting experience, and combined with his incredible kitchen skills, the new pub, Cove Tavern, will surely amaze you.

SIGNORELLI’S GASTRONOMIA: Trouton Place, Pyrmont. Ph. (02) 8571 0616

It’s not unlike a couple of Italians to be supporting each other, with brothers Marco and Davide de Vincentiis opening their new café concept RAW Kitchen & Espresso. These two clearly understand the way in which the markets and trends are going with natural and organic selections throughout their café. The boys realise that good food relies on quality ingredients, treated simply and not overly processed or refined. Their aim is to bring you delicious rustic cooking with a modern flair, showcasing the best local produce and ingredients crafted by local artisans. What I think is most important, and this has been echoed throughout my ramblings for years, is that this family-owned restaurant has got the raw ingredients of family-style hospitality. So when you’re next at Sanctuary Cove, pop in to RAW for a coffee or some organic poached eggs, do a bit of wine and cheese tasting next door at Cove Tavern – you simply don’t need to go any further.

IOESCO CUCINA & BAR: 3A Masthead Way, Sanctuary Cove. Ph. (07) 5577 8800

Latest In Sydney

If you manage all of that, I can also give you the number of a great personal trainer. ASTI: 46 Harris Street, Pyrmont. Ph. (02) 9660 4075

POSEIDON: 3 Marina Precinct, Ephraim Island. Ph. (07) 5564 2188 800 PIZZA: Dubai Marina, Dubai, UAE. Ph. (unsurprisingly is) 800 74992 (PIZZA) THE BUDDHA BAR: Dubai Marina, Dubai, UAE.

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How times have changed, and we go full circle. The importance of bright lights, glitter and glam really aren’t that important any more, and what we now look for is somewhere quiet and cozy to catch up, have a chat and relax with friends without the buzz of the overpriced and overvalued cosmopolitan. If you wander down to the back streets of Neutral Bay you’ll find yourself at The Local (8 Young St, Neutral Bay). This quaint little local magnet, which is set up for the understated, family and friends to have that quiet beer or cocktail, some anti pasto or just have the kids enjoy some breakfast with their family. Trust me, you will call it your local.

Lee’s Fortuna Court Australia’s Best After starting our ﬁrst training session at 6am, through to ﬁnishing our third session at 7pm, Danielle and I would race from the Australian Squash Club courts, every Monday and Wednesday night, up Falcon St to what I rate as arguably the best Chinese experience in Australia – Lee’s Fortuna Court. It’s been over the past 17 years that not only our family, but many of our friends and colleagues, have experienced the incredible hospitality, and more importantly, the amazing cuisine of this unique and very special Chinese restaurant.

Lamb Pancakes

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t would be quite obvious that we have become quite friendly with the owner, William, and his General Manager, Stanley, and many staff members over the years. It’s not uncommon that you can be having lunch or dinner at Lee’s, and run into virtually every celebrity, media mogul and corporate heavyweight in town. The walls cluttered with exciting pieces of memorabilia, from rugby jerseys and items personally signed from celebrity friends and guests. It’s been well documented over previous publications that Chinese cuisine is one of our favourites, and we have written about many great experiences from the Flower Drum in Melbourne, to One Harbour Road in Hong Kong. It wasn’t until tonight that I went up with a couple of friends, without a booking. The usual team was on, headed up by Stanley, when one of their new staff members naively asked ‘do you have a reservation’ and Stanley jumped up and said ‘no, no reservation needed, IT’S MR QUICK’. Within seconds he’d got us a table, and brought out our favourite steamed gow gee’s, salt & pepper prawns, a bowl of incredible short soup, and what I think is one of the best dishes I’ve ever tasted, the lamb pancakes. The title of Mr Quick is something that Stanley christened me with as Danielle and I would order our food prior to getting off the court, and still covered in sweat from our workout, we’d race up, and it would be ready and on the table, and we’d be out in under 15 minutes. It’s not until you’ve been away for awhile, as I have been for the last 3 years, that you start to appreciate things that you don’t have every day. You become a little complacent, and take a few things for granted. But as we experienced in 1994, when Danielle and I used to race up there after training, and as still happens to this day, Lee’s Fortuna Court is consistently a fantastic, authentic dining experience. You simply must dine at Lee’s Fortuna Court when you visit Sydney next.

Sang Tung Chicken

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Chilli Pepper Quail

Rice Paper Wrapped Chicken

Black Pepper Fillet Steak

King Prawn Cutlet

Sang Choy Bow

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Sydneys latest hot spot 8 YOUNG ST, NEUTRAL BAY, 2089.

The importance of terroir Chief Winemaker Bernard Hickin has witnessed first-hand many of the major milestones at the Orlando Wines Barossa winery.

s a newly qualified winemaker in his first full-time job in 1976, he was given a taste of a totally new wine – a 1973 vintage blend of Shiraz, Cabernet and Malbec that would be released that year as the first wine under the now famous Jacob’s Creek label. It is a brand that has gone on to become a much loved wine in many countries around the world, and in doing so, pioneered a path for other Australian wineries in the market . Seven years later Bernard was tasting the first St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon – a wine which represents the pinnacle of Orlando’s fine winemaking. “It was a 1980 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon of such depth and complexity that it was immediately hailed as one of the wines of the year,” he says. “As a connoisseur of fine wines himself, Hugo Gramp would have been proud.” Bernard never knew Hugo Gramp, who was a grandson to Johann Gramp - the founder of the company, but he has honed his winemaking skills in the very same winery and cellar buildings that were part of Hugo’s visionary plans for expansion during the 1920s and 30s. Today Bernard shares the same convictions about the importance of quality and innovation that drove Hugo. It was this pursuit of excellence during a working holiday in Bordeaux France that taught him the critical importance of vineyard location on varietal grape quality. “I saw that the most prized wines came from great vineyard sites rather than great winemakers,” says Bernard. “Some view winemaking as creationist but it is not. The winemaker is the custodian of the quality of the fruit from the vineyard all the way to the final glass enjoyed by a consumer.” This focus on terroir has underpinned the development of the newly expanded St Hugo range. “Our very first St Hugo was a quintessential Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from mature low-yielding vines in the famous Terra Rossa soil,” says Bernard. “This same commitment to the expression of terroir is being used for our Jacob’s Creek St Hugo Barossa Shiraz and Jacob’s Creek St Hugo Barossa Grenache Shiraz Mataro wines. “There’s no question that the St Hugo range is a fine tribute to a great man who dedicated his life to the love of wine.”

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La Famiglia Max Alfieri Words by: Adrienne Porter

There are very few restaurateurs these days that can say they’ve had the same staff waiting tables and ﬂipping pans on a daily basis for a decade but Max Alﬁeri, owner of Ioesco in Sanctuary Cove proudly boasts a staff who have been there since day one.

idden in a quiet, leafy corner of Sanctuary Cove’s marina precinct, Italian-born Australian Max Alferi’s Ioesco is a bustling hubbub of almost magical culinary theatre full of animated guests enjoying a combination of traditional and reworked Italian dishes – most not too distant from the motherland – in an ambience few have been able to recreate. It is owner Max, together with his talented team – including his beautiful wife Amanda – who create the same reliable, delightfully delicious cuisine delivered with unrivalled service day in, day out. “This place is like a family,” Max says of his restaurant – the fifth in a stable of successful authentic Italian eateries he has built on the Gold Coast over the past 10 years. “Everyone who comes here, knows the team. We’ve worked very hard to create a welcoming ambience where people will see the same friendly faces every time they dine here.” The team he speaks of

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includes a raft of highly trained and impeccable wait staff and chefs who all share in Max’s simple yet tried and true ethos, to deliver quality food coupled with an unforgettable experience. Even enlisting his own children – two sons and a daughter – who he says help out with everything from, ‘cleaning the floors to learning how to make coffee’. “The key ethic of working in your own business is teaching your children that they must earn every cent, that it doesn’t just come to them. This is real interaction with people, not just burying their heads in computers and game consoles. Kids these days need to learn to interact more, talk to people and engage. And, they have to know how to make a proper coffee, that’s vitally important!” Max attributes the success of his restaurant – started four years ago – to having a reliable and hard-working team, providing delicious dishes that are true to their authenticity of roots and consistency. “You need to maintain that consistency and honesty within the food,” he says impassioned. “This is the most crucial thing. We provide an authentic menu with new food from the past – that is food that has been reworked in a modern style to suit today’s palette.” For example, one dish Max says is one of their most popular – the Duck sausages, done in a port wine reduction – is an old traditional dish that has been updated from the past. “And this has been our number one seller,” he adds. Calling Sanctuary Cove their home has also attributed to the relaxed lifestyle Max and Amanda and their three children share. “This place is unique,” he adds. “It’s the best place to live and to dine and it has a very unique lifestyle.” And Ioesco’s success can only be attributed to pure dedication on the part of both owners and staff. “I am here every day without fail,” he adds. “And Amanda is here most days as well. This is what owning a restaurant is all about, it is about being there and being a part of the daily running of the place, ensuring everything goes smoothly – even when you’re behind the kitchen doors.” And for this reason, Max and Amanda’s fifth restaurant, described as their favourite thus far, has a reputation few are able to replicate. With a menu boasting some of Italy’s best dishes adjusted to an Aussie liking and a team who help to create a welcoming ambience that sees their clientele – who consist of half local and half visiting – return time and again. “We want people to feel like they are walking into our home, like they can relax and enjoy their experience as though they were sitting in their own dining room but with people here to do all the work.”

Recently Max has begun work on a new project, Cover Tavern – which includes a tavern with a wine bar and wine cellar – just 50 metres’ walk from his restaurant. This new venture is something he emphatically believes the area needed – a new concept developed by Max and his business partner Adam Weller, Corker Cellars and the Cove Tavern – where guests can relax comfortably and enjoy the food and scenery but not have it cost them the earth. “It was also important to offer people the chance to try their wines before they buy them. I want to diversify my wine concept,” Max says. “This is the return of the tavern, of bangers and mash, of chicken parmi. There hasn’t been one in the area for two years. We’re going back to basics with wholesome meals at a realistic price with a games lounge, sports bar and wine lounge. You could say it’s a little something for everyone.” And if this latest venture is even half as successful as Ioesco, with a citywide reputation for quality and consistency, Max’s new concept will soon become a regular for both local and visiting patrons searching for that something a little bit different.

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Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to staying true

and living life on your own terms.

www.jacobscreek.com

7,000 years for a natural debate Words by: Rae Blair, The Australian Wine Research Institute

There’s nothing quite like enjoying a good glass of wine with a lovely meal. We are fortunate Australia produces such a wide variety of quality wine; we are spoilt for choice. But this choice can sometimes be confusing...

e wander into our local liquor store and must decide between white or red; then which variety and from which producer and from which region? Just when we think we are on top of all of those decisions, another wades into the fray. Is my wine of choice ‘natural’ or ‘unnatural’? When did wine become ‘unnatural’ anyway? It is a question worth asking, given today’s debate about ‘natural’ winemaking practices. The answer lies in the 7,000 years of wine-making history. The first fermentation, for example, was more likely the result of serendipity rather than design. Damaged grapes fermented spontaneously in harvesting pots and curious ancients tasted wine for the first time. Those same early wine drinkers enjoyed the taste and its effects. They learnt quickly the differences between fermented grape juice and unfermented fruit. Through trial and error, they brought together what nature had to offer with biochemical reactions in repeat ‘experiments’ which we could describe as early ‘vintages’, today. The foundations of man’s intervention with nature were therefore established and since then, scientific knowledge has grown at an exponential rate. There have been breakthroughs in chemistry and biology, transforming our understanding of the natural world as we know and understand it – or believe that we do. Yet, throughout history wine has retained a mythic aura, cloaked in mystique. In the 1500s Galileo said ‘wine is sunlight, held together by water’, and in the 1700s Napoleon Bonaparte said “wine is inspiring and adds greatly to the joy of living.” But winemaking is not a matter of chance or magic. Left entirely to nature, the result is variable, unreliable and can be undrinkable. The completely natural result of fermenting grapes is vinegar. So how is wine made? It is created through a process of fermentation using the right yeast, and supported by the right nutrients. Louis Pasteur was the first to discover this in the late 1600s. Before his discovery, no one knew that yeast played a role in the production of alcohol there had been little progress since the time of the ancients. Winemakers knew that fermentation happened spontaneously after fruit was crushed but the results were variable sometimes the result was wine, sometimes it was vinegar.

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Wine is not, therefore, a ‘natural’ product - not in the form we know it. Every decision the winemaker makes (or fails to make) affects style and quality. Wine does not make itself. And never before has there been so much opportunity for the winemaker to direct grape and wine production to shape wine according to consumer preferences. Sounds like good news, right? There are some in the wine world, though, who question whether today’s wine is better – due to the contribution of scientific knowledge, technology and research. They contend that so-called ‘natural’ wine is better. There is a new-found nostalgia for the wine of yesteryear made with a minimalist approach.

Proponents of ‘natural’ wine reject, for example, ‘interventionist’ practices that most modern winemakers adopt, such as to prevent oxidation and microbial spoilage. They oppose the use of ingredients to correct balance, or the use of enzymes to aid fermentation. They reject the application of cultured yeasts to avoid the risk of stuck ferments and off-flavours, and they oppose filtering and fining to remove potential impurities. These are the marks of ‘industrial’ products, they say, not ‘natural’ wine. On the other hand, wine researchers are frustrated by such arguments, waiting to uncork the next-generation of technical innovation. As they have done, through history, wine’s innovators assist in the crafting of unique, stand-out wines that meet evershifting consumer expectations whilst underpinning profitability and sustainability. The truth is that winemaking is both art and science and always has been. There is no dichotomy between ‘natural’ and ‘unnatural’ wine. The path to understanding and enjoying wine is a great adventure and diversity makes it all the more interesting. I’ve always believed that the best wine is the one you, the consumer, enjoys most of all. Based on an AWRI article published in the Adelaide Review

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Fellini Wine Bar A Proud Moment For Owner The elegant new wine bar and cocktail lounge at Marina Mirage’s Ristorante Fellini has impressed many since its opening in 2011. But no-one is more proud of the perfect addition to the award-winning Italian eatery than Fellini co-owner and restaurateur Carlo Percuoco.

Already well-known for their exemplary service and award-winning menu which offers diners a range of rich Italian dishes created to suit each season, Carlo wanted to take Fellini to new heights.

“When the bar was finally finished, I remember taking a few steps back and looking up at it with complete and utter awe,” he said.

After four years of anticipating plans for the restaurant to become the host of its very own exclusive wine bar and cocktail lounge, luck arrived on the Fellini doorstep in 2011 in the form of a vacant jewellery shop right next door to the restaurant’s entrance.

fter three long months of hard-work and late evenings, the youngest of the Percuoco dynasty has now seen his long time vision come to reality and he is bursting with overwhelming pride.

“It was everything we had hoped it would be – alluring, stylish, sexy and inviting. The last time I had felt this proud was when I watched my son receive his black belt two years ago. “It truly was a memorable moment.” Carlo, along with his sister Anna Cacace and partners Richard Burt and Raffaelle Di Benedetto developed the idea to transform the prestigious waterfront Italian restaurant into a versatile dining and bar precinct in 2007.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Carlo decided to finally transform the team’s dream into a reality and after acquiring the 40sqm retail space, opened the new wine bar in line with Fellini’s 15th birthday celebrations in 2011. “It has been a lot of hard work and long hours for us all over those past three months,” Carlo said.

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“When you put your heart and soul into a project such as this though, it’s extremely rewarding to see the results. This really has been a proud moment for not just myself, but the entire Fellini team. “It has been a vision we have had for this restaurant for many years, so to see this finally achieved and to hear from diners and guests how wonderful it is, is just absolutely incredible. “It really has been the perfect way to celebrate 15 years of ongoing success.” The new extension now means diners can experience a pre or post dinner drink without having to retire elsewhere, enjoying the awardwinning selection of international and Australian wines, cocktails and a variety of liquors on any occasion. Patrons who simply wish to indulge in a couple of drinks at the waterfront lounge are also warmly welcome to experience the new bar and its unique lux-vintage inspired ambience. Carlo said the response from both local diners and patrons had been extremely positive and the team had received many compliments on the bar’s extravagant features and sophisticated atmosphere. “The bar really has bought Fellini to life, marking a significant milestone for our restaurant,” said Carlo. “We have had an abundance of extremely gratifying praise from our local diners and new guests, which is always a pleasure to hear. “The words people use to describe the lounge are generally, ‘sexy, comfortable and inviting’ and this is exactly what our aim was to achieve.” The luxurious venue holds up to 40 patrons and features a baby grand piano, as well an over-head deluxe chandelier, complete with an 18 carat gold tiled bar. With an already award-winning wine list, the Fellini bar has also become the only authorised pourer of Bollinger Wines in Queensland, offering the exclusive French Champagne as its house wine. “The bar’s decor follows the same theme as the restaurant – it is very sophisticated and elegant in design and is coloured with vibrant reds, golds and browns,” said Carlo. “It is very alluring and looks fantastic, we pride ourselves on appearance and exemplary service, and this is exactly what the new bar offers.” Carlo said he anticipated the bar would be a great success and looked forward to the change and new patronage it would no doubt bring to Fellini. “For 15 years we have been operating as an internationally-acclaimed restaurant, serving the finest food and wines to our diners,” said Carlo. “While this has seen us celebrate great success, the inclusion of a highend wine and cocktail bar will mean so much more for Fellini. “The bar’s versatility and generous size will also allow us to host functions and events for anyone wishing to find a luxurious venue for the evening. “The lounge is already fast-becoming a popular spot for those wanting to relax in style and we hope that people will continue to enjoy the new venue for many years to come. “It is a very exciting time for us and we’re so proud to have accomplished such a tremendous achievement for Fellini.”

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Ristorante Fellini is located at Marina Mirage, Main Beach on the Gold Coast. More information can be found on www.fellini.com.au or by calling (07) 5531 0300.

Neil Perry

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Neil Perry Phil Harte catches up with award-winning chef, Neil Perry.

As a former chef, and someone that has travelled the globe both on and off an aircraft, I thought I’d take a fantastic opportunity to run a few questions by one of the world’s best chefs, Neil Perry, of Rockpool fame. PH: How long have you been providing the menu for Qantas? What is the long-term strategy in relation to healthier eating on-board? NP: I have been consulting to Qantas for 15 years (March 2011). Qantas’ relationship with Rockpool commenced with the development of First Class in 1996 which led to a new way of cooking and serving Qantas passengers. I source the finest produce and work with regional suppliers who embrace sustainable practices. Together we have changed the inflight dining experience completely, we’ve changed the way we cook onboard and now we cook from fresh. We actually cook and blanch onboard, we don’t just reheat. Our menu offers many healthy dishes and passengers can eat as healthy or light as they would like. Healthy options include fish and salads or steamed greens. We also offer sustainable produce so we have a best practice ethos. PH: Can we expect the same fantastic product in the First Class lounge in Sydney to be replicated in the new lounges around the world? What differences can we expect from culture to culture? NP: Yes, we will be looking at our current offering and will replicate our signature items however we will also be looking at local and regional flavours and influences and tapping into the regional produce. PH: I’m on a plane going somewhere 6-7 months per year. I’m currently living in Dubai, commuting all around the world, and have been on virtually every carrier known. The food varies from carrier to carrier dramatically, varying from inedible, to tolerable, to surprisingly not bad… What would you do if the cheque book was yours on-board that would give you the real point of difference in delivering great food? NP: We already offer that point of difference. We work very closely, we both want to offer the best restaurant in the sky and we collaborate to make this happen. Putting caviar on an aircraft doesn’t make it good, we take a serious approach to cooking onboard. We are constantly looking at new ways to deliver our menus, we train our crew, to both cook the food and provide excellent service. We invest in equipment such as real coffee machines in order to be able to offer a selection of coffees from cappuccinos to lattes. We have invested in better ovens and things like toasters to be able to serve fresh toast onboard as well. We also always continue to source the best ingredients.

what we can deliver onboard. We offer comfort food or a full dining experience, its up to our passengers to decide. What ever they decide, it’s offered in a professional but relaxed environment. We invest heavily in our cabin crew too and provide excellent training for preparation and cooking of food, the Sommeliers in the Sky program and service. PH: Do you agree that the menus are far too expansive, and that it never appears to be delivered in a way that I think you’d be happy on-board eg. Beef fillet should never be anything other than Medium / Medium rare, but comes out well done. The salmon is always, historically, overdone. The majority of pastas are over-sauced. Wouldn’t it be safer, or smarter to roll out LESS IS BETTER? I remember having some of your remarkable soups that came out in beautiful flasks, served with crispy bread and fresh salad. I recall having 2 bowls of your broccoli, parmesan, and roasted capsicum. Do we really need to eat big meals on an aircraft? NP: We pride ourselves on being able to cook to our customers like, medium rare for steak if they wish and fish is cooked perfectly. We accommodate to the customers request. They can eat as much or as little as they like. Some First passengers who are extremely busy look forward to enjoying our A380 degustation menu as they relax onboard to either Los Angeles or London. PH: Would you recommend that most people don’t prepare to fly, and should think about eating before they get on-board… Have a good healthy meal and minimise intake on-board, and reduce it to soups and salads? NP: Our customers are regular flyers and they know their own experience. Everyone is different though, some people don’t get a chance to eat before they get onboard so they enjoy the dining experience when they get on and get the opportunity to relax for a while. Others will have already eaten in the Lounge and they want to catch up on some reading or get some sleep.

PH: I would rather see airlines re-think their spending process, and think about how this dining experience can be one that is memorable rather than simply rolling the dice. Do we really need showers, bars, and as many of the carriers have spoken about, gyms, shops, crèches etc? Why the hell don’t we start with a decent kitchen, and give you the tools necessary to deliver an eating/dining experience. Would you agree that maybe the kitchen is, as usual, the last thing they think about? NP: Our focus onboard is comfort as a result of excellent design, and enjoyment through our food and wine and entertainment. Over the past 15 years we have been developing the galley and the kitchen to optimise

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Jacob’s Creek A new chapter for a great wine Hugo Gramp was a winemaking visionary whose life was cut tragically short in one of Australia’s worst aircraft disasters. But his legacy lives on, and like all great wines, it continues to evolve and develop with age. ince the launch of St Hugo in 1983 by Orlando Wines as a tribute to one of its former Managing Directors - Hugo Gramp – this esteemed wine has carved a reputation as one of Australia’s standout premium Cabernet Sauvignons.

After nearly thirty years standing as a single wine – a Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon - two completely new wines have been added under the St Hugo label: a Barossa Shiraz; and a Barossa Grenache Shiraz Mataro.

Jacob’s Creek St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon is hailed for its quintessential expression of varietal Cabernet Sauvignon, with its ripe blackcurrant, cassis and blackberry flavours and firm structure and refined tannins which ensure its suitability for long term cellaring when kept in ideal conditions.

Like the original, the new wines reflect the winemaking philosophy behind St Hugo and focus on impeccable quality and a recognisable style.

Indeed St Hugo is an enduring classic, having notched up twenty-seven trophies and one-hundred and fifty two gold medals over its lifetime so far. This impeccable quality is the reason that St Hugo is one of the best selling Cabernet Sauvignon wines over $30 in Australia. But the story doesn’t stop there.

“The enduring style of St Hugo is one of power and elegance. Power in its depth of flavour, and elegance in its refined structure and perfect balance,” says Chief Winemaker Bernard Hickin. “This style is delivered by Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon vintage after vintage as our history demonstrates, and we are now carrying this style over to other varietals and blends.” St Hugo is only released when the quality of the vintage is high enough and so far 1995 is the only vintage which has not been released, which demonstrates the strength of Cabernet Sauvignon grown in the Coonawarra region. The Barossa is the source of grapes for both new wines and, like the Cabernet Sauvignon, they will only be released if the vintage is of the highest quality.

“The enduring style of St Hugo is one of power and elegance”

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The Jacob’s Creek St Hugo Barossa Shiraz draws its power from the richness of Shiraz grown in this premiere region combined with the elegance of French rather than American oak maturation. In addition, some of the fruit has been sourced from vineyards in the Northern Barossa sub-region which is slightly cooler and ripens later than the Central Barossa Valley, enhancing elegance and allowing more of the fine textural tannins to accumulate. The result is a supple wine showing plum and mulberry flavours supported by cloves and spice. Meanwhile, the St Hugo Barossa Grenache Shiraz Mataro marks the first time Jacob’s Creek has combined these three grape varieties and the outcome is stunning. “Finding the exact balance for the St Hugo Grenache Shiraz Mataro was critical,” says Bernard. “We needed the right balance of Grenache to make the blend aromatic, enough Mataro to make it savoury – but not so much as to over-shadow the Grenache – and the perfect amount of Shiraz to tie the whole blend together harmoniously.” Taste the wine and it’s evident the winemakers were spot on.

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Asti Restaurant Asti Restaurant launched in August and offers a convenient address close to the Darling Harbour entertainment precinct and just moments from the prestigious waterfront at Jackson’s Landing. Located on Harris Street, which for many years was associated with the Colonial Sugar Refinery that dominated the peninsula, the restaurant offers a contemporary and elegant European inspired menu underpinned in its authenticity by up and coming, Chef Mathieu Astier. Astier’s traditional French training and Michelin-star restaurant experience inspires a menu that reflects an appreciation for fine local produce (Sydney’s famous Seafood markets is located a few kilometres away and items feature regularly in Asti’s kitchen) yet offer an international flavour. It’s a menu that also marries the best of new and traditional culinary traditions for impeccable taste and beautiful presentation. Those who dine at the restaurant will also notice Asti’s ‘fresh yet authentic’ food philosophy mirrored in the building concept itself. Heritage listed, Asti’s charming facade remains typical of the workers cottages predominant at Jackson’s Landing in eras past, belying its new interior. Over the past year owners Giovanni Panetta and Neill Hendry have carefully renovated the original site to transform what was a historic yet much neglected cottage into a stylish restaurant in tune with the cosmopolitan developments that surround. Panetta says, “We wanted to work with the building’s beautiful heritage features, not against them, while also maintaining a connection with respect to the sugar refinery. We hope our guests will also find that our food, service and surrounds have a definite sense of relaxed refinement about them.” While staying true to the rich history and charm of the buildings foundations, Panetta and Hendry have managed to create a handsome and updated dining space that extends across two different levels. An intimate lounge bar greets guests on arrival, with deep dark leather couches for diners to sink into for a relaxing pre or post dinner drink. Sleek steel and leather stool seating is also available for those who wish to take a drink at Asti’s small yet charming wine and cocktail bar. The bar itself is illuminated from below by a dramatic and somewhat artistic relief of warm red lighting. A chic and urbane contrast to the restaurant’s historic exterior.

Chef Mathieu Astier

Ahead, chandelier lighting and earthy tones lend more classic and more formal feel to the main dining area which features polished marble tables and comfortable leather backed seating. A steel staircase leads from the ground floor dining room to a second floor ideal for small group events. The second level also features an open air terrace, perfect for spring and summer suppers with a view extending to a neat green park at the rear of the restaurant. In terms of its overall design theme, Asti is a modern history mix. Its Italian owners have tempered most features that hint at their Mediterranean preference for all that is ornate and opulent, delivering a comfortable compromise. The result is a stately restaurant, subdued in its style. Timber floorboards upstairs and the restaurant’s facade may suggest its colonial past, but dark Italian ceramic tiles, low lit chandeliers and rich red feature walls tout its newer more modern incarnation. Asti is open Tuesday to Saturday nights from 6pm until late, and Thursdays and Fridays for lunch. To make a reservation enquiry call 02 9660 4075 or reservations@asti.com.au. Visit www.astirestaurant.com.au. Address: 46 Harris Street Pyrmont NSW 2009

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Regional strengths given the opportunity to shine Like most wine consumers, grape varieties have their preferences. Growing conditions vary from region to region and where some varieties may not perform as well as they could, others thrive and reveal their true character.

s a result, certain regions within Australia are increasingly being noted for their success with particular grape varieties and styles. Through the Jacob’s Creek Reserve ranges of wines, the winemakers at Jacob’s Creek are capturing the unique characteristics of Australia’s most popular grape varieties when grown under their ideal conditions in three of Australia’s best wine regions. Chief Winemaker Bernard Hickin says the aim is to take consumers on a journey of discovery. “Historically the global success of Australian wine has been largely built on reliability achieved through careful blending from multiple regions,” says Bernard. “We now want to introduce consumers to the very special personalities of individual regions of Australia.” The new Jacob’s Creek Reserve offering is focusing on three key South Australian wine regions – the Barossa, Coonawarra and Adelaide Hills. The first of these is the Barossa Valley, one of Australia’s most famous wine regions. It is also home to Orlando Wines – the makers of Jacob’s Creek – which has been there for more than 160 years since founder Johann Gramp first planted his vines on the banks a small tributary to the Para River named Jacob’s Creek in 1847. In the Barossa, warm dry Mediterranean-like days and cool nights coupled with a variety of soil-types provide ideal growing conditions for rich flavoursome complex Shiraz, wines that are full-bodied, with intense fruit flavour and soft ripe tannins. These characteristics are immediately recognisable in Jacob’s Creek Reserve Barossa Shiraz – a wine that is lush, velvety and mouth filling, typically with notes of blackberry and dark chocolate. Despite the fact that Coonawarra is almost four hours from the winery, it was the obvious choice for the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. The

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region’s shallow, well-drained Terra Rossa soils sit over a layer of limestone, and the region is recognised for producing some of Australia’s greatest Cabernet Sauvignon wines. The unique soils are complemented by a temperate maritime climate and consistent light cloud cover which slows the ripening of the grapes to produce Cabernet Sauvignon wines with well-structured tannins and pristine berry fruit, characteristics for which the region is famed. The third region is one of the rising stars of the Australian wine industry, the Adelaide Hills. This region was selected for the Jacob’s Creek Reserve Chardonnay due to its cool climate conditions and the numerous vineyards nestled amongst its twisting hills and valleys which offer a wide variety of micro-climates. This ensures that the ideal conditions can be found for growing expressive Chardonnay or finicky Pinot Noir in any given season, by careful selection of the fruit from different vineyards depending on the slope, aspect, soil and any number of variables which affect the way the grapes ripen. Average January temperatures in the Adelaide Hills are almost 2 degrees centigrade cooler than the two warmer wine regions adjacent to it – the Barossa and McLaren Vale. These cool climate conditions allow the fruit to mature slowly but fully – perfect conditions for an elegant Chardonnay with good natural acidity and crisp citrus, lemon and green apple characters. It is this modern Chardonnay style that the Jacob’s Creek winemakers have captured with their regional Reserve wine. “Fruit for all the Jacob’s Creek Reserve wines is identified by the winemakers while still in the vineyard,” says Bernard. “This ensures they exhibit the important and distinct regional characters, high quality and true varietal expression. “It means the resultant wines strongly reflect not only the grape variety, but also the personality of the region from which it comes.”

The work-life balance dilemma: two sisters are doing it for themselves Profile: Rae Blair & Janine Allis

The challenges that come from balancing work commitments with parenting can be extremely difﬁcult to manage. In 2009, the Australian Bureau of Statistics stated that extra hours, multiple jobs and weekend work are all cutting into Australian family life, while one-quarter of our children are overweight or obese. Most children from two-parent families have both parents working. In the majority (80%) of these working families, at least one of the parents said they were often or always pressed for time.

he main reason parents gave for feeling time pressured was trying to achieve a balance between work and family. Over half (58%) of all working couple families had at least one parent who usually worked extra hours and a similar proportion regularly working in the evenings. Two sisters share their story of how they have dealt with the work-life balance dilemma. Rae Blair and Janine Allis both started their careers in the advertising industry in Melbourne. They both worked for multinational companies with large corporate clients. At the time, all of the executive management team were male, supported by a raft of men and women in media, account management and creative roles, who were supported by female administrative staff. The early 80s was an interesting time. For example, the technological revolution was just beginning: there were no desk top computers, mobile phones or the internet. Communication was by land-line telephone and some people carried a personal pager. Telex was used as a business tool until it was replaced by the fax machine. Desk top computers were slowly introduced, early-mid 80s, along with printers that came with their own perspex sound-proof ‘dome of silence’. The mobile phone was launched in Australia in 1983 (albeit hard-wired in a car), and the internet emerged for general public use in the early 90s. Another revolution was also beginning: Australia was seeing a change in a shift from full-time work to part-time work. In 1983, 17.2% of the Australian labour force was part-time workers. This increased to 23.5% a decade later and to 29.9% by 2010 (source: ABS 4102.0 - Australian Social Trends). Another increasing trend was the amount of women with children (aged 0-4) working. In 1999, these women made up 47.1% of total labour force; this figure increased to 53.4% in 2010. Flexible working hours and increased child-care facilities followed a push from women who wished to return to work following the birth of their baby and a pull from employers who wanted to retain the expertise. As single women, though, Rae and Janine revelled in the long working days, the media launches, the marketing campaign development and pitches, the stimulating and ever-changing vibrant days in the advertising industry. They could devote their entire attention to the job. However, as things do, things changed. Rae eventually left the industry to have children and a few years later to follow her husband to Adelaide. Janine saved her money and headed overseas. Living away from her extended family and as a mother of two young boys (one of whom suffered from asthma), Rae didn’t enter

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back to the full-time workforce until the early 90s. Janine returned to Australia in 1991, also as a mother of a young boy, following periods of living in the south of France and Singapore. By this time, both sisters were again working full-time: Rae in the wine industry and Janine in the film distribution industry. “The guilt was enormous,” said Rae. “When I was at work, I’d feel guilty that I wasn’t at my sons’ school contributing to their activities. When I was at their sport’s day, I felt guilty that I was not at work. If one of my sons was unwell, I’d feel guilty leaving work to pick them up and then guilty that I sent him to school in the first place!” “It’s the pressure of trying to be all things to all people,” Janine agrees. “Just trying to keep all of the balls in the air is crazy, and inevitably one is dropped.” But Janine has a different view on guilt, she says “You should never be guilty for working, or doing something that you love. There are many reasons people work; for me in the early days as a single mum, it was necessity. Later, it was for the love of it. Even though occasionally the wheels ‘fell-off’ and you need to re-evaluate how you are managing everything, I rarely felt guilty about working. I believe you are a better mother if you are a happier women. I get equal joy from watching the kids play sport, to opening a new store in a new country. I am so fortunate to have both. And, my office has a toy box and a computer.” “We all get the pendulum wrong at different times,” said Rae “but it is important that you don’t give yourself too hard a time when it goes wrong.” What they did both agree on is the key to survival is to be able to forgive yourself and to be truly present when at work and when with the family. This is often easier said than done, particularly when you get the call from the school that your child is sick and needs to be picked up, just as you were going into an important meeting. “But it all works out in the end,” said Janine “What is needed is some perspective: meetings can be re-arranged, and you need to come to terms with what things can or cannot be missed for your children.” It was not long after her return to Melbourne, that Janine took a trip to the US with her husband. During that trip, the seeds for Boost Juice were born. With three little boys under her feet, and selling the family home to raise the money, she got the new company off the ground. From the first concept store in Adelaide,

Boost has now 250 stores throughout Australia and 51 stores overseas. In 2008, Janine’s business purchased a four chain Mexican concept called Salsas, which now has over 25 stores in Australia. Janine was also awarded the Telstra Business Woman of the Year in 2004. “I could not have achieved half of what has happened without the support I received from my Husband and Mother,” said Janine. “I am so fortunate that my Mother runs the children around and ensures they are loved and cared for after school. I realise things would have been so much harder had my children been cared for at an external centre, and me being time-bound to pick them up. I had the luxury of being able to come home with my children already there with my Mother, and I could continue to work if I had to. The real advantage of running my own business, at this stage, is that I have flexibility – I can be available to my children when they need me, and I have time to indulge myself with things that make me feel good – like yoga and travelling.”

A few years ago, Rae’s husband took a posting in London. “I was working full time in a job that I enjoyed, but I wanted to support my husband and so decided to move with him to London,” she says. “With the support of my employer, I was able to reduce my employment to two days a week, and continue to work remotely, for my Adelaide-based company, in London. Utilising today’s technology of Skype, email and the internet, I was able to continue to fulfil my work commitments – something inconceivable when I first started out 30 years ago. I am fortunate to have an employer who values my input and was prepared to be flexible to create a win/win situation.” Now that Rae and her husband are back in Australia, but based in Sydney, she still continues to work for her Adelaidebased company. “With today’s technology and with Australian businesses’ modern approach to employment, I’ve been able to achieve a much better work-life balance,” said Rae. “Instead of having to resign totally from work I’ve enjoyed, I’ve still been able to continue my contribution to my employer and the wine industry, but also now have more time to devote to myself and my family. Janine has encouraged me to take up yoga too, which I really love.”

Sisters, Janine Allis & Rae Blair enjoying some well earned time together

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A N E X C E P T I O N A L S T O RY

WWW.MUMM.COM PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

MUMM makes its mark In March 2012, G.H. MUMM Champagne is set to make its mark on Melbourne once again, as the official podium sponsor of the 2012 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.

ver the past 11 years, G.H. MUMM has firmly established its place as the official champagne of the Formula One World Championship season, synonymous with track-side glamour and of course the ultimate celebration of Formula 1 victory. “G.H. MUMM is proud to be the official champagne of Formula One, sharing the excitement of the series, the passion of the spectators and the daring spirit of the drivers,” said G.H. MUMM Brand Manager Julien Marteau. G.H. MUMM will dominate the podium and the paddock club by offering all guests a glass of their finest Champagne at their tasting bar in the Qantas Entrance lounge. In 2012, for the first time at Albert Park, G.H. MUMM will pour its rose brut cuvee and revive the art of sabrage in a contemporary way (slicing the neck of the bottle with a sword), with a saber sword specifically designed by the French Designer Patrick Jouin. Each year, these events bring together the cream of Australia’s entertainment, fashion, sport and business industries, all eager to savour the classic fine flavours G.H MUMM Champagne, an institution in Champagne since 1827.

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An introduction to the Bimbadgen range of wines.

Club

Hidden Gem WORDS BY ZOE BUTTERWORTH, INTERNATIONAL CULINARY CRITIC

The ‘Signorelli’ Gastronomia is an Italian gem that is located in the suburb of Pyrmont in Darling Harbour.

ot the easiest place to find, the restaurant is actually on the ground floor of the Accenture Building - it really takes you by surprise as you enter a deli, pizzeria, cheese room and wine room, with hanging produce such as salami and prosciutto creating a totally authentic impression and even the founder’s original wooden supermarket trolley is suspended from the ceiling. These guys take their product very seriously and execute superbly well. The very warm welcome is accompanied by a multi sensual experience of shoppers and diners and with all this going on one wonders if in fact the focus on the food will be up to scratch. As guests of Phil and Danielle Harte, my husband and I had no doubt that Phil (a top chef in his own right and ‘customer service campaigner’) would be on hand and particularly willing to advise on that matter. It ought to be noted that he was by now already impressed with Signorelli’s. The warm welcome we received on arrival was followed by an impressive presentation of the menu and wine selection from our very knowledgeable and engaging waiter and at this juncture, I have to secretly admit to wishing that we had been seated inside the main restaurant and not what felt to be an overspill area in the lobby of the main building. Our high stools and table compared poorly to the rustic and yet stylish wooden tables and chairs and sophisticated lighting in the main restaurant. A minor observation, but an element of the experience was lost as a result, so make sure to reserve your table inside. Our culinary experience was launched with the chef’s antipasto selection and this comes highly recommended. A firm test for any Italian eatery worth its salt has to be the traditional margherita pizza and Signorelli Gastronomia passed with flying colours.

We dined on beautifully fresh produce throughout the meal and enjoyed stir -fried vegetables, ricotta and elephant ears pasta. The Linguine Vongole was outstanding as were the meat balls in Neapolitan sauce. The crispy prawn filled zucchini flowers were a superb addition. Our choice of beverages was largely non-alcoholic and yet the wide selection was welcomed, particularly the local beers which my husband enjoyed one or two of. There is an excellent Italo-Australian wine selection however with a choice of around 20 wines. Signorelli Gastronomia is first and foremost serving beautiful fresh Italian food. It has undoubtedly discovered the ideal recipe for blending its culinary expertise with interactive elements, including a cooking school. There is plenty happening in Signorelli’s and the buzz in this busy restaurant as we left was testament to its success and the warm, attentive service continued until we stepped outside. Visit us at www.doltonehouse.com.au

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Doltone House - Sydney JONES BAY WHARF - PYRMONT SYDNEY NSW

The world’s most coveted foreshore, in the world’s most beautiful city. The location is priceless with views of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and magical city skyline.

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oltone House Jones Bay Wharf is a unique heritage waterfront venue situated on the historic finger wharf at the recently restored Jones Bay Wharf, Pyrmont Point Sydney. Our great location offers guests a venue and catering experience for 10 to over 550 guests, with exclusive balcony and deck entertainment areas that overlook Sydney Harbour and the city skyline. Doltone House is known for hosting high profile social page events with signature style and has been the preferred venue for Sydneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading event managers, professional conference organisers and local, interstate and international corporates. The setting offers an event experience on the best harbour in the world - an ideal venue location and a very unique address for your next event. The venue may be accessed by boat, water taxi, ferry, light rail, monorail, bus or private transport. Parking is available directly across the road from the venue in the Wilson/ Jones Bay Wharf Car Park or at The Star Casino. You may enter the venue from the street level stairs or dedicated lift on Pirrama Road. Visit us at www.doltonehouse.com.au

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Dare to be Different DOLTONE HOUSE - BECAUSE YOUR VENUE SHOULD BE EXTRAORDINARY

With the strength of our name and reputation, the stunning location and attention to every detail Doltone House will orchestrate an event that will delight you and your guests.

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t Doltone House your event will be executed with precision and flair, just like a theatrical spectacular.

Our dedicated and experienced event team can assist with all aspects of your event planning, from concept to menu design and execution, our documented success will put you at ease. We work with you to create signature events and bring it all together so you can enjoy the show and have your guests raving. From an intimate breakfast to a corporate business lunch, a funky industry gathering, cocktail party extravaganza, black tie gala dinner, Christmas party, incentive dinners or product launches, Doltone House can provide the perfect location to WOW your guests. The team at Doltone House can present a variety of options for every element of your event and offer the support, experience and knowledge needed to help you make your decisions. Discover why Doltone House Jones Bay Wharf is one of Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier establishments with accolades and acknowledgements. Visit us at www.doltonehouse.com.au

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Dream your Magical Day AT DOLTONE HOUSE YOUR FAIRY TALE WEDDING TRULY BEGINS

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, you want a venue that understand this, a venue that you can trust to get it right, but most of all you want a venue with that touch of brilliance.

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Left: Heritage Wharf. Above: Doltone Loft (Photo courtesy of Cavanagh Photography)

f you truly want a magical harbour side venue then Doltone House has just the place. Jones Bay Wharf, is a unique event space that has been transformed from its industrial origins into a modern designer space with charming heritage features. It is a sleek and stylish location, with breathtaking views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and City skyline. A spectacular venue unique location for weddings both large and small. Doltone House Jones Bay Wharf offers two unique spaces â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the private Loft dining room, split over two levels which provides an intimate atmosphere and is an excellent choice for smaller weddings. The amazing lighting feature hung from the original timber beams gives the space an ambience that enlightens the surrounds for your family and friends. While the Heritage Wharf area has 840 sqm of clear floor space. The venue offers a unique event experience with great ambiance and aesthetic appeal, and may be transformed into any theme, with its high truss ceilings and pillar less floor space. Very few venues in Sydney can boast waterfront spaciousness, comfort and versatility. At Doltone House, your wedding will be made of divine food, tantalizing beverages, fabulous guests and the Doltone house touch of difference. Visit us at www.doltonehouse.com.au

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Grandeur and style with G.H. MUMM The leading Champagne house in France and official Champagne of the Melbourne Cup Carnival brought to life the true culture of Champagne and pleasure of new formality at Flemington racecourse.

ver 440 VIP guests attended “La Maison G.H.MUMM”, certainly the most exquisite and refined venue in the birdcage enclosure at Flemington. The design of the marquee embodied the red sash, true icon of G.H. MUMM Champagne since the founder decorated each bottle with the famous “cordon rouge” in 1875. The red sash is a French symbol of excellence and represents the legion of honour, the most prestigious distinction given to individuals by the French President for outstanding achievements in the civil, military or artistic fields. Guests entering “La Maison G.H.MUMM” walked the red carpet through the outdoor garden and were greeted by a cavernous opening from where L’ANGE DE MUMM, a contemporary aerial ballet artist suspended from the ceiling by twin sets of red fabric,

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unravelled and lowered herself to pour Champagne at various times throughout the 4 race days. G.H.MUMM also created a ‘Champagne Fountain’ feature within the marquee. Shaped to mirror the G.H.MUMM Red Sash, it was a modern interpretation of the traditional champagne fountain. Additionally, the 200-year old French ritual of sabrage, invented by Napoleon’s cavalry, saw guests ‘slice’ the cork from the bottle with one clean strike of a sabre. Kate Waterhouse, the charming G.H.MUMM’s racing Ambassador, helped revived the art of sabrage in a modern way on television. Other key guests included Matt Moran, Neil Perry, Matt Preston, Xavier Samuel from Twilight series and Miss Universe Australia Scherri-Lee Biggs.

G.H.MUMM provided a wonderful gastronomic experience to their guests by showcasing a superb menu designed and prepared by Guillaume Brahimi, arguably the best French chef in Australia. The 3-star dishes matched the selection of Champagnes on offer. Each day of the Carnival featured a different cuvee: G.H.MUMM Vintage 2004 on Derby Day, the most prestigious of the G.H.MUMM range Cuvee R. Lalou 1999 on Cup Day, G.H. MUMM Rose on Oaks Day and G.H.MUMM Cordon Rouge NV on Stakes Day. The G.H.MUMM house style is always fruitiness, elegance and finesse. Over 180 years of passion, dynamism and a relentless pursuit of excellence have led to G.H.MUMM becoming the 3rd largest Champagne house in the world, with a production of 8 million bottles a year.

Kate Waterhouse sabering a bottle of G.H.MUMM

Renowned DJ Anna Lunoe

Chris Morrison and Sarah Hawthorne

Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ange de Mumm

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qantas.com

Adelaide

Cheers A toast to 4pm You can look forward to a well-deserved glass or two on the way back from your next business meeting – drinks are complimentary on all CityFlyer flights after 4pm. If you’re hungry as well as thirsty you’ll be glad to find Neil Perry’s influence on our new menus. It’s domestic travel with international quality.

Enjoy the journey

Wine or beer on Perth CityFlyer ﬂights after 12pm everyday. Qantas Airways Limited ABN 16 009 661 901.

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CATCH A SHOW

Capitol Square Hotel, Sydney’s best value economy hotel and is ideally located within Sydney’s CBD with a range of attractions at your doorstep, adjacent to The Capitol Theatre complex. We are also just a short walk from Darling Harbour, Sydney Entertainment Centre, Central Station and China Town. Our comfortably appointed rooms will ensure you enjoy your accommodation whilst in Sydney’s CBD. Capitol Square Hotel Sydney Cnr George & Campbell Streets Sydney NSW 2000 P 02 9211 8633 F 02 9211 8733 reservations_capitalsquare@rydges.com

Rydges Camperdown is a comfortable 3.5 star hotel located just 10 minutes drive from the Sydney CBD. The hotel is just a short stroll from King Street Newtown, where you can ﬁnd a variety of boutique fashion stores, restaurants, the Enmore Theatre and Newtown train station. The Sydney Fish Markets, Moore Park Precint and the Sydney Entertainment Centre are also all located within a 10 minute bus trip from the hotel. Rydges Camperdown 9 Missenden Road Camperdown NSW 2050 P 02 9516 1522 F 02 9519 4020 reservations_camperdown@rydges.com

Passion Is Key Profile: Chandru Tolani

Philanthropist, award-winning businessman, hotelier and proliﬁc golfer. There is not much Bombay-born Chandru Tolani hasn’t tried his hand at but, success he says, lies in having a burning passion for what you do and constant reinvention of opportunities will see you achieve great success and business domination.

mbition is clearly evident when you speak to this man – a man who has tirelessly given his all to achieve a success few can only dream of.

The man is Chandru Tolani. Born in Bombay, India, he migrated to Sydney in 1975 at the age of 24 after working in his family import/export and shoe and garment construction businesses in India. He is now one of Australia’s leading businessmen – employing over 300 Australians – and is also the owner of a diverse range of businesses – from a group of hotels to a golf course and more recently, a childcare centre. “It was my love of cricket and this idyllic lifestyle you have here in Australia that first led me to this country. I used to play cricket every single day – but that was before my life became so busy!” Chandru, who was responsible for pioneering the two-dollar shopping concept in Australia, arrived with little less than the bag on his back and a whole lot of ambition. Initially he began supplying the Newcastle Markets with low-cost products and now continues to supply a string of value stores throughout the nation with low-cost items. This resulted is his business becoming one of the largest importers and wholesalers of discount merchandise in Australia. What had begun as a five-employee business in the ‘70s – after Chandru came to this great southern land with little more than his wife and the suitcase he was carrying - was well and truly booming by the ‘90s after diligence, hard work and ethics saw the business thrive. Despite a minor setback, which occurred when fire ravaged the Silverwater factory in 2009, Chandru and his family were quick to rebuild and the business has continued to flourish. But it was his first hotel – the Travel Lodge in Camperdown, Sydney purchased in 1991 – which led Chandru down a path of international success. Preceding his initial hotel purchase, he then bought the Holiday Inn at The Rocks in 2002 and a third hotel not long after.

Chandru with his wife of 27 years Kalpana

“I have a lot of good people working for me which is very important. But I still manage to find enough time to play golf three times a week,” he adds humorously. “Passion to do different things so you diversify your interests is important. We have also built a Montessouri daycare centre – I find as long as there are beneficial interests to both business opportunities and the community, you are doing well.” Adding to his stable of hotels, Chandru also acquired the Macquarie Golf and Country Club – the perfect assimilation to his love for the sport. This loving father of three daughters – one of which works for the family business, the other a pharmacist and his third daughter is in year 10 – has recently added a new generation to his family with the arrival of a granddaughter. “Family is extremely important to me and I like to spend as much time as I can with them.” Another of Chandru’s passions lies in his need to embrace philanthropy – supporting both the Indian and Australian communities. “We donate to many important Indian charities, this is part of giving back,” he adds. Supporting various religious charities as well as the McGrath Cancer Foundation, Chandru’s dedication to the community is paramount. The dedicated countryman has been active in helping the United Indian Associations in their annual Indo-Australia Friendship Fair along with fundraising, donating many of the deity statues for the establishment of both the Minto as well as Auburn Hindu temples - which are widely enjoyed by Sydney’s Indo-Australian community. When disaster struck with the Indian earthquakes in Gujarat, Chandru and his family sent two container loads of blankets and supplies as a contribution to the relief efforts. In 1999, he funded and produced a video in collaboration with former Prime Minister Bob Hawke to promote Australia to the Chinese and Japanese prior to the 2000 Olympics. And more recently,

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Chandru has been encouraging his contacts in the Bollywood film industry to film their productions in Australia rather than their preferred destination of the scenic sights of New Zealand. And realising the importance of trying to assist poverty, last year he and his wife, Kalpana, donated an ultrasound machine for a mission hospital in Rishikesh in India. In February this year, finally, both his dedication to his business enterprises and the Indian community were recognised when Chandru won the NSW Indian Subcontinent Community Award for Trade and Industry. “This was a wonderful achievement. I am grateful to the people who voted for me, as it is an honour to be acknowledged for the work I have put in,” he said at winning the prestigious award. While Chandru says he has never sought the limelight and prefers not live a life of ostentatious grandeur, rather he is gracious to be acknowledged as having given to the community. “I am simply happy to receive recognition for my contribution to Australia’s trade and economy, and being the first Indian businessman to receive this acknowledgement is even better.”

Chandru with Ex Premier of NSW Kristina Keneally

While Chandru places great emphasis on a healthy balance between family, charity, work and leisure it seems life will not slow down for this prolific businessman anytime soon - although he has retirement set in his forseeable sights. “In the future, once I retire, I want to run a charity but doing something new keeps me going. I will continue to work as long as I have the energy to do it.”

Chandru Tolani and Thaksin Shinawatra Ex Prime Minister of Thailand

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Macquarie Links International Golf Club Welcome to the preferred golf location for the discerning golfer and business elite of Sydney

Championship golf course design, quality golfing experience, gracious and attentive service, fine food and an active calendar of golf, business and social events will be the hallmark of Macquarie Links International Golf Club

acquarie Links is a Par 72 course designed by Robin Nelson measuring some 6,300 metres in length, but not overly long by modern standards - the course is a challenge to shot making but not a torturous test of length. Multiple tees give golfers of all standards the ability to enjoy their game with an appropriate level of challenge.

range with 12 bays, chipping, pitching and sand bunker practice and putting green area. Macquarie Links offers one of Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest practice facilities including a full championship length driving range measuring 250 metres in length, chipping, bunker and short game areas and a putting green measuring 460 square metres.

The course has fairly wide fairways to encourage free and quick play, however, strategically placed bunkers and other hazards guard the ideal line of play to the small greens. The bunkers themselves are a combination of traditional Scottish sod faced bunkers with more free flowing bunkers in the style of Melbourneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great sandbelt courses. The subtle shaping echoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the shapes of the surrounding grass covered hills with broad flowing lines and eroded gullies.

Golf Tuition is an integral part of the operation with a variety of programs available ranging from private tuition, group clinics, Corporate programs and various golf schools that can be tailored to meet your needs. trolleys and electric carts. Practice facilites adjacent to the Clubhouse includes a driving range, chipping greens and putting green.

To compliment this truly spectacular Championship Course, Macquarie Links International offers the very best in its practice facilities and golf operations. Practice facilities include a practice

The Club is perceived as becoming an important asset to Sydney because it will provide opportunities for business and social affairs that have not been available until now.

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Membership Membership Categories and Benefits have been designed to meet the needs of today’s world. At the Club, all Members enjoy guest privileges, complimentary range balls, golf bag storage and maintaining of a golf handicapping. Flexible membership options cater for all personal and business needs. Membership categories include: Individual Membership, Family Membership, Corporate Membership and Junior Membership

Functions

delicacies with international selections to create culinary sensations that will impress. Our menus take into account the sophisticated dining interests of the membership along with the casual informality of a sporting day at the Club. The Dining Room has a seating capacity for 80 guests and is open for Members and visitors for breakfast and lunch on Tuesday’s to Sundays. Dinner is offered on Friday evening’s. Private Functions can take place outside of the existing operational hours for weddings, seminars and conferences, with seating for 120 persons or cocktails for up to 140 persons. Windows and glass doors surround the Conference Room and overlook the golf course

Where to Find Us

Our Clubhouse provides a superb venue for anyone looking to entertain their clients and associates for either business or pleasure in an atmosphere of privacy and comfort.

One of the greatest features is ease of access to the Club. Just 5 minutes from Campbelltown and 10 minutes from Liverpool, and is a convenient 35 minute drive from the airport and the Central Business District of Sydney, with direct access to the M5, M7 and Hume Highway, the main link between Sydney and Canberra.

Throughout the day, Members and visitors will enjoy sweeping and unobstructed views of the golf course from either our spacious verandah, the fully licenced bar and dining room, the private function room or the well equipped golf shop.

More info at:

Our experienced Chefs masterfully combine local and regional

www.macquarielinksgolfclub.com.au Ph: +61 2 8796 5888 Fax: +61 2 9605 7900 Macquarie Links Drive, Macquarie Links, Sydney, NSW, 2565, Australia

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Straight off the plane...

...straight on the beach

Delhi Taipei Mumbai

Bangalore

Flying direct to Gold Coast Airport means you’re landing right in your holiday destination... so you’ll spend less time travelling and have more time to enjoy your stay. Enjoy a great variety of food and beverage options within the terminal including the new full service, Blackstone Bar and Lounge. Discover retail stores showcasing some of Australia’s best loved brands. International travellers have the added benefit of shopping in the Duty Free store too. Ground connections couldn’t be easier with transport available direct from the airport, including car rental, bus, taxi and private transfers.

Over 350 direct flights a week to the Gold Coast, from across Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Malaysia.

goldcoastairport.com.au

GOLD COAST 2012 EVENT CALENDAR Martin Winter - Gold Coast Tourism CEO

vents help drive visitors to the Gold Coast, whether they are sporting events, cultural events or musical events. Just as the Gold Coast is famous for its variety of tourist attractions, we continue to develop a diversity of events which have either the size or the uniqueness to attract visitation from outside the city for the benefit of local business.

Events play a significant role in the life, economy and overall image of the Gold Coast by providing a complementary variable to the fun, excitement and sense of adventure the City is renowned for, while producing an overriding sense of occasion to the entire experience. Gold Coast Tourism promotes the Gold Coast as Australia’s favourite holiday destination, a place full of things to see and do; part of that famous mix today is events. The City’s success in hosting events of various sizes and types throughout the year and throughout various parts of the region has earned the Gold Coast a reputation as a leading events destination. The evolving nature of the leisure experience coupled with ongoing infrastructure development ensures a special wow factor as part of any activity held on the Gold Coast. Our mix of man-made and natural assets, plus the incorporation of special events throughout the year is unmatched anywhere else in the country. The Gold Coast offers a desirable, cost effective and diverse destination to stage, watch or participate in major events. Events on the Gold Coast also allow organisers to showcase our world-class sporting and entertainment facilities and venues, amazing array of accommodation options, plus highlight the overriding depth of the Gold Coast experience, all enjoyed within idyllic coastal and hinterland surrounds. Images of our beautiful City are beamed throughout Australia and the rest of the World, plus through social media everyone in attendance at Gold Coast events becomes an unofficial ambassador, by emphasising the fun and enjoyment being had while here in the City. The addition of our national sporting teams, the Gold Coast Suns in AFL, Titans in rugby league, United in soccer and Blaze in basketball has the potential to add substantially to visitation, by drawing large supporter cohorts throughout the year. This adds to an already thriving major events industry. It’s satisfying to see the Gold Coast continue to reconfirm its global event status. As part of a long term strategy we will continue to invest in securing major events for the Gold Coast and look to increase participation and attendance which will optimise the greater promotion of the city. Our successful 2018 Commonwealth Games bid will provide a valued shot in the arm for the city economy and local tourism industry. The Gold Coast’s international profile is about to hit new levels as the city builds its promotional momentum towards 2018. Spurring that on will be an unparalleled period of new investment and development to further the Gold Coast’s credentials as a truly modern international city, it has already been started with the Queensland Government announcing $500 million direct investment in venue and transport infrastructure. We believe more than 120,000 extra tourists will visit the Gold Coast for the 2018 Commonwealth Games with around a 50% split between international and domestic visitors, so the opportunity for our $4.5 billion tourism industry is exceptional. This is an exciting new phase for Australia’s Gold Coast as it leads the region in its development and accomplishments as a truly world-class city.

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JANUARY Summaﬁeldayze This annual New Year music festival promises even more when staged at its traditional home, Doug Jennings Park on the Spit. Featuring a unique and dazzling palette of the planet’s most sought after DJs/acts/artists, and drawing from the magnificent spectrum of its finest sounds, this special 100% CMYK edition of Summafieldayze is guaranteed to be the biggest, brightest and most brilliantly colourful in the iconic brand’s eight year history. Summafieldayze 2012 artist line up is headlined by Snoop Dogg and includes Pendulum, Calvin Harris, Moby DJ Set, Scissor Sisters, Grandmaster Flash, Erick Morillo, Metronomy, Markus Schulz, Sasha, Tiga, Skream & Benga, Busy P, DJ Medhi, Seth Troxler, Stanton Warriors, Flying Lotus, Inflagranti, Spankrock, Mighty Fools and 12th Planet plus many more still to be announced!!! www.summafieldayze.oztix.com.au

BMW Magic Millions Racing Carnival BMW Magic Millions yearling sales, carnival and race day is held in January and offers the glitz and glamour of countless functions and activities while saluting the development of Australia’s lucrative thoroughbred breeding and racing program. The ultra-sexy BMW Magic Millions is the flagship event of the world famous bloodstock sales and promotions company, attracting International racing’s elite to Australia’s favourite playground each year. The sales have been held since 1986, while the Gold Coast Turf Club entered an exciting new chapter in its history when the Magic Millions Classic kicked off the following year. Today total prize money offered on Magic Millions Race Day is in excess of $4.5 million. This summer, be a part of the most anticipated racing event of the year as the 2012 BMW Magic Millions Carnival bedazzles the Gold Coast with its scintillating glamour. This event conjures up the heart- pounding thrill of Queensland’s richest race, the quality yearling sales, the style and sophistication of the latest trackside fashions and the allure of the season’s hottest tickets. www.magicmillions.com.au

Renault National Beach Volleyball Series The Renault National Beach Volleyball Series brings a fusion of elite sport, entertainment, music and holiday fun to one of Australia’s most iconic beach locations in Surfers Paradise. This world-class tournament will feature Australia’s men’s and women’s teams plus visiting International squads who will be vying for spots, or finalising preparations towards the London 2012 Olympics. Get set for some high-powered summer sporting competition and best of all the Series makes its way back to the Gold Coast for another round in March. www.beachvolleyballseries.com.au

Big Day Out The Big Day Out summer music festival brand celebrates 20 years in 2012 in what promises to be one of the biggest and best performances. Big Day Out was created to level the playing field and prove that the title ‘alternative’ didn’t stop music from being popular. It has now changed the local musical landscape forever, growing from its ambitious, chaotic beginnings to evolve into the largest travelling festival in the world. The goal has always been to deliver the ultimate platform for artists to play to huge crowds alongside some of the most important acts in the world, to the best audiences in the world. Confirmed for BIG DAY OUT 2012 are: Kanye West, Soundgarden, Kasabian, My Chemical Romance, The Living End, Hilltop Hoods, Battles, Odd future, Mariachi El Bronx, Girl Talk and many more. www.bigdayout.com

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FEBRUARY Gold Coast RACV Australian Ladies Masters The Gold Coast RACV Australian Ladies Masters is played at the RACV Royal Pines Resort on Queensland’s Gold Coast in February under the co-sanctioning of Australian Ladies Professional Golf and the Ladies European Tour. The event continues to attract a world class field of players representing more than 20 countries. The Ladies Masters venue at RACV Royal Pines Resort hosts a range of recreational facilities, the jewel of which is the 27-hole championship golf course which continues to inspire, motivate and challenge the very best golfers from throughout the World. www.ladiesmasters.com

Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars In 2010, the National Rugby League (NRL) launched the NRL All Stars concept as the centrepiece of rugby league’s commitment to Indigenous Australia - an event that promotes harmony across all cultures whilst also celebrating the game’s best athletes. The inaugural Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars Match was held in February 2010. Established in response to player feedback following the Indigenous Dreamteam v New Zealand Maori match at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, this game provides the NRL the opportunity to showcase an important Indigenous celebration to the nation and in turn complements the Federal Government’s strategy towards cultural acceptance and tolerance within the community. The event is supported by the NRL Community Carnival – the biggest annual celebration of rugby league in regional Australia and sees NRL players from all 16 clubs blitz the community over a week-long period.

Gold Coast Fashion Week Gold Coast Fashion Week is one of the City’s most prestigious fashion events, offering spectacular experiences such as make-up and hair demonstrations, public access professional photo shoots, the Australian National Stiletto Throwing Competition, and creative fashion shows. The Gold Coast will unveil itself as a platform for Australian fashion in February 2012, marking the evolution of fashion, finesse and contemporary design in Queensland. An array of talented local designers, boutiques and the who’s who of style will be invited to celebrate one of the most highly anticipated events to celebrate the Gold Coast’s blend of flamboyance, elegance and coastal chic. www.goldcoastfashionweek.com.au

Breaka Burleigh Surf Pro The Breaka Burleigh Surf Pro is an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) four-star rated surfing event which attracts some of the world’s best surfers to the iconic Burleigh Headland. With the past two years being resounding successes, 2012 is shaping up to be the biggest and best year ever. This event marks the first stop on the ASP Australasia Star Tour Series, showcasing some of the worlds’ best surfers and offering US$85,000 in prize money and valuable Star Tour points. www.surfingqueensland.com

Bleach* Surﬁng the Fringe For those who can’t get enough surf, sand and sun, brace yourself - Bleach* Surfing the Fringe is coming. The Gold Coast’s premiere and inaugural Surf Culture FestivaI will celebrate artistic expression and creativity inspired by surf and beach culture via an eclectic mix of pop up art installations, photography exhibitions, film screenings, music, food, theatre and fashion events all targeted to represent surf lifestyle. The two-week Bleach* festival will descend on the spectacular beaches, foreshores and major venues unique to the Southern Gold Coast at a time when the world surfing spotlight is upon them during the ASP World tour events. www.bleachfestival.com.au

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MARCH Sail Paradise Gold Coast The Southport Yacht Club hosts Sail Paradise which is fast becoming one of Australia’s premier east coast yachting events. It will be sailed on courses set just off the surf-line of the Gold Coast’s magnificent beaches. The entire regatta concept has been based on a plan to provide the highest level of competitive and satisfying summer sailing for crews of a wide range of yachts – from Grand Prix to Cruising – and at the same time present the sailors, their families and friends the chance to enjoy the many holiday pleasures to be found on the Gold Coast. www.sailparadise.com.au

Australian Surf Life Saving Championships The 2012 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships will be held at the Gold Coast’s iconic Kurrawa Beach. The Aussies bring together surf lifesaving clubs and members from across the country, with athletes of all ages contesting more than 300 exhilarating surf lifesaving events, in what will be an action-packed week of competition. The Aussies is the largest sporting event of its type in the world, with entries open to all Surf Life Saving members. It is a celebration of the Surf Life Saving movement and an opportunity for surf lifesavers from around Australia to display their talents. The Australian Surf Life Saving Championships date from the first ‘New South Wales’ championships, held at Bondi Beach, Sydney on 20 March 1915. Today the Championships are contested by more than 8,000 competitors. With the exception of the two World War years, they have continued uninterrupted at the end of every season. www.sls.com.au/aussies

Quiksilver and Roxy Pro The surfing world converges on the Gold Coast each year to witness two major sporting events which kick start the ASP Men’s and Women’s World Tours. From late February into early March, the Quiksilver and Roxy Pros will light up on the southern end of the Gold Coast’s iconic point break of Snapper Rocks. Men’s competition features the world’s top surfers, including the likes of reigning and eleventime World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), two-time World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) and fellow hometown hero Joel Parkinson (AUS). Surfing sensation Slater is the only non-Australian to have won the Quiksilver Pro (3-times) and will look to defend his title in the 2012 competition after sealing an unprecedented 11th world title last season. Snapper Rocks will also be host to the women’s Roxy Pro bringing together the world’s top female surfers including the Gold Coast’s own four-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore and fellow Aussie heavyweight Sally Fitzgibbons. Coolangatta is the ideal location for a world surfing contest, with Snapper Rocks one of the best right-handers on the planet. Surfing’s elite make Coolangatta their headquarters across February into March but if the wave gods aren’t smiling there are plenty of first class options nearby such as Duranbah, Kirra and Burleigh Heads. The Quiksilver and Roxy Pro provides fans with more than six days of action-packed surfing, and to make sure the events have the best surf conditions, organisers allow for a 12 day waiting period, so you can guarantee the barrels will be huge! www.quiksilverpro.com.au

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APRIL The Cooly Classic – Coolangatta Ocean Swim Coolangatta is world famous for its surf culture and the Cooly Classic celebrates the very essence of this iconic location - sun, sand and surf. Swim the Cooly Classic and conquer three of Australia’s most revered surf breaks - Snapper Rocks, Coolangatta and Kirra. Whether you’re an ironman or ironwoman contender looking for a hit-out, or a newcomer to ocean swimming, the Cooly Classic has an option for you. www.weekendwarriorevents.com.au

Gold Coast Film Festival Two of the biggest cultural festivals in Australia have formed an exciting alliance! That’s right, starting in 2012, The Gold Coast Film Festival is joining forces with the Supanova Pop Culture Expo to bring a stellar, unprecedented entertainment experience to the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast is an epicentre for feature film production in Australia with over 75% of all Queensland production occurring here. The Gold Coast Film Festival is the local access point to the industry and a source of exciting and emerging screen culture experiences. The festival is proud to be the premier showcase event for feature films and has a vested interest in the promotion, development and fostering of Australian film making talent. The Gold Coast Film Festival ensures the City has access to culturally diverse films and screen-based entertainment. Family friendly screenings are held at the magnificent Southport Broadwater Parklands, while industry leaders will provide seminars and workshops for upcoming local film makers.www.gcfilmfestival.com

Gold Coast Triathlon Luke Harrop Memorial Community activities, evening entertainment programs, corporate events and functions, along with one of the biggest Sport and Lifestyle Expos in the Southern Hemisphere. There are events for everyone, from novice to elite, corporate to lifestyle enthusiasts at the Gold Coast triathlon Luke Harrop Memorial. www.usmevents.com.au

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MAY Prime Ministers Cup The Prime Minister’s Cup race day boasts six Black Type races headed by the Group 2 A.D. Hollindale WFA Stakes. The race honour roll includes Australian champions Scenic Shot, Shogun Lodge, Rough Habit and dual Australian Horse of the Year Might and Power. Before the introduction of the Magic Millions carnival, the Prime Minister’s Cup was the Gold Coast’s best-known race. Introduced in 1974, the Prime Minister’s Cup meeting has always been a key part of the Queensland winter carnival. www.gctc.com.au

Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show Situated in Australia’s leading leisure boat building region, the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show has carved a unique place within the Asia-Pacific boat show calendar. Attracting buyers and marine industry representatives from around the globe, the annual four-day event is staged at Sanctuary Cove on Queensland’s Gold Coast. The location for the exhibition site is The Marine Village, Sanctuary Cove which is home to a 330 berth marina within the heart of Australia’s most prestigious residential community. The Marine Village also offers shops, cafes, restaurants, essential services, and the 5-star Hyatt Regency Resort. Since its inception in 1988, the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show has developed a reputation around the world as the most significant boat show in the Asia-Pacific region. It was the first show in the region to be invited to join the prestigious International Federation of Boat Show Organisers and as in past years, the Show traditionally attracts many international buyers and executives and is known as the place ‘Where the Marine Business Does Business’. Visitors can marvel at a myriad of on-water, pavilion and open-air displays including luxury cruisers, power and sail multihulls, super yachts, trailerable craft, engines, electronics, marine materials and equipment, marine finance, designers and businesses providing services to the marine industry sector. The Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show is also a popular platform for world and national launches of new boats and marine industry products. Along with a daily schedule of activities and events, the Women on Water program will again be a feature of the Show in 2012. The program includes seminars, fashion parades, Skipper Training for women by women and luncheons including the popular - High Tea on the High Seas. www.sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au

Blues on Broadbeach The Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival is unique as it feeds on the unique village like atmosphere and relaxed ambience that is Broadbeach on the Gold Coast. The festival, held in late May nurtures Australian Blues talent as well as providing a stage for international acts. Blues on Broadbeach offers a musical experience like no other in Queensland, and remains a free event. The annual Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival has attracted over 480,000 people since it first began in 2002 making this a world class event. Transcending the barriers of age, gender and culture, Blues on Broadbeach is one of Australia’s iconic Blues Festivals. Blues music is food for the soul and this festival combines the best of blues with the cream of Gold Coast cuisine in a guaranteed recipe for success. www.bluesonbroadbeach.com

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JUNE Surfers Paradise Festival The Surfers Paradise Festival will be an unparalleled feast of music, art, food and lifestyle. Whether its top music acts, award-winning food and wine events, world-class street entertainment or adventures on the entertainment fringe, the Surfers Paradise precinct will have ‘culture’ written all over it. The 4-week Festival is bound to have Surfers Paradise buzzing with energy on the streets, in venues and in restaurants. Home-grown music, food, art and film events fill the festival program, alongside promotions to win VIP access to events and the opportunity to cash in on some great offers precinctwide. www.surfersparadisefestival.com

Gold Coast Airport Marathon The Gold Coast Airport Marathon in Queensland, Australia is a running experience like no other. Imagine the satisfaction of completing a marathon while taking in the breathtaking views of the Gold Coast and relaxing afterwards on the golden beaches, at a surf club, in an award-winning restaurant, at a thrilling theme park, out at sea whale watching or swinging away on one of the many golf courses. The 2012 Gold Coast Airport Marathon will be held on the weekend of 30 June - 1 July, perfectly timed in the school holidays for many in Australia. There is a race for all ages and abilities so you can do it with your family and friends. This major Australian running event features a marathon, half marathon, 10km run, 5km challenge and junior dash races for the kids over 4km and 2km. More than 25,000 people from around the world are set to participate in 2012 and enjoy the scenery and inspiring atmosphere along the course. The courses are flat and fast and with a great climate for running, this event is ideal to aim for a personal best time. You can also fundraise for a charity of your choice or the event’s official charity Cancer Council Queensland for added motivation. All participants who cross the finish line receive a commemorative medal, shirt, certificate and other rewards to mark the occasion and their personal achievement. The event also includes a bumper ASICS Sport & Leisure Expo at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre for running and fitness enthusiasts. The event is also held during the Surfers Paradise Festival with plenty of entertainment planned over marathon weekend. Race entries open in March 2012. There are no entry limits so you won’t miss out! Visit www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au

Cooly Rocks On Cooly Rocks On is Australia’s “hottest new” Rock`N Roll Nostalgia Festival coordinated in the Coolangatta-Tweed Heads Region. Rock`n Roll and Rockabilly bands and singers are featured, as are dancers, more than 1,000 Hot Rods and Classic Cars and Cruisers plus numerous street parades! Expected to attract between 50,000 and 80,0000 people into the region for a weeklong celebration of the “Happy Days” culture, this festival will feature everything that was cool about the 1950s and `60s and everything that’s hot about 2012. The streets of Coolangatta and Tweed Heads will be transformed into a nostalgic flashback to the days when Rock`n Roll ruled. www.coolyrockson.com

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JULY Winter Bowls Carnival Gold Coast-Tweed Winter Bowls Carnival is currently in its 62nd year and is the largest bowls carnival in the world. Attracting players and their families from interstate and overseas this event provides a great opportunity for the bowling fraternity to play competitively, plus make and renew friendships while holidaying during the winter on the Gold Coast. www.gctbowls.org.au

Broadbeach Restaurant Week Have you ever been to a restaurant and known exactly what the bill was going to be before you even sat down? Well you will at Broadbeach Restaurant Week. Based on New York Restaurant Week you will be able to dine at a diverse range of restaurants and experience your choice of a $35 or a $55 three course set menu for dinner or lunch depending on where you dine. www. broadbeachgc.com

Kokoda Challenge The Kokoda Challenge on the Gold Coast is hailed as Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s toughest endurance event. Participants trek a 96km course that leads along fire trails, crosses 12 creeks and summits 5,000m of vertical elevation. The goal is to finish as a complete team of four in honour of the spirit forged on the Kokoda Track in 1942: mateship, endurance, courage and sacrifice. www.kokodachallenge.com

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AUGUST Broadbeach Jazz Festival Jazz up your life in Broadbeach this August with the Broadbeach Jazz Festival. Enjoy a host of Australia’s finest Jazz artists performing on outdoor stages and venues throughout the precinct.Experience why Broadbeach is known for amazing entertainment. This is a free to attend event, you don’t even need a ticket. www.broadbeachgc.com

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SEPTEMBER Castrol Edge Rugby Championship match - Australia v Argentina Don’t miss you’re chance to be part of history when The Castrol Edge Rugby Championship makes its debut at Skilled Park in September. For the first time the Gold Coast will host the Qantas Wallabies as they take on Rugby World Cup quarter finalists Argentina in The Castrol Edge Rugby Championship on Saturday 15 September. The inaugural Gold Coast Test marks the arrival of the Argentina Pumas into the new Championship and promises to be a mouth-watering affair. The Pumas were lauded for the way they tested the All Blacks in a gripping World Cup quarter final in Auckland and will be out to show the world they are a force to be reckoned with. The Test will also be the Qantas Wallabies last on home soil in The Castrol Edge Rugby Championship so make sure you’re at Skilled Park, dressed in Gold to cheer on the Qantas Wallabies.

Tastes of Gold Coast The best food and wine offerings from the Gold Coast are on show during Tastes of Gold Coast .This fabulous two week food and wine festival is held in August/September at a host of locations throughout the city. The Gold Coast’s reputation as a leading holiday destination is well documented, however it also has a growing reputation for the excellence of its wine, food, restaurants, boutique-breweries and cheese making establishments. These all come together during Tastes of Gold Coast to deliver a range of events and activities that are guaranteed to appeal to a wide variety of tastes and budgets. Attendees have the choice to savour and sample up to 30 different food and wine events, showcasing the very best in local produce, seafood, wines and brews. www.tastesofgoldcoast.com.au

Swell Sculpture Festival Swell Sculpture Festival is a free outdoor exhibition that creates visual splendour amongst a natural coastal setting during September at Currumbin Beach. Visitors can experience the wonder of sculpture and interact with the large artworks specifically built for the outdoor environment. Up to 50 sculptures of a monumental, imaginative and curious nature are exhibited, where visitors can wander the one kilometre coastal walkway amongst the artworks. Other highlights include guided twilight sculpture walks, artist talks, children’s interactive workshops, a public art forum, weekend entertainment and an exhibition of smaller works at the Swell Smalls Gallery. The lure of Queensland’s beach culture fused with outdoor sculpture attracts around 200,000 visitors each year. Swell Sculpture Festival is open all hours and is enthusiastically embraced by visitors from near, far and wide. www.swellsculpture.com.au

Gold Coast Anaconda Race Starting on the golden sands of Palm Beach at Currumbin Alley, competitors will swim in the sparkling Pacific Ocean; paddle along the coast and up meandering waterways; run through creeks, over hills and down rough and tumble tracks in the rainforest; and finally mountain bike along a rolling single track on the New South Wales/ Queensland border back to the finish line on the Coast. www.rapidascent.com.au/anacondaadventurerace/goldcoast/

Artist: Mariana Martin Sculpture title: Journey Music Photography: Rowly Emmett

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OCTOBER Coolangatta Gold The Coolangatta Gold is one of the most iconic and challenging multi-discipline races in Australia. A 46 kilometre test of endurance comprising an ocean swim, surf-ski, board paddle and run – it is the longest race of its kind in the world. With age categories ranging from under-19s to masters, the Coolangatta Gold has something for everyone. The event is one of the country’s original Ironman endurance events involving a 23km surf ski leg from Surfers Paradise to Greenmount, before a return journey north that includes a beach run of 0.65km from Greenmount to Coolangatta; a 3.5km surf swim to Bilinga; a 4km beach run to Currumbin and a 5.5km board race to Burleigh Heads, before the final torturous 10km beach run from Burleigh Heads to Surfers Paradise. www.sls.com.au/coolangattagold

Gold Coast Sevens – Fever Pitch Sevens Rugby comes alive on the Gold Coast in November. The HSBC Sevens World Series kicks off the “Gold Coast Sevens - Fever Pitch” tournament which is set to thrill over two days of action on and off the field at Skilled Park. Sixteen teams from around the globe will battle it out in a carnival of fun, fast and furious entertainment. DJs, un-fashionables on the field, live music, a range of food and drink stalls plus plenty more will be on offer for the whole family. The Gold Coast Sevens will enjoy just its second year of competition in 2012 and guarantees excitement and fast paced action similar to that displayed in other International rugby sevens’ tournaments such as Dubai, Hong Kong and Wellington. www.goldcoastfeverpitch.com.au

Armor All Gold Coast 600 The Armor All Gold Coast 600 is the ultimate entertainment spectacle boasting a unique combination of celebrity glitz and glamour with one of the finest top level motor racing and musical programs in the country. Australia’s favourite playground ignites in October, delivering high level fun and excitement for all ages. Throughout the day, high profile international motor racing stars from numerous countries will team with local V8 Supercar heroes in a serious “take no prisoners” fight on one of the world’s toughest street racing circuits. And there’s no question about the calibre of the overseas drivers with current and former Formula 1 drivers, plus Indy 500 winners lined up on the start grid in 2011. Known as the Gold Coast’s biggest party, the Armor All Gold Coast 600 is complemented by a host of off track festivities including the 600 Sounds evening concerts on Friday and Saturday. When the chequered flag falls the crowd moves to the fabulous Southport Broadwater Parklands to be entertained by a terrific mix of musicians. The Armor All Gold Coast 600 is your chance to explore and experience the very best that the Gold Coast has to offer. www.goldcoast600.com.au

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NOVEMBER Pan PaciďŹ c Masters Games You love playing sport. You enjoy socialising. You rock to 70s, 80s and 90s music. You dream about the Gold Coast. You are aged 30 or more. The perfect event for you is the 8th biennial Pan Pacific Masters Games to be held on the Gold Coast from 3 to 11 November in 2012. There will be over 30 sports on the program, with more than 11,000 people from around the world expected to converge on the Gold Coast to participate. The Pan Pacs, as it is affectionately known by past competitors, is a celebration of masters sport with both fierce and friendly competition and a rocking entertainment program at the Games Village at the end of each day. Participants compete in their age group with no qualifying standards required to enter. The only criteria is that participants must meet the minimum age for their sport, and for most sports that is 30 years of age. All sports are located in close proximity to the Games Village at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach. The Games Village will feature live nightly entertainment, fully catered hospitality, event registration and merchandise, exclusive for competitors to meet up and enjoy the spirit the event is known for. Expect warm conditions on the Gold Coast in November which will make it ideal for a splash at the beach and a few cool beverages in the evening. www.mastersgames.com.au

Kirra Kite Festival Kirra Kite Festival is a free family event conceptualised by Gold Coast locals to create the first kite and multicultural festival for the region. Kirra Kite Festival festivities include camel rides, large-scale character kites, a world class artist line-up featuring island styles and gypsy music, plus street and circus performers, chalk art, kite workshops, kite surfing, markets, live art demonstrations, puppet shows, international cuisine and pyrotechnic skydiving. The kite festival suits the idyllic location of Kirra with expansive beach and parkland, coupled with positive local business and community support. Kirra Kite Festival is a delightfully fun weekend which brings smiles to countless faces with colourful kites, vibrant characters and fun, interactive activities for all ages to enjoy. www.kirrakitefestival.com

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DECEMBER Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman and Ironwoman Series The Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman and Ironwoman Series features the country’s best Surf Life Saving athletes competing in the most gruelling ocean based competition on the planet. Traditionally fought out over six rounds at iconic Australian beaches including Surfers Paradise on the beautiful Gold Coast, the popular race format is the ultimate test of an athlete’s endurance, power, skill and speed.

New Year’s Eve Fireworks: The Foreshore, Surfers Paradise 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…. Happy New Year. The place to say goodbye to 2012 and hello to 2013 is amid the most spectacular fireworks display in South East Queensland. The Surfers Paradise Foreshore will once again prove it is the only place to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Bring your sparklers, party hats and picnic blankets and see in the New Year with your family and loved ones. For the families, come in early and enjoy a meal at one of Surfers Paradise’s finest restaurants, before getting front row seats on the Foreshore to see the 9pm fireworks display. For those wanting to celebrate well into the night, the midnight session of fireworks will light up the sky, followed by a long list of after parties throughout the Surfers Paradise nightlife hot spots. www.surfersparadise.com

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A Winning Team The award-winning Gold Coast Airport has developed a new way to assist in the seamless travel for the many thousands of international visitors making their way through the airport each year. Gold Coast Airport’s International Customer Liaison Ofﬁcers are among the ﬁrst of their kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

ichael Curtis, International Business Development Manager of Gold Coast Airport believes customer service in the air travel industry is paramount - which is why they have recently enlisted the services of both Japanese and Chinese Liaison Officers to assist with the hundreds of thousands of international passengers who travel through the award-winning airport every year.

“This is about exceptional customer service,” Michael says of the team of liaison officers working at Gold Coast Airport who are bridging the language gap between international visitors and local staff. “We are among the first airports in the world to apply this initiative. We are pioneering the way for international tourists. The Japanese Liaison Officers first commenced working at Gold Coast Airport following the inauguration of the first Jetstar flights from Japan to Gold Coast in 2008.” With an influx of passengers from Asian markets choosing to visit the Gold Coast and greater Queensland region for tourism and business opportunities every year, Michael says exceptional customer service is a fundamental part of our tourism industry.

“Japan is growing in popularity for south east Queensland locals as airfares have become more affordable. Obviously ski season and cultural attractions see Australians travelling to Japan, with an increasing number of corporate travellers taking advantage of Jetstar’s business class option too”. “Four years ago, in 2008, Jetstar commenced direct services from Osaka and Tokyo to the Gold Coast. These operate at between five and seven flights weekly (dependent on the time of year and season). In addition to leisure and business travellers, the education market is also important to the Gold Coast with a large number of international students travelling through Gold Coast Airport from Japan and other Asian countries, to reside on the Gold Coast whilst undertaking their studies. Friends and family of these students are also an important market with many of them making multiple visits to the Gold Coast. The role of the Chinese and Japanese Liaison Officers is quite simply to assist with any language translations that may be required by our airport stakeholders and international travellers. “In addition, our International Customer Liaison Officers provide valuable feedback and advice to management on improvements we can make in customer service, food and beverage offerings and even signage in the terminal precinct,” Michael adds.

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Rika Takigami, Tomoe Rochester and Lily Yang

“The introduction of the Liaison Officers has been a valuable asset to our customer service culture. After a long international flight, sometimes our passengers just value a friendly face to make their onward journey or holiday a more enjoyable one.” The service provided by the Customer Liaison Officers has been one of the many key areas of customer service that have attributed to the Gold Coast Airport taking out two significant awards at last year’s Skytrax World Airport Awards held in Denmark. Named the Best Regional Airport Australia/Pacific as well as being presented with the Staff Service Excellence Award Australia/Pacific, the airport – which is the sixth busiest in Australia and welcomed over five million passengers last year – continues its commitment to making customer service the key focus.

The Airport’s Chief Operating Officer Paul Donovan believes it is this attribute that has contributed to their award-winning status. “As the gateway to Australia’s number one tourist destination, we have designed our facilities and services to attract low cost carriers to service the insatiable demand for the Gold Coast region.” He further adds that it is for this reason his team and airport have been chosen as a leader in regional travel. “The awards are the result of a lot of hard work and commitment from our dedicated team of very talented people. In particular, receiving the Staff Excellence award is just reward for our team, who continually strive to deliver the best possible service to our passengers.”

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A Gold Coast Institution KOI Dining & Lounge Bar is a Europeanstyle restaurant, boasting the ultimate in al fresco dining, located in the heart of Broadbeach under the ‘Wave’ building. KOI epitomises the best that of Gold Coast lifestyle with its blend of sophistication and style, extensive tastes and culinary delights. KOI is casual enough to pop in for a quick bite to eat, after being for a swim at Kurrawa beach 100m down the road, or the perfect place for a long lazy meal to watch the world go by. KOI has a tantalising menu from award winning chefs which provides something for everyone - a wide selection of seafood, premium quality meats and local produce all ensuring the best of Gold Coast resources are utilised - topped off by a first-class extensive wine list. Owner Patrick Gennari has worked tirelessly putting together the formula to make KOI such a success. It truly is the place to see, and be seen, on the Gold Coast. Questionably the toughest ticket to get in town is a seat at KOI on a Sunday afternoon, where Patrick has engaged the Gold Coast’s most famous trio, Danny Faifai, Ngahere (Nuz) Ngatai and Kevin Keepa. These highly popular singers successfully pack out the restaurant week after week, and quite often, you’ll need to book weeks ahead to try to get a seat at the coveted ‘Sunday session’. You can’t miss when the boys are singing, quite often, passers-by will be standing 5-deep around the restaurant. Nuz has also been known to literally stop traffic taking his flawless Michael Jackson ‘Billy Jean’ act out onto the street surrounding the restaurant. The trio never fail to amaze the lucky diners who have descended on KOI for Sunday afternoon lunch, performing everything from Michael Buble to Justin Timberlake, Tom Jones to the Black Eyed Peas, Prince to David Guetta, and everything in between, working off each other seamlessly. Combined with KOI’s stellar reputation for dining, Danny, Nuz and Kevin will undoubtedly keep KOI being the hottest Sunday session on the Gold Coast for a long time to come. KOI Dining & Lounge Bar Corner of Albert Ave & Surf Parade Broadbeach Phone: (07) 5570 3060

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The work-life The Gold Coast’s favourite entertainers Danny Faifai and Ngahere Ngatai (Nuz) were ﬂown to New York in August 2011 to be the in-house entertainment for the Australian contingent going over to compete in the World Police & Fire Games.

he World Firefighters Games team went to New York to promote the October 2012 World Firefighters Games (WFG2012) and exclusively took out The Australian Hotel on West 26th St promoting the Games.

Eternally-popular Danny and Nuz had The Australian rocking like it never had before, with them dancing and singing on the bars for 4 nights, entertaining police and firefighters from all around the world, giving them a taste of the top-class entertainment scheduled for WFG2012. Even Hurricane Irene, which hit New York while the crew were in town, didn’t stop them, with Danny and Nuz taking over the 2-level bar in the Hilton Fashion District where the crowd was entertained to a 2-hour impromptu live set from the boys, with Nuz even venturing out onto the street to sing to crazy New Yorkers running around in their swimwear in the height of the storm! The New York gigs top off an amazing 2 years for the entertainers which have seen them travel to Dubai, Hawaii, Macau, London and New Zealand with Harte International performing for some of the world’s largest corporations. Not once, in the 10-year relationship has a crowd, regardless of how large or small, been disappointed with their act. Their unique versatility and talent leaves them truly incomparable in the quality of their live performances.

For enquiries, call 0410 552 364.

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World Firefighters Games Sydney 2012 The 12th World Firefighters Games will run from 19 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 28 October 2012 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney and WFG Events are tremendously proud to host the World Firefighters Games. WFG Events is working closely with Fire & Rescue NSW and Destination NSW, corporate partners and the community of Sydney to deliver the best Games yet.

round 10,000 firefighters from all around the world will converge on Sydney to participate in 71 sports over the 10day duration of the Games, at a variety of venues including Sydney Olympic Park, Maroubra Beach, Pyrmont Bay Park and Sydney University. The Games Village will be located at Pyrmont Bay Park in Darling Harbour. There will be major headline live entertainment every night, and bars, as well as a massive marquee dedicated to sports. The Burns Unit at the Westmead Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital is the official charity of WFG2012. The Burns Unit is the referral Unit for all major

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paediatric burns in New South Wales, also caring for major plastic and general surgical patients. The Hospital admits approximately 200 - 220 children with burns injuries each year from all over NSW. WFG2012 looks forward to raising valuable funds for this most deserving charity. WFG2012 is open to full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters, aviation, military, paramedics, SES plus administrative and trade staff from, and direct family members of, these agencies. For more information, log on to www.worldfirefightersgames.com.au or www.facebook.com/worldfirefightersgames

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Sign Of The Times PROFILE: Nigel Spicer, General Manager Cactus Imaging

If you want to make a point about something, then chances are your best bet is going to be with a sign. And a rather large one at that.

igel Spicer, who is now General Manager of Cactus Imaging but up until three years ago, was involved in the ownership of this strong family-valued business, began his dream in New Zealand 15 years ago and has seen Cactus Imaging develop into one of Australia’s biggest large-format digital print business – printing anything from a one-square metre sign to 3500m2 wrap. “Our largest sign was over three thousand metres long and made of vinyl mesh. It was created for Westpac in their campaign for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. We can do anything from wrapping a building to a moving truck,” Nigel says. “We use machines that are capable of printing at 340 square metres per hour, which means that’s a standard roadside billboard every seven minutes.” Nigel, whose background stems from running small businesses, saw the family business catapult from humble beginnings in Auckland, to the stable it is now. “This was started as a family business back in 1996 and then because the market was relatively small in Auckland, we soon outgrew it and moved the business to Australia. We sold it in

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2008 to a group and I’ve stayed on as General Manager. I started Cactus Imaging because this style of printing is very diverse – there is something different going on every single day,” Nigel says enthusiastically, adding that a strong bond between client and company is rudimentary. “We place a high importance on our clients and our staff alike – they are like our family and we treat them as such – that includes everyone from the CFO to those in the warehouse who pack the signs. Each and every person is a crucial cog to the smooth and successful running of this business.” Nigel says cherishing the relationship between his company and their clients has been an integral part of the success he now oversees. “We are lucky to be dealing with really good clients, but we’ve fought tooth and nail to hold on to them. There is no resting on our laurels.” And it has been both dedication and strong ethics that has seen them win a gold award at the Asia Pacific HP Print Awards for outstanding achievement in outdoor advertising. “That was a great moment for us. We took the clients with us to China to accept the award and share in the excitement of this great achievement.”

And rather than being marred by the current economic climate, Nigel says businesses are embracing the need to promote themselves. “The GFC has actually seen an increase in production as people are branding more and realising the importance of branding their product. Advertising is so fragmented – with the internet, TV, print and other mediums but they are realising with a billboard, you can’t simply click past it, it’s there right in front of you. That’s a powerful form of advertising.” And of the most obscure sign Cactus has been asked to create? “Yeah, well that was a bit of a funny one I guess. The client was an art gallery and they’d asked us to create an entire truck curtain side with a large picture of male genitalia. That certainly got a few looks.” And success is only measured by what you put into a business, Nigel says. Adding that in order to move with the times you have to both adapt and place importance on service. “We’ve been quick to adapt to the technology replacing our machines every five years, and our software at least every six months. And our number one importance is fulfilling our clients requirements and beyond.”

Nigel Nigel el Spi Spicer Sp picer er

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AUSTRALIAN CRICKETER

Spartan Sporting Goods Ph. 02 4297 4700 www.spartansports.com.au

A Cut Above In the competitive building service and security industry, Pricecorp’s Managing Director, David Price believes maintaining strong relationships with a select group of clients is crucial to business success. Sydney-based air conditioning and security company Pricecorp has built their reputation on strong values and client relationships that have seen them sustaining a competitive edge in the industry for more than 20 years. “We are a smaller locally-based company,” says owner and director David Price, “We mainly deal with the commercial and industrial sectors and we share a close relationship with our clients, ensuring we maintain the highest level of service and client satisfaction for them. Our clients are long term, not just fly-by-night here today, gone tomorrow type of clients.” While Pricecorp is based in Sydney, the company is also servicing the NSW, QLD and Victorian regions as well. Having grown to become a substantial player in the constructions and facilities management industry, Pricecorp provides services to more than 1000 facilities across Australia, with an impressive list of client mandates, testimony to its service. “For most of our clients, we are doing multiple contracts – we will try and sell all our services – from air conditioning to security and management,” David says. Pricecorp Building Technologies is uniquely positioned in the outsourced maintenance management sector with a strategy focus on providing technical property maintenance services. “This is where we are able to maintain that relationship with our clients and meet their needs because we are a relatively small operation. When our type of company becomes too large, they lose that focus and ability to meet their clients’ needs and therefore

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that relationship can drop off to a degree. We concentrate on our existing clients, which is not to say we are not seeking new business but we know this is crucial to the success of the company’s future.” Pricecorp views the ever-increasing complexity and performance of technology as having the greatest impact on their customers and their tenants and as such have developed unique solutions to managing the full life cycle of a facility. With the ‘Asset Lifecycle’ Pricecorp provides customers with a ‘one stop shop’ for all their technical property maintenance needs, allowing their customers to be free to focus on their core business having certainty in the performance of their assets. The ‘Pricecorp Approach’ is open and transparent - with employees, customers and suppliers alike and Pricecorp is responsive and flexible in these relationships, seeing this as the bedrock of longterm collaborative partnerships that are required in successful facility management programmes. Another undeniable reason for their success is the longevity of their employees. “We offer our clients an in-house approach to all their maintaining needs. This is a type of value add for them. It gives them an accurate cost structure by saying, ‘we can save you with security, management and air conditioning because we can offer you maintenance on all three’ and this will be at a cheaper rate than our competitors.”

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pricecorp now provides services to more than 1000 facilities across Australiaâ&#x20AC;? LIFESTYLE 273

“Pricecorp’s strategy is to be expertly proﬁcient at technical property maintenance and focus on the areas of facilities that dictate the key deliverables of tenant comfort, operational cost and business risk”.

David says over the past 20 years, his company has built a solid foundation with a broad range of clients for which they are able to fulfill their needs and one such client is Global Television who broadcast outdoor sporting events – including golf, tennis, cricket and AFL. Pricecorp has the maintenance contract to service their technical trucks countrywide. “They know that no matter what, if something goes wrong with that truck we can be there to fix it. They looked elsewhere and then realised we could manage it better and maintain an ongoing contract.” Pricecorp’s strategy is to be expertly proficient at technical property maintenance and focus on the areas of facilities that dictate the key deliverables of tenant comfort, operational cost and business risk. Technology and technical services in facilities represent high influence and subsequently high risk to these two areas of customer impact. Adding to that, the influence of technology, systems and service is increasing in breadth and complexity as owners strive to maximize operational effectiveness and value of facilities. “Building those relationships with your clients are crucial. We can sustain a loss because we can still work with that client in the future. It’s about recurring revenue – and the only way of achieving this is to look after our clients as best we can.” David says Pricecorp is working diligently to develop long-term sustainable relationships where it can proactively participate with clients in managing their property service requirements. “We believe having great people leads to a great outcome. When you combine great people with expert processes that are streamlined by leveraging technology then the outcome is exceptional. When this is accompanied by a wining personality then it is extraordinary. Pricecorp has a unique approach to the facilities management sector with an emphasis on people, technology, process and importantly corporate personality.”

www.frigcorp.com.au

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Tim Moltzen, Pricecorp Ambassador

Secure Under the High Ball Being in the protection and security business for the past 18 years, and with our vision being clearly focused on the community, the security of our customers have obviously been priority and the benchmark of our brand. Being the market leader in residential and commercial security product, we thought it only appropriate to bring on, as part of our extensive team, one of Australia’s sports up and coming stars who is equally secure under the high ball. We are proud to introduce West Tiger’s Tim Moltzen as the ﬁrst Ambassador to the Pricecorp brand. We are passionate about security, and you’ll see this same passion come through on the field as Tim strives towards excellence on his field at Leichardt Oval. Pricecorp’s Managing Director, David Price, and his entire family been committed to the support of rugby league in the Sydney metropolitan area. Over the years to come, we will intently watch Tim Moltzen’s rise to greatness, and we look forward to supporting his new venture into the commercial world.

P Pricecorp Managing Director, David Price

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‘The most beautiful golf course in mainland Australia’ The breathtaking setting of Bonville has seen it described by Peter Mc Whinney, a respected and much travelled Australian Professional Golfer, as ” the most beautiful golf course in Australia, if not the world”. Voted, “the most beautiful golf course in mainland Australia” for a tenth successive year by The Golf Course Guide, the resort is rated as one of the best in Australia. The Par 72 championship course rises and dips through the serene and beautiful layout with each fairway isolated and private from the next. It’s great appeal lies in the fact that it will stimulate and challenge golfers of every standard. Once you have experienced the beauty and allure of Bonville you will want to return again and again. www.bonvillegolf.com.au

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Australia and New Zealand have some of the world’s finest golf courses. Here we showcase the best in your definitive guide to our favourite courses >>

Our

Favourite Courses Phone: +61 7 5440 3333 Email: info@noosasprings.com.au Website: www.noosasprings.com.au COURSE LENGTHS Black: 6180 Mtrs Par 72 Blue: 5918 Mtrs Par 72 Ladies: Championship: 5299 Mtrs Par 72 Regular: 5004 Mtrs Par 72

RACV ROYAL PINES RESORT BENOWA QLD Phone: +61 7 5597 8700 Fax: +61 7 5597 2277 Email: royalpines_enquiries@racv.com.au Website: www.racv.com.au/royalpines COU RSE LE LENGT NGTHS HS COURSE LENGTHS Par 72 Championship Mens Ladies

Gold 6570m 5988m 5182m

Green 6163m 5638m 4942m

Blue 6297m 5768m 5070m

TWIN WATERS GOLF CLUB TWIN WATERS, QLD

COURSE LENGTHS Blue: 3089m Par 72 White: 2904m Par 72 Red: 2623m Par 72

PACIFIC HARBOUR GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB BRIBIE ISLAND, QLD

COURSE LENGTHS Black: 6,402 Mtrs Par 72 Gold: 6,086 Mtrs Par 72 Ladies Jade: 5,370 Mtrs Par 72

MILLBROOK RESORT QUEENSTOWN

COURSE INFORMATION Year Established: 1992 Course Architect: Sir Bob Charles Course Upgrade: Greg Turner & Scott McPherson Head Teaching Professional: Allan McKay Green Fees:$135 Electric Cart: $42 Club Hire: $55 Footwear: Soft spikes only Accommodation: On-site including luxurious, fully appointed villas Reservations: Ph +64 3 441 7010 Special Features: Health spa, tennis, indoor pool, outdoor hot pools, beauty treatments. The General Store for gifts and apparel. Three 9-hole configurations will be in play from March. How to get there: 20 min from Queenstown

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COURSE LENGTHS Black: 6420 Mtrs Par 72 Blue: 6068 Mtrs Par 72 White: 5618 Mtrs Par 72 Ladies: 4883 Mtrs Par 72

COURSE INFORMATION Year Established: 2006 Course Architect: Ross Watson General Manager: Marcus Sullivan Green Fees: Mon-Fri - $69, Sat & Sun - $79 (includes cart) Club Hire: $35 (Topflite) $50 (Callaway) Dress Code: Collared shirt, tailored shorts, pants or skirt, golf shoes or covered in shoes Clubhouse Facilities: Café, Bar & Restaurant, 3 Function rooms – up to 110 banquet style, golf shop, 250m aquatic driving range, two 600m2 putting greens, resident professional, fully equipped gymnasium, tennis courts, 25m swimming pool, spa, qualified health & massage professional, outdoor catering and function areas. Special Features: Pacific Harbour Golf & Country Club is the centrepiece of the award winning Pacific Harbour residential development and offers golfers a top class experience from the first hole to the Clubhouse and beyond. Surrounded by National Park, the course features the longest bunker in the southern hemisphere and over 20 reflective lakes. How to get there: Located on beautiful Bribie Island, only an hour north of Brisbane and 30 minutes from the Sunshine Coast. Take the Bribie Island exit off the Bruce Highway.

SOUTH ISLAND

Phone: +64 3 441 7000 or 0800 800 604 Email: reservations@millbrook.co.nz Website: www.millbrook.co.nz

COURSE INFORMATION Year Established: 1990 Course Architect: Thomson & Wolveridge Head Professional: Stephen Hutchison Green Fees: $77 Cart Hire: $42 Club Hire: $25 Dress Code: Collared shirts - (No Denim) Footwear: Soft Spikes Clubhouse Facilities: Locker rooms, bar, restaurant & function room Special Features: Links style championship course with Aquatic Driving Range. How to get there: 5 mins from Sunshine Coast Airport. 1 hour north of Brisbane.

QLD

Phone: +61 7 3410 4011 Fax: +61 7 3410 4016 Email: info@pacificharbourgolf.com.au Website: www.pacificharbourgolf.com.au

COURSE INFORMATION Year Established: 1990 Course Architects: Tomojiro Maruyama, Graham Marsh Golf Design (Blue Course) Golf Manager: Adrian Lawson Head Professional: Mark Gibson - Mark Gibsons Exceptional Golf Green Fees: Non Member: $135 (inc cart), Auto Club Member: $74 (inc cart) Club Hire: Callaway x22: $45 - 18 holes Dress Code: Neat Casual (Collared Shirt) Clubhouse Facilities: Tees Clubhouse Accommodation: 331 rooms Special Features: Three distinct course layouts offer three unique golf course experiences and promise to challenge a golfers every stroke. Home of the Gold Coast RACV Australian Ladies Masters. How to get there: Located 32km north of Gold Coast airport and 80km south of Brisbane International airport. For guests travelling to and from Brisbane, the Gold Coast is connected to Brisbane by a rail service. The Nerang Rail Station is five minutes drive from the Resort.

QLD

Phone: +61 7 5457 2444 Fax: +61 7 5448 8040 Email: golf@twgolf.com.au Website: www.twinwatersgolfclub.com.au

COURSE INFORMATION Year Established: 1999 Course Architect: Graham Papworth Head Professional: Bill Davidson Green Fees: $120 (incl. motorised cart) Club Hire: $45.00 (Callaway) Footwear: Soft spikes only Accommodation: 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom luxury self contained apartments Special Features: Magnificent facilities including restaurant, bars, function rooms, floodlit tennis courts, floodlit golf driving range, world class spa and a fitness centre with 25 metre heated swimming pool How to get there: 3km from Hastings Street

QLD

NOOSA HEADS, QLD

QLD

NOOSA SPRINGS GOLF AND SPA RESORT

Our

Favourite Courses LAKES RESORT

NORTH ISLAND

PAUANUI Phone: +64 7 864 5106 or 0800 184653 Email: golf@lakesresort.com Website: www.lakesresort.com COURSE LENGTHS Black: 6171 Mtrs Par 71 Blue: 5627 Mtrs Par 71 White: 5412 Mtrs Par 71 Yellow: 4839 Mtrs Par 71

CAPE KIDNAPPERS

NORTH ISLAND

NAPIER Phone: +64 6 873 1018 Email: proshop@capekidnappers.com Website: www.capekidnappers.com COURSE LENGTHS Blue: 6533 Mtrs Par 71 White: 6114 Mtrs Par 71 Green: 5708 Mtrs Par 71 Red: 5310 Mtrs Par 71 Yellow: 4739 Mtrs Par 71

KAURI CLIFFS

NORTH ISLAND

BAY OF ISLANDS, NORTHLAND For Starting Times Phone: +64 9 407 0060 Website: www.kauricliffs.com Email: proshop@kauricliffs.com COURSE LENGTHS Tiger tees: 6510 Mtrs. Par 72 White: 5930 Mtrs Par 72 Green: 5560 Mtrs Par 72 Red: 5289 Mtrs Par 72 Yellow: 4476 Mtrs Par 72

QUEENSTOWN GOLF CLUB

SOUTH ISLAND

QUEENSTOWN Phone:+64 3 442 9169 Email: queenstown.golf@xtra.co.nz Website: www.queenstowngolf.co.nz COURSE LENGTHS Men’s: 6103 Mtrs Par 72 Ladies: 5174 Mtrs Par 74

WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY

SOUTH ISLAND

TAUPO Phone: +64 7 374 8152 Fax: +64 7 374 8289 Email: info@wairakeigolf.co.nz Website: www.wairakeigolfcourse.co.nz COURSE LENGTHS Blue: 6460 Mtrs Par 72 White: 5853 Mtrs Par 72 Red: 5084 Mtrs Par 72

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COURSE INFORMATION Year Established: 2004 Course Designer: Sid Puddicombe Associates Director of Golf: Richard Ellis Green Fees: $120 (Reduced to $89 for NZ & Australian affiliated club members) Discounts for in-house guests Golf Carts: $40 Club Hire: $35 Footwear: Soft spikes only Facilities: 18 hole world class golf course, driving range, luxury on course villa accommodation with Top 10 NZ Championship course, driving range, bar, restaurant and conference room. How to get there: 1.5 hours by road from Auckland, Hamilton & Tauranga. Light plane to Pauanui & helipad on site.

COURSE INFORMATION Year Established: 2004 Course Architect: Tom Doak Head Professional: Jonathan Buddenhagen Green Fees: 1 Oct – 30 Apr $385+GST ($215+GST for New Zealand Residents) 1 May – 30 Sept $285+GST ($170+GST for New Zealand Residents) Electric Cart: $32+GST per person Footwear: Soft spikes only Special Features: Ranked #33 in the world by Golf Magazine 2011; Golf Digest’s “The World’s Greatest Golf Courses, #13” in 2010, Debuted as Best New Course in the World 2004. Host site of PGA Tour’s Kiwi Challenge 2008/2009. How to get there: 40 minutes from Napier by car; Air New Zealand to Napier or Helicopter from Auckland/Taupo/Wellington

COURSE INFORMATION Year Established: 2000 Course Architect: David Harman Head Professional: Paul Reid Green Fees: 01 Oct - 30 April $385+GST ($215+GST for New Zealand Residents) 01 May - 30 Sept $285+GST ($170+GST for New Zealand Residents) Electric Cart: $32+GST per person Footwear: Soft spikes only Clubhouse & Accommodation: The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs Reservations: Ph +64 9 407 0010 Special Features: Ranked best new international course in 2001 by US Golf Digest. Ranked 80th best golf course in the world by US Golf Magazine 2011. #1 Hotel in AsiaPacific by Conde Nast, 2011. Host site of PGA Tour’s Kiwi Challenge 2008 How to get there: By car, by helicopter Auckland to Kauri Cliffs. Air New Zealand to Kerikeri.

COURSE INFORMATION Year Established: 1975 Head Professional and Teaching Professional: Jamie McIsaac Vice President NZPGA Green Fees: NZ Affiliated $55, Non Affiliated $95, Australian affiliated (with ID) $85 Club hire: $40 – Executive $60 Motorised Cart: $40 Pull Cart: $7 Facilities: Driving range, bar and restaurant Golf Store, putting and chipping practice. Special Features: Acclaimed as the most scenic golf course in New Zealand, so many feature holes in stunning scenery. Surrounded by Lake Wakatipu and framed by the Remarkable mountain range. How to get there: Water taxi from Queenstown Bay.

COURSE INFORMATION Year Established: 1968 Course Architects: Thompson & Wolveridge Operations Manager: David Park Green Fees: NZ Registered $125 – Aust. Registered $150 – Int. Registered $200 Electric Cart: $50 Executive Club Hire: $50 Footwear: Soft spikes only Accommodation: Huka Lodge Ph +64 7 378 5791 & Wairakei Resort Ph +64 7 3748021 Special Features: Voted #1 golf course in New Zealand 2010. How to get there: 10-min drive north from Central Taupo.

THE VINTAGE ROTHBURY, NSW

COURSE LENGTHS Black: 6310 Mtrs Par 71 Gold: 5880 Mtrs Par 71 Red: 5185 Mtrs Par 71

RIVERSIDE OAKS GOLF RESORT 74 O’BRIENS ROAD, CATTAI, NSW

COURSE LENGTHS Black: 6362 Mtrs Blue: 5853 Mtrs Red: 5269 Mtrs White: 5443 Mtrs

RIVERSIDE OAKS GOLF RESORT 74 O’BRIENS ROAD, CATTAI, NSW

COURSE LENGTHS Black: 6362 Mtrs Blue: 5853 Mtrs Red: 5269 Mtrs White: 5443 Mtrs

THE LINKS KENNEDY BAY PORT KENNEDY, WA

COURSE LENGTHS Black: 6420 Mtrs Par 72 Blue: 6144 Mtrs Par 72 Red: 5298 Mtrs Par 72 White: 5851 Mtrs Par 72

JOONDALUP RESORT PERTH, WA

COURSE LENGTHS Blue: 5901 Mtrs Par 72 White: 5385 Mtrs Par 72 Ladies: 5046 Mtrs Par 72

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Phone: +61 8 9400 8811 Fax: +61 8 9400 8814 Email: proshop@joondalupresort.com.au Website: www.joondalupresort.com.au

COURSE INFORMATION Year Established: 1985 Course Architect: Robert Trent Jones Jnr Head Professional: David Milne Green Fees: Weekday: $135 Weekend: $145 Electric Cart Incl. Steel Club Hire: $40 Callaway RZR Hire $85: Footwear: Soft spikes only Facilities: Café, restaurants and bars, outdoor swimming pool with heated spa, tennis, minigym, function facilities and Pro Shop Accommodation: 70 beautifully appointed accommodation rooms and suites each with its own private balcony or courtyard. Reservations: Ph +61 8 9400 8888 Special Features: Australia’s No.1 Resort Golf Course 2003/04, 2005/06 and 2007/08. How to get there: 25 min drive north from Perth CBD.

Phone: +61 8 9524 5991 Fax: +61 7 9524 6660 Email: admin@kennedybay.com.au Website: www.kennedybay.com.au

COURSE INFORMATION Year Established: 1999 Course Architect: Ian Baker Finch, Roger Mackay & Michael Coate Course: Classic links design, Large undulating greens, 115 pot bunkers Green Fees: Midweek: $45 - 18 Holes, Weekends & Public Holidays: $55 Club Hire: $25 - 18 Holes Dress Code: Call for details Clubhouse Facilities: Bar, restaurant, cafe, alfresco seating, BBQ Special Features: #4 Public access course in Australia (Golf Course Guide 2010) How to get there: Take Safety Bay exit off Kwinana Freeway, turn left into Ennis Avenue, look out for golf course signs on right.

NSW

Phone: +61 2 4560 3200 Email: info@riversideoaks.com.au Website: www.riversideoaks.com.au

COURSE INFORMATION Year Established: 1988 Course Architect: Various Head Professional: David Scott - Director of Golf Green Fees: $92 Weekends $80 Weekdays Club Hire: $55 Callaway/Premium Dress Code: No denim, collared shirt, taylored pants. Clubhouse Facilities: Lockers, showers, change rooms, function rooms, restaurant. Accommodation: Lodges and villas. Special Features: Dining rooms, function centre , 4WD track, 2 putting greens, ???? game area, driving range, cart paths, full length of golf course, allow use in all conditions.

NSW

Phone: +61 2 4560 3200 Email: info@riversideoaks.com.au Website: www.riversideoaks.com.au

NSW

Phone: +61 2 4998 6789 Fax: +61 2 4998 6788 Email: golf@thevintage.com.au Website: www.thevintage.com.au

COURSE INFORMATION Year Established: 2003 Course Architect: Greg Norman & Bob Harrison Head Professional: Richard Mercer Green Fees: $104 Midweek, $129 Weekends & Public Holidays, including shared cart hire Club Hire: $55 per set for 18 holes, including a sleeve of 3 golf balls Dress Code: Tailored shorts, collared shirt & soft spikes, no denim Clubhouse Facilities: Fully stocked golf shop, locker room, bar & restaurant Accommodation: Château Élan, Grand Mercure Apartments and golf homes on site with access to the leisure centre. Special Features: Gym, heated pool & Spa, floodlit tennis courts & BBQ facilites. How to get there: 2 hours north of Sydney.

A N E X C E P T I O N A L S T O RY