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contents
APRIL 2013 36
50
22
54
COVER STORY
22
14 6 DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au
INTERVIEWS
14 WHAT ANZAC DAY MEANS TO ME 36 JOE HOCKEY 40 INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN IN LAW 48 ZOË PAUL 82 KRISTEN GOLDUP, DAVID TOWNSEND, PETER MCCANN, REGULARS JANELLE FLEMMING 12 INBOX 16 HOROSCOPES 18 DUO COVER GIRL TWINS SPECIAL 62 BEAUTY 68 DEBRA WEBB & DENNISE BARBAGALLO COMPETITION 70 DOUBLE VISION 20 YOUR 12 FACES OF DUO WINNERS ANNOUNCED WELLBEING 64 CLARITY HEARING SOLUTIONS SOCIETY 65 CASEY DENTISTS 26 NORTH QUEENSLAND 67 FIRST THINGS FIRST COWBOYS CORPORATE LAUNCH 28 TOWNSVILLE PICNIC SURF LIFE FAMILY SAVING CLUB ANNUAL BALL 72 EWEN JONES MP 30 TOWNSVILLE MCCAFÉ FIRE 72 NICOLE PIEROTTI MVP BALL 32 AFL GOURMET CORPORATE CORPORATE LUNCH 73 CORPORATE UPDATE 34 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 73 DAVID KIPPIN TEL 2013 BREAKFAST 76 PROFESSOR IAN WRONSKI 78 BANK OF QUEENSLAND FASHION 81 ARTICULATE 22 DELUXE WOMAN 35 DELUXE MAN 50 KSUBI 54 MARC CAIN 58 MY STYLE 60 MY BAG
welcome
APPARENTLY WE HAVE MORE NUTS THAN MOST
THE DUO MAGAZINE TEAM IS PUBLISHER SCOTT MORRISON PRODUCTION JOAN FANNING EDITORIAL STACEY MORRISON ADVERTISING ALLIRA DE JAGER ADVERTISING RAE WHITE
Last month I wrote about sending coconuts to Richard Branson in the hope that he would transform Radical Bay on Magnetic Island into a Virgin Resort. Obviously it hasn’t happened yet but two things did in response to the story. Firstly my first real ‘girlfriend’, Bronwyn Holm sent me a photo of a coconut I’d sent to her when I worked on South Molle Island in 1978. I was amazed she could find the pic after all this time but she said she took it that day... she still has the original coconut! The other response was a nice email from John Ellerton who was on the Island in the late 70’s and, along with some mates, devised the Coconut Festival to promote Maggie as the Coconut Capital of the North. To quote John, “We had a modicum of success, with such activities as Coconut Shies, Coconut Treasure Hunt, Coconut Husking competition, Coconut Cook-a-thon, Coconut carving, Coconut weaving, and the most popular, the Coconut Raft Race, finishing off the weekend festivities with a Coconut Bon Fire on the beach at Horseshoe Bay. The above is just a precis of the coconut activities that were on offer and we also included the Palm Islanders et al to participate which they did with their thatching, woven hats and mats etc etc.” The TCC decided to change the name to the Rediscovery Weekend so there could be a re-enactment of Captain Cook’s landing (even though he never actually did). And for me this story has now gone full circle. Six degrees stuff. I spent a gap year once as Promotions Manager at 4TO and HOT-FM making it up as we went along with Steve Price, Peter MacIntosh, Mark Adams, Linda (now Adams), Bryce, Scoppo, Matty and the rest. There’s a few stories I wish I could tell but the bottom line is we managed to get about 5000 people there having a great time and supporting local businesses. Isn’t it time we rediscovered this event again and while we’re thinking of that, how about The Pacific Festival? I know a little magazine that would love to support both of them. Ten things I appreciate today: My great niece Ashlyn (5) talks to me now (and doesn’t stop), our cooler Autumn mornings, Thomas Sabo jewellery, iTunes, hot water, breakfast with the CWA (they know who they are), Wirra Wirra lunches, talking with my wife, rain, my Mum. Hope you have a great month and get out and buy something.
SCOTT MORRISON PUBLISHER
women
health + fitness INSPIRATIONAL
IN
FOR EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES EDITOR@DUOMAGAZINE.COM.AU FOR ADVERTISING SOLUTIONS SALES@DUOMAGAZINE.COM.AU THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING CARLA CARUSO, SKYE BREE MILLARD, MAX TOMLINSON, SANDRA HEIER EVENSEN, CARLY LUBICZ, ANDREW RANKIN, KYLIE DAVIS, SHANNON LAWRENCE, DANI HANSEN, 121 CREATIVE (TAMMY & HANNAH) CALL US ANYTIME ON 07 4771 2933 WWW.DUOMAGAZINE.COM.AU DUO Magazine is published monthly by Intrepid (NQ) Pty Ltd ACN 107 308 538 60 Ingham Road West End PO Box 1928 Townsville Qld 4810 Telephone 07 4771 2933 Facsimile 07 4771 2699 Email duo@duomagazine.com.au COPYRIGHT Contents of DUO Magazine are subject to copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information in this publication, the publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or resultant consequences including any loss or damage arising from reliance on information in this publication. Expressed or implied authors’ and advertisers’ opinions are not necessarily those of the editor and/or publisher.
DUO Magazine’s Inspirational Women Series The second in this innovative and enlightening series celebrates Townsville’s female health and fitness high achievers in our May edition.
APPEARING IN DUO MAY EDITION. BOOKINGS CLOSE 10 APRIL 2013 FOR ADVERTISING BOOKINGS AND MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: SALES@DUOMAGAZINE.COM.AU OR CALL 4771 2933
8 DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au
from $4370 DESIGN YOUR OWN DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING Our new state of the art computer programme allows you to; • Choose a ring from the hundreds of designs available in store, • Change details to suit your own individual taste, • Or create a one-of-a-kind ring to fulfil your dreams It’s easy with the help of our friendly diamond consultants.
STOCKLAND • STOCKLAND DIAMONDS • WILLOWS • CASTLETOWN Freecall 1800 646 508 loloma@loloma.com.au www.loloma.com.au
Find
www.townsvilleshines.com.au Enter online to WIN tickets to your favourite Townsville Shines event plus a holiday in Townsville North Queensland for you and your friends! Four Townsville Shines Prize Packs up for grabs – choose your prize pack below and enter online today. Increase your chance to WIN by sharing the competition on Facebook. Closes 19 April 2013. www.facebook.com/visittownsvilleaustralia
CHEER & SHOUT! Experience the thrill of live action! Whether it’s watching national sporting teams hold their own or checking out the toughest sport on dirt – bull riding, the Region is packed with events to cheer for.
LIVE, LAUGH & LOVE! We love our North Queensland lifestyle. Whether it’s feasting at a food and wine festival, admiring fine art or fossicking for gold in Charters Towers.
FUN IN THE SUN! Get amongst the action. From cricket in the Outback to biking through the rainforest, Townsville North Queensland has it covered.
FEEL THE BEAT! Turn up the volume and find a music event to suit you.
2013
Upcoming Events! www.townsvilleshines.com.au
April 6
NQ COWBOYS VS. PENRITH PAN PPANTHERS THERS Townsville
12
FULL MOON DOWNUNDER PARTY Magnetic Island
20
PUB WITH NO BEER EER RE-ENACTMENT Hinchinbrook
26-30 10 DAYS IN THE TOWERS OWERS Charters Towers 27
RA RRAIDERS AIDERS Townsville NQ COWBOYS VS.. CANBERRA
May
Download th eE Guide for m vents ore events
1-6
10 DAYS IN THE TOWERS
5
GROOVIN’ THE MOO
3-5
CHARTERS TOWERS COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL Charters Towers
17
FULL MOON DOWNUNDER PARTY Magnetic Island
18
NQ COWBOYS VS. SYDNEY ROOSTERS
18
BURDEKIN GROWER RACE DAY Burdekin
Charters Towers
Townsville
Townsville
events
Dancenorth MASS 18-20 April 7.30pm School of Arts Theatre Townsville
FOOTBALL
INBOX: SAVE THE DATE
KEEPING NQ ABREAST OF THE TIMES A FREE ONE-DAY BREAST CANCER CONFERENCE 4 May 8.30am–4.30pm Riverway Arts Centre Thuringowa Central Hosted by Dragons Abreast Townsville Inc. (DATi) and endorsed by Cancer Council Queensland and Breast Cancer Network Australia To provide women and men of North Queensland, survivors of breast cancer and people currently undergoing treatment for metastatic breast cancer with an opportunity to hear leading authorities in Australia speak on breast cancer treatment and care; current research and other areas of interest, without the expense of travelling to a capital city; and also an occasion for people to meet and share their experiences with other survivors. Their support network of family and friends, as well as Health Care Professionals associated with breast cancer are also invited to attend. This event is a first for Townsville and a first for North Queensland. Registrations are essential. Register by 5pm Friday 12 April by contacting dati.coordinator@live.com.au or 4775 4967.
EVENTS National Youth Week 5–14 April National Youth Week is a nationwide celebration of young people aged 12 to 25. Loads of events and activities will be happening all over Townsville. Visit TCC website for full program. North Queensland Arts Awards 2013 12 April 6pm Townsville Civic Theatre A glamorous evening showcasing local artists, dance groups and theatre performances. Sponsors Cox Rayner. ticketshop.com.au 4727 9797 National Trust Heritage Festival 18 April–18 May Citylibraries Celebrate Townsville’s heritage through images, workshops, talks and film at CityLibraries. Activities include: Milestones: 100 images in 100 days, ANZAC tribute: Enjoy a cuppa and some ANZAC biscuits and watch Beneath Hill 60. Sandi Robb explains Queensland’s Heritage Legislation and launch of Working with Wood, filmed in Townsville in 2012/2013.
Salt Restaurant’s Food & Wine Festival 21 April 12.30–6pm A Touch of Salt $10 entry, $5 food & wine vouchers available for purchase on the day. Modern Australian cuisine with a carnival of good food & top drops with five wine suppliers and acclaimed local produce. Indulge your foodie passion and try many delectable food and wine samples! ANZAC Day 25 April ANZAC Day will be solemnly observed on Thursday 25 April. Townsville City Council together with the Townsville RSL Sub-branch and Thuringowa RSL Sub-branch will host the following: DAWN SERVICES - 5.40am Thuringowa Central Cenotaph - 5.40am ANZAC Park Cenotaph ANZAC PARADES - 9.30am Strand Park to ANZAC Park - 10.30am Carthew Street to the Thuringowa Central Cenotaph Both parades will be followed by an ANZAC Day ceremonies.
12 DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au
NRL: NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 6 April 6.30pm Panthers 27 April 5.30pm Raiders 1300Smiles Stadium cowboys.com.au or 1300 462 692
MARKETS Renegade Handmade Indoor Market Extravaganza 13 April 8am–2pm Wotton Street Aitkenvale (across from Kmart) Glorious handmade goodness and unique gifts. Come and enjoy a wonderful shopping experience featuring locally made art, craft, fashion, jewellery and food. This is unlike any market Townsville has seen before, in fact, it’s more than a market. Recurring on the second Saturday monthly. For more details go to renegadehandmade.blogspot.com.au facebook.com/morethanamarket Cotters Rotary Markets Flinders Street, Sundays 8.30–1pm. Willows Rotary Markets Willows Shopping centre car park, Sundays 7am–11am Townsville City Markets Flinders Square, Townsville CBD Wednesdays 6am–6pm. Magnetic Island Night Markets Arcadia RSL, Fridays 5pm–9pm. Horseshoe Bay Markets Second and fourth Sundays, 9am–2pm. NQ Farmers Markets North Shore Town Centre, Burdell, Saturdays
THEATRE | DANCE Townsville Little Theatre’s Short Season of Short Plays (SSOSPs) 18–20 April 7.30pm St Margaret Mary’s College Theatrette Hyde Park Four plays featuring comedy, semi serious subjects and intrigue will be presented each evening. Tickets at the door or townsvillelittletheatre.org.au Dancenorth MASS 18-20 April 7.30pm School of Arts Theatre Townsville This explosive dance production tests the mettle of personal relationships when communities are sieged with intense experiences such as natural disasters. Tickets from 4772 2549 or soatheatretownsville.com.au
Animal Farm 23–24 April 8pm Townsville Civic Theatre This simple yet intensely powerful fairy tale illustrates how greed and absolute power corrupts absolutely and, with devastating consequences, can change the course of history. ticketshop.com.au 4727 9797 Melbourne Comedy Festival Roadshow 27–28 April 8.30pm Townsville Civic Theatre A big night of comedy from some of the world’s funniest comedians including Colin Lane (MC), Cal Wilson, Tommy Dean, Asher Treleaven plus one more yet to be announced. ticketshop.com.au 4727 9797 TheatreiNQ The Last Post 23–28 April 7pm nightly 25, 27, 28 April 2pm matinee School of Arts Theatre Townsville Based on the real letters Gerry O’Connor’s parents sent to each other while his father was stationed in New Guinea during World War II, The Last Post is a funny, informative and eminently moving piece of theatre. An intimate look at the hardships faced on both sides of the War. Tickets from soatheatre.com.au or 4772 2549
EXHIBITIONS Afghanistan: The Perils of Freedom 1993-2009 An Australian Centre for Photography Touring Exhibition Until 26 May Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, City A confronting portrait of a country that has remained a focal point of the world’s attention for several decades. Selected Ceramics from the City of Townsville Art Collection Curated by North Queensland Potters Ass. Inc. as part of Gallery Services’ Guest Curator Series Until 15 May Pinnacles Gallery Over 250 ceramic artworks are currently held in the City of Townsville Art Collection, by local and national artists. This exhibition will be the most significant showcase of ceramic works from the Collection.
AN INVITATION CUSTOM MADE TO SUIT YOU
The Rembrandt Custom Made Event (just in time for the racing season). 20 only personal fittings available from 2pm Wednesday 1 May to 10am Friday 3 May. First in best dressed. Craig Guthrie from Rembrandt Australia will be at Ralph’s to measure and advise you on the latest fabrics and styles of Rembrandt made to order suits (from $695) and custom made shirts (from $169).
Three exceptional reasons to attend: ■ Purchase
a custom fit suit at the event and receive a second pair of trousers free. Valued from $285. ■ Purchase a long sleeved custom fit shirt at the event and receive a pair of Michel Rouen cufflinks valued at $80 free. ■ Buy 3 custom fit shirts and save $60.
JUST 20 PLACES AVAILABLE. CALL 4772 5811 NOW! RALPH 41 Denham Street Townsville 4772 5811 www.ralphqld.com.au
cover story Back row: Jon Daniels, Bill Whitburn OAM Front row: Michael (Mick) Johnson OAM, Tom Penrose, Andrew Clarke
What Anzac Day means to me The courage, mateship and sacrifice displayed by those in the Australian Army shape our sense of national identity. Committee members from the Townsville RSL reflect on the day Australia stops, not for a horse race, but for the people who’ve served for our country. WORDS CARLA CARUSO PHOTOGRAPHY SANDRA HEIER EVENSEN
JON DANIELS Service member Jon Daniels completed 35 years in the Australian Army last year, including being deployed in Somalia and East Timor. His family history in the military goes way back. “All of my parents’ parents were in the forces during both World War One and Two. My father [John] was at Tobruk [in Libya, then an Italian colony]. He was captured by the Italians, who then handed him over to the Germans and spent three years in a POW camp in Germany.” Jon says: “As both a serviceman and citizen, I honour Anzac Day not to glorify war, but to pay homage to those who have died in all wars. It’s not just those in Gallipoli and the First World War, but all Australian servicemen prior who gave their lives for their country – right through from the Maori Wars to now.”
14 DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au
BILL WHITBURN OAM Bill Whitburn is still an active member of the military 38 years on. He was awarded an Order of Australia medal for his role as a Regimental Sergeant Major in 2000 and was deployed into Iraq in 2005. “Obviously as the president of the Townsville RSL, the day means a great deal to me,” Bill says. “It’s a time for us to reflect on the huge contribution made by our servicemen and women – both past and present – who have displayed courage, discipline and self-sacrifice to their country. My grandfather [Charlie Irving] was a person of war and I used to go to Anzac Day with him, walk along with his mates and see the joy in their faces that they’d come back and survived, so to speak. It’s also important on the day to acknowledge those family, friends and loved ones who are left behind when servicemen and women get in harm’s way – they also play a huge role in the process. Lest we forget.”
MICHAEL JOHNSON OAM Service member Michael Johnson has served operationally in the Australian A rmy in Malaysia, Somalia, East Timor, Afghanistan, and the Solomon Islands. He spent 35 years as an infantryman, only discharged last year aged 54. He has been awarded an Order of Australia medal for his role as a Regimental Sergeant Major. Michael says: “Anzac Day is Australia’s national day to a lot of people. It brings the community together in support of our veterans who have died overseas or passed away through old age. But it also ensures that the nation stops for a while and remembers not just those who have gone, but also the younger generation of veterans who will hopefully be here for a very, very long time.”
cover story TOM PENROSE Vice-president Tom Penrose is a Vietnam veteran and served two decades in the military, including working in signals. Tom says his year-long stint in Vietnam in 1970 “changed my life and everything I thought about the world”. As a result, he suffered post-traumatic stress disorder. “When we [Vietnam veterans] came home, we copped a hell of a lot – we weren’t even accepted in the RSL. A lot of us didn’t bother trying in the end; we gave up. Now we’re more accepted in the community and within the RSL. Anzac Day mainly means to me remembering the people who have suffered. It’s also a time for getting together with all the ex-servicemen – no matter where they’ve served or what they’ve done – just honouring the fact that they served for their country.”
ANDREW CLARKE Service member Andrew Clarke is the youngest member of the Townsville RSL committee at age 45. He notched up 22 years full-time in the Australian Army, including being deployed in Somalia and East Timor. On Anzac Day, he says: “First of all, it’s a day of remembrance where we acknowledge the extreme sacrifice made by Australian Defence Force personnel throughout Australia’s history. It also provides me with the opportunity to catch up with the mates I’ve established over the years – and I think, as a result of their sacrifices, the Australian community has a democracy, freedom of speech and a lifestyle that we Australian citizens enjoy today. I think of Gallipoli as the birth of Australia as a nation and Anzac Day to me is a celebration of what is great about Australia.”
How to participate locally Townsville RSL has a full Anzac Day schedule: - Dawn Service at 5.40am sharp - Gunfire Breakfast after Dawn Service at Townsville RSL 139 Charters Towers Road - Morning March from Strand Park at 9am stepping off at 9.30am. Ceremony at 10am in Anzac Park.
DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au 15
horoscope
21 MARCH – 20 APRIL
Aries
What does APRIL have in store for you? Astrologer Tanya Obreza has these predictions...
Taurus
Gemini
Some of that old magic’s back. If dreams can come true, they’ll happen now. And don’t expect it to be a solo journey. You’re ready and able to contact every friend you’ve ever made on this beautiful planet. This is what happens when you’re left unsupervised – pleasure takes priority. Simply, enjoy.
You’ve been patient enough, Gemini. Others have had all the time in the world to resolve their issues. Problem is, they continue to rely on your help – whether you like it or not. If possible, break away for a while and get on with your own affairs. At work, your intuition should save you from difficult circumstances.
Cancer
Leo
Sweep the more boring issues of life to the side for the time being. You’re overcome by a spirit of adventure. But if you’re considering erotic escapades, you could be a tad disappointed. Your best ventures this month come via travel or study. So spread your wings, and take off in a new direction.
The Leo dream is still on schedule, but it’s not a month for short cuts. Prepare for more hard work. Sure, the idea of more effort is one you’d rather dismiss, but you’ll manage. To help, you’ve a mighty planetary task team on side. And if you can manage to mix a little pleasure with business, rewards include carnal spoils.
21 APRIL – 20 MAY
22 JUNE – 22 JULY
It is said that in life, timing is everything. Just the right words, at the right time can heal, open doors – even open hearts. Being in the right place, at the right time is often how we are blessed with incredible opportunities in our lives. And when time is on our side, we can be powerful. So, go ahead – be powerful.
21 MAY – 21 JUNE
23 JULY – 22 AUGUST
Virgo
Libra
Scorpio
Sagittarius
Now, here’s a month with great potential. The cosmos is egging you onwards and upwards, and to ignore these impulses would be daft. Go with your ambitions, even though there will be hurdles. Most signs point towards career and financial development, but there might also be a legal conquest.
You’re ambushed and forced in directions you don’t want to go. Yet through all this, you’ll end up the winner. The Sun, for one, heralds victory. Truth is, you’re not really one to stand still for long. Romantically, there’s plenty to hope for. Even some platonic relationships are in for a surprise shift of status, but nicely so.
April’s success should do more than just boost financial prospects. When carnal desires demand satisfaction, ease up on the workload and let the love flow. Some Scorpios yield to illicit temptations. Others may prefer to live less dangerously – but certainly no less romantically.
Being granted the opportunity to let your true character shine is rare. That’s because there are so many soul-snipers out there who will gun down anything vaguely heartfelt. Not so during April. Thanks to a confident cosmos, the focus shifts to what you want out of life as opposed to what others expect from you. Romance looks less complicated.
Capricorn
Aquarius
Pisces
April brings surprises. For starters, romance rules. Throw in a cash bonus for good measure, and it seems you’re in for some delightful treats. This is what happens when the cosmos favours you personally. Even if there’s a conflict of interests between business and pleasure, simply follow your instincts. They’re pretty dependable right now.
Life has seemed a battle recently, with any gains being hard won. The trouble is, you’re a natural for taking on too much and others will happily load you up while you let them. As you step into April, early indications may not suggest any different, but a change is on its way. Work and business shoot skywards. As does your love life.
There’s a confident energy to April. Very little will escape your attention. If teamwork’s required, there’s no better time for presenting new ideas. Even so, timing is important. Don’t force issues until all signals say go – some things are worth the wait. Late month brings another kind of joy. The romantic kind. Business merging with pleasure, perhaps?
Want your own personal profile?
23 AUGUST - 22 SEPTEMBER
22 DECEMBER – 19 JANUARY
23 SEPTEMBER – 22 OCTOBER
20 JANUARY – 18 FEBRUARY
16 DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au
23 OCTOBER – 21 NOVEMBER
19 FEBRUARY – 20 MARCH
22 NOVEMBER – 21 DECEMBER
If you’re interested in an in-depth astrology profile prepared by our favourite astrologer Tanya Obreza, visit www.tanyaobreza.com
covergirl PHOTOGRAPHY SHANNON LAWRENCE
THE SMILE DENTAL 12 FACES OF DUO
Every year DUO Magazine holds a very popular competition to choose 12 local women to grace a DUO Magazine cover during the coming year. Turn to the next page to see this year’s 12 most popular and beautiful winners. COVERGIRL Tamara Cusack Age 24 Occupation Development Engineering Officer. Where were you born? Melbourne. Tell us something about yourself I’m currently studying for Bachelor of Engineering and have a very spoilt fur-baby (chihuahua) called Apples. What have you got going on at the moment? Event planning as this year’s Chair of the Women in Engineering committee keeps me busy, as well as Uni, blogging (www.tinytimtams.com), fitness and trying out new recipes. What would surprise people to know about you? I’m an old lady in disguise. I love to crochet, sew, bake sweets, collect teapots and drink lots of tea!
18 DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au
covergirl
Tamara HAIR JENNY ZUMARAN & LYNNE TOPHAM – PROPHECY 4721 6455 We sectioned out a faux fringe at front, then sleeked the rest of the hair into a low ponytail, light teasing was applied and rolled into an exaggerated bun to create the “perfect” equestrian look!
MAKEUP CHEREE STEEL – URBAN MISS MAKEUP 0418 796 897 Tamara has beautiful skin so I used Napoleon’s Minimal Foundation Look4 and set it with a light dusting of camera finish. I contoured her face using Bourjois Chocolate Bronzing Powder, highlighted her cheekbones with YSL Touche Eclat and applied Napoleons Mosaic Blushing Powder to the apples of her cheeks. To enhance Tamara’s beautiful green eyes I used Napoleon Loose Dust in Copper Element all over, contoured with private boudoir and defined with MAC Fluidline liner. Brows were defined with Shu Uemura Hard 9 and Bobbi Brown natural brow shaper and on her lips I used MAC Deeply Adored.
OUTFIT LISA BROWN 1300 103 160 Tama Top & Georgie Pant www.lisa-brown.com.au
JEWELLERY LOVISA CASTLETOWN 0459 981 902 Nightlife Tube & Bead Necklaces www.lovisa.com.au
ACCESSORIES DONOHUES 1800 811 189 Kangaroo Hide 6’ Australian Stock Whip $319 www.donohues.com.au
ROCKING HORSE Big thank you to Joanne & Bernard Lancini
DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au 19
promotion
YOUR 12 WINNERS REVEALED! Thank you to all the fabulous local ladies who entered the 12 Faces of DUO competition this year. The judges had a hard time selecting our 26 finalists and then the online voting started. Many of the finalists created Facebook pages especially for the competition and thousands of friends and relatives voted. Altogether, we received over 6000 individual votes! The 12 winners chosen are not only beautiful but a great cross section of Townsville women as well. Here at DUO Magazine we’re planning the creative for the new series of covers so the next question is: Who will be the first to appear on the cover of our May edition?
FIRST COVER OF THE SERIES MAY 2013
AMANDA HOWARD
20 DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au
TRACEY BUTTON
SELINA ROGERS
promotion SOPHIE CARUANA
DEE ISMAIL
SHAE-LEE KENNEDY-BROWNE
CLAIRE DOBBINS
DANIELLE EDWARDS
GEORGIE GOSDEN
ASHLEIGH SUDHOLZ
SAMANTHA AKERS
HAYLEY CHRISTENSEN
DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au 21
deluxe woman
DOLCE & GABBANA GOLD-TONE SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL LOCKET NECKLACE $1800 APPROX
THOMAS SABO STERLING SILVER EARRINGS $249 RRP
CAMILLA AND MARC BLACK AND PINK JACQUARD COMPARTMENTAL BOMBER $1200, BLACK WITH BLACK GROSGRAIN INSIDE OUT TOP AND BLACK GRADATION PANT $440
BRIGHT BEADS PENDANT LIGHTS IN SOLID TIMBER FROM $360-$420 RRP
TOM FORD PINK/ROSE TRANSLUCENT JADE SUNGLASSES $415 RRP
RED HOT REWARDS
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ALEXANDER WANG PELICAN SLING BAG RENDERED IN CROC-EMBOSSED LEATHER WITH SOFT SUEDE SIDE PANELS $927 APPROX
CHANEL LEATHER SHOE $1540 GLAS ITALIA CROSSING 3D-EFFECT TABLE DESIGNED BY PATRICIA URQUIOLA. HIGH TABLE IN LAMINATED 8MM THICK TEMPERED TRANSPARENT EXTRALIGHT GLASS, WHICH THANKS TO SPECIAL THREE-DIMENSIONAL POLYCHROMATIC DECORATION PRESENTS A MAGICAL PATTERN OF WEAVING AND OVERLAPPING LINES AND COLOURS. FROM $6390
STOCKISTS: CHANEL 1300 CHANEL (242 635) THOMAS SABO 02 9417 0177 WWW.THOMASSABO.COM TOM FORD WWW.STYLEBOP.COM CAMILLA AND MARC 02 9358 5177 WWW.CAMILLAANDMARC.COM ALEXANDER WANG WWW.STYLEBOP.COM BRIGHT BEADS 02 9369 3322 WWW.THEDESIGNHUNTER.COM.AU GLAS ITALIA SPACE FURNITURE BRISBANE 07 3253 6000 DOLCE & GABBANA WWW.NET-A-PORTER.COM
22 DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au
your fashion consultants for shade
Innovative Designs to suit your style and budget 10/510 Woolcock Street, Garbutt 4779 9962 info@shadefx.net.au | www.shadefx.net.au BSA 21085
salt’s food & wine
festival 21 April 2013
It’s time to celebrate Salt Restaurants flair for modern Australian cuisine with a carnival of good food & top drops! With five reputable wine suppliers, and of course, acclaimed local produce from Townsville suppliers – Indulge your foodie passion and try many delectable food & wine samples! www.saltrestaurants.com.au
s t n e v E u
Tel. 4724 4441
K K 12
MAY
4
s t n a r u a t s Re
14
MAY
Mother’s Day
Josef Chromy Wine Dinner
A Touch of Salt
A Touch of Salt
Breakfast 8am – 9.30am
6pm – late
Lunch 12.30pm – 2.30pm Bookings essential.
5 Course Degustation Dinner with wine pairing Bookings essential.
SUNDAY 21 APRIL 2013 12.30pm til 6pm A Touch of Salt 86 Ogden street
FOOD STALLS Watch Salt Chefs prepare dishes and taste their creations.
ENTRY $10 Available on the door
WINE STALLS
“CURRENCY FOR THE DAY” $5 food & wine vouchers
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
K K 6
JUNE
16
JUNE
Teusner Wine Dinner
Seafood Luncheon
A Touch of Salt
A Touch of Salt
6pm – late
12.00pm start time
4 Course Degustation Dinner with wine pairing
3 Course Luncheon with wine pairing
Bookings essential.
Bookings essential.
Grazing menu with premium wine tasting, signature cocktails & boutique beers.
5 TO 7PM OGDEN ST BY THE RIVER www.saltrestaurants.com.au
Telephone. 4724 4441
society
2013 North Queensland Toyota Cowboys Corporate Launch Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre Photography Simone Rayner
Tenille Cooper and Rudie Doyle
The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys’ season campaign officially kicked off with more than 650 sponsors, corporate partners and special guests gathering for the 2013 Cowboys Corporate Launch. Special guest was new NRL CEO David Smith and an auction was held to raise funds for former Cowboys Brenton Bowen and Paul Dezolt, who are dealing with serious health issues.
Emma Regan, Kate Cordell and Brooke Deninton
Kirrilly Johns and Rosalie Taifalos
Rob Lui and Kalifa Faifailoa
Lillian Kilmartin and Scottie Sales
Candice Locke and Liana La Riva Donna Stark and Greg Gilbert
Brooke Polke and Kathy Campbell
Tariq Sims, Don Julio and Gavin Cooper
26 DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au
Jason Taumalolo and Curtis Rona
Patrick Hinchy and Charly Beitzel
Bryce Vockins and Naomi Francis
sources
Shhhhhh . . .
LAVARACKS IS LAUNCHING A NEW MENU . . .
COMING SOON
LAVARACKS RESTAURANT OPEN MONDAY TO SATURDAY LUNCH AND DINNER 139 Charters Towers Road, Hermit Park Phone 4759 9500 www.townsvillersl.com.au | tsvrslenquiries@tsvrsl.com.au
adapted & created by shake & stir theatre co Four legs good ,two legs bad. One of the most controversial political commentaries tours as a new production combining physical theatre and storytelling.
Townsville Civic Theatre
23-24 April at 8pm
A must see! 612ABC Radio Do whatever you can to get a ticket. The Courier-Mail
#pigin2013
DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au 27
society Townsville Picnic Bay Surf Life Saving Club Annual Charity Masquerade Ball Jupiters Townsville
Photography Dani Hansen Raising much-needed funds for rescue gear and equipment for the Townsville Picnic Bay Surf Life Saving Club, the Annual Charity Masquerade Ball was also a load of fun. Jupiters Summer Surf Girl entrant Ashleigh Adams has been a member of the club since she was eight and works as a permanent lifeguard.
Paula and Gary Morgan
Matt Twomey and Casey Chalkley
Karliah White and Kristen Heery
Pepi Mara and Dom Purcel
Adam Wilson and Katelyn Bell
Ashleigh Adams (Summer Surf Girl) and Anika Wright
Jenny and Jim Heery (President) Shannon Morgan and Hollie Ellis
Leah McManus, Louise Middleton and Thomas George
Steve and Tina Mills
Meghan Richardson and Ellie McDonald Ailsa and Darrin Bragg
28 DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au
sources
Lunch at Ko-be FRIDAY TO SUNDAY FROM 11.30AM SPECIAL LUNCH MENU $45.00 per person* Enjoy a 2 course set menu including a glass of wine, beer or soft drink
Book now on 4722 2222 or email kobe@echoent.com.au www.jupiterstownsville.com.au *Subject to availability, change and cancellation. Jupiters Townsville practises the responsible service of alcohol.
bring your family
closer
Residential Lots Sold for $155,000 Lots available 600sq.m to 1,162sq.m www.riversideridge.com.au Phone Nick Ferry on 0439 393 363 | The Landing 228 - 244 Riverside Blvd, Douglas DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au 29
society
Emily Girgenti and Gabrielle Dent
The Townsville McCafĂŠ Fire Black & Red MVP Ball Jupiters Townsville
Photography Dani Hansen Fabulous formal wear stole the show at this evening event featuring player awards and a sports memorabilia auction. MVP went to Jess Foley, who won a glamorous gift from Loloma for her efforts.
Justine Tappenden and Elisha Kelly
Rosanna Kingsun and Richelle Reading
Anna Steward and Bronwyn Butcher
Megan Adams and Kirsten-lee Longworth
Stephen and Hannah Leith
Trudie and Adryan Farren
Tegan Turner, Emma Mckenzie, Cherie Gallagher and Jess Adair Leah McManus, Louise Middleton and Thomas George
Donna Turner and Rachael Flanagan
Chris and Linda Tighe Sandra McCormick and Robin Anderson
Dr Trina Myers and Dr Siqiwen Li
Veronica Eggleton and Andrew Smith
30 DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au
sources
OUR EXCITING NEW DISPLAY HOME IS NOW OPEN
Call Shadeview. Townsville's experts for custom-made blinds, louvres & awnings.
Our brand new display home is now open at 13 Westbrook Drive, Fairfield Waters. You’re going to LOVE it! For all enquiries call John Plozza on 0418 155 857 admin@proviewhomes.com.au www.proviewhomes.com.au
2/298 Bayswater Road Garbutt Telephone 4725 2527 BSA LIC 1206709
sales@shadeviewblinds.com.au www.shadeviewblinds.com.au
BSA 1197935
Internal Blinds • External Aluminium Awnings • External Fabric Awnings Aluminium Shutters • Cyclone Rated Shutters
DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au 31
society
Ray Mercer, Katie Kelliher and Anthony Douglas
AFL Gourmet Corporate Lunch
North Queensland Club Photography Dani Hansen
John Grayson and Veronica Kregor
CEO of AFL Queensland and former champion Fitzroy rover Michael Conlan was the guest speaker at this gourmet corporate lunch on the eve of the North Melbourne/ Gold Coast Suns clash at Tony Ireland Stadium, March 2. Michael was accompanied by former Brisbane Lions champion Marcus Ashcroft, who is on the Suns coaching panel, along with Suns and Kangaroos players and officials.
Graeme Russell, Max Tomlinson and Troy Townsend
Rod Edmonds and Brad Castle
Verena Coombe and Sharon Badman
Steve Braddick and Trevor Slogrove
Merv Saltmarsh, Peter Buch and John Durkin
Russell Laird, Tony Muller and Nick Roses
Kathryn Chapman and Barry James
Lisa McKoy and Kath Newman
32 DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au
sources
New Wrangler & Thomas Cook Winter stock arriving weekly Don’t be left in the cold. Call in and see the ranges today.
230 Charters Towers Road 4775 5144 www.donohues.com.au
The Servant ofTwo Masters TOWNSVILLE GRAMMAR SCHOOL PRESENTS
A comedy set in Venice
rry iona Pe F y b d e Direct
Townsville Civic Theatre
May 22-25
PARK & FLY PREMIUM
FRONT DOOR PARKING $18 PER 24 HOURS
SAVER
LOCATED OPPOSITE AIRPORT $15 PER 24 HOURS
SHORT TERM
FIRST 10 MINS FREE $5 FOR 2 HOURS
“You’re always welcome”
Payment options 1. Insert credit card upon arrival and at exit 2. Pay cash or card at ticket machine before exiting
www.townsvilleairport.com.au
www.townsvilleairport.com.au
CARD OR CASH
DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au 33
society
Sandra Bird and Rosemarie Horan
International Women’s Day 2013 Breakfast Jupiters Townsville
Photography Dani Hansen Award-winning journalist and foreign correspondent with the ABC, Sally Sara, was the guest speaker at this event hosted by Soroptimist International Townsville clubs. Sally has spent the past year covering the news from the frontline of the war in Afghanistan and has been named Queensland Journalist of the Year.
Anna Chisholm, Emma Channon and Jane Armistead
Chrissy Wilkinson and Julie Witty
Jillian Foster and Jennifer Ryan
Alexandra Zollner and Alanna Beryman
Danielle Carey, Kaye Wakeling and Vicki Laban
Emma Elphinstone, Rachal-Ann Jones and Erica Elortegui
ree F
r na i sem
Coping with the loss of a child When a child passes away it is natural to ask why? Why has life been cut so short? Why our family? Why couldn’t things be different? Why couldn’t we have had more time? Parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, family and friends are all affected. Take some time out to hear from professionals who can give you helpful and practical advice. Our FREE SEMINAR will commence at 7.30pm on Wednesday 17th April and will be presented by guest speakers Suzy Dormer and Marie Deuble.
The seminar will be held at the Lakes Chapel, Morleys Funeral Home, 2 Martinez Avenue, The Lakes and the public and professional carers are welcome to attend. Registration is free and refreshments will be provided. For catering purposes please RSVP by 5pm the 15th April on 4779 4744.
2 Martinez Avenue, The Lakes, Townsville Telephone: 4779 4744 After Hours: 4779 2794 Fax: 4779 5480 Email: funerals@morleys.net.au www.morleys.net.au 34 DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au
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HEAVY METAL MIX IT UP WITH THESE HOT NEW PIECES OF SILVERWEAR.
KSUBI THE ALTER TEE $239.95 SNITCH STINGRAY PANT $279.95 LEGACY BOMBER $549.95
DITA MACH-TWO SUNGLASSES. FULL TITANIUM RIM AND TEMPLES, HANDCRAFTED ACETATE MATTE BLACK AND ANTIQUE SILVER FRONT. $880
UPPERCUT DELUXE NO MATTER WHAT STYLE YOU'RE WEARING, UPPERCUT DELUXE PRODUCTS WILL GET YOU THERE. POMADE $24 MONSTER HOLD $24
SWAROVSKI NEWTON SCREW PENDANT $180 MEMOTO IS A TINY WEARABLE CAMERA AND GPS THAT SNAPS PHOTOS EVERY 30 SECONDS, RECORDING EVERYTHING YOU DO. $279
STOCKISTS: DITA EYEWEAR WWW.DITA.COM UPPERCUT DELUXE WWW.UPPERCUTDELUXE.COM DAVIDOFF 1800 812 663 SWAROVSKI WWW.SWAROVSKI.COM MEMOTO WWW.MEMOTO.COM KSUBI WWW.KSUBI.COM BALL WWW.AVSTEV.COM 02 9363 1088 DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au 35
interview
DUO CAUGHT-UP WITH SHADOW TREASURER
JOE HOCKEY AS HE ZIPPED THROUGH THE NORTH RECENTLY TO MEET AND LISTEN TO LOCAL BUSINESS GROUPS EN ROUTE TO HIS CATTLE PROPERTY IN THE TABLELANDS.
WORDS CARLY LUBICZ PHOTOGRAPHY SANDRA HEIER EVENSEN
WHAT’S YOUR IMPRESSION OF TOWNSVILLE? Townsville is, inherently, a positive town and a place that really does want to get ahead. It’s predominantly a diverse town — it has the military, tourism, mining services… it has a great story, Townsville.
YOU’VE SAID, AS A COUNTRY, WE NEED TO BE SMARTER AND MORE SENSIBLE WITH OUR INFRASTRUCTURE SPEND. CAN YOU FURTHER EXPLAIN THAT? The community doesn’t want to see government waste — they want to see investment in infrastructure. When the government spends taxpayers’ money they need to do it with respect for taxpayers. We had a very good discussion with Townsville Enterprise, Townsville Chamber of Commerce and other groups about the construction of a power station to service the north — that’s the sort of infrastructure that we’d want to invest in; more so than something like the convention centre. You need something that’s going to generate other industries that’s going to generate jobs.
HOW IS YOUR WORK-LIFE BALANCE AT THE MOMENT? I’ve been away for 10 days straight, so it’s not great for a Dad; but then I know a lot of people here in Townsville — and in the military in particular — know what that’s about, and more so. So I can’t for one second complain. YOUR WIFE HAS A STRONG FINANCIAL BACKGROUND — DO YOU DISCUSS ECONOMICS WHEN YOU’RE AT HOME? No — anything but! We don’t talk about the economy; we talk about the kids and all sorts of things, but we don’t talk about work.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU’RE NOT WORKING OR EXERCISING? Whatever moments I have spare are for the kids — going to kid’s parties, kicking the ball around… they are seven, six and three so at a great age.
YOU ARE SEEN AS QUITE A LIKABLE GUY IN THE PUBLIC EYE; WHAT’S THE RESPONSE BEEN TO YOU ON THIS TRIP? Fantastic — people are very generous, polite and welcoming. I’ve just been listening, meeting with people and working out what the issues are… it’s nice to hear I’m likable!
PAST PUBLIC POLLS HAVE INDICATED THAT YOU’RE THE MOST POPULAR CHOICE FOR PRIME MINISTER. IS IT HARD TO KEEP ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER YOU’RE AIMING FOR THE TOP JOB WHEN YOU’VE SAID YOU’RE COMMITTED TO YOUR ROLE AS TREASURER? Yes… it’s my job to serve the country, and I need to put the needs of the country above my own.
POLITICS IS A HARD JOB AND YOU’RE CONSTANTLY SCRUTINISED — WHY DID YOU GET INTO IT? Because I love my job and, in politics, you get to see the
YOU’VE LOST 25KG — CONGRATULATIONS! DO YOU STILL MANAGE TO EXERCISE WHILE TRAVELLING? Yes, I’m doing
best and worst of everything.
one-and-a-half hours per day walking, running and squash. I’m feeling a lot better and have much more energy. The old suits don’t fit anymore so I’ve passed them on to Ewen [Jones, Federal Member for Herbert] (laughs).
IS IT HARD TO BALANCE THE SERIOUSNESS OF POLITICS WITH CONVEYING YOUR SENSE OF HUMOUR? You’ve got to be yourself, but still professional
36 DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au
at the same time — it’s definitely a judgement call.
interview
“BECAUSE I LOVE MY JOB AND, IN POLITICS, YOU GET TO SEE THE BEST AND WORST OF EVERYTHING.” JOE HOCKEY
DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au 37
promotion
CAVALIER HOMES ARE DESIGN SMART INSPIRING TONES, EXCEPTIONAL STYLE, EFFORTLESS ENTERTAINING AND FLOWING INTERIORS… THIS IS JUST A SAMPLE OF WHAT’S ON OFFER IN TWO NEW DISPLAY HOUSES BY CAVALIER HOMES.
LOOKING for an elegant family home built for entertaining? You’ll love the North Shore Retreat display home. Its open-plan kitchen and dining room overlook a generous outdoor deck with built-in barbeque and benchtop. Entertaining in any weather is easy as the deck is protected by an extended rooftop, so outdoor and indoor spaces blend seamlessly. Tucked away behind the kitchen is a butler’s pantry containing a sink and storage to keep any mess hidden. More winning features are a large media room, his and hers walk-in wardrobes and eye-catching textured wall panelling in the living room. Next door, you’ll find the funky Sita Retreat display home, which is perfect for professional couples and young families. Clever and creative use of space accommodates three bedrooms, two bathrooms and four entertaining spaces on a 338sqm block. You will be surprised at the level of innovation used here to incorporate large living on a small footprint. Designed to utilise every inch of space and turn it into impressive living. Front and rear patios are kept private with a row of plants creating shady retreats and there’s both a paved area and wooden deck to escape to spread across two levels. The main bedroom in this trendy home is private and contains its own al fresco space for you to enjoy. You will wander around the display homes for ages, taking in the luxury inclusions, smart storage solutions and streamlined touches, like the latest touch-screen alarms and ‘floating’ built-in cabinetry with no furniture legs to vacuum around. When you build with Cavalier Homes NQ you’ll enjoy the flexibility of customising your home to suit how you live. The close-knit team at Cavalier work with long-term suppliers and trades to offer you value for money and plenty of designs to choose from. House and land packages start from $359,000. For more information, call 4775 4811 or visit www.cavaliernq.com.au New display homes open seven days in Sita Retreat, North Shore. BSA Licence No. 1045795
38 DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au
DUO MAGAZINE HIGHLIGHT
women
LAW INSPIRATIONAL
IN
THE LAW PROFESSION CAN SEEM LIKE A MAN’S WORLD – LONG HOURS, HIGH STRESS, DOG-EAT-DOG COMPETITION… BUT THESE SEVEN LADIES FROM TOWNSVILLE TAKE IT ALL IN THEIR STRIDE, PROVING THAT GLASS CEILINGS ARE MADE TO BE SHATTERED, SOCIAL AND FAMILY LIVES CAN FLOURISH EVEN BALANCED WITH DEMANDING CAREERS, AND WOMEN REALLY CAN HAVE IT ALL. THIS SHOWCASE SERIES SHINES THE SPOTLIGHT ON THE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THESE LEGAL HIGH ACHIEVERS.
promotion
INSPIRATIONAL
women
IN LAW
moya steele
PARTNER & GOVERNMENT PRACTICE GROUP LEADER MACDONNELLS LAW
Moya Steele doesn’t believe in glass ceilings. As one of Queensland’s best-known planning and environment lawyers, Moya credits a “simple mix of hard work, a good understanding of the development industry and work/life balance” to her success. Originally from Perth, Moya grew up in Cairns, where she had ambitions of pursuing a career “either as an architect or a United Nations lawyer”. Eventually law beckoned and a move to study at James Cook University in Townsville was soon followed by an unexpected turn in Moya’s legal career. “When I started as a lawyer, my practice was more in the conventional areas of commercial law, but my love of architecture and design kept permeating that,” Moya says. This love, paired with a strong instinct for government process and economics, saw “anything that had a plan attached” come Moya’s way, heralding the beginning of her rapid rise in planning and development law. Within a decade, she had acted on behalf of developers for major tourist resort developments, ecologically sustainable development projects, mixed-use residential projects, shopping centres and large-scale retail developments, extractive industries, and infrastructure projects. In 2009, Moya instructed on a landmark decision in Queensland. “A developer [Lancini Group of Companies] challenged the ministerial call in of a development and had it struck out as being legally invalid – the minister did not give procedural fairness to the developer. When you work for a client to be able to stand up and fight for a fair process for them is exceptionally rewarding.” At the age of 32, Moya was made partner of MacDonnells Law, one of Queensland’s largest independent law firms. She is now one of the firm’s owners, leader of its state-wide Government practice group and acts on the firm’s board. She also operates regularly out of the three offices in Townsville, Brisbane and Cairns, advising on all complex aspects of planning, environment and development law.
MacDonnells Law Level 1, 131 Denham Street, Townsville Telephone 07 4722 0221 Email msteele@macdonnells.com.au www.macdonnells.com.au
40 DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au
“In simple terms, I assist my clients to handle the red tape that government processes for development involve. What I do is half commercial law, half litigation. I essentially manage or assist the process that sees a concept plan for a development gain approval and be brought into existence.” Moya adds: “Although I have instructed on some of the largest developments in Queensland, most people have no idea I have been involved. That’s how I know that I have done my job, because the project has gone smoothly for my client.”
promotion KLP Family Law Level 1, Suite 3, 49 Bundock Street Belgian Gardens Telephone 07 4775 6667 Email kate@klpfamilylaw.com.au www.klpfamilylaw.com.au
INSPIRATIONAL
women
IN LAW
kate pateman
DIRECTOR & PRINCIPAL SOLICITOR | KLP FAMILY LAW
Family law is a specialty for Kate Pateman who heads up boutique firm KLP Family Law. Kate has always had a yearning to do law – even as a young child – and when studying at James Cook University in Townsville, family law soon reeled her in. “Once I finished Uni, I went to work with an accredited specialist in family law in Mount Isa – Rod Madsen – who is now the local magistrate,” Kate says. “I’ve practised in that area ever since. I consider it more personally satisfying than any other area of law.” Her start in Mount Isa put her in good stead. “The experience you get working rural is second to none,” she enthuses. “In the big cities you might not get full files to work on when you’re young and inexperienced. Whereas in places like Mount Isa, there’s no one else to do it, so it gets thrown your way. You quickly learn to sink or swim.” Her decade’s legal experience has also included working for a boutique family law firm in Brisbane. Kate was drawn back to Townsville last January to start up her own practice. “There were no firms specialising
only in family law, so I saw a niche. Specialising in one area keeps you on top of your game as you are not as stretched trying to cover areas of law you may not be as experienced in.” Kate can provide family law advice on everything from pre-nuptial/binding financial agreements to divorce, property settlements and children’s issues – just to name a few areas. Of course, working in sensitive family law matters requires a certain personality. “You do have to remain independent and focused, but still have empathy for what the client is going through,” Kate says. “The best way to get through this for the client is to have a holistic approach. I will deal with the legal side and my clients will sometimes work with a psychologist to help them through the emotional aspect. After all, if you break your leg you don’t just leave it be – you get professional help from a doctor and you may need crutches for a period of time.” On top of her full work schedule, Kate volunteers once a month at the Townsville Community Legal Service, and she enthuses: “People who cannot afford a solicitor are still entitled to have the right advice and not be taken advantage of.” Inspiring, indeed.
DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au 41
promotion
McDonald Leong Lawyers 85 Thuringowa Drive, Kirwan Telephone 07 4723 5155 Email lwleong@mcdleong.com.au www.mcdonaldleong.com.au
INSPIRATIONAL
women
IN LAW
linda leong PARTNER | MCDONALD LEONG LAWYERS
Linda Leong became a partner of McDonald Leong Lawyers at the young age of 24, having only been admitted to practice for nine months. “It’s not a usual transition, so I was very lucky,” Linda admits. “During my university breaks, I used to do work experience at different firms, which is how I met Mark McDonald, a third-generation solicitor. He later approached me to become a partner. I think it is a great idea if law students can do work experience to learn the practical side of the business.” The James Cook University graduate was initially lured by engineering work, but it was seeing her China-born parents, Derrick and Wenney Leong, working in the food industry that ironically changed her mind. “I was brought up in a shop environment from age four,” Linda explains. “In my late teens, my parents actually began involving me in the consultations with their solicitors. So I got to see what a solicitor did, and in Grade 12, I changed and decided to do law.” The Cantonese-speaking solicitor has since notched up more than 20 years in the legal industry. She is the Managing Partner of McDonald Leong Lawyers and heads up the firm’s Litigation team. Linda’s achievements are a source of inspiration to young female practitioners. Her practice area includes personal injury actions, wills
42 DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au
and estates, small business and criminal law. “I enjoy helping people solve their problems or getting the best results for them when they’re in a dire situation,” she says. When Linda first started with the firm, it was only her, Mark and his father, John McDonald, and three other staff. The business has since grown to now employ 16 other staff. Linda is also active in the Townsville community, having been involved in the Queensland China Council and committees for the Catholic Diocese of Townsville. She was also the president of the Townsville Chinese Club for many years, now a life member. As well, she is involved with local sporting bodies and the firm sponsors various hockey, AFL, junior rugby league, soccer and volleyball teams. As a mother-of-two, Linda says she’s always careful to strike a balance between work and family commitments. “I remember when I had my first child 13 years ago, a female barrister, whose since retired, gave me some good advice. She said, ‘Make sure you don’t miss your children’s activities’, and that always stuck in the back of my mind. So I’m always there for the kids, even if it’s not the whole time, but the last 15 minutes of training or the pick-up. I believe that family time is important.”
promotion INSPIRATIONAL
women
IN LAW
lucia taylor
SENIOR FAMILY LAWYER | PURCELL TAYLOR LAWYERS
Lucia Taylor is a born-and-bred Townsville woman – the daughter of an Italian immigrant father and a first-generation Australian mother with Irish ancestry, behind building company Gabrielli Constructions. Family is obviously important to Lucia as the seventh of nine children. Journalism originally caught Lucia’s eye as a career path, though she was soon drawn to law, taking up Articles of Clerkship in 1986 while studying externally at the Queensland University of Technology. “This was the beginning of a whole new world for me,” Lucia enthuses. Today, she has marked 22 years since being admitted to practice. Her career has included stints as a junior lawyer and then associate lawyer at Townsville firms, a paralegal at a top London law firm on corporate fraud cases including the famed Robert Maxwell pension fund fraud in the ‘90s, and as a senior case officer at the Child Support Agency. Now a senior family lawyer with Purcell Taylor Lawyers, Lucia specialises in property settlements, pre-nuptial agreements, binding financial agreements, children matters, child support, and domestic violence orders. One particular case led to an interest in complex property settlements. “The case involved tracking monies through no less than five bank accounts and finally arriving at the Perth Mint, where the husband had purchased over $500,000 worth of gold bars – and was not to be seen again.” Today, Lucia juggles her busy practice with rearing three schoolaged children, being involved in their school and sporting associations, and volunteering with the Townsville Community Legal Service, Townsville District Law Association, and Zonta Club. “In 1986, when I commenced practice, female numbers were indeed limited and conditions not conducive to female lawyers working reduced hours,” Lucia says. “Today those statistics have changed for the better. There are now more than 15 female partners in firms and over 60 employed female lawyers in the Townsville region.” Lucia’s area of work – family law – can be fraught with emotion for her clientele, but she says: “I like helping people and it’s a time when you can make a real difference in people’s lives moving forward. That’s essentially what motivates me.” As well as her vast knowledge as a senior practitioner, Lucia says: “I have that personal life experience having been married for many years and with three children. It helps you to deal with cases on a more personal basis.”
Dressed by Siba & Sofia
Purcell Taylor Lawyers 42 Sturt Street, Townsville Telephone 07 4721 3499 Email Lucia.Taylor@purcelltaylor.com.au www.purcelltaylor.com.au
DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au 43
promotion
INSPIRATIONAL
women
IN LAW
michelle morton
MANAGING PARTNER | WILSON/RYAN/GROSE LAWYERS
Michelle Morton defies stereotypes – she juggles being a managing partner of wilson/ryan/grose Lawyers with mothering five children, aged 11 to 21. “I was very fortunate to choose an area of law that suited flexible hours, so I was able to manage my time and achieve what I wanted to,” says Michelle, who specialises in litigation, workplace relations and personal injury. “I’ve been blessed with a great life and I really do love what I do. I’ve had the opportunity to have five lovely children and also the chance to have this career, which has given me many opportunities.” Michelle studied law at the Queensland University of Technology while working as an articled law clerk in 1985. She was admitted as a solicitor in 1990, became a partner in 1999, and a managing partner in 2002. Michelle was 35 and pregnant when she first made partner. “Our firm is over 100 years old. Another woman and I were the first female partners of our firm,” she says, adding: “Provided you do what you do well, there’s equal opportunity for equal talent.” One thing she is proud of is her firm’s flexible working arrangements for women today, including enabling some to work from home once starting a family. “We have quite diverse models of employment at the firm.” Career highlights include becoming an accredited specialist in personal injuries and workplace relations – “I believe I am one of only two people in Queensland to hold both these specialisations” – plus, winning the Queensland Regional Woman Lawyer of the Year award in 2003. On her career as a whole, Michelle says: “I enjoy working with people and whether or not I’m working with businesses or for individuals, I like being able to find commercial solutions to people’s problems. People are nearly always appreciative of what we’re able to achieve and that’s very rewarding.”
wilson/ryan/grose Lawyers Level 1, 15 Sturt Street, Townsville Telephone 07 4760 0100 Email mmorton@wrg.com.au www.wrg.com.au
44 DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au
Work aside, Michelle sits on the boards of the Women’s National Basketball League team, Townsville Fire Limited, and the Townsville Hospital and Health Service. She is also a mentor with Townsville Enterprise’s North Queensland Emerging Leaders Program. “One of the things I’ve most valued over my 20 years of being a lawyer is being able to mentor and train the lawyers who have worked with me, as well as mentoring outside the firm,” Michelle says. “It’s always good to work with young people because you learn as much as you give.”
promotion Crosby Brosnan & Creen Lawyers 32 Walker Street, Townsville Telephone 07 4772 3644 Email cbc@cbclawyers.com.au www.cbclawyers.com.au
INSPIRATIONAL
women
IN LAW
sandra clive
PRINCIPAL | CROSBY BROSNAN & CREEN LAWYERS
Significant motivators in Sandra Clive’s life are her parents, who have raised her to believe she can achieve anything she strives for with hard work and determination, and her husband Michael, who is her partner in life and at their practice, Crosby Brosnan & Creen Lawyers. “When exciting things happen at the firm and for our clients, I enjoy sharing the experience with Michael,” the mother-of-two says. “He is my biggest supporter and knows me better than I know myself. Another motivator for me is my fantastic staff. Our people are our biggest asset. We work hard to create an environment where our staff are motivated to excel in serving our clients’ needs. We have very high recruitment standards.” Last year, Sandra merged her former firm with Michael’s practice, allowing Crosby Brosnan & Creen to expand into all areas of law. She and Michael are the firm’s only two principals. Defying the economic climate, the firm opened another office this month in the Burdekin Shire to better serve its rural clients. Sandra was admitted as a solicitor in 1996 after graduating with a commerce and law degree. She was encouraged to study law by her English teacher, Heather Frazer. At 28, Sandra became a full equity
partner in a well-established law practice, consisting of five male partners – the youngest of very few female equity partners in North Queensland at the time. She worked as a general practitioner for many years, providing her with a wealth of experience, and has since narrowed her work to primarily litigation and commercial law. “I enjoy court work and whenever possible I do my own court appearances for clients, including trials.” Sandra adds: “I loved the law from my first day at work – and I am just as passionate about it 19 years later.” She is a former chair of the Bowen District Health Council and board member of Tropical Medical Training, a member of the Roman Catholic Trust Corporation for the Diocese of Townsville’s Property Finance Council, and a founding member of the 180 Club – a group of business owners across various professions who regularly meet to assist others with training, mentoring and support in business. She has also recently been invited to join the board of the Townsville Fashion Festival. In her spare time, she plays for the local Hyats Basketball Club, having played state league basketball for the Burdekin Wildcats, and coaches her son’s under-10s team.
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promotion
Connolly Suthers Lawyers 416 Flinders Street Townsville Telephone 07 4771 5664 Email tia.cox@connollysuthers.com.au www.connollysuthers.com.au
INSPIRATIONAL
women
IN LAW
tia cox
LITIGATION PARTNER | CONNOLLY SUTHERS LAWYERS
Tia Cox joined Connolly Suthers as an articled clerk in 1995 while studying law at James Cook University in Townsville. Her first job has continued to hold her in good stead – she’s now an equity partner of that very same firm.
“I definitely put in long, long hours career-wise in my youth. By the time I had my first baby, I had established I was there for the long haul,” Tia says. “I was fortunate to be able to stay at home for the first year with each child. Working from home was made possible with a home office and call divert.”
“I think I offered to work for free,” the mother-of-three says with a laugh. “It was one of the best firms and the only place I really wanted to work.”
Working in the general litigation department, she has represented individuals against multi-national corporations, helping them in their plight for more than 17 years. “There is great joy in winning a battle against insurance companies for the underdog,” Tia says. “Most of my clients have suffered traumas of some sort that leave them vulnerable and damaged.”
Tia was admitted to practice as a lawyer in 1997 after also completing an arts degree, majoring in economics. She was appointed as a partner of the firm in 2005 – aged just 33 and only six months after having her first child. Now an equity partner, she is also a co-owner of the business. “A career highlight was becoming partner and now I also enjoy being a mentor for the younger females on staff,” she says. Tia is the only female partner in a practice that comprises 20 lawyers, of which 11 are partners and seven equity partners. Tia jokes that she is the “rose amongst six thorns”. At partnership meetings, she brings a unique female perspective to a predominately male firm.
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Along with her busy work schedule and responsibilities of motherhood, Tia is also a keen runner and practices yoga twice a week. “My average day starts with a morning run with a girlfriend and then coming home and making school lunches! My husband, Andrew, is very supportive and, despite having his own financial planning business, he does the school runs, sport runs, and even cooks,” Tia says. “We also have a very strong and supportive family network that are always happy to lend a hand.”
interview
“IT’S A CONSTANT TEASE WHEN I RIDE TO WORK ON MY MOTORBIKE AND GO PAST TOURISTS GOING TO THE BEACH..” ZOË PAUL
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interview
DUO SPEAKS EXCLUSIVELY WITH MISTER ZIMI’S
ZOË PAUL
BALI-BASED LABEL MISTER ZIMI WAS CONCEIVED ON HOLS BY A MELBURNIAN COUPLE, FUSING OZ DESIGN WITH BALINESE CHIC. PERUSE WWW.MISTERZIMI.COM INTERVIEW CARLA CARUSO WHAT MADE YOU MOVE TO BALI? For my 21st birthday, my parents gave me a holiday to Bali with my friend. From that moment on, I became obsessed with it and went twice a year. I knew I wanted to live in Bali at some stage but couldn’t think of the best way to do that. About five years ago, I was there with my husband [Jim] and decided to make a feminine-style leather jacket that I hadn’t been able to find anywhere. When I came back to Melbourne, my friends and their friends started asking me if I could make them a [similar] jacket. Two months later, I was going back to Bali with an order for 50 jackets to be made in a week, and the business started from there.
DESCRIBE YOUR LIFESTYLE THERE COMPARED TO OZ. PLUS, HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET BACK TO MELBOURNE? I wish I could answer this by saying that we have an amazing lifestyle in Bali, just like you do when you are on holidays! But the reality is we are still in an office every day. It’s a constant tease when I ride to work on my motorbike and go past tourists going to the beach or having cocktails. It’s a killer… Jimi and I now have a daughter, Florence. Since having her 10 months ago, we have spent a lot more time in Melbourne and Sydney this year. We travel to and from every six weeks or so.
WHO IS THE LABEL NAMED AFTER? In Bali everyone calls people ‘Mr’ or ‘Mrs’. We are ‘Mrs Zoë’ and ‘Mr Jimi’. The first jacket that was made was delivered to our hotel with ‘Mister Zimi’ written on the package. They got our names confused, and it stuck! It’s a great conversation-starter. WHAT’S IT LIKE WORKING WITH YOUR HUBBY? DID EITHER OF YOU STUDY FASHION? Neither of us has a fashion background. I have a real estate and advertising background and Jimi has a property background. I am a self-taught designer and Jimi is a self-taught graphic designer. It’s tough working with your husband sometimes, but on the whole, I love it. We spend every minute with each other, which wouldn’t work for some couples, but for us it’s the way we like it.
IS THERE MUCH OF AN AUSSIE FASHION COMMUNITY IN BALI? Haha – I feel like there are more Australians in Bali than there are in Australia! There is a huge expat community in Bali – mainly Australians – and most of us are designers, hotel owners or restaurant owners. It’s a fun mix. HOW DOES NEGATIVE PRESS ABOUT BALI – SUCH AS AUSSIE WOMAN DENNI NORTH’S RECENT DEATH – HAVE AN IMPACT AT A GROUND LEVEL? To be completely honest, I didn’t actually hear about Denni North until I came back to Australia – the same with the teenager who was put in jail. I think the Australian media really exaggerate any sort of press towards Bali, especially the negative. With more and more Australians travelling to Bali on holidays, instead of going to Queensland or other holiday destinations within Australia, I feel like the media and government are trying to paint the worst picture they can of Bali to deter Australians from holidaying there! Bali is a beautiful place and a great place to holiday.
HOW DO YOU JUGGLE MOTHERHOOD AND WORK? Florence is 10 months old, and I have loved becoming a mum. It’s by far the coolest thing I’ve ever done – but it’s been hard. I was working the morning I went into hospital, then I was straight back onto the computer when I got home. I am a full-time mum and full-time business owner. I’m lucky that Florence is happy to come with me everywhere and is a good traveller, but… I’m exhausted! Once she gets to about 12 months, I’ll look at getting some help so that I am able to go into the office more. I just wanted to spend the first 12 months with her each day.
WHAT INSPIRED YOUR NEW AUTUMN/WINTER COLLECTION? The new collection is called ‘Safari’. Africa and African prints have been a huge inspiration for me with this collection, as well as textiles from other parts of the world.
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fashion
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fashion
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fashion
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fashion
Luxurious fabrics transformed into thoughtful designs with a focus on cut, colour and print; Marc Cain Collections brings European sophistication to women’s wardrobes across the Globe. Innovative design ensures Marc Cain retains its position as a leader in the European market place. Available from AVANTI The Fashion Salon Townsville 07 4771 4799 or MARC CAIN Double Bay 02 9328 2029
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fashion DRESS $719, LONG SLEEVE SHIRT $288
SKIRT $549, ANGORA BOLERO $361, ANKLE BOOTS $1152
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fashion
DRESS $719, BAG $1079
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my style
ALEXANDRA HINDLE VINTAGE WINNER
I’m 21 and a country girl brought up on properties for most of my life. I moved to Townsville from Charleville to study Veterinary Science at JCU before changing to Teaching. I’m into health and fitness. My main interest is ‘Fashions on the Field’ competitions. Last year I entered around nine and plan to enter even more this year. Describe your style? It depends on the occasion but I would say my style is classic vintage – feminine and flattering! Most treasured item? The races headpiece (pictured) is very sentimental. I wore it at my first ‘Fashions on the Field’ at Burdekin Races last year and won Millinery and the Classic sections. It’s my lucky charm! Labels you like? I don’t follow labels, if I like the material and style, I’ll buy it. I pride myself on shopping locally. Your style guru? Maria Selwood. We share a love of classic vintage fashion and style icons. You’d never be caught wearing…? Shorts, a dress or skirt that is so short you can see… a lot more than you should. My motto – keep it classy. Wardrobe item you can’t bring yourself to part with? My past races outfits! My wardrobe is full of dresses, wraps, suits, shoes and huge headpieces. A lot have brought me such great memories there’s no way I could bear to part with them. Shoes or dress first? Dress for sure; in most cases I believe the dress should be the main focus not the shoes. I would sometimes choose headpiece for the races before the dress though!
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my bag
SHALON LAWLER
I ENJOY LIVING IN TOWNSVILLE AND BELIEVE WE LIVE IN A GREAT CITY THAT IS ON THE UP AND UP. I’M VERY LUCKY, WITH A GREAT JOB, WONDERFUL FRIENDS AND AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING FAMILY!
THE BAG
Guess, tan coloured shoulder bag. This bag has literally travelled around the world with me! I purchased this at the post-Christmas sales at Macy’s in New York.
GUCCI RUSH PERFUME This is my favourite perfume of all time and it is always in my handbag. My husband always knows to buy me a bottle of this for every special occasion. ENTERTAINMENT TICKETS As part of my job as GM, Marketing at Jupiters, I am lucky to assist in planning and organising our special events and concerts. The highlight of these would definitely have been the Flo Rida concert.
DOLCE & GABBANA SUNGLASSES Until recently, I never wore sunglasses, which is not only a fashion faux pas but not sun smart. My husband Steve bought these for me recently and I absolutely love them.
KINDLE Reading is definitely one of my favourite pastimes and is my way of relaxing. My best ever read (to date) was The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simmons.
NAPOLEON PERDIS MAKEUP (Lipstick and foundation) What girl doesn’t have a stash of makeup of some sort in her possessions? I always do!
CRUISE My family went on our first cruise last year which was such an amazing experience. I am now a cruise ship junkie and am looking forward to our next one – hopefully to New Zealand later this year. SILVER BRACELET A girl can never have too much jewellery. I purchased this silver bracelet in Mexico.
MEXICO & I LOVE NEW YORK KEY RINGS These key rings are some of my treasured souvenirs from my recent overseas holiday to the U.S and Mexico. They remind me every day of the great holiday we had.
iTUNES GIFT CARD One can never listen to too much music….
COMPACT My compact is always on the go with me PICTURE OF DOGS AND FAMILY My husband Steve, step-son Liam and our furry children, Bindi and Bobby are my world.
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iPHONE I can’t leave home without my iPhone! It has my life contacts and more importantly my iTunes which I listen to everyday.
INSPIRATIONAL BOOK My mum bought me this mini book a few years ago. It’s filled with inspirational quotes all beginning with the letter ‘S’.
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beauty
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wellbeing
GRANT COLLINS I AUDIOLOGIST I CLARITY HEARING SOLUTIONS
HEARING LOSS IN THE WORKPLACE You can be compensated for hearing loss at work – and here’s how to organise it.
“IF A HEARING LOSS IS LESS THAN FIVE PER CENT THEN IT IS NOT DEEMED TO BE SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO WARRANT COMPENSATION.”
If you feel your hearing may have been permanently The “magic” PLH number used by the majority of insurers damaged as a consequence of your workplace, than is five per cent. If a hearing loss is less than five per cent you may be entitled to have your hearing tested. If a then it is not deemed to be significant enough to warrant significant, permanent hearing loss is determined, you compensation. However, keep in mind that this number may be entitled to compensation. is not actually a real indication of your hearing loss or You can then use this to pay for treatment of the your subsequent communication difficulties. It is just hearing loss, if necessary. There are several ways to a number to determine payout amounts. I have many get the process initiated, but basically it can either be patients with a less than five per cent hearing loss who determined if there is a significant hearing loss either suffer from significant communication difficulties. privately or directly through your employer’s workplace As the percentages get higher, the payout amounts insurer. generally increase. However, do not for a minute think If you go privately then you need to see an accredited you can fake or exaggerate your hearing loss to receive WorkCover audiologist and they can do an assessment any extra compensation. It is virtually impossible to do and perform a calculation of your percentage loss of so when assessed by an accredited audiologist. hearing (PLH). They will advise if you have a significant Some workplace insurers will also allow more than one loss, which could be claimable. Should a significant loss claim if your hearing has deteriorated significantly since be found, then the results will be sent to the human the last claim. In this instance, the payment is calculated resources department of your company, which will based upon your change in hearing since the last claim. initiate a claim through their workplace insurer. They Again, the standard seems to be about five per cent, with may then reimburse you for any costs incurred for the significant deterioration regarded as more than a five assessment. per cent change since the previous claim. This does not Alternatively, you can initiate a claim directly through mean a revolving door of claims as it may take over five your workplace insurer. Again, you would consult the to 20 years for the hearing to deteriorate a further five human resources department of your company to do per cent. so. The insurer would then organise the assessment with So you need to keep in mind that the purpose of the an accredited WorkCover audiologist and cover all costs payout is to help assist with the cost of the treatment associated with the testing. – usually some form of hearing device or aid. Even the There are different payment levels and protocols for smallest payout will usually cover the cost of a good set different insurers; however, there does appear to be of quality hearing aids. It is also important to note that a some similarities across the board. I do stress at this payout may need to cover you for more than one set of point that not all insurers have the same policies and hearing aids if the insurer only pays a one-off amount you should consult your workplace insurer for more or if your hearing does not significantly change over a information. long period of time.
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Call 1300 CLARITY (1300 252 7489) or 4779 1566 now for your free, no obligation consultation.
wellbeing BROOKE PESCUD-FLETCHER | FRONT OFFICE COORDINATOR | CASEY DENTISTS
YOUR MOUTH IS THE GATEWAY TO YOUR BODY Want to ensure your health’s on track this year? Start with your teeth.
“ONE IN FOUR ADULTS LOSE THEIR TEETH TO PERIODONTAL OR GUM DISEASE, IF LEFT UNTREATED.”
A quarter of the year has passed and most of us would be well on our way to tackling our New Year’s resolutions. Some of us, on the other hand, may well have given up. Well, in fact, it’s not too late to get cracking. Now’s the time to get back on track and reach your goals. Did you decide to get fit and healthy in 2013 or start a new hobby? If you’re wanting to improve your health, have you thought about sorting out your oral health first? A comprehensive oral examination can ensure everything is okay in your mouth – after all, it’s the gateway to the rest of your body. Was your last visit to the dentist a quick check and clean? If so, this may not be a thorough enough visit to make sure every part of your oral health is going well.
also be included, as well as digital photographs and plaster teeth models. This ensures all the information gathered can be used for complete diagnosis and treatment planning in order to maintain your teeth for life.
As well as a comprehensive oral examination, a comprehensive hygiene appointment is also highly important. For a new patient to a practice, a dental hygienist will go over your medical and dental history, discuss the current oral care you conduct at home, educate you on current dental care for the prevention of gum disease, provide a complimentary blood pressure screening, conduct a saliva pH test, and work on the removal of plaque, calculus and stain build-up. The A comprehensive oral examination includes looking into hygienist then may design a homecare plan based on your medical and dental history – past and present – and your lifestyle. On completion of your appointment, a identifying any conditions, allergies or medications that fluoride mouth rinse will help strengthen and may affect your dental health. Your dentist will address re-mineralise your tooth enamel. your concerns before starting the dental examination. The next step is updating your digital films, which show Continuing care is the most important aspect of in between your teeth and underneath existing dental maintaining your teeth. With regular six-monthly treatments. These examine every tooth surface including preventative care appointments, your dentist and the health of your gums and jaw bone, how your teeth hygienist can detect any concerns at an early stage. Thus, function together, and their appearance. you can be certain your oral health is being taken care of and feel comfortable knowing you have a healthy What most people don’t realise is that there may be an mouth. Call today to make an appointment with your underlying gum problem that must get treated as soon dental professional to get your oral health in order. as possible or it could affect the longevity of your teeth. One in four adults lose their teeth to periodontal or gum disease, if left untreated. An oral cancer examination will
© DUO 2013
in casey asks you to snuggle
See our new Dentist Dr Darshan and receive an exam, scale, clean & polish for only $199 Health Fund Rebates Apply
DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au 65
promotion
SUZANNE JARSCHKE I OWNER I WELLSPRING CHIROPRACTIC
WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING… Wake refreshed from utilising correct postural alignment.
“THERE ARE FIVE FACETS TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS – EACH ONE LINKED TO THE OTHER.”
At Wellspring Chiropractic, clients complete a thorough health questionnaire. In addition to their past and present health history, their current state of wellness is assessed. The practice believes that there are five facets to health and wellness – each one linked to the other and not able to fully function on their own. These include proper nutrition, quality sleep, daily exercise, thinking positively, and having a clear and fully functioning nervous system. The practice takes inventory of its clients’ sleep habits and has found many sleep incorrectly on mattresses that are too old and unsupportive. The position of your spine while you slumber is critical to your health. When abnormal stress is placed on your spine, tension may be caused in adjoining ligaments and muscles. Sleep allows your body to rejuvenate – both physically and mentally – and ensures you wake refreshed to make the most of your day. The most common questions the practice is asked by clients in regards to purchasing a new mattress is: “Where do I begin, and what type should I get?” The Chiropractors’ Association of Australia (CAA) has long recognised the important relationship between your spine, your mattress and your health. Sleepmaker, in conjunction
with the CAA, has developed an exclusive range of mattresses for Sleepy’s, designed for correct postural alignment and relation of the spinal muscles. Sleep is a vital biological function. It is essential for physical and emotional wellness. No matter your age, limited sleep can affect every aspect of your lifestyle, from home to work to personal relationships. Chiropractic care is based on the fact that the human body is self-regulating and self-healing. The chiropractic approach to better health is to locate and remove interferences to the nervous system that may inhibit achieving an overall state of wellbeing. By improving the nervous system function, chiropractic care may have a positive effect on other areas of your health and wellbeing not normally thought of as back problems, such as sleep disorders. Musculoskeletal conditions, including back pain, neck pain and arthritis, can adversely affect sleep quality. Through proven, effective care for patients with musculoskeletal problems, chiropractors can help get you straight to sleep and improve your quality of life. Please visit us at wellspringchiropractic.com.au or call 4779 1604 for more information.
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wellbeing ABIGAIL YOUNGSON I WELLNESS CONSULTANT I FIRST THINGS FIRST WELLNESS CENTRE
HEALTH-IFY YOUR KIDS FOR LIFE
If your child shows bad behaviour, their diet and other factors could be to blame. During a person’s lifetime, your basic genetic building blocks are exposed to biological, psychological and social experiences. Hence, a child’s behaviour can be influenced by a number of factors, starting from a young age and shaping them for adulthood. Many factors can alter or improve a child’s health and behaviour significantly. One of the most important topics that is generally overlooked is diet. The following major factors could also be underlying causes that contribute to a child’s health problems.
“DOES YOUR CHILD DISPLAY IRRITABILITY, MOOD SWINGS AND IMPULSIVE BEHAVIOUR?”
gluten, may cause stomach upsets, headaches, nausea, coughing, and more. Many food preservatives can cause breathing difficulties, skin problems and behavioural changes. Even if your child doesn’t have a life-threatening allergy, it is important to understand any intolerance can still cause discomfort and affect behaviour. CHILDHOOD OBESITY The number of overweight children has increased dramatically over the past few decades. Childhood obesity is especially troubling as overweight children often become overweight adults. This, in turn, IRON DEFICIENCY & BEHAVIOUR Iron deficiency has can affect their social lives, as well as create obesity-related well-known and widespread effects on children’s behav- economic and medical implications for them in future. iour and intellectual performance. In addition to carrying oxygen in the blood, iron transports oxygen within cells, Genetic and environmental factors play a huge role in chilwhich use it for energy metabolism. Iron is also used to dren’s lives. Children learn behaviours from their families. make neurotransmitters, related to concentration and As well as teaching children about healthy diet choices learning. A child with any of several nutrient deficiencies and providing them with nutrient-dense food, parents may be irritable, aggressive and disagreeable. can be role models. Additional problems arise from difHYPERACTIVITY Although most children display out- ferences in their growth, physical health and psychological bursts of energy naturally, children with true hyperactivity development. Children have become far more sedentary show a marked difference. Hyperactive children have – watching TV and being on computers for hours per day trouble sleeping and cannot sit still for longer than a few and with sport taking a back seat. Diet and physical activminutes. They act impulsively and have difficulty paying ity play a huge role in explaining why children are heavier attention, which can interfere with their social develop- today than they were 30 years ago. So ask yourself… does ment and academic progress. Children with inattentive, your child display irritability, mood swings and impulsive impulsive behaviour can benefit from reducing sugar behaviour? Does your child have difficulty concentrating intake and food additives, along with being kept busy and at school or get that winter cold every year? Diet is cruin a good routine. Omega-3 has also been proven to assist cial for their development and general wellbeing. Growth with concentration in children. directly reflects nutrient intake and is an important paramFOOD ALLERGY & INTOLERANCE Food allergy is fre- eter in assessing the nutritional status of a child. If you quently blamed for physical and behavioural abnormalities think your child’s health and behaviour could be improved, in children. Food intolerances, such as that of lactose and seek advice from a health professional.
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DUO MAGAZINE APRIL 2013 duomagazine.com.au 67
twins
LIFE IMITATING LIFE
THEY HAVE RIDDEN EACH OTHER’S HIGHS, EXPERIENCED EACH OTHER’S PAIN (LITERALLY), AND THEIR LIVES HAVE MOVED IN MYSTERIOUSLY SIMILAR DIRECTIONS. KNOWN AS THE BEASLEY TWINS IN THEIR FORMATIVE YEARS; THESE SISTERS REVEAL WHAT IT’S LIKE TO HAVE A PERMANENT BETTER HALF. WORDS CARLY LUBICZ PHOTOGRAPHY ANDREW RANKIN
TAKE a quick look and you may do a double-take – while Dennise Barbagallo and Debra Webb aren’t identical twins; that doesn’t stop people from mistaking them every day. This sometimes awkward issue isn’t helped by the fact that they shared the same workplace until recently. “Deb retired last week, but we’d always do different shifts – if I wasn’t there, Deb was there,” Dennise says who owns Kalynda Parade’s KC Conveniences with her eldest son. “So, basically, the customers thought I was there the whole time. Even though we don’t look identical together, when we’re apart, a lot of people still can’t tell the difference.” Deb adds: “They even had to put name tags on us in hospital and Mum left them on for a month until she could tell us apart (laughs).” The sisters, who were born and raised in Townsville and are part of a long genetic line of twins, are exceptionally close, saying that while they’ve certainly had some rip snorters of fights; it only takes five minutes for one of them to break the silence with a casual, “So, do you want a smoke?”. Like many twins, they report sharing a special sense of awareness about when the other one’s in trouble or experiencing pain. “When her knee’s playing up, my knee’s playing up, so I blame Deb for it,” Dennise says, referring to her sister’s motorbike accident that saw a bolt inserted into the joint. “It’s an overall feeling as well: I’ll be doing something and think, ‘I need to ring Deb’ and there’ll be no reason to call her, but I will and something’s just happened; like when she went into labour or Deb’s husband had a heart attack.” However, perhaps the most uncanny aspect the duo shares is the synchronicity of their lives, with each event ultimately being experienced by the other a couple of years later. “What gets me is that what happens to Dennise eventually happens to me and vice versa,” Deb tells. “I had cancer first, and then Dennise had cancer, Dennise got divorced then I got divorced, we both remarried, we both have three children – two boys and a girl – and both have twin sets of grandkids – a boy and a girl.” The only thing they don’t seem to follow suit on is their weight: “If she loses weight, I’ll put it on,” Dennise says. “If my pants are getting tight, I know why!”
Debra and Dennise were dressed by Viva,Stanley Street 4721 1288. Debra wears Joseph Ribkoff Piarr Dennise wears Joseph Ribkoff Robe Pour Dame Dress Silver Jewellery by Silver Shop Stockland
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While the newly-retired Deb and her husband Mark prepare to head off to Newman in northern WA to spend time with their daughter, Dennise will stay at Kalynda Chase to man the shop. But they know they’ll only ever be a phone call away, and if something happens, the other will be the first to know. “It’s great knowing there’s always someone there for you – like back-up,” Deb says. While Denise will miss her sister she says she won’t be far behind: “I’ll retire in a couple of years and do the same thing Deb’s doing (laughs).” And why break the habit of a lifetime?
twins
“WHAT HAPPENS TO DENNISE EVENTUALLY HAPPENS TO ME AND VICE VERSA” DEBRA WEBB
Debra Webb (left) and Dennise Barbagallo
twins health
“I JUST TURN IT AROUND AND SAY, ‘I’M HAPPY IT’S ME, BECAUSE IT REALLY IS DOUBLE THE JOY’.” TOWNSVILLE MUM OF TWINS CAMILLA JORGENSEN
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health twins
DOUBLE VISION
INFERTILITY TREATMENTS AND WOMEN HAVING CHILDREN LATER IN LIFE HAVE LED TO ALMOST DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF TWINS BEING BORN. WORDS CARLA CARUSO PHOTOGRAPH OKSANA KUZMINA (SHUTTERSTOCK)
IF you think you’ve been seeing double lately, you’re not wrong. The number of twins being born is on the rise. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 977 twins were born in Queensland in 2011 compared to 701 in 2001. The figures reflect a national upward trend, with 36 per cent more multiple births Oz-wide in 2011 (including triplets and those of higher order) compared to that in 1991. Much of the surge can be linked to the success of infertility treatments, though not all. Women in general are also waiting until they’re older to have bubs and studies have found hormonal changes in those aged over 35 increase the chance of multiple births. Ali Mountifield, the communications director of the Australian Multiple Birth Association, says the twin birth rate is expected to level out in coming years, though – especially in terms of infertility treatments. “They’re having more of a success rate with implanting one embryo… so I’d say there’d be less of a focus on IVF as the reason for the rise [in future],” Ali says. “Australia and New Zealand are actually leading in that.” Having twins, of course, presents more risks. Bubs born as the result of a multiple birth are more likely to have a low birth weight and short gestation. They also have an increased risk of illness, mortality and longer periods of hospitalisation, according to Australian Social Trends, 2007. Still, it can also be double the joy, according to Ali. “I go with the positives that having multiples give you. I’ve got my family in one go, so I’ve saved 18 months of pregnancy. They’re all in the same routine – the same class at school, the same swimming lesson times… Yes, you get tired and it’s hard work, but, wow, the joys and pleasure they give you is so rewarding.” Camilla Jorgensen and Milo Gaffney, who run Townsville-based food manufacturer The Outback Pie Co., have 18-month-old twins, Cooper and Emilia – conceived naturally. The pair also have a three-year-old daughter, Maya. Camilla’s double pram certainly gets a lot of attention on the street. “Every day I go out, I’m stopped at least two or three times. A lot of people are really interested in twins – I’m not sure what it is! But it’s actually nice that people feel comfortable and want to approach you about it.” The downside, however, is when some utter the dreaded ‘double trouble’ term. “There’s a bit of a negative association with it, but I just turn it around and say, ‘I’m happy it’s me, because it really is double the joy’,” Camilla enthuses. “Of course, it might take an extra five to 10 minutes changing two nappies, feeding two babies and cleaning up after two, but whether you have one or two, you still have to do all those things.”
And the bond her twins share – though both very distinct in personality – is unbelievably touching, says Camilla. “They’re really engaging a lot with each other and I can see they’ll become really good mates. They chase each other around and play peekaboo. They’ve just started day-care two days a week and it’s comforting knowing they’ve got each other there, too.” Some twins are “amazingly connected”, Ali agrees. “Insight on SBS did a program a few years ago and on it were these two married couples – the guys were twins and the girls were twins. They found it easier to marry someone who was a twin as they had that same bond. The couples lived in houses next door to each other, they took the fence down in between, and they even shared a car!” Some twins have made their fortunes, as well, out of having a mirrorimage, like TV stars-turned-designers Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and singers Joel and Benji Madden. Twins have also featured widely onscreen from 80s flick Twins, featuring the unlikely pairing of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito, to TV crime drama Ringer, in which Sarah Michelle Gellar played both a good and evil twin. And the fact is, even though twins are more common than they once were, you’re still pretty unique if you’re born as part of a pair – hence, the fascination continues. DUO Magazine contributor Carla Caruso is a first-time mum-to-be, expecting twins in August. For local support, visit the Townsville and District Multiple Birth Association at www.townsvillemultiples.com.au.
TOP 10 THINGS TWINS HATE TO HEAR 1. If I pinch you, does your twin feel it? 2. I like you better than your twin. 3. Are you twins? 4. Which one is older? 5. I wish I had a twin. 6. Can you read each other’s mind? 7. Do you do everything together? 8. I thought you were a package deal. 9. Which one are you? 10. What is it like to be a twin? Source: multiples.about.com
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family
EWEN JONES MP I FEDERAL MEMBER FOR HERBERT
THE PAIN OF FEELING HELPLESS
“HE TOLD ME TO ENSURE I DID NOT WEAR MY WEDDING RING IN THERE.”
There are few places on Earth where a man is more useless than at the birth of a child. I will always remember a mate of mine telling me about the traps for first time dads. He told me to ensure I did not wear my wedding ring in there. You see, my mate was as rough as they come. Back in the days when we could still smoke in the office, he would have a B&H if he felt like a smoke, and if he didn’t he would have a Winfield or a Drum. His wife was the nicest person in the world and she was as calm as he was rough. During the birth, Mike was at the top of the bed holding her hand. She was wracked with a particularly strong contraction, at which point she squeezed his hand on which he was wearing his wedding band. He slapped her hand away and exclaimed “Bloody hell, love. That hurt!” He then told me that his wife turned her head, Exorcist style and rasped “I’m hurting you? I’m hurting you!?” She then grabbed a handful of hair and dragged him down toward the business end and screamed at him “look at what hurts!!”. He was pretty quiet after that. While not the parent of the new road across Blakey’s Crossing, I do feel a certain helplessness here. I was very proud to get the new road as an election commitment. As a community, we were able to agitate enough to get a commitment from the new State Government to get it
done. The council has rolled out the soil testers and the contractors are all looking on. Waiting to see the birth from the top of the bed, and I feel about as useful. It is just that every time it rains I get calls from radio types, local contractors, truck drivers, taxi drivers, and workers stuck on Woolcock Street trying to grab me by the hair and drag me down to the business end and hold my head there to see what pain they are in. It will be fixed but will I have any hair left? A place where a man may be of some use is in the naming of the child. This, though, can be fraught with danger, especially so with the first child. My Dad’s theory is rock solid here. He says take the name you are thinking of using, out into the back yard and yell it out as loud as you can three times. That is what you will be doing for the first 12 years of that child’s life. Try doing it with Zhivago or Epiny-Rae-Blossom and you will know why people call their children Bill and Emma. My last effort to extract funding from this Federal Government to finally fix Blakey’s Crossing came at a meeting between me and Regional Australia Minister Simon Crean. “Now, I cannot categorically commit to this, but how does ‘Simon Crean Crossing’ sound to you?,” I asked. He was very amused but unmoved. I tried. Oh, the pain…
NICOLE PIEROTTI I CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST I BABYSMILES
SMART KIDS. WHAT DO WE DO FOR THEM?
“GIFTED CHILDREN ARE GIFTED ALL THE TIME. JUST ASK THEIR PARENTS.”
“School is boring!” How often have I heard these words from kids or parents talking about how their kids are going at school. Nothing is worse than having to sit for hours, days, months on end listening to information we already know. Yet for kids, who are highly intelligent – gifted kids – this is exactly how the vast majority of their time is spent at school. If you are a parent of a gifted or ‘smart’ kid then you know exactly how frustrating this can be for your child. One really interesting fact is that the more we educate young parents about talking to, getting great sleep, playing with their babies, their toddlers, their children – add in good genetics and we have lots of ‘smart’ kids that are way ahead of the curriculum at school when they start. Usually two years ahead. But then what does our education system, public or private then ‘do’ for them? Not much. Not very much at all. Very few schools have self contained programs. If we are lucky they may have a pull out / enrichment program for a few hours a week. But what about the rest of the time? Gifted children are gifted ALL the time. Just ask their parents. They don’t stop being gifted when they go back to their classroom or when they go home. This is who they are, it’s not something that they turn on or off. So if you are a parent of a gifted child, what do you do? Relying on a school that has an enrichment program
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should not be your one and only. As gifted kids need way more than our current education system offers, it constantly amazes me the number of gifted kids that are around us everyday and their awesome potential is just sitting there. Our schools should be identifying these kids and offering them the stimulating learning that they thrive on. Instead they sit there and just listen to what they already know, year after year. If you’re lucky and a teacher does identify your child as ‘smart’ then usually they add in more of the same work to keep them busy. With gifted kids there lies the first problem – it’s not more work that your child needs, it’s ‘different, more interesting, more detailed work’. Teachers need to be trained in how to ‘differentiate the curriculum’. You as a parent need to advocate for that more interesting work, not just more work. Gifted kids love opportunities for challenging, creative thinking. As a parent be sure to keep the books up to them, always have new material for your child to read. Get them involved in other activities outside of school that are creative and challenging, music, drama, art, chess. During school time be sure to approach the teacher if your child starts the ‘schools boring’ and see what type of extension and detailed learning they can do, not more worksheets of the same.
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CORPORATE UPFRONT NEWS & EVENTS TOWNSVILLE JEWELLER RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL HONOUR
ANOTHER SAFE ARRIVAL
On Tuesday 5 March Townsville’s local jewellers Martyn Brown and Martin Linning from Jewellery by Design (JBD) took to the world stage in Hong Kong, and created Australian history by winning one of the highest of honours at the International Jewellery Excellence Awards 2013. “Undulation” won them the Craftsmanship Award, officially granting them the position of being one of the best jewellers for craftsmanship in the world.
THE NEW TICKET TO EVENTS SUCCESS
The launch of TownsvilleTickets.com. au brings a dedicated online event ticketing service that Townsville event planners can use to promote the region and sell tickets to their events. The new ticketing website has been built to fill a gap in the market for event organisers, many of whom don’t have an online solution to selling tickets to their events. Contact Kristen Goldup 0448 466 669
Congratulations to Second to None Nutrition’s Michael Sloggett and fiancée Tegan on the safe arrival of baby daughter Emelia on Monday 18 March.
BIGGEST MORNING TEA
This May 23, Cancer Council is asking all Queenslanders to whip the candles out and don party hats to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea – to help beat cancer. Visit www.biggestmorningtea. com.au, phone 1300 65 65 85 or text ‘HOST’ to 0400 867 867 to receive your Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea host kit today.
TOWNSVILLE DIVES IN FOR THE MS CAUSE
Swimming for 12 hours straight is what teams of Townsville locals will tackle as part of a great fundraising initiative benefiting Queenslanders with multiple sclerosis. Supported by the Kirwan Business Lions Club in conjunction with MS Queensland, The MS Swimathon is one of Queensland’s fastest-growing
charity events and it’s coming to Townsville for the second time on Saturday 27 April. To get involved in the Townsville MS Swimathon or donate visit www.MSswimathon.com.au
TOWNSVILLE BOWLS OVER COMPETITION TO HOST CHAMPIONSHIP
Townsville has been chosen as the host destination for the 2013 National Tenpin Bowling Championship and Australian Masters from 5 – 26 October. Townsville Enterprise General Manager Tourism & Events, Patricia O’Callaghan, said this three week bowling carnival will attract players from every State and Territory, New Zealand and other overseas locations. “The National Bowling Championship is expected to attract approximately 1,400 people and with the event being held in October it offers a fantastic opportunity to boost visitation during our shoulder season,” Patricia said. “The economic value of this event will be in excess of $1.8 million and will also provide the Townsville Region with significant
media coverage both nationally and internationally.”
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS
The Palm Creek Folk Festival is an annual event hosted by the Townsville Folk and Acoustic Music Club in June each year. The festival is held in the lush tropical grounds of Mountain View Lake Eco Park, 40km south of Townsville. Each year volunteers are sought to assist with the running of the festival held over the Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend in June and features local performers and selected national guests with concerts, dances, workshops, acoustic jams, youth festival, art and craft workshops, and special events. The festival is entirely volunteer run with a core committee volunteering their time and expertise throughout the year to plan the festival, and then up to 100 volunteers assisting over the long weekend. Applications are open via the festival website at www.palmcreek.com.au and close 21 April 2013.
DAVID KIPPIN I CEO I TOWNSVILLE ENTERPRISE LIMITED
THE REAL VALUE OF OUR NATIONAL SPORTING TEAMS
Commiserations to the Townsville Fire on their gutsy loss against the Bendigo Spirit in their first ever WNBL Grand Final appearance. To reach the Grand Final from fourth place at the end of the regular season was a remarkable achievement and no one, except the loyal fans and the Townsville Fire community, gave them any chance. Despite their loss the team achieved against all odds which is nothing new for Townsville – we have been doing that for the past 150 years. It all started in 1986 when Mark Bragg returned to Townsville with a five year plan to have a Townsville based team in the NBL. The Townsville community, led by a group of prominent Townsville businessmen, fought against enormous odds to finally succeed in joining the League in 1993. That success led to the North Queensland Cowboys successful entry into the NRL competition in 1995, again fighting against enormous odds. Then in 2001 the Townsville Basketball Association took a very bold and courageous step to put a Townsville based team into the WNBL, again pushing against significant odds.
My point is that there is something about the psyche of the people in this community that ensures the Townsville Region continually punches above its weight and achieves extraordinary things that other regions around Australia can only wonder at. Our three national sporting teams are our most prominent and visible champions of this. Whilst it is fantastic that all of our national sporting teams have now achieved Grand Final appearances, the most important consideration is that all three teams remain viable and continue to compete in their respective competitions to fly the flag for the Townsville Region. As a collective of communities within the Townsville Region we must ensure that we continue to support our teams by being members, attend home games and provide the commercial support that these iconic teams so richly deserve. Their continued participation not only provides a significant financial benefit to our economy but displays our great city and Region across Australia and the world. They also instil great pride and a sense of wellbeing within the community and provide our young people with opportunity and very positive messages.
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promotion
PATIENT CARE COMES FIRST
THE TEAM AT CASEY DENTISTS, IN AITKENVALE, IS FOCUSED ON COMPLETE TREATMENT OF YOUR DENTAL CONCERNS AND EXCELLENT SERVICE. While he was educated in Brisbane and Melbourne, it was Townsville that principal dentist at Casey Dentists, Dr Matthew Casey, would call home. After commencing full-time private practice in Townsville in 1999, Dr Casey soon established a partnership with Dr John Pulvirenti at Pulvirenti Family Dentists. In 2007, he acquired the entire practice and established himself as one of the leading general practitioners in Townsville. “The partnership with Dr Pulvirenti gave rise to some of the most enjoyable times I’ve had in dentistry,” Dr Casey says. “Dr Pulvirenti taught me valuable lessons in managing a small business and the concept of creating a harmonious, strong work team that supports each other and has a serious amount of fun on a daily basis.” Last year Dr David Cullen joined the practice, bringing extensive general dental practice skills. He has fitted in very well, with patients enjoying his Irish accent and fast-witted humour. Dr Cullen has worked in a diverse range of clinical settings, from an orthodontic clinic in Dublin to working with Indigenous communities in Central and North Queensland to high-tech private practices. As a student he did an elective in Zimbabwe and recently completed surgical implant training in Cambodia. “My wife, Orna, and I moved from Dublin to Rockhampton in 1996,” Dr Cullen says. “We arrived in Townsville two days before the big flood of 1998 and have remained here, apart from two years in Yorkshire, England, to further our studies.” Dr Cullen says he enjoys the team-building approach at Casey Dentists and working with wonderful staff in a newly refurbished setting. “My focus is to provide quality care to my patients as if they were family members,” Dr Cullen says. “I give options to my patients so they can make their own informed decisions. I discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the options available to them.” The newest recruit at Casey Dentists, Dr Darshan Hosur, joined the team in March. “Casey Dentists has been providing a high standard of dental care to the people of Townsville for 14 years and this made me want to join their association,” Dr Hosur says. “I enjoy providing general dental services as a family dentist with an emphasis on comprehensive treatment planning. I’m passionate about continuing to train in the latest techniques and also focus on practicing pain-free dentistry.” Hailing from India and, after practicing dentistry for more than six years, Dr Hosur decided to broaden his horizons and work overseas. “I have been living in North Queensland since 2010 and I am enjoying every bit of the tropics,” Dr Hosur says. Dr Hosur has joined Casey Dentists’ hygiene department and has a special interest in children’s paediatric dentistry. “He is humble, gracious and has a compelling energy to learn. I look forward to mentoring him at the practice,” Dr Casey says.
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Dr Casey has recently completed further study in implant dentistry, sinus augmentation and block bone grafting surgeries. He looks forward to further developing his skills overseas this year. “I care for my patients and develop a strong relationship with them and their families. It’s not too often that I won’t know a patient sitting in my lounge area,” Dr Casey says. “I communicate on a basic level so my patients are fully informed of all their options, so they can make an informed decision about what treatment path they would like to take.” Dr Casey likes to spend his time outside of dentistry with his family. His children Cian (8) and Mia (6) are both heavily involved in extracurricular activities such as music, speech and drama, soccer and swimming. In his downtime, Dr Cullen is President of the NQ Irish Association, plays in a band and likes a game of soccer while Dr Hosur supports local teams like the Cowboys and Townsville Crocodiles and watches “every game of theirs”. “My future goal is to create further growth in Casey Dentists, as the dental industry has substantially changed in the last 12 months,” Dr Casey says. “People are finding it more difficult than ever to afford quality dental care and one of my goals is to continue providing a quality service but to access a greater proportion of the community by making dentistry more affordable.”
promotion Dr Matthew Casey
Dr Darshan Hosur
Dr David Cullen
“I CARE FOR MY PATIENTS AND DEVELOP A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. IT’S NOT TOO OFTEN THAT I WON’T KNOW A PATIENT SITTING IN MY LOUNGE AREA.” DR MATTHEW CASEY
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profile
Daniel, Miriam and friend catching fish for dinner. Broome.
First visit to Beagle Bay Community. 120km north of Broome. 1978.
MEDICAL MARVEL Having spent more than 20 years improving medical education, Professor Ian Wronski has lived up to the Hippocratic oath to ‘share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow’.
Professor Ian Wronski
WORDS KYLIE DAVIS Making the case for a WHO Collaboration Centre for Filariasis at JCU at joint WHO/ACTM on Filariasis control in Bali. May 1996.
Dentistry Building
Fred Hollows close colleague.
Training Aboriginal Health Workers. Kimberley. 1991.
“I WAS ALWAYS ATTRACTED BY THE SOCIAL JUSTICE SIDE OF MEDICINE AND THE FACT YOU COULD CARRY OUT AN ACTION THAT HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT.” PROFESSOR IAN WRONSKI
profile “We’ve always written our own curricu- Just when Professor Wronski thought lum and worked backwards from what we he wasn’t going to find a new Townsville wanted our graduates to be like,” Professor home in time for the family’s big move Wronski says. “Having enough clinical from Broome he saw an old ‘for sale’ sign Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences experience is essential so our medical on a block of land that looked promising. graduates have around 4200 hours. The “The house wasn’t in good shape but the lowest in Australia in medical schools is half-acre of land near Castle Hill had When you do the math, the impact 2000 and the average is around 3000. fantastic views,” Professor Wronski says. Professor Ian Wronski has had on “If people are going to work in rural areas “The scary thing was having to buy it withJCU’s Faculty of Medicine, Health and they need to have enough clinical experi- out my wife. I took pictures of everything and told her how rough the house was so Molecular Sciences is brought home. In ence to feel confident.” 1997, the new faculty had 870 students. Professor Wronski began his career in there were no nasty surprises.” Today, there are more than 4300. Aboriginal health in the Kimberley region. “I was always attracted by the social justice The Wronskis have since renovated the “We did the calculation yesterday and it side of medicine and the fact you could North Ward Queenslander they call turns out we’re now 499.9 per cent larger carry out an action that has a positive home and, ironically, it overlooks the than when we started,” says the faculty’s impact,” Professor Wronski says. building that once housed the Australian proud Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine Wronski. When one of the early founders of the (AITHM), officially opened in 1913. Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) moveJCU developed the first of the new ment in Australia asked Ian if he wanted For the last decade Professor Wronski has medical schools in Australia in 25 years to help set up an AMS he found himself spearheaded a push to open a new incarand now offers 15 health professional saying yes to three months in Broome. nation of the AITHM at JCU. It’s poetic programs, including public health, Fourteen years later he was still there and justice the first sods of soil for the project medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, had become Director of Health Services will be turned this year, 100 years on from physiotherapy, occupational therapy, for the Kimberly Aboriginal Medical the founding AITHM’s launch. “We need to harness our intellectual firepower,” speech pathology, sports science and Services Council. Professor Wronski says. “Australia has a exercise physiology, medical laboratory science, nursing and midwifery, and By the early 90s, back from two years vital role to play in the tropical world, so pharmacy. at Harvard, Professor Wronski and his bringing together a tropical institute in wife Maggie were thinking about their Australia is exactly what should happen.” “We’ve also got two World Health children’s education. “The kids were Organisation Collaboration Centres at growing older and I was a bit worried Professor Wronski’s family shares his JCU,” Professor Wronski says. “The best the education wasn’t fair enough in the passion for improving health outcomes. known is focused on neglected tropi- Kimberleys,” Professor Wronski says. Also a JCU employee, his wife Maggie is cal diseases and the second is centred “That’s when JCU made just the right offer. director of students for the medical school. around nursing and midwifery research They were looking at getting involved in His 29-year-old son Daniel is involved in and education. We have several Gates tropical medicine and I knew the north workplace health and safety and daughFoundation grants, so it’s big stuff and of Western Australia didn’t have a big ter Miriam, 25, graduated medicine in we’re very proud of it.” enough economic and population base 2011. She now works at the Townsville to be able to do what we wanted to do Hospital. “She’s just texted me saying With the demands on North Queensland’s around rural and remote tropical health. ‘I’m on call and they’ve asked me to come health system growing rapidly, the pres- “I took up the job in 1992 and came in as in – it should have been you…’” Professor sure is on to supply graduates equipped to the founding head of Public Health and Wronski smiles as he texts back a teasing: work in rural, remote and tropical areas. Tropical Medicine.” ‘Can’t. I’m wearing a white shirt!’”
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ASHLEY SCOTT | OWNER-MANAGER | BOQ FLINDERS STREET
MANAGE YOUR BUSINESS’S DEBT LET ME PAINT A COMMON SCENARIO FOR YOU...
“WHATEVER HAPPENS, DON’T JUST IGNORE THE CASHFLOW STRAIN.”
You’re a small business owner. The economy is sluggish and clients are becoming slower to pay their invoices. You start to lose certainty about your own business’s expected cashflow. You wonder which invoices will be paid and when. You start to get that sinking feeling that you too could begin to fall behind in your payments.
Whatever happens, don’t just ignore the cashflow strain because soon enough you’ll have payment reminders and demand letters. And please, don’t use high-interest money lenders.
1. REDUCE EXPENSES – particularly inventory if you have money tied up in unsold stock
This article is for general information purposes only and is not intended as financial or professional advice. The views expressed in this article are solely the views of the author. Bank of Queensland Limited ABN 32 009 656 740.
It’s also important to get in touch with your bank as soon as possible. There are a number of banking products that can help bridge cashflow gaps so it’s worth discussing your options with A slowing economy often has a flow-on effect. When one busi- your bank manager ahead of time. ness begins falling behind in their invoices, every business they owe money also bears the brunt of it. Remember it’s in everyone’s best interest to find a solution that works so the more your bank understands about your situation So what should you do if your business’s income is becoming the easier it is to come up with a repayment plan that works. unpredictable and this is affecting your ability to pay your bills? Australian Bankers’ Association and CPA Australia have some great tips:
2. OUTSOURCE DEBT – if you feel uncomfortable chasing customers you might consider selling your debt through invoice discounting 3. MAKE YOUR MONEY WORK FOR YOU – put idle cash you’ve set aside for GST provisions or payroll tax into a business offset facility or high-interest account 4. CONSIDER ORGANISING AN OVERDRAFT WITH YOUR BANK 5. LOOK AT PAYMENT PLAN OPTIONS – extend the loan term, change your repayment schedule, pay interest only for a period or consider some asset liquidation.
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visual arts
ARTICULATE
DUO MAGAZINE IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH PERC TUCKER REGIONAL GALLERY AND SHANE FITZGERALD, MANAGER GALLERY SERVICES, TOWNSVILLE CITY COUNCIL, IN A SERIES THAT DISCUSSES CURRENT TRENDS, MUSINGS AND INSIGHTS INTO CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ARTS.
TOWNSVILLE: {LIFE}STYLE AND SUBSTANCE TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND is renowned for its idyllic climate, landscape and relaxed lifestyle. The region is widely acknowledged as a place where people of all ages can enjoy the outdoors, and most importantly each other, away from the hectic pace that is intrinsically linked to life in metropolitan centres. What often goes unmentioned though is the vibrant arts community and the cultural amenities and activities that define our region’s lifestyle – a lifestyle of substance. Most noticeably there is a persisting notion – both locally and in the national consciousness – that to view works by accomplished artists, one needs to look away from the regions to the metropolitan centres, particularly those dotting the eastern seaboard; Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. But if our region attracts people because of the lifestyle it offers, why would artists be any exception? In fact, a number are currently operating in Townsville and the wider north Queensland region that provide clear evidence that established, gifted and incredibly dedicated artists have originated or chosen to base themselves from north Queensland for its lifestyle, and continue to enjoy national recognition for their artistic exploits; artists such as Tate Adams, Ray Crooke, Tom Risley, Brian Robinson, Arone Meeks, Ron McBurnie, Anneke Silver and Claudine Marzik. Tate Adams is widely acknowledged for his services to printmaking, culminating in an Order of Australia, but in the 1990s he sought out his own ‘seachange’ by moving to Townsville – a fruitful move for a seafood lover. This didn’t have the detrimental affect many would expect on the nation’s acknowledgment of his work and in late 2011 the artist was honoured at RMIT with an exhibition that covered his career “from early intricate woodblock drawings to his most recent gestural works in gouache” inspired by the palms and pandanus scattered throughout Townsville.
Tom RISLEY Family crest with steam irons 2006 Mixed media 80 x 80 x 16cm
Tate ADAMS Palm landscape III 1996 Wood-engraving 26.9 x 28cm Gift of the artist 2002 City of Townsville Art Collection
Ron McBurnie has forged a successful printmaking career from Townsville, balancing his time between his own practice, national and international residencies, and passing on his knowledge to students at JCU. His whimsical works often reference suburban life in Townsville, yet their wide popularity saw them tour to the eastern seaboard in the exhibition Metal As Anything. And of course Tom Risley, who based himself from the remote NQ town of Herberton until his death in 2010. The regard with which Risley was held positioned him as a long standing leader for contemporary artists based in north Queensland. His works were inspired by the grand landscapes of the Cape York Peninsula, and his mammoth assemblages drew directly from the items he collected on his numerous beachcombing adventures – interestingly it is these very elements of his practice that would make it impossible to operate out of a metropolitan centre with the same ease or degree of success. The quality of artists operating in our own backyard cannot be understated – what is of prime importance is that we – the Townsville community – recognise and celebrate them. By doing so we help to position all regional artists as equal to their metropolitan counterparts, encourage the next generation of emerging artists to remain here and reach a similar level of accomplishment, value the works that reference our own lifestyle, and in so doing enrich our arts and cultural sector for years to come.
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interview
5 MINUTES WITH... TOWNSVILLE IS BLESSED WITH SO MANY TALENTED AND INTERESTING PEOPLE THAT WE’VE DECIDED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO FOUR LOCAL CHARACTERS EACH MONTH. IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE YOU THINK SHOULD BE FEATURED JUST SEND AN EMAIL TO EDITOR@DUOMAGAZINE.COM.AU
“MY WIFE ACCUSED ME OF NOT BEING ABLE TO READ A BOOK FROM FRONT TO BACK. BUT I PROVED HER WRONG.” PETER MACCANN
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KRISTEN GOLDUP DIRECTOR OF TOWNSVILLETICKETS.COM.AU AKA: Aunty Kee Kee Most treasured item: My white opal wedding ring. I never wanted a diamond ring. I have always loved vintage jewellery and I love how my ring feels alive with the colours always changing and firing. You in three words: Creative, authentic, analytical. Why you get out of bed: There is always something new and enjoyable to experience each day. Most memorable moment: Arriving by helicopter at my wedding to the surprise of my guests. We had a 5 acre property in Airlie Beach which had been slashed for the wedding ceremony, so when the chopper landed, we stepped out amongst a haze of floating straw. What you love about where you live: Riding my push bike along the Ross River. You always meant to: Live in France for a year, spending the first 6 months in Paris becoming euro chic and the last 6 months in the country soaking up the scenery and learning to cook French cuisine. You drive a: Black Honda CRV Where are you from: The Whitsundays Best dish: I fancy myself as a Risotto queen. You wish… There was a cure for Crohn’s Disease. I’m one of a 1,000 people in NQ diagnosed with an Inflammatory Bowel Disease. We have two good biological drugs that help treat it but no cure on the horizon at this time. Your biggest inspiration: Everyday people who find their inner strength to overcome adversity. You’d change this about yourself: That I could laugh as much as my three year old niece Elise... when did life stop becoming so funny? Your must-have gadget: My iPhone Calendar as I am always running here, there and everywhere. The last book you read: Fishing for Tigers – 30 year old woman starts a new life in Hanoi, where she embarks on an affair with her friend’s son. Your mantra: You create the world you live in. As a child, what did you think you’d think you’d be?: I wanted to be a window dresser for Myer. Parting words: Congratulations to the Townsville Fire for making your own history.
interview
DAVID TOWNSEND
PETER MCCANN
JANELLE FLEMMING
PRINCIPAL + OWNER DAVID TOWNSEND DESIGNS
GENERAL MANAGER CARMICHAEL MOTORS MERCEDES-BENZ
AKA: Dangerous to my mates, DT to colleagues and Uncle Dave to my friends kids. Most treasured item: My friends know they aren’t an item. But the most important, my grandfather’s cricket medals from early 1900’s, my bottle of LOUIS XIII for the memories it ignites from my early 20’s. You in three words: Quiet, Analytical, Perfectionist Why you get out of bed: Different every day–romantic (to see your girlfriend sleeping), work (after 21 years I still enjoy it), social (have coffee with friends). Most memorable moment: There has been so many over the years, I’ve been lucky, so many great times with friends. Funniest one… to those in the know, picking the wrong resort for a Christmas holiday. You can stop laughing now. What you love about where you live: Would have to say winter mornings and walking the Strand in the afternoon, pretty fantastic place. You always meant to: That wife children thing. One day :-) Where are you from: Mount Isa Best dish: Lamb Genevieve or something like that, Viva at Pasini’s made it. Was fantastic with her garlic prawns. You wish… I do and a lot of the times it happens! Go figure. Your biggest inspiration: My friends and all those people who just get in and do it, no spin, no big noting, just do it, no matter what’s been thrown at them. You’d change this about yourself: Head hurts just thinking about the forms you would have to fill out. I’m sure if you spoke to one of my ex-partners you would get a heap of suggestions–have learnt a lot of them over the years. Thank you ladies. Your must-have gadget: My fountain pen, a sketch pad, and something to play music. As a child, what did you think you’d be?: Building bridges and dams in the jungle. Think you have to blame Phantom comics. Parting words: It’s all good. Keep smiling. How do you get the patent for a carbon fibre coffee cup holder for push bikes? I see a market there.
AKA: Macca, Dad, Super-husband! Most treasured item: My girls Claire and Julia, they drive me insane, they’ve given me a lot more grey hair but I wouldn’t have it any other way. And my ‘Man Bag’ (Indiana Jones wears one!). You in three words: Funny, Committed, Spontaneous. Why you get out of bed: I love my job, it drives me most days. And, my 8 year old is up at 5.30am each day anyway. Most memorable event: Meeting my wife and the births of my two girls. What you love about where you live: I live in suburbia, it is quiet and the kids run free. You always meant to: Work overseas. Never say never! You drive a: Mercedes-Benz ML 250 Where are you from: Born local and stayed local! Best dish: Peking Duck when dining out, Lamb Tandoori pizza at home. You wish… We had a new government in power. You’d change this about yourself: My massive eyebrows, some days I look like Agro! Ideal dinner guests: Michael Schumacher cause he’s a legend, Angelina Jolie because gorgeous and my wife to keep me under control. Your must-have gadget: My petrol leaf blower. After borrowing my neighbours for 18 months I finally bought my own! Now I use it 3-4 times a week!!! The neighbours love the noise! The last book you read: The Hunger Games. It’s the first book I read too! My wife accused me of not being able to read a book from front to back. But I proved her wrong. Your mantra: Live everyday as if it’s your last. As a child, what did you think you’d be?: I thought I would be doing something in business but I was unsure what. Parting words: Live your life for everyday and for your family everyday. No matter what you do in your life, you must support and be there for your family.
DIRECTOR BUNGALOW BAY KOALA VILLAGE MAGNETIC ISLAND + MANAGER BILLABONG SANCTUARY AKA: Mum, Hey Hun…… Most treasured item: Music, I think it can get you through anything life throws at you. You in three words: Passionate, Hardworking, Down to earth. Sorry that was five! Why you get out of bed: I wake up every morning to the sun shining through an amazing old tamarind tree. I feel blessed to see the beauty in that, and my two children snuggling into bed for a cuddle with anticipation of the day ahead. Most memorable event: Definitely giving birth… not something any women would forget! What you love about where you live: We live on 25 acres just 20 minutes from the city but it’s like being in the middle of the country. My children are growing up rearing orphaned native animals and interacting with nature. With Magnetic Island right on our door step (love the new Port Road). You always meant to: Learn to play the guitar and actually get into a barrel on a surfboard standing instead of on a body board. You drive a: Subaru TriBeCa around town and a Moke on the Island. Where are you from: Born in Hay NSW, grew up in Caves Beach NSW. Best dish: Fish straight from the hook and into the pan with rice and a little soy sauce on sunset with a glass of bubbles. You wish… A cure for cancer. Sustainable development so as not to endanger our native species. Your mentor: My husband. You’d change this about yourself: The ageing process and not to be such a workaholic (maybe they go hand in hand?). Ideal dinner guests: My kitchen rocks and would love to have Peter Evans and Manu over. We’d cook something from Peter’s latest cook book (highly recommend it). Would love to see what score we would get. Your must-have gadget: New LCD torch for night spotting critters is so much more fun! Your mantra: It’s all good! As a child, what did you think you’d be?: Initially I always thought I would be a teacher (I was never sure of what kind in the long term). Parting words: Don’t talk about it, Just Do It! (I’m learning the guitar).
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INTRO
WELCOME TO F!FO – THE MAGAZINE FOR MINERS AND MINERS’ FAMILIES When we talk about precious resources, this magazine is the one you truly need. Working in the mining industry comes with its own unique lifestyle choices and challenges. Hence, the need for a glossy just like this, targeted at you: miners and miners’ families. Welcome! We’ve unearthed an abundant wealth of information to suit you and your crew to a tee. In this very first, brand spanking new issue of F!FO, we look at relevant issues for the sector such as the mining family conundrum: FIFO, DIDO or move to a mining town? As well, we touch on sensitive topics like how to ease the pain of being apart as a family for special events, and fight back at those who liken the FIFO lifestyle to “cancer”, looking instead at the positives for families. This includes improving communication skills and forcing you to work together as a team. Plus, mining wives reveal how to keep the sex drive alive when doing the long distance thing – whew, it’s getting hot in here! There’s also info on career planning, deluxe accommodation options, and ways to blow away the cobwebs on the weekend in style – from luxury cars to motorbikes. Hope you enjoy the issue. It’s especially for you. Rock on!
FIFO MAGAZINE 87
COVER STORY Providing a relaxed tropical lifestyle, complemented by all your metropolitan city comforts, no other Australian city boasts the resilience, diversity, lifestyle and economic potential that Townsville enjoys.
Townsville Lifestyle – Flying Above the Pack With a population approaching 200,000, Townsville offers a dynamic lifestyle coupled with strong economic prosperity. Townsville is a thriving precinct with access to a variety of dining outlets, unique retailing, spectacular events and entertainment, world class educational facilities, leading edge health care, affordable housing and a wide range of outdoor recreation options. With over 300 days of sunshine each year, the Townsville lifestyle is second to none. Recent congestion in the Brisbane Airport has caused mining companies to seek alternative fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) bases to eliminate delays for employees travelling to and from mine sites and home to their families. Townsville Enterprise, in conjunction with Townsville City Council, Townsville Airport and Townsville Chamber of Commerce, has identified Townsville’s potential to relieve this congestion by relocating Brisbane based fly-in, fly-out workers and their families to the Townsville North Queensland Region.
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Townsville Enterprise CEO, David Kippin, said Townsville provides the perfect alternative for mine employees and their families looking for a relaxed tropical lifestyle with the benefits of a big city. “The convenient location of the Townsville Airport to the city centre provides FIFO workers with many of the metropolitan city benefits they are accustomed to without the associated commotion and congestion. By decreasing travel time, mine employees will be able to return home to their families sooner as well as increase their productivity at the mine site and eliminate unnecessary expenses,” David said. “Not only is there enormous benefit for mining companies choosing Townsville to base their employees, but the economic and development benefits for the city would be significant. Townsville is well positioned to accommodate an abundance of FIFO workers and their families with ample and affordable housing options within close proximity to the city centre.”
COVER STORY
To ensure North Queensland remains in the national and international spotlight Townsville prides itself on its diversity with unique natural attractions including the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, Magnetic Island, pristine beaches, wetlands, wet tropics rainforest and the historic outback, all within a 100km radius of Townsville. Recognised as the events hub of North Queensland, Townsville is home to three national sporting teams, the North Queensland Cowboys (NRL), the Townsville Fire (WNBL) and the Townsville Crocodiles (NBL) and is the latest city to host a national V8 Supercars race festival. The Region’s residents also have access to a wonderfully rich and diverse program of cultural events including the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Groovin the Moo, Greek Fest, Ingham Australian-Italian Festival, Ten Days in the Towers and Tastes of the Burdekin to name just a few.
In early 2013 Townsville Enterprise released its ‘Make the Move to Townsville’ marketing collateral aimed at encouraging potential residents to the Townsville North Queensland Region. The collateral includes an interactive website, providing an online resource for individuals looking to relocate to the Region. The website includes a job search, interactive map, events calendar and the lifestyle benefits Townsville and its surrounds offer. “As daunting and overwhelming as moving to another city can be, the lifestyle attributes, services and facilities Townsville can offer families makes the decision an easy one,” David said. “Townsville Enterprise will be driving this project and will be engaging with mining companies to ensure the city is considered as a potential base for employees and their families.” Visit www.movetotownsville.com.au to make your decision today.
FIFO MAGAZINE 89
DEPARTURE GATE
Name: Ashley Schader Job: Cleaner Suburb: Rosslea Marital Status: Partner Children: No What do you like about the FIFO lifestyle? The 7 days I get off! How do you spend your days off? Spend time with my partner and do as little as possible. How long have you been doing FIFO? 5 years Name: Chris Riley Job: Jumbo Operator Suburb: Charters Towers Marital Status: Single Children: No What do you like about the FIFO lifestyle? The days off! How do you spend your days off? Go out of town. How long have you been doing FIFO? 11 years
Name: Kevin Blair-Hickman Job: Electrician Suburb: Kirwan Marital Status: Married Children: 2 kids What do you like about the FIFO lifestyle? Going back home to my kids. How do you spend your days off? Spend time with my family. How long have you been doing FIFO? 12 years
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Name: Christian Manning Job: Contractor Suburb: Kirwan Marital Status: Defacto Children: 3 kids What do you like about the FIFO lifestyle? The pay. How do you spend your days off? Muck around with the kids. How long have you been doing FIFO? 3 years.
Name: Paul Kennedy Job: Contractor Suburb: Railway Estate Marital Status: Single Children: No What do you like about the FIFO lifestyle? The money! How do you spend your days off? Relax and go fishing! How long have you been doing FIFO? 9 years
Name: Dale Hampton Job: Underground Supervisor Suburb: Cairns Marital Status: Single Children: No What do you like about the FIFO lifestyle? The even time roster. How do you spend your days off? Renovating the house and relaxing. How long have you been doing FIFO? 14 years Name: Mark Scott Job: Underground Supervisor Suburb: West End Marital Status: Defacto Children: 4 kids What do you like about the FIFO lifestyle? The even roster. How do you spend your days off? Chasing the kids around and renovating. How long have you been doing FIFO? 12 years
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INTERVIEW
92 FIFO MAGAZINE
Born in Massachusetts, Mark Lizzotte (Diesel) has blues music in his veins. Relaxing at home, where he was one of seven kids, meant listening to the likes of Muddy Waters and Otis Redding. “No matter what was happening in my world, going up to the house meant you were going to listen to jazz and blues,” Diesel says. “That music is timeless. There are still new artists coming out who are blues-based, like myself. “To stand in the crowd at Big Day Out and watch everyone singing along to Alabama Shakes brought a tear to my eye. It’s fantastic to see this music I’ve always loved embraced.” While Diesel is known for his distinct guitar playing, the cello was the first instrument he picked up as a teenager. “We’d just moved back to America from Australia and there was a music program at the school, but I hadn’t settled on any instrument yet,” he says. “My sister was going to the Victoria College of the Arts and sharing a room with someone who was studying cello. She sent me a recording of her friend playing the cello and I just fell in love with the sound.” Lo and behold cello was offered at Diesel’s school and he took it up. His cello playing has featured on several of his albums and will be included on his latest, the working title for which is 13. “It will be my 13th album and I’m hoping to release it in August or September,” Diesel says. “It’s been a long time in production but it’s been good not to do it all at once, like savouring a nice meal.” Diesel’s Townsville fans can ask him to play songs from his upcoming album as well as any other of their favourites at his Jupiters gig on May 3.
Song choices will span from the first album Johnny Diesel & The Injectors (1989) through to Under The Influence (2011), along with new titles from 13. The idea of letting the audience hand-pick the songs makes for a spontaneous night of music. “I like looking at people’s selections,” Diesel says. “I don’t know where the show is going to go every night and that’s exciting.” With a swag of albums and ARIA awards under his belt, Diesel is tailor-made for such a night. In 2011 he celebrated 25 years in the music industry. A major career and personal milestone was meeting his brother-in-law to be – Jimmy Barnes – after Johnny Diesel & the Injectors came to the attention of Barnes’ wife back in 1987. Diesel was hired to work on Barnes’ third solo album, Freight Train Heart, and when Barnes took to the road to tour the album, Diesel went along as lead guitarist, while Johnny Diesel & the Injectors opened the show. It was the beginning of a long relationship between Diesel and Barnes as Diesel married Jep (Jane Barnes’ sister) in 1989. So what’s it like having Barnesy as a brother-inlaw? “Like any good brother-in-law he’s there when you need him. He’s just a beautiful man,” Diesel says. “Just having family would be enough for me but we also happen to be in the same trade and get to play music too so it’s a bonus.” Diesel has also been working on some tracks with his 18-year-old daughter Lily. “I’m very lucky because Lily is getting into songwriting and singing and those two things are everything to me,” Diesel says. “There’s nothing nicer for a parent than to be able to make something together with their child, no matter what it is.”
Diesel will perform at Jupiters Townsville on Friday May 3. Tickets can be purchased from www.jupiterstownsville.com.au or bought in person from the Jupiters Lobby Shop.
Stripping back into solo mode, Mark Lizzotte (Diesel) is heading North to play audience-selected sets.
INTERVIEW
FIFO MAGAZINE 93
FIFO PROMOTION
New Ford Ranger XLT – the next generation Ranger truck The new Ranger has been engineered to exceed your expectations The bar has just been raised…again. The Ranger is a completely different animal, designed and engineered in Australia, the Ranger is built to take on the world. A truck built with no compromise, it was tested in the toughest of climates and terrains across 5 continents to ensure superior durability. Completely designed around the driver, the Ranger comes equipped with the latest entertainment and connectivity technology, making it feel more like a modern SUV than a hard working truck. However, its true truck DNA was not neglected. Chassis, drive train and suspension were totally redesigned to achieve unbeatable towing of up to 3,500kg and payloads up to 1,528kg. And when the going gets tough you can rely on Ranger’s off-road performance, with Locking Rear Differential (LRD) and impressive water wading of up to 800mm.
With comprehensive active and passive safety features, an extensive range of Ranger models come with the maximum ANCAP 5 star safety rating. Features include Trailer Sway Mitigation to provide stability and great control when towing a trailer, Load Adaptive Control to provide optimal vehicle stability to help you maintain your load and Emergency Brake Assist which maintains maximum brake pressure in emergency stopping situations. There are a variety of body types across the range. The single cab is an all-round work horse you can always rely on. You have all the technology and comfort you want upfront and an exceptional load-space capability in the back. The Super Cab is superroomy, with two conventional front doors and two rear panel doors that open to the rear. Without a fixed B-pillar, you have easy access to the rear of the
“…ticks all the boxes” Ford Ranger 3.2L XLT Dual Cab Review Carsguide 5th March 2013
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cabin and the space behind the front seats. The Double Cab has car-like comfort and a cabin large enough to comfortably seat up to 5 people. The Double Cab Ranger models take you from weekday to weekend with ease. Models within the range include the XL , XLT and the impressive Wildtrak. Majority of these models are available in both 4x2 and 4x4, and there are a number of different engine sizes in both petrol and diesel, with manual and automatic transmissions available. With prices starting at $22,990 for a Ranger XL Single Cab 4x2 Petrol for ABN buyers, you’d be crazy not to consider the next generation of Ranger truck, engineered to exceed your expectations. Carmichael Ford, 77 Charters Towers Road, Townsville. For more information contact us on 07 4750 0500 or visit www.carmichaelford.com.au
DR CAMERON ARNOLD | DENTIST | SMILE DENTAL
Let your teeth work for you – while you’re at work Fly-in, fly-out mine workers are frequent customers of Smile Dental in Townsville. It helps that the dental practice is flexible in fitting around miners’ rosters and can open outside of its scheduled hours. After all, just because you’re away from home for a long time or working lengthy hours doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look after your oral health. There’s a definite link between having a healthy mouth and your overall health, so it’s important to still visit your dentist and hygienist every six months. Some areas of the mining industry can also mean workers need to take extra care. For example, if a miner is working in a caustic environment, where there’s a lot of sulphuric acid, they may need to keep an eye on any wear caused to their teeth by acid. Working in a professional environment and climbing the corporate ladder can also put the spotlight on your appearance – and first impressions count. These days, there are a variety of cosmetic options to improve your smile such as
whitening, cosmetic veneers, and straightening. Smile offers two options for whitening your smile, which won’t damage your teeth. This includes Zoom chair-side whitening, performed by your dentist using a tooth whitening agent and a special activating light. The treatment takes just over an hour and the results are instant and longlasting. There’s also its home whitening program, which enables you to lighten your smile yourself in your own time and place. Easily apply the trays and solution for an hour daily over 12 to 14 days, or as advised by your dentist. Cosmetic veneers can also give you a dream smile. Porcelain veneers are indistinguishable from natural teeth and can improve your own set’s shape, size, angulation and orientation. Such veneers are typically fabricated from porcelain for strength and presentation, though in certain situations can be manufactured from composite resin, which also offers excellent results. Smile Dental recently did a set of porcelain veneers for a FIFO worker called Travis, flying into Western Australia from Townsville. When he
visited the clinic, he didn’t like to smile much due to bad staining of his teeth since childhood. But by the end of the procedure, he was as happy as Larry and smiling, and recommended the clinic to all his colleagues at the mine site. Straightening is another option for FIFO workers – and state-of-the-art dentistry today can give you straight-as teeth without a mouth full of metal braces. A number of options are available including Damon – a clear ceramic bracket system, which combines tieless braces with high-tech wires to move your teeth fast and comfortably – and lingual braces, which are truly invisible and are placed on the inside of your teeth. Invisalign is for those who can’t bear the thought of permanently affixed braces. The procedure consists of a series of nearly invisible, removable aligners, which are specially manufactured for your teeth and replaced every couple of weeks, moving your teeth little by little, week by week. There are plenty of options for improving your smile, so drop into Smile Dental sometime. Visit www.smiledental.com.au or call 4729 5777.
FIFO MAGAZINE 95
FAMILY MATTERS
THE MINING FAMILY CONUNDRUM: FIFO, DIDO OR MOVE TO A MINING TOWN? By Mining Family Matters’ regular contributor Brooke Martin
If you’re keen to get into mining and resources to capitalise on Australia’s mining boom, here’s a question you’ll need to consider: do you want to be a FIFO family or a DIDO family, or do you want to all head off on a family adventure and move to a residential mining town? Of course, there are pros and cons with every option – FIFO might work at one time in your lives, residential living might be better for the here and now. Every family situation is different, and only you will know what’s best given your current circumstances. Before we go any further, FIFO and DIDO are not upcoming bands flooding the music charts. They are acronyms for fly-in/flyout and drive-in/drive-out. Most Mining Family Matters readers will already know that, of course! But for newcomers, let us educate you…
FIFO FIFO jobs are those where employees fly in to their work site for the duration of their roster, before flying out to their home or favoured location when they’re off duty. Workers are provided with accommodation, meals, cleaning and recreation facilities (sometimes up to flash resort standards!) When families consider FIFO, often the financial rewards spring instantly to mind. The salaries and extra bonuses/allowances can be tempting. And because of the skills shortage, companies are paying big bucks for good employees and are willing to fly them from anywhere in Australia, meaning you can base your home anywhere you like! Obviously the downside of FIFO is that your significant other isn’t at home with you every night of the week, or for those weekend kids’ soccer games and weeknight school concerts. The preference for FIFO varies greatly among families. I have
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spoken with many Australian mining wives, and quite a lot of them actually prefer FIFO living for their family. As one mining wife said, “Yeah sure my husband is away for 14 days. However he is then home for seven days straight, which allows him to get up in the morning with the kids, spend all day with the younger ones and take the older ones to and from school, and the time we all have together for that full week is amazing.” She feels she has an advantage over friends whose husbands go to work at 7am and are home at 5pm, because those husbands take family time for granted and don’t fully appreciate the family unit because they see their wives and children every day. She commented that she and her husband “work better together” when they don’t see each other every day; therefore FIFO is definitely for them. Then again, another mining wife living with her husband in a mining town said that she has “seen too many families breakdown and split up because of FIFO rosters”. She and her husband are not willing to risk weeks apart from each other because of the possible strain on their relationship, and the extra pressure on her to raise the children “practically as a single mum”. For single blokes with the main priority of making big bucks – FIFO is definitely a winner! Andy, an engineer working in Africa, spends eight weeks onsite then has four straight weeks to travel anywhere in the world before the start of his next eight-week swing. In the past two years he has covered some major ground – he’s had amazing experiences and made many new friends. However, the down side is that he’s never in one place long enough to meet that someone special, and feels like he doesn’t really “have a home” at the moment.
FAMILY MATTERS
For couples without kids, FIFO also has its advantages and disadvantages. One half of the relationship can pursue a career at home, while the other half does FIFO on roster. For some it’s tough because they forge separate lives away and therefore grow apart. For others, “distance makes the heart grow fonder”! Communication and effort are essential for any couples spending regular blocks of time apart, to ensure they’re still living their lives together, physically and emotionally.
DIDO DIDO jobs are those where the family is based relatively close to the mine site. However the employee must drive themselves to and from the mining operation, which could be hours away. The pros and cons can be similar to FIFO, but the rosters are generally shorter so you’re reunited more often. Another advantage of DIDO is that the miner is close enough to leave work in times of emergency, whereas this isn’t always possible with FIFO. One DIDO mining wife (whose husband works five days on and two off) says the weekends often seem to be dedicated to what her husband wants to do. He spends long hours at work and commuting all week, so when the weekend comes around she’s happy for him to dictate activities and outings. This couple does not have children, which changes things slightly. For couples with kids, I’ve noticed two trains of thought: some wives say “I spend all of my time looking after the kids during the week, so when hubby is home he can spend his time with the children so I can have a break!”; others are of the opinion that their husband spends hours working and driving throughout the week so they let him off the hook on weekends. Again, different couples deal with situations differently!
Residential Residential living in a mining town can be fantastic if you have young children and the mine site is close to home. I’ve spoken to many couples in their 30s to 40s who deliberately choose residential positions where there are no long commutes to work and therefore their family unit is home together every night. Some husbands are able to take a break from work during the day, catch up with their wives for lunch, and duck back to work for the rest of the afternoon. Paul, a mining boss who lives with his wife and two young children in a mining town in WA, says “I couldn’t bear the thought of being away from my kids for days or weeks at a time – I honestly don’t know how other blokes do it, I couldn’t put that stress on my wife to basically raise the kids by herself, and I don’t want to miss out on those memories like actually being at home to witness their first steps, first day of kinder, first day of school. Each to their own, I know, but I just prefer to be at home every night with my family.” For young couples, working and living residentially is great for socialising on weeknights and weekends, and you’re able to develop and maintain an active social circle. There’s no taking off every second week for work and possibly losing touch with mates – you’re always there to maintain relationships. You can join committees and sporting groups, plan weekend activities/getaways/camping trips etc. You feel like you belong someplace, and have a home. The downside of living residentially for some families can be that infrastructure and services (such as hospitals and schools) are limited, they’re too far away from close family and friends, and career opportunities are limited for mining partners. No matter what situation you’re considering, just remember: FIFO isn’t for everyone; DIDO isn’t for everyone; residential isn’t for everyone. Speak to other families and find out what works, what doesn’t work, and why. Good luck! For more lifestyle and relationship advice, head to the Mining Family Matters website www.miningfm.com.au.
FIFO MAGAZINE 97
FIFO PROMOTION
Must-have address for inner-city living The new precinct, Central, offers luxury architect-designed apartments, an exclusive village feel – and an unparalleled lifestyle. The potential for a large-scale urban renewal was identified by Honeycombes Property Group upon inspecting disused railway yards in the Townsville CBD in 2003. Citing Brisbane’s South Bank and James Street precincts as its benchmark, the vision for the new lifestyle precinct, Central, was to create a place that offered residents a mixed-use community, as well as enhancing the current community on a scale that Townsville had not seen before. The innovative precinct offers a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom luxury, architect-designed apartments, master-planned around retail, commercial, recreation and lifestyle hubs. At Central, residents choose their level of pace – whether it’s an early morning swim, a leisurely stroll along Ross Creek’s waterway path, a gym session, or relaxing with a coffee at one of the nearby cafés. Central reaffirms the city’s status as one of Australia’s investment hotspots. Townsville is one of the nation’s most economically diverse regional centres with a multitude of world-class facilities. A high population influx and the ever-increasing need for high-end living, as well as the uniqueness of Central’s master plan and city heart location, means buying here is a strategic acquisition for the astute investor.
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When fully complete, Central will offer in excess of 700 one-, two- and three-bedroom luxury apartments, strategically located amid 12,000sqm of office and retail space. Honeycombes Property Group strove to create a master plan that included direct paths and walkways linking to the tropical city’s other major epicentres, including the new railway station, Jupiters Townsville Hotel & Casino, and The Strand – an esplanade of restaurants, retailers, the beach, and parkland pockets. As the major population centre for North Queensland, Townsville has the infrastructure of a world-class standard, capable of supporting a range of industries on an internationally competitive basis. As a result, it has emerged as one of Queensland’s most significant growth centres in which to both live and invest. Capital growth on Townsville apartments over the past 10 years has substantially outperformed that of major capital cities. Economic and population growth, income growth, employment opportunities and tight vacancy rates are expected to continue to drive the residential property market in the region. Central is the new centre for Townsville that features a dynamic “live, work and
play” precinct. It will be a cosmopolitan hub that will boast services and retailers such as restaurants, coffee shops, delis, hairdressers and much, much more. Part of this “much, much more” includes the completion this month of the new home for the North Queensland Newspaper Co Ltd – publisher of the Townsville Bulletin – and the commencement of a five-cinema retail complex to be included on Little Fletcher Street, opposite Central’s Holborn Apartments. Piccadilly will be the fifth residential stage of Central - due to be launched in April 2013. It too, will be a mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments with a flavour more suited to the palette of the owner occupier. With direct frontage to the Ross Creek, Piccadilly will boast all the amenity of a luxury residential development that also offers elevated views of the CBD and Cleveland Bay. Honeycombes Property Group is a descendant of a 100-year journey in regional Queensland to become one of the state’s most prominent property development companies. As a result, Honeycombes has built a reputation as a pioneer, often being the first in the market in innovative projects in numerous cities along the Queensland coastline.
“Get the wind in your hair on the highway.”
FIFO PROMOTION
It’s more than a sport – it’s a way of life! From new and used motorcycles to a full range of spare parts and accessories and a fully equipped workshop, Future Sport Motorcycles is your one-stop motorcycle shop.
The family-run business is a one-stop shop for all things motorcycling. Sales manager Jarrod Koppe says: “We have new bikes in our range from Suzuki, KTM and Husaberg to cater for everyone including kids’, motocross, enduro, sport and naked bikes, cruisers and the largest combined range in town of learner-approved bikes.”
Jarrod’s parents, Steve and Ros, opened Future Sport in 1991, with Jarrod since taking over the reins. His partner, Stacy, and sisters Rianna, Jessica and Rebecca now work at the business too and are motorcycling fans. “Everyone who works here rides or races motorcycles,” Jarrod enthuses, who himself holds multiple Australian and Queensland long track titles. “Sixteen of us work here and 16 of us ride bikes and enjoy bikes. We’re always at the local tracks here as well, helping anyone out.”
Jarrod adds: “We also have in-store finance and insurance, spare parts, and a full workshop facility for after-sales service and all other motorcycle repairs. We have a huge website that includes all of our preloved motorcycles for sale, parts, accessories, and a whole lot more.”
Motorcycling is an awesome pastime to partake in, according to Jarrod. “Motorcycling has been proven to be one of the best sports for your body and mind. If off-road isn’t your style then you can get a cruiser or road bike and get the wind in your hair on the highway or a
If you’re looking for an escape on the weekend or looking for a new hobby, then Future Sport Motorcycles in Townsville is the place to head.
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recreational ATV [all-terrain vehicle] for camping and fishing – it doesn’t just have to be about sport. It’s enjoyable to do with your friends or family as a hobby, too.” With one of the biggest selections of quality used motorbikes in Townsville, 1000-plus motorcycle-related accessories, quality new bikes from Suzuki, KTM and Husaberg, and great deals on motorcycle finance from its in-house specialists, Future Sport is an awesome place to while away some time. Jarrod says: “If you want a friendly, easy-going service and good advice, we’re here to help.” To experience the world’s best bikes and ATVs at Future Sport’s new super outlet in Townsville, call 4725 7001 or visit www.futuresportmotorcycles.com.au
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FIFO MAGAZINE 101
1 3 2 4 5 TECHNO
Parrot Zik Wireless Headphones by Starck
The Zik wireless headphones are the fruit of another creative collaboration between Parrot and the world-renowned French designer Phillipe Starck. Zik touch control wireless audio headphones redefine your listening experience. For nearest retailers see www.parrot.com
Samsung Series 9 75inch Slim LED Smart TV
The awesome screen size is matched by an equally impressive design, which stands out with a stunning rose gold metallic touch. The ES9000 also boasts intuitive Smart Interaction, which allows for voice and motion controls. There is also Smart Content, which has three signature services; ‘Kids’ for entertaining and educating children, ‘Fitness’ for keeping in shape at home, and ‘Family Story’ for saving and sharing precious moments. $9,499 RRP
Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 The new Note 8.0 is your everyday companion in the dos and don’ts of life. With well-connected nimble performance and the natural feel of a S pen, it’s perfectly sized to always be there with you, at a moment’s note. The GALAXY Note 8.0 $459 (WiFi model) www.samsung.com/au
Elipson Planet LW will revolutionise
your way of listening to music with a wireless connection between the speakers and your iPod/iPhone/iPad or your PC/Apple computer. In each speaker, active crossover with two 50W ICEPower® amplifiers by Bang & Olufsen connected directly to the tweeter and woofer propel the Planet LW speakers toward new heights of audio fidelity Elipson Planet LW $2,290 per pair RRP from Audio Dynamics 03 9882 0372.
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The SensoGlove
The first and only golf glove with built-in sensors that constantly read the pressure of your grip. SensoGlove’s built-in digital computer actively monitors your grip with sensors placed strategically throughout the glove, providing instant feedback at all the points of your swing. www.sensoglove.com
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FIFO MAGAZINE 103
S5
Q5
Audi Centre Townsville
FIFO PROMOTION
A company car with prestige Carmaker Audi’s corporate program offers an exclusive range of vehicles for an exclusive group of drivers.
An Audi is not your average company car. The luxury German brand encapsulates the essence of “progressive, innovative and a cut above”. And by working for a BRW Top 500 Private or 1000 Premium List company – or a company with a fleet of five or more luxury vehicles – you can become part of its exclusive AudiCorporate program when purchasing any Audi model. Many mining company employees will qualify, entitling them to exclusive benefits and a superior service on a selected range of luxury Audi models. Jason Collins, the dealer principal at Audi Centre Townsville, says: “We are delighted to be able to offer our customers the opportunity to participate in the AudiCorporate Program. This is a unique opportunity that employees of qualifying companies get simply because of the company they work for. It recognises and rewards the support these customers have given the brand, while allowing them some of the benefits of a company car, without it being tied into the company. The customer owns it – all they need to do is provide proof that
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they work for one of these companies to be eligible for AudiCorporate.” Benefits of being part of the exclusive AudiCorporate program include: • No-cost, scheduled servicing for three years or 45,000km (whichever occurs first) • Free pick-up and drop-off of your Audi for servicing in the CBD (or within a 20km radius of the servicing dealer) • Service loan cars on selected models from the Audi range • Financial services • Corporate evaluation vehicles, and • Priority vehicle orders and allocation. New vehicle owners also receive a corporate membership pack, including a Corporate A+ card. The Audi Centre Townsville on Bowen Road is one of the latest dealerships in Australia – it’s two-level, glass-fronted and purpose-built to Audi specifications. A selection of vehicles are available through its corporate program. This includes the Audi S5 family of three sports vehicles. Each model boasts a powerful 245kW 3.0 TFSI engine, combined with an athletic,
seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission. With the legendary quattro permanent all-wheel drive across all models, the S5 range offers superior performance and handling. Another example is the Audi Q5. Worldleading technology, revolutionary design and unsurpassed driveability come together in this progressive vehicle. Powered by a choice of TFSI petrol or performance TDI diesel engines, this beautifully crafted SUV features quattro permanent all-wheel drive with 40:60 torque split and the latest generation of electronic stabilisation program for safer driving in all environments. The carmaker even offers an added element of personalisation through Audi exclusive for those who want to set their vehicle apart, such as a completely bespoke, custom-mixed paint scheme or a more personalised interior. The benefits of being an Audi owner, indeed, are endless. For more information on the AudiCorporate program, phone the Audi Centre Townsville on 4729 5295 or visit www.audicentretownsville.com.au.
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FIFO MAGAZINE 105
FUTURE MATTERS
DON’T LET OTHERS MANAGE YOUR CAREER. IT’S YOURS – OWN IT! By Therese Lardner, Mining Family Matters careers specialist I was as recently speaking with a client who told me that after more than 20 years with the same employer, his role had been made redundant. Although he’d really wanted to change careers, he said he didn’t know where to start. So instead he found a new job that was very similar to his old role. Reflecting on this after I’d hung up the phone, I realised that most of us generally don’t put too much effort into managing our career. We don’t really take control of it. Most of us look at the opportunities presented and choose the best ones, rather than creating opportunities that we really want. Similarly, we tend not to plan in advance for big changes in our career, such as a relocation or starting a family. Instead we fly by the seat of our pants and hope for the best. As these events can be stressful in and of themselves, planning for the career aspect of these changes will help to increase the amount of control you feel over the situation and also make the change a little smoother for the whole family. So here are my top tips for effective career management during big life changes: • DO YOUR RESEARCH. If your partner has been transferred to a new town, or you’ve chosen to relocate the family and you plan to work in your new home town, investigate local employers who might offer the types of roles you’re looking for. Also look out for recruitment agencies and employer groups who will be well connected to local employers. Talk to others who live, or have lived in the town: who would they suggest you speak to? • VISUALISE WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE. If your major life change is planning to start a family, really think about what you want your work life to be like if and when you decide to return to work. Will it be full time, part time or contract work? Start to plan and position yourself now before you start a family. Will your current employer offer what you’re looking for after the baby is born? If not, you may need to shift jobs now rather than wait until the baby is born, and then have to build trust and credibility with a new employer while dashing out the door to pick up your sick child from day care. The key here is to start planning early, rather than a few months out.
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• BUILD YOUR SKILLS. Regardless of the change that’s coming up, building your skills will boost your confidence as well as your ‘employability’. There are so many distance and online learning choices, as well as in-person options available through Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), TAFE institutions, universities and private colleges. A quick Google search on any of these terms in your state is likely to give you some options to explore. If you’re not sure what skills you need, or what direction to take your career, check out websites like www.myfuture.edu.au that assist in exploring career options. If you love learning for the sake of learning, choose something you’re passionate about and go for it! Never underestimate the difference having that ‘fire in your belly’ again can make to your life and your family. If you plan to be out of the workforce for a little while, building your skills becomes even more important, as there is an inevitable dip in confidence when you return to work. You feel out of sorts, thinking, “can I do this?”, “can I remember all of this?” Even just keeping in touch with what’s happening in your industry or company while you’re gone can help you to boost your confidence. And this can be done from the comfort of your home in front of the computer! • NETWORK. I’m constantly amazed by what can be achieved through networking, which is really just talking to people. Especially if you’re planning to relocate, networking and talking with locals can boost your visibility (helpful when competing with others for that new job!) and can also help in accessing local support and resources. Try networking at your child’s new school or day care, a local sporting club etc. Likeminded people are always more likely to help out if you ask for information or referrals. Major life changes are never easy, but taking control of your career can help to cut some of the stress. Really think about what you want; think about what it will look like; and go for it! Don’t let someone else manage your career – it’s yours, own it! Therese Lardner is also the Manager, Professional Services with LHH Qld. For more great career, relationship and parenting advice for resource employees and families, visit the Mining Family Matters website www.miningfm.com.au.
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FIFO MAGAZINE 107
FASHION
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FIFO MAGAZINE 109
LOVE MATTERS
If your partner does FIFO or DIDO, how do you keep the spark alive? For some it’s easy – it just works without a hitch. But for others, it’s tough to keep the connections strong when you’re coming and going like ships in the night. To give you some ideas on how to stay loved up, let’s see how other mining couples work through it… Tess* from Queensland quite bluntly says her marriage flows much better when her husband works FIFO, four weeks on and two weeks off. “This is because the distance between us for a whole month sparks the lust all over again when he returns home for a couple of weeks,” she said. They speak on Skype every other day (if daily is not possible) and she keeps him informed on everything that
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is happening at home and with the kids. “I send him emails constantly throughout the day as well, even if it’s only a quick note about the car registration coming up soon, just so he feels included in our daily lives.” Tess said. Rachel* says she is still in love with her husband after 10 years. He does a DIDO roster, five days on and two days off, and they have two kids. She too uses modern technology such as Skype, Facetime and says that the distance between them has never been a problem. But she’s seen plenty of mining couples who don’t handle the distance and rosters too well. “I think if you really want your marriage to work and keep the sex fresh and the spark alive, you will do whatever you can to keep it,” she said.
LOVE MATTERS
MINING WIVES REVEAL HOW TO KEEP THE SEX DRIVE ALIVE By Mining Family Matters’ regular contributor Brooke Martin
Tess and Rachel work hard at maintaining an intimate connection with their husbands and as a result still have healthy love lives. Sometimes though, even the strongest, seemingly happiest couples come undone because of the extra stresses of FIFO/DIDO. It would be wrong to suggest otherwise. I personally know of a number of mining couples whose relationships have ended because of one partner’s need for sex and intimacy while the other is away (whether it be miner hubby or stay-at-home girlfriend/wife). I have no idea if it’s more common in mining than other industries – but surely the extreme rosters and long periods of separation can’t help. So what can we do to keep the love alive? Here are a few suggestions from long-term mining wives: • Have a relationship plan: know where you’re heading, have a light at the end of the tunnel! Goals, targets and things you want to accomplish together are very important in keeping the connection. • Use modern technology to communicate: when you’re away from your partner, you need all the help you can get to stay in touch and reduce the distance. Email, Skype, Viber, Facetime, texting, webcam, take photos of yourself and email to your hubby. • Talk… but listen too: share your feelings, thoughts, peeves on what happened in your day etc. Men tend to show that they care by rolling up their sleeves and trying to fix their partner’s problems, but this is often misread as an attempt to rush a boring topic along and not discuss it. It’s not, it’s just how blokes handle things! • Have a free day: you might not agree with this one, but have a day or two where you don’t communicate with your partner at all. It might be a good way to test the strength of your relationship at times and you will miss each other intensely.
• Be honest: tell your partner what you’re up to during the days and nights while he’s away. Maybe not every little thing you had to eat that day (although some of us in fact do that!) but be honest about who you’re with and what you’re doing. • Prevent jealousy: let’s face it, we’re all human. We wonder about the new secretary in our hubby’s office up on site, and he wonders about the new male Grade 2 school teacher that all your friends keep harping on about (you know, the Brad Pitt lookalike?) Sometimes it’s up to us to keep our partner’s minds from wondering while we’re apart and keep trust in the picture. • Don’t lose faith: how many times have you heard the following… “I’ve been there, it doesn’t work, FIFO and DIDO relationships just lead to marriage bustups and unhappy marriages.” It can work, it all depends on the individuals, how positive you are and how much work you’re willing to put into your relationship. The spark can be kept alive, no matter how long the swing or distance between mining couples. If you make the most of modern technology and have a really strong desire to make your relationship work, you will succeed. I’ve heard some great stories from friends spicing up their relationships using Skype… not PG rated! But I think that’s a story for another day… Tess and Rachel are real people but their names have been changed to ensure anonymity. For more lifestyle and relationship advice, head to the Mining Family Matters website www.miningfm.com.au
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FAMILY MATTERS
HOW TO EASE THE PAIN OF BEING APART FOR SPECIAL EVENTS By Mining Family Matters Oil & Gas Mum Debbie Russo “He is missing another school Christmas concert?!” she said to me. “Yes,” I said looking at her. “Jeez Louise!” she said (and she really did say that). “He misses a lot doesn’t he?” When my husband started FIFO and first realised he might miss some “big” moments, he was sad and disappointed. It stayed this way until he witnessed B1’s first steps and I didn’t. I was in the toilet as it happened and he almost kind of rubbed it in. “Why don’t you care?” he asked. Actually, I was a little disappointed. But the fact of the matter was that B1 didn’t know I’d missed this major milestone in his little life. Looking back, none of us can really remember who was there for those first steps, first crawls or first words. I missed B1’s first steps because I was in the toilet; I missed B2’s first sentence because he was at day care; and I’m sure I missed lots of B3’s milestones because after four years of broken sleep and not asking for help, my mind and body had started to falter. I was too tired to take notice … and sadly too tired to care. The only B3 milestone that sticks is my mind is the day he started crawling. It was Christmas Day and I remember because we were at my mother’s, I’d had some rest and I caught it on video. Then I promptly sent it to my husband. My children don’t know I missed these milestones. In reality, milestones and events are missed by working mums and dads all over the world, regardless of their lifestyle. It’s unfortunate but it happens. What my children do remember is their FIFO dad screaming encouragement like some crazy man on the sidelines of the cross country
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field earlier this year. They remember daddy taking them to the skate park. Daddy going to class reading. They remember those things and they know we do our best. They know big events are never missed on purpose and that’s the difference! I have still made it my mission (not only as a FIFO wife, but as a mum) to document the everyday for my husband when he is at work, and for the kids later on. This is how I do it: 1. Keep a camera handy at all times. Take photos of everything. It might be insignificant to you, but not to them. 2. If they miss a school presentation or running race, capture it on video. When they get home make it a presentation like on movie night. Pop corn … soft drinks! Make it a really “big” deal. Your kids and FIFO dad will love it more than them being there. Even when you are there it’s often hard to give the star kid your full attention, when you’re trying to contain your other children at the same time. 3. Take one random image of your kids every day and send it in an email. (Our photos range from a boring old passport-type image, to action shots of them sleeping.) Send one each day and you will end up with an amazing timeline of their life. We have one image of all the boys for every day of their life from the moment they were born. 4. There are lots of websites you can use these days to privately post images online. We use Tumblr. Only my husband and I can see it. We write notes, thoughts to the boys.
The option with Tumblr and most applications is that you can turn them into books later, which is what we intend to do. Tumblr is operated with a password; other family members can see if you let them but I’m greedy and just want it for us! 5. Write an email every day (even if you talk on the phone). Or, at the end of the week send a newsletter of everything that’s happened with the kids and you’ve forgotten to tell them. Include the kids’ first words or new words. My husband was always asking what the boys’ new words were. I’d always forget, so I started writing them down and he would get the list most Sunday afternoons in the family newsletter. It was exhausting but it gave me a creative outlet at the time. Now we have Tumblr but every now and then I still do a newsletter. 6. Create a special drawer for artworks and stuff for dad. Often the boys will write or draw something for daddy, or just want to tell him something instantly but can’t, so they write about it and it goes in a special drawer that daddy opens when he gets home. We make a huge deal of that drawer, its contents and its opening! Don’t make a big deal of missed moments. Celebrate the events and milestones you’re there to enjoy and share. It’s the best you can do. Debbie Russo also has her own blog at thefifowife.com.au. More lifestyle and relationship advice for families in mining, oil and gas can be found at the Mining Family Matters website, www.miningfm.com.au.
FAMILY MATTERS
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INDUSTRY MATTERS
IN DEFENCE OF THE FIFO LIFESTYLE By Mining Family Matters director Alicia Ranford
“Governments of all levels must acknowledge that, for some communities, particularly those traditional resource communities, and others in quite developed areas, fly-in, fly-out is a cancer.” – Federal Independent MP Tony Windsor in the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia report on FIFO/DIDO work practices in Australia. 13 February 2013
The resources industry has been great to my family. After almost 20 years with my mining partner – and looking back over all the moves, the ups and the downs – I still marvel at what an adventure it has been. So when FIFO was described by Independent MP Tony Windsor as a “cancer” I felt (as I’m sure many of you did) a little deflated. For the vast majority of resource families, it’s a huge decision to do FIFO or DIDO. How will it affect our relationship? What will it mean for the children? How will we cope? Is there an alternative? My husband and I have lived in several residential mining towns, and he’s also done FIFO in 11 out of the last 20 years. We’ve carefully weighed up the positives and negatives each time, and it’s fair to say that both FIFO and residential have worked at different phases in our lives. There are pros and cons for both. So after hearing FIFO likened to a “cancer” (especially when MiningFM made a submission to the inquiry saying we hoped it would help to overcome negative stereotypes!) I thought it was timely to focus on the positives for families. Yes – we do find it tough sometimes, and there are 700 pages of content on our website outlining how to cope with any challenges. But here are just a few quick reasons why mining, oil and gas can ROCK on a lifestyle level: Many mining couples say the lifestyle improves their communication skills and forces them to work together as a team. They make more effort with one another.
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• FIFO/DIDO has the potential to intensify feelings of excitement and anticipation that often fades in relationships. It can help to keep that spark alive! • FIFO/DIDO lets the worker get ahead in his/her career without disrupting their partner’s career. You don’t have to upheave the family with each new job or career move. • Mining and resources is a global industry – through work you can explore the world together. • When the FIFO/DIDO worker is at work, they’re at work. When they’re home, they’re home. There is no stressing about whether Mum/Dad will be able to get away from the office in time for little Johnny’s soccer match: they are either home or at work. And they can’t get called back into the mine after hours – it’s simply too far away. • FIFO/DIDO parents get blocks of time with their children and can share in their everyday lives when other parents are generally at work in Mon-Fri jobs. • Rosters let you combine your normal extended blocks of time off with holiday leave, so you can maximise fun time away with the family. If you’re single or child-free, think of the travel possibilities in your R&R. We know of one worker who has been to 90 countries. • And let’s not forget all those frequent flyer points you rack up flying to and from work! More lifestyle and relationship advice for families in mining, oil and gas can be found at the Mining Family Matters website, www.miningfm.com.au.
Mining Family Matters is Australia’s award-winning online community for families in mining, oil and gas. Check out our free website www.miningfm.com.au to discover: › More than 700 pages of practical strategies on how to make mining work for you and your family
› Testimonials on more than 30 mining towns across Australia
› An online chat forum where you can connect with other families
› Specific financial, health and lifestyle advice
› Expert career advice: getting › A free Q&A service with our psychologists into resources, women in mining and lifestyle contributors and climbing the industry ladder miningfm.com.au
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