ON PAKO and beyond...Geelong #08 Autumn/Winter

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08

AUTUMN/ WINTER 2019

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Welcome to ONPAKO and beyond...

Issue #08, 2019.

Welcome to On Pako and beyond...Issue #08.

We are so very pleased to be presenting to you, the reader, our eighth publication of this passionately received and greatly supported magazine, designed to showcase our premier lifestyle destination, Pakington Street, and our beautiful region beyond.

We would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to each and every one of the businesses who have contributed to and supported this eighth issue and we also extend a very warm welcome to our new clients. Our gratitude also extends to the efforts and contributions of our team members. Without their amazing support and involvement, the presentation and publication of this magazine would not be possible.

With the arrival of cooler days and nights, we hope you enjoy putting your feet up and reading all of the page turning articles presented in this publication. May you also be inspired by the many businesses of retail, hospitality, entertainment, health, beauty and otherwise, to plan and fulfil your upcoming needs and desires, whatever the occasion may be.

We hope you enjoy your complimentary copy of which additional copies can be sourced from participating businesses throughout the Geelong region and beyond, including, Colac, Ballarat, Werribee and central Melbourne. We would also like to advise that you can now engage with On Pako and beyond... at issuu.com.

Mark & Donna W ilkins

ON PAKO ISSUE #08 AUTUMN/WINTER 2019 PUBLISHED BY EDEN ENTERPRISES PTY. LTD. P.O. Box 2065, Indented Head, VIC 3223 PRINTED BY Printgraphics Pty. Ltd. PUBLISHER/SALES – Mark Wilkins EDITOR/ACCOUNTS – Donna Wilkins DESIGN & PRODUCTION – Donna Sceney WRITERS – Amanda Sherring, Sue Rawkins, Talin Hadlow CONTRIBUTORS – Donna Wilkins PHOTOGRAPHY – Mark Wilkins

If you would like to be a part of ON PAKO and beyond... please contact Mark Wilkins phone 0438 297 969 email mark@edmag.com.au ON PAKO and beyond… now also available on issuu.com 8

ONPAKO

CONTENTS Christine Couzens MP

12

People of Interest

18

Design & Decorate

23

Geelong Lutheran College

25

Encompass

30

Taste Destinations

35

Geelong Bowling Club

36

King George Fish & Grill Bar

42

Scullys Oyster Bar

48

Arts & Culture

53

GPAC

54

Steel Art Australia

59

Tuckers Funeral and Bereavement

64

Fashion & Beauty

67

Sergio Jeweller and Designer

72

The Range @ Curlewis

78

Geelong Aquatic Centre

80

Curlewis Golf Club

84

Carpet House

88

Wathaurong Glass

92

Interior Trends with Cherie Blackney

94

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CHRISTINE COUZENS MP

ARTICLE: SUPPLIED PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED

Condolences to Christchurch It is hard to express the shock and horror of the recent events that occurred at the Mosque in Christchurch.

This horrific loss of life has left us all grieving for the Muslim families and their community.

People going to their local mosque for prayer became the victims of hate and fear in the most horrendous way. I want to acknowledge the victims, witnesses, emergency services, and the trauma that they have experienced.

We are united as a community, coming together to condemn this act of terrorism. These are cowardly and criminal attacks. We will stand up for our diversity; we will continue to embrace it.

Words are powerful and as leaders in our community, we have a responsibility to call out words of fear and hate.

I attended the Geelong Mosque Open Day and stood in solidarity with the Geelong community. My heart filled with joy when I arrived and saw hundreds of people streaming through the community hall and the Mosque.

I was proud of the people of Geelong and proud to be a part of our great multicultural community.

The Islamic Society of Geelong, volunteers and members of the Islamic community provided a wonderful event in the community hall offering discussions about their faith, sharing food, henna drawings and headdress lessons.

Visitors participated in solidarity and with great interest. The support of the Geelong community was evident by the floral tributes placed outside the Mosque.

Next door to the hall, the Mosque was also packed with people from all walks of life and religions who came together to share in the grief and loss of the brothers and sisters of Christchurch.

There were many speeches from community leaders, including myself, but I do want to note the speech filled with love and support delivered by Imam Mohammad Ramzan, and his call to stand together.

12 ONPAKO

Left to right: Christine Couzens, Richard Marles, Imam Mohammad Ramzan, and Libby Coker at the Mosque open day in March.

To his beautiful wife Guilfam, thank you for your words of comfort and strength to the many people you took time to speak to.

I want to thank the Premier Daniel Andrews for his leadership and strong words, that in Victoria, we come from different parts of the world, and have different backgrounds and faiths, but we are so much stronger when we join together. And what a great sight it was to see non-Muslim members of the Geelong community form a circle around the mosque – We stand while you prayer.

St Patricks Primary School Student Visit It was great to have a visit from the students from St Patricks Primary School in Geelong West to hear their concerns about the impact of climate change. I was very impressed with the students’ knowledge and desire to act on climate change.

The students highlighted their list of some of the terrible results of climate change, which included more severe, and uncontrollable weather conditions, coral bleaching, forests shrinking, less food, fewer plants and animals and melting ice caps.

During our discussions, I offered my office front window for students to put messages up about climate change and taking care of our environment. I am looking forward to the students contributions.

Christine Couzens MP Member for Geelong

I also look forward to continuing to work with the students on this serious community issue.

Ashby Primary School It is great to look across the road from my office and see the work going ahead to upgrade Ashby Primary School.

Funded from the Parliamentary budget

The upgrade includes refurbishment of classrooms and facilities that are in poor condition.

These works will upgrade facilities that need it most, ensuring that students learn in first-rate classrooms.

Building, fixing and upgrading our schools gives students and teachers the environment they need to achieve their best.

This upgrade will help ensure students at Ashby Primary School get a first class education and access to the opportunities they deserve in life. We are all looking forward to the completed upgrade.

Ph 5221 4821

Construction works at Ashby Primary School

Shop 9, Pakington Strand, 9/95 Pakington St, Geelong West Email: christine.couzens@parliament.vic.gov.au ONPAKO 13

Closing the Gap Report

Congratulations Diversitat

The Prime Minister tabled the annual Closing the Gap report in Parliament on 14 February 2019, outlining that only two of the seven Closing the Gap targets are on track.

Congratulations to Diversitat on their win for Australian Health Care Week, “Best Aged Care Facility”. This is a major achievement, I want to congratulate and acknowledge the team at the Diversitat Healthy Living Centre.

While many of the national targets have not been achieved, outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians are stronger when compared to other jurisdictions, across almost all areas of the Closing the Gap agreement, including education, early childhood and school attendance.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, including a new Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Bodies, have called on all governments to commit to a formal partnership with COAG to progress action on Closing the Gap.

This is a national award so this is a significant win for Diversitat and Geelong more broadly.

To the Diversitat staff, volunteers and clients, you should be very proud. We all know how important aged care services are in our community and we want to be confident that our loved ones are being cared for in a safe and secure environment. Thank you for what you do.

The Victorian Government supports further development of a new partnership arrangement and has continued to advocate for a genuine partnership approach based on self-determination, and for the Commonwealth to reconsider its position regarding the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

In Victoria, we have developed our own action plan to Close the Gap in partnership with Aboriginal Victorians, the Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Framework 2018-2023.

During 2018/19, the Victorian Government will invest over $155 million to support self-determination, celebrate culture and improve the lives of Aboriginal Victorians. elephone:

Above: Diversitat’s Healthy Living Centre (photo courtesy Diversitat)

Christine Couzens MP Shop 9 Pakington Strand 95 Pakington Street, Geelong West VIC 3218

VV 03 5221 3131 MMchristine.couzens@parliament.gov.au

14 ONPAKO

Left: Residents enjoying activities at Diversitat’s Healthy Living Centre (photo courtesy Diversitat)

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A selection of entrées, salads and side dishes are available as well as a separate dessert menu – prepared home style on the premises.

Parkers Steakhouse aim to give you a unique and most importantly memorable experience.

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ARTICLE BY: AMANDA SHERRING

Ihab Housaiki:

PHOTOGRAPHS BY: MARK WILKINS

THE MAN BEHIND 9 GRAMS

Written on the wall in neon lighting of Ihab Housaiki’s new café are the words ‘Thankful and Blessed’.

When Ihab opened his first solo business venture, 9 Grams café on Pakington Street, staffer Chloe O’Leary scrawled these very words on the sign outside. These words captured how Ihab and his team felt from the response to their new café and have continued to reflect his journey since then.

18 PEOPLE OF INTEREST

“Thankful and blessed reflects everything,” Ihab says.

“I’m thankful and blessed for the opportunities, I’m thankful and blessed for all my friends and the people around me and I’m thankful and blessed for this country for making me who I am.”

Ihab certainly has a lot to be thankful for. When he first arrived in Australia in 2007 from his unstable hometown in Lebanon, he came from nothing with the family often struggling to put bread on the table. He didn’t have a plan but knew he had to make something of himself.

“When I came here I said to myself, ‘It’s either make or break’, because there’s no going back,” he says.

Leaving behind family and friends, the first few months certainly weren’t easy, but it was nothing he hadn’t faced before. Ihab was just 16 years old when he lost his dad.

Ihab soon obtained a job as a kitchen hand at a restaurant in Elsternwick while also working as a cleaner at night in a TAB. He was determined to make it work in Australia and to make something of himself in his new home.

That meant doing jobs he hadn’t previously done before, but continuously learning with each new role to be the best worker he possibly could for each business.

“That’s the biggest lesson in life I’ve learnt, is that there is nothing you can’t do. You can do everything,” Ihab says.

As Ihab explains, he wasn’t a cleaner before taking the TAB job, he became one. He adapted to each role he worked in after coming to Australia.

Ihab learnt and believed that ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’.

Proving that with a little dedication and effort, one has the abilty to achieve anything if you believe in yourself and aim high.

With this brilliant approach to work, after starting with the Groove Train in 2009 as a kitchen hand, Ihab, at a very young age, was soon running one of the franchises with his best friend from college, Wassim Mohtar. This business partnership helped further their friendship and they have since started their own respective businesses.

It was also at the Groove Train where Ihab met the creator Rocky Veneziano who served as a vital role model for Ihab when he started his own business. Wassim and his brother Bahaa, both of whom Ihab considers family, along with Rocky, have all played a pivotal role in Ihab’s business and personal journey and he says they will remain as lifelong friends and he will be forever grateful for their support.

While he hasn’t been in Australia, Ihab’s brother Yamen has supported and advised him from afar, standing by his side throughout the whole journey. Ihab’s success is heavily linked to the support network around him.

“Loyalty will take you everywhere,” Ihab says.

Looking back at that moment in 2007 when Ihab first came to Australia, he didn’t know his path would lead to running a restaurant – but it’s something his mother saw in him from an early age.

WorkSafe ONPAKOBuilding 19

Often cooking special meals for Ihab as a child, she could see he had a future in the hospitality industry.

“I never thought I was going to be in hospitality, so I never thought I’d be that person who would know all about food, serving people and customer service,” he says of his mother’s prediction.

Newtown

“She always knew I was going to be someone.”

With his mother and brother supporting him from back home, Ihab took the leap in starting his own business. In 2016 he opened the very first 9 Grams café on Pakington Street in Newtown.

At the time, many said Ihab was crazy to open a café on such an already saturated street with many long-running cafes within a few minutes walk. Regardless of the comments, he persisted, and this decision to continue set the foundations of his entrepreneurial journey.

20 PEOPLE OF INTEREST

“I’m someone that takes a risk and I don’t hold off,” Ihab says smiling.

A point of difference with Ihab’s café came with his background and approach to hospitality. He didn’t want to be the same as others and wanted to make sure that the welcoming hospitality he felt back home was recreated at 9 Grams.

“Middle East people in general are known for their hospitality,” he says.

Club Armstrong

Club Armstrong

“Whether it’s Lebanon, Egypt or in Dubai, they’re very attentive and they care about hospitality. Even if you visit someone at home you can’t sit down at an empty table; all they care about is how they can accommodate the people visiting. They just want to make sure you feel comfortable and are looked after.”

With each person Ihab chooses to work with, he doesn’t see them as staff, but as family.

It’s this notable difference that allowed Ihab’s café to stand out and what soon had him fielding calls from business developers and investors asking him to open a café at their property.

Ihab is also very realistic that a great café isn’t based on the very best food and coffee money can buy. It’s based on the overall experience.

Through these opportunities, Ihab was the first café to open at Villawood’s Club Armstrong in 2017. The following year Ihab landed the lease at the new WorkSafe building in Geelong after an extremely competitive application process.

“It’s all about that interaction with the customers,” Ihab says.

“That comes before everything. Before you make the food and the coffee, if there is no atmosphere and no love and no warmth, they won’t return.”

Ihab still can’t believe he’s just opened his third café, as it never crossed his mind as a possibility when he first set foot in Australia.

Whether it’s the Middle Eastern hospitality or the food that has customers returning at all three cafes, Ihab is certainly doing something right.

Ihab remains humble despite his success, crediting the team around him for making it all possible. Operational manager of the 9 Grams Group Kirstie Davidson along with business manager Chloe, have been a consistent support and critical in assisting his journey, both contributing to the evolution of 9 Grams with extreme care for the business.

In just three years since his first business opening, Ihab has established himself as one of Geelong’s most successful café owners. We’re sure it’s of no surprise to his mother, who knew at a young age Ihab would make something of himself and who he credits the most for his success.

A good friend and architect, Tarek Farouk, has helped deliver Ihab’s vision, designing everything from the menu to the interiors of each café. He now works as project manager of the newly opened Malop Street café.

“At the end of the day, us doing well and me doing well, the whole team is doing well,” he says.

“She can’t be prouder and that’s what she says to me,” Ihab says.

“But she keeps saying that I have to also be proud. Because of that base of encouragement I got from my mum, who means the world to me, the sky is the limit.”

With no limit to what’s next, we’re certain there will be much more from 9 Grams and Ihab Housaiki in the near future.

9 Grams Café Newtown

9 Grams Café Club Armstrong

9 Grams Café WorkSafe Building

1/343 Pakington Street, Newtown VIC 3220

101 Unity Drive, Mt Duneed VIC 3216

1 Malop Street Geelong VIC 3220

VV03 5222 2716

VV03 5291 9727

VV03 5264 1038

OOwww.9gramscafe.com.au FF /9gramscafe II/9gramscafe MM info@9gramscafe.com.au PEOPLE OF INTEREST

21

Design & Decorate Interiors

ARTICLE BY: Amanda Sherring PHOTOGRAPHS BY: Mark wilkins and supplied

REALISING YOUR VISION

Katrina Harmon One of Katrina Harmon’s favourite aspects about her profession is the moment she steps into a client’s home for the first time and discovers what their house has to offer.

In every home, there is often that one antique armchair, colourful cushion or feature artwork that is a hint to the family’s personality and what will ultimately help shape their overall interior style.

With many trends flooding the industry, most people will know what they like and don’t like from what they see in the glossy

magazines. Translating that interior design style in a uniquely personal way, that’s a whole other story, and one that Katrina helps customers discover with her business Design & Decorate Interiors.

Identifying those furniture items with potential requires a keen eye, and as a qualified interior decorator Katrina does it with ease.

A chair that may seem locked into the 20th century can be reupholstered to suit a minimalist aesthetic while maintaining its charm.

ONPAKO 23

Since taking over the business four years ago, part of Katrina’s vision was creating a store that customers felt comfortable visiting. A larger part of her vision was ensuring clients feel comfortable throughout the whole interior design process and at peace with the final result.

For some customers, engaging an interior decorator can be a daunting step in the process of shaping their dream home or chosen space.

Katrina recommends visiting the store with examples of what appeals to you visually, whether that’s magazine clippings or screenshots on your mobile, as well as an open mind of the whole design and decorate process.

“Don’t over think it, just collect things you like,” she says of collecting items, before adding, “I think a lot of people are frightened that we’re going to make a decision today, and they need to understand this is a process and we work through it. This is about getting something you feel comfortable with too.”

and intermixing them confidently with modern designs and your own tastes.

When all decisions are made and the finished product presents proudly in the chosen space, observing the smile on a client’s face is the ultimate compliment for any interior designer.

“I think that’s the reward, when you know you’ve nailed it for them,” Katrina says.

Whether you lust over art deco, midcentury or modern Scandinavian – whatever design style you’re considering – Design & Decorate Interiors can help you achieve the ‘wow’ factor you’re looking for.

Katrina offers interior decoration services for individual and commercial clients in Geelong and surrounding areas and utilises quality Australian suppliers and local manufacturers to provide clients with the best consumer experience.

“

Your home should tell the story of who you are, and be a collection of what you love.

“

The best interiors have an aura of adventure and discovery, challenging you to inspect, wonder and touch. Entering the Shannon Avenue store, it’s nearly impossible to resist touching the many silky sheer curtains that drape from the ceiling, cushions of varying textures scattered throughout the room and wall upon wall of binders filled with vibrant colours and patterns.

Design & Decorate Interiors is both a source of inspiration and a comforting design retreat.

- Nate Berkus

Design & Decorate Interiors offer a range of custom made and locally manufactured soft furnishings, including upholstery, blinds, curtains and homewares, as well as wall murals and wallpaper.

Such services include a complimentary measure and quote.

The store continues to have Geelong’s most extensive range of wallpaper, including Cole & Son, Designer Guild, Harlequin, Sanderson, Osborne & Little and Thibaut to name a few.

Design & Decorate Interiors is also the official retailer for Rebel Walls, a brand that features everything from vibrant jungle inspired wall mural designs to understated art deco charm.

Katrina sometimes finds that while a customer may enter her store for one thing, they find themselves inspired by the business’ own interior and they take the leap in making further design choices for their home, office or business.

“I love listening to their stories and helping them bring their vision to reality,” she says.

Throughout the process, Katrina places a big emphasis on selecting the ideal colours for your home, which can play a pivotal role in how you feel when entering and relaxing in a space.

The whole experience, whether utilising Katrina’s interior design services or not, is about taking design features of the past 24 ONPAKO

Design & Decorate Interiors 8/130 Shannon Avenue Geelong West VIC 3218

VV03 5229 7712 OOwww.designdecorate interiors.com.au

FF /DesignDecorateInteriors

IIdesigndecorate MM katrina@designdecorate interiors.com.au

Trading Hours: Mon-Tues: 10am-4pm Wed: Closed for consultations Thu-Fri: 10am-4pm Sat: By appointment only

GEELONG LUTHERAN COLLEGE

ARTICLES AND PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED

ST JOHN’S NEWTOWN

ARMSTRONG CREEK

THE FRENCH CONNECTION

CELEBRATES 10 YEARS

Geelong Lutheran College students at the St John’s Newtown campus have edged a step closer to participation in a global society with the adoption of an innovative French immersion programme.

The announcement was celebrated with a visit by the French Honorary Consul-General Ms Myriam Boisbouvier-Wylie, as parents enjoyed a series of musical performances in French, along with savouring coffee, croissants and cheeses.

“We’re blessed to be the recipient of some Victorian Government funding for Early Learning Language Acquisition,” St John’s Campus Principal Sue Ellis said.

Head of College, Jill Lange-Mohr

Federal Member for Corangamite, Sarah Henderson, was in attendance for the mid-March official opening of the buildings by Bishop Lester Priebbenow, representing the Lutheran Church of Australia, Victoria/Tasmania.

“This allows a French Early Learning specialist to support the kindergarten students in their own experiences.”

In addition, Kindergarten to Year 2 students are also engaged in learning French through access to the ELLA (Early Learning Languages App) initiative.

The Head of College, Jill Lange-Mohr, spoke, along with Armstrong Creek Campus Principal Barry Krueger, College Pastor David Spike, College Council Chair Andrew Eichler, Business Manager Andrew Dowd and Kate Reed, representing Brand Architects.

“Our unique approach is a combination of explicit language teaching, immersive experiences within STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), design-thinking and inclass support from two native French Learning Coaches,” Ms Ellis said.

The facilities have been in use for some months and the gymnasium proved valuable again just one week later when weather threatened to jeopardise the ‘10-Year Anniversary and Shared Identity Celebration’. What was originally planned as an outdoor event, became mainly indoors as attendees were guests to an outstanding vocal performance by Abigail Fritsch. Guests were also entertained by the highly-regarded St John’s Newtown choir, before experiencing a taste of the upcoming College musical production, Seussical Jnr.

“We’re finding that the innovative nature of the approach is very engaging for our students, their families and wider school community.”

During the evening St John’s Newtown Principal, Sue Ellis, spoke on behalf of St John’s, outlining the history of education founded in the Lutheran tradition in Geelong. Her explanation was followed by Barry Krueger, as he explained the development of the Armstrong Creek campus. Jill Lange-Mohr closed formalities with an explanation of the shared identity of the two campuses.

The formal coming together of the two campuses, under the one umbrella, is driven by an overall vision to be a leading, innovative, Christ-centred learning community that inspires students to be caring, confident and creative citizens.

Prep students perform in French

French teacher Morven MacGadie and St John’s Principal Sue Ellis thank French Honorary Consul-General Ms Myriam Boisbouvier-Wylie

Geelong Lutheran College St John’s Newtown 33 Aberdeen Street Newtown VIC 3220

A 10-year anniversary is not the only cause for celebration at Geelong Lutheran College as the school community also revels in the addition of two new facilities at its Armstrong Creek campus. Formed as an extension of St John’s Newtown, the Prep to 12 College, on the corner of the Surfcoast Highway and Burvilles Road, now accommodates a fabulous state-of-the-art gymnasium and performance space, along with an expanded Technology Precinct.

Senior primary students sing in French

VV03 5221 5221 OOwww.stjohns.vic.edu.au FF /geelonglutherancollege MM admin@stjohns.vic.edu.au

Geelong Lutheran College Armstrong Creek 2-38 Burvilles Road Armstrong Creek VIC 3217 25

VV03 5264 1038 OOwww.glc.vic.edu.au FF /geelonglutherancollege MM office@glc.vic.edu.au

WISDOM HONOUR PURPOSE

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ARMSTRONG CREEK P - 12

WISDOM HONOUR PURPOSE

Taking Enrolments now for Prep – Year 12 2-38 Burvilles Road, Armstrong Creek

Encompass Community Services are on the move!

Article by: Franchette Punsalang Photographs: Supplied

These quiet achievers have been based at the river end of Pakington Street for over 20 years, transforming the lives of people living with a disability through a guided and respectful approach for more than 33 years.

However, community needs are changing and Encompass is rapidly growing. Currently, they operate from various sites in Whittington (Apollo Place and Wilsons Road), Grovedale and Leopold; with expansion plans in Wyndham Vale and Golden Plains within the year.

“It is very exciting; lots of work to do including revised operations in the Geelong CBD, Breakwater and the northern end of Pakington Street. Relocating and growing some of the existing operations is a big task and our service users live all over Greater Geelong.”

“We’ll be more easily accessible to everyone and more visible to the Geelong Community. Extending our services to Wyndham Vale and Golden Plains is all part of ensuring that we continue to respond to growing community needs,” says Encompass Community Services CEO, Elaine Robb.

Starting out as one of only nine funded Disability Employment Services in Australia in 1985, Encompass has opened its arms to embrace more people and their needs; where access to training, employment and life skills takes absolute priority. “We are peoplecentered. We believe and invest in people and are interested in working with them to help them realise their goals, no matter how long it takes,” Encompass CEO Elaine Robb says.

“Everyone deserves a fair go and people with disabilities have the same desires and goals about life as everyone else does.

People with disabilities with whom we work are people first and foremost. They want to have a home, a family, a job and they want to contribute to their community. They can, and many already do.”

Christy, an Encompass employee who works with their food services team, lives with Down syndrome. “I make the best yoyo,” she confidently states. She has been working at Encompass for over ten years now, receiving a Service Award a few years ago.

“Encompass has helped me a lot. I love coming to work because it is fun. We laugh all the time and it is okay to be silly sometimes.

30 ONPAKO

I am also great at making pies. Encompass is very lucky to have me!”

She started accessing Encompass’ life skills support program over ten years ago and discovered a passion for the kitchen. “I would like to learn how to make coffee one day. I am good at a lot of stuff and I am sure I will learn pretty quickly. Next time, you will say Christy makes the best coffee! Then I will run this place,” Christy laughs.

And what’s not to say that she can’t. There are so many people like Christy at Encompass, kicking goals and breaking stereotypes. This is the heart of what Encompass does.

They are customer service leaders in delivering NDIS supports, which include: Options and Connections, offering life skills and flexible supports; Encompass Recreation & Travel, providing a range of community-based daytime, overnight and weekend activities and mini-breaks for adults who live with a disability; and In Home Care & Domestic Supports, assisting with everyday domestic activities and personal tasks, helping to increase a person’s capacity to be independent in their own homes and participate with confidence in their community.

Through their Plan Connect service, they provide support coordination for NDIS participants, helping to implement all supports including informal, mainstream, community and funded supports.

Encompass also has a 7-acre farm - The Paddock, a leader in horticultural therapy, passionate about promoting the ‘paddock to plate’ lifestyle and implementing sustainable living practices in daily life. Produce at the farm is grown spray-free using organic principles. They also grow and provide seedlings to local farmers; and supply seasonal produce to local cafes/restaurants.

‘Pick Your Own’ produce days run in summer, opening the farm to the public to pick their own produce straight from the ground – all spray free! In partnership with The Flying Brick Cider Co, they operate an apple cider orchard with 16 varieties of heritage apples. This farm is also the site of the highly successful Pumpkin Fair.

Farm tours and sustainability workshops are conducted from time to time; and visitors are hosted by some of The Paddock participants.

The Paddock also conducts Options and Connections’ life skills and pre-employment training programs; and offers work placement/experience and volunteer opportunities to people interested in or skilled at farm work.

It is also a training venue for the Encompass College of Education and Training, a back-to-back finalist at the prestigious Victorian Training Awards.

Naomi, a single mum with three children says, “Encompass offers a supportive learning environment. I am in my 40s and going back to the classroom was a bit daunting. But the trainers and staff are amazing. You are guided the whole way through.

They are very flexible. They encourage and believe in you. I felt like a million dollars when I received my diploma!”

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Encompass offers Foundation courses; and qualifications in Retail, Production Horticulture, Individual Support, and Disability.

They also offer free pre-employment training (Basic/Intermediate Computer, Steps to Employment, Study Skills Refresher).

Encompass is also a Disability Employment Service (DES) provider. Not only are they pioneers; they are also one of the few remaining to deliver a continuous DES contract (over 30 years now). They have placed over 600 jobseekers in jobs since 2010, not including nearly 100 self-employed. They support over 50 jobseekers in one-on-one appointments per day; and works closely with them to help them achieve their goals and find a job that they love. In July 2018, Encompass’ Disability Employment Service and Gforce Employment Solutions, under EGF Solutions, have combined strengths to continue delivering inclusive and diverse employment in Geelong and more service areas.

Encompass also owns and operates social enterprises that provide access to real employment opportunities and life skills in a supportive environment. They have a one-stop shop called Hub 3219 @ Apollo, where people can shop, eat, create and connect.

HomeStart is a pre-loved furniture shop that upcycles/ repurposes furniture. Apollo Place Op Shop sells pre-loved clothing primarily for children and 3219 Eat provides cafĂŠ and catering services; including meal provision for those who access NDIS funding.

A few streets away is ReadyStart a pre-loved clothing shop that is perfect for people who are ready to look good, ready to work and ready to start again. These social enterprises provide assistance to members of the community in need.

Some volunteer-driven programs that run at these social enterprises include: Refashion Parade, a fashion parade featuring models of all abilities on the runway wearing pre-loved/ re-fashioned clothing; ReadyEarth, a sewing group that uses unwanted clothing/bedding to create sustainable shopping bags to replace plastic; Reimagine, a project that breathes new life into items deemed as rubbish to turn them into unique pieces of homewares or furniture; and HubArt, an art group that creates pieces of art using purely recycled materials.

Encompass Community Services prides itself on being a benchmark in providing universal access, reaching over 25,000 touchpoints per year, and growing! Their success in the past 33 years is primarily due to their relentless and uncompromising pursuit of access and inclusion for all; standing still is not an option for them and once again, they are on the move!

Encompass Community Services 400 Pakington Street Geelong VIC 3220

VV 03 5222 3377 32 ONPAKO

OOwww.encompass-cs.org.au II@encompasscommunityservices FF/EncompassCS MMinfo@encompass-cs.org.au

New Menu

body & soul

OPENING HOURS: BREAKFAST & LUNCH: TUESDAY - SUNDAY 7.30am - 5pm DINNER: FRIDAY & SATURDAY til 10.30pm 3 2 H I G H S T R E E T, D R Y S D A L E

5216 3025

w w w. t h e b u n g a l o w r e s t a u r a n t . c o m . a u

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RESPECT THE HISTORY ENJOY THE FUTURE

MEALS AVAILABLE

7 DAYS A WEEK LUNCH 12PM – 2:30PM DINNER 6PM – LATE WEEKEND SNACK MENU 2:30PM – 5:30PM

$12 LUNCH SPECIALS IN THE PUBLIC BAR MONDAY – SATURDAY

NYE PARTY @ THE ELEPHANT THE GLITTER GANG - BOOK NOW

158 McKILLOP ST, GEELONG e. enquiries@elephantandcastle.com.au w. www.elephantandcastle.com.au

P. 5221 3707

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TASTE DESTINATION “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”

- Virginia Woolf

Photo: Neil Robinson

CITY OF GEELONG BOWLS CLUB LUNCH & DINNER MENU | 7–9 BALLARAT RD, NORTH GEELONG | FUNCTIONS PEKISH.COM.AU | (03) 5229 8628 | CITYOFGEELONGBOWLSCLUB.COM.AU

ALTONA |

GEELONG

|

QUEENSCLIFF

ARTICLE BY: sue rawkins PHOTOGRAPHS BY: mark wilkins & supplied

FEELING PEKISH? Eat. Drink. Enjoy.

On the corner of Church Street and Ballarat Road, a brand new building beckons. The City of Geelong has recently built a Bowls Club and what a bowls club it is! An eye-catching, soaring dome structure covers one of the greens, allowing for bowls addicts to play in any weather and of course, recreation bowlers and their families and friends need their sustenance too.

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This is where Pekish comes in as their in-house caterers. Pekish is a family owned and run company that has been successfully running for over eight years and boasts 70 staff across three venues. Originally starting in the Western area of Melbourne, they have recently shifted their focus to the Geelong and Queenscliff areas.

Apart from the Bowls Club, Pekish also has restaurant and function rooms at Kooringal Golf Club, Altona and the Vue Grand Hotel, Queenscliff.

David Wertiechowski is the Owner Operator and Executive Chef and he invites customers to enjoy the diverse range of casual and formal dining that Pekish has to offer across all their venues.

His chefs enjoy incorporating local produce and acknowledging food trends while maintaining the quality of the Pekish signature dishes.

Jemma Haldane is the Geelong Head Chef and sets the menu for their lunches and dinners that are served across seven days, including Christmas Day. “We run with the seasons and use local suppliers whenever we can. We make everything here in our kitchen and our most popular dishes at the moment are the chicken scaloppini, our parmas and our steaks on our busy Wednesday night Steak Night.”

Their Operations Manager Michael Richens said, “Christmas Day 2018 was amazingly busy, considering we’d only been here a short amount of time and we expect Christmas 2019 to be a great success. With so much interest tickets are already on sale with trybookings.com.”

Venue Manager Tara Watterson said, “We are starting to get families coming in now with our $5 kids meals Monday – Friday, and our bistro seats up to 150 guests with the seating being arranged to suit any group and family gatherings.”

“The club is open to everyone – you don’t have to be a member to come here, but members do get a discount of 5-10% off all food and beverage purchases.”

Pekish are proud that they are not a pokie-driven venue, and as they are a community-based club you won’t find any pokie machines in there at all.

There is something for everyone’s tastes, whether a succulent steak, a traditional roast or seafood linguine is your preferred dish.

Weekly specials include: Monday Madness with pizza and ribs, followed by Parma Tuesdays, Steak Wednesdays, and Curry Thursdays.

There is also an extensive senior’s menu available every day.

Children are well catered for, with a playing area and special Snack Boxes with pizza, chicken tenders and chips – all their favourites, from $8.90.

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Pekish cater for events, such as Barefoot Bowling, Staff Parties, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Christenings and Communions, Reunions and Graduations.

For Barefoot Bowlers, the function areas are within the Member’s Bar, Bistro or Terrace Area. Barbeque Buffets are always popular and include gourmet sausages, house-made burgers, garden salads, coleslaws and assorted bread, or marinated chicken, grilled fish, assorted buns, garden salad and potato salad.

For a more gourmet option they have slow-cooked pork ribs, miniature pulled pork burgers, potato salad and coleslaw.

Or perhaps slow-cooked Greek-style lamb, lemon and herb potatoes, Greek salad, pita breads and tzatziki is more to your liking?

Get a little fiesta going with the Mexican spiced beef and chicken, soft corn tortillas, cheese and guacamole, salsa and sour cream.

Lovers of traditional fare will enjoy the beef lasagne and Mediterranean pasta bake with garlic bread and garden salad.

For those lovers of all things spicy, there is butter chicken, saffron rice, warm roti bread and mint raita.

Extras such as vegetable arancini balls, salt and pepper calamari, teriyaki beef skewer, smokey BBQ chicken wings and prawn skewers are other options.

For more relaxed events, platters can be pre-ordered and include Pizza Boards with options such as pumpkin, sun-dried tomatoes, mushroom and roast capsicum, or double smoked ham with glazed pineapple, BBQ chicken, smoked bacon, red onion, Texan BBQ sauce, or a vegetarian option such as Roma tomato, fresh basil and mozzarella cheese.

There are also assorted sandwiches with gluten-free bread available if requested, and of course, sweet treats, consisting of a seasonal fruit platter, gourmet petit four tarts, two-bite tartlets and fruit curd tarts; mini cupcakes and assorted jim jams.

There is also Special Occasion Finger Food with Wait Service or a Buffet Drop, with cold and hot options such as mini Schezuan chicken burgers, Thai fish cakes and brioche sliders with pulled pork among the many choices.

Pekish can also deliver and serve the same high standard of food at your home or workplace in partnership with Uber Eats or pre-arrangement.

Pekish City of Geelong Bowls Club 7-9 Ballarat Road North Geelong VIC 3215

VV03 5229 8628

MMcityofgbc@cogbc.com.au Dining Hours: 7 Days a week Lunch: Midday - 2.30pm Dinner: 5.30pm - 9.30pm

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TRADITIONAL VIETNAMESE CUISINE

Order online: www.hanoikitchen.com.au Catering/Functions/Cooking School Hours: Open 11am – Late, Tuesday – Sunday | Closed Monday 37 Hitchcock Ave, Barwon Heads | 03 4202 0525 | enquiry@hanoikitchen.com.au | www.hanoikitchen.com.au

King George Fish and Grill

ARTICLE BY: AMANDA SHERRING PHOTOGRAPHS BY: MARK WILKINS AND SUPPLIED

Gluten free dining on the waterfront and more

Back in 2012, George Likoudis had a vision for fish and chips in Geelong.

At the time George was just opening his Pakington Street venue and could see a gap in the industry for gluten free items.

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“I’d done my research at the time and Geelong had the largest number of celiacs in Australia. There were 10,500 celiacs in Australia back then,” he says.

Realising fish and chip shops hadn’t considered this audience, George set about researching this further; what kind of flour to use, the perfect consistency for the batter and ways to maintain that same taste in the finished product, just minus the gluten.

It wasn’t until George relocated to the waterfront in 2014, that the timing was right to put his knowledge of gluten free dishes to the test.

“Since moving to the waterfront, I could see that gluten free food everywhere was just going crazy,” George says.

“We’d have staff meetings and a lot of staff were saying they were getting customers asking for gluten free. So I sat down with the chefs and said, ‘What can we do and how can we make this work with what we have?’”

Implementing this change at the restaurant meant a separate fryer had to be installed and separate utensils to be purchased to truly ensure items on the menu were gluten free and wouldn’t be cross contaminated.

The change has been so successful staff at King George Fish and Grill have coined the term ‘Gluten-free Sundays’ for the last day of the week.

George adds that even those menu items that aren’t listed as gluten free, up to 90% of their dishes can be made to fit the dietary requirement.

Favourites on the gluten free menu include the southern chicken burger with King George fried chicken, battered flake and of course the specially fried chips. To cover the cost of gluten free items, there is a minimal additional charge, but you really can’t put a price on having special dietary options.

Another point of difference that came with the opening of the waterfront outlet, which was George’s third location, was the addition of modern dining for a fish and chip store – something that was previously unheard of in the region.

“Geelong needed a waterfront fish and chip shop with sit-down dining and a liquor license,” he says.

“We are a fish and chip shop but we also have that restaurant element as well. I just thought I’d open one up and see how it goes.”

This new dining experience for fish and chips was a success, and on any given day many customers can be seen sitting inside or outside at the venue enjoying their meals.

Ordering with King George Fish and Grill can still be that traditional takeaway experience, with many families stopping by for their fish and chips and walking across the road to enjoy their bounty by the bay. Whatever your preference, King George Fish and Grill caters to a broad patronage.

In addition to its high quality seafood offerings – which ranges from flake through to salmon and oysters – King George Fish and Grill offers burgers, souvlakis, salads and even fish tacos.

The burgers have been an extremely popular menu item ONPAKO 43

FULL GLUTEN FREE MENU FRESH, SUSTAINABLE AUSTRALIAN SEAFOOD FULLY LICENSED WITH THE BEST WATERFRONT VIEWS IN GEELONG

open 7 days For lunch & dinner

takeaway available

100 Western Beach Road, Geelong Waterfront kinggeorgefishandgrill.com.au | 03 5221 6267

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for the eatery, with their options providing a twist on the fish and chip shop classics. King George Fish and Grill has seven different burgers in total, including the jalapeno burger made with a Wagyu beef patty, the gummy burger made with fried flake topped with spicy sriracha and tartare sauce and the increasingly popular veggie burger.

Of the seven burgers, five can be made gluten free with the addition of a specially selected bun.

“The burgers are massive for us,” George remarks.

Souvlakis are also a popular lunch and dinner selection, also offering seven options to choose from, proving you really are spoilt for choice at King George Fish and Grill.

Desserts have recently been reintroduced to the menu, with all items made in-house. Choices on the menu include sticky date pudding, chocolate brownie and baklava. A unique addition is a nod to George’s heritage with the Greek doughnut, loukoumades.

Made popular with food trucks in Melbourne, loukoumades is an alternative to the doughnut craze sweeping Geelong.

white is made with a ristretto pour, ensuring optimal flavour is drawn from the coffee beans.

“If you get a long black it’s going to be 30ml from a single pour.

Every morning I adjust the machine and make sure the blend is right,” George says.

With each menu change, George works closely with the chefs to make sure they craft a collection of dishes that add something new to fish and chips in Geelong.

Each decision George makes that shapes the business comes from a childhood growing up in the hospitality industry.

“I’m not a chef but I’ve been cooking since I was 9,” he says.

“I’ve learnt off my father and my mother, as I was born into business. I’d be waking up at 4.30am in the morning and peeling spuds with my father and wouldn’t go to bed until 11 o’clock at night. I’ve been in the kitchen my whole life.”

Serving as the second generation of his family to operate a fish and chip business, you can be certain that George knows his stuff.

“The Greek doughnut is a little ball, which is crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. You put a lemon honey syrup on the top with crushed walnuts and cinnamon and sugar,” George says.

King George Fish and Grill

These desserts are paired perfectly with a coffee, which is custom-brewed in Melbourne for the venue using Lavazza beans.

100 Western Beach Road Geelong VIC 3220

“I wanted something that’s easy to be made, as different hands make different kinds of coffee,” George says.

Staff are regularly trained on the machine to ensure each coffee produced is nearly identical. Every latte, cappuccino and flat

VV03 5221 6267 OOwww.kinggeorgefishandgrill. com.au

MMkgfishandgrill@gmail.com IIkinggeorgefishandgrill FF /kinggeorgewaterfront Opening Hours: Mon: 11.30am - 3.30pm Tues-Thurs: 11.30am - 8.30pm Fri -Sat: 11.30am - 9.00pm Sun: 11.30am - 8.30pm ONPAKO 45

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-5 m a 0 1

ARTICLE BY: Talin Hadlow

Scully’s Oyster Bar & Grill

PHOTOGRAPHS BY: MARK WILKINS

DELIGHTFUL HARBOURSIDE DINING Scully’s Oyster Bar & Grill is perfectly positioned along the picturesque waterfront of Queenscliff Harbour, boasting fresh quality seafood and grilled meats for locals and tourists alike to enjoy.

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Being one of the only fresh seafood, dine-in restaurants in Queenscliff, Scully’s provide an atmospheric experience for their customers. Guests can relax on the outdoor seating, sipping a glass of wine from Bellarine wineries, and delighting in a platter of fresh seafood from local suppliers whilst watching the boats sail by.

Otherwise, you may like to casually dine inside, enjoying some privacy whilst still catching the view.

With views of the marina, the observation tower and the ferry terminal, Scully’s is positioned perfectly on the boardwalk and surrounded by independent homewares and clothing stores and other eateries. This makes Scully’s a great restaurant destination for not only locals who can stroll down to the harbour on any given day, but also for visitors from surrounding regions and tourists travelling to Queenscliff, whether it be via the ferry from Sorrento or driving from afar locations such as Apollo Bay. “People come to Queenscliff because it is a destination,” Scully’s new Manager and Chef, Nick Patel says, before adding, “People come to Scully’s because they love the seafood. They catch the ferry over from Sorrento to spend the day or weekend on this side of the bay. We have customers come back annually and even weekly who love the seafood and restaurant.

They come here for the good view, good food and atmosphere. Everyone wants to sit outside, especially during the summer, to make the most of the beautiful view and day.”

It is the peaceful surroundings, lovely setting and fabulous fresh food that makes Scully’s Oyster Bar & Grill a destination restaurant in Queenscliff.

This unique location provides the restaurant with opportunity to supply its customers with quality fresh seafood and vegetables from the Bellarine Peninsula. Something Nick and staff, pride themselves on, taking full advantage of the fresh local produce available.

Nick shares, “We order our seafood through Clamms Seafood or locals which we go to first if they have supply. During the summertime we go to Melbourne Market a lot for our fresh fish. We only buy local vegetables from Eddy’s Fresh Fruit & Vegies, which are guaranteed organic.”

Ethically sourced and organic local produce are an important aspect at Scully’s, Nick explains, “We like to know where our food comes from so we can supply our customers with the best. This way, we are supporting the community as well as creating great quality food.”

Scully’s signature dishes include the seafood chowder, seafood platter and a classic serve of whole prawns. During the warmer months you can order a hot and cold seafood platter consisting of fresh prawns, calamari, market fish, oysters, scallops, blue swimmer crab and more. Specials may include Morton Bay Bugs, mussel pots and calamari.

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oyster bar & grill

OPEN 7 DAYS

• Specialising in fresh seafood • Also a wide range of steak & beef from our grill • Icy cold Carlton Draught & Pale Ale on tap Shop 4/4 Wharf Street East, Queenscliff Harbour 3225 (03) 5258 4377 |

www.scullys.com.au |

fi

info@scullys.com.au

The star of the show as the restaurant’s name suggests, is the Coffin Bay oysters which are purchased from local seafood suppliers Barwon Foods and Jenkins & Son. Freshly shucked either on sight or at the suppliers, the oysters are abundant and tasty and can be found on the seafood platters or ordered as their own dish. The oysters are served from a choice of natural, Kilpatrick or tempura.

The grill boasts fine cuts of rib eye steak, marinated chicken breast and smoky BBQ pork ribs, with other selections including slow cooked beef cheeks and more, thus making Scully’s the perfect balance between sea and land. The restaurant also offers gluten free and vegetarian dishes such as the shiitake mushroom risotto and vegetarian pastas.

Scully’s offers a lunchtime menu which includes grilled meat sandwiches and burgers, as well as a menu for the young ones.

It’s an accommodating restaurant, innovative with its menu options and accessible to all guests, whether they’re regulars, visitors, families or those who just feel like a bowl of crunchy hot chips on the boardwalk.

For wine enthusiasts, the waiterperson can recommend a wine to complement the meal from local wineries including Scotchmans Hill, Marcus Hill and Terindah Estate. There is also a large selection of New Zealand and European wines to choose from.

Chef Nick says of the menu, “We have a lot of people come in weekly for the seafood platters. We introduced those this year and they’re selling well. Especially over the summer, everyone favours cold fresh seafood whilst sitting outside,” he continues, “During the summer we keep the same menu of seafood and grill and change it during winter. The winter menu still has the seafood but people like something a bit heartier, so we’re going to have more warmer dishes like curries and cuisines from different parts of the world. Maybe some Italian, some Indian food, to create a diverse menu.”

Introducing new flavours to the menu such as Thai beef curries and Indian flavours, will be a change to the restaurant, however, it will give diners the option to warm up with a heartier, flavoursome meal during the cold winter months. This change of menu is planned to take place at the same time the front of house is to be refurbished.

Since Nick took over management two and a half years ago, plans to expand the menu and renew the front of house at Scully’s will be actioned this winter.

“The old bar will be replaced, and the display cabinets taken out,” Nick states, “There will be some other changes too, perhaps the name or more inside, but it’s yet to be decided. We are only expected to be closed for two weeks whilst we remodel during the early stages of winter.”

This revamp will give Scully’s a modern update and new flare, boasting a contemporary bar and interior, ready for the next busy summer period.

With an exciting transformation on the horizon, Scully’s is a port of call to drop anchor now and in the coming months to savour their evolving menu within a relaxed atmosphere with a second to none view of the marina.

Scully’s Oyster Bar & Grill 4/4 Wharf Street East Queenscliff Harbour VIC 3225

VV03 5258 4377 OOwww.scullys.com.au

FF /scullysoysterbarandgrill II/scullys-oyster-bar-grill MM info@scullys.com.au Opening Hours: Sun-Thurs: 11am-5pm Fri-Sat: 11am-9pm ONPAKO 51 51

ONPAKO feature…

ART & CULTURE

ART & CULTURE

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GEELONG PERFORMING ARTS

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED

Creating chaos when the natural balance is tipped over

Circus Oz tumbles back into Geelong in May/ June with Precarious, a new show filled with the company’s trademark phenomenal acrobatics, spectacular aerials, live music and physical comedy.

Precarious takes us on a journey through an intriguing world, there are remnants of our icy past but this future reality is anything but. Inhabitants navigate this unknown world guided by their surroundings and their own ingenuity.

Precarious is inspired by the icy plains of the Antarctic and the extraordinary energies and colours of the Aurora Australis. These new arrivals must manipulate their surroundings, and each other, in order to turn the inhospitable into the possible. In this new show, the physicality of the human body demonstrates how easily the natural balance can be upended, creating chaos on a human and global scale.

trapeze, mesmerising mono wheel moves, fearless pole displays, and dynamic hula hooping, all hilariously woven with original music from the Circus Oz live band.

Innovative circus acts and apparatus are unearthed as the ensemble pushes beyond the normal to create an exciting threedimensional world exposing the fragility that exists between humanity and nature.

Precarious is a 70-minute non-stop spectacle of acrobatic mayhem for audiences of all ages and comes to Geelong Performing Arts Centre’s Playhouse as part of the 2019 Deakin University Theatre Season for 4 performances from May 30-June 1.

The unique skills and talents of the Circus Oz ensemble include extraordinary foot juggling, jaw-dropping aerial straps and

A family price of just $45 per ticket is available for all performances. See more at gpac.org.au or phone the Box Office on 03 5225 1200.

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Steel Art Australia

ARTICLE BY: Amanda Sherring PHOTOGRAPHS BY: Mark Wilkins

Creativity with a spark Husband and wife duo Daniel and Bianca McDonnell are giving new meaning to the word art. Through their family business Steel Art Australia, the couple have been shaping steel into pelicans, dinosaur skeletons and structural pieces to showcase in your home or garden.

ART & CULTURE

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At their new location on the Midland Highway in Meredith, these items are proudly on display throughout the gardens and are quite literally causing drivers to stop by for a visit.

Moving to the site in late 2018, Daniel and Bianca still have much more planned for the space. Utilising Bianca’s background in landscaping, they plan to create a sculpture garden to inspire, appreciate and to serve as the perfect setting for events and live music.

A lease is currently available for a likeminded business to open a café in the custom-built, quirky space the couple have created.

The space is ready to go with a steel truck crafted to form the counter and rustic-style bench seating lining the side of the building. It’s just waiting for the right person to complete the couple’s vision.

“We want to be a destination and a tourist attraction for Meredith,” Bianca says.

With aspirations for their business to become something like the Big Pineapple in Queensland, the couple really just want to create an extra reason for people to stop by the regional town.

“If people want to come on the weekend and just have a look, we encourage that,” Bianca says. “We want to be a point where people meet up with family and friends.”

“We have a lot of regular customers that come in and it’s their regular Saturday outing and they feel a part of the space.”

After five months since moving, the space is very much on the way to fulfilling the couple’s vision with well over 20 pieces of art displayed in the garden and many more still to come.

“What we will put here won’t scrape the surface of what we have done and what we can do,” Daniel says.

Working across interior and exterior designs, there are few jobs Daniel and Bianca haven’t taken on. Recently Daniel worked with a new business on a fit out for their store with a custom-built steel staircase and steel feature wall.

The brief was simply to give the impression the steel was taken from the Titanic in the depths of the ocean and brought into the store.

Other tasks have seen the couple create life size whale fins, personalised garden screens, outdoor chairs and even a five metre anatomically correct redback spider.

No matter how challenging or simple the request, Daniel and Bianca are happy to do whatever they can to accommodate the customer – even down to a small $50 gift for a loved one.

“We’re working for the customer,” Daniel says.

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Before Bianca adds, “And at a budget they can afford. We’re trying to cater for all sorts of crowds so that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a sculpture.”

FREE MEASURE & QUOTE SERVICE

CUSTOM MADE STEEL ART & SCULPTURE

garden & wall art • screens • gates • fences • outdoor furniture • fire pits • balustrades 55 Wallace Street, Meredith | steelartaustralia@hotmail.com | 0430 781 918 |

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“We like to have one-on-ones with the clients and get them to bring in some photos. We work together to achieve something to suit their space. So we’re here to help the client as well as produce what we do.”

As a result Bianca and Daniel don’t believe in mass-producing items. This means the couple never lose interest in reproducing the same items and each piece taken home by clients is truly one of a kind. You can be assured that every purchase is custom-built.

“We don’t sell online the same items over and over again, that’s not what we want to do,” Daniel says.

“We get enjoyment out of every job we build,” Bianca says. “Everything we create is different, so it’s not boring. We never mass produce things.”

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A great example of something that is normally mass-produced is metal screens for gardens, fencing and general outdoor use.

Normally screens are made with a small design selection that often doesn’t capture the personality or style of a customer – but at Steel Art Australia their focus is on that customisation.

“Instead of just picking from five things you have the chance to fully design your own screen. It’d be like going to a painter and saying, ‘Can you paint my family?’ – not too many people offer that,” Daniel adds.

A recent customer living near the You Yangs approached Daniel to create a screen that represented his home and elements of his life.

Within the screen was a stencil of his 4WD as well as a windmill like the one on his property and the mountains in the background.

“I’ll say to someone, ‘What do you want on it? Work out if you want a pattern or design a picture’,” Daniel says before adding, “It’s almost like a tattoo.”

Fire pits can be just as customised, with the couple encouraging customers to think about size, design flourishes and its purpose to help shape its overall design.

What some people mightn’t realise is the effort that goes into creating the client’s vision. After an initial consultation and a brief from the customer, Daniel and Bianca will go away and research online, in books and at physical sites to find imagery that fits the concept. These visuals are then combined to create a draft sketch, which is taken once again to the client before hitting the tools. It’s a long process, but the couple truly love what they do.

“As long as the customer’s happy when they come and pick it up that’s good,” Daniel says.

As a family-owned business with just Bianca and Daniel on the tools, the couple have found a happy medium between what they each bring to the business.

Working in the industry as a boilermaker since he was 15, Daniel covers the structural, larger pieces that require slightly more industry knowledge. And with a background in gardening, Bianca specialises in items for the garden and intricate sculpture pieces.

Bianca is passionate about the work she does, and in particular working in a male-dominated industry, proving that women can work with the same tools men do.

“There’s lots of women out there who would love to learn how to weld,” she says.

Having created pieces for Austins & Co, Clyde Park, Geelong Flower Farm, the Fork & Flower Café and many, many others, Steel Art Australia can provide solutions for both commercial or residential customers.

Steel Art Australia

“We do all sorts of things and we just want to keep growing. If the client is confused and doesn’t know what they want, we’re the people to see,” Bianca says.

VV0430 781 918

55 Wallace Street Meredith VIC 3333

FF /Steel-Art-Australia II/steelartaustralia MM steelartaustralia@hotmail.com ART & CULTURE

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Tuckers Funeral & Bereavement Service

ARTICLE BY: supplied PHOTOGRAPHS: supplied

SELF-CARE Taking the time to breathe...and implement selfcare into your life.

What do you do to nourish yourself?

The obvious answer might be to eat a varied diet rich in wholefoods, drink plenty of water and get a decent sleep each night. We’re talking about nourishment at a deeper level – on a soul level.

How do you care for yourself?

We’re sure you’re wonderful at caring for your family, meeting important deadlines at work and walking the dog, but what do you do for YOU?Struggling to find the answer, don’t worry we’ve got some ideas.

Learn how to take care of yourself and do it daily. That’s a Tuckers’ non-negotiable.

Most of us know that we should be practicing self-care, but when it comes to implementing it into our daily lives we struggle.

While you may be juggling several priorities at once, it often leads to leaving your own needs at the bottom of your to-do list.

Sure, social outings, salon appointments, and gym sessions might be considered self-care, but at its core self-care is about regular activities that help you recharge and make you feel good.

If you’re not making time for daily self-care, you’re more likely to feel stressed, unfulfilled and overwhelmed.

Becoming the best version of you involves taking care of your mind, body, and soul. To help you make self-care part of your daily routine and stick to it, here are four tips to get you started.

You need to love what you are doing If you’re only doing something because everybody else is doing it but you absolutely hate it, the more likely it is that you won’t commit to it.

The key to sticking to your self-care routine is finding activities that you love and that you look forward to at the end of a long day. Good books, new hobbies, or simply good food with loved ones, whatever it is, take note and try to make more time to do it. From each new activity you’ll increase your enjoyment of life.

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Caring for our Community since 1883 Ph: 5221 4788

www.tuckers.com.au

Focus on the feeling practicing self-care gives you and let that dictate how you implement it into your days.

It’s important to remember that it doesn’t have to be lengthy, complicated or cost money.

The whole point of having a daily self-care routine is to help you recharge and relax, so make it as simple as you need it to be to fit into your lifestyle.

Remain flexible Commit to implementing your self-care routine while allowing yourself to play around with how you implement it. Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.

There are some days that will be easier to practice self-care and others where it might seem impossible. Things will get in the way and that’s an inevitable part of life.

When this happens, it’s important to let go of the reigns a bit.

Don’t be too hard on yourself and remember that every day is a fresh start to get back to it.

So, fill it to the brim with all your favourite things and activities.

To create a daily self-care routine that works for you and your lifestyle, try experimenting with different things that light you up and make you happy.

Here are some ideas to get you started: • Reading • Yoga • Listening to podcasts • Going for a walk • Journaling • Dance class Try new things and find what works for you. Remember, your selfcare routine should be personalised to you and you alone.

Plan and schedule it The truth is, if we don’t make time for self-care, we probably won’t find the time for it. Make self-care a non-reschedulable appointment with yourself. Schedule it in your calendar and set reminders if you need to.

For example, block off 30 minutes in the morning to do yoga and 30 minutes at night to read. Tell your family or housemates what times you will be unavailable. Make it as official as possible.

When you plan and schedule self-care, it becomes easier to fit it in your days.

Keep your routine simple Changing our thinking from it is just another thing on our plate to believing that it is a necessary part of our daily routine, will help you from feeling guilty about self-care, to understanding that If we don’t do it, it’s a disservice to those around us.

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If your daily self-care goals are to get daily movement and nourish your mind give yourself permission to play around with how you will achieve those goals. Create a basic structure but stay flexible in your methods.

Keep a list of your favourite self-care ideas. Some days, you might have more time than others so choose activities that you can take your time on. On days that you have limited time, opt for quicker activities.

No two days are the same, so work with your schedule to figure out what works best for you in that moment.

Whether you’re just starting out with self-care or you’re struggling to get back into a routine, these tips will help guide you in sticking to a daily self-care routine that will bring joy, relaxation, and peace into your life.

Sometimes it’s the little things that get us by. Like watching the clouds, observing our little ones grow, sunsets on a winter’s night or sitting quietly listening to music. These little things add to our daily joy, but if we let our everyday routines take over, it’s easy to forget to slow down and enjoy the moment...The team at Tuckers hope that you take the time to breath...To live a little, self-care isn’t selfish, self-care is love. It’s self-healing. It’s self-compassion, so you have the capacity to take care of others. We all need to practice self-care, because we all need to look after each other.

Tuckers Funeral & Bereavement Service

MMwest@tuckers.com.au OOwww.tuckers.com.au

VV03 5221 4788

Business Hours: Mon-Fri: 8.30am–5pm Sat and Sun: 10am–2pm

55 Hope Street Geelong West VIC 3218

ONPAKO feature…

FASHION & BEAUTY

FASHION & BEAUTY

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P R E G N A N C Y + B A B Y L I F E S T Y L E S TO R E 1A Minerva Rd, Herne Hill VIC 3218 | (03) 4227 2003

O pen M on – S at 9 am – 5 pm o r S H O P O N L I N E

www.aq u am a te r n i ty. c o m . a u

if

Lou, Kath, Penni & Genevieve

OPEN mon: 9am­­—5pm tues: 9am—7pm wed & thurs: by appointment fri: 9am­—7pm sat: 8am—3pm

3 Friends Styling is about creativity, having a laugh and offering amazing individual customer service to our gorgeous clients. Enjoy the journey to looking fabulous!

362a Pakington Street, Newtown

3friendsstyling@gmail.com

0466 521 941

fi

SERGIO JE W E L L E R AN D DE S I G N E R Your Specialist for Jewellery Remodels and Repairs...

Craftmanship should never be compromised.

125 Pakington Street, Geelong West | 0400 100 989 | sergio.m.macchia@gmail.com www.jewellerybysergio.com

Also available at The Convent Gallery, Daylesford 72 FASHION & BEAUTY

ARTICLE BY: Amanda Sherring PHOTOGRAPHS BY: Mark Wilkins

Jewellery by Sergio

Delivering quality craftmanship For more than 30 years, Sergio Macchia has been giving treasured, but unused, pieces of jewellery a new lease of life.

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“

No matter the piece and the story behind it, Sergio loves the challenge of working with the old to make it new again.

Often pieces that have been handed down for generations or gifted by loved ones, these items sit forgotten in drawers, boxes and on dressing tables – too sentimental to throw away but not quite suited to the individual to wear.

“They’ve brought in a whole lot of jewellery that they really love and a lot of the time it’s just sitting there and for many of them it’s too expensive to replace,” Sergio says.

“That’s what jewellery is all about, it’s all very sentimental.”

No matter the piece and the story behind it, Sergio loves the challenge of working with the old to make it new again.

“They come in with some ideas and then I put it all together with what they’ve got and what they like,” he says.

Following an initial consultation, Sergio takes the piece of jewellery and creates a wax mould of his vision for what it can become. Sergio then applies these changes to the actual item and shows this unset version once again to the customer before any final changes are made.

With each change made to the original, Sergio is careful to maintain the story of the item while capturing the style of the customer to recreate the piece. He is passionate about the finer details of every item he works on.

“

“It’s lots of fun, and it’s a journey that you take that’s for both of you at the same time,” he says of working with clients.

Working with jewellery in this manner isn’t suited to all jewellers, however Sergio thrives on attention to detail, love for colour and appreciation of classic designs.

74 FASHION & BEAUTY

SERGIO JE W E L L E R AN D DE S I G N E R Your Specialist for Jewellery Remodels and Repairs...

Craftmanship should never be compromised.

125 Pakington Street, Geelong West | 0400 100 989 | sergio.m.macchia@gmail.com www.jewellerybysergio.com

Also available at The Convent Gallery, Daylesford

“I like every element and I love everything. Combining them all together is an amazing thing too. To try and create something from a lot of different elements and make one piece is a challenge in itself, and it’s all very design based,” he says.

As well as restyling existing items, the business also completes repairs and restorations. A simple repair may even be completed in a couple of days, where a remodel may take up to six weeks.

Sergio isn’t precious about his business and simply wants the best for his clients. If there is something they can’t do in-house, he uses his understanding of the local industry to recommend someone who can.

“It’s always good to work in with the community, and that’s what it’s all about. If we can’t do something then we send them to somebody that can,” he says.

Recently moving to a retail space on Pakington Street, Jewellery

by Sergio has been in the jewellery business since 1985. His business stands as one of the few in the region that offers remodels, repairs and new items for purchase.

The new space showcases the craft of jewellery making to everyone that steps through the door. Several workspaces fill the shop, providing customers the opportunity to watch the process unfold before their eyes.

Displayed in the many glass counters in the windows and cabinets at the front of the store is an array of local jewellery designs – all offering varying styles.

What followed was some work experience at a jewellery store, and an apprenticeship where he honed his craft of exceptional quality jewellery design.

Sergio then worked in South Melbourne, where he gained an appreciation for diamonds and large-scale intricate pieces as he toiled away on tiaras, large brooches and elaborate earrings.

Now 34 years since starting in the industry, you’d be hard-pressed to find a piece of jewellery that Sergio hasn’t had cross his desk.

While the industry has changed, what hasn’t is Sergio’s love for colour, timeless pieces and the challenge of continually evolving from one design to the next.

“One piece is better than the next and you’re only as amazing as your last,” Sergio says.

Often the true sign of an amazing design is one that puts a smile on the customer’s face and something they’re happy to display with pride on their body. Sergio is passionate about creating exceptional quality jewellery, at an exceptional price for his customers.

“We’re here to help the clientele and create what they want,” he says proudly.

And moments after finishing up our interview; Sergio did just that – starting the process all over again with a new client stepping through his door.

“I love different artists and I love what they offer, and we’re all different and I love that,” Sergio says before adding, “We all can’t do one thing for everyone, so it’s about bringing all of those people into one place.”

Jewellery designers on offer are Victoria Edgar, BLT Jewellery, Alex Jewellery, Liz Gardner and Kat Lucas, with each one as unique from the other.

There is even a collection of Jewellery by Sergio creations on display at the Convent Gallery in Daylesford, a space celebrated for its craft and creativity.

This is what Sergio hopes to create within his own store as he endeavours to establish a gallery space showcasing local jewellers as he continues to settle into the new building.

While much of Sergio’s business centres around redesigns and repairs, he still makes time to craft pieces from scratch.

“I love to do all my own designs and create all my own pieces.

It’s always interesting creating things for yourself, because as much as you’re creating something for yourself, you’re creating something for the public as well,” he says.

Defining his style as “classic”, with perhaps a touch of contemporary, Sergio began developing this flair long before he started his apprenticeship in jewellery design.

“I remember as a young little boy at 14 and 15 [years of age], I was looking in jewellery shops and loving it. Loving the colours, loving the gold, loving the diamonds, and I think when I was 15 I said to my careers advisor, ‘This is what I want to do’,” he says.

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Jewellery by Sergio 125 Pakington Street Geelong West VIC 3218

VV0400 100 989

Trading Hours: Mon – Fri: 8.30am – 5.30pm Saturday : 9.00am – 4.00pm

OOwww.jewellerybysergio.com MMsergio.m.macchia@ gmail.com

FF/jewellerybysergio II/jewellerybysergio

Here to help.

Talk to Christine Howard, your local Bank Manager, today.

0457 504 425 choward@westpac.com.au 166 Pakington Street, Geelong West, VIC

© Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141 AFSL and Australian credit licence 233714.

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GET YOUR EPIC ON!

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED

The Range @ Curlewis BIG fun parties, kid’s birthdays, ‘no excuse needed’ gatherings - enter The Range @ Curlewis and you’ll quickly discover a blockbuster experience of epic proportions for fun lovers and foodies. State-of-the-art technology for the golfing purist to test out their swing DNA, ball speed, smash and spin factor is just the beginning! Step into one of 18 indoor/outdoor driving bays and go for a goal or hit one of the targets popping from the expansive green frontier. A cool two tiered mini golf course is another key attraction - enter spectacular and tackle rocks, logs, water and other hazards to find your form. Two XGolf simulators are also on hand to guarantee a futuristic challenge and fun on more than 80 of the world’s best courses.

Seven day a week hospitality serves up breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner – as well as snacks galore. Great coffee, fabulous cocktails, smoothies, lots of beers, wines and spirits too! (Hint: the popular BBB option - Bucket of balls, Beverage and Burger is pretty hard to resist…)

What are you waiting for?! Get your epic on!

The Range @ Curlewis 1201 Portarlington Rd, Curlewis VIC 3222

VV(03) 5251 1111

Open 7 days from 7am-late!

OOwww.curlewisgolf.com.au MMhello@curlewisgolf.com.au FFCurlewis Golf Club II@curlewisgolf ONPAKO 79

Swimming Lessons —

A GIFT FOR LIFE

ARTICLE BY:

Deb Gill, Owner/Manager, Geelong Aquatic Centre PHOTOGRAPHS: Supplied

Why is it so important that everyone learns how to swim?

It is concerning to see the drowning statistics released from Life Saving Victoria, which highlight that those most at risk include young children, teenagers and young adults, particularly those participating in high risk activities or alcohol affected, or recently arrived citizens who possibly do not speak or read the English language.

While there has been a decrease in the drowning statistics throughout the previous ten years due to education and advertising campaigns, the challenge is to create and maintain a water safety culture in Victoria while increasing participation in aquatic activity.

Of the 1230km of Victorian coastline, there are 588 ocean beaches. There are approximately 450 public and commercial swimming pools throughout the state and an estimated 139,000 backyard swimming pools.

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Learning to swim and being respectful of, and confident in the water in pools, lakes, rivers, dams and at beaches, is essential for babies, young children, school age children, teenagers and adults.

Knowing how to swim increases the ability to react and survive in stressful situations in all water environments. Children who are happy and confident in the water will be more able to think themselves out of a difficult situation and be in a position to most quickly, safely and enjoyably, learn to swim.

Swimming helps the body to use oxygen more efficiently by providing a steady cardiovascular workout that stimulates the heart and lung function. It helps children and adults improve essential skills such as balance, posture, coordination and concentration.

Swimming is a skill that can be learnt at any age, but is best taught early on. Movement in water can lead to a lifetime of fitness and the ability to exercise with less stress on joints than running.

Children need regular and ongoing lessons until they reach the required skill level. By swimming all year-round they retain skills and build techniques easily.

Breaks in learning to swim, mean valuable time is lost, and when lessons resume skills must be revised and often re-learnt. Those who take year-round lessons are stronger and better able to resist colds throughout the winter months.

Studies have shown that children who have learned to swim do better at school and decision-making. Water is such a wonderful medium by which children receive many different stimuli. Regular swimming reduces an infant’s and child’s rate of illness.

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It is important that teens continue their lessons until they can confidently swim at least four hundred metres, as they are more likely to be around water when parents are not present.

Swimming is one of the few sports and activities that all generations in the family can engage in together. Being a competent swimmer is far more than a skill for recreation and enjoyment. It is a skill that may save a life.

Most sports teams use swimming as a therapeutic warm-down after strenuous activity and a means of increasing aerobic capacity. Children who are confident swimmers have the benefit of participating in individual and team sports and a variety of healthy recreational water sports.

Geelong Aquatic Centre is a specialist Learn-to-Swim centre and is the ideal venue for infants, children of all ages and adults, to learn swimming and survival skills. All levels can be catered for in the two 25 metre pools and one learner’s pool. All pools are heated and salt chlorinated.

Lessons are taught in a sequentially developmental programme, where children are not advanced until each skill is attained to a proficient standard, so that confidence and competence is maintained.

The centre also offers squads for children and masters, triathlon squads for adults and children, aqua aerobics and rehabilitation and lap swimming. A specialist learn-to-swim programme for children with special needs, who find it challenging to participate in mainstream lessons, is run on a Saturday afternoon in school term-time.

During the school holidays the pool is open for family swim time from 1-4pm weekdays and on Friday nights from 5.30 - 7.00pm during the school term.

Geelong Swimming Club train over the winter months with their junior squads, and on Saturday mornings all year round.

All staff at Geelong Aquatic Centre are well-qualified and passionate about teaching those under their guidance to become confident and capable in the water.

Geelong Aquatic Centre firmly believes in its motto: “Swimming Lessons - A Gift for Life”.

All children and adults should learn how to swim and survive.

Enrol in one of Geelong Aquatic Centre’s holiday intensive programmes. Lessons are for 40 minutes, commencing at 9am Monday to Friday.

Enrolments are now being taken for Term Two 2019.

Contact the centre on 03 5222 5530 and speak to our friendly reception staff to register for any of the available programmes or to arrange a trial lesson.

Geelong Aquatic Centre 3 Bridge Street, Newtown, VIC 3220

VV(03) 5222 5530

Hours: Mon-Fri: 7am–7pm Sat: 7am–4pm

MMadmin@geelongaquaticcentre. com.au

OOgeelongaquaticcentre.com.au FF@officialgeelongaquaticcentre II@geelongaquaticcentre ONPAKO 83

HIP GREEN FUN! Fun, Food and Festivity at Curlewis

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED

There’s plenty on offer at Curlewis Golf Club – from enjoying the must play, much cherished ‘emerald’ golf course of The Bellarine to the many other options and activities.

A top PGA Pro, great member cohort, monthly Women’s Beginner Clinics, Junior Clinics, a dynamic Junior Development Program (complimentary for all Junior Members). GolfBoards (a cool fusion between a golf cart, snowboard and Segways) and FootGolf too, (a combination of two of the world’s most popular sports – soccer and golf).

The totally transformed clubhouse serves up delicious lunches 7 days and top Bistro dining on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Lunch Menu features a perfect fusion between ‘clubhouse classics’ (including steak sandwiches, lemon & dill battered fish, panko calamari and the best country bakery-style sandwiches around) as well as delicious crisp pork belly salad, asian beef noodle salad and a Ploughmans to mention a few. Friday and Saturday nights the Bistro Menu shines with culinary choices including entrees of Salmon and dill croquettes with pickled cucumber and romesco sauce or perhaps the salt and pepper calamari? The diverse Mains line-up includes a 280g porterhouse, a lemon and dill battered flathead, seasonal leaves, fries, tartare sauce as well as a stunning Murray Valley pork loin. A dessert feature is the ‘Chocolate Brownie’ Bombe Alaska (that’s if you can go past the Salted caramel crème brulee with sautéed apple and vanilla ice cream).

Look out for the quarterly Curlewis Clubhouse Soirees – always a fabulous night out with friends complete with three course meal and show.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself turning into the Curlewis gates when you need a coffee and cake fix either. Head Chef, Tara Thyer’s reputation as a brilliant patissiere continues to see sweet tooths flock to Curlewis to enjoy the array of house made cakes, friands and slices with their barista-made coffee.

Golf, fun, wining, dining. One thing is certain – Curlewis Golf Club has got you covered!

Curlewis Golf Club 1345 Portarlington Road, Curlewis VIC 3222

VV(03) 5251 1111 OOwww.curlewisgolf.com.au

MMhello@curlewisgolf.com.au FFCurlewis Golf Club II@curlewisgolf LL@curlewisgolflewisgolf

Help. It’s what Australians do. © Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141 AFSL and Australian credit licence 233714.

WBDIGIDR_02356

Help brings your new home closer.

Talk to Nicole Gibbs, your local Home Finance Manager, today.

0466 379 130 ngibbs@westpac.com.au 166 Pakington Street, Geelong West, VIC

Things you should know: Credit criteria, terms and conditions apply. Š Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141 AFSL and Australian credit licence 233714.

WBDIGIDR_02354

CARPET HOUSE

ARTICLE BY: AMANDA SHERRING PHOTOGRAPHS: MARK WILKINS AND SUPPLIED

Leading the way for 45 years

Now more than ever homeowners are dedicating additional time in selecting the colour palettes and textures that make up the essence of their home.

One of the biggest decisions when building or renovating is what’s beneath your feet. Trends in flooring have moved from simple carpets and vinyl through to the detailed floorboards we’re seeing today—and Carpet House has been there for all of it.

Originating in 1973 as Geelong’s home for all things carpet, the business has evolved throughout its impressive 45 year existence to stock an extensive range of flooring options including carpets, rugs, laminate, luxury vinyl planks and timber flooring.

With wood details a sought-after feature of modern day homes, Carpet House jumped ahead of the trend and sourced some of the finest quality, versatile and original timber flooring options in Geelong.

Carpet House has unique and exclusive hard flooring ranges featuring selections from Grand Oak Flooring, Hickory Impressions, Regency Hardwood and Regency Hybrid Advanced, with over 30 different finishes and colours to select from to fit into your home.

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A standout of the display is the Hickory Impressions series, which celebrates the texture and grain of wood. Through touch and closer inspection this variety serves as one of the most realistic timber flooring options available in town.

A popular range also comes from the Australian Species Variety of the Spotted Gum and Blackbutt, available through Australian Select Timbers.

“The Australian species is always popular because of the Spotted Gum,” Carpet House owner Brendan Lewtas says.

“People are also looking for things that are a little bit more coastal…Some people like a feature with a lot of definition and a lot of character and you can get that with the Hickory.”

For those looking for a more affordable alternative of enhancing their home interior with wood texture, Brendan recommends clients look at the new technology available in vinyl. Referred to as luxury vinyl planks, this LooseLay range is produced by Karndean Design Flooring and is perfect for those who want the earthiness provided with timber flooring minus the cost.

“Vinyl planks is a hugely growing area,” Brendan says.

“They look realistic and people will come in and think that it’s a timber floor.”

“People hear the word vinyl and think ‘I can’t have that in my house’, but it’s actually really practical.”

“It’s a big decision these days and people want to work with other people and get a lot of input in their choices,” he says.

As Brendan explains, luxury vinyl planks are faster and easier to fit, easy and economical to repair, require little or no adhesive and are 100% recyclable. Its biggest appeal of course is the quality finish at a minimal price.

“There’s a lot of choice, we often say it’d be easier if there was less to choose from,” he adds with a smile.

With the increase of timber floorboards throughout the home, it’s meant there’s been a shift in rug sizes—the larger, the better.

“Lots of people are buying bigger rugs these days. The 1.6m by 2.3m were standard, but they’re almost too small now because people have a lot of timber flooring,” Brendan says.

“They need very big rugs to fill a space, where traditionally it’s been carpet in those areas.”

Regardless of how long a homeowner takes to piece together the flooring elements of their home, Brendan’s main passion is assuring quality flooring that stands the test of time once it’s installed. A joy also comes from seeing the quality product represented in award-winning Malishev homes and others throughout the region.

“We’re long term, we don’t sell things that are cheap and nasty and that will let people down. We’d rather sell people flooring that’s going to last and look good for a long period of time,” Brendan says.

Rugs serve as the easiest means to add some warmth to a room as well as a less permanent method of making a bold statement within a space.

If you’re unable to find something to fit your space in store or if it’s not quite the right dimensions for what you’re after, rugs can also be custom-made by Carpet House.

While there is a trend towards timber flooring, carpet is still favourable for bedrooms to maintain the luxury and cosiness of such a personal space.

“A lot of people will still have carpet in the living zones or the bedrooms, but they’ll have a bigger living area and kitchen that will flow through with timber flooring,” Brendan says.

Visit the Carpet House website to

receive 10% off* your next in store rug purchase of any size **EXCLUDES SALE ITEMS** **STOCK RUGS ONLY**

The emphasis on texture is seen in carpets as well, with homeowners making bold decisions in the colours, weaves and fabrics that feature in their homes.

“A lot of people are coming in and buying more textured carpets because they want something more interesting on the floor,” Brendan says.

“And there’s not as much carpet as there used to be in homes so they’re feeling like they can do something a bit different with it.”

Something as simple as the choice of weave in your carpet can help add more interest to a room, all while maintaining the longevity of the product selected.

What many clients might not realise is the continued strength for carpet manufacturing within Victoria. While the wool for the product comes from New Zealand, most of the range stocked at Carpet House is made in the state.

With so much on display in the large Newtown-based showroom, Brendan realises that time is an important factor when making decisions.

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Carpet House 45-47 West Fyans Street, Newtown, VIC, 3220

VV(03) 5229 8756 OOwww.carpethouse.com.au MMsales@carpethouse.com.au

Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Saturday 9am-12pm Sunday Closed

WATHAURONG GLASS In a family home in Bellbrae, set against a wall in the kitchen is a splashback by Wathaurong Glass.

With kangaroo prints, wind motifs and a Gathering motif, this tells the story of the family, through Indigenous art, that live day-to-day, using the kitchen to cook breakfast every morning.

Wathaurong Glass & Arts 16 Rodney Rd North Geelong VIC 3215

VV(03) 5272 2881

OOwathaurongglass.com.au MMinfo@wathaurongglass. com.au

II@wathaurongglass FF/Wathaurong-Glass_Arts

ARTICLE BY: AMANDA SHERRING PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED

“This customer was looking for a pattern and a texture [on their splashback] and I said, ‘We can tell your story in glass, if you like?’,” says Mark Edwards, Manager of Wathaurong Glass. And that he did.

Beyond the business’ work with Aboriginal motifs, what Wathaurong Glass really specialise in, is creating a truly unique addition to your home. With each piece of work custom-made to your design suggestions, it’s simple assurance your home will have something genuinely exclusive.

“We’re completely and utterly unique,” Mark says. “You’re getting something with character, with texture and design for that matter.

At the end of the day what we do is bespoke. It’s individualised and customised.”

With everything designed in-house, splashbacks have seen designs of butterflies and lizards grace their surfaces with much more on offer in addition to the Indigenous themes the business specialises in.

But the real appeal of glass used in the kitchen and bathroom is its cost-effectiveness and ease to clean. With no lines and its non-porous texture, it means dirt and grime doesn’t adhere to grout or the edges of tiles.

For the past 20 plus years, Mark has been educating customers on the benefits of glass and its use in the home and Wathaurong Glass has been a leader of bespoke design during this time.

“We came into business at a really ripe time and we’ve been in business for 20 years, we’re probably one of the forefront movers in custom design kiln formed glass domestically, and probably the leader in the commercial sector too,” he says.

Whether it’s Indigenous art or a simple texture, Mark sees the beauty in every custom glass design and is happy to rise to the challenge of a unique design.

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ONPAKO feature…

INTERIOR & TRENDS

by Lane Kellys

Article written by: Sue Rawkins

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Photos: Supplied

“

Colour does not add a pleasant quality to design – it reinforces it.

“

- Pierre Bonnard, post-impressionist painter and printmaker.

ONPAKO 95

In a beautiful, old terraced house in Yarra Street, Lane Kellys owners, Cherie and Richard Blackney, both extremely experienced, skilful and creative designers, textile and colour specialists, have created an Alice In Wonderland-type world of texture, colour and design.

Entering the house is an experience, as you are immediately swept into a delight of colour and fabric as sample fabric books, long strips of wallpaper and metres of stunning fabric line the hallway, wafting gently in the breeze. The overwhelming impulse is to touch and feel everything.

In the front display room, Richard is consulting with a client who happily takes away carefully chosen swatches of carpet, tile and fabric in order to lay them out later at her home and make a decision, as to which will suit the home best.

Cherie takes me on a journey up the twisting staircase to the next floor – a magical world of rooms full of carefully organised wallpaper, fabrics, sample books and swatches, and I feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven. It is an assault on all the senses.

Artful displays of the equivalent of ‘mood boards’ are placed in nooks and corners of the building, incorporating ideas for colour, wallpaper, tiles, textures, throws, cushions, curtains and blinds – showing those who, perhaps, do not have a clue as to where to start, just what could be created for them by Lane Kellys.

Cherie said, “We moved to this wonderful building about two years ago, from our original premises in Pakington Street. Our clients had requested more products, more design and more wallpapers. We are a growing family business and wanted to please our clients and we had run out of space.”

“When we first saw the house, it had been empty for three years and was dark, dingy and brown inside - the ‘ugly duckling’ in the street. We, of course, immediately started redecorating, which took about two weeks.” I reeled in amazement, but for two people with such a wealth of skills and experience, this was nothing!

Cherie continued, “Our customers are over the moon because there is parking available out the back for free. Next door is Townhouse Living for flowers and accessories and then there is us, LK, doing window furnishings and interiors, so there is a lovely synchronicity. It has worked out well.”

“Our customer-base is Victoria-wide and we have overseas clients too. We cater for everyone’s budget and like to give our clients options.”

“We are stockists for a variety of textile brands such as Warwick, Sanderson, The Textile Company, James Malone, Designers Guild and many other European brands including beautiful Italian brands such as Carlucci, which has top of the range fabrics and wallpapers.”

“Also, in wallpaper, we stock American brands such as Phillip Jeffries with their beautiful bespoke wallcoverings which are all hand-made. To have something so beautiful in your room is like having a piece of art. It’s unique. Their papers are made in Japan.”

As for up-coming colour and pattern trends, Cherie said, “Customers are asking for more colour this season. I’ve been able to use beautiful, rich olive greens and teal blues and soft, lush pinks in their window furnishings. Neutral colours are popular and grey is huge, as is blonder wood.”

She emphasises, “In Europe, palms and large florals are huge, huge, huge! Subdued, muddy colours are coming through but

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still with the blushes and ochres. These are now transcending to us, but we won’t see them until next year or the year after.”

“We are designing a season ahead, so coming up we will have rich emeralds, blues and Mediterranean colours. Designers Guild has a beautiful range coming out. We are their stockists – we believe in their product and they believe in us, as their stockist.”

LK on Yarra – Lane Kellys – are looking ahead in their quest to educate people on good design.

Cherie said, “In the near future, we are intending to hold a teaching night on a computer program called ‘Sketch Up’ which will show the basics and fundamentals of how to use the program to a group of six interested clients, and how to incorporate this into the design of your home.”

“We will also be holding some functions on the fabric houses we represent as stockists, who will do a presentation, so our clients, both domestic and in industry, can get an idea and become educated on the products.”

LK on Yarra Lane Kellys

Cherie explains, “Richard and I are very passionate and that is what makes LK on Yarra. We believe in it and we love it, and we want to show that we love it. We want to educate people and say why it is important to have what they’ve got and to show the right way of doing it.”

Trading Hours: Monday: By appointment Tues – Fri: 10am – 5pm; Sat: 9:30am – 4pm

98 ONPAKO

87 Yarra St, Geelong VIC 3220

VV(03) 5221 1166 OOwww.lanekellys.com.au MMinfo@lanekellys.com.au FF /lanekellysgeelong II@LKONYARRA

ALL DAY BREAKFAST & LUNCH OPEN 7 DAYS 1 Malop St, Geelong 0488 453 388 1/343 Pakington St, Newtown 5222 2716 101 Unity Dr, Villawood, Mt Duneed 5291 9727

i f www.9gramscafe.com.au