N
Yoga and Pilates | Classic Cars| Recipes from Justine Schofield
e w Life • Leisure • Luxury
Edition 2 2013
EUROPE
any which
way
The world’s most
unique GOLF
DESTINATIONS
‘The only thing you’ve
got to be is happy’
ISSN 2201-9758
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02
Barry Du Bois opens up about living his dream
in this edition... INTRODUCTION 4
What’s in a dream?
MAKING PLANS 6
What’s on around the world
TRAVEL 10
Et voila! It’s easy to travel through stunning Europe
16
Highlights on the road from Madrid to Seville
26
Five days in Singapore; five reasons it’s not just a
stopover city
CARAVANNING & THE GREAT OUTDOORS 32
Couture camping
38
Mornington Peninsula mini-break
40
Caravanning on the wild side
44
Escape to Jervis Bay
SAILING 46
Set sail
INTERVIEW
40
CARAVANNING & THE GREAT OUTDOORS Caravanning on the wild side
48
Weathering rough seas – an interview with Barry Du Bois
52
The landscape of life – with Ken Duncan
HEALTH & WELLBEING 54
The Wrecks and Relics
58
Food: your medicine for a happy, healthy life
62
The vitamin D story
64
Luxury golf getaways
68
Healthy body, healthy mind
70
Riding along on my pushbike honey
74
Fit and fabulous at 40-plus
FOOD & WINE 76
MasterCook – an interview with Justine Schofield
80
In and around McLaren Vale
84
Cruising restaurants
MOTOR VEHICLES 86
Classic car ownership
TECHNOLOGY 88
page 2 | Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2
Innovations to enhance your lifestyle
MasterCook – an interview with
Justine Schofield
FOOD & WINE
HOUSE & HOME 90
Ask Baz!
94
Transform your balcony into a green oasis
98
Big ideas for small apartments
76
LIFESTYLE 101
Upcycle: everything old is new again!
PETS 105
Raise a puppy for charity
110
The truth about pet food
112
Buying a pet – what is best for you?
FASHION & BEAUTY 114
Pearls: a love affair
116
Fashion 101 for the Spring Racing Carnival
117
Jewel colours on show at Keon Couture’s spring parade
The Wrecks and Relics
MONEY & WEALTH 118
Charity events
120
Self-employment finance tips and avoiding common
mistakes
124
Book reviews
BEQUEST 127
Charitable bequests – leaving a lasting legacy
Published by:
ABN 30 007 224 204
HEALTH & WELLBEING
54 Raise a puppy for charity
105 Pets
430 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 Editor: Gemma Peckham Tel: (03) 9274 4200 Fax: (03) 9329 5295 Editorial Liaison: Mary-Ann Tilt Email: media@executivemedia.com.au Production Manager: David Haratsis Design: Alma McHugh Web: www.executivemedia.com.au Cover: Barry Du Bois © Steven Chee The editor, publisher, printer and their staff and agents are not responsible for the accuracy or correctness of the text of contributions contained in this publication or for the consequences of any use made of the products, and the information referred to in this publication. The editor, publisher, printer and their staff and agents expressly disclaim all liability of whatsoever nature for any consequences arising from any errors or omissions contained in this publication whether caused to a purchaser of this publication or otherwise. The views expressed in the articles and other material published herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor and publisher or their staff or agents. The responsibility for the accuracy of information is that of the individual contributors and neither the publisher nor editor can accept responsibility for the accuracy of information which is supplied by others. It is impossible for the publisher and editors to ensure that the advertisements and other material herein comply with the Trade Practices Act 1974 (CTH). Readers should make their own enquiries in making any decisions, and where necessary, seek professional advice. © 2013 Executive Media Pty Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited.
Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 3
What’s in a dream? There are many sayings about dreams, but the one that resonates most here at Living the Dream magazine is that ‘a dream is a wish your heart makes’, said by that incomparable dream-weaver, Walt Disney.
48
A
t Living the Dream, we strive to take you to the places that your heart wants to go; it doesn’t matter what your dream is – we want to help you get there. With every turn of the page of Living the Dream you will find information, tips, tricks, interviews and beautiful images, all designed to inspire and excite. Spring’s cover star is Barry Du Bois of Channel 10’s hit show The Living Room. Du Bois is no stranger to a life of dreams achieved through overcoming obstacles, and his exclusive interview with Living the Dream is a must-read for a great perspective on life from a true Aussie dreamer (page 48). Also in this edition, travel Europe by plane, train and automobile (page 10); discover the allure of Singapore as a destination in its own right (page 26); or plan a luxury golf getaway at one of many unique worldwide courses (page 64). We help you discover the best use of space at your place, from balcony gardens (page 94) to compact, spacesaving furniture (page 98). For health and lifestyle inspiration, don’t miss our introduction to yoga and Pilates (page 68), and our nutritionist’s assessment of the best ways to stay healthy into your later years (page 58). We take a look at classic cars (page 86), pets (page 105) and style (page 114), check in with celebrity cook Justine Schofield and try out one of her scrumptious recipes (page 76), and follow famed landscape photographer Ken Duncan across Australia to learn more about the meaning of life (page 52). Competitions, technology and events round out this jam-packed edition of Living the Dream. We hope you take plenty of inspiration from within these pages. Let us know your feedback, ask us a question, or just share your stories – and as the Beatles said, ‘Listen to the colour of your dreams.’
Gemma Peckham
Editor gemma.peckham@executivemedia.com.au
page 4 | Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2
10 68 Take a look at our website: www.livingthedreamagazine.com.au Make friends with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/LivingtheDreamMag Write us a letter: Living the Dream Magazine PO Box 256 North Melbourne, VIC 3051
Happy dreaming!
The Living the Dream team
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Making Plans
What’s on around the world It is spring in the southern hemisphere, and for those of you who have been in hibernation, wipe the dust from those sleepy eyes and get out and about. There is a lot going on around the country, and the world, and these few events should give you an inkling of the sort inspiring and uplifting shows and gatherings at your fingertips (and beyond). Salon du Chocolat, Paris If you’re in beautiful Paris during the lead-up to winter, chocolate is just the thing to warm you up. From 30 October to 3 November at the Porte de Versailles, you will find the Salon du Chocolat pavilion packed with chocolate treats; the Chocosphere allows visitors to learn about the universe of chocolate, a chocolate bookshop is dedicated solely to books about chocolate and pastry, and Le Grand Goûter is a chocolate-lover’s dream. Parisian chocolate? What’s not to love? www.salonduchocolat.fr
Brisbane Water Oyster Festival, Brisbane Oyster farmers from all around the region are celebrated with this great festival on 10 November, featuring live bands and DJs, street performers, food and wine stalls and, of course, the heroes of the show – fresh oysters. Come out of your shell and have a pearler of a time! www.oysterfestival.com.au
Blue Lotus Water Garden Boxing Day in Australia is traditionally for beach cricket and finishing off Christmas Day’s mountains of food. If you’re up for a more zen experience, the Blue Lotus Water Garden in Yarra Junction, Victoria, is a 14-acre paradise featuring thousands of lotus flowers and water lilies. A beautiful way to wind down after the silly season. www.bluelotusfarm.com.au
page 6 | Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2
October is breast cancer awareness month – a very worthy cause, given that breast cancer remains the most common cancer among Australian women. Each year during October, thousands of individuals, families, schools and businesses across Australia make time to help with the awareness and fundraising efforts for breast cancer research. You can register to host a Pink Ribbon Breakfast, or find out about fundraising events, at the National Breast Cancer Foundation website www.nbcf.org.au.
Movember is the
time when men are allowed to let their upper lips sprout impressive moustaches, and in the process raise awareness and vital funds for prostate and testicular cancer, and mental health. Men can sign up during October, and, starting on 1 November with a clean-shaven face, the mo-growing begins. Women can join in, too, and there are plenty of events during November that you can be a part of. Visit www.movember.com for more information.
Community Life at El Caballo
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to reach the ‘big city’ amenities in just 15-20 minutes, really sets El Caballo apart from the rest. The facilities also have the residents occupied no end – everything from tennis, to a gymnasium, pools, spas and a sauna to a licensed restaurant, cocktail lounge, cinema theatre, library and banquet rooms. Here residents have the choice to do as much or as little as they like.
Stage one is almost 50 per cent occupied, and there are nearly 30 residents living in the village. Each will tell you a story of how they came to reside at El Caballo Lifestyle Village. The common underlying reason is simple: lifestyle. Prime position real estate right on the edge of the best golf course in the Avon Valley is one thing, but being positioned in a rural environment just far enough to be out of suburbia, and close enough
Living the the dream Dream 2013 2013 || edition edition 2| 2| page page A 7 Living
Space, quality unsurpassed views
and
Serviced apartments are now more popular than ever as travellers understand the importance of space, quality, location, service and value. Since their launch into the serviced apartments industry in 2003, Meriton Serviced Apartments have been leading the way in affordable apartment-sized, hotel-style accommodation. Located in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Meriton has a location perfectly suited for you, no matter your reason for travel. Positioned close to the best shopping, restaurants, cafÊs and attractions, you will need to stay another night just to fit it all in. If you enjoy spending some time out by the beach, their Bondi Junction and Broadbeach (Gold Coast) apartments are within minutes of golden sands and clear blue waters. Meriton Serviced Apartments’ 12 locations offer up all of the luxury extras, like heated pools, spa, sauna, fully
page A Living the the Dream dream 2013 2013 || edition edition 22 8 || Living
equipped gymnasiums* and outdoor entertainment areas. Perfect for travellers and families who are tired of shoeboxsized hotel rooms. Meriton currently holds the crowns for the tallest apartment hotels in both Sydney and Brisbane, offering views that are simply unsurpassed from heights unrivalled. If sitting on top of these picturesque cities enjoying a glass of bubbly is your type of relaxation, be sure to check out Meriton Serviced Apartments World Tower (pictured above) and Meriton Serviced Apartments Brisbane on Adelaide Street. All Meriton Serviced Apartments have been spaciously designed with quality fittings, including a full gourmet kitchen, full bathroom with shower, and internal laundry, and comprise of studio, one-,
two- and three-bedroom configurations. Meriton Serviced Apartments represent greater value for money and a better place to stay compared to traditional small hotel rooms. tripadvisor.com.au reports Meriton Serviced Apartments as the number one ranked hotel in Bondi; in fact, three out of their 12 locations are ranked in the top position, with another five sitting in the top 10 within their own regions. Free internet** is also provided in each apartment so be sure to bring your portable devices if you intend on surfing the web or catching up on emails. Booking online through Meriton Serviced Apartments www.stayMSA.com will give the best online rates available, or by calling 131MSA (672). No booking or credit card fees apply when booking direct. *Gymnasium is not available at Meriton Southport, Gold Coast | **Free Internet Limit of 1GB per apartment / per 24 hour period, excess usage fees apply.
Travel
Et voila! It’s easy to travel through stunning Europe
Discover more than just planes, trains, and automobiles on a journey through Europe with Sophie Allan.
page 10 | Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2
Travel
No matter who you are or where you’ve been, Europe is bound to appear on your dream-holiday wish list. If you’ve never had the chance to see the continent, surely you’ve always dreamt of the day you will try an authentic pizza in Rome, see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, or munch on a croissant as you ascend the Eiffel Tower. And those who have been to Europe; well you’ve most likely been under its spell since the day you left. Perhaps your memories beckon you back: golden light streaming onto a Portuguese terrace, a glass of red in hand; the warmth and clarity of the turquoise Mediterranean; the exotic fragrances of an African-influenced southern Spanish market. Down every cobbled street, along every tree-lined country promenade, and around every bend of a canal, these memories lie in wait for you to happen upon them. So, getting down to brass tacks, just how do you plan your trip to make this dream a reality? Well, there is more than one way to skin a cat, as they say. Easily one of the most romantic ways to travel in
Europe is by rail. The gentle rocking of the carriages ensures that you relax from
The gentle rocking of the carriages ensures that you relax from your origin to your destination... your origin to your destination, with the opportunity to see everything in between. Europe’s train network is extensive and high-quality, making for a comfortable transit indeed. There is some high-speed rail also, zipping you across borders in a jiffy. A major
advantage is that the trains generally depart from, and arrive in, the very centre of the city, close to restaurants, shops, hotels and tourist information. If you choose trains as your mode of transport in Europe, one of the best ways to get value for money is to buy a Eurail Pass. There are several different types of pass, allowing you to decide on the countries you will visit, the duration of your pass’s validity, and the number of days within that period that you plan to travel. Depending on the length and scope of your trip, you can get a Eurail Pass for anywhere between A$200 and A$2000. A Eurail Pass is the key to 27 European countries, allowing you to jump on and off trains within your
Travelling in a campervan means incredible proximity to scenery
Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 11
Travel
Travelling by train in Europe is easy, and a great way to see the countryside
specified countries as you wish. You can even schedule travel during the night, allowing you to say goodnight in one country, and good morning in another!
the thought of turning your mind off and getting swept away by the experience, perhaps an organised coach tour is the way to go. There are many different
Travelling in your own vehicle, you have the freedom to pull over whenever you like, making sure you’ll never miss a snap-worthy sunset Bus travel is another great option, providing a slightly cheaper alternative to rail. The bus networks can often take you where there is no train station, so even if you don’t plan to go exclusively by bus, it is good to keep your mind open to them. You may think of buses as being cramped and uncomfortable, but with luxury models now servicing many routes, you might be in for a surprise. Large leather seats allow you to stretch out, water is complimentary, newspapers are stacked up ready for the taking, and the scenery is certain to captivate as you gaze out the large windows. Planning bus journeys can be a bit difficult by yourself, as translations on internet sites can be less than accurate, but it is possible if you prefer to do it yourself. On the other hand, if you like
page 12 | Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2
companies offering coach tours, and between them all of the top destinations are covered. Each day you will be shown around by someone in the know, you will be fed, and your hotel will be there waiting for you at the end of the day for a relaxing night’s rest; no fuss, no wrong turns, no tricky translation situations! In some ways, taking a guided tour is the path of least resistance, but for some it might not quite satisfy the thirst for adventure. Some travellers relish a holiday with no plans and no structure, where you can follow your nose and change direction at the drop of a hat. That breed of traveller may be best suited to a European road trip in a hire car. Car hire companies have numerous offices all over Europe, so you can pick up a car in Lisbon and drop it off in Liverpool, and everything in
between is up to you. Travelling in your own vehicle, you have the freedom to pull over whenever you like, making sure you’ll never miss a snap-worthy sunset, an authentic café hidden away off the beaten track, or a stroll through an ancient olive grove. In a car you are the master of your own destiny, but remember that first you need to master driving on the right-hand side of the road! If you really love the freedom of the road, why not call it home for the duration of your European holiday? Campervans provide all the independence and adventure of a car, and eliminate the need to plan and book accommodation. Hire campervans are generally kitted out with a large bed, cooking facilities, camping table and chairs, and even a kitchen sink! Store your luggage under the seats and away you go; just you and the open road. Dine on cheeses, bread and fresh fruit and vegetables direct from the markets, and taste the regional delicacies wherever you go. There are countless campsites throughout Europe, so there’s nothing to stop you from pursuing your own adventure. If you’re searching for an active holiday – something challenging and exciting – cycling or walking tours are perfect ways to see Europe. Unlike Australia, where you can drive for days
Travel
between towns in some parts of the country, Europe is densely settled and towns are within easy walking distance of each other. The pace of walking allows you to take in the natural majesty of the many and varying environments of the continent. Walkabout Gourmet Adventures is an Australian company that runs walking tours throughout the world,
with some of their European expeditions including: ‘From the mountains to the Mediterranean’, ‘Italian Lakes’, ‘Discover the Pyrenees’, and ‘On the Celtic Way – from Cornwall to Brittany’. Each morning you set out on foot with a light day pack, while your luggage is transported to that night’s accommodation, usually in a family-run hotel. As the name of the
A beautiful lavender field near Plateau de Valensole, Provence, France
What better way to see this side of Europe than by boat? There are many different ways to go about exploring the water-bound destinations of Europe, depending on your sailing skills and budget. company suggests, the food is top-notch, and always local. The Mediterranean, Adriatic, Ionian, Balearic, Aegean and Alboran Seas all lap at the coastlines of European countries. These seas are dotted with tranquil islands of sheer, ash-coloured volcanic rock; gnarled, fragrant pines; pebbled beaches and ancient ruins.
Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 13
Travel
Europe’s budget airlines, such as Ryanair and easyJet, often make it cheaper to fly than anything else, so although you miss out on the scenery in between, you’re certain to make good time. What better way to see this side of Europe than by boat? There are many different ways to go about exploring the water-bound destinations of Europe, depending on your sailing skills and budget. Yachts can be chartered with or without crews, or you could board a luxury cruise to have the comfort of a hotel on the sea. These warm and crystal-clear waters are welcoming and free of predators (unlike some Australian beaches!), and you will be content whiling away days at a time with a book, a pair of sunglasses and a comfy seat. Put on those sea legs and travel in peace and quiet, with the pine-scented Mediterranean breeze on your skin. You can travel over land and you can travel the sea, but let’s not forget that you can also travel the sky! Air travel in Europe is convenient and efficient, especially if you want to traverse long distances. Europe’s budget airlines, such as Ryanair and easyJet, often make it cheaper to fly than anything else, so although you miss
page 14 | Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2
Near Cassis, France, Mediterranean Sea
out on the scenery in between, you’re certain to make good time. So if you weren’t already itching to see Europe, no doubt you are now. And with so many things to see, and so many ways to see them, everyone
is sure to have the trip of a lifetime. But beware, those dreamy memories of fields of lavender in Provence, the stunning northern lights in Iceland, or the smile of Mona Lisa are sure to call you back before long!
Luxury on Europe’s Grand Waterways Hundreds of riverboats glide along Europe’s historic rivers and canals, which span thousands of miles of continental waterways. From sophisticated metropolises to terraced vineyards, charming historic villages and breathtaking monuments, there is a new port to discover everyday. National Seniors Travel is proud to partner with Scenic Tours to bring you some of the finest river cruising in 2014. As a dedicated service of Australia’s largest, independent organisation for the over 50s, National
Seniors Australia, our not-for-profit status ensures that we can offer the best value and exclusive travel discounts to more than 200,000 members. We have more tours designed for the over 50s and do our best to deliver unrivalled travel experiences and service, which is why we continue to work closely with Scenic Tours to ensure you receive the ultimate touring experience.
progress, you can expect nothing less than an unprecedented level of all-inclusive luxury.
And, with a $10 million rebuild of Scenic’s ‘Space-Ships’, which sail the Rhine, Main, Danube, Moselle and Black Sea routes in
For more information, call us on 1300 88 37 50 or visit our website nationalseniorstravel.com.au
2014 Europe River Cruising Earlybirds All-inclusive luxury
When you book with National Seniors Travel, you can save even more off the 2014 earlybird prices with our exclusive member discount. Membership starts from $40 per year, and could save you hundreds off your next holiday! Hurry, earlybird specials are available for a limited time.
15 Day Jewels of Europe River Cruise Non-members price: From $6,890* Members price: From $6,680* MEMBERS SAVE $210
FLY FREE* including taxes Cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest including a visit to the Melk Benedictine Abbey, a Viennese concert at Palais Liechtenstein, dinner at Marksburg Castle and much more.
19 Day Romantic Rhine and Moselle River Cruise and Switzerland Non-members price: From $10,040* Members price: From $9,730* MEMBERS SAVE $310
FLY FREE* just pay taxes Cruise from Amsterdam to Basel and spend four days in Switzerland including a full day excursion to the Black Forest, an unforgettable classical concert, dinner at Rastatt Palace and much more. *Prices are per person twin share, are strictly limited and subject to availability on specific dates. Flights are subject to availability of appropriate airline class and once sold out surcharges may apply. Airfares in economy class Singapore Airlines. Earlybird offer available until 15 October 2013 or until sold out. For full terms and conditions, visit nationalseniorstravel.com.au or contact National Seniors Travel.
Call us for a full itinerary on these tours or visit our website.
1300 88 37 50 nationalseniorstravel.com.au
Travel
Highlights on the road from
Madrid to Seville
Flour mills at sunset, La Mancha
Spain is a country steeped in tradition and culture, where festivals and feasts jam the calendar all year round. The people of Spain love nothing more than to while away the long summer afternoons sipping on glasses of cold beer, and relishing round after round of tapas – complimentary, of course.
Simply soaking in the atmosphere of any Spanish plaza or bar is a treat in and of itself, but you never need to look too much further to find a historic building, an elegant park, or a museum housing worldfamous works of art. Travelling south from Madrid to Seville, via the coast, is just one route you could take to immerse yourself in rich and fiery Spanish culture. Madrid, the Spanish capital, is a great place to begin your adventure. This city is at the heart of Spain, and truly encompasses that atmosphere of celebration and fun that you will come to expect wherever you go throughout the country. The Puerta del Sol is in the centre of Madrid, and buzzes day and
page 16 | Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2
night; a meeting place for groups of friends, tourists, buskers, and, quite often, protestors. The Spanish are expressive and passionate, and in the Puerta del Sol you will overhear the shouts and hoots of many a heated Spanish conversation. A short walk from the Puerta del Sol is Gran Vía, a promenade of early 20th century architecture that displays the wealth that Spain has possessed during its history. This picture of grandeur extends building after building, all the way down to the Plaza de Cibeles, with Madrid’s epic town hall, and on to the Plaza de Independencia. Marble sculptures and intricately detailed buildings form a vista of European beauty
to which no postcard could do justice. In the centre of Madrid, travelling on foot is the way to go. The sights are so close together, and there are so many places to stop for refreshment, that you’ll want for nothing but a good pair of walking shoes. A little way from the Plaza de Cibeles are the Museo del Prado and the Reina Sofia, two significant yet distinct galleries where you’ll find the familiar and the unknown. The Reina Sofia is Spain’s national museum of 20th century art, and is mainly dedicated to Spain’s own art. Both Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí are well represented within these walls, and perhaps the most famous work is Guernica by Picasso. Guernica, measuring 349 by 776 centimetres, was painted in 1937 in response to the bombing of Guernica, a northern Spanish town, by German and Italian warplanes during the Civil War. This work shows the anguish and chaos of the event, in which many innocent civilians were killed. The painting is displayed along with a
Travel
dozen preparatory studies, some of which closely resemble Mujer que Llora (Weeping Woman), which is housed at our very own National Gallery of Victoria.
Toledo is only a half-hour bus trip from Madrid, and is the capital of the autonomous community of Castilla La Mancha. This fortress city, once the
...no matter where you end up, there will be a friendly face to welcome you with that special brand of hospitality for which the Spaniards are so well known. The streets of Madrid are a constant hive of activity, and no matter where you end up, there will be a friendly face to welcome you with that special brand of hospitality for which the Spaniards are so well known. But the regions of Spain all offer different cuisines, different traditions, and different landscapes, so once you’ve had your fill of Madrid, you can hop on a bus or train and head to your next destination.
capital of Spain, showcases Jewish, Christian and Muslim architecture in a beautiful and dense city perched on a hilltop. Once again, the only way to see Toledo is on foot, as cars cannot pass through most of the medieval lanes and walkways. The old city is heritage-listed, and the imagination runs wild as the many historical sites transport you back to times of palaces, battles and city walls.
Castilla La Mancha is the leasttouristed region of Spain, so a journey through its plains and villages will provide you with an authentic Spanish experience. Rows and rows of olive trees, almonds and grapevines stretch as far as the eye can see, and in the spring thousands of bright red poppies burst to life across the fields. Cervantes’s character, Don Quixote, travelled this region in the classic Spanish novel, tilting at windmills and chasing his love, Dulcinea. You can actually visit the house said to have been the home of Dulcinea, in a town called Toboso, where historical artifacts, such as an antique olive oil press, are displayed. Travelling east towards the coast, you come to Valencia. According to many, the seaside is the epitome of Spanish fun, and at beaches such as San Juan in Alicante, you’ll see no shortage of sunbathers stretched out on towels, kids covered in melting ice cream, and families gathered around massive dishes of paella,
The Plaza de Cibeles, Madrid, with its neo-classical marble sculptures and fountains
Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 17
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the famed rice and seafood dish of the region. The glorious Mediterranean Sea is vibrant and contrasts with the landscape it meets – the colour of the treeless hills surrounding Alicante is a silvery brown, giving them an almost extraterrestrial quality. Along the esplanade, the people congregate to socialise at all hours of the day and night, in true down-to-earth Spanish style. Travelling back inland from the coast, and south into the autonomous community of Andalusia, the city of Granada is nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, which literally translates as ‘Snowy Mountains’. Granada is perhaps most famous for the Alhambra Palace, a rose-coloured citadel perched above the city against a backdrop of whitetipped mountains. The Alhambra was completed in the late 14th century, during the Arab rule of Spain, and the stunning Moorish architecture highlights Spain’s proximity to Northern Africa, and speaks to a colourful history. The corridors of intricately decorated red clay come alive with the movement of the sun, which is an intentional feature of the design. Tiny
glazed tiles of blue, turquoise, yellow and black pattern the walls and ceilings in mathematical configurations, showcasing the pinnacle of Islamic mosaic handiwork.
One very important tip for Granada is that the tapas are supreme; some say the best in Spain. The influence of Moorish occupation is evident in many aspects of Spanish culture, and one of the most famous would have to be flamenco. The anguished notes sung by the singers accompanying the dance directly reference the keys and melodies you might hear over the Strait of Gibraltar, in Northern Africa. Granada is a great place to see flamenco, Andalusia being the epicentre of this most passionate
Spanish art form. Albaicin is a quarter of Granada built into the hillside across from the Alhambra, and is a great place to see authentic flamenco. The whitewashed houses form a dense jumble, most of which are dug back into the hillside, effectively forming caves. This is where locals go to sing and dance and clap along to flamenco shows in low-lit bars, sipping on red wine. One very important tip for Granada is that the tapas are supreme; some say the best in Spain. There is practically no need to order dinner, with substantial portions of fish, grilled meat, and even sometimes burgers arriving complimentary with each round of drinks. The more rounds you order, the more generous and extravagant the tapa becomes, so find a spot you like, where you can watch the world go by, and settle in for an afternoon of delicious morsels and tasty drinks. Seville is built on the plain that abuts the Guadalquivir River. This is the proud capital of Andalusia, and really represents all things southern. Orange trees line the city streets and the scent of orange blossom fills the air. Flamenco bars are vibrant in the evening,
One of Alicante’s beautiful beaches
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Flamenco dancing in Andalusia
and Moorish architecture sits in amongst the more classic styles. There are some very impressive buildings to see in Seville, among them the Alcazar of Seville, the Cathedral of St Mary and the Plaza de España. The Alcazar, once a royal palace and fort, is another stunning example of Moorish architecture in Spain. The palace’s gardens are peaceful and cool, with tiled water features, fragrant fruit trees and patios among which to wander. Both the Alcazar and the Plaza de España have been used for filming locations; the Alcazar in Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven, and the Plaza de España in Lawrence of Arabia, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. The Plaza de España was built in 1928, and is an example of the Spanish Renaissance Revival style. The circular plaza is surrounded by a moat, which must be crossed to reach a covered walkway. Panels of the wall are decorated with tiled imagery representing all of the provinces of Spain. The atmosphere in the Plaza de España is quintessentially Spanish, with flocking pigeons, colourful mosaics and, of course, a huge fountain in the centre.
Patio de las Doncellas in Real Alcazar, Seville
The Cathedral of St Mary was completed early in the 16th century, and is the third-largest church in the world. This grand cathedral was built to represent the city’s wealth, which had flowed in following the colonisation of South America. Inside the cathedral, visitors are dwarfed by the massive columns that tower up into the intricately decorated ceiling, and coloured rays of sunlight are projected down through the stunning stained-glass windows. This is a monument to the enduring strength of the Catholic faith in Spain today, and many Spaniards flock here themselves to see this awe-inspiring place.
Your journey around Spain could easily continue on from Seville, west towards Portugal, and turn around again to take in the best of northern Spain. There is so much to see on the Iberian Peninsula, not to mention the stunning Balaeric Islands of Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza. The best way to do it is to take it slow, the way the Spanish do. Sit, observe, enjoy a coffee in a bar (there is certainly no such thing as take-away in Spain!), and a long walk through the winding alleyways. Only then will you get the true sense of what Spain is about: pure and simple enjoyment.
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Traditional dance in front of the Ruins of St Paul’s
Step back in time
in old Macau by Mike Smith
The 66 steps leading to the iconic Ruins of St Paul’s are awash with colour, the brightness of the sightseers’ clothing and accompanying waves of sun-shielding umbrellas matched by the pastels and yellows of the spruced-up centuries-old colonial buildings. Our day in this fascinating Asian centre is no busier than most, as the visitors and locals take the steady climb for a closer view of the famous façade of a cathedral that dates back to the early 1600s, and was ravaged by a fire about 200 years later. Decorating the stone wall, an impressive survivor of a devastating 1835 fire, are intricate figures carved by exiled Japanese Christians and local craftsmen. The sacred wall of what was once the largest Catholic Church in Asia functions symbolically as the altar to the city, its magnetism evident in the day’s sea of camera-toting tourists. Nearby, sharing the same acropolislike hill, are the archaeological remains of the old St Paul’s College, the first western-style university in the Far East. Behind the St Paul’s façade are the original pillars and shrine of the church, while overlooking the ruins is the Mount Fortress, also built by the Jesuits in the 16th and 17th centuries. Inside of what was originally the
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church’s crypt is the Museum of Sacred Art, and an impressive display of silver altar pieces, gilded statues and artwork by 17th-century Japanese artists. It’s appropriate that the tourist map in our hands has splashes of pink, purple, yellow and indigo, as this is a colourful spot to begin a walking tour of an area now protected with UNESCO World Heritage listing. On special occasions, Portuguese dancers dressed in traditional costume twirl in cultural performances at the top of the stairs. Macau’s importance as a gateway into China for western civilisation is evident throughout this special part of the peninsula, connected to the southern province of Guangdong (formerly Canton). For hundreds of years, this narrow slice of land has nurtured cultural exchange, shaping what is uniquely Macau. The historic centre of Macau is living testimony to an assimilation and continued coexistence of eastern and western cultures.
An impressive 25 sites make up UNESCO-recognised historic Macau, among them the brightly painted churches of St Joseph’s, St Lawrence’s, St Augustine’s as well as St Dominic’s, St Anthony’s, the 1622-built Macau Cathedral, and, of course, the Ruins of St Paul’s. The sites are linked by a maze of narrow streets and impressive squares, the mosaic black-and-white waves of the cobblestones in Senado Square a muchphotographed feature of historic Macau. The 1874-built Moorish Barracks, Leal Senado (Loyal Senate), Mount Fortress, Guia Fortress, chapel and lighthouse (1622–1638) and Dom Pedro V Theatre (built in 1860 as the first western-style theatre in China) are other treasured sites of western origins. A surviving section of the old city walls is also protected by UNESCO. The lengthy list of these treasured sites also includes Chinese architecture, of note the exemplary A-Ma Temple, the same temple that greeted the first Portuguese sailors on their arrival more than 400 years ago. The temple’s memorial arch, gate pavilion and prayer halls were inspired by Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism and a good deal of folklore. Close to the Chinese Bazaar area is another temple of interest, Kuan Tei
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Temple, which was directly associated with long-standing Chinese business associations – precursors to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Macau. On a more tranquil note is the Casa Garden, the homestead built in the same year that Captain James Cook landed at Kurnell, in Sydney. It was originally the residence of a wealthy Portuguese merchant, Manuel Pereira, was then used by the East India Company and is now headquarters of the Oriental Foundation.
“On special occasions, Portuguese dancers dressed in traditional costume twirl in cultural performances at the top of the stairs” For an insight into Macau’s diverse community profile, the Protestant Cemetery, close to Casa Garden, has on show a comprehensive record of the earliest Protestant settlers, the chapel dating back from 1821 and named in honour of Robert Morrison (1782–1834), who is buried there. Important British – China trade artist, George Chinnery, is also buried in the cemetery. Of course, not all of Macau’s tourism highlights date back centuries. There’s a contemporary side to this compact centre; a dramatic cityscape of neon-lit high rise hotels and apartments that has risen not only along a widening shoreline of the peninsula, but also across the waters to the Macau island of Taipa, linked by three serpent-like bridges. The rise of the Vegas-style Cotai Strip – a stretch of reclaimed land that has seen the merger of fellow island Coloane with Taipa – has been dramatic.
Large precincts carrying names such as City of Dreams, Sands (which includes the giant Venetian) and Galaxy make up the Cotai Strip, which is undergoing further expansion under a sea of construction cranes. It’s along this strip of Mega Resort developments that five-star hotels such as the Grand Hyatt, Crown, Sheraton, Conrad, the Venetian, the Four Seasons and the Banyan Tree are located, along with an impressive range of ritzy department stores, fine-dining and budget-style restaurants, bars and cafés.
Of course, not all the main hotels are located here, as the peninsula is home to the Mandarin Oriental, MGM Grand, Wynn, Star World, the Sofitel Ponte 16 and the Grand Lisboa, just to name a few. One of the most appealing reasons to holiday in Macau is to sample the cuisine; in particular the traditional Portuguese style as served in such small yet quaint restaurants as O-Manel and Antonio (both in Taipa village), and the interesting blend of Portuguese, Malaysian, African and Indian, referred to as Macanese, and Restaurant Litoral, near the A Ma Temple, a highlight for its African chicken.
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Other popular quality eateries include the three-star Michelin Robuchon au Dome (52nd level of the Hotel Lisboa), Wing Lei (quality dim sum inside the Wynn), Beijing Kitchen (northern Chinese in the Grand Hyatt), Vida Rica (contemporary), Mezza9 (award-winning with several open kitchens) and Zi Yat Heen (two-star Michelin – Chinese). Naturally, much food can be bought and eaten on the move. As you take that stroll through the historic heart of Macau from the famous Ruins of St Paul’s, expect to be greeted by the pleasant scent of cured pork. Sample a slice and you are sure to be hooked, liked many other before you. It’s just a small taste of things to come on a Macau holiday. Details: Macau Government Tourist Office Australia, phone (02) 9264 1488, www.macautourism.gov.mo.
Revved up to celebrate the silver jubilee Macau’s yearly love affair with festivals will carry a diamond finish in 2013 with the staging of the 60th annual Grand Prix, one of the world’s most enduring motorsport meetings. Always one to celebrate a special occasion, this tiny Asian centre of
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560,000 will ensure this year’s race meeting for two wheels as well as four goes ahead with all the razzamatazz expected of such a significant event, a two-weekend program offering something for every racing fan. And to add flavour to the six-day program – November 9–10 and November 14–17 – the former Portuguese enclave will host a mouthwatering food festival along with a spectacular show of fireworks. Famous for its Portuguese and Chinese heritage, reflected in the cuisine and the mix of colonial-style architecture and ancient temples, all with UNESCO World Heritage status, Macau has seen rapid change in recent years, without detracting from more than 400 years of history. The rise of the Cotai Strip has changed the cityscape, with flashing neon lights. However, the treasured corners of old Macau with its cobblestone streets, ceramic street signs and fountains continue to be a drawcard for the 120,000 annual visitors from Australia, along with the festivals and the annual Grand Prix. This race meeting is held over a sixkilometre road circuit on the peninsula where future Formula One champions, such as Ayrton Senna and Michael
Schumacher, cut their teeth in their early days of racing. Three Australian motor racing legends – Kevin Bartlett, Vern Schuppan and David Brabham – have also taken out the Macau Grand Prix. ‘My recollections of Macau in the ’60s are among the most treasured and favourite parts of my racing career,’ said Bartlett, who won the Grand Prix in 1969. ‘Up until that time, my travel had been confined to the southern hemisphere, and [I arrived] on a local liner (the Fat San) into a different way of doing things,’ he said. ‘The race car was unloaded by many hands from the hold of the ship and placed dockside ready to be taken to the garage area, which was the local naval fleet work station,’ recalled Bartlett. ‘The incessant chatter of strange tongues as orders were given to get the job done safely worried us at first, but the crews turned out to be very efficient.’ Times have changed, but the magnetism that the Macau Grand Prix possesses remains as strong as it was when the meeting came into existence in 1954. Details: Macau Grand Prix, www.macau. grandprix.gov.mo.
Level 11, 99 Bathurst Street Sydney NSW 2000 T: (02) 9264 1488
www.macautourism.gov.mo
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China’s Guilin ...
‘Most scenic place under heaven’ By Mike Smith
For centuries, artists and poets revered Guilin for its natural beauty and tranquil ambience. ‘The most scenic place under heaven’, is how it was described when brush was put to canvas and pen was put to paper. Through their works these creative people were able to share their love with many other corners of the world. Today, Guilin, in the north-east of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the People’s Republic’s south, is shared by a growing number of Australian
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travellers on group tours wanting see firsthand why so many artists and writers were attracted to the region. The name Guilin means ‘Forest of Sweet Osmanthus’, and is based on the number of these fragrant trees lining the city streets. But it’s the lush scenery and its generous sprinkling of jutting karsts that is the major drawcard, especially when the beauty of the peaks is enhanced by a thin veil of mist. A leisurely way to marvel over these steep, naturally created craggy peaks and limestone caves up close is on a cruise along the meandering Li River, on the outskirts of Guilin. The half-day cruise – included in Helen Wong’s Tours’ luxury 14-day China Highlights and 17-day Supreme China programs – also showcases the everyday lives of local fishermen on their simple bamboo rafts, the trained cormorant their valued fishing assistant. By reading through the books tracing the region’s geological history, you will find that Guilin was a gulf several hundred million years ago. As salty seawater dissolved to erode the limestone layers, strange shapes of hills began to form under the water. The
movement of the Earth’s crust saw the giving way of sea for land. But it wasn’t until another 70 million years had passed that this countryside of peaks and limestone caves developed – with assistance from the wind, rain and the flow of rivers. Guilin is one of a number of prime China centres featured in Helen Wong’s Tours’ comprehensive China 2013-2014 brochure for groups and independent travellers. Beyond the main cities of bustling Shanghai and capital Beijing – both major drawcards in their own right – is Xian, home of the famous life-sized Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang unearthed in the mid 1970s after remaining buried for 2000 years. The mighty Yangtze River, in particular the leisurely Victoria Cruises luxury cruise through the breathtaking Three Gorges, is another must. During the Tang Dynasty between 768 and 824, great poet Han Yu was so deeply touched by his cruise down Guilin’s Li River that he wrote: ‘the river winds like a green silk ribbon, while the hills are like jade hairpins’. That colourful line remains etched in the memories of so many Chinese privileged to have read his inspirational works. Details: Helen Wong’s Tours, phone 1300 788 328, www.helenwongstours.com.
China
Great introduction
Beijing
Highlights 1 4
d a y s
f r o m
Xian Shanghai
Air Train Road Cruise
$ 6 0 7 0
Everything was first class & beyond our expectations – simply excellent Helen’s Premium Choice: Shanghai 4 Visit Jin Mao Tower, one of the world’s tallest buildings and view the sound and light show on the ‘cable car’ tunnel ride 4 Dine at an award-winning restaurant at ‘Three on the Bund’ 4 Lunch at ‘Nan Xiang Dumpling Restaurant’ 4 Multi-million dollar acrobatic extravaganza 4 Ride the Maglev, the world’s fastest train 4 Lunch at ‘Zen Restaurant’ at Xintiandi gUiLin 4 Dinner at hotel 4 Experience unique ‘Tea’ cuisine 4 An evening cultural show Xian 4 Dinner and show at the Tang Dynasty Theatre 4 International style buffet lunch at hotel BEiJing
Scan here for the video highlights
a better way to get to
CHINA
4 A cycle-rickshaw tour of the ‘hutongs’ 4 Home-cooked meal with a Chinese family 4 Exciting ‘Legend of Kung Fu’ Show
Call 1300 788 328
4 Enjoy fine dining at a renowned restaurant 4 Farewell Dinner at the exclusive ‘China Club’
see your Travel agent or helenwongstours.com
Conditions: Prices are per person twin share ex. SYD, MEL, BNE, ADL, PER & includes taxes and fuel surcharges, valid for departures from valid Jun’13 to Jun ‘14 and seasonal surcharge apply. Please check with Helen Wong’s Tours for exact departure dates. Prices & taxes are current at time of brochure printing 15 Sep ’12. and are subject to availability and change without notice at time of booking. All other conditions as per Helen Wong’s Tours current brochure range. 3364 Lic.No.2TA4103
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Guilin
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Five days in Singapore five reasons it’s not just a stopover city
From Australia’s hub cities, Singapore is the halfway point to a number of international destinations. Many airlines, including our national carrier, Qantas, stop in Singapore en route to Europe, the United States, and numerous Asian destinations. Most travellers will spend a night, maybe two, in this leafy, tropical city, but few choose Singapore as their final destination. And it’s a pity, because delving a little deeper is incredibly rewarding, as Gemma Peckham recently discovered. The Orchid Garden at Singapore’s Botanic Gardens
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Food One of the first things that I noticed on my visit to Singapore was that, when you ask any resident of Singapore what the must-dos of the city are, you’re guaranteed to hear one word in response: eat. There are hawker markets all over the city selling street food – all of the local cuisines, from world-renowned Hainanese chicken rice, to the incredibly flavoursome and inexpensive dishes of Little India, and the deservedly ubiquitous chilli crab. Hawker stalls have come a long way from the chow-peddling workers of Singapore in the 1800s to what is now arguably one of Singapore’s most celebrated cultural attributes. Also to be found in Singapore are high-class five-star restaurants that take culinary fusion to new levels, blending the traditional flavours of Singapore – Chinese, Indian, Malay – with Western sensibilities to create exciting, modern cuisine to match the city’s progressive atmosphere.
Colourful outfits for sale in Little India
For those not looking for a particular type of food, just a great ambience and something delicious to munch on, there are plenty of establishments across the city to satisfy a hunger. The food in Singapore is largely influenced by its Asian
For those not looking for a particular type of food, just a great ambience and something delicious to munch on, there are plenty of establishments across the city to satisfy a hunger.
neighbours and immigrants, but cultures of further afield have started to make their mark on the Singaporean eating scene, with boutique pizzerias, French-influenced bakeries and ice creameries popping up in some of the trendier neighbourhoods.
Shopping Though shopping is not my numberone priority when travelling, it’s certainly an enjoyable pursuit in Singapore. Visit Orchard Road for a ‘spot of shopping’, and you’ll find that there are far too many ‘spots’ to limit your adventure to just one. Not only that, the malls seem to be connected via a rabbit-warren style network of underground walkways, glass-encased overpasses, and good old-fashioned pedestrian crossings. You will find anything from high-end fashion to bargain stores, as well as the expat staples of H&M, Topshop, and Sephora. One of Singapore’s lovely surprises is that, while shopping in the air-conditioned megacentres is still the retail therapy of choice for many visitors, there are boroughs away from the city centre where quirky independent stores rule, including bookshops, boutique fashion and general curios. One up-and-coming neighbourhood boasting a number of charming shopfronts is Tiong Bahru, where Books Actually and Nana & Bird are well worth a look.
A sleepy resident cat at Books Actually in Tiong Bahru
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A cooling cocktail on Sentosa Island
Don’t forget the overflowing stalls of Chinatown, the street markets throughout the city, and the laneways packed with antique stores. And finally, I can’t mention shopping without mentioning Little India’s Mustafa Centre – the famous department store where you can buy everything from chocolate to fishing rods, gold, diamonds, cleaning goods, medicine, hot food, souvenirs, DVDs, toys, fabric, telephones, kitchenware, and carpet… and that’s just on one of the many levels. Did I mention that it’s accessible 24 hours a day? Don’t go here expecting a lush mall experience – it’s crowded and haphazard, but that’s half the fun.
Leisure When planning my five days in Singapore, I found it particularly difficult to choose which of the many attractions to visit. The first that I settled on was the Night Safari at the Singapore Zoo, where animals are lit by simulated moonlight and go about their nocturnal business, while you can choose to either take the network of walking paths through the jungle, or jump on a tramcar for a narrated journey past the wildlife. The
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The Orchid Garden in bloom
safari is beautifully planned, and the imaginative visitor might choose to ignore the craftily obscured barriers that keep the animals from fraternising, and believe that they are wandering in the wild with the night creatures.
Books Actually, Tiong Bahru
skirt the ‘theme park’ attractions, where hundreds of families descend upon rides and amusements, and head straight to the beach, where you’ll find either a restaurant, ice cream shop or bar to relax in while taking in the beachscape.
When planning my five days in Singapore, I found it particularly difficult to choose which of the many attractions to visit. Also on the list was the Orchid Garden at the city’s Botanic Gardens, which was, with no exaggeration, breathtaking. The variety and colour of the flowers alone was enough to entertain me for hours, and the landscaping and thoughtful arrangement of the gardens made for a truly lovely visit. Next was a cable car ride to Sentosa Island, with fantastic views across Singapore and Singapore Strait, to the ships queuing to offload their cargoes at the Port of Singapore. Upon arrival at Sentosa, my recommendation is to
Finally, I decided that a visit to Singapore would not be complete without a trip to the Raffles Long Bar for a drink and some peanut-shell tossing. At the long wooden bar, I took a seat and watched as the largely expat crowd quenched their thirsts under charming colonial beams adorned with original 1920s fans to circulate the humid air. Though definitely worth seeing, I’d recommend merely stopping in at the Long Bar for a drink, and then getting back into your Singapore discovery.
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Clarke Quay
Luxury Singapore is replete with luxury hotels, restaurants, shops, cars, spas and bars, so you won’t go without a bit of pampering on your Singapore fling. I was lucky enough to be shown around the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, where the 2561 luxury rooms are often all full, and the hotel’s piece de resistance – the rooftop infinity pool on the 27th storey of the hotel at the Sands SkyPark – is a sight not to be missed. My stay was at WANGZ Hotel, which is a lovely boutique establishment, small enough to feel intimate and familiar, but large enough that its restaurant and rooftop bar are always populated with both travellers and locals – the latter taking the lift straight up to the bar to enjoy the view of the city. While a trip to Singapore can cater to any budget, if you have a few dollars to spare it’s worth indulging – in the food, the transport and the lifestyle – because when it comes to luxury, the Singaporeans do it very well.
The view from the Sentosa cable car
While a trip to Singapore can cater to any budget, if you have a few dollars to spare it’s worth indulging – in the food, the transport and the lifestyle – because when it comes to luxury, the Singaporeans do it very well.
Singapore’s Orchid Garden
People Everywhere you go in Singapore, there’s a friendly face, a helping hand and a local who is bursting to tell you all about their great city. The pride that Singaporeans exhibit when dispensing knowledge is always evident, and though there is a huge diversity of nationalities calling Singapore their homeland, the population is bonded by this proud claim to Singaporean citizenship. Try it out – ask a cab driver for a history of the country, smile at a shop owner and find out about the products on offer, or joke with a street vendor over some of the more exotic food choices (‘Crocodile Paw’, or steamed shark’s head, anyone?), and you’ll soon have made a new friend. English is the official language of Singapore, so you won’t have any translation issues, either. That’s just five days in Singapore, and five reasons that the city is more than just a stopover. Singapore has become a destination in its own right while no-one was looking, so next time you find yourself having to stop in the tiny nation, consider a few more nights for a more rewarding visit.
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Discover Australia’s natural secrets in comfort
Get back to nature and experience an up close and personal encounter with a rich variety of plant and animal life with the Scenic Rim World Heritage Walk in South-East Queensland. Hosted by luxury eco-campsite Spicers Canopy, this exclusive guided walk will take you on a journey of discovery through the private 5000-acre Spicers Peak Nature Refuge and the World Heritage-listed Main Range National Park, two hours’ drive south-west of Brisbane. Here, walkers can rediscover the pleasure of simple things – the peace that comes with walking through a forest to the song of native birds, the pleasure that seeing a curious wallaby can bring and the awe that a sky full of stars can inspire. Best of all, you’ll discover them all while enjoying a walk that is more about ‘rest and relaxation’ than ‘rough and ready’. Featuring a maximum of 10 guests, the walks offer a world-class, outdoor adventure experience while indulging in five-star accommodation, food and wine. Enjoy a four-day package that includes three days of walking, two nights at Spicers Canopy, one night at luxurious sister property Spicers Peak Lodge, three meals a day, premium beer and wine and transfers.
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Choose from the Gourmet Explorer, designed for those with a love of good food and wine and including activities such as wine tasting, or the Native Adventurer, which offers a more scenic and challenging adventure for advanced walkers. Guided by colourful bushman Russell ‘Jacko’ Jackson, discover deep creek canyons, crystal clear water holes, sub-tropical rainforests, open fields, caves, spectacular limestone cliffs and more. Spot abundant wildlife such as wallabies, birds, lizards, frogs and small marsupials, learn about the fascinating Aboriginal history of the land and discover the story behind the region’s early settlers. The private Spicers Peak Station, which is both a nature refuge and cattle station, contains a diverse range of ecosystems and is an extremely important refuge for many rare and endangered animals, including koalas, the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby, Eastern bristlebird, Cascade Tree Frog and Spotted-tailed Quoll. Amazingly, about 20 per cent of Queensland’s plant species can be found in the area.
During this unforgettable adventure you’ll sleep under the stars in luxurious safari-style tents at Spicers Canopy, which features an outdoor fire pit, hot showers and a grand timber lodge with fireplace and open-plan kitchen, lounge and dining areas. On the final night, the walk culminates with luxurious overnight accommodation and a seven-course degustation dinner at the renowned Spicers Peak Lodge, which sits perched atop a hill overlooking the valleys and bushland you’ve just explored. The property also offers a dedicated day spa where you can soothe tired limbs before reflecting on the past three days with a glass of the finest French champagne in hand. Spicers Canopy has Advanced Ecotourism Accreditation from Ecotourism Australia, which ensures each walking adventure achieves best practice by operating sustainably, using resources wisely and contributing to the conservation of the environment. For further information and bookings visit www.spicersretreats.com, email canopy@spicersgroup.com.au or call 1300 112 908.
Caravanning & The Great Outdoors
Couture camping Escape the city and reinvigorate yourself in style with these popular glamping experiences.
Longitude 131°, Northern Territory
Nightfall Wilderness Camp – Queensland 33Where: Lamington National Park, Queensland 33Why: Escape the overcrowding and complexities of city living and enter into ‘The Lost World’ of Lamington National Park’s rainforest. The Nightfalls Wilderness Camp offers glampers the chance to embrace nature – luxuriously, of course – with luxury tent accommodation that incorporates all the comforts of home – and a few indulgent holiday extras – as well as organic food and fine wine, eco-sensitive activities and tailor-made experiences. A king-sized bed dressed with organic linen, lavish indoor and outdoor bathing options, French wood fireplaces and private massages are just some of the luxuries on offer when you escape your busy city life at Nightfalls. With a maximum of six adults on each glamping expedition, Nightfalls also ensures that your relaxation and rejuvenation is private and serene,
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as you are cocooned by the beauty and splendour of the ancient and World Heritage-protected rainforest. An easy escape from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, located 90 to 110 minutes from the sandy beaches of the north-east, Nightfall Wilderness Camp provides that much-needed nature getaway.
Eco Beach Resort – Western Australia 33Where: Broome, Western Australia 33Why: This multi-award-winning eco resort sits in stark contrast to the rugged and sparse landscape of the Kimberley region. Providing various accommodation options to suit any holiday-maker – from luxury safariLanterns and open fires, Nightfall Camp, Queensland luxury tent accommodation, wilderness Camp Lamington National Park
Caravanning & The Great Outdoors
style tents to eco-villas and beach houses – the Eco Beach Resort, Broome, promises satisfaction. With the usual (luxury) suspects, such as king-sized beds, air conditioning, private verandahs and balconies, and even complimentary yoga, this eco spot ensures that your time away from your schedule is relaxing and revitalising. Offering massages and meditation at the resort’s day spa, as well as a succulent dining opportunity at Jack’s Bar and Grill, which is in prime beachfront position, this luxury eco experience is the perfect glamping opportunity if you find yourself in Western Australia. NB: The Eco Beach Resort Broome is open from April until December, so make sure that you travel to the resort between these opening times.
Paperbark Camp – New South Wales 33Where: Jervis Bay, New South Wales 33Why: This serene bush retreat is
Paperback Camp’s luxury tents
located two hours out of Sydney, and is the ideal setting for some natural peace and quiet. Surrounded by spectacular coastal scenery and the revitalising smells and sounds of the bush, Paperbark Camp invites visitors to do as much (or as little!) as they want. Featuring luxury amenities, including comfortable beds dressed with luxurious linens, private open
ensuites with hot showers, and private verandah with each tent, visitors cannot be blamed if they forget they are actually camping! At the heart of the camp is the Gunyah Restaurant, which is positioned amid the treetops high off the ground, providing diners with a magnificent view as they nibble on grand regional fare. With an open fire roaring
One of the gorgeous beach houses at Eco Beach Resort, Broome
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Caravanning & The Great Outdoors
throughout the winter season, and the verandah open for pleasant al fresco dining in summer, the Gunyah ensures that guests are comfortable and well looked after. With private massages available on request at the time of booking, walking tracks that allow you to meander through the gum trees, and complimentary bikes and canoes for you to use on your explorations, Paperbark Camp spoils you for choice.
Longitude 131° – Northern Territory 33Where: Uluru 33Why: Longitude 131° is Australia’s best-known glamping retreat. Mixing five-star luxury with Australia’s infamous red desert, Longitude 131° offers campers a different
The luxuriously appointed interior of a tent at Longitude 131°
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take on experiencing the Australian icon. And while the destination and surrounding landscape is a work of art in itself, it’s the little things that make this wilderness resort sing. The 15 individually designed luxury tents each tell a different story of an Australian pioneer or explorer, with pictures and narrative scattered throughout the accommodation. Each tent consists of a king-sized bed, air conditioning and heating to ensure your comfort at all times, private bathroom and shower, and even a minibar! This all-inclusive resort also provides travellers with a variety of tours – from sunset and sunrise tours of Uluru, to village tours and even stargazing tours – and a large pool and viewing areas. Foodies will rejoice at the cuisine on offer at Longitude 131° Restaurant; sip on
some fine wine recommended by the friendly and helpful staff as you dine under the starry sky.
Pebble Point – Victoria 33Where: Princetown 33Why: Offering luxury tents nestled behind the rugged clifftops of the Twelve Apostles, Pebble Point promises weary travellers a chance to invigorate their mind, body and soul with a much-needed nature retreat. Located two and a half hours from Melbourne, this exclusive getaway is nestled within metres of three national parks – Port Campbell National Park, Great Otway National Park, and Twelve Apostles Marine National Park. Watch the moon as it rises over the Otway Ranges while sipping on champagne in the serene setting,
Caravanning & The Great Outdoors
The Kangaluma experience includes dinner in the great outdoors
or meander along the Great Ocean Walk and try your luck at spotting migrating whales; there is an activity to suit every need and want. The beauty of this retreat is that there are only five tents available at the one time, ensuring that your retreat is a calm and intimate experience. Mixing the beauty of the natural surrounds with five-star amenities, Pebble Point ensures that guests are well accommodated, with a king-sized bed fitted with 100 per cent cotton linen, spacious ensuite bathrooms, and private decks exposed to world-class scenery – everything you need for a rejuvenating weekend away.
retiring for the night in comfort and style, with a king-sized bed and all the comforts of home awaiting you in your safari tent. Travellers will also be privy to some quintessentially South Australian delights, with the food and wine of the region lovingly prepared and served under the clear diamond-speckled night. During the day there are a variety of different tours on offer – whether you’re looking to tour the magnificent sights of
Lake Gardiner, or you’d like to take a ‘mixed’ adventure, where the outback meets the sea, the Gawler Ranges Wilderness Experience has it covered. These inland ranges span from arid to semi-arid, and in springtime the land is covered with spectacular wildflowers that are sure to impress. While this is not your regular ‘glamping’ escape, this wilderness experience should definitely make an appearance on your bucket list.
Gawler Ranges Wilderness Safaris – Kangaluna Camp – South Australia 33Where: Eyre Peninsula 33Why: Explore the ‘real’ outback with this unique experience. Join naturelover Geoff Scholz as he takes you through the ins and outs of the Gawler Ranges – through the diverse beauty and wilderness found inland – before
Gawler Ranges Wilderness Safaris – Kangaluna Camp – South Australia
Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 35
Health & wellbeing
Field of dreams, and tulips
It all began in 1939 when Dutch migrants Cees and Johanna Tesselaar left Holland on their wedding day. They took with them a suitcase full of flower bulbs, their dreams and a lot of determination. After travelling the ports of Australia they chose Melbourne and soon set up shop in the picturesque Dandenong Ranges. They bought a farm in Silvan and began growing tulips, an exotic bloom for the time. The tulips caused a stir and soon the word spread around. People came from everywhere and even jumped fences to get a closer look. Each year the numbers of people grew and grew, and so the gates were officially opened in 1954 and the festival was born. From these simple beginnings, the Tulip Festival has grown into one of Victoria’s major tourist attractions. Now visitors are not only treated to a fabulous field of tulips, there is also live entertainment daily and a host of colourful market stalls. The festival has stayed true to its roots with a touch of Dutch here and there; and the staff dress in traditional Dutch costume, clogs and all! The family business is now managed by Cees and Johanna’s grandson,
page A 36||Living Livingthe thedream Dream2013 2013||edition edition22
Paul Tesselaar. Even having grown up amongst the blooms, Paul says when he looks out over the fields his breath is taken away. He is excited to be at the helm as the 60th Festival is celebrated. Various themed days run throughout the four-week festival, including Seniors’ Week, and Turkish, Dutch, Food, Wine and Jazz, and Irish weekends. Plus there are special kids’ days over the school holidays, and even better, kids are free! First up on the event calendar is Seniors’ Week, with a fun array of entertainment and free tea or coffee for seniors. There is a Dutch barrel organ playing every day and a host of other activities. The Turkish Weekend celebrates the origin of the tulip. The tulip originated in
Turkey, and it is there that the very first Tulip Festival was celebrated during the Ottoman era over 400 years ago. Next up is the Dutch Weekend, when the farm is transformed into a mini Holland and there is much to enjoy. The Food, Wine and Jazz weekend is a celebration of the local cuisines and wines. It is a gastronomical good time with some cruisy jazz tunes. The final weekend is Irish, because in a few days the colourful blooms will be chopped off and the fields become green. The weekend is a good craic. Everyday there are market stalls and delicious foods to tempt, as well as tractor rides, games and farm displays. New to this years festival is a Dutch Clog Shop. The Tesselaar Tulip Festival commemorates the unique and timeless beauty of the tulip. There is really something special about the intense colouring of tulips, and with all the other entertainment, it is a must-do event. The Tesselaar Tulip Festival is a short trip from Melbourne. Visit their website, www.tulipfestival.com.au for more information.
Seniors Week
Turkish Weekend
MON 16th THUR 19th SEPT
FRI 13th SUN 15th SEPT
Irish Weekend
Dutch Weekend FRI 20th SUN 22 nd SEPT
Food, Wine & Jazz Weekend FRI 27th SUN 29th SEPT
Children’s Days
FRI 4th SUN 6th OCT
MON 23rd & THUR 26th MON 30th R SEPT - THU 3rd OCT
Come & help us celebrate
60 Festivals of Colour! SEPT 12th - OCT 8th 2013. 10AM to 5PM DAILY See more than a million flowering bulbs on show along with live entertainment daily. Get some friends together and enjoy this wonderful experience that can’t be found anywhere else in Victoria.
Senior s Week
s ’s Day
FREE
en Childr
E E R F
DREN
IL R CH Y FO . ENTR & UNDER 16
For further information and to purchase advance tickets visit
www.tulipfestival.com.au Tesselaar Tulip Farm, 357 Monbulk Road, Silvan Vic 3795. Phone 03 9737 7722
TEA O R ALL S COFFEE F OR ENIO RS. O AVAI NLY LABL E DU 16th - 19th RING SEPT.
Caravanning & The Great Outdoors
Mornington Peninsula mini-break
At any opportunity, Melburnians will pack up the car and drive the hour or so down to the Mornington Peninsula. The towns and beaches of the Peninsula are a world away from Melbourne’s city streets, but close enough to be within easy reach for a few days away. The Mornington Peninsula is quite compact, so if you base yourself at one of the many caravan parks, you can explore during the day, or just stay put and enjoy the holiday atmosphere. There is no shortage of food, wine, and relaxation on offer, as well as outdoor activities for getting into the wild. A drive around the Peninsula will take you past farm gates and cellar doors, where you will find strawberries, cherries, cheeses, honey, fudge, baked goods and excellent wines. The climate of the Peninsula is perfect for pinot noir: a delicious cool-climate wine. At the Ellisfield Strawberry and Cherry Farm in Red Hill, you can pick your very own plump, ripe strawberries, and gorge on cherries to your heart’s content. And if cheese is your weakness, the Main Ridge Dairy offers a paddock-to-plate experience, where you can see the happily grazing goats while you sample the varieties of goat’s curd, aged table cheese, and marinated chevre. You can even participate in a cheesemaking course, where all you need to bring along is a four-litre container for carrying your own hand-made cheese home. As far as natural relaxation experiences go, you won’t want to go past the
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Peninsula Hot Springs, located near Fingal. Naturally warm thermal springs flow into several pools, one of which is perched on a hill with a 360-degree view of the surrounding vivid green countryside. The waters are rich in minerals – which are said to have natural healing properties – and make for a rejuvenating experience. The Hot Springs also offer massage, reflexology and beauty treatments for that extra special treat. The Peninsula is a stunning environment, with still bay waters to the west, and the rollicking ocean on the east. To get into this natural beauty, you can kayak, snorkel, or even scuba dive, depending on how adventurous you’re feeling. Of course, there’s always the option of pulling up a beach chair, casting out a line, and waiting for the fish to bite. There is also plenty to see on foot, on the Peninsula’s walking tracks. The 100-kilometre Mornington Peninsula Walk can be undertaken over several days, or you can just pick a segment or two to sample. You can choose between the shorter and easier walks, such as the five-kilometre Bushrangers Bay Walk, or a longer, more challenging one such as the Two Bays Walking Track. On every part of
the track you will see native wildlife, birds, and distinctly southern flora. The beautiful thing about the Mornington Peninsula is that once you’ve returned from a walk in the natural beauty, bathed in a hot spring, or sampled some produce fresh from the farm, you can drop into one of the many towns and find a fish and chip shop that does a perfect piece of flake. Everything you want is right there, and it’s only a short drive away from the centre of Melbourne.
Peninsula Hot Springs and Day Spa
Gr ab lif e wi th tw o ha nd s w it h
Li vi ng th e D re am !
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Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 39
Caravanning & The Great Outdoors
Good maps lead to great campsites – Hartz Range NT
Caravanning
wild side
on the
By John Mack
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Caravanning & The Great Outdoors
Back in the early 2000s, after retiring from a busy life of mining and farming, Jean and I decided it was our time to take it easy and to go and see the rest of Australia. We wanted to travel the remote outback regions, to spend more time in the wide-open spaces and on deserted beaches, to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of just being ‘out there’. New to the world of caravanning, we were nervous about spending a large sum of money on something we knew so little about. So began 18 months of thorough research to find the right caravan and vehicle to take us where we wanted to go, for as long as we were capable of enjoying travelling full-time. The caravan we needed had to be capable of serious off-road travel, and well appointed, as we planned to live and travel in it full-time, far from the amenities of civilisation. Our list of desired design features included plenty of storage capacity for water, sufficient solar capacity to meet most of our power needs, and a back-up generator for those days of inclement weather when the solar output is low. Many owners we had met complained of dust getting into their vans when travelling unsealed roads, so this was another issue that needed to be dealt with in the design. The last thing we needed was to suffer breakdowns or have to remove a bucket of red dust every time we stopped. We were fortunate to be living in Kununurra, the gateway to the popular
We were fortunate to be living in Kununurra, the gateway to the popular East Kimberley region, and were able to spend our weekends touring the parks and camping areas talking to owners of the off-road caravans on our shortlist. East Kimberley region, and were able to spend our weekends touring the parks and camping areas talking to owners of the off-road caravans on our shortlist. We crawled under and inspected many vans, inside and out. Talking to owners who have travelled the sort of country we were planning to visit proved to be immensely valuable. After an exhaustive search of an ever-diminishing shortlist of potentially suitable caravans, we finally placed an order for a 19-foot Bushtracker in August 2004. We purchased a Toyota Landcruiser Wagon – one of the older versions built before the days of everything being controlled by electronics and computer management systems. The thinking behind this decision was that in the unlikely event that the vehicle did stop somewhere like the Great Sandy Desert, there was a fair chance I could fix it. The vehicle came with every possible accessory, including the large Warn winch and robust bar work at both ends. Long-range fuel tanks, rear drawers and quality aftermarket suspension provided extended range, comfort off-road and plenty of well-organised storage. It had been fastidiously maintained, and was the ideal vehicle for remote travel. 1 June 2005 was ‘D Day’ (delivery day), when we collected our new home on wheels from the Bushtracker factory at Kunda Park on the Sunshine Coast. After
an extensive briefing and demonstration of everything that opened and closed, we headed off on a leisurely trip home: some 5000 kilometres back to the top end of Western Australia.
John and Jean Mack
Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 41
Caravanning & The Great Outdoors
Since that exciting day, we have been doing that thing called ‘living the dream’, travelling full-time for more than eight years. We initially spent five years touring in Western Australia, before heading across to the Northern Territory on the infamous Gunbarrel Highway. After that came the slightly more civilised Plenty Highway to Boulia in outback Queensland. We have free-camped for most of that time, purely because we like the solitude and enjoy getting close to the wildlife that you are unable to find in even the best caravan parks. Some of the magic places we visited included going up to the north Kimberley coast via the Gibb River Road, up to Kalumburu and on to the coast at McGowan’s Island. We also towed the van through the King Edward River – much to the horror of the spectators who thought we would drown it – and continued on to Mitchell Falls. Our rule for river crossings is that Jean does the first ‘walk through’, and if she gets her knickers wet then I check it out before
venturing in with the Bushtracker. This is not recommended as a general rule – Jean is fairly short and the Bushtracker has high clearance!
Understand your travel needs before purchasing a van, then do lots of research. We have spent time out in Western Australia’s Little Sandy Desert chasing gold with metal detectors, and mustering cattle on a friend’s remote cattle property. One unforgettable experience while we were on the station was the culling and cutting up of some fifty camels to fulfil a contract for 40,000 dingo baits for the Department of Agriculture… I used to
Overnight camp at White Bluff – West Coast Western Australia
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enjoy camel steaks! We also looked after two huge ex-pastoral properties that were designated as future Conservation
Turn either way for the real outback
Caravanning & The Great Outdoors
Reserves. Our nearest neighbours were 75 kilometres away, and our only regular visitor was the mailman on his weekly 1750-kilometre mail run. We spent quality time camped on the beach at Tamala Station at the southern end of Shark Bay, where the water was crystal clear, with rarely a ripple. It was teeming with fish – mostly Bluebone and Pink Snapper – that we targeted from our Zodiac, which also took us exploring to several local islands. On another occasion, we spent five weeks at Cleaverville Beach north of Karratha, waiting for the temperature to get over 30 degrees before moving further south to the Cape Range south of Exmouth – we discovered that living in Kununurra had acclimatised us to the heat! Tracking eastwards in 2010 via the Gunbarrel Highway was a very special trip through some of the wildest country that central Western Australia can offer. It is not a trip for the faint-hearted, or the illprepared who travel in soft-road RVs. We carried both HF and UHF radios, and have since added a satellite phone as well. Good communications are essential for us once we are out of mobile range. During this trip we only saw two other lots of vehicles on tag-a-long tours, and no caravans. The track is heavily corrugated and had some washed-out sections, but the magic scenery more than compensated for any discomfort. We found that dropping our tyre pressures to 22 psi all round and reducing the speed to suit the prevailing conditions worked well – we travelled comfortably and suffered no tyre problems. Each evening we would contact VKS737 on the HF radio and update them on our location before enjoying wonderful campfires, food grilled on the coals and the endless array of brilliant stars that can only be found in isolated places. In the Northern Territory, the late afternoon light shining on the distant Olgas and Kata Tjuta was a beautiful picture, but they lost their appeal close up – too many people and tourist coaches for us. The benefit of this leisurely nomadic lifestyle is the freedom to go where and when we want, following the good
weather; just pottering along, exploring new country and enjoying our hobbies and shared interests. A really good off-road van will have a high initial cost; however, people like us who travel full-time can amortise this over a few years; the running costs on a quality van will be reduced by lower maintenance and repair bills. Free camping most of the time can further reduce your costs by up to $10,000 per year. Waking up to the birds singing, rather than listening to your caravan park neighbour warming up his diesel before a 5 am departure, always gets the day off to a good start.
John’s tips for safe remote travel 33Understand your travel needs before purchasing a van, then do lots of research. 33Buy the best you can afford – it will pay you back in lower costs and better resale value. 33Free camping can save full-time nomads in the order of $10,000+ per year.
33Use really good topographical maps to plan your routes and help find great free-camp sites. Always know where you are. 33Old road quarries and bypassed river bridges make great overnight campsites. 33Overnight stops – camp off the road and out of sight. 33Leave your camp sites pristine – bury your fire ashes and remove all trace of your passing. Only urban cowboys use ‘stone rings’ around their fires and leave them behind on departure. 33HF radio or a satellite phone are the only effective long-range communication methods when out of mobile range. 33Carry comprehensive first-aid kits and know how to use them – one in the van and one in the vehicle. 33Follow the P7th Protocol – Prior Preparation and Planning Prevents Palpably Poor Performances.
The deck hand has a go at driving
Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 43
Caravanning & The Great Outdoors
Escape to
Jervis Bay
Just a three-hour drive from the hustle and bustle of Sydney, the waters of Jervis Bay lap lazily against white sand. Blackbutt forests stand in the background, alive with birds and animals. This is an ideal destination for an escape from the city, and after a few days away, you’ll feel brand new. Some like to fill their time with as much as they can fit in, while others prefer to clear the schedule completely, and in Jervis Bay all types will find what they are looking for.
D
riving south from Sydney, Jervis Bay is on the beautiful southern coast of New South Wales. Caravan parks dot the coastline, with plenty to choose from; you just need
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to decide which vista you prefer. The activities on offer are wide-ranging, ensuring that there is a perfect fit for everyone’s style of mini-break. The waters of Jervis Bay are calm and protected, making them the perfect place for snorkelling, sea kayaking, fishing, and splashing about in the sun. You can hire all of the equipment you need for these water activities in and around Jervis Bay, or relax and let someone else do the thinking; book in to a guided sea kayak tour, a fishing trip or a snorkelling adventure, and find out all the locals’ best-kept secrets. Booderee Botanic Gardens is the only Indigenous-owned botanic gardens in Australia, and comprises 80 hectares of grounds, surrounded by bushland. On a visit to these gardens you can learn about the native flora and fauna of Jervis Bay, as well as finding out about bush tucker and bush medicine used by the traditional owners of the area. There are covered barbecue areas, inviting lawns to laze upon, and walking tracks that criss-cross the gardens. Booderee is home to over 200 species of bird, so look out for the tawny frogmouth, the beautiful firetail, the masked lapwing and the mighty white-
bellied sea eagle. The birds are not the only impressive creatures in Jervis Bay; every year the humpback whales make their journeys north during June and July, and the perfect place from which to catch a glimpse is the Cape St George Lighthouse. In the late morning and early afternoon there is less glare on the water, so with a bit of patience, and a good pair of binoculars, this is the best time to behold a breaching beauty. Dolphins also play in these waters, and you can expect to see them frolicking all year round. The bushwalking around Jervis Bay is one of its best assets, with many trails snaking around the coastline and back into the blackbutts. The Green Patch to Bristol Point walk is a highlight, taking you along the shoreline, over the pristine sands, and back into the cool forests to return to your starting point. Jervis Bay is the perfect spot for a brief escape from the city. With just a few days up your sleeve, you can be sure to get into the peaceful rhythm of the ocean. Whether you choose to get active, or simply laze around on the sand, you won’t need to look further than Jervis Bay.
Caravanning & The Great Outdoors
‘
The bushwalking around Jervis Bay is one of its best assets, with many trails snaking around the coastline and back into the blackbutts
Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 45
Sailing
Set
sail
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sail the high seas aboard a colossal ship, with white, blanket-like sails blending in with the clouds of the bright blue sky? This no longer has to be a fantasy: there are many tall ship adventures waiting for you on the horizon that offer the maritime life aboard a luxury vessel careening over the pristine waters of some of the world’s most splendid destinations. Royal Clipper
Star Flyer
Star Clippers runs three of the largest and tallest sailing vessels across the globe – so there is really something for every type of holiday. The largest of the three is the Royal Clipper, a five-mast fully rigged vessel that offers the luxury of a five-star cruise ship. This impressive vessel, which holds the Guinness World Record for the largest square-rigged ship in service, is based on the design of the Preussen – the iconic German five-mast Flying P-Liner that was built in 1902 – bringing with it an old-school feel and experience. For those of you who have always wanted to set sail on Captain Hook’s The Jolly Roger, the Royal Clipper is the ship for you. Watching the 42 sails unfurl as you set off on your journey is quite a sight, and will make you realise just how impressive the ship truly is. The Royal Clipper cruises the seas of the Mediterranean in the summer; so if you’re looking to get a taste of Europe’s southerly waters, why not set sail? It promises to be an experience like no other.
Gliding around the wonderfully calm and turquoise waters of Costa Rica, Star Clipper’s smaller Star Flyer ship will take you back to the golden age of sailing. With a décor and atmosphere reminiscent of the good old days of water travel, this intimate travelling affair will have you itching to set sail more often. One thing is certain: aboard the Star Flyer, you’ll never feel confined as you sail by the sights aboard this majestic 115-metre-long tall ship. The vessel features an open seating dining area, a piano bar, two swimming pools, an indoor-outdoor tropical bar and an Edwardian-style library, where a fire blazes constantly, adding to the warmth and elegance of the space. Life aboard the Star Flyer is wonderfully relaxed as well as diverse. Add these wonderful features to the breathtaking view as the Star Flyer cuts through the waters of Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama, and you’ve got a mix of beauty, luxury, and adventure – the ideal blend for a perfect holiday.
The Royal Clipper
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Sailing
Wind Spirit Operated by Windstar and advertised as a ‘luxury light’, this vessel offers passengers big-ship features with small-ship amenities. Interestingly, the Wind Spirit is in fact a motor sailing yacht that carries an elaborate system of computer-controlled sails and masts, which presents passengers with a quirkier cruise holiday. The four-mast, six-sail ship holds 148 passengers, giving a more intimate and sleek cruise experience, yet the 10,000 squares of open deck ensure that you will find a nook or a cranny to steal a quiet moment to yourself, or with your partner. The Wind Spirit’s many amenities include two dining venues – the Restaurant, where gourmet, course-by-course dining is offered, and the Veranda, a casual buffet alternative – as well as WindSpa, where you can book luxurious onboard spa treatments; the casino; entertainment lounge; hot tub, spa and pool; and even a library. Sailing around the borders of the Caribbean, Tahiti, the Greek Isles, Turkey, the Panama Canal and the Mediterranean, there’s a cruise aboard the Wind Spirit for everyone – so be spoilt for choice when booking your luxury-light experience.
Southern Swan
Southern Swan If you’re itching to get among some rigging, but can’t afford to take time out of your busy schedule, how about a day trip? Experience the iconic Sydney Harbour aboard a 1920s tall ship. The Southern Swan is a three-mast barquentine that holds up to 90 guests as it glides past some of Sydney’s most famous sites – the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, Fort Denison, Garden Island, Luna Park and Taronga Zoo, just to name a few. Making the voyage from England to Australia in 1988, the Southern Swan sailed to our waters to participate in the Australian Bicentennial First Fleet Re-enactment. Since then, it has called The Rocks home, and is berthed in historic Campbell’s Cove. Aboard this majestic vessel, you will be exposed to full five-star treatment: finger food, flutes of bubbly, an incredible view, and prime entertainment provided by the ship’s crew. Departing from the rocks every day, hop online to secure your place – you can even book a mast climb and tackle the daunting (or exciting, depending on your point of view) 15-metre ascent. If you’re looking for a more intimate and romantic sail, why not take a twilight dinner cruise? End the day on a magnificent high as you step aboard the Southern Swan, where you will be serenaded by talented musicians and given the royal treatment as the sun begins its descent. Sit down and enjoy your freshly prepared meal with a glass or two of wine as you slip around the harbour, illuminated by the bright lights of Sydney’s evening skyline. Next time you plan a voyage on the seas, keep in mind that there is always an alternative to the standard cruise line. While not as large, these tall ships do offer an experience of a lifetime to suit all sailing enthusiasts. Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 47
Interview
Weathering
rough seas
By Gemma Peckham
An interview with Barry Du Bois
Barry Du Bois is not your typical TV presenter. In television years, he’s an infant, having only been on our screens for the past two years – and he almost never got there. If someone told you Du Bois’s story, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was a bit far-fetched. But his story is true, and, as ‘Baz’ puts it, ‘it’s a cracker!’
W
hen I first speak to Du Bois, he’s instantly friendly, with a charismatic Aussie accent, and it’s soon evident that he has the natural gift of storytelling. Raised in the western suburbs – what he calls ‘the lower demographic’ – of Sydney, Du Bois lived a happy childhood in a house on a six-lane
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highway with his mum and dad and two siblings. Material wealth may not have been a cornerstone of the Du Bois household, but it’s clear during my conversation with Baz that the family showed an abundance of support and love for one another. The encouragement of his father is
something that Du Bois credits, in part, with his success. ‘When we were kids, my brother and sister and I, we’d say, “I’m going to go in the [athletics] carnival tomorrow, Dad, do you think I’m going to win?” And he’d give the same answer to everything: “You’re a Du Bois – you’re the best at everything.”
Interview
My cancer is not one that can be cured, but it’s one that I live with and manage. I haven’t won the battle, but I’m on top of it
From the time I was 10 I actually believed him [and I’d think] “Yeah, I’m the best!” I wasn’t being arrogant or anything; I actually believed that.’ After finishing school (where, he says, he wasn’t the best student), Du Bois followed in the footsteps of an uncle who was a carpenter, began an apprenticeship, and worked hard to ensure that he would be the best at his chosen career. ‘I had a fantastic work ethic as a kid, that’s for sure; it was put into me by my mum and dad,’ he says, adding, ‘I had a bit of business acumen, as well.’ The business acumen paid off fairly quickly; by the time Du Bois finished his carpenter’s apprenticeship, he was running his own business – the beginning of a lucrative career in building and renovations. At 19, he bought his first block of land and spent weekends building a home of his own design. After a year, Du Bois sold his house and, he says, he ‘felt like a genius’. Du Bois moved on to become a fulltime builder, got into developing, and eventually became the President of the Master Builders Association in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. With a successful career and many things going his way, Du Bois was in an enviable position – or so he thought. In 2004, a family tragedy occurred, prompting Du Bois to retire from the construction industry a couple of years later, at the age of 46. ‘I lost my mum in 2004, and that was a pretty hard journey – cancer. She was a great fighter, but in the end it was quite difficult,’ says Du Bois. Watching his mum’s struggle, Du Bois found himself re-evaluating the life that he was living. ‘I had a heap of money, but no time, and I realised that money couldn’t buy back health. I found myself promising my mum, “as soon as you get better, I’m going to take you around the world.” But then, you know, they don’t get better. It’s that simple.’ Not willing to let any more days pass without spending time with his family,
Du Bois liquidated some property and bought a yacht in the Mediterranean with a plan to commission it in the south of France, then sail back to Australia with his wife and his dad. ‘I said to my dad, “I’m not going to wait around until you’re dying to promise you that we’re going to start doing stuff together.”’ Du Bois tells me, his voice cracking with emotion, that he and his dad had three seasons in the Mediterranean before his father also passed away. ‘Sorry,’ he says, apologising for trailing off. ‘I’m just looking at some photos [of Dad] while I’m talking to you.’ Du Bois and his wife spent the next few years dividing their time between Europe and Australia, but soon found themselves faced with yet another set of challenges. ‘In 2011, I got cancer. It was pretty heavy, and I was given a pretty poor outlook, to tell you the truth, but we’ve battled through it.’ Du Bois’s cancer is plasmacytoma myeloma, which caused a malignant tumour to grow at the base of his neck, eventually disintegrating one of his verterbrae. Though the cancer can be controlled with radiation, Du Bois will live with it for the rest of his life. ‘My cancer is not one that can be cured, but it’s one that I live with and manage. I haven’t won the battle, but I’m on top of it.’ Adding insult to (literal) injury was Du Bois’s and his wife’s difficulty conceiving children. Though it was yet another heartwrenching blow to Du Bois and his wife, it eventually led to the birth of their twins via a surrogate mother in India, only one year ago, when Du Bois was 51. I ask him how the first year of fatherhood has been, and Du Bois’s happiness surges down the phone line. ‘It’s amazing. I mean, I’m going to be 53 in a couple of months, and I love it.’ Some of Du Bois’s mates already have grandchildren, and they observe his late fatherhood from a somewhat envious position. ‘One of my mates … said, “I’ve just never had this, with my kids; this time,”’ says Du Bois, who appreciates the
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Interview
fact that he and his wife were well settled before the kids came along. ‘We’ve done all right for ourselves, and we’ve got help and time and we can enjoy them. We’re not pressured anymore by career, and the stresses that come with a young family, so I think it’s such a gift to have these children at a later stage. ‘Before the children came along, I would say that kids wouldn’t change my life at all; I’d do everything I wanted to do and they’d just have to join that. In hindsight, I think that’s funny! Now, they’re the most important things. Their happiness means more to me than anything I’ve ever had before.’
Du Bois is downplaying the amount of work that he actually does. As well as the portfolios that he manages, Du Bois has become a regular television personality, though he never planned it that way. I ask if Du Bois thinks he’ll give his children the same encouragement that his dad gave him: to get out there and be the best. ‘I said before I had children that if I had children I would never work again, that I’d be with them 24/7. But I’ve realised that that wasn’t what my dad did – he instilled in me a great work ethic, and I don’t think it’s right that little
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Interview
babies or young children see their dad sitting around the house all day. Even though I run a few portfolios of property and shares and stuff – I think they need to see me go off to work in the morning and come back, and mum doing what mum does; whether it’s the same as me, or whatever.’ Du Bois is downplaying the amount of work that he actually does. As well as the portfolios that he manages, Du Bois has become a regular television personality, though he never planned it that way. On Friday nights, Du Bois joins Amanda Keller, Miguel Maestre and Dr Chris Brown on Channel 10’s The Living Room. You could be forgiven for wondering why, during the tumultuous events of the recent decade, Du Bois might suddenly decide that it was time to grace television screens all around Australia. The answer is that he didn’t. A television producer happened to see Du Bois in a travel documentary made by a friend, and hounded him to be a host on The Renovators. ‘They said, “We’re really keen to get you in to do a screen test for this show,”’ recalls Du Bois. ‘And I’m thinking to myself, the doctor’s just told me [this terrible news], and I’m trying to have
children, and I’ve just got back from India, and we’ve got a surrogate that’s pregnant … isn’t this a funny world that someone’ll ring me up and say, “we want you to be on TV”! So I said to them, “listen, ring me back in six months, and if you still want me and I’m still here, I’ll do it.” And that’s how I ended up on telly. ‘I always think that’s a cracker. I said no to them four times; I said I wasn’t interested in TV.’
I ask Du Bois if the fame has changed his life, and with a typical Du Bois response, he says ‘It hasn’t changed my life. Nothing could change me – I’m pretty unchangeable – but I absolutely love it. I’m an egomaniac! You can’t have the success that I’ve had unless you have some sort of ego about you. That’s what I think, anyway.’ When I ask Du Bois what advice he’d give to people who want to get the most out of life, he has a simple answer. ‘I’ve changed my mind, goals, thoughts all the time. But overall, my advice will be that you have to back yourself, and if you back yourself and believe in yourself you can do anything you want – that’s my advice for everybody. You might think that after all the hardships he has endured in his 53 years, Du Bois would consider life to be a difficult voyage. But he’s philosophical and optimistic about what life throws at us. I ask Du Bois if he’s living his dream. ‘Yes. I would only ever live my dream. As I said to my producer last night when she asked me how long I’ll be doing this: “Until I’m not happy.” ‘Life is not difficult at all, but it’s not about layers of detail, it’s about your heart and your core. The only thing you’ve got to be is happy.’ Images on pages 48 and 50 © Steven Chee, images this page © Barry Du Bois.
Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 51
Interview
The landscape of life Ken Duncan is one of the most celebrated artists in Australia, and his landscape photography is feted the world over. Duncan’s panoramic images of this wide brown (blue, red, green, gold, violet) land are striking, evocative, and capture the essence of the space that is Australia. Living the Dream discussed life, spirituality and art with Duncan, to understand his notion of living the dream. Below, in Duncan’s words, is the history of a man who gave up everything many times to realise his life’s meaning.
On life When I was younger, I was told at school that I’d be the least likely person to succeed by a teacher, because I dared to question. They were trying to teach me to be a doctor, lawyer or an accountant, and I had no interest in any of those careers; I always wanted to do more. I was in love with taking photographs, and that’s the dream I always wanted to follow. When I left school, I thought, ‘I’ll show you!’ At the age of 16, my parents sent me on a technology camp where they were doing photography. I took some blackand-white photos and processed them, and to me that was an epiphany. I saw this print come up in the tray, and I thought, ‘This is like magic!’ I realised that you can tell a story through taking photographs, and that’s all I wanted to do.
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I loved being a photographer; it puts you in an amazingly privileged position. A lot of people get bound up in little groups at school – you have your druggies, sports jocks, brainiacs, surfies and all these different groups, but when you’re a photographer you get a chance to look over everyone, and no-one ever questions what you’re doing there. I was very shy, and it was my way of looking at life. And to me that’s what photography’s about – it’s about people telling their stories, and having an opportunity to share their lives. When I left school, I decided that I wanted to get into the photographic industry, so I was just selling cameras in a camera store. I wouldn’t sell people bad gear, I’d only sell people the best gear. I would never sell people anything they didn’t need, so they’d always come and talk to me. And even if I didn’t have what they needed, I’d tell them where to go, because you have to be honest! So we ended up doing pretty well in the industry, and then I spent nine years and nine months on making money, getting a house, fast cars – that sort of lifestyle – and I was very successful, and making lots of money, but I wasn’t happy. So I thought, there’s got to be more to life than money. I’d go to parties, and people would have to be stoned, drunk or something to have a good time. And I’d think, ‘What’s the point? There’s got to be more.’ I found out about a panoramic camera that our company imported – the Widelux camera – and took one on a holiday over to Bali surfing. I went and climbed Mount Agung (a mountain in Bali that stands about 10,000 feet tall) and took the camera, and it was when I came
back and saw the photos I’d taken that really got me back to my first passion. Then I got home, got to the airport and got in my big expensive car, and I saw people at the traffic lights. The lights changed from red to green, and they were walking across the street and they all looked so bored. I thought, ‘Man, that’s me! I don’t want to be like that – there’s got to be more.’ My Dad said that he was going off to the Kimberley to a place where he was a missionary, back in the ’50s, so it was a wild area, and to me that sounded so exciting. I thought ‘that’s it, I’m just going to go off around Australia, photographing stuff with my new camera.’ So off I went, and I disappeared. I thought it would take me three months, and it took me years.
Ken Duncan
Interview
I got caught up in this journey, and it just keeps going, and it’s been fun. Really, it was more to find the meaning to life than just photography.
On spirituality You have a spirit and it’s the only thing you’re going to leave planet earth with. I’ve gone through Buddhism, Hinduism, Aboriginal Spiritualism, and I’ve gone down the path of Christianity. I haven’t always been a believer – I’ve been anything but, and I was very antiGod, very anti all that sort of stuff – but as a photographer, you’re forced to look at life. And after a while, I just thought, you cannot put this down to circumstance.
On art If we begin to believe that anything is possible, we will turn the nation around. And that’s why I love taking photographs, because it’s my little silent revolution. I just want to continually remind people of how beautiful and big the world is, and that anything’s possible. Because that’s what happens – if you look at a beautiful
beach, and you sit there for long enough, it’s funny how all your concerns and your cares begin to evaporate. I live on the Central Coast of New South Wales. I’m only an hour and a quarter from Sydney, and it’s paradise. I go out at night, and I can look up and see stars by the millions. I love the stars, because when I look at them I realise, ‘I’m so small, but I have so much potential.’ Some of the projects we do – a lot of people say ‘Oh, I’d love to do that!’ And I say, ‘well, you can – you just have to sell everything.’ The journey has been very stretching, and there have been many times that I’ve had to put a lot on the line again, and I think that’s why a lot of people never do follow their dreams; because they’re not prepared to pay the cost. But we’ve had so many letters from people saying ‘Thank you, I saw your pictures, and I was determined to get out and see that place. I saw that, and it was so beautiful.’ I get so excited by that.
On dreams Sometimes I am the reluctant traveller, but in the end I go. I can’t just stay here, because I don’t want to wake up when I’m old and think, ‘If only I had have…’ When I’m old, I’m just going to go, ‘Whoa, I did it!’ It’s nice to follow your dreams, but find out where that dream is going to be of benefit to others, as well. To me, you only have so much time on this planet, and you don’t know how much that is. I’m wary about giving others advice – but they will know in their heart if they’re living their dream or not. The true meaning to life is to find a need and fill it. And if you can find those needs and fill them, and be part of the big picture – that is the most exciting thing you’ll ever do. To view Ken’s photographs and find more information on his work, visit www.kenduncan.com. You can also print a selection of Ken’s images on demand at custom artwork website ArtWorldPod.com.
Living the Dream readers have the chance to win one of two landscape photographs by Ken Duncan valued at $150 each. Visit our facebook site at facebook.com/LivingtheDreamMag for more details on how to win. If you are not on Facebook, please email giveaways@livingthedreamagazine.com.au for more information.
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Health & Wellbeing
Wrecks and Relics The
Words and photos Ian Borland
Growing up in the 1960s as a teenager and living in a beachside town, it was inevitable that my mates and I were going to end up becoming involved in the relatively new sport of surfboard riding. It was all new and exciting, as it was something our parents couldn’t relate to and the ’60s were the era of change; radical change from what our parents had grown up through. Music, fashion, long hair and surfing were foreign to the generation before us, so it was even more exciting to live through such an evolving period in our history. Because surfing was so new, there were no older surfers – well, there was one guy at our beach who was in his 30s, but he kept to himself and was only ever seen on days when the surf was huge. Most of us thought we would give it away once we reached our mid-20s and never dreamed that we would still be into it in
There is a saying: ‘only a surfer knows the feeling’, and truer words could not be spoken page 54 | Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2
our 60s. Well, here I am at 62, retired and the President of a longboard club, and still competing against other silly old buggers on a regular basis. I guess most of us that stuck with it all these years did so because we fell in love. Not with a girl, but with surfing. There is a saying: ‘only a surfer knows the feeling’, and truer words could not be spoken. Someone who has never experienced the adrenaline rush of riding a wave at 30 kilometres per hour while being completely inside a tube, and then coming out again 50 metres further along the wave, will never know the feeling. But once you do, you’re hooked, and can’t wait to get back out there and do it all again. Our late teens and early 20s saw my mates and I take our holidays so that they would coincide with the cyclone season in southern Queensland. We would drive our panel vans and Kombis from the New South Wales south coast to the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, and surf waves we could only dream about at home. The Sunshine Coast was heaven on earth to me, and I always dreamed of retiring here. Well, now I have, and as they say, I’m ‘living the dream’. I am not the only surfer who dreamed the dream – there are untold numbers of
surfers from my era here doing exactly what I am: surfing every day, catching as many waves as we can, and keeping fit. Surfers don’t seem to age as fast as nonsurfers… well, that’s what it seems like to me. Most of us aren’t too overweight, and apart from the usual twinges of arthritis or old sporting injuries, we are a fairly fit and healthy bunch. We surf through the aches and pains with the help of the usual antiinflammatory, krill oil and a host of other medications that we all seem to be on.
Health & Wellbeing
That brings me to our annual Noosa Malibu Club’s over-50s surfing contest, aptly named the ‘Wrecks and Relics’. Now running for nine consecutive years, with age divisions in five-year groups, from over-50s right through to – this year for the first time – an over-70s division. It’s a longboard and stand-up paddleboard only competition, as most of us can’t ride shortboards any more, and entries are restricted to around 150. It’s become one of the most popular surfing contests in the country, attracting entrants from as far as Tasmania and New Zealand. Held in June each year at Noosa, it’s a great winter escape for our southern cousins, and has become the most important event on our surfing calendar.
...here I am at 62, retired and the President of a longboard club, and still competing against other silly old buggers on a regular basis. The reason for the popularity of the event is not so much the competition – although some of us still have that competitive spirit – but the camaraderie that it has. We all came through that same period in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s with the evolution of surfing, so we all know what everyone has experienced, to some degree. It’s an opportunity to catch up with old friends, and make new friendships with people who understand the lifestyle.
Who knows what the future of surfing will reveal? Will we be running over-80s divisions 10 years from now? We never thought we would be surfing into our 30s back when we were teenagers, and here we are still hanging ten in our 60s and 70s. As long as the old bones hold together, we will still be surfing – even though we might be wrecks and relics.
Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 55
Health & Wellbeing wellbeing
Yvonne woke in absolute agony
Pain in every joint, Yvonne was unable to get out of bed or perform even menial tasks. After many, many blood tests, specialists diagnosed her with what they thought was polymyalgia rheumatica and prescribed ‘severe’ drugs, which she was reluctant to take. Her doctor suggested that a far infrared treatment could be of benefit. Her GP already had an iHealth Sauna. Every morning since March, Yvonne has been in the sauna at 6 am, now ‘the most needed and beneficial part of our lives,’ says Yvonne, who has now regained all of the function she lost three years ago… and has no pain. She’s also experiencing some weight loss, and improvement in her osteo-arthritis. Miriam Tyson from iHealth describes Yvonne’s story as ‘no miracle’. ‘We have hundreds of letters from customers who have seen improvements… in anything from minor skin problems to cancer,’ she said. The Japanese and Chinese have been using infrared treatment for a century or more, on a range of conditions from burns and high blood pressure to arthritis and brain damage.
Detoxify or Die Detoxify or Die is a book must read if you care about your body and your skin. But, if you don’t fancy reading the book, sit in a Steam-Free iHealth Sauna regularly for 30 minutes and drink water. Toxins stored in our bodies affect more than just how we feel. They affect how we look. But it’s not simply a case of removing toxins; we need to remove them without doing damage. From Detoxify or Die: ‘Far Infrared saunas pull otherwise permanent toxins from the body without dragging damaging chemicals into the bloodstream.’ And there’s a pleasant side-effect of inner health: outer beauty... beautiful, healthy skin!
Do absolutely nothing and burn up to 1000 calories in 30 minutes Far infrared saunas generate two to three times the sweat produced in a hot air sauna... with far greater comfort. Thirty minutes in a Steam-Free iHealth Far Infrared sauna can burn 1000 calories in 30 minutes – more than vigorous exercise like rowing (peak effort 600 calories), swimming (300), or walking (150).
You don’t have to feel your age The deep heat of far infrared helps blood vessels dilate, bringing relief and healing to muscle and soft tissue injuries. Increased blood circulation removes metabolic waste products, and delivers Yvonne Whittaker from South Australia. From agony to pain-free.
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A two person sauna. It must be Steam-Free and far infrared for benefits like these.
oxygen-rich blood to oxygen-depleted muscles, so they can recover faster. An iHealth Far Infrared Sauna helps with sprains, strains, arthritis and muscle spasms, while the general stiffness and soreness that comes with ageing is reduced or eliminated. Contact 03 8872 5454 for your Information Pack or visit www.ihealthsaunas.com.au.
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Retiree Magazine July 2013
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Health & Wellbeing
Food:
your medicine for a happy, healthy life By Aloysa Hourigan, APD, Senior Nutritionist & Nutrition Program Manager, Nutrition Australia Queensland
With Australia’s life expectancy now among the highest in the world, we want to be able to continue to enjoy life as long as possible – doing what gives us satisfaction and happiness.
Achieving ‘over-40’ status shouldn’t mean that our ability to enjoy life to the fullest becomes compromised by avoidable health problems. It is never too late to make lifestyle changes to promote wellness and reduce our risk of chronic lifestyle diseases (for example, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis and some types of cancer). We can delay, prevent, and minimise complications related to these health issues by embracing a healthy eating pattern, engaging in regular physical activity, minimising alcohol, not smoking, and ensuring that we get a good night’s sleep. The sooner we do this, the better the outcome for our long-term health.
What are the lifestyle factors that affect our risk of chronic disease and related complications? 33Food: What, how much, and when we eat 33Smoking: increases risk of heart
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disease, complications from diabetes, and cancer (for example, lung, stomach, and mouth cancer) 33Alcohol: staying within the ‘safe drinking’ standards and ensuring that you have two to three alcohol-free days per week 33Physical activity: being moderately active for at least 30 to 60 minutes most days (including daily activities), and 3 to 4 days per week having some more vigorous activity (for example, walking, cycling, swimming) 33Sleep: we need less sleep as we get older, but we still need sufficient sleep to stay healthy. Sleep apnoea increases our risk of chronic disease; especially type 2 diabetes. If our lifestyle factors are not in balance, our bodies come under stress – increasing our risk of chronic disease. When food choices and physical activity levels are ‘not quite right’, our weight
Health & Wellbeing
may rise above the healthy range, further increasing risk. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare identifies that currently more than three out of five Australian adults are overweight or obese – a significant worry for our long-term health and wellbeing. Risky lifestyle factors, such as smoking and excessive alcohol, along with some medications, can increase the amount of some essential nutrients that you require. For example, smoking increases our need for Vitamin C, and alcohol increases our need for magnesium and thiamin (Vitamin B1).
What’s the best way to restore nutritional balance and prevent or manage chronic lifestyle disease? Australians spend billions of dollars per year on nutritional supplements. At this rate, you would be hoping for vast reductions in the prevalence of chronic
lifestyle diseases – but this is not the case. Statistics from the 2011–12 results of the ABS Australian Health Survey suggest that, with the exception of cardiovascular disease, the situation has either remained static or become worse since 2007–08.
Changing lifestyle habits can offer a better solution Ask yourself if you need to change the what, when or how you eat. On most days do you usually: 33choose wholegrain breads and cereals 33eat two to three serves of fruit
Flinders University Hearing Services (FUHS) offers a range of hearing-related clinical services, provided by audiologists dedicated to maintaining the highest possible standards of audiology and professional hearing care in a non-commercial environment. These services include hearing assessments, advice and assistance to people who are experiencing hearing difficulties. FUHS places importance on the clear explanation of results and, if appropriate, the thorough individual discussion of hearing aid options with reference to lifestyle and hearing needs. Hearing aid trial periods are flexible, and the evaluation of hearing aid benefit is comprehensive. FUHS is based within Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park South Australia. Paediatric Services are now also offered at GP PLUS Marion. 20331AE_Flinder Uni Hearing | 1905.indd 1
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Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 59
Health & Wellbeing
33eat four to eight serves of vegetables (1 serve = ½ cup cooked vegetables or 1 cup raw vegetables) 33eat at least three serves of dairy foods or other calcium-rich foods 33include one to two serves of meat or alternative 33drink six to eight cups of fluid (mostly water) 33avoid adding salt to meals, and choose salt-reduced foods 33include healthy oils in your diet 33include legumes, seeds and/or nuts regularly 33eat meat or alternatives that are lean and trimmed of fat before cooking 33limit alcohol to within recommended safe limits? Needing to make a change? A good place to start is using the 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines. In summary, the five main guidelines are: 33achieve and maintain a healthy weight 33enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods 33limit your intake of foods containing saturated fat, added salt, added sugars and alcohol 33encourage, support and promote breastfeeding
33care for your food; prepare and store it safely. For more details on these overarching guidelines and for serving size details, visit: www.eatforhealth.gov.au. No matter your age, you need to: 1) eat foods from all of the main food groups (fruits, vegetables, grains (cereals), dairy foods, meat or alternatives); 2) drink enough water; 3) include some healthy oils in your diet; and 4) avoid foods high in saturated fats, sugar and salt. Additionally, a number of key nutrients found in some ‘super’ foods may help protect against certain chronic diseases:
Heart disease ‘Super’ foods: avocado, fish, legumes, nuts, cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, tomatoes, beetroot, berries, broccoli, spinach, garlic, oats. Key nutrients: Omega 3, phytochemicals (for example, antioxidants). Remember to ditch the salt – unless your doctor advises otherwise. A high salt intake is a major risk factor for high blood pressure.
Cancer ‘Super’ foods: wholegrains, leafy green vegetables (spinach, broccoli), citrus fruits, carrots, legumes, berries, fresh herbs – and avoid processed meats and limit overall intake of red meat to a small serve two to three times per week. Key nutrients: phytochemicals, vitamin D. No single nutrient offers protection against all types of cancer. Eating a wide variety of fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, legumes and fresh herbs in balance with adequate amounts of foods from the other main food groups, along with being at a healthy weight and engaging in regular physical activity, offers the best protection against many types of cancer.
Type 2 Diabetes ‘Super’ foods: the same that help heart health, plus cinnamon, turmeric and foods with a low glycaemic index (GI) (for example, porridge, wholegrain breads, nuts and legumes). Key nutrients: vitamin D, fibre, omega 3, phytochemicals. Talk to an accredited practising dietitian about how much low-GI carbohydrate to include in your diet. This will vary according to your activity level, glucose tolerance and medication regime.
Osteoporosis ‘Super’ foods: low-fat milk, yoghurt, cheese, sardines, tofu. Key nutrients: calcium, vitamin D. Ask your doctor to check your vitamin D level and discuss if you need a vitamin D supplement – absorbing calcium into the bone is difficult if your vitamin D is low. Our bodies can make vitamin D when our skin is exposed to sunlight. With
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Australia’s high risk of skin cancer, be careful to follow guidelines about safe sun exposure. Osteoporosis Australia offers sound advice about this: www.osteoporosis.org.au. Also, see the vitamin D article on page 62. Other dietary and lifestyle factors with a negative impact on bone health include a high salt intake, excessive alcohol consumption, and low levels of physical activity.
The bottom line for long-term health and wellbeing: 33eat a wide variety of vegetables and fruits 33use wholegrains 33prepare food from fresh seasonal ingredients where possible (gives maximum nutrients) 33share healthy meals with family and friends 33include nuts, legumes, dairy foods and healthy oils in your diet regularly 33include some fish and choose lean meats (unless vegetarian) 33stay within safe limits for alcohol 33avoid salt 33drink enough fluid – mostly water. On top of all of the above, be physically active, enjoy activities with family and friends, don’t smoke and aim for a good night’s sleep! For more information: Email: ahourigan@naqld.org Website: www.nutritionaustralia.org
Health & wellbeing
Health & Wellbeing
Medical attention – naturally The Australian Traditional-Medicine Society (ATMS) was founded in 1984 as a not-for-profit member-based incorporated association. ATMS promotes and represents professional practitioners of natural medicine, who are encouraged to pursue the highest ideals of professionalism in their natural medicine education and practice. Currently, we have 11,900 financial members who represent approximately 65 per cent of all natural medicine practitioners nationally. The advantage ATMS has over similar associations is that if you are a practitioner in multiple disciplines, you need not join multiple associations to be represented; ATMS covers both tactile and non-tactile therapies. Some specific conditions apply, so please consult the ATMS website www.atms.com.au for further details. ATMS offers three categories of membership:
Accredited membership Accredited membership is the practitioner category of membership. This is the only category suitable to a practitioner and entitles the member to the full range of professional benefits.
Student membership Student membership is FREE, but is only available to students who are enrolled in an ATMS-accredited course. Upon completion of study, an ATMS student member may apply for accredited membership. ATMS Student membership is not a practitioner category. A student member must not practice outside of the training institution’s supervised clinical practicum.
Associate member ATMS Associate membership is available to anyone who supports the work of ATMS, or wishes to subscribe to the Journal of Australian TraditionalMedicine Society.
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Sports Massage
Naturopathy
Traditional Chinese Massage (Tuina)
Traditional Western Herbal Thai Massage Medicine
Tibetan Medicine
The Australian Traditional-Medicine Society, ATMS, is Australia’s largest Association of natural medicine practitioners, including: Naturopaths > Massage Therapists > Naturopathic Nutritionists > Herbalists > Homoeopaths > Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners
Every ATMS practitioner is individually assessed to ensure the high standards of ATMS are satisfised before the practitioner is accredited.
Nearly two-thirds of natural medicine practitioners in Australia are ATMS accredited members, so you are nearly certain to find an ATMS practitioner of your choice near you.
PLACE YOURSELF IN TRAINED AND CARING HANDS, talk to your nearest ATMS Accredited Practitioner by visiting our website or calling toll free 1800 456 855
www.atms.com.au
PROUDLY REPRESENTING NATURAL MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS SINCE 1984
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Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 61
Health & Wellbeing
The vitamin D story Osteoporosis Australia There has been a lot of discussion recently about vitamin D. It is widely acknowledged by medical experts that vitamin D is important for maintaining healthy bones by helping with calcium absorption and controlling calcium levels in the blood. It is also important for muscle strength. The most common way for Australians to obtain vitamin D is from the sun. But despite being a sunny country, studies suggest that around one-third of our population has low vitamin D levels. The amount of sun exposure required depends on a few important factors: the season, where you live in Australia and your skin type. It is also important to balance the need for some sun exposure for vitamin D, while avoiding any risk of skin damage from too much exposure. In summer, it is best to have some sun exposure at mid-morning or midafternoon, outside peak UV times. In winter, longer exposure times are needed, preferably around midday.
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In summer, moderately fair people only require five to 10 minutes in the sun, most days (at mid-morning or midafternoon). Darker skinned people require 15 to 60 minutes (at the same time of day) depending on their skin type and location in Australia. This assumes that only arms are exposed (or an equivalent area of your skin). It’s helpful to know that clear windows actually limit sunlight, so it’s best to have sun exposure outdoors. It is also useful to know that your vitamin D levels are likely to change throughout the year, with concentrations being highest in late summer and lowest at the end of winter.
Vitamin D testing and supplements Only people at risk of vitamin D deficiency need their vitamin D levels checked, as determined by a doctor. The groups mostly commonly at risk of vitamin D deficiency can include: 33elderly or disabled people who are housebound or in residential care 33naturally dark-skinned people (darker skin tends to reduce UV light penetration) 33people who do not get adequate sun exposure (sun avoiders for skin protection or medical reasons, indoor workers, clothing coverage for religious or cultural reasons, people
living in the southernmost states of Tasmania and Victoria) 33people with any medical conditions that impact on the body’s ability to absorb or process vitamin D 33babies of vitamin D-deficient mothers. A blood test for vitamin D will show whether an individual has low vitamin D levels or a moderate to severe deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency can be easily rectified, once it has been detected. A vitamin D supplement will usually be recommended by a doctor – the dose will vary depending on the test results. It may take three to five months (or longer) of supplementation before an improvement in vitamin D levels is achieved. It is important that everyone maintains adequate vitamin D levels for overall bone health. For people who get out in the sun for a limited time but don’t reach recommended levels of exposure, supplements may be recommended to maintain adequate vitamin D. Smaller supplement doses would normally be used in these instances. Osteoporosis Australia has a vitamin D fact sheet available at www.osteoporosis.org.au. Osteoporosis Australia is also promoting a special awareness initiative, which asks… How Dense Are You? Visit www.HowDenseAreYou.org.au to read up on common risk factors for low bone density, and an explanation of bone density tests. If you are over 50 with risk factors for low bone density, you may need a bone check-up!
Health & wellbeing
Health & Wellbeing
Fashionably functional eyewear BrightEyes Sunglasses is one of Australia’s largest sunglass retail networks, with 50 locations nationwide and 15 stores in Western Australia.
The BrightEyes Sunglasses product range is extensive and showcases the latest styles from leading international brands such as Ray-Ban, Oakley, Arnette, Revo, Maui Jim, Bolle, Prada and Vogue, to name a few. We are also proud to market our exclusive house brands including Mangrove Jacks,
Stiletto, Nicole’s, Attitude and Urban. BrightEyes Sunglasses has the most extensive range of polarised sunglasses in Australia, which means we can help you and your family get the most out of your outdoor activities. Whatever you are looking for, BrightEyes Sunglasses can help you find
the perfect pair of sunglasses. Visit us at our stand to see our extensive range and allow one of our trained consultants to assist you. See more at: www.brighteyes.com.au.
Established in 1985, BrightEyes Sunglasses is one of Australia’s largest sunglass retail networks, with 50 locations nationwide. Our genuine passion for enhancing Australia’s active lifestyle makes us the experts on fashionably functional eyewear. At BrightEyes we’re not simply selling sunglasses; we’re selling an enhanced way of life. Our range of sunglasses is second to none and includes brands such as Ray-Ban, Oakley, Maui Jim, Serengeti, Mangrove Jacks and more. Plus, we have one of the largest ranges of polarised sunglasses, starting at just $24.95. Whatever you may be looking for, BrightEyes Sunglasses can help. To locate your nearest store visit www.brighteyes.com.au.
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Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 63
Health & Wellbeing
Luxury golf getaways It’s somewhat liberating – stepping out onto a manicured green and taking that initial almighty swing, aiming for an invisible target. It’s a peace that many of us endeavour to find, especially when on holidays, surrounded by others at every turn. The famous Swilcan bridge on St Andrews Old Course
Sometimes, all we really need is to escape – and that’s what a golfing expedition is; it’s an escape from the hustle and bustle of holidaymakers, a step out of the tourism bubble and a chance to regain some internal peace as you traverse the green in search of your wayward white golf ball. All of this is on offer at these unusual destinations.
Also on offer at the Casa De Campo Golf Resort is a spa, a tennis court, a swimming pool and polo playing facilities. The nearby marina also offers travellers a chance to explore the Dominican Republican lifestyle, with a yacht club, sailing school and a shopping mall. Named the Dominican Republic’s leading resort, Casa de Campo offers the best of both worlds.
Casa de Campo Located in La Romana in the Dominican Republic, this resort boasts the numberone golf course in the Caribbean. Advertised as accommodating ‘the sporting life’, the 90-hole golf course fits in nicely at this luxury sporting resort. With his wife, LGPA Hall of Famer Alice Dye, by his side, world-renowned golf course architect Peter Dye worked hard to achieve his dream of creating three of the most challenging golf courses on offer in Casa de Campo. Teeth of the Dog, the Links and Dye Fore are masterpieces located in the ideal La Romana destination. Full of rolling fairways; ocean views; salty, cool breezes; and endless green, these courses create the perfect sanctuary for those looking for a break. And with Teeth of the Dog viewed as the number one golf course in the Caribbean, it seems you can’t go wrong with this luxury sporting destination.
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Sheraton Denarau Golf and Racquet Club This beautifully manicured course makes golfing a true delight at a tropical luxury resort. The picture-perfect international golfing green is sure to delight both serious golfers and those just in it for the buggy ride. As Fiji’s premier championship golf course, this 72-par option winds its way through palm tree-lined fairways, open greens and tidal waterways, with water hazards featured on 15 of the total 18 holes of the course. At this luxury destination, players are able to perfect their swing before exploring the various resorts on the island – next door to the Sheraton on one side is the Fiji Beach Resort and Spa, managed by Hilton; on the other is the Westin Denarau Island Resort and Spa. Wherever you decide to stay, rest assured that there is a delectable
indulgence available to you after you complete the course – from ice-cold Piña Coladas, to a seafood splendour at one of the resort’s restaurants, you’ll find yourself happily spent.
Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo The Four Seasons is a hotel chain that is automatically associated with luxury – and the Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo is no different. Upholding the reputation the hotel chain has striven to achieve in every location, this Costa Rican resort offers the usual fare. Located at the foothills of the Pacific Coast hillside, surrounded by azure waters and soft white sand, this resort offers eco adventures galore. From surfing and riding the waves of the pristine beaches, to jungle expeditions where you will meet a furry little creature (or two!), diversity certainly is the key word for describing this Costa Rican resort. What also sets this resort apart is its golf course. Open in 2004, this course has stunning ocean views, with many fairways located atop high bluffs, creating the perfect setting for a luxury putt. Designed by Arnold Palmer, the 18hole, par-72 championship golf course has been named one of the ‘Top 100 Courses Outside of the United States’ by Golf Digest.
Health & Wellbeing
Hamilton Island Golf Club Whitsundays, QLD. Image © Hamilton Island Golf Club
Cabo Del Sol Cabo Del Sol’s Ocean course was born from the genius mind of Jack Nicklaus, a world-famous American professional golfer. Winner of 73 PGA Tours, it’s safe to say that Nicklaus knows his golf courses. Situated on the southernmost tip of the Baja Californian Peninsula, this course is a mixture of seaside and desert delights – something that is truly fitting of the Mexican destination. Opened in 1994, the Ocean course is well thought-out, and with a perfect layout that flows gracefully and naturally through the curvature of the land. The fifth and signature 17th holes were ranked among the ‘500 Best Holes in the World’ by Golf Magazine in 2000 and, according to some, continue to hold steady in their ranking. Once players have had their fill, the Cabo Del Sol Clubhouse waits in the distance to provide post-game refreshment. The 40,000-squarefoot facility blends traditional colonial architecture with modern amenities to create a distinct Mexican feel. Experience fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere before heading back to your resort – there are three premier resorts nearby the course: The Sheraton Hacienda Del Mar, the Premier Resorts de Mexico, and the Fiesta Americana Grand, which all provide a picture-perfect ending to your luxury golf getaway.
resort and social players to professional golfers, who will rejoice in the challenges posed by the par-71 course. Designed by professional golfer Peter Thomson, the course is located on nearby Dent Island, making this sanctuary the perfect spot to work on your swing away from the hustle and bustle of the busy and popular Hamilton Island. After your game and before heading back to the main island, make sure you take the time to enjoy the Clubhouse. Overlooking the Coral Sea, and with stunning views of Passage Peak, the relaxed Clubhouse is the perfect spot for a morning or afternoon snack, or even for a longer lunch break that showcases the tantalising and fresh produce of the area.
St Andrews If you’re looking for a golfing experience away from the sweltering heat and humidity that these other luxury destinations offer, then the town of St Andrews is just for you. Located in Scotland, this town, known as ‘the home of golf’, offers players a wide range of
courses, with seven public courses to choose from. We recommend the Old Course, which is simply stunning – from the lush green of the course to the majestic castle-like clubhouse, players will feel as though they’ve been transported back in time. The course itself is a piece of art. Seven greens of the Old Course are shared by two holes – the second paired with the 16th, third with 15th and all the way up to the eighth and 10th – with the hole numbers adding up to 18. It is also home to the iconic Swilcan Bridge, which spans the Swilcan Burn between the first and 18th fairways. After you’ve spent the day working on your handicap, the St Andrews Links Clubhouse offers patrons a menu full of the classics – from braised pork belly to a classic beef burger, with the local and traditional haggis making an appearance. There’s nothing like sitting back and enjoying that first ice-cold beer after a long day of golfing in a phenomenal location.
Hamilton Island Golf Club Holding the title as the only Championship golf course located on an island in Australia, the Hamilton Island Golf Club is home to a world-class course that is sure to challenge all types of golfers – from
Casa De Campo’s beautiful pool deck
Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 65
Health & Wellbeing wellbeing
MedicAlert® membership
can protect the one you love in an emergency When Bernie Dorizzi first became a MedicAlert Foundation member because of a bee-sting allergy, he never in his wildest dreams thought that decision would be one that saved his life nearly two decades later.
Pam and Bernie Dorizzi, MedicAlert members since 1987
The 66-year-old Western Australian truck driver was walking into work for the start of his shift in early January 2013 when he suddenly collapsed unconscious in front of stunned workmates, who rushed to his aid. ‘He just passed out without warning, hitting his head on the way down – and while his workmates put him into the recovery position and called for an ambulance, they didn’t have a complete understanding of his medical history,’ says Bernie’s wife Pam. ‘Bernie was desensitised to bee stings a long time ago, but thankfully he stayed as a MedicAlert member in the
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years to follow because he developed diabetes later in life, is prescribed Warfarin and has had stents.’ As luck would have it, an ambulance station was only a short distance away; but in those precious minutes waiting for the crew to respond, those at his side say that his faint pulse was soon not detectable at all. ‘It all happened so quickly that by the time I was told that Bernie had collapsed, the ambulance had rushed him to hospital, and when I arrived the doctors and nurses already knew his blood type and they had life-saving details about his current medical conditions,’ Pam says.
‘None of his workmates were able to give specific details about his health conditions, but Bernie’s MedicAlert bracelet was able to relay vital information to paramedics that helped in providing the best response. ‘When I arrived at hospital it wasn’t good news – I was told that he might have no more than 24 hours to live, he was in renal failure, on oxygen and dialysis and he spent four days in an induced coma, but in the weeks that followed his condition gradually improved. ‘The rapid response from medical crews using the information provided by his MedicAlert bracelet is what allows Bernie to be alive today and well on the road to recovery – I have no doubt that the bracelet saved his life. ‘We’ve wanted peace of mind, and it has been important for us to regularly update Bernie’s medical details held on file throughout the years,’ Pam says. ‘We’ve been married for more than 44 years, and we hope to celebrate many more anniversaries for years to come – and while Bernie has decided to relax and enjoy life more, one thing that he won’t take for granted is wearing his MedicAlert bracelet and keeping his medical files up to date.’ Pam says that their experience is a lesson that everyone with an allergy or medical condition can learn from. ‘If you have a medical problem, then wear a MedicAlert bracelet or necklace all the time – it saved my husband’s life and provided vital information when valuable seconds counted,’ she says. For 42 years, the not-for-profit MedicAlert Foundation has been protecting the lives of its members by providing Australia’s first, most trusted and recognised medical identification emblem, supported by a 24/7 emergency hotline and other services. For further information, visit www.medicalert.org.au or call 1800 88 22 22 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm CST).
We understand what is most important to you. With genuine MedicAlert® membership you can feel confident enjoying the things you love, and live every moment to the fullest, knowing that your vital medical details and special needs can be communicated immediately in an emergency.
New members receive $10 off their first medical ID Enter DREAM13 at checkout. Offer ends 31 October 2013. Not available with any other offer.
View our full range of products online at www.medicalert.org.au
To join online simply visit www.medicalert.org.au or FREECALL 1800 88 22 22* (Mon–Fri, 9am to 5pm CST). *Normal charges may apply from mobiles.
Always there for you.
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Health & Wellbeing
Healthy body, healthy mind By Sophie Allan
An active lifestyle helps maintain physical and mental health, keeping us energised and happy – this much we can be sure of. But the more vigorous forms of exercise can exert strain on bones and muscles, which, due to injury or maturity, is certainly not for everybody. But do not despair! There are many forms of exercise that can help you to recover from injury, to rebuild strength, and even to improve your mental wellbeing. Yoga is a physical practice that is thought to have originated in India at least 5000 years ago. It involves the use of physical poses, breathing techniques, meditation, and fluidity of movement. The many poses, or asanas, of yoga, are achieved lying, sitting, standing, and even headstanding. Some poses are more vigorous than others, but most have a variation to suit people of all different levels of fitness or flexibility. And if you have an injury, you simply avoid positions that could aggravate your condition. The emphasis is certainly not on pushing it to the limit; in fact, no yoga pose should cause pain. Rather, you should slowly build your
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strength and flexibility, which actually doesn’t take too long. The physical side of yoga is very rewarding; through stretching and movement, blood flows to all the seldomused joints and muscles, and even though
this is gentle exercise, you can be sure you’ll break a sweat! The endorphins released give a feeling of balance and lightness; but this is not the only way yoga makes you feel good. The practice of yoga benefits the cardiovascular system, the digestive system, the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system. On top of this, balance, posture, joint mobility and flexibility are all found to be improved with regular yoga practice. Yoga is not purely a physical activity. Breathing and meditation both contribute to this form of exercise, which works to improve your entire sense of wellbeing. The idea is to connect the physical and the mental through concentration on breath and movement as they interact. It is not always easy, but if you can clear
Yoga is not purely a physical activity. Breathing and meditation both contribute to this form of exercise, which works to improve your entire sense of wellbeing.
Health & Wellbeing
Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese practice of movement that is gentler than both yoga and Pilates. your mind, the awareness of the body is heightened, allowing for a very satisfying physical workout. Although many attest to the benefits of meditation, it is not for everyone, and you can do gentle exercise without this element, if you choose. Pilates is a form of low-impact exercise that focuses on
the mind and body, but with less of a spiritual focus on meditation, as in yoga. With Pilates, you can achieve many of the same benefits as yoga, such as increased muscle strength, flexibility, balance and coordination, all of which can help to overcome problems like back pain, headaches and bad posture, as well as keeping you fit and healthy. Pilates was developed in the early 20th century by German exercise expert Joseph Pilates, and is centred on the concept that the mind and body are interrelated. Through the use of stretches, with or without one of several apparatuses, the body stretches and strengthens, achieving precision and efficiency of movement. As with yoga, breathing is important in the Pilates method, as the intake of oxygen can be related to the cleansing of the blood, and the health of the lungs.
Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese practice of movement that is gentler than both yoga and Pilates. This slow and graceful form of exercise focuses on balance and mobility, and is also very calming for the mind. Tai Chi can improve flexibility and stability, which can be of great importance in later life, and if you’re restricted from other forms of exercise, this may be the perfect way for you to continue participation in physical activity. When thinking about exercise, the bottom line is that any little bit helps. There is always something achievable, no matter your level of fitness. And as an added bonus, with these three methods of exercise, you may find that there is more to be gained than fitness. Breathing, meditation and discipline are all fostered in these methods, and who couldn’t do with a calmer mind, a fitter body and a happier outlook?
Pilates apparatus helps with strength and flexibility
Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 69
Health & Wellbeing
Riding along on my pushbike,honey
There’s nothing quite like a good workout to really get the blood pumping. Breaking a sweat and working hard feels great, and is great for you. There are many different ways to get this fix of endorphins and adrenaline, but one of the best would have to be going for a long, vigorous pushbike ride. On a bike, you can get out into the world, you can see the city, the country, or the coast. Most cities have great bike trails, so you can plan a day’s journey. Alternatively, if you’re really feeling adventurous, you could take a few days to ride, camp out, and really get into nature on a cycling tour. Cycling is the perfect activity for mature and active individuals; it’s easy
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on your knees, hips and other joints, and works to improve your cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. It doesn’t matter how fit you are, or how many years it’s been since you last rode a bike – any time is a good time to get back in the saddle. The great thing about cycling is that you can easily incorporate it into your daily routine by using it as an alternative and very cheap mode of transport. On the other hand, you can make cycling an out-of-the-ordinary experience, by getting out of the city and out of your regular routine. Cycling is a very social activity, and everyone in the family can enjoy it, so it’s a great way to be together in the outdoors. In the sunny climate of Brisbane, there are some great trails to try out;
for instance, the Boondall Wetlands trail will take you from Moreton Bay on a ride though mangroves, grasslands, forests and woodlands. This is a prime opportunity to see the many species of sea birds and animals that call the Boondall Wetlands home. Other great bike-friendly destinations in the Queensland capital are Kedron Brook, Toowong, New Farm and Toohey Forest, all of which give you a different perspective on the city and surrounds. In Melbourne, some of the best bike paths go right through the city; for example, the Capital City Trail. Melbourne is one of the most cycle-oriented cities in Australia, with a comprehensive range of bike trails, and many roads marked with bike lanes. Melbourne is a lot flatter than Brisbane, so
Melbourne is one of the most cycleoriented cities in Australia, with a comprehensive range of bike trails, and many roads marked with bike lanes.
Health & Wellbeing
cycling is naturally a bigger part of everyday life for this reason. The Capital City Trail is a well signposted concrete bike path forming a circuit that can be ridden at a leisurely pace in around four hours, although with a few stop-offs you could easily spend the entire day. On this trail you will pass the Abbotsford Convent, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Eureka Tower and Federation Square, among other sites that are well worth a peek.
A helmet is required by law, as are lights if you are riding in the dark. When deciding which bike is best for you, make sure you spend time working out the appropriate size and style of bicycle, as this can make all the difference to the quality of your exercise. There are different styles of bike for use in
different terrain: city or country, mountain or bitumen. You will also want to decide about whether you like to lean in over the handlebars, such as on a racer, or sit upright in the saddle. There is plenty of gear to buy if you really get into cycling, but some of it is necessary from the beginning. A helmet is required by law, as are lights if you are riding in the dark. It’s always good to have your lights with you, as you never know when you might lose track of time in the afternoon, only to find yourself nearly invisible to passing cyclists and motorists in the dusk. A good lock is also a must, to make sure your noble steed is safe from theft. Once you’re kitted out with your bike and bits and pieces, you have made the investment that will keep on giving back to you, day after day. Whenever you need to pop up to the shops for the paper or milk, or meet a friend for a coffee, you can hop on the bike and be there and back in a flash. Or when you wake to a beautiful day with nothing planned, you can hop on the bike and get a taste of sweet, fresh air, all the while working on your health and fitness without even really trying.
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Health & Wellbeing wellbeing
Understanding
tract infections
urinary
As a woman, you have a 50 per cent chance of developing a urinary tract infection (UTI) at least once in your life, with many women experiencing the painful symptoms of recurring infections. You’ll probably know that you have a UTI – even if it’s the first time – as the uncomfortable symptoms are very distinctive. It’s good to know, however, that the burning, pain and irritation can be well-managed and rarely lead to serious illness.
activity triggers an infection 3 women who first experienced a UTI before 15 years 3 women who have a family history of recurring UTIs.
What is a urinary tract infection caused by?
There are ways you can care for yourself and help prevent the annoying symptoms of UTIs: 3 maintain good hygiene 3 drink lots of water 3 always wipe front to back when going to the toilet 3 don’t hold on – empty your bladder as soon as you need to go 3 make sure you have adequate lubrication during sex 3 empty your bladder after sex 3 avoid using spermicides, especially if you use a diaphragm 3 wear cotton underwear
A UTI is an infection caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract. The most common culprit is E. coli: bacteria that lives in the bowel. In most cases the infection responds well to treatment, but it can travel to the kidneys, causing a kidney infection. Common UTI symptoms include: 3 burning sensation with urination 3 frequency and urgency to urinate may increase, with often only a few drops being released 3 dull pain in the lower abdomen 3 cloudy, smelly or bloody urine 3 fever.
Why me? A woman’s physiology makes her more susceptible to developing a UTI because the female urethra is far shorter than a male’s, making it easier for the bacteria to travel into the urinary tract and bladder.
Women who are more at risk of recurring UTIs: 3 those who use a diaphragm or spermicide 3 for some women, increased sexual
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What you can do to prevent urinary tract infections?
3 avoid vaginal douches and feminine sprays 3 cranberry supplementation may help.
Do you have a urinary tract infection? Don’t feel embarrassed; if you think you have a UTI, visit your GP for a diagnosis. It’s one of the most common reasons people see their doctor. You may be prescribed antibiotics to treat the infection. Left untreated, a UTI can in rare cases lead to a more serious kidney infection. A urinary alkaliniser like Ural can work well in conjunction with antibiotic treatment. Within hours the acid in the urine is neutralised, helping to ease burning pain and reducing the bacteria that causes infection. Always read the label. Use only as directed. If symptoms persist, see your health care professional. For more information, visit www.ural-australia.com. Sources: www.kidney.org.au www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au.
There’s one old flame you won’t want to rekindle.
Once you’ve felt the fire of a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), you know it’s not something you want to experience again. Nearly 1 in 3 women+ will have a UTI needing treatment before the age of 24. Cystitis is the most common^ type of lower UTI and it produces a painful burning sensation of the urinary tract. Luckily, help is at hand with Ural. It’s a pleasantly flavoured effervescent drink which provides effective relief from the burning symptoms of cystitis – so you can kiss that old flame goodbye.
Fast effective relief
The No. 1 urinary alkaliniser in Australia* Only available in Pharmacy
*IMS March MAT 2013
ALWAYS READ THE LABEL. USE ONLY AS DIRECTED. IF SYMPTOMS PERSIST SEE YOUR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL. + www.kidney.org.au/ForPatients/UrinaryHealth ^Kidney Health Australia URAL® is a registered trademark of Aspen Pharma 34-36 Chandos Street St Leonards NSW 2065 ASMI 20344-0512
Health & Wellbeing
Fit and fabulous
at 40-plus
By Lauretta Stace, Chief Executive Officer, Fitness Australia
Most people plan ahead for their financial security as they age, and this is a really important thing to do. But just as important, if not more so, is to plan ahead for good health and wellbeing; yet, so many people fail to make this a priority in their lives.
Just think of all the dreams and plans that you have for the future – travelling, socialising, enjoying retirement, playing with the grandchildren, learning a new skill... whatever it is, you will enjoy it so much more if you are feeling happy and healthy. Sound good? Read on. Healthy ageing means staying active, eating well, getting plenty of sleep and staying socially active. As we age, this becomes even more important if we want to have the best quality of life that we possibly can in our future years. The good news is that it’s never too late to get started! Begin with some small
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steps, and then, over time, make healthy living a regular part of your lifestyle. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of life every day, and invest in your longterm health and wellbeing. 1. Stay active Exercise makes you feel good and gives you more energy. You get the most benefit from exercise when it becomes a regular part of your lifestyle. Here are some tips on how to make exercise a habit: 33Aim for variety and enjoyment. Find a few things that you enjoy doing, and mix it up. Having a variety of activities will ensure that you do something every day, regardless of the weather or time of day. Activities such as walking, swimming, strength training, cycling, golf and fitness classes will keep you active and energised. 33Think strong. A strong body is a healthy body! Make sure that you do some strength training exercises as part of your regular routine. As we age, our bodies will lose muscle mass and bone density if we don’t work on preventing
this from happening. Strength training helps to maintain and build muscle strength and bone density, which is essential for healthy ageing and to avoid the risk of serious injury from falling. It’s also great for your posture, Lauretta Stace
Health & Wellbeing
and as a metabolism booster to assist with weight management. 33Make exercise a priority. This is YOUR time to get fit and healthy, and you only have one body, so it has to be a priority in your life. Put it in your diary and make a commitment to yourself. Remember that consistency is the key ingredient for success.
A major reason for age-related weight gain is that the rate at which you burn calories in food and drink, known as your metabolic rate, slows down with age. 33Commit to another person. Make exercise a social/group activity, or commit to being active with someone else. You are more likely to commit to exercise on a regular basis if others are involved. 33Set some goals. Plan your daily exercise habits around some exciting future goals, such as a travel adventure. You will get the most out of your experience if you are feeling fit, strong and healthy, so preparation is important. 33Log your activity and track your progress. Write things down that are important to you, such as how far you walked or cycled. There are lots of smart phone apps available now to track your activity. Start off slowly and keep progressing. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your body will adapt to regular exercise.
33Get support. If you are new to exercise, get some advice and support from a registered exercise professional. They can assist you with the design of a regular exercise program that suits your particular needs and lifestyle, and also gets the results that you want. 33Reward yourself. It’s great when you start to feel like you have more energy, your clothes fit better, you can walk further without feeling exhausted, or you can lift heavier weights. Make sure that you are aware of the indicators of success, and give yourself a reward when you start to tick off your goals. 2. Eat well There is plenty of information available about healthy eating, so make sure you do your research and obtain the correct information from a reliable source, such as government health websites or the Dietitians Association of Australia. Healthy eating can improve your quality of life and help you avoid diseases associated with ageing. There’s a lot you can do to introduce healthier foods into your diet without giving up all of your favourites. A major reason for age-related weight gain is that the rate at which you burn calories in food and drink, known as your metabolic rate, slows down with age. The extra calories will turn into surplus body fat over time if you don’t adjust your diet or become more physically active. Don’t skip meals, as this will affect your energy levels and metabolism. The food you eat contains fat, protein and carbohydrates, which give your body fuel to keep going. Eating regularly ensures you get all the nutrients you need when you need them, and helps keep hunger at bay. It also helps keep your blood sugar levels stable. Low blood sugar levels also affect concentration, energy levels, your metabolism and your mood. Drink plenty of healthy fluids, such as water or herbal teas, to avoid dehydration. Dehydration causes loss of concentration, dipping energy levels
and headaches. Aim for at least six to eight glasses of fluid a day, and limit your caffeine intake, as large amounts of caffeine may affect hydration levels. 3. Get plenty of sleep Not only will you feel better after a restful sleep, you will be doing your brain and body a big favour. Restful sleep helps to improve mental cognition and prevent memory loss. Sleep, exercise and healthy eating also help us to cope with the stresses and anxieties of modern life. 4. Stay socially active and keep your brain sharp Give your mind a regular mental workout, as well as your body. Read a book, join a social club, do a crossword, do some volunteering, interact with others, or learn a new skill. Remember that many lifestyle habits formed in our earlier life can affect how well — or how badly — our brain works later in life. So think about your health and wellbeing as an investment in your future, and remember that every day counts in some small way. The future rewards of good health, happiness and great quality of life are worth it!
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Food & Wine
MasterCook At just 27, Justine Schofield has shown the nation that age is no barrier when it comes to doing the things that you love. Known for her bubbly personality, enthusiasm and dedication to creating delicious dishes from only the best of ingredients, Schofield has come a long way from her beginnings in the battle dome known as the MasterChef Australia kitchen. ‘It’s been four years since MasterChef, so it’s kind of unbelievable how fast time has gone… Sometimes, it really does feel like it was yesterday. I mean, I was selling security cameras, sitting at a desk, knowing it wasn’t for me, and knowing that I was stinging to get out there and cook,’ says Schofield.
Schofield’s philosophy is to keep it simple. ‘Simplicity is key, always, without a doubt.
With a zest for life and a passion for food, Justine Schofield is taking our country by storm – one delectable dish at a time.
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This drive and enthusiasm saw Schofield, then 23, take out a top-four spot in both series one of MasterChef Australia, and also in MasterChef: All Stars, where Schofield returned to the MasterChef kitchen along with the top contenders from series one, two and three, and won $5000 for her charity. With French blood running through her veins, Schofield credits much of her love of food to her mother. ‘My mum’s not a chef, but she influences me. I wouldn’t be cooking if I didn’t watch her in the kitchen, because she’s amazing.’
Food & Wine
From a young age, Schofield’s mother taught her of ‘joie de vivre’ – and this passion for life is evident in every dish she creates – especially French ones! ‘For me, what really, really gets me excited is French cuisine. My mum is Parisian and that’s just where my heart is. Old-school classic regional French food is where I get a buzz. All the regions are completely different; and I’m not just talking wines, I’m talking different sausages, cheeses, and desserts, [and] there are certain specialities in each region that I love. There is nothing more interesting to me then old school French cookery. Dishes like beef bourguignon, coq au vin, stuffed tomatoes, rabbit and prunes, blanquette of veal … they are all very rustic, and almost peasantlike. That’s what I’d love to show more people how to cook, because it’s so easy, so budget-friendly, too, and just so delectably yummy!’ With MasterChef as a launching pad into the world of food, Schofield has been blessed with a number of mentors who have shaped and nurtured her talent and skills. ‘I think first and foremost [is] my mentor, Pedro. Chef Pedro – he is a good friend of mine. I was still at University and had a part-time job as a waitress; he was the head chef at this restaurant. I always remember watching his every move during a busy service. Pedro knew I was clearly obsessed and had a passion for cooking (and eating, of course!), so he has taught me so much ever since. He really is a true mentor… and he ensures that he hones in on when I do something wrong in the kitchen. I think that is really important. With a Tunisian background and having been Italian trained, his way of cooking is outstanding! I never stop learning from him. ‘But there’s also Matt Moran; I think his food is just magnificent. He took me under his wing after MasterChef, and I love his style of cooking. I think his discipline in the kitchen is extraordinary, so I’ve learnt a lot from him also. And then there’s Jacques Reymond – his food is innovative and creative, and I really admire
his food philosophy and passion for Australian produce. The list really could go on! We are so lucky in our country to have so many wonderful chefs.’ But what’s her secret to success in the kitchen? Schofield’s philosophy is to keep it simple. ‘Simplicity is key, always, without a doubt. And I think that’s the fashion with food these days, even when you go to restaurants. Just cutting back on ingredients… if you’ve got five elements on the dish, take one off just to see, because really letting a few great ingredients shine will always be better than a dish that is overloaded.
see someone go, “oh my gosh, that was unbelievable!” I think, yep, I’m doing a good job.’ This philosophy is something that translates into her cooking program, Everyday Gourmet. Captivating audiences with her recipes and tips on cooking, Schofield has been educating Australians on what they can do with a bit of confidence in the kitchen, and the right materials and produce, every weekday afternoon since 2011 on Channel 10. With her passion and helpful hints, it should also come as no surprise that this program is entering its third year.
I think a lot of people have traditions passed down from generation to generation and they don’t use them. ‘Going to a fishmonger and getting the freshest piece of fish you can find and serving it with beautifully roasted new potatoes, a little lemon, and butter, can sometimes be better than serving it with rich complex sauce you’ve cooked for six hours. I always try to explain to home cooks that having restraint in the kitchen is very important. It’s really [all about] cutting it back, getting fresh produce – getting seasonal produce – and cooking it simply. That is truly rewarding. I really believe that. ‘For me, heritage also plays an important role in my cooking. I think a lot of people have traditions passed down from generation to generation and they don’t use them. Some of the best recipes in the world come from our grandmothers or great aunts, and in my case, my grandfather. And always having that is important to me, along with cooking fresh and cooking seasonal. And don’t forget that cooking from the heart is just crucial! Because if you’re not cooking from the heart, get out of it, it’s not for you. ‘It’s also to see the pleasure on someone’s face when they’re eating your food. That’s what I completely strive for when it comes to cooking. So when I
‘I think that’s the whole thing about Everyday Gourmet – It’s really basic, very simple food. Everything is completely achievable on the show. And that’s the thing, I’m a cook – I really like to emphasise that I’m a cook, I’m not a chef. I haven’t earned my stripes yet; I haven’t done those hard yards. I mean, I have been in kitchens, but I haven’t spent years and years in kitchens like many other chefs, and for me, they’re my heroes; they’re my rock stars. I really like to make people aware of good eating – eating really good food, wholesome food, not just healthy, but just a good balance of delicious recipes that will make you feel great. I want people to be confident in the kitchen and know that it can be achievable to cook wonderfully at home every time. I think it is not daunting for my viewers because I’m not a chef, I’m a cook, so it makes it a little bit easier for them to follow.’ But it doesn’t stop there – Schofield continues to dominate the foodie world one dish at a time. Since her appearance on the popular reality cooking competition, Schofield has been blessed with a career that doesn’t
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Food & Wine
look to be slowing anytime soon. From her successful cooking show to her media appearances and cooking demonstrations, Schofield’s calendar seems to be filling up – and fast. ‘What’s next for me? Where do we start? I’ve got another three weeks of filming this season of Everyday Gourmet. I love filming it. We’ve just filmed 90 episodes and hopefully we will be back next year; that’s the focus. I’m actually trying to frantically finish the last of the recipes right now for season three, trying to find some inspiration. And I’ve got a lot of different jobs coming up, from food demonstrations and catering jobs to a lot of appearances. And then I’ll take a month or two off and go to Europe, visit some family and friends, and I’ll try to get into a few kitchens in France to get more recipe inspiration for next year.
‘That’s what I love about my job: the unknown. It’s risky, but I love living on the edge. I love that whole “going with the flow”; it’s the best job in the world. I feel very blessed.’ If you’re also yearning to follow your passion for cooking, Schofield insists that there is just one thing you need to do: get into the kitchen. ‘There are a lot of places, a lot of kitchens, that are more than happy to see eager people coming in and really wanting to learn. Go to a place where people are passionate about food and love cooking. I remember when I was in Year 10 and we had to do work experience. I went to a kitchen at a hotel, and the chefs were just so uninspiring, they hated cooking, they were just there because it was a job, and it really turned me off cooking completely. That’s why it took me five years to realise that I do
actually love it. These chefs portrayed a career in cooking as a negative, so ensure you are around people who are passionate, love what they are doing and take pride in their job. I think that’s really important. ‘Immerse yourself in it. Get a load of cookbooks; watch the cooking shows and just get into the kitchen and learn yourself, and learn with people around you. And start basic. A lot of people come to me and say, “Oh, I was trying to make an elaborate profiterole tower the other day and it just didn’t work…” Start basic. Learn to make the perfect custard first, then the perfect choux pastry, and then the rest will just come in time. Because I think that’s the crucial thing with cooking – getting the basics right before you even start to be completely adventurous because that way you will really succeed.’
Justine Schofield’s Eggplant loaf with tomato coulis 33Serves four as a main 33Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
INGREDIENTS
333 large eggplants 333 eggs 33150g of ricotta 332 garlic cloves 331 tbs. of basil 331 tbs. chopped chives 332 tbs. of cream 33Tomato coulis 332 tbs. olive oil 33½ kg ripe chopped tomatoes or 1 can of diced tomatoes 331 onion, finely chopped 332 cloves garlic, finely chopped 331 bouquet garnis (1 bay leaf, 2 sprigs of thyme and 3 sprigs of parsley) 331 tsp. sugar 33Salt and pepper
METHOD 1. Preheat oven to 190°. 2. Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise and place them in a baking tray, flesh up. Season with salt and bake for 25 minutes or until cooked through. 3. Remove the silky flesh with a teaspoon, place in a food processor with all the other ingredients, and blend until smooth.
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4. Line a loaf tin with baking paper and pour mixture into the tin. 5. Place the tin into a baking dish filled ¾ of the way with water, and bake for 30–40 minutes. 6. While cooking, make the sauce by sweating onions in the oil for three minutes. Now add the garlic and cook until soft and translucent. Add the tomatoes and cook for five minutes until they start to collapse. Now add the sugar, salt and pepper and the bouquet garni. Cover and simmer for about 30 minutes. Remove bouquet garni and blend the mixture until smooth. 7. Allow the loaf to cool slightly before turning out onto a platter. Note: this recipe can be eaten cold or warm and is a delicious summer dish.
Food & Wine
International award for Longwood East!
One of Strathbogie’s boutique vineyards has come up trumps once more at the London International Wine Challenge (IWC). Garners Heritage Wines’ 2011 Shiraz has won silver. ‘In its 30th year, the IWC is accepted as the world’s finest and most meticulously judged competition. The IWC assesses every wine “blind” and judges each for its faithfulness to style, region and vintage. Each medal-winning wine is tasted on at least three separate occasions by a minimum of 10 different international judges. With over 10,000 entries from all over the world, this is a big test of quality and integrity’, says the press release from IWC. Even more astonishing is the fact that 2011 was a horror year for most wineries throughout Victoria, with too much rain and rampant disease all but destroying vintages. Winemaker Lindsay Brown said that considering the terrible year for most vineyards, this was an outstanding result. Garners is a single-vineyard estate-grown shiraz where only the fruit from their vines goes into the making of each vintage. There are no ‘grape ex’ additives or any other ‘tweaking’ techniques to improve the quality. Having decided against bottling the 2010 vintage because they thought it was not going to be as good as their previous vintages, Garners were extra careful during the 2011 season. An early workshop attended by Rosie Garner on diseases in the vineyard paid off as they were able to identify and hit the disease before it had a chance to take hold. In this latest wine challenge for the Shiraz class, most of the silver medals went to South Australian wines, with just a handful going to New South Wales and Western Australia, and seven in Victoria. There was only one gold awarded in Victoria in the Shiraz class. Garners 2009 Shiraz also won silver at last year’s challenge and quickly sold out. But before it did, it made it onto the wine list of one of the Barossa Valley’s most prestigious restaurants, Appellation, which has boasted the ‘Best Wine List’ three years running according to Gourmet Traveller. Just a week after the latest London award, the 2011 won silver in the Syrah-du-Monde in France. This is the only international wine competition to exclusively judge shiraz. Leon and Rosie Garner strive for excellence in the vineyard, and their aim is to present their winemaker with the best possible fruit so he can make the best possible wine. Only 500 cases are made each year, and as such a small producer, the wine sells out very quickly. A rosé is also produced from running 1000 litres of juice from the shiraz after it has been on the skins for 12 hours. The result is a refreshing, fruity and lusciously soft wine to be enjoyed at anytime.
Garners Heritage Wines was established in 2005, and, although relatively new, each vintage surprises with its hint of dark fruit and fresh, soft, succulent flavours – and of course its growing array of awards. The tasting notes from this year’s IWC are as follows: ‘Sweet, ripe, minty black fruit on the nose. Succulent, rounded, mellow and harmonious. Sweet and playful!’ Lindsay Brown is the wine maker. Leon and Rosie are viticulturists. For further information please contact Garners Heritage Wine www.garnerswine.com.au. Visit our facebook page facebook/garnersheritagewines or call us on 03 5798 5513.
Heritage Wines INTERNATIONAL AWARD WINNING Wine Challenge 2012–2013 Syrah-du-Monde France 2013 CELLAR DOOR Open Saturday and Sunday – 11 am to 5 pm, or by appointment. Available at IGA supermarkets – Euroa and Nagambie and selected restaurants and pubs throughout the region, including Ruffy Store, Rennies, Stoneleigh, Yarck Hotel. 54 Longwood/Mansfield Road Longwood 3666 M 0410 649 030 P 03 5798 5513 facebook/garnersheritagewines www.garnerswine.com.au
Uncompromising Integrity. Taste It!
Strathbogie Ranges
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Food & Wine
In a n d a r
When I hear someone say ‘McLaren Vale’, the image of a wine bottle label instantly springs to mind. The reason for this connection is simple: McLaren Vale is a world-famous producer of excellent quality wines.
Among the bottles of wine that line any cellar or bottle shop in Australia, there are bound to be more than a few made from McLaren Vale grapes. And anyone who travels to this region, just south of Adelaide, will no doubt be prepared for complete immersion in the passionate world of viticulture. But the story of McLaren Vale comprises so much more than this, and when you start to poke around a bit, you find it’s a story that just keeps on getting better. The townships of McLaren Vale are anything but sleepy, providing buzzing
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hubs for you to orbit around as you visit a selection of the 65 cellar doors dotted across the landscape. And, this being wine country, it’s the sort of landscape you want to write home about. But it is the harmony of wine country with beach culture that makes this area so special, and there are several spots where you can experience this. Port Noarlunga is 30 kilometres south of Adelaide, and the jewel in its crown is indisputably the 1.6-kilometre reef set 400 metres off the coast. From the expansive white sandy beach, the jetty – built in 1921
and stretching more than a kilometre long – juts out to meet the reef, which becomes exposed at low tide. Over 200 marine plant species and 60 fish species thrive on this reef – a majestic underwater world. The reef attracts snorkellers and scuba divers alike, and there is even a diving trail signposted with informative underwater glass plaques, which will guide you to all the most exquisite and interesting nooks and crannies of this undersea garden. Aldinga Beach is another of the typical South Australian beaches you’ll so fortunately become accustomed to in
Food & Wine
ound
Mc L a re n Va l e
this part of the world, with long stretches to stroll, and glassy waters to paddle. The beach at Aldinga is perfect for a dip, and there are also boat-launching facilities if you happen to have arrived in McLaren Vale with your boat in tow. Otherwise, the area is a tried and tested location for all the fun you could possibly cram into a holiday by the seaside – even windsurfing and hang gliding, so maybe it’s time you crossed them off that bucket list! Willunga is a town with a lot to offer, including what locals would argue is the best weekly farmers market in the country. The land around Willunga and the Fleurieu Peninsula yields plenty more than the rivers of wine that flow from McLaren Vale, and it can all be found at the Willunga Farmers Market, which is made up of more than 55 stalls peddling some of the freshest, most colourful and tastiest vegetables, almonds,
garlic, meats, honeys… and the list goes on. There is also the fortnightly Quarry Market to take a look at, where you can find bric-a-brac, artisan products, plants, and other bits and pieces to stock up on. Willunga has a booming arts culture, with the Southern Theatre and Arts Supporters (STARS), a not-for-profit organisation, attending closely to the healthy development of the arts in southern South Australia. STARS are busy all year round, presenting numerous productions of theatre, opera and concerts, art exhibitions, and workshops to get the community involved. Look them up when you’re in the area; there’s sure to be an opportunity to
take in some live performance at STARS’s headquarters at Waverley Homestead. The towns south of Adelaide provide many interesting diversions on any trip to the abundant McLaren Vale. Between the outdoor activities, the underwater adventures, the foodie indulgences and the cultural theatrics, you’ll have your trip positively sewn up.
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Food & Wine
The best of McLaren by a country Mile!
Vale
–
Wine, food, ale, art, B&B – come and discover the very best McLaren Vale has to offer all on one road as you walk, drive or ride the McMurtrie Mile. Explore the cellar doors, restaurants and galleries at your leisure with the passport card, treat yourself to a gourmet self-drive tour, or go the extra mile on the fully hosted day tour. On the tours, you’ll journey behind the scenes to experience an exclusive insight into the berry to bottle, and palette to painting processes, and see hands-on how craft beer is brewed. The day starts at Hugh Hamilton Wines – here you will be personally guided through an alternative variety wine tasting and discover the story behind the ‘Black Sheep’. Head 100 metres down ‘The Mile’ and into the vines of Sabella Vineyards; Michael will take you for a walk through the vines, where you learn all about the skills involved in growing great grapes, before heading into the barrel shed for a taste of his newest wines straight out of the barrel. The next hop, skip and jump will see you at the famous Wirra Wirra – home of the Church Block. Here you will experience the winemaking side of the story as you wonder through the working winery. In the historical tasting room you
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will taste the previous vintages of the wines you have just seen being made. Time for lunch – Red Poles is the next stop. Enjoy a lunch of local produce with wines from the Mile while feasting your eyes on local art, flora and fauna. Primo Estate is the first stop after lunch. Step into the chic and sophisticated cellar door and get the VIP treatment with a personalised Joseph experience of wine and olive-oil matching with a rare back vintage release. The last part of the tour takes you off ‘The Mile’, and down to Willunga to get hands-on with the brewing of Vale Ale (whose cellar door is at Red Poles). Here you will see, smell and taste each step of the process. All in all, a fabulous day out full of unique experiences. One not to be missed. ‘We recently experienced this day tour and it was the best wine tasting tour that we have ever done. Hosts/ hostesses at all the venues were
wonderful!’ – Catherine Ann Lennon, 24 March 2013.
• Hugh Hamilton Wines • Primo Estate • Red Poles • Sabella • Vale/Ale • Wirra Wirra • www.mcmurtriemile.com.au (08) 8323 8994
Experience, play & stay
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Get out on the road with Caravanning Australia magazine – your quarterly bible for all things caravan. Spring edition out now in all good newsagents! Website: www.caravanningoz.com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/caravanningaustralia Twitter: @caravanningaust
Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 83
Food & Wine
Cruising
restaurants The White Room Where: P&O’s Ventura. Who: Three-time Michelin-star winner Marco Pierre White. Why: You may have seen him screaming at his staff in the UK version of Hell’s Kitchen, but the fact remains that Marco Pierre White knows how to cook – and cook well. The White Room is a finedining restaurant that offers patrons an elegant and unique experience as they gaze through the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean. But let’s not forget the delectable food prepared by chefs trained by the master – spaghetti with lobster, veal with porcini mushrooms and a sinfully delicious strawberry soufflé are just some of the crowd pleasers.
Salt Grill Where: P&O’s Pacific Jewel, Pacific Dawn and Pacific Pearl. Who: Australia’s leading chef, Luke Mangan. Why: This fine-dining experience truly is
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a taste sensation thanks to Australia’s very own world-renowned chef. With signature dishes, such as the Salt Grill crab omelette, enoki mushroom salad and miso broth, this cruise ship restaurant allows travellers to experience the flavours of the world while gliding across the ocean at full speed. If that’s not enough, the chocolate tasting indulgence is sure to put a smile on your face as your tastebuds roar to life. So sit back, relax and let Luke Mangan do all the work for you as you sail the seas on this luxury liner.
Jacques Where: Oceania’s MS Marina. Who: Master chef Jacques Pépin. Why: This French bistro will teleport you off the majestic liner and into the French countryside with its flavoursome dishes. While the food will take you to the countryside, the elegant and fine-dining interior will transport you into an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, where luxury
and pleasure are the only lifestyle known to man. Custom-designed Jacques Pépin china, antique flatware and cascading crystal chandeliers complete this finedining experience and make it one to write home about.
Food & Wine
Carnival’s Steakhouses Where: Carnival’s Dream, Spirit, Conquest and Splendor cruise ships. Who: Michelin-starred Georges Blanc. Why: These steakhouses, which are named differently on each vessel they are featured on, are among the best restaurants at sea. Showcasing sizzling steaks, succulent seafood, and traditional veal and lamb chops, these steakhouses accommodate for all types of diners with their sensational cuisine. Yet, those who are more adventurous in their tastes should not easily dismiss these restaurants; the menus also feature beef carpaccio and tuna tartare for those wanting to be elegantly adventurous.
Silk Road and the sushi bar Where: Crystal Serenity and Symphony. Who: World-renowned Nobu Matsuhisa. Why: The fact that renowned celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa oversees all of the cuisine onboard Crystal’s vessels should be enough to impress. Celebrated for his innovative and experimental take on traditional Japanese cuisine with a European and Peruvian twist, Chef Matsuhisa brings this passion for food and shares it with diners at Silk Road and the sushi bar. From fresh sushi and
sashimi to specialty dishes such as miso black cod and lobster with truffle-yuzu sauce, Silk Road promises to provide a taste sensation.
Restaurant 2 Where: Seabourn cruise lines. Who: Restaurateur and Chef Charlie Palmer (formerly). Why: Known for his numerous restaurants – from Aureole in New York to Charlie Palmer Steak (found in various United States locales) – Chef Palmer brings this experience to Seabourn’s Restaurant 2, which is the epitome of a ‘specialty restaurant’. Featuring a superb five-course fixed meal, Restaurant 2’s dining experience marries unusual flavours and ingredients to create a meal like no other. Butter-braised lobster and sweet pea ravioli, pink-roasted rack of veal served with a perfect potato tian, and crème brulee with a contrast of white, milk and dark chocolates are just examples of the luxury cuisine you will experience when dining in Restaurant 2.
Crown Grill Where: Ruby Princess. Who: Master chef veteran Alfredo Marzi. Why: Chef Marzi is a treasure; with 35 years’ culinary experience, Marzi
combines all of his knowledge and passion to create one of the best steakhouses on both land and sea. Premium-aged beef will melt in your mouth, while the grill’s fresh seafood is sure to put a spring in your step. This finedining experience is made even better by the restaurant’s interior. The rich-wood décor screams luxury as you step foot inside Crown Grill, giving the restaurant an old-world feel and charm.
Ocean Blue Where: Norwegian Breakaway. Who: Celebrity chef and Food Network star Geoffrey Zakarian. Why: Bringing the best of New York-style dining onto Norwegian’s luxury vessel, this elegant and upmarket seafood restaurant focuses on premium ingredients that will make diners’ mouths water at the delectable sight and scent of the cuisine. Chef Zakarian has truly thought of everything when creating this marvellous restaurant – to complete the experience, Zakarian has paired up with DJs Andrew & Andrew to select the perfect mix of music to please all diners of Ocean Blue. These little touches are what make dining at Ocean Blue unforgettable.
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Motor Vehicles
Classic car ownership By Mark Pieper, proprietor of Classic Car Gurus
You’ve just seen a beautiful classic car cruising past that looked really cool and stylish, and now you’re thinking of buying one. If you’re in the market for a classic car, here are four simple steps to avoid the pitfalls and hopefully help you to fulfil your dreams. Firstly, you need to choose what sort of classic car you want to buy. This decision is often driven by your memories: ‘My dad or uncle had one’, ‘I always wanted one of those’, or ‘I really like how that model looks’. The decision also depends on your intended purpose for the car – is it going to be a daily or weekend driver? Do you want to enter car shows, or is it going to be an investment? Whatever you choose, make sure you are passionate about it, as owning a vehicle that’s decades old will fill you with pride, and has the potential to create heartache. The second and most important step, once you have chosen which classic you want parked in your garage, is to do your research – thorough research. Be honest with yourself; ask yourself the question, ‘How much do I know about these vehicles?’ The more informed you are as a buyer, the less hassles you will have in the future.
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Understanding the market value of your potential classic is critical, so read all the available literature on classic cars, and look online at the collector car sections of eBay, Carpoint and Carsales. Car clubs are a good source of information, and most marques are represented in each state. Check out their websites, read their newsletters and go along to a meeting to gain a better understanding of what the club offers, to see if it appeals to you. Google the make and model you are interested in, and there will be articles covering what to look for, options, accessories, paint codes and everything you can imagine. Does the car come with documentation, receipts, warranty book, and restoration records? At resale time, documentation adds enormous value as it validates what the seller is saying. If the seller says the engine has been rebuilt, but there is no documentation to prove it, assume it hasn’t. Research parts
availability, as you will need them in the future. If you’re outlaying tens of thousands of dollars, consider getting an expert to inspect the car so you have a good understanding of what you are buying. So you’ve chosen the make and model, with an enormous amount of due diligence and know a lot about what you want. The next step is to decide if you want an original or modified classic car. Original means as it left the factory, modified implies changes and upgrades. Historically, original demands a premium price point and ads often talk of matching numbers. This means the car should have the original paint colour, trim, engine number and all the components through the drivetrain. Recent trends show that a totally original car – one that has never been restored – will sell for more than a modified car – one that has been restored. Changes like a right-hand drive conversion, respray in two-pack paint instead of the original acrylic, and
Motor Vehicles
the use of reproduction parts can affect the price. If you’re unsure, go back to step two and do more research on these elements for the classic you are thinking of buying. There is a growing trend towards modifying classics, as more owners want to drive them regularly. The addition of creature comforts like air conditioning, cruise control, audio and safety items (including disk brakes, electric wipers and rack and pinion steering) give an owner classic styling with modern drivability. Recent auction results have seen cars like this sell for as much as, and sometimes more than, original classics, but do your research and use common sense. You may make upgrades to a muscle car, or a classic British or American marque, but common sense would dictate that you wouldn’t mess with the originality of a Ferrari, Aston Martin or equivalent highend classics. It’s now time to fulfil step four – the inspection. This is where the fun starts, as you get the chance to go and look at what you’ve been researching. Make sure you go and look, and don’t end up as one of the many statistics that saw a car on the internet and bought it without checking
it out. The cost of an air ticket or a few hours’ time is nothing compared to buying a lemon. When you go, take a torch, one of those flat flexible magnets that end up in your letterbox advertising the local plumbers’ service, and a rug. The torch allows you to see in dark places, the magnet will highlight areas that are not steel, and the rug is handy when you are crawling around the car. First impressions mean a lot. Take your time and have a really good look. How is the paint, panel gaps, condition of the interior, chrome, tyres? Place
your magnet on all known rust areas to ensure it sticks. Look underneath for oil leaks. Ask the owner to go through all the electrical components while you watch – indicators, lights, brakes, horn and dash. Look in the engine bay and see if it is clean, the wires are neat, check for signs of leaks, and assess the overall condition. Now get out and drive the car. Not around the block – go for a good long run and turn the stereo off. Listen for squeaks and rattles; on a quiet road, stand on the brakes and see if it pulls to one side, and put your foot on the gas and see how it goes. Do a U-turn in a wide street to ensure that there is no tyre rub, and check out the turning circle. If your grin is ear-to-ear, and the vehicle performs to your expectations, you may just have found your perfect classic car. I have owned a number of classic cars, and to me there is nothing quite like the joy you get when you fire the engine up on a beautiful Sunday morning and head out for a drive. You’re not stressed about the traffic, you revel in the sheer pleasure of driving your classic. Expect to have people pointing, staring and asking you questions about your baby. Enjoy it, look after it, and you will have many great moments and memories cruising in your new classic car. Words by Mark Pieper, proprietor of Classic Car Gurus. www.classiccargurus.com.au Images on this page © Mark Pieper
Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 87
Technology
Travel: WineSkin (www.wineskin.com.au) Most airlines won’t allow large volumes of liquids to pass through customs in carry-on luggage. So what do you do when the perfect souvenir is a bottle of French champagne, or you want to surprise your American relative with some top Aussie wine? You could risk a mini mid-air explosion Entertainment: BenQ W7000+ Digital Projector in your stowed luggage, (www.benq.com) and some very expensively Do you find yourself watching the latest movies on your laptop, washed smalls, but a better or gathering a large family around a small television? Give your eyes option by far is to use a break and upsize your entertainment with your very own a WineSkin. movie projector. This nifty, bottleWith the BenQ W7000+, you can project your favorite movies shaped bag is full of bubble and shows to a maximum image size of 300 inches on any large wrap to cushion your surface, from your lounge room wall for a rainy-day TV marathon, to precious cargo, and features the garage door for a neighbourhood movie night. an airtight seal to prevent any The dynamic iris control feature provides better black levels leakage in the unlikely event of during dark movie scenes, and better white levels during a breakage. The company’s distributor says the WineSkin is bright movie scenes, so you won’t be fiddling with the popular with holidaymakers headed for the Oceanic islands, settings to optimise different scenes. where it’s often difficult to find your favourite drop, and overseas The unit even comes with 3-D glasses for a more wedding guests make great use of the WineSkin to transport their high-tech movie experience! celebratory bubbles. You can find the WineSkin all around Australia at cellar doors and through other retailers listed on the website.
Technology: portable device battery packs Remember the days before smart phones, when you had to find a public phone to make a call, flip through the Yellow Pages in search of a business, and open the street directory to discover where you were? The amazing technological advancements and availability of smart phones have dramatically changed the way we live our lives, sometimes to the point of over-dependence. Some feel lost without their device, especially when the battery fails, which seems to happen just when you need it most. To cope with this decidedly ‘First World problem’, several battery extenders are available that use double-A or triple-A batteries to juice up your device. The best examples are lithium-polymer rechargeable, and give you an indication of power through a series of LED lights: perfect for travelling.
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Technology
Health: fitness wristbands Fitness wristbands are the new big thing on the health and wellness market. Promising to change the way we track our activity, fitness wristbands monitor activity and the body’s responses, and sometimes provide advice – just like having your own personal trainer constantly strapped to your wrist! The best examples of this new technology include a 24/7 activity tracker, plus a sleep and mood monitor, nutrition guide, and comprehensive database of advice for all your wellness questions. You might be thinking that having a hard-nosed personal trainer by your side 24/7 doesn’t actually sound very appealing after all, but the wristbands won’t push you to exhaustion. If you’ve spent the day busily working on a home improvement project, the device will probably tell you to take a relaxing shower and hit the sack early! One of the most common reasons for failed exercise regimens and neglected gym memberships is a lack of understanding about the body’s circadian rhythm. Trying to exercise at a low point in your daily energy cycle results in exhaustion, poor motivation, and disappointment. Because many wristbands learn your unique internal clock, they can alert you when your energy is peaking so you can make the most of the opportunity and get some exercise in. It can tell you when you’ve hit a low on your energy cycle and indicate that it’s time for a snack to bring your energy levels back up. Fitness wristbands include all the features you’d expect from the best fitness apps, plus more, including fitness coaching, exercise logger, step tracking, and accelerometer. You can also become more aware of your eating habits with nutrition coaching, meal logging, alerts, calorie counter and meal reminders. The sleep functions of many wristbands round out your wellness focus, with sleep coaching, sleep tracking, alerts and reminders, and a silent alarm clock.
Entertainment: LP 2 Go – portable digital conversion turntable (www.ionaudio.com) Vinyl records have experienced a surge in popularity in recent years, as generations X and Y discover the atmospheric sound of a crackle, the nostalgia of a pop, and the satisfaction of flipping the record to the b-side. While the quality of sound is arguably better on vinyl records, MP3s still rule the roost; you can’t use your record player while jogging, plug it into your car stereo, or take it to the beach – or can you? ION Audio has ticked one of those boxes with the new LP 2 Go portable turntable that you can take anywhere. LP 2 Go is powered by four double-A batteries, and features a built-in speaker and very compact design, meaning you can take your vinyl with you wherever you go! With a headphone outlet included, you can listen to your old favourites without disturbing others, or you can boost your sound and share your music collection by connecting the LP 2 Go to a speaker system. Of course, this is 2013, so some modern advances are expected. If you still desire to listen to your vinyl while jogging, this is about as close as you’ll get, with the ability to connect your player to your computer via USB cable and convert your music to MP3s. Then you can drop your MP3s onto your smart phone or other music player for that authentic vinyl sound, no matter what you’re doing.
Travel: SteriPEN ultraviolet water purifier (www.steripen.com) If you’ve ever experienced the dreaded tummy troubles while on holiday in an exotic country, you’ll understand the importance of avoiding the local tap water. But it can sometimes be a hard rule to remember, especially when brushing your teeth, washing fruit or preparing salads. There are a few options available for purifying your drinking water, including dissolving tablets and plug-in devices. Now there is an even more convenient technology to kill the pathogens in your drinking water – the SteriPEN. All you need to do is stick the ‘pen’ in a glass or bottle, turn it on, and in less than a minute, your water is safe to drink. The purifier uses ultraviolet light to destroy viruses, bacteria and protozoa, so there is no chemical aftertaste to your water.
Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 89
House & Home
Ask Baz! In each edition of Living the Dream, readers have the chance to ask renovation and interiors guru Barry Du Bois for advice to help them create or renovate their dream homes.
Q: We need to upgrade the beige carpet and walls in our 1980s house, and with so many different colours and textures to choose from, we need some direction!
Q: We would like to take down all the drapes in our house and replace them with those slick new pull-down blinds – do you have any hints on what to look out for?
A: What a great opportunity to express yourself! Lets start with the floor. Timber has always been my first pick; floating floors have come a long way over the last couple of years, and I believe that they’re a great start. A timber floor gives a great opportunity to change the feel and personality of the room simply by adding rugs – I like to have rugs that suit the season – or simply go with the naked timber floor. Should you decide to stick with carpet, then mid-neutral tones work! Think mushrooms, browns, and greys. Regarding the walls, work with colours that complement your personal items and fixtures. Determine what you most want the eye to be drawn to in a room – this will be something you love and have chosen. A light backdrop will make the space light and feel larger, while darker colours create contrast and mood. These tips should give you some direction, but my advice is to have fun with it!
A: Living rooms, kitchen, family and dining spaces are a part of the home where we like to express our personality. I like to be able to enjoy the vista, so I opt for sheer blinds. To add theatre or personality to your space, think about a second layer of light fabric (curtains). This should be a fabric that you expect to rotate with the seasons: light and colourful in summer, and slightly heavier in colour and fabric for the winter months. In the bedroom, I always go for blockout blinds. The bedroom is the most intimate space in the home, so privacy, and blocking out light and noise, is very important. These functions do not mean it needs to be boring; there is great opportunity to bring some depth and colour in via the new blind. I like to hang the blind between the reveals of the window, which allows the architraves to frame the blind. A final tip is to be aware of the view from outside, particularly when you choose a full blockout, as unless you specify a colour, it will be white.
Q: I have my kids’ graduation photos and was wondering what would be a good way to display them in a modern home? A: Graduations and other major events are beautiful and special moments in life, and should be respected and honoured. I always recommend having personal photos in hallways. It means that you and your family always walk past them, and your guests get to see them without having to sit opposite them in main living areas!
Q: As our kids move from house to house, we find our garage is full of their things. The problem is; they don’t want to throw them out. Do you have some tricks for how to stack/pack the garage so we can still use the garage space? A: eBay! Lets face it: they have moved out. If they’re not using it, they don’t need it (although I’m sure that as caring parents that’s not the tip you were after!). Whenever you are storing items, where possible make sure they are easily viewed. For items that need to be in containers, always go with clear storage so that items are easily seen. Where this is not possible, clearly label the boxes.
If you have a question for Baz, tell us at facebook.com/LivingTheDreamMag or email askbaz@livingthedreamagazine.com.au page 90 | Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2
orson & blake
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Gallery Level Supa Centa Moore Park, Kensington NSW 2033 T: 0405 560 142 info@orsonandblake.com.au
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Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 93
House & Home
Transform your balcony into a green oasis By Sophie Allan
Whether you live in an innercity shoebox, or a sprawling suburban family home, the addition of some greenery breathes life and colour into any space. Some of us are lucky enough to have land in which to sow the seeds that will grow into delicious vegetables, vibrant flowers and creeping vines. But what about those of us who live in compact spaces, with little else but a balcony as far as outdoor space is concerned? Well, rest assured: even the most sardine-tin-like balconies can be turned into a mini veggie patch, a fragrant herb garden, a tumbling mess of floral colour, or a fascinating display of weird and wonderful cactuses and succulents. The first step in planning the greenery for your balcony is to assess the kind of conditions plants will experience there. Does the balcony get sunlight? How
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much per day, and what about during winter? Does it get windy out there, and if so, is it a salty sea breeze? These factors will help you ascertain the sort of garden you can grow, and ultimately determine its success. If you want your balcony garden to make you happy, you’ll have to make sure it will be happy! If your balcony gets at least four or five hours of sunlight a day, you just may be able to grow your very own vegetables. There is really nothing better than popping out to the porch to pluck a warm, fragrant tomato, a crisp and crunchy cucumber or a handful of pungent herbs for the salad bowl. If this is the course you want to take with your balcony, you will need to plan well; vegetables need deeper soil than other plants, and you will need to make sure they are planted with enough space between them to have room to produce. It doesn’t matter too much what you plant vegetables in; styrofoam boxes, wine barrels and ceramic pots are all perfect, but use whatever you have, as long as it drains and is deep enough. Once you
have your planting vessels, make sure you have a way to elevate them off the ground, and make sure you place them where they will be able to drink in all that delicious sunlight.
Salad greens are go-to balcony kitchen garden plants, and if you grow nothing else that you plan to eat, these are a must. If your balcony is teeny tiny as far as floor area goes, think vertical space, and get creative. You can train beans and peas to climb up lattice or wire strung
House & Home
between the banister and the roof. You can grow strawberries and herbs in hanging pots, or even specially made planter boxes made from halved PVC pipe. When it comes to balcony gardens, your modus operandi is: Where there’s a will, there’s a way! The sorts of veggies that suit balcony gardening are tomatoes, capsicums, chilli, cucumber, zucchini and pumpkin, and small citrus like kaffir lime or cumquat are some fruit tree options. Salad greens are go-to balcony kitchen garden plants, and if you grow nothing else that you plan to eat, these are a must. Salad greens grow very quickly and can be harvested as early as six weeks from seed. The choices are endless, with rocket, spinach, endives, radicchio and a range of lettuces all perfect for adding colour and crunch to your day. The flavour of a home-grown, freshly picked green salad is one of the joys of life, not to mention the heightened nutritional value of vegetables so fresh and chemical-free. If you’re going down this road and you have enough space on your balcony, why not look into a small composter or worm farm? With one of these, you can link up the circle of nature by turning your fruit and vegetable scraps into organic compost, which you can then use to feed to your flourishing fruit and vegetable plants! If vegetables seem a little bit timeconsuming and fiddly to you (maybe your thumb is less-than-green!), a herb garden is still well within reach; many are sturdy and unfussy, and give back so much to your everyday cooking. To buy bunches of herbs at the supermarket is expensive, and they are often wilted and slimy, but once you start to grow your own parsley, coriander, thyme, oregano and rosemary, you’ll never spend another cent on an inferior bunch. And don’t forget that herbs are a great source of vitamins and minerals, and add interest and depth of flavour to practically any meal or snack. Growing a kitchen garden on your balcony may not be quite the right fit for your lifestyle, but there are so many other themes and styles to explore when greening your balcony. Flowers, with
If your balcony resembles the planet Mars in that it doesn’t seem to be able to support life, do not despair! their heady scents and their striking and delicate colours, are uplifting and energising in the home, and the process
of tending them and watching their progress can be meditative and relaxing. Turn your balcony into an oasis of petals and perfume; somewhere to ponder life’s great mysteries in tranquillity. Geraniums, with their sweet-smelling foliage and bold flowers, lend a European feel, while nasturtiums, daisies, roses, pansies and lavender can create a rustic and ramshackle overgrown cottage garden. The more lush your balcony garden the better, so create different layers and textures in your secret garden. But remember, flowers can be delicate, and require specific conditions. They may not need as much care as vegetables, but they will still require attention, and if you’re using plants that are not perennial, you’ll have to prepare a plan B if you want greenery all year round. If your balcony resembles the planet Mars in that it doesn’t seem to be able to support life, do not despair! There are plants out there to adorn even the driest, windiest, most extreme balcony – these are called succulents and cactuses. These fleshy little battlers are extra-hardy, storing water in their foliage, and the colours and shapes to be found amongst the many varieties are both exquisite and bizarre. From the prettiest of pinks to silvery greens and tropical crimsons, with succulents you can create a mosaic of colour for your balcony garden. Cactuses are a great addition to a succulent garden, and are well worth it just to catch a glimpse of a rare and festive papery cactus flower, which will bloom when you least expect it. In the city, we must learn to make use of any plot of land we have, and our balconies should be no different. These are spaces we can transform to become our sanctuaries, and our greengrocers! All it takes is a little bit of planning and understanding of the best conditions for specific plants, and if you put the right plants in the right places, you will have a space to rival any regular garden. But don’t stop with the balcony… I wonder what you could grow on the roof?
Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 95
House & Home
Find the key to your great new lifestyle Fraser Shores Retirement Village in beautiful Hervey Bay offers the serene and stress-free lifestyle you are looking for. A perfect combination of independent living with resort-style facilities, and exceptional floor plans unique to the Torrisi group, constructed by award-winning builders who specialise in the design and construction of your own dream home for retirement village living. Whether you are seeking an active lifestyle or a quiet retreat, Fraser Shores Retirement Village are the ideal choice for you. These five-star facilities feature a full-size bowling green, swimming pools and spas, as well as numerous group activities, such as line dancing, Tai Chi, aerobics and aqua aerobic classes. If you prefer peace and tranquillity, explore our lush award-winning gardens, fill your own yard with flowers and vegies, or do as little as you like and let our qualified gardeners do it for you. Homes at our villages have been designed to provide a high standard of privacy and practicality, along with the quality and finish demanded by discerning buyers. All homes have their own individual character and are perfectly integrated into the beautifully landscaped environment, giving you a luxury lifestyle. All homes come with a 24-hour emergency Medi-Alert call system for that extra peace of mind. Fraser Shores Retirement Village is second to none when it comes to position. They are next to shopping centres as well as health, medical, pharmacy, and hospital facilities. Not only is Hervey Bay the whale watching capital of Australia (up to 8000 whales visit the bay annually), we also have the most ideal climate with calm, family-friendly waters ideal for boating
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and fishing, and golden beaches, along with connections to Fraser Island. Come and enjoy all the activities the Bay has to offer, while living the lifestyle in Fraser Shores Retirement Village.
Add a little sweetness to your life Sugarland Gardens Retirement Village has the most affordable retirement homes available, in a friendly, fun-filled village in Bundaberg and a beautiful subtropical part of Queensland. We have uniquely designed homes to satisfy your retirement plans and lifestyle, or you have the flexibility of modifying these designs to suit your individual requirement in a new build. Our designs are exclusive to our villages. We take the stress out of choosing the design and construction of your dream home. For this unique service, don’t hesitate to contact the Retirement Village Master Building Specialists. Once you have chosen how you wish to live in your new home, the design, planning and pricing is completed immediately. We give you assistance, which is very unique to retirement village living. We also have a variety of pre-loved homes available to suit a range of budgets and lifestyle choices. In most circumstances, your pre-loved home can be refurbished to your selected colour
scheme and dĂŠcor. Enjoy indoor bowls, table tennis, snooker, regular exercise and activity programs. Synonymous with the Torrisi group vision, our retirement villages are positioned second to none. All of our villages enjoy a perfect location convenient to all your needs, with food, fashion, banking and health services right next door in the adjoining shopping precinct. The well laid out community centre offers activities for residents throughout the week. Social activities offer companionship as well as entertainment. This time of your life should be the sweetest time of all. Come taste what Sugarland Gardens Retirement Village has to offer.
Hervey Bay. - Family owned and operated, with 25 years of caring. - We can take the stress out of a specially designed new home for you. 3 bedroom Solitaire from $370,067 with double lock-up garage & ensuite. - Preloved homes from $226,000. - Winner of Master Builders HIA awards. (Lifestyle Housing for Seniors). - Caravan & Boat storage available. Pet friendly. - 24 hour emergency Medi-Alert system in every home for peace of mind. - Activities at our Villages include: - Indoor & outdoor bowls, snooker, swimming pool, cards, library, morning tea‛s, dine in nights, trips away and more.
Bundaberg. - Our Villages are Registered under the Queensland Retirement Villages Act. - All brick & tile homes surrounded by award winning picturesque landscaped gardens. 90 Year Registered title.Flood free. - Offering 1, 2 & 3 bedroom new home designs. Preloved homes from $175,000. - Adjoining a major shopping centre and close to sporting & social clubs, Doctors, Medical specialists and Pharmacy. - Best value for money RV homes in Australia. -
1800 679 266
House & Home
Big ideas for small apartments By Sophie Allan
Apartment living is brilliant in many ways. There’s less to clean, less clutter, it costs less to heat and cool, and, depending on where you live, you might have all the cosmopolitan benefits of the inner city, or the sunshine and beauty of the beachfront. But it also often means less space, so make sure you are equipped to maximise the area that you have.
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The move from family home to apartment is a big change, and certainly means some alterations to the way you live in your space. The dining room may now be in the kitchen, or it may share an open space with your living area, with no room for a family-sized dining setting. You may have had to say goodbye to the large suite of cozy sofas and armchairs that witnessed decades of afternoon teas and family hugs, and it may be a little more complicated than it once was to have that interstate family member to stay at Christmas. Space can be a constraint on your new life in an apartment, but all it takes is a bit of creative thinking and planning to see that you can still have it all. Most people would concede that the sofa selected for the living area of the apartment must be both comfortable and attractive. But there is so much more to think about than just the dÊcor and softness. Couches can have functionality that you may never have considered when you had the luxury of a larger house. This piece of furniture can double not only as a fold-out bed for guests, but also as a storage unit. King Furniture has a range of stylish sofas made with storage room in the seats, where you can neatly stow away blankets, linen, vacuums, DVDs and books, and easily retrieve them when they’re needed. This is space utilisation
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at its best, when storage space is at an absolute premium. And you needn’t make sacrifices in either looks or comfort, as these are beautiful and well-crafted pieces you’ll relax and snuggle into for years to come. If you are lucky enough to have a spare bedroom in your apartment, you have a place for your relatives and friends to feel comfortable and at home with you. But what about all the time when you are guest-free, and the spare room sits vacant and unused? Your mind is sure to begin to wander towards all the ways you could be using that valuable space: as a study to write that novel you have in you, a gymnasium where you can practice yoga and Pilates, a library, a painting studio or a music room. Well, this is one instance where you can have your cake and eat it too. There is a way that you can have both a welcoming place for friends and family to lay their heads, and your own private space with which to do whatever your heart desires. A wall bed can be folded out and packed away in the blink of an eye, converting the room in a flash. Your spare room will be in use all year round, and you’ll never have to deny a loved one a bed in your home. Sofa beds are tried and tested, and if you have a big family, you may want to have one in your living room as well as installing a wall bed. What about entertaining, and feeding
King Furniture’s Delta Storage
your family when they come to stay? A small kitchen table can only fit so many seats around it, which can be cozy and atmospheric, but sometimes it’s just plain impractical. A wonderful option for those times when a bigger-than-usual group of diners descends on your apartment is to have a collapsible table on standby. Tressel Table Co. is a Melbourne-based company that makes one thing: birch trestle tables. They are simple, stylish and very easy to store, assemble and disassemble, consisting of three parts: the tabletop, and two sets of legs, all of which stack neatly against the wall. A party of eight would be more than content gathering around one of these silky blond tables, finished so smoothly that you won’t want to hide it under a tablecloth. The strong sealant used to coat them will resist any spills that happen during the more passionate moments of discussion and eating.
In your apartment’s kitchen, the domain of slap-up family feasts, it’s likely that you’ll have significantly less bench space than you did in your family home. Cooking can become cramped and difficult, and your repertoire of dishes may feel sliced in half by your limited storage and cooking space. With a kitchen island or kitchen trolley, you can increase your bench and storage space in one fell swoop. These handy pieces often come with a combination of hooks, shelves and bench surfaces, all of which will take the pressure off the permanent structure of the kitchen. Even if you use it as a perch for your toaster and kettle, that’s more space to chop, wash, peel and toss than you had before. Trolleys and islands are also mobile, which means that you can configure your space differently for different stages of the night. When you need the trolley, bring it out; if it has served its purpose, wheel it back into a nook where it won’t be in the way. Create your own pop-up room, just the way you like it. If you’ve never had to worry about space at home before, the idea of compact living can seem daunting: the challenges insurmountable. There is no doubt about it; you will have to change a few things about the way you live. But that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice any of the things you love about home. Friends, family, food and aesthetics are all things that make a house a home, and if you take a moment to see things in a different way, you’ll find that they are exactly the same things that will make your apartment a home.
The Tressel Table
Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 99
Lifestyle Lifestyle
Continue the life you love at
Seachange Arundel
At Seachange we believe that active people are happy and healthy people, and a true seachange is not just changing where you live, but how you live. It should be in a first-class facility that allows you to continue enjoying the fruits of friendships, the benefits of community and a healthy, active lifestyle. Seachange, the most awarded over50s lifestyle community in a central Gold Coast location, offers residents a community and style of active living that alleviates those typical doubts that people may have when making the decision to change or downsize their home. A day in the life at the resort demonstrates the benefits that downsizing offers – from cost-effective eco-efficient living, to being among likeminded people who want to preserve the routines that shape their daily lives, and remain engaged. As soon as visitors step into the welcome centre, they are greeted by residents offering a real insight into life in the community. Seeing and hearing
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about the Seachange experience from the perspective of a resident provides a reassurance second to none to those on their journey to downsize or make a change. The financial and emotional costs associated with any change are an obvious consideration, so in addition to delivering smart eco-friendly living, Seachange has become renowned for nourishing physical, spiritual and social needs. The centrepiece of Seachange is the Country Club. Featuring a gymnasium, bowls green, indoor heated lap pool and floodlit tennis courts, the multi-million dollar country club has something to suit everyone’s preference. A little indulgence
can be enjoyed at the massage room, spa, steam room and sauna facilities. Countless studies indicate that the chances of ageing well are greatly enhanced by having a robust network of friends and family living nearby. For that reason, Seachange at Arundel boasts a strong sense of community and residents speak highly of the friends they meet, who they can count on when needed. Seachange became the first external campus of the University of the Third Age, so that residents can continue to develop their life skills and hobbies. A library, classrooms, art studios and a workshop provide residents with the space required to read, learn and be creative. From acrylic painting classes to family history workshops and everything in between, Seachange offers an extensive variety of recreational activities set within its five-star facilities. Call the Seachange at Arundel team today on 1800 652 797 for an opportunity to visit the resort or attend a complimentary morning tea event. For more information, www.seachangegoldcoast.com.au.
Lifestyle
Upcycle: everything old is new again! We all know the three Rs of sustainability: ‘reduce, re-use, recycle’. But now there’s a new ‘U’ thrown into the mix: ‘upcycle’. Less catchy it may be, but the benefits of upcycling are far-reaching, extending from the personal to the global. Eden F. Cox explores the exciting new trend inspiring creativity all over the world, from the United States and Cambodia to our very own backyards. Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless items into new, useful products of better quality or better environmental value. Most of us have probably upcycled without even knowing it: simple examples of upcycling include using an old wine barrel as a herb planter, or a glass jar as a tea light holder. The term ‘upcycling’ was first recorded in 1994 in Germany, but it has only been in recent years that the
concept has gained real momentum. To find out more about the growing popularity of upcycling, we spoke to Joanne Crocker from Upcycle STUDIO in Sydney, a boutique store that sells professionally designed upcycled products. She says that DIY crafters in the Western world have been upcycling for years, as have communities in Third World or developing countries, where recycling is generally not an option and new or raw materials are often expensive. A look at the world economic situation since the global financial crisis could go some way towards explaining why more and more people are becoming interested in repurposing items themselves, rather than spending money on new products. It has only been in the last few years that
Upcycled cushions made by Joanne Crocker for the Trash Garden collection at Upcycle STUDIO
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Lifestyle
designers across all product categories have recognised the potential of waste materials in the production of their furniture or fashion collections. Crocker says the newfound popularity of upcycled products in the Western world may be attributed to a swell of concern for the environment, with consumers seeking to lower their carbon footprints and reduce global waste. ‘As a collective group of consumers, we’re only now beginning to realise that we are quite literally exhausting our earth of its natural resources faster than it can reproduce them. It only makes sense to begin reusing what we already have,’ says Crocker. ‘The eco-trend of upcycling is ever so rapidly gaining traction, and when designers like Hermès are launching collections made of cutting-floor waste, you know that the idea must have some merit,’ she says. The renewed appreciation for craftspeople and learning how to make things by hand is a breath of fresh air after decades of mass-produced, machine-made products that come off the production line duplicated in their thousands. Crocker says that, apart from the environmental contribution, the greatest benefit of upcycling is the creation of oneof-a-kind products that are entirely unlike any other. ‘The nature of the materials and the limited or inconsistent quantities in which they are available can make upcycle collections somewhat exclusive, as they’re produced in small quantities, and when demand outweighs supply, their appeal becomes all the more enticing.’ For the aspiring upcycler, the possibilities are quite literally limitless! ‘If you can touch it and feel it, then chances are it can probably be used in an upcycling project,’ says Crocker. The materials most commonly used in products that come through UpcycleSTUDIO include: seatbelts, ring pulls, denim, sari silk, wine barrels, pallets, plastic bags, car air bags, parachutes, army tents, plastic bottles, fire hoses, banners, newspapers, lifejackets, glass bottles and fence palings – ‘That’s the short list!’ Crocker adds. page 102 | Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2
Upcycled pet bed made by Sherri Bachmann. www.sherrysalvage.com
‘Recently, I’ve seen the frames of sunglasses taken out of skateboard decks, watches being made out of remnants from the Titanic (ranging up to $150,000!), necklaces and accessories made of reclaimed guns and bullets… the list goes on and on, and seemingly, the more controversial or bizarre, the more appeal the product has.’ Among the most versatile materials are tyre inner tubes, which a number of talented designers in the United Kingdom and the United States are now transforming into handcrafted bags, belts, wallets and other useful items that are incredibly tough, durable and water-resistant. Discarded plastic bags are also extremely versatile, and are an enormous ecological issue right around the world. ‘They are used for an average of 20 minutes before being discarded and can take hundreds, if not thousands of years to break down,’ says Crocker. ‘Currently, plastic bags are being removed from landfill in Cambodia, washed, colour-matched and cut into strips to create a yarn that can be woven into products like baskets, bags and ottomans. The result is a colourful, durable and water-resistant product that looks great and is extremely practical.’
While these kinds of upcycle projects demand much skill and know-how, there are countless ways to start experimenting with upcycling at home. One of the most popular items being repurposed by hobby upcyclers is the humble wooden pallet. From coffee tables, seating and flower planters, to shelving units, garden fencing, bicycle racks and even cubby houses, wooden pallets can be transformed with basic tools and minimal handyperson skills. Just make sure that the pallet you’re sourcing was destined for landfill, as pallets are often reused again and again in the logistics industry. New, clean pallets might look more appealing at first, but the whole purpose of upcycling is to divert waste from landfill, not to remove products from use. And besides, when it comes to upcycling, ‘The previous use of the product is often visible, rather than hidden, which gives upcycled products an eclectic and unique style of their own,’ says Crocker. Old suitcases are another popular item for upcyclers because they are very versatile, and often hold much sentimental value for their owners. A gorgeous leather case that accompanied its owner around Europe 20 years ago need not end up in CONTINUED ON PAGE 104
Lifestyle
Lifestyle
Brand new
Carlingford units
Alan Walker Retirement Village at Carlingford continues to attract new residents following its opening earlier this year of Laurel Grove. The $12 million development is a stateof-the-art building offering 16 brand-new two- and three-bedroom independent living units. Each unit has been purposebuilt, offering an open-plan design with spacious living areas, gourmet kitchen and state-of-the-art bathrooms. Entertaining sized balconies complement the units, with some enjoying expansive district views. Secure parking is available with internal lift access. There are only four left for sale, starting from $685,000. For more information please call Adam Lotherington on 0423 024 170.
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Lifestyle
A decoratively upcycled china tea cup planted with a jade cutting. By Jadie Milner (www.potsofluck.etsy.com)
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landfill; a sturdy, good-quality suitcase can be given a good polish and fitted with four recycled table or chair legs to create a unique side table with bonus storage. Or, remove the lid and add a comfy cushion and you have a stylish elevated pet bed for your furry friend. Add some wooden shelves to the inside of your favourite vintage suitcase, attach a mirror to the outside of the lid and mount on the wall as a kooky bathroom cabinet. Almost anything with a cavity can be used in the garden for planting into. An old, chipped teapot makes a fantastic flowerpot with a few small holes drilled into the bottom, and delicate teacups with cracks or chips look lovely on the windowsill when planted with small succulents or cacti. Try giving an old work boot a new lease on life by planting with perennials or colourful flowering plants. An old colander makes a great hanging basket, and looks fantastic when painted to complement the plants inside. How about that vintage pedestal
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Upcycled suitcase side table made by Sherri Bachmann. www.sherrysalvage.com
bathroom basin you had replaced, but don’t quite have the heart to throw away? These retro-chic classics make wonderful garden birdbaths, especially as they come with a plug that makes an easy job of cleaning and refreshing the water. The possibilities just go on and on, and there’s really no limit as to how far a passion for upcycling can take you. Professional ‘upcycle artists’ are craftspeople who create amazing pieces of art made from discarded materials that often draw attention to the issue of consumerism and waste. ‘I find these kinds of upcycle projects amongst the most beneficial, as they help to broadcast an important message to the wider public and force them in such a confrontational way to really think about these environmental issues,’ says Crocker. A notable artist is Katharine Harvey, who most recently created a huge plastic chandelier for Earth Day, which was hung in the World Financial Center Winter Garden in New York. ‘The 21-foot tall and 15-foot wide chandelier was made of
water bottles, sandwich trays, muffin tins, salad boxes, egg cartons and other pieces of trash, creating a deceptively beautiful light piece,’ says Crocker. Upcycle STUDIO believes that upcycling is a step in the right direction to encourage consumer behavioural change, and that this power to adapt and create new habits is just part of human nature. Whether it is your new DIY birdbath, or kooky suitcase coffee table, or exploring the plethora of innovative and original products created by trailblazing upcycle designers, now is a great time to discover the world of upcycling. Joanne says, ‘I think that we’re only just approaching the very beginning of this fun and quirky journey, and we are yet to see just how crazy upcycling can really get!’ So, next time you get the urge to do a big clean out, don’t throw anything away before asking yourself, ‘How could I upcycle this?’
Pets
An adult guide dog. Image courtesy of Guide Dogs Australia
Raise a puppy for charity
By Eden F Cox
Pets provide their owners with many benefits, from companionship and security, to physical and mental wellbeing. Dogs often provide the greatest benefits to their owners, and when a pair of adorable puppy-dog eyes meets yours, it’s almost impossible to resist. There’s no doubt that adopting a brand new furry family member is a big commitment – often lasting upwards of 15 years, depending on the breed – but you can be a short-term dog-owner by volunteering to raise assistance dog puppies. Several organisations, including various state police departments, Customs, Guide Dogs Australia, and Assistance Dogs Australia, rely on volunteers to raise potential future assistance dogs. Puppy raisers provide the puppies with some training and socialisation, and adhere to strict
standards of care. The most important, and probably the most difficult, part is giving the puppy back when it’s old enough to begin professional training for life as an assistance dog.
Assistance dogs can perform a staggering array of tasks for their owners, including pressing the button at traffic lights, fetching a ringing phone, unloading the washing machine...
Until that day, usually when the puppy is around one year old, volunteers receive all the benefits of pet ownership, plus the added knowledge that their time has been well spent raising a dog that will one day make a huge difference to an individual or the community. Assistance Dogs Australia, a nonprofit organisation that operates without government funding, trains labradors and golden retrievers to help people with physical disabilities to complete everyday tasks, giving them freedom and independence. The highly trained dogs give their owners greater mobility and confidence, and improve self-esteem. Each dog requires an investment of over $27,000 and takes two years to train, but once ready, the adult dog is placed with its new owner for life, free of charge. Recipients include people with C4 quadriplegia, paraplegia and developmental disorders such as cerebral palsy, and around 20 dogs are placed each year, with an average waiting list of 50 people. Assistance dogs can perform a staggering array of tasks for their owners, including pressing the button at traffic lights, fetching a ringing phone, unloading the washing machine, helping their
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Pets
owner to use public transport, and even dispensing cash in exchange for items in a shop. Guide Dogs Australia, which also operates without government funding, trains and provides vision-impaired recipients with guide dogs who help them to move safely and confidently around the community. Recipients come from a range of backgrounds, and are aged from 17 to over 90 years old. Once matched, the recipient and guide dog will be companions until the dog’s retirement, at which time it’s often decided to keep the dog as a family pet. Living the Dream spoke to Amanda Hope from Assistance Dogs Australia, and Gemma Hardie from Guide Dogs Victoria, about volunteering as an assistance dog puppy raiser, and the benefits that volunteers experience. ‘We have lots of enquiries about volunteer puppy raising,’ says Hope. ‘If you have children, it’s best for them to be school-aged. You should have a secure
They find that having a succession of younger dogs through their homes is easier, emotionally, than watching a pet grow old and die. backyard, be available to attend local puppy training classes each week, and be happy to have a puppy that lives inside with the family. ‘We have all types of volunteer puppy raisers, from retirees to parents with school kids, to a couple in country New South Wales that owns and runs a motel!’ adds Hope. Hardie says that at Guide Dogs Victoria, ‘retired people, single people, families with school-aged children, uni students, stay-at-home mums and dads, people who work from home, and teachers’ are some of the most
Assistance dogs and their recipients. Image courtesy of Assistance Dogs Australia. Photograph by Paper Heart Photography
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common volunteer puppy raisers the organisation sees. For those who have never had a dog before, or who have only adopted adult dogs, volunteering as a puppy raiser is a great way to learn the basics of training, obedience and care. Guide Dogs Victoria and Assistance Dogs Australia both provide training support for puppy raisers, and the dogs are expected to learn basic obedience and socialisation. As a volunteer with Assistance Dogs Australia, you must attend ‘kindergarten’ training classes once a week for the first six months, and then once every two
Pets
months for the remainder of the time. By the end of your volunteer period, you’ll be an expert at looking after young dogs, and will be more than ready to adopt one of your own if you so desire. Puppy raising is also popular among those who have owned dogs before. Hardie says that many volunteer puppy raisers through Guide Dogs Victoria originally came into puppy raising after losing their old pet dog. ‘They find that having a succession of younger dogs through their homes is easier, emotionally, than watching a pet grow old and die.’ The other great thing about raising an assistance dog is that you can take it everywhere: the puppies are allowed in shopping centres, supermarkets, on public transport, and even in cinemas! The idea is to expose the young dog to as many different situations as possible to prepare it for adulthood, when it will be accompanying its owner wherever he or she goes. Given that new puppies require lots of companionship, being able to take a foster puppy into many workplaces has enabled some full-time employees to enjoy raising a puppy for the first time.
A potential guide dog in training. Image courtesy of Guide Dogs Australia
Volunteer puppy raising is also a good way to reap the benefits of pet ownership without the accompanying financial burden, because all organisations with puppy raising opportunities will cover the puppy’s food, equipment and medical expenses. Furthermore, puppy-raising opportunities allow volunteers to enjoy the company of a dog for 12 to 18 months, without the long-term commitment of pet ownership.
At the end of their ‘puppyhood’, the puppies must bid farewell to their volunteer owners, and return to their respective organisations for further training and assessment. Assistance Dogs Australia dogs will undergo intensive training in more than 40 commands, which can take up to nine months, and further training will take place once the dog has been placed with its new owner. Guide Dogs Victoria dogs will be trained for around five months, until they have learned to respond confidently to around 30 commands by word, hand or foot (and must sometimes refuse to obey for safety reasons), and can safely guide their new owners around obstacles, through the streets, and on and off public transport. Hope and Hardie both say that one of the greatest benefits for puppy raiser volunteers is the knowledge that they are giving back to the community and their input will make a difference to someone in need. While it might be hard for you to say goodbye to your teenage dog at the end of your puppy raising period, just imagine how much he or she will mean to the recipient, who’ll not only gain a lifelong companion, but also a friend who’ll be there day and night to help with the everyday activities that most of us take for granted.
An assistance dog trained by Assistance Dogs Australia. Photograph by Paper Heart Photography
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Pets
The truth about
pet food
By Aussie Vet Products
Pets… we all love them, and most of the time we want to spoil them rotten. But did you know that by over-treating your pets, you are actually causing them more harm than good? Obesity in pets is the number one most common problem that veterinarians see in both dogs and cats. Studies have shown that one out of four pets is overweight or obese, and, unfortunately, most pet owners are unaware of the serious problems and life-shortening effects this can have on their furry friends.
These problems include: 33breathing difficulties 33exercise intolerance 33high blood pressure 33increased risk of skin diseases 33a decreased immune system 33joint and disc problems, such as arthritis and even ligament rupture 33diabetes and heart disease 33fatty liver or ‘hepatic lipidosis’. Unlike humans, dogs and cats can’t digest fat. Did you know that giving your pet even one rasher of bacon is equivalent to 44 rashers for a human?
So, how can you make sure your pet is not overeating? 33No human food! No exceptions! 33Don’t leave food available in your pet’s bowl all day. 33Don’t double-up feed – if you are going to mix-feed ‘wet’ and ‘dry’, work out the appropriate daily feeding guide for both, and halve it. 33Be aware of too many treats being given during the day.
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33Use a measuring cup to portion out the accurate daily feeding requirement. 33Make one person in charge of feeding the animals to avoid multiple feeding sessions. But what about the pet food you are feeding them – how do you know what’s in it and whether it’s the best nutrition for them?
Here is a checklist of what you need to look out for: 33Is the food AAFCO tested? Foods that proudly display this logo have gone through strict testing standards that ensure the food contains ingredients formulated to provide levels of nutrients that meet an established profile. This means that the product contains the proper amounts of protein, calcium, and other essential nutrients needed to meet the needs of the healthy animal. 33What ingredients make up the largest percentage of the food? A good rule of thumb to distinguish the major components of a food is to look for the first named source of fat in the ingredient list. That, and anything listed before it, makes up the main portion of the food. For example: ground yellow corn, meat meal, chicken fat, ground wheat, chicken by product meal, dried beet pulp, flaxseed, salt, vitamins, minerals. 33Different sources of protein and fat vary in their digestibility, and the
content of valuable nutrients required to maintain good health. Tip: whole animal proteins, such as egg whites, whey protein, muscle meats and fish, are absorbed more readily by the body and produce less waste – meaning less poo for you to clean up! 33Compare the feeding guide listed on the pack. Many of the cheaper options will actually require larger daily volumes and work out to be more expensive in the long run. While the shopping process can be confusing, thankfully there are brands that satisfy a pet’s necessary requirements. Foods such as Royal Canin, Hills, Eukanuba, Advance, Nutro, Iams, Holistic Select and Black Hawk are examples of ‘complete’ foods. This means they are nutritionally formulated to have everything your dog or cat needs in the one food, without the need to supplement their diet with extras. The benefits of putting your pet on these complete foods far outweigh the initial cost of the food. A healthy, shiny coat, improved intestinal health (which means smaller, less often, better-formed stools, and less flatulence) and good dental hygiene will save you money, and can add up to four years to your pet’s lifespan. Want a healthier and happier pet? Make sure you choose the best option for your pet’s nutrition.
Pets
Pet food for thought One of the most common misconceptions in the pet ownership world is that your pet can and will eat anything. Many pet owners don’t hesitate to feed their furry friends with human food scraps, old meat, and heavily processed and low-grade dog food. Others believe that their fussy friend will only eat one ‘special’ type of food, but little do they know that this is just a ploy and with the right tools, your pet will eat what is put in front of them. Did you know that poor nutrition is a major issue that can lead to many significant health problems? These include skin complaints, intestinal upsets with irregular bowel movements, dental disease and obesity. These problems can be costly to treat; however, they can be easily avoided by introducing a ‘complete’ nutrition routine. A complete diet is one that has
been specifically formulated to include a perfect balance of animal-based proteins, omega oils, vitamins and minerals to give your pet the adequate nutrition and energy it needs, all with the convenience of a dry food. Brands such as Royal Canin, Hills, Eukanuba, Advance and Iams have all taken the guesswork out of buying pet food, as they have been through strict testing to ensure the highest standards. Dr Simon Coates of Aussie Vet Products, a registered Veterinarian for over 40 years, has seen firsthand how beneficial a veterinary diet food can be to ensuring optimal long-term health. ‘By introducing a complete food routine that caters for the individual animal’s dental, intestinal and skin health, you can add up to four years to your pet’s lifespan.’
The manufacturers who make these complete feeds are also so confident in their product that if your pet won’t eat it, they offer a 100 per cent moneyback guarantee. Now that’s food for thought! Check out the entire range of complete diets online at: www.aussievetprodcts.com.au or call 1300 382 263 for personalised assistance with a vet nurse over the phone.
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Pets
Buying a pet
– what is best for you?
Small spaces British shorthair This domesticated cat is no stranger to the luxurious lifestyle that is indoor living. The British shorthair is quiet and friendly, and rarely hisses or scratches – something that is perfect for those who often have a house full of children. Happy to just sit and warm your lap, and eager to receive cuddles and affection, a British shorthair cat is perfect for apartment and smaller space dwelling. And if you’ve ever read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, you’ll know that this Cheshire cat will bring some life into your household.
Parakeet
English bulldog
A breed of dog that delights in the comfort of indoor living, the English bulldog is perfect for smaller spaces. Inactive indoors and happy to sit and relax with you as you cuddle up and read a book or get comfortable in front of a movie with a glass of wine, this breed is perfect for those wanting an easy addition to the family. This breed of bulldog requires a daily walk to ensure that it is on its best behaviour, and is easy to groom, with a short, smooth and fine coat that is easy to brush.
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This little Australian icon is one of the most inexpensive pets on the market. Parakeets are an interesting species. They are sociable and gregarious – especially when it is time to bond with their owners. Like many other birds, parakeets are very intelligent creatures with a long memory, and best yet, they can learn how to talk! Teach them how to mimic sounds and pronounce words – they’re great chatterers who will liven up your lifestyle.
Pets
Corgi
Ferret While these furry critters are often seen as vermin because of their weasel-like appearance, what many people don’t know is that ferrets are charming creatures that are just waiting for an owner so they can shower them with love and affection. Ferrets are the ideal small-space animal, as they spend most of their days in an enclosure; however, these active little creatures are full of energy and, as such, must be released for exercise and ‘playtime’ to keep them mild-tempered when enclosed.
This short furry friend is highly intelligent and obedient – qualities that are nice to have around! Reliable, dedicated and loving, this pet is ideal for those looking to share some love in a small space. Needing a good long walk each day, Corgis are mild-mannered indoors as long as they get their exercise fix each day. Easy to look after and love, Welsh Corgis are fit for a Queen – literally. This breed of canine has been made popular by Queen Elizabeth II, who has an entourage of four.
Goldfish While they may seem boring, studies have shown that watching fish swim around their tanks has a multitude of health benefits – for instance, it has been found that owning a fish can lower your blood pressure and reduce stress. Gazing at fish has also been found to benefit children who suffer from ADHD and hyperactivity. Not only are goldfish an easy addition into your small space, they come with proven benefits to keep you happy and healthy. They also add aesthetic appeal to your home – the colourful orange fish floating around an aquarium liven up any room, especially at night when lit up!
Russian blue This affectionate cat is quite the independent little trouper. Great for those looking for a companion that will be happy to spend the day lounging about while you’re busy at work, the Russian blue cat is practically maintenance-free! The cat’s lovely shiny coat requires very little maintenance, and its loving and loyal temperament makes these balls of fluff a joy to have as an added house resident.
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Fashion & Beauty
Pearls
a love affair By Kailis Jewellery
Pearls are the only precious gems that are born of the ocean, and it is the unique crystal-clean waters of the north west of Australia that create these wonders, desired by women all over the world. Images: Natalie Imbruglia has designed pearl jewellery in collaboration with Kailis
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Fashion & Beauty
With any investment in fine jewellery, education is essential, and Kailis believes that the Five Virtues of Pearls are the perfect place to start. Quality pearls are selected based on the five natural virtues of lustre, shape, size, colour and surface quality.
Size The Pinctada maxima oyster is the largest pearl-producing oyster in the world, taking two years to produce a single Australian South Sea pearl. As a result, pearls from this region have naturally thick and lustrous nacre, and range in size from 10 to 20 millimetres in diameter.
Lustre Lustre is the most important virtue to consider when selecting a pearl, and describes the luminous quality of the pearl surface. Pearls have an astounding ability to capture the light and radiate it – light reflects though the countless layers of nacre, appearing as though it is
coming from deep within the pearl. Lustre depends on the quality and quantity of the nacre produced by the oyster, and a superior lustre can be seen when your reflection is clearly visible on the pearl’s surface. Australian South Sea pearls have the most naturally illuminating lustre of all pearl types, and require no additional treatment of any kind.
Shape The Australian South Sea pearl comes in a variety of different shapes: each as individually beautiful as the next. From the incredibly rare and perfect round pearl, to the unique shapes of baroque and circle pearls, there are gorgeous variations. Shape is largely a matter of personal preference and taste, and there are plenty of options to choose from!
Colour
on the inside of the oyster shell. Pearls with a pink or white hue can be extremely captivating, as they appear glowing against the skin. The more silvery hues of the Australian South Sea pearl can be just as lustrous, and are beautiful in white gold jewellery designs.
Surface Australian South Sea pearls are natural gems, and only those that satisfy stringent selection criteria are selected for jewellery. The quality of a pearl’s surface is determined by the number and depth of the natural imperfections; completely flawless pearls are extremely rare to find. Kailis Jewellery is a name synonymous with generations of sourcing the finest quality Australian pearls, and creating designs to celebrate special moments in one’s life, as well as tomorrow’s heirlooms.
Australian South Sea pearls can come in a variety of hues, from moonlit ivory to pink and silver. These colours can be seen
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Fashion & Beauty
Fashion 101 for
the Spring Racing Carnival One of the highlights of the year for fashionistas young and old is the anticipated Spring Racing Carnival, in late October and the month of November. This event is very well known for its Fashions on the Field and its beautifully dressed attendees, so here are some tips for style during Spring Racing. According to trend expert Nicole Naccarella, Group General Manager of Women’s Fashion at Myer, the on-trend colours this year are black and white, and a lot of florals, stripes, geometric prints and photographic prints – particularly of flowers. Block colours will be popular, too, and we will be seeing a lot of green, tangerine, blue, and yellow. We also spoke with Shara Gillahan of the Millinery Association of Australia, who says that ‘headwear this season will start becoming bigger again, but not completing into a full hat’. Shara also predicts that this year we will be seeing a lot of small berets and buttonshaped pieces for those who do not want anything too big, inspired and influenced by Princess Catherine.
Myer’s Spring Racing collection
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Fashion & Beauty
Jewel colours on show at Keon Couture’s spring parade
Sixty-four outfits down the catwalk in just over an hour is no mean feat, but the latest Keon Couture collection from iconic Melbourne designer Shirley Keon was impressive in its size and scope at its launch on 4 September at Melbourne’s Sofitel Ballroom. A large crowd, including notable celebrities such as 2012’s Australian of the Year Ita Buttrose, Channel 7’s Melissa Hetherington, and star designer Sally Browne, gathered to see Keon’s spring/ summer Keon Couture range, which is a riot of colours and fabrics. The event was also a fundraiser for the O’Brien Institute – an organisation dedicated to researching and developing methods of regenerative surgery. All attendees were delighted to contribute to such a deserving cause,
including Shirley, who is always more than happy to assist in fundraising efforts. ‘I have been showing my collections at parades and events over 30 years now, and have helped to raise much needed funds for many charities and worthy causes,’ Shirley tells Living the Dream. The collection brings all colours from mandarin to cobalt centre stage this spring, and features floaty silk kimonostyle jackets with wide-legged pants, structured dresses with boned bodices and strong sequin detail, and fun full skirts for a younger demographic. Shirley is of the opinion that fine fashion should be for everyone, which is why this season’s range is wide-reaching in its appeal. ‘I’ve always designed for a wide age group, as I would like my designs to be worn by those who appreciate couture. I have particularly designed a more youthful collection as well for this season,’ says Shirley. ‘We have a reputation for perfect fit, and that is most
important for all body shapes.’ Not only are the designs versatile across all age groups, and made to fit beautifully, they are also incredibly colourful and vibrant. ‘I’ve always been inspired by fabric, texture and colour from beautiful European fabrics,’ says Shirley. When we ask her about her predictions for Spring Racing, Shirley tells us, ‘I see combinations of jewel colours in vibrant prints … and of course, classic black and white’ – all of which are showcased in Shirley’s gorgeous collection. We asked Shirley’s for some advice for choosing your attire for spring racing. ‘Select a design that gives elegance yet is suitable for Melbourne weather and specific race events.’ If you’d like to peruse the Keon Couture range, stop in to the Melbourne boutique at Basement Level, 175 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, or visit www.keoncouture.com.au. For more information about the O’Brien Institute, visit www.bobim.org
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Money & Wealth
CharityEvents
MONA, Tasmania
The Longest Table As Australia’s biggest virtual dinner party, The Longest Table is a charity event that puts the fun in fundraising. Raising much-needed funds for breast cancer and prostate cancer research, organising your dinner party is as simple as one, two, three! Just choose your location, guests, menu, and party type to determine how much your guests will have to donate to participate in your dinner, and even your overall theme. Once you’ve decided on all of the details, register at thelongesttable.com.au and follow the steps to aid Australia’s battle against breast and prostate cancers. 33When: Saturday 26 October 33Where: Host’s choice 33Cost: Ranging from a $25 donation from party guests to a $250 donation depending on the party type the host chooses. The host covers the cost of the dinner; however, guests can help out by purchasing pre-dinner auction items through ‘What Can I Bring’, a unique party experience that allows guests to bid on items, such as wine packages, chefs, babysitters for the night and more!
Ambassadors, who endeavour to raise funds for the O’Brien Foundation, an organisation that supports the O’Brien Institute and its incredible work in microsurgery and tissue engineering. Be part of the feast and enjoy the traditional fare, as well as unlimited beverages, gift bags and goodies, and roving entertainment. 33When: Wednesday 27 November, 12 noon 33Where: Regent Plaza Ballroom, Melbourne 33Cost: $130 per person. For more information, contact Julie Leeming at jleeming@netspace.net.au.
Believe in Tomorrow Benefit Ball
Hummingbird Festive Luncheon Christmas truly is a magical time of the year. It’s a time of peace and love, of kindness and family, and almost as important is that Christmas is a time to loosen those belts and throw away the calorie counters. Can’t wait until 25 December to experience some Christmas excitement? The Hummingbird Festive Luncheon is for you! This two-course Christmas meal is organised by the Hummingbird
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To experience the race that stops the nation in style, participating in this luncheon is a must. The prestigious annual luncheon and art exhibition will allow diners to experience an afternoon filled with fine foods, fine wine, fine art, fine entertainment and fine people, while basking in the beautiful surrounds of the world-renowned Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). With a list of special guests to grace the luncheon, including former MasterChef Australia contestant Ben Milbourne, the event promises to be a treat. 33When: Tuesday 5 November 33Where: MONA, Tasmania 33Cost: $150 for individual tickets, $1350 for a table of 10.
The Longest Table, 26 October
MS Society of Tasmania Melbourne Cup Luncheon If the thought of fresh Tasmanian produce gets your mouth watering, the MS Society of Tasmania Melbourne Cup Luncheon promises to delight you.
Guys, dust off your tuxedos and get them out of storage, and girls, get those credit cards ready – the Believe in Tomorrow Benefit Ball is the perfect excuse to dress to impress. To start the night off, you will be presented with drinks as you enter the stunning venue before sitting down to indulge in a three-course feast and enjoying the night’s entertainment, from fundraising activities to live performance. The event strives to raise $20,000 for beyondblue, a charity that aids thousands of Australians suffering from depression and anxiety – a great cause that continues to help Australians from all backgrounds. 33When: Saturday 23 November 33Where: Tank 3, The Tanks Art Centre, Flecker Botanical Gardens, Cairns 33Cost: $120 per person, or $99 per person in a group of 10.
NATIONAL COUNCIL
A bequest to the Society is a legacy of love How often it has been said: ‘If only there was some way I could do more.’ A bequest to the Society in your will does enable you to do more … much, much more. It is a powerful reflection of the values and principles you treasure. It will enable you to do what you perhaps cannot do during your lifetime. It will also enable you to create a legacy of love that is a testimony to your kindness, concern and care for those less fortunate than you. It will empower you to continue your life’s aims, even after your own lifetime, and thereby encourage others to do likewise. What a great way to continue making a positive, life-changing contribution to people who need it most! Most of our state offices have fact sheets or brochures to assist and provide appropriate bequest wording for the increasing number of community-minded people who wish to make such a lasting memorial through their will to help their local community. If you, as a forward-thinking, concerned and caring citizen, would like to consider making your community a better place through a bequest to the Society, please contact your St Vincent de Paul State Office for a fact sheet or brochure detailing your state’s specific requirements.
NSW
PO Box 5, Petersham NSW 2049
02 9560 8666
NT
PO Box 1468, Nightcliff NT 0814
08 8948 8100
QLD
PO Box 3351, Sth Brisbane QLD 4101
07 3010 1072
SA
PO Box 1804, Adelaide SA 5001
08 8112 8700
TAS
191 Invermay Road, Invermay TAS 7248
03 6333 0822
VIC
Locked Bag 4800, Box Hill VIC 3128
03 9895 5800
WA
PO Box 473, Belmont WA 6984
08 9475 5400
ACT
PO Box 642, Mawson ACT 2607
02 6234 7346
You will not be under any obligation, and your reply will be treated in strict confidence.
Money & Wealth
Self-employment finance tips and avoiding common mistakes By Steven J Enticott
How about a dad joke? Question: What do you call Bob the Builder when he retires? Answer: Bob! Now, you’re asking what a joke has to do with avoiding financial mistakes. It’s a joke that holds true for anyone in selfemployment, and in large part that’s because our businesses and professions define us. ‘Hi, I’m Steve the Accountant, who are you?’ When I was asked to write about the pitfalls of self-employment, it would have been easy to just list the key financial mistakes people make, but that doesn’t address the real problem, which nearly always stems from business growth. With business growth come business finance problems, and with this article, I intend to get to the heart of those problems, rather than just talk about the symptoms.
The business growth dilemma Visualise your dilemma: you’ve built up a successful business that revolves around you. You’ve done this by providing great customer service and skill. You’ve gone
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the extra yards to help your customers because you had the time, drive and the ability to do so, but now you’re overloaded and you need to grow.
So what are the most common financial mistakes you can make at this point? Before we get into answering that question, for the purposes of this article, let’s consider a ‘river’ metaphor. Imagine that at a moment in time you’re standing on the bank of a river. On the other side is your possible future business, ‘all grown up’. To get there, though, you have to cross a fierce-looking torrent. This river is full of hidden dangers, and they are all finance-related: capital requirements, lending, staff, WorkCover, payroll tax, superannuation, the risk of losing it all… and the list goes on. The dangers seem almost endless, but all of these challenges must be met if you’re going to reach the other side. With business growth you work harder and longer but initially make less (due to employment and growth costs), and getting your finances wrong means you’ll likely drown while crossing the river.
Steven J Enticott
So here are the key tips for getting your finances right, and ensuring a safe crossing: 33The money that comes in the door isn’t all yours! 33Always put aside a percentage of your income for GST, superannuation, WorkCover, tax, and so on. 33Fund your business activities properly, and ideally via a loan. 33Stay up to date with taxes, and make your payments at least every quarter. 33Tax planning is done at three-quarter time, not after the final siren (June 30)! CONTINUED ON PAGE 122
We Care
Money & Wealth
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 120
I cannot emphasise these tips strongly enough for my self-employed clients who want to avoid finance traps. The most common mistake comes from failing to fund a business properly, and relying too heavily on income for growth (including spending the taxman’s money). It’s a recipe for eventual disaster. Work with your accountant to agree on a percentage of cash flow to put aside to allow for your on-costs, and stay in touch. No-one can help you properly when you walk in your accountant’s door six months after the end of a financial year. It’s just too late.
Instead of whining about increased competition (like many other retailers), the company created a fixed-price service offering called Clever Dick, which assists customers with their technological service needs (Google it to find out more). The boutique is a great approach, because it allows you to avoid some common financial traps, and that’s because there’s less demand on your financial resources; however, there’s another strategy I like to talk about that involves combining both the boutique and big business, and that’s the hybrid.
The hybrid (big and boutique) Boutique is not crossing the river One other way to address the business growth finance dilemma is to grow in a different way. A boutique is really a niche business, and the real financial advantage of growing boutique businesses is that there’s less drain on cash flow, as you build more slowly using your profits.
There are five key points to the boutique: 33A boutique means finding a safe, calm estuary (using our river metaphor). 33Niche yourself. Become the expert and come up with new and innovative ideas. 33Focus on delivering great service and a quality product, priced so that noone else will be tempted to enter your space (and this doesn’t necessarily mean cheap). 33Do a regular SWOT analysis. Know your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats to keep you right at the front of your niche. 33Add a service offering to your boutique if you are not in a service industry. The last point is the most important. To survive and thrive, a business in a nonservice industry must add a service to their offerings, regardless of whether they’re a boutique or not. All businesses can add a service, and it often becomes the most profitable or the most saleable arm of the business. A great example comes from Dick Smith.
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A hybrid combines the benefits of big and boutique businesses, much like Dick Smith did with Clever Dick. For example, you may be a highquality above-ground pool manufacturer. So why not add a service offering to remove and store your above-ground pools over the winter periods, leaving behind a deck area or a child’s sandpit or trampoline for your customers? Sit down with a great adviser for an hour of brainstorming and you’ll be off and running on your own hybrid model. It really is a win/win approach to avoiding financial growth-pain traps.
Franchising Franchising is another great way to avoid some common financial traps, because it makes you address at least one of the key tips for getting your finances right, and that’s by forcing yourself to fund your business activities properly. A franchisor knows how cash flow is affected in the growth stage, because they’ve usually been there themselves, and they’ll often provide you with cash flows or minimum income guarantees to get you through, along with systems to support your financial growth. Franchising is a tried and tested system that addresses many of the traps that have caught others out, providing assurance and a very good alternative to striking out all on your own.
In closing Getting the finances of your business in order is entirely up to you. Effectively planning and funding in advance, and progressively funding your business by putting aside part of its cash flow, are good financial foundations for your business. The days of ‘financial planning’ that simply involve looking at your bank account to see if there’s enough money are long gone. No-one survives longterm with a financial strategy like that, especially with today’s highly competitive markets. To survive, you need to take a holistic financial view based on real data to avoid the finance traps. Print out the key tips for getting your finances right and ensuring a safe crossing, and keep them near your keyboard as a continual reminder. The best of luck with your successful business! Dr Steven Enticott is a senior partner of www.ciatax.com.au accountants, and author of the new book How to Deal with Financial Distraction, now available at good book stores. Steven wrote a book called Big Vs. Boutique (about service-based business, and growing your business, in 2007). There are no printed copies left, but a chapter of his latest book How to Deal With Financial Distraction carries the main points from the original, updated for today’s business conditions (alternatively, you can email him at sje@ciatax.com.au; Steven is always happy to freely share the original book in PDF format).
Money & Wealth
Money & Wealth
The freedom of working for yourself , the strength of
working with a leader
Imagine the freedom of being your own boss and knowing that your efforts and entrepreneurial skills were directly contributing to your success rather than an employer’s. Imagine the sense of knowing that the better the business you build, the bigger your rewards BrightEyes Sunglasses is one of Australia’s largest sunglass retail networks, and we are looking for new franchise partners to join our network. The BrightEyes Sunglasses product range is extensive and showcases the latest styles from leading international brands such as Ray-Ban, Oakley, Arnette, Maui Jim, Bolle, Prada and Coach (to name a few). We are also proud to market our unique house brands, including
Mangrove Jacks and Stiletto. At BrightEyes, we’re not just selling sunglasses; we’re selling an enhanced way of life. New high-profile sites are available in most states, and a limited number of existing businesses are offered for sale from time to time. So, whether you are an established business looking for a way to maximise your profits, thinking about succession
With a range of brands that is second to none, at BrightEyes we’re not simply selling eyewear; we’re selling an enhanced way of life.
planning, looking to take the next step in your career or secure your financial future then we believe that we have the right solution for you. If it’s a fantastic franchise partner opportunity you are looking for, backed up by proven operational, product and marketing support, contact us today. See more at: www.brighteyes.com.au/opportunities.
Our brand portfolio includes:
Ranked #10 overall #5 franchise in Support #10 franchise in Lifestyle #3 franchise in Passion in the 2013 10ThousandFeet Survey (topfranchise.com.au) To join our award-winning team, contact us now!
BRIGHT EYES FRANCHISING PTY LTD The Dock - Retailer House, Level 1, Unit 3 321 Kelvin Grove Rd, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059 T: 1800 178 251 | F: 07 3056 3322 W: BRIGHTEYES.COM.AU | E: enquiries@brighteyes.com.au U A . COM . page A | Living the dream 2013 | edition 2
...and many more
Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 123
Money & Wealth
Book reviews
The Franchise E-Factor By Greg Nathan Available at www.franchiserelationships.com, $40
Only Two Seats Left By John Anderson Available at www.onlytwoseatsleft.com, $28.50
The Franchise E-Factor Model has helped thousands of franchisors, franchisees and franchise advisers around the globe to better understand why franchise relationships inevitably become strained. In this easy-to-read volume, developer of the Franchise E-Factor Greg Nathan provides franchisors with over 130 practical strategies to achieve strong relationships with franchisees, in a clear, powerful and sometimes humorous way. Perfect for franchise executives to carry with them while travelling, for ideas and inspiration.
Twenty years ago, John Anderson founded what is now one of the world’s largest group travel success stories – Contiki. Anderson has now put together this book that tells the tale of Contiki’s evolution – from 25 pounds and a red bus to a worldwide travel company that has hosted 2.7 million young travellers, and counting. Full of stories of adventure, fun, entrepreneurship, risk and, ultimately, success, Only Two Seats Left is a fascinating read for anyone interested in starting their own business.
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Money & Wealth
Money: The Unauthorised Biography by Felix Martin Random House, $34.95
Money Matters: Get Your Life and $$$ Sorted By Amanda Morrall Penguin, $24.99
What is money, and how does it work? Felix Martin analyses the global understanding of money, looking at the history of monetary systems in comparison with today’s economy. Martin challenges the ideas of money today, with thought-provoking ideas, sharp arguments and imaginative conjecture. Lauded as ‘A wealth of understanding for understanding wealth’ by Esquire magazine, Money: The Unauthorised Biography is a must-read for anyone who wants an exposition about the nature of money, how we have traditionally thought about it, and how it changes our lives.
Amanda Morrall’s philosophy towards personal finance is that you need to give as much care and attention to your inner wealth and wellbeing as you do to your budget, spending habits, savings account and net worth. When you get the two areas working in tandem, that’s where you’ll find your personal financial flow. Though there is a bit of ‘attract money with your actions’ content (flow comes by ‘doing what you love, doing it well, doing it with a purpose and trying to make a difference’), it’s substantiated with grounded, intelligent advice. Do you want to save money but still live well? Are you dealing with a huge loan or credit-card debt? Feel like you’re locked out of the housing market? If so, this book is the answer.
Looking for financial information on residential aged care? Call us, we can help.
Helping to make the aged care transition less stressful. To speak to an information specialist: Phone 02 6280 0234 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm Visit www.nicrac.org.au
A new financial information service is now available for Australians moving into residential aged care It has become apparent over recent times that Australians are finding it difficult to access aged care financial information at short notice. This is often triggered by a sudden health issue where professional ongoing care is required. The requirement for aged care can often be stressful for the individual as well as their family. The National Information Centre for Residential Aged Care (NICRAC) six-month ‘pilot’ service was launched on 8 July and aims to assist by discussing and offering information on the financial side of moving into residential aged care. This service is free, independent and confidential. The NICRAC specialist officers are able to explain the various fee structures, how fees are calculated, options regarding the family home and information on strategies regarding surplus funds if applicable. They are also able to estimate Government Income Support entitlements and discuss potential estate planning issues. Consumers can call NICRAC on 02 6280 0234 Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm and visit www.nicrac.org.au .
326102AE_NICRI | 1905.indd 1
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Living the Dream 2013 | edition 2| page 125
Bequest Bequest
Gabriel Farago
Partner for the Future
– Garvan
Gabriel Farago arrived in Australia as a young boy from Eastern Europe with ‘a little brown suitcase’ under his arm. As described by Gabriel, ‘It was the beginning of a remarkable journey. As a result of hard work, extraordinary opportunities provided by a wonderful new country, and good fortune, the contents of that little suitcase have grown somewhat over the years…’ Having reached a certain stage along his journey, Gabriel and his wife were looking for a way to give back to life what life had given to them, so they started a search for an appropriate organisation to leave a bequest to in their will. After looking into the medical research work the Institute undertakes, they decided Garvan was the clear choice. ‘We asked ourselves, what could possibly be more important than supporting cutting-edge medical
research, which will benefit generations to come? The answer was obvious – so we became Garvan bequestors.’ Since joining the Garvan family as a Partner for the Future, Gabriel has also become a Garvan Research Foundation Director. Gabriel helps to ensure that the Foundation meets the challenge of supporting medical research in the Institute through public fundraising. ‘I still have that little brown suitcase, and one day it will belong to the Garvan.
It is a wonderful feeling to know that its contents will be put to good use. That thought alone is reward enough.’
Finding a cure can take more than just one lifetime
A bequest to the Garvan Institute of Medical Research represents your personal commitment to the future of humanity. At the Garvan, we strive to find cures or better treatments for many of the world’s major diseases, including cancer, diabetes, obesity, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, hearing loss, eating disorders, osteoporosis and many others. Your bequest could help fund our next medical breakthrough and benefit people and families all over the world, for all of time. , email bequests@garvan.org.au, or visit giving.garvan.org.au/bequests.
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Bequest
Charitable bequests
leaving a lasting legacy
By Dr Christopher Baker, Swinburne University of Technology
We Australians respond rapidly and generously to humanitarian crises. We also support charities on a regular basis. The most recent data available from the Australian Taxation Office shows that in the 2009–10 financial year, some 4.4 million Australians (35.6 per cent of all taxpayers) made and claimed tax-deductible donations; just short of $2 billion. A broader review of charitable giving conducted on behalf of the Australian Government has estimated that approximately 90 per cent of adult Australians make some form of monetary charitable gift over the course of one year. Such a high participation rate in charitable giving is something we can be proud of. Many of us have favourite charities to which we give regularly, sometimes by responding to requests, and sometimes by a more structured process, such as via direct debits. If you were to guess how many of us go on to leave something to charity from our estates in our wills, what would you estimate? Your guess might be as good as anyone else’s, as up until recent times we have had very little insight into charitable giving from Australian wills. In 2005, the Commonwealth Government estimated that some 58 per cent of adult Australians have a will, and just 7.5 per cent of those include a charitable bequest. That’s a big gap between our participation in regular charitable giving
and our participation in giving from our estates – which is the last chance we have to exercise control over where our money goes. Some insights into why this gap is so large have come out of a detailed study undertaken here at Swinburne University of Technology. An analysis of the distributions from 1700 Victorian deceased estates large enough to require processing by the courts in 2006 revealed that, of those estates, just over five per cent included a charitable bequest. This compares with some 16 per cent in the United Kingdom. The Swinburne study revealed that, in practice, the overwhelming majority of
us do the same thing. We leave all of our accumulated wealth to immediate family members: first to our spouses, then to our children. It doesn’t seem to matter which country we were born in, how much wealth we’ve accumulated, the age of our children or the extent of their economic dependency or needs. When it comes to dividing up our estates, we Australians are all in the same groove; irrespective of circumstances, we give everything that we have to our families. Whatever our giving practices may have been during our lives, we just don’t include charities in our wills. Of course, it makes sense that we put our families first! Adequately providing for those who are dependent on our financial support during our lifetimes is given; however, this does not necessarily mean that nothing else can get a look in. One case that makes this point is the estate of a widow who died at the age of 91 leaving her substantial $11 million estate to her three children, aged 71, 69 and 65, in equal share. The executor of the estate was the eldest son – a retired barrister residing in an affluent Melbourne suburb. From this information, it is possible to imagine that the family had always had a degree of relative wealth and had been able to send the son to law school, from where he had gone on to be financially successful in his own right. Had this person gifted 10 per cent of her estate to a charity, then each of the children would
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Bequest
have received $3.3 million rather than $3.7 million. Had the one million dollars been gifted to a single charity, it would have been a major contribution. Perhaps she was just in the same groove as the rest of us, and had simply not considered such an option. As this example demonstrates, putting our family first does not necessarily mean that we exclude all others – it means looking first to the current and future needs of our families, and then giving consideration to including a contribution to our favourite charity or charities. This is backed up by both the Swinburne study, and another conducted by the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), which explored the attitudes of 1000 existing donors to Australian charities. The QUT study found that the strongest influences over donors committing to include a charitable bequest were 1) perceiving the family to be adequately provided for; and 2) having no family to provide for. The Swinburne study found that individuals with no children were far more likely to include a charity in their wills, but most were still unlikely to do so, preferring to leave their estates to other family members.
Why consider a charitable bequest? You can leave a legacy that contributes to a better world. For many charities, bequest income is the bedrock for their ability to really make a difference. Regular donations are used to carry out the day-to-day work of the organisation, but bequests have a very special role, as they provide capital. Such capital firstly delivers a base for generating ongoing income that can be used by the charity; and secondly, it provides the organisation with collateral against which it can borrow for longerterm projects and/or infrastructure work. Many charities also make a clear point of using bequest funds only for longerterm projects – things that would not be possible otherwise, and that make an ongoing difference into the future. By attending to the needs of your
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family and including a charitable bequest in your will, you can leave a legacy that will continue to contribute beyond your own lifetime. In addition, a charitable bequest poses no risk to your own financial security. If you leave a charitable bequest in your will, it is, of course, only payable if there are funds available from your estate. This raises the very practical question of what the options are for leaving a charitable bequest. Firstly, of course, you need to cover all of the necessary bases in preparing a will, including the makeup and value of your estate, who you want your assets to be distributed to, and who you want to act as executor in managing the wrap-up and distribution of your holdings. If, after providing for your family you wish to consider leaving a charitable gift, the options available to you in terms of the form of that gift are many, and include: 33a particular asset or assets; for example, BHP share holding 33a specified sum; for example, $5000 33the residue of your estate (what remains after all expenses are met and specified distributions made) 33a percentage of your estate; for example, 10 per cent 33a percentage of the residue of your estate; for example, 10 per cent. Taking advice on these matters is important. Let me give an example of the potential pitfalls of leaving a specified sum – be it for a charitable bequest or for a family member. I recently reviewed a will in which the will-maker had left the bulk of her estate to her children, and a specified amount of $1000 to each of two charities. She passed on some 20 years after finalising her will. So, whereas at the time of writing the will, $1000 was – and was intended to be – a significant sum, 20 years later the buying power of $1000 is considerably diminished, and the relative share of the estate is similarly dwarfed. The option of electing to gift a percentage of the residue of your estate means that if the value of your assets decreases over time, so too does the value of your gift decrease commensurately. Similarly, if the
value of your estate increases, then the fixed-percentage gift means the monetary value also increases, but not at the expense of other beneficiaries. In terms of wording, again, taking advice is important. If you do elect to make a gift to a charity, then many charities can provide you or your solicitor with recommended wording. For a working example, you can take a look at the website of Include a Charity (www.includeacharity.com.au) – a consortium of 140 Australian charities that would like to encourage more Australians to leave a charitable bequest. You can also find a link on this website to each of the participating charities. Where most people choose to leave a bequest is of course related to their own experience, interests or passions. If you are considering leaving a charitable gift in your will, there is one very important early step – discuss your intentions with your family. Make sure that everyone in your family is aware of your intentions, to ensure that they are not caught unawares by your will. There are really no steps that you can take to guarantee that your will cannot be challenged, but talking to your family is a fundamental first step. The opportunity to leave a legacy by gifting a part of your estate to make the world a better place is in your hands. You don’t have to be rich or famous to make a difference. You just have to make a simple decision. Whoever you are, whatever your situation, you can help create a better world by including a charity in your will. Include a Charity. Dr Christopher Baker is a Research Fellow at the Asia-Pacific Centre for Social Investment and Philanthropy (ACSIP) in the Faculty of Business and Education at Swinburne University of Technology. Christopher is currently undertaking a nationwide study to investigate inheritance and charitable bequests from the wills of deceased estates of 2012. To contact Dr Baker, email chbaker@swin.edu.au.
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ATACAND GENERIC (CANDESARTAN) TAB 16MG 30
$19.99
KEFLEX GENERIC (CEPHALEXIN SZ) PULV 500MG 20
$5.90
PROSCAR TAB 5MG 30
$88.99
ATACAND PLUS GENERIC (CANDESARTAN) TAB 16/12.5MG 30
$19.99
LEVITRA 20mg 8 Tablets
$79.99
PROSCAR GENERIC (FINASTA) TAB 5MG 30
$49.99
AUGMENTIN DUO FORTE 10 Tablets
$8.50
LEVLEN ED 4 X 28
$11.50
PROZAC CAP 20MG 28
$16.99
AUGMENTIN GENERIC (CURAM) DUO FORTE 10 Tablets
$5.90
LIPITOR GENERIC (ATORVASTATIN SANDOZ) 10MG TABLET
$14.99
PROZAC GENERIC (FLUOXETINE) CAP 20MG 28
$5.90
AVAPRO 150mg 30 Tablets
$11.99
LIPITOR GENERIC (ATORVASTATIN SANDOZ) 20MG TABLET
$14.99
RAMACE 10mg 30 Caps
$9.99
AVAPRO 300mg 30 Tablets
$19.99
LIPITOR GENERIC (ATORVASTATIN SANDOZ) 40MG TABLET
$14.99
RAMACE GENERIC (RAMIPRIL) 10mg 30 Caps
$8.99
AVAPRO HCT 150/12.5mg 30 Tablets
$12.99
LIPITOR GENERIC (ATORVASTATIN SANDOZ) 80MG TABLET
$19.99
RULIDE GENERIC (ROXITHROMYCIN) 300MG TAB 5
$5.90
CECLOR GENERIC (KARLOR) CD TAB 375MG 10
$7.50
LIVIAL 2.5mg 28 Tablets
$55.99
SERC 16mg 25 Tablets
$20.99
CELEBREX 200mg 30 Capsules
$25.99
LIVIAL GENERIC (XYVION) 2.5mg 28 Tablets
$53.99
SOMAC TAB 40MG 30
$11.99
CIALIS 20mg 4 Tablets
$84.99
LOSEC 20mg 30 Tablets
$15.99
SOMAC GENERIC (PANTOPRAZOLE SZ) TAB 40MG 30
$9.99
CIALIS 20mg 8 Tablets
$164.99
LOSEC GENERIC (OMEPRAZOLE SANDOZ) 20mg 30 Tablets
$9.99
TEMAZEPAM TAB 10MG 25
$5.90
CIPRAMIL 20mg 28 Tablets
$13.99
MERSYNDOL 40 Tablets
$8.99
TENORMIN/NOTEN GENERIC (ATENOLOL SZ)TAB 50MG 30
$5.90
CIPRAMIL GENERIC (CITALOPRAM) 20mg 28 Tablets
$5.90
MERSYNDOL FORTE 20 Tablets
$11.99
TRITACE 10.00mg 30 Caps
$10.50
COVERSYL 5mg 30 Tablets
$10.50
METOHEXAL 100MG TAB 60
$5.90
VAGIFEM VAGINAL 15 Tablets
$22.50
COVERSYL GENERIC (IDAPREX) 4mg 30 Tablets
$6.99
MICARDIS 40mg 28 Tablets
$11.50
VALIUM GENERIC (VALPAM) TAB 5MG 50
$5.90
COVERSYL PLUS 5mg/1.25mg 30 Tablets
$21.99
MICARDIS 80mg 28 Tablets
$23.50
VENTOLIN CFC FREE INHALER 200 Doses
$5.99
COVERSYL PLUS GENERIC (IDAPREX) 4mg/1.25mg 30 Tablets
$11.50
MICARDIS PLUS 80/12.5mg 28 Tablets
$22.99
VENTOLIN GENERIC (APO SALBUTAMOL) INHALER 100UG 200D
$5.60
DIABEX 500mg 100 Tablets
$7.99
MICROGYNON 20 ED 3 X 28 Tablets
$39.99
VIAGRA 100mg 4 Tablets
$67.99
DIABEX GENERIC (METFORMIN SZ) 500mg 100 Tablets
$5.90
MOBIC GENERIC (MELOXICAM SZ) TAB 7.5MG 30
$7.99
VIAGRA 100mg 4 X 3 Tablets
$190.00
DIABEX XR 500mg 120 Tablets
$9.50
NASONEX AQ NASAL SPRAY 140 Doses
$45.99
VOLTAREN 50mg 50 Tablets
$8.99
DIANE GENERIC (ESTELLE) 3 X 28 BLIST
$19.99
NEXIUM TAB 20MG 30
$24.99
YASMIN 3 X 28 Tablets
$74.50
DIGESIC 20 Tablets
$14.99
NORLEVO-1 TAB 1
$14.99
YASMIN GENERIC (ISABELLE) 35 ED 3 X 28
$54.99
DOXYCYCLINE 50mg 25 Tablets
$5.90
NORVASC 5mg 30 Tablets
$7.99
ZANIDIP 10mg 28 Tablets
$8.99
DOXYCYCLINE 100mg 28 Tablets
$10.99
NORVASC GENERIC (AMLODIPINE) 5mg 30 Tablets
$5.90
ZANIDIP GENERIC (LERCANIDIPINE SZ) 10MG 28 Tablets
$6.99
DUROMINE 30mg 30 Capsules
$102.99
NORVASC 10mg 30 Tablets
$10.99
ZOCOR/LIPEX GENERIC (SIMVASTATIN) 20mg 30 Tablets
$7.99
DUROMINE GENERIC (METERMINE) 30mg 30 Capsules
$99.99
NORVASC GENERIC (AMLODIPINE) 10mg 30 Tablets
$6.50
ZOCOR/LIPEX GENERIC (SIMVASTATIN) 40mg 30 Tablets
$9.99
FLOMAXTRA 30 Tablets
$54.99
PANADEINE FORTE 20 Tablets
$8.99
ZOLOFT 100mg 30 Tablets
$9.99
FOSAMAX GENERIC (ALENDRONATE) 70mg 4
$12.99
PANADEINE FORTE GENERIC (COMFAROL) 20 Tablets
$5.90
ZOLOFT GENERIC (SERTRALINE SZ ) TAB 100MG 30
$7.99
IMIGRAN 50mg 4 Tablets
$18.99
PANADEINE FORTE 100 Tablets
$17.99
ZYLOPRIM GENERIC (ALLOPURINOL SZ) TAB 300MG 60
$5.90
IMIGRAN GENERIC (SUMAGRAN) 50mg 4
$12.50
PANADEINE FORTE GENERIC (COMFAROL) 100 Tablets
$12.99
SEE IN STORE OR CALL FOR FULL LISTING OF ALL PRESCRIPTION PRICES
ALL PRODUCTS ON THIS PAGE NEED A PRESCRIPTION
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FOR YOUR NEAREST CHEMISTWAREHOUSE.COM.AU STORE CALL: 24 / 7
1300 734 876
We will endeavour to maintain the retail prices for products in this catalogue until 31st December 2013, however we reserve the right to increase our retail prices at any time, should our costs increase due to changes in Government policy and or supplier price increases. Chemist Warehouse will not be held responsible for out of stock items and reserves the right to delete items when supply can no longer be assured. Chemist Warehouse reserves the right not to supply items to consumers where we have professional and ethical concerns. We reserve the right to adjust printing errors.
SALE ENDS 31ST DECEMBER 2013
Our 5-Star b Country Clu
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No Renters
Pet Friendly
Secure Living
No Stamp Duty
No Exit Fees