Manning-Great Lakes Focus i81 by Focus

Feature Story MANNING-GREAT LAKES

Rotary Manning Valley Schools Spectacular

November 2013 // issue 81

LINDA BRYANT p h o t o g r a p h y

b y

l i n d a

focus team.

Welcome to the November 2013 edition of Manning-Great Lakes FOCUS! he first thing you’re probably going to notice this month is the new photo at the top of this page. We thought it was about time you all got to meet the faces behind Manning-Great Lakes FOCUS – Chrissy Jones, Jasmine McQuillan, Annette Wannell, Jo Atkins, and Erin Coulson. It’s a massive team effort to pull together each issue of FOCUS, and I believe this photo highlights the amazing teamwork and the way we all think alike – we all turned up for our photoshoot in these outfits, with no discussion or pre-planning ... and look how colour co-ordinated we are! I’d personally like to take this opportunity to thank my talented sales team, and also all the other people who work hard behind the scenes, including the graphic designers, admin staff and proofreaders. Thanks also to all our contributors, advertisers and our readers, for without you, there wouldn’t be a FOCUS each month. ON THE COVER Linda Bryant is our absolutely stunning cover model this month. Many of you will know Linda, as her business, Photography by Linda, is a true local success story.

contacts. Got a story idea? Looking to advertise in Focus? Contact us for more information.

ADDRESS: Suite 2 / 42 Wharf Street, Forster 2428 PHONE: (02) 6555 3381 FAX: (02) 6555 7338 EMAIL: mglinfo@focusmag.com.au WEB: www.focusmag.com.au TV: www.focustv.com.au Comments and opinions of our contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinion or view of the Publishers or Editor. All reasonable efforts have been made to trace copyright holders. Information appearing in Focus is believed to be correct at the time of going to press however no liability will be held for inaccurate information approved or supplied by advertisers or contributors. While all care is taken it is recommended that readers confirm dates, times, prices and any other material including advice with individual businesses and industry professionals. Manning-Great Lakes Focus is produced and published by Creative House Publications PTY LTD ABN: 621 287 8600 5 Material in Focus is Copyright © Creative House Publications PTY LTD and may not be reproduced whole or in part, in any form, without permission of the Publisher. All rights reserved.

Linda took out a remarkable number of awards recently at the Manning Valley Business Awards – a true testament to her entrepeneurial spirit. IN THIS ISSUE We chatted with a huge variety of people this month: celebrities John Waters and George Houvardas fill us in about the Australian Children’s Music Foundation and the two special concerts they will be supporting at the MEC on November 23; photographers Daniel Kirkman and Adam Scard from Imagery Motion Works showcase rheir phenomenal talent behind the lens; and well-known local Pete Camilleri tells us about the Beach Bash – a challenging and exciting obstacle course that will be staged for the very first time in Forster soon. It’s also the month for birthdays, with both Club Taree and the Forster Farmers’ Markets celebrating 10 years. Happy birthday! FINAL SAY “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” – Phil Jackson.

Jo Atkins – Editor jo@focusmag.com.au

EDITOR: Jo Atkins jo@focusmag.com.au

SENIOR DESIGNER: Dylan Gaul dylan@focusmag.com.au

ART DIRECTOR: Jay Beaumont jay@focusmag.com.au

GRAPHIC / WEB DESIGNER: Michael Marchment michael@focusmag.com.au

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Joey Dable joey@focusmag.com.au

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Annalise Montgomery annalise@focusmag.com.au

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Jeff Cowan jeff@focusmag.com.au

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER: Louise Beaumont louise@focusmag.com.au

ADVERTISING CONSULTANT: Jasmine McQuillan jasmine.m@focusmag.com.au

ADVERTISING CONSULTANT: Erin Coulson jessica@focusmag.com.au

ADVERTISING CONSULTANT: Chrissy Jones chrissy@focusmag.com.au

COPY EDITOR: Reg Brookhouse reg@focusmag.com.au

PHOTOGRAPHER: Craig Mason, East Coast Photography 02 6554 9703 / 0411 846 084 www.eastcoastphotography.com.au

FOCUS IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THESE GREAT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND PROGRAMS. Essential Energy

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focusinterview.

Rotary Manning Valley

Spectacular

JO H N WAT E RS

The Australian Children’s Music Foundation aims to teach music to children who would not otherwise have the chance to learn – in the process, enriching their lives and fostering an amazing array of talent. Four local Rotary Clubs have come together to organise two fantastic concerts to help raise both awareness and funds for the Foundation, which is achieving great success with many local school children.

he Rotary Manning Valley Schools Spectacular will be held at the MEC on November 23 – two very special concerts, which should definitely be written in bold in your diary! Maurie Stack from Rotary and celebrities John Waters and George Houvardas tell us more about the event and the ACMF … MAURIE STACK – President of Rotary Club Taree on Manning. Please give us a brief overview of what the Rotary Manning Valley Schools Spectacular involves, and what the aim of the event actually is ... All of the schools in the Manning Valley have been invited to participate, indicating students who might be available in any of the performing arts. Although we have two concerts, the talent exceeds the available time, so our producers Roger Griffiths from Mid North Coast Conservatorium and Tanya Brown from Bass & Blues have had the difficult job of selecting the best talent. The Australian Children’s Music Foundation (ACMF) promised us some celebrities to support the event, and they have more than honoured that commitment. The primary aim of the event is to raise funds to support the ACMF Manning Valley

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Disadvantaged and Indigenous Students Music that the ACMF would be able to assist with Program – a program which employs musicians entertainers. The four local clubs readily agreed (presently Matt Zarb and Michael Eyb to go to support the program and to raise $40,000 into our schools and engage, through music, for the purchase of musical instruments in local with students who are in danger of dropping schools, which has now been expanded to out). But the event also serves to showcase support the program generally. We decided to the talent in our local schools, put on a local version of the annual whilst giving the students Schools Spectacular held in (including the students Sydney. in the Music Program) When and where will The event also an opportunity to the event be staged? se serves to showca share the stage with At the Manning r local the talent in ou celebrities. e th Entertainment Centre: ving

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schools, whilst

How did the four matinee concert at ing the students (includ ic us M Rotary Clubs – 2pm; evening concert e students in th ity un rt po op Taree, Taree North, at 7pm – both on Program) an ith w e ag st e th Wingham and Saturday 23 November. to share .” es iti Taree On Manning br cele How many children come up with this are likely to be involved amazing idea? The in the event, and what ACMF works in juvenile are some of the schools they detention centres, and sadly they represent? observed that there were many young Up to 300 children: Taree High School, people from Taree in one of these centres Old Bar Public School, Chatham High School, on the Central Coast. They decided to Wingham High School, St Clare's High School, bring their program into the Manning Valley in St Joseph’s Primary School, Taree West Primary order to address that problem. School, Tinonee Public School, Taree Christian I had the opportunity of meeting Don College, Mitchell's Island Public School, Spencer, the founder of ACMF, in Taree, and Manning Adventist School. he explained the program and sought the Where can people find out more info financial support of Rotary. Don indicated or book tickets? Tickets are available from

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m The primary ai to is t en ev e of th pport raise funds to su ng the ACMF Manni ed ag nt Valley Disadva udents St us no and Indige ...” Music Program

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Rotary Manning Valley

G E R O RG E H O U VA RD A S

Spectacular

Movies Games and More or online at the Greater Taree City Council website. JOHN WATERS AND GERORGE HOUVARDAS – special guests at the Rotary Manning Valley Schools Spectacular What acting and/or musical projects are keeping you busy at the moment? John I am currently recording a 30 hour narration of a book on correct spelling and pronunciation of English – made mostly for the benefit of people with English as a second language. I travel to Perth at the end of October to shoot a feature called You Can't Play the Game if you Don't Know the Rules, then season 5 of Offspring. George At the moment I'm on the audition circuit and waiting patiently for the next opportunity to flex my acting muscles. What can you tell us about the Australian Children’s Music Foundation ... how did you become involved with the organisation? John Don Spencer is a friend of 40 years’ standing, from Playschool days. His work with children is legendary, and ACMF represents the culmination of a lot of his dreams. Helping in that field is as natural for me as breathing. George I happened to make Don Spencer

a coffee almost 7 years ago before [Packed to the] Rafters and anything that slightly resembled an acting career. I met the whole team behind ACMF and how they helped disadvantaged kids through the gift of music. So, over the past 7 years I've watched ACMF grow and was fortunate enough to be a part of that and was able to be more of a help due to Rafters. I guess our union was meant to be. Why do you feel it is so important for youth to have access to music education and programs? John Shakespeare said: "If music be the food of love …" I believe it is also a force that gives joy and purpose to life itself. To give yourself over to music is to lay to rest many of life's stressful anxieties. Children know this intuitively. George When I was growing up, I didn't have the opportunity to study or learn the art of music, and that is a little regret of mine. And when Don and his team from ACMF told me about their mission to bring music to the children of Australia, it all made sense. There is no better away to express one’s feelings then through music. Everyone has their favourite tune … that tune that makes them cry … that tune that makes them smile. Music is a gift. What will your role be at the Schools Spectacular in Taree on November 23?

Are you looking forward to visiting the Mid North Coast? John I've been a frequent visitor to Taree, playing mostly at the Manning Entertainment Centre. My role in the concert will be to play and sing! George I'm the host, definitely not the star … that title belongs to the kids, and I can't wait to see them perform! What’s in the pipeline for you in the next few months ... any new performances/ television appearances we need to keep an eye out for? John Later next year I'll be taking my show, Looking Through a Glass Onion, to an OffBroadway theatre in New York. That will fulfil an ambition for me. George There a couple things in the pipeline, but nothing to brag about yet. When it's time, you will be the first to know! Thanks everyone.

the plug! Manning Entertainment Centre Matinee concert at 2pm; evening concert at 7pm – Saturday 23 Nov. Tickets available from Movies Games and More: 6552 5699.

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By choosing to focus on what is good in every situation, more doors have opened for me than I could have imagined.”

LINDABRYANT p h o t o g r a p h y

b y

l i n d a

None of our readers would be unfamiliar with Linda Bryant from Photography by Linda by now, as this talented lady writes our regular Business Minds column and provides us with stunning photos to boot! Linda and her business took away an amazing array of accolades from the Manning Valley Business Awards recently … testament to her hard work, dedication, forward thinking mentality and positive attitude. i Linda. It’s been a little while since FOCUS spoke to you about your business, Photography by Linda. What have been some of the innovations/ new services you’ve introduced over the past 12 months? It’s been such a huge year for us. Our workshops have been sell outs, which has been amazing. We decided just over a year ago that teaching other people the joy of photography was something we wanted to do, so we developed workshops to pass on our skills. I’ve been teaching business, and Rod has taken over most of the local workshops. This Christmas we’re announcing 8 new workshops, so that there is one for all budgets and skill levels. Another fantastic new option we’ve added is our mini shoots. For those who don’t want or need an extensive amount of photos taken, mini shoots are a great way to update the portraits without blowing the budget. They’ve been really popular, especially for the little ones who change so quickly. You took out an unprecedented amount of awards at the Manning Valley Business Awards this year. What categories did you take out prizes in? We won Best Business Leader, People’s Choice award, Professional Services category, and Business of the Year. How does winning these awards make you feel ... and what implications will this success have for your business? On a personal level, these awards have given me the confirmation that doing what you love, with passion and dedication, is worth it. Business of the Year has been a secret 6 manning-great lakes focus.

goal for me … one so big, I didn’t want to tell anyone! I’m still pinching myself to have won it. There are hard times, and this year has been tough being away from home and my family more. These awards remind me of For those who why I am doing this ed don’t want or ne in the first place. of nt ou an extensive am shoots Best Business Leader ini photos taken, m was a category that update to ay w t are a grea for me personally, out the portraits with .” not as a business, et blowing the budg meant more than anything, because to be recognised as a leader in the town means so much to me.

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One a business level, Business of the Year gives us recognition within the community and shows that our business is all about exceeding the expectations of our clients and creating an experience that people will remember and keep coming back for.

have Christie here in the studio, who will do most of the studio sessions. She’s a great part of the team.

To what do you attribute your business success? More than anything else, it would have to be mindset. By choosing to focus on what is good in every situation, more doors have opened for me than I could have imagined. Sure, we all have bad days and get tired, but if you are always looking for what can be better or what can be done to achieve the big goals, the problems seem smaller and anything is possible.

For me personally, I have started another business, ‘Inspire Life Strategies’, which is life coaching. I will be running a ‘business bootcamp’ early next year, which is a 12 week program designed to teach others in small business all of the keys to success. It will include everything from social media, mindset, handling difficult situations and effective goal setting. I’m so excited to share with others and see them grow into their own ideal life. I’m so excited about this next part of my journey. Thanks Linda – and congratulations!

What do you hope to achieve over the next 12 months ... anything exciting in the pipeline? Absolutely! I’m very excited to now

Rod and I have created all of our new workshops, which include everything from beginner to advanced and even ones for teenagers.

inside this

Issue 81 - November 2013

Imagery Motion Works.

8. 8.

Imagery Motion Works is the brainchild of Daniel Kirkman and Adam Scard – two extraordinarily talented image creators with a desire to produce breathtaking work.

Dragon Boat Regatta.

39.

Yoga Avenue.

40.

Fresh from a trip to LA, Karen Farrell has arrived home full of enthusiasm for her new business venture, Yoga Avenue. What do yoga and surfing have in common? Karen explains ...

usual suspects.

the

11. What’s On for November 16. eat featuring local restaurants 36. Star Guide with Terri 37. Tourism Update with Richard Old

No matter where you are in the world,, read Focus for free online every month @

www.focusmag.com.au follow us on www.facebook.com/mgl.focus w www.twitter.com/focusmag www.focusmag.com.au/eat

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Imag e ry Motio n Work s is the brain child of Daniel Kirkman and Adam S card – t w o extraordinarily talented image creators with a desire to produce breathtaking work .

hare your background in photography/videography with our readers ... where did it all begin for you guys? Dan It all started out as a Year 12 Major Work in Design & Technology. I produced a video showcasing the various beaches in the area and what conditions best suited those breaks at particular times of the year. I received generous marks, and up until that time I had no idea what I was destined to do post schooling. I just jumped in the deep end and invested everything I had into equipment and software and made it my goal to turn this hobby I loved into something I could eventually make a living from. Adam Taking photos has always been a passion of mine since my early teens. I studied photography at school and spent endless hours in the darkroom processing images. Whilst on a trip to Hawaii in 1993, my equipment I’d worked so hard to obtain was stolen whilst checking the surf at Pipeline. I was ready to throw in the towel there and then. Back home in the daily grind, I realised photography was definitely my passion and a way I could express myself. I have progressed with the digital age and advanced my skills to where they are today.

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Daniel, you’ve been lucky enough to travel to some pretty special places while you filmed your brother, Josh, on the professional bodyboard circuit. Where has filming actually taken you? Dan Regionally I’ve covered events in Yorkes Peninsula (South Aus), Shark Island and the Box in Margaret River (WA). Internationally I’ve been to Hawaii three times working freelance over the surfing seasons, but nothing beats Tahiti. In 2003 I organised a boat trip from Tahiti to the Tuamotus in French Polynesia. There were seven international bodyboarders, myself and world renowned surf photographer Tim Jones. We scored 10-12ft Teahupoo and other breaks, as well as doing the crossing to the Tuamotus, where we scored this magical left hander between a reef pass. We were only the third group of surfers to ever surf up there. Once home, I cut all the footage together and released my first ever surf movie, and it went nationally to all the surf shops as well as throughout Europe. The cinema hosted a premiere night, and all the guys on the trip came and saw the movie and signed autographs and had an after party ... I still get goosebumps thinking about it; I was 21 at

the time, and I still pinch myself, as it remains the highlight of my career. What other noteworthy projects have you both been involved with? Dan and Adam As a collaborative effort we have been contracted by Ray White Forster to do photography for ‘Bombora Point’ Estate Redhead, as well as residential property listings. We also supply imagery to Jungle Surf for their advertising/marketing, as well as contributing footage to an upcoming Professionals TV Commercial. We are also in the process of producing a business clip for Barrier Signs, and we recently filmed a backyard music gig where guests were required to dress up in theme and we produced a series of music clips with a ‘café style jazz setting’. It was awesome. How did the establishment of your business, Imagery Motion Works, come about? Where and when did you guys meet, and how do your skills complement one another’s? Dan I actually met Adam on Facebook. After a really good weekend of waves, a photo of myself appeared on Facebook, which was taken by a guy called Scardy … I’d never heard of the guy. I messaged him, saying thanks for the shot. Over the next few months more and more oceanic

ADAM SCARD AND DANIEL KIRKMAN

images of really high quality were bombarding the internet, and it was all from Adam. The word was out, particularly in the surfing community, that this Adam guy was taking all these unbelievable images. We eventually met, started hanging out, and formed a really strong friendship. Adam I was doing photography as a hobby and Dan was doing his video work, but Dan wanted to expand into photography. We sat down and discussed the possibility of combining forces and learning each other’s skills. We attended a business workshop, meetings with Accountants, registered a business name, public liability, ABN, website design, Facebook page, the works ... we’d got the ball rolling.

other’s work prior to release, to ensure we have done everything possible to produce breathtaking works.

What does your business specialise in/what services do you provide? Dan and Adam Our wedding packages can be just video or photography, or a combination of both. We shoot imagery for real estate, portraits, pregnancy, events and functions, pop-up th bo e ar We photo booth, business web self-confessed d have an s st clips … we do it all. ni tio ec rf pe

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styles and slightly different ques, which our own techni cause it is a real bonus be ore of m ve allows us to ha to appeal e ng ra a dynamic ele.” to a wider client

Dan and Adam We are both self-confessed perfectionists and have slightly different styles and our own techniques, which is a real bonus because it allows us to have more of a dynamic range to appeal to a wider clientele. It also enables us to critique each

We pride ourselves on absolute quality. We aren’t trying to compete with our competition on price, but rather providing a solid service based around prompt, reliable, high quality imagery which is going to satisfy our clients’ requests.

What do you both find are the similarities between capturing great video and still photographic images ... and conversely, what are the biggest differences? Dan The one thing both mediums have which are similar and won’t ever change is light. Creating great images in both video and stills require some form of light, whether it

be natural or artificial. Adam The biggest differences are camera settings; in particular, shutter speeds. As a rule, most video clips require a low shutter to achieve that filmy look, where photography doesn’t have this limitation on shutter speeds. What types of projects would you both like to work on in future ... what’s something you feel you could really sink your teeth into? Dan and Adam Producing web clips, be it for a business, wedding, surfing etc. We love the whole story-telling process through film, where the viewers are engaged in the journey. That, and surf media. Being able to travel the globe documenting surfing in its various forms and being paid to do it. To be commissioned to produce works at a commercial level would be the dream job! Where can people go to see samples of your work, and how do they go about contacting you? Dan and Adam You can see our favourite works at www.imagerymotionworks.com.au or through our Facebook page www.facebook.com/ imagerymotionworks and also on Instagram. Contact Dan - 0431 095 882 Adam - 0468 919 003 Thanks guys.

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Matters. [ with Alan T ickle ]

legallight. 10 grounds to challenge a will [ w iith tth hA Alan l a n Ti la T Tick Tickle ic ck k le le ]

Dear Alan, A friend of mine said she read something you had written before about financial issues for school leavers and those starting university. I have a daughter about to complete the HSC who is likely to go to university. What are some issues and ideas to consider? PM Dear PM, Some young people believe that they are bullet proof but unfortunately some parents will suffer the nightmare of either serious illnesses, accidents or worse, which destroys hopes and dreams. Dreams and Realities We can all name young people who have suffered from serious illness or accident, and the burden on families is indescribable. The flip side is that we can name even more young families who have opportunities that get wasted, because they were not steered in the right direction. Insurance Essentials In your case 'PM', I recommend getting advice on setting aside money to establish some basic insurance cover against major illness for your daughter. Five dollars per week, just as an example, will at least provide around $80,000 trauma cover, and a small amount of death cover for your daughter. The reason I suggest taking out some death cover is that it reduces stamp duty attached to the policy and provides an additional benefit. The trauma cover will provide a lump sum for major illnesses or trauma, but the benefit of taking it out while your daughter is young, is that a hefty rise in premiums can be avoided with a level premium option. The $5 per week mentioned provides a very handy $80,000 lump sum that is always welcome to families who have to watch their young adult children face the financial challenge posed by serious illness. Statistics show the greater the recovery rate

becomes if financial stress is not a factor. If there is a crisis within the family, the burden can set back the retirement plans of parents, so having insurance shifts that risk. Superannuation and Income Cover Unless instructed otherwise, an employer will place superannuation to a default fund, which will generally have personal insurance including income cover attached to the superannuation. It is important to ensure that the insurance is needed, particularly when income cover is involved and where the insured is now a fulltime student or earning very little. There are many issues around having insurance inside superannuation versus the benefits of maintaining it outside of superannuation, so getting advice when commencing insurance cover is recommended. How to Shift from Renting to Owning a Home. A couple could invest $6,000 per annum each to individual first home-saver accounts and pick up $1,020 co-contribution each to the account. After allowing for the government contribution and interest, this rate of saving represents a return of over 20% pa and close to $60,000 jointly accumulated after 4 years. Summary of Actions a) Have Wills, Powers of Attorney and Guardianship in place once attaining age 18 b) Take out personal insurance separate to superannuation on level premiums c) Start first home saver accounts once income commences and if saving for a home becomes a goal d) Have a budget in place where entertainment costs, petrol, clothes or anything personal sits in one account and a second account is the 'do not touch' which meets short or medium goals such as personal insurance, car expenses, holiday etc. e) Invest the rest for a longer term goal such as home ownership or wealth generation.

This information and advice is of a general nature only and no reliance should be placed on the information before seeking individual advice from a Financial Planner and Taxation Adviser to ensure the appropriateness to individual circumstances. Alan Tickle and Your Heritage Financial Planning are both authorised representatives of Securitor Financial Group AFSL 240687 ABN 48009189495.

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Dad cut me out of his will. I was carer for a person for years, yet all they left me was their armchair. My spouse left it all to a secret lover. My step-father got Mum’s fortune. Grandma left the mansion to her cat. So on what grounds might I be able to challenge the will? Josh Crowther, a wills specialist at Stacks/The Law Firm, makes these 10 points: • First you have to be legally eligible to make a claim. Eligible challengers include husbands, wives, de factos, same-sex partners, children, former spouses, grandchildren and in certain circumstances, grandchildren and people who were members of the deceased’s household. • A claim has to be made within 12 months of the day they died. • You might have a claim if there are doubts about the mental capacity of the testator (the will maker) or whether someone pressured the testator into leaving assets to certain people. • If you’re an eligible person you might have a claim if the testator failed to adequately provide for you. • If you suspect forgery or a later will, you might be able to mount a challenge. • Just being a relative or partner isn’t, on its own, enough to succeed in a challenge. The judges have no set amount to pay out. The court will consider whether a deceased made inadequate provision for a challenger’s education, maintenance or advancement in life. If so, the court must

determine what provision ought to be made considering the relationship of the deceased and the applicant, the size of the estate, the applicant’s financial needs and circumstances, and the circumstances of others who will receive a benefit from the estate. • In most cases an estate will be frozen when a claim is made. Executors can sell assets and convert them to cash, but can’t distribute them until the claim is finalised. An applicant can apply to the court for an injunction or freezing order to stop selling of assets until the claim is finalised. • Many claims are settled out of court with a compromise, but courts can rush a claim if there is hardship involved. • If there is no will, the law provides a set list of people eligible to benefit from the estate. The same rules of challenging apply to those who feel they missed out. • Claimants normally pay their own costs but if the claim is successful, their costs are usually paid by the estate. Costs of the executor or administrator of the estate are paid from the estate. It’s best to get skilled, objective legal advice before deciding to embark on a challenge to a will as sometimes emotion can cloud good decision-making.

A R O U N D

T H E

R E G I O N

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2 0 1 3

9 Spring Festival

THE FLAIR AWARDS Garden Party Bring along your family heirlooms for china and glass appraisals,1 - 3pm. Vintage Fashion Parade at noon. Craft for sale. Face painting and fairy floss, sausage sizzle, fortune teller, music, raffles and lots more. Floral cup cake classes When 9 Nov from 10am to 3pm at the home of Lyn

& Alan Catt, 648 Wingham Rd, Taree. Bookings jo@theflairawards.com.au

Bring your rug or chair and enjoy the day. Cost $10 includes a delicious Devonshire tea.

The Forster Keys Ratepayers Assoc Spring Festival

The attractions this year include: a giant Tug O War, with cash prizes entries, are still welcome; free sailing lessons for big and little kids; hillbilly bands; the local markets will set up; a pet farm will be there for the littlies to meet the animals; a huge classic car display will be in place; and oyster tastings as well as other types of food and beverages will be available. There will be plenty children's rides and activities to keep everyone happy. And there is the most popular dog show as well! It will be held at Elizabeth Reserve Forster Keys on Sun 17 Nov, 9am through to 3pm.

Great Lakes Historical Open Day

When Sunday 17 November, 9am - 3pm. Where Elizabeth Reserve, Forster Keys.

Where 24 November at 2pm. More info please call The Historical Society on 6554 6275.

The Great Lakes Historical Society is holding an open day on 24 November at 2pm. This open invitation to the community includes afternoon tea and is to showcase the restored NAB building that is proudly part of the museum.

0. Zero deposit. Zero interest. Every reason to visit Taree Motorama. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never been a better time to purchase a new Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan, estate or coupĂŠ. With $0 deposit and a 0% comparison rate* on a 3 year Agility Finance Programme, there are now even more reasons to drive away in your new C-Class.# www.mbtaree.com.au

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Excludes Edition C and AMG. For vehicles delivered by 30 November. *Comparison rate based on a 5 year secured consumer fixed rate loan of $30,000. WARNING: This comparison rate is true only for the examples given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. #Finance restricted to approved customers of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Australia Pty Ltd ACN 074 134 517 Australian credit licence 247271. GFV/Balloon and annual kilometre usage restrictions apply. Please see Taree Motorama for full terms and conditions.

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Phone 6539 3300

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S E L L I N G FA S T - D O N â&#x20AC;&#x2122; T M I S S O U T 12 manning-great lakes focus focus.

SteveAttkins. from Great Lakes Winery

MYSTERY ROAD 6.30pm Monday 11 November, Fay's Twin Cinema. Casual tickets $16.

Wine time With a lot of buzz about bees and honey in our region, I've been thinking about the lovely ancient drink called Mead.

here are references to Mead in a number of ancient civilisations, including the Greek, the Celts, Scandinavia, India, Europe, Asia and Africa ... and that's without looking too hard. I think we can safely assume that Mead or 'fermented honey' has been around longer than we have the capacity to think of!

bride and groom after the wedding. It was used both as a final toast and as a proper beginning of the marriage. Following the wedding, the bride and groom were provided with enough mead to toast each other for one month after their wedding, hence the term 'honeymoon'. Honey refers to mead or honey wine; moon refers to one cycle of the moon (one month).

If you have never had unpasteurized honey, you must try it! Unpasteurized or raw honey This delicate, yet potent drink was not only is simply honey that has not been heated and considered the best way to start a new filtered. Instead, it has been strained to remove marriage, it was also believed to enhance debris before bottling. Aside from the fact that such valued qualities as fertility and virility. On pasteurization removes many of numerous occasions the groom, the health giving properties of laced with generous amounts the honey, it also removes of mead, was carried by his the volatile oils that friends to the bedside of It is the gives honey its great his bride. If nine months bee's tireless flavour and aroma. All later, a bouncing baby search for nectar regions have their own appeared, credit was of from thousands tes distinct honey that given to the mead. ea blossoms that cr ch comes from the wild ea References have been the honey in flowers that grow in found on mead as early bottle of mead.” that area. Consuming as the 5th Century, and unpasteurized honey it was in wide use by the is healthier for you and Middle Ages. having local honey is thought In addition to the health giving to reduce allergies. Honey properties of honey, mead was contains trace amounts of local pollen, thought by Romans to lengthen life and ingesting this pollen is thought to help and to possess unique healing qualities. The build immunities. ancient Nordic people considered the drinking Mead (Honey Wine) is the oldest art of of mead as a most important aspect of daily fermentation. Consumed by all from kings to life. peasants, mead has gained a reputation as a It is the bee’s tireless search for nectar from giver of life, wisdom, courage and strength thousands of blossoms that creates the honey down through the ages. in each bottle of mead. 100% natural honey The term 'honeymoon' has been associated is diluted with pure water and special yeast with drinking mead during the month long cultures. Spices or berry juice are added celebration following a wedding in pagan for further dimension and complexity. A times. The word 'honeymoon' did not evolve fermentation and slow ageing process in from a term of endearment or a description of European oak barrels occurs for about three an event. It refers specifically to what the bride to five years before bottling. As with other and groom did for one full moon after their wine, the quality of the mead is dependent wedding. upon the quality of the honey used to make it. Even since the fame of mead spread It's fascinating, and I think maybe something throughout medieval Europe, it was believed worth further investigation – how do I convert that mead was essential for sending off the the winery into a meadery?!

“

watch. ay Swan has recently returned to his outback hometown to take up his posting as a Detective with the local police force. Jay is assigned his first major case, to investigate the brutal murder of a teenage Aboriginal girl, Julie Mason. Her body is discovered in a drainpipe under the main trucking highway out of town.

Jay's enquiries soon lead him to his own teenage daughter, Crystal. She lives in town with his ex wife, Mary. Jay’s investigations lead him to uncover a major drug lab operation out of town. But he runs into Constable Roberts and Johnno of the Drug Squad, who have the lab under surveillance. Johnno warns Jay not to interfere with their investigation.

Jay's early investigations E: tareefilmsociety@yahoo. are hampered by a com “ Jay is assigned his lack of trust from P: 6552 3476 first major case, to the Aboriginal PO Box 216, Taree, investigate the brutal community. He murder of a teenage NSW, 2430 grew up as a local Aboriginal girl, Julie W: www. Mason. Her body Aboriginal lad, but tareefilmsociety.org.au is discovered in a he left and went to drainpipe under the Tickets, subscriptions, the city to become main trucking highway and information from a Detective. He has out of town.” the food table in the recently returned to his foyer, or contact us as troubled hometown with above. worthy intentions to help his The Society is a non-profit people. However as a cop, he finds organisation run by volunteers to bring himself ostracised from the community, as diversity of fi lm to the Manning, and to he struggles to follow the trail left by the encourage appreciation and discussion of victim. Jay's search for clues is also hindered fi lm in a regular social atmosphere. Twelve when he questions some of the local white monthly screenings plus coffee, cakes and people about the crime. He is a cop caught chatting for $100. between two worlds.

Jay Swan - Mystery Road

manning-great lakes focus 13

focusinterview

FORSTER

W S R E M R FA T

E K R MA

The Forster Farmers’ Market is 10 this month! Happy birthday to a fabulous local initiative! Linda Dennett explains how the market started with a group of dedicated people and how it has grown since to become a thriving and bustling place to source an amazing array of produce …

hat’s the history behind the Forster Farmers’ Market – how and when was it originally established? It all began with a dedicated group of like-minded people. Part of this group were Rosalie and Peter Coffey of Pure Greed, creating fresh pestos and preserves for sale at markets. They loved working with the seasons, sourcing ingredients and building up relationships with local growers to maintain consistently good products. The group established the Great Lakes Great Produce Market in 2003. The market was originally held in the multi function hall at Great Lakes College, Forster Campus, an all weather venue, then moved to the School of Arts building in June 2005. When the building’s foundations were questioned in January 2008, the market continued on the lawns surrounding the Forster Information Centre and the Forster Community Garden. In July 2008, the group stepped aside and

14 manning-great lakes focus.

asked the Forster Neighbourhood Centre to maintain the passion and continue running the market. The market then became known as the Forster Farmers’ Market. How many stallholders/producers are typically involved with the market these days? Stalls fluctuate according to the seasons … 20 to 25 in peak season. Even the amount of eggs the hens lay is based on the time of year. The market attracts a large crowd each month, all supporting our local growers and the stallholders who create great homemade products. What types of produce/items is it common to find at the market? Fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables, herbs, free range eggs, gourmet sauces, pure honey, jams, preserves, olive and macadamia products, meat, plants, seedlings, and goat’s milk soap. The Forster CWA ladies each month cook up beautiful scones with jam and cream, coffee and tea available.

One stall is allocated, free of charge, for community groups looking to raise funds or to promote their individual groups. November marks the 10th anniversary of the market – congratulations! What special events/activities will be held to celebrate the occasion? Our celebration will include new stalls, a jumping castle, Batman and Batgirl handing out lolly bags and music. For those who don’t know, when and where is the Forster Farmers’ Market held ... and whom do people contact if they’d like more information? The Forster Farmer’s Market is on the third Saturday of each month all year round, 8am - noon in the grounds of the Forster Information Centre, Little Street, Forster. Contact Forster Neighbourhood Centre 6555 4351. We are always looking to attract more produce stalls, especially those produce items that are currently not included at our regular market. Thanks Linda.

focusinterview. (l-r) Director Robert Dixon, Director Tom Burke, Director Dennis Lawrence, Director Kay Woolcock, Director Peter Fitzpatrick, Senior Vice President Graham Gibson, Director Dot Ludeke, President Carl Guy, CEO Geoff Garnett & Vice President Michael Byrne.

ClubTaree November is definitely the month for birthdays birthdays. Club Taree celebrates 10 years in its current premises this month, and Club President Carl Guy highlights some of the many positive changes that have happened for the club during this time …

i Carl. How long have you been involved with Club Taree, and what’s your current role? I have been involved with Club Taree (Taree RSL and Golf Club Ltd), since prior to the Amalgamation days, as a Director, Vice President, and now the current President, totalling 13 years. What’s involved with your role/s ... what are some of your responsibilities/duties? Probably the best way to answer this question is to say all Directors are in fact caretakers of their clubs, ensuring they leave it in better condition than they found it. After all, our club is owed by our members, and it is therefore a community asset that we as Directors are elected by the members to look after. My responsibility as the President is in part to ensure due diligence is adhered to, with the many laws, acts, regulations, rules, and constitutional requirements set down that rule our industry, both Federal and State. Some of my responsibilities are: personal culture, performance, member relations, club industry knowledge, management, strategic planning, all directors compliance, and reporting club performance. Please give us a brief history of the club. It’s been around in some form or another since 1947 ... The ‘United Service Club’ of Taree was formed by the local Branch of the RSL after a meeting on March 14, 1947. A few years later and name change to Taree RSL Club saw a committee of 11 and a band of hard working volunteers allowing the Club to move into its first building, an ex-army igloo in Victoria Street on July 14, 1950. After several changes in location over the years, the amalgamation of two of the

Manning's most historical registered Clubs, the Taree RSL Club and the Taree Golf Club, in December 2001, cemented the future for both organisations. In hindsight, the amalgamation has been very successful; in fact, we were one of the original club amalgamations. We are now used by Clubs NSW as a very successful model for other clubs looking to go down the Amalgamation road. That is not to say we didn’t have some issues that needed resolving along the way; however, with the dedication of our CEO and Directors we have overcome those issues to become the best club in our area, winning many awards for our RSL, Golf, Catering, Functions, and Gaming Departments. There is an old saying which says, “You must be doing the right thing, when others follow.” The current club building first opened its doors on November 26, 2003. Happy 10th birthday! What plans are in place to celebrate this milestone? Thanks for the birthday wishes; we do appreciate it. We have celebrated our birthday every year in November with a big family day with a huge array of entertainment for all the family; to mention a few: a monster toy raffle, jumping castle, BBQ, Max FM live broadcast, Santa Clause will be attending. A complete entertainment schedule is available on our website. Our annual birthday celebration is always a very popular day, and as this will be our 10th birthday, our celebrations will be bigger than ever this year. What are some of the major changes the club has experienced over the past 10 years? We’ve seen some major changes over the past 10 years. The most important one is our membership continues to grow, which is very encouraging for our club’s future. We continually strive to keep our club up to date with the best possible service and product on offer. Our staff is one of our most valuable

t assets.

share good times.

How big a role does the club play in the Manning Valley community ... what are some of the local organisations the club supports? We play a significant role in our community, not only supplying a facility for our community to gather with friends and family to enjoy social activities, enjoy a social drink, a And our latest project is our new auditorium, meal, or just friendship. We also sponsor the function centre and kitchen, that services Taree RSL Sub Branch and all it does for all our functions and shows. This our community. The game of golf addition is proving to be is also sponsored annually for extremely popular for many of its tournaments for weddings, entertainment, We’ ve se en the communities use. or aj m seminars, meetings and The other major changes that have occurred are the construction of our multi level car park, to cater for members and guest secure parking. The ongoing upgrading of our golf course is continually commented on by both members and visitors alike.

all functions. How many staff does the club currently employ? We currently have 79 staff on our books. This includes permanent, casual and part-time, in all areas of our club and as I mentioned before, they are a very valuable asset to our Club.

“

some e past changes over th ost m e Th 10 years. our is e on t an rt impo inues nt membership co ry ve is ch to grow, whi r ou r fo g in encourag club’s futu re .”

What do you feel have been some of the club’s biggest achievements to date? I would say our biggest achievement would have to be the amalgamation of the two clubs into what we are today. Yes, it was hard at times, with many individuals telling us it would not work; we have proved it can and does work. Our golf course has never been in such good condition, thanks to our dedicated greens staff. Another little known fact is we are contracted to supply Meals on Wheels for our community – a function we are very proud of. We are also proud to be known as a friendly, safe, and inviting environment, for families to

Then there are the many local sporting organisations that we sponsor through our community Clubs Grants scheme, individual local high school scholarships, and of course as I mentioned, before Meals on Wheels for our local community.

What plans are in place for the club over the next 12 - 18 months? One of our major strategic plans is to build a new motel on the northern side of the multi storey car park. This is a big project that will require some time to come to fruition due to cost and some other construction issues; it certainly won’t be in the 12 to 18 month period, but it is in the pipeline. We are currently in the process building golf cart paths on our course; this is a work in progress that has been substantially assisted by a very generous donation by one of our golf members. We will be concentrating on some maintenance issues in the coming 12 months; after 10 years, that is to be expected. Thanks Carl.

manning-great lakes focus 15

Chicken Breast on Chargrilled Vegetables from Raw Sugar Cafe

Manning-Great Lakes

eat. Dining Guide is available for iPhone & Android mobiles. www.focusmag.com.au/eat

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eat. Garlic Prawns Caesar Salad

FLOW Espresso Bar

Bean Bar

For Love Of Water!

Dinners & Live Music at Flow are in full swing! Friday Dinner – live acoustic music + new modern menu every week; local eye fillet steaks, whole baked fish, Singapore Mud Crabs, chicken breast supremes etc, all fussed over meticulously by our experienced chefs and fused with the latest sauces and vegetables. Saturday Dinner – same special menu as Friday nights, but a little more intimate. Alfresco dining under the stars or indoor candlelit dining.

AN ENTIRELY NEW NIGHT DINING EXPERIENCE NOW AT THE BEAN BAR, with a completely NEW À LA CARTE MENU. Also, 7 days per week for breakfast and lunch with extensive menus. Right on the Manning River and Queen Elizabeth Park. Still Taree's premier venue for all types of specialty functions.

'Sunday Sessions' Lunch – live music, ice cold beer + fresh seafood specials to close out the weekend. Our everyday lunch menu also available.

Owners Ray and Tony.

Please visit our Facebook page to view weekly dinner menus, musicians, and coming events or to see all the latest photos.

1 Pulteney St, Taree, set on the Manning River t 6550 0022 w www.beanbarcafe.com.au

31 David St, Old Bar t 6557 4224 f www.facebook.com/flowcafe

open 7 days breakfast and lunch, and dinner Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

open Tue to Sunday, 8am to 3pm and Fri to Sat nights from 6pm. Fully licensed – bookings recommended.

Beach Bums

Raw Sugar Café

There is much more to Beach Bums Café than just the best view in town.

Our food is prepared by our qualified chefs, using only the freshest local ingredients and served by experienced and friendly staff. Our specials board changes weekly! Don’t forget our fantastic fresh fruit smoothies, frappes and fresh juices. Come in and enjoy the five star experience today. Open for breakfast at 7.30am, lunch from 11.30am and afternoon tea until 4pm.

You can feast on our daily changing specials or try our new summer salads such as grilled salmon with smashed chats, crispy prosciutto and wild rocket, followed by the largest range of sweet and gluten free treats in town. Don't forget we have all your home barista needs too. Did I mention that whales are on the menu too! (Well ... just to look at; ask for a set of binoculars.)

Owners Kate and Darrin.

Freshest local ingredients.

Check out our Facebook page for daily specials.

North & Beach St, Forster Main Beach. t 6555 2840 w beachbumscafe.com.au open 6.30am-3.30pm (weather permitting)

214 Victoria Street, Taree t 6550 0137 open 7.30am to 4pm.

manning-great lakes focus 17

eat. Try one of our tempting desserts while you enjoy the views from our verandah this spring.

Bowlo Bistro

Club Taree

Taree West Bowling Club – New Spring Menu

The Iron Bark Restaurant at Club Taree offers a selection of meal options to enjoy. Choose from our selection of dishes featured on our al-a-carte menu or try one of our tempting Chef’s weekly specials. Thursday nights also feature a Chicken Schnitzel special for just $9 whilst on Friday’s enjoy a roast for just $10. The kids are also catered for with a selection of meals for under $10.

Sunday roast only $10 for lunch and dinner Monday nights we have $5 pasta! Tuesday nights enjoy $8 homemade chicken schnitzels. Wednesday nights is $8 homemade fish and chips. Thursday nights offer free meals and drinks for the kids plus free raffles and members’ jackpot. Friday nights have the monster raffles supporting local organisations. Saturday nights are the perfect opportunity to get together with friends and family for a great night out.

Head Chef James Nossiter.

The Lilly Pilly Café features a selection of light meal options along with hot and cold beverages and tempting cakes, desserts and slices. Enjoy our Friday evening special offer and enjoy a coffee or tea plus Chef’s dessert selection for just $6.

Chef Kevin Williams.

Relax in comfort indoors or take advantage of the warmer weather and enjoy the surrounds whilst enjoying a meal on the verandah as you overlook our beautiful golf course.

Look for our free meal shopper dockets in stores now!

116 Edinburgh Drive, Taree t 6552 2094

121 Wingham Rd, Taree t 6539 4000 w www.clubtaree.com.au

open 7 days. Lunch: noon ‘til 2pm. Dinner: 5.30pm ‘til 8pm.

open from 10am daily.

Bonappetite Café

12 from 12 Enjoy $12 lunches from 12, 6 days , Tuesday - Sunday!

Ray and Tony have returned to Old Bar with the new BONAPPETITE CAFÉ, the Manning Valley's latest café and restaurant with something new. Bonappetite Café, open 7 days per week for café style breakfast and lunch and at night from Wed to Saturday, as a FRENCH BRASSERIE, with a French Chef and genuine French country style cuisine. BYO alcohol only.

Little Street Kitchen Have you been to the newly renovated ‘Lakes and Ocean’ lately? If the answer is no, then you don’t know what you are missing out on! Not only does the pub now have a beautiful new ambience thanks to the renovations,but the bistro is also serving up some of the best local produce cooked to perfection! Beautiful tender steaks, mouthwatering seafood, pasta dishes and amazing burgers ... Little Street Kitchen at The Lakes and Ocean caters to all tastes.

Chef Spencer Weselmann

Shop 2 – 3 / 47 Old Bar Road, Old Bar. t 6553 3188 m 0411 693 458 open 7 days per week for café style breakfast and lunch and at night from Wed to Saturday.

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12 from 12! Enjoy $12 lunches from noon, 7 days, Tuesday to Sunday. $5 kids’ meals every day.

Lakes & Ocean Hotel, 10 Little St, Forster. t 0424 951 701 open 7 days. 12 -2.30 for lunch and from 5.30 for dinner.

focusinterview.

5 huge not to miss shows coming to Club Forster

November at Club Forster

JAMES NOSSITER

ROLLING STONED & DOORS ALIVE Formed in 2009, Rolling Stoned is the premier Australian tribute. To this day, the Rolling Stones remain one of the most enduring and popular music acts on the planet. Also, enjoy Australia's most authentic Doors tribute band, Doors Alive, performing the music of The Doors, live on stage. RODNEY RUDE Lord of the Insult on his 'Wrong Hole Tour'. Rude! Need I say more? One short word, and we can all hear that piercing but contagious laugh. Rodney Rude is one of Australia’s most successful comedians in the live standup arena. KISSTERIA SYDNEY'S own tribute to the undisputed

kings of glam rock have been wowing audiences for 13 years. Tools of their trade include makeup, costumes, smoking guitars, guitar smashing, fire breathing, blood drooling, confetti showers and of course, the best mix of KISS hits and classic anthems loved by one and all, young and old. JOHN WILLIAMSON It’s hard to describe John Williamson and his music without feeling you have left something out or underrated his contribution and achievements. How do you sum up an artist who has captured a country in song and had such a successful career in one of the most cutthroat industries in just one page? It’s an impossible task.

FOCUS catches up with James Nossiter, Head Chef at Bowlo Bistro - Taree West Bowling Club

ime spent in industry: In 1978 I got a job in a French Patisserie putting the fillings in pies, so that's about 35 years.

Favourite food to cook with: That would have to be good ol’ beef. There is just so much that you can do with it, from the slowest of stews to a quick 2 minute stir fry. What training did you undertake, and where was your first job? I'm still training. Each day in the kitchen always brings something new. I started my apprenticeship at 'The Freshwater Restaurant' on Sydney's Harbord Beach. It was a big and busy seafood restaurant owned by professional Restauranteurs. I learnt a thing or two about hard work in that place! What is your favourite dish on the menu currently and why? That would have to be the BBQ Pork Ribs. They are marinated and slow cooked and then basted in a sticky BBQ sauce before serving. Everyone loves them. Where do you source new ideas from?

My wife is always buying cookbooks and magazines and will point out things that might go well for us, but the best way to get new ideas for us is to travel and eat a lot. What would you say is the biggest influence in your cooking? Our customers are the biggest influence for us and how much they’re willing to spend. We find half like the traditional club fare we serve, and the others enjoy our Asian inspired menu. Outside of work, what do you enjoy to cook? Outside of work I like to eat out or take home some ribs or roast from work. How often do you change the menu? We change the menu with the seasons. Now with the warmer weather there is the demand for lighter meals such as salads, but the more popular items never leave the menu. Who else works with you in your kitchen @ Taree West Bowling Club? Apart from my wife, Kim, and myself, we have 3 trainees and a handful of faithful casuals who have followed us from one situation to the next over the years. manning-great lakes focus 19

s o c i a l s c e n e Right. Akoostik Festival

with Donna Carrier from Bent on Food.

Credit: Darren Harrison

Below. Tiffany and Ryan Below. Gwenda Mears and Jennifer Carr

Below. Verity Webber, Lisa Mears, Amanda Hammond, Corinne Billingham

Left. Grahame and Peter Below. Nicky, Susan and Andre Above. Akoostik Festival Credit: Darren Harrison

Social/scene. I have to say that October has been one of the most trying and rewarding months of my entire life. n I got to 50, I had no idea ntil w what a milestone it really is. The u universe had a few lessons for m me in the lead up, and I suspect I was being told to slow down a little. At the beginning of the month I busted my fibula having too good a time dancing around without even a glass of wine under my belt. So whilst I was meant to be resting with my foot up, staff shortages came into play, not to mention a wedding to cater for, my 50th to organise and Akoostik Festival weekend; to top it off, my baby alpaca nearly died. So it was just go-go-go, and in the end all turned out just fine, as staff, ex staff, family and friends jumped in to help. I always say never burn your bridges, and assistance will come from everywhere. And I must say, my staff have been amazing and very caring. The wedding was beautiful with fantastic food (thanks Rod and team) my party was an absolute blast, Akoostik was its usual fabulous weekend and Wingham and Valley Vets managed to save my alpaca. I am not sure that my doctor will be so pleased with the progress of my injury, but I guess I will find out soon about that. Enough about me, although later on I will be sharing my 50th with you, but first let's share a little of October with you. But before we get to October, I must mention 'The Descent', a great afternoon and evening of live music held in September at a property in Killawarra owned by some very sharing people. I had some friends visiting from Sydney, and they were totally blown away by this fabulous event. Local Forster band Galleri was absolutely brilliant as the headline act;

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they have so much going on, and it works beautifully. Also playing were the local lads we know as Hydrafonics (or some incarnation involving the Bailey boys), and a few boys from Byron Bay who go by the name of Living Lab. Josh Rawiri, all the way from Portland, played a bit of Folk, a bit of Blues, a bit of Rock, roots and reggae; and the young but very talented Bill Roberts busted out some sweet tunes with Sarah Morris. Local gypsy band, Up in Annie's Room (and a favourite at Bent on Food) got the crowd up dancing big time. This was another event held by volunteers for the love of music. Thanks to the Tree Woodies and Mid North Coast Songwriters for a fantastic event. Still on music, the Wingham Akoostik Festival had a change of venue this year, heading out to Wingham Showground, where visitors could camp for a weekend of fabulous music. It was a great vibe, with many local and visiting acts, some returning and some new. Wendy Matthews was the headline act, with Jenny Morris being another great drawcard. The weekend was closed with a lively finale from Caravana Sun, who had whole the crowd dancing (as they do). Except me, that is; I was behaving in my moon boot. I only managed to get to the festival on Sunday, but it was a fantastic lineup with great sound from both stages. On Saturday night Brendan Gallagher played at Bent on Food. Brendan and I have mutual friends, so I often went to see Karma County when I lived in Sydney, and I was pretty excited to have him play. It was a late night, with Brendan playing his last set at 1am, just for the musicians and the volunteers and a few of my mates, who relaxed with

some late dinner and a drink. Congratulations to Donna and Kev Ballard and all the volunteers for another great festival. The festival had a few new inclusions this year too, including a golf day at Wingham Golf Club, which I hear was very competitive and a lot of fun. I was unable to make it that day, but I did see some hilarious photos, eh Lauren?! The Akoostik Festival was officially opened on Friday night by Ms Wendy Machin, President NRMA Motoring and Services and Mr Stephen Bromhead, MP Member for Myall Lakes. The evening featured ‘Stacks of Choirs’, sponsored by ‘Stacks The Law Firm’, who are generous supporters of the Festival. On the long weekend in October, on a glorious day, we catered for a beautiful local wedding. Tiffany Bell and Ryan Clayton were married in the garden of their beautiful home before a lovely reception in the garden at Bent on Food. It was a casual wedding reception setting with just the garden and the lovely timber and wrought iron furniture setting off the purple and white decorations. 60 people enjoyed a two course meal with music by Hang Fire Disco. Tiffany and Ryan looked fabulous and very happy on their special day. A stunning cake was made by Sugarart Cakes and a lolly table was a hit. Congratulations to Tiffany and Ryan ... wishing you a wonderful future together. A beautiful Saturday afternoon was spent honouring and celebrating a very special local ballerina, teacher and mentor. The 10 year anniversary 'High Tea' for The Andrea Rowsell Academy of Dance was attended by over 160 guests, including past students and teachers. All celebrated in style, enjoying a

'vintage themed' delicious and traditional handmade high tea alongside the delightful scenic Manning River setting. The afternoon was spent reminiscing and celebrating what has been a successful 10 years of stunning, successful ballet education and dedication within the Manning Valley. Now back to me: my 50th Priscilla Queen of the Desert party was attended by 100 friends and family, many of them unrecognisable on the night. It really was one of the best parties I have been to in a long time because of the efforts people went to in their quest to re-live the '70s, '80s and '90s. We had ABBA, hippies, bikies and quite a few men who looked great as women. We danced all night to ABBA and the soundtrack to Priscilla along with many disco hits. I didn’t even like disco music when I was growing up, but chose this theme as I knew it would get everyone partying. Thanks to Hang Fire Disco for playing all the right tunes. My cake was the Priscilla bus and was made by Sandy Williams of MadHatter Cake Art; I loved it! The garden was decked out in Priscilla style with some very well dressed mannequins, thanks to Allie and to Lyn and Alan Catt for providing them. Thanks go to all my friends, my staff and family for their help, and for being there with me to celebrate this milestone. We also managed to raise just over $1,100 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. I would love to hear from you if you have any social events, weddings, parties anything! Send pics and info to donna.carrier@bigpond. com Cheers, D.

manning-great lakes focus 21

focusinterview.

Looking for a new challenge? Look no further. Pete Camilleri is very excited to bring the Beach Bash to Forster … a sandy, action-packed, fun-filled obstacle course that will be contested on Forster’s beautiful Main Beach in December …

hat is the Beach Bash? Beach Bash is an obstacle course race held on the beach. Beach Bash is an all Australian

owned company.

Obstacle course racing first hit Australian shores in 2008 and has now earned its position as the fastest growing sport in the world. Most obstacle course races are mainly centred on going through mud in outback paddocks; however, Beach Bash is the first of its kind to be run at a beach location, which is a perfect fit for the Australian culture. The inaugural Beach Bash was held in the Central Coast early this year. Beach Bash will be heading to Coolangatta on November 3, followed by Forster in December. Another four events will be scheduled for 2014 around Australia. It sounds tough ... why did you decide to bring the event to Forster? I have been looking to introduce other events into the Forster Tuncurry area, after already staging two successful events, the Brooks Forster Running Festival and the Berg Building Forster Island Challenge. Having seen the growth of obstacle course racing throughout Australia, it was important for our town to capitalise on this latest phenomenon. Outside school holidays events are the greatest source of tourism. The LJ Hooker Beach Bash is expected to attract around 2,000 competitors, with the majority heading to the Great Lakes from outside our area.

22 manning-great lakes focus.

Whilst Beach Bash certainly isn’t a walk in the park, the concept focuses on including the whole family. Very few obstacle course events cater for youngsters from the age of 10 years. I have also included a Junior Beach Bash for the kiddies aged between 5 and 9 years. Our local kids are extremely active, and it is very important that we offer opportunities for them to continue to be involved with a variety of activities When and where will the inaugural LJ Hooker Forster Beach Bash kick off this year? The LJ Hooker Forster Beach Bash is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday 7 and 8 December. The start and finish will be all centred on and around Forster Main Beach, whilst Pebbly Beach and One Mile Beach will also feature as part of the course. What times do the different events get underway? The event schedule will kick off on Saturday at 9am with a mascot race over 100 metres. The concept is for any business to enter their mascot or dress up relevant to their business. An entry fee of $100 will be donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Businesses will be able to promote their business by displaying flags and banners on the day. At 10am the Junior Beach Bash will take place. Children aged between 5 and 9 years will get a real taste of obstacle course racing on the Forster Main Beach, before having a turn on the main attraction … the massive inflatable water slide. Sunday will host the two main events. At 8am the 7 km Challenge Course will get underway for ages 14 years and older, followed by the 4 km Adventure Course at 11am for ages 10 years and older.

What are some off the th obstacles participants will face on the challenge? There will be 14 obstacles to deal with in the 7 km Challenge Course, and 11 obstacles in the 4 km Adventure Course. Without giving too much away, some of the obstacles you will deal with along the way will be timber walls, an ice bath, climbing a cargo net over a metal shipping container, and climbing over a mountain of tyres. After all the hard work is over, then you can reward yourself with a ride on the world’s largest inflatable water slide!

support toward any event, events simply would not happen. Gary and Adam Gersbach from LJ Hooker Forster are our major naming rights sponsor. Gary and Adam believed in the event from the very start and realised the incredible economic potential the event will have for our town.

Great Lakes Council and Great Lakes Tourism have also shown fantastic support for our event. The assistance and positive attitude they have displayed to ensure the event would take is t place has been great. ep The conc

“

for any busine Other sponsors raising How much of a part ascot their hand are JR Richto enter their m will teamwork play in vant or dress up rele ards, who always show the Beach Bash ... it ap. An to their business ill be their support and back pears to me that one of w entry fee of $100 ic events in our town, Club the great things about st donated to the Cy n.” Forster, Forster Holiday this event is that it will tio Fi brosis Founda Village, Hogs Breathe Café provide plenty of opportuand Beach Bums Café. nities to help others make it around the course! Comradeship The incredible work of volunteers plays a major part in obstacle course is also extremely appreciated; SES and racing. If you enter as a team of friends, famthe Westpac Rescue Helicopter supply the ily, or work mates, you will certainly be able majority of volunteers. to help each other along the way. If you are interested in joining the team, we are We will also have helpers on hand to assist. If you encounter an obstacle that presents too much of an obstacle, simply go around and continue to the next one.

always looking for additional assistance.

The Forster Beach Bash is not competitive or timed, so feel free to go as fast or as slow as you like.

Where do people go to register for the event, what costs are involved, and is there a cut-off date for registrations? The most convenient way to register for the event is online via the website. Registrations will close off midnight, Friday the 6 December.

Any sponsors and/or local businesses you’d like to thank for helping to support the Beach Bash? The cost of staging events as such is massive. Without the financial sponsorship

Registering sooner rather than later enables you to choose your wave start time. Competitors will start in waves of 100 every 15 minutes. Thanks Pete.

manning-great lakes focus 23

by Jasmine McQuillan from FOCUS.

By A J de Witte Counselling

life's W H Y WOU L D A N YO N E SE E K COU N SE L L I N G?

hy would anyone seek counselling? Seeing a professional counsellor is still something which seems to have some kind of stigma attached to it. However, there are times in our lives when having someone else to talk to and work things through with, who is outside our family or circle of friends, is just what we need. Living our lives throws up many challenges, it isn’t easy at times, admitting we may need some help at some stage is not something that suggests that we have failed, rather seeking help indicates that we want to live our lives fully and completely.

One of Audrey’s main aims when offering her counselling services is to virtually do herself out of a job. The particular way Audrey approaches her work with people is to empower a person in such a way that hopefully they won’t need to return to counselling. Audrey believes that people have the skills, ability and knowledge within themselves to overcome their own problems. Audrey offers personal and confidential counselling sessions within a safe and comfortable environment. She also aims at tailoring the counselling session to suit the individual. If you think Audrey may be able to help you, give her a ring and find out more. Phone 0428 370 669

ovember is the one month of the the year that men everywhere relax a little and let it grow! Movember supports world class men's health programs that combat prostate and testicular cancer and mental health challenges. It challenges men to grow a moustache for the 30 days of November, thereby changing their appearance and ultimately changing the face of men’s health. In October Mo Bros sign up at movember. com, and on the 1 Movember with a cleanshaven face start their mo growing journey. The ladies are not left out, and can be a part of Movember in every way ... except the moustache, and are lovingly referred to as the Mo-Sisters! To pay homage to Movember, let's have a closer look at the art of facial hair care ... and then its ultimate removal!

Caring for your Beard: By The YMCA

While you have a beard, you need to maintain it! Whether you have a designer stubble, or a full thick bush there is quite a level of commitment required to keep your beard in check.

Shampoo

EXERCISE

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

hat do you think of exercise? Love it? Or is this more: “Oh, yeah, but it's not me”? You are most likely aware of the benefits of exercise: staying young for longer, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, managing diabetes, feeling more energised, mental wellbeing, just to name a few. So how can you create a life where exercise becomes something you look forward to doing, rather than making it yet another chore in your daily life? YMCA's Member Services officer Mia Tycehurst suggests the following tricks: • Choose an activity you enjoy. • What makes you happy? Do you like dancing? Or endurance? Or the outdoors? • Be realistic with your timing. • Have a good look at all your commitments and plan your workout schedule as your escape for some 'me' time. If you struggle for

24 manning-great lakes focus.

time, ask yourself how much time you spend watching TV or on Facebook. • Let go of the fixation on results. This might sound weird, as we all want the results. YMCA just finished a Group Fitness challenge showing some amazing results by its participants. However, most of these enjoyed the feeling of being fit and healthy more than the lost centimetres and kilos. At the end of the day it's not about how you look, but rather about how you feel within yourself. Stop comparing and focus entirely on the experience. So maybe you are not as fit as you used to be? Expecting too much too soon will take the focus away on the fun in moving around. So what if you happen to step on your neighbour's foot in a Zumba class? Just enjoy it for what it is and start embracing the fact that you have muscles on your bones and blood in your veins!

A bar of soap just does not cut it! Soap will dry out the hair in your beard, and the skin underneath. Shampoo at least a couple of times a week. Choose a gentle formula that will not irritate your skin underneath. Try KMS California HEADREMEDY Sensitive Shampoo, enriched with rosemary and chamomile to calm and soothe the scalp, or in this case face, and to provide antibacterial benefits.

RRP $28.95, available locally at One Hair and Beauty. Ph: 6554 8022.

Conditioner Use a moisturising conditioner, as it will stop the beard from getting wiry! After putting it on the beard, leave it sit there for a while before rinsing it out ... Try Matrix Total Results Moisture Care. This conditioner moisturises hair layer by layer, for instant softness, shine and manageability. RRP $15.00 Available locally at Kut'N'Run. Ph: 0438 262 632.

All in One Jack Black Energizing Cleanser for Hair & Body with Rosemary, Eucalyptus and Juniper Berry. The Rosemary and Eucalyptus help naturally support immunity by reducing bacteria on the skin's surface. The energizing aroma helps clear nasal passages and aid breathing. Juniper Berry helps detox the body and assists in post-workout recovery, all whilst leaving your beard in a manageable condition! RRP $24.99 available at Amcal Max Ph: 6554 6322.

Shave Kits And when its time to go ... Dermalogica have the ultimate in shave kits if you would like to do it yourself. Their exclusive three-step regimen takes into account beard type, hair growth pattern and skin condition for a shave that delivers your healthiest skin possible. RRP $50.50. Available locally at Sanctuary Beauty, 6555 3855. And remember, it's all for a great cause! See au.movember.com for more details on how to get involved!

only $

28.95

only $

24.95 only $

50.50 only $

15.00

Available locally at Sanctuary Beauty. Available locally at Amcal Max.

Available locally at One Hair and Beauty.

Available locally at Kut'N'Run.

Experience the Difference SummerY Bootcamp It’s that time of the year again: you put your swimmers on, but for some reason they don’t look as good on you as they did last year… oh, and then there is that kick around of the ball on the weekend; you kept panting and puffing although you hardly moved … Does that sound like you? Boy, does YMCA have the perfect remedy for you! SummerY Bootcamp is a 6 week program to get you fit and toned for Xmas. The emphasis is on fun, not skill. No pressure, no vomiting, just pure enjoyment while being active. Who says you can’t have those Xmas drinks and still get fit? There are 2 timeslots to choose from: if you are a 6am exerciser, your sessions will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you need child minding, we have Mondays and Wednesdays allocated at 4.30pm (crèche included). All weekday sessions will run on the Oval next to the YMCA. Then, for the extra keen ones, there is a bonus session on Saturdays at 7am at South One Mile. The program will roll off on November 14 and finish right in time for the Xmas pudding! You have to be quick, though. There are limited spots, so call today and enquire on 6591 7199.

A J de Witte Counselling Why would anyone seek counselling? Seeing a professional counsellor is still something which seems to have some kind of stigma attached to it. However, there are times in our lives when having someone else to talk to and work things through with, who is outside our family or circle of friends, is just what we need. Living our lives throws up many challenges; it isn’t easy at times. Admitting we may need some help at some stage is not something that suggests that we have failed, rather, seeking help indicates that we want to live our lives fully and completely. One of Audrey’s main aims when offering her counselling services is to virtually do herself out of a job. The particular way Audrey approaches her work with people is to empower a person in such a way that hopefully they won’t need to return to counselling. Audrey believes that people have the skills, ability and knowledge within themselves to overcome their own problems. Audrey offers personal and confidential counselling sessions within a safe and comfortable environment. She also aims at tailoring the counselling session to suit the individual. If you think Audrey may be able to help you, give her a ring and find out more.

At Ross Elliott’s Tuncurry Pharmacy we are locally owned and operated, servicing the local area for over 40 years. We are conveniently located in the main street of Tuncurry, open 7 days a week with easy access to the new Woolworths. With trained staff always on hand, Tuncurry Pharmacy is your number one stop for all of your pharmaceutical needs. At Tuncurry Pharmacy we are passionate about providing high quality services to our local community, including: Webster packing; Blood Pressure monitoring; Diabetes Australia Access Point & Diabetes health checks; Home Medication Reviews with our knowledgeable pharmacists; Regular Hearing Australia Checks. Tuncurry Pharmacy stocks premium brand prescription items or, if you choose, we also stock quality generic brands. We carry a large range of quality brands at competitive prices including: Bioglan, Blackmores & Ethical Nutrients Vitamins, Cancer Council Hats & Sunglasses, Natio & DrLewinn’s Skincare, Designer Brands Cosmetics plus many more. Tuncurry Pharmacy is also the home of beautiful and affordable giftware for all occasions. Our friendly staff members are always happy to help you find the perfect gift, and lay-bys are still welcome here. There is new stock arriving daily for all your Christmas gift giving needs. So when you need quality advice and friendly service, come to Ross Elliott’s Tuncurry Pharmacy.

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IGNORANCE ISN’T BLISS Get wise to men’s health Many of the top health issues that affect men are rarely spoken about, despite the fact they go to the very core e of how a man feels about his sexuality, his social and psychologica psychological al wellbeing, career and relationships. With November marking Me Men’s en’s Health Month across Australia, there’s no better time to talk about some of the ‘no-go zones’ of men’s health…

Prostate Cancer As tough as it was ﬁghting fellow Vikings in the Armidale pine forests as part of the Dark Age Re-enactment of 800 AD Viking stoushes, a bigger ﬁght was ahead for Warren Parish. A checkup with his GP in 2012 and a subsequent biopsy revealed prostate cancer.

breast cancer, but it doesn’t receive the same publicity. “While most men now days have heard of prostate cancer, many still don’t have regular checkups,” says urologist Dr Santoshi Nagaonkar, who specialises in the treatment of bladder, prostate, kidney and reproductive diseases at Mayo Private. Warren was fortunate he saw his doctor early enough, and the prostate cancer had not spread.

More men die of prostate cancer than women die of breast cancer, but it doesn’t receive the same publicity.

“Hearing the diagnosis was like someone kicking the bottom out of my boat,” says Warren, who lives in the Manning region. “For awhile I thought ‘I’m going to die’, and then I said ‘Hang on a minute – get off your bum and ﬁght’.” He had surgery to remove his prostate and began a bumpy road to recovery.

According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, the most common cancer in Australian men is prostate cancer, with one in nine developing the disease in their lifetime. More men die of prostate cancer than women die of 26 manning-great lakes focus.

Prostate cancer is an insidious disease, often with few symptoms until the disease is advanced. “Some men may experience changes in the urine stream such as urgency, stop/start flow, frequency at night, difficulty starting flow or taking a long time to finish urinating,” says urologist Dr Ben Kwok. Dr Kwok specialises in the management of urological cancers, laparoscopic kidney surgery and voiding dysfunction at Mayo Private. “Rare

symptoms include blood in semen and changes in erection. Men should start having prostate check-ups at the age of 50, or from the age of 40 if there is a family history of prostate cancer,” says Dr Kwok. “And the check-up should include a blood test – to check prostate speciﬁc antigen (PSA) – as well as a digital rectal examination (DRE),” he adds. Dr Nagaonkar concurs. “As reluctant as some men – and their doctors – are to include DRE in the check-up, it is vitally important. At least 20% of prostate cancers are picked up during digital rectal examination even though the PSA blood test was normal.”

Incontinence – urine leakage For Warren, while it was a relief to be free of cancer, he was one of the 5% of men who can suffer from urinary incontinence (bladder leakage) after radical prostate surgery. “The doctor calls me Mr 5%,” jokes Warren. But it was a difﬁcult time of not always being in control of his bladder. “Being in my 60s and incontinent of urine was a demeaning and humbling experience. Your

focus changes from gardening and travel, to worrying about doctors appointments and whether you’ve got enough supplies of pull-ups (adult nappies).” Warren says until he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he wasn’t aware that in the majority of cases prostate cancer could be treated. “I was also unaware that if you did become incontinent and leak urine, there are many effective treatments. Most men don’t know the extent of the solutions available now.” Incontinence occurs when the sphincter muscle that controls the flow of urine out of the bladder becomes weak or damaged. “This can happen with ageing, after surgery, stroke, pelvic trauma, or conditions such as Parkinson’s disease,” says Dr Nagaonkar. “Incontinence can greatly affect quality of life – causing embarrassment, inconvenience, cost of nappies, worrying about smell and wetness, and losing the confidence to travel or get out of the house much.” Dr Nagaonkar says there are a number of treatment options ranging from pelvic floor muscle exercises to surgery. “Gavin Jackson at

Being in my 60s and incontinent of urine was a demeaning and humbling experience. Mayo’s Physiotherapy Network has a great program where he uses ultrasound while teaching guys exactly which muscle to use to strengthen the pelvic ﬂoor.” Doctors use treatments such as injecting collagen into the sphincter to plump it up, or surgical treatments like implanting a ‘sling’ to support the muscles around the urethra which drains urine from the bladder. “The sling is a more permanent solution,” says Dr Nagaonkar.

“We can also implant a new, artiﬁcial, urinary sphincter, which closely mimics the body’s natural sphincter. Incontinence doesn’t have to be something you put up with for the rest of your life; there’s a lot that can be done these days to rectify the problem and restore quality of life.”

Warren and Frances Parish “We’ve had our meltdowns, but we’re closer than ever. The intimacy has increased between us.” manning-great lakes focus 27

IGNORANCE ISN’T BLISS Get wise to men’s health Erectile dysfunction – impotence In Dr Nagaonkar’s day-to-day practice, he hears some heartbreaking stories of what men put up with. “It is quite distressing to hear a guy admit he hasn’t had an erection for 10 years. It’s not just the men that suffer; some of their partners have to accept it or eventually leave; it’s not uncommon for relationships to fall apart.” Dr Nagaonkar says erectile dysfunction can happen at any age. “About 20% of young guys aged in their 20s suffer erectile dysfunction (ED) due to a variety of psychological and physical causes. With each decade of age the prevalence of ED increases, so that by the time men are in their 60s, about 60% of them have some form of erectile dysfunction. For those over 75 years of age, about 75% suffer ED.” There are myriad causes of erectile dysfunction ranging from psychological issues to physical problems. Causes of ED include cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer, diabetes, medications, hormone imbalance, injury or trauma. Fortunately there are many treatment options. “When treating erectile dysfunction we take a stepped-up approach,” says Dr Nagaonkar. “Generally we’d start with the non-invasive options. Some men beneﬁt greatly from seeing a sex therapist or psychologist. Others are prescribed tablets or injections. For some, the cause is as simple as an androgen deﬁciency and testosterone may help. There are vacuum erection devices and then the surgical option of an implantable penile prosthesis, which is a more permanent solution.” Dr Nagaonkar warns men not to fall for the non-prescribed medications purchased online or as seen on some advertisements. “Vulnerable men have spent thousands of dollars on products where there is no way to verify the product’s legitimacy. Men often keep quiet

about the fact they’ve spent lots of money, and the products they purchased may not have worked.”

20 grams. Dr Nagaonkar says it’s not uncommon for enlarged prostates to weigh 100-300 grams.

Erectile dysfunction still tends to be a concealed issue. “In the past men were too embarrassed to talk about it. They lacked information about their options, or reluctantly accepted erectile dysfunction as an eventuality of ageing,” says Dr Nagaonkar. “It doesn’t have to be that way – healthy men aged in their 80s and 90s have had penile implants. And surgery is just one choice; there are many options available and it’s time men took action to know what resources are out there for them.”

There are not always symptoms, but sometimes men experience weak urine flow, getting up more often during the night to urinate, urgency, straining, inability to empty bladder completely, or difficulty starting or stopping flow.

“At Mayo we can use GreenLight Laser technology to vapourise the tissue inside the enlarged prostate,” says Dr Nagaonkar, who has successfully used this technology to treat close to 300 patients. “This procedure widens

Mayo Private has just purchased the latest version GreenLight Laser which enables laser surgery to be done on larger prostates in shorter operating times.

Benign prostate enlargement As the name suggests, there is a form of prostate enlargement that is not cancerous and is known as benign prostate enlargement (BPE). BPE is very common in men over 50 years of age. It is different to prostate cancer in that benign prostate enlargement doesn’t usually require complete surgical removal of the prostate – but more like a hollowing out or a ‘re-bore’ as it’s often referred to. “A benign enlarged prostate is a completely separate disease from prostate cancer,” says Dr Kwok. “With most men, as they age, their prostate will gradually get larger and larger.” The average, normal prostate weighs about

It is quite distressing to hear a guy admit he hasn’t had an erection for 10 years.

For more information, see your GP and contact: Dr Santoshi Nagaonkar (pictured on left): Phone 02 6551 8400, or Fax 02 6551 8411 Dr Ben Kwok (pictured on right): Phone 02 6551 0722, or Fax 02 6551 0822

28 manning-great lakes focus.

Treatment options range from lifestyle modiﬁcations, tablets, TURP surgery (transurethral resection of the prostate) or laser surgery on the prostate.

“If you experience those symptoms, see your GP,” says Dr Kwok. “People say to me ‘If it’s a benign condition, why bother getting it treated’? Research shows the condition is likely to progress and eventually becomes a qualityof-life issue; most commonly, men want a less disturbed sleep at night. Or else there may be a medical reason to treat – such as urinary retention (inability to void) or associated bladder stones, infection, or kidney impairment. The condition gets worse with age. The prostate will gradually get bigger and bigger with time, and progressively constrict the ﬂow of urine.”

and re-opens the channel for urine to ﬂow through. Generally with laser prostate surgery there is less bleeding, less time in hospital, and men don’t usually have to stop their anticoagulant medications (like aspirin or warfarin) in order to have the surgery.” Mayo Private has just purchased the latest version GreenLight Laser, enabling laser surgery on larger prostates in shorter operating times. While laser prostate surgery is considered less invasive than TURP surgery, it still involves an anaesthetic and a hospital stay. “Laser surgery can only be used on benign enlarged prostates – not for cancer of the prostate,” adds Dr Nagaonkar.

SLEEP DISORDERS the ‘hidden epidemic’ Having served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, George Schubert never thought he’d do battle with sleep for most of his adult life. “I was a shocking snorer; the walls would almost vibrate! I would wake a lot during the night and often wake with a jump. And then in the morning I’d feel tired and lethargic and just want to lie in bed all day.” George, a 72 year old from the Manning region, is now retired but says decades of chronic problems with sleep made it hard during his working years as a truck driver. “I had sleep problems after Vietnam, and put it down to the war. I was eventually diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.” About seven years ago George was also diagnosed with the most common sleep disorder for men – obstructive sleep apnoea. “Obstructive sleep apnoea is where the muscles of the upper airway relax so much during sleep they partially or completely block, and the person stops breathing for periods of time – from seconds to minutes,” says Dr Krishan Gupta. Dr Gupta moved to Taree in 2013 and is a physician specialising in sleep, respiratory and general medicine at Mayo Private and Manning Base Hospitals. “Often the person isn’t aware they stop breathing, but their brain recognises a lack of oxygen and alerts the body to wake up. This cycle can happen again and again – all night – and the impacts on health, work and relationships can be signiﬁcant.” Fortunately for George, his GP referred him for a sleep test. “My GP was an ex-army doctor and he told me to go and get a sleep study done. And I said to him ‘Why do I need a sleep test? I can sleep all day and night!’ Little did I know that was one of the symptoms of sleep apnoea.” George’s sleep test showed he stopped

breathing dozens of times each hour during sleep. “When I found out, it made sense why I felt tired all the time. What I didn’t realise was that sleep apnoea has other health impacts as well, like poor memory, poor attention, not being able to think clearly to make decisions.” Dr Gupta says sleep disturbances like insomnia, restless legs and snoring are often seen as “benign conditions” people just put up with. Sleep disorders range from mild to severe, and the associated consequences range from nuisance to lethal. “Chronic poor sleep equals poor quality of life, excessive daytime sleepiness, lethargy, social disharmony, crankiness, anger, morning headaches, and motor vehicle accidents or accidents at work,” says Dr Gupta. “Sleep apnoea has also been linked with high blood pressure, heart disease and progressive neurocognitive dysfunction: people have been misdiagnosed with early dementia when in fact symptoms of poor memory, forgetfulness, difﬁculty doing accounting and calculation were partially or completely reversed when sleep apnoea was treated effectively,” he adds. Obstructive sleep apnoea is often called the ‘hidden epidemic’. “A landmark study showed that 24% of men aged 30-60 years have this condition, but a large proportion remain undiagnosed because they don’t know they have symptoms, don’t seek advice or don’t have access to assessment,” says Dr Gupta. An overnight sleep study measures a number of things including how often a person stops breathing and for how long, and how low their oxygen levels drop. “I’ve seen a sleep study where a person stopped breathing – apnoea –

124 times in one hour,” says Dr Gupta. “That means they stopped breathing about once every 30 seconds. No wonder they feel terrible the next morning. And in sleep studies we only measure periods of apnoea that last more than 10 seconds.” Sleep apnoea can impact partners and families as well. “My wife was always digging me in the ribs – either to get me to stop snoring or to tell me to start breathing,” says George. “Living with someone with sleep apnoea is hard on the partner; she’d hear me and wake up, and then couldn’t get back to sleep herself.” Dr Gupta says it’s not uncommon to ﬁnd couples sleeping in different rooms if one is a loud snorer. Treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea depends on the severity of the condition. For mild to moderate sleep apnoea, treatment may start with lifestyle modiﬁcation such as reducing alcohol, losing weight, or quitting smoking. Moderate to severe cases of obstructive sleep apnoea may require the use of a special mouthguard or CPAP mask.

pressure into his airway via a mask – keeping his airway open and ensuring better oxygen levels. “CPAP is not a miracle cure but it goes a damn long way towards being right,” says George. “Using the CPAP I don’t snore and the machine hums along in a monotone so it doesn’t disturb my wife – at least not as much as my snoring did! I’m sleeping better and waking up in the morning feeling more relaxed and better than I used to.” George observes there’s a lack of knowledge about the impact of chronic sleep disorders. “I guarantee if you walked down the street and asked anybody, most people wouldn’t be able to tell you what sleep apnoea is. Not enough people know about sleep problems and all the things that can be done to help. It needs to be brought out in the open more.” For more information, see you GP and contact Dr Krishan Gupta (below) on: Phone: 02 6550 0705 Fax: 02 6550 0706

I’ve seen a sleep study where a person stopped breathing 124 times in one hour. “Some people don’t tolerate CPAP very well,” says Dr Gupta. “There are other options and new designs, and I believe many more people can have comfortable and effective use of CPAP with the right ﬁtting and follow-up.” George now sleeps with a CPAP machine beside him which continuously delivers positive

serving the local community since 1922 General hospital enquiries: 02 6539 3600 Website: www.mayoprivate.com.au

Note: Health information contained in this article is general in nature and is not to be substituted for the advice of your doctor.

manning-great lakes focus 29

focusinterview

Medisense Health Care

PETE BYRON

Fishing Tackle Australia

Pete Byron was 16 when he started working part-time with Fishing Tackle Australia, the world's largest fishing and tackle store. ishing Tackle Australia is the world's largest fishing and tackle store; how and when did you get involved with this business? I was 16 years old when I started part-time work with Fishing tackle Australia and moved to fulltime after finishing my HSC, and 15 years later I’m still here.

your customers? This means our customers, both in store and online, have access to the most comprehensive range of fishing tackle and outdoor gear all at the one location. With the world's largest fishing tackle store, Coffs Harbour Outdoor World and the Kayak Shak on the same site, there is nowhere else with such a range of products in the same place.

Tell us a little bit more about your journey so far with Fishing Tackle Australia? As mentioned, I started working weekends in the shop at 16, then moved to full-time later on. I spent a few years as mail order manager before moving into the office to assist on the mail order catalogue and was involved in the development of our website. Now I am part of the management team that oversees the running of the entire business.

How many staff do you have across the group? Are they retail staff or experts in their selected fields? Between all the stores and mail order, we have almost 50 staff, all with experience and extensive knowledge in their respective areas of the business. Being an independent, local business, our aim has always been to provide expert service and advice in all of our stores.

Over the past thirty years, how has the business developed? Originally a gun shop started by Reg and Carly Coutts-Smith in the '70s, the business transitioned to a dedicated fishing shop under the name Fishermans Heaven and has continued to grow ever since. The business name was changed to Fishing Tackle Australia to match up with the name of the shop's Mail Order Tackle Magazine. The mail order magazine and the eventual website had a huge influence on the business. Selling products across Australia allowed the shop to stock the most expansive range of fishing tackle in the country. Expanding all the time, FTA grew into Australia’s, and eventually the world's, largest fishing tackle store. The business has also expanded laterally opening Coffs Harbour Outdoor World and the Kayak Shak on the same site. What are the advantages of having all your stores based at the same site for

30 manning-great lakes focus.

What does your business pride itself on? I would say our business prides itself on offering by far the largest range of fishing tackle and outdoor products at the best prices, whilst still providing the expert service and advice that comes with being an independent and homegrown business. And in your professional opinion, where on the Coffs Coast is the best place to fish? It’s hard to answer that question, as there is fantastic fishing throughout the Coffs Coast and it depends on what kind of fishing you prefer. Around the harbour itself is a great central location for anyone visiting the area, with rock fishing and beach fishing on offer, as well as being the access point for offshore fishing, and there’s great fishing around the marina area, especially for kids and families. My personal favourite locations though, would be the small Bass and Trout streams in the hinterland, which are only 10 - 45 minutes drive from Coffs Harbour.

Men are notoriously bad in acknowledging and getting help and treatment for most serious health problems. Most need to be nagged about seeing a doctor, preferring instead to believe that ‘the problem will go away or get better by itself’. The most significant health problems in Australian men are: Heart Attack and related disorders, Stroke, Diabetes, Cancer and Mental Health issues. Cardiovascular disease, which includes all pathological conditions involving the heart and blood vessels, has been described as the largest health problem in Australia. Coronary heart disease (CHD), including heart attacks and angina, have been identified as the most common cause of sudden death in Australia. However, while this remains a worrying figure, death rates due to CHD have been observed to decline in recent years. This encouraging observation may be the result of better prevention strategies and improved treatment approaches. In the male Australian population stroke is second only to CHD as a major contributor to death rates, however, similarly to CHD death rates due to stroke have recently been observed to

be declining. Lifestyle factors are an important contributor to diabetes among the male population. Mental health is a very important consideration for Australian men with male suicide rates, although fluctuating, are between three to five times higher than the rest of the population. Since health initiatives have started focusing on combating youth suicide, the rates amongst male youths (1524 year olds) is declining but the rate is increasing amongst older males (within the 25-39 year age group). Strong incentives remain to direct more research towards identifying underlying mental health issues in the male population. So gentleman, please be more diligent in getting attention for any worrying or unusual symptoms or conditions - and ladies, try to encourage the men in your family, whether young or old, to look after themselves and have things checked out. Medisense wishes to heartily welcome a new full time female GP to the Practice, Dr Heidy Kuzman. Dr Kuzman is experienced in all aspects of general practice medicine with a particular interest in women’s health and paediatrics.

At Forster Private Hospital, we understand that your health is your most valuable asset, and your well-being is of utmost importance. As such, we are proud to deliver the ultimate in modern medical treatment and unparalleled attention to patient care, all set in a beautiful, healing environment. Our 83 bed hospital has a full array of services including inpatient and outpatient medical treatments and surgeries, 2 operating suites, high dependency unit, diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology, pathology, as well as other ancillary services.

Unparalleled Amenities Our accomplished and experienced staff is dedicated to the comfort and well-being of each and every patient while creating a soothing and restful environment that promotes the healing process. Our amenities offer patients and families an inviting environment that encourages relaxation and healing. Forster Private Hospital offers: • First class meals and room service • Flat panel televisions • Wireless Internet access Innovative Care Forster Private Hospital has brought together nationally recognized physicians and specialists known for their outstanding achievements and innovative treatments. When you elect to come to Forster Private Hospital you can be assured that you have selected a facility with an excellent reputation and a level of care that is unsurpassed. Patient care and safety are at the core of everything we do. We utilize the latest technology and modern medical treatment protocols to meet the exacting standards of today’s rapidly changing healthcare environment. Hydrotherapy Pool

The pool is heated to a soothing temperature and its warmth and buoyancy make hydrotherapy especially suitable for those recovering from surgery or accidents and for sufferers of arthritis and other conditions that limit movement. For people with severe limitations in their movement, whatever the reason, a heated pool is often the only place where independent movement can take place. The physiotherapist always joins the patient in the pool to guide and assist with movement. There’s a hoist to assist those unable to use steps to enter or leave the pool.

Our Surgeons are all well respected in their ﬁeld of surgery. With their commitment and dedication to the people of the mid north coast, we are able to provide exceptional surgical services that are close to home. Services on offer are:

Aquatic therapy can be used for relaxation, pain relief, strengthening muscles, improving balance and for joint mobilization. Sessions available include:

• Ophthalmology: Cataract Procedures and plastics

Independent • One on one • Supervised • Groups So call us now and arrange to speak with one of our friendly staff, ph 02 6555 1333 Surgical Services From Joint Replacement surgery, to the most advanced surgical and minimally invasive procedures, Forster Private Hospital provides a full range of surgical services. More than 4000 surgeries are performed at the hospital each year, ensuring a wealth of experience that translates into superior outcomes for patients.

• Orthopaedic Surgery: Hip & Knee Joint Replacements • Urological Procedures • Gynaecological Procedures • General Surgery: Colonoscopies, Gastroscopies, Bowel Surgery, Hernia Repairs • Breast Surgery • Oral and Dental Surgery • Skin Cancer Treatments and Plastic Surgery Our technology and facilities are complemented by the hospitals overarching commitment to highly personalized, individual care. In essence, Forster Private Hospital is a community-based provider with the advanced technologies of a metropolitan facility. Care, Commitment and Community is what we are about. So call in and see what Forster Private Hospital can do for you.

Remember this is your hospital. It was built by the community and for the community, lets show our support and get behind the hospital thats there for you. So come on it just takes one simple sentence “I would like to have my treatment at Forster Private thank you”.

Phone (02) 6555 1333 29 South Street, Forster for enquiries please visit our website www.forsterprivate.com.au

manning-great lakes focus 31

Rhinoplasty Surgery of the Nose

32 manning-great lakes focus.

hate the shape of my

with a groove in the middle of the

‘Septoplasty’ is surgical correction

nose!” is a frequent lament

tip of nose. This problem is due to

which improves the air entry, as well

heard from people who

large lower lateral cartilages of the

as the appearance of the nose.

have a problem with the

nose, which are also splayed apart.

Rhinoplasty needs meticulous

appearance of their nose.

Correction is by reducing the size

assessment and planning.

The shape of the nose is mainly due to

of the lower lateral cartilages and

the bony and cartilaginous skeleton,

bringing them together, often with

over which the skin of the nose is

the addition of a cartilage graft from

draped.

the septum (the cartilage in the

To effect change in the shape, the

midline which splits the nose into two

skeleton has to be altered to allow the

sides).

skin to drape over the new shape.

Surgery is also done to make a

caused by the ‘skeletal’ surgery of

A common problem is the dorsal

large nose smaller, a broad nose

the nose, as the soft tissue (skin and

hump, which is due to a prominent

narrower and to change ethnic/

fat) has to ‘shrink’ over the ‘new’

bony bridge of nose, and which can

inherited problems in the shape of the

skeleton. While change is evident

be made smaller, to get rid of the

nose.

by three months, a final result often

‘hump’.

At times, the surgery is to improve

takes up to a year. The surgery, done

A second problem that causes grief

breathing due to blocks caused by a

under general anaesthetic, produces

to some is a broad tip of nose (‘boxy

deviated septum, which can be a long-

significant improvement in function

tip’), which is also ‘bifid’ or split,

standing problem or due to injury.

and appearance.

While traditionally it was done using a ‘closed’ approach, over the last 30 years, due to the influence of Dr. Jack Gunter from Dallas, the ‘open’ approach has gained popularity. It takes time to see the full changes

f e a t u r e

Kindilan Early Childhood Centre Kindilan has been operating as a not for profit organisation since 1986 and has grown to accommodate more than double its original enrolments and tripled its staff members. Being involved in Early Childhood Learning involves many aspects, including nurturing and educating children in our care, as well as being advocates for young children. It is part of our mission to set standards which continually provide quality care for all children. Kindilan is a home away from home â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; where we strive to ensure children, educators and families are always welcome, feel a sense of belonging and are recognised and valued. Children develop understandings of community, which includes respect for and inclusion of others, honesty, care, compassion and empathy for all. This is an integral part of our philosophy

and the underlying values that direct our curriculum and teachings. We know that learning through play is essential for children. Through play, babies and young children explore and learn to understand the world around them, as they come to communicate, discover, imagine and create. We provide an environment that is natural, stimulating, adventurous, interesting and physically engaging. Our vast natural outdoor environments with sustainable gardens and environmentally friendly practices allow the children to explore, investigate and participate in learning experiences that promote positive wellbeing and lifelong habits. Early Childhood is about relationships ... positive relationships are built on foundations of trust and respect, which we continually work at to provide environments that are nurturing for our children.

manning-great lakes focus 33

f e a t u r e

Dolphins Child Care Centre Building resilience in children Something we think a lot about at Blossoms is helping our children gain strength and confidence in their own thinking. With this strength and confidence comes responsibility – knowing what is right and wrong and being able to make the right decisions based on their own thoughts. We do this by looking at children as being competent people. We have high expectations, we allow children to make mistakes, but we encourage them to try and resolve problems and develop values that will help them look at future issues and analyse what should happen. At Blossoms too we want to build a child’s social capacity. We know that this develops best when children feel supported, stimulated and safe. These social skills are closely interwoven with emotions, temperament, values, attitudes, knowledge and cognitive skills. Building social skills is known now to be a protective factor for children’s mental health and wellbeing. We know that children who develop these skills will be able to face their future with confidence. We want not only school readiness but life readiness! Parents can request a copy of our educational program. Contact Lyn 6557 2463 or email earlylearning@blossoms.net.au - Enrolments are now open for 2014.

34 manning-great lakes focus.

Dolphins Child Care Centre is a family owned and operated children’s centre, caring for children from 6 weeks to 12 years and their families of the Great Lakes region for the past 16 years. Our service includes a babies room, a comprehensive pre-school program, and before and after school care programs. Dolphins offers the complete care package for families. Staff at Dolphins have embraced the new Regulations and Quality Assurance process that came into place in 2012. The main focus of the National Quality Standards are on higher staff to child ratios, alongside improved minimum qualifications for all staff. These standards, Australia wide, will improve the quality of care and education for all children. At Dolphins we have individual programs for each child. These programs are devised by their group leaders and are based the observations taken of their focus child. With these observations group leaders are able to plan activities to extend on each individual child’s interests, strengths and skills. Our afterschool care program for school age children includes afternoon tea, homework supervision, craft and computer time. For more information about our care and educational programs, please call our Early Childhood Teacher Jo on 6555 3266.

Kiddies Hut @ Diamond Beach Childhood experts agree: attending a high-quality program prepares kids for kindergarten and beyond. But finding the best option for your child takes time and research. To get you started, we've answered your biggest questions ... What's the difference between childcare and preschool? The main difference is childcare centres are generally open longer hours and cater for a wider age range. The programs are similar and offer the same types of experiences and stimulating activities for the children. How important is preschool? There's increasing evidence that children gain a lot from going to preschool. At preschool, they become exposed to numbers, letters, and shapes. And, more important, they learn how to socialise – get along with other children, share, contribute to circle time, and communicate with other adults outside of their family unit. The community of Hallidays Point is fortunate to have a high quality Early Childhood Care & Education setting situated on acreage in Diamond Beach. Finalists in the Australian Child Care Week Awards for the past 3 years is testament to the hard work of the team and acknowledges their commitment to the National Quality Standards and Early Years Learning Framework. Why not drop in and see for yourself – enquiries are welcome at any time.

f e a t u r e

Little Pioneers Childcare & Education Centre

Great Lakes Children’s Centre At Great Lakes Children’s Centre,

We continue to offer 3 learning spaces

our motto is ‘Playing to learn and

being the Dolphin Room for children 2-3

learning to play’, in recognition of the

years, Turtle Room for 3-4 year olds, and

importance of play and learning.

the Whale Room for children in their year

The children’s learning is guided by the

before school.

principles and outcomes of the Early Years

We are able to offer a variety of fee

Learning Framework and the new National

options, allowing families to select

Quality Standards. Our teams of qualified

the most affordable sessions for their

and experienced educators regularly

circumstances. Additional fee relief during

reflect upon their curriculum practices and

2013 for short day pre-school families has

achievements and are involved in ongoing

resulted in many families being able to

professional development and learning.

access two days pre-school for 2 days per

‘Learning Links’ is our well-resourced

week at no cost!

transition to school program.

If you are interested in finding out more

Learning Links prepares children for

about our service, please call in, phone or

Kindergarten and focuses on literacy,

find us on Facebook at

numeracy and self help skills.

www.fb.com/forsterearlylearningcentre

Little Pioneers Childcare & Education Centre is a state of the art, purpose built, air-conditioned childcare setting. At Little Pioneers we have three purpose built rooms: a babies room, toddler room and a preschool room that fosters children’s readiness and transition to kindergarten. A feature for each of the rooms is that they all look out towards the natural reserve that surrounds the centre, offering the children the opportunity to peacefully observe local wildlife within their own environment. Our philosophy at Little Pioneers is that we believe that children are capable and resourceful and that they are active learners. Children learn through play, and our programs are based on play experiences for each child’s individual interests. We also believe that each

child is unique and special, and we treat each child as an individual. At Little Pioneers we endeavour to build upon each child’s self image, independence and confidence. Little Pioneers employs a committed team of fully trained and experienced staff, ranging from university trained Early Childhood Teachers, Diploma trained and Certificate III trained staff. Little Pioneers operates in excess of the National Quality Standards regarding staff:child ratios. All Educators pride themselves on being dedicated to each child’s health, welfare and educational interests. Little Pioneers is now taking enrolments for 2014. Please contact Lisa McGarrigle to request an Information Booklet or arrange a tour of the centre.

manning-great lakes focus 35

NOVEMBER 2013

WITH TERRI

The Costume Party Shop The Costume Party Shop burst on to the Forster/ Tuncurry costume scene in 2002, offering clean contemporary costume and fancy dress hire. Our aim is to take the hassle out of locating your perfect costume with our up to date and easy to navigate website (no more wasting time digging through racks of old and unsuitable costumes). Innovation and creativity is the very substance of The Costume Party Shop. We believe hiring a costume should be affordable, clean and convenient. We love growing and nurturing our ever expanding range of modern and extraordinary costumes, ranging from: flappers, gangsters, superheroes, and fairytale characters. We also carry unusual characters which have been custom made and sourced from all over the globe. 5 Reasons to choose The Costume Party Shop 1. Great Service - the Costume Party Shop is owner operated. We love to assist our customers, and we live to dress you up. 2. Affordable - we’re really affordable, and our hire terms are flexible. Our average costume hire of $25 is pretty reasonable. 3. No Hidden Surprises - every costume posted in our catalogue is accurately priced. 4. Up To Date - we’re addicted to growing our costume range, reflecting current trends, video games and movies. 5. Customer Loyalty - we look after our regular customers.

AQUARIUS.

GEMINI.

January 21 - February 19

May 22 - June 22

The ending of feeling suspended is near. You have some undigested emotions from your last cycle at work that may need some loving answers. When you have changed this inner conflict, nothing will be holding you back. Set new goals and give yourself permission to succeed. Citrine shatters negativity and attracts an abundance of luck.

PISCES. February 20 - March 20

You are going to experience itchy feet and a restlessness as your new cycle approaches. Setting fresh goals at that time will ensure a momentum that will benefit you enormously. Love will be your major influence in this next cycle. Loving life in general. Rose Quartz will amplify your happy feelings.

ARIES. March 21 - April 20

You may need to honour your boundaries. Don’t be afraid to say no to the things that leave you feeling uncomfortable, and yes to those things exciting you. You have new social influences to look forward to, so enjoy putting on your gypsy shoes and have fun. Turquoise is great for boosting confidence.

CANCER. June 23 - July 23 Ju

You are currently being given the opportunity to learn about yourself through your connection with another person. If you use each other as mirrors and work on your fears to shatter them, nothing will hold your connection back from exploring new heights. Rose Quartz, the ‘crystal of love’, can be carried in a pocket.

LEO. July 24 - August 23

You are likely to be adventuring with new foundations in life, so be aware of insecurities playing with you. A new dwelling or work changes can be anticipated. Keep a light heart and set some new goals, so you can easily access your opportunities as they appear. Carnelian is great for embracing change.

TAURUS.

VIRGO.

April 21 - May 21

August 24 - September 23 A

Love yourself enough to stop sabotaging your successes. If you know that you deserve the best, nothing will be a challenge. Give yourself permission to succeed before trying new ventures, and know when is a good time to be silent. Some fresh goals would be favourable. Selenite helps us reach our full potential.

36 manning-great lakes focus.

Love is likely to be the strongest influence in your reality at this time. Embrace it making newfound friends and enjoy your social calendar. Set some fresh goals, as your luck is picking up also. Career changes can be anticipated as well. Ruby shatters any fear of the unknown.

Professional responsibilities need to be left at work, and not taken home. This is causing your seriousness. Bring your silly self back and prank or play more. You are naturally able to be very light hearted, but at present you’re vulnerable with serious energy. Clear quartz lightens our energy; carry some.

LIBRA. September 24 - October 23

You are learning how strong and independent you already are and what little you need from others. Identify what feelings you may think others can give you, wake that feeling up on your own and breathe it through every cell to strengthen it. Ruby leaves us feeling connected to our strength and independence.

SCORPIO. October 24 - November 22

Set some fresh goals and then wait for your surprise. The universe has an element of intrigue in store for you, and to access it all you need to do is listen to your own inner voice. This is the energy centre you will be guided from. Amethyst is great for following guidance.

SAGITTARIUS. November 23 - December 21

You may be finding a new depth of love in your relationship or finding a new love if you’re single. You can anticipate a solid connection for clear, open communication and complete truth. You will enjoy how this relationship leaves you feeling about yourself. Sugilite will help nurture love fearlessly.

CAPRICORN. December 22 - January 20

You need to set some new goals but by being aware of your motive, you will speed the delivery time up. So sit quietly and reflect on different areas in life and wish for new influences, making sure your fears are not your motive but your passions are guiding you. Aquamarine is efficient at releasing fears and opening new beginnings.

Focus on Health with Dr Ami Aganan

focusTourism. Richard Old - Great Lakes Manager Tourism & Marketing

Understanding Dementia There are over 321,600 Australians alians living with dementia, with approximately 1 new case diagnosed every 6 minutes. There is one in four people over 85 yrs old have dementia. Dementia is the third leading cause of death in Australia, it is progressive and irreversible and there is no current treatment available to halt the intellectual decline. The aim of currently available medications is to delay the progression in intellectual deterioration. It is not a specific disease, but rather a collection of symptoms that affect the brain. It affects thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday tasks. It interferes with the person’s normal social or working life, marked by memory disorders, personality changes, and impaired reasoning. There are barriers for diagnosing dementia early. Among them and perhaps the most common is the stigma associated with the diagnosis. The diagnosis of dementia is likely to cause distress and might even trigger depression and extreme cases, suicide. There is also the delay in treatment through a misunderstanding of symptoms by doctors, that if the patient is not expressing concern about memory loss, the GP should not test for dementia. And then there is also the existence of a protective partner and the families arranging support rather than seeking medical advice. A common belief, held by the general public and even some doctors is that dementia is an expected part of ageing or that forgetfulness is common in the elderly and does not require further exploration. Several of these beliefs can be challenged. Dementia is not a normal part of ageing. Most people with dementia are older, but it is important to remember that not all older people get dementia. In fact one study showed that only 10% of 80 to 84 yrs old have moderate to severe

dementia It is more common after the age of 65 dementia. years but can happen to anybody, even to people in their 40s and 50s. Patients themselves and their families, although initially expressing distress at its diagnosis, commonly experience relief that there is finally an explanation for the memory loss or change in personality and behaviour. The early signs of dementia are very subtle and vague and may not be immediately obvious. On average symptoms of dementia are noticed by families three years before a firm diagnosis is made. Some common symptoms may include trouble recalling time, date, events or conversations, repetitive questioning, losing items, difficulty recognising familiar objects or people, language problems, stubbornness and irritability. Some specific incidents are: confusion or unhappiness while on holidays and neglect of longestablished behaviour, such as writing Xmas cards to family and friends. There are a number of conditions that produce symptoms similar to dementia. These include some vitamin and hormone deficiencies, depression, medication clashes or overmedication, infections and brain tumours. It is essential that a medical diagnosis is obtained at an early stage when symptoms first appear to ensure that a person who has a treatable condition is diagnosed and treated correctly. The goal is to promote autonomy and protect from abuse and exploitation. If there are concerns about you or your loved one losing their memory, please consult your doctor or contact Alzheimer’s Australia to speak to a counsellor. References - fightdementia.org.au Dementia: to screen or not to screen (Reutens, Peisah, Brodaty – Medicine Today, May 2009) Improving Outcomes for A Timely Diagnosis and Management of Dementia in General Practice (Pond, Peisah, Reutens, Shell, Schutze – Sept 2012)

Tourism Richard Old If feels like summer is already here. The days are longer and warmer, the water has the beautiful blue/green colour to it and the outdoors beckons. Before long, the region will be buzzing to the sound of holidaymakers recharging their batteries, reconnecting, resting, relaxing and/or just plain enjoying themselves. hile we have visitors throughout the year, summer is the time that people flock to our region, cramming as much holiday as they can into the time that they have.

You cannot really blame them, as this is a fantastic region full of natural beauty and endless experiences – from a beachside sunrise to deep green forests – from breakfast on the edge of a lake to a fantastic seafood dinner – we have all the ingredients for a memorable holiday. A memorable holiday involves all part of the stay – accommodation, food, activities and of course, customer service. Tourism and customer service are inseparable and with the Great Lakes and Manning Valley, relying so heavily on tourism, it is little surprise that exceptional customer service is paramount. This is what can set us apart. Get it right, and we win loyal customers – get it wrong, and we lose customers, their friends and family. Get it wrong, and now a customer can instantly tell everyone they know! With tourism at our heart, our goal must be to provide the highest standard of customer service possible. While the business community shoulders the greatest responsibility for this, it really is a job for us all for from a visitor’s point of view, every interaction they have forms part of their experience. The best thing is satisfied customers will do a lot of our advertising. Most people consider doing business with a certain company because of recommendations. It is no different when deciding on a holiday. Word of mouth is the best form of marketing there is and the most cost effective. With social networking sites so powerful, a bad experience can be posted in an instant, with the whole world capable of viewing the comments. Exceptional customer service is vital to the continuing success. In today’s competitive marketplace, if you don’t provide a high level of service you won’t attract and retain customers. Here are some tips to keep customers coming back and creating a memorable experience.

1. The quality of customer service cannot exceed the quality of the people who provide it. Invest in your staff. 2. Staff will treat customers the way they are treated. Employees take their cue from management, so lead by example. 3. Do you know who your customers are? If a regular customer came in to your business, would you recognise them? Get to know your raving fans – say thanks. 4. Do your customers know who you are? Visible staff and management is an asset – don’t hide out the back or behind a counter. 5. Go the extra mile. Exceed expectations. 6. Are your customers greeted when they walk in the door? Make eye contact and say hello like you mean it. 7. Give customers the benefit of the doubt. 8. If a customer makes a request for something special, do everything you can to say yes. 9. Don’t avoid complaints – see them as golden opportunities to improve. 10. Talk to your customers. Personal service is a valuable tool, and to achieve this you need to know something about the customer. Exceptional customer service is not hard and ironically, we all want it. It is about listening to your customers, providing not only a service but an experience. Tourism is our largest industry. It is everybody’s business, and we all benefit from it. Therefore, for this summer to be successful we all need to showcase our region and provide exceptional customer service. In the coming weeks we will all be at both sides of customer service. So go easy on staff who are working hard and make sure your customers leave happy, so they can rave about you to their friends. All the best and have a brilliant summer! Richard Old, Great Lakes Manager Tourism & Marketing. manning-great lakes focus 37

38 manning-great lakes focus focus.

focusinterview.

On Sunday 24 November … the place to be will be on the water! The annual dragon boat regatta will bring a splash of colour, fun and excitement to the Forster Keys. Leonie Dowell from the Great Lakes Peal Dragon tells us more … i Leonie. What’s your association with the Great Lakes Pearl Dragons, and how long have you been involved with the club? Captivated by the beauty of this Great Lakes area, my husband, Chris, and I relocated here a few years ago. As new residents we were looking to meet new people and make new friends but also take advantage of the wonderful waterways that we have decided to call home. Dragon boat paddling appeared to have all the elements we were looking for. Like most, we both started as ‘newbie paddlers’. Within a very short period of time we were swept up in the atmosphere of the ‘team spirit’ of padding in time to get the boat up and moving along. We have now both taken on other roles within our club. Chris is now one of our level three sweeps and also the 2013 regatta Chairman. I too am on the regatta committee, have trained as a coach and I’m now the recruitment officer. What do you most enjoy about dragon boating? This sport accommodates a wide range of individuals, starting from 12 years on, men and women, singles or couples. You can choose to paddle for fitness and recreation, or those wanting that competitive edge can extend their training right up to international level. The social aspect of our club is also very important. Our club’s 4th anniversary is coming up very shortly, and our

fundraising committee has put together a car rally as a way celebrating. There are barbecue breakfasts, weekends away for fun or attending other regattas. Next year we have members going to the Wellington regatta and also the Hawaii Regatta. When and where will the annual dragon boat regatta be held in Forster this year? The 2013 regatta will be held on Sunday 24 November, 8am to 3pm at Elizabeth Parade, Forster Keys, Forster (entry off King Georges Parade).

acknowledge the ongoing moral and financial support by Tuncurry Beach Bowling club and Great Lakes Council. What are the different categories/age groups for the event? Is entry to the event open to anyone (i.e. even those without experience)?

Spectators are and most welcome, to blic we invite the pu 24th e th on n w do e com rve to se Re to Elizabeth y while da ic cn enjoy a pi gatta and watching our re local supporting your s.” am te community

“

Spectators are most welcome, and we invite the public to come down on the 24th to Elizabeth Reserve to enjoy a picnic day while watching our regatta and supporting your local community teams. The traditional dragon head and tail on each boat and the drumming with each stroke adds to making it a very exciting sport to watch. Teams from as far north as Grafton and as far south as Sydney will be participating. Our volunteers will keep the barbecue going through the day, and refreshing fruit cups, tea, coffee and other refreshments will be available. Great Lakes Pearl Dragons would like to

The categories for this year’s regatta are sports women, sports men, and mixed. The community teams are mixed. The sports teams come with experience and enthusiasm to get across that finish line first.

All Community team participants must be over 12 years of age but they require no experience – just the enthusiasm and excitement of being part of a team giving it a go. How do people register for the event or find out more information about both the regatta and Great Lakes Pearl Dragons? Visit the Great Lakes Pearl Dragons website www. glpd.webs.com or contact Christopher Dowell 0414 707 466 christopher.dowell@gmail.com Information about our regatta can also be found on the DBNSW website at www.dbnsw.org.au This year’s cutoff date for all applications is 15 November 2013. Thanks Leonie. manning-great lakes focus 39

focusinterview.

a v

u e

Fresh from a trip to LA, Karen Farrell hass arrived usiness home full of enthusiasm for her new business d surfing venture, Yoga Avenue. What do yoga and have in common? Karen explainss ...

aren, you’ve just returned from LA. What was the purpose of your trip? To participate in a Yoga for Surfers Teacher Training at San Clemente, in California. Peggy Hall, who created the Yoga for Surfers DVD series, which features world-class surfing champion Tom Carroll plus Taylor Knox and Rochelle Ballard, facilitated the course. I also used the time to sample different yoga centres in LA and practiced at Asana Fit in San Clemente and also Bryan Kest’s Power Yoga in Santa Monica. Bryan is an extraordinarily inspiring yoga teacher and is recognised as the creator of Power Yoga. He has been credited with pioneering the practice of donation-based yoga in the US. How did you first become interested in yoga? My Aunt, Veronica Barnsen (my dad’s sister) is a yoga teacher and has practiced yoga for over 40 years… Veronica is a huge inspiration to me. My cousin, Jennifer Hall, is also a yoga teacher. I’m very proud of this lineage. For years, Veronica tried to lure me to yoga, which I resisted as I wasn’t convinced I would get an adequate work out. I was so wrong! The instant I fell pregnant with my son, Oscar, I started practicing yoga and was instantly hooked. That was 12 years ago. In 2004, I completed a 1 Year Diploma of Teacher Training with Qi Natural Therapies & Yoga in Sydney. The Teacher Training covered Yoga Philosophy, Ethics and Lifestyle, Anatomy & Physiology, Yogic Physiology, Asana Sequencing, Teaching Methodology, plus Integrated Practice and Teaching. What styles of yoga have you tried? My first experience of yoga was with Ryoho, a system I still practice today. Andzej Gospodarczyk developed Ryoho and is recognised as a world leader in his field. Andzej’s therapy-based approach to yoga combines corrective yoga therapy, Shiatsu and nutrition. I have also practiced Power Yoga, Vinyasa Flow, Bikram’s, Iyengar, Sivananda Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga. Now you’ve completed your training in the States, you’re a certified ‘Yoga for Surfers’ instructor. Why is yoga so beneficial for surfers and board riders in particular? The surfing and yoga connection is unmistakable. For surfers, plus bodyboarders, swimmers and all types of board

40 manning-great lakes focus.

the spirit. This is achieved by bringing the mind

sports, the physical benefits of practicing yoga include increased flexibility and strength, better balance, improved coordination and core strength, while the subtler mental benefits provide improved mental focus and clearer thinking when the pressure is on out in the water.

lar Through a regu ople pe e, tic yoga prac ers rf su st ju ot in general (n ld ou ) sh or sports people en highly th ng re st to ct expe nd the ou ar stressed areas s, the ee kn g; in body includ s, lder the hips, back , shou plus overall neck and torso ” coordination.

“

Yogic breathing helps to improve lung capacity for swimming, paddling and focuses the mind. Translated to surfing, this can mean increased awareness and confidence in the ocean (also less panic and more controlled breathing when there might be a situation such as a hold down). Through a regular yoga practice, people in general (not just surfers or sports people) should expect to strengthen highly stressed areas around the body including; knees, the hips, back, shoulders, the neck and torso plus overall coordination. Yoga can help us to feel more relaxed, improve muscle tone and alignment, provide vitality, improve digestion, increase lung capacity and even help us to sleep better. It is interesting that in yoga and surfing we are required to work with a narrow plane (on both the yoga mat and the surf board), in a side-on orientation, in order to master balance … There are many positions a surfer might find himself or herself in which are reflected in yoga. For instance, when surfers push themselves down onto the nose of their board to gain speed to catch a wave they are essentially doing ‘Cobra’ pose. The all-important pop up requires a coordinated effort of arm and leg strength while simultaneously engaging core strength and balance. The Sun Salutation series provides an excellent combination of exercises that helps the surfer to master a quick pop up.

The incredible 360 backflips that boadyboarders perform could be likened to back bending yoga postures such as Wheel, Bridge and Camel Pose.

Describe the experiences you had undergoing this training ... Nine Teacher Trainees plus two Teacher Assistants participated in the course, which was facilitated by Peggy and David Hall. The schedule included a mix of yoga classes with subsequent pose and sequence breakdown, class discussions, teaching and meditations. Yoga is obviously about more than just body movements and posture. How important are the ‘internal’ aspects of yoga to you – things such as life philosophies, breathing techniques and meditation? Yoga is an avenue for self-examination. As we grow in our practice our yoga begins to transcend the yoga room and starts to feed into every aspect of our life. For me, the real yoga takes place when nobody is watching – how we might respond to adversity, or react towards our children or a loved one when we are feeling over-stretched. There is no real point in achieving perfectly aligned postures on the mat if we can’t relax into life outside of the yoga room. I choose yoga as an avenue to help me be more centered and objective, less judgmental, more accepting of life and its myriad of challenges plus to be in tune with feelings and intuition. Yoga provides an avenue – an opportunity - for inspection. In Sanskrit (the language of ancient India where yoga originated) the word yoga means “union” or yoking together. So we can think of yoga as a union occurring between the mind, body and

and the body together through the energy of the breath. Yoga refers to the practice of physical postures or poses called ‘asanas’. Asana is only a type of yoga. Although today the words asana and yoga have become almost synonymous as the physical aspect of yoga has become more of a focus (perhaps even a fixation) in Western culture. The physical asana were originally introduced to assist a spiritual seeker to be able to sit in meditation for long periods of time. With a regular yoga practice there becomes an increased awareness whereby the poses become a meditation-in-action with awareness of the breath moving through the body. It is a hugely rewarding process. There is no perfect pose, as we are always transitioning. Tell us about your business, Yoga Avenue. Yoga Avenue is currently providing strength and flexibility classes, which include two evening classes on Mondays and Wednesdays at 5.30pm plus Wednesday and Friday mornings at 7am. In the near future we are adding additional styles and lunchtime classes to our schedule. People can expect to practice in an encouraging, non-competitive environment where all levels of experience are welcome. Anyone can do yoga – if you can breathe, you can do yoga! Expect to leave all judgments at the door as we enjoy practicing yoga. Classes are taking place at Forster Surf Lifesaving Club, located at Beach Street, Forster. Where find out more information about your classes? Keep an eye on our Facebook page, Yoga Avenue, for our current schedule and timetable updates. FB Yoga Avenue E yogaavenue@yahoo.com.au P 6555 2223

focustravel with Susie Boswell We’ve scored an end cabin in the row of four: jackpot! Time to investigate the waterfront. Is there a better location? We take a pathway from our cabin down to Jimmy’s Beach, a long, soft white sandy stretch on the sheltered shores of Port Stephens. The water’s clear and gentle on the bay, safe for swimming and snorkelling without buffeting by waves. The view’s wonderful, looking across to bustling Nelson Bay and other settlements on the southern arm of the port. Kids build sandcastles, teenagers fly kites, couples in their swimmers stroll by, fishermen cast a rod, and an old beachcomber with his metal detector vainly plumbs the shoreline, enjoying himself nonetheless. On the first of several occasions, we plunge in, enjoying the cool clean water. Everyone nods, smiles and goes on their way: it’s peaceful, private and soothing. On a couple of early evenings we go down to watch the dramatic sunset; the brilliant sun dives low on the horizon, seemingly casting a golden pathway across the water to our feet.

T R AV E L D E S T I N AT I O N :

JIMMY’S BEACH

e’re like kids in a cubby house, romping about investigating our accommodation for the next four days and nights - our beachfront holiday cabin at Hawks Nest, an hour north of Newcastle. We fling open cupboards to check kitchen supplies, test beds for comfort and the shower for plentiful hot water, and assess the views and number of steps to the sand from our sheltered front veranda. We pronounce it perfect, outfitted with two

bedrooms, generous cooking facilities, ceiling fans, air-con, TV/DVD and two-shades-of-grey dual roller blinds for full privacy as well as a discreet daytime outlook. Plenty of basics for tea/coffee, washing up, towels, linen, soap and toilet paper allow guests to settle in effortlessly.

Jimmy’s is on a markedly narrow-necked peninsula, its eastern edge on the ocean coastline. We can stroll past holiday homes to Bennett’s Beach but instead drive two minutes to the sealed car park and surf club there and wander down to a more conventional, big, patrolled surf beach where frolickers are bodysurfing, board surfing, romping on jetskis further out and there’s even a few paddle boarders gently plying about. Forget Bali: we’ve travelled less than two hours from Port Macquarie to be immersed in an entirely different world - an ideal, relaxed destination for a quick getaway that

minimises travel time, maximises leisure. Back at our cabin, we take in our surroundings. Jimmy’s is the southernmost of 23 casual coastal holiday camps stretching to the Queensland border managed by North Coast Holiday Parks (a NSW Crown Lands trust, ultimately under the control of our own Andrew Stoner). Many, like Jimmy’s, are “dog friendly”, where pets, on leash, are permitted on camping sites. Tiered behind our cabin and on a hilly rise above are neat rows of powered and unpowered grassy van and camping sites in a bushland setting, sheltered by trees. There’s a spiffing open-air camp kitchen, two showertoilet blocks, BBQs, a big safe fire pit for roasting marshmallows or just gazing dreamily into the flames, and a children’s playground. And free WiFi, if you must. For a fun option, three new beach tents are set beside our cabin. Amazingly spacious, with ceiling fans, long galley kitchen and bathroom, on a raised timber floor, each boasts a veranda and outdoor setting. Wide, screened flaps zip up for privacy, of course; zip down for fresh bush air. Despite all its appointments, Jimmy’s has a marked air of being uncrowded: in our cabin, we’re oblivious to the camping ground behind. We found the park managers welcoming and efficient and, because of the enjoyable break, are set to try some of NCHP’s other spots. See www.northcoastholidayparks.com.au. Jimmy’s is two minutes’ stroll to Hawks Nest settlement and lovely nature-wildlife walks to and around Tea Gardens and heaps of waterborne activities, dining and touring options. That’s another story, to be continued.

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focusinterview.

with Linda Bryant from Photography by Linda

from the

Business

hat exactly does a mediator do? Typically when people are in conflict, they stop talking to each other – but that’s the last thing they should actually do, because it means they are still caught up in all of the pain and anger and hurt. As a mediator, I use my skills, expertise and experience to help people have the difficult conversations they have to have so they can move on with their life. That sounds like a tough job – what drives you to do it? I’ve got to say – it’s not the kind of job most people want to sign up for! I do it because conflict is a part of life – whether that’s in our family, our workplace or our neighbourhood or community – but most people don’t know how to deal with it or don’t have the skills to deal with it. To be able to help people who are stuck in conflict and struggling to find a way forward is incredibly rewarding. What are some of the situations you have helped people get through? Because mediation can pretty much be used in any situation where people are in conflict, the work I do is really varied. Some of the problems I’ve helped people work through are: parents who have separated and can’t agree on how to raise their children; couples who have split up and are arguing over how to divide their property and finances; businesses who have staff members who don’t get on and accuse each other of bullying; teams that are divided and refuse to work together; businesses in dispute about how they deliver their services; families who have had a falling out and are no longer talking to each other; families who can’t agree on the best care arrangements for aging parents; and community groups who are struggling because they can’t agree on what they want to do or how they want to do it. How does a mediation typically work? The first step most people take is to call me for a confidential chat. This gives them a chance to give me a brief run down of their situation such as what the conflict is about, who’s involved and how long it’s been going on. The next step

42 manning-great lakes focus.

is to have a meeting where together we work out a plan around their hopes for how the conflict will be resolved. This is a critical step, as most people haven’t given the 'how' a lot of thought – they just want the conflict to stop and the hurt to go away.

these three questions, it’s probably best to wait 'til you can. 2/Make sure you’re ready to truly hear another side of the same story. The first step towards finding a resolution is taken when you appreciate that every person involved in a conflict has their own take on what’s happened. If you aren’t willing to hear their side of the story, it will be very difficult to come up with any solutions you both agree to.

Then there are a number of steps involving lots of different conversations and discussions – some are me talking to a person one to one, and some are us all in a room together. The aim is to give each person the chance to share their side of the story – what’s 3/ Make sure the other person is willing and happened, what they are hoping for, ready to have the conversation. There’s no what’s important to them. The point in you trying to have the difficult goal is to help everyone involved conversation if they don’t want get a better understanding of lp to – it typically only increases the The go al is to he all of the issues, so they can ed everyone involv conflict. together come up with an rstanding get a better unde so 4/ Be clear about what you want agreement for how they es, of all of the issu come to achieve from the conversaer will resolve their differences they can togeth ent for tion. It’s easy for hurt and blame em re so they can start a new up with an ag eir th e lv so and anger to be the main ingrere ill w future. how they n ca ey th dients in a difficult conversation, so es nc What brought you to the differe .” re tu fu w but that’s not going to get you ne a t Manning Valley? Since I star out of the situation. You’ll just keep was a toddler, my family has arguing about the same things. holidayed at Old Bar – my Nanna and Pop bought a holiday cottage 5/ When in the conversation, ask yourself there when they were living in Coffs – is this discussion helping me/us achieve what Harbour. I grew up spending Christmas holidays I/we want? If you’ve started arguing again, bring worming on Saltwater Beach and fishing at Mud the conversation back to what you need to discuss to Bishops. I didn’t plan to end up living in the get the outcomes both of you want to achieve. Manning Valley, but my partner and I bought a 200 acre What are your hopes for The Resolution Network? block up in the hinterland in 2000 and moved here in I would love to think that, because of the support and 2006. It’s been a great decision, and I’m now really passkills offered by The Resolution Network, people are sionate about living and working in regional Australia able to have the tough conversations they need to have – I’m always nagging at friends in Sydney to be brave so they can get on with their lives and not let conflict enough to make the move! ruin their happiness. No one likes dealing with conflict, Can you give us your top 5 tips for having a difbut if I can help people talk to each other in a way that ficult conversation? Sure – there are definitely some is respectful and constructive and helps them to work 'golden rules' I’d recommend: through their differences, I hope people will see that as

“

1/ Make sure you’re ready to have the conversation. To find out if you are, ask yourself: what do I want for me? What do I want for the other person? What do I want for us? If you can’t come up with a positive answer to

a valuable contribution. Absolutely Megan, what you contribute to the community is so valuable. I hope to not need to book you soon. Thanks Megan.

focusbusiness. with Gary Gersbach from Great Lakes Business Chamber

Enrolling at CSU

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING and the year in review

garygersbach

It is hard to believe that a full year has passed and we are up to our Annual G eneral Meeting yet again. The last AGM delivered the Chamber with a new executive and committee, which set out to basically restructure, increase membership interest in the Chamber and improve its image within the business community. ob Lee, our Vice President, was charged with organising the regular business breakfast meetings. This he has done with a singular vigour that has provided many a memorable breakfast with guest speakers.

Some of the highlights involved special venues, such as the Marine Rescue Base and also the Great Lakes Tip, where a very informative breakfast was held to celebrate the reopening of the new recycling centre after it had been destroyed the previous year.

One of the more important issues of business development considered by the Chamber was the need to help and promote local businesses, not only within their establishment, but their ongoing support. The Chamber has actively assisted in this by the promotion of special business development speakers at the breakfasts, an ongoing ‘buy local’ promotion and essential liaison with the Great Lakes Council.

Enrolling at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie has paved the way to new opportunities for Karen McCall. Karen worked in business management, administration, tourism and sales before starting the Bachelor of Social Work at CSU. She has taken an unconventional path to university. “I left school many years ago without finishing Year 12, and I have four children,” Karen said. “CSU is the only uni locally that offers social work on campus, and the pathways option in conjunction with TAFE also meant I didn’t have to do any bridging courses.” An international experience with CSU allowed her to see social work in action in a rural village in India. “The best part of the trip was witnessing the organisations that worked, the change that simple individuals have made to so many lives by following a vision,” Karen said. “Although I came into this course with the aim of becoming a student welfare officer in the school system, this trip has also expanded my interest in international development.”

Curious about where you’re heading?

The Chamber has realised that the lines of communication between all parties are essential if the aims Other venues s of the Chamber are ha r be included the The Cham e th to be achieved. In at th Tuncurry Race realised n io at ic un m saying this, it is m Course, Forster lines of co e ar s ie rt pa l al n acknowledged we betwee Surf Club, of s m ai e th if l ia nt have work ahead to esse Great Lakes Fish to be the Chamber are have recognised open Cooperative, achieved.” channels for this to The Box Fish, occur. As such, the new Tuncurry Bowling Executive after the AGM Club, the new J. R. should have this as a priority Richard’s office building within the new year’s business and even a Free Spirit sunrise agenda. lake cruise. Within these venues,

“

The breakfast attendances have become so popular because of the information and networking provided, that venues large enough to support these are limited. In this respect the Chamber is keen to promote local establishments by having a breakfast meeting with them to allow the wider community to be aware of their operation. Consequently, if there is a business or organisation that feels it can offer a venue, then please contact the Chamber.

44 manning-great lakes focus.

At Charles Sturt University we believe curiosity and passion lead us all on the path to greater knowledge. That’s why our Port Macquarie Campus offers a growing range of courses with a practical focus, helping you gain the knowledge and skills you need to find employment on the Mid North Coast, as well as further afield.

If the Chamber is fortunate it will have all, or the bulk of, the executive reelected, as the experience gathered in the last year has been invaluable in the groundwork provided for a rapid response and consistent approach to our aims. Should any Chamber member feel inclined to enter and assist the Executive, then they would be most welcome, as there are never enough bodies to assist in meeting our agenda. We have effectively achieved most of the modest targets set in the past year and are now poised to act on a more unified approach to further assist all our members.

Scholarships are available to help you with the cost of getting a degree and a huge range of courses is also available for study by distance education.

APPLY NOW www.CSU.edu.au/4me 1300 135 435

F3133A

local businessmen were apprised of their progress and impact these have on the business community.

Karen has received two Equity Grants and a Technology Grant, which helped fund the trip to India and buy equipment to support her studies. She would not think twice about recommending CSU to other students. “I find it a really supportive environment with fantastic teachers,” Karen said. “I would especially encourage locals to enrol here, as the word is getting out and there are plenty of envious people out there who are quite happy to move to beautiful, coastal Port Macquarie to study!” For more information about studying at CSU, call 1800 334 733 or visit: www.CSU.edu.au/4me

School based Trainees!

Bigger and Better New owners Craig and Sue Allport would like to welcome you all to come along and see the NEW LOOK Taree Pet Barn. Sue and Craig have been in business in the local area for over 25 years. They have made Taree Pet Barn BIGGER and BETTER, with the large range of marine, goldfish and tropical fish. Taree Pet Barn have a variety of bird and small animals available daily and all awaiting loving new homes. There is a full range of premium dog and cat food, and they have just set up a modern and fully equipped pet grooming salon. Benjamin has 26 years’ experience as a qualified groomer, specialising in all dog breed cuts. Benjamin is a competition groomer and competes at a national level. He is able to cut breeds to a show standard if required. The staff are so pleased to have Benjamin Black join the team at Taree Pet Barn. If you would like to make an appointment for your pet, phone: (02) 6550 0055.

Bulahdelah Central School student Torey Blanch recently fulfilled her Year 11 compulsory work placement for Business Services with RSL LifeCare Tea Gardens Grange. Torey is enrolled in Certificate II Business through Taree TAFE as a vocational HSC subject option. After completing her one week placement and based on her performance during that time, Torey was offered a school based traineeship with the organisation. School based trainees are in the workplace one day a week gaining practical experience and attend school undertaking their HSC studies for the remainder. Why did you choose to do this area of study as part of your HSC? I chose to do the course because that is the career path I want to take after school. I would like a business administration role after I finish school and having a business administration qualification will help me achieve that. Tell me about working at RSL LifeCare Tea Gardens Grange. What are your responsibilities? My responsibilities are to answer telephones and when pagers go off, I need to go to the resident’s house and check if they need help. Sometimes they need first aid, which required me to also gain my First Aid Certificate. I also help speak with the residents and collect their lunch choices and then work with the kitchen to distribute these to the residents. My other duties include data entry, emails, typing of correspondence and producing the weekly newsletter. What is the most enjoyable part of your day? Talking with the residents and staff as they come by reception to give me work to do. Are there any aspects that you don’t enjoy? I really enjoy the whole job.

Relationship Difficulties Tell us a little about Co-dependents Anonymous – who do they assist? Coda assists anyone who is trying to improve their relationships with other people. These can be friends, partners, work colleagues, employers, family members. It can also assist anyone who is in a relationship with someone suffering from an addiction, or from a family where addictions existed, but is not exclusive to this.

Your Heading Here!

It is helpful for people who feel trapped in repeating the same life experiences and want to change but don’t know how to. If someone was unsure about whether it was right for them, what advice would you give them? The advice from Coda is to come to 6 consecutive meetings to decide whether Coda is right for you. There are two local meetings a week in Tuncurry. There is no obligation to keep attending; anyone can come as often or as little as they like. The cost is a gold coin donation, and newcomers are asked not to contribute. What are the benefits to those who attend? The benefits are greater for people who come regularly, and can vary. For many it is the start of a new better life, as old baffling selfdefeating behaviours gradually disappear and are replaced by new healthy behaviours. Relationships with other people become healthier, new opportunities start to arise, along with a sense of self empowerment.

Would you recommend this course for other students? I reckon it is great and has helped me with a lot of other things in my life. The Certificate II in Business has really helped me with my school work because of the computer skills I have learnt. I feel like this is a course that could help me with any job I take in the future. Any other comments? I really want to thank RSL LifeCare Tea Gardens Grange for giving me the opportunity to work with them and learn new skills. Torey was interviewed by Work Placement Coordinator Kylie Reay. If you would like further information about employing a school based trainee, contact Kylie through Mid Coast Connect on (02) 6551 5463.

manning-great lakes focus 45

focusabode.

COFFS COAST

Angled fin walls, cantilevered upper floor and varying rooflines give character to this facade

PROPERTY GUIDE

Articulation features allow for effective intergration of materials & finishes

Uninterrupted ocean views from the private deck

Taking advantage of the site's sloping nature to create an attractive street front garden

Waylyn HOMES Articulation feature adds space inside & visual Interest outside

46 manning-great lakes focus.

Spacious covered desk for indoor/ outdoor living & access to views

Creative use of Glazing provides cross-ventilation & access to views.

focusabode.

Beautiful Home Beautiful Location Taking full advantage of its location in the Seascape Estate at Red Head, Hallidays Point, the November Home of the Month boasts stunning ocean views from every possible vantage point.

The Home - 10 Myallup Circuit

uilder Wayne Munro from Waylyn Homes has excelled himself, delivering a simply beautiful home in a beautiful location for owners Scott and Natalie and their young family to enjoy for many years to come. Chrissy Jones had the privilege of being shown through the property by Wayne. The Home - 10 Myallup Circuit The design of the home was done in conjunction with the owners, Scott and Natalie, who chose designers, Collins W Collins to do the design work. Scott and Natalie had a fairly clear concept of what they wanted, and James Collins worked in very well with everyone to achieve the final successful concept quickly. Wayne worked in close consultations with the designer and the clients throughout the build to

achieve what was wanted. One desire was to have a mix of composite materials on the exterior of the home to achieve a beachy theme in this seaside setting. Wayne's wife, Lynette, an interior designer, worked with Scott and Natalie in selecting the colour scheme; the result is very pleasing to the eye and a conversation piece from passersby. The home blends in remarkably well with it's surrounds. Upmarket windows, the Vantage Magnum range from Great Lakes Windows, are a feature of the home, giving off a bulky look, and they are also very good wearing this close to the ocean. Comfort plus glass has been used throughout giving the home excellent insulation in both summer and winter. continued over

looking for a qualified, reliable builder in your area? an HIA member is just what you need > Professional and trustworthy > Work within a strict code of conduct > Have access to all the required contracts for the job >ØØØ QDØPT@KHÚØDCØ@MCØQDFHRSDQDCØHMØSGDHQØRS@SD > Adhere to WorkSafe standards > ØØ'@UDØSGDØA@BJHMFØNEØ@ØM@SHNM@KØ@RRNBH@SHNM

look for the HIA logo or ask your building professional if they are HIA members 3NØÚØMCØ@ØLDLADQØNEØSGDØ'NTRHMFØ Industry Association in your area, visit housinglocal.com.au

manning-great lakes focus 47

focusabode. A BA N K O F W I N D OW S, COMPRISING THREE WIND O U T AW N I N G F R A M E W I N D OW S, S E PA R AT E D BY F L AT F I X E D PA N E L G L A S S, A L L OW F O R M O R E V I E W S.

The master bedroom is massive and painted with a stunning pale green colour on the walls and edged with crisp white. Twin built-in wardrobes with one mirror panelled front each, provide plenty of both hanging and shelving space. A bank of windows, comprising three wind out awning frame windows, separated by flat fixed panel glass, allow for more views. The master's en-suite has a frameless glass screen shower recess with both a ceiling

48 manning-great lakes focus.

mounted rain-head shower and a wall mounted shower rose. A wall hung vanity with soft close drawers and LED lighting, concealed WC, opaque window and floor to ceiling grey/white rectified 600 x 300 wall tiling, expertly laid by Terry Aldridge & Sons Tiling finish off a classic en-suite nicely. A guest powder room and a double linen cupboard housing the laundry shute, complete the upstairs layout. The upstairs ceiling is square set; there

are no cornices, making for clean lines and offering up an easy living feel to the overall design. Many environmentally friendly aspects have been incorporated, one being rainwater catchment from the varied roofline, to an underground water tank for re-use in all toilets and the family's washing machine. Due to the generous amount of insulation installed through-out the home, no airconditioning is needed. R3 batts are in the

ceiling and R2 batts in the walls with sarking behind the exterior cladding. The insulation qualities are further enhanced by the thickness of glass in all windows. The home is a brilliant design suited expertly to its position in the Seascape Estate. Blending the indoor/outdoor living areas seamlessly and taking full advantage of the beautiful ocean views from every possible vantage point, the home is an absolute showpiece.

focusabode.

from viison kitchens

T H E ‘C L A S S I C W H I T E ’2 PAC P O LY U R E T H A N E C A B I N E T RY I S I N A SAT I N FINISH, WITH ALL DOORS A N D D R AW E R S U N D E R BENCH HANDLE FREE WITH RECESSED TOP RAILS F O R F I N G E R-T I P AC C E S S AND ALSO FITTED WITH SOFT CLOSE HINGES FOR A T RU LY S M O O T H , S I L E N T O P E R AT I O N.

Raphael Kunzli, current HIA award winning designer from Viison Kitchens, has delivered a stunning, star quality kitchen and walk in pantry. This bright, beautiful, no fuss kitchen has been cleverly designed and is understated and elegant. Having an open plan home with fabulous views, Natalie and Scott wanted a kitchen with uncluttered clean lines and one that would operate as quietly as possible, so a lot of thought was put into achieving just that! The ‘Classic White’2 pac polyurethane cabinetry is in a satin finish, with all doors and drawers under bench handle free with recessed top rails for finger-tip access and also fitted with soft close hinges for a truly smooth, silent operation. The cupboard doors above the cook top area have been made 15 mm lower than their bases, with finger tip pull opening and soft closing, while all other doors have been fitted with touch catches. A lovely contrast between the timber floor and cabinets has been achieved with the use of brushed aluminium kickers. The selection of beautiful 40 mm thick, silky-touch Corian bench tops is a triumph, especially on the island bar with its waterfall ends and three raised cabinets at one end, to cleverly hide the sink area behind and with seating area at the other end. But don’t be fooled into thinking this kitchen is just a ‘pretty face’, as it really does have some great, hidden charms, including: under-bench wine refrigerator, semi integrated dishwasher, under-mount range-hood, broom cupboard, twin 40 litre slide out bins, deep double bowl sink and stainless steel cutlery drawer inserts. For a dash of panache, the glass splash is vibrant ‘Bahama Blue’, which sparkles under down lights on the cook-top run and also in a recessed panel above the sink. A sliding door to the right leads into a large walk in pantry, complete with even more robust, full extension drawers, storage cupboards, preparation/work bench and extra handy tidy bin.

manning-great lakes focus 49

focusabode.

Waylyn HOMES

An eye-catching exterior has varied angles, colours and textures. James Hardie products are predominant on the exterior cladding, with a mix and match of linear weatherboards as the main profile and cement rendered brick work on the lower floor, on the upper floor a new James Hardie product called Easy Lap has been used; a very versatile product that gives nice clean, straight lines along with a shadow line every 1200, plus stria weatherboard gives another varied look to the exterior. Natural bluestone retaining walls and mailbox handcrafted by stonemason Cliff Southern, black exposed aggregate drive expertly laid by Mograni Concreting, Colourbond wood grain automatic panel lift door opening to the double garage, fully landscaped tropical gardens and hardwood timber posts on the entry portico, all combine to give a classic, yet up to the minute look to the home that will be ageless. An 8 metre height limit was in place on this

block and the design went right to the limit. To achieve the desired look both parapet and skillion roof lines have been incorporated in the design to bring it in line with regulations. There is also a lot of galvanised steel work in the back section of the home on the back verandah, designed by RP Engineering to support the structure, as well as structural steelwork in the house itself. Entry to the home is through a custom made cedar entrance door from Sydney Woodworkers, that has unique wave shaped opaque glass sections. The entrance foyer has a 108 finish Blackbutt tongue and groove timber flooring underfoot and has been used throughout both levels of the home. Matt from Lucas Floorsanding has finished off the floor beautifully. Step down from the foyer to the lower level of the home that comprises a living room with adjoining covered private deck, carpeted bedroom with ensuite, a further two bedrooms, study, double linen cupboard and bathroom.

Proud to be associated with Waylyn Homes

Designing Dream Homes for the Mid North Coast & Great Lakes for over 10 years Developments of all types & sizes Accredited in NSW & QLD T: 6583 44111 www.collinswcollins.com.au DESIGN | COUNCIL | GRAPHICS | BASIX | ENERGY RATINGS

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The main bedroom on the ground floor has been designed especially for the owner's dad, being the only carpeted room in the home. It is a very comfortable domain, having twin wardrobes, ceiling fans and soft downlighting. Dad has his own classy ensuite that has been tiled floor to ceiling and also has feature wall tiling. LED lighting in the wall hung vanity, a seamless glass walled shower recess and hidden WC behind a divider wall, the en-suite has it all. The private downstairs glass balustraded deck has access to the rear yard where there is an outside shower for use when the owners come back from nearby Diamond Beach. Viison Kitchens have designed the laundry cabinetry, which has a practical, easy living layout. An inside retractable clothesline has been installed, and access to the back courtyard to the outside clothesline from the laundry is convenient. Storage under the stairway to the 2nd floor provides a place for the laundry shute from the top level

handily located beside the laundry. A brand new CSR cornice â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Aria, has been used throughout the ground level; this is the first house in the area to have it. Shaped like an upside down L, the cornice is an innovative product installed in the home that adds a touch of style. Remaining ground floor bedrooms are very spacious and well appointed, having their own built-in robes with a mirror front on one panel, ceiling fans and downlighting. Another single linen closet has been placed in close proximity to the bathroom that services these bedrooms. With a deep spa bath, frameless glass shower recess, wall hung vanity, floor to ceiling tiling with feature panels, WC tucked away behind a dividing tiled wall, nothing is forgotten in this bathroom. A steel spine stair case that has Blackbutt timber step treads, a stainless steel rope balustrade with wooden handrail plus porthole safety lighting, leads to the top level. Upon reaching the 2nd floor, your senses are awakened â&#x20AC;&#x201C; magnificent un-

focusabode. A S T E E L S P I N E S TA I RC A S E T H AT H A S B L AC K B U T T T I M B E R S T E P T R E A D S, A S TA I N L E S S S T E E L RO P E BA LU S T R A D E W I T H WO O D E N H A N D R A I L P LU S P O RT H O L E SA F E T Y L I G H T I N G, L E A D S T O T H E T O P L E V E L .

impeded views to Diamond Beach are paramount. This open plan kitchen, dining and lounge area is enviable providing a magical, relaxing space for the family to come together. One of the many features, a remote control gas Real Flame 1600 landscape fireplace, is set in a featured stone look tile wall, adding a touch of class and ambience to the living area. The warmth of flickering flames can be enjoyed in the cooler months and will save at least 25% on energy bills. Alongside the fireplace, in its own wall cabinet, is the integrated home entertainment system control centre. Highlight louvre windows allow a wealth of natural light and ocean breezes into the low pitched skillion roof line of the living area, adding to the comfort. Opening out from the living area, through a 4.5m wide stacker Vantage Magnum commercial framed glass sliding door from Great Lakes Win-

dows, is the tiled outdoor alfresco. The L-shaped, powder coated aluminium framed, glass balustraded alfresco has its own outdoor kitchen with BBQ, sink and bench area, plus plenty of under-bench storage. A fantastic place to entertain family and friends, the roofline covers Â˝ of the alfresco, so if you want sun or shade, you can pick your spot. A wall of fixed glass panels separates the alfresco from the hallway that leads to the formal lounge room at the rear of the design. Surrounded by ocean views, this is a delightful room to sit back, watch TV, read a book, listen to music or just relax. One piece of glass, 2.4 m high x 2.7 m wide with louvre window panels either side to allow directional air flow, was specifically requested by Scott and Natalie to enable unimpeded views of the surrounding vista.

About the Builder Waylyn Homes was formed in 2000 by Licensed Builder Wayne Munro and his wife, Interior Designer Lynette Munro. Wayne has been building quality homes in the Hallidays Point and the Forster area since 1991 after moving to Hallidays Point from Scotts head. He has been a Licensed Builder since 1975; both Wayne and Lynette have an impeccable reputation for quality and personalised attention to detail. One very important member of the Waylyn Homes team is foreman Ian Gray. Ian has been Wayne's right hand man for the past ten years and is responsible for the job supervision of associated trades. Wayne and Lynette formed Waylyn Homes eleven years ago to service an area of the housing market in this area that they thought was

lacking. They believed a specialty Building Company concentrating on design and construction of individual homes was important and under serviced. Lynette is a qualified interior designer and has always worked to some extent with Wayne's clients. The vision they had for Waylyn Homes was to provide a package to their clients that makes building their dream home simpler and less daunting. This is achieved by giving the client options, advice and direction through the preliminary planning stages. Over the years Wayne has had many people have a Sydney designer draw their plans, only to find the contours of the block are wrong or the building is way over their budget. He has a strong belief that a house needs to be designed for the terrain, the needs of the client, ease of building, composite materials and to blend in with the environment.

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focusabode.

From The Designer Collins W Collins Pty Ltd specialises in custom designs with a firm belief in 'individual designs for individual people'. Our designs centre on meeting our clients' individual needs and lifestyle, whilst utilising the sites' characteristics to our advantage.

The Brief Flexible design to meet the ever-changing needs of a growing family • Access north-eastern ocean views from all living areas • Indoor/outdoor living • Entertaining Our clients, Scott and Nat, have a young family and wanted their home to be flexible in design to meet the ever-changing needs of a growing family. The site has extensive ocean views to the north-east, and our clients wanted to access those views from all living areas.

The Design • L-Shaped design allows all living areas to access north-eastern views, maximises crossflow ventilation and encourages natural light to penetrate throughout the home • L-Shaped design creates privacy and weather protection to the outdoor living area • L-Shaped design suits the unique characteristics of the site i.e. slope, orientation and views • Design utilises lightweight construction with articulation design features, which enables the integration of varying materials and finishes to create a visually interesting and attractive dwelling • Large upper-floor deck provides for seamless indoor/outdoor living • Spacious deck with outdoor kitchen enables easy entertaining • Lower deck off the rumpus room maintains the indoor/outdoor lifestyle and access to views • Positioning the master bedroom on the upper floor adjacent to the formal lounge creates a

parents' retreat area. Comments from the Designer “It has been an absolute pleasure designing the dream home for Scott and Nat and creating the many little features that makes this home 'theirs'. “Knowing Waylyn Homes would be constructing the home, I had peace of mind knowing the home would be built to a high standard and that Scott and Nat would truly be living in their dream home.”

The Process Once the preliminaries are over, you have a design for your dream home that 'works and has been costed to your budget'. Lynette’s part starts just prior to building commencement; clients have the option to use Lynette’s talents to their discretion. She offers a full interior and exterior selection service, helping you with colours, materials etc.: the things that turn a house into a home. Alternatively, she will advise you only on specific parts of the project; the choice is yours.

A major part of company policy is to only build a maximum number of homes at one time. To keep the consistent quality their reputation has been built on, they have only three homes being constructed simultaneously. These are planned to be staged at one going off and one come on to construction; this allows for approximately six months construction period for each home. Due to these time constraints, Waylyn Homes are often booked out a long way in advance. Some clients know they are retiring at a certain time and Wayne and Lynette book them in sometimes 2-3 years in advance.

From the Builder We are proud of our reputation in the area and have worked hard to continue to build distinctive homes of consistent high quality. Consistent quality comes through the quality of your employees, materials used, supervision, a belief and passion for the product you are creating. Waylyn Homes is a specialty building company;

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focusabode.

OV E R T H E PA S T F O U RT E E N Y E A R S W E H AV E S U C C E S S F U L LY C O M P L E T E D OV E R 60 H O M E S I N T H E H A L L I DAY S P O I N T/ F O R S T E R A R E A , M A K I N G WAY LY N H O M E S ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR AND T RU S T E D B U I L D I N G C O M PA N I E S I N T H E M A N N I N G - G R E AT L A K E S R E G I O N.

our clients are people who expect something personal and unique ... a home that is designed and built around their needs and lifestyle that will last long into the future. By having loyal and long term relationships with suppliers and sub-contractors, our main principle is that we don’t go out after the cheapest price. We know our suppliers, products and subbies; that’s how it should be. Most clients come from referrals; this is a very satisfying way to do business, as there is trust right from the start. Our reputation in the area is second to none. Over the past fourteen years we have successfully completed over 60 homes in the Hallidays Point/ Forster area, making Waylyn

Homes one of the most popular and trusted building companies in the Manning-Great Lakes region.

from the owners Scott and Natalie You chose Waylyn Homes as the builder of your new home. How has it been working with Wayne and his team? Working with Wayne was a dream. He and his team were organised, kept us up to date with progress on site and were very professional. They also provided us the opportunity to change minor details during the build, adding in that flexibility you need when you build a new home.

Wayne also put us in contact with local suppliers, which was very helpful given that we were in Sydney at the time. Did you have any specific requirements when you first decided to build? If so, how were these met in the design? We wanted our home to maximise the view and to be contemporary with a beach feel. The design had to incorporate the needs of a young family as well as their grandad. The verandahs were a must, as were separate adult and kids spaces. How does your new home suit your lifestyle? It’s an open plan with lots of entertaining areas

and an easy walk to the beach. Which is your favourite room? The kitchen and dining room, which flows onto the balcony and allows us to either cook in the kitchen or on the outdoor BBQ whilst taking in the magnificent views of Diamond Beach. Would you recommend Wayne and his team to other prospective home builders? Absolutely. Without hesitation. Wayne communicated with us all the time. Nothing was a problem. Wayne provided a full service experience, from selecting interior and exterior colours with Lyn to working out where the laundry shute would go. It was such a positive experience.

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Real Estate f e a t u r e

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Real Estate f e a t u r e

First National Commercial Shultz / Taree For over 47 years, Shultz Commercial

Reject Shop, plus many more.

have cemented their name and

Whether it be the sale of Commercial

reputation as the market leaders in the

strata office space, management of a

Commercial Property sector throughout

retail building, leasing Industrial factories

the Manning Valley.

or the long term dedication to large land

With a team of 6 dedicated Commercial

rezoning projects, Shultz Commercial have

staff, Shultz Commercial pride themselves

the expertise and staff to manage your

on staying up to date with the latest

Commercial requirements.

commercial property legislation changes,

If you have a Commercial, Industrial or

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manning-great lakes focus 55

BCS Strata Management BCS Strata Management's tagline is ‘enhancing community living’, and so to achieve this the company

Buying or selling real estate?

is always looking for ways to streamline processes and ensure its clients get the best possible service, as well as

Then Manning Valley Legal & Conveyancing (MVLC®) is your choice in the Manning-Great Lakes. With competitive fixed fee conveyancing, and able to assist on all manner of conveyancing matters, MVLC has the expertise and experience to smoothly finalise your conveyancing transaction, whether it is buying or selling, leasing, subdividing, strata or community title, simple transfers or transmission applications, or torrens or old system title, and whether such transactions be residential, rural or commercial. Your main contact will be Mrs Sam Clarke. Sam has over ten years' experience in conveyancing. She attained her Certificate in Conveyancing Law & Practice from Macquarie University in 2008. She was a senior licensed conveyancer for many years in a major conveyancing practice before joining MVLC for a more relaxed role. Prior to that she worked in banking and for a while in real estate. Quentin Schneider is the solicitor-principal of the law practice, and brings 23 years' experience of working in the law. He has undergraduate and postgraduate legal qualifications from the University of NSW.

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peace of mind. One of the things BCS offers to its clients is Community Hub. This is an easy to use online web portal. It’s designed to allow owners access to their building’s strata information at any time and from anywhere. Resident owners, investment owners and committee members can benefit from immediate, secure and easy access to information specific to their property. This information is kept current and regularly updated. With one click clients can view online their plan documents, levy information and access the BCS online payment facility. BCS also ensures its staff are fully up-to-date with the latest legislative requirements and results of court cases, which can also change the way strata managers do things. At present we are waiting to see the outcomes of the NSW Government’s strata law review and will advise our clients of changes that will affect them under the new laws. To find out more about our Forster/Tuncurry BCS professional team and what they can offer, call (02) 6591 6700.

M.A.D Pest Control Local owners Rod and Mardi De Luca have been running M.A.D Pest Control for the last 9 years, servicing the Great Lakes and Manning Districts, and they are now expanding their business. They have recently opened an office in Forster Towers on Wallis St, Forster. With over 22 years' experience in the pest control industry, you can feel confident in their hands. They are fully accredited termite specialists and can also control all other household pests. Servicing both residential and commercial premises, they are also more than happy to to do any building, pest inspections and pre-purchase reports for you. You can be assured that they deliver prompt, professional and effective service at an affordable price. Working hard at earning their clients' trust and confidence through building relationships and delivering exceptional, consistent services. Call for a free no obligation quote for all your pest control needs. M.A.D. Pest Control. Phone: 6554 9374 or 0409 654 945. email: mad.pest@bigpond.com. Find them on Facebook and the website www.madpestcontrol.com.au By using M.A.D. Pest Control's services, you are supporting a locally owned and run business.

interview.

MARGARET PRICE

REAL ESTATE Margaret Price has been a fixture on the Great Lakes Real Estate scene for many years now, so FOCUS decided to have a look at the team working with the lady herself. fter nearly 40 years in the media, time, and Ronnie Tucker who is also a licensed Margaret and David Price made the agent, experienced in both sales and property seachange to Forster after falling management. The property management in love with the area. David, who department are certainly the unsung heroes.” was partner and producer to Mike Julie Manning, who along with her assistant Walsh and The Midday Show, and Beth Dyer runs that department, also comes Margaret who worked in production alongside from an interesting and varied background. him, felt Forster offered the ultimate coastal Julie was a champion swimmer and she and her lifestyle. As Margaret was a licensed husband, Gary, a writer for one of the real estate agent with experience major newspapers, also made the in the Hawkesbury Valley seachange to Forster. in Sydney, real estate They own a racehorse, are , was the natural career Twenty years on mad about greyhound dogs ss ne si choice, combining and the bu and football, while also ly gh both the marketing has proven hi e th g in ad doing heaps within our le , ul and promotion talents successf n, tio va no in local community. ith w way they had gained in the omotion and pr , gn si de “Julie just loves people and media and Margaret’s marketing. ” houses,” say Margaret. “It real estate experience. is a great combination for a Twenty years on, and the property manager. Nothing is business has proven highly ever too diffi cult or demanding for successful, leading the way with Julie, and both landlords and tenants innovation, design, promotion and really appreciate this. Property management marketing. can be demanding and time consuming, but “Photography and video are core Julie and her team make light work of it, with requirements for marketing property,” the a large permanent rent roll and a group of pair go on to say, “showing not only the best great holiday properties. We also use all our attributes of the property but also promoting the marketing expertise with the rental properties – great area and lifestyle qualities that come with great photos on all the rentals and video tours living in such a great location.” on all the holiday properties. Another main reason for the success of the Success in any business is always a sum of the agency the couple say is the people behind the people and talents that can be brought together, scenes: “We have always employed really top and Margaret and David Price feel that they are notch sales agents and at the present time we lucky to have a unique group of talented people have Norma McGovern, who has been with that can make it all happen seamlessly. us for many years, Shane Merrick, who ran his own successful real estate business for a long

“

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Elders Insurance ANTHONY HARRIS Tell me a bit about yourself?

The Beautiful Harrington & Crowdy Head Famed for being a fisherman's paradise, Harrington and Crowdy Head both offer ideal conditions for beach, rock, estuary and deep sea fishing. So if you’re coming as part of a large fishing club, a family escape or just want to throw a line in the river, we have a holiday house sure to accommodate everyone! The famous Breakwall, which stretches along the river, has the locals and visitors lining the wall hoping to hook a Bream, Jew fish or Flathead! Newly established boat ramps are located along the river, and for "outside fishing", there is the safety of launching from Crowdy Harbour. If beach fishing is your thing, 4WD access can easily be gained to either the Southside or North beaches. The calm waters of the Manning also produce some very tasty Blue Swimmer & Mud Crabs – great if you like

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setting traps. Several fisherman style cottages with great facilities including large fridges and extra large freezers, ample secure boat parking, fish cleaning tables and storage are available for letting all year round. LJ Hooker Harringtons professional staff are able to assist people with their accommodation and tailor their accommodation needs to suit every type of holiday! Take advantage of our comprehensive website which allows you to check availability, bedding configuration and pricing online.

I grew up in Young, where being the 5th generation Harris meant that I knew everybody.I went on to buy Franchise Young which I owned and ran for 13 years before selling in 2012 to travel around Australia with my wife and children. In may this year,I relocated to the Great Lakes region to establish a local elders branch. My children are settled into school and are currently in the process of getting their bronze medallion with the local nippers.My family and I are absolutely in love with the local area!

Monthly premium no repayments with” s. st co l additiona

“

What made you decide to move to Forster?

www.harringtonaccommodation.com.au

After travelling around Australia with my family,I came to the conclusion that there is simply no where more beautiful than the coastline between Forster/ Tuncurry and Byron Bay.It was after this realisation that I decided to make Forster my home.

Further queries can be directed to Leah at LJ Hooker Harrington on (02) 6556 1000.

What experience have you had in the Insurance industry?

Bookings are able to be made online. To take a look, please visit:

I have been in the insurance industry for over 20 years. Starting with my owner ship of Franchise Young for 3 years which lead me to my employment within Elders Insurance.

What are your qualifications in the insurance industry? I am an 'Associate Certified Insurance Professional' What do you believe makes Elders better than it's competitors? Elders is a locally owned company, run by Local agents. Elders agents are qualified to settle 60 % of claims themselves.

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