November 2010
get it b r i s b a n e
Spiralling out of control The seedy life of socialite mums
BOUND BY LOVE A real-life Notebook love story POWER IN A STILETTO
What glass ceiling?
Bill grangeR’s Divine new recipes
Brisbane’s golden girl
stephanie www.getitmagazine.com.au
FOOD
H EA L T H
3
LIFE
STYLE
September 2010
C E L EBRI T Y
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Contents A
A
Columns 19 Beer Goggles 20 From the Lip 44 Beauty 64 Horoscopes
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Travel 52 Oman – rich and opulent – yet full of cultural history.
Features 22 Golden Girl Stephanie Rice sets her sights on the London Olympics. 24 Power in a Stiletto Women breaking through the glass ceiling. 26 Little Whispers One couple’s heart-breaking battle with infertility. 29 Late Night Mums They’re not your run of the mill stay-at-home mums. 32 Real life Notebook A love affair that spans a five decade gap. 36 Bali and Back A survivor’s tale of courage and adversity.
Eat 40 Bill Granger’s divine new recipies. Fashion & Beauty 47 Retro Chic Step back in time and take a style cue from ‘50s bombshells. Last Word 66 Cameron Diaz – everyone’s favourite girl-next-door. Out & About 58 Get it’s social scene with Squirrel Andrew Meadowcroft.
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52 November 2010
get it G O L D
C O A S T
spiralling out of control the seedy life of socialite mums
BOUND BY LOVE A real-life Notebook love story POWER IN A STILETTO
What glass ceiling?
Bill granger’s Divine new recipes
aussie’s golden girl
stephanie www.getitmagazine.com.au
FOOD
H E A LT H
3
LIFE
STYLE
November 2010
September 2010
CELEBRITY
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Managing Editor Adrienne Porter adrienne@getitmedia.com.au Editorial Coordinator Adele Rowlands-Dealey Lifestyle Editor Ingrid Bonnor ingrid@getitmedia.com.au Production Manager Michele Le Clercq Harris Designers Sam Bell and Kurt Owen
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editor
a Inword
A H
AS a book ever changed your life? Amid the masses, I went along to see the big-screen version of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love last month. I’m not ashamed to say this but I never actually read the book so unlike avid fans (for those I’m assuming their lives did change) it didn’t awaken all that many life-changing revelations for me. Maybe the sequel will. Julia Roberts and her gushing smile (seriously it takes up like, her whole face) infectious laugh (memories of Pretty Woman when Richard Gere snaps the jewellery box on her fingers came flooding in) literally made the movie take flight. She had me at hello (that line was even in the movie – Pretty Woman that is, not Eat Pray Love). I don’t think there’s another movie star quite like her in the world today who can captivate audiences with such humility and dear Jules’ ability to depict real and loving characters is rather second to none. Yep, she carried the film and sorry if you thought it was crap (reviewers gave it a good slam dunk) I’m giving it a few stars just for trying. And for her lovely smile. Maybe it could have been fractionally shorter (I fell asleep in India) and perhaps a little less cheesy in parts (hence why I fell asleep in India), but on the whole, I give it a good old thumbs up. Did it change my life though? Mmm, perhaps not. Not in the way that say, Star Wars did when I was eight and made me want to grow up and become Princess Leia – bun plaits and all. Or Dirty Dancing made me believe that even the downtrodden find love and fame... eventually. No, sadly it didn’t enlighten me (other than urging me to plan my next trip to Italy). But it did rekindle my adoration for the lovely redhead. Eat Pray Love has become more of a phenomenon than I think even Gilbert thought it would. Inspiring women around the globe to ditch their dreary jobs, toss their nogood husbands to the side and walk out on their meaningless lives in search of inner peace and spiritual enlightenment – or balance as she likes to call it. If you’re in search of balance and inner peace you mightn’t find them in these here pages of Get it, but our features this month are bound to enlighten. Or at the very least inspire a giggle and a sigh. Maybe you can pull a few downward facing dog moves while you read... you know, for the balance part.
Adrienne Porter Managing Editor Drop me a line: adrienne@getitmedia.com.au www.getitmagazine.com.au
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Tfaves:
his month’s
Feminine Florals: Nothing says feminine more than a cinched-waist floral frock. My new must-have for sparkling summer arvo’s! OMG! This divine watersnake clutch by Rachael Ruddick rocks... I feel a Chrissie present coming on!
Do you cook as well? We won this rather buff young lad at the Get it Great Long Lunch Bachelor Auction. Well, actually we only won the goodie bag in his hand but the girls hope he may bring him and his lovely chest into the office and cook lunch for us soon!
vibe
GET IT
VIBE
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SUNDAY
Monday
TUESDAY
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Open Mic Night – A great opportunity to polish up your performance skills and showcase your talents in a fun and relaxed environment. Phone (07) 3216 1115.
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Movember - Grow a moustache or beard this month and raise funds and awareness for men’s health.
WEDNESDAY
Endeavour Melbourne Cup Gala Luncheon - Three course gourmet luncheon with live coverage of all the Flemington action, sweepstakes and prizes, fashion show, goodie bags and more. Book Now! Phone (07) 3870 3433
THURSDAY
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to 14 – The Brisbane International Film Festival – showcasing the best cinema from around the world.
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Remembrance Day is a time to honour our brave diggers lost in World War I. Reserve one minute of silence at 11am.
Kreutzer Sonata – Presented by the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Beethoven’s sonata is based on Leo Tolstoy’s novella, The Kreutzer Sonata, about a man who kills his adulterous wife. http://www.aco.com.au
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27-28 Santa Celebration – Held at The Workshops Rail Museum, the kiddies day includes a jumping castle, train simulator, art and craft, The Polar Express and a special visit from Santa. Phone (07) 3432 5100 November 2010
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FRIDAY
SATURDAY
to 7 – Brisbane Good Food & Wine Show – Get up-closeand-personal with celebrity chefs Matt Moran, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris as Brisbane unveils the best three-day foodie experience in town with hundreds of stalls showcasing wide varieties of food, wine, coffee and kitchen gadgets.
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NOVEMBER
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Sunshine Coast Pride Fair – Aims to bring the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community together in a fun and supportive environment, to affirm and celebrate the community’s diversity. http://www. gaysunshinecoast.com. au
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November 2010
A
licia Coutts coming out of the shadows
TALENT
She may be an Olympic finalist and the 2008 Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Female Swimmer of the Year, but Alicia Coutts had grown accustomed to blank looks whenever she would tell people who she is and what she does. That was, until now.
H
er whole world is set to change after winning an astonishing five Commonwealth Games gold medals in Delhi, last month. Originally from Brisbane, Alicia’s talent was evident at an early age and she began training when she was just nine. She started her swimming career as a backstroke swimmer, and then switched to freestyle, before finally settling on butterfly and the individual medley. In 2006, Alicia moved to Canberra to train at the AIS and pursue her childhood dream of competing at the Olympics. Her dream came true at 20, when she competed at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, finishing fifth in the 200m individual medley final. Alicia emerged from the Beijing Olympics as one of Australia’s up-and-coming swimming stars of the future. Not only did her hard work and determination see her come home from Beijing an Olympian, but also as an Olympic finalist. AIS Swimming head coach Shannon Rollason says, “To make an Olympic final in your first Olympics is an achievement in itself but to finish fifth against the world’s best argues well for Alicia, come [this] year’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and the London 2012 Games.” Since her Olympic debut Alicia has also won bronze in the 200m individual medley at the 2009 Telstra Australian Short Course Championships as well as two silver medals and a bronze
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medal at the 2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California. But most recently, she became Australia’s golden girl and one the most successful of the 7000-plus athletes at the XIXth Commonwealth Games. Alicia is now ranked number one in the world for the 200m individual medley and holds the title for the only Australian swimmer to have a number one ranking. “I didn’t expect to win one gold medal, let alone three,” a puffed Alicia said after winning her third gold, blitzing the 100m butterfly field in 57.53 - a career-best time by half a second. Going on to win another two gold medals, Alicia seemed almost speechless, “I’m very surprised and very pleased.” As for finishing as the leading star of the Delhi Games, the young Queenslander blushes. “That would be really nice [but] I definitely don’t feel any different. I’m still the same person. I’m sure there won’t be so much of people asking me who I am and then them having no idea. So maybe people might recognise my name now,” she says coyly. It’s not unusual for an unheralded female swimmer to come out of nowhere and seize a bunch of golds and the headlines that accompany them, but what makes Alicia so different is her age. Far from being a talented teen, she is 23, the same age as Jessica Schipper, who is already talking about retirement.
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It hasn’t been a smooth ride for Alicia. When she lost her father at seven, the coach of the local Redlands swimming club, David Urquhart, became in a way her surrogate father, and this perhaps explains why he is bursting with pride. Getting herself back on track was a hard and sometimes grueling task, but this strong-willed girl took it in her stride. She excelled in her junior career and appeared to be a likely qualifier for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games team four years ago but, like another gunshot wound to the chest, a bout of glandular fever foiled her ambitions. Her coach then lost the lease on his pool and recommended Alicia to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, which she joined in 2006. Then, devastatingly, further disruption ensued when she was diagnosed with an intussusception of the bowel just one year later – resulting in major surgery. She recovered to qualify for her first Olympic team in Beijing in 2008, where she finished fifth in the final, performing well above her ranking. Alicia had further abdominal surgery last year after complications from her original operation that cost her a chance to compete at last year’s world titles. But still, nothing has been able to hold her back from “hard work, persistence and determination”. Words: Adele Rowlands-Dealey
November 2010
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September 2010
socials
squirrel Get It hits the town with the faces in the places you need to be!
Get it Great Long Lunch
Mia Freedman
Get it celebrated our second Great Long Lunch at The Links Hope Island last month. Over 180 gorgeous and glam girls (and a few gents) packed into the venue for a fab day of fashion, fun and champers. Special guest speaker and social commentator Mia Freedman enlightened guests with her insights into the digital media world while a host of hunky bachelors strutted the catwalk (some minus their shirts) for the Bachelor Auction. All the money raised went to supporting Guide Dogs Queensland and the day was a huge hit! See you next year! Kelly Woodcock, Kylie Kwolalczuk Petra and Michael Wallis-Brown
Ashe Clayton, Bronwyn Mcdonald
Paul Moore, Paul Hill, Ken Cross.
Louise and Frank Forster November 2010
Alana Williams, Zac Ludwik, Natalia Lampante
Ingred Bonnor, Adrienne Porter
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Sheneen Lines, Wendy Bortolussi www.getitmagazine.com.au
Check out our hunky blokes from the Get it Great Bachelor Auction
Marjan Q: What would people be surprised to know about you? I have lived in four different countries and speak four different languages, fluently.
life? ssions in Ronald r other pa u od. o y fo d re n a a t Q: Wha ut cooking t makes o b a te a n io a I am pass it’s food th ate of the day, communic d n a At the end r e th e g to d n e a m o ss people c ve, busine ng bread. nother. Lo breaki to in with one a te a in all culm friendship Rob Q: What are you favour ite qualities in a woma n? Nothing beats when a women is confident within herself and has a genuine warmth of personality. I believe the y are the two particularl y attractive traits that app eal to me.
Dylan Crowe. most about living by Q: What do you appreciate the heads and absolutely igh the beach? I grew up in Burle beach on a hot day the to n dow ng getti h, love the beac is just perfect.
erman Jonathan Kind rfect day? idea of the pe ach ur yo t’s ha ng it on the be Q: W di en sp y would be king the footy kic , ds en My perfect da fri time with close having a good cold beer. a g yin jo and en
Trent Christey Q: What qualities do you look for in a woman? And what do you think would make the perfect girlfriend? After being in a few long term relationships, looks do not faze me although it helps with initial interaction but a girl that is understanding, comforts you in times of need and is trustworthy, is definitely a must! 17 November 2010
H music
igh
Rockin’ Aus. Rock’s global icons, Bon Jovi are coming Down Under in December with their Circle world tour. Powered by 800,000 watts of sound and containing close to 10,000 pounds of high definition video technology, this brand new stadium stage production is one of the biggest sets ever to be seen in Australia. “I put out as much for 50 people as I will for 60,000. You want to be great every night. Every time you step in front of the microphone and pick up a guitar you want to be the best that you can be,” says the band’s frontman Jon Bon Jovi. Their live stage show comes just in time for a career-spanning greatest hits compilation to be released later this month. Bon Jovi Greatest Hits will take fans back in time through Bon Jovi’s worldwide monster hits of the past, plus some new tracks. “Music marks milestones in all our lives,” he says. “These songs have stood the test of time and they remind us all where we came from, even as we keep our eyes towards the future.”
notes
Still livin’ on a prayer after almost three decades of rocking steady, Jon Bon Jovi and the lads are heading Down Under. Powderfinger calls it quits The members of one of Aussie’s most-loved bands, Powderfinger, will say their last hurrah this month – in their home city. The band’s lead singer Bernard Fanning announced mid-year to media that they’d hit the road on their greatest Australian tour ever, before disbanding. “The Sunsets Tour will be Powderfinger’s last ever run of shows. We have decided, after much deliberation and agonising, that after this final tour we will call it a day as a recording and touring band,” says Bernard. “With the completion of our last album, Golden Rule, we feel that we have said all that we want to say as a musical group. We firmly believe that it is our most complete and satisfying album and can’t think of a better way to farewell our fans than with music that we all believe in and also with, hopefully, our best tour to date,” he says. Featuring songs from each of the band’s seven albums, the Sunsets Tour will include 21 performances, covering each state and territory with final ever show at Riverstage, Brisbane on November 13. Fellow Aussie rockers JET and The Vines will join them on tour as supporting acts and Powderfinger has teamed up with live recording team Abbey Road Live Here Now, to record their upcoming Sunsets Tour. The end will be bittersweet for Powderfinger who’ve sold more than 2.5 million albums in Australia alone, and the band members – Fanning, Jon Coghill, John Collins, Ian Haug and Darren Middleton – have been working together for over 20 years.
Well, well, well… Duffy’s back! If you were worried about your copy of Duffy’s 2008 debut Rockferry getting stale sitting on the shelf, then fret no more. The 26-year-old Welsh pop songstress whose breakaway hit single, ‘Mercy’, stuck in our heads for weeks is back. Written and recorded in New York and London over the past year, her new album Endlessly follows up the six-and-a-half times platinum Rockferry and pairs Duffy with songwriter/ producer Albert Hammond Sr – famed for penning the 1972 hit, ‘It Never Rains In California’. Fans got their first taste of the set last month when its lead single ‘Well Well Well’ was leaked. In her new hit, Duffy tries convincing a suspicious lover she’s been a good girl. Her playful vocals team up well with the foot-tapping, soulful track built by The Roots to create a nice contrast. Endlessly is due for release on November 26.
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B
blokes
EER GOGGLES
Get It introduces our new commentator on all things bloke-y… raise your hands up in the air y’all for Mr Beer Goggles.
W
ELCOME to Mo-vember lads, I hope you’re joining me in growing a good pair of handle grips – all in the name of a good cause. My girlfriend is none too happy about the wirey growth surfacing on my upper lip but the lads say go for gold. So, of course I am. I want to do my bit for mankind and it can’t hurt looking a bit unkempt for a month or four. Even if the gf doesn’t approve. Don’t think I’m some kind of narcissist or anything but the lines are all too often blurred between what I’m expected to be and what she then decides she doesn’t like and wants to change me to be. Take the mo for example. She’s happy for me to grow one before the bum fluff starts popping out of lip but then when it comes up, all I hear is “when are you gonna shave that thing off? It looks bloody terrible!” See, I thought she liked me looking rugged. There once was a time she would go for me when I had a bit of growth but now apparently, it’s not cool. She’s changed her mind. Again. It does lead me to ask myself where I fall in
the bloke category. Am I a NASB (that’s New Age Sensitive Bloke for those of you not up with the lingo) that irons my own shirts, has dinner waiting on the table for my Mrs (we’re not married but it’s an easy reference) when she gets home from a hard day at work, followed swiftly by a foot massage and a hot cup of tea? Do I delve into deep emotional discussions about where we’ll be 10 years from now? (Hell no!). Do I line up the cutlery in the drawer according to size? (Okay, so that one could be verging on OCD not NASB). Do I open up like the Wyvenhoe dam with my feelings when she asks me what I’m thinking? I can’t answer yes to all of those but I don’t fairly and squarely sit on the other side of the fence in the “real lad” category neither. Read real man: A bloke who can change a tyre with the flick of a wheel wrench and recite every part of an engine bay in 60 seconds. Who wears his old footy jersey until the holes become larger than the armpits (and never lets it within five metres of a washing machine). A guy who no matter what, always puts beer, the lads and footy first. If you ask my girl, she’ll say I hover over both but lean more towards the Real Man slant than the SNAM side. I like to think that’s why she fell for me in the first place. My ruggedness – coupled with my ability to change a flat tyre and reverse park with very little effort
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– it’s what I like to call my charm plus factor. Some will debate not washing your clothes is hardly charming but I put this to you. What do women really want? A bloke who, in times of crisis (the sight of blood, flat tyre or Ikea flat pack disaster) runs for his cup of chai latte to calm his nerves? Or a bloke who, while he doesn’t always fess up to his emotional side, can have his mo and still save the day? I’m backing the latter.
September 2010
F
girl talk
rom THE
LIP
She’s got more venom in her bite than a taipan snake. Get it’s new columnist has her say on all things chic, chick and slick.
BIKINIS, BANANAS AND BOOFHEADS…
A
S every glossip magazine hitting the stands will tell you, right now it’s time to get ‘bikini ready’ for summer. Does that mean it’s time to shop for one? To decide where you’re going to wear one maybe? Nope, girls, it’s time to start reducing extra bum baggage so you can fit into one. Damn it, I describe myself (and my ‘hobbies’) as a lover of all things snackrelated; the Colonel’s great and wonderful collection of 11 herbs and spices, anything even slightly chocolate or cream related (must be consumed on a daily basis) and every type of cheese invented (except perhaps those really pongy French ones). So I’m guessing being ‘bikini ready’ does not include daily indulgences of one’s love for the above-mentioned snacks. Not unless your snack list includes bananas, a few nibbles on a dry piece of polystyrene rice cake and a some carrot sticks for good you know, colour and stuff. Sorry but really you lost me at diet. I don’t do them – not even when bikini weather is beckoning and while my thighs sometimes show the odd trace of cellulite craters, it’s still not reason enough for starvation. Not in my genetic makeup. Such a shame. When they come up with a machine that magically removes fat from your hips, I’ll be the first to sign up. Until then, it’s just me and my snacks living our happy little life together. Which brings me to my next subject. When is it okay to ask a girl to strip down to her bikini with you? Uhmmm well, it’s a tough one but let’s just say maybe not on the first date. Or the second. Or third. That is unless of course, you happen to meet in a resort in Bali and that is the only form of clothing you happen to acquire. And even then, it’s not likely to go very far. You know, holiday liaisons and such. The reason I bring this up is because some boofhead I was seeing (albeit briefly after he November 2010
pushed the line of gentlemanly boundaries) requested a picture (via cellphone… ah thank you naughties and your ability to produce ample opportunities of mass humiliation) of me wearing well, not much actually… After I finished laughing my head off at him, I looked up and realised he was completely serious. Need I add in here I’d just met the guy the week before. This was our second date and he was asking me to send him (and possibly his entire friend network) a nearnaked picture of my lovely un-bikini-ready self. Sorry, but how does put your phone where the sun don’t shine sound? Really, you want me to send a porn shot and we’ve only just met? Brilliant. Where did all the good men go? Not tucked away in the cafes I’m frequenting anyway. They’re all hiding out at their luxurious man pads. The trouble is poor boofhead thought it was rather normal to nonchalantly ask of such things. He was quite dumbstruck when I elbowed him in the abs and giggled raucously. Ah so much to learn and so little time to teach. Poor little man learnt the hard way it’s just not good manners to ask private things of people… least of all when you hardly know them. Lesson learned. Now where did I leave that giant block of choccie?
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B
eneath the Surface
Once a happy and healthy man loving life, Trish Rayner’s husband was taken by one of our nation’s most deadly diseases.
books
T
his great and beautiful land of ours might offer an idyllic life of surf, sun and golden tanned skin but beneath the surface lurks a deadly disease that takes the life of thousands of people every year. For decades, having a tan has been the stalemate of Australian culture. At every turn, we’re faced with the same images and people who, consciously or not, tell us we have to be bronzed to be beautiful. But this distorted perception of “beauty” comes at a severe cost. Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world and despite constant warning about the use of sun protection, the message is still not getting through. Every year more than 8000 Australians are diagnosed with melanoma and more than 1000 Australians die from the disease. Making it crucial that we raise awareness of sun protection and skin damage prevention. Trish Rayner has witnessed this awful disease first hand as she did everything she could to help her dying husband. But once the disease struck, there was no turning back. Four years later, Trish has published her own book Birthmark, a raw and honest account of the life of her healthy, good-looking, bronzed husband, who loved the Australian sunshine and spent as much time as he possibly could soaking in its glory. “My husband was a sun-crazy person. We lived up here for over 30 years and went to
nodes and finally ended in his liver. “He was dead a month later,” says Trish. While the names in the book are fictitious, this is their true story. “I bottled up my emotions for such a long time that once I got over the grieving stage I was just so angry. I thought, ‘this shouldn’t have happened, this can’t happen to people, why are people letting this happen?’ People kept telling me to write it down. I ended up going to bed every night with a pen and paper and then I’d wake up in the morning, and jot a few more things down. I never expected to make it into a book, least of all to be published, but I’m really glad it was. I want to get people thinking, and for them to say, ‘Oh, I don’t want that to happen to us’. I want them to take care of themselves and to love the skin they’re in – before it’s too late.” Sometimes humorous, sometimes challenging, Birthmark follows his active family, sporting and business life from youth to middle age. Spending as much time as he could in the sunshine, he believed he felt better and certainly looked better with a suntan. “I remember, and he’d kill me for telling you this, when we were in Victoria he went out and bought one of those sun lamps. ‘We can still get a suntan even without the sun,’ he said. And that night he sat in front of the UV light like some snob poodle in a dog show,” she laughs. “The next morning he woke up with swollen eyes, burnt lips and the reddest face he’d ever had... the things he’d do for a suntan,” she says
This shouldn’t happen to people. What annoys me is it’s preventable. Stradbroke Island every weekend but he never wore sunscreen or a hat or any sun protection really – he didn’t think he needed it because he had that beautiful olive complexion and never burned. “But he did have a birthmark here,” she says pointing at the hair near her left ear. “Honestly, it was a dot. You could hardly see it. And I don’t know if it was because his hair was thinning or because he was going a bit grey, but I thought it was getting darker. So I asked him to get it checked out. The doctor said to him, ‘it’s nothing mate, you were born with it’ and, like any man, that was enough reassurance for him.” Trish, on the other hand, wasn’t convinced. A few months later she noticed the spot change. “He said to me, ‘this thing is getting itchy,’ and then it got bigger so I said, ‘look, you’ve got to go and have it checked out again.’ It was still only tiny but the doctor took a piece of it off.” The fragment was sent to the lab for testing and at first the results came back benign. Then that things took a turn for the worst. “It was after they cut it, within a week, it just grew and grew. It was an absolute nightmare!” she says. Trish’s husband underwent a 12-hour operation but, sadly, it wasn’t enough to save him. The melanoma had already spread right throughout his body, travelling through his lymph www.getitmagazine.com.au
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shaking her head. Trish Rayner’s message is simple. She wants to challenge readers to be vigilant about the destructive effects of sun damage and the awareness of Melanoma. “This shouldn’t happen to people. What annoys me about melanoma is that it’s preventable. All these other ones – breast cancer, lung cancer and bowl cancer – they’re terrible because you don’t know what’s happening. But in 99 per cent of melanoma cases, it’s always preventable,” she adds with a determined passion about helping spread the word to fellow Aussies to be sunsmart. With one in 23 Australian women and one in 14 Australian men expected to develop melanoma during their lifetime, it’s the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer and ninth most common cancer causing death in this country alone. “If this book can save just one life, then my purpose has been fulfilled.” WIN YOUR OWN PERSONALLY-SIGNED COPY OF BIRTHMARK: Send your name, postal address and phone number to info@getitmedia.com.au to be in the draw to win one of five books. Don’t be too disappointed if you miss out. Birthmark is available at Angus & Robertson bookstores or from the official website www.birthmark-thebook.com.au November 2010
COVER STORY
It’s hard to believe Australia’s golden girl of the pool was once bullied as a child. As one of our most successful women in sport, Olympic gold medallist and world record breaker, Stephanie Rice says she wants to convey a positive message to young people about body image, confidence and ambition to succeed.
November 2010
O
n August 9, 2008, Stephanie Rice – a pretty brunette from Brisbane with a mega watt smile – sealed a fate she had dreamt of as a young girl. It was at the Beijing Olympic Games and the young athlete had just realised her childhood dream of winning gold, slashing 1.67 seconds off American Katie Hoff’s world mark, stopping the clock at 4 minutes 29.45 seconds. She celebrated her victory by thrusting her right arm up in the air – a triumphant pose that became synonymous with the young sportstar and her success in the pool. She had won gold in the women’s 400m individual medley and went on to bring home another two gold medals for her country – one in the 200m individual medley and leading her team to victory in the freestyle relay final. She was just 20. “I’ve always loved swimming – ever since I was a baby,” she says of a life spent in the pool. “The dream to one day become a national competitor started when I was about four. I think every young kid has that dream. At 14, I started doing really well and it was then that I realised I had potential. Then at 19, my dream came true. It’s fantastic that I achieved that dream. I’m not really passionate about anything else. For me, it’s always been swimming.” While her parents and family supported her, there was never anyone determining her future. “I always wanted to do it, no one forced me.” Two years on and Stephanie now has endorsements with SunRice, Davenport and Channel 7 (SMG Red) and is regarded as one of the nation’s greatest sporting talents. Now living in her own home in Brisbane, Stephanie has taken some adjusting to her new life in the spotlight. “Because it was my first Olympics, I wasn’t really prepared for what would happen [if I won]. People tell you what it will be like but it changes your life completely – winning a medal. You don’t know until it happens, how much life will change. In the village, we’re in our own little world. When I came home it was unbelievable – the press and being recognised. But you just have to roll with it.” Currently in rehabilitation and a slightly lesshectic training regime after recovering from shoulder surgery, Stephanie’s enjoying the rare chance of a slightly slower pace. “It’s nice to be home with time to myself. To feel like I can do some of the things I wouldn’t normally get to do.” The world-class swimmer’s daily training regime usually involves around 12-15kms per day. “I couldn’t do as much because of my shoulder, so obviously I missed the Commonwealth Games but I can’t think of what I’m missing, I just have to
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concentrate on London (Olympic Games). That’s my ultimate goal.” While other great athletes from generations before her have carved a similar path – Dawn Fraser, Lisa Curry and Suzie O’Neill – Stephanie says rather than want to be them, she aspired to achieve a similar success. “I’ve never had a role model as such, but Suzie O’Neill was the golden girl when I was younger so while I didn’t want to actually be her – I wanted to be there doing it myself.” After 2008, Stephanie’s life has rarely stopped for a minute. “Since the Olympics, I’ve been put in a different circle. I’m inspired by other people and it’s great to meet others who have also succeeded.” But with the level of her success comes fame, fortune and media attention – not all of which is always positive. “I guess there’s ups and downs in this sport. It’s a bit like a rollercoaster. Things sometimes get turned upside down – but no matter what career you have those ups and downs. Being in the public eye – whatever you do is scrutinised. I want to be a role model because I want to inspire other people. “I have media advisers but it’s a real test of character. People can advise but you still have to carry yourself. [When I came home] I needed my family and support network. Bad publicity is hard to handle, it’s challenging. I’ve had a little bit of it. I’m someone who loves to be friends with a lot of people and tries to impress them. It’s sort of like that feeling when you’re at school and you want everyone to like you. You want to fit in – it’s the same sort of thing. I was bullied as a kid when I was younger and that was a bit hard.” But the star athlete has also discovered there can be a positive side to fame, becoming involved in the Healthy Body Image Campaign supporting and reinforcing a healthy and confident attitude towards young people and their bodies. “When you’re able to be an ambassador, it’s important to do something you can relate to. I’ve never felt 100 per cent confident with my body. To be a swimmer and to be beside people with such wonderful bodies – you’re always walking around in your togs all day – you have to feel confident and it’s about doing what’s good for your body. I wanted people to know they should be confident. We do a lot that involves young swimmers and I have kids coming up to me – they’re amazing they make you feel special and are in awe of you.” And amazing she is. With the London Olympics looming, it won’t be long before this tenacious young star of the pool is back to a full training programme and focused on once again racing for her country. www.getitmagazine.com.au
I guess there’s ups and downs in this sport. It’s a bit like a rollercoaster
stephanie Pic: Davenport Underwear
golden girl
Powerstiletto in a
What glass ceiling? As these powerful women prove, there’s plenty of girls who are doing it for themselves – and kicking it!
Name: Natice Corby Occupations: QLD Manager – Independent Living Specialists How do you define success? I measure success by the length of the smile on my face! Do you believe there is a glass ceiling for women with successful careers? It may be a little optimistic of me, but I don’t believe there is a glass ceiling anymore. I don’t think any success comes to those who focus on the obstacles. Tell us about your career path and how you got to where you are today? After university and short stint at Virgin Blue, I commenced what I define as my ‘true’ working career at a family owned and operated company. The company director believed in sharing all his words of wisdom, to some this seemed like a massive drone however I used to hang on every word. I worked my way up the food chain from equipment specialist and trainer to the national operations manger. I chose to move out of the beauty industry due to the fallout from the GFC, and I felt moving into a necessity based business was a smarter option. Now I am the Queensland manager for Independent Living Specialists, where every day, myself and my team assist people to live and function better in their homes. What’s your greatest career achievement? Juggling being a mother and a full-time worker is without question my greatest achievement. November 2010
What notable people have you met or worked with? Throughout my career I have met many amazing people, the two people I found to be most inspiring outside my group of friends and family were Richard Branson and Rachel Argaman – Telstra Business Woman of the Year 2008. Advice for women embarking on their professional journeys: Nothing can stop a determined female, I believe you can have all! If you put your mind to it, a great career and family can co-exist without great compromise. What do you wish you knew now that you didn’t when you began? Having children makes you more determined and better at what you do, not less. Has working at a senior level hardened you? Hardened no, but it has thickened my skin! You can’t work at a senior level without being aware of the good and the bad and this does at times mean added pressure. How do you find the time to balance a personal life and a high profile job? You need balance to find the time, and time to find balance so it’s an ongoing challenge. Do you believe being passionate about your career is an essential element for success? Absolutely. I think without true passion for what you do, you become a slave to the job. You really need to love what you do to make an enjoyable career out of it. I have been very fortunate in that respect.
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SUCCESS Name: Alicia Millist Occupation: Group Marketing Specialist, Sunshine Automotive How do you define success? A successful woman is someone who can handle herself in a man’s world with her head held high. Being proud of your hard work and achievements and able to manage family and friend commitments with no compromise – whilst still smiling the whole time. Do you believe there is a glass ceiling for women with successful careers? I think a glass ceiling is some thing you can either a) Look at as a stop sign or b) Look at as a challenging obstacle and find your way around it. Tell us about your career path and how you got to where you are today? Being infatuated with the magazine and advertising industry made my decision out of school an easy transition to study Marketing and Events. From there I’ve held some amazing positions with creative and inspiring mentors, colleagues and bosses to work with; including a graphic design company in Sydney that held the Qantas & Mirvac accounts; ACP Men’s & Lifestyle division account manager; American Express Platinum – there, I was an international account manager based in London, UK and now, I hold the position of group marketing specialist at Sunshine Automotive, an ever
Name: Sharon Murakami Occupation: Marketing and Public Relations Manager How do you define success? The relationships you have with your family and friends is the catalyst for everything you undertake in life. Knowing the value of curiosity and a thirst for understanding. Never giving up on trying to be a better person with substance and character. Having lived your life you at least had a go at making a difference to yourself, your family and others. Do you believe there is a glass ceiling for women with successful careers? While a few stones have been lobbed, and large holes and cracks have formed, the glass ceiling has not completely disintegrated yet. Maybe more women need to don steelcapped boots rather than their Blahniks to completely break through. What really affronts me is that still today millions of women across the globe have no future at all. It is obscene so many women face death at the hands of their family for daring to suggest they have www.getitmagazine.com.au
changing and challenging role that pushes me to become more developed as an allrounder day-by-day. What are amongst your greatest career achievements? The Sunshine Aston Martin Rapide launch at Marina Mirage, the photo shoot in the Whitsunday’s for Mirvac’s new Argentina development and winning the BIG W account with my team at ACP for the lifestyle division. But one in particular I still shiver with excitement at the memory; it was the day I won the Jumeriah hotels account for AMEX Black and Platinum – The joint venture included the UK, Europe and Middle East... the partnership launched Jumeirah into the rest of the world market. A pinnacle moment for sure! Notable people you’ve worked with? James Packer. We had to do a shoot with him for the magazine. I was asked to ‘talk’ with the board directors individually to get a natural looking shot. James sat down and said, ‘you’ve got 60 seconds’ I asked him something along the lines of why the tea cups weren’t bigger at the casino, he laughed and said ‘Okay, ill give you two minutes to explain why’.
valuable contributions to make to their society and country. Tell us about your career path and how you got to where you are today? I went straight from school to uni. Moved to Melbourne (believe me this was the big smoke compared to Queensland in those days). Someone told me I wouldn’t be able to break into the clicky Melbourne theatre scene... well, I had a point to prove. After several years working in the arts and travelling overseas, I returned to Queensland and did a post graduate in Industrial Relations. More recently I was the Production Designer of Chris Nyst’s film, Crooked Business. I’ve always had a keen interest in politics and been involved in politics at the coalface for many years. I have also been committed to working in community and am the president and founder of an Environment and Sustainability organisation – working with governments to deliver projects. Today, the most rewarding aspect for me is about wanting to make a difference. What are amongst your greatest career achievements? The people I have met and worked with and the knowledge and wisdom they have shared with me. Advice for women embarking on their professional journeys: Just do it, but don’t mistake independence with obstinence. Accept other people’s help and advice graciously and with humility.
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Name: Philippa Gilbert Occupation: CEO PhysioMax How do you define success? Not having to be at the practices all the time – the business runs well so I can focus on business development. And recognition from other business leaders and peers Do you believe there is a glass ceiling for women with successful careers? No. Not with self-employed Physiotherapy. If there was a ceiling, it would only be a belief in limitations... no such belief, no ceiling! Tell us about your career path and how you got to where you are today? Over the past 30 years, I’ve always strived for the best results for patients, and have always supported best practice. Studied Physiotherapy and completed successfully, despite a learning disability. I then began my own practice in Mudgeeraba in mid ‘80s. I developed a business as well as being a single mother. My work was noted by an internationally recognised orthopaedic surgeon. With this involvement, I developed a recovery program for patients after anterior spinal surgery. What are among some of your greatest career achievements? The creation of the DeLoReS program for recovery from anterior spinal surgery. Attendance at the 2009 International Spinal Arthroplasty Society Conference in London, presenting a poster for research project undertaken on the Gold Coast. And achieving finalist in two categories of Telstra Business Woman of the Year 2010. Are there some things you wish you knew back then when you began your career? I wish I had the confidence in myself that I have now. Do you think working at a senior level has toughened you? Maybe. Although I’m more aware and a little more cautious rather than tough. I have high standards and always maintain those, which is more about discipline than being tough. How do you find the time to balance a personal life and a high profile job? I have improved this balance over the years as the business has grown. Nowadays having fantastic staff for support, I don’t work weekends and can spend more time with the family. I always have one good holiday overseas per year and a smaller holiday mid year. I sometimes combine lecturing together with holidays. Do you believe being passionate about your career is an essential element for success? Absolutely... yes, yes, yes. Helping people get their life back and seeing their appreciation – what could be more rewarding? November 2010
L whispers ittle
A
Not all couples have their wish of a family granted naturally. With one in every 20 babies conceived through IVF in Australia alone. One brave mum who battled years of heartbreaking infertility shares her epic journey.
Lauren would see women with babies everywhere – or so she thought. It seemed like every time she left the house she’d see mothers happily pushing their prams with tiny pink bundles tucked up snuggly, or pass heavily pregnant women on the footpath glowing from the inside out. When, like Lauren, all you’ve longed for is your own tiny bundle of joy for over four years, it’s a painstaking reminder of what you haven’t got. Lauren, a lawyer who had put the hard yards into her career early on so she could take time out for a family, met her husband eight years ago and they were married soon after. They both had a longing to have their own children and had been trying for a long time to conceive – relentless in their pursuit to add what they felt was the final jigsaw piece to their family. For the past five years, 36-year-old Lauren had been secretly buying baby clothes and tiny little pastel coloured keepsakes and hiding them away in her wardrobe cupboard for the baby she hoped they’d one day be blessed with. But after suffering numerous miscarriages, Lauren almost began to give up hope. All she could think about was carrying her beautiful
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real life unborn baby inside her. “What really used to affect me was when people would just assume you didn’t want to have a child. They generalise and automatically decide if you’re not pregnant that you actually want to be in that position. I had a family member who fell pregnant for the second time when we were trying so hard to conceive and she totally rubbed our noses in it by telling us that she could fall pregnant at the drop of a hat. All I could think was, ‘how heartless can you be?’ “Unless you’ve been through the relentless
Lauren has been pregnant before – four times. Each time she has lost her unborn child. Each time she has grieved. “One of my babies – we named her Sahara – actually made it to 14 weeks. We were so excited we even started painting the room and decorating it with a few baby’s things. We had only just started sharing the news with our families when the scan revealed she’d died. I didn’t get out of bed for two weeks. The depression and wanting for my little girl was just so deeply devastating.” The first Australian-born IVF or ‘test tube’
to reach the conclusion that their battle was all but over. They had tried to conceive and have a successful pregnancy so many times that it consumed their lives almost to the point where cracks began to appear in their relationship. “I became so obsessed and I felt like I was letting my husband down. That I couldn’t produce and carry a baby for him, for us. “There were times when I thought it might tear our marriage apart but fortunately we were stronger than that.” Then as fate would have it, at the beginning
It was such a long, exhausting battle with high emotions and at times devastating consequences baby as they were referred to at the time, Candace Reed, was born in June 1980 and celebrated her 30th birthday this year. Since then over 100,000 babies have been born in this country via the use of IVF. The causes of infertility in Australia are shared fairly equally between men and women. Infertility involving women, accounts for some 40 per cent of all cases and infertility involving men, another 40 per cent. Another 10 per cent involves both the male and the female and the remaining 10 per cent of infertility cases have no explainable cause. Recent studies conducted in Australia have found that around 48 per cent of women aged 25-29 were successful in their IVF pregnancies. That figure then drops slightly to almost 38% in the 38-39 age group. For Lauren and her husband, they began
Trying to fall pregnant? We’ve booked a room for you.
JAM MON/0029
trying and not falling – or worse falling pregnant and miscarrying – you really have no understanding of what it’s like not to be able to have your own baby.” The statistics of infertility are high and continuing to rise. Around one in 20 Australian babies born this year – that’s about 10,000 babies – will have been conceived through IVF. It has become a miracle infertility cure for many but the emotional journey for those involved is a difficult one. In Australia, it’s beleived that around one in six, or 15 per cent of couples encounter infertility. “It’s a very silent and private battle because most of the time you don’t want people to know what you’re going through otherwise you constantly have the barrage of questions that follows,” she adds.
If you and your partner have been trying to fall pregnant, rest assured you’re not alone. Thousands of Australian couples have reaped the benefits of IVF treatment. At Monash IVF our fertility program has never been more successful, affordable and convenient. Drs Irving Korman, Kee Ong and Justin Nasser are now consulting at Hope Island, Southport, Benowa and Tweed Heads. All you have to do is phone and make an appointment. We’ve taken care of the room. For inquiries about our reduced fee cycles* in February 2011 or to make an appointment phone (07) 5519 1600 or visit www.monashivf.com for more information.
*Conditions apply. www.getitmagazine.com.au MON 0029_85x180_Revised Gold Coast Ad.indd 1
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November 2010 26/10/10 10:41 AM
REAL LIFE
Now we’ve got our little man in our lives it’s all worth it. Now we’re complete.
Expert fertility & IVF treatment
of this year, Lauren and her husband’s dream of welcoming a tiny baby into their lives finally became a reality. After just one successful round of IVF they welcomed little Harper into the world in February. “For both of us it was such a long, exhausting battle with high emotions and at times, devastating consequences. “But now we’ve overcome our pregnancy hurdle and have got our little man in our lives, it’s all worth it. Now we’re complete.” Lauren says that while she is grateful of her success in falling pregnant, and successfully delivering Harper, not all couples have had her opportunity. Reflecting on how far modern medicine has come in this generation, IVF is something she believes some may take for granted. “I guess we’re lucky that we’re in a generation where science has come so far that it enables us to find ways of helping with infertility. If we were born 50 or even 60 years ago, I don’t think we’d have had this chance because IVF never existed.”
www.acaivf.com.au Brisbane’s premier boutique fertility unit Medical and Scientific leadership of over 30 years experience, internationally and nationally acclaimed. Offering fertility advice and optimisation, IVF, microinjection of sperm, known donation of sperm, eggs and embryos, fertility preservation, egg freezing, laser assisted hatching and vitrification
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If you are having trouble conceiving, seek professional medical advice from IVF specialists: Brisbane: Monash (details) Gold Coast: GC Fertility. (details)
Telephone: (07) 3394 4108 November 2010
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info@acaivf.com.au
Lmums
society
ate night A By day they’re doting mums, waiting at the school gate every afternoon. But when the sun goes down, these women drop their mother tag and party hard – sometimes at any cost.
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elcome to party mum culture, where women don’t just own up to their maternal shortcomings, but rather flaunt them. With the dawning of confessional culture and the escalation of blogs, books and websites it seemed only natural there would be online motherly confessional sites. The term party mum is one of the few true oxymorons, however the party mum culture and its gleeful impropriety seems to have flourished overnight. With television shows like the Real Housewives of the OC, Cougar Town, Hotter Than My Daughter and Date My Mum gaining popularity there has been a desensitisation of the boring housewife myth. A new semi culture of mothers has arisen, and it’s one which demolishes the social stigma of the late night party mum. The internet is exploding with posts from mothers telling the dirty truth that motherhood is (as they see it) dull. Dubbed SMUMs smart, middle-class, uninvolved mothers, these women are no longer willing to wander aimlessly around David Jones for the 115th time. They’ve lived and learned before having children. They’ve travelled. They’ve worked hard and are adamant that being a mother does not mean you have to give up your life and exciting ways of BC (before child). Uncovering the lives of these late night mums to get a sense of what drives them to party into the wee hours of the night leaving their children and in some cases, husbands, tucked up soundly in bed. www.getitmagazine.com.au
Tabatha is a glamorous and attractive 33-year-old single mother. But behind this vivacious façade and Buddhist belief system, lays a dark secret. During the week Tabatha can be found does the everyday tasks of motherhood – making vegemite sandwiches, washing sheets and dropping her two children, aged one and five, at school and childcare. But come the weekend, she dons her skintight designer jeans and low-cut tops and heads into the bright lights of the city. She works in the nightclub scene, and Tabatha admits it doesn’t help slow her partying ways. From Thursday till Sunday her nights are filled with drinks, dancing and deborturous behaviour. “I am the sole provider for my family because my partner of eight years up and left me suddenly with our two children and thousands of dollars in unpaid bills. A friend of mine offered me a job working four nights a week as a nightclub hostess, the money I make doesn’t come close to what I would be earning if I worked all week in retail and I get to be with my children during the week. It’s an exciting job but along with the nightclub scene, I guess I am in the midst of what can be a sleazy environment and seedy activities. I drink on the job to pass the time but also to enjoy myself, I know my kids are in safe hands as I have a permanent and trusted babysitter taking care of them. “I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardise the kids, but I do feel guilty at times when I come
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November 2010
society
Party mums spiralling out of control: Why should their lives stop just because they have children?
Top 5 Celebrity Party Mums. Kate Moss using an Kate was busted in plain view d Peter frien -boy illegal substance in her then hter, daug Her io. stud rding reco s Doherty’ . time the at three Lila Grace, was barely e. dwid worl s page front e mad dal The scan and after Kate managed to avoid arrest a few for sand the in head her keeping el mod to d rface months, eventually resu y and artne McC a Stell an, Yurm d for Davi Roberto Cavalli. November 2010
home at four or five in the morning when my shift finished at 2am. I spend the remainder of the night drinking and partying. “Recently I lost my license driving home from the club. I carry a great deal of guilt around with me about that and my job in general. I guess if I had a normal job I wouldn’t be in this situation. My kids don’t go without and I guess the trade off is I get to have an exciting life outside of my homelife.” Devra Renner and Aviva Pflock, authors of Mommy Guilt, see wider social pressures at work in the social onset of bored mothers. “When women admit that mothering isn’t always as fulfilling or exciting as getting a new haircut, they rebel against notions that women have some sort of inborn, single minded maternal instinct,” Renner says. Another party mum, Liz, is in her late thirties and is a stay at home mother of two with “surprise” on the way. She has a belief system that whatever her husband does she should be free to do also. “I feel that after a crazy week with the children, I should be entitled to a night of adult indulgences, just as he is. I am the same person I was before we got married and entered marriage on an even keel. Motherhood has thrown things out of balance for me. As I entered motherhood later in life, I got used to my lavish lifestyle and I’m 39, I am not willing to give up the special things after 5pm evokes like red wine, live music and alcohol induced conversation. It’s all about a balance for me… happy wife, happy life,” she quips. In today’s society there is a trend that see’s women leaving motherhood till later in life. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics between 1963 and 1974, most commonly, women giving birth to their first child were aged in their early twenties. Skip forward to 2007 and women are more likely to have their first in their early to mid thirties. Another brave mother, Sarah, opens up about her after 5pm lifestyle. Working in the fashion industry most her life Sarah was
Anna Nicole Smith bombshell This eccentric yet tragic blonde cription pres of overdosed on a vast array aking tbre hear the after tly shor drugs, iel Dan son, ved overdose death of her belo nn. niely Dan hter, daug her of and the birth Britney Spears for this The circus really came to town s on part te priva , head ed shav The mother. ey Britn ic! publ in display and passing out she as lines head e dwid worl e mad Spears abuse, openly struggled through drug y, the Toda od. erho moth early and divorce es Jam en Jayd and mum of Sean Preston her d foun and up red sobe have seems to ility. way back to stage, success and stab
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always complimented on her beauty. “As a model I travelled to some magnificent locations, partied with the best of them and had wild, spontaneous affairs. “After finally finding the love of my life I got married, settled down and had two sons. It was then that I felt as though I lost a piece of myself and my confidence. I wasn’t the same person as before I had children. I guess what keeps me going out partying at night with my girlfriends, most of which are married or in longterm relationships, is the fact we revel in the excitement of getting attention from random guys. As soon as we win their attention we simply move on. It restores the fact we are still attractive and appealing.” Women judge other mothers constantly, the ones we know, and even the ones we don’t know personally like celebrities. We judge them on how harshly they do or don’t reprimand their children or on how much TV they let their children watch, what kind of food they feed them or how much they swear in front of them. We give them names: Slummy Mummies and Yummy Mummies and MILFs; Earth Mothers and Mummies With Tummies and Organic Mummies. In the controversial book, Mommies Who Drink, author Brett Paesel didn’t mean to write a book that would explode every taboo on motherhood but that’s exactly what the book did. The former actress freely confesses she would rather hit happy hour with her friends than have “fun with felt.” Ultimately, Paesel thinks that for all the debate and judgment around contemporary motherhood, “There’s a silence around real motherhood.” Most mothers and women in general go through incredible dark times and the main reason it is so dark is that they won’t admit it. Could it be the pressure on women to be perfect that can sees them turning to partying as a mode of escapism. Finally we will leave you with the “top five celebrity party mum’s” and their struggle with the limelight and the attached party mum persona. Courtney Love Nirvanah Who hasn’t heard the former ing and slurr wife ain Cob Kurt frontman events? ic publ ugh stumbling her way thro s while drug g usin to itted adm Love, who ited her pregnant, has since publicly cred is now weight loss to hard drug use and hter. daug her with engaged in a Twitter war Whitney Houston er and This former beauty queen, sing gled strug ly open reformed drug addict has this bles trou Tour s. year for ction with addi ly high her ued plag past year in Australia s icion susp d raise and k ebac com touted . stuff hard that she was back on the www.getitmagazine.com.au
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ENTERTAINMENT
ights,
Theatre: West Side Story
camera, action
Looking for something off-beat to fill your mind this month? Adele Rowlands-Dealey dishes up iron chefs, flying magicians and dancing gangs.
TV: Iron Chef The latest installment to the nation’s obsession with flat-screen food is the Australian version of cult Japanese cooking television show Iron Chef. The Channel Seven show turns up the heat with celebrity chefs Guy Grossi, Neil Perry and Guillaume Brahimi heading up the series as iron chefs who battle against young aspiring chefs-in-the-making. Guy’s excited to be working with Neil and Guillaume who he has known for years. ‘‘They are true irons chefs. They’ve been around for many years and they’ve done the hard yards and have always been able to maintain standard over a long period of time. I’m very proud to be working alongside them. ‘‘I’ve always been a bit of a fan because it’s a bit of a crazy, fun show. It’s a great honour that I was included on the list,’’ he says, explaining he was a fan of both the Japanese and US versions. In each episode, a contestant chef
The moment the curtain rose on West Side Story on Broadway, musical theatre changed forever. Set in New York City in the mid-1950s, the musical explores the rivalry between two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds but bases itself on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, taking us on a journey through the eyes of two young lovebirds who pledge their eternal loyalty. Their different backgrounds ensure they’re denied a happy future and fate leads the star-crossed lovers into tragedy. As relevant today as when it was first released into international theatres, West Side Story celebrates songs and choreography by the legendary Jerome Robbins, ensuring it will continue to remain a theatrical landmark. The film version went on to win 10 Academy Awards (including Best Picture) and further cemented the reputation of this undoubted masterpiece. Now, Joey McKneely’s vibrant new stage production is in Australia after playing London, Tokyo, Paris and Beijing. The Tony Award nominee was personally chosen by Jerome Robbins to reproduce his choreography which he has now done throughout the world. West Side Story will play a limited season at QPAC from November 4.
challenges one of the iron chefs, who are specialists in certain cuisines, to engage in a culinary battle. They are then given a mystery ingredient they must use in every dish of a multi-course meal and they’ve got just one hour to plate-up. “If we can discover some great new talent along the way, all the better,” he adds.
Film: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Harry Potter fans are gearing up for the release of the first installment of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – due for release on November 18. In this seventh and final episode of the beloved Harry Potter series, Harry faces new troubles; Voldemort’s power is growing ever stronger. And along with his vicious team of Deatheaters, he now has control over the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, and Hermione decide to finish Dumbledore’s work and find the rest of the Horcruxes to defeat the Dark Lord. But little hope remains for them, they have no idea where these are and he has to destroy them all, even without the faintest idea how to do so. Initially announcing the film would be shown in 3D, Warner’s decision to reverse course and release the film in 2D only, stunned all and drew applause from advocates of the format. But it also illustrates the problems studios are facing as they grapple with the 3D boom. www.getitmagazine.com.au
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Month 2010
ove L letters
real life A beautiful Pina
at 16.
A
In a twist of fate, a beautiful real-life Notebook love story found two young teenage lovers reunited once again – after five decades spent apart.
A dapper youn
g Marino.
The couple unite for the first time after 50 years apart.
November 2010
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ll good love stories are cut from the same cloth – beginning with desire and running the gamut of hurt, longing and adversity before finally reaching their happily ever after. So when you stumble across a real-life story of true love conquering all in a beautiful and strange twist of fate, you have to share it. And so begins the tale of Pina Omeros and the love of her life, Marino Belligoi. A beautiful romance to restore faith in all that love encompasses and the belief that true love does indeed exist. Pina and Marino, share a romance that follows the same path as The Notebook and after what seems like a lifetime apart are now living together by an idyllic white sand beach. Pina, born in Calabria in southern Italy, migrated at an early age to Australia with her parents. The family found comfort in the surrounds of other migrant families and settled in Miranda, Sydney like thousands of other post-war migrants of the time. Pina’s mother and father worked tirelessly to give their family a new life. Pina’s family grew and her mother gave birth to three more boys, all of whom went on to lead successful lives. “All the Italian migrant children in the area attended catholic parish schools and the local Italian community was tight-knit while still integrating and respecting the Australian way of life,” Pina says. In 1973, Pina was first introduced to Marino, born in Udine in the north of Italy by her cousin and like a scene from a movie, she knew instantly it was love at first sight. Having completed his education in Italy, Marino was in Australia for work experience and to research his paternal grandfather’s history, who had migrated to North Queensland in 1925 but returned to live in Italy after Marino was born. Everyone in Pina and Marino’s company that www.getitmagazine.com.au
day still comments on the obvious chemistry and immediate attraction. Pina and Marino embarked on a good old fashioned romance – their dates were chaperoned – as was their cultural custom at the time. And both would go on to say the time they spent together was one of the happiest times in their lives. Though as quickly as the love affair began it was brought to an abrupt halt as Marino had to pack his bags and return to Italy to fulfill compulsory military service. Emotional and distraught at the news, Pina and Marino made a pledge to keep in touch and wait for each other until Marino’s return to Australia. But adversity ever the companion of a great love story struck again. A massive earthquake struck northern Italy, destroying Marino’s family’s home. With his expertise as an architectural draftsman making him indisposable, Marino became heavily involved in the rebuilding of the region. Time marched on and with communications slow to almost impossible, correspondence was lost and hearts were heavy. “Life just went on and we lost touch”. Recollects Pina. Years later in 1978, Pina met and married Angelo Omeros, together they had two children John and Caterina. Pina relished her new role as a mother and supported her husband Angelo over the next 24 years to create successful fine dining seafood restaurants. In November 2001, suddenly and tragically, Pina and her children lost Angelo to cancer. “I was blessed to have my parents and brothers nearby to support me and our children during our time of great loss.” Three years after the loss of her beloved husband, Pina’s mother was also diagnosed with cancer and passed away in 2005, followed by the death of her father a mere three months later... some say of a broken heart. In a plot-thickening twist it was in the days leading up to her passing that Pina’s mother told her she had something of great importance to free from her conscience. “My mother told me that Marino had written to me tirelessly all those years ago after his departure to Italy and she was sorry that she had intercepted Marino’s letters. She was insistent that if I ever had the chance to speak to him again I was to apologise.” Any thought of a reconnection with Marino or in fact a relationship with another man was the furtherest thing from Pina’s mind at the time. The heart-broken woman was neither angry nor resentful toward her mother’s actions. She found www.getitmagazine.com.au
peace and understanding in the realisation that her mother had loved her so deeply she feared she would lose her to Italy – the country she herself fled as a young woman. “Of course I had sometimes thought of Marino over the years and wished him well, but I was married to my soulmate and had had my life with him and our two amazing children.” After the passing of her parents, Pina returned to Italy for the first time in 30 years to complete the circle of their lives by returning to the place of their birth. Through friends Pina was able to contact Marino, on what turned out to be his birthday! “We agreed to meet in Venice the following week. I had lost most of my hair and a lot of weight through stress and told him I looked different to the girl he knew 30 years before,” she recalls with a shy giggle. Pina travelled to Venice with her Italian cousin, who actually looked more like Pina of old than she did herself at the time. When Pina and Marino nervously approached each other at the station Marino looked a little confused as to which of the two ladies approaching him was actually Pina. After the initial confusion the chemistry that was so apparent all those years ago was as strong as
could share while he completed the last few months of his work. “I went back to Udine to be with Marino and we lived in a mini ‘student’s apartment’. Although we were together and I was welcomed by Marino’s sister and friends, it wasn’t a holiday. I missed my children and family and friends. Money was tight as we shared the rent and I couldn’t work there. But I was there to support Marino and the most important thing is that we did it together.” As the process of Marino’s retirement was very slow Pina returned to Australia to await his arrival. After what seemed like a lifetime apart Marino was finally able to retire in Australia in March this year to be with his love. Pina and Marino are now in the process of applying for a permanent resident’s visa for Marino – the last hurdle to overcome in the final passage in their epic journey to be together. “I am blessed to share my life with such a wonderful man. Marino is the most kind, honorable and supportive man and he has given me a new life.” Marino reflects his love for the woman he met so many years before. “Pina has always been in my heart as the girl I loved all those years ago. I dreamed and hoped that one day we
he had written to me and she was sorry she had intercepted his letters ever between them. “It was the most amazing, uplifting and beautiful day in both our lives.” As time would have it Marino too had been married in 1978 and had two sons. His parents had also passed away within months of each other, but much earlier, both at the age of 57. Marino was estranged from his wife and had been unhappy for quite some time but as the Italian culture dictates the man remains the provider for the family and the home. Although they knew destiny had brought them together again for a reason, Marino had for many years held a high position with the health department and was not able to move. Pina returned home and with the help of modern technology they kept in touch – this time speaking every day. As their love and relationship continued to strengthen Pina made the decision to return to Italy in 2006 for six months. Marino, in the meantime, had to continue working in Italy and at the end of 2008, travelled to Queensland to be with Pina. They had been apart for two ‘long’ years but enjoyed the time they were able to spend together with Pina’s family and friends and travelling to North Queensland to retrace the steps of Marino’s grandfather. Marino then returned to Italy to find a home he and Pina
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would meet again. This dream has now been realised and I cherish this new life with Pina with much love.” Destiny is hard to debate but both Pina and Marino have been committed to one anther since the day they were reunited in Venice five years ago. The dream for them continues as they share in the anticipation the rest of their lives, together, here in Australia brings. A love story like this inspires hope in the somewhat cynical world we now live in. But Pina offers these parting words that true love stories really do exist if you look for them. “Believe. Dreams do come true. Believe in your own truth... and with love, anything is possible”. Words: Ingrid Bonnor
promotion
Hillside Chic
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anctuary Cove’s owner Mulpha has commenced construction on the estate’s latest range of residential built product – a series of contemporary house and land packages – which are already attracting interest from sub-$1 million buyers. The ultra-modern, architect designed homes are located on prime elevated allotments in Sanctuary Cove’s exclusive hillside precinct, Alpinia. The new collection, the latest addition to Sanctuary Cove’s diverse property portfolio, is being extremely well received in the market of value-conscious and discerning buyers. The unique house and land packages will be offered in a range of configurations and designs, with the homes set to form a striking feature atop the 700sqm elevated allotments in the hillside precinct. Sanctuary Cove Sales and Marketing Manager John Hughes said the homes will suit owner occupiers looking for a piece of the Sanctuary Cove lifestyle for under $1 million, or investors with the option of permanent or holiday rental. “These homes are about providing affordable luxury to owner-occupiers looking to take advantage of the unrivalled Sanctuary Cove lifestyle– in-line with the new generation of buyers that are being drawn to the community,” Mr Hughes said. “This is a truly unique opportunity to acquire a brand new home in Sanctuary Cove for under $1 million, particularly when you consider the unrivalled level of infrastructure and facilities such as the 300-berth marina and the Marine Village retail precinct. www.getitmagazine.com.au
Affordable luxury
“This collection represents exceptional value, from both an investment and lifestyle sense, and also serves to address a growing demand for built-form product within Sanctuary Cove.” Renowned local construction company RCMD Pty Ltd, headed by Bill and Mark Simpson who have been involved in a number of major projects throughout Queensland, has been appointed to design and construct the first series of homes. Construction on an initial two homes has now commenced, which will showcase the modern design and high quality of product being offered as part of Sanctuary Cove’s affordably priced house and land packages. RCMD will offer contemporary low rise, openplan homes in a range of sizes from 276sqm to 307sqm. The fully-landscaped homes, which include a double car garage and double golf buggy parking spaces, are located adjacent to a natural parkland area. The first completed homes will provide buyers with a finished example of two of the five different floor plans on offer, which will ultimately provide 15 potential configurations. A further array of housing options will be offered with different builders, including Gold Coast firm Tailor Made Constructions (TMC) who are incorporating a series of designs as part of the house and land packages. TMC’s first home will be offered at a onceonly price of just $899,000. Mr Hughes said they have been working closely with the builders who have created high quality products that are very well designed to fit into the Sanctuary Cove landscape whilst being
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very affordably priced. “By constructing the first two homes, buyers can also envision the various configurations and designs being offered, which offer great flexibility and exceptional value,” said Mr Hughes. “At the end of day, there will always be a demand for prestige residences in premium locations that are built to the highest standards.” In conjunction with the house and land packages, Sanctuary Cove’s recently released land collection also includes prime northfacing waterfront land in the esteemed Tristania Peninsula precinct priced from $1.475 million, along with elevated dry blocks at $499,000 and golf course fronting land on The Pines course from $650,000. The house and land packages form an integral part of Sanctuary Cove’s residential property portfolio of land and established homes, which is now one of the most diverse in Australia. Ongoing strategic investment by owners Mulpha to create diversity at Sanctuary Cove is certainly paying dividends, with the community continuing to yield new sales whilst attracting a broader buyer demographic than ever before.
November 2010
ali & B back A As one of the worst injured Australian survivors of the Bali Bombings, Ben Tullipan has triumphed – against all odds – to rebuild his life.
November 2010
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SURVIVOR Ben and his wife Kerrie-Anne.
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ach year on October 12, the anniversary of the 2002 Bali bombing, the TV camera crews congregate outside Ben Tullipan’s home hoping to get a comment from him. And each year, the 34-year-old’s vibrant enthusiasm for life and determination to succeed despite the setbacks, shine through even stronger than the year before. As one of Australia’s worst injured survivors of the 2002 terrorist atrocities, the Upper Coomera resident was given only a five per cent chance of survival. Suffering more than 63 per cent burns to his body and the loss of both his legs, not only did Ben fight on and survive the ordeal, but today he walks again thanks to two prosthetic legs. “The TV stations always ask me what the anniversary of the bombings mean to me,” says Ben. “For me, being a survivor has a different meaning to those that lost loved ones. For those people, the anniversary is a day to grieve for them and to remember the special moments they shared, but for me, October 12 is a day where I reflect on how much my life has changed, to live life to the fullest and to never take anything for granted.’ The Bali bombings killed over 200 people – including 88 Australians. Since that day, Ben has told his story countless times, sometimes during the visits to burns units that he has made, sometimes in sharing his experiences with fellow amputees to boost their morale and prove to them that there is life after enduring significant setbacks. Listening to him speak in the calm surroundings of the Gainsborough Greens Golf Club where he carries out his role as the vice president of the Queensland Amputee Golf Association, it’s clear his stubborn determination is successful in inspiring hope www.getitmagazine.com.au
in others. “One of my current goals is speaking with new amputees and talking to them about how there is hope for them that they may be able to walk again, even though people may say there is no hope. I can’t remember the amount of times that I was told, by various people in the medical profession, that there was no hope I’d ever walk again. “I thought ‘Who the hell are you to tell me that?’ It just made me more determined to prove them wrong.” It took a lot of work – six hours a day, over six days a week, until Ben was finally up and moving along on his prosthetic legs at the end of 2003. “Retraining your brain to learn how to walk
again is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,’’ he says. “Balance is a hard thing. Apparently, you get it from your big toes, your hearing and your stomach. I’ve only got half my stomach muscles, I don’t have any big toes and I’m deaf in one ear [as a result of the sound damage from the bomb blast] and have 70 per cent of hearing in the other. That’s what gives you your balance. Balance is the main part of golf really so it’s good I’ve got that bit right!” Having also been told by people there was ‘no chance’ he would ever be any good at golf, Ben now has a handicap of 23, and alongside other golfing successes, has also won his division in the Australian Amputee Golf Open for the past three years running.
I thought ‘Who are you to tell me I will never walk again...?’ “We have managed to implement our own handicapping system for amputee golfers which makes it a slightly more level playing field, so to speak. We’ve also trained our own coaches who understand the game and the specific mechanics of it for amputees.” He says that maintaining a positive outlook is the only way to go forward. “There is no choice but to be positive. I found out a long time ago, that to start feeling negative about things, only leads to feeling depressed and that simply takes me backwards and to not really achieving anything.” Ben says he doesn’t have any thoughts about the bombers anymore. “I started off very angry about everything that happened
Ben developed a love for golf.
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November 2010
SURVIVOR
but more recently I’ve realised there is no point in wasting time thinking about them. They’re dead now and I am alive and I’ve got a life to live. Time is incredibly important and is the one thing that we cannot get back once lost. I may as well make the most of it while it’s here.” Having said that, Ben often gets asked to recall some of that fateful night in 2002, a night when he casually walked into the Sari Club and which he continues to maintain a very vivid memory of. “The federal police told me I gave the most detailed interview of any of the survivors by far. I remember every detail of how the bomb came flying out of that white van, what the van looked like with its light blue stripe on it and how this big fireball flew straight out at me. “This doctor, his name was Dr Veejay, told me around that point that I was in a pretty bad way and if I was to make it back to Australia, I would almost certainly lose at least one leg. I remember telling him I didn’t care, I was just happy to be alive.’ Having had his legs amputated while in a month-long coma back in Australia, Ben spent the next eight years not only recovering and learning how to walk again, but also rebuilding his business importing Balinese goods, and increasing his focus on charity. With various accolades to his name including Gold Coast Citizen of the Year 2008, the Pride of Australia Medal for Courage in 2006 and a Moncrieff Community Award, Ben has been well recognised for his contributions, including
They’re dead now and I’m alive. I’ve got a life to live...
his work with the Zero to One Foundation’s Australian branch, which provided assistance with the reconstruction of Indonesian villages in the aftermath of the Boxing Day tsunami in 2006. “I guess one of the biggest things that has changed for me since, is my attitude towards charity,” he says. “Previously I would have just provided the odd financial donation to help, but now I realise what charities have to go November 2010
through. Raising money can be hard for them, but providing time is also important and I do like to give of my time a bit more freely now!” ‘Post-Bali’ life has included happy times for Ben, like the reigniting of a relationship with his teenage sweetheart Kerrie-Anne, now his wife and mother to their three-and-a-halfyear-old daughter Sheridan. “Kerrie-Anne has been instrumental in me getting my life back on track and was in fact,
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the one that encouraged me to get into golf,” he says. “She never sees me as disabled – in fact it’s like we’re equal and we do pretty much everything together including regularly visiting Bali. “If it seems like something is going to be impossible, Kerrie will try to find another way around it. We have ridden an elephant together, ridden a camel together, gone swimming, been to Borneo to see the orangutans... I suppose where I never cease to amaze her at what I can do, she never ceases to amaze me as to what she has planned for us.” Words: Louise Durack www.getitmagazine.com.au
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RECIPES
Home Comforts Everyone’s favourite celebrity chef, Bill Granger, dishes up some good old-fashioned home-cooked fare. November 2010
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Salt and pepper squid Many people claim this as their favourite Asian classic. They also assume it’s something that can be made only by professional chefs in a restaurant. In fact, this is one of the easiest basic recipes you can make. The trick is a light batter and keeping the squid tender by cooking it quickly at a very high temperature. Fish and prawns can also be cooked by the same method. 180g (1 1/2 cups) cornflour 170ml soda water 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper light-flavoured oil, such as sunflower, for frying 500g squid, cleaned, cut into 6cm pieces and scored in a crisscross pattern 1 red chilli, finely sliced to serve lime wedges Mix together 120g (1 cup) of the cornflour and the soda water to make a batter. Season the remaining cornflour with the salt and pepper. Place a wok over medium–high heat. Heat 5cm oil in the wok until very hot. Dust the squid in the seasoned cornflour and then dip in the batter. Fry in small batches until golden and crisp. Add the chilli for the last few seconds. Drain on kitchen paper and serve the squid with lime wedges, fried red chilli and lots more sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serves 4
Pavlova with brown sugar and strawberries I like my meringues to be old-fashioned and gooey in the middle, rather than bright white and explosive. The vinegar and arrowroot give this a chewy centre, and I add soft brown sugar for its caramel flavouring and gorgeous golden colour. Pavlova is traditionally a summery dessert, but this one, with its warmer colouring, also works beautifully in winter with torn figs instead of strawberries.
6 egg whites 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 225g (1 cup) caster sugar 80g soft brown sugar 1 tablespoon cornflour 2 tablespoons arrowroot 2 teaspoons white vinegar to serve 300ml (1 1/4 cups) cream 150g Greek yoghurt 500g strawberries, hulled and halved 1–2 tablespoons honey Preheat the oven to 200°C. Draw a 20cm circle on a sheet of baking paper and place the paper on a large baking tray. Beat the egg whites with the cream of
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tartar and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Add the caster sugar and brown sugar, one tablespoon at a time, beating until all the sugar is incorporated and dissolved and the mixture is thick and glossy. Stir in the cornflour, arrowroot and vinegar. Pile the mixture into the circle on the baking paper and spread gently into shape with a spatula. Put in the oven and reduce the temperature immediately to 130°C. Bake for 1 hour 20 minutes, then turn off the oven, prop the door ajar and leave the pavlova inside until completely cooled. To serve, lightly whip the cream and yoghurt together and spread over the pavlova. Toss the strawberries in the honey and arrange over the top. Serve immediately. Serves 8–10 November 2010
recipes Pad see ew To ‘pad Thai’ or to ‘pad see ew’? That was the question. I’ve chosen to feature the latter in this book for one main reason: Russ, who has worked at bills for many years, buys pad see ew almost every day for his lunch from the local Thai takeaway. He’s worked at plenty of top-class restaurants, including Sally Clarke’s in London, but this is his favourite fast food fix. 2 tablespoons light-flavoured oil, such as sunflower 3 garlic cloves, crushed 150g pork or chicken fillet, sliced 2 tablespoons light soy sauce 1 1/2 tablespoons dark soy sauce 1 tablespoon caster sugar 300g Chinese broccoli (gailarn), chopped, leaves and stems separated 2 eggs 300g fresh flat rice noodles, cut into 3cmwide noodles to serve white pepper, freshly ground if possible fish sauce pickled chilli Heat your wok over medium–high heat. Add the oil and, when hot, stir-fry the garlic. Add the meat and stir-fry for 3 minutes. Add the light and dark soy sauces and the sugar and then stir in the broccoli stems. Cook for a couple of minutes and then make a hole in the middle and crack in the eggs. Cook for a few minutes, scraping the eggs with a spatula every few seconds to break them up. Add the noodles to the wok, using the spatula to move them around and coat them with the sauce but trying not to break them up. Add the broccoli leaves and cook until tender and bright green. Remove from the heat, season with white pepper and serve with the fish sauce and pickled chilli on the side. Serves 2
Win your own copy of Bill’s Basics This delectable tome of recipes is celebrity chef Bill Granger’s latest gastromonmy collection. Featuring loads of recipes you can try at home – that are not too difficult – and are complemented by stunning pictures to ignite the passionate cook within. Just perfect for Christmas! Send your entries to: Bill’s Basics Giveaway, PO BOX 674, Sanctuary Cove. Qld. 4212 Entries close November 28.
November 2010
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Scolour,ummer colour, colour beauty
Follow our guide to adding a bit of colour to your life. Both dramatic and pastel shades are key players in eyeshadow trends this season.
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pring/Summer 2011 eye makeup trends have been sported at Fashion Weeks all over the world (including the iconic Christian Dior show) and will be a massive hit coming into the warmer Australian months. Nothing screams summertime like adding colour to your makeup look to compliment your golden (fake of course!) tan. Eyeshadow plays an important role in makeup as it can help define the eyes, enhancing their beauty and making them stand out. Eyeshadow comes in different forms – from cream to powder – to allow women to create the desired effect. One of the greatest things about eyeshadow is that they come in a variety of shades and textures from a pearl-like finish, matte to shimmery and even glittery (which might be best left back in the disco era). This 2010/11 summer season the eyeshadow colours trends are cool or warm tones and exude sensuality and style. Pink, turquoise, green, blue, and lavender shades are all the go. I have recently been a part of a fantastic beauty shoot where colour was the theme. The unfortunate thing is so many women don’t know how to correctly introduce colour into their makeup look without feeling like they look like they are joining the circus as the new clown!
November 2010
COLOUR GUIDE:
I have created the below step-by-step tutorial to ensure failure-free colourful summer makeup:
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Prepare your skin for the warmer months to ensure longevity of your makeup. Cleanse, moisturise and prime with a mattifying primer if your skin is prone to getting a little oily or shiny. Wait 10 minutes before applying your base. The new nude foundation base finish is easily adopted by us mere mortals as its basically foolproof! Think a tinted moisturiser, or a light diffusing liquid foundation which has illuminisers in it. Conceal any blemishes after the foundation has been applied. Apply peachy or apricot toned cream blush on the apples of the cheeks to give you that radiant Cameron Diaz glow. You can find the apples of your cheeks by smiling and then blend, blend, blend! Apply a pearlised shimmer powder onto the top of the cheek bones to enhance your facial structure. Bold eyebrows are still in for summer. Think one tone darker than your hair colour. You can use a brow pencil or my favourite is a brow powder, combed through with a clean mascara wand. The eyeshadow can be inspired by the colour clothing/accessories you are wearing or you could be daring and wear a
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totally different colour. For this look I have used an an aqua light blue pigment with a high shimmer and sparkle effect. Pat the pigment on with an eyeshadow brush or even mix it with a little de-mineralised water on the back of your hand (making it into a paste like texture) for an even more intense and longer lasting colour and then pat the paste onto the eyelid. Blend up into the eye socket. Using a light pearlised colour, highlight your brow bone just under your brows and blend. Add to this look with black cat-shaped liquid or gel eyeliner. Apply a curling mascara to the top lashes first and when they are dry, apply to the lower lashes. Repeat this step if you want even more dramatic lashes! Add a pair of natural looking false lashes for an evening look. Think natural but shimmery, glossy lips in either apricot, peach or pinky tones. Always line the lips first with a soft textured lip liner, blend inwards with a cotton bud and then apply either a lipgloss or shimmery lipstick.
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For more information makeup inspiration looks www.elliewright.com.au
or visit
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M
ake me
over A
LOCAL
W
hat is it about a photograph that stirs the soul? Author Eudora Welty once said, “A good snapshot stops a moment from running away.” Makeover Memories want to capture that special moment of your kids to treasure forever. And that’s exactly what they do at their Southport studio – transforming kids and teens into celebrities for a day with fun makeovers and photo shoots. The idea originated when Debra Frinke was living in the UK. After herself attending a makeover shoot, she thought it was a great concept that could catch on Down Under. After moving to Queensland, she saw a gap in the market when she found there wasn’t anyone on the Coast offering teens and kids the opportunity to turn into a celeb for a day and pounced on it. “I love the interaction with the kids – relating to different age groups is a rewarding challenge when I witness their transformation on camera. Even the shyest girl comes alive when she feels good about herself,” says photographer Kirsty
Harcourt-Cooke. Makeover Memories doesn’t stop at glamour shoots for kids and teens, it’s the perfect way to capture all kinds of special occasions. “From Hen’s parties to school formals, family portraits, modelling portfolios, and baby photos too. No matter what age, the concept remains the same – we want you to have the makeover experience of a lifetime!” Owners Debra and Kirsty are passionate about their business and want to ensure everyone has a great time and leaves with gorgeous shots they can share and cherish forever. And as a special offer to Get it readers, for every makeover party booked, the birthday girl goes free. (Conditions do apply). To make a booking, visit www. makeovermemories.com.au or call (07) 5532 0005 0408740932.
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ead
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A
nna Campbell’s striking contemporary collections feature both dresses and fascinators and is designed and handmade in Australia. All materials are sourced locally, and carefully selected to achieve unique combinations of textures and colours. The current range features raw silks, georgette, satins, chiffons, beading, ribbons, felting, tulle, lace and hand made silk flowers. The dresses are designed to create striking silhouettes, some wrapping around the www.getitmagazine.com.au
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figure, then cascading out into voluminous, Grecian style skirts. Other pieces are more structured, using unusual elements like fishing line, and heat manipulation to form exquisite shapes and textures. Unusual and delicate fascinators complete and enhance the collection creating a dramatic look. The fascinators feature stunning combinations of feathers, tulle, silks and ribbon, and are finished with intricate beading, and hand made silk flowers. www.annacampbell.com.au November 2010
N STYle
eat
A
Feet
You might not realise it, but those four-inch stilettos you love could be doing some serious damage to your posture
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he looks far too glamorous to be a foot specialist but Melissa Budzynski has made it her life passion to take care of people’s feet. The immaculately presented brunette is owner of Absolute Footcare – with clinics in both the Gold Coast and Brisbane and says few people realise how much damage their footwear is acutally doing to both their feet and their posture. “Those super high heels we all love to wear so much push all our body weight hard down on the front foot joints. The higher the angle the more intense the pressure is,” she says. And while she agrees that high heels are the perfect outfit accessory, the resulting damage is not so glamorous. Absolute Footcare clinics are fitted with all the latest 3D equipment that allow accurate diagnosis of podiatry issues, and Melissa is also currently designing a range of style-savvy shoes that women will love – without doing so much damage to your feet and posture. For more information please go to: www.absolutefootcare.com.au November 2010
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Rstyle
A
FASHION
etro
WHITE SANDS Estelle, $240
We channel the striking bombshells and pin up girls of the ‘50s for some retro-glam beach style.
O
h how we love a flattering retro-chic cozi! When Sex and the City’s Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon), appeared on the big screen in a knock-out ‘50s-style red bathing suit, it ignited a retro trend. The swimsuit was an immediate sensation, with fashion-obsessed bloggers around the globe desperate to get their hands on a pair. It turns out the film’s stylist, Patricia Field, plucked the bathing suit from the racks of New York designer Norma Kamali. It subsequently flew off the racks. Here in Australia, women are celebrating their curves, Doris Daystyle, in vintage swimsuits. We compare modern day swimmers with some retro bombshells.
Bridgette Bardot
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November 2010
STRAP Esther Williams
SEAFOLLY English Rose bustier bra, $94.95 SEAFOLLY English Rose hipster pant, $64.95
Betty Page
AQUA DI LARA Zinc 06, $330.00
NORMA KAMALI Bill bra, $175.00 NORMA KAMALI Bill bottom, $175.00
Grace Kelly
Month 2010
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FASHION STRAP
e Ursula Andress
SEAFOLLY Goddess halter, $84.95 SEAFOLLY hipster tie side pant, $64.95 Marilyn Monroe
SEAFOLLY Shimmer frill front maillot, $139.95
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November 2010
S STYLE
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tyle stealer:
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Julia Roberts Channel some inner balance with Julia Roberts’ super-luxe look at the Paris premiere of her new flick, Eat Pray Love.
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6 Julia wore a petrol blue Lanvin draped dress, perfectly accessorised with Lanvin snakeskin heels, belt, Iradj bracelet, Vhernier ring and Jamie Wolf earrings. To get this look, we’ve found a few pieces to take you from the restaurant to red-carpetready in a flick.
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8 1. Lena 14-karat gold-plated Swarovski cuff www.dannijo.com 2. Jersey wrap dress www.netaporter.com 3. Python stamped fabric belt www.netaporter. com 4. Santiago Earrings Samantha Wills www.samanthawills.com 5. Brown Snakeskin Pump www.stuartweitzman.com 6. V-neck sweater dress www. vanessabruno.com 7.Abu Dhabi Ring Samantha Wills www.samanthawills.com 8. /Market Bracelet Set Samantha Wills www.samanthawills.com
Because... They are just gorgeous
Cnr Young & Scarborough Sts , Southpor t www.getitmagazine.com.au
cathy@shoetique.com.au
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p. 5561 1038 November 2010
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arry’s it’s a denim thing
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Hot denim destination Harry’s opens up their third boutique with cult labels to please the style savvy.
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FASHION
arry’s – Australia’s premium denim destination and designer clothing retailer– is opening their third store this month. Founded by Carly Jones, the demand for Harrys’ wide range of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing continues to gather momentum. Proving that a good thing can only get better, Harry’s have added Robina Town Centre in addition to their hugely popular store at Marina Mirage shopping precinct and their flagship store at the Marine Village Sanctuary Cove. Harry’s is the ideal destination for the style savvy shopper. The new store at Robina is located at the entrance to Myer and will include brands True Religion, Elvis Jesus, RaRe, Nolita, Desigual, Faith, Religion, Affliction, Sinful and exclusive to Harry’s the cult US denim label, Robin’s Jean. Crafted in the US, using the finest American denim, Robin’s Jean are the leading celeb denim brand and with their signature wings on the back pockets, have quickly become a style must-have worn by stars Kim Kardashian and Alicia Keys. In conjunction with the new store, Harry’s will be introducing new line Dosh.
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Labeled as the next ‘big thing’, Dosh’s new range of wallets are designed and made in Sydney with no animals, humans or rivers hurt in the production. The Dosh brand targets a fashion forward design savvy male. This is reflected in the Harry’s boutique as only specialty selected stores feature the exclusive range. Harry’s has a special offer in all three of their stores – your chance to win a double pass to Summerfieldaze when you spend over $150! HARRY’S Shop 4214, Robina Town Centre ph: 07 5580 9601 email: harrys.robina@ bigpond.com
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1. Dosh wallets, from $69.95. 2 & 3. Men’s Elvis Jesus tee, $235. 4. Robin’s Jean military capri, from $585. 5. Men’s Elvis Jesus tee, $309. 6. Robin’s Jean gypsy short, $560. www.getitmagazine.com.au
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November 2010
O
man: rich & enchanting
O
man is a country of breathtaking beauty interwoven with rich cultural history. It is a captivating destination of increasing interest to travellers from around the globe, and was recently voted one of Conde Nast Traveller’s Top Ten ‘It Destinations’ (2008). Oman has experienced particularly strong tourist growth from Australia in recent years, with double-digit improvements. Oman boasts an intoxicating mix of modern opulence and traditional culture, vast barren deserts and rocky deepwater fjords, ancient castles and five-star hotels. Combined with a reputation for timeless hospitality and exquisite cuisine, Oman delivers such diversity that it delights even the most seasoned travellers. The Musandam region lies in the country’s northwest, only three hours by road from Dubai. Surrounded by the UAE on three sides and the Strait of Hormuz on the other, this Omani enclave contains the Fjords of Arabia, where rocky slopes descend almost 2000 vertical metres into the sea. At the base, dazzling coral reefs teem with marine life. November 2010
South from Musandam, over the vast Hajjar Mountains of the Omani mainland, is Al-Hoota Cave – an enormous 2.7km long tunnel complete with subterranean lake. The cave itself displays magnificent rock formations in an array of colours, while the lake contains a variety of exotic species which thrive in the unique environment. The cave is easily accessed by visitors of all fitness levels. While much of Oman consists of hot, dry desert, a distinct contrast can be found in the southern region of Dhofar. This region is the birthplace of the frankincense trade, and is also the only place in the Gulf to possess a monsoon climate for several months of the year. During this time, the landscape is converted into a patchwork of iridescent green vegetation. Dhofar is also home to Salalah, Oman’s bustling ‘capital of the south’. In addition, many travellers consider a visit to the vast Wahiba Sands desert a ‘must-do’
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activity. Sand dunes up to 150m high mark the country’s largest desert and provide excellent opportunities for stunning photographs, four-wheel driving tours, camel riding and quad-biking. Historic Wonders: Oman has a very rich history, with one of the oldest known places of permanent human settlement located in Oman. The country also contains over one thousand forts and castles, many of which have been restored and are open to visitors. From ancient times to its part in the Hemiarite kingdom, through to the Portuguese influence of the 17th century, Oman has an ability to bring a distant past to life with stories of the frankincense trade, sultans of bygone eras, and visits to architectural relics. Ancient castles, towering mosques, and impressive forts all provide plenty of opportunity for travellers to see and experience glimpses of Oman’s unique history. In particular, Nizwa Fort is considered one of Oman’s most stunning national monuments. It dates back to the mid-1600s when it was built as a key defence site to guard the caravan routes which dissected the region. Nearby Bahla Fort is also a popular attraction, with its heritage value recently recognised with a UNESCO World Heritage listing. The fort comprises 15 gates and an incredible 132 watchtowers. Samharam, in the southern Dhofar region, is a lost city dating back to the third millennium BC. It was only discovered some sixty years ago, but its fortified stone walls contain ancient carvings testifying to its title www.getitmagazine.com.au
TRAVEL
as one of the oldest ports in the region. The settlement formed an important part of the early frankincense trade, including reportedly being the place where the Queen of Sheba had her ships loaded with the fragrance before they were sent to Solomon’s temple. Further establishing Oman’s place in ancient history is the city of Sohar, fabled home of the legendary Sinbad the Sailor. Sohar was once a powerful trading hub and was known as the ‘Gate to China’ due to its role in the Asian shipping trade. The impressive Sohar Fort was built around two thousand years ago, and is open for visitors to explore. Cultural Wonder: Omani people are famed for their warm hospitality and their welcoming of visitors from around the globe. Whether they are traditional Bedouin desert tribes or citizens of modern Muscat, they are likely to greet visitors with an invitation to join them for traditional kahlwa (Arabic coffee) and dates. The most comprehensive snapshot of Omani culture can be found in Muscat’s network of museums, including the OmaniFrench Museum and Bait Al Zubair. This collection of ancient artifacts includes costumes, weaponry, and tools from the country’s millennia of history. Most popular
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are items from Wattayah, an area reported to be the oldest area of permanent human settlement with history dating back over 10,000 years. For an immersive cultural experience, visit one of the country’s many souks. These traditional marketplaces offer an encounter of an entirely different way of way of life. Mazes of alleys allow visitors to surround themselves with the sounds, scents, and colours of an Arabian marketplace and go searching for everything from gold and fine jewellery to antiques and spices. Oman’s favourite is Muttrah Souk, a covered maze of lanes and alleyways found in Muscat, the nation’s capital. Of course, consideration is also given to those who want to experience all that the country has to offer whilst travelling with more modest means. The Omani passion for experiencing everything in utter opulence extends even to their wilderness safaris. It is here that visitors can enjoy the beautiful landscape by day and then opt to retreating into a deluxe permanent desert camp at night. For those travellers seeking additional luxury, mobile accommodation units are available with airconditioning, running water and separate bathroom.
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Cuisine: The Omanis welcome the chance to share their unique cuisine with visitors. This ranges from offering kahlwa (local coffee) and dates to all visitors as a welcome gesture to sharing a traditional banquet. A selection of top restaurants feature local chefs serving up regional flavours together with more exotic dishes.
November 2010
A
risbane
Who needs Sydney and Melbourne when we’ve got our own hip boutiques right at our doorstep. We drop in to some of the city’s hidden style gems.
SAMNATHA OGILVIE Manager: Samantha Ogilvie. Samantha Ogilvie is a one-stop shopping mecca. Since opening her doors in April 2007, Samantha Ogilvie has created a buzz that has everyone talking about her interpretation of the latest chic, yet wearable, pieces. The philosophy of the store is providing the best service and the best product in a fun, positive, upbeat environment. Each associate is trained to be a personal shopper for her client.
SUBFUSCO Manager: Joshua Scacheri Joshua Scacheri is the creative force behind Brisbane based high-end fashion label Subfusco, Latin for deviated colour. The label embodies a signature look with attainable European elegance. Key pieces are versatile and can be worn easily from day into night. Australian designed and made, detailed quality textiles combined with directional designs defines Subfusco from other items in your wardrobe. Concept Store 692 Ann St Fortitude Valley, Brisbane Qld T: 07 3666 0645
Sunglasses, $130 (Hi Tek Junior)
White jacket, $320
Shop 3, Emporium. 1000 Ann St Fortitude Valley. Brisbane P: 07 3852 4661
Purple top, $595 White shorts, $595
Dude shoes, $950
Braided belt, $275
Hood grey vest, $229
Sequence gold clutch, $325 November 2010
Female denim skinny jean, $199
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Brisbane fashion spread styling by Elisasi Fashion Styling: Elizabeth McMahon. 0410 706 374. Photographer: Nick West.
Bboutiques FASHION
forza Manager: Andrew Vozar Forza For Men stock a high quality range of the latest men’s fashion. FORZA ( WESTFIELD CARINDALE) Forza For Men at Westfield Carindale Brisbane. P: 07 3843 0533 Paisley print shirt, $309
Shoes, $179 Antoine & Stanley Socks, $27.95, Ted Baker
Wallet, $135, Ted Baker
jean brown Manager: Joshua Jones Jean Brown Gallery sets a new benchmark in Australian luxury retail standards offering accessories from the world’s leading fashion houses and designers. The innovative gallery space sets the perfect aesthetic to showcase each designer, promoting the enduring quality of ‘original’ design as the underscore for discerning clients of luxury accessories. Jean Brown Shop 62, Emporium, 1000 Ann St, Fortitude Valley, Ph: 1800 253 88
Chloe wallet, $395
Christian Louboutin Ambertina shoes, $1050
Loewe Calle Hobo, $2325 www.getitmagazine.com.au
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Yves Saint Laurent Chyc bag, $2150 November 2010
STRAP
Vfrills
intage
Local designer Lisa Brown loves working with floaty and feminine fabrics to create her line of soft, glamorous frocks. Do you have a someone in mind when you create your dresses? Yes, I do tend to have someone in mind; this person can change slightly with every season but will always possess a relaxed glamour and earthy vibe. Where do you find the inspiration? I draw inspiration from vintage items and the ‘70s, but more often than not it comes from the beautiful and unique fabrics that I source. Does living by the beach inspire you to create a certain style of frock? It definitely inspires the weight of the fabrics, and free flowing styles. I like to make sure that they are lightweight and easy to wear to suit our climate. Have any celebrities worn your designs? I have been fortunate enough to see my designs worn by Kate Hudson, Sharni Vinson from Home and Away, Sophie Faulkner, Danni Minogue, Marcia Hines, Yumi Stines, Carrie Bickmore and Natalie Gruzlewski. Where do you see yourself five years from now? Still running and growing my business... but hopefully getting to a point where I can spend more time with my family. Besides designing, what other passions do you have in life? Surfing and spending time with my family. If you could choose three women to wear you designs who would they be? I would choose Angelina Jolie and Elle Mcphearson, not just because of their beauty but also their global popularity and sense effortless style. I would also choose Donatella Versace because it would be an absolute honour to have a fashion designer of her status wearing one of my garments. Where can we buy your designs? We have over 60 stockists nationwide and we are about to launch our online store. What advice would you give emerging designers? Complete your studies and don’t give up! Do you have a mantra you live by? Don’t quit. November 2010
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STRAP
I’d love to have Angelina Jolie wear my designs...
Caption
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November 2010
socials
Brissie squirrel Get It hits the town with the faces in the places you need to be!
Our Squirrel’s got his finger firmly on the pulse of the Brissie social scene. On the House?
A visit from an international band caused a few disturbances recently in one of our city’s top notch bars. The noisy band members downed enough wine to sink a ship, however the lead singer saved the most expensive purchase till last – a bottle of wine worth almost $500! Slight problem though, he forgot that he ordered it, promptly paid the bill and left with his band and crew to hit the Valley clubs. The owner of the bar was all smiles, but this lead singer may have been seeing red the next day!
Back from Venezuela!
Delhi.
Next
Stop,
Brisbane-based Alison Fletcher recently returned from attending the Commonwealth Games in Delhi after working 21 days straight. The lovely Queensland reporter for Channel Nine’s Today Show let slip her next travel plans on a recent catch-up with squirrel. Alison and her handsome fiancé, Gerry Ariotti, are heading OS to attend a friend’s wedding. Gerry’s attending the bucks party in Las Vegas (no ladies allowed, so they’re hitting LA instead). Assuming Gerry survives Vegas, they are then both heading to the Isle de Margarita, just off Venezuela, for the wedding. Next stop is a romantic break in Mexico before heading
Sanctuary Cove Blessing of the fleet The village of Sanctuary Cove celebrated its annual Blessing of the Fleet and Sail Past with a family fun day on the village green.
back to Brisbane just in time for the Christmas party circuit.
Fast Track to Christmas
This little squirrel recently headed over Timor-Leste for a quick break before the commencement of the silly season. Visiting this developing country really makes you appreciate how lucky and blessed we are to live in Australia. Next stop is a quick visit to the Whitsundays to rest up after the Christmas and New Year break, then a trip to NYC is planned. A chilly January in Manhattan it is sure to be! With the Melbourne Cup now behind us, it’s time for the Christmas parties to commence. The first invite is for the November 4 – they start earlier every year. See you on the town and make sure you look sharp! ‘Tis the season to be Merry.
a living’, I worked a topless waitress’ and a statement from a very tall man ‘Everything is in proportion’. Good grief! Some of these statements may have worked a charm... some perhaps not. Squirrel did spy several singles doing a pash and dash very early in the evening, followed by some gents removing their shirts, which perhaps should have been left on. Next! Squirrel info@brisbanevip.com.au
Gerry Ariotti, Alison Fletcher
No Surprises… really?
The B105 No Surprises Party for singles around the city made each guest wear a sign around their necks, ‘outing’ some of their darkest secrets, weird occupations and quirky comments. Some of the best signs spotted at the Storey Bridge hotel included, ‘I still live with my mother’, ‘I remove dead people’s eyes for
Winners of the Best Dressed Boat
Amanda Keir, Robyn Gadsby, Bronica Baxter
Diane Bohen, Danny Bohen
Barbara Richards, Peter Wilkinson November 2010
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Launch of the Brisbane International Flim Festival VIP guests and media were invited to the launch of the 19th St George Bank Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) at the Tribal Theatres. Guests were treated to a sneak peak of this year’s programme. The festival starts November 4.
Dan Lake, Nikki Lake, Daniel Ballin
Jess Conoplia, Adrian Basile
Sally Clarke, Laura Gunawan
Rachel Borm
Rebecca Atkinson, Phoebe Wowor, Kelly Poulter
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Luke Robertson, Kate Howat
Amy Grindlay Tracy Stephenson
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Kate Feeney, Conal Hanna
Emmie Jackson, Gemma Mumford, Genevieve Kelly
November 2010
socials
Brissie squirrel Get It hits the town with the faces in the places you need to be! B105’s No Suprises Party Labby, Camilla and Stav from B105 threw a lavish bash especailly for singles at the Storey Bridge Hotel. The ‘No Suprises Party’ allowed guests to display a sign with one their deepest secrets – thus no suprises for your possible future partner! The unqiue event was a massive success. Top job!
Reuben Way, James Smith, Joel Smouha
Sharee Bale, Christina Frahm
Labby, Stav, Jadyn, Camilla
Laeissa Davis, Jess Biggs, Nesz Mccloskey
Natalie Clark, Amy Shillito
Kiri Martin, Ken Axford
Chrystelle Durant, Christine Kerr
Josh Saunders, Kelly Gillham November 2010
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Supersteph
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Welcome Reception for the Armor All Gold Coast 600 The red carpet was rolled out for the official welcome reception of the Armor All Gold Coast 600. The invitation only event was held at the Gold Coast’s ritzy Palazzo Versace with a mixture of international and V8 Supercar drivers, VIP guests, media and Miss V8 Supercar contestants.
Mark Winterbottem, Luke Youlden, Steve Richards
Bec Myers, Rachel Magahy, Brooke Findlow.
Lauren Richardson, Keegan Buzza
Will Davison, Andy Prilaux
Anna Bligh, Tony Cochrane.
Thea Jeanes-Cochrane
Jennarly Bieira, Craig Lowndes, Sarah Print, Rachael Hodds
Georgie Wilczek, Julian Wilson, Bart Wilson
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November 2010
socials
Brissie squirrel Get It hits the town with the faces in the places you need to be! Jaclyn Bosh, Haydn Mitchell
Nova’s Traffic Light Party It was a sea of red, orange and green for Nova’s Traffic Light Party. The crowd certainly let their hair down, with the party lasting long into the wee hours of the morning.
Talia Bowden, Daniel Besgrove
Tina Trudgeon, Karlene Marechal, Amy Fisher
Josh Ellis, Trina Hill
David Luttsy Lutteral
Brooke Evers
Emma Dimarco, Courtney Pattinson
Whippy, Tim & Marty
Samantha Towneny, Maraika Taylor
Lauren Bennett, Nikolas Draper
November 2010
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A
A
HOROSCOPE
stro girl
Want to know if you should splash on some new heels or save for a rainy day? Waiting for Mr Drop Dead Yummy to saunter through the door? Our new spirit guide has all the answers (well, nearly all).
Sagittarius 22 November-21 December Supernatural is the way your life is unfolding with many Sagittarians following a spiritual path this month. Take stock and learn from past mistakes, forgive those you need to and set goals for the coming year, to create the future of your dreams. Capricorn 22 December-19 January Friendships, some of which may have been volatile lately, are the focus for Capricorns. With all the social invitations coming your way, choose the parties that you want to attend rather than spreading yourself too thinly. Better to have a few great friends than plenty of lukewarm ones. Aquarius 20 January-18 February Your natural ability as a forward thinker shines through this month as you focus on technology and use it to your advantage. All things techno will add to your personal and financial success so keep involved with online networking, friendships and organizations. Finally all that time on FaceBook will pay off! Pisces 19 February-20 March Your work ethic is strong as you focus on doing the hard yards to achieve what you want. You find support from your family but beware you don’t burn out; take some time to play as well as time to work.
Aries 21 March-19 April With Venus, the planet of love, still in retrograde this month, its time to take some time with decisions of the heart for those of this sign. Whether you’re planning a wedding, or a divorce, be the tortoise and not the hare and you will definitely win the race. Taurus 20 April-20 May Like a mirror, this month may reflect to you your intensity and passion in love through people who are drawn to your natural force. Passion always has a flip side, so don’t allow the green-eyed monster to raise its ugly head and take charge. Gemini 21 May-20 June Adventure is the name of the game this month but don’t go it alone as you will receive more fulfillment if you share the love. And it might be a good idea to invite your nearest and dearest to come along for the ride. Cancer 21 June-22 July Like a phoenix rising from the flames, you rebirth into a month of new ways of thinking and allowing the old to die away. Ideas to improve your health are of the utmost importance if you are wanting to continue the positive transformation in your life.
Leo 23 July-22 August Feeling like you’ve been in a cosmic traffic jam? Well this month you begin to move forward again without the delays. Your Dharma is to look after your family and this becomes your focus as your attention is drawn into your den. Virgo 23 August-22 September It’s all in the detail as you’re encouraged to closely examine the fine print, especially when making large financial decisions. As a Virgo this is right up your alley, so utilise your natural organisational skills and look before you leap into any contracts. LIBRA 23 September-22 October Stay in and put on your fluffy slippers as Librans are still enjoying a financial peak with work and career opportunities. You have the wherewithall to know which work decisions will serve you best for the future but be careful not to overthink your choices – this might make you feel stuck. Scorpio 23 October-21 November Money, health, happiness… Scorpios are drawn towards success on all levels this month. You see your satisfaction account balances growing and growing, with health, wealth and sensuality as you take the dare and fulfill your secret fantasies and desires with great results.
If your spirit is in need of some serious guiding, book a reading with Heidi Hanley – one of the Coast’s leading Psychic Mediums, phone 0403 208 885 or go to: www.heidihanley.com.au November 2010
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rissie’s BA Best city guide
We’ve got your guide to the best nosh in town, the hottest night spots and the odd drag show... that’s queens, not cars!
I
t may be Australia’s third-largest city, but Brisbane’s perking up from the sidelines as a poor cousin to Sydney and Melbourne: a sleepy town hiding behind a big city façade. Stirring from its slumber, Bris Vegas is emerging as one of the most desirable places to visit in Australia. But locals already know Brissie offers the perfect lifestyle, and it doesn’t take visitors long to understand why. Despite the transformation into a sleek, cosmopolitan city Brisbane still retains the laid-back, easy attitude of a small community. As part of the Citysearch Best in the City Awards we’ve put together a Brisbane city guide with all the city’s best spots. The list of finalists has uncovered some interesting trends in Brisbane. Two of the four finalists in the Best Bar With a View category look onto the picturesque Storey Bridge. Is this Brisbane’s best view? Catching a movie for a first date is often the norm, but not at Open Air Cinemas, Palace Centro, Blue Room Cine Bar and Limes Hotel Rooftop. Best place to catch a gig is definitely Fortitude Valley with nominations for the Tivoli Theatre, The Hi-Fi, The Troubadour and The Zoo. The Best vinyl spinner features some of our top local DJs including DJ Tydi, Tim Plunkett, Jeremy Iliev the Stafford Brothers – the most successful DJ duo to come out of Australia. More categories include;
Best chef at your local
Tom Maiden, Bella Cosi, Chermside An Italian experience right to the very heart, Bella Cosi’s home-style traditional food and unique setting make for a rustic dining escape in northern Brisbane. November 2010
Raj, Raj’s Palace, East Brisbane Raj’s Palace is a pleasant and informal Indian restaurant in East Brisbane. It offers classic Indian food with an emphasis on warm, friendly service. Adrian Schoch, Cafe Conti, Wilston Family-run Café Conti is a classy and friendly restaurant. Guests can sit indoors or out in the sunny Wilston suburb while enjoying Modern Australian cuisine. Frank, Scales and Ales, Bulimba Scales & Ales fish bar and restaurant, just off Oxford Street in Bulimba, features seafood, and over 50 rare and unusual beers.
Best queer night out
Fluffy @ Family – Fortitude Valley It’s refreshing that in this era of gay clubs tending towards names that imply an overt hyper-masculinity or hyper-sexuality, that someone has had the balls to call a gay night, Fluffy. While the name suggests a lightweight night out, Fluffy is not for the faint-hearted. Here, dance is king and punters take the dance floor very seriously. The Wickham Hotel – Fortitude Valley The Wickham Hotel is your standard issue gay bar and club hiding behind a beautiful Queenslander facade. The Sportsman Hotel – Spring Hill Whether it’s karaoke crooning, drag show comedy routines or sexy leather boys you’re after, the somewhat butch Sportsman Hotel caters for all. The Beat Megaclub – Fortitude Valley The Beat Megaclub’s heart beats loud and clear with a heap of fun for everyone.
premises welcome guests in with traditional food from three rich culinary traditions: Tibetan, Sherpa and Nepalese. Three Monkeys Coffee & Tea House – West End Reward your tastebuds with one of West End’s best. Three Monkeys offers a multicultural atmosphere and menu to match. Public Service Club – Brisbane The Public Service Club is conveniently located just off William Street, in the centre of Brisbane’s Central Business District. Set back from the road to give it a sense of space, yet opportunely placed right in the city centre. For the casual diner, there’s a bar and bistro and outdoor dining Ric’s Cafe Bar – Fortitude Valley Ric’s puts on a pretty mean spread of meals – from pizzas and tapas ($4 on Tuesdays!) to their famous ‘fat stuff’ (nachos, Fatric’s steak burger, Osso buco and more).
Best Friday night drinks
Firefly – George Street At Firefly on a Friday, you can virtually taste the collective excitement as staff and punters
Best cheap and cheerful
Tibetan Kitchen – Spring Hill The Tibetan Kitchen restaurant’s Spring Hill
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alike celebrate the onset of the weekend. With over 150 wines, many available by the glass, and, for lager lovers, there’s a decent selection of beer. X&Y Bar – Fortitude Valley X&Y is a refreshing reminder of what makes the valley such a cool place to hang out. Looking more akin to the super-trendiest Berlin bunker, the bar is all exposed brick walls, caged booths and graffiti, expertly lit to maximise the beauty of the patrons. Barsoma – Fortitude Valley Perhaps it’s clever design or clever management; whatever the case, Barsoma quickly fuels the sort of ease that makes you want to empty your wallet right onto the bar. The good news is, the contents of your wallet may go a little farther than you’d expect.
The Lark – Paddington A swanky aperitif, cocktail and wine bar built in a converted colonial-style cottage dating back to 1888, the Lark’s emphasis is firmly on its drinks. When it comes to fine alcohol, this place is no lark.
Best festival in town
Future Music Festival Summer isn’t quite over for lovers of dance music, as the Future Music Festival heats up the atmosphere in Brisbane.
Brisbane Queer Film Festival The Brisbane Queer Film Festival is a great showcase of films for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community. Brisbane Festival Brisbane Festival is one of Australia’s premier festivals – an annual event. St Jeromes Laneway Festival The little indie festival gets better every year. Head to brisbane.citysearch.com.au to see the full list and vote for your favourite hot spots.
Best service to make you smile
South Bank Surf Club – South Brisbane South Bank Surf Club Restaurant at the South Bank Precinct serves great seafood with a spirited Queensland vibe, looking over Brisbane’s picturesque river. The Coffee Club – George Street Convenient, popular food and drink chain for the masses. Gusto Da Gianni – Hamilton Gusto da Gianni demonstrates a finesse and passion for authentic Spanish and Italian food on the Portside Wharf in Hamilton. The newest addition to the Gianni portfolio.
www.lollypotz.com.au
1300 565 597
Box of Gold $19.95
Starbright $35.00
Large Wreath Christmas Tree $120.00 $59.00 www.getitmagazine.com.au
Christmas Favourites $29.50
Merry Moet $130.00
Chocolate Bouquets Check Lollypotz out at MacArthur Central Cnr Queen & Edward St, Brisbane 14th - 18th November (outside Woolworths) Xmas Sparkles $59.00
GREAT FOR CORPORATE GIFTS!
ORDER NOW FOR XMAS! 65 DELIVERY AUSTRALIA WIDE September 2010
C A last word
ameron Diaz
Everyone’s fave girlnext-door, Cam D confesses to being a tomboy at heart.
The Guys:
She’s a gorgeous blue-eyed bottle blonde with mile-long legs, her name near the top of virtually every list of Hollywood’s sexiest women, and is firmly established as one of film’s hottest properties, yet she’ll guzzle beer and talk with her mouth full of hot dog at a ball game. This Angel may just be the ultimate guy’s girl. But when it comes to relationships and settling down, her nonchalant ways have seen her flick through a handful of Hollywood hunks including Justin Timberlake, Jared Leto and Matt Dillon. So it wasn’t a big shock when she was caught saying she’s not a big believer in the whole ‘stay with one person the rest of your life’ mentality. “I think the big misconception in our society is that we’re supposed to meet the one when we’re 18, and we’re supposed to get married to them and love them for the rest of our lives. Bulls**t! Who would want to be with the same person for 80 years? Why not break it up a little bit?” But it’s her most recent romance with New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez that has chins wagging. The pair started dating earlier this year and, apparently, Cam has finally started to refer to Alex as her boyfriend. “They’ve been keeping it quiet, but they’re totally together,” a source confesses. They’re decorating his place in Miami together [so] now it can be a place the two of them think of as their home.”
The Glam:
Cam is known for her eclectic flair for fashion but admits this wasn’t always the case. “Growing up, I was the plain one. I had no style. I was the tough kid with the comb in the back pocket and the feathered hair,” she says. It all changed when she signed with Elite Model Management and began a career that took her all around the world working contracts with major companies like Calvin Klein and Levi’s – she even featured on the cover of the July 1990 issue of US Seventeen magazine. But she doesn’t use her celebrity status to score
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free gear, revealing she’s found another ‘unique’ approach to her outfit choices. “I actually buy my own clothes. It’s kind of a drag but I have a new philosophy. Now I always wear whatever I’m wearing, the same outfit, for four days, and then I never wear it again,” jokes the actress, insisting her new philosophy doesn’t apply to her underwear. Cam’s style has always maintained a girl-next -door kind of feel, using basic colours and jeans as staple pieces. “I’m like every other woman: a closet full of clothes, but nothing to wear: So I wear jeans,” she says. She styles it with double-breasted jackets and enhances her look with small details like gold buttons, leopard print heels and a big bag. Details like these don’t overshadow her whole simplistic look. So while her style is usually casual it can also be quirky and free-spirited, as well as glamorous.
The Girl:
The bubbly and energetic star often hits the beach to surf. “If I can just wear a swimsuit and get around barefoot, I’m usually pretty happy,” she smiles. “I love going on vacations with big groups of people; so I’ll call up my girlfriends and say, ‘Listen, show up this week at this location.’ Then we’ll go surfing, hiking, whatever. Or we’re just going to sit and eat for a week,” she laughs. “[Surfing] is amazing. You get to take all this energy that’s travelled across the ocean for thousands of miles and it pushes you from the surface onto the shore. It’s definitely a spiritual experience. When you’re there, you’re just in the moment, and the water is so cleansing.” Though she doesn’t get much time to travel, she’s grateful for her life. “I feel completely blessed with everything that has happened in my life. I have no regrets and I love where I’m at right now. I hope to keep working and if not, something else will come around.”
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Win an Alfa Romeo for Christmas! Purchase a Vino, Birra, Prosecco or CaffĂŠ combo online or at any Palace Bar and go into the draw to win an Alfa Romeo Mito this Christmas!
Overseas model shown, actual vehicle specifications may differ, please check terms and conditions. Competition available in VIC, NSW and QLD only. Permit numbers: VIC Permit No. 10/2534 NSW LTPS/10/06806. Ask at the box office or visit www.palacecinemas.com.au for full competition details. Entries close 10 December 2010
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