QCG Magazine by James Tuckerman

G QCMagazine

La u

hI ssu

Skin... Not Plastic

Style & Spice

With Richard de Chazal...

Books For Thought As recommended by you...

At Home

With women of the world...

Talk it Up!

A positive economy...

FR EE

p.29

hello hello...

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” - Mahatma Ghandi

Thank You To...

Here, here! And I want to see “skin – not plastic.” I want to support a global culture, in which women are proud and excited to be themselves (not Martha Stewart, and certainly not Paris Hilton). Yep, I aim high. But, I believe nothing is impossible, and I know that the shift from an anti-esteem culture to a pro-esteem culture needs to happen, and soon. Today, QCG Magazine is a pebble in the pond. However, I hope it will inspire a ripple eﬀect, which touches more and more lives as time goes on. Rest assured its purpose will remain strong. Written by and for local women, it will continue to connect, inform, inspire, and celebrate the ladies of the Sunshine State – battle wounds, life lines, tattoos, and all! A feast of stories awaits, and every woman has unique experiences, ideas, and skills to bring to the table. So, bring on the Moet, and

Design...

LCM Design Pty Ltd

Subeditors...

Anne Mitchell Sandy Knowles Sheryle-Lee Stoodley

Writers...

Sophee McPhee editor@qcgmagazine.com

Photographers...

let’s get this party started. Cheers!

Chris Caughey Christopher Healy Yolle Suwhanli

p.13

want toto be...be... I Iwant

PR Manager... Cam Hillard

Website Manager...

Informed...

Jaskirat Singh

Talk it Up! - a positive economy p.26 Books for Thought - recommended by you p.13

Connected...

Networking Made Easy - with Lynette Palmen p.45 At Home - with women of the world p.71

p.71

Inspired...

Bucket List - Jenny & Theresa’s skydiving adventure p.5 True Blue - towards sustainability p.80

p.80

Entertained...

Secret Urban Sanctuaries - relax & recharge p.66 Journey in the Middle East - biblical Jordan & Petra p.75

Celebrated...

The Dating Wilderness - curiosity & the ‘Cougar Craze’ p.10 Style & Spice - with Richard de Chazal p.29

smac

p.75

QCG Magazine is published by SMAC Communications. Copyright © SMAC Communications ABN 30 124 754 043 Advertising enquiries: connect@qcgmagazine.com Editorial enquiries: info@qcgmagazine.com Subscription enquiries: subscriptions@qcgmagazine.com PO Box 2414 Fortitude Valley BC 4005, Brisbane, QLD. QCG Magazine is free to download online!

www.qcgmagazine.com

Brooke Wylie Cara Fanning Eleisha Rogers Kim Wilkinson Kirsty-Lee Workman Kylie Welsh Samantha Hagaman

p.29

Contributors... Adriana Tedeschi Alastair McLeod Alison Quinn Annette McFarlane Chris Ireland Danielle Harris Deb Lindner Deb Paton Debra Jarvis Denise Morcombe Heather Murrell Susan Living Theresa Spencer Jean Cannon Jennie Brown Jenny Andrews Jenny Feehely Joan Teo Joy Meredith Julie Cross Julie Gough Karin McCarthy Kate Young Kathryn Lyall-Watson Kerrie Frizzell Kim Alvena Liz Healy Liz Rennie Lynette Palmen Majella Anderson Megan Holgate Michelle Tritton Narelle Todd Patsy McCarthy Susan Living Theresa Spencer 3 QCG Magazine

Bucket List

“Flying High”

Theresa Spencer...

Without being religious, I think it is interesting how God gives us all different challenges. These challenges may come in the form of health, relationships, family and wealth. I firmly believe that God never gives us anything we can not handle, and if we are given these challenges we are given them to stretch us further than we have been before. I use God generically; we can adapt this to suit our beliefs. The reason I wrote the introduction this way is because I use this philosophy when I was asked to “fly high”. I have always had a fear of flying. I first started flying when I was quite small. My dad was involved with the airlines at Gladstone, and we were often taken on joy flights. When I was quite young, if the plane leaned one way I would lean the other way to even it up. But, over the years the fear diminished and I became less and less nervous about flying. Still, I never would have considered jumping out of a perfectly good plane on my own. When it was suggested that I should do this as a bucket list challenge, the fear came up in my mouth and it never left me. Now I consider myself almost a fearless person, having raised two children on my own, bought and sold houses, and negotiated myself through the pitfalls of life. I went back to university when I was fifty and studied for 6 years, while I worked full time and continued raising my daughters. But the fear of jumping out of a plane was very real for me; this is the only thing in my life that had kept me awake at night, with fear. The morning of the jump saw me go to the toilet at least 50 times with nervous tension. I would have loved to have seen my face when they opened the door of the plane and I looked down. The fear I felt was like nothing I had ever experienced before. I was lucky there was not an “opt out” button, because I surely would have hit it! The strangest feeling came over me, when Quotes of the day... I was outside the plane free falling. It was the most incredible feeling of liberation. My fear T: “Unfortunately, they don’t serve alcohol on the plane.” was lifted and replaced with a sense of achievJ: “Do they provide nappies...or at least an orgasm on the way down?” ement. The whole experience got me thinking T: “Can I see your credentials?” – Directed at Theresa’s patient instructor, Gus. about the limitations we put on ourselves and J: “Do what you have to do to make the bloody thing open!” just how little we actually achieve, in comparison – Directed at the Darren, as he attempts to pack Jenny’s chute. to what we could if we did not let fear hold us back. T: “Is there an ‘easy option’, such as jumping from the tarmac?” A number of weeks have passed since I was J: “How much did you have to pay these people to smile?” literally thrown out of the plane, and can I say – The photos on Rambler’s walls were encouraging. the feeling of euphoria is still with me, and I: “There’s only something to worry about if I’m over here and you’re I hope it never fades. over there.” – Darren points out that several metres of separation between him and Theresa are not a good sign. T: “So, is this going to be like a pleasant balloon ride?” J: “What do ‘tuck-shop lady’ arms look like in the air?” T: “If the jump doesn’t kill us, the sharks will!” – Gus agrees... I: “So, you’ve actually made plans for this afternoon – that’s confident of you.” I: “Next time, bring along your husband and we’ll ‘offload’ him for you.”

Wan’t to Fly High? Skydive Rambler’s - Phone: 1800 999 014 Coolum Beach Tandem Drop Zone Conference Centre, Coolum Beach Hotel David Low Way, Coolum Beach QLD www.skydiveramblers.com 4 QCG Magazine

Bucket List This Issue:

Jenny and Theresa’s skydiving adventure

Photos: Yolle Suwhanli

Jenny Feehely...

Oh my God! I jumped out of a plane...who would have thought it was possible? I have trouble just getting up a three-step ladder! It’s one of those things; you get the girls together and talk about your biggest fears, and bingo, there it is: I simply don’t like heights. In true ‘girls’ night’ style, the grog was flowing the evening Theresa and I put our hands up to take the leap of faith. It wasn’t long before I thought, “What have I got myself into?” The weeks went by – other things in your life go on – and I really didn’t think too much about it until the Editor, Sophee, dropped me a line and said, “Don’t forget Jenny, the parachute jump is next weekend.” Ahhh! “Okay, I can do this. Stay cool,” I thought. So, on doomsday morning (a beautiful Sunday), I prepared to drive up the coast to Rambler’s. Before I got out my front door, my husband said, “See ya. Is your will up to date?” I finally arrived at the Coolum Drop Zone and, thankfully, they had a bar. At this point, I was feeling absolutely fine. I ate some lunch with the girls and even downed a vodka. After all the prep was done on the parachutes and the instructors were good to go, we hopped in a rusty old van and drove to Maroochy airport. The plane took off, and the view from the window was beautiful – I’d lived on the coast most of my life and never seen it from this angle. Before long, the instructors started to buckle us up – it was a reality check! Theresa smiled at me and gave me the thumbs up. I thought to myself, “If she can do this, so can I.” Might I add at this point that she was the one who’d been worrying all week? And then, at 10,000 feet, they opened the plane doors. The cold air hit me like a ton of bricks. Theresa went first, and then it was down to me. “No turning back here baby,” I thought. Free falling through the air...it was like being in the surf at Mooloolaba, among the big dumpers. I didn’t know which way was up or down.

“Put your arms out, put your arms out!” said the instructor. “That’s right!” I thought, “I’m supposed to be doing something here.” Once I got my bearings, I realised my heart was racing like mad as we continued to plummet through the air. Eventually, I felt him pull the chute and my 50 year old bladder ﬁnally decided to say, “Hello – what goes up must come down!” So, you guessed it – there was a small moment. Once he’d pulled the chute chord, it was absolutely fantastic - the euphoria of seeing so much beautiful scenery and knowing that the ground wasn’t far oﬀ. All my family came to watch (well, everyone apart from the husband, who was in the shed having a few beers with his mates, as he does), and plenty of wonderful friends were waiting on the beach for Theresa and I to land. What a sight. My attached person and I apparently made a very gracious landing. 5 QCG Magazine

Young Respect for Rebels By Liz Rennie

In my opinion, black water rafting is a death sport. Not only do you have to deal with the paralysing fear that comes with negotiating rapids, abseiling down rocky terrain and squeezing through mini crevasses but you also have to do it all in the complete darkness of a subterranean cave. Frankly, I don’t see how such insanity could be considered ‘fun’ or ‘exhilarating’. You couldn’t pay me enough to don a wetsuit and embark on a ﬁve hour journey into a labyrinth of sharp rocks and freezing cold water. I mean who - besides the extreme sports enthusiast - could ever consider that appealing? Well, my ex-work colleague, Elaine, for one. Just imagine my shock when this sixty year old grandmother returned from her trip to NZ with photographs of the picturesque scenery of the North Island and snapshots of her black water rafting adventure with her husband and a group of Swedish backpackers. Needless to say, I was slightly embarrassed by my own cowardice. But, I also felt my respect for a more ‘mature’ generation skyrocket. While I was the one who originally encouraged Elaine to give the ‘death sport’ a go, I didn’t think in my wildest dreams she’d actually do it! But, my assumption was incorrect and I really shouldn’t have been so surprised. Elaine has always been very young at heart. She’s a big fan of the action packed TV series 24 and we use to discuss the various plot twists at work, trying to ﬁgure out how Kiefer Sutherland “I was slightly embarrassed by my own cowardice...” was going to save the world. We also swapped books and DVD’s. Elaine’s read all Elaine’s always lived her adult life like she’s in her seven Harry Potter novels, while I’m addicted to James Patterson’s crime twenties and I can’t help but respect her for that. stories. She lent me Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe and Although, when I asked her about the rafting laughed when I told her how shocked and appalled I was at how the two experience her only words on the subject were, heroines dispensed of an abusive husband. “Never again!” But at least she gave it a go.

Breast Cancer Survivors Paddling Dragon Boats For Fun & Fitness

1300 889 566 DRAGONS

ABREAST

6 QCG Magazine

contact@dragonsabreast.com.au www.dragonsabreast.com.au

“No men, make-up, or mirrors.”

Heather Murrell

s a registered nurse I have always been enthusiastic about promoting women’s health. I was telling my regular breakfast group about my daughter joining Curves in Armidale and found that not only were my friends already members of Curves Indooroopilly, but that it was for sale! This was the perfect opportunity for me to combine my dream of owning my own business with my passion for improving women’s lives. It’s always uplifting to walk in the door and be greeted by members having a great time at the club. When you join Curves Indro, you don’t just join a gym, you join a community. We encourage our members to participate in fun walks and girls’ nights, and to meet new friends! Women also enjoy the relaxed and uncompetitive atmosphere we offer. Our aim is also to improve the health and fitness of all our members, including those with health issues such as arthritis, high blood pressure and osteoporosis. Thirty minutes, three times a week is enough to improve any woman’s fitness levels and flexibility, and the Curves workout can be individualized to suit those with special needs. At Curves Indro, we love to celebrate everyone’s achievements and it is extremely satisfying to see women reach their goals. While all of our members are special, one lady definitely stands out. Peggy, our oldest member, is 90 years young and an inspiration to us all. Her dedication and energy prove how vital it is to look after your body at any age! The most challenging part of my job is keeping members motivated! Women need to be supported and encouraged as they work out, to keep them on track and headed towards their goals. Fitness is something that needs to be maintained, and you can’t just reach a level and say “Phew, I can relax now!” Fitness levels start to decrease as soon you stop exercising, so it’s important that you find a form of exercise that fits easily into your lifestyle and becomes a habit – like brushing your teeth. I have members who have been with us for years and exercising at Curves Indro is just part of their life. Curves is the perfect workout for any woman to take care of her health and herself!

Bucket List

I’ve always wanted to walk the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru.

the power to

amaze yourself 100 Coonan Street Indooroopilly T. 3720 0355 info@indrocurves.com.au

7 QCG Magazine

ichelle needs a new alias. Having masterfully acquired a black belt in ju jitsu at 36 at the same time as managing a household, two kids and a business, it would be more apt if she was referred to as “Mrs. Incredible!” Along with her husband, Doug, and their two sons, William (20) and Charlie (18), ten years after achieving black belt, Michelle is committed to taking the family business, ‘Fighting Fit’, to the next level. Their mission is to help people of all ages and walks of life improve their personal safety, fitness and sense of wellbeing. “It’s important for us to cater for all skill and fitness levels, and encourage everyone to give ‘Fighting Fit’ a go. We are way more than martial arts and encompass many other forms of fitness. The practice of martial arts isn’t just for tattoo-clad men with white robes and muscles on their muscles!” says Michelle. “Women come in wearing their daggy gym clothes, and one of the first things they learn to do is scream and use their voice – it’s very empowering and a great way to release stress!” Indeed, ‘Fighting Fit’, with its martial arts, gym, personal trainers, pilates and pool, is an optimum place for women to release a bit of tension. “The interactive, engaging nature of our classes also makes the Fighting Fit experience a social one, and prevents participants from worrying about the things that cause them stress,” says Michelle. A number of patrons are particularly pleased with the increased flexibility, strength and sense of balance their bodies have experienced, as a result of Michelle’s classes. According to one client, “Fighting Fit really helped build my confidence – which has translated into all areas on my life....business, social and personal”. Around the time of the Brisbane bikeway attacks, ‘Fighting Fit’ was a popular support centre for women, teens and girls who wanted to learn how to protect themselves. “We also get a lot of mother’s signing their teenage sons and daughters up for classes in the lead up to Schoolies week. And there are also numerous classes for younger children. Many mums are getting very savvy with their time management, while their child is at a class, they go to the gym or book a time with a personal trainer,” says Michelle. Evidently, while people visit ‘Fighting Fit’ for a number of different reasons, one thing remains the same: every patron leaves the centre feeling confident, empowered and energised!

Me Gift 6 months

(2 issues) $9.90

1 year

(4 issues) $19.80

Michelle Tritton

Michelle’s Fighting Fit Tips:

1. Leave $20 in plain view near the front door, on a table – it will be the ﬁrst thing an intruder takes. 2. Leave sprays such as hair spray, deodorant or insect repellent around the house and beside your bed. A squirt in the eye is painful and can give you time to escape from an attacker. 3. Create a secret family ‘password’ and talk about it with members of your family. This can be used to alert that something is wrong, or as a parental permission for a child to go somewhere with another adult. For instance “Mum asked me to pick you up after school, the secret password is ‘mars bars’ ”, tells the child it is OK to get in the car with this adult.

G QC Magazine

SUBSCRIBE Relaunching this spring!

Payment options

Fighting Fit

Contact Information: Fighting Fit Centre Telephone: 07 3268 5501 www.fightingfitcentre.com.au info@fightingfitcentre.com.au Address: 61 Kent Street, Hamilton, Brisbane

Payment details Cheque/money order for $________ is enclosed payable to QCG Magazine, OR charge $________ to:

Visa

MasterCard

Card number

18 months (6 issues) $27.90

My details Mrs/Ms/Miss/Mr______________________________________ Address____________________________________________ ___________________________ Postcode________________ Daytime telephone____________________________________

I understand that QCG Magazine will automatically charge my credit card $9.90 in advance of every two issues and will continue to debit my nominated credit card unless otherwise notiﬁed by me.

Cardholder’s signature_________________Expiry date ___ /___ Cardholder’s name (print)_______________________________

Email______________________________________________

Please send a card to the gift recipient to announce my gift:

Gift recipient’s details

By this date:___ / ___ / ______

Mrs/Ms/Miss/Mr______________________________________ Address____________________________________________ ___________________________ Postcode________________ Daytime telephone____________________________________

8 QCG Magazine

Send coupon(s) to: QCG Magazine PO Box 2414 Fortitude Valley BC Queensland 4005

Stories of a Wild Child Julie Mackay, Brisbane - College Dropout

Kerrie Workman, Miami - Beach Nudist

I grew up in a conservative farming family in a small country When I was eighteen, my husband and I left the small town. My parents had always urged me to follow in my siblings’ country town we grew up in and moved to Sydney. A few footsteps by gaining a university education. Six months into friends had mentioned a famous nude beach, called Lady Jane Teachers’ Training College, I got itchy feet. So, I dropped out Beach, and we thought it would be exciting to go for a visit. and took off for London! During my time overseas, I worked So, one afternoon, we did! The beach was tucked away under hard, travelled through Europe, fell in love, got married, and a cliff and we actually had to climb down a ladder to get to it. did some things I would probably rather forget! At the time I As soon as we stepped off the ladder we had to take our clothes felt extremely excited, independent and liberated. off – they wouldn’t let us stay if we didn’t! Surprisingly, I wasn’t The experience was definitely outside of my comfort zone, nervous. My husband, on the other hand, was slightly as I was expected to live and die in the same country town. uncomfortable. He stayed very close to me the entire time, While I regret the fact that I didn’t complete my education and especially in the line up to get ice creams. It was a great I was too young to really appreciate the history of the countries experience; the beach was secluded and the atmosphere was I visited, I learnt a lot about people during very friendly. There were even families “The rest of the girls were my time overseas, and definitely had a lot of fun! completely dumbfounded.” with kids, and people Chris Wilcox, Bundaberg - Rebel Gypsy of all ages, sizes and colours. I’m proud that I did When I was thirteen, a critical time in my life, my some thing a little wild, and would definitely family moved interstate. I was forced to change do it again. schools and it wasn’t long before I began to take after my new peers, who were the worst role models Barb Jamesson, Mount Crosby imaginable! In order to fit in, I went from being a - Rogue student child to an ‘adult’ in an instant. Exchanging board As a teenager, I attended a respected girl’s high games and tree climbing for wagging, smoking, school in Brisbane. In the last week of senior year, boys, sex and drugs; I slipped from being an a few ‘friends’ and I decided to drape a banner A grade student to a D student in the space of a over the school entrance, for passing traffic to year. At the same time, my father, who had been see. It read, “St Penitentiary.” We had to sneak my rock throughout my childhood, went to sea into a nun’s building, which was completely for nine months. He left me when I needed him forbidden to students, and climb out onto the the most. While I have talked to my dad about top floor balcony. Before long, I was hanging this the effects his decisions had on me, I still like a monkey over the street, so I could tie the resent the fact that I had to turn to my peers for ropes for the banner. Once the deed was done, advice and leadership. If I could go back and we tiptoed our way back down and blended change things I would never have moved. I feel back into the crowd. The Principal soon came I was forced into adult life before I was ready for it. over the loud speaker expressing her disappointment: “Never before has anyone at this school ever Fiona Murphy, Freshwater - Romantic Traveller done anything so outrageous, not to mention dangerous! When I was in my early twenties, I went travelling overseas for The girls responsible will be expelled!” I felt fabulous – on a the first time with a close friend. We were planning to explore real high! I had escaped death on the ‘highwire’ and capture! Japan as part of a tour group; however, my plans changed The rest of the girls were completely dumbfounded. Who suddenly, when I met a charming man and impulsively decided could have done such a thing? The experience gave me a huge to run off with him to Burma! I’m usually a very safe and adrenaline rush because it was well out of my comfort zone. conservative type of person, so this was completely out of I was considered a ‘good girl’ and what I did was so-o-o-o risky! character for me. I look back on that experience fondly. I’m Would I do it again? You betcha baby! glad that I have a part of my life which is a little wild and out SEND IN YOUR ‘WILD CHILD’ STORIES TO: there, at least for me. I haven’t kept in touch with the guy, and the relationship never made it out of Burma, but I was just yoursay@qcgmagazine.com completely caught up in the moment and had a lot of fun.

9 QCG Magazine

The Dating Wilderness...

It’s a jungle out there! - By Kirsty-Lee Workman

he cougar: A predatory animal known for its hunting prowess, and ‘capable stalk-and-ambush’ style of attack. Also describes a woman who dates a man younger than herself. Yep, it’s official, the ‘Cougar Craze’ has gone global. This edgy relationship trend has become more ‘in’ than Chihuahua-stuffed handbags and child adoption. While the attraction between the young and the young at heart is certainly not new (think the Desperate Housewives and hunky gardener, or Stifler’s Mum in American Pie). Like most fads, the recent cougar revolution has drawn its intensity from Tinseltown examples. Of course, there are the established cougars, like Jerry Hall and Susan Sarandon, who attract a “You go girl!” kind of response from womankind. While the scrutiny surrounding Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher’s relationship has certainly died down, Madonna’s recent decision to open her ‘dating doors’ to 22 year old Brazilian model, Jesus Luz, has raised more than a few eyebrows. A few years ago The US National Association of Retired Persons revealed that as many as 34 per cent of its female members (aged 40+) were involved with men younger than themselves. So, what’s really going on with this modern relationships trend? Is it merely a case of single, mature women having a bit of fun? Or, are we witnessing the breakdown of relationship conventions? Whatever your opinion is, there’s no denying the ‘Cougar Craze’ has found its way to Australia, and Queensland is no exception. A quick internet search reveals a plethora of dating websites engineered specifically to connect younger men with a surprising amount of single Queensland ‘Cougars’. The ladies of the Sunshine State seem to be relishing in the fact that they can take control of their love lives and let go of their long held inhibitions. Many of them, such as Theresa, a 62-year-old accountant, have been through the marriage, children, and divorce roller coaster ride and are rediscovering themselves, along with the potential for the new and exciting relationships. “Most women now just don’t see any limitations for themselves,” she says. “I come from a generation that experienced limitations, and now I have fewer inhibitions.” Theresa became aware of the growing attraction between older women and younger men through her involvement with the dating website RSVP. “I’ve been on the RSVP profile for quite some time and was surprised at the number of younger men contacting me,” she says. Her own experience with an eager 25 year old male occurred at an RSVP singles function on New Years Eve. “A young guy was hanging around my group of friends. My mates tried to get rid of him but I thought to myself ‘just leave him alone,’”

she says. “Eventually, he took me aside and bought us some drinks. I told him he should find a girl his own age, but he took me around the corner and we had a good, steamy pash.” Theresa says the experience was her first and was a bit of a shock. “It was one of my wildest dreams but after we had kissed passionately I told him its not going to happen. I still don’t understand his attraction to me.” For her part she feels that some of the attraction of a younger man is the idea of a pressure free experience. “Part of it is less pressure on the relationship. These men come from totally different generations, the RSVP guy had less inhibitions and no judgement,” she says. “I was judgemental about the situation but he wasn’t.” While Theresa’s New Years Eve kiss was a thrilling encounter, she points out that there is a darker side to the online dating experience. “It’s a game to some people,” she says. “One young man was leaving me very sweet emails but was talking to 20 girls at the

Cougar...

“The sexual experience is deﬁnitely diﬀerent.”

10 QCG Magazine

same time. I said I just don’t want to be number 21. I don’t know how serious some of them are.” Despite this, Theresa says she enjoyed her experience and would consider dating a younger man if the right one came along. “I’m just out there having a great time and being open to all experiences,” she says. “People are entitled to their opinion but I’m a person who doesn’t want to go out with anything left in the tank.” While the Cougar Craze continues to have some stigma attached to it, the general consensus seems to be toward accepting the trend – even celebrating it. On any given night, it’s easy to find a number of mature-aged women enjoying their own confidence and the experience of meeting young men. 22-year-old Kelsey has had some experience with dating older women and says he has noticed a rise in the number of ‘Lady Boomers’ approaching him in pubs and clubs. “I don’t really know why the trend is happening, but I’ve definitely had more mature women make moves on me in recent years,” he says. Kelsey says he has always been attracted to older women, and prefers their company, as he finds them easier to talk to. “They seem to know what they want and where they’re going,” he says. “The age gap doesn’t bother me at all, I don’t give a shit. I was recently involved with a lady who felt like she was ‘cradle snatching’. We talked about it and sorted it out. Now she doesn’t seem to worry about it all,” he says. He does admit though, that he finds the physical side of dating better with a more mature woman. “The sexual experience is definitely different. Yes, I would say it is better. I think it’s because they have more experience and know what they’re doing and what they want.”

Kelsey agrees with Theresa that part of the attraction between a mature woman and a younger man is the lack of pressure involved in a Cougar-Cub relationship. “At the moment it’s just about fun. That is what they seem to be there for,” he says. “I haven’t been with an older woman who wants a full on relationship, it’s all been a bit of fun for everybody.” Kelsey enjoys the Cougar dating scene but admits that he wouldn’t rule out anything long term merely because of an age difference. “In the future, I will definitely be open to the idea of settling down with an older woman. The age gap wouldn’t be a problem,” he says. While the cougar trend seems to have a definite focus on freedom and fun, there are some for whom dating a younger man turns into something more serious. 45-year-old Adrianna instantly hit it off with 37-year-old Mark and, after being together for three years, they recently became engaged. “We met through mutual friends and instantly hit it off,” she says. “We didn’t know about the age difference at first until we went on a date and found out that night.” At this point, Adrianna developed a few reservations. “My mum was devastated,” she says “I’m Italian by birth and in our culture it is not acceptable for women to date younger men.” Adrianna says that although she has experienced a few prying comments, she has never had any real problems. “A few people have brought it up, commented that I look older. I find it a bit impolite. I wouldn’t bring that kind of thing up.”

Despite this, Adrianna says that her overall experience has been a good one, and agrees that the practice of dating younger men is becoming more widely accepted. “My girls are happy, and it’s even a bit of a joke among friends. My nickname is ‘The Cougar Girl,’” she says. In today’s day and age, a signiﬁcant number of mature people are divorced, separated and/or single. So, perhaps it is time for conventional dating rules to be challenged. For, as long as the people involved in a relationship are having a good time, who is anybody to judge? And, on that note, I propose a toast – ...to all the women of Queensland, who are conﬁdent enough to unleash the ‘Cougar’ within.!

Cougar...

...to all the women of Queensland, who are conﬁdent enough to unleash the ‘Cougar’ within!

Make sure you don’t get stuck in the dating wilderness With over 270,000 Queenslanders registered, whether you are after a bit of fun or something more serious, you can open up your dating options on RSVP. You can search based on age, location and interests and it’s easy to set up a proﬁle. Sign up now. Simply join, search and browse, it’s free!

11 QCG Magazine

Many Faces, Another Life... By Megan Holgate

grew up in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. I was convent-educated – a typical Aussie girl who loved going to the beach. We lived 200 metres from the coast, had a beach house on Queensland’s Gold Coast and a farm on the outskirts of Sydney where I learnt to horse ride. It was a privileged lifestyle, but I was not spoilt. I entered the world of Stockbroking as a secretary at age 22 and worked my way up to become a Money Market Trader, for a Japanese Merchant Bank. This is when I fell in love with Matt who was Chief Financial Officer. It looked like our whirl wind love affair would come to a halt 9 months later when Matt was promoted to the London Office; but I packed up my life and followed him to London. In London, I worked in the Financial Markets side for a Top Multinational Market Information provider and we both worked very hard for the 3 years. Matt was promoted to be the CFO Asia for his firm and we relocated to Hong Kong. He was running 16 countries and I was lucky enough to be transferred to work as an Account Executive for the same Corporation I had worked for in London. We were living the high life in Repulse Bay, but it all ended 18 months later when our daughter was 10 weeks old. Matt admitted he was no longer attracted to me...only men. He confessed he was gay; so, I hastily left Hong Kong that day with Lilly taking only our clothes and nothing else. I left behind the last 6 years of my life. I had no home (our house was in London), no job, and no husband. I couldn’t even drive a car. I kept hoping it was a just a phase and Matt would realise what he had given up, but 5 month’s later I realised I had to get on with life. I was living with my parents where I remained for the next 2 years and returned to work at the Australian branch of the Multinational Corporation. After 2 the years had passed, I decided to start dating and I met my future husband to be. He was a CEO, 17 years my senior and incredibly charming. He wooed me relentlessly and four years later we were married. I finally thought I had found the happiness I felt both Lilly and I deserved. How wrong could I be? After two years of marriage, on the day I suspected he was having an affair, we found out he had cancer. I stood by him and helped him through his treatment. Following his recovery I caught him being disrespectful (in our own home) and promptly left the marriage.

Megan

Bucket List “I want to conquer surﬁng. I have been trying for an entire year and the buzz that I have begun to get by being able to stand up is indescribable! By the time I’m 44, I want to be able to ride down the face of a wave standing up!” 12 QCG Magazine

Leaving my controlling, philandering husband was one of the biggest life changing decisions I have ever made. What I thought was the beginning of my happy and peaceful life was interrupted with Lilly’s Dad Matt, being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. Lilly and I ﬂew to London to help him through his treatment and Lilly was there holding his hand when he passed away. Where am I now and what have I learnt? Lilly is now 14, happy and settled in her school. She aspires to be a journalist. I have a fabulous role as an Account Executive for the biggest Information Provider in the Australian Financial Markets. I love waking up in my own home, knowing I don’t have to be perfect for the day. I love knowing I can do what I want, whenever I want, because nobody will ever control me ever again. I married two narcissists and survived!

Send on your thoughts... Megan Holgate has written a book about her life experiences. Titled “Another Life,” it oﬀers a compelling insight into her relationship challenges and personal journey to empowerment. Megan hopes to ﬁnd a publisher soon, so she can share her story with women who have been through similar experiences. If you would like to support Megan’s venture, please send your stories, words of support and responses to

yoursay@qcgmagazine.com.

Books for Thought

ecommended by you...

Immortalised by the written word, authors have the unique ability to inspire and enhance the lives of many. Their stories are like catalysts, encouraging us to transform our personal circumstances and aspire for more. Resonating with our hearts, minds and day-to-day experiences, their ‘books for thought’ often receive the greatest accolade of all – our personal recommendations...

You Can Heal Your Life - by Louise Hay

The 4-Hour Work Week - by Timothy Ferriss

Anita Bailey – “My husband lost his job on my birthday, a week before Christmas and a couple of months after I’d given up work to give birth to our son. He was out of work for two years and I had two other young children from my previous marriage. We were selling our belongings to pay bills, my ex absconded from paying maintenance and we were at our lowest point financially and mentally. I spent most of my time feeling hatred and remorse towards the company my husband had worked with for doing this to us. One afternoon, a door to door sales rep came by our house and I invited her in for a chat and a hot drink. After listening to my woeful life story, she encouraged me to buy Hay’s book. Not long after, my husband received a backdated payment from the government and the first thing I did was purchase the book. From the first page, I realised we had the power to turn our lives around. It was like waking up after a long, miserable sleep! I used the affirmations and exercises every day, learned how to forgive and let go of fear, and changed the way I looked at things. It wasn’t long before we found ways to improve our situation. My daughter has also read Hay’s book, and it’s made a difference to her life, too. A girl who barely left her room and was scared to go on nights out with friends, she is currently taking 6 months off to travel overseas!”

Wendy Moore – “Being a small business owner, one of my major struggles has always been getting everything done without much help from others. This book opened my eyes to a diﬀerent way of operating.” Sandi Givens – “It challenges your thinking and makes you really consider what life is about, the strange paradigms and belief systems under which we operate, and how life can be made more satisfying.”

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway - by Susan Jeffers Lesley Dewar – “Jeffers helped me conquer my irrational fears. She made me consider what the worst case scenario would be if I didn’t do the things I was afraid of. Before I read her book, I had the most incredible fear of heights; I couldn’t stand on a chair to change a light globe. I had to crawl down open staircases on my hands and knees, I stood fifteen feet back from the window in multi-story buildings, and I fainted in high speed lifts. Now, I go bungee jumping!”

Debbie Carr – “This book was the start of an amazing life and spiritual journey for me. It helped me survive a number of horrendous experiences, including the loss of my brother (who committed suicide), being diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, near bankruptcy and the breakdown of my marriage. It hasn’t been an easy road and, at times, I wondered if I wanted to keep going. However, I persisted and now, thanks to Louise’s book, I live a great life.” Lynette Glory – “I received an invaluable life lesson from this book: ‘My beliefs are the fabric of my reality, and I attract that which I think about.’ After reading it, I took the time to identify the negative beliefs I had about myself – many of which were strongly ingrained, as I had lost my father at a young age and carried feelings of abandonment and low self-esteem – and replace them with loving thoughts of acceptance. In doing so, I was able heal my life.” Elizabeth Ball – “I was fascinated by Hay’s list of health issues, in which she analyses the metaphysical origins of a range of illnesses, diseases and aches. For example, she talks about how foot problems can indicate an issue with stepping forward and a fear of the future. Having read this book a number of times, I can now identify what I am sick of, not from, and take steps to repair my situation.”

Rich Dad Poor Dad - by Robert Kiyosaki Robyn Atkins – “Being a single mum on a pension, I needed a book that would help me set up my finances and secure a better future for my children. Rich Dad Poor Dad was so exciting I couldn’t put it down. Reading into the early hours of the morning, I soaked up the information like a sponge. The book whet my appetite and inspired me to think outside of the square. How does one buy property with no cash? I had to find out. After doing some research, I met he right people to help me move forward. Within a year, I had purchased my first investment property!” 13 QCG Magazine

Books for Thought The Game of Life and How to Play it - by Florence Scovel Shinn Annie Flemming – “As the ‘Law of Attraction’ would have it, this small masterpiece came to me at the perfect time! Opening my mind to the philosophy that anything is possible, it helped me accept my situation and recognise the fact that I had the tools to change it. So, change it I did! I am now a successful Mum and business entrepreneur, who helps others live the life of their dreams.”

giant leap...

Eat Pray Love - by Elizabeth Gilbert Jodie Eade – “This book inspired me to travel to Vietnam and volunteer at an orphanage. I could really relate to the protagonist’s need to discover her own identity. We live in a world where people wear so many masks. We are someone’s mother, someone’s wife, someone’s co-worker, someone’s boss, someone’s friend; but, who are we really?”

Madam Secretary - Madeleine Albright Babette Bensoussan – “What a woman! Albright was no shrinking violet. She operated in a tough world, maintained her honesty, and set an example for all senior women in any forum by always knowing her stuﬀ and being unafraid to take people head on!”

One Minute Millionaire - by Mark Victor Hansen & Robert Allen Pam Brossman – “My husband and I purchased this book at the airport, on our way to our honeymoon in Fiji. Over 10 days, we read it and enjoyed Mai Tais, bottles of wine and being lazy around the pool. Little did we know how this story would impact on our lives significantly in the future. A couple of years into our marriage, we had our first child. Within 10 months, we lost a huge amount of money and were practically left in the same destitute situation as the main character in One Minute Millionaire. We were completely distressed, and decided to pack up our dream lifestyle and live with the in-laws in the country. But, somehow, this book happened to resurface. I read it again and it was the saving grace that got us to where we are at today. Inspired by the main character, my husband and I decided to change our own outcome. We put together a plan, worked harder and smarter, and slowly took ourselves from the brink of bankruptcy to being better off than we were to begin with. Not only are we living our dream life, we are also helping others do the same. This book taught me about the person I am, the things I am capable of, and the value of persistence and gratitude. My motto these days is: ‘Lifestyle is a choice... what do you choose?’”

14 QCG Magazine

Easy Way to Stop Smoking - by Allen Carr Natalie Clays – “At the age of 15 I tried my first cigarette. Twenty years later I was still smoking! During that time, I tried everything to stop: patches, gum, pills, inhalers, hypnotherapy, cold turkey and acupuncture. But nothing worked. While I sat down to read Carr’s book with a degree of scepticism, I relished the fact that he encouraged me to continue smoking as I read on. Bit by bit, the truth about smoking and tobacco companies revealed its ugly head. With every page turn, my desire to smoke lessened. Not because there were scare tactics – all smokers know this stuff already; we’re smokers, not stupid – but because I suddenly began to understand why I’d smoked all these years. When I reached the last chapter in his book, Allen asked me to light my final cigarette. For the first time in my life, I approached quitting with a sense of excitement. And that was it. I smoked it, put it out and knew I’d never do it again.”

��

Help Brisbane celebrate 150 years of independence and enjoy exhibitions, concerts, events and activities across the city including the following.

�� the opportunity to practise your ��

�� of celebrations with fun for the ��

�� will keep �� around the city.

�� exciting photographic exhibition �� Mission Australia.

�� ête de la Musique�� the world.

�� purchasing our anniversary edition of One Book Many Brisbanes, featuring �� with Brisbane 150 Stories. For more information and to ﬁnd out what’s on visit www.ourbrisbane.com/brisbane150

Books for Thought

Recommended by you...

A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose - by Eckhart Tolle Marina Alexander – “According to Tolle, our thinking is habitual. We reach into the past and project the same thinking patterns into the future. As a result, we tend to recreate the same life. Having read Tolle, I allow my actions to stem from my subconscious mind, not my conscious thoughts. Being less anxious about the future, I am able to identify more life opportunities than ever before. I don’t agonize over choices and my decision-making process is strong, intuitive and responsive. My guiding principle for 2009 is ‘Spontaneous discipline’. I am disciplined about the what, the intention of my needs and desires, which I aﬃrm on a daily basis. I allow the how, the strategies, to achieving these needs to present themselves to me. Previously, I was vertically focussed, functioning on a 45 degree perception of limited opportunities. Now, I am open to a 360 degree view of need fulﬁlment, with a ‘Bring it on’ philosophy.”

The Courage to be Rich - by Suzie Orman “As Orman puts it, ‘We have built an entire economy on lies. People have bought homes they can’t afford and spent borrowed money like it’s going out of fashion. If consumers continue to rob Peter to pay Paul, things will continue to get worse.’ Having read Orman’s book, I now ‘do’ money differently. I pay attention to my finances and consider my past mistakes in a different light. As Orman explains, ‘Honesty is the best way to protect finances. Every penny you spend should be a penny you can afford.’”

Mutant Message Down Under - by Marlo Morgan Lesley Dillon – “And so the tables are turned! This book is about a doctor who is kidnapped by a tribe of indigenous people and divested of all her Western belongings. She is driven out into the desert and given no alternative but to live the aboriginal way of life for three months. The story tells of her acclimatisation to a nomadic life, the indigenous people’s understanding of nature and the wisdom they have to oﬀer. She eventually learns that her task is to return to the Western world and pass on these ancient truths to our destructive society.”

The Purpose Driven Life - by Rick Warren Elise Grey – “Warren had the honour of doing a three minute speech at Barrack Obama’s inauguration. His book has changed the lives of millions. While the title says it all, the bottom line is, ‘The rest of your life is the best of your life!’ How’s that for a delightful outlook on the future, especially in a time of global economic stress?”

Awaken the Giant Within - by Tony Robbins Michaela Scherr – “If you’ve ever seen the movie ‘Shallow Hal’, starring Jack Black, you’ve also seen Tony Robbins – he’s the tall guy in the lift, who gives Hal the ability to see the outward manifestation of a woman’s inner beauty. His book is amazing. I immersed myself in its contents and learned a lot about people’s motivations (including my own), goal setting and self-actualisation.”

16 QCG Magazine

Who Moved My Cheese? - by Spencer Johnson Margaret Simms – “Its message is simple: ‘Seek out opportunities before life forces change upon you.’ It turned my life upside down and inside out. Before I reached my early 50s, I prided myself on my ability to grab opportunities that came my way. But, I never actively sought them. As a child, my parents told me to ‘be grateful’ for what I had. After 30 years, I ﬁnally let my dreams reach the surface and set out to ﬁnd new ‘cheese’ (i.e. opportunities).”

Oz Speak

Obama Speak

By Patsy McCarthy Adjunct Professor, Media & Communication QUT

ome years ago, when I was a young academic, Australian public speaking has its thrilling moments, I grumbled to an American visiting scholar that, when Kevin Rudd used the repetition of “we are sorry,” unlike in America, my area of Speech Communmany Australians shed a quiet tear. But, this was as much ication was sadly neglected in Australian universities. to do with the occasion as the soaring power of the He countered with the question, “Doesn’t Australia have speech. Speech writers, such as Freudenberg and Watson, a rhetorical tradition?” I must admit that I was taken have left some powerful Australian oratory for us to study, aback by this question and just mumbled “No, not and the flourish of Keating speaking at Redfern cannot really.” Of course I have thought about it a lot since, be forgotten. Nevertheless these moments are few and far as I studied the strong differences between the political between and often it is humour that is most captivating rhetoric of both cultures. about Australian rhetoric. Such statements as: “This is as The US has a powerful tradition of theorizing about rhetoric, which began at Berkeley University earlier in the last century, with the powerful contributions of Kenneth Burke, and has since proliferated as an important area of study in American universities. This tradition looked back to the golden age of the Greek and Roman study of rhetoric and began a new wave of study for the modern world. But, it was not left at the theory level as oratory courses abounded in American universities – remember the fact that George Bush and John Kerry had the same oratory professor at Yale University. No, the Australian education system does not really have a serious approach to oratory at any of the levels of the system. True, Rhetorical Theory had been studied in the corners of some English departments, but was not at all a widespread and “God bless Australia” practical endeavor. I wondered welcome as a brown snake in a sleeping bag,” are more whether the fact that America began likely to capture our attention on early morning radio. with so many religious settlements, The whole world tuned in to hear Obama’s acceptance whose spirit continues to pervade the speech and McCain’s gracious concession to him. This culture, made a contribution to this was not just because the US is such an important world interest in rhetoric. We cannot imagine our politicians power; these were ordinary people who were moved by ending their speeches with “God bless Australia” and the visionary rhetoric that American we probably would recoil in horror if they did. politicians have no fear of using. Perhaps the soaring A convict settlement and the aggressive egalitarianism vocal tones of a Martin Luther King or a Barack Obama that was bred from it have no doubt had some do come out of a black religious tradition that we are effect on the way we ‘speak to ourselves’ through never likely to quite reach in Australia. On the other hand, our politicians. I have heard football and racing callers in this country We probably do not even own the word “oratory” reach frenzied tones of excitement that are never frowned as something we want to hear. It seems far too grand upon by the populace. for us. Yet, Australia was developing as a nation at the Perhaps our politicians could look to the stirring tones time of the grandeur of Churchill’s rhetoric and our of a JFK or an emotional Clinton and search for education system has always drawn strongly on these more powerful moments in voice and rhetorical flourish British traditions. However, we are the land that to lift us to a more exciting rhetorical tradition. Perhaps cannot bear the ‘tall poppies’ and it is ‘no bullshit’ we should look to another Australian colloquialism for us. I believe that these attitudes put a ceiling on – “have a go ya mug” – to inspire us to take risks and our political rhetoric and soaring speeches in content, revel in our rhetoric in the classroom and the parliament. and vocal tones are not something we aspire to. 17 QCG Magazine

Returning to Learning

By: Brooke Wylie

imetables, text books, cafeteria food, graffiti-covered desks... it seems like only yesterday and it seems like last century. But, for three inspiring women, the study experience has been a recent affair, involving much more than awkward teens and mind numbing classes. In fact, it has been the fulfilling culmination of a lifetime goal of academic achievement. It seems like an impossible task: juggling financial responsibilities with work and family life, and then putting it all aside to restart something you’d given up practically decades ago. That’s how Claire Groves felt when she decided to go back to uni nineteen years after completing her first degree. Only this time, it was with three children, a full time job, and a good twenty years between her and her fellow classmates. “Uni at 40 is very different to uni at 20...I was a much better student the second time round,” she notes with a sly smile. For all of us, education is an experience which is entirely unique. Some thrive, some struggle and most fall somewhere in-between. Whatever “Getting out of the your experience is or has been in the past, the fear of failure and the unknown is not a reason to turn your back on further study, as Anne Bridge learnt. “A friend of mine, who worked for the university, encouraged me to go back and get my Grade 12 Certificate. I scoffed at the time but once the idea was planted it was difficult to block it out.” Making the decision to join the workforce at fifteen had left this mother of two wondering what might have been. Resilience, strength and determination saw Anne restart her academic life at a ‘mature’ age and make a return to the daunting halls of high school. “Getting out of the car on the first day was the hardest part, having to face your own fears of failure and humiliation – once I was there, though, I felt like I had nothing to lose.” However, it’s not quite as simple as an application form and class enrolment. As Margaret Hannan, mother of four and recent Masters Graduate, warns, “There is so much to think about. We made the decision as a family because it effected us as a family. It’s really important that you talk about it with those close to you...we had to shrink the family budget and make do without the latest bits and pieces. It was all ok though. My sons became quite grounded and it brought the family closer together.”

Despite the challenges, all three women couldn’t be prouder of their achievements. They overcame doubt, fear and stress to enjoy the satisfaction of doing something for themselves, and the experience has been immensely rewarding. “There is always doubt in the back of your mind that you’re not being enough for your family whilst studying, but going back is something I couldn’t possibly regret. It made me confident in my ability, more aware of the world around me and a better mother. I want my kids to look at the world now and know they can achieve despite adversity,” Anne explains. Strangely, though the biggest deterrent for many women looking to return to study isn’t the financial burden – a lot of it is to with pride. “Oh I was a fish out of water and the oldest in the room... you quickly get over that!” Claire laughs. These women all gained from mixing with a younger crowd. “We had really different personal experiences to offer and that diversity taught me a lot. I learnt from everyone in the room because everyone had something valuable to contribute,”.

car on the first day was the hardest part” Whatever your intentions, work based skills, curiosity or personal development, the benefits of education are limitless. In 2008, Queensland universities had almost 4000 mature aged applicants, a figure which is rising steadily. When you pair this with the fact that a wealth of information and financial support is available to mature students, there is little reason for you not to investigate your options.

Look into:

1. External or part-time study programs if full-time, internal study is not an option. 2. The courses being oﬀered by your local community college or adult learning centre. 3. The scholarships and grants being oﬀered by the Federal Government, State Government, private colleges and other tertiary institutions. For more information visit: www.goingtouni.gov.au and www.deta.qld.gov.au. 4. Tertiary study options: contact QTAC or visit www.qtac.edu.au. 5. Secondary school options: contact your local high school or TAFE.

Learn Advertise Connect

G QCMagazine

Need customers?

Ask about QCG’s research, advertising & design services. We can connect your business with the right people.

18 QCG Magazine

Partnering for success... P: +61 7 3300 2658 E: connect@qcgmagazine.com www.qcgmagazine.com

bcm:qubu 166 CRICOS No.00213J

Grow your most valuable asset.

You.

Postgraduate Business. Want to accelerate or change your career, or fortify your credentials as a specialist? Whatever your objective, a QUT course is a great investment in your future, with up-to-the-minute course content created in collaboration with top industry professionals. To ﬁnd out more about QUT’s Master of Business, MBA or Graduate Certiﬁcate in Business, contact the Business Student Enquiries Centre on (07) 3138 2050, email bgsbenq@qut.edu.au or go to www.bgsb.qut.com

Australia’s ﬁrst business school with triple international accreditation.

Babes in Business By: Brooke Wylie

he sky is falling, economists are telling us to “batten down the hatches,” and “bail out” is the catch phrase of the ﬁnancial year. Yet ﬁve optimistic women aren’t ready to count their losses just yet. With clever strategies, unique identities and personal strength, these babes in business know exactly how to succeed.

Kathy Hirschfeld

Columns, hot furnaces, hard hats and overalls...it doesn’t sound like a typical playground, but to Kathy Hirschfeld, Managing Director of BP Bulwer Refinery, it’s a dream. “As a chemical engineer I’d always wanted to work in an oil refinery. It’s probably not seen to be a glamorous job, but walking in on my first day was like coming home!” She’s not what the stereotype would have you expect. Chatty, feminine and funny, with a coffee in hand and a big smile, you would never know that Kathy is responsible for the entire plant operations of Queensland’s Bulwer Island oil refinery, including the financial and environmental activities, shareholders, regulators, community relationships and This positivity and faith is future development of the site, not to mention exactly what got her the job of the safety of up to 1800 employees. her dreams. “I had been away It becomes immediately apparent that this from Brisbane for 23 years. At woman is very, very good at her job, though BP you almost never get the job Kathy recalls the relentless professional you want, in the city you want, adversity in her climb to the top. “In ‘81, but I did and it’s fantastic to be engineering was booming. By the time I back in my home town!” Kathy graduated uni in ‘82, the bottom had completely realised her path back home dropped out of the market. I couldn’t get a job.” during a leadership programme, The job market was only the exterior of the when she was asked to write issue, as this fresh grad was faced with the cold down where she wanted to be in reality of a patriarchal oil industry. “The sexual 10 years. “Without thinking, I discrimination was quite overt, but there wasn’t wrote that I was the Managing a lot of publicity about it in those days...at uni Director of Bulwer Oil Refinery, I’d always just been one of the class, but in the Brisbane. From that moment work force I was a woman, and that seemed to on, I decided to make my way be a big problem.” toward this role,” says Kathy. From where Kathy stands today, she hopes In an industry, which is it’s an attitude that will remain in the past. feeling the crunch of the global “When a friend said to me ‘Kathy you can’t get “If you were a man we’d give you financial crisis, it’s certainly a a job because you’re a girl,’ I felt like there was the job right now, you’re just the big role and tough economic no hope...I don’t feel that’s the case today, but kind of bloke we’re looking for!” climate to navigate. Kathy is the excuses I used to hear!” she adds with an confident she’s up to the job. exasperated shake of the head. “I was once told, ‘If you were a “When the financial crisis started, a lot of us looked at each man we’d give you the job right now, you’re just the kind of other and said, ‘it’s nice to be in a business that makes bloke we’re looking for!’ Another was ‘We’re not worried that something’, there’ll always be goods to provide and a you would seduce our operators, we’re worried that our demand for it - even if that demand drops, we’ll always operators’ wives would think you were seducing their husbands!’” have to make petrol, you know?” With a plant capable of Whilst being a minority would be hard for any of us, the turning out 107,000 barrels of oil per year and servicing reality of the industry remains, “Most of my career I’ve been 40% of Queensland’s fuel supply, Kathy has faith that the only woman in the board room. I’ve had to work a lot they can weather the storm. harder to be on a level playing field and I’m often dismissed as the token woman. I know that not to be true. I’m in this role because of my experience and ability.” 20 QCG Magazine

Babes in Business

When asked for her insider predictions, Kathy’s guess is as good as any. “Some will tell you oil will drop to 30 cents a barrel, others say it’ll be back at a dollar thirty! All we can do is our job With the continuing focus on efficiency, Kathy draws on to the best of our ability and see where it takes us. For BP as a her passion for leadership education to assist with the task. company, the low oil price at the moment is very worrying; it “When I arrived at Bulwer, we weren’t a team. Now we’re a means we’re not making the profits or generating the cash that team that I’m really proud of.” Though, the task of maintaining the shareholders expect. Because of the boom we’ve watched that team is another question entirely. “We typically employ our costs going up and up and up, so a lot of the pressure to the best and that’s at least as many women as it is men. The perform is our own. Those costs are starting to come down challenge is keeping women here. The stats are saying women now, but in the process we became very inefficient. So now, leave BP at twice the rate men do and I’m hoping curb that.” we’re focussing on efficiency and productivity.” “Women leave BP at twice In coming to her position as With the government predicting the unemployment rate Managing Director, Kathy knows the rate men do and will reach 7% by 2010, the workforce in every industry is that her experience and success in I’m hoping curb that.” nervous, though Kathy firmly locations across the globe disagrees that efficiency translates earned her the role, though as cost cutting, particularly in she stays for good reason, labour. “We have approximately “One of the things I 370 BP employees at the plant, really love about being an with about the same number of engineer is that we get to permanent contractors, and in a create things, see things in big maintenance period we might front of us. bring in another 500-1000. From Hopefully, in the the time I arrived, we’ve increased process, those things we’re our employment by about 30% creating can make the and I really think we’re at the world a better place.” right number now to sustain You can’t argue with a the business.” philosophy like that.

Everyday all of our employees help Queensland grow From technicians and engineers to accountants and health and safety professionals, BP’s Bulwer Reﬁnery supports a diverse workforce that helps fuel our economy by providing opportunities for all Queenslanders.

W154951

beyond petroleum bp.com.au

Babes in Business

Debora Sutton

As she climbs the corporate property ladder, Debora Sutton has a lot to smile about in 2009: a talented teenage daughter, a loving husband and business partner, her own boutique real estate agency and an exciting future. “I didn’t always know I’d be in property, I was a lot of things before I came to real estate. I suppose I stayed because I love houses,” she pauses, “that makes sense right?” she laughs. The decision to set up Queensland’s first Belle Property office in the midst of an economic crisis and housing market meltdown took a certain kind of aplomb some would say, but Debora disagrees. “The Northside is still performing strongly and we’re not feeling the crux of the crisis at the moment. With a bit of business sense I believe we can get through this period successfully... panicking won’t make it go away.” While Belle Property boasts one of the real estate sector’s largest international networks, a commitment to positive, ethical business keeps this bubbly property director completely grounded. “I don’t care about making a lot of money. For me, property isn’t about pumping out houses to people; it’s about finding a home that fits right.” Reflecting on her part as a woman in a patriarchal industry, Debora adds, “I also want to create a “Women have come a long way and we’re finally workplace that supports women and balance. confident in our ability to take risks and test ourselves.” Women have come a long way and we’re finally At the end of the day, though, Debora’s team has one key priority, confident in our ability to take “Being a part of the community and having a business name that we risks and test ourselves.” can be proud of, that’s our core focus.”

Larn Qui & Jenelle Moloney

With backgrounds in pharmacy and franchise management, all that waited was a delicious opportunity for these two best friends to set up shop – cue international frozen yoghurt franchise Yogen Fruz. “It’s really exciting moving to Brisbane, there’s an amazing market here for fresh, healthy alternatives to combat the heat.” Establishing the first of an international franchise on Australian shores is no easy feat, but these women are each extremely optimistic about the future of their company. “We only opened our flagship store in January, but we have big expansion plans,” Jenelle proudly confesses. “We’d like another 20 stores down the east coast by Christmas.” While it’s certainly an ambitious plan, Larn believes that common sense and confidence will lead them to success as they continue to introduce the Yogen Fruz franchise to the market. She says, “It’s important for any new businesses to conduct their initiative intelligently and to not overcapitalise. Also, you need to have faith in the product you’re selling and a will to see it really survive.” While Larn admits the rewards are sometimes slow to come in, Janelle adds, “We knew it would be tough but you do what you need to do. Right now, we work pretty much around the clock. Once you’re invested in something like this, there’s no going back.” Despite the usual teething issues in setting up shop, both women remain focussed on the future and positive about the experience. learnt some hard lessons along the way, but we got ‘there’ “...you need to have faith in the product “We eventually – and we’ll keep going. Making mistakes is the only you’re selling and a will to see way you learn,” says Janelle, and we wanted our business to be a part of the it really survive.” evolution.” These two business partners aren’t the only ones being drawn to the Sunshine State. With growth on the exponential ‘up’ in Queensland’s major centres, Jenelle explains their choice to head North. “Coming to Queensland has been so exciting; we love the weather, the people, and the vibe in the city! Brisbane’s evolving and we wanted our business to be a part of the evolution.” 22 QCG Magazine

Kristin Devitt

Babes in Business

Queensland born and bred Kristin Devitt is one of Brisbane’s most well connected women. She understands that while Brisbane is a small town, it’s also a great town to do business in – if you know what you’re doing. The founder and Director of KDPR, a Kelvin Grove based public relations firm, Kristin is certainly ‘in the know’. However, once a familiar face on our television screens, this savvy-journalist-turned-businesswoman admits her path has taken some interesting and unexpected turns – for the better. “My firm evolved organically and snowballed quickly,” Kristin recalls. “I was on maternity leave with my first daughter, and I started doing favours for friends in media – just little stuff. Then the spare room turned into an “tighter budgets office, followed by the other spare room. By the end of it there were five PR consultants whose workplace was my house!” Kristin laughs. Asked about her feelings on a financially devastated media industry, Kristin shrugs, “I’m the eternal optimist. I know the next few years are going to be tough to do business in, but tighter budgets at the top mean outsourcing and we’re in a prime position as a consultancy firm to step up to the role.”

So far the optimism is paying off, with this boutique office predicting a quarterly growth of 20-25% and nurturing some 30 clients. However, while KDPR continues to defy the odds and enjoy the rewards of hard work and business growth, Kristin isn’t all work and no play. Being the mother of two young children, she happily offers advice for prioritising commitments. “Balance is key...having worked in bigger organisations, I found that putting work above family was often rewarded – clocking the extra hours, working weekends...but it shouldn’t be. Work shouldn’t be more important than your family or your life.” at the top mean outsourcing” “My husband and I try to do things to ensure our kids don’t feel undervalued. We make sure we’re home before the girls go to sleep. We make sure we’re there for first days and school plays and all the extras. They know they don’t come second and that’s really important.”

23 QCG Magazine

7 Website Wonders By Sophee McPhee

www.odesk.com

A ﬁnalist in PC Magazine’s 2006 Small Business Awards, oDesk is a true gem! Providing access to over 140,000 remote workers and freelance professionals from around the globe, it can save you and your business thousands. From as little as $4 an hour and an average rate of $14 an hour, you can outsource a variety of tasks related to web development, programming, software development, graphic design, writing and administrative support. Apart from the savings to be made, the beauty of oDesk lies with the freedom it allows. ‘Buyers’ can choose to pay their providers on an hourly basis or set a ﬁxed project rate, and have the ability to view their resumes, portfolios, skills test results, oDesk history and customer feedback.

ODesk

www.etsy.com

Etsy

Etsy is an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade. It’s considered the best place to ﬁnd one-of-a-kind treasures, and buyers can post requests for custom-made items. On the ﬂip side, etsy also enables people to turn their ideas into reality and sell their handcrafted products worldwide. Over 100,000 sellers are already signed up and etsy is well-andtruly living up to its core mission: “To build a new economy and present a better choice: buy, sell and live handmade.”

www.webmd.com

www.hometips.com

Having trouble setting up an appliance? Need to repair a broken furniture item? Want to start a DIY project? If you need home-related advice and support, hometips is the website for you. Simply click on a tab of interest or type your question into the search box, and relish the plethora of free insights, which are available to you. Especially for independent women, this website is incredibly empowering and has the potential to save you a lot of money and stress – ‘Tradies’ don’t come cheap and they’re not always easy to manage! HomeTips is rated one of the web’s top home-improvement sites, with more than 800,000 people visiting the website each month. A talented team of seasoned writers and editors, including the website’s founder and CEO Don Vandervort, work with HomeTips to create expert content. Having written, edited, or produced more than 30 books, Don is considered to be an ‘authority ﬁgure’ in the area of home-improvement.

www.tripadvisor.com

WebMD

One area of health care not in crisis: Better information. Better health self-diagnosis! WebMD and its Symptom Checker are probably the best tools available to budding hypochondriacs and the genuinely ill, without resorting to actual medical professionals. This run website contains information on health and health care, including a symptom checklist, pharmacy information, physicians’ blogs with speciﬁc topics and a place to store personal medical information. The site receives over 17 million unique visitors every month, and is the leading health portal in the United States. The site receives information from accredited individuals and is reviewed by a medical review board consisting of four physicians to ensure accuracy.

TripAdvisor is a free travel guide and research website, which hosts reviews from users and other information designed to help plan a vacation. The website is an example of consumer generated media, and most of the content is created by site visitors for site visitors. As such, you are able to garner comprehensive, detailed and ‘honest’ travel insights, which give you the heads up about any unpleasant experiences and destinations. TripAdvisor reviews currently cover more than 212,000 hotels and 74,000 attractions in over 30,000 destinations worldwide. With more than 15 million reviews, and nearly 30 million unique visitors a month, TripAdvisor is said to be the largest travel community on the web.

RealAge Live Life

www.ezinearticles.com

Ask a question, any question, and EzineArticles will have the answer. This website is a matching service between tens of thousands of specialist authors and millions of readers & publishers, who are looking for expert solutions. EzineArticles sources content in the form of original, short, informative, educational and entertaining articles. Whether you’re after the traditional British recipe for carrot cake, information on property tax laws, or group travel options in Bulgaria, the answers you need are available through EzineArticles. 24 QCG Magazine

to the Young

www.realage.com

Promoted on Oprah in 2008, this website contains a number of interesting tools, which can help improve your health. RealAge’s ﬂagship product, The RealAge Test, is encouraging millions of people to adopt and maintain healthier lifestyles. It provides medically valid metrics which compare a person’s biological age with their calendar age. For instance, a ‘48 year old’ woman, who took the test on Oprah, discovered her body was actually 65 years old. This was primarily due to her long-term smokinhabit and stressful working conditions. Mortiﬁed by this new knowledge, she repaired her lifestyle and was able to achieve a biological age of 42! Yes, knowledge is power.

web wonders

BE6137

�� There’s nothing like lunch by the river at Portside Wharf. Byblos 3268 2223 Chez Laila 3868 4235 Gusto da Gianni 3868 2011 Mahjongg Café 3630 2151 Restaurant Manx 3216 4999 Sono Japanese 3268 6655 Wilsons Boathouse 3868 4480

�� 6137 QCGmagHPH.indd 1

To Kindle or not to Kindle

hat is the question. Or, rather, what is a Kindle? Well, it’s a device that’s separating the ‘forever young’ types from the ‘dinosaurs’ – that’s for sure. In a nutshell, it’s an e-book; in laymen’s terms, it’s a portable techno ‘thing’, which provides an anorexic, albeit environmentally friendly, reading experience. Page-turning, dog-earing, mosquito-swatting, the smell of old secrets and stories untold, inky fingers and disposable ‘drink coasters’ are all a thing of the past. The Kindle ritual is severely malnourished – a true invention of the pro-efficiency, anti-pleasure ‘Technology Generation’ – and requires participants to get their daily newspaper (or novel) fix off an electronic screen. On a more positive note, the Kindle allows readers to access hundreds of publications free of charge. More importantly, it’s rescuing thousands of trees from impending doom. Most importantly, Oprah has one. While I can see the benefits of ‘going Kindle’ when it comes to newspapers (my attempt to wrestle an untamable Sunday Mail rarely leaves me smiling), I wonder, “Is it really possible to get lost in the world of Archer or King through a slab of e-plastic?” Then again, perhaps this new medium will fuel authors and journalists to compensate for the lack of sensory pleasure and create the most absorbing stories we’ve ever read.

26/2/09 4:08:28 PM

What are your thoughts? Are you a stubborn soldier of the ‘old school’, or will you Kindle?

yoursay@qcgmagazine.com Note: The Kindle is not currently available in Australia. Retail Price: $359 USD Distribution: www.amazon.com

“Most importantly, Oprah has one”

25 QCG Magazine

Talk it up...

There is no doubt in my mind that when one door slams shut it is because of the draft of opportunity. However, opportunity is only a good thing if you are prepared to take action. Many of us have been retrenched or are afraid of being retrenched in this economic climate. But, it might just take a nasty jolt to force you into doing something you were always meant to. My husband (63) recently lost his job and had a number of serious operations, which will take him twelve months to recover from. It’s a sound recipe for depression. Instead, we have decided to commence a new business and utilise Internet Marketing to build on the skills we have. We are madly taking courses, researching on the Internet and making use of mentors with technical skills to enable us to successfully market our business. It is really quite exciting and my husband (who tends to be a bit of a pessimist) is actually enjoying the challenge! The additional reward for us is being able to work from home and at odd hours. The real positive message during this crisis is to be brave; don’t be afraid; be prepared to take on a new challenge; don’t be risk adverse; and think outside the square.

onnect with women who have positive things to say about the economic downturn. What opportunities can you identify and utilise?

As we are in 2009 we’re being told the worst is yet to come; batten down the hatches – yikes – it’s the end of life as we know it. But hold on a minute, before we all pack up shop and head for the hills, history tells us that in tough times some of the most amazing opportunities present themselves. Innovation, creativity and adaptation to a changing economic environment will see many forge ahead in their careers and businesses; whilst those with a defeatist attitude will fall by the wayside and become customers of those with the ideas. I decided many years ago which path I’d be taking. My business is heading onwards and upwards, regardless of what I read in the paper or see on the TV. So, forget the doom and gloom and let’s all get motivated, inspired and make things happen in a positive way!

Talk it Barbara Gabogrecan

Lynette L Palmen AM

President – Marketing Communications Executives International

Founder and Managing Director – Women’s Network Australia

For people who have not yet ventured into the share market, there are some great investment opportunities around. Just look at the dividend yields being offered by some of the banks, like CBA. As share prices have come down an average of 50% from their high in late 2007, there is a good chance that, if you invest cautiously and hold your investments for the long term, you’ll also see your capital grow significantly over the long term. Share markets typically bounce back strongly in the 6 months after the bottom of a market downturn. In the past nine bear markets in Australia, the bounce back averaged at around 22%. For the less risk averse, there is also the opportunity to borrow at low interest rates and invest in a self-funding portfolio. For those with a super fund, now is the perfect time to review your investment strategy and take advantage of the current investment environment. It’s also a great time to boost your salary sacrifice super contributions and buy investments at a time which could easily be the bottom of the investment cycle.

Joanna McCreery

Financial Planner & Director – Majella Wealth Advisors As things quieten down, you can focus on projects which have been on the back burner. While this might not bring in the dollars now, it’s important to think positively and use this time to set yourself and your business up for when markets and the economy improve.

Lisa Faddy

Financial Advisor – Majella Wealth Advisors While the launch of my HR consulting business (in September 2008) coincided with the economic downturn, I have been incredibly busy! A number of businesses ﬂourish during the tough times.

Alayne Baker

Principle – Alayne Baker Consulting 26 QCG Magazine

In 1937, at the end of the Great Depression, Napoleon Hill spent 20 years studying 500 of the world’s richest people. He wanted to ﬁnd out what the common denominators were, which guaranteed their success. “Before success comes in anyone’s life, that individual is sure to meet with much temporary defeat and, perhaps, some failure. When defeat overtakes a person, the easiest and most logical thing to do is quit. That is exactly what the majority of people do. More than 500 of the world’s most successful individuals told me that their greatest success came one step beyond the point at which defeat had overtaken them. Failure is a trickster with a keen sense of irony and cunning. It takes great delight in tripping one when success is almost within reach.” - Extract from Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich” We need to focus on the positive and visualize the prosperity that will come our way in a few years time. This is not to say we should exclude what is real to us now. However, while we focus on loss, fear and a lack of things, we are also blind to opportunity. By focusing on the good in our lives we attract more of it. We can also be clearer on speciﬁc tasks, which need to be done in order for us to accomplish our goals. Action starts with the right attitude and frame of mind. A rising tide lifts all boats!

Jill Hutchison

Coach – Life Success The single most positive outcome of the economic downturn has been the return of good old customer service. Now that the ‘ﬂush’ of spending has petered to a conservative trickle, anyone with a bit of business nous is working harder to secure clients and delivering real value for money. Good customer service equals good business – a positive means of ensuring long-term sustainability for any organisation and securing extended employment for their quality crew.

Patrizia Torelli

Managing Director – Spheres of Inﬂuence

Talk it up...

The economic downturn has presented opportunities for business owners to review the underlying performance of their businesses. Many are currently reassessing their internal operations, making their processes more lean and efficient, ensuring that their staff are fully performing and meeting required targets, reviewing their supply costs, and minimising expenditure. Business owners are assessing the profitability of each product and service they sell, making sure there is a strong proposition behind each one. The downturn has encouraged businessesto strive for internal optimisation. When the economy adopts a growth cycle, these enterprises will be more profitable and successful. The economy is merely taking a correction at the moment, as a result of consumer over-expenditure on credit. Businesses have reaped much more profit during the last growth period than what would be considered normal spending if credit wasn’t so easily accessible to consumers. There will be a drop in activity while this correction takes place, but it will pick up again and normalise. The best thing a business can do in the meantime is optimise their operations, reduce debt, expand into profitable value-added products and services (based on your core service), keep current customers happy and loyal, and win new customers by modern marketing techniques and out-of-the-box thinking. Most importantly, to protect the economy, consider offering products and services that consumers need and that will truly benefit them. Be a responsible business owner; do not offer credit terms on non-essential items. This will only lead to delayed payments and keep the economy in a negative position. It is also important to retain staff, and work out ways to make your employees productive. The more people who are unemployed, the less people there are to spend in the economy. If every business lets go of one person, it would create a ripple effect – a prolonged disaster, which would ultimately have a negative impact on your business.

Talk it up... Economies always boom and bust – that’s just what they do. Nothing lasts forever. Think of hemlines...even minis go up and down over time!

Ingrid Cliﬀ

Chief Word Wizard – Heart Harmony I want to draw your attention to the work of Martin Seligman, founder of Positive Psychology. He says that our lives are profoundly aﬀected, for better or worse, by our “explanatory style.” When things go wrong, some people consider things in a negative light – “Why me? Why does everything I touch go wrong?” They sink into negativity and become disempowered and depressed. Others are more positive and pro-active – “What am I being asked to learn in this situation?” They take charge, empower themselves to deal with the challenge and proactively move forward. We certainly need to develop a positive explanatory style in these times.

Maree Harris, PhD.

Director – People Empowered

Up...

Talk it up... ACCOUNTS WITH

ATTITUDE - WANTED

Kimberly Anderson Nichles Managing Director – Kimberly Anderson Nichles

Energy prices are rising and this is giving us a real opportunity to start addressing how much energy and other resources we are wasting. Going green doesn’t have to be diﬃcult. Before you go to work and before you go to bed at night, walk around your house and simply turn things oﬀ! Air-dry your washing and unplug the drier. You will save money. At work, do the same thing and try not to waste resources, like paper. This will help the business become more sustainable. Car pools and weekly shopping trips (as opposed to daily ones) will help you save petrol, money and the environment.

Jean Cannon

Managing Director – Enviro Action As a travel professional, I become very frustrated when I hear certain sections of the media telling people it is a bad time to travel because the Australian dollar is down. If you were planning to travel in 2009, just go and enjoy yourself! Now is the best time to travel, because you want to and because you can! Personal circumstances, such as your health, might change and prevent you from travelling in the future. And, while you’re waiting for the AUD to improve, the price of accommodation, services and tours etcetera, is likely to rise; therefore, your dollar won’t buy more then than it will now.

Robyn Arthur

Travel Agent – Handpicked Holidays

1. Want accurate and timely financial reports? 2. Want to know that your business is government compliant? • BAS lodged electronically and on time • PAYG lodged electronically and on time • Superannuation liability accurate and lodged on time 3. Want a bookeeping service that is reliable and accurate? We are an offsite bookkeeping service, we have a team of bookeepers that follow a system that will be tailored to your business needs.

Business Bookkeepers PH: 1300 133 851 www.businessbookkeepers.com.au info@businessbookkeepers.com.au

27 QCG Magazine

Slumdog Multi-Millionaires

By Cara Fanning

What do you think of when you imagine India? The culinary delights of your local Indian restaurant? The bright, elaborate colours of energetic dancers bopping across the screen in the latest Bollywood flick? Or maybe it’s the awe evoked by the Taj Mahal? What about earning a profit in excess of $10 million? Probably not. According to Austrade, since India began liberalising its economy in the early 1990s, its 241 million strong middle class population has provided a market of explosive proportions. In fact, Austrade’s Senior Trade Commissioner for South Asia Peter Linford reports that “the average income in India has doubled from about $500 to about $1000 a year.” It is also interesting to note that almost 25% of India’s key opportunities for international businesses in 2008 were won by Australian companies. The average value of these contracts was $45 million. Still imagining Bride and Prejudice? Linford also suggests it would be reasonable to expect this to “at least double in the next year,” with the main growth sectors being infrastructure, real estate, mining and the HOK Sports Architecture, winner of the opportunities presented by the 2010 Common2008 Premier of Queensland Export award wealth Games. The final spice in this tempting for small to medium sized business in the concoction is the fact that, in the 2007-2008 services category, has also benefitted from financial year, Queensland exports made up the infrastructure needs of a Commonwealth 31.1% of Australia’s total exports to India. Games host nation. Built by HOK, the new The Sunshine State contributed 67.9% of Exhibition Centre – perhaps the Taj Mahal Australia’s mineral fuels and lubricants, and of Sports architecture – provides 30,000 40.9% of Australia’s chemical products. square metres of exhibition space, a 12,000 One company leaping and bounding into seat plenary auditorium and 5,000 square the Indian market is Taiyo Membrane metres of meeting space as well as a Corporation (TMC). Known as MakMax in shopping mall, 700 hotel rooms, 100 Australia, TMC has been marketing itself in serviced apartments and 6,000 undercover the South East Asian Market for many years. car park spaces. The total cost reaches As the President of Indian operations Richard USD$400 million. MacDonald says, “If you don’t get in early, you The hospitality, sustainability, infrastrucdon’t get a strong foothold.” He also notes that ture, transport and security services sectors the market is becoming increasingly competitive, are all going to be in high demand in the as it continues to mature in 2009. lead up to and during the 2010 Beginning in 2003 with a hotel project in Commonwealth Games. Given Queensland’s Mumbai, TMC is now responsible for projects significant contribution to Australia’s total as large as the New Dehli airport and the exports to India, there will most “India is one of the fastest growing Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main definitely be opportunities for economies in the world” stadium for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Queensland businesses to burst into Both are worth in excess of $10 million. TMC has the Indian market life. also begun work on the refurbishment of the Mumbai “My expectation is, Australia’s engagement with India, Domestic and International Airports to be completed Australia’s business with India, the number of companies from in the next month or so. India that come looking to Australia for business but also the Richard MacDonald offers four pieces of advice to businesses number of Australian companies that come looking in India that are considering exporting to India: firstly, find a good local for business will absolutely increase,” says Senior Trade partner; secondly, be there on the ground (business cannot be Commissioner, Linford. “India is one of the fastest growing conducted over the phone); thirdly, find a person or an economies in the world...even during this current economic organization that can give you insights into how business is crisis.” For more information, contact Austrade done in India (for example, Austrade or Queensland Trade); on 13 28 78 or visit www.austrade.gov.au. and, lastly, understand that things take time and that pressure is sometimes needed to get things moving.

28 QCG Magazine

India

Style & Spice Photography & Styling: Richard de Chazal Makeup: Jo Smith Location: Emporium Hotel & Belle Epoque

CARMEN DE CHAZAL

When asked about her life, Carmen de Chazal subtly steers the attention back to her son. “Richard has always been a creative soul, he paints, sings and plays piano and won his ﬁrst art prize at age three and competed in the RAQ Fashion Awards from age ﬁfteen. Born in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Richard never was one for rules and regulations. Some say he was born before his time; that ‘the world’ (namely Australia) struggles to appreciate his complex artistry. Others say he was born after his time...1940’s Hollywood glamour. Carmen lovingly describes her son as “a whirlwind of feathers, fur, and fabric.” Richard’s kind heart is undeniable, as he supports child abuse causes and animal welfare groups and lavishes his generosity upon many. And, while Richard leads a nomadic life, living from hotel room to hotel room, he is, at the end of the day, a family man who adores his mother, Carmen, to bits.

Bucket List: “To visit the Rocky Mountains in North America”. 29 QCG Magazine

WENDY SULLIVAN “After Lady Di got married, every wedding gown left my store with a giant bow on the bottom. The dresses were huge, and puffy sleeves were all the rage,” says Wendy Sullivan, founder of bridal wear label, Airs & Graces. While 80’s style shoulder pads and meringue gowns are a thing of the past (thank God!), statement pieces with full skirts are centre stage. This trend undoubtedly flourished from the Sex & the City movie, which saw Sarah Jessica Parker dominate the screen in a Vera Wang masterpiece. Wendy admits she draws snippets of inspiration from the work of her peers. However, her ideas also stem from jewellery, beading, colours, flowers, fabrics and paintings. Wendy has won the bridal category at the RAQ and NRA Fashion Awards six times. “I stopped entering the competition for a while because I thought it would be good to give someone else a go,” she chuckles. However, Wendy hasn’t always been confident about the future of her label. “I had to move my product offshore two years ago because it was too difficult to manufacture in Australia. I was terrified and unsure at first, and didn’t see how it could work if I wasn’t in the workroom. But, once I put my foot in the pond and visited the site in China, I realised the workrooms were just like our own and the craftsmanship was exceptional.” Wendy has come a long way. “I was self taught, and fashion was something I’d always wanted to do. In 1983, my husband supported me while I took ‘time out’ to start the business. I rented a place in Paddington, bought myself a sewing machine, had some labels printed, and off I went!” Within a few years, Wendy was wholesaling her gowns Australia-wide, and within seven years her husband was on board as the label’s business manager. “It was the best move! I was able to focus on the creative side of things, while my husband marketed and administered the business.” Pondering the future of Airs & Graces, she says, “Bridal wear is what I love, and we’ll be doing it for a long time yet!”

Bucket List: “To take a private plane trip with my husband, and ﬂy to a number of exotic locations... places I would never usually visit”.

30 QCG Magazine

DEBBIE SAUNDERS At the age of 19, Debbie Saunders moved to Melbourne to help put a spotlight on indigenous issues. “Back in late 60’s and 70’s, aboriginal youth had little support in health, education, and housing,” explains Debbie. “The land rights issue also needed to be addressed. So, a few friends and I teamed up and helped put these issues on the agenda.” After taking some ‘time off’ to start a family and move to Brisbane, Debbie recommenced her efforts, this time focusing on women’s issues and disadvantaged youth. “After arranging a meeting between a couple of government departments and the police service, I was able to help get a law passed, which made chroming illegal. I also helped a number of child victims of mental, physical, and sexual abuse.” Debbie and her family eventually moved up to Townsville, where they currently reside. She’s involved with a community group providing consultation and referral services. “Basically, people come to us needing help in some area of their lives, and we put them in touch with the right people and non-profit organisations,” explains Debbie. However, it’s not all about social work at this point in her life. Being the mother of renowned Cowboys halfback and two-time Dally M Medal winner, Jonathan Thurston, her time is also spent cheering her son on and providing emotional support. “Jonathan’s always had a hunger to compete in sport. However, we’ve got a few kids and we’re proud to back them all, no matter what they choose to do.”

Bucket List: “To hire a 4WD, head to central Australia and sit around a campﬁre with my hubbie, Graeme, and enjoy a great bottle of red”.

31 QCG Magazine

LILA MCPHEE As one of Queensland’s leading artists, Lila’s practice specialises in works for Resorts & Hotels and in her own words, “My older sister is an academic, my younger sister, a fitness guru so where else do I go?” Having dabbled in graphic design, interior design and photography, her talents extend to many areas within the creative sector. Turning her talents into a successful arts practice, her work is currently breathing life into five star resorts and living spaces throughout the world. “I’m always inspired by the works of many Australian artists including Rosella Namok, and my paintings tend to reflect an Australian sense of space & colour.” Understanding that one’s ideas are the totality of their experiences and influences, she looks forward to discovering the ‘new’, and seeing more.

Bucket List “To see my daughter recover from anorexia and be happy.”

32 QCG Magazine

VERONICA KELLY Having worked at the University of Queensland for 35 years, Professor Veronica Kelly’s recent retirement party at Customs House was a particularly lavish event. The women frocked up and the men wore suits, the wine was flowing, and spirits were high. “It was meant to be a sausage sizzle in the back yard, but things got a bit out of control!” says Veronica. “Basically, it was a chance for the UQ drama faculty and community to have a jolly good party!” Before she entered the gates of UQ, Veronica worked with American film director and actor, Samuel Wanamaker. “He was a man on a mission,” she says, “and was credited as being responsible for the modern recreation of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London.” His work undoubtedly heightened Veronica’s passion for theatre and the performing arts, as she spent much of her time at UQ teaching Australasian drama studies. At one point, she was also directing over 180 postgraduate students. “It’s what I’ll miss the most. I loved being around wonderfully creative people who were passionate about research.” But now, “It’s time for me to catch up with friends and finish writing my book.

Bucket List: “To see the Italian Lakes and I’d also like to ﬁnish my book. It’s about Australian theatre stars who worked in the industry about a century ago”.

33 QCG Magazine

KIM ALVENA A creative, gentle spirit and mother of two, Kimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high-end accessories label adorns the bold at heart. Story continued on page 47... 34 QCG Magazine

SUE BALDWIN She might be 43, but this hot action woman was Paris Hilton’s body double in the 2005 film, House of Wax. Living on the Gold Coast, Sue and her partner, Danny, are thickly involved in the local film industry. “Danny is a stunt coordinator and action director...he’s been working in film and T.V. for many years. After we got together, I started to work with him. I represented Australia in gymnastics as a child, and was into horse riding back in the day, so, the stunt work wasn’t too much of a stretch,” explains Sue. She’s swung from moving helicopters and worked on a number of blockbuster hits, including Superman and Peter Pan. Still, she says her biggest challenge has been raising two teenage girls. What’s on the cards now? “Danny and I want to produce our own action film in Queensland. The genre is non-existent in our state, and we’ve got all the contacts to make the dream a reality. One of our friends worked on the opening sequence for Casino Royale, while another mate won the American cinematography award.” So, before long, Sue and Danny will be coming to a cinema near you. Keep your eyes and ears open!

Bucket List: “To produce and source funding for an action ﬁlm in Queensland.”

35 QCG Magazine

SHERYLE-LEE STOODLEY Her friends call her ‘Lady Chatterley’, and her blue collar husband is, indeed, a ‘lover’ - Stephen lives to please his lady. While they’ve been together for over 20 years and parented two children, the couple are as feverishly in love today as they were when they ﬁrst met. ‘The Stoodleys’ have always been a close knit family, living with Stephen’s mother, Jean, for the duration of their marriage. Sheryle-Lee recently completed her diploma in laboratory technology, and spends most of her weekdays at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. While she works primarily in toxicology, she also assists with research into children’s metabolic diseases.

Bucket List: “To live in Vietnam for a few months and experience the culture as part of the community. I’d also like to do a bike tour along one of the mountain ranges.”

Style & Spice “Richard de Chazal is one of Australia’s most respected haute-couture designers, make-up artists, stylists and photographers. A member of the Australian design hall of fame and winner of numerous photographic, design and art awards, his lavish creations on the catwalks, in theatres, in the pages of magazines and calendars and on the walls of collectors globally have won him acclaim as well as outrage. A self confessed anachronism - whilst exploring the boundaries of fashion and the archetypical symbols of beauty, sexuality and mythology - Richard’s work retains an air of mysterious nostalgia, heavily inﬂuenced by the collaborative works of Rackham, Dulac, Lord Leighton, Alma Tadema, Barbier and Gruau.”

www.richarddechazal.com

36 QCG Magazine

LIDA AMBROSELLI She calls herself a “pen pusher,” but Lida’s role in the family business is undoubtedly more complex than that. This Italian beauty is the wife of successful, Queensland property developer, Joe Ambroselli. “He loves them and leaves them to me,” says Lida. “My job is to sell, lease and administer his masterpieces.”

Bucket List: “To visit the Great Wall of China and spend time with my grandchildren.”

37 QCG Magazine

Ladies...paint the town red at THE place to be seen With award winning and first class design in the eclectic cocktail bar High teas beautifully served on a 2 tiered stand and from only $35pp* Exquisite private function options perfect for business or personal cocktail parties Located in Brisbaneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fortitude Valley, Emporium Precinct is a haven for lovers of food & fashion

Keep your eye out for our glamorous Emporiumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Secret Fashion High Tea. Visit www.emporiumhotel.com.au To BOOK your high tea or private function today contact: Emporium Hotel Conference & Events Sales Manager T: 07 3253 6914 E: events@emporiumhotel.com.au 1000 Ann St, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, QLD 4006 T (07) 3253 6999 www.emporiumhotel.com.au * Function bookings require 48 hours notice, prices subject to change

38 QCG Magazine

RITA LAURIE Rita’s modelling career has been going strong for over 50 years. During this time, she has dabbled in a variety of ‘side’ adventures, from completing a course in mechanics to managing over 100 jewellery stores in New Zealand. Today, her time is primarily spent at the Brisbane Jazz Club in Kangaroo Point. The staff and volunteers know her well, and a glass of ‘Chardy’ welcomes her at the start of each shift. The hours are often long; but, with performers flying in on a regular basis, including as Hank Marvin from The shadows (Cliff Richard’s band), it’s definitely worth it. “Volunteers love coming to work,” says Rita. “The music is very uplifting, and I always go home feeling like I’ve had a good time.” For more information, visit

www.brisbanejazzclub.com.au.

Bucket List: “To ﬂy ﬁrst class to the UK. I’ve been on many trips throughout my life, and I’ve always travelled ‘cattle class’.”

39 QCG Magazine

Rags & Riches By Kerrie Frizzell

t’s an interesting change. I’ve come from a wonderful job in the corporate world, working for a major bank, running seminars and mixing with CEO’s, Directors and government officials. My office was on the 23rd floor of a city building, which boasted magnificent views of the mountains and the river. I still have a view.

“It is of a street that is no stranger to drug busts, the homeless and marginalised, public urination and other unsavoury happenings.” My day can change in an instant. One moment I might be discussing the logistics of running an incredible care organisation, then next I might be sitting side by side with one of our ‘guests’ as I listen to his or her incredible story of brokenness, loneliness, struggle and pain. You might be asking yourself at this point, “Why on earth did she leave a dream job, only to enter such an opposing world?” As a child I grew up in a family that cared for others. My mother was a nurse and my father an engineer; their vocations were always a means to helping people. It was a lifestyle that was modelled to me and, as we “learn what we live”, my motives for living were being formed from the day I was born. Outside the circle of life’s journey, I also embarked on a couple of years at Ministry College. It was during those years that the thought of living a life completely for me was no longer going to be an option. God cared for and loved people; therefore, so should I.

Rags & Riches

“I am now living a life of purpose, ON PURPOSE.” This has looked diﬀerent over the years; from being a Pastor & Ministry College Principal to assisting in the running of a residential program for women in crisis; from working in a major bank in the city to working at CityCare, a Community Care organisation, which exists to reach the broken, hurting and marginalised. CityCare has two physical locations: one in Fortitude Valley situated in Brisbane’s red light district, the other in Logan Central. Both sites support guests, who are in desperate need of the care given by our wonderful staﬀ and volunteers.

Our services are varied and cater to the whole person: • Community Care for those who are in need of food or bill assistance to get them through a tricky patch. • Counselling Centre, staffed by professional counsellors, psychologists and a psychiatrist. • Community Job Placement programs, which allow our guests to gain skills and some initial qualifications. • Job Preparation, which includes learning or updating their computer skills and life skills. • A recent addition to our services is Alfred’s, a ‘5 Star’ Community Care Centre which offers our guests basic hygiene (shower/toilet/laundry) as well as various options to connect with some of our fabulous staff who start to walk beside them in the journey toward wholeness. 40 QCG Magazine

There is never a “typical” story of a broken life. Every life belongs to an individual who matters and because they are an individual, their story is unique. One such story is that of “Anne”. Anne used to be a nurse in a busy hospital when her husband decided to walk out. This triggered something inside Anne, and she began to hold on to everything that came into her life – from pieces of clothing to the plastic bags! If she doesn’t eat one piece of broccoli from the lunch we provide for our guests, she places this in a container and takes it home. It’s almost impossible to navigate through her home, as most of the space is occupied by belongings. Add to this some major health problems and life becomes quite overwhelming for Anne. While she’s been given new clothes, she cannot bring herself to get rid of the old ones. It’s not unusual for her to wear a bra, which relies on safety pins, and an old sarong, which is scattered with holes, out in public. For a period of about three weeks we didn’t see Anne. No one seemed to know where she was. When Anne returned to our midweek lunch, I made a point of letting her know how much she was missed. She was amazed that we had even noticed and visibly moved that people were concerned about her. I put my hand on her shoulder and it brought tears to both of our eyes. I cannot help but be moved when I see a life being given value and dignity. I live by the truth that you’ll never know the joy of living until you live to make someone else’s life better! Just ask anyone who works at CityCare and they’ll agree.

For details on CityCare and how you could get involved by volunteering or donating, log onto www.citycare.org.au.

HELP HELP HELP HELP! By Danielle Harris - Board Member and Chair of LOVE & Social Committees

Up-and-coming events... LOVE (Ladies of Variety Events) is a group of professional women who are dedicated to raising money for Variety Variety Entertainers Ball – Saturday 23 May 2009 Queensland through a series of unique activities. LOVE was Brisbane’s Convention and Exhibition Centre originally established in 2005 by previous Variety Queensland The Variety Entertainer’s Ball is well-known for putting the fun board member Julie Maher as a way to engage professional back into fundraising. Every year, more than 500 of Brisbane’s women in fun and stylish events that raise money to help high profile identities gather for a night of fun and frivolity. transform the lives of sick and disadvantaged children. The Buddy Holly Story – Wednesday 27 May 2009 The Ladies of Variety represent the elegant and sophisticated The Playhouse Theatre, QPAC face of Variety Queensland in all the work they do. This new production features all of Buddy Holly’s greatest hits. My main role as Chair at LOVE is to enhance our relationProceeds from ticket sales will go towards Variety Queensland. ships with sponsors and develop new corporate partnerships. At the moment, I’m working closely with our new corporate Brats Bash 2009 – Sunday 6 June to Monday 8 June 2009 partners Louis Vuitton, Jean Brown, Jellyfish and Cha Cha Char The Brats Bash is a fundraising event for the whole family. on more collaboration opportunities. The non-profit industry is Participants start their drive at Ettamogah Pub and wind their extremely competitive when it comes to chasing the corporate way through the Sunshine and Cooloolah Coast hinterland dollar and even more so with the economic downturn. One of before stopping over at Hervey Bay the biggest challenges is finding new ways to convince more for a night of live entertainment. corporate organisations to come onboard. Once we’ve formed Bucket List new partnerships, we invest heavily to ensure we deliver for them “To snow ski in all the top in the same way they support us. Many of our partners have been ski fields in the US.” with Variety Queensland for many years because of this. Australian charities are being forced to do more with less in Mater Hospital view of the current economic downturn, as more Australians Vision: find themselves experiencing financial hardship and turn to the Mater Hospitals offer compassionate service to the sick and not-for-profit sector for support. Some people feel they have needy, promote a holistic approach to health care in response nothing much to offer given the current economic slump. to changing community needs and foster high standards in However, there are ways people can make a difference other than health-related education and research through financial contributions. I believe the most important asset to charities at this time is qualified staff and volunteers. Patient Support Services Despite feeling the pinch given our present economic Tasks: outlook, people will still lend a helping hand if the situation • Driving patients to and from hospital for appointments, calls for it. The need for volunteers has never been greater and admissions and discharges Variety Queensland is looking for more people who are willing • Hand and foot massage—a welcome comfort that to give their time, as little as twice a year, to help with our makes patients feel relaxed fundraising activities. At the end of the day, manpower is what • Helping elderly clients with art and craft, complementary we will need to rely on to carry us through. therapies (massage and reflexology, for example), and For those who are eager to become a Lady of Variety, all that companionship we ask is that they bring along their warm personalities, big • Taking part in children’s activities such as reading, hearts and a willingness to offer their skills and time. We value playing games, art and craft mature-aged women for the interpersonal skills they’ve acquired Hospital Support Services through their life experiences. Having people who are available on weekdays is also a plus for LOVE. Tasks: So, why should people become volunteers? It’s all about giving • Delivering patients’ flowers, putting bouquets in vases, back to the community. When we think about how fortunate and changing the water most of us are and the fact that giving just a little bit of our time • Helping to keep the volunteer services department and/or money can enrich someone’s life, it really puts things into operating efficiently with clerical tasks and leadership roles perspective! It’s so rewarding to see how our efforts, no matter • Welcoming patients and visitors and escorting them to their how big or small, have helped someone tremendously. Research appointment or visit indicates that helping others is the key to happiness. P. 3163 8599 I’ve always been passionate about charity work and have made www.mater.org.au/Home/Support/Volunteers.aspx it a part of my daily work life. Giving back to my community knowing that my efforts, no matter how big or small, can brighten up Help Enterprises a child’s day is very satisfying. Vision: Help Enterprises assists in the support of people with disabilities. To join LOVE or be added to our mailing list... Tasks: • May involve supporting persons with disabilities in the workplace P. 07 3368 3321

www.varietyqld.org.au

P. 3868 1765 (Kerryne Elze) www.helpenterprises.com.au 41 QCG Magazine

You are needed. By: Eleisha Rogers In times of economic stress, people want more and give less. Indeed, non-proﬁt organisations and charities are battling a double dilemma at present, and they are encouraging all individuals and businesses to assist in any way they can. For those who do not have money to spare, perhaps you might consider oﬀering your time with the following organisations...

Oxfam Vision: A fair world in which people control their own lives, their basic rights are achieved and the environment is sustained. Shop-Assistant at the Brisbane stores Tasks: • Customer service • Cleaning • Stock Management • Gift wrapping

P. 1800 088 110

www.oxfam.org.au/getactive/work/volunteer/

Australian Red Cross Blood Service

Tasks: • Greeting and attending to donors • Helping with special events and promotions • Administrative support • Volunteers who speak languages other than English are highly sought after to assist when speciﬁc community groups visit for a donation

P. 13 14 95

www.donateblood.com.au

Drug A.R.M

Vision: To attract and manage a force of volunteers in practical conservation projects for the betterment of the Australian environment. Multiple Opportunities Available – visit the organisation’s website, for more information.

P. 1800 032 501

www.conservationvolunteers.com.au

Volunteer Refugee Tutoring and Community Support

Vision: VoRTCS volunteers believe that refugees have a lot to contribute to Australian society and should be assisted and encouraged to take up the opportunities on oﬀer (educational, social and vocational). Tasks: • Tutoring and assisting refugees

E. info@refugeetutoring.org www.refugeetutoring.org

help help help help

Vision: To share life’s best gift by the provision of quality blood products, tissues and related services for the beneﬁt of the community. Supporting the Organisation

Conservation Volunteers

Blue Care Community Volunteer Service Activity Oﬃcer Tasks: • Assist staﬀ with group craft sessions Skills Required: • Creative knowledge of craft • Able to work with frail aged/younger disabled

P. 3002 7600

www.volqld.org.au

Job Number: #282

Royal Historical Society of Queensland Commissariat Store Guide Tasks: • Take individuals and groups on tours Skills Required: • Public speaking

Vision: To be recognised as a key provider of quality alcohol and other drug prevention, treatment, harm minimisation and support services

P. 3002 7600 www.volqld.org.au Job Number: #945

Tasks: • Providing tea, coﬀee and blankets to services working on the streets • Provide access to health services to those who cannot access mainstream locations • Administrative support • Work in Drug A.R.M.’s public lending library • Working at Schoolies to provide aid to young people

Vital Connection: Soup Kitchen

P. 3620 8800

www.drugarm.com.au

Vision: To help the homeless “streeties” of Brisbane’s Central Business District through providing three course meals, three nights a week, 52 weeks a year Assisting in the Soup Kitchen Tasks: • Serving at the soup kitchen • Cleaning

P. 0409 582 578 (Brian Beadnell – Operations Manager) www.vitalconnection.org

42 QCG Magazine

Letter from Denise Morcombe By Denise Morcombe “Your name is written on my heart forever And there is never a day when I do not search for your face Somewhere, Everywhere, Anywhere. I see a turn of the head, a back that reminds me of you And I hurry to look more closely, Only to feel despair again Because, of course, it is not you. There is no place where my love will not reach you. There is no time when I will forget you. As I go on I carry you close to me my love, As part of the ongoing of my life.” These are some of the words that were spoken at Daniel’s Memorial on 7th Dec 2004, one year after his disappearance. Over five years have now passed. It seems like the years have gone slowly, yet it only feels like yesterday that I last saw Daniel. I can remember that last day as if it was yesterday, minute by minute. But, if anyone asked me what I did last week or yesterday, it is a blur. That feeling of not knowing where Daniel is, continues to be as strong as it was on the first night. Perhaps not the panic feeling, but the emptiness in the stomach. The first year after Daniel’s abduction was so hectic. Our life was not ours, with the police investigation and media. We had to adjust our whole life. A new life started on 7th Dec 2003 that took away our privacy and normality. Bruce and I always say that we have 2 lives. One before Daniel’s abduction and one after. We are completely different people, with a new group of friends and our lives and interests are not the same. It took a long time to adjust with one less in the family. To this day I quite often set the table for five. We had to adjust to cooking for one less, instead of five piles of folded washing there was four. Family holidays are never the same. Birthdays, Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day are dates which we try as a family to celebrate but we know there is always one empty seat at the table that should be used. Before we moved house in 2007, no one even used Daniel’s towel rail. It was like an unspoken law, that it belonged to Daniel so we didn’t use it. Once we moved house, we found it easier. It is not that Daniel is forgotten, but we don’t have reminders of him all the time. We don’t have to walk past an empty bedroom or look at his belongings. These have been packed away in the slim chance that he returns home. I have a box of his special belongings put aside and sometimes I look at them. I even have bits of paper that he wrote notes on, because to me they can never be replaced. The four of us are coping well. December has now passed. I would like to wipe December from the calendar. It is Daniel’s anniversary, his birthday and then Christmas. Last December was Bradley’s first birthday party in five years. Brad (who is Daniel’s twin brother), never wanted to celebrate his birthday. How could he or how could we pretend to be happy? Bradley has a full time job doing fencing he is now 19, Dean who is now 21 works for a tree business clearing power lines and is in a heavy metal band. We are proud of the boys and how they have grown up. They are not bitter in any way, or do not show it to us anyway. Dean has moved out of home but always rings us and drops in several times a week (usually for food).

Bruce and Denise Morcombe with Kay McGrath Dean and Brad are very close and ring each other and go out together all the time. Before Daniel went missing, Daniel and Dean were very close, Daniel and Bradley were very close, but Dean and Brad did not have much in common. Now they are inseparable. The Foundation which was set up in 2005 has helped us move forward and keeps our minds active and motivated. We sold our business so we could work on the Foundation full time. It is challenging, and we have a good committee who help us and keeps us motivated. We find it rewarding helping children who are victims of crime and also teaching children to be safe and hopefully spreading Daniel’s story we can prevent other children from being abducted and help many from being abused. The investigation is on going. The Police still have a dedicated team working on information received. On December 1st last year, a private reward for $750,000 was announced for any new information. Together with the Government reward, this private donation brings it up to $1,000 000. The Police are receiving information most days and are working on each new lead. We are certain that we will find Daniel someday. We do not know how long we have to wait, but someone must have information and hopefully will come forward soon. Until then, we will continue to find the answers and ask the public to come forward. We have a website www.danielmorcombe.com.au with information on Daniel’s abduction and the Foundation. The Foundation relies on donations and fund raising as we do not receive any government funding as this stage. So any help is greatly appreciated. We have a few exciting projects to be announced early this year, which will be updated on the website. Thanks, Denise

“There is no place where my love will not reach you”

43 QCG Magazine

nspiring Women

With Kylie Welsh

For a long time, women were left out of Amanda Scanlan, Co-Director of North Australia’s history books. Standing in the Partners Communication in Toowong says, shadows, they were limited to supporting their “I think everyday women who achieve husbands and achieving great results without public extraordinary things are inspiring. Their recognition. Today, however, women are standing in qualities include energy, focus, humility, the limelight and basking in the glow of inspired courage and eternal optimism. One of my thought and action. former work colleagues went through the Inspirational women aren’t always famous. Each experience of losing a child. A working, day we meet people who, in the smallest instance, single mum of two, she started a charity can make us stop and reflect on our own lives. So, with the Mater Hospital and managed to what makes a woman inspirational? Pollyanna raise over $90,000 for research. I also Lenkic, an Executive Coach who helps women consider women like Dr Fiona Woods, achieve their goals, offers her thoughts: “Inspirational voted Australian of the Year for her work women are connected to their purpose and their with burns victims, and the Governor passions. They know who they are and what matters General Quentin Bryce to be inspirational.” to them. As a result, they exude a confidence which Kelly Thomas, a local lawyer from inspires others.” Newstead, says, “I am inspired by Reflecting on the amazing influence Jane “I was inspired by the confidence she had in her abilities.” women who find their special talent, skill or McGrath had on other breast cancer patients, quality and use it as a catalyst to create their Pollyanna admits, “The ability to create meaning from own happiness. I am also moved by women who excel, but adversity is also inspirational. We all have terrible experiences aren’t necessarily famous. For example, there is a woman at my in life. Sometimes, adversity forces us to create meaning and move forward with our lives. Other times, it is about identifying work who has just been invited to be a partner. She inspires me because she is in my industry and works incredibly hard. The what is no longer acceptable in our lives, using this as an anchor recognition she’s receiving is well earned. My yoga instructor to create change and, in the process, finding out what really inspires me, too. She’s spiritual and calm and loves her craft. inspires us. It is not what people have achieved necessarily, but Being around her makes me want to do my best. My friend’s who they are being in the process. What people do and sister is 45 and has just found the love of her life. I find this who they are can be phenomenally inspirational to others.” inspiring because she has withstood so many heartbreaks and Connecting to your passion is a good start, but having maintained a patient, positive outlook.” persistence to achieve your goals is also a compelling factor. Melissa Healy, Director of Futari Design in Nundah says, Many women unfortunately lose sight of their goals when “Women with drive, determination, a positive work/life balance success does not come easily. I have witnessed rejection being and sense of humour inspire me. I’ve always been in awe of taken as a sign that, ‘I am not good enough’ many times. Florence Broadhurst, a vivacious Queensland woman who If success was so easy, wouldn’t we all be holidaying in the created her own destiny. She was passionate about the creative Bahamas right now? It took twelve months of rejection with arts and tested the conventional mould. I was inspired by her my first book, Impertinent Women, before I found a publisher flamboyant style and the confidence she had in her abilities.” willing to give a new writer a chance. Imagine if I had given It’s said often that inspiration comes from the everyday. up after the first few rejections? If you can maintain your If we lived each day feeling inspired, just imagine what we focus and commitment through the tough times, then an could achieve! inspiration to others you become. According to Pollyanna, we regularly look for big events Bucket List in our lives to give us inspiration, but inspiration often comes “I love the idea of being on top of the world on a simply from taking a personal chance. “I worked with a beautiful, clear day and seeing the world from a corporate client who did not trust her own opinion. As such, totally different perspective. Those first few seconds of free falling must be electrifying and this is why her co-workers did not trust her judgement either. I worked a sky dive is on the top of my list. It makes me feel with her initially on speaking up more in meetings. This was exhilarated and petrified just thinking about it!” completely out of her comfort zone, but she took up the challenge and it payed off tremendously. Both her work life www.brisbanewoman.com and personal life improved.”

44 QCG Magazine

Networking Made Easy Lynette Palmen AM

Compare the results of networking with other forms of acquiring business and you’ll soon realise that the grape vine is a gold mine. Any event can be turned into an effective networking exercise. For novice networkers, the most important rule is to remember networking is not necessarily a skill you are born with. Self-promotion does not sit well with many people. It takes practice, patience and confidence in the fact you have something valuable to contribute. Building your professional networking contacts also takes commitment. Success won’t be reached if you attend a few events and flick your business card around to anyone who will take hold. It requires time and effort and it will take a good two years to start seeing measurable results consistently flowing into your business. Networking only works if you position yourself well, create a profile and repeat the exercise. If you take all three concepts on board, two years down the track you will enjoy the benefits of 80% of all new business being generated through your first, second, and third level generation networking contacts and their referrals.

Tips for networking success

1. Most people are not clear on what networking really means. They attend events thinking it is about them – which is totally not true. A good networker knows that networking and building relationships is about taking the time to find out about others. From there you can decide if there is any synergy, or how your service or products could help that person with meeting their business or personal goals. 2. Once you make the positive commitment to start expanding your business through networking, think about how you want to represent your business or your company. At your first event, arriving on time will be a great first step. This way you can introduce yourself to organisers and get a feel for the event, the format and have a quick look at the guest name tags to see if any of your contacts are attending. Always have business cards on you but use your cards with respect 3. Sometimes taking a friend along for support can work well, but not with networking. You will inevitably use the event as a catch up - convincing yourself afterwards that the event was a good networking exercise as it gave you the opportunity to catch up with your colleague. The truth is you were never going to get any networking results because other guests in attendance did want to interrupt the personal meeting you were so obviously engaged in. If you invite a colleague to attend with you, split up during any networking sessions and catch up after the event for your meeting. 4. Great networkers follow up those they meet. If you tell people you are going to call, do it. There may be some months where you are so busy extra business is not a priority so, if this is the case when you meet people, simply say “It was great to meet you. I would like to find out more about your business so let’s catch up at the next month’s networking event”. It’s really important to have manners and show other people respect.

5. Switched on networkers know not to attend an event based on who is guest speaking, they know it’s all about who else is in the room. 6. The savvy networker is never prejudice against those in the room based on their own agenda. A good example of this would be a corporate person attending a networking event where on the surface all attendees appear to be from the small or home-based business sector. They feel they have nothing in common and, worse still, the people in the room are of no use to their business agenda. They are completely missing the fact that every attendee in the room has at least 300 networking contacts many of which are exactly the people the corporate is seeking introductions to. I can absolutely guarantee the value of networking goes well beyond purchasing your ticket to attend an event. It is a tried and true method to grow your business or career prospects. With the right commitment and attitude anyone can reap the many personal and professional rewards of networking.

For more information visit www.womensnetwork.com.au. “Lynette Palmen is the founder of Women’s Network Australia, the largest women’s network in Australia with over 40,000 women beneﬁting from its services and programs annually. Since 1990 over 82,000 women have attended WNA events and forums.”

Connect with Kylie Kylie Welsh is the Founder of Brisbane Woman, an online ‘one stop shop’ for likeminded women to showcase their achievements and discuss contemporary issues. Her successful website and thought provoking blog attract hundreds of female viewers each week. Kylie hosts monthly workshops at the Pineapple Hotel, which provide women with wonderful contacts and practical work, business and life skills.

Up-and-coming events... APRIL

Topic: Eﬀective, practical techniques for dealing with stress. Speaker: Susan Living – Founder, The Clean Living Institute.

MAY

Topic: Is your business plan a doorstopper or door opener? Speaker: Lisa Murray – Business Coach, Revive Coaching.

JUNE

Topic: Health and ﬁtness tips for mature women. Speaker: Adriana Solorzana – Personal Trainer, Optimum Personal Training.

For more information, visit www.brisbanewoman.com. 45 QCG Magazine

Be Yourself - everybody else is taken By: Julie Cross

t was a sparkling moment. The people in the audience rose to their feet and their applause resonated through the room and into my heart. I had just presented the best of myself at my first conference for 2009... The key experiences which led me to that moment commenced many years ago. It was when I had a role in management that I became very aware of how much self-esteem and personal confidence affects all that we do, and how we need to put more of ourselves into everything we do. This insight inspired me to start my own professional speaking business and use inspirational entertainment to connect people’s internal esteem with their external results. It takes courage to be authentic, especially in a world that encourages you to be everything else but. However, if you choose to follow in someone else’s footsteps your whole life, you are unlikely to have a unique impact on the world and be remembered. This idea has been the driving force behind my business, and I wear sequins during all of my speaking engagements to demonstrate my uniqueness, confidence and courage. Before developing my self-esteem, I had to find resilience. Life’s tough moments helped me discover my strengths and positive spirit. You see, on the 18th of December 2003, I woke up beside my husband and knew instantly that our lives had changed forever. He could not walk, he could not talk, and he could not move his right arm. At 42 years of age, he’d had a stroke. For the next few months, life was a blur. Naturally, there was a lot of negative energy around and I learnt, first hand, the concept of ‘The Law of Attraction’. Because our energy was so low, every bit of bad luck that was going through our neighbourhood came and knocked on our door. And I let it in! Life seemed to be spiralling out of control, until I realised it was time for me to go within and find a little joy. Despite the circumstances, I knew I had the right to be happy. I chose to create moments of gratitude in my life, and these moments soon turned into joy. Eventually, I started to feel better; however, ‘life’ wasn’t quite finished with me yet.

Inspirational Entertainment www.juliecross.com.au

Julie

My four year old son was diagnosed with autism and I quickly plunged back into the depths of despair. Thankfully, I didn’t stay as long this time. And, so, it would be from sharing the stories of my life that my speaking business would propel to a whole new level. Over the years, I’ve discovered that audiences connect with real life experiences and real people. The standing ovation I received in early 2009 was a testament to that insight. However, this event was important to me, for a number of reasons. You see, on the 11th of November (2008), my husband passed away. This was my ﬁrst presentation since saying goodbye and it helped me get my strength and happiness back. I was myself, I shared my story and I made a diﬀerence.

joan teo

e: joan-teo@hotmail.com m: 0409 479 031

46 QCG Magazine

Bucket List “To experience the silver back gorillas in their natural habitat!”

concept & design jewellery

Step Up & Step Out By: Kim Alvena

don’t want to tell a sad story, so I will tell it from another side of the fence and say “one must never turn away from the sun.” Everyone on this earth has sadness and happiness, depending on where their journey takes them. I will start by telling you how amazing my two sons are and how every day I am blessed by their presence in my life. We, as a family, were also blessed to have Greg, my husband of 21 years, and the boy’s father, in our lives; he taught us so much. Greg died at age 48, a very passionate and driven man who was well respected both in the corporate world and by his family and friends. For anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one, my heart goes out to them. It breaks your heart in a million pieces and leaves you with a void so large you get lost, where time stands still. Hope leaves you, and grief, as much as you try to convince yourself you can get through the grieving process quickly, cripples you. Never at any time during the grieving process did any one of us stop pushing each other to come through the other side of loss. You shut down and just manage what you have to manage. Me, I could only be there for my sons in this period; I withdrew from the world and went into my art. I used to wake up every morning and say to myself, “I can do this “. I cannot express strongly enough the importance of positive thought. I always try to look at the bright side; it takes too much energy to look at the dark side. We are a very lucky family in that I had the support of some truly amazing friends and my sons also had the support of their friends. I am so proud of my sons. My older son went on to get a degree in Animation/TV and Film and now has a great career in Sydney and my younger son has another year before he ﬁnishes his degree in International Business. They teach me so many things every day. I had been a housewife and full time mum for I8 years when Greg died. I had no idea what I was going to do with the rest of my life. The most important thing to me was to be there for my sons and see them through their school and uni. I went back to my roots, my art and creativity. Many nights I spent painting and sketching with music to keep me company and my faithful St. Bernard, AJ (now 10 years of age). I have found a tranquil place in my unique wearable art and accessories. I love what I do. I am always coming up with new ideas and designs and cannot seem to stop. I am in love with colour and form. I knew I had to do what I was passionate about, as I knew I would be doing it for the rest of my life. I started my own business: Kim Alvena – Unique Wearable Art. For two years I have been selling privately. My niece travels to the USA every six months and oﬀered to take samples of my product over for me; so, I was able to establish a market in San Francisco last year. Initially, I sold belts at Toscana, Park Road in Brisbane. I’m currently selling a wider range of wearable art accessories at La Scarpa, at The Emporium in Brisbane.

Kim

Products currently include chokers, necklaces, earrings, handbags and boot straps (for winter). I have learnt to look at every problem as a challenge and an opportunity to grow. As I said, life is a journey; it depends on where your road leads you and how quickly you adapt to the change in the road. When you lose a loved one, you never get over it; you just learn to live with it. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing” – that’s my philosophy, and I live by it.

info@kimalvena.com

Bucket List “To be a nomad and travel the world for a few years. Some time in Tuscany and Provence would be wonderful. After years of having so much responsibility, it would be nice not to have any for a while!” 47 QCG Magazine

Cutting the chord...the ﬁnal snip!

By: Karin McCarthy

s I tossed a few coins into the Trevi Fountain and It took almost a week to get thought of my children things back in order, yet the back home, Frank Sinatra’s lyrics penny still did not drop! came to mind. It also occurred to While I always defended me that once this Roman holiday the boys to my other children, was over, my partner and I would who complained that their be returning to a couple of adult brothers were on a “good wicket” children who were still enjoying at home, I still believed I was the fruits of our labour! doing the “right thing” by them. Mike and I were finally on a Wrong! trip, which had been on the cards There were several ‘clues’, for years. For once, we had which highlighted the fact genuine ‘alone time’ – a prolonged that these boys were becoming moment to really enjoy each others’ company and talk lazy and demanding. Their without interruption! With this thought in our minds, expectations of us as parents were we worried about what it was going to be like once humongous and outrageous at we returned home. Our two boys were well and truly times. Of course, a few angry ensconced, living with all advantages of their middle words were shared with regards class upbringing: Three meals a day, a ‘washing to household chores and lack of service’, big screen T.V., friends and girlfriends input; but, for the most part, dropping in as they pleased – they had it made. their lives continued quite comAt the age of seven, one of my sons announced fortably. All the while, “mother that he loved me and wanted to live with me until dearest” was, and looked like, a he was “at least thirty” – yikes! But, when the time washed out dishrag – and that actually came and he decided to leave home, I found was on a good day! it quite difficult to let go and deal with my emotions. The final straw broke when On this particular day, he was rushing to pack his our twenty-two year old cooked car and until the last moment, we didn’t really say the engine of his car (after he’d much. Then, that final bag was taken to the back been repeatedly reminded to door and the flood gates opened for me. “One of my sons announced check the oil) and expected me “Bye darling, ring me when you get there,” he loved me and wanted to run from one end of Brisbane I said, with tears rolling down my cheeks. to live with me until to the other and sort things out “It’s ok mum, I’ll probably be back,” he replied, he was at least thirty – yikes!” for him, as I had done for my with tears in his eyes. other son on multiple occasions. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I thought, It was like someone had switched on a light. I could see the “Oh my God, I’m sad. But, let’s not forget now, he is twenty forest for the trees. It was time – they had to go! five.” Apparently, at that time in my life, I wasn’t ready to stop I loved our boys enough to get them out of the house, mothering, or should I say ‘smothering’, him. At least my no matter what. Mike was jubilant at this realisation of mine, other two sons, aged twenty-two and twenty-five, were as he, too, wanted to enjoy the next part of our lives together still extremely comfortable at home! without any kids in the picture! It was to be just the two of us. As Mike and I had imagined, we arrived back from our When we announced our decision to the boys, the youngest trip to a house in complete chaos. It took almost a week to breathed a sigh of relief, while the twenty-five year old spent get things back in order, yet the penny still did not drop! some time trying to negotiate a way to stay! Usually, this boy As parents, we wanted to give our two youngest a little more could negotiate blood out of a stone! But, like Custer’s final leeway. We understood how difficult it was going to be for stand, Mike and I stood together and uttered that one word them to save money and buy a house if they had to pay rent we’d struggled to say for so many years, “No!” at the same time. We wanted to make the process of starting After a discussion with the boys, we gave them three months out easier for them than it was for us. Of course, I now to either buy or rent a place of their own, which they have both realise that this was just an excuse. done. To their credit, they are extremely happy with their new Both Mike and I reminded them constantly about saving lives and independence. While Mike and I and we were always reassured that all was good with their bank continue to see our children quite regularly, we enjoy being accounts. This made us feel a great sense of achievement, like back where we started we were doing the right thing by allowing them to stay at – at home, with just home. In a way, we were also able to have some control over the two of us. them, with constant reminders of work rosters and Bucket List appointments. Without realising it, we were enabling “To write a book and have it published.” them to be completely dependent on us. 48 QCG Magazine

On leaving the Nest... A Mother’s Perspective By: Debbie Paton My husband calls me a box person - whenever there is a problem, I put it in a box on the shelf and deal with it later... or not. Our eldest daughter leaves for London in less than 4 weeks and it’s possible that he may be right. It takes me back thirty years to when my husband and I made the same journey. We were not long out of university and Paul had been given the opportunity to study in London. I can remember standing around in the airport surrounded by our families. My mother-in-law was beside herself at losing another precious son to the mother country. My mother, bless her, was there with her diary, planning when she could visit. The sensible measured part of my brain is so glad for Kate and the opportunities and experiences she will undoubtedly have in her years away, yet in my heart I know we will all miss her terribly. We have made plans as to how we will reorganise the house. Sadly for Kate, her room is not to be kept as a shrine but is to be taken over by her sister who needs the closet space. We are both taking time oﬀ work in these last weeks for precious breakfast and lunch outings, knowing that this special time together is what we will miss the most. We have Skype, facebook and Email but we know it will never be the same.

Debbie & Kate

LOVE

DY COME A NEW REATORS OF HILL TING THE C FROM Y AND NOT L L A ACTU

OPENS AT DENDY PO

APRIL 9

RTSIDE

® PHILIP INNER ARD W ) WITH A W A Y DEM POTE G ACA PSON N (CA THOM STARRIN UR HOFFMA EMMA FEAT SEYMO S CAMEO BY SIBILITY) U EN FABULO NSE AND S BEST URING (SE

SO GS F ME OF T H ROM H THE E 60s! ROC E BOAT POR THA TSID KED A T TO W E FOR Y T DEND IN A OUR CH Y ‘S A PRIZ WINGIN NCE E PA CK! G 60s’ SEE T

SON

For full competition details please visit www.dendy.com.au

A Daughter’s Perspective By: Kate Young

In 26 days time, I am packing up one 80L backpack, one small carry-on suitcase and one brown satchel, and relocating to London. As a drama graduate, it’s definitely the best place for me to start a new career; somewhere I can search for new and exciting opportunities in theatre management. Once upon a time (mid-last year, in fact), it seemed like a fabulous idea. Now I’m moving to a country hit hard by the economic crisis, without a secure job already organised. I probably should be more worried than I am, but I guess part of me is quite excited to see how I’ll handle it. The other part is scared. I’m currently trying to ignore the scared part. I’m not sure if it would be such a huge move if I’d ever lived out of home before. But with a mere ten minute commute to university it never really made sense for me to move out during my four years at QUT. I have a great relationship with my mum; unlike many people my age who can’t wait to have their own place, I’m currently trying to deal with how our relationship will change once I’m gone. I’m really going to miss the late night Law & Order and good coffee sessions we have after everyone else has gone to bed. I’ll miss having someone who finishes my thoughts and sentences. My mum and I are similar in so many ways that lately (since I’ve become a ‘grown-up’) it’s been like living with a really great friend, rather than a mum. It’s almost easier that I’m moving so far away, and am forced to leave; if I stayed, I’d probably want to live at home forever, though I’m sure I’d be kicked out and told to ‘get a life’ eventually. I’ve always wondered how much of an impact my parents have had on the decisions I’ve made. My mum and dad moved to London to work when they were my age, and came back with my sister and me eleven years later. They always speak of it with such fondness, and have so many happy memories of their time there. I really hope that it’s the same for me. 49 QCG Magazine

Kids with a Cause

By: Chris Ireland

ave you ever wondered why some kids have the “get up and go attitude” and others don’t? If you think your child doesn’t, then I bet you wish they did! What are some things that you can do to help motivate them? Being a Gen Y ‘Kid with a Cause’, I’d like to oﬀer a few insights...

Role model parents...

Actions speak louder than words. Kids do what you do, not what you say, and they recognise hypocrisy. Parents who are strong, positive people generally raise conﬁdent, focused young adults. However, being a good example doesn’t necessarily mean becoming Ned Flanders. For instance, a parent who gives up smoking also teaches his/her children the value of persistence, goal setting, and self belief

Self-respect...

Kids should believe they are capable of achieving anything they set their minds to. As mentioned previously, the best way to instill this belief in your children is by modelling it yourself. Show them that you have faith in your own abilities. Show them that you’re proud to be who you are and that you love yourself (inside and out). You should also avoid criticising your children, as criticism only evokes resentment and disrespect. It won’t make anyone feel or do better – at least, not in the long-term. On the flip side, if your children accomplish something they’re evidently proud of, be sure to send genuine praise their way. This positive affirmation will not only help your kids feel more confident and capable, it will also better the relationship they have with you and encourage them to seek your advice and input. It’s a simple fact: people are drawn to those who make them feel special and good about themselves.

Cause

Positive friends...

Your children’s friendship group will also have a significant impact on their development. Members of Generation Y & Z (teenagers and young adults, under the age of 25) rely heavily on their peers for advice and an understanding of what is ‘normal’, acceptable and ‘cool’ behaviour. Their mates can lift them up or drag them down. So, it’s important that you help them associate with the right people from the get go (note: pretentiousness is not a positive attitude to expose your children to). While choosing the right schools and suburb to live in can help, it’s also an idea to consider extracurricular activities, which promote positive values and social skills. For instance, if you would like your children to be compassionate, grounded and aware of their own potential, you might encourage them to volunteer with a not-for-profit organisation for a few hours each week. This practical experience can also make them more confident and skilled employees/employers, when they enter the labour force.

Mentors...

The world’s most successful people all had mentors as children. Parents, family friends, sporting legends, spiritual ﬁgures, authors, and fellow peers can all be positive mentors for young people. By being knowledgeable and experienced in a ﬁeld 50 QCG Magazine

which is of interest to your children, these people are often respected by them, too. As such, they are in a special position to inspire and guide them. Mentors can also help young people turn their ideas into practical realities; encouraging them to work hard for their passions; identify, research and plan the tasks at hand; and network with the right people.

Knowledge & gratitude...

All teenagers should understand the monetary value of living. There seems to be an increasing number of parents who over-support their adult children. A generation of “Free Loaders” is being fostered. If your child is pursuing secondary or tertiary education, they should be making non-financial contributions to the household. If they are not a student, they should be employed and contributing both financially and non-financially to the household. If this is not the case, you are setting your kids up for a rude shock and possible failure as they enter the ‘real world’. Encourage your children to work for luxuries and money – don’t hand everything to them on a silver platter. Robert Kiyosaki’s book, Rich Dad Poor Dad, is a great resource, as it inspires young people to think outside of the square and be accountable for their own general finances. It encourages them to swap their “I can’t afford this” attitude with a “How can I afford this?” mentality. Pampering does not equal good parenting. It serves your purposes, not your children’s. You do it because you want to be liked and avoid conflict, not because it’s going to help your kids in the long-run. While it might keep them happy in the short-term, it’ll lead to frustration and resentment later down the line. Give your kids the tools to manage money – it’s one of the greatest gifts you can offer them.

Teaching kids about money...

Acceptance & support...

Every child is different. Some have brilliant minds, but lack the motivation to put them to good use. Others are not the sharpest pencils in the box, but their ambition and passion for life are intense. Some excel in a particular field. Others are a ‘jack of all trades’. Some near explode with energy and forget to focus. Others get caught up in the details and forget to enjoy the world around them. At the end of the day, it’s important that you accept and support your child for who they are – even if that means accepting the fact that they are not like you or different to what you expected them to be. When they’re driven, excited and happy, spur them on; when they’re down in the dumps and a bit lost, give them a hug and let them know (through actions and words) that you love them unconditionally. They’ll figure things out – eventually.

Get them involved in... Duke of Edinburgh (Queensland)

P. 1800 177 338 www.theaward.com.au/Queensland.html

Edgeware Creative Entrepreneurship P. 3369 6897 www.edgeware.com.au

Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA)

1. Open up the conversation: Talk to your kids about the value of a dollar through your actions and words. This is not about frightening them – turn it into a positive and focus on the possibilities. 2. Get your kids to value money: It’s good for them to physically touch money and see you pay for things with cash (not a card). 3. Set an example: Kids tend to mimic their parent’s buying behaviours. They observe the choices you make and will pull you up if you prohibit them from buying something they saw you purchase the other week. 4. Help them prioritise: Get your children to list (in order of importance) the things they want to buy. Make sure they take the time identify their needs versus their wants. Help them create an action and/or savings plan, which will lead them to their goals. 5. Reward them with your company: Money shouldn’t be the ‘carrot’ in every situation. Sometimes a simple pat on the back, the pleasure of your company and the knowledge that you are a proud of their achievements is more valuable to your children.

P. 13 19 01 www.defencejobs.gov.au

BrizMUN

E. brizmun@gmail.com www.brizmun.org

Sport & Recreation Queensland P. 3237 0098 www.srq.qld.gov.au/get_active.cfm

Volunteer Queensland P. 3002 7600 www.volqld.org.au

Young Achievement Australia (Queensland) P. 3394 2922 www.yaa.org.au/page/queensland

MT ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE

UNDER THE CARE OF THE SISTERS OF CHARITY

...Where compassion becomes second nature 67 Elimatta Drive, Ashgrove Q 4060

Tel 3858 4222 admin@msm.qld.edu.au Fax 3858 4299 www.sm.qld.edu.au

51 QCG Magazine

Soldiers Soldiers By: Jenny Andrews

‘Army mums’ are troopers. They embody the same sense of duty and unwavering pride as their children, who have experienced the world’s most unforgiving war zones. Touched by her son’s lifeblood and Australia’s presence in the Middle East, Jenny shares her story. Note: It is required by the Australian Defence Force Academy that the names of serving personnel remain anonymous. My son was always going to join the army. In grade one, the children had to dress up as the thing they wanted to be when they grew up. My son dressed as a soldier. Having a Dad in the army was also a big influence on his decision; however, there were no expectations on our part and if he hadn’t enjoyed the soldiering life he would have left and pursued other options. The fact is the army has never been looked on as just a job to him. He loves the army life and really enjoys being a soldier. He is as keen and committed as he was when he first joined. I will never forget the day my son graduated from his Corp Training in Singleton. The day started with the soldiers giving the visiting families a taste of the skills they had learned. As we proudly stood watching, our son had to race up, grab a rope and swing across a ditch filled with muddy water. Unfortunately, his hand slipped and he ended up falling into the water, very red-faced but grinning broadly. The reaction of the other soldiers was hilarious; they all whooped and cat-called at our boy, giving him quite a bit of stick. I was unsure about this reaction until I found out he had achieved the top award for the course. The other soldiers were making sure he realised he was still ‘one of the boys’ even though he had attained top soldier. Since completing his Corp Training, my son has been serving with the Royal Australian Regiment. He is known as a “grunt,” which is the Aussie term for ‘infantry soldier’, and spent most of 2008 in Afghanistan as part of Operation Slipper. Australian and Dutch troops have been protecting and assisting the Australian engineers, as they work with the Afghan people to rebuild the region’s infrastructure. I believe Australia’s presence in the Middle East is a necessary position for our country to be in – it’s warranted and producing fantastic results. We are not there in an offensive role; our soldiers are teaching the Afghanis how to rebuild their country for themselves. They are also providing them with clean water, new school rooms and hospital wings. Unfortunately, we hear little about the great work that is being completed. Photos by: Chris Caughey I tend not to take on much of what the media says these days. It seems like they only report on negative or sensational events – the stories they think people want to hear. There has been no real coverage of the reconstruction work by the Australian soldiers, which has been continuing for years in places like Tarin Kowt. My husband and I tend to watch the news on SBS, which we believe reports on world events more accurately. The stories our son brings home are definitely a highlight, especially when they are shared among friends and family on our back deck. Most of his accounts are interesting, some are inspiring, but generally, they are funny – really funny. I think he keeps some stories to himself, relating only Bucket List those he thinks we want to hear. We just know that the ‘Aussie spirit’ “To take a couple of years off work and set is truly alive and well in the Australian Army and that off in a Winnebago! The only decision to make the soldiers continue to make the most of their would be “Do I turn left or right at the next intersection?” situations with humour and high jinks.

“Australia’s presence in the Middle East is a necessary position for our country to be in.”

I want to see every little bit of this country of ours, leisurely and on my terms. No stress! Dream on!”

52 QCG Magazine

“A knot would form in my stomach, as I remembered he was still in Afghanistan.”

While my son (aged 23) is currently stationed in the Enoggera Gallipoli Barracks, we still have regular gatherings at our home so he can relax with his civilian friends and family. These get-togethers are particularly important if he’s been away and ‘living in a war zone’, as they tend to bring a bit of ‘normality’ back into his life. Having married a soldier twenty-seven years ago, it is probably easier for me to understand much of what my son is doing, feeling and talking about. However, it does not make seeing him go off to places like Afghanistan any easier. Like any other mum, I believe my role is to protect and nurture my children – not kiss them goodbye and send them to combat zone. Every parent worries about their children, whether they’re 3 or 23, living at home or away from home. My son turned 21 the week before his first trip to Afghanistan. We had a bumper 21st party for him and his twin sister, but the knowledge of his imminent departure was evident. After he left I decided to be the strong, stoic mum on the outside, continuing to work full time and putting on the brave face. However, every morning my first thought would go to my son. A knot would form in my stomach, as I remembered he was still in Afghanistan. A couple of weeks after he’d left, I found out my blood pressure was really high due to the stress of him being away. Not knowing exactly what’s going on in your child’s life can play havoc to your mental state! I have to admit, while I tried to avoid the negative thoughts the possibility of him dying did come up every now and then. Fortunately, there have been relatively few Australian deaths. When they have occurred, every person with a military connection has felt and mourned that death personally. While most civilians can sympathise with parents who have children in the forces, they don’t really understand what goes through their mind. Fortunately, the Defence Department are very aware of parents, wives, partners and children of defence personnel and give presentations on where the soldiers are and what they are doing. The communication system for families is also fantastic. While our son was away, we were able to hear from him fairly regularly. We could tell by the tone of his voice, whether he was ok or not. It’s common knowledge that some soldiers find it difficult to settle back into everyday life, once they’ve been away and seen and done things others have not. Our son was relatively young when he left for the first time and I was concerned about his state of mind upon his return. However, I needn’t have worried, as he was the same young, happy-go-lucky son I had seen off several months earlier. I am immensely proud of my son. I have seen him mature into an amazing young man who is totally committed to his work, extremely satisfied with his lot in life and displays an infectious sense of humour, which constantly attracts people to him. The sense of pride you have for a child in the armed forces is extreme. When there is a noisy parade on or an ANZAC Day march, and crowds of people are out waving flags and cheering the soldiers on, I get to say “my son is marching there.” It is an awesome feeling. The opportunities for young men and women in the armed forces today are endless. A great life and career await those who choose to follow this path. The ‘army family’ is also a very positive aspect of my son’s job. It’s comforting knowing that there will always be a community of people who understand what our family is going through. Being close to the events and happenings of the military life is always exciting; sometimes scary, but never boring and I love being part of it.

Soldiers

“The sense of pride you have for a child in the armed forces is extreme.”

53 QCG Magazine

Two Worlds...One Journey By: Majella Anderson

ith an Aboriginal mother and a white Australian father, I have spent all of my life walking in two worlds on a journey to self empowerment. In my childhood, teenage and early adulthood years, I didn’t quite feel that I fitted in. However, as the years have rolled on, I have found my “groove” in this world. I embrace both of my cultural heritages and the gifts and talents passed down from both my parents. My life journey has not been an easy one. Due to events and circumstances that took place early in my childhood and teenage years, I suffered very low self esteem, confidence and self worth well into my adult life. I finally came to a crossroads in my life in 2004 where I could either choose a new path or continue down the same one. I chose the path of healing and personal change and have not looked back since. When I opened my heart and life up, and allowed the healing and personal change to take place, I experienced profound personal, cultural and spiritual breakthroughs. I was also able view my current life and past life experiences from a more empowered perspective. I continue to experience these amazing breakthroughs and my passion is to share my knowledge, skills and experiences to inspire, motivate and empower other people to break through to success in their lives. I really turned a page in 2004, when my participation in the National Indigenous Women’s Leadership Program (IWLP) presented me with a springboard for achieving higher levels of personal empowerment and success in my business and personal life. At the end of that year I was accepted as a coach on the IWLP and I got to meet some of the most amazing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Australia. Just listening to their stories and seeing their courageous strength inspired and motivated me all the more. I have since been engaged as a facilitator with the Indigenous Leadership Program and it is inspiring to watch the personal growth and transformation of the Indigenous participants. This comes not just from personal discovery, but more importantly from the telling and sharing of personal stories and the strong connections Indigenous people have with one another. Weaving together my passion for business with my vision to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in the areas of Self Empowerment and Leadership has been exciting. My other passions that are driving forces in my life are Business Entrepreneurship and Personal Empowerment. Having been involved in running business enterprises for the past 6 years, I thrive in the spirit of Entrepreneurship – turning ideas into tangible businesses in niche market areas - finding what isn’t there and putting it there.

Majella

Bucket List “To have my writings published, including my life story, journey to self empowerment and inspirational works.” 54 QCG Magazine

There is a real buzz in turning an idea into a reality and overcoming the challenges, breaking through the barriers and putting my whole self into creating the dream. That’s what keeps me pumped and going back for more. My business ventures have included establishing an upmarket coffee shop, a business and training consultancy (Black Business Consultancy) and establishing Australia’s first online internet dating service for Indigenous people. 2009 is year is set to be another exciting year, with plans to expand the services of Black Business Consultancy, continue managing my internet web businesses and blog sites as well as establishing a Personal Transformational Power Coaching Practice with regular seminars and workshops. While the essence of my story is no different from the stories of a lot of other people in this world, the triumph for me is the ability to overcome and transcend the emotional, mental and spiritual pain to create a new way forward. Looking back over my life with a clearer vision and mindset, I am very grateful for the journey thus far because it has shaped me into the focused, self determined and successful woman I am today. I am also grateful that the teachings, teachers, mentors, resources and tools I needed to change my thinking, philosophies, patterns and belief systems from negative to positive come at just the right times. I have learnt that I create my reality through the way I think and what I believe to be true about myself and my life. When I chose to move from a mentality of lack and victimhood to one of abundance and prosperity my life opened up accordingly. As Dr. John F Demartini once put it... “When the voice and the vision, on the inside, is more clear, more loud and more profound, than the opinions on the outside, then you have truly mastered your life” For more information or just to connect, please feel free to contact me at:

Email: blackbusinessconsultancy@gmail.com Or visit www.majellaanderson.com

LCM

DESIGN PTY LTD

LCM Design is a leader in the supply of artworks for resorts, hotels, apartment complexes and ofﬁces. We provide a unique service with art individually designed to suit the project, the developer’s vision, the target market and the budget. Our core purpose is to provide creative solutions in art and design. We maintain strong relationships with key FF & E suppliers including the top furniture package specialists in Autralia and Dubai and continue to produce exceptional results for our clients. When sourcing for your next ﬁt-out project, please consider LCM Design Pty Ltd.

www.lcmdesign.net.au

56 Commercial Rd Fortitude Valley Brisbane Qld 4006 Australia Mob: 0408 752 700 Email: lila@lcmdesign.net.au

55 QCG Magazine

ME Mapping ... By Joy Meredith – Managing Director of “Joy Think” Between the months of May and August 2002, my life completely changed. I lost my grandmother, I left my job of over 11 years, the police found my friend deceased and asked me to notify his family, my sister got married, and I was in the middle of recovering from a break up. Talk about a nasty summer! To say the least, I was reeling. After the immediate crises were handled, I didn’t know where to begin or how to put my life back together. Then, it occurred to me. Whenever I needed clarity on a work project, I simply sketched everything out and took a good look at what was in front of me. I thought it might be an idea to apply the same method to my own life and, viola, “Me Mapping” was born! As Dr. Phil often spouts, “you can’t change what you don’t acknowledge.” Early on Joy Meredith in my quest to transform my life,

I realised I was focusing on one key area as opposed to looking at the whole picture. After I started “Me Mapping” I was able to consider my situation holistically and identify the good, the bad, and the ugly. I was able to take control and come up with a plan to bring my ideal life into fruition. While “Me Mapping” is simple, it’s not easy. The process will require something of you. It took me a couple of months to explore and mend all the diﬀerent aspects of my life. However, I now get to enjoy a life that is truly worthy of me. So, it was well worth my time and energy!

“You deserve an extraordinary life!”

Money

1. Map out your life. On a large sheet of paper, sketch out all the diﬀerent areas of your life. Broad topic areas can include things like: health, love, family, career, money, adventure, home, and friends. Under each of these key headings, list some of the more speciﬁc aspects of your life. For example, the money category might include the subsections: salary, savings, investments, dept, and expenses. If you’re creative, consider adding pictures to your map and creating a collage. 2. Categorise what is working and what is not. After you have mapped out your life, go back and evaluate how you feel about each listed item. Be honest with yourself. Put a plus sign (+) next to the things you want to enhance, engage with and schedule more time for. Put a negative sign (-) next to the items you need to mitigate, declutter, complete and release from your life. Finally, place a circle (o) next to the things, which are working well for you and call for appreciation. 3. Create a plan for your transformation. One key category at a time, address each subcomponent, brainstorm a number of solutions and devise a plan action. Don’t feel like you need to “go it alone”. Consider whether or not you need help from, say, a coach, therapist, doctor, consultant or teacher. 4. Implement your plan, take control of your life and create a “Circle of Joy”. Pick a category and get started! Eliminate the things that drain you, add more of the things that energise you, and create balance by incorporating gratitude into your life. Don’t feel overwhelmed. Whether you choose to start by decluttering your wardrobe or reinvigorating your marriage, once you begin the process it quickly builds momentum; and, each action step brings you closer to the life you truly want. 5. Update your “Me Map” as your life blossoms. Our lives are always evolving. If you continue to update your “Me Map” and work on your “Circle of Joy” your life will become more balanced and manageable. I update my map twice a year (on New Year’s Day and my birthday).

Family

Fun

ME MAPPING STEPS

Health

Esteem + Exercise o Fatigue -

For more information, visit: www.memapping.com www.joymeredith.com Joy’s book, “My Last Wishes”, can be purchased at Borders or on Amazon.com.

Bucket List “To attend the Technology,Entertainment & Design (TED) Conference in California; be a guest on an Oprah show about happiness; and, host a Brilliance Bash Weekend with 25 of the most amazing people in attendance.” 56 QCG Magazine

Real World Stress Reduction ... By: Susan Living

Mental health is major topic in the media at the moment. Campaigns abound in order to raise our awareness, and famous people speak often about stress, depression and anxiety and the devastating eﬀects they’ve had on their personal, work and family life. In fact, News Limited recently reported that almost 50% of Australians have had some form of mental illness. So, why are most of us stressed out? Why are our lives so busy and what are we getting out of it? How can we counteract the snowballing pressures of everyday life? How do we strike a balance between achieving our goals and relaxing in the moment? Obviously, mental health doesn’t just happen. We need to work on it – daily. This might sound like a big ask, but the alternative is rather unpleasant. As more of us become aware of our high stress levels and how it can negatively impact our health and relationships, more of us look for answers. One option is to turn to the experts, discuss how unhappy we are and ask for powerful, mind-altering medications. While this may or may not address the symptoms, it usually ignores the causes of our angst. The medical model is designed to focus minutely on what is wrong – a speciﬁc neurotransmitter, a

“Anything that ever happens to me is for the best.” particular behaviour, a diagnosis or a series of events, which occurred when we were young. A journey down this easily accessible path has certainly saved many lives, but it has also enabled many to remain stuck with no immediate relief from their negative feelings. Another option is the path of healing, spirituality, preventative medicine, crystals, channelled entities, re-birthing and reincarnation. Veganism, magic, mantras and seventh dimensions require us to be open with a child-like curiosity about the world and the way energy works. This path focuses on what is right – on the perfection of what is happening inside the individual. The only problem is that rainbows and dolphins aren’t taken too seriously by mainstream thought in mental health and medicine.

jack

So, what’s another option? Perhaps ultimately the only one that counts – the one that each individual chooses for himself or herself regardless of gender, background, culture, religion, education and life experience. All that this path requires is the development of a personal philosophy – one which can be practiced amidst the chaos of our daily lives. It also needs to fit in with our unique view of the world and give us something to hold on to when we are really stressed, depressed and disconnected from the world and people around us. A philosophy I’ve carefully cultivated is: “Anything that ever happens to me is for the best.” This belief has seen me through chronic anxiety, eating disorders, relationship breakdowns, addiction, debt, financial failure and more. With consistent practice and time, I’ve been able to develop a positive perspective on life and way to feel better about where I am right now. I embrace change and accept conflict and loss. Your own personal philosophy exists outside of the medical model, religion and self-development practice. It exists solely in you and you take it with you wherever you go. There’s so much more, but this is where we begin with stress reduction for the real world. What is your personal philosophy? How has is it served you? Is it time to create a new one?

Stress

Susan Living is a full-time therapist who runs one-on-one stress-reduction workshops.

Phone: 5545 3381

Email: info@cleanlivingclinic.com.au www.cleanlivingclinic.com.au

Bucket List “To walk all the Great Walking Tracks of the world and experience the timelessness and magniﬁcent isolation of nature. I want to learn navigational, outdoor survival, mountaineering and rock climbing skills so I can go places, which can only be reached by foot.”

Jack are specialists in sofa design and manufacture for Resorts, Hotels and Apartment complex ﬁt-outs.

furniture

Jack Furniture Co., Ltd.

In association with The Furn-niche Group www.furn-niche.com info@furn-niche.com.au

Tel: + 61 (0)7 3252 2878 Eastender

57 QCG Magazine

Wind & Water - Feng Shui

By: Debra Jarvis

n Master/Guru I can’t claim the title ‘Master’ although it has previously been used by others. I have a personal preference for Practitioner and also use the term Consultant. To Do or Not to Do, and Which to Choose? Once described as the nerdy New Zealand schoolgirl, how did Debra Jarvis, the Lady of Logic who hung out in the Library and the Physics Lab; dreaming of becoming a famous Nuclear Physicist became Australia’s’ most popular Feng Shui personality? Debra was among the first in NZ to buy a home computer, an XT compatible which was state of the art in 1984. None of her friends shared her enthusiasm; her excitement at choosing between green and orange text. A true Nerd. Ecstatic at landing a job as a Physics Technician at Auckland Hospital, which she gave up when she followed her husband to a small country town. A town where the local fish and chip shop had the only space invaders machine, and where she ended up preparing financial reports for the local farmers in the only Accountants office. Te Aroha, where you were an outsider unless you had lived in the area for the past 4 generations was a long way At its essence, Feng Shui seeks to balance from Debra’s familiar techno-savvy world of Auckland. extremes. Feng Shui Practitioners seek to Moving to Australia in 1994 Debra had decided to seek work create change and balance working in the in an alternate field, however due to her strong Accounting backgseen, physical environment, which affects Debra round she found herself this time with an Audit focus. A genuine our internal being and changes the way Nerd job... By the late 90’s desperately unhappy both in her we experience life. In the words of professional and personal life Debra rediscovered reading. She Winston Churchill: “First we create our picked up a copy of Wayne Dyers’ book “Pulling Your Own Strings”. dwellings, then they create us” Attending In Debras’ words “Recently reading, Barbara Shers ‘Refuse to a seminar in Brisbane ‘Metaphysical Mastery’ Debra listened in Choose’ brought back memories of reading ‘I could do anything awe to speakers who connected the logic of Physics and Maths if only I knew what it was’ which I now realise I read immediately to the former intangible modalities of the power of the mind prior to Dyer. “I could do anything’ discusses ‘Scanners’ people to create the formation of matter into demonstrable proven who are interested in lots of things and in recent history have physical form. Many spoke of matter becoming organised form tended not to do anything because society has taught us that we and shape from thought power alone, one speaker spoke of the should choose one thing; one career, one or two interests, a set of arrangement of current physical form belongings and environfriends and stick to that. So Scanners (in general) spend their lives ments and how by moving and changing these we change our not really doing anything, believing that they are lesser human life experiences, this was tangible! – and there was a formula, a beings because it appears that they can’t decide on one thing to do. set of laws, as predicable as the law of gravity, given Scanner predecessors, Di Vinci, Einstein and Archimedes; arrangements down to shape and colour, how many and what who pursed all of their stimuli at once and whom we only imagine substances it should be composed of. She was hooked, the worked with like minded colleagues, passionate about life, Nerd in her was finally at home! philosophising, dreaming, planning, scheming and who achieved When doing Feng Shui consultancy for homes and great things because they followed all their interests simultaneously! businesses, Debra freely shares these three simple Feng Shui Debra realised she was a Scanner and that when something pointers with anyone who asks: interested her she should just go for it boots and all following it 1. Never sit with your back exposed; in the office, move your down whatever path it lead and then follow other interesting desk and chair or at least place a mirror on your desk so you paths as they appeared. can see who is behind you. Previously her life approach had been not to do anything until 2. Get rid of the clutter; anything you don’t use now, or haven’t sure that was what she wanted to do. To pursue something only for years, is simply stopping new and exciting things entering to discard it months later was ‘a waste of time’. Thank goodness your life. Debra read that book, the world would be a much poorer place 3. If you’re lonely, check your artwork and the objects in your had she not pursued this seemingly airy-fairy intangible, mystic house. Have pictures of couples (instead of pictures of one modality, Feng Shui which she (and we) have come to realise is person) and position things like pot plants and candles in pairs. the science of place and space. At its essence, it is about creating Today, Debra has successfully managed to remain a ‘Scanner’ a harmonious environment with the right mix of two elements. by combining her two passions, Feng Shui and helping people “Water” is the seen (our physical environment) and “Wind” is the buy Investment Property into a seamless business unseen (our internal environment).We see the effect of the wind To contact Debra Jarvis, and to buy her book, “ABC of as ripples across the water. Feng Shui suggests that adjustments in Feng Shui” (or to talk to her about property investment) our physical surroundings (the seen) which may be quite subtle, visit her website at... can cause profound changes in our life experience (the unseen). www.DebraJarvisFengShui.com Debra likens this to the effect of a pebble dropped into a lake. Water is displaced, and we see this effect as ripples on the surface. Even when those ripples are no longer apparent to the human eye, Bucket List they continue, unseen, out to the edge of the lake and into the earth. “To sail around the world.” 58 QCG Magazine

Love your Home

cluttered house equals a cluttered mind, and more than 40% of Australians feel anxious, guilty or depressed about the state of their homes. So, what can we do to fall in love with our homes again? How do we choose what to keep and what to kick out? Professional organiser, Narelle Todd, oﬀers her two cents.

By: Narelle Todd

1. Be vigilant - Only allow those items you truly love and value into your home. Every piece of paper, furnishing and clothing requires maintenance and your time. If you ﬁnd yourself feeling drained and saying, “There is not enough time in the day,” it means you have surrounded yourself with too much stuﬀ! Keep it simple. 2. Be creative - with what you keep and how you display it. A client of mine had boxes her son’s school memorabilia hidden away. By creating a memory display box, which included the pocket of her son’s high school blazer, the cover of a play he was in, ribbons from primary school and so on, my client was able to reduce her boxes of never seen memorabilia to a few quality items that are now on display. 3. As my Gran always says - “Give a man his own room and you will have a happy marriage.” That room could be a secluded area inside the house or a shed in the backyard. Never clean, tidy or organise the room! If you have to choose between a playroom for the kids and a playroom for your husband, choose your man. The kids will survive and your relationship will be stronger. This principle was one of the keys to my Gran’s happy 67-year marriage.

Bucket List

“To swim with white pointer sharks oﬀ the coast of South Australia.”

6. Get your partner and children involved - You will need to make it as easy as possible and create systems, which apply to each family member. For example, instead of stacking your linen items by type, consider stacking them by each child. Label the shelves for easy identiﬁcation so your kids can help themselves and change their own bed linen each week. 7. Repurpose! - And, think outside of the box. Make your possessions and living spaces more useful by assigning them new roles. In “Sex and the City,” for instance, Carrie Bradshaw turns her un-used kitchen into an extension of her wardrobe!

“Give a man his own room and ... you will have a happy marriage.”

4. If clutter is a constant problem ask yourself why? In some way, the clutter that you hate so much is actually providing you with something; it could be a feeling, a sense of comfort in being surrounded by things, or it a meaning that is associated with the things around you. The answer may take a while to reveal itself; but, when it does, you’ll have greater clarity and be able to de-clutter with no regrets. 5. It’s only a bargain - if you need it. Before buying anything, ask yourself: “Do I need it?” and “Do I love it?” If you hesitate or answer “No” to either question, walk away!

urban

SOFA

G A L L E RY

Successful Living is dedicated to creating calm from chaos. Director, Narelle Todd, has transformed organisation into a meaningful activity, and works with her clients to ensure the experience is enjoyable and long-lasting.

Successful Living P: 07-3901 4889 M: 0423 007 975 narelle@successfulliving.com.au www.successfulliving.com.au

Australian ‘made to order’ sofa’s delivered in 3 weeks Brisbane City - 07 3216 1300 Burleigh Home Space - 07 5576 7922 Logan Mega Centre - 07 3290 1944 Homeworld Helensvale - 07 5580 0199 www.urbansofagallery.com.au 59 QCG Magazine

Property for Proﬁt ...

TIPS FOR BUYERS By: Jennie Brown Knowledge Is Power

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been investing in property, you will always be learning. It is important to keep yourself educated and upto-date with new strategies, laws and ways of doing things. The current market is uncertain, and it is the perfect time to investigate your options and strategic preferences. Take advantage of the current economic climate; be prepared. When the market does settle, you will able to spot a great deal!

TIPS FOR SELLERS By: Deb Lindner Check Your Attitude

Before you do anything, you have to stop thinking of your house as your home and start thinking of it as a product on the market. Just like any other consumer product, there’s a lot of competition, especially in today’s market. The way you live in a home and the way you present it for sale are two diﬀerent things. It’s about perfecting the art of presenting rooms that create an Deb emotional connection with your buyer and sell a great lifestyle! Staging makes your house look bigger, brighter, cleaner, warmer, and more loving. It makes home buyers want to buy it.

proﬁt Jennie

Be Clear On Your Outcome

Before you start looking at properties and strategies, be very clear on what it is you want to achieve. Work out how much time and eﬀort you are willing to spend on investing, how much risk you are willing to take on and what your values are. Once you have determined your outcome, focus on the strategiesthat will help you achieve your goals and are in line with your time, risk and value systems. If you want to make stacks of money, choose strategies such as strata titling and development. If you want something, which will provide modest cash ﬂow, consider buying rental properties.

You have 30 seconds to make a strong ﬁrst impression on home buyers, as 95% of them buy based on their emotions. The minute a potential buyer walks in the door, you want them to think, “Wow! This looks good, sounds good, smells good!” Put an oversized mirror in your entry (people love to look at themselves) or a dramatic piece of artwork. Fresh ﬂowers and scented candles also go a long way. People are attracted to light, airy rooms; so, open up your window shades, arrange the space with lightly-coloured, well-placed furniture. You can also add visual interest and height to a room by placing a vase with twigs in a corner.

Have More Than One Strategy

Add Some Colour

Make a Grand Entrance

The property market has a cycle, and different investing strategies work at different points in that cycle. Be flexible. Don’t be swayed by ‘good deals,’ and don’t buy something for the sake of buying it, or for the experience. If the strategy fits with your education and outcome, explore it further. If it doesn’t, move on to the next deal. There is always another deal.

Your single best investment may be a fresh coat of paint in key areas. This is the easiest and most inexpensive way to give your home a facelift. Select colour schemes that are neutral, warm and inviting such as soft white, cream, stone or caramel. These create a soft backdrop for your furnishings, make spaces appear light and fresh, and be much more appealing. Avoid strong, bright colours, which people are likely to dislike. Buyers will pay more for a freshly painted and decorated house.

Mentoring Makes a Diﬀerence

Finesse Your Furniture

If you look at all the successful people in the world, they have mentors; people who can guide them, encourage them and ask the tough questions. Don’t go it alone, it makes the journey very diﬃcult and risky. Find someone who has a great reputation, with the same value system, and understands the outcomes you wish to achieve. Mentors can be living or dead. You don’t even have to speak to them. Read books, listen to CDs, watch DVDs, and spend time with them if you can. For more advice on property investment strategies, contact Jennie Brown about her seminars, products and Gold Class Mentoring Program.

An easy way to create a sense of space is to get rid of some furniture! Remove bulky, oversized items, such as sofas and tables, and any junk. Buyers are attracted to homes with good ‘ﬂow’. Avoid placing heavy furniture near windows or doorways. You can create a greater sense of space in small rooms by replacing square or rectangular dining tables with round ones. Look for natural points of focus (such as a ﬁreplace, feature window or pool area), and open your mind to new furniture layouts. If your furniture is somewhat old or outdated, consider packing it away and renting a few modern, stylish pieces or borrowing a couple of well-chosen pieces of wall art. Think hotel room or display home.

Website: www.JennieBrown.com.au Email: info@jenniebrown.com.au Phone: 07 3245 2953

Website: www.minkhomestaging.com.au Phone: 0434 146 833

Bucket List “To set up a centre where very special people can ﬁnd acceptance, rest, and be pampered. By ‘special’ I mean those who serve and care for others in need or sick. I also want the centre to cater for animals that need assistance, refuge and special care.” 60 QCG Magazine

For more advice about selling your home, contact Deb Lindner at her Mink Home Staging oﬃce.

Bucket List “To create music that touches people’s hearts. I want to sing cool jazz in a dark, hazy Melbourne club and enjoy the magic and intimacy that music makes. Then, with my friends and bottles of Moet for company, I want to laugh and reminisce until the dawn.”

Proven Performers

By: Annette McFarlane

n an era when gardens are getting smaller, why waste space on plants that are anything less than extraordinary? Annette McFarlane proﬁles four plants that justify their place in her garden.

To many plant lovers, terms like drought tolerant, low maintenance and pest and disease resistant, have come to mean dull and boring. No plant looks perfect all year round. The trick is to combine repeat bloomers with spectacular foliage plants so that your garden holds year round appeal. If you love roses, but hate spraying and pruning, try old fashioned climbers like Crepuscule. It needs a bit of space, but is not as thorning as some roses, so can be trained over a front fence, pathway arch or pergola without being too much of a hazard. My plant survives on natural rainfall and is never sprayed. Despite this neglect it rewards me with glorious repeat ﬂushes of apricot blooms.

Sandpiper Vine

Strobilanthes dyerianus

Euphoia - Diamond Frost

If you are looking for plants that grow well and provide no-fuss colour, these plants certainly ﬁt the bill.

Crepuscule

The Sandpaper Vine (Petrea volubilis) is a bit of an ugly duckling. You could be forgiven for walking straight past it in a nursery, but given a chance this plant makes a swan-like transformation. Sprays of jacaranda blue flowers appear repeatedly throughout the year on established plants. It needs full sun, a strong trellis or other supporting structure, but not much else. The cultivar, sold as Purple Passion, has the largest blooms. Purple Prince (Strobilanthes dyerianus) is an exotic shrub. Morning sun intensifies the purple and mauve colours within its textured foliage. Tip pruning encourages a bushy growth habit, while thick mulch and occasional watering help to keep it looking its best. Use it as a feature plant in its own right or squeeze it in between flowering plants whose blooms compliment its royal colours. Diamond Frost is a relatively new release hybrid euphorbia. Those familiar with the spring flowering snowflake bush (Euphorbia leucocephala) will recognise family resemblance. Interestingly, the blooms of Diamond Frost are not limited to the spring flowering season. Plants require clipping to shape a couple of times a year, but re-flower almost immediately afterwards. Where space is at a premium, pruning keeps plants confined and ensures a neat look on container grown specimens. The small white bracts that accompany the tiny flowers give the bush a confetti-sprinkled appearance.

Annette McFarlane is the author of the bestselling Organic Vegetable Gardening and provides an independent information service on the web ...www.annettemcfarlane.com She is also a regular on ABC Local Radio 612 Brisbane, a senior lecturer in horticulture at TAFE and holds a Masters of Environmental Education. She is a feature writer for Gardening Australia’s Organic Gardener, the Sunday Mail, Your Garden and Burke’s Backyard.

Annette’s Book... Successful Gardening in Warm Climates ABC Shops, $29.95 “A practical and detailed guide to Australian gardening with particular focus on how gardeners can choose plants that will ﬂourish in our tricky climate. Annette McFarlane oﬀers step-by-step instructions on everything from weed control and pruning to planting and transplanting, with an integral philosophy of organics and water conservation throughout.”

Bucket List

“In 2007 I was given a copy of a book titled, 1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die. I have travelled extensively, but was shocked at how few of these hand picked gardens I had visited. I have been making a concerted eﬀort ever since. Only 973 gardens to go!”

Why Designer Image? We are QBSA licensed for Pools, Spas and Landscapes. We build to and exceed Australian Engineering Standards, using Y12, S12 and 4 Bar for maximum strength. We include Council Application Fees and Engineer Fees with all pools. We will have your pool and landscape ﬁnished on time. We give you a 10 YEAR STRUCTURAL GUARANTEE for all our pools.

Call us today for a free consultation

PH: 3352 7353

• Concept to completion • Contemporary & traditional designs • Extensive choice of ﬁnishes • Complete landscape service • Qualiﬁed horticulturalist

345 Kelvin Grove Road, Kelvin Grove, Qld 4059 Tel: 07 3352 7353 Fax: 07 3352 6866 Email: info@designerimagegardens.com.au designerimagegardens.com.au designerimagepools.com.au

61 QCG Magazine

Intervew with...Jude Munro

Chief Executive Oﬃcer – Brisbane City Council

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in inner city Melbourne, living in Port Melbourne from 5 years old for the next 14 years. My parents were Salvation Army oﬃcers and ran a community centre providing meals to the frail aged, housing for the homeless and my dad welcomed migrants into the port from the ships coming from Italy, Greece and Turkey. My mum was incredibly hard working and dad delivered meals on his bike while teaching himself Italian, Greek and Turkish.

What did you study at university?

I studied at the University of Melbourne, working part-time to support my studies. I studied Politics and Philosophy as part of an Arts degree. Ten years later I studied Public Policy at the University of Melbourne and Business Administration at Swinburne University.

What was your ﬁrst job?

My first part-time job was as a hairdresser’s assistant at 14 years old in Port Melbourne on a Saturday morning and as a library assistant during school holidays. My first full-time significant job was working for the Victorian teacher unions to improve the working conditions of female teachers and the school curriculum and its impact on girls in schools.

Did you always have aspirations to be the CEO of Brisbane City Council ? My motivation for work from my mid 20’s has been to make a contribution to the community.

Jude

What does a weekday day usually involve for you? I get up at 5.30am and go for a walk or ride my bike into work. I start work about 7.15am and go home usually by 7pm and then do a couple more hours of work at home.

What do you do for fun?

What is your favourite BCC memory?

I go to yoga and aqua aerobics. I ride a motor scooter for fun. I go on cycling and bushwalking holidays and enjoy holidays travelling with my partner. I love opera and orchestral concerts, too.

One is coming back to Brisbane City Council for the second time and seeing my old friends and colleagues again and the second is watching the big Tunnel Boring Machine break through after coming up underneath the Brisbane River to build the Clem7 tunnel.

What aspect of your role do you most enjoy?

What diﬃculties is Brisbane likely to face?

Leading and managing employees and large scale change. It’s very energising and rewarding talking to groups of employees and seeking their ideas on how to improve Brisbane.

What aspect of your job is the most challenging?

Juggling the huge workload but I get tremendous help in doing this from my immediate teams, both my personal support team in my oﬃce and the Executive

What is Brisbane’s greatest asset?

Brisbane’s greatest asset is its people and the Brisbane River is the greatest natural asset. 62 QCG Magazine

Congestion is the greatest issue facing Brisbane. As the Brisbane River is Brisbane’s greatest natural asset it is a major barrier to accessibility.

“I ride a motor scooter for fun” What can we do to foster a brighter future for our city?

Work together with Brisbane City Council to deliver on Vision 2026 as a shared vision for the future of the City; be active and look after your health; catch public transport at least once per week; call 3403 8888 and let us know if there’s an issue such as a pothole; recycle at home; and, save electricity and water at home.

63 QCG Magazine

A City for Tomorrow...

By Alison Quinn nybody who is lucky enough to reside in our fair city, or Chair (Board of Directors), Brisbane Powerhouse who visits often, will know that in 2009 Brisbane is a Queensland State Manager (Built Form), Austcorp thriving, dynamic and contemporary city that can stand shoulder to shoulder with our bigger southern sisters. This ‘growing up’ or ‘coming of age’ of Brisbane has not occurred by accident. It represents the culmination of so many elements. The recognition by our governments of the need for good urban planning, the adoption of sustainability and diversity as critical ingredients for the people of Brisbane, the nurturing of our souls through new cultural assets and programs, an innate Australian love of life, and let us not forget a significant growth in our population. Much has been made of the investment in infrastructure and physical assets in Brisbane over the past decade, to enable us to cope with our growing population. This growth is both from within and through the thousands flocking from interstate and overseas to settle in Brisbane, a city which has become one of Australia’s most liveable urbane sites. But liveability is determined by more than just bricks and mortar. While constant investment in new infrastructure, improving healthcare and education, job creation and the ongoing preservation of our natural environment are all implicitly necessary for a city to function and grow, these items alone do not make a city liveable. They do not create the heart of communities or develop our sense of cultural identity, pride or indeed belonging. For this, the art we create, the songs we sing, the sports we play and the things we do – our culture – provides us with this nourishment. Bucket List Our culture has done just as much to contribute to the positive “Our family would like to travel development of our city as any other single element and our culture is around Australia (yes in a caravan), something that should continue to be nurtured by us all. As Chair of the experiencing firsthand all it’s beauty. Board of Directors of our own cultural icon, the Brisbane Powerhouse, I I might have to fly into Brisbane from am determined to continue to support the important role the arts plays in time to time, as I am not really a ‘6 month caravan girl’...but, anything is possible.” the life of Brisbane. The Brisbane Powerhouse creates amazing art for us to enjoy and learn from, but it also brings to our doorstep art and experiences from around the world. The arts, whether it is in the form of contemporary dance, theatre, any kind of music, painting or literature, provide us with a reason to connect with each other; the arts provide us with opportunities to create, or simply a chance to come together, engage and discuss. BRISBANE POWERHOUSE AND PHILIP BACON GALLERIES PRESENT // But culture is about more than just the arts. Our culture is also made up of our way of life, our attitudes, sport, music, and the way we recreate. Our culture is the way we relate to each other, the way we learn and pass on our identities to future generations. ELEVATOR REPAIR SERVICE (NEW YORK, USA) These things create a sense of community wellbeing; FRI 8 – SUN 10 MAY creating conditions that enhance the potential for people to BRISBANE POWERHOUSE flourish and achieve their potential. Our culture provides us A low-rent office. A mysterious business. with our identity, a reason to be proud, to feel connected and An employee picks up a copy of The Great Gatsby. He opens the book. Reads it our culture gives us something to present to the world that is aloud... and can’t stop! uniquely ours – uniquely Brisbane. Our cultural identity is like a fingerprint, it is different from city to city, country to country. It is also our responsibility to support, nurture and develop our culture. We, as women, certainly have an important role to play in this development; as creative beings, as successful sports people, as mothers nurturing future generations, as “ONE OF THOSE I-WAS-THERE PRODUCTIONS… PEOPLE WILL TALK business people, and as educators we can all actively ABOUT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.” contribute to shaping our city’s culture. The Bulletin, Philadelphia If nurtured, we can be sure that the art created, the music danced to, the sporting history made and the communities brought together here in our city will live on long after the bricks and mortar are gone and ensure that Brisbane really becomes a city for tomorrow.

GATZ

64 QCG Magazine

Our Brisbane

y parents brought me to Brisbane when I was 15 and starting Grade 11. Not a great age for a change of country. I’d left all my friends and a broken heart in England and I swore to return at the very first opportunity. Fast forward 25 years and here I still am; living in Brisbane, loving it and feeling intensely proud of this beautiful city. I did go back to England, several times; but each time left me further convinced that Australia was the country for me. After many years of mooching around working as a waitress, usher, bookseller, artists’ model and any other jobs I could fit around my passion for theatre, I now find myself in the wonderful position of writing for a living. I write plays in my spare time and I write about Brisbane in my day job with ourbrisbane.com. An initiative of Brisbane City Council, ourbrisbane.com is a website dedicated to everything that’s great about Brisbane. Half a million people visit the site every month, finding everything from family-friendly fun things to do for under $50, through to restaurants, designer sales, suburb and real estate guides, traffic cameras, weather, news and TV guides. If you have an event that you’d like to publicise you can list it for free on ourbrisbane.com, or you can list your business with us at no charge. You can write your own reviews and comments on articles. It’s a fabulous website and when I started work here three months ago I had no idea of its extent. I’d used it to find where a movie was playing or to check a restaurant’s address, but that was about the limit of my involvement. Now that I’m immersed in the site I’m still discovering new things every day. Today I found an article that tells you where you can go to get free wireless internet access. I knew about the State Library but didn’t realise there were all these other places I could work on my laptop.

By: Katherine Lyall-Watson

Bucket List

“My goal is to have one of my plays professionally produced”. The more I learn about our beautiful city the luckier I feel. There are so many fabulous parks to enjoy, a plethora of amazing art exhibitions and more options for take away nights than I could ever have imagined. My children are beneﬁting from my new awareness. I come home from a day at work all excited about the new places we can visit together and the fabulous activities they can trial. And, after I’ve tried something, I get to write about it and help guide other people to the best things to do in our city.

Katherine Lyall-Watson Editor ourbrisbane.com

You can read my blog on performing arts in Brisbane at: www.ourbrisbane.com/blogs/performing-arts.

See Brisbane, like never before... WITH A UNIQUE CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THE ICONIC STORY BRIDGE

Experience 360º views across the amazing region we live in - from Moreton Bay and Islands, out to the Scenic Rim, the Glass House Mountains and beyond. Test your knowledge of Brisbane and learn a little bit of bridge history as you take on this fun and truly memorable adventure experience. Concession Rates and Family Packages are available.

1300 CLIMBS (1300 254 627) 65 QCG Magazine

Secret - Urban Sanctuaries

Relax & recharge...

Limes Hotel Enjoy...the rooftop cinema, cocktail bar and city views.

142 Constance Street, Fortitude Valley Phone: 3852 9099

urban Keri Craig Emporium Enjoy...the traditional high tea service, fashion, homewares and gift ideas. Basement Level, Brisbane Arcade

117 Adelaide Street, City Phone: 3228 0122

QUT Art Museum Enjoy...QUTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collection of modern art and the nearby Botanical Gardens.

2 George Street, City - Phone: 3138 5370

66 QCG Magazine

UQ Walkways Enjoy...the Eleanor Schonell Bridge, Lakeside Walkway, ponds and wildlife.

UQ St Lucia Campus Sir William McGregor Drive (near College Road),

St Lucia - Phone: 3365 1111

Sanctuaries Relax & recharge...

Java Coast Café

Enjoy...the secret garden, excellent coﬀee and fresh, ﬂavoursome menu items.

340 George Street, City - Phone: 3211 3040

AWARD WINNING

Stephanie’s Urban Spa

9/77 Oxford Street, Bulimba Phone: 3899 5333

Stephanie’s Spa Retreat

Level 3, Soﬁtel Hotel, 249 Turbot Street, City Phone: 3221 8800

Stephanie Shepherd’s philosophy is simple: “Embrace new technologies, respect ancient rituals, step away from the ordinary and create breathtaking treatments.” With nearly 25 years experience, the Owner and Director of Stephanie’s Spas has become one of Australia’s most respected business leaders in the industry. Stephanie’s commitment to unsurpassed guest service and unparalleled spa therapy has earned her businesses a reputation for excellence. “There is a need for magic places where clients are genuinely cared for,” Stephanie explains. Housed in Brisbane’s Sofitel Hotel and encapsulated by complete serenity, Stephanie’s Spa Retreat is a testament to Stephanie’s key insight. The five star destination includes a number of boutique suites, high tea service, private bath, and a traditional Opal Rasul Temple. “The Retreat is an invitation to decadent relaxation,” says Bucket List Stephanie, “We want to “To rent a luxury villa ensure every visit to on the Amalfi coast Stephanie’s is treasured with a handful of by our guests.” my closest friends, and live it up!”

WIN!

Courtesy of Stephanie’s Spa Retreat, you & two friends could enjoy a 60 minute pedicure, private high tea service, and luxury experience for all of the senses. Simply email the code number 001 to prizes@qcgmagazine.com, along with your name and mobile number, for your chance to win the ultimate decadence. Entries close on 29/05/2009. The winner will be contacted on 01/06/2009.

www.stephanies.com.au Level 3, Soﬁtel Hotel Brisbane P. (07) 3221 8800 67 QCG Magazine

Ladies lunching at ...

Bretts Wharf A Review by you

New Autumn menu

“To each their own!” Or, so they say. A single meal can send the world’s leading reviewers into a media frenzy of delight, yet leave everyday patrons feeling flat. The most successful restaurants have a knack for satisfying all types, and Bretts Wharf, “the best seafood restaurant in Brisbane”, certainly has a reputation for doing just that. Having received multiple high-profile awards and catered at some of Queensland’s most prestigious events, including the 3000 guest Virgin Blue Charity Ball, customers’ expectations remain high. In a quest to discover “what women want” and uphold the restaurant’s commitment to exceeding customers’ expectations, Executive Chef Alastair McLeod invited four Queensland ‘Calendar’ Girls to sample Bretts’ autumn menu. Regular gourmet Julie, ‘domestic chefs’ Joan and Sandy, and food lover Lila, eagerly accepted his offer and...the reviews are in!

Entree

Hervey Bay scallops, crispy bacon, celery, potato foam Perfect presentation! The crisply bacon bits added a sharp edge to the light, breezy flavour of the scallops and potato foam. Julie: The scallops were very good. The bacon is a little strong. Perhaps the serving (five scallops) is too generous? Lila: Wonderful scallops, love it all – especially the foam. Sandy: The combination of the scallop, bacon and oil...mmm! The flavour intensifies if you enjoy it with a glass of wine. Joan:

Main Course

Roasted barramundi, fennel and silverbeet en barigoule Joan: I love the crispiness of the barramundi skin. The stock sauce was refreshingly light. Julie: Good, crispy skin. The barra and sharp sauce form a great combination and the calamari just melts in your mouth. Lila: Perfect presentation. Perfect portion size. Subtle and aromatic. Sandy: The aroma was so pleasant. The Barramundi, brilliant. I can imagine having this meal on a cold night – yum!

Dessert

Raspberry pavlova Joan: The meringue and cream blend well, and the sauce is the ultimate finish. Julie: Divine – it’s light deliciousness. Lila: Better than sex (I think?)! It’s light, fluffy and fabulous - like me. Sandy: It’s not too sweet. It’s the best – the way to go! Bretts Wharf have an excellent wine selection. We sampled the Wines Craggy Range, Single Vineyard, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 from Martinborough NZ 68 QCG Magazine

Alastair spills the‘beans’...

orn Faye Guivarra she became Faye McLeod when she and my dad tied the knot in the dim dark ages. However, professionally, she is known as Candy Devine, a name that was given to her on her first professional singing engagement in Sydney back in the 60s. She has always said it would have been a great name for a stripper! Mummy was born in Cairns and has always described herself as an International Cocktail. My grandfather, Tom, was of Spanish, Filipino, Scottish, West Indian and Polynesian stock. He was born in the Torres Strait Islands. Ivy, my grandmother was half Sinhalese, half Danish. It didn’t leave much room for prejudice in our family! My grandparents were pioneers in the true sense of the word having carved a cane farm out of tropical rainforest outside Innisfail, North Queensland. My mum and my Uncle Tommy were sent off to boarding school as the farm was remote and their education was a priority. Uncle Tommy eventually ended up a Colonel in the Army and had several overseas postings. Mum studied music at the Conservatorium in Brisbane and travelled the world as a singer and actress. She was in episodes of Skippy and appeared in Kain with Keith Michell and J.G Devlin. Latterly she appeared in the animated movie All Dogs Go to Heaven with Burt Reynolds – Mum was a dog called Vera! My parents still live in Belfast although my mother never gives up the dream of returning to Oz. She is as busy as ever, working in local radio and still involved in the entertainment scene. She has no intention of retiring so poor Dad is still waiting for the wife who bakes! But, it is not all work and no play: they get home every couple of years and with a choice of foreign destinations on their doorstep they are able to take short breaks. On a recent trip to Egypt mother was highly affronted when a cheeky local squeezed her chest. She slapped his hand and shouted “Husband” while gesturing at my father for help. The situation lightened when the Egyptian turned to my father and said “You verrry lucky man!” My mum is larger than life, loves to laugh, loves people and places a high value on friendships. She still keeps in touch

with her Oz friends since leaving here in ’68. She is direct to the point of being tactless and if she loses her temper, run for cover! She is passionate about her family and maintaining family values. Despite living in a busy household we had lots of family outings and always sat down for dinner together.

Alastair and his “Mummy” Faye McLeod

I don’t really see my mum as the philosophical type but she has always defended the underdog and as for milestones and

“Mum always said it would be a great name for a stripper!”

WIN

memorable moments in her life, I guess leaving family and friends to work abroad must have been pretty momentous as she was a young woman travelling alone. Marriage and becoming a grandmother would be high on the list (“my daughters are beautiful you know!!”). She sang at the Sydney Opera House where she did a series of shows. When she lived in Sydney, she used to drive down and watch the workmen laying the foundations to the Opera House... So, to return from Ireland to perform there was so very special to her.

Mouth-watering heaven...

Courtesy of Bretts Wharf, you and three friends have the chance to experience the delicious autumn menu, as reviewed by the “Luncheon Ladies.” To enter, simply email the code number 002 and your name, contact number and email address to prizes@qcgmagazine. Entries close on 15/05/2009 Winner will be contacted on 18/05/2009.

499 Kingsford Smith Drive, Hamilton Q 4007 P. 07) 3868 1717 www.brettswharf.com.au 69 QCG Magazine

Journey to ... Queensland

driana’s story was translated into English by her granddaughter, Romina Tedeschi.

My name is Adriana Tedeschi. I am 82 years old and live by myself in a small home in Aspley. I met my husband, Pasqualino, in 1949 in Rome. I was born and raised in Rome whereas he had just come from a town called Pula, which now is part of Croatia. His family had migrated to Rome after Italy lost Pula to Yugoslavia in WWII. He was working at his father’s delicatessen with his brothers. We fell in love and married in 1951. Although he had job opportunities in Rome, my husband didn’t want to stay in Rome. He didn’t want to be working for and living with his father, who was a very strict man. He wanted to build his own life. My husband had a friend who had migrated to Australia and this friend kept sending him letters telling him how beautiful Australia was and that it was the land of opportunities. My husband and his family had suffered a lot when they lived in Pula, which was first invaded by Nazi Germany and later Yugoslavia. The latter victors believed in Communism and made life very hard for people who didn’t support their regime. This was the real reason my husband’s family had escaped their homeland to Rome, which qualified him as a political refugee. So, it was easy for us to get a visa to Australia, and, Adriana and Pasqualino Tedeshi as his wife, I could qualify for the visa as well. We arrived at Australia in 1951 on a ship called La Neve. Initially we wanted to stay here for 2 years, make some money and go back to our homeland, Italy. My husband LA B OITE T HEATRE COMPANY P RESENTS got a job at the sugar cane farms as a cane cutter. Later he found a job at the tyre factory and worked there for 10 years. Although I didn’t want to work, I had to work as a cleaner as it was an obligation for immigrant women to work. It was really hard labour and doctors declared me as unsuitable for work after 2 months. While my children Maria and Maurice were born here, we sold our house and returned to Italy in 1963. D EVISED AND C HOREOGRAPHED BY S HAUN PARKER But we couldn’t get used to living in Italy. So we returned “Blue Love is so much fun it can’t to Australia the following year. “Blue Love is for you.” possibly be good When we came back, my husband got a very good job Sydney fun Morning Herald so much as a project technician for an Italian company, which it can’t possibly handled electricity power station projects. We were happy be good for you.” to be back in Australia and our lives have been enriched .

blue love Sydney Morning Herald

UNDER 30?

TICKETS JUST $26

28 APRIL - 9 MAY 2009 OVERNMENT PARTNER ARTNER GOVERNMENT

70 QCG Magazine

RODUCTION PARTNER PRODUCTION ARTNER

LAB1031.QCG LAB1031.QCG

BOOK NOW 30 0 7 8600 or LABOITE.COM.AU

Freedom, opportunity, warmth and wide, open expanses – the living is easy in the Land of Oz. Or is it? Abounding with riches, our country compels women from all corners of the earth to pack up their lives and call Australia home. For the most part, their experiences are positive, living up to the ‘Down Under’ dream. At other times, though, our women of the world are faced with challenges, which put them in a unique position to help us better our nation.

Here are some of their stories...

At home with...Women of the World Della Ng

Arrived in: 2008 - From: Singapore Australia is a very liveable country – the cities are cosmopolitan and the people are friendly. Having two children, the education was a plus point for us, too. The schools are the right pace and they promote learning in many forms. However, finding the right rental property within our children’s school zone was a difficult task, and it took two weeks of tireless house hunting before we found the right place. Establishing a business was also a bit of an up task, as we didn’t know many people. I joined a number of network groups, like Women’s Network Australia and BNI , and I have always felt welcome by their members, who have been happy to share their experiences, give me sound advice, and sincerely wish me all the best. My daughter and I arrived several months before my husband and son. For that period, I learned what it was like to be a single parent! Support came from relatives, new friends at church and my business networks. Working from home was my best option, as it allowed me to continue doing my motherly duties. While this set up is widely accepted in Australia, I’d never had the chance to adopt my ideal lifestyle and work at my own pace before. Things were very different from the 24/7 hectic life I used to lead in Singapore. Australia is truly a melting pot, and the diversity of its people is embraced. I have never felt discriminated against. In fact, I feel the warmth and friendliness of the Australian people, who have a great ability to laugh at themselves. It is what I call an inclusive society, one I am proud to be a part of.

Della

Lesley Dillon

Arrived in: 2003 - From: England

Anonymous

Arrived in: 1971 - From: USA My father was unemployed for 8months before our family moved to Australia. He struggled to find work in the USA, as he was considered to be ‘over the hill’. Eventually, he got a job in Oz and I faced a number of challenges during those first few years. Post Vietnam War, there was a great deal of anti-American sentiment in Australia and I was physically assaulted and bullied at school. I changed to a private girls school for my senior year, but was ostracised for not having attended the school from the start. Once I got into university, I was accepted by my fellow peers. However, I found some of the teachers and support staff to be quite antagonising. As an adult and workshop facilitator, I had clients call me ‘septic’ and ask why they couldn’t have a ‘real’ Australian teach them. In light of these experiences, I’ve developed a strong commitment to tolerance and inclusiveness. I look not for the differences between people, but the synergies. My partner and I expose our son to a wide variety of cultures and religions, and we’ve taught him to respect people who are different. I have enormous empathy for migrants, especially those who have a different first language, as is difficult enough to learn English without all the Australian colloquialisms!

Lesley

I emigrated from England in time for my 50th birthday, leaving behind a 6 year relationship, my two daughters and elderly Mum. I loved the whole experience of re-establishing my life in Australia and found the people to be very welcoming. I continue to endure jokes about Poms with good humour, and generally reply with comments about ‘feral Aussies’. Being a lesbian woman who met the love of her life in Australia, I have encountered some prejudice. While I was able to get a permanent visa on the grounds our relationship, my partner and I could not have our relationship formally recognised by the government. As a result, we had to ﬂy back to England to have a civil ceremony. We are legally a couple in England, but not here – it’s very frustrating! We would love to get married in Australia and have equal rights, but so far, this is denied us.

71 QCG Magazine

At home with...Women

are some of their stories...

Shaktiprem Blaschke

Nirala Jacobi

Arrived in: 1998 - From: Germany

Arrived in: 2005 - From: USA

My son and I had a very positive start in Australia. We chose to live the ‘bush life’ out in the beautiful country, where we enjoyed the company of likeminded people. My son was able to spend a lot of time with me and participate in a variety of activities with other people in the community. It was a very healthy way for the little one to grow up, and it helped him pick up the language quite quickly. I realised he understood most of the English being spoken to him the day he ran up to me with his finger rubbing his eye and said: “Mum, Mum, there is a floye in my eoye!” You know, in the Aussie way? After testing the waters for a year - to see if Australia was just a fancy dream or if I really wanted to settle here with my son - I decided I wanted to stay and needed to find a way to do this. While I’d fallen in love with the country, I hadn’t fallen in love with a man yet. So, I decided to study education and become a primary school teacher. It was very difficult for me to get a job, at first, because I wasn’t an Australian resident. Schools knew they might have to sponsor me and, being a single mum, I was seen as a risk. I even asked a gay friend if he’d consider marrying me if everything fell down. While I knew it was never really an option, the thought did provide me with some mental support. Eventually, I came across an ad from the Alice Springs Steiner School, which was looking for a class 1 teacher. I got the job and lived in Alice Springs for seven years, during which time I also taught classes at an Aboriginal school. I recently moved to Brisbane with my (now) teenage son, as I wanted him to experience the things a city can have to offer and the beautiful outback bush and Alice Springs cannot. I feel very privileged to live in Australia and I’m grateful for the opportunity to raise my son here.

I came to Australia in 2005, still basking in the glory success. For over seven years, I had worked as a naturopathic physician in a busy clinic in the heart of Montana. I routinely performed pap smears on housewives, ear checks on fussy babies, and prostate exams on sweating cowboys – I was booked up for 3 months in advance and I was in high demand. In the US, naturopathic physicians are trained doctors that complete a postgraduate degree in naturopathic medicine and pass a national licensing exam. We know about complicated stuff like neuroscience, gynaecology, and cardiology. We know how to help people lose weight, have more energy, lift the fog of depression, as well as ease the pain of fibromyalgia. After working for a prominent supplement company in Australia for a few years, I decided to go back to my passion: helping people overcome chronic illness. I knew about some of the restrictions of naturopaths here, but really didn’t get the full impact until I opened my little clinic. I noticed a few issues, right away, including: GP’s lack of understanding as to how to work with naturopaths, my fellow colleagues’ wide spectrum of different degrees and diplomas, and the need for a unifying association, which pushed for establishing licensing laws. It’s also been difficult for me to fully serve my patients, as I am not allowed to practice to my full scope. While moving to Australia has negatively impacted my career, I am optimistic that naturopaths can make a real difference in the ailing Australian health care system.

Shaktiprem

Nirala

Judith Silva

Arrived in: 2004 - From: Singapore My family and I wanted to get out of the ‘rat race’ in Singapore. In fact, we even gave up our Singapore citizenship to become proud Aussies! Coming from such a vibrant atmosphere, it was difficult to adjust to the slow pace here. Singapore is literally alive 24/7 so the first couple of years were very difficult. I was lucky enough to have a good job and have since become a proud small business owner of a boutique digital marketing agency – something I never would have been able to do in Singapore. Living in Australia, I’m also not as stressed as I used to be! I personally have felt more accepted here than in my birth country – it’s strange. Now that I’m 41, I love what I do and I love this country even more. I recently visited Singapore for the 1st time since we moved here and knew right away we’d made the right decision. I could never live in Singapore again. I love the wide open spaces in Australia and the fact that everyone is like a friend. Most importantly, I appreciate the many opportunities which have been, and continue to be presented to me since our move here. 72 QCG Magazine

Judith

are some of their stories... Rhondalynn Korolak

Arrived in: 2004 - From: Canada After my divorce, I chose to come to Australia by myself to start a new life. While I love this country, I will admit that the move was quite difficult. Despite my solid academic background and credentials (I am a fully qualified lawyer and chartered accountant) I found it very tough to find a job – most businesses did not want to hire me because I was in my late 30’s and had no Australian experience. Eventually I landed a solid role as GM of Village Cinemas and then senior commercial Manager of the Flybuys program for Coles Group Ltd. After obtaining permanent residence (which I also found to be quite challenging) I wrote my first book and started up my own business coaching practice.

Anita Earle

Arrived in: 1956 - From: The Netherlands In December 1955, a few weeks after my seventh birthday, my parents and I sailed out of Rotterdam Harbour, disembarking six weeks later in Melbourne. We were taken by train to Bonegilla (my father still fondly speaks of the CWA ladies who provided tea and lamingtons along the way), where we were quarantined during a polio epidemic. My mother and I were re-settled in Scheyville Immigration Centre, nestled in the Hawkesbury Valley of NSW, while my father worked on a nearby mushroom farm. In those days a strong sense of the convict presence was palpable in the thick, dank blocks of stone that formed many of the homes and businesses. As a shy, only child of ‘assisted immigrants’ (meaning skilled labourers), I adored the communal life and living amongst dispossessed WWII families from Latvia, Finland, Lithuania, Greece, and Poland etcetera. Our Centre was administered by Australian personnel, who were unfailingly kind and helpful. We were provided with a structured, well-run kindergarten, primary school, Catholic Church and convent where the nuns taught the girls sewing and catechism. There was a hospital and a cinema which showed Hollywood’s latest releases. Best of all, were the serene hills around our settlement, where we were free to satisfy our need for adventure. To this day, whenever I enter the grounds of a Queensland country hospital to consult, my senses are assailed by a strong sense of nostalgia evoked by the rolling hills and gum trees. This for me is a sacred space. Having been wrenched from the stable lattice of my generously extensive Dutch family, I suffered profound culture shock when I experienced the dysfunctions within so many families at the Scheyville Immigration Centre. While we children adapted to each other and our environment with remarkable joie de vivre, our parents were another story. Much of this, I now identify as domestic violence, alcoholism, trauma, anxiety and depression as a result of war and dislocation to the other end of the world. These dysfunctions were interspersed with varying degrees of hope, resilience, conviviality of different cultures and sheer hard work, in rebuilding broken lives. Apart from my family and friends, the greatest gift I have received in this country has been my university education, a previously ‘impossible dream’ made possible by the Whitlam government.I completed my degree over eight years and with four children, as we moved around the world in the service of my ex-husband’s career. While my 27 year marriage did not survive the empowerment afforded me by tertiary education, my studies allowed me to formalize my vocational pursuit of answers to questions which perplexed me throughout my life.

Rhondalynn

Camtu Pham Arrived in: 1984 - From: Viet Nam When I arrived in Australia, I spoke limited English and I struggled. Looking back though, this hardship was an advantage, as it made me strong. Being a young, Asian female in Australia, also worked to my advantage. It gave me an important competitive edge and helped me stand out at conferences and in meetings. I started my business, CleverLink, in 1998 and within ﬁve years it was selected as one of the top 34 ITC companies in Australia! I think Australia oﬀers great opportunities to anyone who wants to start a business; however, the system does not protect or guarantee success and you need to be careful. In Vietnam there are many more processes people have to go through before they can launch a business. I’m not saying this is necessarily a good model, but I think we can save many businesses by changing a few strategies and nurturing them in the early stages. I feel fortunate that my company has helped many start-up businesses to succeed!

Camtu

Anita

Pascaline Pascaline De Ieso

Arrived in: 1992 - From: Mauritius The challenges I have faced here have made me stronger and more willing to do well. I run my own business, something I could not have done in Mauritius. Every time I hear people whinging about life here, I just tell them to go back home – we don’t need them. Living here has meant that I am able to be myself, make choices, broaden my mind and respond to all the opportunities this wonderful land gives us. It’s not until you move from one country to another that you realise how lucky we are to have what we often take for granted.

73 QCG Magazine

At home with...

Women of the World Pauline Clarke Arrived in: 1995 - From: England I was born and raised in Middleborough, where the summer lasts on average a month and winter sees the doona and the spade in the boot of the car, as your survival kit in the awful snowstorms! I arrived in Sydney when I was in my 50’s and, after being a business woman in London for 20 years, it was a bit of a culture shock. Australian women were still talking about a ‘glass ceiling’, something which had disappeared in London many years before. Sydney also seemed very laid back in contrast to London. I soon adjusted and started to enjoy freedom of a diﬀerent sort: being able to go to the beach after work, planning a BBQ that didn’t have to be cancelled due to the weather, a more relaxed mode of dress and a casual less uptight business style. I loved the UK, but the Australian way of life is just so much healthier and happier; and I knew within a short time that I wouldn’t be going back. Eventually, I decided to travel and discover more of Australia. That was when I found and fell in love with the Sunshine Coast and Queensland. The weather is a big draw card, and it’s never too hot or too cold. The sun comes up early and it sets early, too. But it still stays warm and balmy well into the night. There’s something quite special about eating alfresco, once the sun has gone down. Maybe I’ve just been fortunate, but the friends I have made in Queensland seem more relaxed and genuine than any I have ever met in a large city. Queensland is also where I decided to start my business and become an Australian, and I have to say it has been the land of opportunity it promised to be. I don’t know if I could have been this successful if I had started my business in the UK. Australian’s have always been so supportive of my business and they really believe in ‘a fair go’ for all.

Pauline

Bush Essentials “A naturally Australian skin care solution.” P. (07) 5445 3383 www.bushessentials.com

me of their stories... 74 QCG Magazine

Partners of Expats

PARTNERS OF EXPATS By: Rebecca Wells

Cross-Cultural & Expatriate Coach

If you’re an expatriate accompanying partner (AP) relatively new to Australia, I can fully appreciate the nervousness, frustration and anxiety you might be experiencing! Although some APs adjust readily, many struggle with challenges such as homesickness, a loss of family support networks, career changes, and a lack of personal fulﬁlment. If you know any APs who are in this position, the best thing you can do is help them to make friends and build local contacts – social networking is of paramount importance! In addition, you might want to share with them our four top tips which will help them adjust to life in Australia more quickly!

1. Conquer feelings of loneliness & homesickness These feelings affect some people more than others, at different stages and in varying intensities. If you’ve moved as an AP you may find your spouse and/or children make friends more quickly than you do. Feeling ‘left behind’ and as though you have lost control, will inevitably lead you to pine for home. Tip: Accept that homesickness is normal and that, in order to overcome it, you must act! Get into routines again. Go out of your way to meet new people. Join a local club or fitness centre. And keep in touch with people back home.

2. Think longer term Picking fault with Australia and negatively comparing it with ‘home’ or saying, “We’re giving it a year...” are all certain ways to ensure failure. Tip: Start thinking and talking about Australia as ‘home’. Make your house a home. Ship your furniture and personal possessions over; the more items you have around you that are familiar, the more likely you are to feel content and settle in.

3. Communicate! Living somewhere new can be unnerving. Your routines, career, family life and ﬁnancial situation all change and even the simplest things can get you down. Tip: Discuss how you’re feeling with your partner. Research repeatedly shows that the happiness and stability of APs has a phenomenal impact on whether or not long term expatriation is successful.

4. Set some objectives Be intentional about how you lead your new life so that it doesn’t just pass you by. Tip: Think about what you want to achieve or enjoy whilst living in Australia. Engage a coach to help you set objectives and actions to overcome your challenges and help you lead the life abroad that you have always wanted! Rebecca Wells is a Life Coach who specialises in working with people in transition. She helps her clients to overcome their challenges, ﬁnd fulﬁllment and adjust more quickly to new situations. She moved herself, as an accompanying partner, to Australia in 2007 and has also lived in UK and Hong Kong. If your life in Australia isn’t what you wished it would be, book a complimentary coaching session with Rebecca before by May 15, 2009.

www.clearhorizoncoaching.com for more information.

Journey in the Middle East

BIBLICAL JORDAN – THE JOURNEY TO PETRA By: Liz Healy

“You can almost forget that a short distance away is some of the most amazing desert scenery and wilderness in the world.”

ust when you thought you had it all organized, well planned and in place... along comes an ‘economic time’ to spoil the party. But, as you adjust, reﬂect and move on, there are times to set aside to spend with your ‘second best friend’ in places of inspiration, imagination and adventure.

75 QCG Magazine

Journey in the Middle East

f I had to describe myself I would have to say that I’m an adventurer and the mother of a 24 year old son. We are both adventurers and that helps, has always helped in fact, to extend the mother-son bond. So, it is that I find myself living a dream and riding into the ancient city of Petra in Jordan with my son and fellow adventurer. It’s a question of shared dreams: Christopher, a photographer capturing the essence of Petra; myself to escape the mundanaty of everyday life and experience a dream. And, we do, together. We ride in on white Arab horses, and walk the kilometre through the narrow tunnel to the Indiana Jones ‘library’ – that famous temple we all see as Petra. We walk, talk, take amazing photographs, and ride donkeys to the summit. It’s simply, one of the best days of my life. Standing on the high mountains, looking over at Israel, Chris takes a shot of me on my ‘crackberry’ (a.k.a. BlackBerry), whilst we laugh together at my obsession. We take the donkeys back down to Petra, drink wine, eat Arab mezze and feel privileged to be in this unique place. Dusty, dirty and wonderfully tired, we head back to our hotel for a ‘Haman’, a combination water, sauna, steam and massage experience. An amazingly clean hour later we digest Petra over dinner and decide to head on to the Dead Sea for the second day of our two-day adventure. The drive down the mountains to the lowest point on earth is spectacular. Arriving at the Movenpick, a hotel built sympathetically in local Arabic style, we float in the saline bath that is the sea. An afternoon of wine and watching the sun set over Jerusalem completes an idyllic couple of days. Should you travel with your child? Yes, overwhelmingly, every time. Some of the best times of my life have been hitting the road with my son and second best friend. We talk, we laugh, we find the irony and the beauty; and I believe, I hope, the pure pleasure in being together on the journey. The journey of course of friendship and love.

76 QCG Magazine

OMAN – CROSSING THE HAJAR MOUNTAINS FROM THE DESERT TO MUSCAT As a part time resident of fast paced Dubai, you can almost forget that a short distance away is some of the most amazing desert scenery and wilderness in the world. Leaving the comforts of home behind, Chris and I travel a long and dusty day across desert borders to the date palm oasis village of Nizwa in Oman. Our journey the next day will take us over the precipitous road that traverses the Hajar Mountains to the coast of Oman and the capital city of Muscat. Filling an esky with all the essentials – after all I am the mother of a metro Y generationer with standards to be met - the morning is spent ascending the mountains to the peak. The stunning vistas and pure, wide open empty spaces are truly overwhelming. The descent is a diﬀerent story: treacherous hair pin bends, with no room to move if you meet a passing vehicle, falling away to drop oﬀs of thousands of metres. This is not a county for safety rails and a simple one lane dirt track takes us on our four-hour journey to the Wadi at the base of the mountains.

Photos: Christopher Healy Our last night of the trip was New Years Eve, and we enjoyed what must rank as my most unusual bringing in of the New Year ever. A thoroughly mixed group of people gathered at the one real tourist hotel in the area. While we were located in an Arab country, the alcohol ﬂowed abundantly, as all nationalities came together to party the night away. On that evening, there was no place for religious or territorial issues. One of the joys of being in Oman with my son was experiencing the true curiosity and respect he has for other cultures. We concluded our Middle Eastern adventures with a discussion of “where next?” The call of the Middle East only becomes louder to us.

“We talk, we laugh, we ﬁnd the irony and the pure pleasure...” The people in the few villages in this region seem to be living as they have done for centuries. There is no running water or electricity in these villages, just subsistence life with crops that grow with little water and their treasured herds of goats. Arriving back to civilization and the main highway to Muscat felt like coming back from another time. This harrowing drive that few take was, for us, the highlight of this newly emerging tourist destination of Oman. Our journey ended in the mysterious Musandam Peninsula. This fascinating section of Oman is separated from the rest of the county by the UAE. Once a sealed military area and newly opened to the world, this geographically unique region sits on the Straights of Hormuz opposite Iran, and has long been a centre for trade and piracy between the surrounding Arab states. The big draw today is dhow trips in the crystal clear waters of the bays at the base of the majestic mountains of the peninsula. That and swimming with the dolphins, which inhabit the area. 77 QCG Magazine

About Petra

Petra was ﬁrst established sometime around the 6th century BC, by the Nabataean Arabs, a nomadic tribe who settled in the area and laid the foundations of a commercial empire that extended into Syria. Despite successive attempts by the Seleucid king Antigonus, the Roman emperor Pompey and Herod the Great to bring Petra under the control of their respective empires, Petra remained largely in Nabataean hands until around 100AD, when the Romans took over. It was still inhabited during the Byzantine period, when the former Roman empiremoved its focus east to Constantinople, but declined in importance thereafter. The Crusaders constructed a fort in the 12th century, but soon withdrew, leaving Petra to the local people until the early 19th century, when it was visited by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.

About Musandam Peninsula

Musandam is the peninsula of steep rocks that jut north from the Arabian mainland towards Iran. Separated from the rest of Oman by a tribal decision in the late 1960s, it remains an isolated, remote region known principally for its stunning fjords. The main town is Khasab (only linked by road to the rest of the region in 1980) and just a few other towns and villages cling to the bays at the foot of near-vertical rock walls that soar to over 2,000m. Deep fjord-like channels cut into this rock and provide the playground for divers and those exploring by dhow. Inland the mountain roads are a relatively new addition with seasonal villages historically being linked by a network of footpaths. These and the coastal villages are settled by the region’s semi-nomadic Shihuh tribe who – somehow – make a living farming goats, terraced ﬁelds and ﬁshing, whilst retaining a very traditional lifestyle. Coastal villages can be reached only by boat rather than by road. The population of around 29,000 is concentrated in the capital, Khasab (18,000 in 2004) in the north and Dibba (5,500) on the east coast. At its nearest point, Musandam is just 55 km from Iran across the strait. 78 QCG Magazine

Be tempted... Experience ancient civilizations and spectacular scenery in true comfort & style with a Tempo Holidays package or tailored-made itinerary.

Middle East in Style A unique experience tailored by Middle East experts Harvey World Travel New Farm and Tempo Holidays. A total of 17 days from Brisbane combining Egypt and Jordan including Cairo, Nile Cruising, Abu Simbel, Amman, Petra and the Dead Sea. First class accommodation, all transfers and tours with English Speaking guides and qualiďŹ ed Egyptologists. Breakfast throughout and most meals as well as entrance fees with no hidden extras. An unforgettable experience for any avid traveller priced from $9799.00* per person including air fares and taxes. For this or any other tailor-made travel arrangement to the true cradle of civilization contact Jorge at Harvey World Travel New Farm today.

Harvey World Travel New Farm

TEMPO HOLIDAYS

Merthyr Village, 85 Merthyr Road New Farm, (Brisbane) QLD 4005, Australia

Telephone: (07) 3358 6588 Facsimile: (07) 3319 6105 Email: jorge.newfarm@harveyworld.com.au

(*) Price based on a minimum of 2 adults travelling together, sharing a double or twin room and cabin ďŹ&#x201A;ying economy class from Brisbane; correct at time of printing and subject to change without notice.

From green to True Blue Towards sustainability...

Kevin Roberts - CEO Worldwide Saatchi & Saatchi www.krconnect.blogspot.com Thee logic is simple: ‘green’ has become table stakes in our efforts to make this world a better place for everyone. If we can’t get the environment right, we might as well just pack up our tents (it’s not something we are ethically obliged to get right... it’s something we have to get right). We certainly can help affect aspirations and priorities (educating children), and this is where I think there has been a real failure of leadership. We seem to be suffering from a kind of Obligation Fatigue. Even important figures like Al Gore push generalised obligation, tinged with personal failure. This is not the way to motivate and mobilize people. Scare them, yes. Inspire them, no. Put the challenge down to the audience. Martin Luther King didn’t say, “I have a nightmare.” He said, “I have a dream.” I believe that until people feel inspired emotionally with the potential of sustainability, we’ll simply keep running on the spot. After all, sustainability means nothing less than a revolution in how people will live and the biggest business opportunity of the next 50 years. This is the only way we can reach a solution the size of the challenge. A challenge to make sustainability come alive for 6.6 billion people. So, it’s time for the birth of blue. Are you changing colour? The idea, in brief, is that we need to unleash the creativity and imagination of the global public if we are going to overcome the challenges our planet faces. What does Blue mean to us as individuals? Even the most diehard conservative who won’t accept that polar bears are having to swim where they once walked, knows that something is changing. Most of us now agree we each need to get serious, get involved and start changing. Fast. Up to now, most people have looked at the future in silos. People who were passionate about forests, oceans and the creatures we share this place with, identified as environmentalists. People and the cities they mostly live in were a problem to be lectured and criticised. I respect this purity and focus – and seeing a bird with its wings glued with viscous oil is a challenge to anyone’s sense of environmental balance – but it does not offer solutions at the scale of the challenges we face. When I look at my granddaughter, Stella, the future immediately races into the present. What can feel abstract and distant (and frankly not a priority) becomes specific and personal. I might not be there, but she will be. Stella’s ability to live in harmony with her world will be as much about her as the place she grows up in. We’ve all got to work on that new sense of harmony but I believe that if we can create a state of flow between people and the planet, we’ll get much further much faster than lecturing and criticising each other. This is at the heart of what I call True Blue which has inspired the idea that we can make the world a better place one person at a time. Don’t get me wrong, Green is still fundamentally important; but, to many people, green means choosing the environment over everything else. 80 QCG Magazine

True Blue

Blue means you don’t have to choose. We want to keep the parts of green that have brought us change and innovation, but let go of the narrowness. Blue builds on the foundation that green has laid but lets go of its baggage. Without the will of the people at our backs, nothing will be achieved. Kevin Roberts www.jethromacey.com

BRIGHT IDEA - Coin Lamp

“The principle of reciprocity meets design in this inspired coin lamp. What a great idea. Feed in a coin and you get light. It doesn’t simply remind you of the reality of the cost of resources with a touch of humour, it introduces a whole social dimension. To me this coin lamp is True Blue through emotional design.”

Here are my ﬁrst thoughts on the key diﬀerences between Green and Blue. GREEN Responsibility... Obligation... Organisational... What’s to be done?... Limits... Global Issues... Respect... Hope for the planet...

BLUE Inspiration Opportunity Personal What can I do? Possibilities Individual passion Love Faith in people

From green to True Blue Towards sustainability...

Jean Cannon... Local Eco-Action “Are you tired of all the hype about global warming, climate change and the need to reduce our carbon emissions?” I’m not a ‘greenie,’ but I do know and respect some of the world’s leading climate scientists, and I understand enough of the science to be worried for my grandchildren’s future. Would you like to look at the reality of what is happening and how it affects you in your business and your life? For most of my life, I have been both an environmental scientist and a business person. People call me an ‘eco entrepreneur’. Being a pragmatic business woman, I understand the need to watch your bottom line and the difficulties involved in making changes within a business. However, I’m also aware that we are living beyond our environmental means and that urgent action is vital. We recently found out what resulted when some of us lived beyond our financial means and how it impacted on the whole world. We don’t want to learn the same lesson with the environment. Are you one of the many people who worry about the time and financial costs involved in reducing your carbon emissions? I have written a report, titled “Getting Past the Hype to Look at Reality,” which outlines the small, effortless steps you can take to reduce your carbon emissions, and home & business costs! By reading this free report, you will learn: • What causes global warming and why there is confusion between some scientists • How you can take simple steps to reduce your carbon footprint • How this saves you money both at home and at work • How you can easily help raise awareness about the simple solutions

For instant, free access to Jean’s report, visit www.carbonsteps.com For information about Jean’s books, blog and other free resources, visit www.enviroaction.com.au/online www.itiseasytobegreen.com

True Green

Jean Colman Ridge... The Greenfest Revolution Greenfest, now Australia’s largest free green festival, started life in a suburban home in Clayfield as the passionate hobby of festival owner Colman Ridge. In 2009, Greenfest will include over 200 exhibitors, 60 bands on three stages, two film festival presentations, 50 speakers, multiple workshops, organic food, eco fashion and more! The purpose of the festival is to empower and inspire individuals to take practical action in changing their own lives. It also gives community members the opportunity to network with likeminded people and have a good time! Founder Colman Ridge says, “We just saw that people had an overwhelming desire to come together and share their initiatives in one place at one time. The key was to keep it free to the public and inclusive for all genuine initiatives, so people knew it was completely clear of any ‘greenwash’ tactics and politics. Today, Greenfest is a fun, friendly, and powerful engine for local and real cultural change.” Greenfest also celebrates the philosophy that creativity (across arts and industry) is the key to a healthier planet. This idea is based on a view that individuals and communities need to invent a more efficient, cleaner and more considerate world, rather than just pull a handbrake on the old one. Ridge says, “Creativity inspires, but first you need a secure and interactive environment where people with new ideas are given a go – like Greenfest. Having someone hand out brochures at the convention centre isn’t going to inspire people. Our goal is to energise a new culture of people who want to collaborate, dream and create a brighter tomorrow.”

Greenfest 2009 Dates: June 5-7 Location: City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane. www.greenfest.com.au 81 QCG Magazine

Getaway...with the Grandkids

outh East Queensland oﬀers a variety of fun activities, which have the young and the young at heart enjoying each others’ company, writes Kim Wilkinson.

Bellbird Grove

A great place if you’re keen for a relaxing day outside of the city. It is only ﬁfteen minutes from the Brisbane Forest Park Information Centre, oﬀ Mt Nebo Road. The park is very scenic and teeming with wildlife. Lunch could be a BBQ, or a picnic. There is also a short bushwalk the kids might enjoy, or take buckets and look for yabbies in the creek. Just be prepared to get a little dirty! On the way out, stop in at the Walk-About Creek Wildlife Centre for a closer look where the kids will love the assortment of animals, including: snakes, sugar gliders and birds. They might even catch a glimpse of the shy platypus! Entry Fees: $5.70 adult, $2.80 child (Wildlife Centre) Address: 60 Mt Nebo Rd, The Gap QLD Phone: (07) 3300 4855 www.walkaboutcreek.com.au

GoMA and the Queensland Art Gallery

Getaway

A combined visit to the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) and the Queensland Art Gallery is a great way to enjoy a fun, inspiring and educational experience with the grandkids. The galleries sit 150 metres from each other and have internationally acclaimed exhibits all year round. The Children’s Art Centre, located inside GoMA, oﬀers free interactive activities for kids. The Southbank Parklands, Street Beach and Ferris Wheel are within walking distance too, so why not make a day of it? Parking is available at many places and in light of GoMA’s proximity to the Cultural Station bus stop, public transport might be the way to go. Address: Stanley Place, South Bank QLD Hours: 10:00 – 5:00 weekdays 9:00 – 5:00 on weekends Phone: (07) 3840 7303 www.qag.qld.gov.au and www.visitsouthbank.com.au

The Workshops Railway Museum

Known as the birthplace of rail in Queensland, this Museum is located just forty minutes out of Brisbane. It hosts a number of events during the year, and oﬀers an interactive, educational experience for kids. Visitors can dine at the air-conditioned Trackside Café or bring food and enjoy the shady picnic areas. Entry Fees: $18.50 adult, $10 child, free for 3 & under Address: North Street, North Ipswich QLD Hours: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm everyday, except on public holidays Phone: (07) 3432 5100 www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au

! N WI

Eumundi Markets

Bright colours, eclectic people, live music, exotic smells and creative flair...a visit to the markets is every kid’s dream! A wonderfully diverse array offering everything from clothing and toys to arts and crafts, Eumundi Markets’ 600 staffs are a ‘must see’ experience. The Canvas My Room booth is particularly popular among visitors, providing original, custom art for children’s rooms. The Dinosaur Educational Kits booth is also a hit. For dining, there’s an amazing mix of multicultural food to be discovered and enjoyed by all. Address: Memorial Drive, Eumundi QLD Hours: 8:00am - 1:30 pm Wed., 6:30 am - 2:00 pm Sat. Phone: (07) 5442 7106 www.eumundimarkets.com.au

Australia Zoo

Visited your local icon yet? Founded by the “Crocodile Hunter,” Steve Irwin, Australia Zoo is known for action packed crocodile shows, commitment to conservation, and entertainment value. In recent years, the zoo has also become home to elephants, tigers and cheetahs – just to name a few! There are numerous shows throughout the day, and “Elephants Live” (10:30 am and 3:00 pm) oﬀers visitors the opportunity to feed them personally. Pack a picnic lunch or visit the Feeding Frenzy Food Court or the Dingo Diner. Bring hats and sunscreen. Australia Zoo is located just over an hour north of Brisbane. Entry Fees: $53 adult, $31 child, family passes available Address: Glasshouse Mountains Tourist Route, Beerwah QLD Hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm daily Phone: (07) 5436 2000 www.australiazoo.com.au

Courtesy of Australia Zoo, two lucky families

will get to enjoy the ultimate wildlife adventure! For your chance to win a Family Pass to Australia Zoo, simply email the code number 003 to prizes@qcgmagazine.com along with your name and phone number. Entries close 15/05/09. Winners will be contacted 18/05/09.

82 QCG Magazine

SMILE ARTISTRY SMILE MORE WITH CONFIDENCE

ARE YOU MISSING YOUR TEETH? DENTAL IMPLANTS BY SMILE ARTISTRY

DO YOU WANT TO SMILE MORE? A NEW SMILE MASTERPIECE BY SMILE ARTISTRY

DO YOU NEED A CLEAN AND CHECK? GENERAL DENTISTRY BY SMILE ARTISTRY

SMILE ARTISTRY PROVIDES COMPLETE DENTAL SERVICES TO REGAIN AND MAINTAIN A HEALTHY AND BEAUTIFUL SMILE! PHONE US ON 3870 3344

LEVEL ONE, 31 SHERWOOD ROAD, TOOWONG

smilear�stry.com.au