WEEKEND | 14-05-2016

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Saturday, May 14, 2016 frasercoastchronicle.com.au

w PE OPL E w EA SY EATI NG w BO OKS w DI Y w GA R DE NS w TR AVEL w EN TERTA IN MENT w FASH ION w H O M E HOME: Eight of the best air-filtering plants for your home.

Weekend Inside

Dami takes on the world Can Aussie songstress win Eurovision 2016?

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Screen Life

You

The 20 best books to put on your must-read list

Win tickets to see Alice Through The Looking Glass

How 14.4 minutes can change your life for good

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welcome // inside today

frasercoastchronicle.com.au Saturday, May 14, 2016

Cold reception for summer’s end WE EKE ND E D IT O R K i ri t en D o l l e

T

HE seemingly endless summer we’ve enjoyed through much of autumn may have reached its expiry this week with winter taking its first bite in most areas.

My dad rang me on Thursday morning to say they had had their first frost, west of Brisbane.

The first in some two years. It was rather momentous, actually.

In a sunny corner of their property stands an old English oak tree, about 4.5m tall. Green thumbs will know these oak trees don’t usually stand a chance in Queensland’s sub-tropical climates as they prefer the more temperate conditions down south.

Dad had cultivated the tree from an acorn we had collected as kids from beneath a tree planted by the Duke of Edinburgh at Castlemaine Botanical Gardens 150 years ago.

It sprouted the day Lady Diana was killed, so it held significance.

We were living in central Victoria at the time, so when it came time to move to sunny Queensland, the infant oak came in tow the 1500 kilometre journey.

We planted the tree 12 years ago on the property and while it looks a bit sad bearing little leaves on one side, a cold snap is just what it needed.

Our mightly oak that once was a nut has stood its ground for many warm winters.

It’s no surprise the tree is a national symbol in Britain for strength, power and determination.

So when I’m hating on the cold mornings, I think of the resilience of that old oak tree – the little oak that could.

TR AVEL

HOME

SCREEN LIFE

inside today read // A tragic’s guide to Eurovision. easy eating //

The sweet recipes that defined growing up in 1970s Australia – you know, the milkbar treats your mum didn’t approve of?

travel // New Zealand’s jaw-dropping jetboat thrills.

How to navigate your weekend: We’ve colour-coded your magazine for easy reference. Each section listed on the index page is coloured accordingly throughout. If you’d like to skip to Easy Eating look for the yellow at the top of the page, or magenta to skip to Home.

home // Discover the toxin-filtering plants for your home.

make // How to make a towel airer from an old ladder.

closet // Three ways to wear over-the-knee boots. read // Twenty of the best books to read before you die. you // Can 14.4 minutes each day change your life for good?

screen life // Aussie actress Mia Wasikowska talks about playing Alice in Alice Through The Looking Glass, the sequel to the film which made her famous around the world. Plus, how did our reviewer rate the film?

w COVER PHOTO: Contributed. CREATIVE: Jen Gourley and Kiri ten Dolle. CONTRIBUTORS: Seanna Cronin, Alexia Purcell, Chris Calcino, Tracey Hordern, Maggie Cooper, Simon Irwin, Steph Mulheron, Angie Thomas, Maree Curran, Peter Chapman, Ann Rickard, Helen Hawkes, Greg Bray, Jody Allen, Roy O’Reilly and Rowena Hardy. CONTACT US: weekend@apn.com.au CONTRIBUTE: contributors@apn.com.au ADVERTISING: Visit apnarm.com.au or contact your local sales consultant.

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w i th S e an n a C r on i n

How to improve the Logies

S

UNDAY’S Logie Awards rated well for Channel 9 this year, very well in fact.

The awards ceremony, at the end of which The Project’s Waleed Aly was given the Gold Logie, was the most-watched non-news program of the night across the five metro cities, which is saying something considering it was up against Seven’s House Rules and Ten’s MasterChef.

But there’s still a lot of room for improvement when it comes to Australian television’s night of nights.

Here are my suggestions on how to improve the Logies.

1. Edit, edit, edit

The awards show itself is way too long. If you want more people to watch all the way until the end, when the Gold Logie is handed out, then it shouldn’t run for more than three hours. Who, outside of the media, wants to stay up until midnight to see the top gong when it will be all over the morning news and social media? Handing out a few more awards before the big night, as per the Oscars, would also help tighten things up.

w Technical gaffes are already haunting the Prime Minister – a former Communications Minister and alleged tech-whizz.

PHOTO: DIGITALLY ALTERED

Strange Politics

2. Less musical performers

It’s the Logies not the Grammys, so how about someone performs during the In Memorium segment (Clare Bowditch was great on Sunday) and close the show with a big act, like Jimmy Barnes, that will get the room up and dancing? We’re seeing enough of Delta Goodrem on The Voice at the moment, why do we need her on the Logies too?

3. Perfect pairings

Chemistry, or the lack of it, between those presenting the awards makes or breaks the entertainment value of the show. Craig McLachlan and Miranda Tapsell were hilarious on Sunday, as were Kitty Flanagan and Peter Helliar. In contrast, Steve Peacocke and Danielle Cormack, for example, were painfully awkward. More comedians, just look at what Dave Hughes and Julia Morris have done for the show over the past two years, generally the more laughs you get.

4. More diversity

The diversity of this year’s Gold Logie nominees was a hot-button issue and I think the fact Waleed Aly and Lee Lin Chin were up for Gold is one reason why more people tuned in. Aly’s acceptance speech was eloquent, as was Noni Hazlehurst’s. The fact that Hazlehurst is only the second woman to ever be inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame is a poor reflection of the great female talent on our screens and is something that needs to change.

w Waleed Aly with his Gold and Silver Logies after the 2016 Logie Awards.

PHOTO: AAP IMAGE/JOE CASTRO

App of the week

The app that takes better photos than your camera AS THE cameras on our phones get better, so do the apps. Camera51 helps you take photos like a professional. The app detects and analyses faces, scenes, objects and lines and guides you to the perfect frame every time. Allow the in-app technology to auto-compose your photo or over-ride aspects manually by simply tapping the screen.

Camera51 is available from the App Store for free.

w i th C hr is C al c i no

Techno-gaffes and soggy socks on the trail

A

N EMBARRASSING techno-gaffe has befallen Malcolm Turnbull just days after releasing his sleek new campaign logo, and the unions are having a deep old belly-guffaw at his expense.

The Prime Minister’s circular symbol of his race back to the newly renovated Lodge in Canberra is an elegant blue and gold affair that curiously resembles the official seal of the CIA. It spruiks his election squad as “The Turnbull Coalition Team”, conspicuously forgoing any mention of the Liberal Party.

Only problem, the former Communications Minister and alleged tech-whizz forgot to buy the domain names for his website. Those tricky little blighters at the Australian Workers’ Union snapped up the domain name Turnbullcoalitionteam.com (and dot-au) as soon as they learnt of the re-branding.

While writing this, the websites were still parked domains and

‘‘

Former Communications Minister and alleged tech-whiz forgot to buy the domain names for his website. no condescending and downright nasty content had been uploaded. But that is sure to change. AWU Queensland secretary Ben Swan said they “went on a shopping spree”, buying up 12 domain names using different blends of Turnbull’s new slogan: “The plan for a strong new economy”.

It might seem like an easy slip-up. But consider that, ahead of last year’s budget, the party bought the domain name AbbottLies.com.au and redirected all traffic to the Liberals’ website spruiking the May budget.

Just last month, it emerged the party had also registered such web addresses as NotHappyMalcolm.com, Libs.fail and Liberal.wtf. Donald Trump did the same with JebBush.com, redirecting it back to his own website.

The Liberals have form and it was an obvious blunder. Just like Greens leader Richard Di Natale’s self-perjury effort last

At the water cooler

month, when he told the National Press Club his party “haven’t done internal polling. We don’t waste our money on that”.

Now Fairfax has documents revealing the Greens’ campaign manager got in touch with polling company ReachTEL the very next day to conduct the same number-scrunching the party apparently did not waste its money on.

It was for the seat of Eden-Monaro, my favourite electorate name behind Batman because it reminds of my childhood mate’s backyard in Cairns (his brother’s idea of paradise was a yard full of rusted-out Holden husks).

Maybe the press club interview prompted the Greens’ memory and they decided to jump on a new tactic because polls can be pretty dang helpful in an election campaign. Either way, Di Natale’s credibility was somewhat dampened by the bungle.

Which brings us to our next clumsy segue: both Tony Abbott and Bill Shorten getting slightly soggy this week. Video of a lonesome Abbott, standing in the depressing Sydney drizzle handing out how-to-vote cards to underwhelmed commuters at a train station, got my sympathy glands pumping.

Especially when an irate iPhone wielder recorded himself calling our former prime minister a “homophobic dinosaur” and threw unnecessary expletives his way before uploading the footage to Facebook. Even begrudgingly, you have to admire Abbott for sticking it out in the mud with obvious antagonism directed his way. Bill Shorten’s waterlogged moment happened on Thursday (his birthday, no less) when he went for a photo-opp jog through a park in Townsville.

Not even a potential prime minister can escape the relentless threat of automated sprinkler systems, and he and his band of joggers copped a soaking in front of the cameras.

Now all that remains to decide is who to vote for. Easy, right?

Personally, I am waiting until the party leaders start skolling beers for the cameras. Quickest beer-bonger wins the race.

Strange Politics is a satirical column. Follow Chris Calcino on Twitter: @ChrisCalcino

Q: HOW many kids do you need to have to be a world record breaker? A: 69.

Mum was the word last Sunday as the nation celebrated Mother’s Day. And while they did, we took a look at a couple of the Guinness World Record holding mums across the world.

Did you know Mrs Feodor Vassilyev from Russia in the 1700s holds the record for most prolific mother?

The peasant gave birth to 16 pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets and four sets of quadruplets. Ouch.

“How is that even possible?” one commenter on Facebook asked.

“Gotta take ya hat off to this mum (sic),” another wrote.

I agree. And hats off to all the mums out there – hope you all had a lovely Mother’s Day.

w i t h A l ex ia P u rc e l l

What’s trending on social media this week w Hats off to all the mums out there.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

Alexia Purcell is APN Australian Regional Media’s social media editor.

Follow Alexia on Twitter: @alexia_purcell.

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frasercoastchronicle.com.au Saturday, May 14, 2016

TUNE IN: Join the party with millions of people around the world and let the warbling begin.

The bookies top 10 favourites to win Eurovision 2016: 1. Russia: Sergey Lazarev 2. Ukraine: Jamala 3. France: Amir 4. Australia: Dami Im 5. Sweden: Frans 6. Serbia: Sanja Vucic 7. Armenia: Iveta Mukuchyan 8. Latvia: Justs 9. Italy: Francesca Michielin 10. Israel: Hovi Star * Correct at the time of print

w Russia's Sergey Lazarev performs and qualifies for the finals with the song 'You Are the Only One' during the First Semi-Final of the 61st annual Eurovision Song Contest.

PHOTO: EPA/MAJA SUSLIN

Contest hits high note

A tragic’s guide to Eurovision

Strap yourself in for a wild night of global entertainment B y D AR RE N H ALLE SY

I

F YOU’VE ever watched Eurovision you probably found the gags hilarious, but if you’ve never tuned in, let me introduce you to something special that only happens once a year.

We’re talking about something watched by more than 180 million people, at the same time….and I don’t mean Halley’s Comet (although to be honest that was a bit of a fizzer…I was expecting Bruce Willis to wave to me from the surface).

For tragics like me, this weekend is the one my household looks forward to each year. Strap yourselves in people. It’s Eurovision Song Contest time.

For many years Eurovision had an image problem. Lots of amateurs seeking fame and fortune did their best to compete, often with shocking results, but that was one of the reasons many people tuned in. Over the years, Eurovision produced

some “car crash TV” moments as songs so bad were performed while everyone back home squirmed in their seats, in a mega-sized “cultural cringe”. If you don’t believe me, go on YouTube and search for Top 20 Worst Eurovision.

Since the opening up of Europe and the admission of countries such as Georgia, Serbia, Azerbajin, Macedonia and Latvia, something changed. Suddenly Eurovision got serious.

The standards were raised with each country chasing glory and the prestige of the win.

For the winner, it means a guaranteed hit across dozens of countries and an amazing opportunity to showcase your country to more than 180 million potential tourists around the globe.

What is most fascinating about Eurovision though, is how countries vote. For some, the thought of crossing live to 32 nations for a vote count sounds like a borefest, but it is truly fascinating and it flies by.

Cold reception for summer’s end WEEKEND EDITOR Kiri ten Dolle

T

HE seemingly endless summer we’ve enjoyed through much of autumn may have reached its expiry this week with winter taking its first bite in most areas.

My dad rang me on Thursday morning to say they had had their first frost, west of Brisbane.

The first in some two years. It was rather momentous, actually.

In a sunny corner of their property stands an old English oak tree, about 4.5m tall. Green thumbs will know these oak trees don’t usually stand a chance in Queensland’s sub-tropical climates as they prefer the more temperate

conditions down south.

Dad had cultivated the tree from an acorn we had collected as kids from beneath a tree planted by the Duke of Edinburgh at Castlemaine Botanical Gardens 150 years ago.

It sprouted the day Lady Diana was killed, so it held significance.

We were living in central Victoria at the time, so when it came time to move to sunny Queensland, the infant oak came in tow the 1500 kilometre journey.

We planted the tree 12 years ago on the property and while it looks a bit sad bearing little leaves on one side, a cold snap is just what it needed.

Our mightly oak that once was a nut has stood its ground for many warm winters.

It’s no surprise the tree is a national symbol in Britain for strength, power and determination.

Much has been made about the proven theory of “bloc voting”, where people in certain countries year on year, give their votes to their friends, no matter the quality of the entry.

Scandinavians love Scandinavians. Finland, Norway and Sweden all give each other their points, along with Albania and Romania who share the love just like Greece and Cyprus who get boos from the crowd every year with their oh, so predictable votes.

Bloc voting like this became so rampant that a few years ago each country had to appoint a jury that accounted for 50% of the vote, with the public giving the balance.

This year, Sweden will host the contest. It was Eurovision that gave the world the most famous Swedes of all time. Apart from that chef in The Muppets, there was ABBA, who went on to mega-stardom, and last year’s winner Heroes, who won by a country mile. This year has already had controversy, with Romania given the boot after non-payment of fees for TV rights.

For the second year running, Australia has been given a “wild card”. Guy Sebastian finished fifth last year and this year it was X-Factor winner and Brisbane local Dami Im who performed to her biggest audience yet in the semi-finals yesterday.

But who will win? For my money it will be a two-way battle between Russia and France that have songs that will have you singing along by the time you reach the second chorus. These will be hard to beat. The worst? I’ll be surprised if Macedonia even makes the final.

Eurovision is best enjoyed with friends and a few glasses of wine. The grand final airs on SBS tomorrow at 7.30pm. Unless you’re a die-hard and watch it live at 5am, or join a real party with Eurovision screening at selected cinemas across the country tomorrow night.

inside

travel // New Zealand’s jaw-dropping jetboat thrills.

So when I’m hating on the cold mornings, I think of the resilience of that old oak tree – the little oak that could.

home // Discover the toxin-filtering plants for your home.

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Saturday, May 14, 2016 frasercoastchronicle.com.au

Eurovision grand final

Dami flies Aussie flag in Sweden Set to warm hearts of 200 million viewers around the world B y S E A NN A CRON IN

H

‘‘

It is the biggest stage I’ve performed on with the biggest audience all over the world. probably going to be too overwhelming,” Dami says.

“It’s no different to performing on a stage say for 100 people in the audience in the sense that all I can do is try to connect with everyone in the audience in an intimate way. It’s me and the person watching and I’m trying to connect emotionally. If their heart moves from watching the performance then that’s my job as a performer done.”

Her Eurovision song Sound of Silence is an emotional ballad that showcases Dami’s powerhouse voice.

It’s quite different to Guy Sebastian’s up-tempo song Tonight Again, with which he placed fifth last year. Bookmakers tip Dami to achieve a similar ranking.

“If I could I would sing ballads all the time,” Dami says.

“Eurovision is somewhere where I can get away with a really emotional ballad and I’m glad I’ve gone that way.”

Guy Sebastian proved the Australian public could get behind a Eurovision entrant, and that we could be a hit with the Europeans. But Dami’s success will solidify Eurovision’s place on our pop culture calendar.

The Eurovision Song Contest’s grand final airs live tomorrow from 5am on SBS.

The Freedom to Get Outdoors

w Dami Im sings her way into Europe’s hearts at the Eurovision semi-final yesterday.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

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ER Eurovision song may be called Sound of Silence, but there was nothing quiet about Dami Im’s debut in the European song contest yesterday.

The former Logan singing teacher did Australia proud by making it through her semi-final as the country’s first fully-fledged Eurovision entrant after Guy Sebastian’s successful outing as a wild card entry last year.

Born in South Korea, Dami moved to Brisbane with her family at the age of nine and learned how to speak English through listening to pop songs.

The talented singer and classically trained pianist, who calls herself a “daggy” diva, burst on to the Australian music scene in 2013 when she won the fifth season of The X Factor.

She is now the toast of Europe and we must learn to share her with the rest of the world.

It’s been a whirlwind for the 27-year-old since she was announced as Australia’s Eurovision representative in March.

“It’s been go, go, go from that day of the announcement really, from preparing everything, the costume and rehearsing to events in different states to perform to my fans,” Dami tells Weekend, referring to her Dami army fan base.

“A lot of work has been going on around Eurovision and I haven’t had time to just sit and be freaked out or anything. I think that’s been a good thing.”

As if that wasn’t enough, she also released and toured with a Carpenters cover album before jetting to Eurovision’s host city Stockholm.

It hasn’t been all work and no play for the singer on her second visit to Sweden.

“I was in Sweden last year on a songwriting trip, but it was a very short trip in the middle of winter,” she says.

“It was so beautiful but there was a lot of snow and there wasn’t that much sunlight.

“I have wondered if IKEA is a lot bigger or different than it is here (laughs). I love the meatballs there. I know that’s very cliched.”

In yesterday’s semi-final, Dami wowed in a custom-made, sparkling Stephen Khalil gown.

“We wanted something quite amazing and beautiful, but we didn’t want the costume or the staging to be bigger than the song,” she says.

“We wanted it to compliment the meaning of the song and be interesting but still no bigger than the message.”

The singing competition kicks into high gear for tomorrow’s grand final, when Dami will be up against powerhouse countries like Russia, France, Ukraine and host country Sweden.

Pop star Justin Timberlake was also announced as a special interval performer this week in what appears to be a bid to increase the event’s exposure in the US. The grand final will be watched by an estimated global audience of at least 200 million viewers.

“It is the biggest stage I’ve performed on with the biggest audience all over the world. If I think about it too much it’s

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easy eating

frasercoastchronicle.com.au Saturday, May 14, 2016

Dessert

THE WEEKEND COOK

It’s a cake in the raw

with Maggie Cooper

None of the usual ingredients, but all of the flavour

w Barbecue-style baked beans.

PHOTO:123RF

Baked beans as they can be

B

AKED beans, like most foods, taste quite different if they’re homemade as opposed to what you buy in a can. Beans, also known as pulses or legumes, are packed with protein and therefore make a great (and cheap) substitute for meat. If you do eat meat, you can flavour slow-cooked baked beans with something tasty like smoked pork or chorizo. This recipe is for beans in a barbecue-style sauce. I have used slices of chorizo, but if you prefer, omit the spicy sausages and add a little more paprika.

S O M E T I M E S W E WA N T A CAKE WITHOUT ALL THOSE KILOJOULES – HERE IT IS

Barbecue-style baked beans

INGREDIENTS: w 500g dried borlotti beans w 2 chorizos, cut into slices w 1 red onion, peeled and chopped w 3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed w 1⁄2 green capsicum, seeded and diced w 1 x 400ml can tomato puree w 4 tbs tomato paste w 3 tbs brown sugar w 1⁄4 cup molasses or golden syrup w 1 tsp ground cumin w 1 tsp smoky paprika w 2 tbs red wine vinegar.

METHOD: Discard any debris in the beans. Rinse, then place in a large Dutch oven. Cover with cold water, place lid on pot and leave to soak overnight. Drain beans the next morning and cover again with fresh cold water. Cover and bring water to the boil; take the lid off and boil for 10 minutes, then cover again, reduce heat and simmer for an hour. Drain.

Preheat oven to 140C. Heat a frypan over medium heat. Fry chorizo slices until fat starts to render. Add onion, garlic and capsicum, cook over gentle heat until onion becomes transparent. Transfer to the Dutch oven and add remaining ingredients, mixing well. Add enough water to almost cover beans. Place lid on Dutch oven and bake at 140C for three hours. Remove lid and bake for a further hour. If sauce is a little thin, bake for a further hour or until sauce has reduced and thickened. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Slow cooker: Put beans in the slow cooker after the soaking (there is no need to boil them). Cook the chorizo and vegetables as above and put everything in the slow cooker.

Cook on high for an hour, then switch to low for eight hours.

Serves 6.

Email Maggie at maggies.column@bigpond.com or check out her blog herebemonstersblog.com

w Raw carrot cake can still taste delicious.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

Raw carrot cake

night in cold water and covered w ¼ cup of coconut oil w ¼ cup of rice malt syrup w zest and juice of 2 lemons w 1 cup of raw unsalted walnuts, chopped for topping.

METHOD: Oil the bottom and sides of a spring form round pan with some coconut oil and line the bottom with baking paper.

Grate the carrots and place in a food processor. Add remaining cake ingredients. Process to combine. It may be slightly wet but that’s okay.

Press into the cake tin, even out batter using a spatula and then place in fridge until you create the frosting.

To make the frosting, drain the cashews you soaked overnight and add them with the other frosting ingredients in a blender. Blitz for 5-6 minutes until completely smooth. Taste – add more lemon juice if needed. If it is not blending well, add a little amount of water and more coconut oil.

Once smooth, remove cake from tin with the bottom side facing up. Spread frosting over the cake and sides. Finish with chopped walnuts over the top, then place in the fridge for a few hours to set.

½ cups of almond meal w 1 cup of sultanas w ½ cup of coconut w ¼ cup of coconut oil w 1 vanilla pod, seeds only w 1 tsp of ground cinnamon w ½ tsp of ground ginger w pinch of nutmeg.

Frosting: w 2 cups of raw unsalted cashews, soak over

Dan and Steph Mulheron won My Kitchen Rules in 2013. Visit www.danandsteph.com.au or find them on Facebook – Dan & Steph – My Kitchen Rules and Instagram – danandsteph13.

EAT

with Dan and Steph Mulheron

W

E ALL love a good cake every now and then. But sometimes we want the cake minus the kilojoules.

This week you’re in for a treat. We’re sharing our raw carrot cake. Everything is raw in it – no sugar, no flour, no eggs. You might ask how does that even work or does it taste okay? I must admit, I too was a bit curious but it tastes exactly like a carrot cake. It does have a different consistency to a cooked carrot cake, but it all comes down to the spices and fresh zest that you incorporate into it.

All you need is a processor, a blender and simply set it in a round spring form tin like you would a cake.

INGREDIENTS: w 3 large carrots, peeled and grated w 1 – 1

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easy eating

Saturday, May 14, 2016 frasercoastchronicle.com.au

THE FACTS: Mallee Bull Strong Ale, 330ml bottles, 5.6% ABV, $22 per pack of six; $63 per carton of 24.

Get that mallow feeling

Fluffy fun food A sweet, yummy treat that both children and adults will love MILKBAR MEMORIES with Jane Lawson

Marshmallow

Makes about 50 pieces INGREDIENTS: w mild-flavoured cooking oil spray w 20g gelatine sheets (12 sheets, each 7 x 11.5cm) w 1 tbs pure vanilla extract w 375ml cold water w 250ml liquid glucose w 1½ tbs honey w 275g caster (superfine) sugar.

For coating: w 125g icing sugar mixture, sifted w 125g cornflour (cornstarch), sifted.

METHOD: Spray a 20 x 30cm baking tin evenly with cooking oil spray.

Soak the gelatine sheets in cold water for 5 minutes, or until softened. Squeeze out any excess liquid, then place in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add the vanilla and 125ml of the water. Attach the whisk attachment to the mixer and gently mix the gelatine and liquids together.

Pour the remaining water into a saucepan with a pouring lip. Add the glucose, honey and caster sugar and stir over medium heat until the sugar has just dissolved. After this point, do not stir at all. Use a pastry brush dipped in water to run around the inside rim of the pan to ensure there are no sugar crystals lurking. Increase the heat to high and boil until

w

the syrup reaches 120 degrees on a sugar thermometer.

Immediately remove from the heat.

Turn the electric mixer onto medium–low speed. Pouring carefully, gradually add the hot sugar syrup to the gelatine mixture in a stream. Once the gelatine mixture has melted, you can add the rest of the syrup more quickly. Cover the top of the bowl with a tea towel to collect any splatters if you like and increase the speed to high. Whisk continuously on high for 20–25 minutes — make sure you go the whole distance, as the time is needed to cool and stabilise the marshmallow.

You will end up with a thick, glossy, fluffy mass, like soft-peak meringue.

Use a spatula to scrape the marshmallow into your baking tin and very gently smooth over. Leave to set at room temperature for at least 6 hours, but ideally overnight if you can, to let the texture and flavour settle. If it is a really hot, humid day, set the marshmallow in the fridge. When ready to coat the marshmallow, combine the icing sugar mixture and cornflour and sprinkle a little on a clean work surface. To release the marshmallow from the tin, you may need to run a hot, wet knife around the inside edge of the tin.

Sprinkle some icing sugar mixture over the top of the marshmallow and smooth over with your hands. Turn the marshmallow out onto your work surface, sprinkle more of the mixture over the top and smooth over.

Using a sharp knife, cut the marshmallow into 3cm x 4cm rectangles. Dip any exposed marshmallow edges in the remaining icing sugar mixture.

Store your marshmallows in an airtight container to keep the moisture out. To stop them sticking together, stack them in single layers, sprinkling each layer with any leftover icing sugar mixture, and placing a sheet of baking paper between each layer.

They will keep in a cool dark place (or in the fridge in warm weather) for up to a week. They will start to break down a little after this time, and not look so pretty, but will still taste good.

with Simon Irwin

No bull, Mallee ale really hits the mark

P

ROUDLY parked on the banks of the Murray River, Mildura is a major centre for horticulture, especially the growing of grapes, many of which are turned in wine with much of the balance going into dried fruit – and citrus.

As the name Sunraysia implies, this is a region blessed with plenty of sunshine and big extremes of temperature – from middle 40s in summer to minus something in winter.

In fact, once you get away from the rich irrigation belt, the country is basically dry and semi-arid and much of it is covered by a timber called Mallee.

Mallee is a timber built for harsh conditions, short in structure for a eucalypt and deep rooted, the tree can handle just about anything nature can through at it.

The oft used expression “fit as a mallee bull” comes from the recognition that this is not a climate for sooks and sissies.

You have to be tough to survive. Which brings me to the beer…Mallee Bull Strong Ale from the Mildura Brewery.

The Mildura Brewery began producing a variety of beers in 2004 working out of the old Astor Theatre, and in the intervening years has gone on to produce some really drinkable brews. Their range includes Sunlight Light, Storm Pale Ale, Stefano’s Pilsner, a honey wheat beer, a bitter lager and a dessert lager.

At 5.6% alcohol content, like its bovine namesake, this is not a beer to be taken lightly.

Hugh The Neighbour and I sat down to enjoy a couple after tasting some uninspiring lagers, and both of us took to it with relish.

A copper colour in the glass, it is a lovely balanced drop, with full-bodied flavours that deliver the length and breadth of the mouth, and a toffee nose.

There is much complexity in each bottle, with the malts balanced by just the right amount of bitterness from the multiple styles of hops used throughout the brewing process. I think HTN summed it up best when he described it as “moorish”.

This is a versatile beer, eminently quaffable on a hot day but also interesting enough to stand in for a red wine if you were doing a steak on the barbecue.

I had previously enjoyed the Stefano’s Pilsner, but the Mallee Bull Strong Ale I think really hits the mark.

Keep an eye out for it – it is really worth a crack.

myshout@apn.com.au

PHOTO: BRETT STEVENS

THESE WILL BRING BACK MEMORIES

MY SHOUT

You really musk try these sweet treats THESE musk sticks taste like the ones we had as kids. A little crisp on the outside, and tender in the centre, these are the ‘goldilocks’ of the musk-stick world — the aroma, flavour and texture are just right.

Musk sticks

Makes about 32 sticks INGREDIENTS: w mild-flavoured cooking oil spray w 4 small gelatine sheets, each about 7cm x 11.5cm w 1 tbs liquid glucose w ½ tsp good-quality musk essence w a few drops of pure vanilla extract w 2 drops of red food colouring (optional) w 250g icing sugar mixture, sifted.

METHOD: Spray two baking trays with cooking oil spray. Line the trays with baking paper.

Soak the gelatine sheets in cold water for 5 minutes, or until soft and pliable. Drain and squeeze out the excess water. Put the gelatine in a saucepan with the glucose and 60ml cold water.

Stir over high heat until the gelatine sheets have melted.

Remove from the heat and tip into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment.

When the mixture is cool, add the musk essence, vanilla and food colouring, if using. Add 125g of the icing sugar and beat at low speed until well combined. Increase the speed to high and whisk for one minute, or until smooth and evenly coloured.

Turn your machine off and add the remaining icing sugar. Mix in slowly, then increase the speed to high for about 3 minutes, to ensure it is all well incorporated, and a little like a thick, raw meringue mixture. Put the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a 1cm star-shaped nozzle and pipe 10cm lengths on to baking trays.

Leave in a cool, dry place to set overnight. The musk sticks should be crisp and dry all the way through.

They will keep in an airtight container for several months, but will soften over time.

Recipes and images from Milkbar Memories by Jane Lawson (Murdoch Books), $39.99.

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travel

frasercoastchronicle.com.au Saturday, May 14, 2016

New Zealand

Jaw-dropping adventure Dizzying drops, jetboat thrills and action-packed enjoyment TAKE A TOUR: Experience the thrills of New Zealand.

Explore the best of New Zealand on a 10-day Kiwi adventure

w Speed through the narrow gorges of Shotover River during a 10-day AAT Kings tour of New Zealand.

PHOTO: SHOTOVER JET

Contrasts of New Zealand n Day 1: Welcome to Auckland n Day 2: Auckland Sights n Day 3: Auckland – Rotorua n Day 4: Rotorua – Christchurch n Day 5: Christchurch – Franz Josef Glacier n Day 6: Franz Josef Glacier – Queenstown n Day 7: Milford Sound n Day 8: Queenstown n Day 9: Queenstown – Christchurch n Day 10: Farewell from Christchurch COSTS: Prices for the AAT Kings Contrasts of New Zealand Guided Holiday start at $3350 per person twin share, or $4540 for singles. Airfare not included. Tours depart on select dates from now until September 30, 2017.

TO BOOK: Call or visit your local Helloworld store on 13 14 15

T R A VE L

wi th Pet er Ow en

Y

EARS ago, in the full flush of youthful stupidity, I rode a rickety, overcrowded old bus through the Khyber Pass, on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The dilapidated vehicle had bald tyres, broken windows and was driven by a turbaned young Afghani clearly determined to see how fast he could spin around that ridiculous hair-pin circuit.

Its wheels spun within centimetres of the road’s edge, sending stones careening hundreds of metres to the depths below. It was, and remains, the most terrifying – yet exhilarating – experience of my life.

I was reminded last month of this long ago foolhardiness when I joined a dozen other brave souls on a bus trek over Skippers Canyon road to the Shotover River, just outside Queenstown in the south of New Zealand’s spectacularly beautiful South Island.

This time the bus was in splendid order and the driver – reassuringly named Pete rather than Iqbal – was a respected veteran of thousands of such trips.

But the road – rated between three and nine in lists of the world’s most dangerous roads – was just as terrifying.

Carved out of the cliffs 130 years ago by prospectors seeking

CRUISING

a quicker route to the Shotover River, whose waters were richer in alluvial gold than anywhere else on the planet, the road is perched atop dizzying drops to the valleys and streams below.

There are no fences or guard rails, the road is often deep in snow and in some places the bends are so tight it is impossible to squeeze around without scraping the side of the bus on the cliff face.

This is Lord of the Rings country, where Kiwi director Peter Jackson filmed several scenes for his trilogy of famous movies, though how a fully laden film crew could have made its way over this road is a mystery for the ages.

I was there not to seek gold, or check out famous film locations – or even to exorcise the demons of that Khyber Pass adventure a half-century ago – but as part of a 10-day AAT Kings tour of New Zealand that took in Auckland, Rotorua and much of the awesome South Island.

At the end of the 22km Skippers Canyon road we left the bus and boarded a jetboat for a brisk 80kmh dash through the narrow gorges of upstream Shotover River, past an impossibly high suspension bridge which was the site of one of the world’s first bungie jumps, every so often doing 360 degree high speed spins that seemed to greatly amuse our driver, Lee. Nothing he could do, however, could make his jetboat ride seem anything more than a gentle lark after that unforgettable mountain road escapade. And we knew, of course, that there

Scenic ships go to new heights

SCENIC has launched its 2017 Europe River Cruising program which includes a rebuild of three Scenic Space-Ships in France and the launch of the cooking school Scenic Culinaire, plus new Freechoice activities, Scenic Enrich experiences and a number of new combination cruises.

Scenic Diamond in Bordeaux and Scenic Emerald and Sapphire on the Rhône and Saône in the south of France will be rebuilt for 2017, opening up public spaces and reducing the number of guests to 155 (78 cabins) but not staff numbers.

Guests will enjoy an even more personalised level of service.

The redesigned ships will have two 47sq m suites on the Diamond Deck, larger wellness centres and gyms plus a vitality pool.

One of the most exciting new elements will be the exclusive Scenic Culinaire experience. Scenic has transformed one of the dining venues into a private cooking emporium offering tailored cooking classes. There will be cooking stations, a cheese and wine cellar, and ingredients sourced from local markets. Cooking instructors will introduce guests to regional recipes based on the regions the ship is cruising through. w MORE DETAILS: Call 138 128 or visit scenic.com.au.

was only one way out. I was later told of an Aussie who, rather than endure the return bus trip, happily forked out $400 for a chartered helicopter to extract him from the gorge.

The Skippers Canyon escapade was, for me, the highlight of three days at Queenstown, surely one of the most sublime cities in the world.

Even in the temperate climes of April, where snow is only a suggestion on the distant peaks, Queenstown offers adventure opportunities that make it unique.

The 32 souls that made up our touring party could never be described as youthful, but that didn’t stop some of them signing up to experience the thrills of bungie jumping, parapenting from the top of the Gondola cableway, and rafting the Kawarau River.

Others chose the more sedentary option of a visit to the Gibbston Valley winery for lunch and tasting; a cruise on Queenstown’s iconic vintage steamship, the TSS Earnslaw, followed by dinner at the Colonel’s Homestead; or a ride on the Gondola cableway where spectacular views await the traveller.

Had there been more time I’d have loved to visit nearby Arrowtown and play 18 holes at the Millbrook Golf Resort or at The Hills, the scene of the recent New Zealand Open – two of the most highly rated golf courses in the country. But that can wait until my next visit.

The writer was a guest of AAT Kings and Helloworld.

NOOSA

Winter sun special DISCOVER the charm of a winter holiday in Noosa, complete with clear skies and mild temperatures, without the hustle of the summer crowds. Enjoy a three night luxury winter getaway at 4.5 star Seahaven Noosa and receive 25% off the booking for stays from Sunday to Thursday in a beachfront apartment. Minimum three-night stay, valid for travel until June 24, 2016. w MORE DETAILS: seahavennoosa.com.au or 1300 072 013.

Saturday, May 14, 2016 frasercoastchronicle.com.au

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travel

Tourist trap

Beg your pardon Shysters make a fortune TRAVEL

with Ann Rickard

H

OW do you handle beggars? Do any of us really know?

They are as much a part of travel as are the necessary but annoying security checks. Visit any tourist hotspot in the world and you’ll find the beggars.

Usually old and bent women.

Or at least they look old. It’s hard to tell when they are dressed in dark all-encompassing sacks with tatty shawls draped around their bowed heads. They could be young sprightly things for all we can really tell, for who among us has ever stopped to actually talk to a beggar, to toss money into her alms cup?

Beggars can sit for hours, all day long, in the one cramped position. Eyes usually down, their begging tin in front of them, often with a sign on a scrappy bit of cardboard on their bedraggled laps telling us how many babies they have to feed at home. (Have a close look at this photo of gondoliers in Venice, quite a typical

EUROPE

Venetian scene, but look down to the right, to the old beggar.)

Today’s beggars don’t just sit either. They have been to beggar school to learn how to shake and jerk and twitch convincingly. It all adds extra flavour and evokes our sympathy. Beggars make us uncomfortable.

Our pity could easily turn to guilt if it wasn’t for the (almost) certainty that they are actually able-bodied shysters out to fleece us of our hard-earned money.

Despite their apparent osteoporosis or seeming Parkinson’s or outward decrepitude, we are fairly sure they are part of a controlled team sent into the city each morning by organised crime gangs from some vague eastern European country to earn money by sitting on knees or haunches and twitching for 12 hours a day.

I have never given in to a beggar, despite the guilt as I pass quickly by a quivering bundle of rags on the footpath.

Mostly they keep their eyes down although they leave a vague but lingering feeling that they have assessed and judged you from beneath their downward gaze. Occasionally they might hiss or spit at you.

In Aigues-Mores in the South of France once, an ignored beggar called me a dirty dog, something I would have been happily oblivious to had my French speaking friend not been with me to gleefully pass on the insult.

Unlike the gypsy beggars in Europe’s big cities, the Nigerians selling designer label rip-offs on the beaches of

Action-packed cruising AVALON Waterways will introduce Active Discovery cruises next year, offering a new action-packed itinerary that gives you more to choose from as you bike, hike and canoe along the Danube.

The concept has been unveiled with the release of Avalon’s 2017 brochure, available with a Fly Free offer on European cruises of 15 days or more or discounted airfares of $789 per person with cruises of seven to 14 days. w MORE DETAILS: See your local travel agent or avalonwaterways.com.au.

Mykonos receive my pity – all that trudging up and down the hot sand on bare feet, carrying heavy loads of handbags, sarongs, dresses, purses, sunglasses, scarves. I give in to them every time and buy something I don’t want or need.

On every occasion I have found them later in the day, not overloaded and trudging on hot sand, but in the cool shade of a cafe, sipping a frosty iced-coffee with their mates, counting their money and talking loudly on mobile phones, no doubt calling for their drivers to come and pick them up in their Mercedes.

The beggars I fear most are the children. These little tykes are so swift and silent they can whip your purse from your being even if it is small and buried beneath your clothes deep in your bosom. You won’t know your purse has been stolen until you get home and take your bra off.

These children have been trained at Fagin’s Artful Dodger School of Pick-Pocketing. They’re stealthy, silent and soundless as they go about their work. Whenever I see a small child running between the legs of tourists mingling around some icon or hot spot, I immediately clutch my bosom as though the end of the world is upon us.

So, do any of us really know how to handle beggars? ann.rickard@scnews.com.au

TA S M A N I A

Get a taste of cruising

MEGA ship Ovation of the Seas has four sailings departing in January and February, including a five-night Tasmania taster cruise priced from $959 and a three-night weekend sampler cruise from $599. The company recently revealed that the newest, biggest and most technologically advanced ship for Australia will return for a second season in summer 2017-18. w MORE DETAILS: See your local travel agent or telephone 1800 754 500.

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home

frasercoastchronicle.com.au Saturday, May 14, 2016

GO GREEN: Plants can be more than a means of brightening up the home. Many are great filterers of the toxins we introduce.

Style w i t h T r a c ey H o rd e r n

When home’s a soft fluffy castle

D

OGGONE it, I knew Australians loved their four-legged friends, but I was surprised to learn a higher proportion of us live in households with a dog and a cat than we do with just a child.

In fact, more than 50% of Australians live with at least one pet (cat or dog), whereas only 35% of us share our households with a child.

So why should the two-legged family members have all the fun? As the colder months approach you can keep your fur babies fashionably warm with the latest designer pet teepees and cosy cat pods.

Pet teepees provide your cat or dog with a cosy place in which to curl up and snooze. Giving your pet their very own room means they know they can always turn to it if they want a nap or their own space, allowing them to feel safe and secure.

Curious cats especially love finding a hidey-hole and nook to settle in. A pet home also protects your furniture and restricts the shedding of pet hairs – a definite positive.

Pet beds now are so much more than a bed, as there are so many options, including memory foam varieties.

Even Sealy now produces a variety of mattresses which are available at online pet boutiques.

Whichever pet bed, teepee or pod you choose, ensure it is in keeping with the rest of your décor.

Go for a fabric that will endure and a darker colour will require less washing, although you may want to regularly deodorise your pet’s bed or home.

PET TEEPEES PROVIDE YOUR PET WITH A COSY PLACE

w Keep Fido or Snookums snug in a pet’s Huts and Bay Teepee, available at prinkbox.com.au.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

w Leave it to nature to help deal with household chemicals.

PHOTO: LINDA_YOHLER

House plants

Clean air naturally Ferns, palms and lilies are so much more than indoor decoration STAY AT HOME MUM with Jody Allen

W

HEN it comes to clean air, there aren’t too many people who know it better than NASA. They’ve been working hard to figure out how to clean the air inside space stations, and it turns out there’s a natural way to do it. We all know plants are important oxygen producers, but did you also know that they play a role in keeping the air you breathe clean? Plants can help to remove chemicals from the air, many of which are introduced through products that we use.

Chemicals such as trichloroethylene (found in printer inks, varnishes, paint remover and adhesives), formaldehyde (found in paper bags, paper towels, and tissues), benzene (found in plastics, resin dyes and detergent), xylene (found in leather and paints), and ammonia (found in cleaning agents) can all have a negative effect on your health if you are overexposed to them.

Now, plants can be very effective at filtering those toxins, and they’re definitely worth bringing into your home if you’re worried about it. However, if you have children or pets make sure that you research the plants before you buy them. Some can be poisonous if eaten. w Dwarf date palm: Scientific name phoenix roebelenii, this plant is also known as the pygmy or miniature date palm. It is effective in filtering xylene and formaldehyde. w Boston fern: Also known as the sword fern or fishbone fern, nephrolepis exaltata is a tropical fern commonly found all over the world. It effectively filters xylene and formaldehyde w Bamboo palm: The bamboo palm, in particular the

chamaedorea seifrizii variety, is a great option for people who love the look of bamboo but struggle to grow it indoors. The plant is also great at filtering out formaldehyde and xylene. w Flamingo lily: The flamingo lily, or anthurium andraeanum, is known for its distinctive glossy flowers and is a very popular house plant. For those already growing them, you’ll be happy to know that the plant effectively filters formaldehyde, xylene and ammonia from indoor environments. w Broadleaf lady palm: Scientifically called rhapis excelsa, the broadleaf lady palm is a plant that many will recognise from its prevalence in indoor growing environments like offices and shopping centres. The plant filters formaldehyde, xylene and ammonia. w Cornstalk dracaena: A flowering plant species that is also known as dracaena fragrans, this plant can grow to be very tall but remains a common indoor plant. This might be because it’s an effective filterer of trichloroethylene, formaldehyde and benzene. w Variegated snake plant: The snake plant, sometimes known as mother-in-law’s tongue or by the scientific sansevieria trifasciata “laurentii’’, is much loved as an indoor plant due to its reputation as being difficult to kill. It does a great job at filtering trichloroethylene, xylene, formaldehyde and benzene. w Peace lily: There are different varieties of peace lily, a hardy indoor plant that actually isn’t a member of the lily family at all.

In particular the spathiphyllum “mauna loa’’ is a great choice, doing double duty as a filterer of trichloroethylene, ammonia, benzene, xylene and formaldehyde.

Jody Allen is the founder of Stay At Home Mum: www.stayathomemum.com.au

Home products wi th T ra c ey H o r de rn

Cat castles and pooch palaces

w Vive le Chocolate Pet Tent, $139, www.cocoandpud.com.au

w Huts and Bay Cat Diamond Leaf, $39, Prinkbox, www.prinkbox.com.au

w Deluxe Dog Field Tent, $410, Lavish Tails, www.lavishtails.com.au :

W 11

make

Saturday, May 14, 2016 frasercoastchronicle.com.au

Do-it-yourself

Build a rung for bathroom success How to recycle an old ladder into a towel airer

UPCYCLE: Keep your towels dry, create a home for toiletries and make a bathroom statement.

PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED

w

H

ERE’S a great way to recycle an old ladder into a stylish towel airer. You can keep your towels dry and add some character to your bathroom. It’s easy to do, just follow these simple steps.

w Brush w Sandpaper w Sanding block w Varnish brush w Drop sheet w Dust cloth

Step 1: Ladder

Materials

First, you're going to need an old wooden ladder. You might have one gathering dust at home or you can pick one up from a second-hand shop.

w Old wooden ladder w Clear timber varnish Tools and materials available from Bunnings: www.bunnings.com.au

Step 2: Clean

Next, clean the ladder with a brush to remove any dust, dirt or spider webs. Make sure you get right into the corners.

Handy Tip: Lay down a drop sheet before you start cleaning and varnishing to avoid making a mess on the floor.

Step 3: Sand

Now sand down the timber with fine-grain sandpaper using your sanding block. Sand with the grain of the wood, not against it. Then wipe the ladder clean with a dust cloth.

$ .95

5

S GAP RKS M

and Top Fishing Spots 4th Edition

Town of 1770 to the Sunshine Coast

S T E P F O U R : A P P LY VA R N I S H

Tools

Step 4: Varnish

Take your varnish brush and give the ladder a coat of clear timber varnish. Let it dry overnight and sand lightly the next day.

Then apply at least one more coat and sand again.

Handy Tip: When using varnish, make sure that your workspace is well ventilated so the fumes can escape.

Step 5: Hang towels

Once you're happy with its look, lean the ladder against a wall in your bathroom and hang your towels on it. You can also add some decorative pot plants and even use it to store your toiletries and beauty products.

GPS MARKS and Top Fishing Spots - 4th Edition Town of 1770 to the Sunshine Coast

$5.95 EACH

All GPS marks to Datum WGS 84

AVAILABLE AT ALL GOOD BOATING, FISHING AND CAMPING STORES AND FRASER COAST CHRONICLE OFFICES.

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garden

frasercoastchronicle.com.au Saturday, May 14, 2016

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: During the cooler months it is always great to have home-grown ingredients on hand.

In my garden w i t h A n gi e T h om a s

F R O M J O H N N Y- J U M P- U P S T O MARIGOLDS AND CALENDULA, THERE’S A FEAST TO BE HAD w Rocket makes a vibrant and peppery addition to meals.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

w Johnny-Jump-Ups, pictured, and other violas and pansies have a mild, sweet flavour.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

Give your salads a rocket boost

Garden edibles

Roses are red, and tasty Yes, petal, you can safely eat those delicious looking flowers ...

GREEN THUMB with Maree Curran

M

Y FATHER was a keen grower of vegetables, but he refused point-blank to grow flowers. He considered them to be a complete waste of space. Why grow flowers when you could grow food to eat? Well, we now know that having flowers in the vegetable garden is a really good idea, for many reasons. They look pretty, they help to attract beneficial insects, and lots of them are edible.

Marigolds and calendula taste a bit spicy and peppery. The petals can be used raw in salads. They are sometimes called poor man’s saffron, because they release a fabulous colour when cooked.

Nasturtiums have a sharp, peppery flavour similar to watercress. Use them fresh in salads. The pickled green seeds are called poor man’s capers, and taste delicious.

Beautiful blue borage flowers taste like cucumber; Johnny-Jump-Ups (and other violas and pansies) have a mild, sweet flavour.

Day lilies taste like a slightly sweet vegetable, reminiscent of asparagus or zucchini. You can stuff the whole flower like zucchini blossoms, or use the sweet petals in salads or dessert.

Rose petals taste a bit sweet, with subtle hints of strawberry

and apple. They make a very pretty, delicious jam. Lavender has a sweet, floral flavour, with a hint of citrus. It can be used in desserts, custards and ice creams as well as in savoury dishes.

Herb flowers taste like a mild form of the leaf. They are best used fresh and uncooked, sprinkled over salads or as a garnish.

Pick flowers in the morning or late afternoon when the water content is high. Select flowers that are freshly opened and blemish-free. Normally, the petals are the only portion to be eaten, so remove the stamen and the pollen. Some flowers, such as roses, dianthus and carnations, have a white section at the base of the petal. Remove this as it can taste quite bitter.

Use edible flowers as garnishes, toss them through salads, or freeze them in ice cubes to make a lovely feature in cool drinks.

Crystalised flowers or petals can be used to decorate cakes and desserts.

You should only consume flowers that you know have been grown without the use of chemicals. Commercially grown cut flowers may be sprayed with chemicals which could be harmful if eaten. And be aware that not all flowers are edible. Some can cause serious stomach problems and some are quite poisonous.

Don’t be tempted to taste azaleas, crocus, daffodils, foxgloves, oleander, sweet peas, lobelia, brunfelsia, brugmansia, vinca and wisteria, to name a few. If you’re not sure, don’t eat them, and make sure the kids know that rule too.

Got a gardening question? Email maree@edenatbyron.com.au

THERE are lots of tasty vegies and fragrant herbs you can plant in May. Rocket leaves, sometimes called arugula, make a vibrant and peppery addition to salads, pasta and pesto. Large leaf rocket is quick growing, taking only 7-8 weeks to mature. It can be grown in a sunny or partly shaded spot in either a garden bed or a container. Harvest leaves while they are young and tender and regular picking will promote further flushes of tangy foliage. Stay vigilant for caterpillars, which can skeletonise rocket rapidly.

During the cooler weather, it’s handy to have home-grown ingredients such as silverbeet that can be used in comfort food such as frittatas, pasta, pies and soup. Silverbeet is rich in vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre and is so easy to grow at home from seed. Silverbeet use up a lot of energy producing masses of green leaves so it’s important to feed each week with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser like Thrive.

If steaming mugs of potato and leek soup, leek and bacon pies or chicken and leek risotto sound tempting, then it’s time to grow some leeks at your place. May is the last opportunity to sow leek seeds around Australia, so it’s time to get gardening. Enrich the vegie bed with some handfuls of Dynamic Lifter, which will both improve the soil and provide leeks with slow release organic nutrients as they establish.

Seeds can be sown direct where they are to grow (in a full sun position) or started off in trays. Seeds will germinate in around 10-14 days. Leeks can take up to 20 weeks to mature but small leeks can start to be harvested when stems are 2cm thick, so you can enjoy some now and leave some for later.

Angie Thomas is a horticulturist from Yates

Garden products

Nutty about colourful natives All products available from Bunnings w Grevillea prostrate red is an extra hardy ground cover grevillea with striking red flowers. RRP $9.99.

w Ptilotus plants flower year-round and look fantastic in rockeries, pots or garden beds. RRP $8.98

w Pimelia pink solitaire is a spectacular miniature shrub featuring compact magenta pink flowers. RRP $10.48.

W 13

stuff

Saturday, May 14, 2016 frasercoastchronicle.com.au

On A Lighter Note

Gadgets

Winter is coming but it’s heating up in Canberra

w i t h G e of f E g a n

Despite the changing seasons it is business as usual in the capital

‘‘

ON A LIGHTER NOTE with Greg Bray

L

AST week, we were watching the shenanigans in Canberra on telly when Long Suffering Wife announced, “About time!”.

“Yep, the election’s finally begun,” I muttered, “change is in the air.”

“No, not that,” she replied, “they’re wearing jumpers, winter’s here.”

Shocked, I noted that this was indeed true, and that the leaves on the trees around Parliament House were ablaze with the colours of autumn.

Meanwhile, not 10 feet from where we were plumped under a blasting fan, our parched lawn was wilting in 30 degree heat, the mulberry tree was starting to fruit several months early, and the snowflake shrubs were flowering. Apparently, even Mother Nature was struggling to keep up with the strange changes to our seasons.

After enduring a particularly sweaty summer, I’ve never looked forward to winter so much in my life. And last month, I cheerfully announced to my family that we’d probably just enjoyed our last summer swim as things should be cooling down soon. Well, we’ve had several more dips since, and as soon as I finish tapping out this column I’m going for another

...things are definitely hotting up in chilly Canberra as the politicians start spinning furiously in their struggle to charm the voters who want wholesale changes, while reassuring those who want nothing to change.

w FAR from just toys drones have become great for filming. The FlyPro XEagle is attempting to target both action cams and traditional filming by combing normal controls and smartwatch following capabilities. Preorder on Kickstarter.

plunge.

Folks, if we’re going to be enjoying longer months of decadently warm autumn weather, then frankly, I can see an upside to climate change, global warming/cooling or whatever it’s being called now.

Anyway, things are definitely hotting up in chilly Canberra as the politicians start spinning furiously in their struggle to charm the voters who want wholesale changes, while reassuring those who want nothing to change. And as we wait for winter, I’ll also be waiting patiently to see what changes the contestants in the ‘Canberra Lotto’ hope to foist upon us. Mind you, it’s what they’re not telling us that really worries me, which just goes to prove, there’s one thing that never really changes.

Greg Bray blogs at www.gregbraywriter.wordpress.com. Find him on Facebook: Greg Bray – Writer.

Gadget review

w ILY is hoping to be the smart phone for land lines. The Ily can make calls over wi-fi in the same way as Skype or Whatsapp. It has been designed to allow kids to make calls without having access to unsavoury content online. Preorder on Kickstarter.

FEATURES: The AC Battery has a 10-year warranty.

w i t h G e of f E g a n

New solar battery

w

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

No Website?

No Problem!

w NO MATTER how hard they try most smartwatches still look like computers with a wrist band. But by adding activity tracking features to an analogue watch the Garmin Vivomove manages to look like a normal watch. Price $249 :

If you’re ready to give your business a boost with an online presence, we can help.

The team at Fraser Coast Chronicle can create simple, affordable and beautifully designed website solutions for small to medium local businesses.

Why not call us today to see just how simple getting started online can be.

Visit www.armdms.com.au or call us on 4120 1000 to learn more.

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6253317aa

HOUSEHOLD batteries to store solar power are taking off.

Enphase is the latest company to release a battery designed to store solar power to either sell back to the grid or become entirely self-sufficient.

The Californian-based company will release its AC Battery in Australia in August and promises to work with all makes of solar panel and inverters.

Similarly Enphase is promising simple installation and compatibility with existing wiring.

Enphase is also releasing a cloud-based app Enphase Enlighten to monitor storage and power generation online. Price TBA

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closet

frasercoastchronicle.com.au Saturday, May 14, 2016

Fashion w i t h K i r i t e n D o ll e

Style

New heights

w i t h T r ac e y H o rd er n

From fit to fab in big name fashion

T

HERE’S one trend for both men and women that isn’t going anywhere right now – and that’s sneakers.

From designers to fashion A-listers, everyone’s stepping out in their sneakers, from old-school kicks to seriously sleek, contemporary styled lace-ups.

The new crop of sneakers typically associated with sportswear are taking the catwalks by storm, such as Puma’s Eskiva Hi and Nike’s Air Max 95 OG. But the stand-out performer remains Kanye West’s Yeezy sneakers for Adidas, that are actually, well, a bit fabulous.

Big name designers are also in on the trend.

Chanel’s fabric and suede calfskin sneakers with the oversized logo make a serious statement (with an accompanying serious price tag). Just as well designed, though not as expensive, Marc Jacobs has interpreted the humble sneaker resulting in a shoe that’s infinitely wearable.

The thing about sneaker trends is that they often aren’t new styles, they’re often old standbys revived by the cool people (such as Isabel Marant for example). Wear them with crop jeans, an oversized jacket or cardi, or a feminine dress for a chic yet sporty look.

The best part? Joggers are not only fashionable, they’re super comfortable and they’re easy to walk, run, work and play in.

Check out the both bricks and mortar and online stores and cruise to find the right sneakers for you this season.

SPORTSWEAR FAVES A H I T O N T H E C A T WA L K

Three ways to wear over-the-knee boots

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

Trying to De-clutter? It’s Free to Sell Online!

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Choose your category

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BUY & SELL

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w Marc Jacobs Astor Lightning Bolt Sneaker, $469, David Jones, www.davidjones.com.au

LOOK ONE: w Toms 'Bellevue' Black Crystal/Off White/Light Blue with Double Grey Gradient Lens, $140, Myer w Missi Roll Neck Tunic Jumper, $89.99, Forever New w Maggie Suede Over The Knee Boots, $199.99, Forever New w Piping Hot Cerise Cross Body Bag, $29, Target.

LOOK TWO: w Signature Leather Biker Jacket, $975, Karen Millen w Juliette Dress, $120, Kookai w Ebbony Boot in Navy Microfibre, $249.95, Wittner w Fringed Scarf, $74.96, Country Road w Delta Oversized Bag, $69.95, Sheike.

LOOK THREE: w Felt Fedora, $59.95, Seed Heritage w Frill Hem Sweater, $129.95, Seed Heritage w Long Cuff Shirt, $129.95, Witchery w Ponte Splice Legging, $99.95, Witchery w Olisbon Boot in Black Stretch Textile, $199.99, Wittner.

ONE LOCAL TO ANOTHER

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Saturday, May 14, 2016 frasercoastchronicle.com.au

NEW CHAPTER: Take a look at the titles below, if you haven’t read any of them then add them to your list of must-reads.

explores crushed idealism, hopeless love and the elusiveness of the American Dream. The green light at the end of Daisy's dock will speak to everyone's unfulfilled dreams. - Jess Denham

Vanity Fair by William Thackery

I dearly love Austen, but she’s forgivingly attached to her creations. She mocks them with a smiling nod and an effusive warmth. Not Thackeray though; Becky Sharp is despicable, calculating, and relentlessly cruel. And, boy, do I love her for it.

- Clarisse Loughrey

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

One of the most ambitious books ever written, a synopsis for which would itself take up most of a novella. Set in a very American dystopia and lurching from tennis academies to rehab centres, it skewers the sadness of capitalism just by looking blankly at it. Wallace possessed Pynchon-like wittiness no matter what the topic. He could literally spend three pages describing a paving slab and you'd be scintillated.

- Christopher Hooton

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien w It’s easy to get lost in a good book and form you own relationships with the characters.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

Book a date with these novels

Twenty books to read While it is always a personal choice, this list will stir interest

B

OOKS are deeply personal things. Each of us form unique bonds with the characters we read about, relate to storylines and personalities in different ways and enjoy all sorts of genres from crime to romance, gothic to fantasy.

We’ve had a long, hard think about the books that are closest to our hearts and together, we’ve come up with a list of 20 novels that mean the most to us, from the classics to less well-known stories deserving of a wider audience.

Take a look at our picks and see if any of them grab your fancy. Pour yourself a cuppa and enjoy.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Expect some hefty historical chapters about the Italian and German occupation of Cephalonia in World War II. Wade through these, interesting as they are, and you'll find many fascinating explorations of love, including my favourite passage about love in literature. “Love is a temporary madness...”

- Jess Denham

I have read it to three-year-olds who learn about friendship and confronting fear, to seven-year-olds who ponder about nature and wistfulness and for me, to reflect on other-worldliness and personal space. - Martin King

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

I cried reading this book. Hemingway’s story of the anguished, hopeless love affair between American war veteran Jake Barnes and Lady Brett Ashley is set against the backdrop of the San Fermin bull festival in Pamplona, Spain. The writer is more present in this work than he is in any other, in Jake’s cold, slightly bitter voice; in his friend and Brett’s ex-loved Robert Cohn you can picture Hemingway’s former boxing partner Harold Loeb. At the place of his first obsession, Hemingway succeeds in distilling the passion and life to be found there. - Roisin O'Connor

Naïve. Super by Erland Loe

I have lent this book to friends so many times that I've ended up having to buy 5+ copies. It is written from a child-like perspective and yet has this incredible profundity. A simple story of a Norwegian man trying to gather some sort of semblance of meaning in the world, it has a completely disarming honesty and truth like no other I have come across in literature. It also extols the simple joy of bouncing a ball against a wall, which I think is nice. It might be a cliche, but reading this will change your life. - Christopher Hooton

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

I am infinitely astonished that English isn't Nabokov's first language given his absolute mastery of it. His language comes in such rich torrents and his ornate, stylish sentences are so enviable. If Lolita had been released today it would have been subject to 10,000 think pieces accusing it of, at best, insensitivity, at worst, paedophilia, so I'm glad it wasn't. Through its story of a pompous, middle-aged man's lust for a young girl, Lolita lays the burn of human desire completely bare.

- Christopher Hooton

One of the most heart-wrenching books I have read that transcends cultural gaps to touch the darker areas within us all.

Betrayal, guilt and redemption are the strongest themes here, with Hosseini's second, mother-daughter novel A Thousand Splendid Suns also strongly recommended, so long as you’re willing to let the tears keep falling. - Jess Denham

Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach

Books ‘staying with you long after the final page’ might be a cliche but could not be truer in the case of Chad Harbach’s all-consuming, all-American novel. Every fully-developed character slowly becomes a friend whether you love them, hate them or somewhere in between and it’s hard not to empathise with the crippling self-doubt that threatens to destroy Henry’s future. Prior baseball knowledge is not a necessity: The Art of Fielding sparked the most heated debate yet at my monthly Book Club and not one of us knew what a shortstop was before reading it. If the human condition fascinates you, turn to this one next. - Jess Denham

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Carroll’s work is the greatest paradise for dreamers there is. Reading and re-reading Alice’s adventures taught me, each time, that imagination is an infinite thing and the word ‘impossible’ belongs to the vocabulary of the uninspired.

- Clarisse Loughrey

Requiem for a Dream by Hubert Selby Jr

An utterly depressing read but one that is necessary to understand no one is infallible to an addiction. Selby’s descriptions are outstanding; you truly experience the harrowing lives of these four unfortunate New Yorkers. This book is a train crash - uncomfortable to read but gripped by its gruesome reality. - Ryan Ramgobin

The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald

This quintessential jazz age novel is about so much more than a shallow bunch of rich people hosting lavish parties. Fitzgerald

When I was a wee nipper my Dad gave me a copy of The Hobbit for my birthday, marking my first foray into the fantastical world of Middle Earth. Immediately, I fell in love with Bilbo’s adventure into the Lonely Mountain, the characters being so loveable and, unlike The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien’s writing was so easily accessible. Now, every time I return to the Shire it’s like revisiting an old friend; I just wish I could forget about those awful film adaptations. - Jack Shepherd

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This classic was forced upon me as a 15-year-old as it was part of the GSCE syllabus. I’m very thankful it was.

Where else would I have learnt so vividly about racial tension in the southern US and the importance of fighting injustice and prejudice? But told through the eyes of Scout, the trial of Tom Robinson got me hooked on American history and forever cemented the name Atticus Finch as a byword for moral decency. I still haven’t read Go Set A Watchman, that shows a darker side to Atticus, as I really don’t want to shatter my teenage illusions. - Sally Newall

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde A handsome, narcissistic young man enthralled by hedonism commits himself to indulging in every pleasure in life: both moral and immoral. - Roisin O'Connor

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

The power of female relationships is at the heart of this Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the leading part sisterhood can play in encouraging women to be the best person they can be. Set mainly in rural Georgia in the 1930s, it follows the life of poor African-American girl Celie and the sexism, racism and violence she endures. Deeply troubling throughout, but inspirational and life-affirming too. - Jess Denham

Catch 22 by Joseph Heller

This is one of those books which made me laugh out loud with its wordplay and witty dialogue. It all seems a bit absurd at first but it builds towards a clever conclusion. - Samuel Osborne

Middlemarch by George Eliot

A marathon of a book, it plods along until suddenly you are utterly gripped, involved and entertained to the last flourish of its finale. There’s no Victorian epic with a better pay-off for those willing to persevere. - Adam Withnall

The Stand by Stephen King

The Stand is probably the only book that has made me cancel plans. Comprised of sections placing the microscope on survivors of a pandemic based in varying locations, the epic remains gripping throughout, achieving more tension across its 1,000 plus pages than most TV shows can muster in a single season. - Jacob Stolworthy

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

I wish every teenage girl could read The Virgin Suicides. Every woman, even. There’s this strange quality to Eugenides’ outsider perspective that captures, like otherworldly magic, the feminine experience as both the sublime dream and monstrous nightmare it’s come to be. - Clarisse Loughrey

-THE INDEPENDENT

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frasercoastchronicle.com.au Saturday, May 14, 2016

THERE IS NOTHING TO LOSE IF YOU GIVE THESE SIMPLE STEPS A GO

w Take the first steps to changing the rest of your life.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

Weekend wellness

The 1% rule How 14.4 minutes a day can change your life for good Y OU w i t h N i k ki Fo gde n-Mo ore

D

OES it ever feel as if life is just speeding by and you’re running from one thing to the next, without time to pause and re-group? Well, I’m going to help you fast track the most important goals off paper and into action – and more importantly show you how you can make 100% change in just 100 days.

Despite all the technology we have in our lives that is supposed to save time, it seems like people are more stressed and time poor than ever before. So how can we get our mojo back without turning our life upside down? The 1% rule. Just 14.4 minutes of your day dedicated to your most important goal.

Consistency and conviction for what you do is the key to success. Here are four simple ways you can use 1% of your day to achieve your goals and bring happy back: w Make a list of five key things that really make your heart sing and you have had on your goal list for longer than you can remember. Take a moment and choose one thing that is the most important to you right now. w Then take your agenda and block out 14.4 minutes every day to dedicate towards something to do with this one goal/subject.

It could be more cooking, spending time with your kids, doing yoga, reading or just being outside in the fresh air. w Make the agenda note transparent and truly visible. For example, don’t code it or hide it. If you want others to support you then be clear with what’s important to you, and this time is sacred. You can’t be interrupted, have meetings set or move it for anything other than a natural disaster. Plan ahead and ask for support if you need to shuffle things around. w Practice the 1% rule daily for 100 days. You are a reflection of your approach to health, mindset and well-being. If you want to be fitter, healthier and happier then you alone need to make this happen.

Making a goal a priority daily, and making time in your agenda will change your life and your mindset. Why does this work? Think of the amount of time you spend ‘negotiating’ with yourself and talking your way in and out of doing what you truly love. About 75% of conversations happen in our heads – why not use this time to be actively working on your goal and shut out the noise. Reap the rewards of achieving daily milestones.

The biggest gains are often from the smallest steps. Put one foot in front of the other (or 14.4 minutes of your agenda aside) and recognise each day when you cross that time off your list as

‘‘

Your body will reward you for being less stressed and more focused. complete.

The feeling of satisfaction, personal achievement and ability to actually lead others by example will lift you up emotionally and in a chemical sense. Positivity breeds positivity, endorphins, pride and capability. Your body will reward you for being less stressed and more focused. A sense of achievement can relieve tension, reduce headaches that stem from concern and unresolved issues. Replace the old habits with new ones 1% at a time. If you do this for 100 days you will be 100% better off than where you are now.

What have you got to lose? Go out there and start making it happen.

Nikki Fogden-Moore specialises in private coaching for high achievers to bring business and personal vitality to life. You can reach her on nikki@thevitalitycoach.com.au or www.thevitalitycoach.com.au

We love w i t h K i r i ten Do lle

Glam it up with these beauty buys

w Free your lips from lacklustre with Australian-born, Italian-made Gilded Cage Charisma Lipgloss. Vibrant colour with a velvety texture that is free of any wax or parabens. Comes in eight shades. $28. Stockist: www.gildedcage.com

w Apply Fudge Push-It-up Blow Dry Spray to your roots before blow-drying for extra oomph throughout winter.

This gravity-defying spray contains Keratin as well as bamboo and pineapple extracts for thermal protection and nourishment. $17.95. Stockists: Price Attack. :

w Sanctuary Spa Therapist's Secret Facial Oil is superfood for the skin. The potent mixture of sunflower, jojoba, wheatgerm and rosehip seed oils work to provide a dewy-soft and plumping rejuvenation of the skin. $30.

Stockists: Priceline. :

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Saturday, May 14, 2016 frasercoastchronicle.com.au

NEW VIEW: Tips will help you turn around the drudgery of life.

Change your outlook

Put fun back into the start of working week Dreading Monday morning? Here’s five ways to have more fun at work

‘‘

If you dread going to work in the morning it’ll probably feel like a long heavy day. not something any of us ever intended to allow. Instead, try this: become the director of your own movie and begin to see your week, as you want it to be, clearly and in detail. If you can imagination it, it can become real. Next, enable yourself to begin to work toward this vision by giving yourself permission to over-ride any disbelieving inner voice that may try to hold you to your old familiar ways of thinking about work. Finally enact your vision by energising yourself to live what you’ve envisioned.

Step into the new week as the new you.

3. Ramp up your fun-factor

It’s easy to become serious and almost mechanical when work and home life are hectic. Everything needs to be accomplished so quickly and the stress builds. Our “light and easy” side is the first to go, so let’s revitalise it. Start by giving yourself permission to have fun even though you’re busy. Each morning when you wake up commit to “having fun today”. Mindfully leave the more serious you behind as you walk into work.

Having fun doesn’t mean we’ll be less professional, less conscientious or less productive. In fact just the opposite is true.

Research shows that we perform at our best when relaxed, confident, and at ease.

4. Manage your mindset

1. Acknowledge the good stuff MIND MATTERS

with Muffy Churches

M

ONDAYITIS. It’s not an uncommon sensation for us to fall asleep on Sunday evening having pre-programmed the following day to be one of caffeinated drudgery and brute force. Can we turn this around? Is there a way to ease into the week with more positivity and even a sense of fun?

For most of us, the answer is yes. Here are five tips for transforming your dread into energised and positive anticipation:

One of the most powerful tools we have to play with is gratitude.

It’s so easy to get lost in the grey clouds of what’s not working well in life, that we can lose track of what is actually quite awesome. Take a quiet moment Sunday evening to think about all the wonderful parts of your life, simple things that are working well. Notice the amazing shift in your energy as you take your head to that sunny place. Return to it whenever you need a lift. Sometimes a frequent focus on the good stuff allows the “not so great” to begin to take care of itself.

2. Have intention: Envision, Enable, Enact

Without a clear view of what we want our week to look and feel like, it will simply happen to us. Being a powerless ride-along is

Have you noticed that the way your day turns out tends to fall in line with your thoughts, attitudes and beliefs on that day? If you dread going to work in the morning it’ll probably feel like a long heavy day. If you envision a day of fun and high-energy, that notion stands a good chance of fulfilling itself. Managing our mindset means making strategic selections as to what we choose to think to produce the positive, feel-good, and rewarding outcomes that we prefer. Author Mike Dooley is quoted as saying “Thoughts become things, so choose the good ones”.

5. Think ‘balance’

Our happiness comes from within. Being at ease with “you”, loving others and exercising purpose and passion is what drives a fulfilling life, much more so than money. If work begins to feel like drudgery, the big picture ingredients of your life may have moved out of whack. Try rethinking priorities to make sure that your non-working hours are nurturing you.

Muffy Churches is an internationally renowned integrative success coach. For more information v i s i t w w w. m u f f y c h u r c h e s . c o m

headspace can help young people 12 - 25 with: - general health - mental health and wellbeing - alcohol and other drugs - education, employment and other services

headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health under the Youth Mental Health Initiative.

headspace.org.au

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frasercoastchronicle.com.au Saturday, May 14, 2016

GRAND RETURN: This film should appeal to older children and teens, and there might be enough colour and action to keep little ones entertained.

Alice Through the Looking Glass

w Stars: Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Sacha Baron Cohen. w Director: James Bobin w Rating: TBA

Star profile: Helena Bonham Carter

w Mia Wasikowska and Johnny Depp in a scene from the movie Alice Through the Looking Glass.

PHOTO: PETER MOUNTAIN

Movies

Sequel a mirror image Looking Glass stacks up against Wonderland adventure SCREEN LIFE

with Seanna Cronin

A

USTRALIAN actress Mia Wasikowska is radiant in Alice Through The Looking Glass, the sequel to the film which made her famous around the world.

It has been six years since Canberra-born Wasikowska starred as Alice Kingsleigh in Tim Burton’s zany, colourful remake of Lewis Carroll’s classic novel.

Burton has taken a back seat as a producer this time around, handing the reins over to director James Bobin, best known for his work on the delightful Muppets movies.

Burton’s world of Underland, though, is just as bright, if not more so, under Bobin’s direction.

Viewers see Alice three years after the events of the previous film, as she arrives back home after sailing around the world as the captain of her late father’s ship.

Her brave, curious nature has served her well on the high seas and she’s full of tales of far-flung destinations like China.

But the headstrong adventurer is out of place in Victorian London, where her dreams for an even greater voyage are laughed at by the patriarchal elite.

She also finds herself at a crossroads with her mother, who clearly wants the dreamer to settle down.

“Alice is a great character because she’s very much her own person, and after returning from her travels where she was captain of her own ship has gained more confidence and is filled with a sense of inspiration and excitement,” Wasikowska says in the film’s production notes.

As if on cue, a familiar voice draws Alice to and through a mirror and back into the magical realm of Underland, where she reunites with her beloved childhood friends.

White Queen Mirana (Anne Hathaway) still rules, with her unhinged sister the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) banished after her defeat by Alice in the previous film.

But all’s not well in Underland.

An object from the Mad Hatter’s (Johnny Depp) childhood leads him to believe his family may not be dead after all.

Of course, it’s up to Alice to save the day and she must go back in time to unravel the mystery.

That requires meeting Time himself, a human-clock hybrid

WIN

w Quirky fact: Became the fifth actor to appear in two films to gross $1 billion with Alice in Wonderland (2010), and Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011). She is the first woman to achieve this feat. w Best known for: Alice in Wonderland, The King’s Speech, Harry Potter. w If you like this movie you’ll like these: The BFG, The Secret Life of Pets, The Muppets. w Quote: “I’m drawn to emotionally damaged characters because there is more to unlock.” played charmingly by Sacha Baron Cohen.

At first the plot to Alice Through The Looking Glass appears a bit convoluted but as the story progresses the pieces fall into place and Alice learns several valuable lessons that will serve her well as she enters adulthood.

Thanks to Alice’s time travels, viewers get to explore the back stories of the two queens and what drove the two sisters apart.

The Mad Hatter is also shown as a younger man and child, whose lifelong dream to join his illustrious family line of hat makers is hindered by his humorous nature.

This film is visually stunning in 3D. The CGI-animated world of Underland feels even more crisp and saturated than in Burton’s first film.

To see strands of hair in Depp’s bright red mass of curly locks change colour was a delightful visual trick, and depicting the fabric of time as a turbulent, roiling sea was a highly effective way to illustrate the complexities of Alice’s travels.

The costumes are another highlight. The rich and ornately detailed Chinese silk outfit Alice wears throughout the first half of the film is so beautiful it’s actually a little distracting.

Wasikowska again brings a dogged determination and optimism to Alice, who must once again become the heroine her Underland friends need her to be.

This film should appeal to older children and teens, and there might just be enough colour and action to keep the little ones entertained too.

Bobin injects a fair amount of humour in the film for the adults too. Alice Through The Looking Glass is a whimsical, heartfelt adventure fit for the whole family.

Alice Through The Looking Glass opens on May 26.

Join Alice as she travels back in time to save the Mad Hatter in Disney’s “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” in cinemas May 26. We are giving you the chance to win one of 40 double in-season movie tickets to Alice Through the Looking Glass.

Head to www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/alice and enter your details to be in the running!

TO ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

Visit www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au or Fraser Coast Chronicle front counter for full terms and conditions. Promoter is APN Newspapers Pty Ltd of 100 Brookes St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006. Promotional period 09/05/16 – 22/05/16. Competition drawn 10am 23/05/16 at 100 Brookes St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006. Winners contacted via email on 23/05/16 and announced in Fraser Coast Chronicle 24/05/16.

Total prize value $21,000 (including GST). ©2016 Disney

...one local to another

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Saturday, May 14, 2016 frasercoastchronicle.com.au

EDITOR’S PICK: Josephine Moon’s The Beekeeper’s Secret. Any author who has been rejected 100 times and then makes it, deserves our attention.

Books

Over the Moon

Five second reviews

Success didn’t come easy, now author releases her third novel

Stalker

REV IEW by A n n R i ck ar d

By Lars Kepler: Do you know who’s watching? This is the creepiest crime novel I have read in years, but I just couldn’t stop. For lovers of the Swedish crime genre, this is terrifyingly compelling.

(Harper Collins, $30) – Annie Grossman

J

OSEPHINE Moon is an inspiration to every would-be writer.

This Queensland author, and now rising star of women’s literature, was rejected more than 100 times for manuscripts she wrote over 12 years. But she never gave up, and now both her novels have been international best-sellers.

“I have been rejected by every publishing company in the world,” she said with a laugh. “I kept a spread sheet of all my rejections and when it got to 100 I deleted it. It was too depressing.”

Josephine’s break came randomly one morning after 12 years of rejection.

“I woke up and something said to me, contact Monica McInerney, so I did. She is my favourite author. I never expected a response, but she came back to me, said she would read my manuscript and if she liked it she would show it to her literary agent. Well, she did like it, she showed it to her agent who liked it and took me on and my first book sold very quickly.”

Two international best-sellers later, Josephine is not looking back. She has just released her third novel, The Bee Keeper’s Secret.

The Beekeeper’s Secret, a novel of family and the happiness, guilt and grief that can lie within them, has just been released.

“This one came in a different way,” Josephine said. “It started as foodie fiction. I like foodie fiction. The food forms a character in itself. It started out about a family saga on a coffee farm, but as I got into the research I didn’t have enough passion. I like coffee but I don’t love it, you have to love it to write about it.”

At the time Josephine was struggling with her coffee theme, she kept coming across bees.

“I always look for a bit of synchronicity when I do a book. I became quite obsessed with bees.” Josephine wrote her first book when she was just nine. “But I didn’t see myself having a career as a writer until I attended a workshop in 1999 at the Queensland Writer’s Centre. I was a teacher, but I knew I didn’t

Review

The Photographer’s Wife

By Susan Joinson: Set

between the World Wars in Jerusalem, the story begins with Prudence at just 11 years old, eavesdropping on her father’s madcap plans and the political secrets of the British, Armenians and Germans.

Years later in her 20s, Prudence is spurred to unravel the threads of the past. (Allen & Unwin, $28) – Annie Grossman

The Darling Songbirds

By Rachael Herron: Adele,

w Josephine Moon is hoping for more success with her third novel.

Molly and Lana make up the Darling Songbirds, country-singing sisters with a large following. But when their father dies suddenly on the eve of their big tour, the group acrimoniously breaks up.

PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED

want to teach. After this workshop I drew a line in the sand, said ‘this is what I want to do’ and it took another 12 years and 10 manuscripts to come through with a book deal.”

Josephine Moon lives in the Sunshine Coast hinterland with her husband, four-year-old son and many animals.

The Beekeeper’s Secret by Josephine Moon is published by Allen & Unwin, RRP $29.99.

On CD and DVD It’s Too Late To Stop Now

SIXTEEN year olds Caddy and Rosie are best friends. They’re basically good kids, but Caddy wishes she’d experience a ‘significant life event’, which she thinks would make her more interesting. Things change however, when Suzanne arrives in town. Escaping family violence Suzanne is living with her aunt and rebelling at every opportunity.

Initially envious of Suzanne’s budding friendship with Rosie, Caddy’s soon beguiled by the charismatic newcomer.

This young adult novel is sympathetically written and very contemporary. It deals with issues around confidence and self-worth so is a great read for teens and parents of teens.

Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard is published by Pan MacMillan.

w i th D e bo ra h Co o k

Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard

OPEN 7 DAYS • PLEASE NOTE: SORRY NO EFTPOS Facilities provided www.atci

VAN Morrison’s It’s Too Late To Stop Now (volumes II, III, IV and DVD) is a monumental collection of previously unavailable live performances, including the historic 1973 concert tour with the 11-piece Caledonia Soul Orchestra. DVD available early June.

Movies showing from THU 12.05.2016 to WED 18.05.2016

mas.c m.au • Maryb r ugh P aza, Bazaar St • Info lIne:

.EDDIE THU 9.30AM

THE EAGLE (PG) 106MINS

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BAD NEIGHBOURS 2 (MA15+) 105MINS NO FREE LIST THU

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SAT 9.30AM 7.20

SUN 12.20 7.20

MON 9.30AM 6.20

TUE 9.30AM .

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THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE 3D (PG) 94 MINS THU 9.30AM

FRI 11.50AM

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CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (M) 147 MINS THU

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TUE 9.30AM 6.10 .

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BASTILLE DAY (M) 92 MINS NO FREE LIST FRI 9.30AM 1.40 6.00 7.55

SAT 11.45AM 3.55 8.15 .

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FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS (M) 110 MINS THU

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR 3D (M) 147 MINS

WHISKY TANGO FOXTROT (M) 112 MINS NO FREE LIST THU 9.30AM 1.45 9.20

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GOD’S NOT DEAD 2 - 2 screenings only Thursday 12th May, Doors open 11.30am.

• Saturday 14th May, Doors open 6.30pm Tickets only $8.50ea BOOK NOW! NO FREE LIST

6067458bt

THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE (PG) 95 MINS NO FREE LIST THU 2.30 7.20

11.45AM

20 W

mind TEST YOUR GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Quiz compiled by Roy O’Reilly.

frasercoastchronicle.com.au Saturday, May 14, 2016

Mind you w i th R o we na H ar dy

When clarity fogs over Quiz

What we see depends greatly on how we feel

1. Which bird is depicted on the Australian ten-cent coin (a) emu (b) kookaburra (c) lyrebird?

2. How many atoms of hydrogen are in a molecule of water?

3. Last year, which religious leader was appointed an honorary Harlem Globetrotter?

4. Is entomology or etymology the study of words?

5. The length of the equator is about how many kilometres (a) 10 000 (b) 40 000 (c) 70 000?

6. Who played the title role in the 1968 movie Rosemary’s Baby?

7. Flying Fox is in which Australian state/territory?

8. Last year, which former Brisbane Lions captain revealed how, after drinking his 23rd Crown Lager on “Slab Day” in 2003, he was knocked out cold after crashing through a second storey railing?

9. In the immediate post-World War II period, which German auto-manufacturer was forced to stop production when it rained because of wartime roof and window damage?

10. Who is the operator of the Kwik-E-Mart in the TV show The Simpsons?

11. John Hopoate, the NRL’s most suspended player, was a appointed to the 2016 coaching staff for juniors at which club?

12. Is androphobia the fear of men or women?

13. Which is the only vowel not on the top row of letters on a standard keyboard?

14. Raising the index finger is the signal for what in cricket?

15. Which mythical bird was reborn out of the ashes of its predecessor?

16. Which psychoanalyst wrote the 1899 book The Interpretation of Dreams?

17. “Houston, we’ve had a problem here,” was a message to NASA control from astronaut Jack Swigert from which space craft in 1970?

18. Which country’s team traditionally leads the march at the Olympic opening ceremony?

19. “They crawled out of the woodwork and they whispered into your brain. They set you on the treadmill,” are lyrics from which song?

20. Beginning with “d”, what is the term for the ability of a metal to be stretched into a wire?

21. The name of which type of cloud comes from the Latin for a ringlet or curling lock of hair?

22. Considered well ahead of its time was Jules Verne’s description of the features of which type of marine craft in his 1870 book Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea? 23. In which 1949 novel did Winston Smith have the job of rewriting past newspaper articles so that the historical record always supported the line of the Outer Party?

24. Name the socially awkward, overweight, naïve, ugly duckling, ABBA obsessive character who played the title role in the 1994 movie Muriel’s Wedding.

25. The letters MI in the names of the British security organisations MI5 and MI6 stand for what?

w Life can be like bad weather and throw you off course.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

W

E WERE up very early recently as I was driving Nick to the airport for the first flight out. It was the time of the morning somewhere between night and day, not totally dark but not yet light and it was quite foggy.

I don’t know about you but I don’t particularly like driving in the dark (particularly when it’s also raining) and I find driving in the fog really disorienting and confusing and the two together compound that. So much so this time that I drove straight past the usual turn-off to the airport which threw me temporarily and lasted until I dropped Nick off.

On the way home, as daylight came and the fog began to drift and clear it was actually a relief because I was now able to see the road ahead more clearly, familiar landmarks reappeared and my perspective returned.

A valuable insight followed that helped me relate a little more to how those experiencing depression, other forms of mental illness or on certain medication may be feeling.

That loss of clarity and perspective, momentary glimpses of familiar places or people only to have them disappear in the fog again and confusion and melancholy return. As the fog swirls and rolls back in the lack of ability to see the way ahead or recognise anything familiar also returns.

All of that resonated with me and reinforced how everyone experiences life and the world very differently. It’s what makes

us human and unique and can create challenges for us at times.

Interestingly, I have a painting by local artist Ngaio Lenz in my office which has that foggy feel to it and includes a somewhat abstract form of a person.

Interpretations of its meaning vary but often my clients will tell me that they relate to that painting as it depicts how they

‘‘

Never make assumptions about others ... how they are coping with life in general have been feeling. And some call me the ‘fog lifter’ due to what they describe as my ability to help them regain perspective.

So the painting and driving in the fog that morning were great reminders never to make assumptions about others, how they view the world and experience it or how they are coping with life in general because they may be lost, confused and disoriented in their personal fog, it’s just that we can’t see it.

Is someone you know lost in their fog?

Rowena Hardy is a facilitator, performance coach and partner of Minds Aligned: www.mindsaligned.com.au

Next week Answers

Easy Eating Wholesome autumn dishes to share with friends and family.

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1. (c) lyrebird. 2. Two. 3. Pope Francis. 4.

Etymology. 5. (b) 40 000 km. 6. Mia Farrow. 7.

Queensland. 8. Jonathan Brown. 9. Volkswagen.

10. Apu. 11. Manly Sea Eagles. 12. Fear of men. 13. A. 14. Batsman is given out. 15. Phoenix. 16. Sigmund Freud. 17. Apollo 13. 18. Greece. 19. Candle in the Wind. 20. Ductility. 21. Cirrus. 22. Submarine. 23.

1984. 24. Muriel Heslop. (Toni Collette). 25.

Military Intelligence.