Coffs Harbour Airport Magazine Issue 29

Issue 29 • www.inflightmagazine.com.au

Be Inspired At Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery and Museum

AIRPORT MAGAZINE

Joke Around At the Sydney Comedy Festival

On the Ball Touch Football World Cup

I’M FREE

TAKE ME WITH YOU

A RE UST U SO RA SE UR LI D B CE A’S Y CO LE M AD PA IN NI G ES

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contents on the cover 06

Be Inspired Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery and Museum.

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Joke Around At the Sydney Comedy Festival.

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On the Ball Touch Football World Cup in Coffs.

page 10

features 05

A Date with Oman Precision Helicopters’ project.

08

Family Fun Things to do this Easter.

09

Neighbours’ Milestone Interview with “Toadie”.

12

Travel Bug See Morocco.

14

Euro Trip See Amsterdam and Antwerp.

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The Royal Australian Navy Interview with two marine technicians.

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Brisbane Truck Show Ambassador Shane Webcke.

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Money Matters Improve your financial situation.

page 08

regulars

page 12

04 Welcome 20 Boys’ Toys 21 Legal Advice 24 Fighting Fit 29 Airport Update 30 Puzzles Cover image: The George Hardacre Flying Machine currently at the Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery and Museum. Photo by Seen Australia.

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PUBLISHER Patrick McElligott patrick@inflightmagazine.com.au

WELCOME TO COFFS HARBOUR AIRPORT

EDITOR Hilary Board hilary@inflightmagazine.com.au

DESIGN Lawrence Borchers lawrence@inflightmagazine.com.au

ADVERTISING & ENQUIRIES MINING LIFE & LIVING MAGAZINE [AUS & PNG] & COFFS HARBOUR AIRPORT MAGAZINE Robyn Crouch robyn@inflightmagazine.com.au SKIPPERS INFLIGHT MAGAZINE [WA] Aly Eveille aly@inflightmagazine.com.au MARINE PUBLICATIONS Robyn Crouch robyn@inflightmagazine.com.au THE LINK MAGAZINE Sue Carter sue@inflightmagazine.com.au PRINTING www.platypusgraphics.com

Coffs Harbour Airport Magazine is published quarterly

by Inflight Publishing Pty. Ltd. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher. No responsibility is accepted by the publisher or the printer for the accuracy of information contained in the text or advertisements.

Advertisements must comply with the relevant Trade Practices Act 1979. Responsibility for compliance with the act rests with the person, company or advertising agency submitting the advertisement. Neither the publisher nor the editor accepts responsibility for advertisements.

P U B L I S H I N G

Ph (07) 3891 7793 • Fax (07) 3891 7702 PO Box 670, Stones Corner, Qld 4120

www.inflightmagazine.com.au TRADE SHOW ORGANISERS

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R

ecently, in addition to our regular business and leisure travellers, a significant number of people dressed in sporting attire have been seen at the airport.

Some are meeting and greeting incoming visitors, while others – such as players, officials and followers – are here to participate in sporting activities. It all adds a buzz to the colour and economy of the airport and Coffs Coast.

The recent Oztag championships attracted many thousands to Coffs Coast and next the Touch Football World Cup will be staged at C.ex Coffs International Stadium between April 26 and May 4. This world-class tournament is expected to attract 3000 to 4000 visitors to the city and surrounds of Coffs Harbour. Many attending this event will be from overseas, including Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Philippines, France, America, Germany, Italy, Scotland and England, adding colour and excitement to our community. If you happen to meet any of these visitors, please say hello and make them feel at home.

We also welcome the completion of the Aviation Rescue and Fire station at the airport, which commenced operations on January 14. With 17 highly trained staff, this facility will provide a new level of safety for our airport users.

Another recent arrival is Eagle Copters Australasia. Initially based in a single hangar in the general aviation sector of the airport, they are about to transition to a new double purpose-built hangar. This is a healthy sign that Eagle expects to grow their business, contributing further to the local economy.

So too is Precision Helicopters, which is also based in the general aviation section.

In this instance, Precision is exporting their aviation expertise to the Sultanate of Oman.

Up against competition from a number of other countries, Precision Helicopters won a contract for the aerial spraying of date palm plantations. Over a five-week period, crew and machinery will be flying missions among the valleys and canyons of Oman. (You can read more about this on the next page.)

Also included in this issue is a story on the exciting changes taking place in the Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery and the Coffs Harbour Regional Museum, on pages six and seven. On display at the museum is the George Hardacre flying machine, which is featured on our cover this issue. Thought to be the first flying machine in Australia, it is testament to the passion, persistence and ingenuity of one of our forebears.

It is this determination that we admire and pursue in all we do at Coffs Harbour Regional Airport, as we endeavour to better serve our customers and community.

Until next time, best wishes and I trust you enjoy this edition of our magazine.

Dennis Martin Airport Manager

A DATE

Nick Soultanian.

Photos courtesy of Rob Cleary Seen Australia

WITH OMAN

It is more than 10,000 kilometres from Coffs Harbour to Muscat, Oman in the Middle East, where a team of pilots and engineers from Precision Helicopters is heading for their next assignment.

C

ompeting against aviation businesses from New Zealand and South Africa, Precision Helicopters recently won a contract from the Government of Oman for the aerial spraying of date palms, to help eradicate the Dubas Bug (Old World Date Bug) Ommatissus lybicus. Named after the Arabic word for honeydew “dibis”, large numbers of this small insect (males three millimetres and females five millimetres in length) can reduce the date harvest by up to 50 per cent. The insects do this by sucking the sap from the dates as well as excreting a honey-dew like substance on leaves that facilitates fungal growth, further weakening the plant and – in severe cases – causing the death of the trees.

With dates being a major nutritional food and economic crop for many Middle Eastern people, protecting the date palms is a high priority for Oman’s Ministry for Agriculture, which is overseeing this project.

Before heading off, Precision’s operations manager Andrew Horne, aerial spraying specialist Nick Soultanian, pilots Sam Nichols and Chris Field, along with engineers Ron Dyball and Llewellyn Venter, dismantled

Precision Helicopters over date palms in Oman

helicopters, assembled specialised spraying equipment and packed tools and spare parts for the job. All were then carefully stowed into two shipping containers, trucked to Brisbane and dispatched by ship for a four-week voyage to Oman.

On arrival in Muscat, the Precision crew will assemble their two Bell 206 Jetranger Helicopters, attach spray equipment, conduct test flights, and then – when all is as it should be – commence spraying operations.

Unlike Australia with its broad-acre farms, the date palm plantations in Oman are in narrow high-walled valleys, where streams and rivulets bring precious life-giving waters to the trees. According to Andrew, some of these

plantations have been producing fruit from the days of King David and the time of Christ.

Initially based in Muscat, the daily operations will start well before first light. Helicopters will be checked and prepped, spray equipment attached, pesticides loaded, and GPS coordinates programmed before heading up and away to spray the selected plantations. The reason for the early start is to maximise the effectiveness of the spraying and performance of the helicopters, which in some locations will fly as high as 2000 metres. About 10am – when the heat and humidity start to make an impact – the crew return to base and prepare for the next day. Then there’s some rest and relaxation for the team, under protection from the fierce desert sun.

This will all happen daily, subject to favourable weather (hopefully no desert dust storms), for the five weeks of the contract.

First it will be in and around Muscat, then further out to more remote towns, villages and valleys. When all is done, the crew will return to Muscat, break down the helicopters and spray equipment, re-pack the machinery into the shipping containers, then all head home to Coffs Harbour Regional Airport. n

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All photos courtesy of Rob Cleary Seen Australia

BOLD STROKES Coffs Harbour City Council’s museum and galleries director, Leigh Summers, is busy making sure the Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery and Coffs Harbour Regional Museum are places where the arts and artefacts come alive.

“

Today, galleries can no longer be hallowed silent halls of visual art,” Leigh said. “They should be accessible and enticing, with a sense of fun, vitality, laughter and joy for people of all ages.”

This year the Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery’s public program includes jazz, opera, harpsichord and folk music performances, adults-only trivia nights, a printmaking demonstration, a paper-in-art workshop and ballroom dancing classes. All are to take place in the gallery, surrounded by local and regional artisans’ paintings, sculptures and creations, which will change every three to

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four months. On occasion, special exhibitions – such as the Archibald Prize – will be launched with an unforgettable opening night on Saturday, April 18.

One pleasant surprise that’s available every day is the opportunity for visitors to play the pitch-perfect Yamaha concert grand piano, donated to the gallery by an anonymous Coffs Harbour benefactor.

This piano is also a favourite of one of the gallery’s two patrons: international classical concert pianist, Roger Woodward AO OBE, who will perform in the gallery in May. Co-patron is prominent art critic, John

McDonald. John has been reviewing and critiquing art via his weekly column in the Sydney Morning Herald for about 30 years. In his spare time he has undertaken lecture tours around the country, curated exhibitions, written a number of monographs, collaborated with photographer David Lloyd to publish a book on Australian painters, and recently led art tours overseas. When on the NSW North Coast, John also visits and supports the Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, and he judges the gallery’s national Eutick Memorial Still Life Award.

Prior to 2013, when the gallery was established, artefacts and memorabilia collected over the years were stored in various locations, including in the old Coffs Harbour Regional Museum. Today, both the gallery and the museum proudly display regularly changing exhibitions of art and artefacts.

One local artist who has worked and exhibited in both venues is Isabel Ricketts.

Lately Isabel is finding inspiration in historic quilts made in the 1920s by an unknown Coffs Harbour resident. With the quilt draped over a table in the recently refurbished regional museum, Isabel studies the intricate patterns, colours and fabrics. These are the ingredients she uses to create a body of work that will link the past to the present. When completed, Isabel’s paintings will be exhibited in the Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery.

The gallery exhibition Moving House (on show now until April 11) was created by onetime Mental as Anything band member, Peter O’Doherty, and his wife Susan. Susan is an

abstract painter and assemblage artist and their collaboration is an exhibition that reflects Australian suburbia of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. These works will trigger nostalgic and wry memories of everyday objects from these decades.

While Leigh has been installing exhibitions in the gallery, the coordinator of the museum, Terri Backhouse, has been busy caring for artefacts.

These include textile collections from the 1870s, wedding gowns from the 1960s, images of early European settlement, cinema projection equipment, lighthouse memorabilia and a very significant 2/3 scale model of a motorised flying machine built and flown by Coffs Coast local, George Hardacre, in 1897. It is believed to be Australia’s first flying machine!

According to Leigh, both the gallery and the museum would not be able to perform to their high standards without the help of some 70 volunteers. These volunteers assist with installing exhibitions, meeting and greeting visitors and helping with opening night launches in both venues. “Our doors would not open without the help of our dedicated and passionate volunteers, and we are sincerely indebted to them,” Leigh said.

So, the next time you are seeking some inspiration from other people’s ingenuity and creativity – be it from days past or from the present – you have two quality options: the Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery and the Coffs Harbour Regional Museum. “And that’s something to shout about,” Leigh said, laughing.

THE GEORGE HARDACRE

FLYING MACHINE

Director Leigh Summers

Artist Isabel Ricketts painting in Coff Harbour Regional Museum

CONTACT DETAILS Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery Corner Coffs and Duke streets Coffs Harbour Tel. (02) 6648 4863 Coffs Harbour Regional Museum 215 Harbour Drive, Coffs Harbour Tel. (02) 6648 4847 Both open: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm Website: www.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au

The front cover of this magazine is a photo of a 2/3 scale model of the flying machine patented in 1987

by Coffs Coast inventor George Hardacre. The model, which took almost 10 years to complete, was constructed by Vince Brooker using George’s original plans.

One report says the flying machine was described as an “umbrella-like contraption” and was attached by a running wheel to a steel cable stretched between two trees. It handled perfectly when the inventor stepped aboard and moved the levers. It not only rose into the air but stayed there with its passenger pumping like a Trojan.

Then the wind smashed him and the machine into a tree.

After emerging from the wreckage, George was still fired with enthusiasm! He repaired the machine and took it back up into the air about 17 times until the police stopped him (out of fear of injury to spectators).

There is more to the story, and you are invited to visit the museum to hear about it, inspect the model and decide if you think this flying machine actually did fly. n

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FUN FOR KIDS

Keep boredom at bay with these Easter school holiday entertainment options.

THE ROYAL EASTER SHOW TARONGA ZOO’S BABY ANIMALS Open every day of the Easter school holidays; 9.30am-5pm; Mosman, Sydney.

There are plenty of new faces to see at Taronga Zoo, following the birth of their first ever Bilby joeys in December, one of rarest Antelope species in the world in February, and even a cheeky Squirrel Monkey baby! The female joeys, named Tanami and Tirari, can often be spotted exploring and burrowing in their exhibit alongside mother, Yajala. The Eastern Bongo calf is the third for mother, Djembe, and father, Ekundu. Ungulate keeper, Tracy Roberts, said “Every birth of a healthy calf is important, with fewer than 100 of these gentle animals left in the wild.”

Taronga’s keen-eyed visitors may spot the male Squirrel Monkey baby holding onto mum, Lena, as she leaps around the trees. Visitors can also leap into action themselves at Taronga’s new treetop high ropes adventure. Wild Ropes involves 60 exciting challenges over four courses, including suspension bridges, rope climbs and zip-lines.

Zoo admission is $46 for adults and $23 for children.

See www.taronga.org.au 8

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March 26-April 8, 9am9.30pm, Sydney Showground, Olympic Park, Sydney.

The Royal Easter Show attracts up to 900,000 people during its two-week period each year. It sees the country come to the city, bringing displays of awardwinning produce and up to 14,000 farmyard animals – ever a hit with children. It also enables kids to enjoy carnival rides, showbags and entertainment.

Headlining this year will be Xtreme Korruption – featuring America’s Human Cannonball lady, Jennifer Schneider. Jennifer is one of just 10 human cannonballs in the world and will wow the crowds every night when she propels herself into the air before landing in a net nearly 40 metres away at speeds of more than 60km/ph! Adult tickets are $39.50, children are $24 and concession is $29.50. This year ShowLink tickets won’t be available for purchase at train stations or on Sydney Olympic Park Major Event Buses.

But same-day return public transport is still included in every ShowLink ticket. See www.eastershow.com.au

THE OGGLIES OF SMELLIVILLE 28-page paperback by Erhard Dietlis. For ages four and up.

The Ogglies of Smelliville is the first title in the best-selling Oggly series by multi award-winning German author, musician and illustrator, Erhard Dietl.

It’s a beautifully written and illustrated story, with quirky little green fantasy characters, and combines interactive music, song and rhyme with an enchanting storyline to help young children develop their imagination. The Oggly family members love all things dirty and smelly. They do normal Oggly things, such as cooking bootlace soup, untidying the living room and taking a whirlwind dragon adventure! If your children love mud, dirt and mess, they’ll love this book too. RRP: $14.99. See www.starfishbaypublishing.com.au

WIN!

Inflight Publishing has three copies of The Ogglies of Smelliville to give away to three lucky readers!

To enter, simply email your name and postal address to hilary@ inflightmagazine.com.au by May 31 and put “Ogglies Book” in the subject line. Prizes will be drawn in early June. n

HOWDY

NEIGHBOUR! Beloved Australian television soapie, Neighbours, celebrates its 30th birthday this year! To help mark this impressive milestone, Hilary Board caught up with everyone’s favourite cast member, Jarrod “Toadfish” Rebecchi (aka Ryan Moloney).

Q

Wow, 30 years of Neighbours ! What do you think has been the key to the show’s longevity both here and in the UK?

A

The key to the show’s success is that we are all incredibly good looking and talented of course, there could be no other reason. We are magnetic.

Q

This year also marks about two decades for you on the soap – congrats Ryan! What do you think it is about “Toadie’s” character that’s made him so popular with viewers?

A

He has a good sense of humour, he’s down to earth and he is probably the best friend that everyone would like to have, or the friend a lot of us can relate to.

Q

Can you share a bit about what it’s like behind the scenes of

Neighbours ?

A

It’s frustrating working with such lovely people. You try to be nasty to them but nothing will rile them – it’s an ongoing challenge!

Seriously though, they are an extraordinary bunch of lovely and supportive people both in front of and behind the camera. I know it sounds cliché but it really is this massive extended family who I see five days a week instead of once a year at Christmas.

Q

What are some of the funny or bizarre comments you have received from fans over the years?

A

Someone once said to my face, “I heard you were dead”, which is hard to top! I wasn’t sure if he was disappointed or relieved that I was in fact still here.

Q

You’ve completed many fitness challenges, such as the 100km Oxfam Trailwalker and several marathons. Do you have any events in your sights this year?

A

After having back surgery at the end of last year, my goal is to get the spare tyre off my belly and get back into running.

Q

You recently gained your commercial pilot’s licence. What do you plan to do with it?

A

Yes! Now I just need to get on with doing more flying, so I can get an instrument rating and an instructor’s rating. [Ultimately] I would love to become an instructor and teach other people to fly.

And I would really love to take disadvantaged kids flying and get them to fly, to give them an experience they never thought they would have. I’d also really love to do Angel Flight trips for sick kids [in regional areas] who need to get to hospital for treatment and would normally have to travel for hours in the car.

What a great goal! Best of luck!

Neighbours is on weeknights from 6.30-7pm on Eleven. n

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SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL

HAPPY DAYS The Sydney Comedy Festival returns from April 20 to May 17 this year.

Ross Noble

Stephen K Amos.

Photo courtesy of Zak Kaczmarek

L

eading the Sydney Comedy Festival’s international charge will be UK favourites Ross Noble and Stephen K Amos. The king of improvisational comedy, Ross will deliver his brand new show Tangentleman from April 24-26 at The Enmore Theatre, while Stephen, the maestro of feel-good comedy, will present his new show, Welcome to My World, from April 23-26 at The Enmore Theatre and The Concourse.

Returning to the line-up by overwhelming popular demand is one of the nation’s most successful comedy exports of the last decade, Jim Jefferies, the loveable Logie Award winning “boofhead” Effie, Egyptianborn funnyman, Akmal. Jim will perform at The Enmore Theatre from April 15-19; while Effie and Akmal will be at The Factory Theatre from April 28 to May 2.

Following a stellar year on the comedy circuit including winning the Sydney Comedy Festival 2014 Best Show award, Ronny Chieng joins the line-up alongside Matt Okine whose third major show Happiness Not Included enjoyed sell-out seasons in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Ronny will perform on May 8 and 15 at The Enmore

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Theatre, while Matt Okine will be at The Comedy Store from May 14-17.

Musical newcomers to the festival include former Men at Work lead singer Colin Hay, renowned for his hilarious banter between songs; along with New Zealand’s Topp Twins, who will deliver original songs and character comedy. Both Colin and The Topp Twins will perform at The Enmore Theatre on May 9.

Making a return in 2015 are the festival’s much loved comedy extravaganzas, where international comic royalty and home-grown sensations combine for the Gala and Cracker Night. The Sydney Comedy Festival Gala will take place at the Sydney Opera House on May 3, while Cracker Night will take place at The Enmore Theatre and Metro Theatre on April 20, The Concourse on April 21 and Riverside Theatres on April 28.

Hitting the road during the festival and beyond will be the Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase, delivering big laughs from Bondi Beach (April 22) and Cremorne (May 5) to Dee Why (May 24) and Penrith (May 23).

Prices are varied.

See www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au or call the box office on (02) 9020 6966. n

Effie. Photo courtesy Marie Ramos

SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL

A man who needs no introduction, comedy master Jimeoin, will be performing his show Is It…?! at the Sydney Comedy Festival this year for one night only on May 1 at The Enmore Theatre. Editor, Hilary Board, caught up with the busy Irishman to find out more.

You started out in comedy while backpacking in Sydney about 25 years ago… What was the trickiest thing for you to learn in those early days?

Learning to speak a type of English that people could understand. In fact, I still struggle with that. I think my accent is getting worse. It was an advantage on stage as well, I found, as people had to listen in order to understand you.

Most comedians have to deal with heckling at some point in their careers… What’s the best or worst heckle you’ve encountered and how did you deal with it?

In East London I came on stage and did a bit that always works well early, which was about the audience having “their teeth out waiting for the next joke”, when – without missing a beat – a guy shouts out “waiting for the first joke, mate”. He got a big laugh. I mimed removing a hat from my head. He never said another word for the rest of the night.

Pure quality. In and out.

Puzzles

The world was deeply saddened to lose comedy greats Robin Williams and Joan Rivers last year. Did you know either of them?

I saw Joan Rivers at the Edinburgh Fringe [Festival] a few years back and was totally shocked at her face lift. [It was] great to see a comic still doing stand up and going to places like Edinburgh though. But she got to a good age. Robin Williams I never met, but at the same time it was very sad, as he too was a stand up. But, at the end of the day, [he was] just human.

Crossword

What do you love about the Sydney Comedy Festival?

I like it because it’s in Sydney. I like Sydney. I go to the beach even if it’s winter. Game of Thrones will be on then – fantastic!

ACROSS

True! theunder best.control 1 ToAll keep n (7) 5 The furthest boundary (5) 8 Shopper (7,6) 9 WC (3) 10 To place in between (9)

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5

Revolt (5) To learn word for word (6-7) To eliminate (9) Piece of music (6) Romanian currency (3)

S

We last saw you on our TV screens in July, when you hosted The Full Brazilian for SBS during the FIFA World Cup. Do you have any more plans for TV this year here or in the UK? I’m always up for doing a bit of TV, as it’s good for your stand-up crowd. I’m heading back to the UK in June to do a TV show and then again for the Edinburgh Fringe [Festival]. It never stops. Thank god!

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TRAVEL BUG

The medieval town of Fes

Fes The medieval town of Fes was founded in the ninth century.

The old medina (or village) consists of a maze of narrow streets, which are often crowded during the day, when the locals are busy selling their wares to tourists and villagers alike.

Moroccan

Magic

Whether you have an adventurous spirit, or just want to enjoy the beauty and wonder of Morocco’s rich landscape, you’re sure to enjoy yourself. Story by: Lucy Mullinger. Images supplied.

SPON SO R E D R E P O RT

he island of Aitutaki is an idyllic paradise of lush tropical foliage and white sand beaches surrounded by a stunningly beautiful world famous lagoon.

At Pacific Resort Aitutaki, you will be greeted each morning by a spectacular view of Aitutaki’s turquoise lagoon, thanks to the private sundeck and beachfront location of each of the resort’s 27 spacious and air-conditioned beachfront bungalows, villas and suites. Each is beautifully decorated and appointed with high-quality luxury amenities, which illustrate why Pacific Resort Aitutaki is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

Spend lazy days at the resort lounging by the pool or on the beach, visit the onsite Tiare Spa for a pampering massage or beauty treatment, or make use of the complimentary snorkelling gear

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If you want to get a taste of the “real Fes”, head to what locals call the “old medina”, which houses the leather tanneries. The largest tannery, known as the Chouara Tannery, has been home to the production of leather goods for more than a thousand years and is still going strong. Tourists are given the opportunity to watch from above as the tanners work on the leather, which is placed in vats of dye. It’s a smelly and labour-intensive job, which is handed down from generation to generation.

One of the Cook Islands’ most beautiful atolls, Aitutaki, is home to Pacific Resort Aitutaki – a place where time passes slowly and the delights of island life are presented to you in luxurious surroundings.

LUXURIATE in paradise T

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People-watching is an enjoyable past-time while walking through the streets, but watch out for the odd donkey or mule rushing along with a multitude of bags, leather or food items in tow!

as you explore the lagoon – home to an underwater world filled with beautiful sea life.

The stunning beauty of Pacific Resort Aitutaki’s surrounds makes it a natural choice for those in search of romance in South Seas Polynesia.

Hold your wedding or vow-renewal ceremony amid rose petals on the sand overlooking the lagoon, and enjoy dinner at sunset in a private Bedouin-style tent on the beach, surrounded by flaming torches.

This award-winning resort (World Travel Awards: World’s Leading Boutique Resort) is the perfect place to experience the magic of Aitutaki. Having immersed yourself in the luxurious surrounds and enjoyed the warm Cook Islands hospitality, you can be sure your time at Pacific Resort Aitutaki will leave you relaxed and rejuvenated, with cherished memories of this idyllic paradise.

See www.pacificresort.com n

The Sahara

Marrakech

Have you ever wanted to sit on the back of a camel, Arabian style? Well you’re in luck! Just a few hours’ drive from Fes is the arid desert. A bit further down the coast you’ll find Ouarzazate, which is where a lot of desert excursions begin and where Lawrence of Arabia was filmed in the early 1960s.

If you like the idea of camping out in the Sahara, you can do that too. And you can even get a camel to take you out to your own Bedouin tent. This rather glamorous style of camping (known as “glamping”) makes for a very comfortable night, where all your needs are met. It’s also a great way to meet other tourists and learn more about the Sahara.

Marrakech A trip to Morocco isn’t really the same without visiting Marrakech, a seven-hour train ride from Fes. Head to the main square in the old medina, and watch as snake charmers and monkey tamers show off their exotic pets. If

you’re up for a camel ride and didn’t get the chance to do it in the Sahara, there are a range of camels to ride further out of the medina for a price.

takes you to the centre of the building. The central courtyard is surrounded by the living quarters, which can be up to four storeys high.

Accommodation

In a riad, there will be a garden in the central courtyard. They are built so that no one can see in, but the inhabitants can still see out.

If you’re not into “glamping” in the desert, you might want to stay in one of Morocco’s dars or riads. These are traditional homes that are usually very uniform from the outside, with only a front door to welcome you.

Once you enter a dar you will find yourself in a hallway that

Many of the dars and riads available for tourist accommodation have been refurbished to their former glory and showcase the internal beauty of these homes. One such dar is the Dar Roumana in Fes (www.darroumana.com). It is a

beautiful example of Moroccan architecture, run by a French chef and his Australian wife, Vanessa. The couple will treat you to a French-Moroccan fusion meal in the courtyard, with a selection of fine Moroccan wines to choose from.

Once you are settled, Vanessa will give you map of the area and share some tips on how to survive in the medina. She can also assist you with organising adventures in and around Fes. See morocco.com for more information. n

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Issue 8

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EURO

trip

Nothing can prepare you for cities such as Amsterdam and Antwerp, where the conservative and controversial collide.

Words and images: Aly Eveille Main image supplied.

One of Amsterdam’s many canals

O

n stepping outside Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, you are greeted

by Amsterdam’s version of the Hollywood sign, which is a popular photo op’ for tourists. The two-metre-wide by 24-metre-long sign proclaims “I Amsterdam”, a collective catchphrase used by the community and an icon of the city. To get to Dam Square – in the centre of town – avoid costly taxis or the long lines for buses, as a train is the cheapest and fastest method. The Dam is where the 400-year-old Royal Palace sits, gazing over the thousands of people who pass below it, along with a 22-metretall white stone pillar named The National Monument, a maze of tram lines and many daring Dutch locals riding bicycles. It’s hectic, to say the least! Get a table for dinner in the Dam to help you get your bearings.

Then you are ready to visit some of the local hangouts and adventure down the laneways

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off the Dam, which feature amazing shopping and delicious Dutch food.

Although you’re surrounded by buildings that are centuries old, it’s invigorating to wander through the corridors of the city – among tall cottage-like stone buildings – to shop at some of the biggest retail stores in the world. But, let’s face it, you can shop anywhere! What you can’t do everywhere is find authentic Vlaamse friet – a serving of traditional Dutch French fries served in a paper cone with a bucket of mayonnaise on top. Yum! You also can’t wander across a canal and sit down in a local coffee shop to sample legalised marijuana at most other cities in the world! It’s a very strange feeling to walk into a smoke-filled room just off the street and be offered a pre-rolled joint off the “marijuana menu”. You can choose from a happy high, a mellow high, or an intense high. Then there’s a selection of marijuana,

The best way to get around Amsterdam

given names such as Master Kush, Pineapple Chunk and L.A Confidential. If you choose to cross the experience off the bucket list, make sure you remain inside the cafe. While it’s legal to smoke in designated coffee shops, it’s a controversial issue in other parts of the city and can be offensive to locals. Hotels typically will not tolerate marijuana in their rooms.

Another experience on the bucket list for many is Amsterdam’s famous red-light district (or De Wallen, as it’s known to the Dutch).

This network of alleyways contains about 300 one-room cabins, which are rented by

While navigating our way through the city, prostitutes offering their services from behind Cafe precinct. eats, recycled a glass door. You’ll see many shapes, sizes we noticed the many different languages of as milk-crate seats, recycled tificial grass and and hear some of the ladies talking and ages, people drum tables, artificialthe grass andof Antwerp, as the country lines hangarstofor or brushing away those who pass their numerous a few overhead hangars for borders. If you are familiar with ion. windows. It’s definitely an eye opener! Live sex weather protection. Dutch, French or German, life is a breeze here! ons at Eat Street shows, risqué adult stores and sex museums The food options at Eat Street Religion is predominant in Antwerp as well, with nearly areevery just the beginning, and the vast array of seem endless, with nearly every with many Jews donning their black kolpik esented people by a selection visiting from all around the world is nationality represented by a selection headwear as they walk the streets. ocal chefs.

There astonishing. from the best local chefs.

There When it comes to dining in Antwerp, I ers, Malaysian roti, forget that there is a more But don’t are Korean sliders, Malaysian roti, Meir: a giant shopping and suggest visiting ges, French crepes, and very charming side to conservative German sausages, French crepes, The streets in Meir come alive dining precinct. plings, New York hot as well. Hire a bike and brave Amsterdam Japanese dumplings,atNew nightYork andhot the Absinthe Bar at Brasserie tacos, Singapore the city traffic as you make your way down dogs, Mexican tacos,Appelmans Singaporeis known for serving some of the curries, to local seafood,to sunbathe on the pond’s Vondelpark noodles, Indian curries, seafood, bestlocal cocktails in Belgium. arian, Brazilian, Greek, to nothing; with the grand finalists bright green banks.Harrison Here youwho canwere sit down as fun, wellenergetic, as Hungarian, Brazilian, Greek, Harrison who were grand finalists But we had a mission in mind: to attend mese and last year’sVondelpark3 My Kitchen Rules. We Antwerp’s exotic flavours, wafts of wonderful to Italian a fancy lunch atin the famous Chinese, Vietnamese and Italian in last year’s My Kitchen Rules. We the famous music festival Tomorrowland.

Meir others). They are allwhich isfollowed with a shared restaurant, housed our in a mains historical old aromas and noisedishes in Brisbane,” (among others). They are all followed our mains To get there we ventured 17 kilometres outwith a shared e and typically sit in dessert of deconstructed banana pavilion that was recently reopened to the Hackworth explains on Eat on Street prepared site and typically sit in dessert of deconstructed banana of Antwerp to the suitably named town of The nextMarkets’ stop on our itinerary nge. Forpublic. the sweet split that was and delicious.

The park’s 48 hectares of messy lush green thewas $5 Antwerp to $10 range. For the sweet website. split that was messy and delicious.

Boom. Tomorrowland is filled with people in Belgium, which is a four-hour train ride froman array an array of treats such and After satisfying stomachs we trees, sculptures bike paths areour worth tooths, there’s of treats such After satisfying our stomachs we Being the only container-based from all corners of the globe wearing their We arrived at the as station and waffles, honey es, honey puffs– and enjoyed live music and seeing there’s a reason 10the million peopleon offer Amsterdam.

Belgian puffs and enjoyed the live music on offer and market in the region, Eat Street has nation’s flags and chanting war cries. This were greeted by the grand entrance hall ofAnd to wash to washvisit it allit down, each year! checked out some of the boutiques, doughnuts. it all down, checked out some of the boutiques, quickly become popular with locals a production unlike anything I’d ever seen Antwerpen-Centraal – a great you introduction to fromwas e from craftThe beers, which included Anne Frank House is anotherfashion, great homewares, can choose craft beers, which included fashion, homewares, and tourists alike. As a result, it can before. There were characters on stilts, stages way and to our tails at the market’s hand-crafted place to absorb some of the city’sjewellery, history. soaps, this ancient city! On making our wines cocktails at the market’s hand-crafted jewellery, soaps, become quite packed between 6pm in the middle of ponds, bubbles flowing above hotel, one thing became clear:several we werebars. in the ceramics, artworks and alternative It’s a well-maintained biographical museum ceramics, artworks and alternative and 8pm, so head in around 5pm heads Iand pyrotechnics bursting from the this occasion I triedvisitors knick-knacks. diamond district. The majority of For the world’s that teaches about the young Jewish dinner on this our occasion tried knick-knacks. if you want to beat the crowds and stages. Everything was themed with Eurourkish gozleme – a flat The markets were brought to diamonds pass through Antwerp year, Turkish gozleme – a flat wartime diarist, Anne Frank. The house exhibits the each traditional The markets were brought to queues for food. There is a $2 entry esque creativity. And with more than 400,000 ith melted life by three Antwerp is alsowith melted spinach thespinach exact hiding place where theBrisbanites: writer stayedPeter more than 80 per cent, in fact.bread stuffed life by three Brisbanites: Peter and parking for 400 h was warm attendance Hackworth, over the three-day John Stainton and aJacki surprisingfee stop foroff-street fashion-focused whileand experiencing Hackworth, the persecution and and fetatravellers – which waspeople warm in and John Stainton and Jacki cars is available for free next door to loved her Vietnameseof the Macdonald. havesure always the organisers weren’t doing“Ianything and has been known as the “triumphant discrimination Holocaust. “I Make you wanted tasty. My friend lovedevent, her Vietnamese Macdonald. have always wanted the since market Macarthur Avenue. ulled pork mi to this intoadvance recreateand theselect hustlethe and bustle of one offthe thehustle bucketand bustle of shopping city” theon 16th century.

The buybanh tickets chilli-caramel pulled half-heartedly. pork banh mi Yes, another to recreate See eatstreetmarkets.com or pickled pickled cucumber thevisit, fabulous list,cucumber and a definite must-do for any music lover. of Asia, pedestrian streets are lined with luxury stores date and time of your so youfood can markets sneak of Asia, Night shopping (baguette) with the fabulous food markets Above:and bustling shopping ts from Chitty Banh where you can experience mosthistoricfacebook.com/EATSTREETMarkets www.iamsterdam.com/en orexperience www. dwellings, past the kilometre-long queue and go right into the and and crushed nuts fromSee Chitty Banh where you can the most Festival stage. more details. fantastic regional dishes for next run by Jake and Elle n corner. the museum! centres arefor tucked behind every forfantastic more information. regional dishes Banh, which is run byvisitantwerpen.be Jake and Elle n for next

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Issue 3

Gregory Terrace

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HMAS Ballarat

SPON SO R E D F E AT UR E

WATER

w or ld

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY MARINE TECHNICIANS, LEADING SEAMAN AIMEE CAMPBELL AND PETTY OFFICER DAVE FINNEY, REVEALED THEIR LIFE LESS ORDINARY TO EDITOR HILARY BOARD.

What is the role of a marine technician within the Royal Australian Navy?

Aimee: The role is to uphold the engineering integrity of the ship, to keep the ship running while it’s at sea, to perform maintenance and also keep an operational watch on all the operating engineering systems.

Dave: You operate, maintain and drive everything from propulsion to power generation to power distribution.

Aimee

What has been the most exciting part of your role?

Aimee: Some of the engines I’ve worked on are as big as large trucks and that – for me – is the most exciting part.

What’s it like on deployment?

Dave: The most exciting aspect is being in charge of all of this machinery!

What trade qualifications have you gained?

Dave: I’ve got a diploma in engineering and a certificate four in electrical engineering.

Aimee: I have received a trade in engineering – my trade is mechanical fitter.

What are some of the benefits the Navy offers?

Aimee: When we are living ashore we get benefits to help pay for our housing.

Dave: They subsidise my rent and I’ve got free medical and free dental.

How much travel have you done?

Dave: I’ve travelled so far with the Navy I can’t even count the countries anymore! I’ve been to Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Micronesia, Guam, Palau and Pohnpei.

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Dave: You can leave for a deployment without knowing anyone and then within a couple of

Dave

weeks you are living so close to 200 people that you’ve got best mates that you didn’t even know existed!

“I’ve travelled so far with the Navy I can’t even count the countries.”

What would you say to a young person considering a trade role in the Navy?

Aimee: If they really want to have a true life experience – not just a job experience – then that would be why the Navy would be for them.

Dave: It’s a great job and it’s not monotonous and you learn great skills.

For more information, phone 13 19 01 or visit www.defencejobs.gov.au/navy/trades/

n

Get your hands on more than just amazing machinery

Being a Trade Technician in the Royal Australian Navy gives you the opportunity to get your hands on more than just amazing machinery. As well as working on some of the most advanced equipment the Navy has to offer, you’ll get world class training, receive great pay and benefits and experience a lifestyle like no other. Discover more at http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/navy/trades or call 13 19 01

GT12903A

SPON SO R E D R E P O RT

WARHORSE

Returns

Rugby league legend, Shane Webcke (aka “The Warhorse”), backs up for a “three-peat” as the Brisbane Truck Show’s ambassador, from May 14-17, at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.

as the shows ambassador, I have gained

hane Webcke – the veteran of 21 State of Origins, 263 first-grade games for the Brisbane Broncos and now Channel Seven’s Brisbane sports reporter – will remain the public face of Australia’s premier transport industry event, the Brisbane Truck Show, in all print, radio and television commercials and pre-show promotional activities this year.

Brisbane Truck Show manager for CVIAQ, Noelene Bradley, said the “three-peat” appointment of Shane as show ambassador was driven primarily by the positive feedback received from show attendees and exhibitors in 2013. His high public profile, both through sport and now as a TV presenter – along with the fact Webcke has a genuine passion and direct interest in the transport industry – make him a powerful advocate for the event.

“Shane is very well respected in all aspects of his life, not just his football,” Noelene said.

“He is a very competent speaker, an intelligent man, and he’s had real experience in our

state’s economy, along with filling every hotel

an appreciation of the overall significance of the show’s contribution – not only to the industry – but to the Queensland economy and tourism industry. The economic impact assessment results from the 2013 study identified that the show generated

S

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WIN!

Inflight Publishing and the Brisbane Truck Show have 10 double passes to the event to give away to 10 lucky readers. To enter, simply email your name and postal address to hilary@inflightmagazine.com.au by April 13 with Truck Show in the subject line. Winners will be notified by email.

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$61.2 million of additional expenditure to the and function space within the Brisbane CBD and outer regions.

“As part of my MC ambassador duties, I am fortunate to get hands-on in the event’s Industry Careers Centre and Apprentice Ambassador Shane Webcke

industry. He is a Queensland statesman. That’s what the CVIAQ is looking for and Shane fits the bill perfectly.”

Shane said, “The ambassador role represents a dream job! Growing up on a farm around machinery and trucks, I’ve always loved this sort of thing. I’ve attended the show on many occasions and know first-hand how good it is.

“Since the show’s relocation in 2011 to the world-class Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, and with my appointment

Challenge competition, which plays an important role in improving workforce participation, in highlighting potential career paths for kids, and in showing the wider public what’s going on in the industry and its importance to lifestyles in Queensland. I look forward to seeing you all there.”

See www.brisbanetruckshow.com.au or email admin@brisbanetruckshow.com.au for all the latest information.

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As Australia’s premier transport event, the 2015 Brisbane Truck Show will be more exciting than ever with over 300 displays.

See Australia’s best vehicles, components and transport equipment – all in undercover, air-conditioned comfort.

Platinum Partner

Truck Show Ambassador Shane Webcke

Bronze Partner

Media Partner

Organised BY Industry FOR Industry

www.brisbanetruckshow.com.au

CVI0017

Brought to you by

“I look forward to seeing everyone here again.”

BOYS’ TOYS

If you’re looking for a hard-working utility with a huge 3500-kilogram towing capacity that performs in the toughest conditions, but also allows you to enjoy passenger car comforts, look no further than the Mazda BT-50 Dual Cab Ute.

climate-control air-conditioning, an ambient temperature gauge, carpet flooring, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear-shift knob and satellite navigation.

Safety is also top of mind in this classy pick-up, with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Hill Descent Control (HDC), Hill Launch Assist (HLA) and Locking Rear Differential (LRD) available on 4x4 options.

or the third consecutive year, drive.com.au judged the BT-50 as its Ute of the Year in late 2014, while the Mazda workhorse was voted Best Tradie Vehicle for the second year in a row in the annual motoring.com. au Recommends Awards.

This means that not only is the BT-50 XTR very comfortable and perfect for those weekend trips away, but it’s also a great fit for the tradie or mining professional, where transferring heavy equipment is the norm. It has the capability to perform in all types of terrain and off-road conditions.

The top-of-the-range Dual Cab Utility XT, XTR and GT come with a 3.2-litre in-line turbo diesel engine with 147kW of power and 470Nm of torque. Kitted out with standard equipment, including halogen headlamps, power windows, cruise control, Bluetooth, a USB input and front, side and curtain airbags, there is a lot to like.

For those keen to kit their XTR Ute out with some cool equipment, Mazda offers two accessories packs. The Boss Adventure Pack includes a black steel bull bar and tubular side steps that are airbag compatible, two Lightforce Genesis driving lights, 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, a black alloy sports bar and a soft tonneau cover.

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Available in both manual and automatic, the 4x4 XTR featured here also comes with stylish 17-inch alloy wheels, fog-lamps, power mirrors, dual-zone

www.inflightmagazine.com.au

And if you want to add even more style, the Boss Sports Pack offers the same equipment but it is chrome plated, the wheels are eight-spoke alloys and the tonneau cover is made of tough, hard-wearing material and is lockable.

Mazda has also introduced a new maintenance program called Mazda Service Select.

Alongside a two-year unlimited kilometre warranty, expanding to three-years or 100,000 kilometres (whatever comes first), if you haven’t hit 100,000 kilometres in your first two years this Capped Price Service plan runs for the lifespan of your vehicle. With service intervals of 10,000 kilometres or 12 months (whatever comes first), it provides you with greater value, as you’ll know exactly how much your standard costs will be from service to service.

With fleet options on BT-50 also available, this durable Utility is one of the best available on the market.

To arrange a test drive or for pricing and more information, see mazda.com.au or visit your local dealer. n

SPONSO R E D R E P O RT

NOT-SO-HAPPY ENDINGS Since the commencement of the Fair Work Act in 2009, the number of applications to the Fair Work Commission for an unfair dismissal remedy has continually increased. These claims are an exceedingly popular avenue for dismissed employees.

A

n employee is eligible to make an application to the Fair Work Commission for an unfair dismissal remedy if they are covered by the Act, have completed the minimum period of employment, and are covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement.

For an employee to be successful in their claim for an unfair dismissal remedy, the dismissal must be harsh, unjust or unreasonable. The criteria for harsh, unjust or unreasonable includes whether the employee was notified of the reason or given an opportunity to respond, whether the employee was able to have a support person present during any meetings, whether the employee received any warnings, or any other matter the Fair Work Commission considers relevant. The Fair Work Commission applies the principle of proportionality, that is, whether the punishment fits the crime.

Before an employee is dismissed, it is important that any grievances, complaints, issues or disputes that have arisen in the workplace have been properly attended to in an attempt to resolve the matter.

The employer should properly document its workplace policies and ensure that employees are aware of the contents of the policies and the consequences for breaching them. The facts leading to a decision to dismiss an employee should also be properly investigated and documented. The employee must also be afforded procedural fairness at all times.

Whether you are an employee who has been dismissed or an employer looking to dismiss an employee, you should always seek legal advice on your obligations and rights.

The experienced team members at Connolly Suthers Lawyers are only a phone call away. See www. connollysuthers.com.au for more. n

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DISAPPEARING

act Are you forever asking your partner where all your money goes? Stop the blame games and get financially fit.

By: psychologist Angie Willcocks

W

hen couples fall in love and decide to marry, they often just assume that their partner shares their views about money. But often this isn’t the case, and money is one of the main topics couples argue about, no matter how much they earn. I’m frequently fascinated by all the different ways people think about and handle money, and I sometimes wonder how any couple ever makes it work!

There are all sorts of different models that couples can adopt to handle their money: from totally separate accounts (and no idea how much the other earns) to one shared account with all of the money pooled. There are also variations on where the money comes from, who earns more, and whether or not both partners work outside the home.

The situation often changes when children come along, and this is a time when many couples start arguing about money.

In mining families with kids, the model I most often see involves one partner earning most or all of the family income.

This situation is usually necessary because of the logistics of one person working away (or the family living remotely) and possibly also because of the above-average incomes earned in the mining and resources sector.

The argument I often hear is centred on the question of “where does all the money go?” It might seem like a generalisation but I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard a husband say, “I earn all the money and she spends it all” or “I have no idea what happens to all the money I earn”. If this sounds familiar, read on!

As I said previously, I sometimes wonder how couples manage to get along financially.

Most of us don’t get taught specifically about money and finances as children, which means we generally take our cues from the environment we’re brought up in. This might be good, but often it isn’t.

Even with the very best of intentions, parents can “teach” some unhelpful beliefs and behaviours about money. Also, a lot of emotions are caught up with money, probably because of its survival value. I’ve seen the most outwardly sensible people have very strange beliefs and behaviours about money: from the wealthy person who worries excessively about spending money, to the debt-laden successful businessman who thinks he deserves the very best of everything money can buy.

Think about your own beliefs and behaviours One of the first steps in reducing arguments about money is to think about your own beliefs and behaviours. It’s surprisingly simple, yet many people do not do this.

Think back on your history with money, and perhaps write down your thoughts. Consider questions such as: did I feel rich or poor as a kid? Where did I learn about money? Did I grow up in a house with a lot, enough or

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Some other tips are: • Set shared financial goals, and make sure they’re SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based goals.

• If you work away and feel as though you don’t know or have any say in where the money goes, take responsibility and get informed! In my experience, the person who works away can have an unrealistic view of how much it costs to run a house, and frequently underestimates how much basic living costs. Let’s face it, there isn’t much to spend money on at the mine site!

If you never go grocery shopping, do it next time you’re home and take a list (prepared by the usual household shopper) of all that is needed for the week (including nappies, loo paper, washing powder, dishwasher tablets and dog food etc.). This simple exercise can be very powerful for some couples. Similarly, if you never buy gifts (this is often a woman’s job, especially in a FIFO family) find out how many birthday presents are needed for the year, and approximately how much is spent on each person.

•

Often the person at home tries to cover up or avoid how much things cost, for fear of an argument, but this doesn’t help in the long run. It’s more effective to be upfront about what is being spent where (by the way, you may need to do your homework first for this, because many of us actually don’t know where all our money goes from week to week!).

•

Go over your bank accounts for the past three to six months (depending on how often you pay bills) and record everything you have spent and what you’ve spent it on. You can do this individually or together as a couple. Initially this exercise is just to collect information, but it can also lead to reductions in spending in relatively simple ways. I recently did this exercise myself and was shocked to see how much I was spending each month at my local supermarket, mostly because I had fallen into the busy person’s trap of running to grab bits and pieces several times a week (and of course grabbing extra bits and pieces each time!). I changed this immediately, by getting more organised with my grocery shopping, and very easily reduced my monthly grocery bill.

• Be clear about what you see as important in life and be willing to have the hard conversations with your partner. I recently talked to a mother who desperately wanted her kids to be privately educated.

Her husband didn’t share this goal, and she knew he’d object if he knew how much the fees were. So she didn’t tell him how much the fees were and just sent their child along to the private school. The husband was constantly hitting the roof and asking “where is all the money going and why aren’t we getting ahead?” and she would just shrug her shoulders. It would have been much better to be upfront about her deep desire for their child to be privately educated, because her avoidance actually led to mistrust within the relationship.

• We all know that we’re meant to have a financial budget and we’re meant to stick to it. But in my experience very few people do, so I won’t bother telling you that you have to! There is, however, a fact of financial life that we can’t avoid: you have to spend less than you earn to get ahead. If you spend more than you earn you will accumulate “dumb” debt, like credit cards.

Be brave and go over your expenses and income and see what the numbers are.

Hopefully you come out in the black but, if not, you’ll have to look for ways to spend less. If this doesn’t seem possible, get immediate financial advice (i.e. MyBudget. com.au).

u .a m o .c fm g in in .m www al tips ce and practic Free professional advi in mining, oil and gas. for families

•

I have noticed that it works well for couples to have three bank accounts: one joint account that the big, main, family expenses come out of (like the mortgage, household bills etc) and two individual accounts for personal expenses.

Some couples find it works to put the same percentage of their income into the joint account. If there is only one income earner, the non-income earner should still have access to their “own” money.

•

Seeing a financial planner can help. This is really scary for many people, especially those who haven’t been brought up this way. But most financial planners understand the strong emotions that go along with money, and a good financial advisor will be kind and supportive, not critical and snobby. As with any professional, shop around until you find one you like. Make sure they are accredited.

•

Stop blaming and criticising each other and work together to get this issue sorted out. Leave past mistakes in the past and start from today.

•

Finally, if you really can’t talk about any of this with your partner, and you’re frequently arguing about money, please get some counselling sooner rather than later.

To talk with a trained volunteer telephone counsellor at any time of the day or night, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. To contact the info line at beyondblue: national depression initiative, phone 1300 22 4636.

ABOUT ANGIE Angie Willcocks is a registered psychologist with a private practice in Adelaide. She’s an expert in tackling issues such as depression, anxiety, postnatal depression, child sleep routines and relationship difficulties. She has a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Psychology and a Masters of Counselling Psychology.

You can find Angie online at www.angiewillcocks.com.

Angie is also a contributor to the Mining Family Matters support website, miningfm. com.au, which offers free professional advice and practical tips for families in mining, oil and gas. This article was published with MFM’s permission. n

THE

SURVIVAL GUIDE Mining Families

Practical ways to keep your relationship healthy and your family happy.

MINING FAM ILIES

FOR

not enough money? How was money talked about in my home? Was money important to my parents?

Next, think about how you approach money now. What sorts of beliefs do you have about money as an adult? How do your childhood experiences with money affect you now?

Ideally, when you’ve done this, you should ask your partner to do the same and then take some time to talk together about it. I know this sounds like a really heavy, serious thing to do, but it doesn’t have to be. Try starting the conversation by saying something like, “I’ve been thinking about why we argue so much about money, and trying to understand my share of what’s going on.” There is often a lot of blaming and criticising in arguments about money, and this exercise can start to shift that pattern and encourage some understanding and compassion for each other.

Your complet e guid happy kids e to healthy relations and a hous ehold that hips , work s.

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Issue 8

23

FIGHTING FIT

beer belly

BUSTERS ut their “beer gut”, but it’s Most blokes know and chuckle abo e that spare tyre is basically a time to raise the red flag becaus avoid an “explosion” ticking time bomb. If you want to ve Roberts (i.e. heart attack), read on. By: Ste

A

beer belly is a combination of chronic inflammation and visceral fat in the internal abdominal cavity, surrounding the vital organs in the trunk (abdominal) area. Research shows that even if your weight and body fat remains constant, the distribution of fat changes as you get older and is more likely to shift to the trunk area, especially post menopause [3]. Ensuring you have healthy levels of visceral fat may reduce the risk of certain diseases, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and the onset of type 2 diabetes.

[3] Based on Tanita’s Internal Research

TEST YOURSELF

One of the best tests to determine your level of health is the Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR) test. To find your WHR you will need to measure your waist and then your hip girth.

Equipment: flexible tape measure and pen for marking the skin.

Waist (Abdominal) Girth Measurement: This is taken at the mid-point between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone. If you are unsure if this measurement was taken at the narrowest level, take several measurements at different levels and take the lowest measurement. When recording, you need to make sure the tape is not too tight or too loose, is lying flat on the skin, and is horizontal.

Hip Girth Measurement: This is taken over minimal clothing, at the level of the greatest protrusion of the buttocks. The subject stands erect with their weight evenly distributed on both feet and legs slightly parted, making sure not tense the gluteal muscles.

WHR Calculation: A simple calculation of the waist girth divided by the hip girth.

Waist to Hip Ratio Scoring: The normative scoring in the table below gives general guidelines for acceptable levels for hip to waist ratio.

Normative

Female WHR

Male WHR

Normative

Extreme

>0.90

>1.00

Unacceptable

High

0.85 - 0.90

0.95 - 1.00

Unacceptable

Average

0.80 - 0.85

0.90 - 0.95

Unacceptable

Good

0.75 - 0.80

0.85 - 0.90

Acceptable

Excellent

<0.75

<0.85

Acceptable

Source: Top End Sports, www.topendsports.com

HOW TO LOSE IT

A combination of a healthy diet and exercise is the general answer. For a simple workout that will shift extra stored energy around the mid-section and improve your fitness, you can’t go past the Pyramid – ABC Total Body Workout. This will call in all the large muscles of your entire body, engage your core (e.g. abs and lower back) by creating Intra-Abdominal Pressure in the abdomen, and use multiple joints – such as the ankle, knee, hip and upper back.

Pyramid – ABC Total Body Workout: This can be done anywhere, such as the beach, park, footy oval or in a gym. Three letters and three numbers are easy to remember and can be done twice a week as a resistance training workout or supplement to your training.

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A

Exercises (see images right): A) 4-Count Burpee: http://vimeo.com/ stevenroberts/4-count-burpee B) Prone Brace: http://vimeo.com/ stevenroberts/prone-brace C) Inverted Rows with boom gate bar and overhand grip: http://vimeo.com/ stevenroberts/inverted-rows-w-boom-gatebar-overhand-grip

C

Routine: • Do 10 seconds of exercise A, then 20 seconds of exercise B and 30 seconds of exercise C.

B

• Rest for one minute.

• After you have completed one set, go back to exercise A, then B and C, but this time do two complete sets (two minutes).

• Rest for two minutes.

• Do the third set using the same sequence.

• Rest for three minutes.

Variations: Challenge yourself to see how many rounds you can do before fatiguing and use this number as a goal to improve on next time. If you feel this is too much, do five, 10 and 15 seconds for exercises A, B and C until you can get to the suggested starting times.

ABOUT STEVE

Steve Roberts, owner of Taurus Trainer, is an exercise physiologist and certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist. He is launching his online programs: Fat Loss, Muscle Gain and Boxing Fitness in 2015.

Steve welcomes your questions at srtaurustrainer@gmail.com. See www.taurustrainer.com for more, or facebook.com/TaurusTrainer n

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Issue 8

25

On August 7, 2013, Touch Football Australia CEO, Colm Maguire, announced that Coffs Harbour had won the hosting rights for the 2015 Touch Football World Cup. Now, all is ready to welcome and host more than 2000 players, officials and fans from around the world to Coffs Coast this April-May. Some History Touch football is reputed to have started in Sydney in the late 1960s, with links to the South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club.

Back then, it was not considered a sport in its own right, rather a social game to teach players the techniques of rugby league in a less combative style. Tackling was replaced by a “touch” – be it on clothing, body or the ball – reducing the chance of injury to players.

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Teams were usually made up of six players but more could be included, depending on the training needs. This technique proved so successful that on July 13, 1968, the South Sydney Touch Football Club was formed and the sport was officially born.

In those early days, the game was mostly played in Sydney. It then expanded to Brisbane in the early 1970s, followed by New Zealand in 1975. The following year the Australian Touch Football Association was established to oversee the development of the game nationwide.

The game’s big break came in 1977, when the association was invited to play a demonstration game as a curtain-raiser to the Sydney Rugby League Grand Final at the SCG, due to the drawn grand-final the week prior. With more than 40,000 people in attendance, the sport gained a much higher profile, leading to more and more people joining established clubs, forming new ones and spreading the word of this exciting game.

Since then, touch football has spread to Asia, the South Pacific, Europe and the UK. Recently the game has gained a strong foothold in the USA and expanded to other countries, including Afghanistan, Argentina, China, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Portugal, and the United Arab Emirates. In total there are about 50 countries where touch football is played.

With the international expansion of the game came the need for an international governing body. In Melbourne, at a meeting held in conjunction with the 1985 Australian National Championships, the Federation of International Touch (FIT) was born. This group organises the Touch Football World Cup, which is held every four years.

The first Touch Football World Cup took place on the Gold Coast in Queensland in 1988, and was then hosted by Auckland, New Zealand; Hawaii, USA; Sydney, Australia; Kumagaya, Japan; Stellenbosch, South Africa; Edinburgh, Scotland; and now Coffs Harbour.

About the Event This year, 93 teams from 25 countries will meet and play at C.ex Coffs International Stadium and the surrounding fields of the Coffs Coast Sports and Leisure Park. For the first time, two teams from the Philippines will compete in the event, expanding the code further into Asia.

There are nine categories in which teams will compete: men’s open, women’s open, mixed (men and women) open, five age categories for individual teams of men and women, and a combined set-aged men’s and women’s team category.

“There are about 50 countries where touch football is played.”

[Continues on page 28]

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This will require all sports fields to be primed and ready to host a week of wear and tear as players switch, slide, squeeze and snap the ball and shout “touch” during the 40 minutes of each game.

But, before games begin, an official opening ceremony and welcome for players and officials will be held at the C.ex Coffs International Stadium on Wednesday morning, April 29. FIT secretary general, Bill Ker, said, “This will be a colourful and memorable ceremony, with all teams proudly lining up to wave their country’s flag prior to the friendly rivalry on the fields.”

In recent years, the C.ex Coffs International Stadium has hosted the National Touch League and Elite Eight Series events, which have been an outstanding success. According to interim manager, international stadium and events, Leanne Coad, the events ran like clockwork due to the professionalism and experience of operational and administrative staff working closely with Touch Football Australia and similarly with other sporting codes staging major competitions in Coffs Harbour. “We successfully hosted the 2013 National Touch League and, since then, our team has further improved the playing fields and facilities with the installation of drainage on the northern field and the recent placement of 200 lux floodlights on field number two,” Leanne said. “This helps keep us ahead of the many competitive venues and destinations also vying for these major events, which are significant contributors to local and regional economies.”

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In addition to the stadium, the Coffs Coast Visitor Information Centre (VIC) and the airport-based Coffs Coast Travel Service are also involved with the World Cup. The VIC has been fielding questions and requests from overseas players and officials, and managing accommodation bookings for a number of teams. At Coffs Coast Travel, Paul Kelly, Rick Haines and staff have been busy arranging flights to and from Australia for a number of teams’ players, officials and followers.

It is this combination of high-quality sporting infrastructure and tourism facilities, event management expertise, frequent flight schedules, accommodation, visitor information and travel services that make Coffs Harbour an ideal sporting and holiday destination. It was these attributes that were used by the NSW Government and Destination NSW to promote Coffs Harbour and the C.ex Coffs International Stadium as the ideal location for the 2015 Touch Football World Cup. The slogan used by Touch Football Australia to promote the World Cup is “The Thrill of a Lifetime”, so expect to see people of all ages enjoying playing touch and taking in the sights and surrounds of Coffs Coast. If you meet one or more of these people, please welcome them to touch down and relax on Coffs Coast, the place “‘where memories are made”.

Touch Football World Cup 2015 Location: C.ex International Stadium and Coffs Coast Sport & Leisure Park, Stadium Drive, Coffs Harbour, NSW. Games played: All day, April 29 to May 3 Entry: Free Website: www.touchworldcup.com n

Airport Additions Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting Station At 6am on Wednesday, January 14, 2015, Airservices Australia’s Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting facility (ARFF) came into operational service at Coffs Harbour Regional Airport.

Built by St Hilliers Pty Ltd, under contract to Airservices Australia, the project was completed in less than six months and the complex is expected to be officially opened in the near future.

Staffed by a highly trained crew of 17 personnel armed with the latest high-tech aviation fire fighting and rescue equipment, it provides airport users with a new layer of safety.

General Car Park Extended With the increasing numbers of people flying to and from Coffs Harbour Regional Airport, there has occasionally been exceedingly high demand for short-term vehicle parking space.

This has particularly been the case at “peak hour” flight times for Melbourne and Sydney arrivals and departures.

To overcome this, an additional 38 parking spaces have been created in the General Car Park. The entrance to this area is on the car park’s western side. When entering via Entry Gate 1, proceed through the boom gate, keep to the right and then turn right. From Entry

Gate 2, proceed through the boom gate to the third driveway, turn right and proceed for about 35 metres then turn left.

The aim is to make visiting and parking at Coffs Harbour Regional Airport convenient for all travellers – residents and visitors alike.

Eagle Copters Australasia Eagle Copters Australasia’s transition from the original single hangar to the new double hangar is almost complete. The construction and erection of the building, fencing and signage have now been completed. As you travel along Hogbin Drive, look east and you will see the distinctive Eagle Copters logo high on the front and side of the hangar.

Fit-out of the hangar is now in progress and – like the ARFF – an official opening of the new facility is expected to take place in the near future.

Together, these three additions are visible examples of the behind-the-scenes business development activities being undertaken by the management and staff of Coffs Harbour Regional Airport. They are also a strong sign that the airport is continuing to make a significant contribution to the regional economy. n

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Sudoku

Puzzles

Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.

ACROSS

Crossword 3

5

6

8

DOWN

L F

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L I

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A

M

R L

D D

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L F

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I

O Y S R

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M O R R

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D D

R C

W A G E E I

N G N

C O M A

Solutions

O

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24

I

23

D

22

E

21

20

N C

19

E

18

R

17

1. Reveal 2. Supermarket lane 3. Entrances 4. Personify 5. Prettiest 6. Cherubs 10. Absconded 11. Throw (dice) 12. The O of SOS 13. Grain store 14. Large deer 15. Droopy 16. Male ducks 17. Appear 18. Arm covering 19. Field hospital worker 20. Oarsman

G

16

14

E

15

13

K

12

E

11

A M S

10

U C

9

P

7

4

P

2

Difficulty rating

Y

1

1. Dislodge (jockey) 5. Prolonged unconsciousness 7. Critically examines 8. Flying around (planet) 9. Construes 12. Shellfish 15. Violinist 19. Bite of food 21. Pursed (mouth) 22. Weekly pay 23. Starchy tubers 24. Surround

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