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HEALTHY HABITS FOR EVERY AGE
Pindara Magazine ISSUE ELEVEN 2017
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CONTENTS
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REGULARS From the CEO Editor’s Desk Pindara News HEALTH Healthy Habits For every age
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Humans of Pindara Dr Ben Hunt
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Gastric Sleeve Surgery Is it right for you?
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Expect the Unexpected A day in the life of an ED nurse
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I Can See Clearly Now Refractive lens surgery
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Our Pregnancy Journey Melanie & Chris Wright
Alcohol & Mental Illness The true effects
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LIFESTYLE Pilates 55 For everybody
Mercy Mission A lifesaving plight
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You Are What You Eat How food affects health
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Empowering Women 39 A lie-changing experience in Uganda Our Pregnancy Journey Lauren Brant & Barry Hall
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Six Things to Know Before booking a NZ ski trip
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Paradise Not Lost Discover Bali’s east coast
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Dark Arts The new McLaren 720S
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Gizmo Guide The season’s coolest gadgets
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Top Reads Your latest book releases
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At the Movies Our pick at the flicks
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What’s Cooking Recipes you can try at home
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88 Gizmo Guide The season's coolest gadgets
Finance 99 A super time to contribute
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FROM THE CEO
2017
Pindara Private Hospital Trish Hogan CEO Pindara Private Hospital Katriya De Vincentiis Nude Publishing Executive Group Editor Published by Nude Publishing a division of Nude Creative Pty Ltd www.nudepublishing.com.au Art Direction, Editorial & Production Nude Creative hello@nudecreative.com.au www.nudecreative.com.au National Advertising Manager Peter Wastie peter@nudepublishing.com.au Assistant Editors Elizabeth Kennedy Marketing Manager Alana Lacey Marketing Officer Pindara Private Hospital
From the CEO Trish Hogan CEO Pindara Private Hospital The year is moving ahead rapidly and so too is the progress of Pindara Private Hospital. The Mental Health wing, the second stage of the new Southport Private Hospital, successfully opened its doors in May. This new purpose-built facility offers beds for up to 22 inpatients and countless day patients, and provides the Gold Coast and wider community with access to the best mental health practitioners and facilities to treat a variety of issues. With mental health becoming a more prevalent issue within our community, it is vital the proper resources, care and facilities are available to support those in need. In the coming months Pindara will see the opening of another new facility – the Pindara Medical Specialist Suites in Parkwood. These new specialist suites will be home to various specialties and provide patients on the northern end of the Gold Coast with easier access to their doctors for appointments and follow-ups. Access to the best practitioners and exceptional facilities is key to providing excellent outcomes and experiences for our patients. Most recently, a lifesaving mechanical thrombectomy (a specialised technique used to treat stroke patients - and a first for Pindara) was successfully performed by Interventional Nueroradiologist, Dr Hal Rice in our advanced Pindara hybrid theatre. The availability of both this expertise and technological capability at Pindara meant the patient made a full recovery, a less likely outcome should the patient have needed to be transferred elsewhere for this vital procedure. 6
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It seems Pindara Maternity is the destination of choice for Gold Coast celebrities when bringing their new babies into the world. Celebrity couple Lauren Brant and partner Barry Hall recently welcomed their little boy into the world at Pindara, joining other Gold Coast identities Jessica Skarrat, Liz Cantor, Giann Rooney and Melanie Wright, who also welcomed their new additions at the hospital recently. It is always such a pleasure to be part of this special time in the lives of all our patients and their families. Always embracing the new, the Birth Suites in Pindara’s maternity ward are undergoing renovations to update the current facilities, creating a luxurious home-like experience for our mothers to be. Lastly, the Ramsay Health motto of ‘people caring for people’ was exemplified in the last couple of months as the hospital celebrated International Nurses and Midwives week and National Volunteers week. The hospital marked each of these special days with a morning tea recognising the important contribution nurses, midwives and volunteers make to the lives of others each day. The dedication of both these groups of people makes the experience of hospital at Pindara exceptional and I would personally like to thank each and every one for their hard work, dedication and care. Warm regards, Trish Hogan
MEDICAL CONTRIBUTORS Dr Bas Dall, Psychiatrist Dr Martin Clark, General Practitioner Dr Jacobus Jordaan, General and Bariatric Surgeon Dr Ben Hunt, Cardiologist Chris Gunton, Nurse Dr Darryl Gregor, Ophthalmologist Dr Dilip Gahankari, Plastic Surgeon Genesis Sleep Care EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Anna Musgrove Angie Christofis
Disclaimer. No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied in any form by any means without prior written permission from the Publisher. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Pindara Private Hospital or Nude Publishing. Every issue of Pindara Magazine is prepared with careful attention to accuracy. Please use this magazine as a general guide. Pindara Magazine expresses the views of the authors and is based on the information available at the time of publication and it is not to be taken as advice. All prices quoted in this publication are correct at time of printing. All editorial material is accepted in good faith. We welcome editorial and photographic contributions.
2017
Obesity affects every system in the body. Surgery can stop weight related health problems in their tracks and reverse the damage within 12 months. Migraines 57% resolved
Depression 55% resolved
Pseudotumor Cerebri 96% resolved
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea 74-98% resolved
High Cholesterol 63% resolved
Asthma 82% improved or resolved
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease 90% improved
Heart Disease 82% risk reduction
Metabolic Syndrome 80% resolved
High blood pressure 52-92% resolved
Type II Diabetes 80% resolved
Heartburn 72-98% resolved
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome 79% resolution of hirsutism 100% resolution of menstrual dysfunction
Stress Urinary Incontinence 44-88% resolved Degenerative Joint Disease 41-76% resolved Gout 77% resolved
Venous Stasis Disease 95% resolved Quality of Life improved in 95% of patients
Mortality 89% reduction in 5-year mortality
Dr Jacobus Jordaan is a Specialist Upper Gastrointestinal and Endocrine surgeon with 25 years of experience. Having performed many thousands of laparoscopic surgical operations, he is among Australia’s most experienced specialists in minimally invasive bariatric surgery. Dr Jordaan is professionally known for his meticulous surgical technique and attention to detail, exceptionally low complication rate, ethical conduct and warm welcoming manner. He has established a strong multidisciplinary team of dietitians, psychologists, nurses, anaethestists and medical specialists to ensure excellent long-term patient results.
MB ChB MMed Surg(Pret)(Hons) FCS(SA) FRACS
E: info@jordaansurgical.com.au T: 07 5556 8888 Suite 14 (Level 2) Pindara Place, 13 Carrara St, Benowa QLD 4217 www.surgicalweightlosscentre.com.au | www.jordaansurgical.com.au
E: info@surgicalweightlosscentre.com.au
2017
Hello and welcome to issue 11 of Pindara Magazine! We haven’t had much of a winter up this way, and before you know it, those hot days and balmy nights will be back. What better time to get your body beach ready than now? On page 55 Natalie Dickson, owner and founder of Organic Pilates, demonstrates her favourite low-impact pilates exercises that anyone can do at home to get back into tip top shape. There’s even a chance to win a $400 gift pack from Organic Pilates – just see page 58 for details. If you can’t wait for that summer weather to return, turn to page 68 for our travel story on Bali’s latest tourist hot spot on the lesser-visited east coast. Conversely, if you’re thinking about a white winter for next year, you must read our top tips on booking a snow holiday in New Zealand. We hope you enjoy the read! Until next time … The team at Nude Creative
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Dr Brent McMonagle MBBS, PhD, FRACS (ORL) Dr Brent McMonagle is an ENT surgeon on the Gold Coast with sub-specialty training in otology, neurotology, sinus and skullbase surgery. He has strong research and teaching interests at Griffith and Bond Universities. He has just commenced work on olfactory cell transplants in spinal cord repair, continuing the pioneering work of Prof Alan Mackay-Sim, Australian of the Year 2017, as well as further research in peripheral nerve repair and regeneration.
SPECIALISING IN Hearing Loss • Tinnitus • Otitis Media • Exostoses • Mastoidectomy • Myringoplasty Dizziness • Otosclerosis • Cochlear Implants • Cholesteatoma • Stapedectomy Ossiculoplasty • Nasal Obstruction • Acoustic Neuroma • Facial Palsy • OSA • Rhinitis Adenotonsillectomy • Nasal Polyps • Sinusitis • Pituitary Tumours • Parotidectomy
A. Suite 4, AHC House, 14 Carrara St, Benowa, 4217
E. office@drbrentmcmonagle.com.au
F. (07) 5539 1581
W. drbrentmcmonagle.com.au
(07) 5539 2399
2017 Dr Hal Rice and Dr Letitia de Villiers in the Hybrid Theatre
International Midwives and Nurses Week at Pindara Private Hospital
Mechanical Thrombectomy a first for Pindara Private Hospital A lifesaving mechanical thrombectomy (the physical removal of a clot in the circulatory system) was successfully performed at Pindara recently by interventional neuroradiologist Dr Hal Rice. The procedure was performed on a patient who arrived at the hospital suffering a stroke, and who was unable to receive other types of treatment due to previously existing health issues. Every second counts when treating stroke patients so once the course of action was confirmed it was essential to perform the procedure as quickly as possible.
Previously, the patient would have needed to be transferred to another facility to undergo the procedure, however Pindara's recent investment in Pindara's hybrid theatre and technology meant the mechanical thrombectomy could be undertaken at Pindara, saving precious time in the patient’s life. The mechanical thrombectomy itself was performed in just 10 minutes and the patient was able to return home within two days of undergoing the procedure, as his recovery progressed without complication.
Pindara Celebrates Volunteers during National Volunteers Week Pindara Private Hospital has a wonderful band of volunteers who make a significant contribution to the hospital through their service each year. This contribution was recently celebrated at a special lunch honouring those who give their time so selflessly each week. During the lunch, Pindara’s eldest volunteer, 93-year-old Lloyd Jeffree and Pindara’s longest serving volunteer Elizabeth (Beth) May were both recognised for their contribution to the volunteer program and the hospital as a whole. Both Beth and Lloyd have long histories giving their time as volunteers, not just at Pindara, but with other organisations throughout their lifetimes. Beth was a volunteer for the Red Cross and Westmead Hospital in Sydney before moving to the Gold Coast with her late husband 18 years ago. Lloyd too has a long history of service, starting his volunteering career as a Japanese airplane spotter at Sydney University when he was just 16 before joining the Australian Air Force himself.
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During the month of May each year, we celebrate International Nurses and Midwives Week, focusing on the important contribution of both midwives and nurses in our community. This year, Pindara Private Hospital celebrated International Day of the Midwife by hosting high tea for the midwives and new mums and bubs in the Pindara Maternity Ward. The high tea was a chance to recognise the dedication and partnership of both midwives and the families they care for throughout their birth experience. The event also kicked off celebrations for Nurses and Midwives Week, which ran from May 05 - 12, with the theme “Midwives, Mothers and Families: Partners for Life”. Midwives everywhere understand that by working in partnership with women and their families they can support them to make better decisions about what they need in order to have a safe and fulfilling birth. To round out the week of celebrations, on May 12, Pindara celebrated International Nurses Day with a designer cupcake morning tea. A delicious array of cupcakes was delivered to each ward so that a special morning tea could be shared by nurses, their patients and other members of staff. International Nurses Day recognises the important and valuable contribution nurses make through the care of their patients each day. The hard work, dedication and care demonstrated by the Pindara Private Hospital nursing staff is remarkable, and International Nurses Day provides a great opportunity to reflect and be thankful for their service. Midwives Keri and Natasha with the Gentle family
Beth May and Lloyd Jeffree
Once he returned from the war, Lloyd was an active volunteer with Legacy, working with wives and children of ex-servicemen. The ‘Friends of Pindara’ volunteers provide an invaluable service to both the hospital staff and patients and their contribution is greatly appreciated.
2017
NEWS
2017
PINDARA RENOVATIONS Maternity Birth Suites Work has recently begun on the renovation of the birth suites in Pindara Maternity. The new designs for the birth suites have been developed in consultation with Pindara’s experienced midwives and focuses on providing mothers with a holistic birthing experience within a luxurious and home-like environment. The birthing suites will now provide mothers with the option of a water birth, with the inclusion of two large and luxurious birthing pools. An ambient lighting design and the option to use aromatherapy and music within the suites will allow mothers to control their environment and create a place of comfort. A tranquil landscaped garden will also be exclusively available to labouring mothers providing them with a place of calm and relaxation throughout their birth experience. Works are scheduled for completion in September.
A Coup for Research into a Cure for Spinal Cord Injury
Renal and Oncology Ward Developments The oncology ward recently received some rejuvenation in order to create a more comfortable and relaxing environment for patients by incorporating a gourmet coffee and beverage bar, new lounge area and a kitchen and dining space for patients and their visitors. Pindara will soon start work on expanding its renal unit in order to provide this vital service to more patients.
Pindara Private Hospital would like to congratulate one of its foremost Ear, Nose, Throat, Head and Neck specialists, Dr Brent McMonagle on his involvement in helping the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation to secure a $5 million grant for the Olfactory Cell Transplantation Project – a research project aimed at developing a cure for spinal cord injuries using olfactory cells (cells used to smell). The project will continue to build on research led by Australian of the Year, Dr Alan Mackay-Sim, and a previous British/Polish led trial, which showed improvement in the physical functioning of a patient after an Olfactory Cell transplant. The grant will allow the project to enter the official launch phase, aiming to develop an enhanced and effective treatment for spinal cord injury.
South Coast Radiology Celebrating
est. 1967 - 2017 South Coast Radiology has proudly been servicing the Gold Coast and Tweed communities for 50 years. In 1967, Radiologist Dr David Jones opened the first practice that would become South Coast Radiology at 125 Nerang Street Southport. South Coast Radiology now expands across the Tweed and Gold Coast with 10 well located practices, including 2 private hospital sites. South Coast Radiology expanded its services to operate regional medical imaging for doctors and patients in Toowoomba at Darling Downs Radiology and Mackay at Mackay Radiology, and also specialises in women’s imaging at The Women’s Imaging Centre in Southport. For 50 strong years health care professionals have relied on South Coast Radiology to provide exceptional medical imaging services and the highest level of patient care.
07 5580 8588
Trusted by Doctors… Preferred by Patients
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healthy habits FOR EVERY AGE
Being fit and healthy is a gift at any stage of life, and contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a gym junkie or health nut to maintain your health. No matter your age, there are a few simple things you can do to keep yourself happy and healthy. We’ve compiled a list of our top health tips that you can follow at different stages of life to help keep you in tip-top condition.
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THIRTIES CHILDHOOD Immunise on time Having your children vaccinated on time is the best way to protect them, and other members of your family and the wider community, from diseases such as chicken pox, whooping cough, measles and more. These and other vaccine preventable diseases can have extreme consequences including brain swelling, paralysis and even death, for children who contract the disease. Vaccination is safe, effective and also free as part of the National Immunisation Program for children. Sleep is sacred Children’s bodies are developing and changing at a rapid rate and sleep directly impacts their physical and mental health. During sleep, blood flow increases to muscles, cells repair and hormones affecting growth and development are released, making it an essential part of any child’s development. The Life Education organisation recommends 12 - 14 hours of sleep per night for two to four-yearolds and school-age children should have between 10 and 12 hours of sleep per night. Eat right Good nutrition is essential to the growth and development of healthy bodies. Ensuring your kids are eating a wide range of fruits, vegetables, protein and whole grains each day will promote healthy eating habits into the future and will provide them with the vitamins and minerals they need to boost their immune systems, develop healthy bones and maintain dental health.
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TWENTIES A weighty issue Maintaining a healthy weight is important at any age but often weight gain creeps up on us in our twenties, which is why it is important to know what you weigh. Excess alcohol consumption and poor nutrition are some of the major factors to gaining weight, and these poor health habits are often present or developed during your twenties. Experts suggest weighing yourself every few months in order to keep an eye on weight gain. It is a lot easier to lose three or four kilograms than it is to lose 10 or 20 kilograms! Get moving Setting up a good exercise routine in your twenties puts you on the right path to maintaining this habit as you age. Exercise burns off excess kilojoules, strengthens muscles, improves heart condition and has positive effects on your mental health. Just 20 to 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise can provide huge health benefits for you now and into the future. So say yes to the hike on Saturday morning, Thursday night pump class and don’t skip leg day! Do what you love Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life – this rings true for your health too! People who are unhappy in their work life report higher levels of stress, depression and sleep issues, all of which can affect their mental health now and into middle age and beyond. Your twenties are the perfect time to figure out what you love or are passionate about and set a plan into motion for achieving those goals.
Pump it In your thirties, you begin to lose muscle mass, which has an effect on a number of other health factors including weight gain and heart health. This is why it is important to stay active and incorporate strength exercises into your normal exercise routines. Just two sessions of 30-minute strength exercises a week can slow muscle loss and improve metabolism and heart condition. Know your numbers (cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and body weight) It may seem like a lot of numbers to keep track of but these are some of the most important to know in your thirties and beyond. These numbers will indicate your risk of developing serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney failure. Getting checked is simple and can be done by visiting your regular GP. A few health and lifestyle changes can greatly affect these numbers, and your future health. Seeds of change Your late twenties and early thirties are a good time for both men and women to start thinking about their fertility. Age plays a factor in the fertility of both men and women, with the chances of miscarriage, birth complications and future health problems increasing with the parents’ age. Women’s fertility starts to decline significantly from around 32, while men’s fertility declines at around age 40. It is a good idea for you and your partner to make a fertility plan in your early thirties to reduce any chance of difficulties in the future. Pindara Magazine
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FORTIES The eyes have it Eyesight often declines in your forties. Regular eye checks are important in addressing any issues, not just in your reading glasses prescription but also in the monitoring and diagnosis of other eye issues such as cataracts. Wearing sunglasses when outside and ensuring your diet includes lycopene (found in red fruit and vegetables such as tomatoes, watermelon and red capsicum) are some of the easiest ways you can help protect your eye health. All in the family Being familiar with your family health history is important in identifying any health concerns to be conscious of as you age. For example, a strong family history of breast cancer should alert you and your GP of the increased risk you carry of developing the disease. A family history of diabetes, colon cancer and heart disease can also increase your risk of developing these diseases. The good news is there are a few tests and actions you can take to reduce and monitor your risk so you stay healthy well into your forties and beyond. De-stress Life in your forties can be stressful. With the responsibilities of work, finances, relationships and family duties often reaching a fever pitch in your forties, life can get on top of you quickly. It is important to take time for yourself – find an enjoyable hobby, stay in touch with people who are important to you, eat right and yes we’ll say it again … exercise! These are all things you can do to improve your stress levels and overall mental (and physical) wellbeing. 14
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FIFTIES Get cosy with your colon The risk of developing colon cancer for both men and women significantly increases once you reach 50, which is why your GP is likely to recommend you have a colonoscopy once you hit this milestone. Depending on what your colonoscopy reveals and your other risk factors, you will likely only need to repeat this test every few years. Prostate of affairs Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in Australian men. One in 38 will be diagnosed with the disease between the ages of 40 and 60, with more than 3,000 men dying of the disease in Australia each year. Often there will be no symptoms of the disease until the later stages, which is why regular checks are important in treatment success and achieving positive outcomes. Your GP can perform a simple blood test and physical exam to check for the disease. Keep abreast of your breasts One in eight Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and with an average of eight women dying from the disease each day, it is important to make breast checks part of your regular routine. Women are encouraged to do self-checks regularly to pick up any changes as well as undergoing regular screenings that would show any abnormalities. In Australia, BreastScreen offers free mammograms to women between 50 and 74 years of age, so get checked! Early detection saves lives.
SIXTIES AND BEYOND Exercise your mind Researchers believe that many of the brain changes experienced later in life, such as memory loss, are actually more lifestyle related than age related. Your brain is like a muscle and needs to be exercised regularly to stay in shape. Being physically active is one of the best ways to keep your mind active – gentle exercise such as Tai Chi, water aerobics or just going for a walk are great activities for your body and mind. Other brain boosting activities such as socialising (conversation is great for the mind), meditation, doing crossword puzzles, playing word games, learning a new language and reading will all keep your mind in tip top shape. Get a flu shot Vaccination is not just for kids; it is important for older people too, especially the flu shot. Older people are at a higher risk of catching the disease and developing serious complications as a result, which is why it is important to protect yourself by getting the flu vaccine each year. Flu vaccines are provided free of charge to people aged 65 years and over, and are commonly available from your regular GP, or even your local pharmacy. Nutrition now As we age it continues to be important to be aware of our diet and nutrition. Lifestyle changes, reduction in appetite, reduced ability for our body to absorb and store nutrients, along with less capacity to buy and prepare food can all take a toll on nutrition in later life. Poor nutrition can exacerbate some health issues and even create others, so make sure every meal is an opportunity for nutrition by including plenty of fruit, vegetables, whole grains and proteins. Frozen and canned fruits and vegetables along with canned fish, rolled oats and rice are just a few examples of foods with a long shelf life that can still pack a mighty nutritional punch.
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HUMANS of Pindara
MATTERS OF THE HEART We meet Cardiologist Dr Ben Hunt in his office at The Cardiac Centre in the Pindara Specialist Suites. It’s a busy practice, even early in the morning, buzzing with admin staff coordinating comings and goings, and patients waiting in anxious expectation - all of this creating a vaguely palpable mist of kinetic energy.
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ontradicting the nervous hum of the waiting room is Dr Ben Hunt. A tall, slim man, with thick rimmed glasses who puts you quickly at ease with a calm and considered demeanour that precedes a clear penchant for intricacy, pattern and discovery. From a quiet rural life on a small hobby farm outside of Murwillumbah, Ben was always drawn to a vocation of discovery and process; his early career ambitions of becoming a scientist or inventor like Thomas Edison revealing a curious and creative mind driven to problem solve. Excelling through high school Ben moved through a period of indecision about what vocation to choose after rejecting a scholarship to study environmental engineering from BHP. After a stint working packing boxes of fruit and other foods and making a difference working with Kids Helpline, it was the theory and wonder of medicine and the human body with all its intricacies, secrets and systems that captured his heart – almost literally. “I never really intended on medicine, but the theory was fascinating and it gives you such a sense of wonder and awe as to how the body works,” muses Dr Hunt.
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“Cardiology appealed to me most because it is a fascinating mix of the practical and intellectual. The heart has very clear mechanisms; there are great therapies that can be performed and clearly explained. It is hands on and so rewarding when you perform a physical intervention and cure someone completely.” Dr Hunt specialises in electrophysiology, which explores the electrics of the heart. He talks me through a condition called ‘flutter’, with a contagious enthusiasm akin to a kid seeing fireworks for the first time. “Flutter is a heart rhythm problem where the electricity of the heart makes an endless loop around the tricuspid valve, causing the heart to race, amongst other symptoms,” he explains. “When the loop is interrupted by the tiniest of alterations made by a cardiologist, it cures the flutter entirely. “It is fascinating to me that you can just reduce these problems down to an electrical circuit, which you can interrupt, and it changes people’s lives. That part is always amazing - being able to make a difference in a person’s life, to cure them. I love that.” Practicing medicine has taught Dr Hunt much about life – the universality of the human condition and the strength of people. “No matter who you are or what you do, we all have challenges and problems to overcome but people always astound me with their resilience and their strength. Human life can be so fragile, so it is important to make the most of the
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good times. Medicine has also taught me the importance of hard work and never giving up.” Important lessons for the father of four (two girls and two boys, all under the age of eight), who admits the work life balance of a doctor is very difficult to achieve, if not impossible. “I think lots of doctors struggle with this. Medicine is not nine to five. You have a work life and a home life and it is very difficult to incorporate anything else or to even balance those two. The important thing is to be present - really present - in the times you do have with your family and being active with them when you can.” It was the importance of family and the Gold Coast weather and lifestyle that drew Dr Hunt and his family back to the Coast to begin his practice here after a couple of years working in Canada. So what does a perfect Gold Coast day look like for a cardiologist, when the pressures of medicine are far behind him? “We would wake up early and make pancakes for breakfast with the kids before going out and doing something fun like going to the beach or up to Natural Arch. We’d have a nice lunch together before off-loading the kids on someone and heading out somewhere amazing for dinner with just my wife.” However his love of fine food would be surpassed by his love of life if he ever found himself on death row. When asked what his last meal would be Dr Hunt responded that he'd request a sausage roll filled with money to bribe the guards so he could escape.
Dr Hunt also revealed that he has an eclectic range of reading material on his bedside table including a copy of medical journal Heart Rhythm, and Grug – a beloved Australian children’s book. The last film he saw at the movies was Lego Batman (which he enjoyed immensely) and the most played artists on his iPod are Counting Crows, Gotye, Bernard Fanning, and Boy and Bear. His taste for various forms of rock music also uncovered a secret talent of playing guitar and even making his own, which by his own admission was quite astounding. “I have played since I was a kid. Someone just gave me a guitar one day out of the blue and it was one of those small moments that change your life. I just picked it up and have played ever since then.” Life changing moments are what Dr Hunt aspires to in the future. Making a difference in people’s lives by giving them the right advice, performing great procedures at the right time and achieving excellent outcomes for his patients now and into the future – this is what matters to him most. “There is so much more to be realised in cardiology and medicine. Discoveries and developments are constantly evolving and there is so much more to learn and so much more to achieve,” he says. We think that the hearts of the Gold Coast are in good hands with Dr Hunt.
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GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY: IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU? Dr Jacobus Jordaan, General Surgeon
WHAT IS IT? Also known as a sleeve gastrectomy, gastric sleeve surgery is one of the most effective weight loss procedures available. It is a weight loss operation in which a thin vertical sleeve of stomach is created using a stapling device via keyhole surgery. The rest of the stomach is removed, leaving a sleeve-like stomach about the size and shape of a banana.
WHY HAVE IT? Sleeve gastrectomy can effectively resolve weight-related health problems, including the rapid resolution of Type-2 Diabetes in some patients. It requires fewer follow-up appointments than a gastric band, and has fewer potential postoperative problems than a gastric bypass. Patients typically lose more weight after a sleeve gastrectomy than after a gastric band, with excellent eating quality of life and very low risk of complications. 18
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BEFORE SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY
AFTER SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY
WHAT IS IT LIKE IN ACTION? Everyone has a tipping point. For Jason Rosa it was the day his body couldn’t make it up a flight of stairs and he had to use the disabled lift. Jason’s weight had reached 205kg and he was taking a handful of pills every day to regulate his heart rate, blood pressure, diabetes and other health problems. That was just over a year ago. Today Jason, 43, weighs in at a healthy 97kg, and the only pill he takes is a multivitamin. At the Surgical Weight Loss Centre, Dr Jordaan leads a clinical team of doctors, nurses, nutritionists, psychologists, anesthetists and medical specialists who case manage each patient to assist long-term improvements in their health and weight. This commitment to total quality control means Dr Jordaan’s program has achieved long-term results high above the national average, as measured by independent audit. “The program is designed to stop weight-related health problems in their tracks and then reverse the damage excess weight may have done to patients’ body and health. Patients routinely halve their medications for conditions like diabetes before they are discharged from hospital, long before significant weight loss occurs,” said Dr Jordaan. pindaramagazine.com.au
Jason was no different. He no longer needs daily medication to regulate his heartbeat and his blood pressure and his resting heart rate has dropped from a dangerous 110 beats per minute, down to 56 beats per minute. Dr Jordaan said a key factor in a patient’s long-term success is a post-surgical program that continuously monitors the patient’s nutritional status and health throughout the weight loss period. “The typical patient continues to lose weight for up to 2 years, without nutritional deficiencies and motivational slumps over that time” Dr Jordaan said. “We have assembled a team of clinical professionals who take a medical approach to weight loss and health management, in order to help our patients lose a large amount of weight quickly and safely, and keep it off. The body is a complicated system and to achieve real long-term results it’s important that patients are individually case managed by health professionals proficient in the specific needs of bariatric patients.” Dr Jordaan said. After bariatric surgery and 13 months on an individualised program, Jason said he no longer feels trapped inside a body where he doesn’t belong.
THE SURGICAL WEIGHT LOSS CENTRE HOLDS FREE MONTHLY EDUCATION EVENINGS ON THE LAST MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH WHERE DR JORDAAN, HIS TEAM AND PAST PATIENTS EXPLAIN THE PROCEDURES AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. TO REGISTER TO ATTEND YOU CAN CALL THEIR ROOMS ON 07 5556 8888 OR REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.SURGICALWEIGHTLOSSCENTRE.COM.AU
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EXPECT
the unexpected THE LIFE OF AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT NURSE One of the busiest departments in any hospital is usually the emergency department (ED): a restless, bustling place, full of kinetic energy created by the constant activity of nurses and doctors tending to the needs of patients in various states of distress. We spoke with Chris Gunton - an ED nurse at Pindara, with over 25 years’ experience in Australian and overseas emergency departments, both public and private. Chris has been working in Pindara’s emergency department for 12 years and gives us an insight into what it is like to work in the ED.
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n a department where you can usually expect to encounter the unexpected, Chris says there is actually a strange predictability about it. The mornings start off fairly quiet, as most of the patients from the night before have been seen and have either gone home or have already moved to wards. The morning shift allows nurses to get around the department, do their checks and ensure stations are well stocked with supplies that will be required throughout the day. From around 10am patients generally start to filter in and the day just keeps getting busier from there, especially if it is a Monday. “We don’t know why, but Mondays are always busy days for emergency departments.” Chris said. “If you are rostered on a Monday, you never plan to do anything extra because you just won’t get a chance to get to it – Mondays are mad.” By the middle of the day or early afternoon, the ED is generally full, and the pressure is on to keep the department moving and ensure everyone is receiving the care they need. The triage nurse coordinates which patients go where, determined by the nature and seriousness of their illness, with the sickest patients being allocated to the most senior of nurses. Through the comings and goings of a busy department – where the patients are always changing – it can be a real juggle to ensure each patient gets what they need in a reasonable timeframe, whilst being aware of what else still
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needs to happen. It can be difficult to attend to patients whilst simultaneously trying to organise where each patient is going to next and so on but there is a great team environment present in the ED. This strong sense of team comes into play especially when a MET call is received. “A MET call is an emergency call that comes through from a ward where a patient has gone into cardiac arrest or has deteriorated rapidly and needs immediate attention,” explains Chris. A senior nurse and doctor from the ED are allocated to MET calls each day and if one comes through they must stop what they are doing and attend to the call immediately. Care of the ED patients allocated to the MET call nurse is automatically taken up by other staff within the department, and everyone works together to keep things moving and maintain patient care. By the late afternoon and into the evening the ward is full, and there is a constant rotation of sending patients to the ward or sending them home, before another patient takes their place. Usually by the late evening the ward starts to empty out, allowing staff to follow up the day’s activities and reset beds for the next patient. The ED receives ailments and illnesses of all descriptions but again the predictable unpredictability always seems to come back into play, with weekends being a busy time for sports injuries – especially during summer. The ED can be a real-life encyclopaedia of cuts, scrapes, lacerations, dislocations, breaks and bruises. Nurses are busy managing pain, radiology are
2017
'WE DON’T K NOW WHY, BUT MONDAYS AR E ALWAYS BUSY DAYS FOR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS'
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kept on their toes x-raying and investigating numerous complaints, and the plaster room looks more like a sculptor’s workshop, where an array of limbs – large and small – are masterfully set. Winter tends to be a busy time in the ED, with lots of people presenting with respiratory problems. Children, especially, present more often in winter with breathing issues such as croup and asthma, along with fever and gastro. The ED also sees a lot of fall-related injuries, cardiac issues and abdominal pain, particularly in older patients. The benefit of a private ED such as Pindara is that they don’t take on major trauma cases, few drunks and no drug overdoses - all cases that can be very taxing on resources - so patients at Pindara are assessed and can receive treatment very quickly. These ailments are a far cry from some of the cases Chris dealt with when he was working in the emergency department of a large hospital in Saudi Arabia many years ago. Chris recounts, “There was no ambulance service when I worked in Saudi, so if someone had a car accident it was up to the next passer-by to pick up the injured, throw them in the car and speed them off to hospital. There was no warning call – just a car speeding up to the front door honking madly to get our attention. Everyone raced to the door – you never knew what you would find in that car.” Another memorable moment from his time in Saudi Arabia came when confronted with the wildlife. “We had a guy come in to the ED who had been bitten by a death adder. The tricky part was he had caught the snake – alive – and brought it into the ED for us to look at so we knew which antivenin to give him. Needless to say, I stayed well away from the live angry death adder,” laughs Chris. Chris believes ED nurses need a special combination of personality traits to be successful. Empathy, compassion, excellent time management and the ability to prioritise are among the most important, given no two days are the same. According to Chris though, this is the best thing about the ED. “It’s always interesting. It can be hard work at times and can be quite taxing on people physically and emotionally, but this kind of nursing leaves you with a real sense of achievement – the satisfaction that you have really achieved something and made a difference to someone’s life.”
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EXECUTIVE HEALTH CHECKS TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY - IT’S THE ONLY PLACE YOU HAVE TO LIVE!
Dr Martin Clark, Emergency Specialist
For nearly 50 years Pindara Private Hospital has provided outstanding private health services in Australia, and is now offering what may be regarded as the last piece in the puzzle in terms of creating the complete health service.
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P
indara Corporate Wellness Centre recently opened within the Pindara Private Hospital facility and is offering patients a comprehensive and cost effective health risk assessment service, for individuals as well as organisations looking to offer health and wellbeing programs to their teams. The Pindara Corporate Wellness Centre will help to identify health risks and prevent illness by performing a series of tests including an extensive online health questionnaire, comprehensive examination by an experienced Pindara doctor, skin check, blood pressure checks, blood oxygen levels, ECG, lung function tests, urine analysis, comprehensive blood tests (including full cholesterol/lipid studies), exercise tests, coronary calcium score (to assess risk of a heart attack), and age/gender specific cancer screening advice and tests. The results from these tests are then entered into evidence-based, scientifically validated health risk assessment software to provide a 14-page report on your current individual health and potential risk factors. Advice on how to modify and reduce these risks is then provided. Knowing what your risks are and how to manage them reduces future healthcare costs and potential suffering. It connects lifestyle to healthy outcomes and drives informed decisions with actionable data. It enables organisations to inspire lifestyles that promote health, prevent disease and reduce avoidable healthcare costs. The Pindara Corporate Wellness Centre recently completed testing on its first major corporate client, the Senior Management team of Village Roadshow Theme Parks. If we uncover any health conditions we have pathology, radiology and experienced specialists on site ready to help. Should some risk factors be identified during the testing process, Pindara will provide you with lifestyle advice to help you be the best and healthiest person you can. It is important to remember the Pindara Corporate Wellness Centre does not take the place of a person’s regular GP, but instead provides health information and a health plan that can be monitored by your regular GP. Renowned author Dr Eric Braverman states, “At age 40, on average, you have five hidden diseases, (that is they are not yet causing signs or symptoms and you don't know that you have them). At age 50 it is closer to ten hidden diseases. One of them will likely kill you. Hidden diseases are harder to find, but easier to treat. Advanced diseases are easier to find, but harder to treat.” The aim of this program is to identify health risks before they cause illness, suffering and in some cases death, and provide you with a simple roadmap for health. The Pindara Corporate Wellness Centre has been created by Emergency Medical Group, who set up
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Australia’s first and highly successful private Emergency Centre. Over decades of treating serious illness this team of doctors became determined to help people avoid or delay serious preventable illness and so created this program for early detection and guidance on how to manage health risks into the future. There are two types of health checks available in the newly-renovated, customised treatment rooms at Pindara Private Hospital: Pindara Comprehensive - tailored for those aged under 50 and with no major health problems (ideal for large organisation screening), and Pindara Comprehensive Plus – tailored for those aged over 50, or with significant health concerns. The Pindara Comprehensive Plus option involves additional screening including a Coronary Calcium Score to assess your risk of a heart attack. Heart disease and stroke is the cause of death of about half of all Australians. Many people have no warning signs of the disease when their first attack happens. The Coronary Calcium Score is a measurement of the amount of calcium in the walls of the arteries that supply your heart muscle, using a special computed tomography (CT) scan of your heart. This is a reliable indicator of the overall load of atherosclerosis in your arteries and tells you about your risk of a heart attack or stroke in the next five to ten years. Your Coronary Calcium Score will place you at low, medium or high risk, allowing your doctor to more accurately assess your risk and help you with risk modification strategies. This help may be via onsite cardiologist referral, smoking cessation, treating your cholesterol or, most commonly, assisting you with simple uncomplicated diet and exercise advice. There are many benefits for corporations who implement health and wellbeing programs for their staff. Organisations who have run or have incorporated these types of programs into their business often report benefits such as decreased absenteeism, fewer reports of employee stress and a reduction in costs associated with workers compensation, according to Workplace Health Australia (formerly the Health and Productivity Institute of Australia). Anecdotal evidence also suggests that corporations find an improvement in productivity and engagement, as well as team relationships and workplace culture. It is accepted that many people spend the first half of their life chasing financial stability at the expense of their health, then spend the rest of their life using that money to try and regain their health. The Pindara Corporate Wellness Centre can help break this cycle for your organisation, or for yourself, and help you to be the healthiest you can be. Pindara Magazine
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I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW REFRACTIVE LENS EXCHANGE SURGERY
Dr Darryl Gregor, Ophthalmologist
T
he gift of sight can be easily taken for granted by those who do not have the daily need for glasses or contact lenses. Reading, driving and watching TV become difficult tasks, particularly if you lose your glasses or missed an order of contact lenses. The relatively new technique of refractive lens exchange is becoming an increasingly common procedure, particularly for people over 45 years of age looking for a more constant and convenient solution to their vision impairment. Similar to cataract surgery, refractive lens exchange replaces the eye’s clear natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens in order to correct the patient’s refractive error, achieving sharper focus and reducing or removing the patient’s need for glasses or contact lenses. This procedure is typically performed on people with presbyopia or extreme farsightedness and for whom other interventions or surgery are not an option. Refractive lens exchange is not a lengthy procedure, taking only around 20 minutes to complete and can be performed in a day surgery environment. General anaesthetic is not required; instead a light sedation or ‘twilight’ anaesthetic is generally used in the procedure. The lower lid is numbed, eliminating pain, so downtime associated with the procedure is not lengthy. Patients will only need the day of the procedure and the following day to recover, allowing the effects of the light anaesthetic to wear off entirely. 24
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Results from surgery are often experienced relatively quickly, with some people reporting a marked difference soon after surgery. However it is not unusual for final outcomes to occur a few weeks following the procedure as the eye heals. There is also generally little discomfort experienced by patients following the procedure. Patients tend not to be able to feel the lens, in the same way a dental filling is not felt once in place. The lens is implanted inside the eye and does not sit on the surface the same way a contact lens does. Surgery is designed uniquely for each patient, addressing their specific vision impairments and lifestyle requirements, such as career, family situation and involvement in different sporting pursuits. All these things are taken into consideration when selecting the artificial lens. Ophthalmologist, Dr Darryl Gregor, from the Eye and Laser Centre on the Gold Coast believes refractive lens exchange is an excellent option for many people suffering vision impairment due to issues with their eye lenses. “This procedure is often of great benefit to those people who had relatively good eyesight until later in life and who are having some difficulty adjusting to needing corrective items such as glasses and contact lenses now,” he says. “Refractive lens exchange is also a good option for competitive sports people who cannot train and compete with glasses or contact lenses.”
REFR ACTIVE LENS EXCHANGE CHECKLIST
X
ARE YOU OVER 45 YEARS OLD
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DO YOU WANT THE FREEDOM OF PERFORMING EVERYDAY TASKS WITHOUT GLASSES
X
DO YOU WANT TO SAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
X
DO YOU WANT TO FEEL YOUNGER AND MORE CONFIDENT
THIS PROCEDURE IS TYPICALLY PERFORMED ON PEOPLE WITH PRESBYOPIA OR EXTREME FARSIGHTEDNESS AND FOR WHOM OTHER INTERVENTIONS OR SURGERY ARE NOT AN OPTION.
FAREWELL YOUR GLASSES TODAY! TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT REFRACTIVE LENS EXCHANGE AND OTHER SPECIALIST PROCEDURES, CONTACT THE EYE AND LASER CENTRE FOR A CONSULTATION
LEVEL 4, 2 SHORT STREET, SOUTHPORT, QLD 4215T: 5555 0800 F: 5531 2016 www.eyeandlasercentre.com.au
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Alcohol & MENTAL ILLNESS THE TRUE EFFECTS
Dr Bas Dall, Psychiatrist
W
hen it comes to competitiveness, no other nation compares to Australia in its determination to outrank the rest of the world. Whilst this might be great for our athletes, it can be deadly for those in the community who suffer from alcohol misuse disorders. Whilst we don’t sit top of the list in alcohol consumption per capita, we certainly do give other countries a good run for their money – ranking second highest amongst the OECD in 2015, with the Czech Republic taking out the top spot.
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ONLY ABOUT 20% OF ALCOHOL CONSUMED OR ALLY IS ABSOR BED FROM THE STOMACH, WITH THE R EMAINDER FROM THE SMALL INTESTINE
In 2016 the 12th National Drug Strategy survey was undertaken by the Australian Government. This comprehensive assessment looks at trends in consumption of tobacco, alcohol and illicit substances and is undertaken every two to three years. Data from the survey is also used to measure community attitudes to drug use in Australia. The 2016 survey was undertaken by The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) between June and November 2016. Key findings were released in June 2017 and show that overall, we are drinking less as a nation and that there are more young people choosing not to drink any alcohol at all than in previous years. So what exactly is alcohol and what does it do to us? Alcohol is primarily a colourless flammable liquid, and the term generally refers to the ethyl alcohol (ethanol) which is found in alcoholic beverages. Ethanol itself is quite volatile and is usually produced by the process of fermentation of sugars. It is the main ingredient responsible for the intoxicating effects of various drinks including beers, wines and spirits. When consumed, alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the circulation and affects a variety of bodily functions. Only about 20% of alcohol consumed orally is absorbed from the stomach, with the remainder from the small intestine. The speed in which alcohol is absorbed can vary greatly from person to person and can be influenced by factors such as hydration and presence of food in the gastrointestinal (GI) system. Alcohol is a toxin, and our body views it as such, therefore attempting to get rid of alcohol by metabolising it into a non-toxic form for excretion. This mostly occurs in our liver, which can only metabolise alcohol at a certain rate.
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This results in the accumulation of alcohol in our system with a relationship between the severity of the intoxicating effects being directly related to the quantity of alcohol consumed and the speed with which it is consumed. Intoxication with alcohol can be influenced by age, sex, speed of consumption and weight. The most obvious effects of alcohol are in our Central Nervous System. In the brain, alcohol exerts both sedating and stimulatory effects by various pathways including GABA and serotonin. The debate still rages as to whether consumption of small amounts of alcohol is good or bad for us. Most experts agree that moderation is the key in avoiding alcohol becoming a poison. In terms of possible benefits of healthy levels of alcohol consumption, there are studies that demonstrate improvement to cardiovascular health which may be related to alcohol. More specifically, alcohol (in moderation) may increase the levels of High Density Lipoprotein (HDL or “good” cholesterol). This is the type of cholesterol that can be protective against cardiovascular disease. In addition, alcohol may help avoid the formation of small blood clots by affecting the clotting factors in our blood. This reduces an individual’s risk of strokes and heart attacks. Alcohol may have other positive health effects, including aiding digestion and reducing the risk of gallstones and Type 2 Diabetes. From a psychological and social perspective, alcohol (in moderation) can reduce stress levels, increase socialisation and activities, and we know that people who are less stressed and have an active social life are less likely to suffer from chronic diseases and are more likely to live happier, healthier lives.
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Whilst there is certainly a lot of disagreement and debate around the potential health benefits of alcohol there is no uncertainty about the risks of alcohol consumption, particularly when in excess. We can confidently say that alcohol causes inflammation of the liver, which can lead to long term irreversible damage such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. We also know that excess drinking causes increased cardiovascular risks such as high blood pressure and cardiomyopathy (damage to the muscle in the heart). Alcohol is, in fact, directly or indirectly implicated in over 60 medical diseases/conditions, from obvious ones such as throat cancers and pancreatitis, to not so obvious ones including nerve damage, which can lead to incontinence and erectile dysfunction. In addition to the physical harms from alcohol use, there are a myriad of mental health issues related to alcohol. Over time, alcohol worsens anxiety and depression due to the effects it has on our brain chemistry. People who consume alcohol in excess often find it harder to manage day to day stresses and can quickly find themselves addicted to alcohol due to rebound anxiety and agitation which occurs when they stop drinking. The intoxicating effects of alcohol result in poor judgement and increased impulsiveness, which can increase the risks of suicide or violence in an individual. Heavy consumption of alcohol can result in dementia and memory impairment. People who are alcohol dependent are at very high risk of certain types of neurological conditions such as Wernicke’s encephalitis and Korsakoff’s syndrome. This is due to nutritional deficiencies in vitamin B1 or thiamine, which is essential in our brains for the storage and retrieval of information. We also know that people who suffer from mental health conditions are more at risk of problem drinking, in addition to smoking and illicit drug use. Often, it can be quite difficult to determine whether alcohol use has led to the mental health condition, or vice versa. From a clinical perspective it is important to look at individuals in a holistic way and often that means treating comorbidities alongside each other. Treatment options for alcohol misuse and dependence have progressed, and clinicians now have a number of approaches to assist people in managing problem drinking. There is a good evidence base for psychological interventions, as well as pharmacological options. Most GPs have a good understanding of the management of mild alcohol withdrawal. More severe cases need to be managed within inpatient settings, as the risk of complications of unmanaged withdrawal can be life threatening. Withdrawal symptoms are treated with medications to reduce the risk of seizures and neurological damage. Following this, relapse prevention strategies can include psychological treatment, as well as a variety of medications, some of which are shown to reduce cravings in the medium to long term. Ramsay Health Care has recently opened The Southport Private Hospital, offering holistic care for mental health patients via a multidisciplinary team who will deliver quality evidenced based treatment options for people wishing to address their problem drinking. Interventions will include the management of alcohol withdrawal and treatment of psychiatric co-morbidities, including programs aimed at relapse prevention.
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WE ALSO KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE MORE AT RISK OF PROBLEM DRINKING, IN ADDITION TO SMOKING AND ILLICIT DRUG USE.
2017
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LASER CENTRE ○ Laser Hair Removal ○ Veins ○ Pigmentation ○ Rosacea ○ Acne ○ Birthmarks ○ Tattoo Removal ○ Large Pores ○ Scarring ○ Photorevelation ○ Skintyte ○ ProFractional Resurfacing • Emerge ○ Vasculyse ○ Focus Array
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DR DILIP GAHANKARI M.Ch., F.R.C.S (Edin), F.R.A.C.S (Plast)
Dr. Dilip’s commitment is to provide outstanding care to his patients with assurance of safety and quality in all aspects of their Plastic Surgery management. It is with this sincere philosophy that he performs every procedure.
Pindara Specialist Suites, Level 3, Suite 305, 29 Carrara St, Benowa | P: 55 39 46 11 | www.iplasticsurgeon.com.au
MERCY MISSION
DR DILIP GAHANKARI’S LIFESAVING PLIGHT Every year, Dr Dilip Gahankari and a team of dedicated volunteers, take medical care to the impoverished people of Melghat, India.
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ogether with his team, Dr Gahankari - a renowned plastic and reconstructive surgeon - is an inspiring example of what is possible when medical prowess meets a desire to help those less fortunate. Each year, in a sparsely equipped operating theatre of a charity-funded hospital in a remote town in Utavali (some 600 kilometres from Mumbai), Dr Gahankari and a volunteer team of medical practitioners from India and around the world screen hundreds of people who have been transported from a 200 kilometre radius to take advantage of their services. They perform an average of 70 surgeries in just five days; most of them on children under the age of 12 with cleft lips and palates, head and neck tumours, hand anomalies and burn contractures. “I wanted to be an engineer but my father said I should be a doctor and help people,” recounts Dr Gahankari, who arrived in Australia in 1999 via Malaysia and the UK. “Plastic surgery has a life-changing influence and it’s a joy to touch other people’s lives in this way. Undertaking
volunteer work in third world or underprivileged communities makes you appreciate the little things in life that most of us take for granted.” Birth deformities are a common occurrence in Melghat due to the common custom of inbreeding, nutritional deficits and high incidence of alcohol and smoking, as well as herbal home remedies. To compound matters, burn injuries also take their toll because of unsafe practices with kerosene lamps and open cooking fires, especially during the harsh winter months when temperatures drop to freezing. A lack of access to modern hospital facilities and the immense poverty means that people rarely seek medical attention for their injuries, resulting in severe deformities in the affected areas. “India’s public hospital system is completely free but it is so overcrowded that it cannot meet demand, which means the wait can be too hard or too long for many,” Dr Gahankari explains. That is one of the reasons Dr Gahankari answered the call in 2006 from his former medical school classmates who were hoping to lighten the load of some of India’s poorest 2017
I am constantly reminded of my father’s words, ‘Never let anybody decide what you are worth, only you can direct your own life’.” villagers. A world away from his luxurious stateof-the-art offices at Pindara Private Hospital and the immense resources of the Royal Brisbane Hospital, Dr Gahankari has to rely on his training and wits to just get through the day. “You have to be prepared to work long hours, usually 12 - 16 hour days,” he says. “The environment forces you to be very creative and resourceful with what is available and not allow what you lack to impact your positive attitude. “We are seeing children of 11 or 12 severely disfigured with facial clefts – and the social stigma that comes with that – these children would never have received any treatment without a project like this one. “But the work you do is valuable, greatly appreciated and it carries its own rewards. You don’t have to speak the same language to communicate. Patients express themselves with a simple touch or gesture that conveys sincere gratitude.” Dr Gahankari, who also volunteers his services on similar ongoing projects in East Timor and Nepal, says that his penchant for philanthropy was fostered by parents who not only instilled in him the importance of helping others, but also taught him how unimportant material trappings are. “I had no telephone, air-conditioning, fridge or car until I became a doctor,” he says. “This upbringing taught me how little you need to be happy and it instilled in me the value of life and resources. I learned to respect the underprivileged and uneducated. I am constantly reminded of my father’s words, ‘Never let anybody decide what you are worth, only you can direct your own life’.” Projects of this magnitude are really not possible without charitable donations of time and money and Dr Gahankari is grateful both for the support of Australian health workers, hospitals and medical companies as well as the Indian community organisations, who ensure the tribal patients and their families, can travel to the makeshift clinics. The going is hard, he says, but programs such as this can help rebalance in a small way the global problem of poorer countries losing highly-skilled professionals to richer Western entities. “This aid project allows me to do what I like to do, which is reconstructive surgery to the highest level, while also contributing to the care of patients in my home region who do not have adequate access to modern medicine. “It is a great pleasure to be able to help them, because when you repair a facial cleft you are changing a child’s life. Just one patient like that, knowing you have made a difference just makes your whole trip worthwhile.” pindaramagazine.com.au
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ADVERTORIAL
THE ALL-ON-4 ® What is the All-on-4®? The All-on-4® is a dental implant technique that can be used to provide patients with a new set of fixed (non-removable), highly aesthetic and immediately functional teeth in as little as a single appointment. These patients are typically edentulous (have lost all of their original adult teeth), near-edentulous or are suffering from a failing dentition as a result of advanced periodontal (gum) disease. Many have existing loose or failing bridgework and others are denture or partial denture wearers. How does the All-on-4® dental implant technique differ from dentures? The All-on-4® dental implant technique provides patients with fixed (non-removable) teeth and because of this, they: Are cleaned and maintained similarly to natural teeth and do not need to be removed after meals or at night time. Enable you to bite down with close to a natural bite, thus allowing you to enjoy the foods you love, but couldn’t manage with uncomfortable dentures. Do not shift around and cannot fall out, saving patients much discomfort and social embarrassment. Do not rest solely on the gums, as is the case with dentures, and therefore seldom cause irritation, inflammation and the development of sores in the mouth. Dental implants promote better jaw bone health by channeling the functional stimulation associated with eating into the supporting hard tissue. Can halt the progression of bone loss in the jaw and so do not require one’s bridgework to be redone every few years or so (as a result of the changing shape of the jaw). Do not incur repeated expenses such as messy adhesives, soaking solutions, anesthetic gels and other hygienic and storage products typically needed for dentures. The All-on-4® MALO CLINIC bridge is far slimmer than traditional bulky dentures and doesn’t cover the hard palate. Consequently, it does not tend to trigger the gag reflex or impede your ability to taste and sense the temperature of your food properly. What is the difference between the All-on-4® and conventional dental implant techniques? The All-on-4® technique is a breakthrough in the field of fixed oral rehabilitation as it enables our skilled team of dental implant professionals to achieve unprecedented results and treatment times. The key differences between this incredible innovation and older dental implant methods for the replacement of an entire row of teeth are: *The All-on-4® only requires four dental implants to provide patients with new teeth. Older techniques could require as many as six, eight or even ten dental implants to be placed per jaw! This means that for full mouth reconstruction, a patient could be looking at having as many as 20 dental
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implants placed, which frequently worked out to be prohibitively expensive. Additionally, the use of more implants means more surgery, incurring a longer recovery period with greater post-operative pain. If spaced too close together, the risks of complications and implant failure could be greater. The All-on-4® typically only requires a single surgery to give patients new teeth. With only four dental implants needed per jaw, full arch replacement can quite easily and safely be completed within the space of a single procedure. Older techniques could see a patient coming in for treatment for up to 18 months, as the greater number of implants and “necessary” bone grafting would have to be performed in sessions. This means lengthier treatment, greater discomfort, multiple recovery periods, more time off from work, inconvenience and, of course, expense! The All-on-4® typically avoids the need for bone grafting surgery. The oral diseases that cause tooth loss can also deteriorate jawbone health. This combined with atrophy (caused by the loss of functional stimulation of the jawbone via the tooth roots) used to necessitate the augmentation of the jawbone before the surgeon could even consider treatment using dental implants. However, owing to the strategic arrangement of implants utilizing the All-on-4®technique, we can almost always find enough support from the existing bone volume for a new set of teeth to be placed. This saves patients significant discomfort, money and time AND it almost always enables patients to receive new and immediately functional teeth in as little as a single day. What is the success rate of the All-on-4® procedure? What influences failure? The All-on-4® has an extremely high success rate over 10 years, which means that almost all patients who have received treatment will still be enjoying their new teeth after a period of 10 years. Here at the All on 4 clinic, we perform the All-on-4® The MALO CLINIC Way – the way it was researched and innovated – while making use of only the highest quality prosthetics and dental implant products(the same implants Prof Malo designed for this procedure) . As such, like them, we enjoy an incredible success rate in treating patients who have lost most or all of their teeth. There are a handful of factors that may lead to implant failure, but luckily, most of these are in the hands of the patient. Smoking, heavy drinking and not following post operative instructions or dietary restrictions can significantly affect the chances of success. There are also certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, that can affect the success and lifespan of your All-on-4®implants; however all of these risk factors will be discussed in detail with you at the time of your consultation. Who is a candidate for All-on-4® implants? Almost every patient is a candidate for the Allon-4® implant procedure. During your initial consultation, we will assess your current state of oral health (looking for signs of periodontal disease and jaw bone deterioration), your medical history (making special note of diabetes, respiratory disease, heart disease and bleeding
tendencies that may render surgery risky) and agerelated diseases, such as osteoporosis. Age itself is never considered a problem. What does the All-on-4® procedure involve? Getting new teeth with the All-on-4® dental implant technique typically involves one or more initial consultations with one of our experienced and compassionate dental implant team members. Most of our surgery is done while you are asleep, to ensure maximum comfort. That day or the next day, we will see you to make your provisional bridge. This is followed by a schedule of followup appointments during which we ensure that your implants are healing properly and your new teeth are functioning optimally. How much time should I take off from work? We typically recommend that you take a few days off to relax and see your recovery off to as good a start as possible. Having said this, many patients return to work the very day after the surgery! It all depends on your schedule, your constitution and how strong you feel. Is the All-on-4® procedure painful? The use of sedative medications and local anesthetics ensure that you are kept entirely comfortable and pain and anxiety-free during the All-on-4® procedure. As with any surgery, you can expect some post-operative discomfort, but we will send you home with prescription analgesics (pain-killers) to help manage this. In any case, this discomfort is typically minimal and seldom persists for more than a few days. Will I need to return to the All on 4 clinic after the procedure? Yes. We do require that you return to us between 10 and 14 days after your surgery so that we can make sure your implants are healing well and that there are no signs of infection or complications. We may also clean and reattach your temporary bridge. In a subsequent appointment, after your implants have fully bonded to the bone, you will receive your customized final bridge. Thereafter, you need only come to the all on 4 clinic or your dentist for the standard scheduled professional cleanings and check-ups. Can I get both my bottom and upper teeth replaced with All-on-4® implants? Yes! The All-on-4® dental implant technique can be used to replace your upper or lower set of teeth, or both. Should you require full mouth reconstruction, our experienced dental implants surgeons can replace both dental arches on the same day if recommended and desirable. Will the results look natural? Absolutely! The prosthetic dental bridge attached to the All-on-4® dental implants is expertly fabricated by highly trained MALO CLINIC lab technicians to be virtually indistinguishable from a set of natural, healthy teeth. Using moulds or impressions that are taken of your teeth during your initial consultation with us, the bridge will be custom made to perfectly fit the natural contours of your jaw, thus making it look and feel very natural.
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2017
you are what you
EAT
HOW FOOD AFFECTS HEALTH
N
utritional neuroscience is an emerging discipline bringing attention to the idea that nutrition is intertwined with human cognitions, behaviour and emotions. More specifically, there is a growing body of evidence that links nutrition and mental health with food, playing an important role in the development, management and prevention of specific mental health problems. It is believed that one of the best ways to improve mental health is through the gut. The gut has its own nervous system. The food we eat is broken down into substances that are used to make neurotransmitters and other chemicals that allow parts of the nervous system to communicate with the rest of the body. Just as the brain impacts the gut, what we eat and put into our gut can also impact the function of the brain. By putting nutritious and wholesome food into our bodies, we are better equipped to create an overall sense of wellbeing. Conversely, when we fill our bodies with highly processed, high fat and high sugar foods, we increase the risk of developing various mental health issues such as depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Alzheimer’s disease, along with other physical problems.
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1
Fatty Fish Omega-3 Fatty Acids
A recent University of Wollongong study showed that less than a quarter of Australians are meeting the optimal intake for Omega-3. Instead, the majority of our diets are found to have a higher intake of trans fats and saturated fats - two fats that are seen to negatively impact the brain. Studies have shown that foods high in Omega-3, including wild cold-water fish, seaweed, soy beans, spinach and walnuts, have been seen to reduce symptoms of schizophrenia, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and more.
2 Whole Grain Carbohydrates The primary source of energy for the brain is glucose, which comes from carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates, in the form of sugar, commonly found in lollies, soft drink and fast food can exacerbate a low mood in people, particularly after consuming high amounts of sugar. The after-effect of the ‘sugar-high’ is a sharp spike in blood sugar levels, with a recent study from QUT suggesting simple sugar has similar effects on the brain as drug use. Complex carbohydrates on the other hand release glucose slowly, helping the body to feel fuller for longer, and providing a steady source of energy to the brain. When the glucose enters the brain it is not only used for energy but also triggers the entry of tryptophan to the brain, affecting neurotransmitter levels. Sources of complex carbohydrates include whole grains, bulgur, oats, wild rice, barley, beans and soy. 36
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3
Lean Protein Amino Acids
After carbohydrates, protein is the most abundant substance within the body. Sources of lean protein include fish, turkey, chicken, eggs, and beans. Proteins are made up of amino acids and are important building blocks. Protein itself and the individual amino acids can affect brain function and a person’s mental health. The proteins amino acids create affect many of the brain’s neurotransmitters, including dopamine and serotonin. If there is a lack of any of these two amino acids there will not be enough synthesis of the respective neurotransmitters, which is associated with low mood and aggression in a person’s behaviour. Protein and carbohydrates work together to reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as improving overall cognitive function (protein creates tryptophan and complex carbohydrates facilitate its entry into the brain).
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Leafy Greens Folic Acid
Leafy greens such as spinach, romaine lettuce, turnip, mustard greens and broccoli are all high in folic acid. Folic acid is the synthetic form of vitamin B9; it affects a group of neurotransmitters in the brain known as monoamines, which are linked to the production of “feel good” neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. A deficiency in folic acid can decrease the production of serotonin and dopamine, affecting mood. A deficiency in folate has been linked to high rates of depression, fatigue and insomnia, with one study revealing patients with depression had lower levels of blood folate, some up to 25% below the average level.
4 Fermented Foods Probiotics Fermented foods such as yogurt with active cultures, kimchi, tempeh, and kefir all contain probiotics (healthy bacteria). It is believed that a balanced intake in probiotic foods can affect the neurotransmitter GABA, which regulates anxiety and stress. A US study found that participants who consumed probiotic-rich yoghurt twice a day for a month had lower levels of brain activity associated with emotion and pain than those who did not consume yoghurt.
2017
Food and mental and physical health go hand in hand with one another. What you put in your gut has a considerable amount of influence on your overall health. Ramsay Health Care has recently added The Southport Private Hospital (TSPH) to its Pindara Group of hospitals, with the first intake of patients in March 2017. The Southport Private Hospital is dedicated to physical rehabilitation and mental health, and takes a wellness approach (as opposed to an illness approach) to patient care. The new mental health ward provides acute in-patient mental health programs for a range of mood and anxiety disorders as well as specialising in outpatient programs for non-acute mental health issues.
ALL MEALS PREPARED TAKE A ‘NON-PACKET’ OR PROCESSED FOOD PERSPECTIVE, MEANING EVERYTHING IS CREATED FRESH IN HOUSE WITH NO PRESERVATIVES OR ‘E-NUMBER’ INGREDIENTS
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Dr Cary has 24 years experience in assisting women with pregnancy, gynaecology and IVF issues. He is able to assist with all women’s issues
• • • • • •
Infertility Painful and heavy periods Pregnancy care Day Surgery Gynaecological surgery Contraception
reception@drcary.com.au 07 5597 3770 www.drcary.com.au
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SUITE 10, PINDARA PLACE CARRARA ST, BENOWA, QLD, 4217
The rehabilitation ward caters for in-patients needing orthopaedic, neurological, amputee, musculoskeletal, pain management, arthritis and pulmonary rehabilitation. Patient wellbeing, in a holistic sense for both rehabilitation and mental health patients, is an important part of the care provided at The Southport Private Hospital. This holistic approach incorporates nutrition as part of the patient healing and recovery process, which is why they have created a whole new approach to ‘hospital food’ by choosing Farmgate Wholefoods as its food service provider. Farmgate is dedicated to providing fresh, healthy and nutritionally balanced meals to patients, and believes there are three key aspects to helping create a nutritious and healing meal for recovering patients. The first is that all meals served in The Southport Private Hospital are balanced through the Australian dietary guidelines. All meals contain the recommended daily intake of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and other nutritional considerations. Farmgate Wholefoods also has a passion for natural foods. Andrea Hardcourt from Farmgate Wholefoods says the company believes in a ‘fresh is best’ philosophy. “When you cook all components of a meal from scratch there is an added layer of wellbeing,” said Andrea. “All meals prepared take a ‘non-packet’ or processed food perspective, meaning everything is created fresh in house with no preservatives or ‘e-number’ ingredients.” Farmgate Wholefoods also believes that creating a nutritious meal requires food to be locally sourced, and in season. They create all of their food from ingredients that are sourced within Australia and not imported from overseas. Farmgate Wholefoods follows the idea that nutritious and balanced food is a key component in the recovery of mental health illnesses and in physical rehabilitation, and plays a key role in preventing the recurrence of these health issues. “We know we are not doctors, but we strongly believe that healthy and nutritious food will increase a person’s wellbeing, which will positively affect their recovery process,” says Andrea. The Southport Private Hospital is even taking a new approach to the way in which food is provided to patients, creating community dining rooms where patients can order what they would like from a set menu (as you would in a café), and share their meal with other patients on the ward, should they wish. This new approach creates a community feel within the hospital and adds a layer of mental wellbeing through peer interaction; something especially important to patients who spend extended periods of time in hospital throughout their treatment and recovery. The increasing research and information available speaks for itself - food is a key ingredient in creating and sustaining health in many areas, mental and physical, and can significantly aid in the body’s development and recovery process. The Southport Private Hospital is taking an active approach in ensuring the physical and mental/emotional needs of patients are met by providing nutritionallybalanced and delicious meals rich in good carbohydrates, healthy fats, omega-3s and protein. The Southport Private Hospital is helping their patients not only through a medical approach but also dietary – something that will help their patients for the rest of their lives.
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EMPOWERING WOMEN
U SJANA EARP’S LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE WITH INTERNATIONAL CHARITY SHANTI UGANDA EDITOR’S NOTE: BASED IN LUWEERO, UGANDA, SHANTI UGANDA PROVIDES FULL-SERVICE MATERNAL HEALTH CARE, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS AIMED AT TEENAGE GIRLS. FOLLOWING PINDARA’S GENEROUS DONATION OF MUCH-NEEDED SUPPLIES TO THE CHARITY EARLIER THIS, YEAR, SJANA TRAVELLED TO UGANDA TO SEE THE AMAZING WORK THIS CHARITY IS DOING FOR HERSELF.
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ganda is truly something else. Something wonderful, something incredible, something utterly magical. There is so much culture ingrained in the city – you see it in the streets, the food, and the people. Even just wandering down the dusty dirt roads can become a sensory sport all of its own. The most ordinary, mundane activity can be a memory-making moment; something to snap a mental screenshot of and save deep in your mind forever. At home in Australia, I am a yoga instructor. As stereotypes would suggest, I am a bit of a hug-giving hippie who feels things very deeply and often takes them to heart. I went to Uganda for ten days with eight other women who shared the same interest: prenatal yoga and its effect on childbirth. There is something indescribable about a place like Uganda. A place where development is hindered, hygiene is poor, lifestyles are based on survival and where simply getting enough money to feed each member of your family can be a daily struggle. Most people live in very basic housing, working non-stop just to afford the bare necessities. However, it is also a place rich in joy, love and intense happiness.
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IMAGE BY Sjana Earp
An infectious outlook that is so raw, so pure and so innocent that it is nothing short of inspiring. It’s hard not to feel a little guilty when confronted with something like that. It forces you to take a step back, perform a quick self-analysis and behavioural reflection and surrender to an overwhelming feeling of both gratitude and shame. Gratitude for all of the things we are so lucky to have, and shame for how many times we fail to recognise just how lucky we are. Inevitably, going to Uganda was going to pull on the heart strings, and I knew that, but what I wasn’t prepared for was the depth and intensity of the emotions I would feel in such a short amount of time. I was emotionally pulled, yes, but I wouldn’t necessarily say I was saddened by anything instead, I was simply awakened. I was witness to things that although slightly shocking, were also very inspiring, warming and empowering, especially as a female. Birthing is seen as beautiful, natural and a rite of passage. Birthing is seen as wonderfully raw, almost sensual and spiritual – a woman so closely connected and intimately aware of her body, working with passion and courage to bring a beautiful miracle in to the world. As a 22-year-old woman with childbirth to look forward to in my future, I can’t find words to adequately describe my experience and the change that has taken place in me since this experience.
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Each day was as the day before, yet somehow completely different. Each morning we would wake up and roll up pillows or jumpers and pretend they were our babies inside our bellies and participate in a prenatal yoga class before walking through the village to the Shanti Uganda birth home. These walks were one of my favourite parts of the trip. Not only did we get to observe the houses, people, food and living circumstances, but children would come running from hundreds of metres away every day just to say hello, give us hugs and guide us along part of our walk. It was so humbling to be surrounded each and every day by their loving faces and beaming smiles! At the birth home we would roll out bamboo mats under a large tree amongst the herb and vegetable gardens in the backyard and learned theory beneath the shade that nature provided. Afternoons were spent learning more theory and practicing our own prenatal yoga teaching. As we were doing this it was not uncommon for women to be casually roaming around the gardens in labour, leaning against trees or on all fours right beside us. It was rather marvellous really; to be in the presence of someone so grounded, calm and relaxed, yet only moments away from giving birth. It was my first real experience with someone in labour, and it was fascinating to see that the reality was nothing like I had imagined. It was inspiring, and to be honest, made me excited for childbirth rather than fearful.
TOP: Shanti Uganda birthing home
At the birth home we would roll out bamboo mats under a large tree amongst the herb and vegetable gardens in the backyard and learned theory beneath the shade that nature provided.
Women at the Shanti Uganda birth house all give birth naturally. The reality is that in the villages and regional centres in Uganda there is no option for general or specialist medical intervention, but despite the lack of fancy equipment or tools they do great work. Thanks to donations from generous individuals and organisations around the world, they do have access to basic medical and sanitary materials and manage wonderfully well with what they do have. Shanti Uganda has been in existence since 2008, and since their conception there have been zero maternal deaths, 7,500 antenatal visits, over 1000 births supported by an experienced midwife, 2,120 post-natal visits and over 2,400 HIV tests conducted. The rate of child marriages has decreased and more girls are reaching higher levels of education. Amazing magic is happening at Shanti Uganda. I cannot express enough gratitude for being able to experience such an opportunity and to learn from the ways and strength of the Ugandan women. To be able to witness, first hand, the true value and benefit of even the smallest of donations in supporting the work of Shanti Uganda was heartwarming. With the biggest of thanks for the generosity and compassion of Pindara Private Hospital, I was able to coordinate the donation of a bulk shipment of various essential medical, hygiene, laboratory and cleaning supplies. Every donation makes such a huge difference, whether it be financial, medical or even administrative supplies. The experience was incredible. I learned so much, not only about prenatal yoga, the Ugandan culture, way of life and birthing in general, but also about myself, my vulnerabilities, my strengths and my potential. I am no longer apprehensive, nervous or anxious about the idea of labour. I am comfortable with the concept, I have confidence in my body’s natural ability to give birth, and firmly believe that my body and all women’s bodies are designed to do just that. We are powerful beings, capable of making miracles and magic, and that to me is beautiful, not intimidating. I look forward to being able to have that experience myself one day. A big thank you must also go to the women of Shanti Uganda for sharing with me their knowledge and experience. It has been both inspiring and immensely empowering. For more information about Shanti Uganda and all of the incredible work they do for women and their families pre and post-natal, teen girls, birthing and contraceptive education, reducing child marriage rates, enabling educational opportunities, nutritional workshops, women empowerment and business programs, HIV testing and general community health programs, or to donate or volunteer your time and experience at Shanti Uganda for yourself, you can visit their website http://shantiuganda.org/ pindaramagazine.com.au
ALL IMAGES by Sjana Earp
TOP: Local child entering his home MIDDLE: Sjana leading a prenatal yoga class BOTTOM: Sjana and local children taking selfies
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IMAGE BY Luke Marsden
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OUR PREGNANCY
journey
LAUREN BRANT & BARRY HALL
Celebrity couple Lauren Brant and Barry Hall recently welcomed their first child, Miller, into the world at Pindara Private Hospital. We sat down with them to chat about their pregnancy journey, and life as a brand new family of three.
Q: How did you find out you were expecting? I knew I was pregnant. Something just felt different. So I did a pregnancy test, but it came back negative, and I couldn’t accept that, so I did another, but once again it came back negative. Still unconvinced, I got a blood test and finally that came back positive. I had just picked up on my pregnancy so early that the home tests couldn’t register it. Q: What was your first reaction, thoughts and feelings when your pregnancy test showed positive? When my test finally came back positive, I was filled with excitement and emotion. I wanted to tell the whole world, my eyes filled with tears and I looked at myself in the mirror and thought, “Can you believe this? Is this real?” Q: How did you share the news with Barry? I was actually in the car on my way to the airport because I was flying to Melbourne to watch Barry play in a charity footy game when I found out I was pregnant from my GP. I was trying to think of ways to tell Barry before the game and then I saw that my flight was going to be delayed by a few hours, which meant I would have to meet him at the game without being able to see him prior. Well, I couldn’t keep it from him for that long so I FaceTimed him and told him the news from my car. The funniest part was he was just about to jump in the shower, so it was running the whole time we were on the phone - it got quite steamy! Q: Barry, what was your reaction when Lauren shared the news? Firstly, I was shocked. Then I was unsure what her reaction was, whether she was happy or not. When I found out she was happy, I was happier. Q: How did you and Barry approach your pregnancy? Were you calm and relaxed or did you need to know everything and read every article, blog, and book etc. you could find on pregnancy? We were extremely excited about the prospect of having a child but also completely clueless. We totally went with the flow and more than anything, just admired how amazing the human body was through each trimester.
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THE MOST ENJOYABLE THING ABOUT BEING PREGNANT WAS THE CONSTANT SENSE OF EXCITEMENT THAT WE WOULD SOON MEET OUR CHILD.
ALL IMAGES BY Alicia Abbott Photography
Q: Can you describe your pregnancy experience? We had a great pregnancy experience and I have to say ‘we’ because Barry was right there every step of the way and even experienced symptoms of a phantom pregnancy! The pregnancy was pretty true to the information out there. I was sick for the first trimester, full of energy for the second and tired and uncomfortable for the third. Q: What did you enjoy most about being pregnant? The most enjoyable thing about being pregnant was the constant sense of excitement that we would soon meet our child. We thoroughly enjoyed every scan we had where we heard his heartbeat and saw his development and got glimpses of what he would look like. Q: What was the hardest thing about being pregnant? For me, the hardest thing about being pregnant was not having control of my body and emotions. It was a matter of learning on the go. Q: Did you have any weird pregnancy cravings or experience any other strange pregnancy quirks? I did have some odd pregnancy quirks. My ears got really itchy and I got facial pigment that made it look like I had a moustache. I craved frozen grapes and ice. Q: How did you stay fit and healthy throughout your pregnancy? I continued to exercise throughout my whole pregnancy, making sure I lightened the load and adjusted the movements as I got further along. I did things like pilates, walking, light weights and step. I kept a very balanced nutritional diet with lots of fresh home made food. Q: Barry, did you change anything in your health and fitness routine during this time, or from Lauren’s influence? My diet was very good while Lauren was pregnant, as we ate the same thing. I also stopped drinking alcohol, as she wasn’t able to.
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Q: Lauren, how did you prepare for birth? What steps did you take? Did you have a birth plan? My preparation for birth was to be as fit and healthy as possible, well rested and to go with the flow. I had no birth plan, I just wanted to let everything happen naturally and work it out on the day. Q: Barry, What was your experience of Miller’s birth? The birth of Miller was surreal. It was truly incredible to witness and experience just how amazing a woman’s body is. There were so many emotions and it is like nothing else we have ever experienced before. Q: Barry, in sport, a lot of success can be attributed to the support systems you have around you? How did you support Lauren leading up to and throughout the birth? I didn’t really know how to support Lauren but whatever popped up, we just had to adapt to. Obviously with morning sickness and hormones and the body changing, there were challenges but I just had to be there for her and support her as best I could. Q: Did you decorate a nursery in anticipation of Miller’s arrival? Did you incorporate any special or personal touches? We had a wonderful time decorating a nursery for Miller. We created a special wall wrap of a mother polar bear and cub – it is loving and comforting. We incorporated furniture from Stokke, which really nurtures childhood. The same rocking chair that my mother used to feed all her children is in the nursery, as well as some baby clothes and blankets that were mine. Q: What is the most essential baby item you can’t live without since having Miller? What has proven to be the most useless item? We could not live without our pram. We got a very adaptable one with a bassinet from Stokke that Miller loves and is so settled in. We got way too many newborn clothes that he never got to wear as they grow out of them so fast, including shoes!
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ALL IMAGES BY Alicia Abbot Photography
Q: Can you describe what it is like becoming parents for the first time? What have the first few weeks been like? Becoming parents for the first time has put us both completely out of our comfort zones and also filled our hearts with a love we didn’t know existed. Every day, we learn a little more about our son and ourselves as parents. Q: What was the most unexpected thing you have experienced since becoming parents so far? Barry has been very surprised that newborn poo doesn’t smell. I was taken aback by how clever babies are, they know what they want and how to do it, whether it is feeding, burping, pooping, sneezing or sleeping – their little bodies have it all figured out. Q: What are the best things about becoming parents and what are the hardest things so far? The hardest thing about being a mother is the constant worrying and negotiation of time. You have to adapt to the realisation that you always have to think and plan ahead. The best thing is the immense love and bond that you share and seeing them develop every day. For Barry, the hardest part is being away from Miller and the best part is coming home to him. Q: Has becoming parents changed the way you see and feel toward your own parents? Becoming parents hasn’t changed the way we feel towards our own parents but it has prompted new conversations about what pregnancy, birth and parenthood was like for them.
TOP: Miller enjoying the comfy bed at Palazzo Versace Hotel MIDDLE: It's a tiring thing being a baby BOTTOM: Special moments for lauren, Barry and Miller
Q: Are there any advantages or disadvantages to becoming parents in the public eye? Like everything, it has had its positives and negatives. Sometimes we do feel the line of privacy is crossed. However, the support and joy the public has shown us has been overwhelming and we are so happy to share our special news with everyone. Q: Is there anything else we haven’t touched on that you would like to share with other expectant mums and dads who are about to embark on the same journey? We would say if you are trying to get pregnant or are expecting, listen to everyone’s advice but only take on board what works for you. What we have learnt is everyone is different and you have to figure out your own ways and what works for your child, your relationship and your lifestyle. Just relax and enjoy each day. You are not alone and there is a lot of support out there if you need it, so don’t stress.
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OUR PREGNANCY
journey MELANIE & CHRIS WRIGHT
Olympic swimmer Melanie Wright (nee Schlanger) and her husband Chris recently welcomed their first child, daughter Madison, into the world at Pindara Private Hospital. We sat down with them to chat about their pregnancy journey, and life as a new family.
Q: How did you feel when you found out you were pregnant? What was your first reaction? It was a bit of a shock to be honest. My husband Chris and I had talked about having our first baby but we didn’t expect it to happen so soon. I had only just retired from competitive swimming. I remember driving home with the pregnancy test convincing myself that it would be negative and feeling a little disappointed. When it came up with the two lines I didn’t believe it at first. It took three tests for it to finally sink in. When I told Chris, I cried. I just felt so many emotions - shocked and scared but mostly excited and so grateful. Q: How did you approach your pregnancy? Were you relaxed and easy going or were you hungry for knowledge and read every baby book you could find? I was a bit of both. I have a very relaxed personality but I’m also a naturally inquisitive person. I kept up with how bub was developing each week as she grew, but I avoided delving too deeply into the baby books.
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THE MOST ENJOYABLE THING ABOUT BEING PREGNANT WAS THE CONSTANT SENSE OF EXCITEMENT THAT WE WOULD SOON MEET OUR CHILD.
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Q: What was one of the most surprising things that you experienced during your pregnancy? Pure exhaustion! When I swam competitively, my heaviest training weeks consisted of 40 hours of training, including 10 swim sessions, three weights sessions, three CrossFit sessions, two cardio sessiona and a pilates class. But I was never as tired as I was in pregnancy! Q: Did you experience any weird food cravings or any changes you weren’t expecting? I normally favour my sweet tooth, but I craved salty food throughout the entire pregnancy. At one point I just wanted to eat vegemite and cheese sandwiches for a week straight after I saw a toddler eating one. Q: You are naturally a very disciplined person when it comes to health and fitness. How did you stay fit and healthy throughout your pregnancy and did your routine have to change during this time? I tried my best to stay active, as I knew it was important, but to be honest I couldn’t manage to do much at all. I was sick dawn until dusk for the first 20 weeks, and then I found myself completely exhausted every day. In the end I would mostly just go for walks with my dogs. It was a huge and sudden change from my former life. Q: For athletes, preparation is vital. Are there any similarities in preparing your mind and your body for birth and preparing your mind and body for major sporting events like the Olympics? Building my body up for birth was similar to building my body up to race. I think the biggest similarity was that I really had to listen to my body. Rest when I needed to, exercise when I felt ready to go and able to fuel it properly. These are the same foundations of elite sport. Also, being able to remind myself that it was ok to take it easy sometimes and curl up on the couch to watch a movie instead of getting my work done. This is something I did as a swimmer sometimes as well, to refresh myself mentally, albeit a little more frequently in pregnancy! But I do think it’s important that we all cut ourselves a break sometimes and just take it easy. Q: Can you describe your birth experience? Birth was the hardest and best day of my life. I went into labour at about 10pm on a Sunday night, but was contracting every three minutes or so for the first eight hours. Once my waters broke the next morning the contractions actually
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settled down for a while before ramping back up again. I have always coped with exercise related pain quite well, so I thought I’d do okay in labour. I lasted about 14 hours total but then began throwing up from the pain, so got an epidural. I immediately wished I had asked for it sooner! I then had a bit of trouble during the pushing phase as Maddie had her hand under her chin and so couldn’t tuck her head to get through the birth canal, but before I knew it I was holding my brand new healthy baby girl. Q: In competitive swimming, support is key to success - how were you supported throughout your pregnancy and the birth of Madison? How did your husband Chris go with the pregnancy and birth experience? I’m a big believer that no one can achieve anything in life alone, and it’s so much more enjoyable to share life experiences with others. I was so fortunate to not only have Chris to share the journey with, but also my close family and friends around to help. Being a medical student, my classmates were so fantastic during pregnancy, bringing snacks and walking slower so I could keep up! After Madison’s arrival, they helped me to catch up on classes I had missed. My university (Bond University) were also so supportive of our pregnancy and birth, making sure I could continue my studies without having to defer. The staff and students there really are wonderful! Maddie is such a happy and easygoing baby. We really couldn’t have had better support. Q: Did you know you were having a little girl or did you keep it a surprise? I wanted to find out but Chris didn’t. We didn’t think it would work if one of us knew and the other didn’t so we kept it a surprise. For some reason, throughout the pregnancy I was convinced we were having a boy. When Maddie first arrived and Chris told me she was a girl I didn’t believe him. I got him to lift her up off my chest to see for myself!
TOP: Baby Madison saying a cheeky hello. OPPOSITE: Special moments for Melanie, Chris and Madison
Q: How are you finding motherhood? What is the best thing about becoming a mum? To be honest, motherhood was strange at first. It took me a couple of weeks to really feel like a mum. I often found myself wondering where the time went. It feels like I was only just a kid myself and now all of a sudden, I have a child of my own. But I’ve never loved something so much in my life. It’s like a little piece of my heart exited my body and morphed into the shape of this tiny human. My favourite thing about being a mum is seeing Maddie smile. When she giggled for the first time my heart exploded!
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NOW WITH MADISON IN OUR LIVES, WE HAVE ONE MORE REASON TO SMILE EVERY DAY
Q: What have been the biggest challenges of becoming a mum? I found the first eight weeks of breastfeeding to be a huge challenge. I was lucky enough to have a good supply but we had terrible trouble with latching, to the point where I was so sore I’d be in tears every time I had to feed her. Eventually we both got the hang of it and now we’re doing well. Q: What are the most essential items for mums with new babies? What could you not have lived without? For any new mum having trouble with breastfeeding, I highly recommend Multi-mam compresses straight out of the fridge between feeds. They were a lifesaver for me. And Miss Maddie has perfected the art of spewing up, so muslin squares are essential and kept within easy reach, in every room of our house. Q: Did you redecorate a room for the baby’s nursery? Have you added any special touches or received any special gifts that have found a home in the nursery? We turned one of our spare rooms into a nursery and decorated it in a Winnie the Pooh theme. We have a huge canvas of Winnie and his friends on the wall and Maddie loves it. She talks to it every day and loves to smile and stare at it. Q: How has your relationship changed with your husband? Chris is such a naturally caring person and we are both so easy going. We always have such fun together and make each other laugh every day. Now with Madison in our lives, we have one more reason to smile every day. Obviously, we don’t get much time alone these days, but on our first date night without Maddie we just ended up looking at photos of her and talking about her anyway. We have transitioned from a couple to a family of three so easily that we already can’t imagine our lives any other way. Q: To be an Olympian, you have to be very focused on every aspect of your body and how it is performing. How has your relationship changed with your body since going through pregnancy?
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As an athlete, I had such control over my body composition. If I needed to lean down for competition I usually could do it quite easily. Pregnancy means losing complete control over your body, which I found quite challenging. I had to learn to readjust my normal from an athlete mindset very quickly. I’ve now come to terms with the fact that I will never be as fit as I once was. Q: Were there lessons learned in your swimming career that you would want to instil in your little girl? There are so many! I want Maddie to learn how to set goals that are important to her, no matter how big or small. I want her to be brave and bold enough to chase her dreams, no matter what they are. I want her to not be afraid of failing, as the best lessons come from failures. I want her to learn from her inevitable setbacks and emerge on the other side of them a more capable and confident person. I want her to learn that intelligence and talent are only a small piece of the puzzle and that hard work, determination and perseverance count for much more. And most of all, no matter what path she chooses to follow in her life, I want her to enjoy the journey. Q: Is Madison a water baby? Could we have another future swimming champion in our midst? Maddie has loved the water since the day she arrived. We took her for her first swimming lesson at four months old. Chris and I are big believers in water safety and we want her to respect the water and be comfortable in it. As for a future swimming champion, that is really up to her. If she does decide to swim though, I want it to be for her, not because she thinks she should with mum and dad being Olympic swimmers. Q: Is there anything you want to say to your mum now that you are one also? When I was little, I used to ride my bike around our neighbourhood. My mum used to have a rule that I had to check back every 10 minutes, which meant I could only ever get five minutes away. I used to hate it and would always complain. Now I have to say sorry to Mum, as I can finally relate!
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pilates I S F O R E V E R Y B O DY
It's certainly not new, but pilates is fast becoming the exercise of choice for people of all ages and fitness levels. Since its humble beginnings in the 1920s, pilates has developed and sometimes fused with other forms of exercise, expanded to include new exercises, and in some forms, changed for best practice following research and findings on the body, most specifically the spine.
Pilates is an ideal exercise in injury rehabilitation, as it was originally designed, but it’s also a fantastic component in a holistic approach to total health and wellness. It is said that this type of ‘yin’ exercise delivers results that span beyond just the physical. Pindara Magazine caught up with Natalie Dickson, founder and owner of Organic Pilates who showed us the best pilates exercises to get you out of the winter funk and ready for the warmer months.
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Pilates is perfect for: GENERAL FITNESS & WELLNESS INCREASING FLEXIBILITY BUILDING CORE STRENGTH REHABILITATION PREGNANCY & POST PREGNANCY STRENGTHENING & TONING
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top exercises TO WA K E YO U U P F O R S U M M E R
EXERCISE: SHOULDER BR IDGE
Targets: Glutes, back extensors, hamstrings and core Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. With your pelvis in neutral, switch your T-ZONE on. You can find your T-ZONE by tracing a capital T over the lower part of your stomach, following the vertical line from your pubic bone up towards your belly button. Engage your T-ZONE by using your pelvic floor muscles to squeeze up the vertical line and then tighten across from one hip bone to the other, as if you were drawing them towards each other. Exhale, start to tilt the pelvis into imprint and lift your hips to the sky. Pause at the top for a breath in. Exhale, slowly lower your spine back to the mat, coming all the way back to neutral spine position. REPS: 20 x 3 sets PRO TIP: Keep your knees in line with your hips, squeeze your buttocks and keep your ribs closed. ADD ON: Single leg to table top (advanced) Hold your hips in bridge position. Float one leg to table top position. REPS: 12 reps (6 on each side) PRO TIP: Watch your hips, they should stay pointing to the sky without dipping from side to side as you lift each leg.
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EXERCISE: AB CUR LS
Targets: Abdominals Don't attempt this exercise if you have neck strain or neck/shoulder injury. Begin by lying on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor, and hands behind your head. Put your pelvis in neutral and switch your T-ZONE on. You can find your T-ZONE by tracing a capital T over the lower part of your stomach, following the vertical line from your pubic bone up towards your belly button. Engage your T-ZONE by using your pelvic floor muscles to squeeze up the vertical line and then tighten across from one hip bone to the other, as if you were drawing them towards each other. As you exhale, curl forward, coming up onto your shoulder blades. Inhale and lower back to the ground. REPS: 20 curls hold with 10 pulses ADVANCE IT: Hold legs at table top position and curl from this position. PRO TIP: Hold pelvis in neutral as you curl forward, keeping your elbows wide, and squeeze your knees together.
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EXERCISE: TOE TAPS
Targets: lower abdominals Begin by lying on your back with pelvis in neutral and engage your T-ZONE. You can find your T-ZONE by tracing a capital T over the lower part of your stomach, following the vertical line from your pubic bone up towards your belly button. Engage your T-ZONE by using your pelvic floor muscles to squeeze up the vertical line and then tighten across from one hip bone to the other, as if you were drawing them towards each other. Move your legs one at a time to table top position. Maintaining a 90 degree angle of the leg, breathe in to lower one leg, tapping the toes on the floor and then breathe out, lifting back to table top position. REPS: 10 on each side. Rest. Then do alternating legs to challenge the stability of your pelvis. ADVANCE IT: Curl into ab curl and work legs dynamically. PRO TIP: Hinge from your hip bone and only take the leg as far as you can without straining the lower back.
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EXERCISE: ARM & LEG LENGTHEN
Targets: Arms, shoulders, glutes, core, obliques, pelvis stability Start in a kneeling position on hands and knees. Breathe in to prepare, breathe out to lengthen right leg and left arm away from the body, breathe in to lower. REPS: 10 on each side + 10 alternating sides ADVANCE IT: Hold the arm and leg long and draw small, slow circles with your limbs, 6 in each direction. PRO TIPS: Press down into your hands to maintain the strength in your shoulder and upper back. Close your ribs to your hips to stop your back from arching. Pull your abdominals away from the earth, without moving your spine.
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EXERCISE: PL ANK
Start in a kneeling position on hands and knees. BEGINNERS: walk hands out and lower bottom toward the earth. Keep shoulders, hips and knees in a straight diagonal line. INTERMEDIATE: Step feet back into plank, hands underneath your shoulders. REPS: Hold plank. You could start to time your planks and increase the hold time each time your practice. Start with 20 seconds. PRO TIPS: Press down into your hands and lift the upper back. Feel broad through your chest. Reach your crown and your heels in opposite directions. Pull your abs away from the earth, without moving the position of your spine. ADVANCE IT: Lift one leg and hold. Alternate legs keeping the hips as still as possible.
WIN * A PRIZE PACK AGE FROM ORGANIC PILATES VALUED AT OVER $400! 1 X PRIVATE INTRODUCTORY CONSULTATION
Key points to remember while you’re practicing:
5 X GROUP CLASSES 1 X REMEDIAL MASSAGE 1 X ORGANIC PILATES T-SHIRT SIMPLY EMAIL COMPETITIONS@PINDARAMAGAZINE.COM.AU
NEUTRAL SPINE. HIP BONES AND PUBIC BONES ARE LEVEL AND YOU HAVE YOUR NATURAL ARCH OF THE LOWER BACK T-ZONE ACTIVATION. PELVIC FLOOR SWITCHES ONTO 10%,
WITH YOUR FULL NAME AND TELL US IN 25 WORDS OR LESS WHY YOU’D LIKE TO WIN THIS PRIZE.
ELEVATES, THE ABDOMINALS DRAW UPWARDS FROM PUBIC BONE TO NAVEL (ZIP UP), AND INWARDS FROM EACH HIPBONE (BUTTON UP).
*Competition Terms & Conditions Entries open 01/08/17 and close 31/10/17. Winner
BREATHE. INHALE THROUGH YOUR NOSE, SEND THE BREATH
will be selected at 9am on 01/11/17 and winner will be
SIDEWAYS (LATERALLY) RIGHT UP UNDERNEATH THE
notified by email. Prize will be provided as a voucher
ARMPITS. EXHALE THROUGH YOUR MOUTH (SIGH BREATHE).
redeemable for the prize package stated above.
CORE AND BREATH ARE CONNECTED. EXHALING DEEPENS THE T-ZONE CONNECTION, INHALING MAINTAINS THE T-ZONE CONNECTION (DON’T ALLOW IT TO SWITCH OFF)!
Photographs courtesy of Paradise Photography by Jonte Parker
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Q& A WITH NATALIE DICKSON Q: How did Organic Pilates come to be? A: After years of training, professional and personal development, working within a Physiotherapy Clinic, fitness centres and creating specialised sessions for athletes, opening Organic Pilates studio was a natural progression. I wanted to create a beautiful space that could transform peoples’ lives. A place that inspired and empowered people to live healthy, happy and balanced lives. To encourage people to accept themselves and their bodies. To educate people that they have the power to change and heal their own body, to listen and honour their body in such a way that they not only correct existing imbalances but also avoid any occurring in the future. I wanted people to experience the mind-body connection that pilates offers and to have more awareness about their body, their movements, their patterns and habits. I want to encourage them to make conscientious, accountable decisions in everyday life that will result in physical changes in the body, mental changes in the mind and positive changes in daily life.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about the reformer pilates you offer in studio? A: In addition to the general benefits of pilates, pilates on the reformer adds a new dimension to your workout. This resistance-based training allows you to challenge stability, tone and lengthen muscles and build core strength. With thousands of exercise variations, every pilates class can be different, ensuring you are increasingly challenged and never bored! While it’s certainly not an easy workout, pilates is low-impact resistance training, keeping your knees and joints free of strain and pain, while maintaining bone density.
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PRIORITISE YOUR
SLEEP HEALTH Are you sleeping well at night or are you tossing and turning all night long? An underlying sleep disorder may be the cause of your restless nights. Genesis SleepCare QLD explains more.
S
leep disorders are a large and under-recognised problem in Australia. Although many people realise the importance of getting enough sleep, many are unaware that sleep disorders can lead to serious health problems. Some of the more recognised sleep disorders include obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), insomnia and restless leg syndrome (RLS). Obstructive sleep apnoea is characterised by repetitive episodes of upper airway obstruction that occur during sleep, usually associated with a reduction in blood oxygen saturation. Sleep disordered breathing disrupts the normal sleep pattern and will benefit from medical attention. This can occur many times throughout the night and most people are completely unaware that it is happening. Whilst OSA is being increasingly identified, it is thought that over 70% of individuals with the condition remain undiagnosed. Studies show that one in five adults suffer mild OSA and one in fifteen have at least moderate OSA.
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SYMPTOMS
COMMON SYMPTOMS OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNOEA INCLUDE (BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO):
• SNORING •
WAKING UN-REFRESHED
•
WITNESSED APNOEAS
•
EXCESSIVE DAYTIME TIREDNESS
• NOCTURIA •
DROWSY DRIVERS
•
ABNORMAL ACTIVITY DURING SLEEP
•
PROBLEMS INITIATING / STAYING ASLEEP
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If you suspect you or your loved one may have sleep apnoea, it is important to speak with a GP as soon as possible. If your GP suspects you or your loved one may have a sleep issue, you may be considered for a sleep study.
Risks of Untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) Sleep disorders impose a huge burden on individuals - there is a significant impact upon quality of life and an increased risk of lifethreatening health complications.
Treatment and Management Options Obstructive sleep apnoea and other sleep disorders can be diagnosed with comprehensive and objective sleep testing, available from Genesis SleepCare through Pindara Private Hospital. Treatment and management options are available for sleep disordered breathing and can greatly assist patients. Experienced Sleep Specialists at Genesis SleepCare are able to recommend and implement treatment options, while providing comprehensive follow-up and support.
“Good quality sleep is important. Patients with sleep related breathing disorders can be treated optimally following a sleep study,” explains Genesis SleepCare’s Gold Coast Practice Manager, Sharyn Musawi. “Sleep apnoea and loud snoring are two of the main reasons for sleep referrals to the service. Gold Coast residents can be tested locally, followed by face-to-face consultations with one of our affiliated specialists. Our complete sleep care program provides consultation; diagnosis and treatment of a patient’s sleep disorder.”
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
IF LEFT UNTR EATED, PEOPLE MAY EXPER IENCE:
MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT
DECREASED SEX DRIVE
YOUR SLEEP HEALTH PLEASE CONTACT
TYPE 2 DIABETES
GENESIS SLEEPCARE QLD ON
CARDIAC DISEASE HEART FAILURE STROKE
FREE CALL 1800 155 225 OR VISIT WWW.GENESISSLEEPCARE.COM.AU/QLD
Taking care of your greatest asset together.
SERVICING HOSPITALS • JOHN FLYNN • GOLD COAST PRIVATE • PINDARA
Dr Ben Anderson
Cardiothoracic Surgeon MMBS BMedSci FRACS
• Adult Cardiac & Thoracic Surgery • Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery • Minimal Access Sympathectomy for Hyperhidrosis • Minimal Access Lung Resection • Nuss Bar for Pectus • Percutaneous Valve Surgery
Suite 3A, John Flynn Medical Centre Inland Drive, Tugun Qld 4224
Gold Coast Private Hospital Suite 3, 14 Hill Street, Southport Qld 4215
Phone (07) 5598 0789 Fax (07) 5598 0790
heartsurgerygoldcoast.com.au
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THINGS YOU NEED TO K NOW BEFOR E BOOK ING A SNOW HOLIDAY IN NEW ZEAL AND
No doubt your social media feeds are full of photographs of friends and family enjoying New Zealands’ magnificent snow scene. If, like us, this has you itching to book a trip for next winter, be sure to read this first!
By Angie Christofis
I
have just returned from my first snow holiday in New Zealand. My husband could not come with us this trip so it was mother and 12-year-old son flying solo. The beauty of the South Island is truly jaw dropping – it really was everything we had been dreaming of and more. We stayed in Wanaka and Queenstown, and the incredible experiences we shared in both places will forever be etched in our minds as treasured memories.
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FITTING CHAINS IS NOT AN EASY TASK, SO UNLESS YOU WANT TO LIE ON THE GROUND IN THE SNOW AND MUD, AND FR EEZE YOUR FINGERS OFF, DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR AND ENSUR E YOU HIR E DIAMOND-STYLE CHAINS. Wanaka is much quieter than Queenstown and we enjoyed the contrast between the two. Starting the holiday in Wanaka allowed us to ease into alpine life gently before being plunged into the fast pace of Queenstown. People were friendly in both places, but in laid-back Wanaka they seemed a little more helpful. As a novice planning a ski holiday, I took away some key learnings that will help me plan better next time. Here are six tips I wish I had known before the trip.
1. Daylight hours are short It might sound silly, but as an Aussie I did not think about the short days in advance. We arrived in late June when the sun does not rise until 8.30am. It was not a problem, as we both enjoyed the sleep in but it did mean there were fewer hours in the day than we had planned for. Ski fields, for instance, don’t open until 9am and they close at 4pm, so to get on the snowfields and not waste any hours of your half-day or full-day lift pass, planning is required. Plus, be prepared to drive some parts of your snowfield commute in the dark.
2. Hire diamond-style snow chains Getting to the Remarkables, Treble Cone and Cardrona all involve driving up very windy mountain roads. When the snow arrives, chances are you will need to put chains on your tyres to make the journey. Fitting chains is not an easy task, so unless you want to lie on the ground in the snow and mud, and freeze your fingers off, do yourself a favour and ensure you hire diamondstyle chains. There are chain-fitting bays with people to help you on most mountains (but not all) so practice fitting them before you go; there are YouTube videos that can help! The fee to fit chains for you is around $10, so ensure you have the appropriate notes handy. Our chains were an older style and very tricky to fit, but those with diamond chains had a much easier time. Coronet Peak (which we didn’t get to visit) apparently has the easiest drive. It is only 18 minutes from Queenstown and has a sealed road all the way with very few hairpin bends.
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3. A 4WD is a good idea The above mentioned chain fiasco apparently could have been avoided had we hired a 4WD. Although you are still required to carry chains if you have a 4WD, the chances of needing to put them on are reduced.
4. Hire your ski gear off mountain for massive savings We hired our clothes and ski gear from Green Toad, who proclaim to have the cheapest rates in both Wanaka and Queenstown. Two of us got completely kitted out with ski jackets, pants, helmets, skis, poles and boots for $53 per day; ski boots alone cost close to $50 a day to hire at the ski fields. If you are not a serious skier, Green Toad is a great option. More advanced skiers and snowboarders seem to prefer Browns Ski Shop.
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6. No secrets to cheaper lift passes 5. Stay in a serviced apartment for freedom of choice Although eating out in New Zealand is considerably cheaper than Australia, going out for every meal begins to add up. Staying in a serviced apartment enabled us to make our own breakfast in the mornings. We stayed at Ramada Resort Wanaka, which was ideal because we had the best of both worlds; it also offered room service, as well as a well-equipped kitchen in our two-bedroom apartment. After some huge days on the snowfields we really enjoyed indulging in delicious nachos and piping hot tomato soup delivered right to our door. pindaramagazine.com.au
I searched for ways to get cheaper deals on lessons and ski passes at both the Wanaka and Queenstown ski fields, but there seemed to be no difference in price, whether we purchased them on or off the mountain, online or offline. The New Zealand ski field operators appear to have sewn things up so that no one is allowed to cut their prices. However, getting our lift passes in advance at the ticket office in town did allow us to skip the queues on the mountain and get on the slopes faster.
THE REMARKABLES and Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, New Zealand
For beginners staying in Queenstown, the four day all-inclusive Intro to Snow pass is good value, offering lift passes, group lessons and ski or snowboard hire – and you can choose to spend any of the four days at Coronet Peak or the Remarkables. Pindara Magazine
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paradise not lost ESCAPE THE CROWDS ON BALI’S LESSER-VISITED EAST COAST
I
n a destination as popular as Bali, it is not uncommon to hear travellers yearn for the days of yore. With millions of tourists flocking to the island paradise each year, the landscape has undoubtedly changed. But the opportunities to experience the laid-back vibe, stunning landscapes and authentic local experiences that spurred Bali’s popularity are still available for travellers willing to detour off the well-trodden tourist path. Development is slowly creeping along Bali’s quieter eastern coast, yet it retains an authenticity that some say has been displaced in other parts of the island. Standing out as a beacon of immersive design that respectfully and seamlessly fits into the natural surrounds is the impressive Wyndham Tamansari Jivva Resort Bali, Wyndham Hotel Group’s flagship hotel in Indonesia, designed by award-winning Indonesian architect Gregorius Supie. It takes a lot to make a resort stand out from the crowd in a destination as popular as Bali, but Wyndham Jivva Bali does just that. Located on the island’s east coast surrounded by terraced rice paddies and volcanic black sand shores, the expansive property is away from the bustle of the tourist hotspots and close to the heart of nature. Designed in harmony with the environment, the resort features natural elements of wood, stone and water that blend cohesively into the surroundings.
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SURFER at Keramas Surf Break
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THIS IS AN AUTHENTIC SIDE OF BALI, WHERE GUESTS CAN RELAX AND UNWIND, IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN GENUINE LOCAL EXPERIENCES AND ENJOY A TRUE ISLAND PAR ADISE IN THE LARGELY UNTOUCHED EASTERN REGION.
ABOVE: View from resort of Mt Agung. RIGHT: Traditional stone sculpture Bali and the Yoga Deck
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Set amidst a tropical paradise on the shores of Lepang Beach, Wyndham Jivva Bali offers travellers the opportunity to unravel the rich heritage of what was once Bali’s most important kingdom, Klungkung. This is an authentic side of Bali, where guests can relax and unwind, immerse themselves in genuine local experiences and enjoy a true island paradise in the largely untouched eastern region.
A stylish retreat into the soul of Bali From the moment of arrival in Wyndham Jivva Bali’s gorgeous floating lobby surrounded by a tranquil waterlily pond, guests are whisked into a world of serenity. Winding cobbled paths lead to the rooms and villas, with five room types available to cater to any traveller’s needs. The resort boasts 222 beautiful rooms ranging from comfortable Resort Rooms to exclusive Private Pool Villas, which come complete with private lap pools and adjoining gardens. Most rooms offer a choice of twin or king beds and combine modern and authentic decor for a breathtaking Indonesian experience. For added indulgence, the Jacuzzi and Pool Suites offer 60 square metres of space beautifully designed with contemporary features, and some include a private balcony offering panoramic vistas of the glittering Indian Ocean. The Jacuzzi Suites boast comfortable sofas and an outdoor balcony, while the Pool Suites have their own private plunge pool. For those celebrating a special occasion, the eight 120-square-metre Pool Villas offer luxurious Balinese living, complete with plunge pools on outdoor private decks overlooking the verdant rice fields.
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Indulgent dining with stunning sea views Guests can indulge in a coastal dining experience at Bumbu Restaurant, which serves tantalising Indonesian cuisine prepared with the freshest seafood, as well as international cuisine with a local twist. Customised meal options such as gourmet lunchboxes can be prepared for guests venturing out to seek adventure at sea or in the nearby villages. The Senja Poolside Bar offers light snacks and tipples throughout the day, a perfect option for guests spending their day lounging by the beachfront pool. Decked out with vibrant Balinese umbrellas in a rainbow of colours and comfortable bean bags for an afternoon of lounging, Jivva Beach Club is set to be a destination in its own right with guest DJs lending a casual party atmosphere to Lepang Beach’s tranquil sands. The beach club’s lively buzz is complemented by curated menus serving Balinesefusion dishes and creative cocktails inspired by local ingredients, perfect for relaxing and watching the sunset over the ocean.
Holistic wellbeing meets relaxation A destination synonymous with relaxation and rejuvenation, the onsite Tirta Spa is focused on a holistic approach to wellness and beauty through the use of ancient Balinese treatments to restore and renew the body. The word Tirta is Sanskrit for Holy Water and the spa adopts the traditional practice of achieving balance. Designed to showcase an exclusive and natural environment, Tirta’s eight beachside garden huts all include a personal bathroom with a rain shower and bath, as well as a private terrace. Wellness programs can be facilitated at Tirta’s beautiful bamboo alfresco deck, which shelters guests from the elements and accommodates groups of up to 40 for yoga and meditation retreats. Inspired by traditional balé pavilions, this multi-purpose centre features an open plan design set in a lush garden space, so guests can enjoy the sea breeze while practising with the resort’s private yoga instructor. A gym packed with cardio and resistance equipment, free weights and a sauna completes the wellness experience, allowing guests to maintain their routine while on holidays.
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ABOVE: Traditional temple procession Bali. LEFT: King suite and villa bathroom.
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An immersive and authentic experience
RIGHT: Pura Goa Lawah temple, Pura Ulun Danu temple on a lake, Beratan, Bali.
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Away from the busy tourist regions, Wyndham Jivva Bali invites guests to explore the area of Klungkung where roads once led to sacred temples, ancient villages and the royal palaces. Now guests can immerse themselves in authentic Balinese experiences with cycling trips through rice plantations providing an insight into the local way of living, or Batik workshops showcasing the traditional technique for dying textiles. The resort is also in close proximity to the Klungkung palace and art markets for guests to gain a deeper cultural understanding of the region. For those seeking a historical experience, Kerta Gosa palace and Pura Goa Lawah temple are a short distance from Wyndham Jivva Bali. Relics of the Klungkung kingdom, considered to be the highest and most important of the nine kingdoms of Bali from the late 17th century to 1908, these monuments give an insight into the island’s rich past. An ideal destination for beach-goers and experienced surfers, Wyndham Jivva Bali stretches out onto a dramatic black volcanic sand beach for lounging all day in the sun and is a ten-minute drive to the world-class Keramas surf break. Known for its powerful right-handers and barrels, Keramas attracts surfers from around the globe and even offers floodlit night surfing. Not for the fainthearted, the break is also home to a beach club where spectators can relax with a Bintang and watch the action. Other attractions within easy reach of the resort include Bali Safari and Marine Park, Taman Nusa Cultural Park and Nyoman Gunarsa Museum of Classical & Modern Art, while day trips can be arranged to Tegenungan Waterfall in Kemenuh village, Amed and Tulamben dive spots, Ubud, Seminyak, Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Mount Batukaru.
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Events against a stunning natural backdrop With its awesome ocean vista and beautifully presented surrounds, Wyndham Jivva Bali features a selection of idyllic and flexible venues perfect for weddings, as well as packages to cater to any taste. Champagne, bouquet, decorations and other details are covered in the resort’s wedding packages. The resort also caters to health and wellness retreats with state-of-the-art facilities designed to let guests maintain a healthy and active lifestyle while on holiday. Corporate meeting rooms with artistic Balinese touches are also available.
TOP: Rice terraces RIGHT: Snorkelling Nusa Penida.
EXCLUSIVE OFFER PINDARA MAGAZINE READERS CAN ENJOY 30% OFF THE BEST AVAILABLE RATE AT WYNDHAM TAMANSARI JIVVA RESORT BALI, INCLUDING DAILY BREAKFAST FOR TWO, FOR BOOKINGS MADE BY SEPTEMBER 30. TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY. VISIT WYNDHAMJIVVABALI. COM, EMAIL RESERVATIONS@ WYNDHAMJIVVABALI.COM OR CALL +62 366 543 7988 AND QUOTE: MD2017.
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ASTON MARTIN QUEENSLAND
The New Aston Martin DB11 Aston Martin Queensland, 179 Nerang Road, Southport QLD 4215 | General Manager Paul Hewitt M: +61 425 001 964 | Tel:+61 7 5582 7888 W: queensland.astonmartindealers.com combined 11.4 (24.8). CO2 depending on factors including road conditions, weather, vehicle load and driving style.
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The new McLaren 720S is lighter, stronger, faster, with more power, more downforce, more technology and a more luxurious cabin. How has McLaren achieved this? We believe mysterious forces may be at work...
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LEFT: THE INTERIOR IS ALL NEW, and combines luxury materials with cuttingedge technology. The Bridge of Weir leather trim is an option. Note the way the dihedral door opens out a section of the roof, vastly improving access to the car
They don’t believe in magic at the McLaren Technology Centre, McLaren’s HQ in Woking, England. This gleaming building is a temple to science, a place where hard data and exact measurements are the common language, where the dark arts of magic, voodoo, Harry Potter spells and witchcraft have absolutely no place in the conversation. And yet, to the uninitiated, there’s definitely something supernatural happening at McLaren. As the futurist and sci-fi writer Arthur C. Clarke once said, ‘Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic’ – and McLaren is pushing technology to the limit with its new 720S. This car not only raises the bar in the supercar sector, introducing features that were previously available only in a high-end hypercar, it also represents a major advance for McLaren itself. That’s right: the use of carbon and alloy in this car, its manipulation of the air, the software algorithms whirring in its brains, they all go beyond even what McLaren was capable of when the project was given the green light in 2013. Under the code name ‘P14’, the engineering team committed to targets that were simply impossible at the time; then they found ways to achieve them. As well as representing a new generation of Super Series (replacing the outgoing 650S), this car also stands as a bold statement of McLaren’s commitment to pioneering new ground. It only seems magic, then, to the uninitiated – which is just a polite way of saying someone who doesn’t know what they’re talking about. What’s the opposite of an expert? An ‘inexpert’? Time, then, to demystify the 720S and find out what alchemy McLaren has been up to over the last four years. Rob Melville, McLaren Chief Designer, has made his arm disappear. It’s a startling trick. He leant over the car’s sculptural side, and apparently inserted his arm into the car. “We wanted to create a car without any visible side air intakes,” he explains. “That was very challenging, in terms of cooling the engine. The answer was to ‘unpeel’ the car – we’ve literally created two skins for the door.”
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PERHAPS THE GREATEST leap forward in the McLaren 720S is a technology noone will ever see: the new software controlling the second-generation Proactive Chassis Control II took five years to develop, and – along with the upgraded hardware – it offers drivers the most advanced suspension system in the world
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RIGHT: IN BEAUTIFUL DETAIL, the full-width rear wing, which also acts as an air brake. ‘A range of advanced aerodynamic technologies contribute to maximum generated downforce over 50 percent greater than that of the McLaren 650S,’ says Mark Vinnels, Executive Director, Programme Development
Lighting up the lightness FIRST THERE WAS THE MONOCELL, INSPIRED BY FORMULA 1™ TECHNOLOGY, BUT ITSELF A REVOLUTIONARY NEW APPROACH TO CARBON FIBRE BACK IN 2010. LIGHT, STIFF AND SAFE, THE MONOCELL WAS DEVELOPED FOR THE 12C, AND IN A MODIFIED FORM THIS LIGHTWEIGHT, ONE-PIECE CARBON STRUCTURE REMAINS AT THE HEART OF THE SPORTS SERIES CARS. FOR THE MCLAREN P1™ HYPERCAR, HOWEVER, THE DESIGN WAS TAKEN ONE STEP FURTHER WITH THE INCLUSION OF A ROOF STRUCTURE – CALLED THE MONOCAGE. NOW, THE NEW 720S DEVELOPS THE TECHNOLOGY BEYOND THAT, WITH THE NEW MONOCAGE II. LIKE THE P1™, THE CHASSIS ENCLOSES THE ENTIRE COCKPIT, PROVIDING A HIGH-STRENGTH, LOW-WEIGHT PASSENGER CELL. HOWEVER, THE 720S FEATURES WIDER DOOR APERTURES THAT OPEN INTO THE ROOF FOR EASY ACCESS; AND AT THE REAR, THE STRUCTURE EXTENDS BACK OVER THE ENGINE BAY FOR THE FIRST TIME. THIS IS SIGNIFICANT, BECAUSE THESE SLENDER CARBON PILLARS PROVIDE THE SUPPORT NEEDED FOR THE CAR’S EXTRAORDINARY GLASS CANOPY, FLOODING THE CABIN WITH DAYLIGHT AND OFFERING UNRIVALLED VISIBILITY. PLUS, CARBON FIBRE IS BEAUTIFUL – CUSTOMERS CAN SPECIFY A ‘VISIBLE MONOCAGE’ OPTION THAT EXPOSES THE MATERIAL ON THE INSIDE AREA OF THE A-PILLAR.
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He extracts his arm from a deep and (from many angles) invisible vent. “It makes for a very efficient design, in terms of cooling and drag, because we’ve taken the turbulent air and tucked it into the body, which is why we have such a sculptural and sophisticated body side.” Another example: the intricate ‘eye sockets’ that surround the LED headlamps. Not only do these create a striking new face for McLaren, their form is driven by function: high-speed air is channelled through these eyes, guided by the aerodynamically shaped lights into a pair of radiators ahead of the front wheels. The 720S is a car you take time to explore, with your hands and your brain as well as your eyes. Swing open the door – here’s another piece of magic. Its complex curvature is made from a single piece of super-heated aluminium – an entirely new manufacturing process had to be developed to help create them. The door sweeps forwards and out, lifting a section of the roof (a detail inspired by the iconic McLaren F1). Somehow, when open, this door is 20 centimetres closer to the body than its predecessor, making it easier to open in tight parking spaces. Slip into the driver’s seat and pull the door shut: straight away, you marvel at the 360-degree visibility. This incredible dome of glass gives the cockpit an ambience unlike any other supercar, and it was achieved using McLaren’s signature material: carbon fibre. Only carbon could provide the strength required in the slender pillars to support the glass (see right). Around you, the interior is the most luxurious cabin McLaren has yet created – and it holds a few surprises of its own. Comfortable, supportive sports seats are positioned low for the perfect driving position. They are hand-finished in lightweight Alcantara or leather as standard, or luxurious Bridge of Weir leather on request. These soft materials are complemented by new switchgear, machined from alloy, solid in appearance and tactile to the touch. The latest technology has been integrated seamlessly into the driving environment for minimal distraction.
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CONSTRUCTED AROUND a carbon fibre passenger cell and clothed in hot-formed aluminium, the 720S is the lightest car in its class
‘The most bewitching spell cast by the 720S is the way it makes you feel from the moment you step through those doors’
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Behind the fuss-free steering wheel is a 10.1-inch TFT driver display – but what if you want it to disappear? Abracadabra – choose ‘Track Mode’ and the screen folds into the dash, leaving a slender, horizontal shift light and an even better view of the track ahead. Another eight-inch touch screen sits flush with the centre console, providing total connectivity through Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, but it also lets you control a new feature, designed to thrill. Variable Drift Control is a McLaren innovation that lets you tailor the intervention of the stability and traction control systems on a sliding scale. With your fingertip, you choose how large a tail-slide or ‘slip angle’ you want before the electronics reign you in. This level of control offers the driver the freedom to test their nerve, as well as the outer limits of the car’s extraordinary performance. And control is important when you’re driving a supercar with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that produces a stupendous 720PS (710bhp) and 770Nm of torque.
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These increased outputs are matched by an obsessive reduction in weight. Every component was put under the microscope during the car’s development: ‘We’ve revised all the hydraulic pipework to reduce the amount of fluid by 1.24kg,’ reveals engineer Marcus Wade. In isolation that sounds like an engineer who needs to get out more, but combined with a similarly forensic examination of everything, it creates a lighter, more responsive supercar. ‘It’s about looking at the minutest detail to make things even better,’ adds Wade. No stone was left unturned: the already lightweight carbon-ceramic brakes were revised to lose two kilos; the suspension’s double wishbones are an incredible 16kg lighter. So despite being longer, wider and more comfortable than the outgoing 650S, the new 720S is an impressive 18kg lighter overall. That means the new McLaren isn’t just the most powerful supercar in its class – at 1419kg, it’s also the lightest.. But the biggest leap of all, in terms of control, is the new Proactive Chassis Control II, with a new electronic brain for the suspension. This is the result of a five-year project initiated by McLaren and carried out by researchers at Cambridge University. A raft of sensors send a constant stream of information to a central control unit, allowing it to continuously adapt to every driving condition and road surface. It’s an intelligent system, spooky in its complexity, impossible to understand if you don’t have a PhD; but the result for the driver is a widening out of the Super Series’ already broad abilities. From a bumpy back road to a highway to a grand prix circuit, it offers an unmatched combination of sharp dynamics and a compliant ride. All these facts and figures might make you think that science has triumphed in the 720S, and everything about this car can be measured with a slide rule. But that’s categorically not the case: while McLaren might not stray into the supernatural, it certainly explores that less tangible arena of human nature – specifically the emotions that we feel when we drive. “The engine is at the heart of a supercar,” explains Head of Powertrain, Michele Scotti. “But it needs to deliver a whole, entertaining engagement that is not just a brutal, physical force. It needs to go beyond a pure performance figure.” Which means accelerating from 0-124mph in just 7.8sec isn’t enough in itself: it must also feel amazing. Scotti tells us the first 720S he drove accelerated so fast from second to fourth gear that he felt as if he was driving ‘a time machine’. Which doesn’t sound very scientific. So perhaps the most bewitching spell cast by the 720S is the way it makes you feel, from the moment you step through those doors to the sound of the engine to the breathtaking acceleration. It’s the sensations that really matter, sensations that flow across the cabin, through the driver’s seat, out of the steering wheel and into your fingertips. This car is all about the thrill – which is surely closer to magic than science? As Arthur C. Clarke also said, “The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.” Which really doesn’t make any sense, but we all know exactly what he means.
For further information, videos and specifications visit 720s.mclaren.com All specifications correct at time of going to press.
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ONE OF THE MOST distinctive features of the McLaren 720S is what’s absent: there are no visible side vents. This gives the body a smooth and muscular appearance. Cooling air is directed into the engine bay down this clever channel, between the door’s ‘double skin’
OVER 40 PERCENT of the components in the 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 are new, boosting power and torque. The engine lies at the heart of the car, so it’s fitting that it glows in a potent, blood-red light when the ignition is switched on
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Raise Raise your your limits limits .. Raise your limits . 720S 720S Super Series 720S Super Series Super Series
James Read - Brand Manager James Read - Brand McLaren Gold CoastManager McLaren Gold Coast James Read Brand Manager QLD 4215 179 Nerang Road, Southport 179 Nerang Road, Southport QLD 4215 McLaren Gold Coast goldcoast.mclaren.com goldcoast.mclaren.com 179 Nerang Road, QLD 4215 Mob: +61 412 653Southport 624 goldcoast.mclaren.com Mob: +617412 653 624 Tel: +61 5509 7110 Mob:+61 +617412 653 624 Tel: 5509 7110 Tel: +61 7 5509 7110
GIZMO GUIDE
2017
gizmo Guide Keep occupied with this selection of fun gadgets, curated by Anna Musgrove, the self-proclaimed implementer, problem solver and doer of many things at CoolThings.com.au
Dog Pile RRP $29.95 This fun brainteaser will require some critical thinking to get your pups aligned in a stack! Select a challenge from the pack and arrange all the dogs listed on the card so that they fit perfectly within the grid provided. With 48 3D puzzles in a pack, and more than one way to stack your pups for each puzzle, this will keep you entertained for hours!
Galaxy Balloon Ball RRP $7.95 It inflates like a balloon, but plays like a ball! Stretching to a huge 90 centimetres when fully inflated, this Galaxy Balloon Ball comes filled with glittery stars to make throwing, catching, squeezing and bouncing a magical experience!
Glow in the Dark Moon Bank $24.95 Your little saver will be thrilled with this glow-in-the-dark moon bank. The detailed design features textured craters and a lunar surface for a very realistic replica of the moon, and even comes with a real meteorite specimen from space! A rubber stopper under the base allows for removal of coins without breaking the bank – literally!
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GIZMO GUIDE
2017
Ridley’s Ding It
T-Rex LED Light
RRP $29.95 Ding the bell and steal your opponent’s card – Ridley’s Ding It is the fast-paced quiz game where you can’t say yes or no! Contestants must answer 10 quick-fire questions without hesitation to win the question card. Once you begin you cannot repeat a previous answer, and you can’t use the words ‘yes’ or ‘no’, or a derivative of either. If you break the rules, another player can steal your card. The player with the most cards at the end of the game wins! This is a must-have at your next family gathering or dinner party.
RRP $39.95 This roar-some nightlight is sure to keep predators at bay! Remaining cool to the touch, this battery-operated LED nightlight is safe for children of all ages. Simply switch the lamp on and select the colour-changing mode to watch your T-Rex cycle through a variety of colours, or choose your child’s favourite colour from red, green, blue, purple, pink or yellow for a consistent glow all night long.
Space Shuttle LED Light RRP $39.95 Budding astronauts will be over the moon with this space shuttle nightlight. Remaining cool to the touch, this battery-operated LED nightlight is safe for children of all ages. Simply switch the lamp on and select the colour-changing mode to watch your shuttle take off through a variety of colours, or choose your child’s favourite colour from red, green, blue, purple, pink or yellow for a consistent glow all night long.
Mickey Mouse Crystal Puzzle RRP $27.95 Disney fans will love this challenging 3D crystal puzzle kit! Assemble the 37 interlocking pieces and you'll be rewarded with a 3D Mickey Mouse figurine, standing approximately 7.6cm tall, ready to display on the included stand. Top tip: follow the step-by-step instructions and lay out the pieces in order of assembly for the easiest solution!
Keyed Up Key Ring RRP $9.95 We have found the PURR-FECT gift for cat lovers! This cute kitty-shaped key ring also serves double duty as a cute accessory to attached to handbags or luggage and will have you feline fine!
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TOP READS
2017
TOP READS
NOT JUST LUCKY
THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME
Jamila Rizvi
Monica McInerney
Media star Jamila Rizvi’s exploration of the confidence deficit holding women back, the barriers to career success this can create, and how they might be overcome. Accessible and timely, this is essential reading for millennial women.
The wilful and eccentric Lola Quinlan is off on the trip of a lifetime, taking her beloved granddaughter and great-granddaughter with her. More than sixty years after emigrating to Australia, she's keeping a secret promise to return to her Irish homeland.
“Feisty and inquisitive – a fresh take on modern feminist issues.” Julia Gillard
But as she embarks on her journey, the flamboyant Lola is still hiding the hurtful reasons she left Ireland in the first place. What - and who - will be waiting for her on the other side of the world?
“Funny, insightful and affirming, this book will have you fist pumping the air.” Clementine Ford
GENERATION ONE: LORIEN LEGACIES REBORN Pittacus Lore It has been over a year since the invasion of Earth was thwarted. Taylor Cook thought of the invasion as just a bad dream. She'd heard about teens who were suddenly developing incredible abilities, but she had never really believed it. Not until the day she discovered she was one of them - a human with Legacies. Now Taylor is being sent off to the Human Garde Academy. A place where teens from across the globe can learn to control their new powers and discover what they are truly capable of. But not everyone thinks that's the best use of their talents. And the teens may need to use their Legacies sooner than they ever imagined.
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TOP READS
Find yourself a cosy spot and curl up with this season’s top reads.
AN UNCOMMON WOMAN
BEAUTY IN THORNS
WRECK
Nicole Alexander
Kate Forsyth
Fleur Ferris
Inspired by a real newspaper story from 1930, An Uncommon Woman is an epic tale of duty, ambition, prejudice and love, from the pen of bestselling author Nicole Alexander.
A spellbinding reimagining of ‘Sleeping Beauty’ set amongst the wild bohemian circle of PreRaphaelite artists and poets.
Tamara Bennett is going to be the first journalist to strictly report only good news. Finished with high school, Tamara is ready to say goodbye to her sleepy little town and part-time job at the local paper. O-weeks awaits, which means parties, cute boys and settling into student res with her best friend Relle.
It’s 1929, and the world is changing. Cars are no longer the privilege of the rich. Hemlines are rising. Movies are talking. And more and more women are entering the workforce. For Edwina Baker, however, life on her family’s farm in Western Queensland offers little opportunity to be anything other than daughter, sister and, perhaps soon, wife. But Edwina wants more. She wants to see the world, meet new people, achieve things. The question is, how far is she prepared to go, and how much is she prepared to risk?
The Pre-Raphaelites were determined to liberate art and love from the shackles of convention. Ned Burne-Jones had never had a painting lesson and his family wanted him to be a parson. Only young Georgie Macdonald – the daughter of a Methodist minister – understood. She put aside her own dreams to support him, only to be confronted by many years of gossip and scandal. Bringing to life the dramatic true story of love, obsession and heartbreak that lies behind the Victorian era’s most famous paintings, Beauty in Thorns is the story of awakenings of all kinds.
Things take an unexpected turn, however, when she arrives home to find her house ransacked and her life in danger. What is this mysterious note? And why does it mean so much to one of Australia’s most powerful media moguls? Caught between a bitter rivalry and dangerous family secret, who can Tamara trust? Or should she trust herself?
Finding the right Hotel just got a whole lot easier. Compare and Book 100’s of travel sites at once.
www.CompareandBook.com.au
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At the movies AT THE MOVIES
2017
We round up the season’s best flicks, hitting cinemas from July 2017.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Gifted
The Time of Their Lives
Starring Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Jon Favreau, Zendaya, Donald Glover, Marisa Tomei, Robert Downey Jr
Starring Chris Evans, Jenny Slate, Octavia Spencer, Mckenna Grace, Lindsay Duncan
Starring Amy Schumer, Goldie Hawn, Ike Barinholtz
Chris Evans stars in this drama flick as the uncle of a gifted child he's been left to raise. From the director that brought you 500 Days of Summer, this film will make you laugh, as well as cry.
A former Hollywood star, Helen, (Joan Collins) is determined to gatecrash her ex-lover's funeral in the glamorous French hideaway Ilede-Re. Helen escapes her London retirement home with the help of Priscilla (Pauline Collins), a repressed English housewife stuck in a bad marriage. Pooling their limited resources, they hit the road together by bus, ferry, car and foot in a race to get to the funeral on time, becoming entangled in a love triangle with a reclusive French millionaire (Franco Nero) along the way.
In the latest reboot of the Spider-Man franchise, a young Peter Parker (Tom Holland) tries to navigate his newfound identity as the webslinging superhero. Following his thrilling experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home to live with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the supervision of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). Peter’s attempt to get back to normal life is thwarted by the Vulture (Michael Keaton), who emerges as a new villain, threatening everything that Peter holds most important.
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Frank Adler (Chris Evans) is a single man raising his spirited young niece Mary (Mckenna Grace), who happens to be a child prodigy, in a coastal Florida town. Frank’s plans for a normal school life for Mary are thrown into dissaray when the seven-year-old’s mathematical abilities come to the attention of Frank’s mother Evelyn (Lindsay Duncan) whose plans for her granddaughter threaten to separate Frank and Mary.
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AT THE MOVIES
2017
Hampstead
Logan Lucky
Madame
Starring Diane Keaton, Brendan Gleeson
Starring Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, Riley Keough, Daniel Craig
Starring Toni Collette, Harvey Keitel, Rossy de Palma, Michael Smiley.
Directed by Oscar winner Steven Soderberg, this NASCAR heist comedy tells the story of siblings Jimmy (Channing Tatum), Clyde (Adam Driver) and Mellie Logan (Riley Keough). With a grand plan to pull off the ultimate robbery at the Charlotte Motor Speedway just before the biggest race of the year, the Coca-Cola 600, they need the help of their vault-opener, John Bang (Daniel Craig). But there’s just one problem – Bang is currently incarcerated. What ensues is a comedy of epic proportions.
An all-star cast leads this romantic comedy about an unexpected love affair that starts at dinner and spreads to the Paris streets.
Brought to you by the Oscar-nominated writer of In the Bedroom is this romantic story of a widow (Diane Keaton) who is introduced to a man (Brendan Gleeson) living largely in nature. When developers want to destroy his home for the land he is occupying, she helps him fight to maintain his unique way of life. Based on the true-life story of Harry Hallowes, this is an inspiring and heart-warming film you will love.
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"Anne (Collette) and Bob (Keitel), a wealthy, well-connected American couple, move into a manor in Paris. While preparing a luxurious dinner for sophisticated international friends, Anne discovers there are only 13 guests. So, she insists her loyal maid, Maria (Almodóvar regular Rossy de Palma; Julieta), disguise herself as a mysterious Spanish noblewoman to even out the numbers. Too much wine and some playful chat lead Maria to endear herself to a dandy British artbroker (Smiley). Their budding romance soon has Anne chasing her maid around Paris, reinventing the truth and finally plotting to destroy this most unexpected and joyous love affair." (Sydney Film Festival)
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cooking W H AT ' S
CAULIFLOWER, GOAT CHEESE & TRUFFLE GRATIN • • • • • • • •
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1 head cauliflower, cut into large florets 500 ml thickened cream 1 tablespoon truffle oil 250 grams gouda cheese, grated 125 grams soft goat’s cheese, crumbled 100 grams parmesan cheese, finely grated Shaved black truffle (use as much or as little as your budget allows) Sea salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1. Steam the cauliflower until just tender. 2. While the cauliflower is steaming, combine the cream, truffle oil, gouda and goat’s cheese in a small saucepan over medium heat and stir until the cheese has melted into the cream. Season with salt & pepper. 3. Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius. 4. Lay the steamed cauliflower in a baking dish and pour the cream sauce over the top. Sprinkle the shaved truffle and parmesan on top and then bake for 30 – 35 minutes or until the top of the gratin is a nice golden brown colour. 5. Serve with roast chicken and steamed greens for a decadent dinner.
CINNAMON WAFFLES W/ POACHED RHUBARB & STRAWBERRIES
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Cinnamon Waffles • • • • • • • • • 1. 2. 3. 4.
2 cups plain flour 2 teaspoons baking powder Good pinch of salt ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 ½ cups buttermilk 2 eggs 2 tablespoons butter, melted Sift together all dry ingredients, except brown sugar, in a large bowl and set aside until ready to use. Beat the eggs and sugar together until fluffy and then whisk in the vanilla extract, buttermilk and melted butter until combined. Combine the wet and dry ingredients and whisk until you have a smooth batter. Cook in your preheated waffle iron until golden brown. Serve with poached rhubarb and strawberries (recipe follows) and a dollop of extra thick cream.
Poached Rhubarb & Strawberries • • • • 1. 2.
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400 grams rhubarb stalks, washed and trimmed into 2 inch lengths 200 grams strawberries, hulled ½ cup raw caster sugar Juice and zest of half an orange Preheat oven to 160 degrees Celsius. Combine rhubarb, caster sugar, orange juice & zest in a baking dish, cover with foil and bake for 15 – 20 minutes or until the rhubarb is soft and not stringy. Throw the strawberries in for the last 5 minutes of cooking.
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CHAR SIU PORK • • • • • • •
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1 x 250 gram pork neck fillet ¾ cup hoisin sauce ½ cup dark soy sauce 1/3 cup rice wine 1/3 cup honey 1 tablespoon brown sugar Sesame oil, to baste
Combine all ingredients except pork fillet in a bowl and mix well. Pour the marinade over the pork fillet in a shallow dish and turn a few times to ensure the pork fillet is evenly coated in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Preheat oven to 210 degrees Celsius. Place a wire rack inside a roasting tin and then pour hot water into the roasting tin until it reaches just below the wire rack. Remove pork fillet from marinade, allowing any excess marinade to drip off before placing on the wire rack. Roast for 10 minutes and then reduce heat to 160 degrees Celsius and roast for a further 30 – 40 minutes, basting frequently with sesame oil. Slice thinly to serve.
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CHAR SIU PORK NOODLE SOUP • • • • • • • • • • • • 1. 2. 3. 4.
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1 litre salt-reduced chicken broth 500 ml water 2 tablespoons fish sauce 6 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon peanut oil 1 x 250 gram pack egg noodles, cooked according to package instructions, drained and tossed with teaspoon of sesame oil 3 large butter lettuce leaves, washed, dried and torn in half 1 cup bean sprouts, blanched ¼ cup roughly chopped coriander ¼ cup sliced spring onions Crushed dried chilli flakes, to taste 1 cooked char siu pork fillet, thinly sliced (see previous recipe) Bring the chicken broth, water and fish sauce to boil in a large saucepan. While the broth is boiling, fry the garlic in the peanut oil over medium heat until it just starts to turn a light golden colour. Pour the garlic and oil into a cold bowl and set aside until ready to use. Divide the cooked egg noodles among 6 bowls and then top with the torn lettuce leaf, bean sprouts, fried garlic, chilli flakes, coriander, spring onion and sliced char siu pork. Pour the hot chicken broth over the top and serve.
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ROCKET & WATERCRESS SOUP • • • • • • • • • • • • 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 98
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1 medium brown onion, diced 4 cloves garlic, peeled & smashed Olive oil 2 large bunches watercress, washed and dried 2 large bunches wild rocket, washed and dried 2 stalks of parsley with leaves ¼ cup roughly chopped chives 1 litre chicken stock 2 cups water 250 mls thickened cream (plus extra to serve) Parsley sprigs, to garnish Sea salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste In a large stockpot, saute the onions & garlic over medium heat until the onions start to turn translucent. Add the watercress, rocket, stock & water and bring to the boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the watercress and rocket begins to disintegrate into the broth. Transfer mixture to a blender and process with the thickened cream until smooth. Return to the pot, season with salt & pepper and simmer for 10 minutes or until warm through. Serve garnished with a teaspoon of cream if desired and a sprig of parsley.
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FINANCE
2017
A Super Time TO CONTRIBUTE Darren Hagarty of PT Partners explains how some of the recent superannuation changes make contributing to superannuation more attractive than ever.
Attractiveness of Super Contributing to superannuation is still as popular as ever. According to the latest available statistics, personal (voluntary) contributions in the March 2017 quarter were $4.616 billion, up from $4.437 billion the same quarter a year earlier. For the following reasons, contributing to superannuation has for long been an attractive proposition:
1. Concessional tax rate Superannuation earnings such as interest, dividends and rent are taxed at 15% when your account is in accumulation mode (i.e. not in pension mode), and are tax-free when your account is in pension mode. By contrast, these same earnings are taxed at your marginal tax rate (which can be as high as 45%) when made outside of superannuation.
2. Provision for Retirement Because your superannuation savings are locked away until a Condition of Release is met, superannuation is an enforced pool of savings pindaramagazine.com.au
that you can not access on a whim – rather a Condition of Release must first be met. The most common Condition of Release is your retirement from the workforce having reached at least 56 years of age. By contributing to superannuation you are therefore making provision for your retirement – for a time when you generally won’t be working but still have potentially many more years to live. The following tax changes effective 1 July 2017 make contributing to superannuation now even more attractive:
1. Deductions for All All individuals under the age of 65, and those aged 65 to 74 who meet the ‘work test’ (see later) can now claim a tax deduction for personal contributions to eligible superannuation funds up to the concessional contributions cap of $25 000. Before 1 July 2017, an income tax deduction was only available where the “10% Test” was met, whereby less than 10% of your (a) assessable income (b) reportable fringe benefits, and (c) reportable employer superannuation contributions (e.g. salary sacrifice contributions) were from being an employee. This rule prevented most employees from claiming a tax deduction as the
bulk of their income over the course of the year was employment-related.
EXAMPLE For the first two months of the financial year, Dallas was an employee barber who earned $8,000. Dallas’s employment was then terminated and he received $800 New Start Allowance from Centrelink until such time as he started his own barber shop in October. For the remainder of the financial year, he earned $65,000 from this business. During the year, in order to provide for his impending retirement, Dallas made an after-tax personal superannuation contribution of $18,000. He now wonders whether he will be able to claim this $18,000 contribution as a tax deduction.
OLD RULES If Dallas’s contribution was made under the old rules that applied before 1 July 2017, no deduction could be claimed. This is because more than 10% of Dallas’s (a) assessable income (b) reportable fringe benefits, and (c) reportable employer superannuation contributions were from being an employee ($8,000 from being Pindara Magazine
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an employee is 10.8% of Dallas’s total assessable income reportable fringe benefits, and reportable employer superannuation contributions of $73,800 for the year).
From 1 July 2017, where you make a superannuation contribution for your spouse you can claim a tax offset equal to 18% of your contributions, subject to the following rules:
NEW RULES
• The maximum offset is $540. This means that the offset can be claimed for a maximum of $3,000 contributions (18% of $3,000). • If the sum of your spouse’s ‘total income’ (consisting of assessable income, plus reportable fringe benefits total, plus reportable employer superannuation contributions) is greater than $37,000 (up from $10,800), the maximum contributions eligible for the tax offset ($3,000) is reduced by the excess. Consequently, no tax offset can be claimed where the spouse’s total income is greater than $40,000 (up from $13,800).
Under the new rules, Dallas is now able to claim a deduction for the full amount of the contribution of $18,000 as the 10% test no longer applies. Claiming an $18,000 tax deduction will save Dallas $5,850 in tax (2017/2018 tax rates, not including Medicare levy). All individuals under the age of 65 are eligible. Those aged 65 to 74 must meet the superannuation ‘work test’ (that is, work for at least 40 hours in a period of not more than 30 consecutive days in the financial year in which you make the contribution). To claim the deduction you must provide your superannuation fund with a Notice of Intention to claim a deduction form before you lodge your tax return in respect of that financial year.
2. Expanded Spouse Tax Offset The spouse contributions tax offset has been made more generous. More taxpayers can now reduce their own personal tax liability while helping to provide for the retirement of their spouse. 100
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Leaving aside the spouse tax offset, making contributions to your spouse’s account is also a useful strategy where one spouse is a low-income earner or is not working, as it can help equalise your account balances. One of the advantages of this is that if you or your spouse opts to take a lump sum payment between Preservation Age and 60, you can both access the $200,000 tax-free threshold (2017/2018 rates) and consequently withdraw up to $400,000 from your superannuation accounts tax-free before the age of 60.
Leaving aside the spouse tax offset, making contributions to your spouse’s account is also a useful strategy where one spouse is a low-income earner or is not working, as it can help equalise your account balances
2017
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