Oasis Magazine - Feb|Mar 2019 by Oasis Magazine TNQ

ISSUE 28 FEB | MAR 2019

WITH YO U

SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS

10AM TO 4PM | THE PIER CAIRNS

phone flew of my hands. specsthecash to repay the couple the expended money they My My phone flew outout of my hands. My My specs couple the money they had launched face. I was down on me. It was categorically launched off off mymy face. I was down andand I Ion had me. expended It was categorically refused. could washurt. hurt. Instantly, a man “Pay refused. could telltell I Iwas it forward”, they both chorused. it forward”, they both chorused. and woman appeared. Now, I know I hit Say“Pay whaaaaaaaaaaat?? a man woman appeared. theInstantly, floor hard, but I and think I recall seeing I knowpeeking I hit the floor but shoulders. I think I recallThis Say whaaaaaaaaaaat?? wings overhard, their selfless couple spent an hour of their theirwere shoul-time on Christmas Eve, as well as the cost of Theseeing femalewings told peeking me theirover names ders. The me that their they namescoffee Thisand selfless couple spent an hour oftotheir Jacque and female Roberttold and medical supplies, tending me wereboth Jacque and Robert and that they- time Christmasstranger. Eve, as wellAnd as the cost were nurses at the Cairns a on complete they were both nurses at twisted the Cairns of coffeenothing and medical to Hospital, as she calmly my Hospital, limbs expected in supplies, return tending for their as into she calmly twisted limbs back me -This a complete they back positions thatmy made moreintoactions. was truly stranger. humanity And in action. positions sense. that made more me anatomical expected nothing in heart returnjump for out their anatomical They helped stand This realisation made my of They helped removed trulymade humanity in action. up,sense. removed me outmeofstand the up, way of myactions. chest, This andwas also more tears me out traffic of the way oncoming traffic This from realisation made my heart jump out oncoming and of walked me into theandescape my eyes. walkedcentre. me intoIthe shopping centre. I was of my chest, and also made more tears shopping was really impressed really escapeafrom my eyes. Imagine world where random acts of with theirimpressed kindness. with their kindness. 2019 gonnabe be aa cracker, just 2019 is isgonna justlike likethis kindness was normal. Where we Little I know, it had only begun. embraced Imagine strangers, a world where of thisissue, issue,where whereweweare areembracing embracingour ourfaveLittle diddid I know, it had only justjust begun. and random ensuredactsthey kindness was normal. Where we of the year,year, March 8th, AKA favedayday of the March 8th, InternaAKA Inside the centre, I felt sore and stiff were okay. I’m putting my hand up. Who’s I felttosore stiff - butjoining embraced strangers, tional Women’s Day. And Interna-tional Women’s Day.with that And inbutInside I still the hadcentre, so much do. and I thanked me? I wanna live inand that ensured place! they still had much to do. Iand thanked mind, to give a shout outatoshout perfecttheI couple with thatI need in mind, I need to give forsotheir kindness, said I the were okay. I’m putting my hand up. Who’s their andwere said I wasTo joining I want live in that place! for outstrangers. to perfect strangers. wascouple on myfor way. My kindness, nurse angels thank me? Jacque andtoRobert profusely on my way. For the past 40-ish years, I’ve been having none of it. their kindness, and to pay their generosity To thank Jacque and Robert profusely for For the 40-ish years, I’ve beenuntil leaving leaving mypast Christmas shopping forward, Oasis Magazine will be showcasMy angel nurses it. ingtheir kindness, pay their generosity my Christmas found me awere seathaving at a none cafe,ofas Christmas Eve. shopping I don’t until knowChristmas why. Jacque amazing actsand of tokindness this year. forward, Magazine willorbeemail showcasEve.it’s I don’t Maybestreak it’s thethat sameRobert ordered me a coffee and glass Keep Maybe the know samewhy. stubborn an eyeOasis on our Facebook us at me took a seatoffat up a cafe, ing amazing acts of kindnessand this share year. streak that got me into trouble water. found Jacque the assmile@oasismagazine.com.au gotstubborn me into trouble at boarding school, or atof Jacque Robert ordered me a coffee Keep an eye on our Facebook or email us boarding school, or perhaps I secretly loveescalator and returned with aand bagglass full ofyour perhaps I secretly love the adrenaline feelgood stories. tookfrom off up escalator at smile@oasismagazine.com.au and adrenaline that the rush last-minute rushof water. medicalJacque supplies thethechemist. thatthe the last-minute always your -feelgood withhad a bag full of medical always That invokes.is That a question this returned time, shock set in, which saw Andshare invokes. a isquestion for forBy and kindness go forth stories. and sprinkle some of from the chemist. By shakes this time,that shizzzzle all around the place! another blog blog ......or perhaps a psycholoseesawing between laughter, another or perhaps a mesupplies And Kindness - go forth and sprinkle some in, which saw me gist’s couch.couch. tearshad forset the next hour or seesawing so. In psychologist’s Christmas Eve andshock laughter, time, we chattedshakes about and all tears sorts for of that shizzzzle all around! 2018 was no different. I awoke in a thatbetween next hour so. Inintermittently that time, we Christmas 2018soooo was no different. things, as or Jacque flurry knowingEve I had much to do Iof the chatted about all sorts of things, in a flurry knowing I hadAssoooo to the bleed-ing wounds on my asJULES STEER in aawoke remarkably short period of time. I tended Jacque intermittently to the much to in a remarkably period shin, and hands. tended At the end of bleedour Publisher | Oasis Magazine crossed thedoshopping centreshort carpark, I ofknees, JULES STEER ing wounds on mymake-shift knees, shin,hospital/ and hands. time. in As aI crossed the shopping centreM*A*S*H inspired stepped dodgy pothole, my ankle E: hello@oasismagazine.com.au Publisher | Oasis Magazine carpark, I stepped in aHard. dodgy pothole, mycoffee date, I reached for cash to repay rolled and I hit the deck. P: 0423 959 648 E: hello@oasismagazine.com.au At the end of our M*A*S*H inspired makeankle rolled and I hit the deck. P: 0423 959 648 | $29.95. KATE WEARS ITALIAN STYLE shift I reached Hard. FRONT COVER: GRACE WEARS ITALIAN LINEN TOP AND PANT | $139 EACH;hospital/coffee ITALIAN SANDAL | $79;date, NECKLACE | $49.95; HATfor | $24; VINTAGE STYLE UMBRELLA

From FromthethePublisher Publisher

Jules xx Jules xx

Cath Cath Gersback Gersback

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‘Meet me on the lido deck’ is a phrase I hadn’t heard since watching Captain Merrill Stubing and his crew of merry match-makers play cupid to guest celebrities onboard 80’s television show The Love Boat – clearly Knightrider or The A-Team weren’t on – but I never understood why it was called ‘lido’ and to be honest didn’t really care because it didn’t have car chases or Mr T in it. Fast forward to a few weeks ago and there I am, standing on a bloody lido deck.

My Mum’s a big advocate, she’s been on a few – which sort of supports my stereotyping – with her favourite being the ‘Blue Suede Cruise’, an homage to Elvis and his many impersonators. Mum and my Auntie Pam front row at every show screaming and crying and carrying on like the kids do with Beiber. Shakin’ all over at a fat guy in a diamante jump suit pretending to be Elvis – embarrassing. But she loved it, with the boat literally rocking and rolling on the high C’s.

I’d always stereotyped going on a cruise as a certain stage of life activity, like when you reach 60 you’re given a starter kit that contains stuff like a bingo dauber, tickets to a taping of The Midday Show with Ray Martin and a lanyard with a P&O Cruise Card.

Despite Huey Lewis and Gwyneth Paltrow wrecking the idea of Cruisin’ with that god awful duet they did, and my mum ‘selling’ the concept with this statement; ‘There’s plenty to do honey, they even have cake icing demonstrations’, we went anyway. And we had

a boat-load of fun. There’s pretty much a party every night, the Gold party, the Gatsby, the Sunset, the White, the Tropical - the only theme missing was a Political Party – which aren’t much fun anyway as they invariably end in a mutiny. And if you want to put a bit more ‘wattage in your knotage’ go with the drinks package as these hulking vessels have more bars than Pink Floyd’s ‘Shine on you Crazy Diamond’ – I haven’t actually counted the bars in the song but at 26 minutes there’s a lot. Pretty sure scurvy’s not really a thing anymore but best to keep those Corona’s with lime coming just to be sure. So ooh-ray and up she rises you salty old sea-dogs, if you’re up for a briny adventure then I’ll meet you on the Lido Deck.

H AYLEY G ILLESPIE It's a new year and so a great time to try something NEW! And this gorgeous city of ours has a host of things you can get involved with. Take the Cairns Art Gallery for instance. Aside from obviously visiting the Gallery and taking classes, which range from fine art classes to yoga, you can also be a volunteer. You can donate as much or as little time as your schedule permits. Apart from being a valued member of the Gallery, museum or group you work with, you will also be helping your community, making new friends, learning new skills and generally have a lot of fun. This could be a wonderful thing to add to your resume too. Volunteers literally “make things happen” that otherwise wouldn't be possible.

Joining a cultural group is another way to dip into this and experience all the colour of culture (and the delicious food) first hand without having to wait around at the airport. Talking of which, Chinese New Year is here again this February showcasing many events during the period from February 5th to February 18th. 2019 is the Year of the Pig, and Cairns is set to come alive during this week. There will be so many free events and a street festival, all packed full of art and cultural delights that would love to see you there.

If volunteering isn’t your thing this year, then why not look out for an array of art classes coming up. The Cairns Art Gallery are providing more and more diverse classes of adults and children all the time. The best Cairns Regional Council take volun- place to look out for what’s new is on teers also. This is a great opportunity their web site under Public programs. to be hands on with festivals and w w w. c a i r n s a r t g a l l e r y. c o m . a u events all year round. You will be meeting everyone from artists, Wishing you all the very best for 2019. actors and musicians, to being behind And I promise you I will be trying the scenes and making the cogs turn something new too. for some of the city’s landmark events. It is such a rewarding way to show off and fine-tune your skills.

Hayley xx

Andrea HUELIN Meeting about the pole 2018 oil on canvas 55 x 40 cm Courtesy of the artist

Andrea HUELIN Median Strip Huddle 2017 oil on canvas 37 x 37 cm Courtesy of the artist

When life gives you

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FOODIE NEWS RACHEL WILSON

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Events

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

TIME TIME TO TO CELEBRATE CELEBRATE TIME TO CELEBRATE

Women across Cairns are being encouraged to support International Women’s Day this year by attending the annual Cairns Regional Council breakfast and awards ceremony to be held on 8th March. “More Powerful Together” is the theme for this year’s event which recognises women and girls in the Cairns community who have made an outstanding contribution to the lives of their peers. The breakfast will feature the presentation of the Woman of the Year award and the Young Woman of the Year award as well as the International Women’s Day Scholarship, introduced last year. “It’s a great opportunity to highlight the accomplishments of women but I also think this particular theme is made for Cairns. The support that women have for each other in our region, from a networking, business and mentoring basis, is extraordinary, and I think that it very much does make us more powerful together,” Councillor Linda Cooper said. “In regards to the awards, however, it’s not only important that we acknowledge the achievements of local women but that we continue to identify and encourage positive role models. ”International Women’s Day allows us to recognise the importance of women in our lives, and to society overall, and

to motivate them for greater future achievements.” Hosted by Cr Cooper and Councillor Cathy Zeiger, (pictured above) the event will be held at the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino from 7am and include a hot-plated breakfast, prizes, motivational speakers and great entertainment by The Ironing Maidens. This award-winning electronic duo are putting domestic labour, technology and the history of women in electronic music centre stage with their live performance art piece. Ingeniously adapting real irons and ironing boards into electronic instruments,

The Ironing Maidens have toured Europe, playing Germany’s famous Fusion Festival and the Performing Arts Festival Berlin, and were featured at Byron Bay’s Falls Festival. “It should add some real colour and fun to this event – definitely something diﬀerent and who knows… maybe inspire me to want to iron!” Mayoress Claire Manning will give a special toast at the event and former Councillor Deirdre Ford will relay an inspirational story about how the awards began in Cairns more than 20 years ago. Cairns Regional Council thanks DFS Galleria Cairns for its sponsorship of the International Women’s Day Scholarship which will be awarded to a woman who is actively pursuing a goal and/or making a contribution to women in the Cairns community. Council also thanks Bendigo Bank for its continued sponsorship of the awards. Nominations for the awards and scholarship are now open and close on Wednesday 27 February. Forms can be downloaded from Council’s website.

MORE MOREPOWERFUL POWERFULTOGETHER TOGETHER

CAIRNS CAIRNSREGIONAL REGIONALCOUNCIL COUNCIL

INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S WOMEN’SDAY DAY 2019 2019Woman Womanofof the theYear Yearawards awards

DFS DFSGalleria Galleria Scholarship Scholarship

Sponsored Sponsored by Bendigo by Bendigo Bank Bank For For thethe recognition recognition of women of women who who have have demonstrated demonstrated courage courage andand have have made made an outstanding an outstanding contribution contribution to the to the lives lives of women of women andand girls girls in the in the Cairns Cairns Regional Regional Council Council area. area. Categories: Categories: Woman Woman of the of the Year Year andand Young Young Woman Woman of the of the Year Year Nominations: Nominations: Open Open 1st 1st February February Download Download thethe nomination nomination form form from from Council’s Council’s website website Nominations Nominations close close on on Wednesday Wednesday 27 27 February February

In 2018 In 2018 Council Council established established a a $2000 $2000 Scholarship Scholarship with with thethe purpose purpose of encouraging of encouraging women women to achieve to achieve an an important important goal goal andand to support to support their their valuable valuable contribution contribution to our to our community. community. Eligibility: Eligibility: Women Women must must be be actively actively pursuing pursuing a goal a goal and/or and/or making making a contribution a contribution to to women women in the in the Cairns Cairns community. community.

International International Women’s Women’sDay Day Breakfast Breakfast

Date: Date: Friday Friday 8 March 8 March Time: Time: 7am 7am (for(for 7:30am 7:30am start) start) Venue: Venue: Pullman Pullman Reef Reef Hotel Hotel Casino Casino What: What: HotHot plated plated breakfast, breakfast, motivational motivational speakers, speakers, funny funny ladies ladies TheThe Ironing Ironing Maidens, Maidens, andand thethe announcement announcement of of thethe Woman Woman andand Young Young Woman Woman of the of the Year Year Awards Awards andand Scholarship Scholarship Award. Award. Tickets Tickets $40.00 $40.00 available available from from Ticketlink Ticketlink on on ph:ph: 1300 1300 855855 835835

More More Powerful Powerful Together Together For For more more information information visit visit cairns.qld.gov.au cairns.qld.gov.au

HEART HEART OF OF AA LION LION

never walk,ªhave walk,ªhave movement movement in his in his legs legs and and never never gain gain Joelª Joelª Mundie Mundie was was born born in in Cairns Cairns a healthy a healthy 9-pound 9-pound never bowel or or bladder bladder control. ªStanding control. ªStanding there there listening listening to to baby, baby, joining joining hishis b r bo rt h o tehr eW r aWdaed, ew, hwoh w o awsathree s three bowel thethe diagnosis diagnosis thethe family family didn't didn't askask "why "why us"us" they they and and making making thethe family family complete. complete. said said “right,ª “right,ª rehabilitation rehabilitation starts starts tomorrow tomorrow and and wewe areare Joel Joel was was hitting hitting allall of his of his milestones milestones until until oneone Sunday Sunday going going to give to give this this kidkid every every bitbit of independence of independence he he cancan afternoon afternoon when when he he was was sixsix months months old.ªJoelªwas old.ªJoelªwas on on have”. have”. ª They ª They spent spent many, many, many many months months and and years years hishis mat mat in in thethe lounge lounge room room and and justjust wouldn't wouldn't stop stop visiting visiting thethe Royal Royal Children's Children's hospital hospital in in Brisbane Brisbane crying,ª crying,ª when whenhishismum mumFiona Fionapicked pickedhim himsheshe where where both both boys boys attended attended hospital hospital school school at at times times describes describes that that he”he” feltfelt likelike a piece a piece of of jelly jelly there there was was due dueto tothethelength lengthof ofrehabilitation rehabilitationperiods. periods. no no muscle muscle tone tone anywhere anywhere in in hishis body” body” he he then then went went as as rigid rigid as as a board. a board. ª Heading ª Heading into into thethe Cairns Cairns Base, Base, 13 13 1/21/2 years years later later Fiona Fiona describes describes Joel Joel as as strong, strong, Fiona’s Fiona’smother’s mother’sinstinct instinctjustjustknew knewsomething something stubborn,ªindependent stubborn,ªindependent with with thethe heart heart of aoflion. ª Fiona a lion. ª Fiona wasn't wasn't right right even even though though thethe crying crying had had says says they they tackle tackle situations situations as as they they arise arise as as unfortuunfortustopped stoppedand andhe hewas wasback backto tohishishappy happyself. self. nately nately there there is is no no medical medical or or lifelife texttext book book where where wewe cancan turn turn to page to page 20 20 to find to find thethe answer, answer, wewe have have to to It was It was in in thethe emergency emergency ward ward staff staff that that noticedª-RHOª noticedª-RHOª write write these these pages pages as as wewe go.go. Joel Joel hashas gone gone on on to be to be an an had had no no movement movement from from thethe waist waist down,ª down,ª after after a few a few accomplished accomplished swimmer, swimmer, this this year year he he competed competed in 12 in 12 discussions discussions he he was was monitored monitored forfor thethe next next 24 24 hours hours races races at at thethe Queensland Queensland State State championships championships taking taking forfor changes. changes. ª Nothing ª Nothing changed changed and and thethe family family took took home homeeight eightgolds goldsand andtentenAustralian Australianrecords. records. thethe next next flight flight to Townsville to Townsville forfor a spinal a spinal taptap and and MRI MRI to to forfor answers. answers. ª The ª The People be be performed performed to to continue continue to to look look People often often can’t can’t appreciate appreciate or or understand understand how how hard hard MRI MRI confirmed confirmed there there was was some some inflammation inflammation around around Joel’s Joel’s world world cancan be be because because he he makes makes people people feelfeel hishis spine spine so so he he was was prescribed prescribed steroids steroids and and in isolain isola- comfortable comfortable around around him. ªHe him. ªHe is also is also justjust likelike anyany other other tion. tion. 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TheThe TheThe 11th 11th Annual Annual Rare Rare Disease Disease Day Day Fun Fun Run Run and and Walk Walk family familyhad hadno noanswers, answers,justjustmore morequestions. questions. willwill be be held held on on thethe Cairns Cairns Esplanade Esplanade (the (the Northern Northern In In Brisbane Brisbane they they received received thethe initial initial diagnosis diagnosis of of end end at at thethe Fun Fun ship ship playground) playground) on on Sunday Sunday February February Transverse Transverse Myelitis; Myelitis; a rare a rare neurological neurological disorder disorder that that 24 24 from from 8:30am. 8:30am. TheThe event event consists consists of aof3aor 3 or 5km 5km runrun hashas affected affected hishis nervous nervous system system (sensory (sensory and and motor) motor) or orwalk walkand andsausage sausagesizzles. sizzles.Participants Participantswho who and and leftleft him him with with spastic spastic dysplasia dysplasia in in hishis legs. legs. 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Amazing professional development for tropical writers

CAIRNS TROPICAL WRITERS FEST

How To Hook and Keep Your Reader With Humour

Mira Reisberg is a US based children’s writer and Illustrator who is briefly passing through Cairns on her way to deliver the keynote address at the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) national conference in Sydney.

How To Become an Amazon Bestseller

Amazon and the eBook publications for Kindle and other reading devices have taken off.

Many local tropical authors and publishers with wonderful books need better distribution to reach a global market. Some of their books sit in bookshops or Cairns Tropical Writers Festival is pleased to engage are stored in boxes in the garage. Dr Reisberg to meet with local children’s authors and illustrators in a half-day workshop in Cairns on Even when successful as a print edition, freight and Wednesday morning, February 20th. postage can be a barrier to distribution overseas. These days there are far more readers to reach by Mira is known as the Picture Book Whisperer, publishing eBooks. It’s not an either / or situation. Any breathing creativity into others to help them become the serious author needs both. author and artists they want to be. Her PhD was in cultural studies, children’s literature and art and graphic CT Mitchell is one author who has cracked Amazon design, with a particular emphasis on place-based as a bestselling author of mystery short reads and novels with a thriller edge. He received a 5 star rating intercultural storytelling. in the 2017 Readers Choice Awards for his novel She has also visited hundreds of schools, providing Murder Secret (formerly published as Breaking Point). valuable tools and techniques for infusing creativity into He published his first book in 2015. He has since everything, and showing ways that children's picture had nine in the #1 Amazon Bestsellers, and has a books can be used as a cornerstone for infusing play and massive social media following close to 40,000. pleasure to teach the standards across the curriculum. His Cairns seminar on Sunday afternoon 31 March will After leaving academia in 2012, she founded and show local writers how to get their books into the still teaches at the Children’s Book Academy, and Amazon top 10 category without spending a fortune on online writing and illustrating school. Humour is Facebook ads, with the Amazon 'magic' selling your the number one thing that gets and keeps kids reading, book for you. and since my calling in this life is to get and keep kids reading – I simply answered the call,” said Mira. Limited places. Bookings available via www.cairnstropicalwritersfestival.com “Whether you’re writing a funny story, adding humour to an existing story or softening a story for some light relief, authors and illustrators should have access to the golden key to getting the funny flowing.” Limited places. Bookings available via www.cairnstropicalwritersfestival.com

Books available from a range of stockists, or contact us for advice: www.cairnstropicalwritersfestival.com

People At Home With Rochelle Courtenay At Work With Marina Prior & David Hobson

Rochelle Courtenay DIGNITY SHARED

In a world filled with 24-hour news cycles, it’s not unusual to feel a little overwhelmed with all the bad news stories. Our newsfeed are littered with stories of tragedies, violence, abuse, politicians (often acting like children!) and so many people in need. So when a good news story is brought to your attention, it’s such a refreshing change. It gives you a little bit of hope that everything is going to be okay. That’s exactly how I felt over three years ago, when late in 2015, I first head about the work of Rochelle Courtenay and her grassroots movement, Share The Dignity.

And that was the beginning of the Share The Dignity movement.

welcomed, along with sanitary items such as pads and tampons.

In March 2015, Rochelle took matters in to her own hands, collecting sanitary items within her community and distributing to local shelters. The personal trainer even asked her clients to donate a packet of pads or tampons for every wine they had! Genius!

Most recently, Rochelle has spent much of her time lobbying in Canberra, where she has been a major voice in the “Axe The Tax” campaign. The campaign has demanded tax reform to get GST removed from sanitary products.

“Tampons are the last things to be donated, yet they were always the first things to go in domestic violence refuges and homeless shelters," Rochelle says.

Share the Dignity is an Australian women’s charity bringing dignity to homeless, at-risk women experiencing domestic violence, through the distribution of sanitary items. A darker side of the charity includes funding funerals of those killed as a result of domestic violence.

After the success of the first donation, where she collected 450 packs, Rochelle's friend from a domestic violence shelter asked if she'd do another collection of sanitary items. Rochelle was happy to help and set up a Facebook page to spread the word, and from there, things went viral.

Rochelle had her call to arms early in 2015, when reading an article published on MammaMia. "I was shocked to learn that in Australia, more than 44,000 homeless women and women in domestic violence shelters had to face unthinkable indignities during their monthly period. For these vulnerable and at risk women, each month brought a shameful and traumatic experience.

As a result, a simple idea of giving dignity to women, Share the Dignity has grown into a national charity. It has over 3,000 volunteers Australia wide, and most noteworthy, provides multiple initiatives aimed at giving dignity to women. “We've now collected over 1.5 million packets of pads and tampons and distributed them to almost 4000 charities supporting at-risk women," says Rochelle.

“They were suffering indignities such as having to clean themselves in public toilets and use paper towels or newspaper to create makeshift sanitary pads.”

Here’s a woman who became aware of a problem and decided to do something about it. Not only did she do something about it, she’s made it easy for other people to get on board and help. You can donate money, like any regular charity, but the point of difference with not-for-profit group Share the Dignity is that they also collect useful items. You can actually give someone exactly what they need.

Reading this article from the comfort of her Brisbane home, with the knowledge that many Australian women couldn’t take basic hygiene for granted during menstruation, Rochelle knew she couldn’t allow this to continue. Rochelle’s initial question was “Why is no one doing anything?” "I thought no one must know about this because if they did there wouldn't be a problem.” Her viewpoint the turned to “Why don’t I do something?”

The ‘Its In The Bag” campaign asks Australians to fill unused handbags with sanitary and personal care items. Things such as shampoo and conditioner, toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap and deodorant are

Since the introduction of the GST in 2000, it has been a constant dispute, as sanitary items were subject to GST, yet shaving products and condoms were not. Last year, the 18-year battle came to an end, when the Australian senate passed changes to the GST laws which saw the removal of GST on female sanitary items. GO GIRL!! Far too many of our conversations these days are peppered with words like “empowering” and “inspirational”. Call me a sceptic, but I feel that often, these words are overused or misdirected. In the case of Rochelle Courtenay, however, I have no hesitation in using those adjectives. She is a powerhouse. She embodies the Oasis spirit. She saw something she didn’t agree with, and made steps to raise awareness of it, and then change it. The world is a better place with people like Rochelle in it. This International Women’s Day, and everyday, let’s raise a glass to kickarse women the world over! Rochelle Courtenay will be in Cairns on February 12th, as keynote speaker at the Cairns Business Women’s Club Annual General Meeting. Tickets can be purchased on www.cbwc.org.au Oasis Magazine is proud to be hosting “An Oasis of DigniTEA” on May 25th, supporting this worthwhile charity. Stay tuned to our social media for more details.

Jessica O’Connor Personal Trainer

We do it every year. Preach “New year, New me” for the first few weeks on January. Perhaps join a gym, maybe even deposit our loose change into a piggy bank that cost more to buy than its contents will ever have -but after the novelty wears off, what then? We always vow to stick to our resolutions, but sometimes that one piece of cake happens, or maybe it was that huge sale at Kmart and everything starts to unravel. We spoke to a few industry professionals that are all too familiar with the “Resolutioners” bursting through the doors January 1st, and have their tips and tricks to stay on track for longer than the month of January.

Scott Smith Finance Broker

Matt Savant Hypnotherapist

1. What was your personal ‘New Years Resolution’?

different ways such as ‘cutting out junk food’ or Jessica: My primary goal of 2019, as a female fat ‘getting fit’ but the primary goal behind these vague loss coach, is to use my skills and knowledge to objectives is generally weight loss. help as many women as possible love the skin they’re in; both online and in Cairns World Gym where I Matt: The biggest percentage is Quit Smoking, Weight meet my personal clients. I’m also an amateur Loss, stress reduction and alcohol reduction. powerlifter, so my coach and myself set some performance goals specific to my sport for this year. Scott: The most common resolutions I hear are: have a better work life balance, Better manage cash, save Matt: We don't do New Year's Resolutions as such, more and spend less, Create a budget and stick to it , we set our yearly goals in early January, incorporating Get off credit cards for good! 5 main areas - Health, Lifestyle, Finances, Work/Business and Relationships. We work towards a balance 3.Why do you think it is so common for people to for all of these areas because if they aren't balanced, ‘fail’ their resolutions? things don't go to plan - for instance if you only focus Jessica: I think that people set themselves up to fail on Finances to the detriment of Health, there's because they set unrealistic expectations of no point being the richest person in the cemetery. themselves and pair those expectations with unsustainable practices.

Scott: Keep delivering great client outcomes despite

lenders tightening their purse-strings, Improve my Matt: We find that they've failed in the past because work life balance, Use the barra boat finally and finally they've failed to plan. Big resolutions or goals need to be broken down into small steps and by focusing Exercise daily on the small steps, the big goal can't help but be achieved. We like the 'SMART Goal' acronym, 2. What is the most common ‘New Year’s resolution’ you hear from clients in your industry? S - Specific, M - Measurable, A - Accountable, Jessica: Definitely weight loss! I hear it in lot’s of R - Realistic, T - Time (achieved by a set date).

Scott: They don’t thoroughly consider their resolu- to help you plan and monitor your performance to

tions before making them, they don’t have a plan to execute them and then they let being busy be an excuse for not seeing them through.

4. How do you combat the ‘failing’ of resolutions personally and professionally?

Jessica: There are so many strategies that can be used to uphold any new goal but none more valuable than that of the help FROM A PROFESSIONAL who specialises in the area of assistance you require. Personally, I invest in help A LOT! I have a business coach, a powerlifting coach and I’ve had nutrition coaching too. Matt: We end the failing of goals and resolutions by helping people to define what they want to achieve, setting them out in a language that the subconscious mind understands and installing them into the subconscious by utilising hypnotherapy. People tend to have a belief system or a 'glass ceiling' that tends to be learnt when they're very young "I'm only worth $20/hr", "I can only be (so) happy", "I will always be overweight", then when they start to achieve they self-sabotage as the old beliefs play out, so we help people remove these old beliefs and glass ceilings. Scott: Seek the help of an expert, if it's to do with the bank, we'd love to help. See a specialist and get them

achieve the plan.

5. Do you have any tips or tricks for those that have fallen off the bandwagon already

Jessica: Firstly, the key to bouncing back is never blaming yourself. You didn’t fail, the plan failed. You can never truly fail if you don’t ever give up. So, set a new plan; a smarter plan, one that’s directed towards an achievable goal and accompanies a sustainable approach. When I happen to stubble and fall off the wagon myself, I always start fresh with some self-reflection. It’s always good to know what went wrong the first time and set a safeguard strategy to prevent the temptation of deviating from your plan once again. Matt: Get back on, do something different - the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. If you find yourself setting the same resolutions or goals and you haven't achieved them, change your approach, do something different, contact an expert for assistance. Scott: For financial related resolutions - review your

expenses and income, create a budget, plan how you will manage debt, monitor your performance against that budget regularly so that you can stay on track and ideally over achieve on your financial goal.

The Two OF US

A chat with ... Marina Pryor and David Hobson Following on from a 50-show circumnavigation of Australia in 2018, leading musical theatre and opera stars, Marina Prior & David Hobson will be performing at Cairns Performing Arts Centre on Saturday 9 March in their show â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The 2 Of Usâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. In anticipation of their arrival, Oasis Magazine had a chat with the pair, to get their views on their upcoming visit.

I’m curious to know how you both first become interested in the opera and musical theatre? MARINA: Basically, I had no choice! Haha! I grew up surrounded by all types of music, as both of my parents were music lovers and amateur singers. I sang folk, pop and opera growing up. I was studying opera at university, and was cast in a production of Pirates of Penzance. It wasn’t really until then, when I was working in a musical, that I really delved into that particular genre of music. DAVID: I had a similar childhood, growing up in a very musical household. My dad was a stalwart of the local musical theatre scene and he played all the leading baritone roles of the day. My first show was Oliver with Dad when I was 11 years old; he was Fagin and I was the Artful Dodger. Then I became involved in rock and jazz bands and later I was composing music. Through a music theatre piece I wrote, based on Macbeth, my voice was heard at a producer’s “backers audition” whilst I sang and demonstrated a few scenes from the show. It was The Victorian Opera who invited me to perform in a new version of Pirates of Penzance, which was both Marina's and my first professional production. I had absolutely no idea I would be still doing it over 30 years later.

With a career that spans more than three decades, you’ve obviously achieved some incredible heights. What has been your career highlight to date?

MARINA: I find it hard to pinpoint just one career highlight. Every experience has been wonderful in its own way. The Phantom of the Opera is definitely a favourite, but perhaps the best for me was performing Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly quite recently. My highlight is always what I am doing right now. I love it all. DAVID: My equal love of AFL football and music would mean that singing in the middle of the MCG at the grand final is pretty high on the list. The only thing that would top it would be if my team, Melbourne, had been playing on that day and had won!

You’re one of the first performances in the fabulous new Cairns Performing Arts Centre, which opened in December. What can guests expect at your Cairns Show? MARINA: Cairns audiences can expect a night of musical theatre classics through to Opera, Celtic folk music and popular classics, as well of lots of laughter and backstage tales. It’s always a very intimate and relaxed show. DAVID: We’ll also be offering a mixture of well-known songs and arias from shows and operas that Marina and I have performed over our careers. Both of us have a wide love of music and are not limited to the respective genres we are known for, so the audience should expect a few surprises! There may be some Celtic, pop and more! Audiences have also been surprised by the up close and personal nature of the show and the amount of humour we can inject. Along with our good friend

David Cameron, who is the music director and pianist, there is a beautiful camaraderie and a really casual vibe on stage that allows the audience a “behind the scenes” look at life behind the red velvet curtain. Add to that a fair bit of spontaneity and the show alive and buzzing every night. Marina and I love performing together - which might explain why we have been doing it for so long! I truly believe that mutual respect really shows through our performance.

You had a sold out show in Cairns last year, have you any favourite places, memories or stories about Cairns? MARINA: Coming from chilly Melbourne, any time in the tropical north is a joy. DAVID: It was my first visit, so this year I am really looking forward to exploring a little more. The Esplanade is just stunning, and I had a great run there last time. Running is such a great way to find out of the way places. We had a fantastic sold out show last time, with a wonderful audience, so I’m hoping to have a similar time this year. And Marina has family connections in Cairns, so we enjoyed a lovely family meal with them after the last show. And I’ve been told to visit the aquarium - there’s a new restuarant there I believe. And I must confess, I loved visiting crocodiles last time! I hope I get to see more this year!

Marina Prior & David Hobson will be performing at Cairns Performing Arts Centre on Saturday 9 March in their show ‘The 2 Of Us’. Tickets are available from Ticketlink.

The Write STUFF Author fever has hit the Far North, with a swag of locals becoming keyboard commandos. We caught up with six locals who have recently added Author to their LinkedIn Profiles ABOUT THE BOOK: If you’ve ever dreamt of pursuing a career in renovating properties this book will confirm the reasons you should. Cath and Steve take you on their journey from first-time renovators to their biggest earning flip. Like all good stories, along the way, events take twists and turns, but there’s always a positive: something new to learn.

WHY DID YOU WRITE A BOOK? Many people have asked us how we find the right property to buy to renovate, how do we know what to renovate to make quick equity and what budget is TITLE: $100K Equity in 10 Weeks reasonable? This book is a journey from our first ever renovation and TOPIC: Property includes the tips, tricks and strategies AUTHOR: Cath Slatyer that we ourselves have learnt and use AVAILABLE ON: Amazon.com with every renovation. ABOUT THE BOOK: Escaping the past is exactly what Joanna is trying to do, and a tropical paradise is just what the doctor ordered. As far as Joanna is concerned men are definitely not on the agenda, and always create more trouble than they are worth. Small planes, palm trees and a cyclone throw Joanna’s world into a spin, and what the doctor ordered is suddenly far more complicated. Her resolve to avoid entanglements is tested.... but maybe, just maybe, that is exactly what she needs to put the past behind her. WHY DID YOU WRITE A BOOK? I was speaking to a friend ZKR WROG PH VKH KDG EHHQ a successful romance writer for

five years DQG KDG NHSW LW D VHFUHW! I told her I had always wanted to write. I also said that writing had been my passion for many years, but I was afraid to embark on a work of fiction. Her retort was, “Stop talking DQG just do it,” and that was my call to action! At the time I was house bound and recovering from surgery, a big challenge for someone who hates being indoors, so the book was my saving grace. I started writing that day and I quickly realized just TITLE: Destiny in Paradise TOPIC: Romance how much I loved writing AUTHOR: Dee Tilley romance novels, it Ls pure escape and a chance for me AVAILABLE ON: Amazon , to indulge in my passion for Apple iBooks, Barnes our region too. & Noble, Kobo

ABOUT THE BOOK: Rock Your Stripes is a frank, fierce, full-arse femoir; part insightful memoir, infused with feminism, OLYHO\ VSLULWHG, deliberately confronting, and purposefully instructional.

of her awakening at age 7 to see life as a blank canvas; a chance to create her own unique, colourful journey. Bursting out from belittling confines, embracing individualism, brave changes, disrupting the ‘play-it-safe’ conservaAn experienced leader, change tive conformists. She shares champion, mentor, proud fem- the valuable learnings gained inist, and facilitator of Elevate- along a zigzag pathway of HER – Lean In circles, Jilinda’s continually advocating for what book bares her passion and is right, fair, equal in choice personal mission to encourage and rich in opportunity. TITLE: Rock Your Stripes women to: step up bravely, TOPIC: Inspiring women tostand out boldly, and speak up Jilinda’s core message throughout the book is:“Don’t brilliantly. rock their own unique, half-arse your way through life colourful stripes. WHY DID YOU WRITE A BOOK? … choose to be your full-arse AUTHOR: Jilinda Lee Adopted as a baby, Jilinda tells version.”

TITLE: 0LOOLRQ 'ROODU +RVW TOPIC: Airbnb and building a business on the back of the sharing economy AUTHOR: Julie George AVAILABLE ON: www.milliondollarhost.com.au or Amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK: If financial freedom and being your own boss are just some of your dreams, you need to pick up a copy of the Amazon Bestseller Million Dollar Host. This is the story of Julie George and how her entrepreneurial vision has seen her tap into the Airbnb 'sharing economy' and transform it into a highly profitable business. How profitable? In its first year, Julie turned over $1.4million in bookings.... now the portfolio is earning more than $300,000 per month. In Million Dollar Host, Julie shares her knowledge and takes you through every step of the process of growing a successful Airbnb property portfolio, EVEN if you do not own property! WHY DID YOU WRITE A BOOK? Airbnb is such an 'on trend' concept aW the moment and providing the perfect opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to build their own business, that I wanted to share my success and ideas to inspire and support others. I was being contacted by people from all over the world asking for help and it only made sense to put all of the 'tips and tricks' that I could into a compact book.

TITLE: 'HVLJQ D *RRG /LIH )URP )DUP WR 3KDUPDFLD WR :KROH +HDOWK TOPIC: Life is a choice â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a choice between designing your own life or having others design it for you. AUTHOR: Mario Calanna AVAILABLE ON: www.calannapharmacy.com.au/products ABOUT THE BOOK: This story contains a summary of the the journey of my family from the Woree cane farm to the Pharmacy profession. It also shows how each of us can Design our own life by focusing on the 7 elements of the Whole Health Well Wheel. Namely Family, Physical Health, Finance, Faith/Spiritual, EmotionDO Leadership and Service/Social. I wanted to show how each person can take control and Design their your own Life by taking responsibility and being accountable for the choices made, the habits formed and knowing your WHY (your Purpose in Life). Otherwise someone else who cares little about you will design your life for you. And you will never lead the life you were born to live. There is much simple wisdom shared and many resources to help to Design your own Good Life. WHY DID YOU WRITE A BOOK? I became tired of poor leadership in our communities at all levels. And the victimhood mentality that permeates throughout. We each need to be responsible and accountable for our choices and our habits. Ultimately these are what we become.

TITLE: 7RGD\ÂľV 3URILW 7RPRUURZÂľV )XWXUH TOPIC: Financial planning advice for

small businesses to retire wealthy and get a better appreciation of super. AUTHOR: Rita Zappulla

AVAILABLE ON: www.smsfsa.com.au P\ ERRN

ABOUT THE BOOK: Are you a small business owner who wonders how are you ever going to be able to retire? It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter whether this is your first year or fifth year in business or you are about to sell your business and retire, there is something for everyone at every stage of the business journey in this must-read book by financial planner, accountant and money mentor Rita Zappulla. It is never too early to start and the sooner you do, the more your future self, and your bank account will thank you for it. WHY DID YOU WRITE A BOOK? My a-ha moment FDPH ZKLOH attending a course run by Natasa Denman about writing a book in 48 hours. Working with several mentors during 2018 highlighted to me how passionate I am about helping small business owners be financially set up when they retire. Over the years I have seen so many small business owners spend 15 to 20 years working in their business but when they retire they have very little in personal savings to show for all their years of hard work. I hope to break the cycle and speak to small business owners when they are starting out in the first 5 to 10 years, and help make a difference to their lives now and in the future.

Game, Set, Match SHAY-LEE HAYNES Edmonton junior tennis ace, Shay-lee Haynes, is setting the bar high for junior players all over Cairns and the Far North. With the world at her feet, Shay-lee is ready to game, set, match her tennis career into overdrive and has her sights set on bigger and better competitions beyond the Cairns region. Oasis Magazine’s roving reporter, Maddy Smith caught up with her coach, Guy Thomas, to give us the lowdown training session a day. on what is next for this rising star. This large volume of training has at times, proven At only 11 years of age, Shay-lee only began her tennis difficult for the parents of those talented kids, so Guy career nothing shy of 2 years ago, and has been com- dedicates his time to being a Tennis Taxi Driver. From as peting for just 12 months. And despite seeming to be early as 5am, he will pick the aspiring stars up, and then relatively new to a the sport, she is already proving to be drop them home again after training in the afternoons, a fierce opponent for her age group. to allow those kids who are keen to get the most out of their game every opportunity. Lack of experience hasn’t stopped Shay-lee, having already represented North Queensland in December A hard-working mentality is not unusual amongst last year. members of the club, Shay-lee being one of many training youths who are training seven days a week with her And national training programs held in Brisbane are coach. Guy stresses the importance to not put pressure firmly in Shay-lee’s grasp, and Guy believes Shay-lee on the young athletes, but to allow them to develop a has what it takes to take the sport to the next level. love for the sport, and the desire to improve being vital in progressing on the court. And he should know. Guy is no stranger to the tennis community, having been a part of the sport and an With her eyes on the prize, Shay-lee is training hard to active member within the Edmonton club since the improve her skills with her coach by her side. With an 1970’s. overwhelming sense of community amongst members of the Club, it is a perfect environment for emerging Guy is associated with running ‘Blitz”, a junior high juniors to pursue their dreams of becoming a force to be performance training program, having a diverse group reckoned within their chosen sport. of 30 kids ageing from 6 to 14 years of age. The young ages of club members haven't stopped them from We can not wait to see whats next for Shay-lee and look training up to 5-7 days a week, some doing more than 1 forward to following her journey right to the top!

They say there is no stronger bond. They also say, "if you don't understand how you could both love someone and at the same time, want to wring her neck, then you were probably donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a sister." Sisters come in all forms. There's the ones with whom you shared parents and household chores; and there's the stepsisters; the half-sisters; the adopted sisters; and there's the Sisters from Different Misters - the ones that don't share your DNA, yet share your heart. The sister bond means that you have a bestie for life. A confidante. A mentor. There truly is no greater gift. Here, we shine a light on some local sisters, and ask them to share the stories of their unique relationship. .

Chrystal Neeve Jessica Rastoka ELDEST TO YOUNGEST: JESSICA (33), CHRYSTAL (31) OCCUPATIONS: Both event stylists

WHAT DO YOU BOND OVER?

CHRYSTAL: We bond over everything, Jess and I are like chalk and cheese but share so many passions. Our biggest bond is probably our passion for events & styling, Jess and I LOVE to create events that excite hence the inception of our events business Two Sisters Events & Styling. Our biggest “bonding” moment for 2018 would have to be the birth of my son Memphis Hugh Neeve. Me, becoming a mother and Jess an Aunty has brought so much joy to the Rastoka family, no matter what’s going on in our lives, everything stops for baby boy Memphis.

WHAT DO YOU FIGHT OVER?

CHRYSTAL: We don’t fight very much, if at all. When we do have disagreements they would definitely be work related, planning events can put you in some funny, stressful and tiring situations so being sisters and in a business, fights sometimes break out!

WHO’S BOSSIER?

CHRYSTAL: I’d say definitely me, although Jess can have her bossy moments and does have the nick name CEO in our family as she’s always tasking family members with jobs.

WHO’S THE ALPHA SISTER?

CHRYSTAL: I think we are both Alpha females, strong, confident, and hard workers. I don’t believe one of us is more dominant than the other, we both have our strengths and weaknesses and they seem to compliment each others.

DID YOU SHARE A BEDROOM?

CHRYSTAL: Yes, we shared from around 10 years! I loved it but Jess wanted her own room (she loves her own space). Once we she moved to the room next door we would bang on the brick walls to each other doing some sort of morse code to communicate, I think we missed each other!

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE ITEM OF CLOTHING TO “BORROW” FROM YOUR SISTER?

CHRYSTAL: For both of us we were crazy about this Australian designer that made 90’s kids lycra outfits, crop tops and skirts, I think the designer was BiBekki? We use to put on our lycra outfits and go roller blading, we were the coolest kids in Caravonica.

CAN YOU SHARE A FUNNY STORY FROM YOUR YOUTH

CHRYSTAL: Our funniest story would have to be the Avocado Story! On a random night out on the town Jess and I were both quite inebriated and decided we should make our way home. We decided to take a walk through Rusty’s Markets to try and find a taxi when Jess decided she felt like an avocado so helped herself to one from one of the market stalls (very our of character for Jess). I told her not to take it and she didn’t really need an avocado but she was on a mission. As soon as she picked up the avocado out of no where two police officers appeared. They asked Jess where she bought the avocado from and

she admitted she took it but then started to tell off the police officers for wasting there time on a petty avocado thief when there were more serious crimes occurring on the streets. I then had to talk our way out of the situation so Jess didn’t get a fine, in the end they agreed to let us go if our Dad came and picked us up. End of story, we have the BEST DAD ever!

BEST THING ABOUT YOUR SISTER

CHRYSTAL: Jess is honestly one of the kindest and most generous people I know, I admire this about her so much. She has so much respect and time for others it blows my mind. She constantly reminds me to practice these traits in my own life. JESSICA: Chrystal is the definition of a beautiful person on the inside and out, she has a massive heart and always gives to others when she can. She always has my back and I would be truly lost without her. She is more than my best friend.

Sharon Hine Carole Baldissera

BIRTH ORDER: SHARON and then CAROLE (56) SIBLINGS: One Older sister & Two Older Brothers OCCUPATIONS: Trainer/Self Published Author (Fairiesville) & Builder of Pallet Furniture (Love Lee Creations & Restorations)

WHAT DO YOU BOND OVER?

DID YOU SHARE A BEDROOM?

SHARON: House interiors and SHARON: Yes until we were about 9 designs, Music, Movies and wanting and then we had separate rooms, to start a business together but Carole slept walked most nights and ended up back in my WHAT DO YOU FIGHT OVER? room… Where she should have SHARON: Time. I am a stickler for been in the first place… Messing up time management. On our recent 2 beds… overseas holiday, I set my alarm for everything. To wake up, to eat WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE ITEM OF breakfast, to get to the bus, to catch CLOTHING TO “BORROW” FROM YOUR a plane, to sightsee in each SISTER? town/location. I hadn’t realised SHARON: A short denim skirt. Took how inflexible I was with time, until her 2 long years for her to find it... this trip. Carole saw a dress in a small English country town and CAN YOU SHARE A FUNNY STORY wanted to go try it on… “No, no” I FROM YOUR YOUTH said. “We don’t have time”… She SHARON: We were away camping didn’t get that dress. Sad face… and catching fish for dinner. As we caught them, we popped them in a WHO’S BOSSIER? wet hessian sack up on the bank. SHARON: Definitely me After the days fishing we went to get the fish. They had all gone. WHO’S THE ALPHA SISTER? I was gob smacked, they’d all SHARON: Me disappeared! How did they get

out? Did they flip and flop all the way back to the water? What were we going to eat for dinner? Little did I know, Carole was sneaking up the bank and grabbing the fish. Giving them a kiss and releasing them back into the water. “You’re free” and we went hungry.

BEST THING ABOUT YOUR SISTER

SHARON: Carole has the biggest, giving heart. She protects the weak and speaks out for those who don’t have a voice. She loves all animals and always speaks on their behalf. She is like a cat whisperer. She is always there for me. She is my “me too”. I said, I’m moving to Cairns, “me too”. I’m going out to the movies “me too”. She is always with me. Side by side. Living this adventure called life.

Nova Austin & Kristy Vallely WHAT DO YOU BOND OVER?

KRISTY: We're always there for each other, when times become hard I know I can ALWAYS rely on my Sister to help me through it. She's always very fair so she'll look at things from everyone's points of view so this is helpful. NOVA: Our children, good dinners, family and close friends.

WHAT DO YOU FIGHT OVER?

NOVA: Not much that I can think of, when we were younger we more inclined to squabble.

WHO’S BOSSIEST?

NOVA: I am the oldest, and the wisest and also the bossiest. KRISTY: Yes. What she said.

WHO’S THE ALPHA SISTER?

KRISTY: Again, that would be my Sister, likes to organise me and keep me in line.

DID YOU SHARE A BEDROOM?

We did as young kids. And we also shared with our brother. Our room was divided with wardrobes to give some privacy. We all loved sharing a room.

CAN YOU SHARE A FUNNY STORY FROM YOUR YOUTH?

KRISTY: Oh gosh, there's LOTS.. And I'm not sure if any are really suitable for here - LOL! Let's just say there were definitely some trips to nightclubs when I wasn't quite old enough. NOVA: I have many but - again - I am unsure they are appropriate to tell... but who cares! Let’s do it anyway! Mum wrangling a python that had strangled her dog. Dad running to her aid and yelling for mum to put the snake down and yelling to us to get a weapon to help. I ripped a fly screen out of the window, Kristy got a coat hanger.

BEST THING ABOUT YOUR SISTER

KRISTY: She's my rock, if I ever feel like i'm struggling she's the person I call. She's someone I know is always there for me and gives the absolute best advice.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE ITEM OF CLOTHING TO “BORROW” FROM YOUR SISTER?

KRISTY: I always used to steal Nova’s clothes when I was a teenager she always had way cooler clothers because she was working and could afford do buy her own. She hated me borrowing her clothes. NOVA: She would take anything that fit her, including my underwear.

Now

BIRTH ORDER: NOVA (44), KRISTY (41) ANY OTHER SIBLINGS?: One legendary brother, Corey, who is in the middle of us.

She's also lots of fun and I love hanging with her. One of my most favourite people in the world. LOVE MY SISSY! NOVA: She is my Berrocca - my Effervescent Bubble. A sister that is not wrapped around my wrist but fastened to my heart. The first person I ring when shit is really going down. Honesty, loyalty and a whole lot of FUN. Its treasured and sacred, its having my back, lifting me up, its telling me “ you are being a dick” and nudging me out of my comfort Zone.

Amanda Flanagan Tanya Spelta

ELDEST TO YOUNGEST: TANYA (41), AMANDA (39) SIBLINGS: One Brother OCCUPATIONS: Financial Controller (TANYA), General Manager (AMANDA)

WHAT DO YOU BOND OVER?

We bond over quality time and treating ourselves. Actually we can’t seem to get enough of each other... We work together and play together! And we definitely support each other when reminisce about our darling Mother.

WHAT DO YOU FIGHT OVER?

We fight over work! And also about Tanya making promises to spend time together and unintentionally breaking them.

WHO’S BOSSIER?

Out of the two of us, Tanya is definitely bossier one!

WHO’S THE ALPHA SISTER?

We take turns, it really depends on the subject matter or our mood.

DID YOU SHARE A BEDROOM?

Yes we definitley did! However it was better when we didn’t, as there is definitely one neat freak and one not-so-much!

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE ITEM OF CLOTHING TO “BORROW” FROM YOUR SISTER?

We both borrowed each others handbags and accessories. Amanda always got the hand-me-downs.

CAN YOU SHARE A FUNNY STORY FROM YOUR YOUTH When we did share a room, Amanda was on the top bunk and got hit by the fan while asleep one night. She was crying and whining

all night, and Tanya was so cranky. When we turned the light on, there was blood everywhere, Tanya felt so bad about yelling that she played nurse for the next week! Another time, we both nearly burnt our Dad’s shed down and our dear Nanna covered for us for years, and took the secret to the grave. Dad knows now, and think it’s funny, but he certainly wouldn’t have at the time

BEST THING ABOUT YOUR SISTER

AMANDA: We are close, really close. It’s quite simply the greatest amazing gift a person can be given. Lucky me! TANYA: She’s the one I can bare everything too and never be judged. She’s the most genuine person, caring, warm hearted and completely self-less person I know. She’s always looking out for me.

CAN YOU SHARE A FUNNY STORY FROM YOUR YOUTH WHAT DO YOU BOND OVER?

A lot of things have helped us form a close bond over time. Being so close in age we grew up doing the same sports and having similar hobbies and passions that has continued throughout our life and lead to becoming Graphic Designers and working alongside one another in our business.

WHAT DO YOU FIGHT OVER?

We hardly fight, but when we do its usually us putting the blame on one another over something so small that is brought on by both of us being overwhelmed in a situation.

WHO’S BOSSIER?

Oh, Rebecca. Definitely.

WHO’S THE ALPHA SISTER?

We both like to think we are.

DID YOU SHARE A BEDROOM?

We didn’t share a bedroom, but Jodie had to at one stage with our younger sister.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE ITEM OF CLOTHING TO “BORROW” FROM YOUR SISTER?

REBECCA: Shoes, for sure. It was great having the same sized foot! JODIE: Everything, if I was allowed!

JODIE: Bec had a bit of a reputation for being the ‘scary sister’ growing up and she never let me borrow her clothes very often. One day when she left the house, my friend and I decided to go in an try on some of her clothes. Bec came home while we were still in her room, trying to escape before she caught us, we panicked and turned around running straight into the wall. ... safe to say we got caught! came and picked us up. End of story, we have the BEST DAD ever!

Rebecca & Jodie Sharkey BIRTH ORDER: REBECCA (28), JODIE (26) OCCUPATION: Graphic Design at Two Sistahs

BEST THING ABOUT YOUR SISTER

We are each others best friend that are always 100% honest with one another through work and life.

Jessie McFadden Hannah Lane

ELDEST TO YOUNGEST: JESSIE (32), HANNAH (31), and their baby sister, SHANNON (27) OCCUPATIONS: Administrator Officer (JESSIE) & Successful Hair Salon Owner (HANNAH)

WHAT DO YOU BOND OVER?

DID YOU SHARE A BEDROOM?

We both bond over our kids and family.

JESSIE: On and off growing up, yes. Bunk bed wars!

WHAT DO YOU FIGHT OVER?

HANNAH: Jessie had top bunk of course.

JESSIE: We truly rarely fight. We’re different enough not to really clash but similar enough to have plenty in common (if that’s even possible). HANNAH: Jessie is stubborn though so I'd say maybe we'd argue about who's right.

WHO’S BOSSIER?

JESSIE: Me! Absolutely me! HANNAH: Most definitely Jessie

WHO’S THE ALPHA SISTER?

JESSIE: It depends - because I am so bossy and a true planner, sometimes I tend to just take the lead on things however, Hannah is the creative one, so often we share the "alpha" role. HANNAH: Jessie 100%

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE ITEM OF CLOTHING TO “BORROW” FROM YOUR SISTER?

JESSIE: Hannah and I have always had very different styles (and sizes) so I don't recall ever sharing clothes but I would have "borrowed" her jewellery and/or accessories.

CAN YOU SHARE A FUNNY STORY FROM YOUR YOUTH

JESSIE: When we were younger and sharing a room, we came up with a great idea... to split our room in half! Only thing is, I was not prepared to share the entry/exit, so I got some chalk and put a line from the left wall to the right wall. I had the bedroom door to enter and exit and Hannah, well... she had the window to enter and exit of course. Apparently, mum and dad didn't feel this was as cool as I did and insisted we shared the bedroom door. HANNAH: Jessie was always a keen fisherwoman and would be forever practicing her casting out in the yard and would make me

standby to put a "fish" leaf on the line for her to pull in. For hours on end and I didn't seem to mind.

BEST THING ABOUT YOUR SISTER

JESSIE: The endless support and love she shows towards me and my family. I am super proud of her business and entrepreneurial skills also!! A true example of a hardworking, strong family woman. HANNAH: Jessie has always been my rock and so supportive of all of my endeavours. She has always been so stubborn, which as a young girl not getting what you want can be frustrating but through recent years, being a young mum and surviving breast cancer that I have seen her true courage shine and this "stubbornness" is my favourite quality about her. Still during these terribly hard times she showed a strength and determination that I am in awe of. She has now dramatically changed her lifestyle in order to create the best and longest life for her and her family through health and weight loss. I couldn't be prouder.

Style Embracing the Sisterhood theme of this issue, local sisters, Kate Fern and Grace Lillian Lee have stepped into our fashion pages, wearing designs available at the aptly named Kuranda boutique, JUST GORGEOUS. And with a wide range of clothes, shoes and accessories, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never been a better reason to take a leisurely drive up the range.

SUPPLIERS: Models | Kate Fern & Grace Lillian Lee Hair & MakeUp | Emma Gelling at Blended Photography | Pretty in Pictures Stockist | Just Gorgeous Kuranda

KATE: Italian silk layer top | $149 Italian silk split pants | $149 Necklace | $39.95 Handmade Moroccan leather ottoman | $179

GRACE: Italian silk kaftan top | $159 Italian silk layered pants | $140 Necklace | $29 Diamante sandals | $59

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Wellbeing HEALTH | FITNESS | BEAUTY

When it comes to deciding what to cook and eat, many of us can get overwhelmed quickly — and I get it. Whether it's on social media, television or even on food packaging itself, we're constantly bombarded with complex and often conflicting advice about what we should be eating.

3. Embrace diversity

Eating a wide range of fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds and pulses provides a wide range of vitamins and minerals. Aim for a range of colours, add lentils and beans to dishes, and try a different leafy green in salads each week. By eating a range of foods, But it doesn't have to be this hard. Good food should you don't need to worry about missing individual be easy. It's about keeping things simple so we can nutrients. Embracing diversity in what we eat means make the best food choices throughout the day — we're also less likely to need expensive extra nutrition supplements. quickly and affordably. Instead of a rule book on what not to eat, follow these 4. Break up with added sugar guidelines to help you live well and feel great. Ditching 'free sugars' — those added to products or concentrated in products either by the consumer or 1. Eat ingredients, not products the manufacturer — is a great step to take to good A fail-safe way to eat well is to choose whole foods health. A few simple ways to quickly break up with over products. This doesn't mean we need to make sugar is to avoid sugary drinks and eat whole fruits absolutely everything from scratch, but choosing more rather than choosing juice. It's also worthwhile to fresh foods and fewer packaged ones will go a long learn the many other names for sugar on labels, such way to improving our nutrition. Fresh foods are as fruit juice concentrate or glucose, and question generally higher in micronutrients and fibre, and will healthy claims on packaged foods — they're usually help us avoid hidden added fats, sugar and salt. trying to distract you from reading the nutrient label. Be okay with sugar sometimes, because it can still be 2. Start with vegetables enjoyed occasionally. Get used to filling the plate with at least 50 per cent veg, as eating more vegetables is one of the most important things we can do for our health. Work out which vegetables you love and enjoy these regularly rather than trying to eat them all, and pile plates high with veggies first when serving up. When it comes to snacking, cut and store vegetables to make them an easier choice.

5. Be smart about fats

prepared sauces and processed meats. An easy way to manage your salt intake is to live by the first principal of whole foods over products. But when needed, check the nutrition panel of these foods and aim for less than 120mg of sodium per 100g.

While fats have had a bad rap in the past, healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fats are essential to our health â&#x20AC;&#x201D; supporting our cell membranes, brain development and heart health. Our bodies don't make these fats; they're only available in our diets and so it's important to choose the right foods. Oily fish such 9. Choose water as salmon and tuna, avocados, and nuts and seeds Drinking water assists all bodily functions. It's (such as chia seeds, pine nuts, walnuts, almonds, filling, hydrating and helps with concentration and pumpkin seeds and cashews) will do the trick. focus. It's also one of the easiest and cheapest things we can do for our health. Start each morning with two glasses of water, enjoy water 6. Cook and eat with the ones you love Science proves that eating with others results in with each meal, and invest in a reusable water bottle us eating less, and maybe even better. Dining so water is always handy, available and free. with friends and family tends to slow down our eating, allowing our stomach to send a message to our 10. With alcohol, less is more brain when we are full. It also offers an opportunity While most of us enjoy a drink from time to time, to connect and check in with loved ones, alcohol is associated with increased risks of a supporting mental wellbeing and overall happiness. number of cancers, heart disease, mental illness and more. If you've heard that a glass or two of red wine is actually good for us, this is sadly not true, with 7. Keep an eye on your portions Even when eating well, eating too much will hinder science generally stating that no level of drinking is your health. Simple ways to manage not only the safe. To keep it simple and balanced, a good rule quality but the quantity of our diet is to serve of thumb is to keep most days alcohol-free. smaller portions and return for seconds if desired, use smaller plates, go slow and do mindful checks To sum upâ&#x20AC;Ś on your appetite. Lastly, if the plate is still looking OK, it's a long list but each one is achievable for us all. a little light on, opt for more veggies instead of Choose a few goals and start with those, then work on adding more pasta, rice or meat to the plate. adding more. Take your time and be flexible and understanding, as we all have setbacks sometimes.

8. Halt the salt

A high intake of salt is associated with high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Much of our salt intake is accounted for in processed products including snack foods, fast foods,

Don’t stop believing.. IN YOURSELF! FITNESS

JESSE HUGHES

Member Experience Manager

A new year means different things to different people, but many would agree that it’s a time to reflect on the year that was, review what did and didn’t work and to make plans and goals for the year ahead. To me, it’s a fresh start.

ing healthy habits… committing to a 6 Week Challenge could be exactly what you need. It’s not about who can lose the most weight or who can run the fastest 10K… it’s simply about forming a fitness routine that will set you up for the future.

Have I still got a long list of to do’s and unachieved goals from 2018? Absolutely. Am I going to scribble out the 8 in 2018 and change it to a 9? You betcha. Am I finally going to tick things off over the next 12 months? I sure hope so! How? COMMITMENT.

Need help mapping out your schedule to ensure you get the most out of your training? Want a range of delicious and nutritious recipes to help keep your goals in check? Keen to keep track of your workouts and your heart rate? Do you need a little bit of friendly competition and some added motivation to keep you working hard? Want to exercise in a fun and supportive environment with like-minded people who want to celebrate your wins with you?

If you are someone that struggles with inner accountability… commit to someone else. It doesn’t matter what your goals are, share them with someone that you know will hold you accountable; a friend, family member or colleague. If one of your goals is about creat-

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PROPERTY | STYLING | MAINTENANCE

Hands up who has been binge-watching Marie Kondo’s Tidying Up series on Netflix. (Raises hand) Marie’s method of discarding items that don’t bring us joy has certainly struck a chord with a legion of followers.

There are numerous studies supporting the theory that decluttering is not only good for the aesthetics of your house, but also helps in relieving stress and angst to create a harmonious environment for your life.

In fact, the team here at Oasis are calling it early. We predict that the word ‘declutter’ will be to 2019, what the word ‘single-use’ was to 2018.

So as the declutter phenomenon sweeps the nation, we want to share our favourite 10 Tips to help you on your decluttering your house AND your life!

And rightly so.

1. Identification & Acceptance They say that the first step is admitting you have a problem. So breathe in, identify the ‘hoarders haven’ state of your house, and accept it. Identify why it is you tend to be clutter-prone. Lack of time? Constantly worrying? Remember mess = stress, so if you can pinpoint where it all goes wrong, you’re starting on the right foot.

2. Visualisation Envision your goal. Picture how you want the end result to look, how it will make you feel and all the positive outcomes that will arise from spending a few hours of tough elbow-grease.

3. Plan of Attack Prior planning prevents poor performance: use that phrase as ammunition to fuel an in-depth plan of attack. If you have a guide to reference to (aka this one), you’ll feel less inclined to fall off the bandwagon.

4. Baby Steps Accept that Rome wasn't built in a day, and any small improvements are better than none. With that in mind, avoid all distractions as much as possible. Plan to smash out the entire operation in a suitable timeframe, but be realistic to avoid disappointment.

5. “Trash Bag Tango” On your marks, get set… GO! Grab a garbage bag, and waltz around the perimeter of the space. Bin the obvious things, it will feel good instantly and create a blank canvas to start on. Let’s just scratch the surface to see what is underneath before we start digging.

6. The 3 Magic Questions Familiarise yourself with 3 questions, repeat them and never forget them. Ask yourself, “Do I want it?”, “Do I need it?” and finally “Why am I holding onto it then?”. If you can not fathom a logical response, bin it. Even try saying it out loud, perhaps doing so will sway your decision.

7. Bin before Buy Now I know the satisfaction of heading down to the likes of your local OfficeWorks, Typo or Kmart and spending hundreds of dollars on matching stationary holders, tidy trays and storage boxes is, trust me I do. But it will save you a quick buck by starting with what you’ve got, and using storage systems you already have. Throwing things away creates undoubtable space, so resist buying things that are only going to fill it back up, regardless of the adorable pastel pink packaging.

8. Category, not location Sorting your clutter is commonly done by location, however this is not as affective as it seems. Marie Kondo set goals like “clothes today, books tomorrow.”, as we read from her book. “One reason so many of us never succeed at tidying is because we have too much stuff. This excess is caused by our ignorance of how much we actually own. When we disperse storage of a particular item throughout the house and tidy one place at a time, we can never grasp the overall volume and therefore can never finish. To escape this negative spiral, tidy by category, not by place”.

9. Prioritise Setting priorities will rapidly eliminate the pressure and overwhelmingness of decluttering. You will soon realise that piling your clothes sky high on your bed and forgetting about them, isn’t the most sensible approach to decluttering. Make your life easier by ticking things off slowly, but in a priority list, which you’ll soon determine after starting.

10. Implement good habits To give yourself the best possible chance of success, you must make change. Initiate a positive routine in maintaining cleanliness and overall tidiness, however remember you’re not perfect. It’s okay to fall off the bandwagon sometimes, but as long as you can identify it, perhaps even restart this list, you’re on the right track to maintaining a clutter-free home and life!

First of all I think coming up with “Granting Wishes for Christmas” is wonderful. Usually you only see these sort of initiatives on TV and supported by large corporations. I am amazed by the Cairns Community to have this capacity to show and for Oasis Magazine to have the ability to bring out this kindness and generosity. For Emma and I the make-over didn’t just mean that our bedrooms are much nicer and more comfortable (which they absolutely are!), it enabled a positive change in our lives. Emma now has one room that is hers for sleeping, playing, studying and watching her favourite shows on Netflix and YouTube kids. She loves spending time in her room and she sleeps in her bed on

her own now. The new height adjustable bed also allows me to take full advantage of the NDIS funding we receive and have a support worker assisting with the morning routine and teaching Emma to transfer in and out of her wheelchair. The timing for this amazing surprise was just perfect. Emma has a year full of educational and therapeutical challenges ahead and now our home is perfectly prepared! To Oasis Magazine, Cath & Steve, all the individuals and businesses that have been a part of this: Thank you! You are amazing! Love from Emma and Doreen!

• Cairns Hardware (Paint) • Borzi Painting Services (Painting) • Freedom (Bedside Table) • Sally (Red M Photography) • McLeod’s Office Furniture (Desk) • Linda Soblusky (Christmas Hamper) • Koru (Kip & Co pillow sham, Bedside lamp) • Beacon Lighting (Discount on Lamp) • Complete Mobility and Rehab

FRAME

(Motorised bed), • Oasis Magazine (Giraffe Poster) • Frame (Mount and frame poster) • Angela O’Malley (Pink frangipani photo) • Harvey Norman Bedding & Electrical (Single and queen sheets, Discount on Smart TV and wall bracket), • Amanda Wilesmith (Handmade pink gingham throw) • Debbie Jewachow at Pillowtalk

Cath Slatyer called in to see Colleen and I before Christmas with a print in hand, she soon connected it to a real life story of community kindness and compassion. Cath was on a quest to help someone less fortunate who she barley knew. Colleen and I were touched by Cath’s selfless involvement in a project that was going to help change a little girl’s way of life at home. A beautiful room of her own, featuring all the things that are special to Emma, and space for Mum to unwind.

simple decision to get involved with framing the print that was going to help pull the room makeover and theme together. We worked together there and then; designing the framing project. The Frame team were touched by Cath’s sentiment and her desire to create such an amazing space for Emma. Seeing the end result was amazing, a room any little girl would love to get lost in. Seeing her giraffe print hanging pride of place above her desk was very touching to us all.

We have many requests by email and web enquiries from people asking for donations, however it makes it easy to connect when someone like Cath actually made the concerted effort to call in on us and share her story, her vision of making life a little brighter for Emma and Doreen. It was a

Determination and a passion to make this project come to life is a real credit to Cath. The team at Frame were honoured to be involved and we’d like to acknowledge Cath’s leadership role and making this special gift happen. We would like to wish Emma and Doreen happy times.

(Pink coverlet) • Una Hick’s Stewart, Julie Michael (Cash donations) • Claire Massingham (Hand painted troll rock and Happiness book) • Rochelle Kettles, Rita Zappula, Julie George (Cash for Smart TV and bracket) • Steve and Cath Slatyer, Brendon and Bec Slatyer (Building and design)

COMPLETE MOBILITY & REHAB

Another Christmas has gone by and as we reflect over the last year, the team at Complete Mobility & rehab agree, without doubt, that while there are many highlights throughout the year, it absolutely filled our hearts with joy to be a part of Emma’s Quest. WE understand the difficulties people face in their daily lives, and how sometimes the smallest things can make a world of difference. Our team were delighted and happily assisted to provide Emma with her new hospital bed for her bedroom makeover. It was lovely to see the local business community come together and do what they could to help and we are most certainly proud to be a part of that community.

I still get a lump in my throat when I think about the lovely conversations that I have had with our local businesses that supported this project. At no time, did any business make it feel like a chore. It was quite the opposite, they made it feel like we were giving a great big bundle of Christmas to someone. They all wanted to support our makeover and I was simply the conduit between them and Emma and Doreen Deede. Coupled with an awesome team around me that helped me pull it all together, we worked in unison to give Emma and Doreen beautiful bedrooms. When Doreen and Emma arrived home and saw their rooms for the first time you couldn’t wipe the smile's from their faces and the tears of joy from mine. I told them there was a lot of love in there!

Cath Slatyer

FINANCE & INSURANCE SPECIALISTS

Shannon Telley Financial Adviser

0419 324 984 VKDQQRQ#LQWRXFKƓQDQFLDO FRP DX ZZZ LQWRXFKƓQDQFLDO FRP DX

Authorised Representative of Infocus Securities Australia Pty Ltd AFS Licence No 236523

LIFE, TPD & TRAUMA INSURANCE | INCOME PROTECTION | SUPERANNUATION

Michele Annison Personal Mortgage Adviser

0432 322 540 mannison@smartline.com.au smartline.com.au/mannison

Australian Credit License Number 385325

HOME LOANS | COMMERCIAL LOANS | EQUIPMENT FINANCE

Rochelle Kettles

Insurance Broker

0414 082 989 rochelle@cbis.com.au www.cbis.com.au

AFSL 497196

COMMERCIAL | DOMESTIC | MARINE | HARD TO PLACE RISKS

Suite M3B, Mezzanine Level The Pier Shopping Centre, Cairns (07) 4031 0685

Business ADVOCACY | FINANCE | LEGAL MARKETING | ACCOUNTING

ear Agony Aunt My Husband of 25 years has told me he no longer loves me and wants to separate. I feel scared about my future and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what I should do first. Please give me some direction. From, Scared and confused

Dear Scared and confused,

Separating from your long term partner can be a very difficult time for everyone involved. Feeling scared and confused are normal feelings to have at this time and you must give yourself a break, there is nothing wrong with feeling this way.

Practically

there are number of things you can do in the early stages of separation to help you find direction.

Above all be kind to yourself and to your spouse. Even though your husband has chosen to separate it can be a rough time for both of you. Is there the possibility of a reconciliation and can you explore the option of marriage counselling?

Ensure

make separation less daunting. Your lawyer can also help lessen your load at this time, such as assisting you in initiating processes to finalise your property settlement Record the date of your separation, and deal with other practical issues to the day or if you cannot pin that you may find too overwhelming point an exact date, to the month to deal with at this time. when your husband communicated to you that he considered the Reach out and get advice from marriage to be over. This date other sources. Your accountant, will be relevant to finalising your GP and your marriage your financial property settlement counsellor can also give you and to apply for a divorce. direction at this time. you have a good support network around you. Family and friends can be a source of comfort and a shoulder to cry on.

your husband initiated the separation, he may have already given a lot of thought as to how your separation will work, but issues such as who will (at least initially) remain living in the matrimonial home and how bills will be paid need to be considered. Very importantly if you have children under the age of 18 years at home, you will need to determine how you will continue to share in the care arrangements for your children.

Seek legal advice as soon as possible, even a once off advice session will provide you with guidance as to the process and laws surrounding separation and

It may seem obtuse to say now but there will come a time when you will find that you have managed to successfully navigate through your separation and come out with a fresh and promising new direction. Kind regards,

Tamlyn Leahy Family Lawyer

Only Onlylarge largecompanies companiesneed needanan ACCOUNTS ACCOUNTSDEPARTMENT, DEPARTMENT, RIGHT? RIGHT?

ACCOUNTANT ACCOUNTANT CHARISSE CHARISSE RUSSELL RUSSELL Director Director

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YOU YOU IDENTIFY IDENTIFY ourour own own dedicated dedicated thethebenefits benefitsof ofhaving having AND DEAL DEAL WITH WITH ISSUES ISSUES Accounts AccountsDepartment, Department, their own own Accounts Accounts AND If “Checking If “Checking with with thethe Accounts Accounts DepartDepart-their THE THE MORE MORE OPTIONS OPTIONS butbut absolutely absolutely everyone everyone Department at aatfraction a fraction ment” ment” about about an an invoice invoice or or overdue overdue billbillDepartment YOU YOU HAVE HAVE would would benefit benefit from from thethe cost cost thatthat would would means means finally finally going going through through thethe pilepile / of / of having having oneone keeping keeping an an eyeeye come from from hiring hiring thethe staff staff shoebox shoebox / drawer / drawer / storage / storage unitunit of ofcome on on things things forfor us us from from thethe needed to cover to cover your your Payroll, Payroll, paperwork paperworkthatthatwaswas‘Tradie ‘TradieFiled’ Filed’needed background, background, ready ready to tap to tap us us on on accounts receivable receivable andand payable payable (thrown (thrown in a in general a general location) location) sounds soundsaccounts shoulder shoulder when when wewe need need it. Which it. Which is is a CFO a CFO to oversee to oversee thethe work work andand givegivethethe familiar, familiar, youyou areare definitely definitely notnot alone! alone! andand almost always always before before wewe realise realise it. it. youyou thethe guidance guidance andand advice advice to to have havealmost your business business finances finances working working forfor It Itsounds soundsridiculously ridiculouslydisorganised, disorganised,your Charisse Charisse Russell Russell is a is Chartered a Chartered Accountant Accountant withwith overover you. because because youyou generally generally justjust have have to get to getyou. 17 years’ experience experience in accounting, in accounting, auditaudit and and taxation. taxation. knowing knowing thatthat anyany problems problems willwill be be17 years’ some some stuff stuff together together forfor your your bookkeepbookkeep-AndAnd passion passion lies lies in changing in changing liveslives through through her her identified andand a plan a plan willwill be be developed developedHer Her er, er, confident confident thatthat youyou willwill resolve resolve thatthatidentified approachin inbeing beinga acoach, coach,advisor advisorand and before you, you, as as an an owner owner operating operatingapproach enquiry enquiry in in good good time, time, as as long long as as thethebefore mentor.Charisse Charisse has has two two gorgeous gorgeous alone, would would be be able able to identify to identify without withoutmentor. bookkeeper bookkeeper hasn’t hasn’t ‘Tradie ‘Tradie Filed’ Filed’ thatthatalone, munchNins, a supportive a supportive husband husband and and is is time time to go to go over over thethe numbers numbers likelike a amunchNins, particular particularpaperwork paperworkor orgone goneon onthethe backed backed by an by an amazing amazing team. team. 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Happy 25th Birthday BLA!

Twenty-five years ago, Angela Toppin realised that as an educator more had to be done to address the disadvantage for rural and regional secondary school students in seeking tertiary education and further training in capital cities. What could be done to empower these students to broaden their career options and ‘give them wings to fly’? Angela Toppin, a former Principal of Cairns State High School, who is very passionate about broadening opportunities for young people, developed the Business Liaison Association to bridge the gap between school leavers and the business community. For the past 25 years Ms Toppin has held the position of Chairperson alongside an Executive Committee consisting of dedicated industry professionals from Cairns and surrounding regions. In the beginning Ms Toppin persevered, and as many of her colleagues in education would say, “She nagged some poor public servant in the Department of Education for so long they capitulated and agreed to provide ‘start-up’ funding of $2000”.

ASSOCIATION So, in the first year the BLA raised $16 000 in corporate funding. The first corporate sponsors were: Department of Education, Cairns Port Authority (now Ports North) and Cairns Region Group Training (now Skill30 Australia). These wonderful sponsors have continually supported these initiatives for 25 years which has now increased to a total of 39 corporate sponsors! Fast forward to 2018 and there is over 12,000 students participating in 37 programs and events, 47 awards and competitions (and growing) with an incredibly strong sponsorship base to support all this. The future is very sustainable with a passionate and committed team. In 2018 the Business Liaison Association celebrated 25 years of incorporation and 25 years of ‘making a difference’ for young people. Their mission statement is “To encourage and provide secondary schools with relevant up to date knowledge, skills and resources to meet the current and future demands of the business community”.

The The business business community community is the is the BLA’s BLA’s most most valued valued collaborator collaborator and and as asa aresult resultoffers offersannual annualawards awardsand andcompetitions, competitions,industry industry breakfasts breakfasts and and visiting visiting expert expert programs. programs. The The awards awards areare designed designed to to include include financial financial bursaries, bursaries, scholarships scholarships and and prizes prizes to to assist assist secondary secondary school school students students in in FNQ FNQ to to further further advance advance career career and and study study opportunities. opportunities.The The BLA BLA is most is most renowned renowned forfor hosting hosting thetheannual annualYouth Youth& &Careers CareersExpo Expoforforpast pasteighteen eighteenyears. years. More More than than 3,500 3,500 students students throughout throughout FNQ FNQ attend attend to to obtain obtain thethe latest latest information information onon tertiary tertiary and and vocational vocational courses courses offered offered by by anan ever-increasing ever-increasingnumber numberof ofinstitutions institutionsthroughout throughoutAustralia. Australia. The TheYouth Youth& &Careers CareersExpo Expowillwillbe beheld heldat atthetheFred FredMoule Moule Pavilion, Pavilion, Cairns Cairns Show Show Grounds Grounds onon Thursday Thursday 23rd 23rd May, May, 2019. 2019. This This year year is set is set to to be be exciting, exciting, MsMs Toppin Toppin and and herher team team - the - the BLA BLA Executive Executive Committee, Committee, Executive Executive Officer Officer MsMs Kerrie Kerrie Stanley Stanley and and Administration Administration Officer Officer MsMs Kym Kym Copetti Copetti areare sincerely sincerely grateful grateful forfor thethe ongoing ongoing support support from from their their corporate corporate sponsors, sponsors, supporters supporters and and volunteers volunteers who who make make ‘great ‘great things things happen happen forfor ourour young young people’ people’ by by value value adding adding to to their their experiences experiences and and opportunities. opportunities. The The BLA BLA Team Team have have bigbig plans plans forfor 2019, 2019, so so stay stay tuned tuned to see to see what what is is happening happening or or callcall Kerrie Kerrie or or Kym Kym forfor information information onon becoming becoming part part of the of the BLA! BLA! One One of of MsMs Toppin’s Toppin’s favourite favourite quotes quotes from from Walt Walt Disney Disney “If “If youyou cancan DREAM DREAM IT IT youyou cancan DODO IT!”IT!”The The Business Business Liaison Liaison Association Association is is there there to make to make this this happen! happen!

The most common question from most business owners is always, “What are the best marketing strategies to use?” We caught up with Creative Advertising Expert, Lars Halsvorsen, CEO of AdMarketing Australia, who gives us the lowdown on what works best when it comes to marketing your business. Most business and brand owners are faced with a constant challenge. There is an absolute need for increased visibility to improve sales, however marketing is viewed by many business owners as a cost not as an investment and when times are tough, this investment is the first that is cut. There are many things that can be done on a small tight budget, to reach more customers without giving up your daily tea, coffee or a glass of wine. The challenge is though, that you do need to invest time. If you’re working hard to build a good relationship with your existing and potential new customers by adding value, then WKHUH DUH D QXPEHU RI JUHDWª strategies you can put into place to promote your business or brand.

1. Use Social Media every day

You simply cannot ignore social media. That's where so much magic is happening every day 24/7. There are many businesses and brand that have been built completely with the help of social media. It can be intimidating, however as you build momentum, you'll find posting on social media gets easier and if you do not have time, then put a professional in place to do it all for you and meet with them every week to discuss strategy and get a report on all activity.

you provide, the quicker you can boost your online visibility, and ultimately, your sales. YouTube is the “go to” search engine behind Google, and so many people just use it to see and learn whatever it may be that they need to see and learn. Whenever someone wants to learn something visually, they head to YouTube. Ask yourself what you could teach your customers and potential new customers. You will hate hearing your own voice and seeing yourself, but you don't have to appear on camera if you don’t want, but it is best if at least you are heard.

3. At least once a month write a blog and regularly add to your website.

Facebook ads. With Facebook, you can reach a very specific audience and you can do it very easily. You can target by interest, age, relationship status, geographic location, and more, AND it is much more cost effective. Getting great results isn't just about click through traffic.

6. Create an affiliate program with a complementing business or brand

Affiliate marketing can provide strong growth and bring new customers, however, approaching the right affiliates isn't always easy. A men’s fashion store and sporting clubs are perfect partners. Women’s hairdressing salons have a plethora of potential affiliate partners. Use your imagination and contacts to make it happen.

If you don't have a blog for your business on your website, then you need to start one, or commission someone else to write it regularly for you. 7. You DO need to maintain a

4. Learn more about how you can improve your own Google online organic ranking and search engine optimisation.

This is an area of marketing that can be a little overwhelming, however it can also be very powerful. When you learn how to assist your organic SEO this will help your business very much and its online organic ranking. You can't take shortcuts with SEO. You do have to put in the work and the time if you want to see the results. Or get a reliable marketing expert to help educate you.

2. Create video stories on your 5. Build a fan club for your social and web site. A very effective way to promote brand via your Facebook Page your business is to create video and use Facebook ads and stories. Teach your potential new re-targeting.

marketing mix, have a plan and be consistent.

Traditional advertising media is very important. Local radio, television and quality print publications still have a strong part to play in helping you increase your top of mind brand awareness and also pull through sales leads and enquiry. Signage and billboard advertising are also vital as a part of the mix and it all means that just as you have a business plan, you also need a marketing and advertising plan (and allocated budget) set in place in order to achieve the desired growth in your business.

Lars Halvorsen is a Business and Marketing Coach and Advisor, Creative Advertising Expert and Social Media Guru. To arrange an appointcustomers something useful. Walk One of the most powerful mediums ment, email Les.Hall@AdMarketinthem through it. The better you you can use to promote just gAustralia.com.au or call on Lars are at this, and the more value about anything these days are direct line 0408 888 537.

Travel

Hot Hot Trends Trends

FOR FORTHE THEYEAR YEARAHEAD AHEAD Looking Lookingfor forthe thehottest hottesttrends trendsfor for2019? 2019?Belinda BelindaWallace Wallacefrom from HelloWorld HelloWorldTravel Travelshares sharesthem themwith withyou youhere. here. 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Or OrNew New Zealand Zealand forfor snow snow skiskisimply simply relax relax andand unwind unwind at at dedidedi-ingingbutbutalso alsocamper camper vanvan cated cated yoga yoga andand meditation meditation retreat, retreat,touring, touring,andandcruising cruising to to healthy healthyeating, eating,hiking, hiking,cycling, cycling,seesee fjords fjords that that areare simply simply scuba scuba diving, diving, golfing golfing resorts, resorts, all allbreathtaking… breathtaking… inclusive inclusive resorts… resorts… etcetc OurOur favourite favourite bucketlist bucketlist EXOTIC EXOTIC LOCATIONS: LOCATIONS: ignore ignore thethe wifiwifiideas ideasforfortravel travel that that password, password, unplug unplug andand unwind unwind from fromareare main mainstayers stayers your your hectic hectic lifelife in in Maldives, Maldives, Fiji… Fiji…include: include: andand what what wewe love love is is thethe direct directCRUISING: CRUISING: from from budget budget flights flights without without pesky pesky airport airport waits waitsdeals, deals, families, families, groups, groups, andand connections connections - Thailand, - Thailand, SingaSinga-couples, couples, solo solo travellers, travellers, pore, pore,Vietnam, Vietnam,China, China,Bali Baliandandluxury luxury andand more; more; Japan Japan (and (and more). more). of of course course thisthisCANADA/ALASKA: CANADA/ALASKA: always always opens opens up up a whole a whole new new gateway gateway to tohugely hugely popular popular (the (the wildlife wildlife explore explore further further afield afield from from Cairns. 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them them as they as they don don their their snow snow gear gear andand setset outout on on Zodiacs Zodiacs searching searching forfor whales, whales, birdlife, birdlife, seals seals andand endendlessless exciting exciting adventures.The adventures.The growgrowinging trend trend forfor ourour clients clients is expediis expedition tion cruising cruising on on iceice breaker breaker ships, ships, andand also also a huge a huge variety variety of of 5 star 5 star cruising cruising is extremely is extremely popular. popular. all all inclusive inclusive luxury luxury as as youyou cruise cruise to to Antartica Antartica - whats - whats notnot to love! to love!

holiday holiday at Helloworld at Helloworld Travel Travel Edge Edge Hill.Hill. WeWe love love andand embrace embrace how how thethe world world of of technology technology shows shows us us all all these theseexciting excitingandandwonderful wonderful possibilities possibilities andand permutations permutations of of whats whats on on offer offer in every in every nook nook andand cranny cranny throughout throughout ourour world. world. TellTell us us every every little little thing thing youyou want want to to see,see, experience experience andand findfind in in your your holiday holiday andand ourour team team of of profesprofessionals sionalswillwilldo doeverything everythingandand TheThe biggest biggest trend trend of course of course going going anything anythingpossible possibleto tomake makeit it into into thethe future future is scouring is scouring social social happen. happen. Unlike Unlike thethe time time consumconsummedia, media, uTube, uTube, Netflix, Netflix, TV TV cooking cooking inging andand unpredictable unpredictable pitfalls pitfalls with with andand travelling travelling shows shows (tune (tune in in forfor online online booking, booking, youyou willwill have have all all Helloworld’s Helloworld’s very very own own on on Sunday Sunday ourour knowledge, knowledge, experience experience andand ch ch 9 4.30pm) 9 4.30pm) andand google google forfor travel travel support support throughout throughout your your travel. travel. eyeeye candy, candy, bucket bucket listlist adventures adventures running running the the gauntlet gauntlet of of spending spending - andand reviews… reviews… AskAsk us us how how to navito navi- thousands thousandsof ofdollars dollarswithout without gate gatethetheoverwhelming overwhelming much muchguarantee guaranteeor or “what “whatif if amount amount of of options options things things go go wrong?” wrong?” is aislittle a little andandpersonalise personalise andand often often very very risky risky thethe details details forfor way way to gamble to gamble your your you. you. hard hard earned earned money. money. wewe cancan O Ou ur r access access thethe same same favourite favourite deals deals as as online, online, - t r te rnedn! d ! yesyes wewe take take outout O ffering O ffering all allthethetime time you, you,ourour c ocnosnusmu imn ign g v avl aul eude d work workandandof of clients clients that that course, course,wewecare care p epr es rosnoanl a l about about youyou (unlike (unlike touch touch andand mrmr google). google). wewe know know - creating creating your your best best that that as as travel travel possibilipossibili-

tiesties open open upup (like (like going going to Havana) to Havana) people peopleneed needmore morebackground background work work (our (our consultants consultants areare now now thethe time time poor poor people) people) what what thethe inter- internetnet does does notnot do do is give is give youyou that that human humanexperience experienceof offriends, friends, family, family, andand professional professional advice. advice. wewe areare a little a little bitbit (ok,(ok, a lot) a lot) obsessed obsessed with with all all thethe details details of making of making your your travel travel experience experience nothing nothing short short of of amazing. amazing. in in a previous a previous lifelife i was i was an an artist artist (actually (actually i still i still amam justjust currently currently making making thethe time time to paint to paint is aislittle a little tricky) tricky) . Thus . Thus i see i see travel travel dreams dreams being being likelike a sculpture a sculpture - we - we areare thethe sculptors. sculptors. youyou present present thethe clayclay andand wewe carve carve it and it and mould mould it into it into a a custom custom creation creation that that is perfect is perfect justjust forfor youyou to enjoy to enjoy andand love love forever forever in in photos, photos,conversations, conversations,events, events, laughs laughs andand memories. memories. thisthis may may sound sound a bit a bit corny, corny, butbut if you if you take take thethe time time to appreciate to appreciate thethe value value of of thethe beginning, beginning, during during andand after after of of what what your your holiday holiday does does forfor your your health health andand well well being being it would it would be be common common sense sense to to view view thisthis holiholidayday creation creation as as a true a true investment investment akin akin to fine to fine art.art.

Happy Happytratra lsls. . . .

Belinda Belinda

Meet.. THE SASSY CATZ What brings a hospitality trainer, a teacher aide, an acupuncturist, a wellbeing officer, a teacher and a child care provider together, and where does Esther Williams fit in the mix?

During their 13 year ‘her-story’ you will have seen The Sassy Catz. They are stalwarts of the Cairns arts scene appearing regularly at events like Festival Cairns, Wallaby Creek Festival, Eco Fiesta, Pride Fair Day and Carnival on Collins. Meet The Sassy Catz, Cairns’own They also have added their glitter homegrown, worst-kept secret. and sequins to countless corporate “We’re loud, proud and coura- events and private functions. geously silly” says long-serving ‘Cat’ Justine Schlict. This colourful, The Sassy Catz are usually mixed-lolly bag of artists work and flanked by delighted hordes of play together to create outrageous locals and tourists scrambling characters and dances that make for selfies. That brings us to people of all ages laugh out loud. Esther Williams, and one of the Sassy’s most treasured creations. “In 2005, our founding Catz; Poppy Anderson and Bobbin Sheehan ‘The Esthers’ is an hilarious thought, what the world obviously homage to Australia’s queen of needs is a comedy Can Can troupe cinematic synchronised swimming. that performs under UV light - and “‘The Esthers’ are Australia’s voila The Sassy Catz were born” synchro swim B team, our coach says Cairns Cat, Amelia Pegrum. tells us we’ve gotta stay in tip top

form, just in case they call us up. You’ll see us swishing up a Sassy storm in the Esplanade Lagoon. Our coach says that the half metre depth is just perfect for us and our exceptional skills” says Esther. “We don’t mind skipping training to pose with our fans, you know, we need to remember where we came from”. Says another Esther, tongue planted firmly in her heavily rouged cheek. Look out for The Sassy Catz, their special brand of ridiculousness is infectious and too silly to ignore. Their cultural product is uniquely, wonderfully Cairns. They represent a joyous celebration of female friendship and creativity, our FNQ community is richer for their existence. Find The Sassy Catz on fb and IG.

FOUNDATIONS OF INTENTIONAL LEADERSHIP

ESSENTIAL SKILLS PROGRAM FOR NEW AND EMERGING LEADERS Moving up the career ladder into a managerial role should be an exciting time. But for many professionals, this transition may be met with fear and a sense of overwhelming responsibility. IML’s Foundations of Intentional Leadership supports the transition from a technical specialist to new management professional and intentional leader. The program is the foundation piece that will equip ]SY [MXL XLI GSVI WOMPPW XS XEOI XLI ƙVWX WXIT MRXS QEREKIQIRX [MXL GSRƙHIRGI ERH EGGIPIVEXI ]SYV career progression. To learn more about the 12-week public program or in house corporate bespoke options in Cairns get in touch with the Institute’s Regional Queensland Relationship Manager, Emmagen Carr on 0418 681 750 or emmagen.carr@managersandleaders.com.au.

6 LEARNING MODULES

3 DIAGNOSTIC REPORTS

2 ONE-ON-ONE COACHING SESSIONS

1300 661 061

| corporate@managersandleaders.com.au

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E U N E THE V IRE*

Photo courtesy of Blue Sky Photography

H E SITE V I S U L E & EXC E R F • VENUE T S E R O F R RAIN E I M E R 'P CAIRNS

WHEN D A S I N TH A MENTIO TO RECEIVE NG BOOKI NT*!

U O C S I D $500

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