Feature Magazine August 2021 Edition

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ISSUE 75 AUG 2021

Narangba | North Lakes | Mango Hill | Kallangur | Dakabin | Caboolture | Morayfield | Burpengary | Deception Bayy

Community Magazine

Downsizing the Empty Nest TRADIES Are You at Risk

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SHOULD YOU BUY YOUR FIRST HOME?

Theo Matthews

A Fight Like No Other

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CONTENTS THIS MONTH

ON THE COVER: Theo Matthews, diagnosed at birth with Cancer

Chelle Oakey, Your Local Shebah Driver :

Chelle Oakey takes the wheel locally for users of Shebah - an all women rideshare service.

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Walking the Walk to Start the Talk:

Here’s one for the guys: The Man Walk Caboolture is a great way to have a chat and grab some exercise at the same time.

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Bridging the Multicultural Gap:

Carl Wu is a driving force behind making a difference within and for the multicultural community.

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Improving Self-Esteem Through Mixed Martial Arts:

Olivia, like many young kids attending school, has seen her confidence and self-esteem tested. To support Olivia, her parents have embraced an unusual yet effective strategy of enrolling her into Brazilin Jiujitsu, also known as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

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Paw-fect Styling For Weddings:

Your furry best friend can now be specially styled for your wedding day.

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OUR DISTRIBUTION

“[Hearing our newborn had cancer] was probably the worst thing I have ever heard in my life. It wasn’t until then I thought 'how are we going to get through this?'.”

Ashleigh, A Fight Like No Other, p12

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Computer Takeover Scams on the Rise So far this year scammers have stolen more than $7.2 million from Australians by gaining access to home computers, an increase of 184 per cent compared to the same period last year.

According to the ACCC’s Scamwatch, almost 6,500 Australians have reported phone calls from scammers trying to convince them to download software that gives access to home computers and their bank accounts.

Commonly called remote access scams, scammers pretend to be from well-known organisations such as Telstra, eBay, NBN Co, Amazon, banks, government organisations, police, and computer and IT support organisations. They create a sense of urgency to make you give them access to your computer via remote access software.

“Remote access scams are one of the largest growing scam types in Australia. Scammers take advantage of the digital world and the fear of fraud and cybercrime to access people’s devices and steal their money,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

“These types of scams target and impact all people and can be convincing. People aged 55 and older lost over $4.4 million, accounting for almost half of total losses. Young people reported losing on average $20,000 and eight Indigenous Australians, some in remote communities, lost a total of $38,000.”

Scams of this nature will often be an unexpected phone call saying you’ve been billed for a purchase you didn’t make, your device has been compromised, or your account has been hacked. Sometimes they start with an SMS, email or pop up on a screen from a scammer seeking urgent contact to fix a problem.

The scammer will pretend to assist you or ask you to assist them to catch the scammer.

They will tell you to download remote control software such as AnyDesk or TeamViewer.

Once the scammer has control of your computer or device, they will ask you to log into applications such as emails, internet banking or PayPal accounts, which will allow the scammer to access your banking and

personal information to impersonate you or steal their money.

While remote access tools have been around for years to help IT support personnel in their work, scammers are also taking advantage of the ability to remotely access people’s computers or smart phones.

“It is really important not to let anyone who contacts you out of the blue access your devices, as once you give them access, you have no way of knowing what the person will do to your computer or what programs they may install,” Ms Rickard said.

“If you receive contact from someone claiming to be from a telecommunications company, a technical support service provider or online marketplace, hang up. If you think the communication may have been legitimate, independently source the contact details for the organisation to contact them. Don’t use the contact details in the communication. Also, don’t click on any of the links.”

“Remember, your bank will never ask you to give them access to your computer or accounts, nor will they ask for the codes to verify transactions. You should never provide those numbers to anyone except to verify transactions you are making in your mobile banking app or through your online banking,” Ms Rickard said.

The ACCC is working with the private sector to disrupt these scams including by sharing information with telecommunications carriers about the phone numbers used to call Australians so they can trace and block calls.

People who think they may have been scammed should contact their bank or financial institution as soon as possible. If they installed any apps or programs, they should also delete them from the device. Support in recovering from these scams including how to check if your identity and computer is secure is available through IDCARE on 1800 595 160 or www.idcare.org People can make a report on the Scamwatch website. They can also follow @scamwatch_ gov on Twitter and subscribe to Scamwatch radar alerts.

Social Media ‘Dark Patterns’ Nudging Australian Kids into Shady Data Harvesting Apps popular with kids, including the likes of Tik Tok, Instagram, and Snapchat, have such confusing terms of use that users need a university degree to understand what they're signing up to, a new report by Reset Australia has found.

The report, Did we really consent to this? Terms & Conditions and young people’s data, ranks the ease of understanding a minor could have on reading the Terms and Conditions on popular video streaming, online gaming, messaging, and social media services. Analysing the use of language, design, and dark patterns, which nudge people towards specific decisions, Reset Australia scored each platform out of 5 stars.

The highest score was 2.5 stars out of 5, for Epic Games, with two platforms, Tik Tok and Spotify, scoring 0. See score table below.

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"It’s nearly impossible for kids to opt out of data collection. Complex and opaque Terms and Conditions mean young people have even less opportunity to meaningfully consent to how their data is collected and used." said Rys Farthing, Reset Australia's Children’s Data Policy Director.

"These apps are designed to be easy for young people to use, but when it comes to disclosing how data will be collected and stored, suddenly they become very difficult to understand. ‘Dark patterns’ are nudging kids to agree to terms and conditions, without making any effort to explain them coherently."

Reset Australia is calling for a data code for children and young people under 18 years old, so their data is only collected and processed in ways that are in their best interests.

August 2021

IN BRIEF Dog Walker Fined: A professional dog walker has been fined $2,500 by the Caboolture Magistrates Court after she was found to be responsible for allowing 10 dogs to roam free in the Rocksberg Heritage Reserve where they viciously attacked livestock.

Urban Facelift: Kallangur and Dakabin are about to get an urban designing pamper package, as the first suburbs to trial Council’s new Neighbourhood Planning initiative.

To give your feedback, view popup dates and locations, nominate for the community reference group, or just get more information, visit: https://yoursay.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/ neighbourhood-planning-kallangur-dakabin Project Award: The Caboolture to Wamuran Rail Trail project received commendation for the highest quality at the Minister’s Award for Urban Design last month, in a competition that featured the likes of Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville.

24 Local Projects Boosted: The Queensland Government has provided an additional $13.8 million injection through SEQ Community Stimulus Program (SEQCSP) funding for 24 local projects around the region. For more information on the Queensland Government’s SEQCSP visit: https://www.statedevelopment. qld.gov.au/local-government/grants/currentprograms/south-east-queensland-communitystimulus-program Dog Attacks Decreasing: Council’s zero tolerance policy towards dangerous dogs is paying off with attacks on both people and dogs decreasing from 765 attacks in 2019 to 735 in 2020 however Mayor Peter Flannery has expressed disappointed to see an increase in attacks on native wildlife and other domesticated animals over the same period.

New Campaign for Advance Life Planning: A new community awareness campaign to understand advance life planning will help protect Queenslanders and their loved ones from the risk of elder abuse in later stages of life. For more information on the new community awareness campaign, or for help and support options, visit https://www.pt.qld. gov.au/honouring-the-journey/ New Music Degree at USC: USC Sunshine Coast is offering a Bachelor of Music next year for the first time to encourage sustainable careers in an industry working on new opportunities for success during COVID-19 restrictions, such as global online markets.

Olympians Support ATSI Women: Cyclist Sarah Gigante and Hockeyroos player Mariah Williams have joined with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Share a Yarn Initiative and the Happy Boxes Project to help women in remote Australian communities experience the joy and the benefits of sport and activity.

The Happy Boxes Project is a community organisation that sends boxes of supplies to remote communities to alleviate the barriers to women accessing basic needs.

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Local Clubs Score Longman Schools Benefit $2,000 Kickstart Grant from Capital Grants Program Staff and students at four Longman schools will benefit from the development of new master plans funded through the Morrison Government’s Capital Grants Program.

The schools are: • Australian Christian College – Moreton in Caboolture ($9,375) • Carmichael College in Morayfield ($14,625) • Birali Steiner School in Beachmere ($30,000) • Caboolture Montessori School in Caboolture ($28,200) “This project will enable local nongovernment schools to plan for future upgrades and support expected growth in student numbers over time,” Federal Member for Longman Terry Young said.

“Each of the four schools has a wonderful school community, and these new master plans will further enhance the learning environment that they offer to staff and students.

“Students and teachers thrive when their schools have modern and up-todate facilities – that’s why the Morrison Government is proud of the Capital Grants Program, which has helped thousands of schools across the nation.

“Our Government is ensuring that every child gets a high-quality education no matter where they go to school. We are providing a record $315.2 billion for all Australian schools between 2018 and 2029.

“We are delivering real, needs-based funding that is matched by national reforms that will drive better results and outcomes, as recommended by David Gonski in the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools.

“I congratulate these four schools on their successful grant application and look forward to seeing the positive impact the new master plan will have on students and our community.”

The Capital Grants Program provides funding for non-government schools to improve capital infrastructure where they otherwise may not have access to sufficient capital resources.

More information about the Capital Grants Program can be found at https:// www.dese.gov.au/payments-andgrants-schools/capital-grants-nongovernment-schools.

Six sport and recreation clubs in the Morayfield electorate will benefit from Round Two of Queensland’s COVID SAFE Active Clubs Kickstart program.

State Member for Morayfield Mark Ryan said the $2,000 grants would help these local clubs resume COVID-SAFE events.

“This investment strengthens the capability of clubs and volunteers so they can provide the best possible experience for their members,” said Mr Ryan.

“The funds can be used for equipment like bats, balls, racquets and helmets, or operational expenses such as electricity bills, ground maintenance, cleaning products and COVID signage.

“The $2000 might also be able to help with developing COVID-SAFE event plans, providing coaching, accreditation or financial management training.

Mark Ryan said Round One of the program in 2020 saw $7.66 million distributed to 3830 organisations across Queensland.

Applications opened on 12 April and closed on 5 May, with clubs receiving their grants before 30 June 2021 and projects to be completed within 12 months.

Local recipients include: • Bluejays Netball Club • Caboolture Athletics Club • Moreton Bay Basketball • Northern Districts Hack & Dressage • SPC Netball Club • Zone 26 East Moreton Pony Club

Caboolture Men's Shed Raises $6,000 for Charity

One hundred and ten players and volunteers ventured out onto the Caboolture Golf Course last month in pursuit of golfing glory and the aim to raise funds for the Caboolture Centre Against Domestic Abuse and the Caboolture Hospital Auxiliary - ‘The Common Good – Caboolture’ fund.

from some very skilled golfers (handicaps of 4) to some not very good players (handicap being their golf ), we still finished the day well inside the 5hr cut-off. Most of the field then made themselves comfortable in the upstairs bar to regale each other with their heroic and extraordinary golf tales. Some may have even been true," said Mr Eugarde.

After warming themselves over coffee from the coffee van and a delicious bacon and egg roll from Cas and Co's BBQ stall, it was a rather enthusiastic start to the day as the team’s teed off.

Resident 'Public Relations' officers, Zeph and Pete, were able to round up so many fabulous prizes for the monster raffle.

"The number and range of sponsors that supported this event through prize donations, hole sponsorship and grants were terrific and a testament to the fact that community spirit is well and truly alive. I would like to mention the generosity and support we receive every year from the guys and girls at the Caboolture Golf Club. Trent and his team are so organised and went above and beyond to ensure the day was successful. Highly recommend around at the club."

"It was particularly pleasing to see the Men Shed's from Dayboro and Pine Rivers re-attend this year," said Mr Dave Eugard, Caboolture Men's Shed President. "I am sure they would recommend other sheds to organise a team for 2022."

"I am not sure what the team that started on the 14th thought when they dragged out their drivers to have a go at the $10,000 hole in one when they were ambushed by Zeph and Tim to have a little wager at 3 to 1 for landing on the elevated 183m green. I believe Zeph was most kind in thanking them for their donations as they saw their balls sail everywhere but onto the green."

"Once the dust had settled and clubs were packed away for another year, we began to count the proceeds from the day. We were pleased to announce that we had raised $6,000 for our charities. This was twice the amount that we had raised in 2020. A truly humbly and rewarding experience," said Mr Eugarde.

Cart ladies, Kiah, Sarah and Mikaela, were in hot pursuit with their raffle tickets and a cold beverage or six ensuring that wallets stayed open. Cas and Co. continued to churn out the food well into the afternoon as teams transitioned between holes.

Over the last three years, the Caboolture Men's Shed Golf Day has raised a total of $10,500 for charity. If you would like to support their next Charity fundraiser, please email Dave Eugarde via caboolturemensshed@gmail.com.

"Given that we had twenty-five teams ranging

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Get Involved in Obstacle Sports

IN BRIEF Business Award Nominations Open: The Moreton Bay Business Excellence & Innovation Awards are free to enter, with nominations closing at 5pm on Friday, 27 August 2021. For full details on the awards, including how to nominate, please visit www. businessawardsmoretonbayregion.com.au Dementia World First: In a world-first, researchers at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) are trialling an online intervention for people with early-stage dementia with the aim of improving self-management techniques. A multi-site trial in collaboration with Norway and the UK, the SHAPE (Self-management and Health Promotion in early-stage dementia with E-learning for carers) trial aims to support people living with mild to moderate dementia manage their diagnosis, as well as educating their loved ones. For more information about the SHAPE trial or to enlist, please visit neura. edu.au/project/shape.

New Focus on Female athletes: An athlete advisory group comprising Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes has been launched with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) to help guide the direction of female performance and health in Australian sport.

AIS FPHI resources are available via a website that has online learning modules for athletes, coaches and health practitioners working with female athletes. More information can be found at https://www.ais.gov.au/fphi/education.

October Seniors Expo: Mr Terry Young MP will be hosting two Seniors Expos in October and invites businesses to have a stall at either or both events. The Bribie Island Expo will be held on October 13 with the Morayfield Expo to be held on October 14. For more information please contact Terry Young on phone 5432 3177 or email terry.young.mp@aph.gov.au.

School Safety Boost for Petrie State School: Petrie State School children are now safer as they arrive at school, after being included in the 2021-22 round of Flashing School Zone Signs.

Member for Kurwongbah, Shane King MP met with the school Principal, P&C President and Deputy Principal to check out the newly installed signs in the first week of Term 3, something they’ve been petitioning to get for a while.

Opera Qld Coming to Burpengary: North Harbour’s Heritage Park will come alive with the sounds of Opera this August when Opera Queensland presents Songs at Twilight, on Saturday August 14th. Entry is free, there will be plenty of food and drink to purchase on the day and you can pre-purchase picnic hampers when you register on EventBrite, through our website www.northharbour.com.au.

Free Business Planning Course for Small Business Owners: A free USC workshop series will give small business owners and managers in the Moreton Bay region the chance to learn how to future-proof their success while earning credit towards a Business degree. Starting Thursday August 19, 2021 at the Caboolture Campus. For more information phone 07 5430 2890.

You may recognise the sport from Chanel Nine’s Australian Ninja Warrior contest however obstacle course racing, ninja competitions and adventure racing have been held for thousands of years and is quickly becoming the fastest growing sport on the planet with an application currently submitted for Olympic recognition.

“Anyone can participate in this sport with the opportunity to represent their county in official, structured competitions and national and international championships,” said Mrs Ilca Andrikis, Secretary General for the Australian Federation of Obstacle Sports (AFOS).

“We are currently looking for businesses who would like to support the sport or the next Obstacle Sport Champions through sponsorships.”

Traditionally, obstacle sports are broken down into three areas: Ninja, Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) and Adventure Racing.

“The primary difference between Ninja and OCR is there is little or no running in Ninja competitions,” said Mrs Andrikis. “Events have been popularized by the American Ninja Warrior, Ultimate Beastmaster and Sasuke television shows which are shown in 148 countries and have over one billion viewers.”

OCRs are individual or mass participation events where athletes run and overcome obstacles.

They are typically held in parks, wilderness, rural, beaches, urban and suburban locations. There are over 2,500 OCR’s worldwide and brands such as True Grit, Spartan Race, Hyrox and Strong Viking have multiple races, series and championships.

“Races can have up to 30,000 participants and are commonly in lengths of 100 m (sprint), 3km (short course), 5km (international), 12-15km (standard), 21km (long course) to 50+km (ultra),” Ms Andrikis explained. “Individuals and teams compete from 25 meters up to ultra-distance in outdoor and indoor venues.”

Adventure racing, popularised by the Raid Gauloises, Eco-Challenge and The Amazing Race, include sprints of a few hours through Expeditions of many days. Natural terrain obstacles such as mountains, deserts, rivers, and oceans are common with non-motorized transport to navigate distances up to 1,000km or more.

“Fitness professionals who would like to facilitate or coach these sports are encouraged to contact us at AFOS,” said Mrs Andrikis. “As the sole national governing body for the disciplines of ninja, OCR and adventure racing we can help you ensure that you meet safety requirements and help make your Obstacle Sport business a success.”

“We are also looking for local businesses to who are interested in sponsoring obstacle sport events, teams and businesses so we can increase the level of participation from all ages in the Moreton Bay Region.”

To find out more about how you can get involved in this worldwide sport, visit www.afos.net.au.

Act Now to Defend Against Vicious Cybercriminals Cybercriminals are targeting Australians at an unprecedented level to steal sensitive information and money, including through business email compromise and ransomware attacks.

Launching the next stage of the ‘Act Now Stay Secure’ cyber security campaign, Assistant Minister for Defence, the Hon Andrew Hastie MP, said the consequences of cybercrime can be catastrophic for businesses, families, and individuals.

“In the 12 months to 30 June this year, around 4,600 reports of business email compromise have been made to the Australian Cyber Security Centre. Of these, around a third reported financial losses totalling approximately $81 million,” Assistant Minister Hastie said.

“Email is a very common tool for the delivery of ransomware attacks, with phishing messages sent to potential victims containing malicious links or attachments.

“Compromised email accounts can also be used by cybercriminals to send fraudulent emails to the business’ customers, or steal sensitive information leading to the victim being blackmailed.”

Business email compromise occurs when

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criminals exploit trust by impersonating employees or companies through email to fraudulently obtain money or goods.

“A business or individual who has their email account compromised or targeted by scammers and cybercriminals could suffer catastrophic financial losses through scams or ransomware.”

“There are things everyone can and should be doing to protect themselves and their email accounts – use complex passwords and multifactor authentication, back up your data and keep a copy off-line, and don’t click on suspicious links.”

“As part of the ‘Act Now Stay Secure’ campaign, the Australian Cyber Security Centre has released new email security guides to help prevent email compromise, and advice to help victims recover from an email attack,” Assistant Minister Hastie said.

“There are also easy step-by-step guides on securing your email accounts, to help people protect themselves.”

The Email Prevention and Protection and Emergency Response guides, Step-by-Step guides, and other advice and information are available at cyber.gov.au.

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55 Grass Roots Road Safety Projects Help Save Lives Almost $500, 000 will be shared among 55 grassroots education initiatives across the state to save lives and reduce trauma on Queensland roads.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said this year's Community Road Safety Grants would be rolled out across the state over the next 12 months.

"This year's grants support 55 communitybased groups, including schools, councils and not-for-profit organisations, to deliver effective road safety education and awareness initiatives, encouraging safer practices," Mr Bailey said.

“We’re investing almost $1.7 billion in road safety, to make Queensland’s roads as safe as they can be.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has for the 33rd year in a row, launched the Tax Help program, a free and confidential service that assists around 30,000 people with simple tax affairs each year.

Assistant Commissioner Tim Loh explained that the program relies upon more than 750 dedicated ATO-trained community volunteers.

“We know that for some, tax can seem overwhelming. The ATO is here to help, giving you the support you need to get it right this tax time.”

Generally, the Tax Help program is open to anyone with simple tax affairs, earning around $60,000 or less in salary or wages. You can find out the full eligibility requirements online.

“Our ATO-trained volunteers have generously given up their time to walk you through all stages of your tax return. From creating a myGov account, to navigating myTax lodgment or non-lodgment advice and even how to lodge an amendment. They can also help you find any super you may have forgotten you had,” Mr Loh said.

“We’ve taken steps to continue this vital program, while adapting to the COVID-19 environment. In addition to attending a physical tax help centre, volunteers can now help you online or over the phone from the comfort of your own home,” Mr Loh said.

To take advantage of this program from now, all the way through to October, make an appointment by calling 13 28 61.

The Tax Help program also supports Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, providing support and assistance in many community languages.

Taxpayers who are not eligible for Tax Help may be able to access the National Tax Clinic program, a government-funded initiative to help those who may not be able to afford professional advice and representation with their tax affairs.

The Tax Clinics are free of charge, with sessions held over the phone, through webconferencing, as well as in person at some locations.

More information about the Tax Help program is available at ato.gov.au/taxhelp

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“This work will see us prioritise safety upgrades, improve driver education, make school zones safer and develop policies to reduce road crashes and trauma.

diverse backgrounds as well as our indigenous communities."

Mr Bailey said successful initiatives of the Community Road Safety Grants 2021 funding round included:

“As part of our road safety program, later this month we’re rolling out Australia-first cameras to catch drivers illegally using their mobile phones and not wearing seatbelts.

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“From September this year, Queensland will also have tougher penalties for drink drivers, with first-time offenders who are convicted of drink driving and have their licence disqualified required to complete a new education program before they can get their licence back.

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“These are big picture policy initiatives, but we also need support from the community to help drive our road safety message and that’s what Community Road Safety Grants are for.

"The grants will be rolled out from Weipa, in the far north of our state, and as far west as Thargomindah.

"It was encouraging to see several successful grants supporting our diverse and inclusive communities, including people with a disability, and from culturally and linguistic

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$51,000 for early childhood road safety education $87,000 for primary school children's practical bicycle and road safety education $190,000 for young drivers to participate in driver education and awareness initiatives $26,000 for caravanning, towing and fatigue awareness $10,000 for motorcycle awareness campaigns $22,000 for older driver practical driving courses

"Road safety is everyone's responsibility, and we all have a role to play in keeping people safe as they use our roads,” he said.

“I congratulate the successful grant recipients, and I have no doubt the projects they deliver will save lives and prevent injury on our roads."

The list of successful applicants can be found on the TMR website at https://www.tmr.qld. gov.au/roadsafetygrants

2021 Queensland Women in STEM Prize Recipients Announced Now in its sixth year and presented by Queensland Museum Network and the Queensland Government, the prize recognises women who are making a difference to the world, in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) fields.

The Judges' Award was awarded to Chloe Yap from The University of Queensland. Chloe is using “big data” approaches to try to improve early autism diagnosis. Currently, without any biological “tests”, diagnosis is a major bottleneck that determines whether an autistic child is adequately supported and able to thrive.

The Inclusion Award was awarded to Christabel Webber from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Born profoundly deaf, and as a qualified researcher working in regional farming to help ensure food security, Christabel seeks to improve soil health and produce higher grain yield.

Highly Commended Awards were presented to: •

Fiona Holmstrom, co-founder and director of STEM Punks, who is passionate about ensuring equality in education for girls in STEM.

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Kate Kingston, Griffith University, who is investigating techniques for wine growers to iimprove their soil health by adding organic matter known as biochar.

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Sally McPhee, Griffith University, who is passionate about taking cutting-edge STEM out of the labs and onto the streets by providing STEM pathways, leadership and engagement opportunities for school students and improving teacher confidence and capability in science.

The 2021 Queensland Women in STEM Prize recognises the valuable contribution of Queensland women working in STEM careers.

August 2021

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FEATURE

Theo Matthews Words: Sheree Hoddinett Photos: Contributed

A Fight Like No Other

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heo Matthews is a cheeky, smiley and surprisingly calm baby.

Given what he’s already been through in the first 7 months of his life, he’d be forgiven for not wanting to do any of those things. Less than 24 hours after he was born via emergency caesarean, Theo’s parents Ashleigh and Brendan were given the devastating news that their miracle baby had cancer. Before they even had the chance to start enjoying life with a newborn, the Dakabin family were suddenly dealing with a multitude of tests, needles, chemotherapy and an unknown amount of time in hospital.

In a sign that things were finally taking a positive turn for the new family, Brendan was identified as a match to donate stem cells for Theo’s transplant. The retrieval of stem cells is a process that Brendan describes as quite painful but admits it was worth it to help his little boy.

For Ashleigh and Brendan, the path to meeting their longed for baby certainly wasn’t an easy one. After three years of trying to fall pregnant, followed by 2 years of IVF, they were over the moon to discover they were finally going to be parents - Theo is their miracle baby. Although her pregnancy was relatively perfect all things considered (Ashleigh has an autoimmune condition called ulcerated colitis), Theo’s entrance into the world on November 25 last year (3 weeks early) was certainly a dramatic one. Initially thinking Theo was experiencing an infection, the new parents thought they could handle anything. But it was the life altering news from doctors, that really turned things upside down – Theo was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia

There’s no denying it’s been a tough road for this family and they admit they have had nothing but unconditional support from family, friends and even through work. Due to Theo’s ongoing treatment and then Brendan becoming his donor, work has become something akin to a distant memory. But in a lovely gesture, the Coles team also hosted a fundraising event for the family.

“We both swore at the time,” Ash says of hearing their newborn had cancer. “I’m not a big swearer so for me to swear it was a big deal. It was probably the worst thing I have ever heard in my life. It wasn’t until then I thought how are we going to get through this.

“In the whole time Theo has been sick, Brendan was only able to go to work for 2 weeks when we were home briefly and Theo was just having normal chemo.

“It feels like we haven’t been able to enjoy what we wanted for so long. It feels like we tried so hard and did so much to get this and then all the joy that’s surrounded with that has been taken from us.”

By December Theo started on chemotherapy, a process he handled like a little trooper. After undergoing several rounds of chemo and waiting for the right time to undergo a bone marrow transplant, doctors delivered the news in March that Theo was also dealing with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL). For Theo’s parents, it felt like the hits just kept on coming, but their little boy continued to surprise them and continued to handle everything well.

“He has dealt with everything amazingly,” Ash says. “He isn’t a big fan of cannulas but otherwise he has taken everything so well, even chemo. He usually gets the normal side effects so goes off his feeds because of the nausea and he’s had a couple of infections but usually recovers pretty well from those too.”

“He can have his good days and bad days and when he’s having his good days he always wants to have plays and cuddles and always shows off lots of smiles,” Brendan adds.

“I was his donor and when I matched there was no hesitation,” he says. “I told them to take as much as they needed. As part of the process I had to have several needles to boost stem cells and I had a headache for about 4 days. It was hard but I would have done a lot more if I could have.”

“It was very overwhelming what they did for us,” Ash says. “They have been very supportive. It not only helps in a financial sense but to have that support behind us which we didn’t expect to be honest. With such a big company, you don’t expect that family feel, it was pretty amazing.

“Because he works at Coles, it’s too risky for Brendan to be catching anything. So he really can’t work, which not only affects us financially but it’s also the mental struggle of not being able to do anything.”

As you can imagine this little fighter has spent more of his life in hospital than at home. When he was only 6 months old, in total he had only spent 16 full days at home with no appointments at all. Undergoing his transplant procedure in late May, Theo finally got to escape hospital on June 9. It was a day his parents had long been waiting for.

“We still have to make regular trips in to check his blood count but it’s so good to be home,” they both said.

Just when they thought things might take a positive turn for them, Ash and Brendan received devastating news. On June 21, Theo’s posttransplant bone marrow aspirate results showed Theo had active leukaemia (ALL) in his bone marrow and also in his blood test results.

As it was within a month of his transplant, doctors told the family there was nothing more that could be done to cure him or how long he would have left.

“We are absolutely heartbroken,” Ash posted on Theo’s Leukaemia Fight on Facebook. “We knew there was a high chance of relapse but not so early and so fast.”

Theo lost his Cancer battle shortly after the completion of this article. Ash and Brendan hope that sharing his journey will help others. To find out more about Theo’s journey, check out Theo’s Leukaemia Fight on Facebook.

In Loving Memory of

Theo Mathews 25/11/2020 to 04/07/2021

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13

On The Road With Chelle Your Local Shebah Driver Words: Sheree Hoddinett Photos: Contributed

car seats which was also a requirement for the role.

“I just wanted to de-stress my life. I was just busy all the time; everything was just rolling so fast. I’ve had the big C, my kids were growing up really fast - I genuinely wanted and needed to slow down, and this fit the bill perfectly.”

Above: Chelle Oakey

Helping others and making a difference in the community she loves is a big part of why Chelle Oakey decided to become a part of Shebah. If you haven’t heard of them, Shebah is a rideshare service primarily for women and children that was established in 2017 and operates with an aim to bridge the gap in transport inequality. For Narangbabased Chelle, the opportunity to join the Shebah team was an easy decision and one that came without hesitation in a time where she genuinely needed to slow down. Two years on, it’s a role she now very much relishes as its flexibility allows her to fill her days as much or as little as she needs.

After filling out all the necessary paperwork and undergoing the required checks, Chelle joined the ranks and hasn’t looked back. She’s proud to call herself a Shebah-only driver and

"

It’s no surprise Chelle is already a much sought after Shebah driver in the Moreton Bay region, particularly close to home. She exudes warmth and a bright and bubbly personality sure to make any car trip enjoyable. But all that aside, Chelle explains why this role suits her to a tee.

kids. I have time to go to appointments and pick up my own kids if school calls, and that was always a hassle before.

“The good thing about this job and I especially like to talk to the young Mums about this part.

If you don’t want to do a lot of hours, if you can somehow do school runs, it would be enough to get you by, just a little pocket money type thing, the options are there if you want to do it.”

Shebah can help with school runs, assist those with special needs, domestic violence-related situations, transportation for cadets, afterschool hours activities including sport and camps, and elderly ladies. Chelle loves that she can help make life that little bit easier for others in the community.

“I love it; I’ve always been that kind of person; I’m not just blowing my own trumpet,” she says. “I was a foster kid. I’ve always wanted to do something, and I instil that in my kids as well, and we always get involved, and I think it’s important. I want my kids to have the childhood that I never had; I want them to give back as well; it’s just a nice thing to do.”

I’m so surprised at how much I love it; I genuinely am. I love it so much.

“First of all, I’m so surprised at how much I love it, I genuinely am, I love it so much,” Chelle says. “It originally started with child safety, and initially I wanted to start a child safety house program, but then we were doing the Neighborhood Watch thing, so it all kind of combined into that.

“I was doing more idea research because I have three kids myself, and I came across Shebah. It just so happens that same night there was a segment on Channel 9 News about what they do. I had a light bulb moment because I heard Shebah, and for some reason, we still had our

"

enjoys her daily school runs as well as other regular trips with familiar faces.

“I’ve got my own freedom, and I don’t answer to anyone,” she says. “If I don’t want to earn money, I don’t have to, but if I do want to earn money, I can get in there and give it a crack. I don’t drive at night because I like to stay at home with the

Bookings can be made with the Shebah app, which is very user friendly. You can make choices from Advanced Bookings (set up your trip in advance), Preferred Driver (choose the same driver as you’ve previously had) and there are also Go Wild options (where you are allocated a driver). Once you’ve made your booking, you just need to wait and look out for the Shebah symbol – located on the left of the car windscreen (pictured).

While it can mean a bit of driving, which doesn’t bother Chelle in the slightest, she says other than the flexibility, there are so many good things to come from her time with Shebah thus far.

“The friendships are a big one, even with the kids and the fact they can call me,” she says.

“Knowing we’re helping parents, we’ve got sick parents who can’t drive and also families in separated situations, so we’ll drive kids from one parent to the other.

“It’s also one of those jobs where you can even take your own kids along if you need to.

“Plus, we have an amazing Shebah team here in the Moreton Bay Region. If you find yourself stuck or unable to reach a job, usually someone else can pick it up. We work together, and that’s what it’s all about; we are a really nice family.

We’re all working for ourselves, but we’re all working for each other as well.”

You can reach Chelle - Your Local Shebah Driver on 0450 830 401. You can also follow Shebah – Moreton Bay and Surrounding Areas on Facebook. For further information visit www. shebah.com.au.

Left: The green and white Shebah symbol.

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August 2021

Feature

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15

The Man Walk Caboolture When: Mondays from 6.30am From: The Coffee Club, Central Lakes, Caboolture How long for: about an hour, covering roughly 4km Further info: The Man Walk Caboolture on Facebook www.themanwalk.com.au

Walking the Walk to Start the Talk Words: Sheree Hoddinett

Photos: Filip Krygsman

Gentlemen, it’s time to get walking. And while you’re at it, add a little talking into the mix. Stephen Pooler knows how tough it can be for blokes to talk to each other at difficult times in their lives. With that in mind, he’s doing his part to help make a difference through The Man Walk Caboolture. Every Monday morning, men are invited to come along, do a little exercise and if you want to talk, the option is there.

“Initially we had The Man Walk in Morayfield around the Graham Road area, but because I do park run in Central Lakes on a Saturday morning, it felt like a much nicer environment and I decided to change the location.”

It’s well known that generally most women like to talk and the men, not so much. But there is a way you can do it, without any judgement and lots of support. The Man Walk Caboolture exists to bring men together in an inclusive, laidback environment while promoting the importance of men’s mental and physical health in a social setting.

“We had a single dad join us recently to connect and that’s what a lot of guys need,” Stephen says. “They get socially isolated and they want to connect with other guys. Other guys come along because they have some spare time on their hands and want a bit of exercise, a bit of a laugh (get away from their wives) and some come along who are dealing with the daily grind of life or just finding a way to deal with their mental health issues. Just them taking that first step is a big effort.

As a workplace healthy and safety consultant for the past 30 years, Stephen has seen men struggle in the workplace. He also had 2 uncles take their own lives many years ago. It was with all this in mind, along with an interest in wellness and men’s health-related programs Stephen wanted to make a difference for men in the local area. After seeing The Man Walk (which originally started in Kiama NSW) promoted on morning television, Stephen thought it would be good to get a group started in the Morayfield/Caboolture area. And so, he became a Manbassador.

If you’re up for an early start on a Monday morning (6.30am), all men are welcome to join the walk and have a chat, whether you’re young, older or even somewhere in between.

“We just talk about anything as we’re walking around and the good thing when you’re walking, you don’t have to look at each other as you’re talking. If the guys are talking about sensitive or personal stuff, they can look forward and keep walking.”

Stephen points out they aren’t medical professionals, but more a listening ear and will help point men in the right direction if they feel they need an extra hand.

“We just try to support them,” he says. “I enjoy seeing people grow sometimes or having a crack at something new. It’s pleasing to see men who find it hard to communicate, because let’s face it we aren’t the best at talking we’re not like women, we don’t share stuff normally and you have to allow for that. There’s no judgement here. I do it for the love of it and giving others an outlet that could make all the difference for them.”

“I used to be part of another group in Caboolture called Manward and it’s similar in design in that it was a men only group,” Stephen says. “We initiated that simply because we identified there was a bit of a gap for guys to be just with men and talk about men’s stuff - secret men’s stuff. We were trying to attract all ages in that group but that folded.

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August 2021

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CAN YOU HELP US PROVIDE A VALUABLE SERVICE TO MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY PREPARING THEIR OWN MEALS?

WE URGENTLY NEED MORE VOLUNTEER HELPERS FOR OUR KITCHEN HOURS WOULD BE 7.00AM TO 11.00AM MONDAY TO FRIDAY

EVEN ONE DAY A WEEK WILL HELP, AND VOLUNTEER DELIVERY DRIVERS ARE ALSO WELCOME

CONTACT THE OFFICE ON: Phone: 07 3888 3754 email: burpen@bigpond.com OR CALL IN, WE ARE BEHIND THE LIBRARY IN STATION ROAD.

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17

Bridging the Multicultural Gap Words: Sheree Hoddinett Photos: Contributed

When Carl Wu (pictured above) first arrived in Australia more than 30 years ago, he came with a suitcase, a positive outlook on carving a prosperous life in a new country and an aspiration to learn English. He achieved his main goals (learning English and living a better life) and has built on them even more for what he has attained for cultural change within the community. Not only is he a successful businessman and the Australian Property Management Alliance President, but Carl is also an important part of two notfor-profit associations – he is the Honorary and Founding President of Brisbane North Chinese Association Inc. and the SecretaryGeneral for Multicultural Queensland Social Network (MQSN).

4 years ago, it was time to set one up. So the Brisbane North Chinese Association Inc. came to fruition.

community leaders. They also run a “We are Australian” citizenship ceremony to encourage new migrants to become Australian citizens.

“We do need communities to help look after the Chinese culture and help keep it alive,” Carl says. “So that’s why we came up with the idea to start up a community association and to help those people, those new migrants and to have something for those already living in the community in Brisbane North.”

So how does Carl feel about everything he’s achieved over the years, making a difference to others in the community?

For most people, moving across the world is a big decision to make. For Carl, moving from Fujian, a southern province in China, was an easy decision and one that has proven to be very rewarding. If there’s one thing to note about Carl, it is that he is a busy man.

But he wouldn’t have it any other way. From humble beginnings, working multiple jobs including cleaning and in a factory, Carl has also run his own furniture business. He’s a very giving person and all about returning to the community, which has given much to him over the years.

“Working in property management, I have seen lots of people from different backgrounds coming into this area,” he says. “They’re usually looking to settle, and they have language barriers, they need to find how to connect to government agencies, so we decide to expand our services to multicultural. So, we set up the Multicultural Queensland Social Network in June 2019. Under this one banner, we have 25 smaller associations that belong to this big group - we have people from India, Malaysia, Korea, Germany, etc.

“When I first moved here, I was very young, just 24 years old,” Carl says. “I came to Australia all by myself; I didn’t know anyone. When I first arrived at the airport in Brisbane, I didn’t know where I was staying. I had to call the English school to pick me up because I didn’t know where to go or what to do.

With the Brisbane North Chinese Association Inc. growing steadily (starting with only 12 members, now they have over 800 people), Carl says they also noticed a need for a group for other cultural backgrounds.

“We share our experiences together, we exchange cultures, we help each other, we respect each other, and most importantly, we work together to service everyone.”

MQSN members include winners of the Order of Australia Medal (OAM), Member of Australia Medal (AM) as well as a large diversity of

“There’s an old saying in Chinese, “when you offer, you get” and I very much appreciate the life opportunities I have been given,” he says.

“Once you recognize you have achievements, you are very happy. It has been worth it, even leaving my life in China to start over in Australia.

I’m very proud of what I have done with no support from the beginning.”

If these association names haven’t rung any bells for you, chances are you may have heard of some of the events they are responsible for. The Dragonboat Festival, held in June, combines community leaders from different cultural backgrounds. Oither events are organized for September, such as Chinese Lunar New Year (also known as the Spring Festival) celebration and the Harvest Moon Festival.

“Our Harvest Moon Festival is a chance for families to come along and be a part of the celebrations,” Carl says. “It’s on September 19 at Pine Rivers Park and we welcome everyone.”

For further information about upcoming events or joining the groups, contact bncainc@ outlook.com. You can also find Multicultural Queensland Social Network and Brisbane North Chinese Association on Facebook.

“Lucky after lots of searching and door knocking, we found a room for me. It was at the back of a shop. Looking back now, it seems scary; what if I didn’t find somewhere? I wasn’t scared at the time, but now I can’t help thinking about what would have happened.

“I got a lot of help from local churches, the local community and community centres. Now because I’m able to, I like to give back to people.

Because of how much society has given to me in past years, now I can return the favour to society. Because of the property management, I can do other things, time is flexible, and I have employees to work for me, so I have more time to contribute to associations, for communities.”

With no group or association for the Chinese community located on the northside of Brisbane (only in Brisbane’s south), Carl decided

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August 2021

Feature

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19

Improving Self-Esteem Through Mixed Martial Arts Words: Wendy Laimant

Photos: Contributed

Olivia is a lovely and happy seven-year-old girl. Like many young kids attending school and sports activities, Olivia, at times, has seen her confidence and self-esteem tested.

Since kindergarten, parents Kate and Tim noticed Olivia placing great importance on the idea of achieving a task to perfection, putting a lot of effort and expectation on herself at such a young age, to reach a sense of achievement and belonging. To support their daughter, they embraced a more unusual yet effective strategy of enrolling Olivia into Brazilin Jiujitsu, also knowns as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

“We know as parents, the journey is long, and failing attempts are needed to learn to develop persistence and passion, which ultimately has the potential to lead to reaching a goal of achieving a task successfully,” Kate explains.

“But for Olivia, it has been difficult to grow confidence. It took trial and error, different sports and activities until she found her place in an environment that supported her and made her feel secure and accepted. ‘’It’s been a challenging journey; Olivia has struggled with the dynamic of friends. She is very sensitive and needs strong connections.

As a parent, and as all parents, I want my daughter to take on the world, be invincible! I want everybody to love her and treat her the way they would like to be treated. But that’s just not the way the world works. It’s a real kick in the gut to see your daughter struggling with confidence. It’s her journey, we accept that, but it’s a hard truth to accept.

“If our kids struggle with academics, we get them a tutor. If they struggle with confidence, we should get them a supportive network!’’

Kate and Tim began by following Olivia’s initial interest in dancing, hoping to find a niche where she could develop her identity and find enjoyment in something that made her smile.

Unfortunately, Olivia’s self-confidence was further impacted as it became evident that one of the focuses of the sport and club was, at times, more directed towards winning than building self-esteem.

After talking to friends, Kate and Tim started to consider the new and unusual idea of

Above: Olivia with her family

introducing Olivia to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). ‘’When I first went to watch Olivia at MMA, I was unsure about the safety aspect and what she would get out of it, but as I stayed to watch.

I was impressed by the support that Olivia received to help her to feel like she fitted in the team and felt comfortable during class. Olivia was encouraged to participate whilst being given space to watch and actively engage when she felt ready. ’’ Said Kate. ‘’As Olivia started taking MMA classes, she needed me to sit on the mat with her for reassurance. Olivia always needed extra assistance. She can get emotional. She has great abilities but often turns around, comparing herself to other people. Angelee Clem would also join in, encouraging Oliva by popping on a GI to take part in warm-up and drill with Olivia and the team.” Said Tim, recounting Olivia’s first MMA class at 5th Wave in Narangba. ‘’I know myself and remind Olivia often that the more she practices, the better she will get at it. I am very proud of her. It is incredible how much her confidence has increased. Brazilian Jiujitsu is a great life skill to build confidence and learn about self-defence for kids.’’

Olivia believes she has gained tremendous since starting Brazilian Jiujitsu. ‘’The first move I learnt at MMA was to do wrestler walk. I was comfortable enough to do it with my MMA friends. I am not just the only one that is learning. Everyone is learning with me, and that makes me feel very comfortable.

“When I started I felt really nervous, but I made a lot of new friends, Belle Yuki, Franky; I like being with my friends and my coaches. I feel happy, and I don’t get embarrassed. I know if I keep doing it, I will learn things and get better.

“At school, I now feel safe from the bullies because they know that I do MMA. I won’t hurt them, but they know that I do MMA, so they stay away from me.’’

Joining Brazilian Jiujitsu has given Olivia a different world to access, a place away from school where friends and coaches feel like family. A community. ‘’I never thought that MMA would have empowered my daughter, but I think it’s a great sport for girls! It shows them that it’s more than just about their skin and physical appearances.

It’s about their body, how they can use it in a stronger way.’’ Said Kate.

Many children and parents are struggling with the same issues of self-esteem and bullying.

Brazilian Jiujitsu is known for developing resilience and confidence. ‘’The world is a pretty scary place. Martial Arts teaches kids if they fall, they can pick themselves back up, try harder and keep going.

When they are older and face a challenge, they’re not going to crawl up into a ball and say that it’s too hard. They will have developed enough confidence in themselves to stand up to it,” said Chris Clem, 5th Wave Coach.

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August 2021

“In the playground, the street or a workplace, If a bully pushes you, I want kids to be comfortable enough to draw a line in the sand and say NO! We begin by teaching them to fall and roll if someone was to push them. And then we add layers on this by teaching them skills, helping them to slowly get better and refine their techniques.”

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21

OPINION

The World According to Kate Letters from….

God? It has been an exceptionally long time since I have seen something on social media that impresses or interests me. So much is repetitive: complaints, bragging, funny videos, or memes. However, what has caught my eye of late is the number of posts about the increase of handwritten letters.

Numerous posts have been placed with photos of letters received from Jehovah’s Witnesses. Posts have resulted in a wonderful variety of comments, both positive and negative.

Some of which make for interesting reading, and others simply display the mentality of the person posting.

However, what I find interesting about these posts is not that they are about letters from Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Although it tickles me that there appear to be more posts on Facebook about their letters than about their door knocking pre-covid, what really interests me is that whenever a picture of a letter is posted, the letters read as though they were written with an intent to inform, build up and encourage.

This puts the letters from Jehovah’s Witnesses in the same category as another type of letter you often see posted on Facebook with a high comment rate. Handwritten notes to people about their dog’s behaviour.

Once again, when read, these letters are often written in a manner that demonstrates an intent to inform and assist the recipient.

So, the question arises: With so many bills, along with political and junk mail that reach our letterboxes each week, why are we, as a society, so upset or disturbed when receiving something

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August 2021

personal with the intent of informing, assisting, or encouraging us? Bitter to the point that we take a photo, put it on Facebook, write a post about it and no doubt stay glued to read the comments?

I find this trend enthralling. What has made our community so pessimistic? I started listening with ferocious curiosity as people spoke to and around me. What I heard was nothing but insanity! If someone is skinny, they are on drugs. Fat? They need to lose weight. Smoke weed and they are a druggie. Drink and they are an alcoholic. Dress well? They are considered conceited but if dressed down, they are accused of letting themselves go. Speak their mind (even when asked too) and they are rude but stay quiet and they are a snob. If someone is sociable, they are a party animal and if they keep to themselves, they are detached.

Seriously! How can anyone survive when they are constantly being judged? What is more, what are we teaching our kids?

Perhaps it is time to learn a lesson from these letters we receive in our letterbox regardless of the subject. Someone has taken the time and mustered up the courage to handwrite a letter containing information that they think you may want to know. If you don’t want to know it, do with it as you wish but know that someone somewhere thought enough about you to want to encourage or inform you, not criticise you, in this game of life.

Will you pay this thoughtfulness forward by building someone else up?

Feature

Critically Speaking A LIFE OF HELL FOR A LOAF OF BREAD!

T

he 233-year European history of Richard Lancaster our country is littered Cryptic Critic with many instances of inhuman cruelty, not the least of which is the treatment of female convicts, many of whom had committed only minor crimes in Britain. Of the 164,000 convicts shipped to Australia between 1788 and 1868 under the British government’s new Transportation Act – an alternative to the death penalty, 25,000 were women.

These women were primarily convicted for `crimes of poverty’ such as stealing an item and selling it to afford to eat. A working-class unmarried woman in Britain in the 18th century had three life choices, seek marriage, steal and become a thief or become a prostitute. 33% of the convicts came from England, 57% from Ireland and the rest from Scotland and Wales.

The general population at the time thought of them as degraded, worthless human beings.

Their sentence started with 6 months in the Newgate Prison hellhole, followed by a 6-month horrendous sea journey to Australia, during which they slept on a half metre wide wooden board and were fed poor rations, then for the next 7 to 10 years, they worked and lived in an overcrowded, disease-ridden Australian female factory. Half of the women were sent to the Cascades Female Factory in Tasmania and the other half to the Women’s Factory at New South Wales’ Parramatta. Life was harsh at the

factories, resulting in high mortality among the inmates. If they attempted to escape, their rations were reduced, and their heads shaved or worse, they were given solitary confinement for lengthy periods. They wore `slops`, a drab blue or brown outfit or a gown with a white apron. Children remained with their mothers up to four years of age, thereafter being placed in an orphanage. They were also exiled from Britain for life.

Research shows a sad lack of justice and humanity. 65% of the female transported convicts had never been convicted of a previous crime. 28% had only one prior conviction, and a mere 8% had multiple convictions.

91% were convicted of theft and the rest for housebreaking and vagrancy. 53% were aged between 17 to 29 years.

After a decade of cruelty freed, many were able to start as house servants and wives, successfully merging into colonial society, creating new families. With hard work and good behaviour, they made new lives for themselves demonstrating a tremendous will to survive with great character, contradicting some earlier chronicles which described them as `damned whores`.

Jinibara State School

WRITE TO US! Email: editor@featuremagazine.com.au Post: PO Box 105, Narangba Q 4504 CONDITIONS: Please email a maximum of 150 words to editor@featuremagazine.com.au.

Letters are published at the absolute discretion of the Editor.

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ENR O NOW L !

We are currently taking enrolments for Prep 2022. Enrolment packs can be collected from the office or downloaded from our website link (https://jinibarass.eq.edu.au/enrolments/ enrolling-at-our-school) Vacancies in Year 1 - Year 6

Phone: Fax: Outside School Care: C&K Kindergarten:

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23

FAMILY

with Wendy Laimant

It is inevitable in all households; every day comes with too many meals to prepare and clean after. The amount of time spent in the kitchen, preparing, cleaning, opening up the fridge, filling the dishwasher, emptying the dishwasher, taking out the trash…. I am certain I speak for the entire nation when I share my personal thoughts about this matter; It never seems to end.

13 Ways to Turn Cooking into Family Fun

What can be done to reconnect with our kitchen and start enjoying our time cooking, preparing the food that will fuel us for the day and potentially improve our day and home environment.

Here are a few ideas from different families, including my own: • Meal preps on the weekend or a night of the week to free up time and effort on other days; time gained can be spent relaxing, exercising, catching up with the kids, with a friend. Save yourself time; You will not regret it!

• Engage the kids in cooking at any age! It can be fun as long as the helping parent is relaxed and ready to be present. One day you will thank yourself when your child unexpectedly starts preparing food for the family. Lila’s bruschetta (pictured) is a perfect example.

• Research new recipes and incorporate fresh, exciting meals on the weekly menu.

Don’t overcomplicate it. One or two new meals a week is plenty.

• Plant some fresh herbs and use them in your cooking. The kids will love it, and you will feel satisfied and delighted by the homely touches from your own planting.

• Implement a DIY dinner night for an emergency or to give the kitchen and the cook a break. Have a few ideas ready.

Leftovers, easy meals, veggie sticks, cereals, sandwiches…

• Plan a fun cooking night every now and then and teach your kids to make simple meals. Again, it’s all about planting seeds; teaching them skills will never be time wasted. Make your own: pizza, burger, sushi, pasta dish.

• Get all the family involved in having an input in deciding on meals for the week.

Feeling heard and appreciated will set a harmonious mood, promoting eagerness to share meals as a family and eat with less fussiness and complaining.

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Embrace takeaway night here and there, and don’t feel bad about it. It can still be low cost and healthy. Making your own takeaway is a great way to stay on a budget. Keep it simple.

Pick one day a week when the person that usually cooks is off kitchen duty.

COMPLETELY! Turns out, other family members can cook too.

Set up a mood before you start cooking.

Have the kids sorted, put some music on, a podcast or a tv show. Bluetooth headphones on, do not disturb sign up; wear your favourite warm sleepers, get into it and enjoy it.

Sharpen your knives. Buy yourself some funky kitchen utensils. Have some plants in your space, oil diffusing, a colourful apron on, whatever it takes to make it a little joyful.

Wash your dishes as you cook! This is so simple, yet it’s still a game-changer for me

Fetta and prosciutto bruschetta

by Lila You will need: • Olive ciabatta, sourdough bread • 4 diced tomatoes • 10 thinly sliced fresh Basil leaves • 2 finely chopped cloves of garlic • ¼ of a red onion chopped • Olive oil • ½ block of Danish fetta, crumbled.

• 4 thin slices of prosciutto • Salt and pepper

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August 2021

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after almost 13 years of parenting. Clean as you go that way when it’s ready and platted up, everyone gets to sit together, and you don’t have a stressful mess waiting in the kitchen preventing you from savouring your meal. If you cook, the dishes should not be your problem anyway.

Teach your kids to pack the dishwasher and while you are at it, put them in charge of it. Packing and unpacking. It is now a kid chore! Easy!

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ite To Sen Us! seek d us your advic help f e u child or sha l hints, 's suc re yo cess! ur Send t o e d it oy o u r le t t e r s t o o r p o s r @ fe a t u r e m a g t h e E d it o r P O B o xt t o L e t t e r s t o a z in e .c o m .a u th 105, Na r a n g b a Qe E d it o r 4504

Method: 1. Turn your oven on, 180 degrees.

2. Place 5 slice of sourdough bread in an oven dish.

3. Drizzle olive oil over them and season with salt.

4. Cook in the oven for 10 minutes or until hot.

5. Dice up the tomatoes, add to a mixing bowl.

6. Add garlic, onion, basil and mix evenly.

7. Add a generous drizzle of olive oil; season and mix well. Set aside.

8. Remove the sourdough bread from the oven and placed the hot bread on a plate.

9. Add the bruschetta mix on the hot slices of bread.

10. Top up with the fetta cheese and prosciutto ham.

Bon Apetit.

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25

HEALTH

Moreton All Body Care

Tradies Are You at Risk?

Words: Gillan Fiorin, Physiotherapist, Moreton All Body Care

If you are a tradie, Statistics show you are 60% more likely to be involved in a serious injury while at work. Tradies National Health Month runs throughout August to raise awareness for the health and injury risks that may affect those who work in a trade profession.

The most common injury affecting those working in a trade is Back pain, followed closely by shoulder pain and knee pain. As a Tradie, the body is your first and primary tool which should be well looked after to ensure you are able to perform your work to the best of your ability.

This Article will include some tips and tricks to reduce the risk of injury, as well as provide some advice on who can help if you have injured yourself or have any concerns while at work.

Back Pain Back pain often occurs when lifting, pulling or carrying objects that may be too awkward or too heavy to carry. Work smarter, not harder and use correct techniques when carrying, such as: • Bending at the hips and knees • Maintaining the natural curves of the spine • A wide base of support • Keeping the load close to your body

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or you can even use the equipment available to you to make the job easier! Ensure you ask for help when needed, lifting heavy or awkward objects often means you will need another set of hands to help, even if it is just help navigate the route.

Shoulder pain Shoulder issues often arise due to repetitive movements that involve reaching out, sustained overhead activities, or tasks that require holding for long equipment for long periods of time. Ensure that if you are completing these activities, you allow yourself time to alternate positions and decrease the amount of time spent in one position.

Knee Pain: A Tradie is often required to repeatedly bend at the knees to either perform an activity or to lift objects off the ground. This repetitive movement can cause stress through the knee joint if not performed properly. Ensure you are bending at your knees correctly, if you are needing to be on the ground for long periods try kneeling down on one knee instead of keeping both knees bent in a low squat position.

active on most days, as well as either: • 2.5 to 5 hours of moderate intensity physical activity per week– Such as brisk walking, mowing the lawn or swimming • 1.25 to 2.5 hours of vigorous intensity physical activity per week – such as jogging, fast cycling, sports.

• Or an equivalent of both.

How can a Physiotherapist help?

A physiotherapist can assess injuries which may have taken place on the job site. Once assessed physiotherapist can provide individualized treatment programs to get you back to work properly and more quickly.

Physiotherapists can also help prevent injuries by assessing individually what you may need to help minimize the risk of injury at work.

This can be done by providing advice and education, prescribing exercises to build strength and flexibility as well as hands on treatment to relieve any symptoms already being experienced.

All of the Above: The biggest step you can take to minimize your chances of injury is staying fit, and flexible.

Current health guidelines recommend staying

August 2021

Feature

Moving Beyond Pain into a State of Balance Words: Deb Howcroft-Miles, Zen Chi Natural Therapies & Wellness Centre

Do you have pain in your body? Have you tried everything to resolve suffering in your life? Are you struggling to find a balance between living and life’s never-ending to-do list? Are you ready to take charge of your health?

Did you know at Zen Chi, we not only help relieve your body of pain, but we also support you to return to a state of balance?

A holistic approach is a balanced approach. This means balancing life’s endless list of doing and find a sense of being. It means taking charge of our health.

Many of us carry pain within our body, but we are more than our body. Some of us feel deep suffering due to emotional pain or find it difficult to change our thinking. But we are more than our mind. And some of us feel a loss or have experienced a feeling of being out of touch with our soul’s purpose. As we walk this physical world, it is important to note we are more than our spirit.

There is a saying that “we are a spirit being having a human experience”.

On reflection, this saying can help us understand the importance of addressing not just one aspect of ourselves. It becomes evident that we need to adopt practices that nurture mind, body, and spirit. And the time is perfect for you to take charge and bring all aspects of your being back to balance.

At Zen Chi, our therapists offer a range of expert advice, knowledge, and skills to support you to be the sovereign of your own health. They offer you an opportunity to heal your own pain, develop emotional resilience and find harmony in your life.

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HEALTH

North Lakes Health Hub Words: Sheree Hoddinett Photos: Contributed

New Programs for Mind and Body

Whether you need a little bit of calm for your mind or a touch of healing for your body, make some time for yourself and head along to North Lakes Health Hub. There’s a mixture of services available from physiotherapy and psychology to nutrition and fitness coaching and the team is always working hard on a number of programs behind the scenes to ensure they can offer their clients the very best. A Social Communication Class, Youth Alive and a Mindfulness Meditation Class are now integrating their way into the hub’s line up.

For Psychologist and Director Geetu Manoharan, adding to the Hub’s program line up means they can explore even more avenues with every person, young and old, who comes through the doors.

“I’m very excited about the programs we have here at the Hub,” she says.

“But the one I’m most excited about is our Youth Alive program. The big focus with this one is our young people, aged 9-13, that really tough age group where they transition into high school and also the senior years of primary school, where there’s a lot happening developmentally and emotionally and we did this program intentionally for that.”

With the focus on bringing the youth alive, it’s a program designed for young people who want to develop a healthy baseline through activity and movement. The program (written by Geetu and Exercise Scientist Jake) is tailored to teach mental and physical strategies to help cope with the volume of changes that teenagers are likely to experience.

“Kids struggle with so much today,” Geetu says. “Part of why we’re doing so many extra things for young people is because I just don’t like to see so many little people - our leadership for tomorrow - at such a purposeless place in their life. So, we have been building relationships with community partners like footy clubs and basketball associations so we have access to loads of kids where we can literally build resilience for them. It’s that whole reshaping their perspective in their life but doing it in a way to help them understand.”

There is also another 2 important programs aimed at the younger generation. A Social Communication group was started and tailored towards helping 11-13 year old with social challenges build skills for social interaction and communication. The goal behind it is to nurture belonging and help those who need it, learn and thrive.

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“We also have the Youth Adapt program,” Geetu says. “It runs off our grass roots program that we run through all our sporting clubs for the kids. It’s basically building physical and mental resilience for the kids, but this one is targeted for at risk youth to be like a circuit breaker, teaching them very specifically how to build habitual routines. They have the chance to learn to adapt to life from a healthier framework.”

While Geetu knows that social media has a lot to answer for, it is a great tool for connecting people as well. However, she says it’s also important to redirect focus into connecting people with themselves through Mindfulness Meditation.

“This is a program aimed at adults, although we have adapted a similar idea for the students at North Lakes College as well,” she says. “I use mindfulness a lot with my patients. The process behind it is when you sit with something, even if it’s uncomfortable, and give it the space it needs, it dissipates. The only reason it keeps knocking on your door is because you haven’t given it the time it needs or the space. I think people are just uncomfortable being uncomfortable.”

The North Lakes Health Hub team incorporate mindfulness into all aspects of their work, highlighting the importance of treating everyone the same and ensuring they can speak from experience.

“We do instill that here and so when we have people come in, every person we see is about creating an experience for them,” Geetu says.

“How you, personally as a practitioner, do that and how our admin team do that when they finish doing their tasks, is every person’s responsibility.

“To me as a practitioner, if you are referring people to classes and you haven’t experienced it, then your referral is going to be empty, you’re not going to be able to inject any personal experience into it. If you haven’t experienced it, don’t talk about it.”

To find out more about what’s available at the North Lakes Health Hub please visit their website nlhealthhub.com.au or phone the team on 3491 3994.

August 2021

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We’re here

It can be overwhelming to know where to begin or who to speak to about your finances.

But your local CommBank team are here to help. We’re on hand to chat about your unique financial situation, answer your questions and recommend solutions that will meet your needs.

You can also book in for a free CommBank Financial Health Check which will allow us to better understand your goals and explore ways to help you achieve them.

Talk to us today.

Lance Dangerfield Branch Manager

Kylie Smith Branch Manager

Jolene Kassulke Home Lending Specialist

CommBank Morayfield

CommBank Burpengary

CommBank Morayfield

lance.dangerfield@cba.com.au

kylie.smith1@cba.com.au

jolene.kassulke@cba.com.au

(07) 5495 8944

(07) 3888 2300

0476 832 787

Shannon Pritchard Home Lending Specialist

Steven Cove Financial Planner

Kat Honeyman Business Banker

CommBank Burpengary

steven.cove@cba.com.au

katrina.honeyman@cba.com.au

shannon.pritchard@cba.com.au

0416 227 984

0478 337 222

0432 959 810

Things you should know: Applications are subject to credit approval. Eligibility criteria and other conditions may apply to some loans. Full terms and conditions will be included in our loan offer. Fees and charges may be payable. Property information is obtained from third parties and is not intended to be advice or a professional property appraisal and should not be relied upon as such. You should also make your own enquiries and assessments before making any decisions. Commonwealth Financial Planners re representatives of Commonwealth Financial Planning Limited ABN 65 003 900 169, AFSL 231139, a wholly-owned, non-guaranteed subsidiary of Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124. Australian credit licence 234945.

BEAUTY

LaBella Day Spa + Clinic

5 Benefits of an Infrared Sauna Would you like to feel relaxed, better your sleep, relieve pain, clean your body from toxins, lose weight effortlessly, strengthen your immune system and help your skin to look cleaner and tighter?

suffering by trying to distract yourself from it.

It is more about just adding different things to your day in order to give your mind another focus and help you to stay in the present and I find infrared saunas can help to achieve that.

What if I said to you that you can achieve all of this with an infrared sauna?

Together with relaxation and being an aid for mental health infrared comes with others benefits.

What is an infrared sauna?

Infrared saunas unlike traditional saunas don’t heat the air around your body but instead warm your body directly. Infrared thermal light to penetrates your body’s skin barrier in order to raise your core temperature. This increases the tolerability and the comfort of the sauna experience itself, allowing you to spend more time inside enjoying the benefits.

One of the benefits that I particularly value in infrared saunas is improving mental health.

Infrared saunas provide heat and heat stimulates serotonin production in the midbrain, which then produces a change in how the brain functions. Serotonin is a naturally occurring substance that functions as a neurotransmitter to carry signals between nerve cells throughout your body, it is responsible for your moods, brain health and sleep. A sauna also provides a quiet space with calming music, and chromotherapy lighting where we can relax and meditate.

When the body winds down from a high stress situation the -fight or flight response reaction is switched off and an opposite reaction occurs, the -rest and digest response, which is when the body and the mind rest and repair.

There are many ways to relax the body and the mind, taking a step back from how you are feeling, going for a walk in the fresh air and have an infrared sauna session can help.

You don’t have to ‘try’ to relax; this is an attitude and not something for the mind to execute or get good at. It is also not about ignoring your

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Better Sleep: In the centre of our brain, we have a gland called the pineal gland that converts the serotonin into melatonin. Infrared saunas release a light ray of the infrared spectrum that influences neurotransmitters to produce higher amounts of serotonin, as serotonin uptake rises there is more available to convert into melatonin in the pineal gland. With the natural circadian rhythm, as the sun goes down and the body begins to cool after the sauna session, the pineal gland produces more melatonin, and the body receives the message that it is time to rest.

Detoxing: According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we all have dangerous toxins stored in our bodies, including pesticides and mycotoxins. We retain these toxins in our bodies’ fatty tissues, including breast milk, the liver, and blood plasma. We all know that sweat is composed of water and salt but Studies show that 15-20% of infrared sauna-induced sweat is composed of cholesterol, fat-soluble toxins, heavy metals, sulfuric acid, and ammonia.

So, thankfully the infrared sauna helps us in eliminating environmental toxins from our bodies.

or hiking. You can burn up to 600calories in 45mins of sauna.

Pain relief: A recent Japanese study published in the journal, Internal Medicine, showed that chronic pain patients experienced a significant reduction in pain levels (nearly 70%) after the first session of infrared sauna therapy.

A 2003 study conducted by the Department of Dermatology and Institute of Medical Research showed that the use of infrared heat therapy helped the production of white blood cells to alleviate inflammation and reduce swelling, two key factors in easing bodily pain.

Clear and tighter skin: According to a study in The Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, participants showed significant improvements in their skin appearance after 12 weeks of using infrared sauna skin therapy.

The participants experienced a reduction of crow’s feet and wrinkles and an overall improvement in their skin tone, including smoothness, softness, clarity, elasticity and firmness. Also, infrared sauna therapy has shown to reduce inflammation, which can help to alleviate skin problems like eczema, psoriasis, etc.

In a study, it was found that both elastin, as well as collagen in the skin, increased after exposure to infrared therapy and all the participants reported improvement in the colour of the skin, improved skin texture and reduced roughness.

Weight loss: In a study published in the Journal of Human Kinetics found that sitting in the sauna for 30 minutes increases women’s levels of human growth hormone (HGH), which helps our bodies break down fats and build muscle. In a Journal of Human Hypertension study, men and women’s heart Ask Monica! rates also increased as much as they would have if they were Do you have a beauty question that performing medium-intensity needs answering? Email Monica via exercise like jogging, cycling, editor@featuremagazine.com.au

August 2021

Feature

Celebrate the

Harvest Moon

in September Words: Marnie Birch

There’s nothing else like a full moon to bring on romantic feelings and for the Chinese community, the September Full Moon, is an auspicious time to give thanks and celebrate. For over 3,000 years, the ‘Harvest Moon,’ has been one of the most important cultural festivals observed in the south-east Asian countries of China, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan.

Members and friends of the Brisbane North Chinese community will gather in Pine Rivers Park, in Strathpine, on September 19 for a festival of food, dance, and traditional music to celebrate the Harvest Moon. Following tradition, colourful lanterns of all sizes and shapes will be lit, symbolically lighting a path to future prosperity and good fortune for all.

Of special significance is the Harvest Moon Festival’s namesake food baked especially for the occasion, the Moon cake, which comprises a round pastry made with bean paste and a variety of sweet fillings.

Carl Wu, Founding President of the Brisbane North Chinese Community, (BNCA), explains that, “Moon Cakes were originally a way to show thanks to the Moon God and later became popular gifts.” Today, it’s become customary for business owners to send moon cakes to their customers and for friends or lovers to offer them to one another.

Romantic couples, who might be separated by distance or circumstance, pass the evening of the Harvest Moon eating Moon cake and watching the full moon, at the same time, so it seems as if they are still spending the evening together.

Members of the public can try a Moon cake for themselves and enjoy some Moon Gazing and merriment at the Brisbane North Chinese Association and Multicultural Queensland 2021 Harvest Moon Festival.

In addition to Moon cake and food stalls to tempt the taste buds, the Harvest Moon Festival will showcase traditional entertainers including Chinese singers and folk dancers, dressed in folk costumes from the differing Chinese dynasties and regional cultures.

A highlight of the entertainment program is BNCA’s Blue and White Porcelain Cheongsam Team, famous for winning competitions both in China and around the world, who will perform in ceremonial Chinese ‘Cheongsams,’ or traditional ethnic dress.

The public will also hear unique Chinese musical instruments such as the Zheng, Erhu, Pipa, and Dagu, and special guest, Mr. Haicun Jiang, will take the stage to sing a Chinese Love Song.

Children, and adults alike, will enjoy seeing the traditional Chinese Dragon and Lion Dance at the Festival. Guided by the ‘Big Head Dolls’, waving paper fans, the Dragon and Lion will collect lettuces and mandarins during their performance which signifies good luck and fortune for all.

Chinese custom considers the Dragon an ancestor to be honoured, while the Lion is said to be a creature that will keep away evil, hence why statues of lions are often seen guarding the front gates and entrances to Chinese homes.

The Brisbane North Chinese Association or BNCA is a not-for-profit group that aims to promote Chinese values and facilitate mutual assistance and cooperation between the public and its members. As well as hosting the Harvest Moon festival and being an advocacy and friendship group, the association offer activities focused on photography, baking, health care, fishing, and motorcycling. The group are busy with English and Dancing courses, have a successful basketball team, based in North Lakes, and hosts a New Year Festival and Gala dinner. To find out more about Brisbane North Chinese Association, its event and activities, check the website: www.bnca.org.au See you at the festival. The event is open to public. Entry is free

Harvest Moon Festival 19 September 11.30 a.m. – 3.30 p.m.

Pine Rivers Park, Strathpine

SENIORS

A Difference in Mindset Words: Susanne Jones, Just Better Care Brisbane North and CBD

While some view the ageing process through the lens of increasing physical and mental limitations, others celebrate the wisdom that comes with age.

So how do we adapt more positively to life’s challenges?

Australia’s oldest working artist, Guy Warren, has lived through the Great Depression, fought in World War II and emerged untouched by two global health pandemics. Though he doesn’t enjoy parts of ageing, he still lives independently, holds a driver’s licence, and enjoys a full work schedule. The difference is his mindset.

“There’s always something to do. There’s always something to look forward to. One shouldn’t look back too much; one should instead look forward,” Guy says.

So why do some of us approach getting older with a sense of excitement and others with a sense of fear?

“People with more flexible coping styles who are able to both persist with attainable goals and redefine or replace unattainable goals had lower levels of psychological distress irrespective of the number of negative life events they reported.”

Fortunately, resilience can be learned.

A 2016 study published in Geriatric Nursing showed several characteristics in three key categories shared by those aged 65 and over who were able to face challenges and come out the other side.

Mental characteristics: Adaptive coping styles, gratitude, happiness, mental health and optimism.

Social characteristics: Community involvement, contact with family and friends, a sense of purpose and positive relationships.

Physical characteristics: The ability to remain physically independent and mobile, enjoy good health and believe that they could age successfully.

Tips for resilient ageing • Maintain an optimistic attitude • Maintain perspective; don’t let your thoughts run away with you • Engage in new activities • Cultivate new friendships or join a social group • Accept that some things are out of your control • Take action on the things you can impact • Practice stress-management techniques • Develop a spiritual practice such as prayer or meditation • Practice self-care through proper nutrition, exercise and good sleep habits • Volunteer your time to help others • Ask for help when you need it Article Source: The American Seniors Housing Association

The answer is resilience – or, more specifically, how we can adapt in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress.

The Flinders Centre for Ageing Studies 2015 report, Ageing Well: Building Resilience in Individuals and Communities in which they found that having a higher sense of purpose in life and a more optimistic outlook buffered against the association between negative life events.

Downsizing the Empty Nest Words: Marnie Birch

Moving house can be stressful. Weighing up the benefits and pitfalls of re-locating early in retirement might eliminate any unnecessary moves later on.

If the kids have moved out, why waste time and money maintaining a large home with spare rooms, a sprawling yard and a garden? Perhaps downsizing to a smaller residence is the answer.

Townhouses, Apartments and Smaller Lot Homes: Body Corporates handle maintenance issues, and complexes are well located close to amenities. Smaller rooms are easier to clean and cost less if external home help is required.

An 8 seater dining suite the family enjoyed may not fit into a small dwelling. Downsizing to a flat or townhouse could mean sourcing new furniture.

For the Grey Nomads: A minimalist townhouse or apartment makes a practical home base. But is a one storey dwelling better? Is a lift available if using stairs become problematic?

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Over 50’s complexes mean quieter neighbours in the same life stages but verify if pets and grandchildren stay-overs are also welcome.

Would any adult children ever need to return home?

A Tree-change or Sea-change. What’s your preference? Whichever you choose, proximity to shops is essential. We all need to eat! A country retreat or semi-rural property is ideal if you or the family do not require regular assistance.

Getting older means access to Doctors, Physios or Therapy services is important. Investigate local bus and train options. We all love to drive, but sometimes ill health intervenes.

Can you easily access exercise, social groups, hobby clubs or library services? Are there volunteer opportunities in the community if you want to connect with others?

In high-rise complexes, lifts become congested during peak hours and take ages to arrive. A lift may also mean higher body corporate fees.

Home design: If you build, consider incorporating modifications that are costly to retrofit, such as extra noggings in bathroom walls for attachment of grab-rails. Streamline kitchen, hall and shower recesses, making them wide enough to fit a wheelchair.

Lifts are notorious for breaking down during school holidays and Christmas. Call out fees aren’t usually covered by the body corporate.

Maintenance: Brick and tile homes don’t require external painting but are more expensive initially.

August 2021

Covenants: Your physical condition may dictate the style of house you choose. Some new developments have covenants mandating two-storey homes on smaller lots.

Pets: Certain Local authorities have set rules for the number of family pets permitted in smaller yards.

Security: Is security fences, screens or a gated complex important?

Yard size: the smaller the lawn, the less mowing, weeding and fertilizing required. Decking or artificial turf are popular alternatives, but the family dog may not be a fan.

Is there car accommodation for one or two vehicles, a workshop, boat or jet-ski? Perhaps a mobility scooter in later years? Can you get by with just one vehicle?

The answers may help you identify your specific retirement needs and ensure a smooth transition to a new home.

Feature

TERRY YOUNG MP

Federal Member for Longman Please contact my office if you need help or referrals with: Centrelink and Immigration and Medicare Visas NDIS and Aged Care NBN and Communications Federal Grants Unit 7, Level 1, 69 King Street, Caboolture QLD 4510 07 5432 3177

terry.young.mp@aph.gov.au

terryyoung.com.au

TerryYoungMP

Authorised by T. Young, Liberal National Party of Queensland, Unit 7, Level 1, 69 King Street, Caboolture QLD 4510.

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LANDSCAPE with Lawrie

Viewpoint

Our sense of smell is generally not considered, much less used, as one of the more important factors to appreciate a garden landscape. Gardens can be places for much more than just planting, weeding or mowing - they enhance and enliven an otherwise everyday existence. Have you considered designing your garden to include distinctive scents or pleasant aromas purely for your pleasure?

Ideally the design of your garden should reflect your family lifestyle, enhanced through your personal preferences for colour, texture and even individual aromas. Allow your imagination to run riot and imagine - the freshness of air and water at the beach; the organic scents of a rainforest; the varied perfumes in a spring garden; even the spicy scent of crushed gum leaves.

You can plan secret pleasures waiting around every corner of a garden - it can be a symphony to stimulate the senses when you inhale the perfumes of flowers or of aromatic foliage. Scented flowers probably have the most impact in garden design, however when selecting individual plants this attribute is rarely considered. Think for example how the distinctive perfume of Wattle or Native Frangipani enhance the plant. When preparing plant design for a landscape particularly consider the direction of prevailing

GREEN THUMB CALENDAR: Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival Aug 21 - Sept 4 Various Wildflower Walks throughout the two weeks August 21 to September 4 www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov. au/Environment/EducationResources-and-Events/ Wildflower-Festival Free Trees from Council Now is the ideal time of year to plant your garden so don’t forget that Council offers one free native plant voucher per financial year to owners of residential properties in Moreton Bay. Contact Council on 3205 0555 for your voucher and exchange it for plants at any of the Community Plant Nurseries where local native plants are grown for parks, schools and community projects. The nurseries are also open to the public.

Bribie Island Community Nursery - 208 First Avenue, Bongaree CREEC Community Nursery - 150 Rowley Road, Burpengary Friends of Lagoon Creek Community Nursery - Pettigrew Street, Caboolture Pine Rivers Community Nursery “Kumbartcho” - 15 Bunya Pine Court, Eatons Hill Redcliffe Botanic Gardens Community Nursery - Henzell Street, Redcliffe

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breezes so that flower fragrance drifts toward a desired area of the garden.

It is necessary to brush past or tread on leaves to release their aromatic oils, so specimens with aromatic foliage ideally need to be located at edges of walkways to ensure activation. Otherwise the plant is simply a green bush or tree, judged as a worthwhile garden plant because of other botanic characteristics. Consider the leaves of Lemon Myrtle Backhousia citriodora which has an intense citronella aroma when crushed. The ‘smell’ of our Australian bush is real and unique, thanks to Mallotus claoxyloides or Scent of the Bush whose unique aroma permeates from apparently unseen sources.

Designing a home garden to enhance the appreciation of the scents of our flora clearly requires careful plants selection, which considers the effects of sunlight, heat, rain and particularly the times of seasonal flowering to stimulate release of the fragrances of Australian landscape.

Plants of the Month If you have been inspired to introduce perfume and aroma into the garden, these are a few of the best native plants to use.

Bring the distinctive ‘Scent of the Bush’ into your garden by planting Green Kamala Mallotus claoxyloides, a tall shrub best used as a background specimen to surprise with its unique aroma that you have probably noticed many times before while bushwalking.

Lawrie Smith AM

During his 40 year career as a Landscape Architect, Lawrie has designed amazing places like Roma Street Parkland & World Expo88, bringing the diversity and uniqueness of Australian native plants to the community. Do you have a question for Lawrie?

Perhaps you would like to share your favourite walk? Email him via editor@featuremagazine.com.au.

A Good Place To Walk Sheep Station Creek Conservation Park Late winter is the perfect time to explore this extensive and diverse 231 hectare natural bushland between Upper Caboolture and Morayfield, it is one of the lesser known bushwalking secrets, ideal for a tranquil and easy escape into nature.

Lemon Myrtle Backhousia citriodora an ideal hedging shrub, is well known for the strong citronella aroma of its foliage which repels mosquitoes and midges.

Massed fluffy cream flowers dripping nectar virtually cover the canopy in summer attracting honeyeaters and bees. A must have for every garden.

The Native Frangipani Hymenosporum flavum, a tall pyramidal shrub or small tree will fill your garden in spring with the pleasant fragrance from the numerous decorative five petal flowers that age from cream to burnt orange.

Buckinghamia celsissima can almost become overpowering with the scent of honey in peak season, when millions of creamy white flowers festoon the canopy in decorative weeping clusters.

The trunk and branches of this compact tall shrub - Scented Daphne Phaleria clerodendron, burst with spectacular white flowers up to three times a year and fill a garden with heavenly fragrance.

Unless Australians discover and grow this magical plant, who else will?

The mint bushes Prostanthera species named for their special aroma, provide a dense shrubbery of grey green leaves decorated in spring with masses of small purple trumpet shaped flowers.

August 2021

Late winter is the perfect time to ‘walkabout’ the diverse open, grassy forests when the spring wildflowers are adding colour and interest. Early morning or late afternoon is best for observing the abundant wildlife - birds, reptiles, butterflies, mammals, koala, wallaby, echidna and greater glider possum.

• • • • •

There are four points of entry providing easy access to the pathway network: Phelps Road, the main entry (from the west) McLoughlin Road (from the east) Williamson Road (from the south) Mackney Rd (from the northwest)

Choose any of the three easy interconnected walking routes meandering through the reserve: • Grey Gum Circuit, a 4.4 km loop for walkers and horse riders and offers most landscape diversity.

• Two trails are for walkers only, each just over 1 km: • Spotted Gum Trail, traverses changing forest vegetation from wetlands and paperbark trees to ironbark and spotted gums.

• Ironbark Ridge Trail, located mainly on an old logging track, features spectacular ironbark trees, some as old as 400 years!

Feature

FINANCE

with Vanessa Bragdon

To Buy Your First Home or Not to Buy That is The Question.

If you are looking to purchase your first home and feeling hesitant, you are not the only one.

There are a number of reasons for this: • Demand for property from home buyers and property investors is high. There is so much competition in the market.

• Since the end of May 2021, banks have been increasing their fixed interest rates, and rates are tipped to increase in the long run. The ending of the RBA’s Term Funding Facility (TFF) is not the only reason rates are increasing.

• Home buyers are in bidding wars at auctions and in multiple offer situations, with properties frequently sell above their reserve or expected price.

• People think they have not saved up enough for a deposit.

Each Credit Reporting Bureau (CRB) has its scores, ranging from below average to excellent. The higher the credit score, the better your chances of approval.

It’s best to check your credit score and credit report before you apply for a home loan.

Is your credit score too low?

We know lenders that can help if your credit score is fair or below average; however, these loans will have a higher interest rate.

Can my parents help me?

If your parents own property in Australia, they can potentially be guarantors for your home loan. With a guarantor home loan, you can borrow more than 100% of the property value without paying any LMI. You don’t need to save for a deposit.

The decision to buy a home should not be based only on how the market is performing.

You can also use a gifted deposit from your parents as a deposit for your home.

You should also look at your circumstances.

If you’re in doubt about whether this is the time to buy a home or get a home loan, answer these questions:

Am I eligible for government grants and schemes?

To encourage first home buyers, the government has various nationwide and statewide grants and schemes to help you.

Is my job and income stable?

You should be earning a regular income and have a stable job to ensure you’re financially secure before you buy a home.

Some states and territories provide first home buyers with a grant between $10,000 and $20,000. The amount varies based on the state and certain property price thresholds.

Lenders favour borrowers who have had a steady income for a few years and have a consistent employment history.

Stamp duty concessions and exemptions are also available for first home buyers.

If the pandemic has caused some fluctuations in your employment, there are lenders who can accept your income from a new job, freelance work or casual employment.

Even if you’re self-employed, low-doc home loan options are available.

Is my debt-to-income ratio low enough?

Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio helps lenders determine whether you can afford the repayments on your home loan without getting into financial hardship.

It is your total debts and liabilities divided by your gross income (before tax).

The lower your DTI ratio the better, although what is acceptable varies by lender.

Do I have at least a 5% deposit saved?

You must have enough savings to cover the upfront costs of buying a home.

If your deposit is less than 20%, meaning you’re borrowing more than 80% of the property value, your costs will usually include Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

Fortunately, there are ways you can borrow more than 80% and avoid LMI.

There are also nationwide schemes available: • First Home Loan Deposit Scheme; Available for first home buyers who have at least a 5% deposit. You do not have to pay LMI, even when borrowing up to 95% of the property value.

• Family Home Guarantee Scheme; Available for single parents who have saved at least a 2% deposit. You do not have to be a first home buyer. You don’t need to pay LMI, even when borrowing up to 98% of the property value.

If you’ve answered yes to most of the questions above, it may be worth considering getting into your own home.

Is it the right time to buy property?

Waiting for prices to fall or the property market to cool down could take a while (or never happen!), and it could feel like it’s never the right time to buy a house.

But you have to be ready to grab the opportunity once you find your dream home. The best time is what makes sense for your situation.

You’re not in this alone.

If you want any help with working through your options get in touch with your local mortgage broker.

Do you have a finance question that needs answering?

Is my credit score high enough?

Your credit score is a gauge lenders use to determine whether you can repay a home loan on time.

36

Ask Vanessa!

Email Vanessa via editor@featuremagazine.com.au

August 2021

Feature

l if e

AFTER...

LOSS

How senior females are finding solidarity in village lifestyle With females’ life expectancy outlasting that of men, more and more women are faced with the reality of living part of their senior years without their significant other.

At a time of such major change, having the confidence to move on and find a new purpose in life can be a challenge.

It’s no wonder then, that many single female seniors are seeking solidarity with their peers in a village atmosphere. Enjoying the companionship of like-minded people in the safety of a gated community, combined with the lifestyle benefits of a purpose-built village, are just some of the reasons an increasing number of senior women are finding solace at Oak Tree retirement villages.

While making the move from the family home into a retirement living can seem daunting for many, the feeling can be amplified when you’re

118 Pitt Road, Burpengary

transitioning on your own. But the boutique size of our villages and the friendly atmosphere means you’ll be surrounded by ready friends who will quickly help you feel right at home.

The beauty of Oak Tree is that you can live independently, but you’re not alone. There’s comfort knowing that our village manager or a friendly neighbour is never far away.

Having a network of others in similar situations at the same phase of life can give you the confidence to socialise, try new hobbies, enjoy new experiences, and generally get out and enjoy life. For our female residents in particular, they find companionship amongst each other, providing new meaning to life, even after loss.

Take the first step towards securing your future with Oak Tree by calling 1300 367 155 or go to www.oaktreegroup.com.au

www.featuremagazine.com.au

Call 1300 367 155

37

www.oaktreegroup.com.au

MARINE & AUTO

with Brisbane YAMAHA

Yellowfin 6500 Soft Top Cabin Review Yellowfin boats by Telwater, who also manufacture Quintrex, are a hard as nails offshore fishing boat. If you are serious about chasing large game fish out of a trailer boat and find yourself towing and launching all over the coast, Yellowfin is the brand for you. The Yellowfin boats differ from the rest of the Quintrex models in that they are a plate aluminium boat as opposed to the stretch formed boats you see with other brands manufactured by Telwater. This makes them more than tough enough for the rigours of offshore fishing. They are as tough as a tank.

The 6500ST comes in both a standard cuddy cabin style and a HardTop version; the 6500HT. The cuddy cabin design is, however, the most popular. The test boat was fitted with clears that run from the side of the cabin down to the topside of the hull, adding additional protection from the elements on long runs.

The Yellowfin 6500 uses marine grade aluminium 6mm bottom sheets, 5mm transom and 4mm sides that creates a solid and rigid hull. The hull has a 19 degree deadrise at the transom and 730mm of freeboard internally. The ‘Marine Core’ construction uses a sub frame of ribs and horizontal stringers using 6 and 5mm thick aluminium with all models featuring a self-draining floor and non-return scupper system.

The Yellowfin 6500 range are a serious looking boat.

The Boat The Yellowfin 6500 is a fishing boat. As a result, Telwater have designed it with a large windscreen and cabin that keeps you protected from the elements. It allows for maximum space onboard. The cockpit behind the cabin seats is enormous. The floor is flat throughout, and in this case, covered with a rubber tube matting in the cockpit fitted by Brisbane Yamaha. It’s a great addition that reduces glare but also keeps the floor slip free and comfortable under foot. Not only that, there is a massive 730mm of freeboard, or depth. This makes the Yellowfin 6500 safe offshore in all conditions. The height is excellent to brace against while fighting large fish, even for someone on the other side of six foot.

Being an offshore fishing boat, the Yellowfin 6500 has a self-draining floor with water running into a gutter. That gutter runs along the transom and water exits out the non-return scuppers. This design shows the thought that goes into these boats. Water is not sloshing about on the floor until it drains. Standard flooring is checker plate, which requires no more than a hose out at the end of the day. As you will undoubtedly bring fish aboard, the standard deck wash will come in very handy. There is also a 90-litre kill tank in the floor at the transom.

On the Yellowfin 6500, the set up for fishing is excellent. There is a bait prep station mounted in the centre of the transom with five rod-holders across the back. It’s well designed with a recess to stop things like sinkers and lures from flying out when underway. There are another three aluminium moulded rod holders either side in the gunwale and another six in the rocket launcher above the cabin. That’s 17 rod holders!

There is a live bait tank with a viewing window in the port corner and on the starboard side a hinged door and a small carpeted step. It is ideal for hauling bigger fish aboard or easier access at the jetty. Batteries and switches are located behind a carpeted cupboard door that drops into place and they are positioned well above the waterline. A removable bench seat runs across the transom and open shelves either side offer storage options.

No matter the conditions you are out in, two large adjustable helm seats keep you comfortable. They sit on an open framework, which again shows foresight by Quintrex. By having open space beneath the seats, you can slide tackle boxes or even eskies keeping them out of the way. A box set up as seen on other brands is cumbersome and requires the skill of a contortionist to access. The back of the seats even have moulded grab rails for passengers standing in the cockpit.

The test boat had optional bunk in-fills that make this space more usable and enable a large person to lie down in comfort should the action slow up. It’s also a great space for storing equipment when not in use. All around the Yellowfin 6500, there are well placed grab

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August 2021

Feature

handles that ensure there is always somewhere to hold on in tough conditions.

The paint quality of the entire Quintrex and Yellowfin range is exceptional and the Yellowfin 6500 is no different. It has the proprietary Quintrex 5 stage paint that not only looks great, but is durable and protects the hull for years of serious fishing fun.

Power Brisbane Yamaha fitted a F150 Four Stroke to the back of the Yellowfin 6500 for the boat test and it’s a beauty. Smooth and quiet, it’s hard to recall another engine that has a better and quieter idle. The power of the engine is evident under acceleration with a top speed of around 67 kilometres per hour possible.

The Yellowfin 6500 will sit on a speed of 48 kilometres per hour, using 32 litres per hour at 4,300 revs per minute.

Brisbane Yamaha have fitted as low as a 130hp Yamaha outboard engine to these boats with a maximum of 200hp possible. That would make the Yellowfin 6500 quite possibly the fastest offshore aluminium fishing boat on the water given the performance of the 130.

Performance Despite the aluminium construction, the Yellowfin 6500 is a fair lump of boat. While lighter than equivalent sized fibreglass, it still cuts an imposing figure on the water. It gets on the plane quickly and cuts through the waves and chop without feeling like its getting pushed around. Other brands that don’t use the same heavy-duty construction can feel a bit light in rough conditions. The Yellowfin 6500 always has a solid and safe attitude. If you have a look at the aerial view of the hull you can see it has a sharp entry at the bow delivering unbeatable performance.

The plate construction performs well at speed and the chine between the bottom sheet and side sheet keeps most of the spray down and away at speed. Like any high sided plate aluminium boat, it can push spray out to the sides at slow speeds. That spray can blow back onto the boat in windy conditions. This is due to the limited angles available with plate construction. There’s no need to worry because you are behind a cabin window and are always thoroughly safe and dry.

Under acceleration the Yellowfin 6500’s nose lifts, and while the 150hp doesn’t make it feel like a rocket ship, it has more than enough to keep most owners happy. At the end of the day, it’s rare that you can head offshore at full speed anyway and most of the time you’ll be cruising around. The F150 will more than do the job and keep your fuel economy on the positive side.

The steering is precise, and the throttle is in the perfect position whether you are driving or seated. Brisbane Yamaha fitted the Yellowfin 6500 with Volvo trim tabs for the boat test, which helps smooth out the ride in this high sided boat.

For the driver, the helm is a comfortable layout with everything within easy reach. Trim tab controls for the Volvo BTS300 tabs are easy to reach. Should you wish to add separate sounder and GPS units, as I would if this was my boat, they won’t fit in the dash but there is plenty of space to mount one on the flat space above the dash and the other in the dash, as per the factory set up.

Tow Vehicle The Yellowfin 6500 comes on a 2750kg rated alloy tandem plate series multi-roller trailer built in house by Quintrex. It’s a dual axle set up with should tow easily enough behind most medium SUVs. It includes a 500mm coupling standard, hydraulic brakes and submersible LED lights. The winch ratio is a 5:1 and has a webbed strap.

Specifications Construction: Aluminium Length Overall: 6.44m Beam: 2.40m Max hp: 200hp Construction: Topsides 4.0mm, bottom 6.0mm Capacity: 5 people Weight on trailer: approx 2000kgs Engine as tested: Yamaha F150hp Four Stroke Fuel Capacity: 155L

PUZZLES

SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 47

SUDOKU #60 Puzzle 10 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.45)

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August 2021

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Sweet &Sour 1 Pork

3

by Susan's K2 Kitchen

Ingredients 480g Pork Fillet 1 capsicum (3 colours)* Half a Pineapple 80g Flour For Marinade: 20ml Light Soy Sauce 15ml Cooking Wine 1 Egg 5g Corn Flour 2g Black Pepper 2g Salt 10ml Oil FOR SAUCE For Sauce: 80g Tomato Sauce 40g Sugar

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Method 1. Cut the pork fillet to 2cm cubes then marinate with egg, black pepper, salt, light soy sauce, corn flour and oil.

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Heat a pan with oil for deep frying the pork. Coat the pork with flour then place in the hot oil until light yellow. Deep fry twice for better colour and crunch textures.

3.

Cut capsicum and pineapple to small pieces. Heat fry pan with little bit oil then sirfry capsicum and pineapple. Add the tomato sauce and sugar until the texture is thick.

4.

Add the pork to the sauce. Combine well and serve.

Recipe contributed by the Multicultural Queensland Social Network

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41

Local Dining Guide For advertising enquiries call 07 3886 9040.

CABOOLTURE SPORTS CLUB With three dining outlets, there’s something for all taste buds & budgets at Queensland’s 2019 & 2020 Club of the Year. Choose from The Mill Restaurant, Laneway Café or Tempo Lounge & Bar. Open Daily from 10am Ph: 5497 9711 19-27 Station Rd, Morayfield www.cabsports.com.au @cabsports

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August 2021

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MOTMOT COFFEE & EATS MotMot - Coffee & Eats is the source for specialty coffee in the heart Petrie and very convenient to the station. MotMot offers a range of dining possibilities including all-day brunch, fresh juices, smoothies & more. Open Weekdays 6am to 1pm and Weekends 7am to 1pm.

Ph: 0492 826 236 5/6 Whites Road, Petrie @MotMot.Coffees

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43

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TRADES & View Feature Magazine online at www.featuremagazine.com.au

WINTER WOES TO WINTER WINS! Words: The team at Lifestyletradie.com.au

For many, this winter has had a particularly sharp bite. It’s been noted to be one of the coldest we’ve had on record. This has prompted many homeowners to reassess their houses “winter preparedness” which means there’s a potential market of customers searching for winter-specific home solutions and improvements.

For trade businesses who work with the public or strata, such as electricians, plumbers, builders, you name it; it’s our time to shine. Use the cold front to your advantage and update your marketing materials to be more targeted to this issue, and therefore more effective.

It’s all about providing helpful information and solutions to anyone affected by this cold snap, and ensuring that your business name stays top of mind!

Steps to nailing your seasonal marketing In your marketing materials, speak directly to the issues facing Australian homeowners right now, such as unserviced hot water systems, poor AGED CARE SERVICES

BINS

ELECTRICAL Cont'd

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CARPENTRY

FUNERALS

ELECTRICAL

Your Local Just Better Care team can offer the support and advice you need to get started.

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August 2021

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SERVICES

To place an ad call 07 3886 9040 or email ads@featuremagazine.com.au

insulation causing higher electricity bills, or the dangers of potential gas leaks from gas heaters. Then provide clear solutions to your target audience, and where possible, additional value.

1. Clearly define the problem in your advert ie: “Leaving your hot water system unserviced could cause it to corrode, and potentially burst, causing massive damage to your home or garden.”

Once you’ve outlined your message, assess which medium your message should take based on your budget and previous marketing success.

Pushing your campaign across low cost, high ROI platforms such as social media, database emails and text message marketing are great and highly costeffective mediums to share your message.

All Plumbing & Gas Works ks Maintenance Alterations Renovations New & Old Homes

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If you’ve got a higher budget up your 2. Provide the solution sleeve, consider paid Facebook adverts, ie: “Call us [Business Name] today and get printed flyers or buying short-term ad peace of mind that your hot water system is space on a local billboard or radio station. safe for your family this winter.”

Just be conscious to track your campaign and ensure it’s worth the spend!

3. Add value ie: “We’re rated #1 in the Sydney area for hot Consider always hand-delivering flyers water system safety” five doors up and down from jobs, and hand out fridge magnets. Whilst this Then consider how you will target this sounds old school, it’s highly effective. audience.

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45

Paw-fect Styling For

Weddings Words: Sheree Hoddinett Photos: Contributed

When it comes to looking their best for weddings, it’s not just humans who get to have all the fun of “dressing up”. Your prized pooch can also get in on the glitz and glamour with a little help from Davina Dewar, the Stylist to the Dogs. Paws at Weddings has created the pawfect opportunity for you to have your furry best friend join you on your special day and with no hair out of place. The latest initiative is all part of what’s shaping up to be a busy and successful time for the Narangba-based stylist, who we last saw cutting up the screen on Channel 7’s Pooch Perfect.

it’s definitely part of it all to make the dogs feel at ease too.”

For Davina, adding a new service to her already busy grooming business is an idea that she’s been growing since her time on the reality show.

To ensure their day ran smoothly, the Karger’s are more than appreciative that Davina could take care of Angel, so they didn’t have to worry about her at all.

“I’ve always had an interest in styling dogs for weddings,” she says. “At the moment, it’s just getting started, but I made the decision to branch out from the services I already offer, and this will be a side service. Essentially it’s a pet assistance service at the wedding, and part of the package is grooming and styling beforehand.”

“Davina looked after Angel and introduced her to everyone, which left us free to do our greetings,” Jane says. “When it was time for photos, Davina was a genius with the treats behind the photographer, so Angel was alert and smiling at the camera for every photo!”

Undertaking her first wedding in May for a preexisting client, Davina says the experience went a lot better than she could have imagined, even with a minor hiccup of a runaway dog.

“The bride and groom asked if I thought it would be a good idea if we let Angel off her lead, and I said it was up to them,” she says. “But as soon as we let her off the lead, she took off.

So I chased after her and got her straight back, and they were surprised I could do it as she doesn’t typically respond like that for them. But it’s all part of the service; you really do have to be prepared for anything.

“It all worked out really well, and the bride and groom were very happy. I was standing behind the photographer with a treat, so they got really good photos of her because she was staring at me with the treat the whole time, so

The very happy couple, Jane and David Karger couldn’t speak more highly of Davina and Paws at Weddings.

“We wouldn't have been able to enjoy our day nearly as much without using the services of Paws at Weddings, and we couldn't recommend this company and Davina more highly,” says Jane. “We have been using Davina (Stylist to the Dogs) for Angel’s grooming for many years, so it seemed like a good fit for what we needed.”

When you think about styling dogs for weddings, the obvious choices of bowties, ribbons and sparkling collars come to mind. But along with making sure your dog is fresh and clean, Davina can also create a funky looking hairstyle.

“If they want something special that’s wedding related, like a heart shape in their coat or even accessories like pearl heart stickers that can go on their ears and other similar things, I can do that,” she says. “I really like doing heart shapes with their hair. You can either carve the heart, which can be done on any dog, even if they have short hair or make a heart shape out of the coat.

“I can also do colour, so if they want it to be a pink heart, for example, I use all dog-safe products.”

Above: Wedding guests watch Davina give Angel a treat.

With weddings often taking a more unique turn these days, Davina wants more people to know these types of services are available, and their pets can also join in the fun.

“A lot of people’s pets are their children nowadays, and there’s a lot of people out there that also don’t have children; they have only pets and would want them at their wedding,” she says. “I just want people to know it is possible to do this, and you don’t have to rely on one of your guests to look after the pets.

They can have a good time, and you know your pets are safe the whole time.”

Along with the new side venture, Davina also has some other things in the works. A new trainee joined the grooming ranks in June, and she’s also starting up a product line for the retail side of the business.

“It’s all happening, and I’m excited to be starting my own brand,” she says. “The brand is called Puptown, and it’s dog accessories (dog harness, leash, collar), but they’re also going to be matched to a T-shirt that their owner wears. It’s like when you have mums and kids that match what they’re wearing but instead, owners can match to their dogs. So it’s the same sort of print on the T-shirt as it is on the dogs' harness.

I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”

To find out more about Paws at Weddings and other services, visit www.stylisttothedogs.com. au or phone 0421 452 647.

Above: Davina with Angel

Above: David and Jane with their dog Angel on their wedding day.

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9 7 5 6 4+ 8SHARP: 2 3 1 Brisbane Bar SHORT 8 3 6 4 7 1 5 2 9 Tide2021 Times The 2 9 Island 4 5 8 Of 3 1 Dreams 6 7 7 5 1 2 9 6 4 8 3 August Local 2021 Time Words: Jayden Johnston

Time

6 0123 0808

m

2.30 0.55 R 1407 1.86 2001 0.71

Time

AUGUST m

Time

1.76 0.64 SU 1606 1.88 2212 1.01

16 0243 0914

0349 1024 MO 1715 2339

1.63 0.65 1.96 0.97

17 0400 1020

8 0311 0953

0503 1.57 1122 0.63 TU 1815 2.07

18 0523 1132

9 0418 1052

1.95 0.46 O 1734 2.18 2354 0.77

0049 0611 WE 1218 1905

0.87 1.58 0.59 2.19

19 0115 0640

0 0529 1153

0144 0706 TH 1309 1950

0.76 1.62 0.52 2.29

20 0217 0745

1 0113 0637

0229 0753 FR 1355 2031

0.67 1.68 0.46 2.38

21 0308 0838

0310 0835 SA 1438 2111

0.60 1.74 0.40 2.44

22 0352 0924

8 0349 0915

0.55 1.80 SU 1519 0.36 2148 2.49

23 0431 1006

9 0427 0956

24 0506 1045

5 0457 1023

10 0504 1037

25 0538 1121

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0.43 1.87 O 1702 0.38 2330 2.53

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28 0033 0702

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7 0213 0858

2.19 0.53 A 1512 1.92 2110 0.78

2.06 0.50 U 1624 2.03 2230 0.81

1.86 0.42 U 1840 2.34

0.67 1.82 E 1253 0.38 1939 2.49

2 0220 0742

0.56 1.80 H 1351 0.33 2032 2.60

3 0318 0842

0.48 1.82 R 1445 0.30 2122 2.66

4 0410 0934

0.43 1.84 A 1534 0.30 2208 2.66

0.41 1.86 U 1620 0.32 2251 2.62

0.47 1.87 U 1744 0.47

2.40 0.51 E 1232 1.86 1823 0.59

2.25 0.55 1315 1.85 H 1905 0.72

2.09 0.59 1403 1.84 R 1954 0.85

1 0159 0841

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4 5 6 7

0.51 1.86 MO 1600 0.34 2225 2.51 0.47 1.91 TU 1641 0.34 2301 2.50

0.44 1.95 WE 1723 0.38 2338 2.45 0.43 1.97 TH 1806 0.46 2.35 0.44 FR 1251 1.99 1853 0.57

2.20 0.45 1344 2.00 SA 1948 0.69

2.02 0.48 1446 2.02 SU 2058 0.80

m

1.84 0.51 MO 1600 2.07 2225 0.83 1.69 0.52 TU 1718 2.18 2359 0.76

1.64 0.50 WE 1829 2.31 0.63 1.67 TH 1242 0.45 1930 2.44 0.50 1.74 FR 1345 0.38 2022 2.53

0.42 1.82 SA 1439 0.33 2108 2.57

0.38 1.89 SU 1526 0.31 2149 2.55

0.37 1.94 MO 1608 0.32 2227 2.50 0.39 1.97 TU 1646 0.38 2301 2.40

0.41 1.99 WE 1723 0.46 2333 2.28 0.44 1.99 TH 1759 0.57 2.13 0.48 FR 1235 1.97 1835 0.70

1.97 0.53 SA 1315 1.94 1917 0.82

1.79 0.59 1403 1.90 SU 2010 0.94

1.62 0.67 1504 1.88 MO 2124 1.00

31 0253 0919

1.47 0.73 1620 1.90 TU 2304 0.98

The Bureau of Meteorology gives no warranty of any kind whether express, implied, statutory or otherwise in respect to the accuracy, currency, Quarter or Full Moon availability, completeness, Lastquality reliability of the information or that the information will be fit for any particular purpose or will not infringe any third party Intellectual Property rights.

The Bureau's liability for any loss, damage, cost or expense resulting from use of, or reliance on, the information is entirely excluded.

Copyright of the tidal prediction tables is vested in the Commonwealth of Australia represented by the National Tidal Centre, Bureau of Meteorology.

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2 but 4 not lonely. For the island is a respite, I’m7 alone, but not a prison; with 1 7 3 6 9 4 5 1 8 5 7I can2 9come 6 and8 2go as 4 I please, 3 my raft and my sail, and the wind taking me wherever 5 1 8 3 6 4 I wish And as 8 to 3 be. 9 1 6 much 2 as2 9I would 4 love 7 to7 5spend the rest of my life on this little island, I have to come back 3 7 4 1 eventually; 9 2 6 there 2 6 5is no5 4water 7 on9 3the 8 1island, 8 and the birds are far too high up for me to gather food.

whether 2 1food5 and8water 6 are7worth4 the9return 3 journey.

I find myself taking longer and longer trips to the island, my willpower 9 7 6 3 slowly 1 4 shrinking.

8 2 I don’t 5 want to go back. It’s the only thing I don’t like about the island. The fact that I can’t live here forever.

Puzzle difficulty rating 0.56) Puzzle 5 2 (Medium, (Hard, difficulty rating 0.66)

Everything is spinning.

5 5

7 3

1 4

8 8

6 2

9 6

2 7

4 9

3 1

I begin my journey to the grass, but as I reach the 3 4 7 1 5 6 6 9the sky 8 instantly 7 2 1 turns 3 8 2dark.9 4Something 5 green, is wrong.

I control what happens on the island.

I can 2 8 9 3 5 4 1 7 6 1 2everything 7 5 here, 4 including 9 6 the 8 weather.

3 control But clouds that weren’t here a second ago8bear1down on 6 9 5 4 7 2 3 3 rain8 and5thunder 1 9and 2 4 crashing 6 7 down me, lightning upon 4 me 1 in an 8 instant.

6 3 5 7 2 9

4 1 2 Am 7 2 7 I needed?

6 3 9

6 9 4

5 1 3

7 8 8

9 6 5

3 5 1

8 4 2

Puzzle 7 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.51) Puzzle (Hard, difficulty rating 0.67) My raft 4docks at the shore sharply, waves lapping on

1 4 2 6 3 The 8 lightning 4 7 3 is growing 9 9 7 closer.

5 I5 1tell myself 2 8 6 I should grab the raft and run, but my body is done obeying 5 2 1 8 3 6 my9 9head, 7 and 6 I can 2 only 8 watch 1 in4 3amazement 5 7 4 as the white streaks spark something within me. With a 8 3 6 5 4 7 9 1 2 thunderous clap, 3 the lightning 2 5 1 6 4 plunges 8 7 into 9 my raft, sending pieces everywhere. The clouds dissipate, their purpose fulfilled.

My onerating way off the island, Puzzle 8 difficulty 0.57) Puzzle 5 (Medium, (Hard, difficulty rating 0.64) gone forever.

2 4 I’m 1 tired.

9

It doesn’t matter for now; I came here to sleep. It’s 8 1 4 9 my5 do on 1favourite 9 6 4thing 6 to 2 5 7 the3 8island.

2 It’s7 3the only thing I do on the island. It’s the only thing I can’t do 3 5 out 9 there.

7 7 1 8 4 1 3 2 5 9 2 6 6 4 8

6 4

8 5

4 7

My head hurts.

1 1

9 8

7 3

3 9

5 2

2 6

the sail, 3so it can’t 5 2 9 6 1 4 5 wooden 4 6deck.

1 I bring 8 ankle-deep 9down7 3 the8 7 break, and hop into the water,2 wiggling my feel the between 1 3 2 5 7 4 3 toes 1 to 8 9 2 sand 4 squirming 7 6 8 9 6 5 them.

Already I feel better; this place is the peace of mind I 4 6 needed.

8 7 2 It always 7 9 6is. 3 3 8 5 5 1 1 9 2 4

7 8 5 5 6 7 9 2 8 4 3 3 1 6 9 5 3 8 2 1 4 6 7 The voyage was long, but I never regret 4 3 5 8 9 6 2 1 7it. Never.

Sometimes I wonder if I should just stay here forever; 8 1 3 2 5 9 whether 6 6 7 I should 2 7 4 ever4 1 come 3 back 5 from 8 the 9 island, 3 7 6 2

9 5 1 6

2 4 4 3

4 3 3 9

8 6 7 5

7 9

8 8

5 1

1 7

9 2

6 8 5 1

1 9 9 7

7 2 2 4

5 1 8 8

2 4

3 6

4 5

6 3

7 1 9 7 care 8 anymore.

6 6 2 3 1 I don’t 2 3

4 2

3 5

9 8

7 4

8 3 5 9

2 4 6 6

4 5 8 1

5 9 1 7

4 9 2 5 6 7 1 I sleep, gone, and 8 and 4 dream 2 3 7of days 9 where 6 the 1 pain 3 is 8 5 everything I do is enough.

8 6 1 4

6 5 7 1

1 3 8 9

7 1 2 5

4 2 9 8

9 8 3 2

5 7 4 3

2 9 5 7

3 4 6 6

9 5 6 2

3 6 2 3

5 8 4 7

4 3 5 9

6 7 8 6

1 1 7 4

8 9 1 5

7 4 3 8

2 2 9 1

puzzle solutions

Puzzle Puzzle 6 3

9 6 2 4

8 9 1 1

3 2 7 9

4 7 3 5

5 7 8 3

9 4 6 8

6 5 1 1

7 3 2 2

4 8

5 6

Puzzle Puzzle 9 6

4 8 8 5

7 3 5 7

1 1 9 6

3 4 6 1

5 3 3 7

2 9 8 2

2 2 6 9

9 8 1 6

7 4

4 5

Puzzle (Medium, difficulty rating MEDIUM Puzzle 10 7 (Hard, difficulty rating 0.60)0.45)

(Medium, rating Puzzle C O Puzzle M M E11 R C difficulty I Adifficulty L rating F0.61)0.52) Puzzle 8 (Hard, Puzzle 1 9 O A8 6 2 5 9 3 7 R 1 C4 A R L 4 3 9 6 8 1 7 5 2 9 8 5 1 9 3 7 4 8 2 6 3 1 6 2 7 5 8 9 4 4 8 X B D A V I N A M 2 5 1 9 7 3 4 6 8 4 5 1 6 8 7 2 3 9 6 6 7 4 8 1 2 5 9 3 8 9I 7 4 6 2 1 P O 1 6 3 E 5 B2 8 6 7 4 5 2 1 9 3 9 7 3 4 1 2 8 6 5 3 7 A F F 5O R 2 3 8 6 5 9 1 7 4 2 D4 A 8B L9 E 3 1 D 7 O6 7 9 S I3 8 C 5 1S 7 4 9 2 O6 6 2 5 8 4 9 3 1 7 1 1 8 6 2 3 5 9 4 7 7 8 5 9 2 1 6 4 3 9 3 2 S S H T H E O G I L L A N 3 7 4 2 1 5 9 8 6 1 2 4 9 6 5 3 7 8 5 6 7 4 3 1 9 6 2 8 5 3 5 H9 4 2 3 A 6 7 5 1 T8 C I 9 1 8 7 3 6 2 4 5 6 9 7 2 3 8 5 4 1 2 O I6 3 E 1A 5 C U8 P 4U N7 C 2T U9 R E 9 5 2 4 8 7 3 6 1 8 4 4 N N2 3 L 6 8L 4 9 1 O 5 R7 7 9 2 1 6 8 5 3 4 7 9 8 6 5 7 2 3 4 1 9 4 6 9 1 5 8 2 3 7 1 3 A G E R E F I N A N C E 1 8 3 5 2 4 6 7 9 7 1 9 3 5 6 4 8 2 8 4 9 1 5 6 8 7 3 2 2 C 5 8 7 3 9 4T 6 1 2 1 6 T 5 4 6 3 9 7 8 2 1 5 4 8 7 2 1 6 9 3 4 5 E T 3 W 3 2 7 9 4 1 6 5 8 1 7 6 I 4 N 2T E9 R 8 5 5 7 R I O A K E Y Puzzle 10 (Hard, rating 0.61) (Hard, rating PuzzleE1 Generated bydifficulty http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on 06:27:04 C R Puzzle I T I11 C ATue Ldifficulty LJan Y 5 L 0.62)E 2016 O GMT. O C D N G 3 2 4 8 7 1 9 6 5 2 3 5 7 1 6 9 4 8 9 5 O A F A M I L Y O A 8 7 9 5 2 6 1 4 3 8 4 1 9 3 5 7 2 6 1 2 K H E L P L A O 1 5 6 9 3 4 2 7 8 6 3 I I 6 9 7W 2 O O4 D 8F O5 R 3D 1 D N D4 7 3 W O 9 6 7 3 1 5 8 2 4 6 8 N 1 T2 5E 9 4 8 G D F R E E E C V 2 8 5 6 4 9 3 1 7 1 8 9 5 2 3 4 6 7 5 7 E R E S I L I E N C E 4 1 3 2 8 7 5 9 6 3 6 V A N 5E 6 S S2 A 4 7 S 9 8 1P 3 N 5 9 2 4 6 8 7 3 1 7 W 5 6 1 9 2 3 8T 4 8 9 W A V E D E T O X I N G 7 4 8 1 9 3 6 5 2 9 1 8 3 5 4 6 7 2 2 4 E O 6 3 1 7 5 2 4 8 9 3 2 4 8 6 I 7S L1 A 9N D5 7 1 Q U O T E S

HARD

www.featuremagazine.com.au 47 E Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Tue Jan 5 06:28:29 2016 GMT.

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