June Profile Magazine

LADies AT LUNCH

eastern vs. western medicine

22 dr monica trujillo

14

sally-anne livock

50

dr jayne bambit

in this issue 12 people

Dr Michael Ryan 14 view

Sally-Anne Livock 16 success

Dr James Torrence 18

ladies at lunch

mystyle 48

vanity case

life 50

the good life

22 cover – a woman of substance

Monica Trujillo

business

35 wealthy’n’wise business promotion

60 Milestones

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the last word Dr Sean O’Connor

46

54 advice

58

mybusiness Edward Gainer

regulars 4 publisher’s note 6 pinboard 8 he says, she says 34 briefcase 65 win 30 abode

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he amount of talent we have here on the Sunshine Coast never ceases to amaze me, and the medical field is no exception.

From cutting-edge research and technology happening at the Sunshine Coast Private Hospital, to a plethora of talented alternative and Eastern medicine practitioners, we have it all at our fingertips.

Speaking of talent, this month I was lucky enough to get to know our gorgeous cover girl, Doctor Monica Trujillo. Not only is Monica beautiful on the outside, she is one smart cookie! Monica shares her journey from medical student to landing her dream job on the Coast at the top of her field in medical administration. This tech-savvy mother of two is paving the way for digital, paperless hospitals in Australia, with the first set to open its doors in Hervey Bay later this year.

We also chat with medical superman Doctor James Torrance, who may not have a red cape but is a flying life-saver, nonetheless. Local award-winning GP, Doctor Michael Ryan tells us about the amazing charity work he and wife Cheryl have set up in Northern India, and dietician and author Sally-Anne Livock proves we really are what we eat. The girls and I catch up at the newly renovated Golden Beach Tavern, Caloundra, for a lively discussion on Eastern versus Western medicine, and lots more.

As always, we also bring you all the latest in fashion, beauty, homewares and cars and there is more than $2000 in prizes to be won.

We hope you enjoy this month’s medical issue, and while most of us would agree that the aim is to visit the doctor as little as possible, it sure is reassuring to know that we have the best of the best on our doorstep!

Cheers to health and happiness from the Profile team.

Ingrid Nelson EDITOR / journalist

A big thank you to General Manager Lucy Davis and the team at the stunning five-star resort Oceans Luxury Holiday Apartments, Mooloolaba, for allowing us to shoot our cover in the comfort of one of their beautiful apartments. Pure luxury and what a view! I think you will agree our gorgeous cover girl, Dr Monica Trujillo looks stunning, thanks to Elegant Affair, Nambour, for the beautiful clothing they kindly supplied for the shoot. Milana and the team at Elegant Affair went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure Monica loved her look, allowing her a personal fitting beforehand. As always, Strut Hair and Beauty, Maroochydore and KJ Artistry worked their magic to achieve the “timeless elegance” look we envisioned for Monican and last but not least, Tanya from Chesterton Smith photography captured Monica’s fun, outgoing personality. A big thank you also to our talented journalism interns Anna Rawlings and Christie Lenz, both of whom have been a wonderful help and are gaining lots of experience along the way. Thank you as always to you our readers for your loyal support. We just love bringing Profile Magazine to you each and every month.

FROM

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Monica Trujillo

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managing director / publisher Genine Howard

publisher Hamish Rose

editor Ingrid Nelson

sub-editor Alli Grant

graphic designer Johanna Jensen

sales manager Maree McGrath

account manager Sue Base

performers at noosa long weekend festival

feature writers Tonia Zemek, Jessica Jane Sammut, Anna Rawlings (intern), Christie Lenz (intern)

6 to 9 june etchells australasian winter championship The best one-design sailors will be drawn to Mooloolaba for four days of intense sailing competition, as sailors compete in the Etchells Australasian Winter Championship. Mooloolaba provides one of the few sailing destinations on the East Coast, and spectators can enjoy watching a fleet of 50 Etchells compete in six gruelling races over three days.

photography Tanya Chesterton Smith

email or call / fax info@profilemag.com.au or 5451 0669 / 5475 4405

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Beach on Sixth, 104 / 65 Sixth Ave, Maroochydore

8 to 9 june caloundra arts and crafts fair

PO Box 1065, Cotton Tree, QLD 4558

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Lovers of arts and crafts are in for a treat as the Caloundra Arts Centre Association holds its popular Arts and Crafts Fair. Support your local community and purchase hand-made Australian products, or simply peruse the selection of pottery, woodwork, art and pastels, jewellery and silk paintings. Quality pieces from the association’s embroidery groups, quilters and lace makers will also be on display. www.caloundraartsandcrafts.org.au

advertising 5451 0669, sales@profilemag.com.au

distribution 15,000 free copies are street delivered to high traffic areas such as high-end cafes, fashion boutiques, hairdressers and professional offices across the Sunshine Coast, monthly, and online along with an eMAG sent to 6000 inboxes monthly

subscriptions

14 to 23 june noosa long weekend festival

www.profilemag.com.au/subscription, $65 +gst (12 issues)

Attracting some of Australia’s best international performers, writers, filmmakers, musicians, artists, chefs, environmentalists and commentators, the Noosa Long Weekend Festival again offers an exciting, culturally diverse program. Sure to have something for everyone, guests can choose from more than 95 ticketed and non-ticketed events over 10 days. Artists will explore multi-arts genres from theatre, dance, music, forums, food and literature. Prices for ticketed events range from $15 to $170 (for a Gourmet Food Safari).

Katherine Allan – accounts@profilemag.com.au

www.noosalongweekend.com

16 june a hinterland wedding Take advantage of this free event and the advice on offer from local world-class wedding service providers, and take a look at local venues open for inspection on the day – while discovering why the Sunshine Coast Hinterland has become the premier wedding destination of South-East Queensland. The event, held at Flaxton Gardens, will start at 9:00am, with catwalk and canapés at 3:00pm. www.amontvillewedding.com.au

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Profile Magazine is a free publication (subscriptions available) published 12 times a year by Profile Magazine Publishing Group Pty Ltd. All rights are reserved and the contents are copyright and may not be reproduced without the written consent of The Publisher, Profile Magazine Publishing Group Pty Ltd (“The Publisher”), their related companies and officers hereby disclaim, to the full extent permitted by law, all liability, damages, costs and expenses whatsoever arising from or in connection with copy information or other material in this magazine, any negligence of The Publisher, or any persons actions in reliance thereon. Any dispute or complaint regarding placed advertisements must be made within seven days of publication.

Inclusion of any copy must not be taken as any endorsement by The Publisher. Views expressed by contributors are personal views and they are not necessarily endorsed by The Publisher.

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Learning Now and For the Future Thinking. Discovering. Creating. e bl la i a • av ay s e d ac o pl l t d o ite nr m e Li •

A School of the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association

right move

how much can we borrow?

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The lender you choose can have a huge impact on the amount you can borrow. Below is an example of what 15 of Australia’s leading banks and institutions would grant a couple with a combined income of $100,000 (without children). The difference is over $190,000! So let’s sit down and compare them to find out how much you could borrow. Talk to us today and move a step closer to your dream home.

Lender

Amount

Lender

Amount

Lender

Amount

Lender 1

$635,451

Lender 6

$634,266

Lender 11

$547,000

Lender 2

$623,255

Lender 7

$608,696

Lender 12

$573,557

Lender 3

$600,922

Lender 8

$642,403

Lender 13

$623,960

Lender 4

$458,900

Lender 9

$619,972

Lender 14

$630,730

Lender 5

$565,000

Lender 10

$597,822

Lender 15

$452,344

Results calculated using Mortgage Choice lender panel loan serviceability criteria at 14/10/2011. Individual outcomes will vary depending on each borrower’s financial situation. Lending criteria subject to change.

5476 9333

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Australian Credit Licence 382869

june 2013

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he says, she says

It doesn’t seem that long ago that cosmetic surgery was something only associated with ‘celebrities’ who graced our television screens or the pages of glossy magazines.

These days, popping out for a dose of Botox in your lunch hour wouldn’t raise as much as an eyebrow (pardon the pun). With increasing pressure to look good and a desire to maintain our youthful looks longer, going under the knife or taking advantage of other cosmetic procedures has never been as popular. We asked Todd and Sami from HOT 91.1 for their take on cosmetic surgery, and the results, as you can imagine, were hilarious.

he says

B

otox, collagen injections, tummy tucks, butt lifts, breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, chemical peels, face lifts ...

Man, there’s so much cosmetic surgery going on that it leaves me more confused than a breast-feeding baby in a strip bar. I understand people’s need for going under the knife for medical reasons, like reconstructive surgery, but the nutty obsession we’ve developed for ‘little touch-ups’ is beyond me. You only have to turn on the telly or open a magazine to cop an eyeful of cosmetic artistry. There’s Tracy Grimshaw’s new lips, Shane Warne’s new head (which admittedly has provided us with the new Aussie saying “Tighter than Warnie’s new face”) and Sonia Kruger’s had more work done than any of those rooms on The Block.

I fell into the surgery trap a while back and loaned a buddy 10 grand to get some “work” done. Now I don’t know what he looks like and I’ll never get my money back! Cosmetic enhancement is rife in our suburbs and it’s raising quite a few eyebrows among the neighbours, literally! I don’t really know enough about plastic surgery to pass too much judgement but I figure it’s time to stop when you look permanently surprised. I’d love to change a few of my own bits and pieces here and there, maybe get a better looking scone, but these guys are surgeons not miracle workers, right?

I saw some of the American version of The Voice last week and Mariah Carey’s had her face lifted so often that when she raised her eyebrows her socks went up! Again, I get the reasons for medically approved surgery but this other stuff is crazier than Mel Gibson. Even the lap band surgery they do for obese dudes ... it’s putting an elastic band of sorts around your stomach.

Here’s a novel idea, why not put an elastic band around the packet of chips and put them away?

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sami and todd

She says

L

ook, I figure plastic surgery is a very personal decision, and if you are not hurting anyone else then I say knock yourself out. Knock yourself out literally, with your double-F-sized enhanced chest if you so wish. I figure if you are not bullying others or inflicting pain upon anyone else then it is up to you to do what you want to your own body.

However, there are a few rules I believe in when it comes to cosmetic surgery.

The first rule is about ink. Yes kids, just be in your 30’s before you ink it up.

Trust me on this one. There is already a book called No Tattoos Before You’re Thirty. It’s a boring but good rule. Tattoo rue is rife in my circle of friends.

Tattoo rue is when you regret a certain tattoo on your body. There is Gina, who was obsessed with Jim Beam in her early 20’s. Gina had ‘JB Forever’ tattooed on her back. Turns out now Gina is more of a Moet type of girl. Big mistake.

Then there is Erin. Erin had ‘I love Jim’ written permanently behind her ear. Now Erin loves Jemima. Awkward. The second rule of cosmetic surgery is this: know when to stop. Paul Hogan is a great example of the rule that sometimes less is more. Paul has gone too far. His face is like a crocodile hide that has been stretched to make a smooth Birkin bag. But instead he just looks like a startled drag queen. Yes people, you can overdose on Botox, facelifts, eye-tucks and lip enhancements. And the third and last rule of surgery is to pay the extra money to get quality work done. It is fine to go to Aldi on a Wednesday and pick up the crazy specials. Go for it and save your money on the weekly food shop. But do not head to Thailand where you get a free facelift with every dozen sarongs you purchase. A botched boob job is pretty horrific. Just ask Tori Spelling. You know the ‘actress’ who has that strange kind of chasm between her breasts? You do not want to ask for the rack rate when it comes to getting yourself abreast in life.

profilemag.com.au

• • •

N OW O P E N O N HASTINGS STREET

Peter Kuruvita, acclaimed chef and restaurateur has brought his renowned passion for creative modern dishes, imaginative menus and sumptuous seafood to the heart of Hastings Street.

Now open seven days.

Visit peterkuruvita.com

june 2013

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For information contact Noosa Beach House Peter Kuruvita 14-16 Hastings Street, Noosa Heads T +61 7 5449 4754 E noosabeachhouse@sheraton.com

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photography chesterton smith photography

ll styling ingrid nelson and johanna jensen Fashion is synonymous with luxury, and Coastline BMW is proud to present the ‘Driving Style’ campaign in support of our very own thriving fashion industry. The Sunshine Coast plays host to a plethora of talent, with fashion designers leading the way and making their mark on the world stage. This month we meet talented young designer Elizabeth Josic.

Working alongside mother Evelyn and sister Priscilla, this talented trio are at the helm of Elizabeth’s Bridal Palace, Coolum Beach. Having always had a passion for design, this creative 16-year-old has big dreams for the future.

MEET ELIZABETH profile: Have you always wanted to be a designer? elizabeth: As a child I would change my outfits many times throughout the day. I always loved different fashion and dreamed of being a designer one day. profile: Tell us a little about your background? elizabeth: I am 16 years old and was born on the Sunshine Coast. As I was going through school I always had a strong passion for design and finally made the decision to follow my dreams. I am currently working at Elizabeth’s Bridal Palace. profile: describe your style? elizabeth: I visualise a concept, I mix it with art, different material, textures and eras. My creations are a fusion of all different elements. profile: what training have you had? elizabeth: I am currently studying for a Certificate Three in Fashion and Technology.

I have also completed dress making and pattern making training with a fashion designer from the UK.

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profile: What is your inspiration? elizabeth: My inspiration comes from early French fashion fused with contemporary designs. profile: Who are your greatest influences? elizabeth: My greatest influences are my grandmother, Coco Chanel, Michael Jackson and Vivienne Westwood. They are all different in their own way and style, yet very admirable. profile: What are you plans for the future? elizabeth: To create and brand my own label globally. I am currently putting it all together and hope to have it manufactured in the very near future. profile: Who does your range appeal to? elizabeth: My clothing range appeals to younger women who want to be daring and different. profilemag.com.au

Coastline BMW

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The Ultimate Driving Machine

CoastlineLogo.indd 1

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The BMW 7 series. Setting Benchmarks.

Combined fuel consumption: 9.9l / 100km Acceleration 0-100kms: 5.9 sec Designer and model Elizabeth Josic wears her own design. Eleanor Dress with satin underneath 1940s after war lace.

Shot on location at Flaxton Gardens. *Car featured is a BMW 740i M Sport Sedan and has drive away price of $245,633.

june 2013

The BMW 7 Series Range starts from $217,872.

Test drive today at Coastline BMW, 770 Nicklin Way, Currimundi Phone 5491 9100. www.coastlinebmw.com.au

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people

It really made Cheryl and I think, and we realised that there was in fact a lot more we could do to help those who needed it.�

words jessica jane sammut ll photography chesterton smith photography

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doctor michael ryan profilemag.com.au

people

Doctor Michael Ryan is a doctor with a heart who not only dotes on his local community, but also reaches out further afield to help those who don’t have the ability to speak out for themselves, as Jessica Jane Sammut uncovers.

Y

ou can see why Michael Ryan is a doctor: his warmth, his charm, his natural bedside manner, his genuine, altruistic desire to help others. Michael has a unique ability to make those he comes into contact with feel like everything is going to be okay (and that there is always room for a smile), and so it is little wonder he is a sought-after and well-loved GP here on the Coast, called upon time-and-time again by his loyal patients at his award-winning general practice, Medicine on Second in Maroochydore.

But it is not only his immediate community that is lucky enough to benefit from Michael’s jovial yet gentle nature, for this man is not content with helping only those on his doorstep. Michael’s passion for positive intervention also extends overseas in a tireless mission to assist the helpless and needy in India through increased medical education and medical facilities.

Born in Bundaberg, Michael always knew he wanted to be a doctor.

“I can’t remember ever wanting to be anything else,” Michael glows. “I loved sport and represented the state in athletics when I was young, moving on to play rugby union in my later teen years, and the notion of being part of a team and working towards a common goal really resonated with me. Medicine is very much like that. You work collaboratively with colleagues and patients to make a real difference to peoples’ lives.”

One of nine children no-less, Michael set his mind to his goal and at age 18 found himself heading off to the University of Queensland to study medicine, graduating in 1988. After completing his training in Brisbane and clocking up some experience, Michael moved to the Sunshine Coast to set up a general practice in 1991. Never could he have predicted how successful it would be.

“I gravitated towards the Coast for the lifestyle and saw great opportunity to open a general practice. In this way, the Ryan Plaza Medical Centre was born in Ocean Street, Maroochydore. My goal was to have it operate as a group practice, but other than that I really just hoped that it would do well. I had no idea it would thrive as it did! We soon needed to expand, so in 1995 we moved premises and combined practices with another, changing our name to Plaza Central Medical Practice. Within 10 years my current partner of the practice, Dr Roger Morris, had come on board and we had grown further, so we relocated again to a site with 10 consulting rooms on Second Avenue, which is where we are now. At one time there were 16 doctors working at the practice!

“In 2007 we won the coveted Queensland General Practice of the Year Award,

LIM

ITE

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handed out by The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. I was thrilled. I felt I was making a difference.”

However, when Michael’s daughter, Maggie, questioned why she couldn’t do more to help the needy overseas, Michael was brought back down to earth with a thump.

“My wife, Cheryl, and I were having a chat with Maggie, who was five, about those less fortunate than herself and we asked her if she would like to sponsor a child in a developing country. We thought we were being good parents with regard to talking to her about this and doing our bit to help.

“However, instead of being content with our suggestion, she looked forlorn and asked us why she could only sponsor one child. She wanted to know what she could do to help more children. It really made Cheryl and I think, and we realised that there was, in fact, a lot more we could do to help those who needed it.”

In this way, Maggie’s Dream Catcher (www.maggiesdreamcatcher.org. au) was born, a charity specifically set up to support a much-needed health facility in Dharamsala in Northern India, with every cent raised going towards the purchasing of medical equipment or the education of medical staff for the hospital.

“It is a good feeling to be doing what we can,” Michael explains. “We have raised a great deal of money through fundraisers such as charity balls and auctions, and it is incredible how generous people have been. We also send equipment to the facility, even medical textbooks.

“It is the simple things these people need. It’s not the latest neurosurgery appliance they require, but clean medical tools, a hygienic environment, fresh water, medical education. We are currently looking at how to implement a comprehensive health planning system.”

In talking to Michael, I can sense how genuinely passionate he is about this cause. It isn’t a front, or born of a desire for self-glorification; in fact, quite the contrary. Michael is shy in talking about it, playing it down as I question him, and laughing modestly when I express praise for such a worthy venture.

A blessed character who rarely encounters poverty or hardship in his life, it would have been easy for Dr Ryan to turn his back on the ‘real’ world, remaining in his privileged bubble, travelling and enjoying fine wines (as he does), rubbing shoulders with the who’s who of Australia (as he does), and basking in the beauty of the Sunshine Coast (as we all do). But Michael decided instead that making a difference was more important than this, not to just have an impact on something immediately in front of him, but to make possible a project to change the lives of those he would never know.

It is clear that this man is one of those vital cogs in the wheel of change; a natural link which unites many – the stitching in a net, if you like. And what a safety net it is.

As I said, you can see why Michael Ryan is a doctor: his warmth, his charm, his natural bedside manner, his genuine altruistic desire to help others. But most importantly? Dr Ryan’s greatest attribute has to be his ability to set an example to the rest of us. And it is this which makes him truly special.

S EAT S D

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view

words anna rawlings ll photography chesterton smith photography

The world of nutrition and dietetics can be a difficult nut to crack. Until you meet Sally-Anne Livock, who proves the business is in the basics. Anna Rawlings sits down with Sally-Anne to find out if we really are what we eat. sally-anne livock

D

iet. That one word has most of us imagining the dreaded task of counting calories, obsessing over supermarket labels, and eyeing off other people’s food enviously as we tuck into a bowl of lettuce.

Luckily, this isn’t the best way to achieve health and wellness. Sunshine Coast dietician and nutritionist Sally-Anne Livock is a passionate advocate about how we can achieve health in the long-term, without the rigours of a (“shudder”) diet.

“I see myself as a coach – I am here to create individual programs for my clients’ needs and lifestyles to ensure they can reach optimum health,” she shares. “My approach is to be realistic, a lot of it is the commitment to the process of being healthy – it’s not a painful, short-term fix.”

As the newest member of the faculty at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Sally is settling into her first semester as manager of Nutrition Clinic for the School of Health and Sports Sciences, and is passionate about sharing

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her experience with the students who will carry on her message.

“I love working in private practice, but I found I really enjoyed mentoring the students who came to undertake work experience with me, so when the position at the university came up I was thrilled to apply,” Sally says of the move to split her time between the university campus and her five clinics on the Sunshine Coast. “I get to have involvement with the students on many different levels, and the faculty here is such a great team – I love working with them and the students!”

Having a solid team surrounding her is something Sally treasures, and she counts her blessings that she can have complete trust in her “amazing” team of dieticians and secretaries at her private clinics, to allow her to step away and explore this new opportunity.

Sally is revelling in the diversity of her current working life, and from the get-go it’s clear she made the right career choice. “It’s incredibly rewarding,” she reveals.

profilemag.com.au

“I was always interested in health and wellbeing and grew up in a sporty family. Dad was an avid sportsman, the boys were always off to football, and we girls were playing netball. And Mum was a great cook, using a lot of Mediterranean influences, which sparked my interest in food.”

From that small spark a serious passion in studying the benefits of food and eating well fired up, and Sally commenced studies in Victoria before a stint working at the Alfred Hospital. “It was very clinical, so the switch to the more community-minded feel of private practice was a welcomed change.”

Inevitably for someone who lives and breathes health, the natural beach lifestyle of Queensland beckoned and Sally relocated to the Sunshine Coast in 1986, establishing her first clinic, Sunshine Coast Dietetics.

She also pursued various opportunities, including the role of consultant dietitian at the Hyatt Regency Coolum, founding dietitian of the Diabetes Centre at Caloundra Hospital, consultant clinical dietitian for private hospitals on the Sunshine Coast, member of bariatric surgical teams on the Sunshine Coast, member of the Eating Disorders Professional Group, and founding director of Diabetes Complete Care.

With specialist knowledge in bariatric surgery, eating disorders, bowel issues, diabetes and long-term weight management, she is aiming to break the stigma of her title. “When people see ‘dietician’, they immediately think ‘diet’, and associate it with those short-term fixes that just aren’t sustainable,” Sally explains.

Instead, Sally, whose clients can range from those suffering eating disorders or newly diagnosed diabetics, to someone just wanting to improve their general health, aims to promote a long-term wellness approach to food. “When people come to see me, I assess them and I guide them, we plan what will work for them. I encourage them to exercise – it could be a walk every afternoon – and I encourage them to eat simple, unprocessed food to nourish their body.”

She identifies three key areas that are essential. “Exercise, food and the mind – it is a synergistic effect.”

Sally herself is toned and glowing, her life clearly reflects her art – she is focused on keeping her body healthy with buying, cooking and eating fresh, local produce, exercising with yoga and beach walks, and keeping her mind refreshed with downtime with her equally healthy family. “We have great family holidays, always very outdoorsy, and are very supportive of each other,” she says of her family, husband Evan and teenage daughters Chloe and Romy. She laughs, “People come around and say, ‘Your whole family is slim and healthy, even your dog!’”

She credits Evan’s support for allowing her to grow in her career, including attending Australia-wide conferences to stay on top of the ever-changing nutrition industry. “I count myself so lucky to have Evan, as he works for himself he has always stepped in to help out with the girls or at home if I have work commitments.”

The biggest barrier Sally and her clients encounter is perhaps the most obvious, and she finishes off our interview with some invaluable advice.

“People don’t realise how healthy they can be. They think they feel fine now, but they don’t know how it feels to be healthy and happy in both mind and body. Once they realise, that’s what motivates the change.”

june 2013

• • • • •

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success

words jessica jane sammut ll photography chesterton smith photography

dr James Torrance

James Torrance is a hero, is every sense of the word, saving lives every day. A power pack of brains, brawn and balls, James is the ultimate triple threat, as Jessica Jane Sammut discovers.

D

octor James Torrance is a real-life medical superhero. He flies and he cures. He might not have a cape, but he does have the pearly white grin. James truly has to be one of the most accomplished people I have met and when you hear such a calibre of person confirm that the Sunshine Coast is indeed the best place on earth, you find yourself loving him even more. We all know this, of course, but it is always nice to hear it again, especially from a man who has lived on nearly every continent in the world, literally.

Born in Windhoek, Namibia, James was an A-grade student, blitzing medicine at university and combining his love of science with his passion for adventure by entering into the military, serving as a medical officer in

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the highly pressured emergency arena, all the while quenching his thirst for excitement by learning to fly planes. As a result, James found himself in the special forces, flying all over the world on highly-skilled, top secret missions, which included a year living in Antarctica and six years in the US, among other projects.

Running through James’s work history is like reading a James Bond novel – fascinating roles, one after the other, each more prestigious than the last, with James conquering promotion after promotion and ultimately moving from planes to boats as he changed roles to cruise around the world on commercial liners as a medico living the high life.

But it was flying that was his ultimate hobby, and his love of medicine profilemag.com.au

I spent three and half years with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and in those years Maudie and I completely fell for Australia and began to think long-term about having a future here.” which drove him, so when James stumbled upon the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Australia, offering the perfect combination of his two most favourite things (in conjunction with the lifestyle of sunny Australia that he had heard so much about), he couldn’t help but apply for a position.

And of course, he got it. Within several months of getting the thumbs up, James found himself with visa in hand, winging his way to Queensland with his wife, Maudie, to forge a new life and to become an important part of the iconic and crucial Royal Flying Doctor Service. He was the first in his family to become a medic and the first to leave his continent – a pioneer in every sense.

Based in Rockhampton, James soared in more ways than one, dealing with aero-medical intensive care transfers, and falling more in love with the Australian way of life each day that he left his bed to save lives.

“I spent three and half years with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and in those years Maudie and I completely fell for Australia and began to think long-term about having a future here. When we considered where we would ultimately love to base ourselves, there was no where that topped the Sunshine Coast – its beauty, its position, its lifestyle. So we made the move in 2012 and have never looked back.”

And it was on the Sunshine Coast that James’s next venture became a reality when he teamed up with fellow medic Morne Terbalnche, director of anaesthetics at Nambour Hospital, and Black Cat QLD, to start Queensland Regional Connect (www.qrcaviation.com.au), providing charter and scenic flights out of the Sunshine Coast as part of a passionate tourist drive to promote the area, as well as delivering Angel Flights for non-hospitalised patients who required transport to attend outpatient appointments. All this while also holding down a full-time job as a senior medic at Caloundra Emergency Room. Pushing the boundaries?

That’s James.

“Australia truly is the land of milk and honey and my wife and I couldn’t be happier to be here living the dream and promoting the incredible Sunshine Coast through our charter flights. We are now citizens, and our son, Jordan, is a true blue Aussie. He has such a bright future growing up in such a positive environment – a place of such opportunity.

“A Sensei in China once said to me, ‘You never make the wrong decision in life; the difficulty is living with the outcome’. This is a mantra I have lived by, always trying to push forward with confidence. I think we are all capable of great things if we do so. Time is short, we mustn’t waste it.”

One of the very few individuals in Australia qualified as an underground mine rescue doctor, as well as being a specialist in submarine and diving medicine and an expert in countless other incredible niche areas, James is one of those people who applies himself to a task and conquers it, moving on to challenge himself further in his next project.

He is a power pack of energy, a mass of brains, brawn and balls (can I say that? I think I just have) who thrives under pressure and can proudly say that there is nothing he has set his mind to that he hasn’t achieved.

And underneath all that success? Just as importantly, if not more, is a lovely, friendly, down-to-earth, polite and sweet man, who embraces all walks of life and drinks in the Sunshine Coast as if it were his last sip.

And who can blame him.

Now, where is my Louis Lane outfit …

june 2013

• • • • •

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ladies at lunch

me “My family call but I an urban hippie at the just like to look whole picture.�

Rhonda Billett Ladies at lunch is proudly sponsored by

WEALTHWAYS 2

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5

6

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VENUE Golden Beach Tavern

1. rebecca saunders 2. sandra wills 3. maree mcgrath 4. grain fed rib eye fillet with pumpkin puree and scotch quail egg 5. gath gardener 6. rhonda billet

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profilemag.com.au

ladies at lunch

words ingrid nelson ll photography tanya chesterton smith ll sponsored by boq maroochydore and wealthways ll venue golden beach tavern, caloundra

Once thought of as completely outlandish and reserved for ‘alternative’ types, Eastern medicine has come a long way in the past decade. In fact, many Western doctors now incorporate alternative therapies and Eastern medicine to complement traditional treatments. Ingrid Nelson caught up with a group of health-conscious women over lunch for their thoughts on the matter.

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all me old fashioned, but I am the first to admit that I am a traditional Western medicine kind of gal, so when Profile’s lovely Maree McGrath told me about the kinesiologist who can cure her ailments over the phone by tapping her fingers, I will admit I was sceptical (maybe my jaw hitting the table gave me away!). Then there’s my new-age sister-in-law who is a reiki master and whipping out of a box of homeopathic remedies for almost every ailment. And it seems they are not alone. I recently caught up with a gorgeous bunch of ladies over a delicious lunch at Almarcos Steakhouse restaurant at the newly-renovated Golden Beach Tavern to debate Eastern versus Western medicine and soon discovered I am in the minority when it comes to my preference for traditional treatments.

Co-hosting lunch was Sandra Wills, director of Wealthways, and joining us was photographer Tanya Chesterton Smith; Rhonda Billett, owner of Uptown Hair Studio, Nambour; Profile’s sales manager, Maree McGrath; Cath Gardener, owner and coach of Lazy Runner Sunshine Coast; and last but not least, Rebecca Saunders, clinical hypnotherapist and NLP master practitioner, Feel Good Therapeutic Centre. profile: Eastern or Western medicine ladies, what’s your preference? maree: I don’t actually go to a medical doctor at all. A kinesiologist is always my first point of call.

In fact, I will see a naturopath or chiropractor, basically everyone else, before I will go to a doctor. june 2013

cath: I see a naturopath and have also just started seeing a myo-therapist. I had a sore heel and one of my runners told me to go and see this lady and she is awesome. It’s like reiki massage and it’s amazing.

She has some great alternative remedies too. For example, she told me to wrap lectric washing powder (which you can get from Woolies) in glad wrap and put it where you are sore for 25 to 45 minutes. It goes from dry to wet and brings out all the inflammation. It works! I am definitely open to alternative. sandra: I am a huge fan of natural and alternative therapies but I am also a fan of Western medicine.

I think we should be really grateful for the access we have to medical technology. Eastern medicine is more about prevention than cure. If I found out I had cancer tomorrow I would be going straight to Western medicine. I am lucky, I haven’t been to a doctor in a decade. I will do everything to avoid it.

I think a lot of it is to do with stress management and diet and managing your life properly. rebecca: I knocked Western medicine for many years to be honest, and I have gone down the Eastern route for years. I have done it all. However, having struggled with a chronic illness for several years I was grateful to find a medical doctor on the Coast who embraced Eastern medicine. He looked at the why and he supplemented his treatment with acupuncture and naturopathy. I think that is the key. rhonda: I think there is a lot we don’t know about human biology in general. I am going down the alternative path as well because it works. tanya: We rely a bit more on Western medicine. I

hurt my back and went to see a chiropractor but it wasn’t getting better so I went to see my GP who told me I had a slipped disc. I had to go through physio and it was a long recovery. I have been scared to go back. I love the idea of a naturopath and would love to find a good one. Thankfully, we don’t tend to need doctors too much in our family. profile: Can you give us some examples of how Eastern or alternative medicine has worked when traditional Western medicine failed you? cath: My little boy had reflux when he was three months old and he screamed for weeks. This lady came up to me one day in the supermarket and told me to see a chiropractor. I was so bad I was having a wine at midday every day to get by, so I was willing to try anything. I did take him and within one month my child was fine! I am an advocate. maree: My favourite kinesiologist just uses her fingers and she doesn’t even have to see me, she does it over the phone! I ring her and tell what is happening and she tells me how to fix it. I had a rash on my neck and it wasn’t going away, she told me it was due to a fear of loss to do with my dad.

She made me aware of what it was and within days it was gone! My son, Josh, had a few warts on his chest which she told me were caused from negative feelings I had about myself and within a couple of weeks they were gone. I could tell you lots more stories too. cath: I ran into a girl the other day while running.

She does massage and naturopathy. We got chatting and I told her about my heel and she told me it had to do with my hormones being out of whack. Previously I would have been completely

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ladies at lunch

“I will see a naturopath or sically chiropractor, ba fore I everyone else be tor.” will go to a doc Maree McGrath sceptical but now I am open to everything! rhonda: I was hit by a car at 19 and at the time I thought I was fine. Ten years down the track, almost to the day, I woke up with horrific back pain and went to the doctor who told me I was going to need an operation. I went limping past my salon and the acupuncturist at the back of my hair studio saw me and said, “I can fix that”. I was very sceptical and petrified of needles but she promised me she believed in it so much she would guarantee it. It worked!

After three weeks I was back at work, no op required. I now also see a chiropractor and he guides me with my diet and nutrition to help the body work the best it can. rebecca: I work with a lady who works with energy and what has come down through your family line. In my rational mind, I think it’s a bit nuts but when I have seen her the shifts that I have are real and although I can’t rationally understand it I know it works. profile: Why do you think you have gone down the path you have? maree: I think I am open minded about stuff.

So someone will plant a seed and I will check it out. rhonda: I can’t believe how naive and uneducated I was. It was only by chance I discovered alternative therapies and now I am definitely converted. It’s a matter of dabbling and finding out what works best for you. sandra: Sometimes you have to dabble into quite a few therapies to find out what suits you best. It can take a while to find the right one. rebecca: I am a great proponent for taking responsibility for your own health and well-being. It’s about being in tune with yourself, and your mind and your body can tell you a lot. When your body has illness it’s your mind communicating with you. You can

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sandra, maree, ingrid, rhonda, cath and rebecca

have a multi-pronged approach. If life was as rational as scientists would have us believe we would have a lot more worked out by now. I use emotional freedom techniques - you don’t need to see a doctor for a cold. It’s your bodies way to tell you need to relax. rhonda: My brother calls me an urban hippie but I just like to look at the big picture. profile: What about immunisation? rhonda: I think the odds are so small of something happening with immunisation, it outweighs the risk of not being immunised.

But so many people today are choosing to not immunise their children. It’s a hard choice, but if I had children I would have them immunised. maree: I had my son immunised, no question. sandra: Yes I did also. When you see children overseas dying from diseases that don’t exist in this country it’s testament that immunisation works.

So there you have it, while the lunching ladies agreed wholeheartedly that Western medicine will certainly always have it’s place, the general consensus was that Eastern medicine is certainly a more holistic approach to health and well-being – prevention rather than cure.

I was intrigued to hear so many success stories with Eastern and alternative therapies.

Who knows, I might just consider swapping the antibiotics for some reiki or acupuncture next time? If these ladies have taught me anything it’s the importance of keeping an open mind when it comes to healing the mind and body. One this is certain though, we have only just scratched the surface when it comes to discovering the human body and what it is capable of.

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GOLDEN BEACH TAVERN

I’ve been hearing a great deal about the multimillion dollar revamp of the Golden Beach Tavern at Caloundra of late, and after my recent lunch time visit I now know what all the fuss is about.

‘Wow’ was my first impression on arrival. The tasteful refurbishment has transformed the hotel into a state-of-the-art facility. Whether it’s a special celebratory meal, business meeting, coffee with friends, a drink in the sports bar or a quick snack, they have it covered.

Or if you don’t have time to stop and dine, I have been told from a reliable source that their wood-fired pizzas are the best in town.

On the day of our lunch at Almarco’s Steakhouse, the staff could not have been more friendly and attentive and the meals were second-to-none.

We kicked off with toasted flat bread and a selection of delicious dips, the perfect start to our meals. The menu is varied and delicious, and as the restaurant’s namesake suggests, the emphasis is on mouthwatering steaks. Yum! Despite the array of choices on offer, the lunching ladies decided on either the duck or the snapper, both of which were cooked to perfection and meltin-your-mouth delicious.

The desserts are to-die-for and their menu features all the favourites, including red wine poached pears, sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice cream, and chocolate pudding.

Kids are catered for too, with a range of good value, child-friendly staples.

Do yourself a favour and pop in, you won’t be disappointed.

32 Bowman Rd, Caloundra Phone 5492 8300 www.gbt.com.au

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The best time to plant a tree was 20 “years ago, the second best time is now.”

june 2013

- Old Chinese Proverb

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cover story

I’m happy as.

The Sunny Coast is heaven. My husband gets to surf every week and I get to do a leadership role from Australia. You can’t get better than that.”

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On cover, Monica wears “Lylah” Dress in emerald range by Sasha Drake, RRP $499 from Elegant Affair, Nambour, phone 5476 3923.

Hair by Strut Hair and Beauty, Maroochydore (www.struthair. com.au, Makeup by KJ Artistry (www.kjartistry.com). Photography

by Chesterton Smith Photography.

Shot on location at Oceans Luxury Apartments Mooloolaba. profilemag.com.au

cover story

MONICA TRUJILLO

a woman of substance

words ingrid nelson ll photography chesterton smith photgraphy ll styling ingrid nelson ll hair strut hair and beauty ll makeup kj artistry

Sometimes in life you meet someone who makes you proud to be a woman. Someone who has broken through the ‘glass ceiling’ and is at the very top of her game in what is traditionally a male arena, without sacrificing her femininity. Dr Monica Trujillo is one such woman. Ingrid Nelson chats with the successful local doctor and discovers how she has reached the pinnacle of her career.

I

ncredibly smart, successful, classy, funny, not to mention drop-dead gorgeous, Dr Monica Trujillo (regional director of Medical Services at Sunshine Coast Private Hospital and St Stephens Hospital, Maryborough and Hervey Bay, and chief medical information officer for UnitingCare Health) is one of those women you can’t help but look up to and admire as a role model for all the right reasons. Not only is she a talented physician, but the mother of two can now add the title of first chief medical information officer in Australia to her impressive resume.

Thanks to her background and technological expertise, she will be responsible for bridging the gap between doctors and computer technicians to bring the medical world into the 21st century, and be a pioneer for cutting-edge computer technology, guiding hospitals towards a digital, paperless future.

You might assume an esteemed doctor of such caliber might be somewhat intimidating, yet Dr Trujillo is anything but. On the day of our interview, despite my nerves about interviewing such an intelligent woman, I am put instantly at ease by Monica’s warm and down-to-earth demeanor.

Born in Colombia, the youngest of three, Monica was raised as part of a large, loud, extended Latin American family. Surrounded by cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents, she describes her childhood as “idyllic”. The daughter of an engineer and university professor father and psychologist mother, Monica’s siblings are also highly academic. Her sister is an engineer, as is her brother. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in the Trujillo family.

I ask Monica if her academic ability is something she believes was simply in her genes.

“It’s an interesting story really,” she tells me. “My mum was always the brightest in her family, and although my grandfather was a lovely man, her upbringing was male focused. She was taken out of school to support her brothers through university. It was boys served first. She worked in admin while we were young but she always wanted more and it wasn’t until my father encouraged her to go back to night school and apply for university that she finally took the plunge.”

Not only did Monica’s mother complete her degree, she was awarded the University Medal for Excellence.

“It was such a beautiful story. She won the medal and it was my father who pinned it on her as he had been the Chancellor of the University.”

Not surprisingly, being raised in an academic family, Monica was encouraged to dream big and reach her full potential.

“I have never been made to feel less as a woman because of the way I was brought up, we always had a very democratic family,” says Monica. “Growing june 2013

up in an academic family, I was brought up to believe I could do whatever I wanted to do. I was raised to believe I could make a difference.”

Despite hailing from a family of engineers, Monica was drawn towards a love of medicine from as early as her school years.

“I always loved human sciences and biology at school, but as I got further along I realised that I liked plants less and less and more the human body.

“When I first saw the cells from a drop of blood under the microscope it was an incredible revelation and I knew it was what I wanted to do. I love systems and maths but the human body is so amazing and interesting to me and that is how I got into medicine.”

It was while studying medicine at university in Colombia that Monica first discovered her love of systems and training and her passion to make them work better for the good of the community. Little did she know it was to be the beginning of long and successful career and would ultimately lead her to her current high-profile leadership role in Australia.

“The curriculum was focused on high-end, scientific medicine. I came from a developing country and felt it just wasn’t tailored to our community.

So a group of us decided we were going to change the medical curriculum.

We got a grant and funding and did just that. We wanted to focus on what the community needed at the time. As medical students we went to schools to teach basic care in the old, deprived areas, give vaccinations etc. That was 1995 and that system we put in place remains there today.

“It made me realise that a group of likeminded people can change things and that everyone can change their world if they want to.”

So why did she make the move to Australia, I ask?

“Would you believe my best friend at school was from Australia and her parents now live in Buderim! I always wanted to go to Australia so my parents begged and borrowed to send me to do a student elective at the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

It was during her eight-week placement at what was the old Lady Ramsay Wing of the hospital that Monica met the love of her life and now husband, child and adolescent psychiatrist, Elliot.

“I walked into theatre the first day of my placement and this guy in scrubs ran at me and said, ‘Who are you?’, and I said, ‘Who are you?’, and he ran off! Then I said to my girlfriend, ‘Who is that, he is kind of cute?’ He was a medical student who had been placed with the same team as me.”

Seven weeks later the couple were engaged.

“I said to my friend, ‘This is the man I want to marry! I was 24 and he was just 22. We were on the Kuranda Rail in Cairns and he asked me to marry profilemagazine

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Monica (left) wears “Majorca” Maxi Dress in cobalt stripe

by Sasha Drake, RRP $459 and (right) “The Nelson” Dress by George in black, RRP $409 from Elegant Affair. Accessories also available from Elegant Affair, Nambour

him and I said yes. It was so romantic.”

After returning home to Colombia and completing her studies, Monica returned immediately to Australia to be married.

“My parents couldn’t believe I made such a bold move. I literally got my degree on a Friday and was on a plane to Australia that Sunday to be with him. But although in many ways we were born in different worlds, we had such a similar upbringing. Except for the dancing. When Elliot’s family came to my hometown they couldn’t believe we were up dancing salsa till the early hours of the morning. They couldn’t believe they were going to bed when we were just starting to party!”

The couple’s first son, Gabriel, was born in 2003. It was a life-changing experience and the catalyst for Monica to re-evaluate her work / life balance, and a move to a training post at Townsville Hospital followed.

“I realised I wanted more – I wanted to be able to make a difference and something fired up and brought me back to my time as a medical student at university. This lovely training post for medical administration came up in Townsville and we thought, ‘Let’s give it a try’ and nine years later we were still there. I loved the regional posting, it brought me back to that community feel. It was back to what I knew and loved.”

Monica and Elliot were blessed with a second son, Sebastian, now six, in 2007, and after taking their boys on a sojourn around the world, stopping in Dublin where Elliot worked for eight months, Monica returned to Australia, sat her exams, and in 2009 received her Fellowship.

Monica tells me the ratio of male and female graduating doctors is roughly even, however, this is not the case when it comes to a specialist degree.

“The more you get into doctor leadership positions there are less and less

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Monicas latest addition to her shoe collection

women. My passion is women in leadership positions and being accepted as a woman in today’s world. That’s why I like to be bright and wear my dresses to still be seen as feminine.”

“In my position in Townsville I would often chair meetings where I would be the only female in a room full of males, and I thought, ‘No I still want to be glamorous and feminine.

“I believe you can still be powerful and be a woman and wear your dresses, jewellery and beautiful shoes. Why can’t we have it all?”

Speaking of shoes, Monica is a self-confessed shoe addict and excitedly shows off her latest pair of Jimmy Choos during our photo shoot. Not jealous at all!

“My shoe fetish began when I was born,” she says. “The tooth fairy brought me shoes instead of money. I still remember vividly they were plastic disco shoes that had lights on them.”

Not one to reveal the number of shoes she has acquired over the years, Monica simply says, “You can never have enough shoes. I have boxes of them everywhere and my husband and sons know when boxes arrive in the mail it’s more shoes,” she laughs.

It was while working in Townsville that Monica was offered the position with UnitingCare Health at Hervey Bay Hospital to develop and head the first paperless and digital hospital in Australia. It couldn’t have been a better fit.

I have always loved technology so this was a match made in heaven,” she laughs. “My family tease me and say, ‘We always knew you would cross over to the dark side’.”

“Dad’s first big computer was my playground as a child. It was one of the early ones with the punch cards. I was brought up with it. I think healthcare

profilemag.com.au

cover story

My passion is women in leadership positions and being accepted as a woman in today’s world. That’s why I like to be bright and wear my dresses to still be seen as feminine.”

dr monica trujillo

is too important to stay the same. Every other industry has taken technology and made it work for them and healthcare has lagged in this area.

“The digital program at Hervey Bay Hospital is designed from a model they took from the States. There has always been a big divide gap between the IT guys and the clinicians because they speak different languages.

“They needed a chief medical information officer who could speak both languages - that’s me. I provide the translation between both. I am the bridge to make it work and I am so proud to be a female in this role because it’s traditionally a male.”

Monica tells me the hospital will open its doors in September 2014 and will set the standard for all hospitals to eventually follow suit towards a paperless system.

“It’s very exciting. We will open paperless, so when a doctor goes on their rounds they will take a device such as an iPad or mobile computer and do their orders on an electronic medical form. It will all be linked to the patient.

They will have a little bar code on their wrist that will tell us if they have any allergies and such and it will decrease medication errors big time. Everything is documented to reduce errors. The machine that takes blood pressure is also connected so I have all the info at my fingertips. It is cutting edge.

“What we are doing is a transformation of health care and I am the lead to get them to design the front end of the system so it’s user friendly, so whatever is decided is by the doctors and nurses who will use it.

“The techie guys can say, ‘Here use this’ but often they don’t understand how we work. So I can then say, ‘No it could be better this way or that way’.”

So how does Monica manage the work / family balance in such a high profile and demanding role?

june 2013

“My husband works two days per week and I have Mondays off which is my day with children to do reading groups at school and such, and I have them in the afternoon. It’s like a dose of my children and I am there for them for the day. Elliot has the kids the rest of the week, he is the one who keeps it all running and gets to go out for coffee!

“When people ask him how he can manage to surf during the week, he jokes about it, he says, ‘I send my wife to work!’

“When he went part-time, at first he was worried that he wouldn’t have enough to do! I assured him he would have plenty to do. He has never gone full-time again. It was different for a man to go part-time back then and there was no paternity leave. We have brought up the kids to believe in the same values.

“I asked my six-year-old what he wanted to do when he grew up and he said, ‘A stay at home dad!’ Isn’t that lovely?”

I ask Monica if she ever imagined as a young student in Colombia that she would one day find her nirvana - the ideal position for her talents on the other side of the world?

“No, never but I’m happy as,” she says excitedly. “We live in Buderim. The Sunny Coast is heaven. My husband gets to surf every week and I get to do a leadership role from Australia, you can’t get better than that.”

“You have to compromise, my house is a mess at times but I don’t sweat the small stuff. My hubby is happy, my kids are happy, I’ve got a lot of shoes and there are more coming so I’m happy.”

Can’t argue with that now, can I?

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ll photography chesterton smith photograph

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In the driver’s seat: Wendy Miller A professional businesswoman and mother of three, Wendy Miller is a true local. With more than 13 years in business on the Coast, Wendy prides herself on her exceptional customer service and ability to make a difference in her job.

Most importantly, she also believes in having fun along the way! This month, Wendy shares her thoughts on the Volvo XC90.

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wendy test drives the volvo xc90

The Volvo Road Show graced Pacific Motor Group this month and out of the five available Volvos to take out on the road I chose the king of them all, the XC90 – D5 turbo-charged, executive model. Needless to say, I felt like an absolute queen in this luxurious, spacious, powerful and comfortable vehicle.

Year after year the XC90 is still the number one selling model in the Volvo range. Young and old, families and couples – there is no discrimination when it comes to who this car appeals to. Return customers are especially common with this particular vehicle, and that speaks volumes.

At Pacific Motor Group, Simone Cameron is the lady to meet if you want to know more about the range of Volvos. When Simone took me through the functions and features of the XC90, I was in absolute awe of her knowledge, understanding and obvious love of the Volvo range of vehicles. Simone told me more in our 20-minute orientation of the vehicle than what I may have discovered myself in two days.

It’s an absolute pleasure to become an advocate for the Volvo range and the vehicle consultants at Pacific Motor Group will show you why people who test drive a Volvo will buy one. I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the road in the XC90.

For the adventurers …

My first trip in the XC90 was to Mt Coolum National Park, right in the heart of our own backyard. While I didn’t take the car up the mountain, I was assured by Bryce Robinson at Pacific Motor Group that the XC90 is a completely capable 4WD SUV with superb off-road ability. Bryce tells me there are customers who kit-out the XC90 for touring Australia, and Simone went on to explain that some sit on the back tailgate (designed for this purpose) while throwing a fishing line into the river! However, I kept my review to the regular beaten track and after my own race to the

summit of Mt Coolum and back I found myself back in the driver’s seat being meticulously pampered by the ventilated massaging seats. Yes, I’m talking seriously cool air blowing on my back and two massage pressure options for my lumbar.

For the families …

As the XC90 is a seven-seat SUV, the demands of family dynamics have been considered, with obvious features installed to keep travel stress-free.

The second row of seating offers the option of all three seats at different positions. The integrated booster seat is again present in this Volvo for the smaller travellers. The most notable feature of the seating for me was that it has been designed to be adjusted with one hand at all times. Being a mum, it was invaluable to have the ability to hold my little one’s hand while easily tipping the passenger seat of the second row forward to allow access to the third row with my other hand, effortlessly and safely.

When safety matters ...

The words “Volvo” and “safe” are one and the same for me now. I was quite impressed to learn that all seven seats of the Volvo have been given a safety rating, with the third row of seating having its own airbag curtain that falls all the way around the rear of the vehicle from the left side, across the cargo area and to the right, creating a safe and protective barrier for the passengers, should the worst occur. This is a huge step forward for the safety of third row passengers.

My challenge to you …

Go on and experience a Volvo for yourself! Those who have been following my test driving and reviews for Pacific Motor Group are now always inquisitive and eager to learn more about these vehicles that have obviously lost the “boxy design” stigma.

VISIT PACIFIC VOLVO FOR A TEST DRIVE TODAY. 129 SUGAR ROAD MAROOCHYDORE. PHONE 1300 643 720. WWW.PACIFICMOTORGROUP.COM.AU

hinterland wedding expo

go local for the

perfect

wedding day

words christie lenz ll photography awpp studio

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here is an endless list of planning that goes into ensuring the day every couple has dreamed of is as perfect as they imagined, but perhaps the most important is the location.

The Hinterland is the heart of the Sunshine Coast, and offering views from Moreton Bay to Noosa, it is not hard to see why it is the location of choice for many brides-to-be.

Everything from the wedding celebrant to flowers, photographers and accommodation can be sourced locally and savvy brides are taking full advantage.

One person who is passionate about utilising local services is Georgina Thompson, owner of popular wedding venue Flaxton Gardens which will host this year’s Wedding Expo. “After outgrowing its previous venue in Montville, Flaxton Gardens will better showcase all the suppliers in one place,” Georgina says. “It draws a lot of businesses into the area and it’s great to showcase local suppliers.”

Georgina says Montville has such a great name so the expo is about putting the location on the map as well as touting that it is a fabulous wedding destination. Georgina believes a wedding is about the journey. At the end of the day, Georgina hopes that brides and grooms-to-be come away from the expo with ideas for their wedding arrangements, while at the same time showcasing the Hinterland and how it is possible to source all services locally.

While she can recommend suppliers for every aspect of the wedding, Georgina knows a thing or two about getting the basis right. “In our first year we had 15,000 guests, but that would not have been possible if we didn’t have places to recommend them to stay,” she explains.

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Georgina Thompson

People are looking at the whole package when planning their wedding and thinking about factors such as car parking for guests and if the venue has a wet weather plan, Georgina says. “The Hinterland is a romantic getaway and it’s so accessible as you can fly straight into the Sunshine Coast airport.

“The Hinterland has grown and there are a lot more venues than five or six years ago. We have seen businesses come and go and change hands, but the businesses are all run by the owners and you are getting a very personal experience. Diversity is the key – it keeps everyone honest and that is where the Range is going and needs to go.”

Georgina says she and husband, Alan, opened Flaxton Gardens for locals because it is such a “great and significant” property, and servicing the community was at the core of their business plan.

“People can come here and it is very real, they can come to the venue and taste the food every day. That is something we want to build upon, the fact that we are a restaurant. This means that couples are able to choose what meals they want on their special day, but we couldn’t do that if we weren’t open as a restaurant every day.

“We do everything here, we have the locations for the ceremony, two dining areas to choose from, the Vineyard Restaurant which seats 60, and the Winery which seats up to 150. We offer everything from accommodation to dinner, an in-house music system, highly professional venue and ducted air conditioning.

We have not increased the capacity but the quality of service we offer.”

Georgina certainly knows weddings - and guests, not just at Flaxton Gardens, but at this year’s expo, are definitely in good hands.

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too good to keep a secret a breath of fresh air with Lynne Fallon, Mystic Mountain Tours The Sunshine Coast Hinterland is being discovered by brides and grooms who are looking for unique qualities for their wedding day. There are diverse and interesting venues set in extraordinarily beautiful locations. Everything is catered for, from small intimate weddings to large gatherings set in spectacular places.

Boasting stunning ocean and mountain views, including the magical Glasshouse Mountains, Lake Baroon, beautiful vineyards, rainforest and lush green rolling hills, the Hinterland has it all. The bride and groom often extend their stay with family and friends to enjoy time with those who have travelled distances to be with them at this special time.

It becomes an opportunity to explore an area not only blessed with natural beauty but one that has quality restaurants and accommodation. Why not take time out to look around the interesting shops and markets, visit art galleries and taste locally produced gourmet delights.

Probably the best experience is the way the wedding service providers work together to give a complete package. A great opportunity to find what is just right for you, a beautiful venue, celebrant, florist, photographer, wedding cake, decorator, music, guest transfers. Businesses on the Coast work together as a professional team to make your day the best it can be.

Mystic Mountain Tours is based on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland and specialises in Wine Tours of South East Queensland and wedding transfers.

We offer a flexible, friendly and fun approach to our tours, which provide a relaxed and memorable experience. transfers@mysticmountaintours.com.au

George and Aldy Johnston, who have built and now manage Secrets on the Lake along with some amazing and passionate staff, now offer one of the most amazing wedding venues in their Secrets Garden and new Lake House set in magical, immaculate gardens and rockpools immediately overlooking Lake Baroon. Brides enjoy the services of their wedding planner, Susan Lyle, who seeks to tailor-make their event to their special requirements.

This new venture accesses a vast network of wedding service providers who are called upon to fulfill your unique requirements and create dream wedding experiences.

“It is delightful to see the wedding celebrants in action both before the day and for the magical ceremony that they provide, the stunning photographs, the breathtaking displays from the florists, and the blushing, beautiful brides,” says Aldi. Afterwards, Secrets invites bridal couples to meet with their wedding guests for a group breakfast or brunch in the Secrets Café on the deck.

Secrets philosophy is to constantly improve their facilities, with a focus on exceptional customer service and uncompromising attention to detail. Their vision is to share the beauty and magic with not only their guests but cafe visitors and passersby. It is the perfect venue for smaller and intimate-sized weddings.

Secrets on the Lake is a renowned boutique-style resort and cafe on the shore of Lake Baroon in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, providing exquisite honeymoon-style tree house accommodation which can be enjoyed by all bridal couples. Special Romance, Escape and Honeymoon packages have been thoughtfully designed to make the wedding experience as rich and memorable as possible. Beautiful meals at Secrets fine dining restaurant are also included in these packages. weddings@secretsonthelake.com.au

There is no doubt the most special part of your wedding day is the ceremony and the all important wedding vows and exchange of rings. A great ceremony only comes about with the close collaboration between the couple and the celebrant. We ask Montville / Maleny marriage celebrant Merlin Coughlan to share her top tips for a truly special wedding ceremony.

Choose a celebrant with whom you feel comfortable – sometimes you will meet with two or three before finding the right one. This is the person who will set the tone for your wedding day and you must be comfortable sharing some very personal thoughts with that person.

Be open and forthcoming with your celebrant – tell her the good, the funny and the challenging things you have encountered together and how you have managed them – it may not all be used, but it helps her to build up a picture of you as a couple. Your written responses to a questionnaire is a great way to gather information – and allows the celebrant to use your words and this means your guests will recognise you in your ceremony.

Don’t be afraid to ask your celebrant to rework, delete or add to parts of the ceremony that aren’t exactly right for you. You should have final approval of the ceremony – no surprises on the day. Invite one or two loved ones, who are confidant, to present a reading. Choose readings that mean something to you Write your own vows and keep them a secret from each other until you speak them at your ceremony. Your celebrant will help and guide you and offer you samples to give you ideas. Good vows come from the heart and are usually the legally required line plus two to four additional sentences – not too long, not too short. merlin@ceremoniesinmontville.com.au 30

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Images courtesy of AWPP Studio

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piece of jewellery can speak a thousand words. Life events can be symbolised by exquisite diamonds hand-crafted into timeless pieces that hold memories bound by love and joy, shaped by the skilled craftsmanship of jewellers.

At Underwoods Fine Jewellers Kawana, you can immortalise your own special moments in unique, custom-made pieces guided by a team of professionals that will tailor the process to suit your needs. The precision-cut, world-class diamonds and classical designs are painstakingly crafted in-store, and their passion for design and manufacturing brings clients back for the journey of creating their dream pieces, time and time again.

Offering the option of design and manufacturing in-store with cutting edge CAD technology that allows clients to be involved as their designs are carefully sketched and modelled, to traditional techniques for a hand-crafted design, or a seamless blend of the two techniques, the dedicated, skilled team works to provide an intimate experience with their clients.

Owned and operated by born and bred Sunshine Coast locals, high school sweethearts and husband and wife team Stuart and Angeline McLean, the store at Kawana Shopping Centre glitters with exquisite designs made using argyle, champagne and white diamonds, and their speciality, highly sought-after Argyle pink diamonds.

Stuart, director of diamonds and design, and Angeline, who oversees jewellery sales, accounts, marketing and stock control, have been in the Underwood Fine Jewellers business for more than 16 years, with two years on-site in their Kawana store. They are passionate and hands-on, both spending most days of the week in the store.

“We have a workshop in-store and 95 per cent of our work is done right here in the shop. Clients can see their precious pieces being worked on,” Stuart says of the care taken when designing and manufacturing, along with the highest quality repairs, remodelling and rejuvenation of existing pieces.

Stuart and Angeline have a long affiliation with the Sunshine Coast, with second and third generation family ties, and are proud to be locals, so clients can expect a private and intimate experience. “We love working one-on-one with our customers to find a piece that blows them away, and every client gives us the opportunity to create something unique and different,” says Stuart.

“We love being involved in the design process and connection of joy. We have a dynamic team who all love working with our clients to make their jewellery dreams a reality,” Stuart and Angeline share.

This dynamic team of seven includes talented designer jeweller Angela Dew, who completed her apprenticeship under a Polish master jeweller, and now brings her speciality tools of the trade - working one-on-one with clients who want to experience the traditional hand fabrication techniques when working on their 32

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designs. She brings a fresh approach to the workshop. “Angela’s work ethic and attention to detail makes her a stand out as a master craftswoman,” Stuart says.

Ready to assist clients with their purchases are Christine Farrell and Gosia Dawkins, with Karen Miller in design and sales, and the addition of Stuart and Angeline’s daughter, Emily, who works in-store.

All of Stuart’s diamonds are precision cut and conflict-free and are sourced from Australia and internationally from Belgium. The affiliation with the Belgium diamond market is integral to Underwoods Fine Jewellers Kawana and something that Stuart, a qualified diamond grader and gemmologist, takes great pride in.

Trained by the HRD in Belgium, giving him the qualification of DIP Diamond Grading HRD Antwerp, Stuart has a rare pathway into the world of diamond expertise making him sought-after in the industry and able to hand-select the highest quality diamonds for his clients.

“A key to our success is ensuring we continually deliver best product, best experience and best price,” Stuart says. “Whether it’s a birth, death, marriage, engagement or friendship, there is always a reason behind a special piece of jewellery, and we treat the design, manufacturing or restoration with the utmost respect.”

The experience of designing jewellery for a client doesn’t end with the sale at Underwoods Fine Jewellers Kawana. For Stuart and Angeline, a special moment is sharing in the experience surrounding the design. “We get to see the men who come in planning their proposal, designing with us the perfect engagement ring and then the excited new bride bringing her new ring in for us to see – often bringing us photos and video of the big day.”

The journey from a dream piece of jewellery to the immortalisation of the special moment will begin with Underwoods Fine Jewellers Kawana, a destination for quality product and hand-crafted exquisite, timeless pieces.

Visit the website at www.underwoodjewellers.com.au or visit their Facebook page - Underwoods Fine Jewellers Kawana.

Shop 366 Kawana Shopping World Buddina. Phone 54526774 profilemag.com.au

Discover your potential at Immanuel Lutheran College • Outstanding academic record • Unique life skills and outdoor education program at our Mt Binga campus • Extensive cocurricular opportunities • P-12 with separate Early Learning Centre • Small classes in a caring, Christian environment • A sense of community like no other At Immanuel, we don’t just prepare our students for exams, we prepare them for life. So contact us today, to discuss your child’s enrolment or to book a tour.

Immanuel Lutheran College 126-142 Wises Road Buderim, Queensland 4556 T: 07 5477 3441 E: dabineti@immanuel.qld.edu.au

www.immanuel.qld.edu.au

Weddings & Portraiture

WWW.CHESTERTONSMITH.COM by appointment Coolum Beach (07) 5471 7083 iphone 0439 717 083

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lthough it’s hard to calculate success, Peta Grenfell is one person whose numbers have fallen neatly into place. The outcome is a winning formula for this young business partner and mum.

Growing up on the northside of Brisbane with her parents and two sisters, Peta frequently made the drive to the sundrenched beaches and relaxed vibe of the Sunshine Coast on weekends, falling in love with the lifestyle. After finishing a Bachelor of Business in Accounting at Queensland University of Technology, and completing a stint at the Australian Taxation Office, it was a natural move to pursue brighter opportunities on the Coast.

If it were a calculated risk, it has certainly paid off. Peta joined PWA Financial Group in 2005 as an accountant, juggling her new role with a commute from Brisbane.

A permanent move to the Coast soon followed, and she worked her way through a succession plan. In the space of just two years, Peta was offered a partnership which, in 2007, she accepted.

She is now a vibrant, business-savvy powerhouse, as one of three partners at the Caloundra-based accounting and financial planning practice that, with a strong team of around 20 skilled accountants, bookkeepers, financial planners and client managers, assists clients with financial services, business, investment and retirement plans.

Assisting people on a regular basis, and as hands-on as Peta is, requires an equal sum of knowledge and worldly

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experience.

Luckily, Peta has both. During her earlier life, Peta, who was working in finance and had just completed her first foray into studying business after school, caught the travel bug and embarked on a journey that took her throughout the UK, Canada, the States and even Africa.

Unfortunately, overseas sojourns have been postponed for the moment, as Peta and her husband, Peter – “People find our names easy to remember”, she jokes – have their hands full with their two boys, Jack, three, and Sam, one.

“As much as becoming a partner at work was a career milestone, my real milestone was having my family,” Peta shares. “My parents live here now too, and we are very close.”

Having her parents nearby to help out with the boys also assists Peter to run his own company, and he does call on his talented wife to help out with the business books. “He is my most demanding client!” she laughs.

With her stellar record of client referrals ensuring she knows she is on the right track, Peta is poised to impart her knowledge on clients. “I eliminate the jargon and provide assistance to small business owners. The language of numbers makes sense to me, so I just pass it on.”

Peta is committed to the success of the company and her clients. “PWA Financial has been around for 30 years and I aim to keep on delivering. I find a good solution to a problem.”

Has she found the sum to success? You can count on it.

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arketing entrepreneur Bev Strickland has a very special talent. Along with a keen eye for niche marketing, she has the rare ability to see value in not only business, but most importantly, the value in people and in life.

Bev has been in the marketing game for years, with an impressive resume, university degrees and various courses under her belt, but she has also found time along the way to selflessly give back to her community.

She first realised the privileges of life after moving to Australia as a little girl from South Africa, one of eight siblings. Bev was motivated to help people where she could and make the most of opportunities.

The opportunities came along first, with Bev accepting a start in marketing at the age of just 19. She was offered the position of marketing manager at a busy shopping centre after her then boss, the original marketing manager, resigned. “I just fell into it and went with it,” she says. The next 15 years saw her embark on a high-flying career in the corporate world as she travelled around the country.

“This was a high point of my career,” Bev reflects. She stayed with the one company for more than a decade before deciding it was time to take a step back from the corporate world and branch out on her own.

“I prefer working from a home office as I have my son, and I want to be hands-on with my family,” she says of three-year-old son Yanni. “I saw how important it was to have a work / life balance.”

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In 2002, Strictlymarketing, her specialist marketing consultancy firm, was launched from her home office in Brisbane. Bev has a team of four professionals onboard that allow her company to provide their clients with marketing, PR and graphic design services.

With a strong client base, including Maroochydore Homemaker Centre, Strictlymarketing is going from strength to strength, but it hasn’t been an easy ride to the top. Bev had to steer her team through the GFC, but proved hard work wins out. “We ended up not only getting the company through the GFC, but growing it too – I learned that if you’re determined enough you can make it work in a tough market,” Bev explains. “You have to be flexible and go with the flow sometimes.”

Bev has also become an advocate for giving back to the community – she has worked in street vans and undertaken youth work and foster parenting for nearly 20 years. Alongside her marketing career, she found time to run a boy’s home in Redland Bay, teaching her 28 charges how to live independently and steer them on the path to a better future.

“I’m passionate about young people and so many people go without the bare basics,” she imparts.

And Bev is living proof of finding the value of opportunity and its rewards. “I have been blessed abundantly in my life and I want to give back. I think that if you give someone a helping hand it can give them the start in life they need.” profilemag.com.au

MAGAZINE FEATURE

imagine ...

WIN two tickets to our next Think Wealth 4 Women event.

The first 25 people to register will receive 2 FREE TICKETS valued at $49.95 each.

THINK WEALTH 4

To enter register for the event at thinkmoney.com.au or call 07 5430 4777.

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Call 07 5430 4777

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THINK MONEY DEBT REDUCTION SPECIALIST

WELCOME to this Wealthy ‘n’ Wise magazine feature,

where property investment expert Chris Childs gives you her professional tips on debt reduction.

Experience. There is no substitute for it in any successful business. Just ask Chris Childs, founder of Think Money Wealth Through Property. With more than 20 years’ experience under her belt in the financial planning, mortgage broking and wealth creation through property industries, Chris has helped countless people take charge of their finances and turn their lives around. More importantly, Chris has achieved success from her own personal experience, creating her winning system not from theories but from years of experience creating wealth through property herself.

Having been a financial planner and mortgage broker for many years, Chris and her husband, Jack, bought their first investment property in 2000. The dynamic duo went on to buy, sell and renovate several properties over the next three years, but it wasn’t until they bought and kept an investment property that they started to see the real value of capital growth.

In addition to accumulating a large property portfolio, Chris also opened three mortgage companies in three years and began to teach her clients her top tips and strategies on accumulating wealth through property – hence Think Money was born in 2007.

“My mortgage broking clients, having been diligently learning my debt reduction strategies, wanted to learn more about how we were accumulating properties. So I began to teach some of my clients what to do and more importantly what not to do.”

‘Most mortgages can be paid out in five to seven years, just by doing your banking differently.’

Passionate about helping others achieve the same financial freedom she and her family has achieved, Chris now employs a team of professionals to assist clients to achieve their goals while avoiding the pitfalls most of us suffer when we begin the daunting property investment journey with little knowledge and experience. Chris says reducing your debt and accumulating property doesn’t have to impede your lifestyle.

Yaseen Hull – the big cuddly bear of the Think Money group is Chris Childs right hand man.

A mortgage broker and debt reduction specialist, Yaseen has 11 years experience in both industries.

With a firm belief in structuring his clients’ finance to suit their needs and not the banks, meeting with clients on a regular basis is the secret to creating a secure financial platform. Yaseen personally prides himself of making sure our clients understand the steps to creating wealth through property. Maximizing equity and reducing debt.

“I love helping people. The fact that I have seen personally the damage the big banks can have on individuals inspires me to help people beat the banks at their own game,” says Yaseen.

To contact Yaseen phone 07 5430 4777

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FOCUSING ON BANK ACCOUNT BALANCES FOR SPENDING DECISIONS If you don’t have a detailed plan for your money, life can get extremely stressful when big bills come in. With a bit of planning, having a buffer fund for the expected (and not so expected) bills, you can more easily avoid financial stress.

NOT HAVING A CASH MANAGEMENT PLAN Setting up a CMP, a detailed budget for planning your income and expenses, is a vital part of reducing debt. Not only can you deal with your finances with ease, but the more organised you get with your money the more you seem to have. A CMP is vital to success.

GETTING THE WRONG ADVICE – FROM FAMILY, FRIENDS AND BANKS Often family and friends, in their effort to protect you from making mistakes, can give you the wrong advice that can hold you back for years. Before you take someone’s advice, look at who they are and what they have and if that’s where you want to be, then take their advice. Banks make profits by setting things up to suit their plan, not yours!

AVOIDING CREDIT CARDS Credit cards are a bit like guns. There is nothing wrong with a credit card if treated correctly. In the wrong hands, they can be a problem. Credit cards are actually a great tool in money management as long as you can pay them out each month and pay no interest. Just like with a gun – be careful not to shoot yourself in the foot.

FALLING FOR THE ‘INTEREST-FREE’ TRAP Most people who have fallen for the interest-free credit marketing ploy, have done it for one of two reasons. Either they want the item now and can’t pay for it – not a great idea – or they think they should leave their money in their account and believe they will pay it off during the interest-free term – most don’t. The cost is added onto the item — pay less pay cash.

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DEBT CONSOLIDATION – YOUR BEST FRIEND OR YOUR WORST ENEMY Debt consolidation is a bit like credit cards, if treated correctly it can be an awesome way to manage your debts and save a bucket load of interest. But if you just constantly consolidate and then get back into consumer debt, all you will be doing is continually eating your equity.

CHOOSING THE WRONG LOAN The biggest dilemma most people face is deciding what style of loan and whether to go fixed or variable. There is much to explain on this, but getting the right advice to suit your situation is vital. I normally choose variable, and I always choose interest-only – and pay extra, which seems to work effectively with debt reduction strategies.

NOT SEPARATING PERSONAL AND INVESTMENT INCOME OR EXPENSES 1.5 million people in Australia invest in property, only .5% get to five properties or more. Why? They don’t keep their personal and invesment money separate. The key to successful investing and stress-free living is to keep these sides quite separate from each other.

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BELIEVING YOUR HOME LOAN IS A ‘LONG-TERM’ DEBT

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PROCRASTINATION

Most people assume a home loan is a stone around your neck for 25 years. Best case, by paying weekly or fortnightly you might pay it out in 17. What most people don’t know is that handled correctly, a mortgage should be paid off in five to seven years just by doing your banking differently.

The biggest mistake of all is procrastination. If you look at where you are and what you have and don’t like it – do something about it. Think about your situation this time last year and this time the year before. Are you getting ahead, marking time or going backwards? The next step – you need a coach, a Wealth Coach.

Can you name an Olympian who succeeded without a coach?

WEALTHY ‘N’ WISE

The 10 biggest debt reduction mistakes

WEALTHY ‘N’ WISE

High Tea

Beautiful food served on pretty tiered plates, pink champagne and great coffee, what better way to get a group of ladies together to talk money (and everything else) than over a girly high tea?

Chris Childs and her wonderful team did just that last month in preparation for the much anticipated launch of their Think Wealth 4 Women program, the latest offering from the Think Money Group. Designed for women with a great attitude and a passion for creating wealth through property, it offers ongoing encouragement and a wonderful support network.

So successful was the high tea event, the team at Think Money has decided to make it a regular event to support and encourage their clients along their journey towards financial freedom.

“It’s great to see that more and more women want to have control of where their money is going and how they can grow it faster. They want to be educated. From taking control over your budget and finances to growing an investment property portfolio, from controlling your superannuation to looking at your needs for covering risks, the path can seem daunting and even overwhelming.

If you would like more confidence to understand your finances then it’s time to check out the Think Wealth 4 women Group and discover first-hand the knowledge and support we can offer.” – Chris Childs

WEALTHY ‘N’ WISE

Here is what some of the women had to say about their experience with Think Money so far: Carmel Dowse “I had quite a few sleepless nights about my finances and decided it was time I did something about it. I was flicking through Profile magazine and saw Chris’s advertisement.

For some reason I kept seeing her face and I thought ‘This is the woman I need to see’. When Chris first told me she was available 24 / 7 if I had any doubts or fears, I was a little bit surprised because I have never been offered that assurance. Whether it’s by phone, email or face-to-face, Chris is always there to have a chat. It seems everywhere we look there are get rich quick schemes so to find someone I could trust and who is living what they are teaching was fantastic. Anyone who is struggling financially or just confused as I was, Think Money is the place to come. It was a no brainer for me.”

Mary Garraghy “The workshop that blew my mind the most was the Goal Mapping with Lynne Levitt. It really opened my eyes. It was a way of setting some goals that just made sense and it was scientifically based. It really opened our minds to our potential.”

Gaynor Drinkow Since joining Think Money I have gone from living from one pay packet to the next to having money in the bank and being able to take a trip to New Zealand to see my father and knowing I could afford to. To me that was just awesome.”

Valerie Waterson “I had been previously met with “No’s” when I approached banks for more money for property but Chris and Yaseen said “Yes”. The added education is a big part of being a client. Think Money staff ring and make you come in for appointment, staff check on you and help you and support and encourage you. It is such a crucial element of the program.”

Don’t miss out on our next Think Wealth for Women event. Find us on Facebook or go to www.thinkmoney.com.au for more details.

Jacqui Dewar “A lot of people think they can achieve financial independence by themselves but most people fail because they don’t have the right skills and support network around them. At Think Money you get all of that. For years I have done nothing and within four weeks I am looking at purchasing property. I have a completely different mindset about how I approach money, my future and even myself. My own self esteem has improved so much.”

WEALTHY ‘N’ WISE

Chris’ Secrets to Property Wealth I have found that while most people know you can create wealth through property, what they don’t know is how.

Getting the right advice is the most important step.

ADVICE, EVERYONE LOVES TO GIVE IT The most important piece of advice you can receive is to be careful who you take advice from. And it’s not just the bad guys – friends, family and workmates, even with the best of intentions, could give you advice that might hold you back for years. The best rule of thumb is to look at who they are and what they have, and if that is where you want to be ... take their advice!

It’s a strange fact that some people need to feel important. Whether it’s due to lack of confidence or a need to be in the spotlight, they like to sound important and knowledgeable. You hear them at barbeques across the backyards of the nation sprouting their often incorrect information to all who will listen. These stories and advice usually scare people into doing nothing, or steer people into buying inappropriate investments. Get your advice from an expert.

FINANCE PLATFORM The main reason people struggle with their finances is because they do no separate personal and investment income and expenses.

It is vital that your home mortgage and living expenses, and your normal income is kept totally separate from investment property debt, expenses and rent. This is a huge part of my clients success. Most of my clients’ are on a 10 properties in 10 years path. This is made easy and stress free by following this simple rule. We then concentrate on reducing the debt on their own home, allowing for an improving lifestyle, while being able to easily create wealth for retirement by having a self funding investment portfolio.

TIME IN THE MARKET VS TIMING THE MARKET The great thing about property is that, over time, property always increases. The secret to making a lot of money with property is to buy at the perfect time – and ride the growth cycle. Sounds logical, but most people buy on emotion and react to the media. The masses buy towards the peak of the buying cycle and sell from fear or disappointment when the market has retracted. The only way to break this cycle is with good advice and sound research.

While ‘time in the market’ (buying and keeping property long-term) will always work. ‘Timing the market’ (buying during the opportunity phase of the property market) means reaping the reward of faster capital growth.

This allows you to accelerate your accumulation of property by increasing the equity you hold. One factor banks consider when calculating your borrowing power is the amount of equity you have in your existing properties. Equity is treated the same as a cash deposit, and ensures you can get back into the market with another investment sooner.

By getting the timing wrong, you could have to wait several years for growth in property value, therefore diminishing your opportunities to increase your portfolio.

Unfortunately, the inexperienced often buy when the media, or taxi drivers say to ‘buy’, and find themselves getting into the market during the caution phase based on historical results, rather than doing sound research and finding properties in the opportunity phase. It takes courage and knowledge to buy at six o’clock – but that is where the smart investors buy because that’s where the big profits are found.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION This has always been the catch-cry when trying to select the best property. The saying is true, but most people don’t understand the fundamentals of in-depth property research to get this vital attribute right. Research is the key to getting the best location.

By discovering the fundamentals of demographics, supply and demand, employment and economic growth, yield variations, infrastructure spending, population movements and other important factors that change the underlying values in our property market, you can find the right state, city and suburb that should produce above average capital growth.

The importance of the correct research can’t be emphasised enough.

Research forms the basis of getting the right property at the right time in the right place, which forms the key to success!

DO YOUR SUMS The biggest mistake people make when choosing to either buy, sell or renovate a property, is to start without having a complete plan in place. Facts and figures are key to getting things right and avoiding unpleasant surprises along the way. Some of the simplest calculations before you dive in can show up major flaws in the end result. For example, if you were planning to purchase a unit to renovate, using software to calculate the buying and holding costs, stamp duties,

By adding the profit, you will come up with a figure that the property will need to meet in the current market to ensure you are not over capitalising.

If you are intending to sell, you will also need to add all of the selling costs, for example commissions, legal fees, advertising and ongoing holding costs over the few months it may take to sell.

Then look at the current market and check you are ‘on the money’ price wise.

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF RENOVATING •• Don’t bite off more than you can chew!

•• Treat it as a business.

•• Decide on the level of renovation before you start.

•• Do your sums.

•• Use professionals.

•• Get quotes – fixed price in writing.

•• Time is money – check tradesmen availability.

•• Organisation is essential.

•• Know your market – don’t over capitalise.

•• Who is in charge? Agree on a plan and work as a team.

RISK VS RETURNS One of the biggest investing traps of this decade has been the lure of cheap international properties due to the global economic crisis. So many unsuspecting investors have been stung with the USA property promotion that swept through Australia like wildfire. While there would have been some genuine bargains to be had, unfortunately they have proven

FREE WEALTH COACHING SESSION If you are serious about creating wealth using property, make some time to get the right mentoring today.

Anyone who has ever had a personal trainer at a gym knows the added value that can be achieved by working with someone who is focused on assisting you achieve your goals. Our Wealth Coaches encourage you to keep moving forward, what ever stages of the property investment journey you are on.

With the support of our Wealth Coaches clients are able to reach and surpass their goals faster than they could on their own.

to be few and far between in comparison to the number of investors who are now stuck with properties in slum areas, with little to no chance of getting a tenant or income, let alone capital growth and an easy sale.

For true wealth creation, the accumulation and keeping of property long-term gives the most effective result. Therefore, buying quality Australian properties will almost always give you a better, stronger and safer investment. Buying outside your own country is fraught with danger. Not only are you coping with volatility in the property market, but also with international currency fluctuations and international laws.

GO FORTH AND MULTIPLY The exciting thing about building a property portfolio is that it has a snowball effect. The more you accumulate, the more each property grows in value and you can use that equity to buy more and more.

The first one is the hardest. It is so hard today to break into the property market. To accumulate enough for a deposit seems an uphill battle, because the longer it takes, the more you need.

However, once you are in the market, the second and third properties get easier due to capital growth.

Warren Buffett once said, “Work out how to make a dollar then do it again and again and again”.

Having a system makes it easy and pain-free to multiply your investment portfolio. That can be the difference between an investor and a gambler.

1.5 million people in Australia invest in property and only 0.5 per cent of those get to five properties or more. This comes down to mindset. Mixing with the right people and listening to the correct advice can accelerate your results.

You will learn: •• The secret to buying 10 properties in 10 years •• How to manage the holding costs •• The right financial platform for investors •• Proven strategies to property wealth •• How to find property hot-spots •• How to research property like a pro •• How to reduce your debt, not your lifestyle

Contact Chris today for your free 2-hour Wealth Coaching on 07 5430 4777 or email chris@thinkmoney.com.au

WEALTHY ‘N’ WISE

legals, mortgage payments etcetera is essential. You also need to add the costs of the renovation, including professional services and approval requirements, tools and replacement items to come up with a total outlay. You then add to this the profit you are expecting to make, whether or not you are planning to sell.

WEALTHY ‘N’ WISE

ure.

ial press imagine if you had no financown home and imagine if you owned yot purroperty portfolio.

imagine imagine

an investmen . y were no object if time and mone t! ach you all of tha te d ul co ne eo m if so

... imagine

Setting goals through our Goal Mapping process here at Think Money is one of the steps to creating your financial platform which enable your dreams to come true. With many years of training & mentoring people to reach their goals, Lynn now couples her own passion for creating wealth through property and assists our Think Money clients to reach their financial dreams.

You can have all the investing knowledge in the world, but you won’t get anywhere without the right mindset. At Think Money, we understand this, and have put in place the perfect blend of education, nurturing, confidence building, goal setting and motivation to enable our clients to reach and exceed their goals. The following beliefs can attract success in property.

1. YOU ARE WORTHY What successful investors have in common is a sense of ‘entitlement’.

The vast majority of people don’t become wealthy because they don’t think they are worthy. They don’t think they are worth it.

2. IT’s ok to be wealthy Most people have a strange idea about being wealthy and being rich. Most Australians want to be wealthy. They feel it is okay to want to get ahead a bit, but often if asked, they feel it’s not okay to be rich. The perception is rich people aren’t nice, and nice people can’t be rich. Or to be rich you have to be mean and have treated others badly. So consider this – do you know some poor people who are mean or dishonest? Obviously that characteristic has nothing to do with money.

3. you can choose your reality There are several examples of how your reality can reflect your environment.

The most important thing to remember is if you want to get ahead, surround yourself with similar people. If you constantly mix with negative, unmotivated people who complain about being in debt and having to work jobs they hate, you will struggle to do better yourself. If you mix with happy, motivated people who have goals and dreams similar to your own, you will be more likely to achieve success.

For more information on our next Goal Mapping event call 07 5430 4777

Call today for your 2-hour FREE wealth coaching session!

4. there’s enough to go around Some people think that there is limited money and resources out there, and there isn’t enough for them. I believe there is unlimited opportunity for wealth for all. You don’t have to take someone’s place. Success breeds success. When you create wealth through property investment, or any other way, you empower other people to follow in your footsteps.

It is a misconception that if you become wealthy someone else has to struggle as a result. There is a famous quote I particularly like, ‘One of the easiest ways to help the poor is not to become one of them.’

Isn’t it time you started mixing in the right circles, and getting advice from people who have what you want? After all, they probably have a pretty good idea about how to get it.

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zig zag Salt&Pepper MY CUP Set of 4 Zig Zag Mugs, RRP $24.95. Available at 2Garnish Maroochydore Homemaker Centre. Visit www.2garnish.com.au

black is back

in retrospect

Salt&Pepper BARISTA Set of 3 Black Canisters, RRP $39.95. Available at 2Garnish Maroochydore Homemaker Centre. Visit www.2garnish.com.au

Retrospect side table in Oak, RRP $199.

Available at Plush Maroochydore Homemaker Centre. Visit www.plush.com.au

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All that’s old is new again. Add a touch of ‘70s retro to your home with these items from Maroochydore Homemaker Centre.

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seventies vibe Hermon three-Seater Sofa in Red Otis wool blend fabric, RRP $999. Available at Plush Maroochydore Homemaker Centre. visit www.plush.com.au

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Oxford three-seater in natural leather, RRP from $1999, and Austin rectangle coffee table in Tasmanian oak, RRP from $1099, and side table RRP from $799. Available from Oz design, Sunshine Homemakers Centre, Maroochydore. Phone 5479 1377

Temple & Webster Oh Pussy Cat Wall Art, RRP $239. Available from templeandwebster.com.au

bowl-a-rama Bamboo salad bowl, RRP $59.95. Available from www. escapetoparadise.com.au

yellow pop Amalfi Catalina Table Lamp, RRP $79.95. Phone 03 9474 1300 or visit www.amalfihomewares.com.au

funky furniture Alexandra sideboard in yellow, RRP $499.

Available from www.retrojan.com.au

poster girl Champagne Joseph Perrier 40cm x 50cm poster, RRP $23.44. Available from www.picturestore.com.au

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UIDELINES june 2013

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vanity case

Hair and Make-up by Kylie Eustace, Kylie’s Professional (www.kylies.com.au). Model Charlotte Rashleigh

repair your hair Repair your damaged hair with Schwarzkopf Professional’s Repair Rescue intense spray conditioner, RRP $25.95. For stockists phone 1800 251 887

with Johanna Jensen fashion and beauty editor winter palette

Warm up as th e weather cool s down with these hot hair, beauty an d skincare produ cts.

Get the latest look for winter with Kylie’s Professional Mineral Goddess eyeshadow, RRP $37 each. Amythest, Nature and Midnight pictured. Visit www.kylies.com.au for local stockists

perfect finish Even out skin tone while adding hydration.

Mineralogie Liquid Hydration Sheer Tint, RRP $59. Visit www.mineralogie.com.au

defy your age Combat the first signs of ageing with Ultraceuticals Ultra C10 Firming Serum, RRP $98. Available from Esha Beauty, Sunshine Plaza. Phone 5326 1650

nature grown Grown Alchemist Intensive body cream with Rosa Damascena, Acai & Pomegranate, RRP $29.95. Visit www.grown.com

hair care

miracle cream

Schwarzkopf Ultimate oil elixir shampoo and conditioner, RRP $6.99 each. Available at all leading retailers or phone 1800 022 219

Vitamin E Cool BB Cream, RRP $21.95.

Available from The body shop, sunshine plaza. Visit www.thebodyshop.com.au

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the good life

ll photography chesterton smith photography ll

hair jacqui’s mooloolaba ll make up leah at Lavish

dr Jayne Bambit

D

octor Jayne Bambit has had an accomplished career since initially embarking on a career in surgery, then branching off into her real passion – cosmetic surgery. She has trained with prominent cosmetic surgeons both in the UK and Australia, and has the title of being one of the few female doctors in Australia with experience in this field. Having studied and trained in Melbourne, the Sunshine Coast became home for Jayne in 2006, where she opened her own practice, Lavish, at Minyama. Profile catches up with Jane to discover her health philosophies.

profile: What is your personal philosophy when it comes to health and well-being? jayne: Always get a good night sleep, socialise with family and friends on a regular basis, and allow time for relaxation. profile: Do you consider yourself a fit and healthy person? jayne: I am a very healthy person and keep myself fit. profile: How do you keep fit and healthy? jayne: I work hard and eat well. I’m trying to get into Zumba on my Wii but it’s hard! I tend to make up my own moves! profile: What’s your favourite ‘good’ food? jayne: I love any sort of salad.

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profile: What’s your favourite ‘indulgence’ food? jayne: I do love dining out and ‘indulging’ on a regular basis, but my favourite real indulgence food is fish and chips. profile: What health tips do you swear by? jayne: Eat well, find some sort of exercise that you enjoy, laugh a lot, especially at yourself, and always wear sunscreen. profile: What motto do you live your life by? jayne: Life isn’t a dress rehearsal, so live it to the fullest. profile: What reality TV show would you be most likely to appear on? jayne: My Kitchen Rules (hahaha that’s a bit of a joke – it would be murder and mayhem!). I would never appear on any reality TV show. profile: What do you do when you’re not working? jayne: I am an avid reader, I love theatre and ballet, and I enjoy spending time with my partner, friends and family, and going to the beach. profile: What would your dream job be? jayne: I know it sounds cliché, but I am working in my dream job. I am very passionate about what I do and I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. profilemag.com.au

DO YOU WANT AND FROM YOUR NEXT HAIR COLOUR?

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shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist LEARN HOW TO: • • • •

june 2013

FASHION & ACCESSORIES

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beauty

cosmeceutical vs cosmetic with Monika Ejmont With so many genres of skin care products available on the market today, consumers and skin professionals alike are bombarded with multitudes of claims and promises. Time for a dose of skin care reality!

The powerful combination of active ingredients in cosmeceutical products actually improves the condition of the skin and its underlying health. Cosmeceuticals began to emerge in the early ‘80s, and alpha hydroxy acids were also discovered around this time.

Cosmeceuticals, to this day, combine the power of both glycolic and lactic acids with other actives such as retinol and L-ascorbic acid to create long lasting results beyond the surface of the skin.

Usually available in medical practices and professional skin clinics, cosmeceuticals are best prescribed by a skin professional.

A cosmetic only maintains the surface of the skin. It covers and conceals. Makeup is a cosmetic. This category of products is often found in supermarkets and department stores, and includes many professional beauty ranges.

Unable to pass through the stratum corneum to access the deeper layers of the skin, cosmetics have no real ability to create any structural changes to the skin or to deliver long-term results for treatment of major skin concerns such as acne, ageing, pigmentation or severe sensitivity.

Cosmeceutical products contain active ingredients in a high enough concentration to effectively create a change within the skin by reaching the deeper dermal layers.

Over the counter products have such small concentrations that they can never reach and target cells in the skin to create a change.

My personal choice for cosmeceutical skin care is Ultraceuticals, one of Australia’s pre-eminent cosmeceutical brands, offering professional grade products with doctor’s office efficacy, without the prescription.

Esha Beauty 5326 1650 eshabeauty@optusnet.com.au

YOU’RE INVITED TO

FRIDAY 21 JUNE, 11:30AM PRESENTED BY PROFILE MAGAZINE & MY WEEKLY PREVIEW

MONTEGOS BAR & RESTAURANT FEATURING FASHION BY SHEVITA ENJOY A 3 COURSE LUNCHEON & COMPLIMENTARY DRINK. $55 PER PERSON.

RAFFLE PROCEEDS SUPPORT SOPHIE GRAY HEAD TO WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/FASHIONFRID CALL MORGAN AT MY WEEKLY PREVIEW TO PURCHASE TICKETS, 5444 0152.

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• • • • • •

june 2013

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advice

sports dentistry with Dr Simone Ricketts It’s a tough, competitive world out there, and there are many threats to the oral health of an athlete. The first thing that comes to mind in relation to teeth and sport is the devastating and often sudden impact with a non-negotiable object; a traumatic injury resulting in broken teeth and injured gums. In addition, there are dangers from daily eating and drinking habits aimed at providing carbohydrates for quick energy bursts. Furthermore, an athlete’s immune system is often pushed to the limit under rigorous, necessary training.

To protect yourself from tooth injury, try wearing a custom-made mouth guard that will actually be comfortable, fits well, doesn’t fall out when you run, and is one that you can wear both during training and for real time matches. Remember, even a friendly team mate can accidentally knock your tooth out during training. We see this more often than you would think!

Immune systems that are pushed to their limits with rigorous training sessions can trigger a

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dental problem to go from bad to worse very quickly. Pre-season preventive dental check-ups should be considered essential if you are serious about being totally fit, including your fangs.

There are many reported examples of elite athletes having to pull out of world championships due to unfit fangs; a rower who made an early exit from the Beijing Olympics with a tooth infection; a diver suddenly exiting the World Championships with a serious abscess, and many examples of athletes sustaining tooth loss due to not wearing mouth guards consistently.

Furthermore, sportspersons are uniquely vulnerable, especially endurance athletes such as cyclist, triathletes and marathon runners, who commonly use a mix of sports drinks and carb gels, both of which are sugary and acidic. To make matters worse for their teeth, these are often gulped down when the athlete’s mouth is very dry, without the benefit of saliva to buffer the acid effects.

It has been suggested that to reduce acidic exposure from sports drinks firstly avoid holding or swishing the drink in your mouth, use a straw, and try drinking them chilled as cooler temperatures seem to produce less erosion.

Also drink plenty of water before, during and after playing sport as this will reduce the dry mouth effect. Dry mouths plus acidic sports drinks plus constant carbohydrate snack attacks means sensitivity, tooth erosion and more tooth decay.

Try implementing a few of the above ideas to protect your teeth. Aim not only for a fit body but fit fangs too!

Remember having a pre-season dental check-up may just prevent a serious and debilitating tooth problem from jeopardising your sporting success.

Smile by Design 5443 2888 www.smilebydesign.net.au

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competition

The cooler months may be upon us but what better time to beat the winter blues and hit the gym to reveal a bikiniready body just in time for Spring!

Need more motivation? How about some fabulous weekly prizes to be won along the way just for reaching your goals?

Profile Magazine and Fernwood Fitness, Maroochydore have teamed up for a fun, eight-week challenge, kicking off on the 8th of July until 1 September. Join Profile’s editor, Ingrid Nelson and follow her progress as she embarks on her own fitness challenge over the coming weeks.

So how does it all work?

Simple really. Challengers are required to complete a combination of the following each week – •• 4 x Cardio Classes •• 1 x Body Balance, Pilates or Yoga Classes

Points will be awarded for each session, and class attended as well as each centimetre, kilo and percentage of body fat lost, helping you to really monitor your progress from week to week.

The 2 overall winners will each receive a six-month membership at Fernwood Fitness, there are also weekly challenge prizes and everyone will go into a draw to win a fabulous stand up paddle board valued at $1000!

WstaInN d up

A board pa d dl e t va l u e d a $1000 !

At just $400 (that’s just $50 per week), the eight-week challenge is a great investment in your health. The personal training and food coaching sessions are valued at $62 each week alone, so you simply can’t lose.

To be the best you can become usually requires some effort – but made far easier by doing it with friends! Why not grab a group of girlfriends and do it together .

Be part of this fun challenge – call Fernwood Fitness Maroochydore 5479 0744

•• 1 x Personal Training Session •• 1 x Food Coaching Session

Ingrid’s challenge Ok so I have been avoiding the inevitable for a while now with all the excuses under the sun – too tired, too busy, you know the drill.

Those sneaky glasses of wine in the evening and lack of exercise (my treadmill is collecting dust in the corner) have finally made their way to my midriff.

As a busy working mother of three young children, there’s no doubt, like most mums, life is busy but I have decided to reward myself with some me time – and at just $50 per week, I couldn’t resist the Fernwood eight-week challenge to get my body back into shape and start feeling fit again while having some fun along the way. So why not join me? Go on we can do it together, it will be fun!

ingrid nelson

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my business

mybusiness welcome to my Business – where we introduce you to new and long-standing local business people who share their expertise and secrets to their success with our readers each month. This month, we introduce you to two successful businesses who are leading the way in their respective fields.

Energy Therapy Studio Aaron Griffiths

Onsite Law Onsite Law emerged from a belief that doing business with a law firm should be simple, flexible and easy.

We’ve seen how traditional law firms often fail to meet the needs of the people they work for. We’ve listened to clients and we’ve created ways to improve the experience of working with a law firm.

We believe that as a businessperson your time is precious. This means that we can, if you wish, come to you at your place of business. By coming to you, we are able to gain a first-hand and in-depth understanding of your business. With this level of understanding, we can tailor high-quality legal advice to suit your specific circumstances. We believe that this is a better way to give you the service and the outcome that you deserve.

We also believe in giving you financial certainty from the start. We’ve listened to clients who tell us they want to know how much it will cost to use a law firm. We’ve also listened to people who have been charged by the minute by other law firms for extras like phone calls, emails and photocopies. We believe that a better way to do business is to know what the costs will be right from the start. That’s why our fees are fixed, for most commercial projects, at a flat-rate. All of our charges are disclosed to you upfront in a costs agreement with absolutely no hidden charges.

When we work with you we believe in making sure that all of our legal advice is made simple and clear. We use plain English in all our work and tell you what you need to know in terms that make sense. We always return your calls and we’re fast to respond to your emails and questions. Open and honest dialogue with our clients, it’s yet another reason why you’ll love working with Onsite Law. Onsite Law is based in Kawana on the Sunshine Coast. www.onsitelaw.com.au

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If you could really hear a message from your soul, what would it be telling you?

Soul Coaching is a four-week program dedicated to an in-depth clearing and cleansing of the different aspects of your life: mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. By following the practical, carefully crafted steps, you’ll find that you’re able to uncover your authentic self.

Do you know who you are and why you are here? Do you know what your mission is in life? Are you aware of your daily guidance from your soul? No matter how great your outward success is, if you do not know the answers to these questions, you might feel that something is missing in your life.

This is where Soul Coaching® comes in.

Soul Coaching® is a powerful program that anyone can do, it is a process that takes you to your spiritual source and helps you find meaning and sacredness in your everyday life!

Lisa Clarkson is one of the few select individuals worldwide that Denise Linn has chosen to personally train in her specialised methods of coaching. The Energy Therapy Studio is expanding and growing everyday, developing a healing centre offering Soul Coaching® to help families dealing with a loved one suffering with Alzheimer’s / Dementia to be in an environment with no judgment. Through meditation, past life soul journey and soul collaging, you will learn to let go, feel free and enjoy the moment that is happening, as this is your life.

Each day the universe allows us to experience something new to discover. With a view of natural majesty above the Blackall Range high above Landsborough, Energy Therapy Studio is the perfect place to escape, allowing the vibration of the vast expanse of land, ocean and sky connect you back to your inner self.

Whether its for an hour or all day, open your mind, let go of the fear and take your time to explore Bio-Energy Therapy, Reiki, Soul Coaching® and Spirituality with a full events page on upcoming coaching and workshops. Allow your mind to relax with our meditation classes, a selection of spiritual books to read, or simply a quiet space to allow your energy to be renewed, leaving you feeling lighter with love and joy in your heart. www.energytherapystudio.com

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milestones

ll photography chesterton smith photography

E

dward Gainer has always been passionate about supporting local businesses, so it makes perfect sense that he has recently kick-started two of his own. Xpand Offices at Twin Waters launched this year with the aim of linking up businesses with the best advisors possible, while at the same time providing an office atmosphere conducive to supporting cooperative business partnerships. The key role of his second accounting business, Better Balanced Books, is to aid businesses in the decision-making phase by delivering accurate business numbers and fostering better links with business advisory accountants. With the new-found freedom to take a more flexible approach to his work, a supportive partner to keep him centred, and a family that keeps him on his toes, 2013 is sure to mark several milestones for this self-described spirited and passionate individual.

MILESTONES Life changing milestone 1: Meeting my amazing partner, 2011 Tasha has changed the way I think about everything, turning many of my old perceptions on their head. After a long period where I couldn’t find my feet or my true self, she has been my compass. I am now comfortable with not having a stable bone in my body. I love being with someone who is an equal and there is no power struggle in our home; we are both fallible and strong in our own ways. We focus on the strengths between us, not the failings. We are similar, but will also challenge each other with our individual perspectives. There have been many points over the past decade when I have faced terrible lows but since meeting Tasha I haven’t gone a day without being absolutely grateful, for her and life. I have achieved a level of peace and personal growth that I could not have without her support. On top of all this schmaltzy and ‘enlightened’ stuff, she is also fun, sexy and very smart. What more could I ask?

Life changing milestone 2: Joining the army, 1995 Seeking the structure of a ‘career’ as well as being an economic conscript, I joined up. Having only an arts degree and little focus, Duntroon was a logical choice.

It was life-changing because it gave me some skills and a type of confidence you couldn’t get elsewhere. My time had a profound effect on me and not all of it was good – I’ve never been any good with authority – I’m still not!

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Edward Gainer

Life changing milestone 3: My mother dying of cancer, 2002 Why is it that so many milestones are the really difficult times? Mum dying was perhaps the first time I had to truly be an adult in the way I viewed life, and I didn’t like it one bit. There was a ‘perfect storm’ of things going on in my life and Mum had always been there to help me, and now she couldn’t.

I made dramatic and complete changes in my relationships, career and life at the time. These choices in many ways left a struggle that lasted on an emotional and practical level for the next decade or so. I needed help but was not always good at being positive about accepting it. I hated so much about me and let myself get into lots of bad spots, even when outwardly I was seen by most people as the ‘extrovert’ and a fun factory.

Life changing milestone 4: Going broke, 2009 / 2010 I had huge personal debts which were caused by giving in to my own insecurities and therefore being overly focused on material things. I lost my well-paid job and had a tough time finding something to replace my income. I started a business which only broke even so it wasn’t able to help me financially. I then took a job in ‘adult’ retail which was great. I loved the people, the customer service and the chance to do something really different. I learned a great lesson in happiness; that being happy didn’t relate to owning lots of stuff, rather it is about liking yourself. I also learned that failure is not something to fear if you can be happy with very little.

Life changing milestone 5: Meeting my friend and life guide Anna from BeAttitude, 2012 I finally got to the point where enough was enough. I had left my relationship, was struggling in my workplace, and needed to ensure that I could be happy in the future. I didn’t want to be motivated by guilt anymore, and I also wanted to become braver in my true self. I think the reason that the program worked with me was because it was genuinely and extremely practical approach to self-help, and I was ready to do something to change. Anna was wonderful; she is far more spiritual than me and forced me to confront that stuff and my own resistance to a deeper understanding of the world around me. Between Anna and my other lovely friend, Natalie McGivor, who is my very own ‘Enlightened Goddess’, I have become a bit of a soft touch – but I am very happy in that role. profilemag.com.au

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business

certainty or uncertainty with Debbie Riddiford Recently our team at PJT spent time reflecting on the six human needs and how human behaviour is driven by the instinct to fulfil one or more of these needs. Unhappiness, emotional distress and all dysfunctional behaviours arise from an individual’s inability to find a consistent way to meet his / her needs in a positive way.

The first two of these needs are certainty and uncertainty, both being pieces of the same pie.

For example, if my need for uncertainty is 60 per cent then my need for certainty is 40 per cent. Not knowing what to expect next is what makes life exciting and the uncertainty level is tolerable when we know in the end that variety from uncertainty will bring us pleasure.

The recent Australian Federal Budget may affect both our certainty and uncertainty needs.

The fear can be reduced out of the uncertainty when you update your 2013-14 projected cash flows using a what-if scenario with the changes being introduced by the budget. You should also identify your new breakeven points based

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upon any changes that will impact upon you. For example, an increase in superannuation may also affect your payroll tax, workcover premiums etc.

Cash is the lifeblood of any business. Being profitable on paper isn’t enough, any business can fail purely due to poor cash flow management which is why an adaptable cash flow forecast can become your business best friend, being relied upon to forewarn you of stormy times ahead, help you achieve steady growth, steer you safely through a downturn, and help you access additional finance and make more informed decisions.

A great tool that goes hand-in-hand with your projected cash flow is the use of a break-even analysis which can be extended to show how changes in fixed costs, variable costs, commodity prices, or in revenues, will affect profit levels and break-even points. The major benefit to knowing your breakeven point is that it indicates the lowest amount of business activity necessary to prevent losses.

It is important to talk to your financial advisors and / or accountant in relation to these federal budget changes and how they may affect you and your business. When your forecasts show a cash squeeze you can easily take action, usually with time to spare when you may need to: •• Reduce stock •• Minimise costs •• Maximise sales volume and / or gross profit margins (or slow down growth, if that is causing a problem) •• Agree extended credit terms from major suppliers •• Extend overdraft facilities for a short term •• Or whatever other informed decisions need to be made PJT Accountants & Business Advisors 5413 9300 www.pjtaccountants.com.au

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Business is all about balance.

Do you even remember why you went into business?

Are you spending so much �me on doing the books so you don’t have �me to focus where your real priori�es are: 



Spending �me on yourself or family  Growing your business  Genera�ng Sales  Making improvements Our Be�er Bookkeepers will: Improve your business informa�on  Improve your efficiency  Give you back �me  Make compliance work easy  Work on a fixed agreed price Call us for a FREE assessment of your bookkeeping needs

P: 07 5448 9937 M: 0490 005 214 www.betterbalancedbooks.com.au

Is your Self-Managed Super Fund Compliant?

Have you set up a SMSF in the past but are not sure if everything is up to date?

Come & see us in June for a free meeting to review your SMSF obligations.

This review will cover areas such as: Do you have an investment strategy & is it current?  Is your SMSF Deed up to date & compliant with your activities?

Will your funds be directed where you want them to go upon your death? 



Unit 5, 61-63 Primary School Court Maroochydore, Qld. 4558 P 07 5448 9600 F 07 5448 9355 www.growaccounting.com.au welcome@growaccounting.com.au

june 2013

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business

get ahead and save with Linda Ireland Balancing lifestyle desires with budgeting necessities is a greater challenge as living costs rise and the economy is still recovering. It’s not a bad idea to think hard about making changes to your home loan situation now to reap rewards over the long-haul and gain extra comfort.

For example, increasing your repayments by any amount above the minimum will reduce the principal loan amount owed. So too will contributing lump sum payments, such as your tax return or end of year bonus. This builds a safeguard, helping prepare your financial position for unforeseen changes.

Following are some helpful hints to get you ahead.

Round ’em up!

Consider rounding up your home loan repayment amount. Take a loan of $350,000 at 7 per cent* over 30 years. If the monthly repayments of $2,329 were rounded up to $2,500 at five years in and that continued until the end of the loan term, the loan will be repaid approximately four years earlier and the interest owed would be

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reduced by more than $69,200 (if all loan aspects remained as is). (*Seven per cent is used as a guide over a long period, however, rates are much lower at the moment.)

Visit your loan more frequently Depending on the loan type and lender, you may save thousands of dollars in interest by paying a loan fortnightly. For example, a borrower with monthly repayments of $2,000 will pay $24,000 off their loan by year end. If paid fortnightly, by splitting their monthly repayment in half and making repayments of $1,000, they will pay $26,000 as there are 26 fortnights in a year.

Take advantage of extra funds An offset account attached to the home loan account acts as savings that reduce the interest accumulated on the loan amount. For example, if the above-mentioned loan has $5,000 deposited in a full offset account from day one, the term is reduced by approximately 14 months and the interest owed is reduced by around $33,856.

Note some lenders offer partial offset only.

Health check it Review your loan and decide if you need all the features you may be paying a premium for. Compare it against others by getting a home loan health check from an experienced mortgage broker to see if you can save money by negotiating a better deal with your current lender or by switching lenders.

Weigh up pros and cons of switching When deciding whether to refinance take a good look at the pros and cons, including the costs and what you really need as opposed to want. Remember to factor in all loan aspects, like features, rate, repayment type and frequency, accessibility and fees. It may be cheaper to keep your existing loan rather than pay new loan costs such as application fees, lenders mortgage insurance, registration fees, account fees, discharge fees etc. Check with your broker to help you make the final call.

Mortgage Choice 5476 9333 linda.ireland@mortgagechoice.com.au

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win

win a luxurious two-night hotel stay Until now, popular boutique apartment hotel group Punthill Apartment Hotels (www.punthill.com.au) has been operating solely in Melbourne, however, guests can now look forward to the opening of Punthill Brisbane. Epitomising eclectic yet contemporary design and offbeat sophistication, this hotel is conveniently located in the heart of Springhill, close to the CBD. With a 4.5 star rating and facilities such as an outdoor gym, outdoor swimming pool and lounge area, barbecue, outdoor dining and even a badminton court, the apartments are luxurious and include everything to make your stay comfortable.

One lucky Profile reader will get to experience the hotel first-hand, with a two-night stay at the classy Punthill, valued at $700 (rack rate).

scan this with your smartphone to jump straight to our competition page

win a gorgeous jewellery pack Sistaco (www.sistaco.com) is a party plan, wholesale and retail jewellery brand run by women for women.

The brand supports women in Mozambique through micro-financing and their chosen charity, Awaken Mozambique, enabling them to establish a business benefiting their family and the entire community.

Sistaco was also founded in 2011 to bridge the gap in the accessories market for fashionable, affordable, statement jewellery for all women, and blossomed from there. Sistaco’s philosophy is to inspire women to be strong, independent and confident and express their individuality. Thanks to Sistaco, Profile readers can win an amazing seven-piece prize pack. Included are best-selling pieces Savannah zebra print necklace, Cleopatra silver collar, In My Light hand-beaded necklace, Mayan turquoise necklace, Bold Is Beautiful blue earrings, Wave gold stone ring, and All That Glitters diamante bracelet, valued at $500.

Head to the Profile Magazine website to enter and for terms and conditions.

win a great cook book win a stylish indoor / outdoor art pack After discovering a lack of suitable artwork available in the market to complete her landscaped garden, New Zealand designer Lisa Turley combined her love of steel with interior design training to forge a successful business. From the newly-discovered niche market, Lisa used her desire to create and a growing passion for steel to launch her own brand, LisaSarah (www.lisasarah. com), in 2007. Her designs feature strong, clean lines and are made from 100 per cent recyclable stainless steel. The simple, timeless designs are sure to fit with any home, garden or business for years to come. One lucky Profile reader will win a selection of LisaSarah designs, including a set of four Elements works, and a set of three Australian Natives designs, valued at $485.

june 2013

A busy lifestyle can lead to a lack of time to prepare healthy meals in the kitchen, often with limited ingredients. However, with a smarter approach to cooking, a host of nutritious meals can be created daily. Following on from her hugely popular 4 Ingredients cook books, Kim McCosker (www.4ingredients.com.au) has now released part one of her new wellness trilogy – 4 Ingredients Gluten Free Lactose Free. It is a must-have for those with gluten and lactose intolerances and ideal for cooks who need inspiration with smart but limited ingredients. Kim McCosker and Profile Magazine are giving away 10 copies of the new release cookbook valued at $19.95 each, along with 10 copies of the 4 Ingredients TV series on DVD, valued at $29.95.

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the last word

dr sean o’connor

ll photography chesterton smith photography From firefighter to doctor, Dr Sean O’Connor, from Specialist Women’s Imaging Centre, Currimundi, was born to save lives, no matter what career path he took. The only fellowship trained women’s imaging radiologist on the Sunshine Coast, Dr O’Connor takes great pride in the state-of-the-art facility. When he is not working, you will find him enjoying the outdoors with his family or playing the drums.

Most people don’t know that I … used to be a ski patrolman for five years.

I grew up in … rural Midwestern United States.

I couldn’t live without … my family.

I start my day by … having a great cup of coffee.

My greatest achievement is … an appointment as assistant professor of radiology in Toronto.

I left that position to come to the Sunshine Coast.

I would love to be a better … father.

I am at my happiest when …

I have my kids cuddle up to me on the couch watching a movie.

When I am not working I am … outside. I spend all my days indoors and I love to see the sun and the beach.

I wish I could … play in a contemporary jazz group.

My favourite holiday spot is …

Cozumel in the Caribbean. They have abolished time there and it is so relaxing.

Doctor Sean O’Connor was born to save lives

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My most annoying habit is …

I am a bit OCD. I can’t stand untidiness.

In five years I hope to be … able to work less hours. At the moment I am working 70 hours a week.

What makes me laugh out loud is … listening to children’s logic. Sometimes their insight is unreal; they cut through to the core of the matter with simple solutions that adults often don’t see.

The one person I would most like to meet … is Nelson Mandela. He is an amazing person. He has wisdom and patience that I don’t. Especially the patience!

Most people don’t know that I … used to be a ski patrolman for five years.

My hidden talent is …

I have been a hobbyist drummer for more than 25 years. I’m not too bad at it either.

When I was growing up I wanted to be … a firefighter. I was one for many years before becoming a doctor.

If I didn’t live on the Coast I would live … in San Francisco.

profilemag.com.au

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Sally Marler Retail Sales Manager P: (07) 5475 1967 M: 0427 204 524 E: sally.marler@primeradio.com.au