Profile Magazine June 2011

JUNE 2011

win a sydney escape northern escape

LADieS AT LUNCH

eco

mummy’s boys

mystyle

heaven on earth

MICHAEL KRAMER recipe for the soul DAVID RAFTER eco evangelist

Narelle McCarthy

AMANDA TUNNEY beautiful people

a queen of green

narelle mccarthy

14 michael kramer

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david rafter and amanda rootsey

features 12 view – eco evangelist

David Rafter

14 success – recipe for the soul

Michael Kramer

16 people – beautiful people

Amanda Tunney

18 ladies at lunch – mummy’s boys

Are all sons destined to be mummy’s boys?

22 cover – a queen of green

Narelle McCarthy

48 travelfile

We explore Hamilton Island and Cairns

www.profilemag.com.au

66 the last word

Bob Ansett

regulars 5 publisher’s note

52 on the table

6 pinboard

54 abode

8 he says, she says

56 business

26 briefcase

64 win

42 life

profile mystyle

heaven on earth 31

Take care of your finances the way you take care of yourself.

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7/10/10 11:24 AM

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publisher’s note

T

his month I am going to head outside and hug a tree. Yes, I am going to track down a big, fat trunk of a tree, the tallest one I can find, and give it a huge, squeezy hug. I am then going to pat a koala and give a possum a cuddle … if they will let me. And why? Well, Mother Nature seems a little ‘off’ these days. She has been rumbling away and getting agitated, and who wouldn’t when all the little occupants of her beautiful planet are poking and prodding her relentlessly, digging her up, chopping her down and clogging up her pores.

So this month, as we celebrate World Environment Day on June 5, is the perfect time to take stock of our impact on precious Mother Earth. Let’s take a moment to reflect on how we treat her. We don’t need to go and buy her chocolates or flowers or take her out for brunch – she just wants a little respect.

This issue of profile magazine is dedicated to Mother Earth. We celebrate her beauty and highlight some of the people who are at the

forefront of her protection, just like cover girl and fellow tree hugger Narelle McCarthy from the Sunshine Coast Environment Council. The gorgeous and humble Narelle confides in Alli Grant about her true passion, the environment, and gives us an insight into her world as she leads the charge to protect Mother Nature right here in our own backyard. We also meet David Rafter (brother to tennis legend Pat Rafter), who is making a difference leading a team of ‘eco-warriors’, and Amanda Tunney who has turned eco-friendly beauty products into big business. Media stalwart Michael Kramer shows his compassionate side to Angela Bueti, and don’t miss Jessica Jane Sammut’s hilarious ladies at lunch interview discussing mummy’s boys.

So, why not do your bit for the environment this month? Read your profile mag cover to cover, then recycle it by passing it onto a friend.

Oh, and go outside and give Mother Earth a hug. She needs it!

visit us on facebook.com/profilemag follow us on twitter.com/profilemag

GENINE HOWARD

PUBLISHER / MANAGING EDITOR

THECOVERSHOOT When we told Narelle McCarthy that not only was our theme for the cover shoot green (she confessed to having never worn the colour), but that we had also made her a dress consisting of re-usable shopping ‘green’ bags, you can imagine her hesitation!

But in true trooper style, Narelle not only donned the green bag dress, but a crown as well, all in the name of the environment. We turned Narelle into a ‘queen of green’ and then got a bit glamorous in a stunning green evening gown from Casar Elegance Bridal, Bridesmaid and Formal, Maroochydore.

A big thank you to the ladies at Casar Elegance for both the gowns (the second gown is pictured right under the green bag gown) and to Costume Fever, Maroochydore (www.costumefever.com) for the accessories. Makeup and hair by Katie Mackenzie.

Watch the behind the scenes footage on profile TV, head to www.profilemag.com.au.

NARELLE WEARS CASAR ELEGANCE (WWW.CASARELEGANCE.COM.AU) GOWN AND SASH TEAMED WITH ONE OF A KIND, HAND-MADE GREEN SHOPPING BAG SKIRT, CRAFTED BY GENINE AND ROWAN HOWARD.

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NARELLE mccarthy

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www.profilemag.com.au publisher/managing editor Genine Howard editor Alli Grant

sub editor Jessica Jane Sammut

creative director Kara de Schot

sales manager Belinda Brill

noosa sales Meta Georgeson

publication coordinator / beauty director

‘green june’ world environment day mascot

Katie Mackenzie

staff writers

june 5 world environment day festival

This year’s World Environment Day Festival on June 5 at the Sunshine Coast University is set to inspire all, as the ‘Festival of Ideas’. Attractions include five themed areas (including energy, food, home and lifestyle, transport and water), speaker forums, a community forecourt, kid’s areas, food stalls and entertainment. www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au or phone 5441 825

Angela Bueti, Jessica Williams (intern), Ashleigh Ormsby (intern)

travelfile editor John Alwyn-Jones

photography Alan Hughes, Shawn Abrams, Katja Anton

email

june 14 blogging for beginners

Award-winning blogger Nikki Parkinson will be delivering a Blogging for Beginners workshop as part of the Secrets to Social Media Mastery series on June 14 at Quest College, Evans Street, Maroochydore.

Only 12 seats available! www.pomo.com.au

info@profilemag.com.au

call / fax 5451 0669 / 5475 4405

drop in Beach on Sixth, 104 / 65 Sixth Ave, Maroochydore

post

june 15 netconnect seminar

PO Box 1065, Cotton Tree, QLD 4558

Listen to dynamic speakers presenting on topics such as social media, branding, marketing and networking on June 15 at the 4th Floor Restaurant, Mooloolaba. Emceed by profile’s Genine Howard, this is a unique event combining networking, education, information and socialising. www.enlightenedgoddesses.com

june 18 living smart solutions expo

The Living Smart Expo at the Sunshine Coast TAFE on June 18 is a one-stop-shop for builders, renovators, businesses and households looking for sustainable products and services that are available right here on the Coast. With more than 30 stalls and free workshops, the expo is perfect for anyone looking for local suppliers of sustainable products and services or simply fresh ideas.

Phone 5441 8259

june 17 - 26 noosa longweekend festival

The Noosa Longweekend Festival – 10 days and nights of culture, literature, food and fun – takes place from 17 to 26 June. 2011 celebrates the festival’s 10th anniversary, and festival patron David Williamson’s 40th anniversary as one of Australia’s leading playwrights. The festival program includes more than 70 free and ticketed events staged in various venues around Noosa. www.noosalongweekend.com

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 fortnightly

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

accounts Katherine Allan - accounts@profilemag.com.au Profile magazine is a free publication (subscriptions available) published 12 times a year by Coast Profile Magazine Pty Ltd. All rights are reserved and the contents are copyright and may not be reproduced without the written consent of The Publisher, Coast Profile Magazine 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.

Lost in the maze of social media?

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he says, she says

easy being

green? ll photography ben stone Everyone is talking about it … but who is actually doing it? Are you? If not, what is the first thing that we could all do to get started and make a bit of a difference? Yes, we are talking ... being ECO-FRIENDLY. No more excuses, it must be time to make the change, right? Sami and Todd from HOT91.1FM give us their thoughts on being green.

he says

H

ey kids, it doesn’t matter what you are – an emo, bogan, skegg, grommet, or Beiber fan – it’s time to pay attention to old uncle Toddy for a couple of minutes. The fact is, we’re all wide-eyed loners standing at the gates of oblivion and it’s time to smarten up and start taking care of our environment because Mother Earth is one sexy lady and she needs our help to maintain her perfect figure!

I’m personally doing my bit by reducing, reusing and recycling ... I’m reducing the amount of hours I spend at work and increasing my time on the couch. I’m reusing the same old excuses for not doing chores around the house (man cold, lawn mowing is bad for the ozone, worm farms need a bit of research) and I’ve perfected the art of recycling my jokes, a handy trick I learnt from TV’s Daryl Somers.

The recycled gag that I hang my green cap on most days is the legend of the paper cowboy ... and in an extraordinary and generous gesture to Mother Earth, I’m prepared to share it now.

A sheriff walks into a bar and says, in a deep south type accent (think Blanche from The Golden Girls, but more masculine), “Listen up, has anybody seen the paper cowboy?” …

“Well shoot Sheriff, what’s he look like?” says the barman.

“Well he’s got paper boots, and paper pants, a paper belt, a paper shirt and a big old paper hat.”

“No siree Sheriff, ain’t never seen nobody conforming to that description ... what’s he wanted for?”

“Rustlin’!” says the sheriff.

Feel free to dine out on that piece of comedy gold with the kids tonight!

So there you have it. Green is good and as my mate Haydo would say, “Take care of the environment, man, it’s where I keep all my stuff.”

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todd and sami

She says

E

co schmeako! It seems just about everyone is on the green bandwagon and the whole concept is as much at risk of over exposure as Eddie ‘Everywhere’ McGuire. I know our earth is just the same as Kate Middleton’s lace wedding gown: a one-of-a-kind never to be made again version which cheap knock off copies will never emulate. And I really want my daughter to be able to see polar bears in the wild. I really like our earth.

However, come on, we have gone green gaga. It seems to just be a cool turn of phrase that adds credibility to anything people are peddling.

The web is, of course, our gateway to everything green. I googled ‘ecofriendly’ and ‘green’ and the results are staggering. Did you know you can buy a staple-less stapler? I am serious. There are even tips on holding an environmentally-friendly wedding. The clanger tip is the suggestion of guests donating to an eco-friendly charity instead of purchasing wedding gifts. Yes, it is selfish, but who doesn’t want toasters, blenders and other cool stuff on their wedding day?

The green present suggestion on the web that I love most comes under the heading of ‘green corporate gifts’ – stationary made of elephant poo! The Sri Lankan elephant apparently produces more than 100 kilograms of dung per day. Who knew? The site suggests giving your manager some recycled sheets of this environmentally-friendly gift – apparently manure makes wonderful paper stock.

And while I am on my non-recycled-timber soapbox, the big O is also overused these days. Organic is the new sexy. I have just had a baby and you can buy organic cloth nappies, organic clothing, organic food and organic prams. Well let me tell you, it is all lovely stuff but it costs about three hundred times more than the non-organic stuff. So you also need to harvest some illegal totally organic hydroponics in order to fund your organic habit.

profilemag.com.au

Mark Cotterell MASTER JEWELLER

coastline BMW feature

powered by Coastline BMW

The Sunshine Coast is host to a plethora of entrepreneurs and business leaders who have shaped our great region and inspired us all to achieve. This month we meet husband and wife duo and much-loved locals Tony and Lisa Aitken. Lisa heads up her own law firm, Aitken Legal, while Tony mixes his love of singing and sandwiches in his cafe, Fresh On, in Maroochydore.

Meet this month’s business drivers ...

LISA & tony AITKEN What car are you driving Lisa?

A gunmetal grey 335i Sports.

Tony, why do you love your BMW? “I can give it heaps and when I’m done it asks me “is that all you’ve got?”

LISA AITKEN My secret to success is … put your head down, work hard and have great people working with you.

My mentors are … the two partners I used to work for at Minter Ellison in Sydney – they were very different but complemented each other perfectly and I like to think I took the best parts from them both.

I believe in … always being myself, as well as providing clients with the quality of service I would want to receive.

My first car was … an old white Toyota Corolla with red stripes and red bucket seats – it use to overheat and conk out at traffic lights constantly.

I love the Sunshine Coast because … it’s such a giving community. With the charity work we do, it amazes me every year how giving our business community is. It is also a great place to raise our children.

On the weekend you will find me … being a soccer mum!

Coastline BMW

Sales Finance Service Parts & Accessories

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CoastlineLogo.indd 1

770 Nicklin Way, Currimundi.

Phone 5491 9100

The Ultimate Driving Machine

www.coastline.bmw.com.au 3/7/09 2:18:20 PM

What inspired you to purchase your BMW, Lisa?

Tony was at me to upgrade to the 335i ever since he did the BMW Drive Day where he drove one all day. He finally got me to test drive one with him and he just had this smile from ear to ear the whole time he was driving it …

Lisa, why do you love it?

I love its level of comfort and how solid it feels on the road. I’ve never driven a car where you feel so moulded to the seat and the car feels so glued to the road. It feels very safe and secure.

I love it!

Tony, what inspired you to purchase your BMW? My dad let me drive his John Player Special BMW the day I got my license and I have wanted one ever since.

What is your favourite feature of the car, Lisa?

Its power … it’s so fast. However, I still haven’t been brave enough to floor it …

What is your best driving memory with your BMW, Lisa?

Seeing how fast it can take off at the lights … only to the speed limit of course!

Tony, why do you love your BMW? I can give it heaps and when I’m done it asks me “is that all you’ve got?”

Tony, what is your best driving memory with your BMW? The one I can tell you about is definitely going to the BMW Drive Day. That day inspired all the ones I can’t tell you about.

NEXT PAGE: LISA AND TONY AITKEN WITH THEIR BMW 335i SPORTS. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALAN HUGHES. profilemag.com.au

coastline BMW feature

Car featured: BMW 335i Sport Sedan.

Sporty, Stylish, Elegant. More than ever, the BMW 3 Series Sedan epitomises what driving a sports sedan is all about.

Combined fuel consumption Acceleration 0-100kms/h

8.7l /100km 5.8 seconds

Test drive today at Coastline BMW, 770 Nicklin Way, Currimundi. Phone 07 5491 9100.

june 11

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view

words jessica jane sammut ll photography katja anton

david rafter and partner amanda rootsey

When you think of the Rafter name … what do you think of? Tennis? After reading this article, you may find ‘environmental preservation’ also springs to mind, for Pat’s younger brother, David Rafter, is one inspirational eco warrior doing his bit for the world. And, as Jessica Jane Sammut finds out, we could all take a leaf out of his book.

D

avid Rafter. One of 10 siblings (including the most famous brother, Pat). A scholar of Nudgee. A child of Eumundi. A man who lives in the caravan of dreams, quite literally. A champion of the environment. An Earth Hour nominee. The founder of VeganEra. David is, in every sense of the word, an ‘eco evangelist’. A man who found it hard to connect to life as a young boy and struggled to decipher his path forward, is most certainly bounding along on the right track now, with his affinity to nature ever present as he makes it his life’s ambition to protect the natural world we live in, and to inspire others to do the same.

Born in Mount Isa, David moved to Eumundi when he was very young and was raised in a rural atmosphere which he loved. Forced to move to Brisbane when he got older, David kicked and screamed in protest about leaving the rural background he had known.

“My final acceptance of my fate was notably the beginning of my downward capitulation,” he describes. “I became an experimental teenager. I turned into a rebel child. I struggled to live in the city. I struggled to find my own pathway. I went to Nudgee Private [school] and was called ‘the root of all evil’ by the dean of my year. I was always very artistic and creative and this did not fit well in the environment I was in. I was forced to accept academia and was streamlined through the education system. I was vastly unenthusiastic.”

David sits back and smiles, his mind clearly wandering back to a past life, his eyes flickering in the light and reflecting outwardly the movie reel of images being played over in his mind.

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“In 2000, one of the most powerful moments in my life occurred. Pat took me on a trip. We went to LA, Miami, then the Davis Cup Semi-Final in Brazil, and onto Bermuda. It was very glamorous – chauffeurs, limos, business class, private jets, five star accommodation and restaurants, music concerts, hanging with Pearl Jam even! But it was when I explored Brazil that I actually had my eye-opening moment. There was such poverty. The two contrasting sides of life could not have been further apart and yet so close. I connected with these people and the simplicity of their survival.”

On returning from his trip, real life continued and David completed a business degree and became the marketing manager at the Breakfast Creek Hotel, the first of several high profile hospitality roles.

“I spent the next few years partying,” remembers David.

Burnt out and tired of the corporate merry-go-round, David eventually quit his job and took some time out to surf and get back in touch with his core. After realising he wished to settle down to a quieter life, he returned to the Sunshine Coast and started to trade on the stock exchange.

“I did much research into listed corporations in my quest to become a better trader, and what I found out totally shocked me. I could not believe how blind I had been to how how rife exploitation was – exploitation of people, and of the environment. I had to stop trading.

“I began researching more about our environment and the more I uncovered, the deeper I got. I became a vegan. I stopped drinking. I started to feel in tune with my surroundings. I made it my business to support fair-trade and profilemag.com.au

We all have the ability to stop and reverse our damage to the planet. ethical companies. All the dots started to line up for me and I finally began to feel that sense of peace I had been searching for for so long.”

It was then that David and Amanda (David’s partner) started up VeganEra to educate and inspire people about living a more natural life so as to preserve the environment.

David now lives the simple life he craved as a child, in a caravan in the Cooroy hinterland, 10 minutes from the closest power line. Surviving on solar power, water tanks and a veggie patch, he is a lesson to us all that life does not have to be as complicated as we make it.

“Amanda and I absolutely love being off the grid and surrounded by beauty.

It is possible to live in tune with the world. We all have the ability to stop and reverse the damage we have done to the planet; we can help ourselves. By adopting this way of life, my heart and soul feels so full. I probably have less money and possessions than ever before, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

David Rafter is very positive about the future. A man who once was lost has been found, and the warmth that radiates from his belief in what he is doing also warms my heart. I think we all wish we had the courage to pursue another path, yet few of us actually take the plunge.

His attitude towards the environment, and his part in preserving it, is one of hope. He sees the good that we are can do. There is no dramatic scare mongering or pessimistic panic in David’s message, just a belief in the future.

And what a wonderful future it will be … if we listen. june 11

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success

words angela bueti ll photography shawn abrams

Michael Kramer’s name is synonymous with publishing on the Coast, having been instrumental in the creation of two of the region’s most successful magazines. However, his most recent print baby is a somewhat different offering – a Cambodian cookbook – but it comes from noble intentions, as Angela Bueti finds out.

“

I never wanted to get into publishing,” confesses Michael Kramer, long-time Sunshine Coast local and co-founder of My Property Preview.

It’s an interesting admission from someone who has been in the publishing game for more than 22 years. But, as luck would have it, Michael’s vast knowledge of publishing and his contacts in the industry have been paramount to the success of his most recent venture – publishing a cookbook to raise funds for a Cambodian orphanage.

“After I finished year 12 I was pulling beers and surfing, and not really doing much. In 1996 I started the Weekender with Anarr Higgins after seven years in the industry. I was sleeping in the office on the floor because I couldn’t afford to rent a place and was regularly doing 1000 hours a week.

One week I went for 36 hours without sleep to get the magazine out. It was horrendous,” admits Michael. michael kramer

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success “One day Anarr and I had a conversation about why we were doing this.

We both admitted it was because of the TV show Bewitched. The characters, Darren and Larry Tate, who were in advertising, made it look like so much fun!” Michael laughs at the ridiculousness of it.

Along with a talented team, Michael has led the way with a proactive approach to publishing with other print media following his lead.

Apart from the many awards achieved in his publishing career, Michael is a guy with a million and one ideas who believes life is here to be lived. In his 44 years, Michael has managed to pack quite a bit into his life. He’s travelled to more than 30 countries, trekking, surfing and snowboarding, and has various business interests from My Property Preview, to founding a watch company in London, to an R & D concrete company here on the Coast. He has also dedicated 25 years to the Mooloolaba Surf Club. He admits to having a mind that constantly races with ideas, much to his girlfriend’s frustration, he laments.

And then there is his latest venture – producing a cookbook to raise funds for a struggling orphanage, Together for Cambodia in Siem Reap, which is testament to his ability to turn wild ideas into reality and to his caring and generous nature. It was a chance meeting with a Buddhist monk in 2005 that set Michael on his latest philanthropic path.

“I met a monk in Cambodia at Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious temple, and he invited me back to his school to show me around. The classrooms were deplorable. The chairs were sitting in mud. With great pride he showed me his plan for a new school which would cost $17,000 to build.

Then he showed me a list of donations pledged by people who had visited – $1 from the US, $5 from the UK. Once I got home I wired $4,000 which was the equivalent of five years’ wages.”

Sometime later Michael decided to go back to Cambodia to check on the school’s progress and, to his horror, the builders had ripped off the school community and not delivered on their promise of new buildings.

“Unfortunately this type of thing does happen and you can never be sure where the money goes unless you check things out thoroughly,” said Michael.

Returning home deflated but much wiser, Michael didn’t give up on the idea of supporting the people of Cambodia – one of the region’s poorest nations where much of the population live a tough life with poverty and malnutrition.

“While I understand how hard it can be in Australia sometimes, we have an amazing safety net with medical, social security and infrastructure to help. In Cambodia they have nothing like this, and while it is an amazing country to visit I could not return home to Australia and forget those I had left behind.

Helping others in need is the most rewarding thing you can do.”

Michael has since donated a larger sum of money to a women’s training centre, assisting women and young girls to escape prostitution and slavery.

Then last year, while sitting in a local Sunshine Coast real estate office, a tin was being rattled to help a Cambodian orphanage. Michael was immediately curious.

“In February last year I visited the orphanage to see if it was legitimate.

june 11

I saw that they could really use some funds to help improve their conditions.”

Michael dug deep, again sending his own hard-earned money to support the orphanage. Then he hit upon an idea to raise substantially more funds to make an even bigger difference to the kids.

“There was a cafe nearby selling beautiful photos of the kids at the orphanage which were taken by an Italian photographer who had visited. I thought ‘Wow, these photos would make a great book, or possibly even a cookbook.’”

From there the seed was planted and Michael went about harnessing the help of many generous colleagues and friends, as well as some people he was yet to meet.

“The photographer allowed me to use the photos for free. I found an owner of a Cambodian restaurant in Melbourne who also happened to be a refugee and Pol Pot survivor, and he was happy to supply all the recipes. A Brisbane photographer took photos of the dishes which we cooked and photographed in one day. Local Sunshine Coast creative agency Harris & Harris did all the design work and Australia’s largest national printer agreed to print the books for free. The My Property Preview production team also did a lot of the legwork and were paramount in the cookbook’s success.”

The result is a stunning cookbook, Food for the Soul, with authentic, traditional Cambodian dishes featuring candid photos of children from the Together for Cambodia orphanage in Siem Reap.

Michael proudly tells me that not one cent has been spent on producing the cookbook and 100 percent of proceeds from the sales go straight to the kids.

The math is simple – 10,000 cookbooks at $20 each and Michael will raise $200,000 – a huge amount in terms of what it can do for the orphanage. And Michael, along with those who purchase a cookbook, can rest easy knowing where every cent is going.

To purchase Food for the Soul contact Michael on 0412 489 676 or 5443 8866 or simply drop into the My Property Preview office at 64 Sugar Road, Maroochydore.

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people

words ashleigh ormsby ll photography katja anton

Amanda Tunney has long cared about the environment and is certainly doing her part to protect it with her business Montville Organic Skincare (affectionately known as MOS) priding itself on its organic products.

Profile’s Ashleigh Ormsby sits down with Amanda to discover how this dedicated woman turned her passion for eco-friendly beauty from a hobby into a thriving business. amanda tunney

D

riving through winding picturesque roads on my way to meet Amanda, I’m a little taken aback. Montville is transporting me to a different time and place where the sparselyspaced houses convey an old-world charm and a panorama of rolling green hills swells my heart.

Soon I pass through the signed entrance leading into Amanda’s long rutted drive.

As the trees clear I’m greeted by a house set in sunshine which conveys the impression of both grandeur and tranquility. The poised woman standing on the verandah, dressed in tailored slacks and a beige tunic, blends effortlessly with the mood.

Amanda welcomes me into her home and we find a couch to sit upon and chat. We take a minute to get acquainted (I identify with her “chronic night-owl” confession!) and then I ask how she came to take her first steps toward leading such a fulfilling life – both in career and in family.

“Ten years ago,” Amanda tells me, “I had my own company working as an IT consultant in the Northern Territory. I was project manager when SingTel Optus and the federal government joined forces to roll out interactive distance learning across the NT and New South Wales. For many students,” she explains, “this was the first time they’d seen their teacher.”

“When my husband was offered a job in Sydney,” Amanda goes on, “we picked up and reluctantly left our beloved NT. We spent a year in New South Wales before moving again. This time to our incredible Sunshine Coast.

“I’m a vibe kind of person,” Amanda says.

“When real estate agent Roger Loughnan showed

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us Western Springs in Montville, we immediately recognised the potential. Two more visits and I was in love.”

The family moved into the gorgeous Garth Chapman Queenslander surrounded by 10 glorious acres and Western Springs is now the base of MOS. “I’d studied aromatherapy and massage but I had always wanted to learn more about naturopathy.

I delved into creating skincare to help allergy sufferers unable to find suitable products.

Pregnant, and with some time on my hands for once, I delved into creating skincare to help people like my mother – allergy suffers unable to find suitable products.”

Word quickly spread. With interest and success stories steadily growing, Amanda’s mother gave her the push she needed to turn a hobby into the flourishing business that MOS is, supplying an effective range of natural products which are safe for the consumer and the environment.

“MOS products are now available online, in retail outlets, at day spas, and also through dedicated MOS consultants,” Amanda beams with pride.

Amanda works with natural gas and plans to install solar power next year, while certified organic and free-trade ingredients are used wherever possible. Plantation palm oil products are also a staple. All methods and ingredients ensure MOS is a high quality and eco-friendly brand.

“Our teen range, LILY (Look Inside, Love Yourself), is such a hit with the girls, that I’ve developed a range specifically for boys, WOOD, which is made with sandalwood.” Very masculine, I agree. “And we’ve had to revisit the packaging, too. Teen boys need skincare as much as girls,” Amanda gives a grin, “but most wouldn’t touch anything wrapped in pink.”

I thank Amanda for her time and she gives me a pot filled with lip balm which I discover smells amazing and leaves my lips delectably soft. Amanda also insists I take some of her prize capsicums.

After learning more about Amanda’s inspirational journey, I’m at a loss to understand why I hadn’t thought of switching to organic beauty products sooner.

We’re all eager to pursue and embrace ‘environmentally-safe’ products. Enlightened folk are considering hybrid cars and investing in solar power. Why then shouldn’t our investment in skincare be any less visionary?

Note to self: Buy products made from organic ingredients. Use natural gas to power and heat.

Invest in an eco-friendly (and super-stylish) car, as well as support our farmers by buying products made with trade-free ingredients. Wallets will be heavier and our world a healthier place. The sense of pride gained is a bonus.

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There is a fine line between babying and helping your son.

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1. Fresh Vine Tomato Salad 2. Tanya Morris 3. Natalie Tink 4. Dot Beatty 5. Di Hoopert 6. Kellie Caltabiano 7. Braised Veal Stuffed with Spinach and Goat’s Cheese, with Fried Polenta

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ladies at lunch

words jessica jane sammut ll photography katja anton ll sponsored by genesys wealth advisers and boq maroochydore

Mummy’s boys – love them or hate them. Are you raising one? Would you marry one? Mummy’s boys are a breed of men who can’t think for themselves without assistance from mother. They can’t cook, clean, iron, shop or sort our their own love lives without you know who. But in today’s world, who can live like that? Profile’s Jessica Jane Sammut asks the ladies.

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ou meet a guy. He is gorgeous with a capital ‘G’. Kind, chivalrous, polite, hot, brooding, tall, dark and handsome. Yes all of the above.

And just as you are starting to imagine your new signature and find yourself lingering for longer than usual outside Tiffany’s, you hear those magical words you have been waiting for. “I want you to meet my mum”. Wow, you think. This is it. My dream really is turning out to be a fairytale!

Cue abrupt end of romantic glossy haze and the start of the Psycho theme tune. Because this is where you realise that your man is not quite the Prince Charming you had envisaged. Although he is a prince, he is certainly not your prince … but rather someone else’s. His mother’s.

Yes, on being introduced to his mother, you immediately appear to be ‘in the way’. Before your eyes, your hot stallion of a man reduces to nothing more than a young boy, and, by the end of the meeting, you are almost expecting aforesaid mother to wave off your man with a packed lunch box and a Space Invaders drink bottle (while making sure his socks are pulled up).

Which brings me to our Ladies at Lunch topic of the month – are mummy’s boys a dying breed?

Joining profile magazine as co-host is Sandra Wills of Genesys Wealth Advisers, who is a lady surrounded by boys, with one hubby, two grown-up sons, and two grown up step-sons. Now that is a male environment! Sandra’s guests are Tanya Morris, Dot Beatty, and Di Hoopert of Nambour Hospital, who on discovering the mummy’s boy topic at hand, giggle with glee. “I know a total mummy’s boy,” Di immediately pipes up. “He is spoilt, devoted to his mummy to the detriment of anyone else and I don’t think he will ever leave home. My Chihuahua, Toby!”

Profile’s guests this month are the gorgeous Kellie Caltabiano and Natalie Tink of Coast to Coast Media. While Kellie admits she is in fact the female equivalent of a mummy’s boy, actually labelling herself a ‘daddy’s girl’ (okay, she was outed by Nat!), Natalie is equally as honest as

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she confesses that the thought of her son’s future girlfriends “puts me into a cold sweat!” And then there is me, Jessica Jane Sammut – a shining light of femininity among a sea of men as the only sister to two brothers, wife to one of six boys, and mother to a two-year-old prince who has learnt to say “Mummy, you are my princess …” What’s wrong with that? profile: So ladies, what is it about mummy’s boys? natalie: It is okay to raise one (Nat is mum to two-year-old Kooper). But I wouldn’t want to marry one! kellie: I agree! natalie: My hubby, Brad, does everything. He knows how to look after himself, his family and the house; he is a great example for Kooper. Kooper is my little mummy’s boy though! di: To me a mummy’s boy is a grown man who doesn’t know how to look after himself and can’t cope without his mother / a woman in his life to do everything for him. And there are men out there like that! I know one ... dot: It is about being pandered to also – not just about being domesticated. A mummy’s boy has no regard for his wife and it is all about him. tanya: A mummy’s boy wouldn’t stick up for his wife against his mother – the mentality is ‘can’t upset Mummy!’ profile: The character of Trey from Sex and the City – a mummy’s boy or a boy who just loves his mother? natalie: A mummy’s boy. He tells his mother everything – that is classic mummy’s boy behaviour. Too much information! Didn’t his mother even pick out the furniture for their Park Avenue apartment? sandra: It is nice for boys to be close to their mums, but mothers should not interfere, especially in relationships. Boys just need to know that their mums are there when they need them. My two boys are grown up and are very independent but we are also extremely close.

natalie: You sound like the mother-in-law from heaven! sandra: I am proud my boys live their own lives and are self-sufficient. Even within their relationships they are independent. My eldest has been with his girlfriend for several years. She studies medicine, he surfs. They do their own thing but complement each other in the most beautiful way. natalie: That stems from their upbringing, good on you. sandra: We decided to send the boys to an all-boys boarding school in Brisbane for high school and I think this has given them a very strong foundation in life and great camaraderie with their friends. profile: So, can anyone think off-hand of a real-life mummy’s boy? Do they exist in today’s modern world? di: Oh yes! My friend’s brother is the youngest of four and is spoilt rotten. He is incapable of doing anything domestic. He married in his early 20’s and his wife’s role was to swoon at him, cook, clean and breed. He is now divorced but he moves from girlfriend to girlfriend, always managing to find a replacement to cook and clean … and swoon. They all get sick of it eventually. When he is in between partners, my gosh, you should see the house! It is a complete state. kellie: My cousin lived at home until the day he got married and then went from the care of his mother to the care of his wife. His parents even used to reverse the car out of the garage each morning onto the road so it was ready for him to drive straight out to work. At his wedding, his mother looked like she was at a funeral. natalie: One of my relatives is married to a man who rings his mother every day. His mother has access to all the couple’s financial accounts and she has even rung his wife before complaining about how much she had spent on a pair of shoes!

When the couple bought their house, his mother was there. She helped choose it. His mother is a constant presence in their lives and has quite a strong grip. She is like the mother out of Everybody Loves Raymond! profilemagazine

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At his wedding, his mother looked like she was at a funeral.

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the view from relish restaurant

profile: Do you think how a man treats his mother is an indication of how you will be treated as the next lady in his life? tanya: Boys can be very close to their mothers and this can be lovely to see. It is my experience that boys don’t stay in contact as much as girls, however. natalie: You have to look at the mother also.

There is a fine line between babying and helping your son – mothers need to get a balance and give their sons space. Too much or too little is detrimental. sandra: A good group of friends is very important. dot: I agree with Sandra and Kellie. My son Robbie is in a band called The Benedicts and it is so good for him to have that team mentality and support. The band is becoming a great success and they even have some music on Triple J Unearthed to download / listen to. They are certainly not mummy’s boys! kellie: You know boys are doing well when they are polite – I often have a house full of teenage boys. They may look like ruffians but they are well brought up with good manners. profile: How do we ensure that we as mums do not raise mummy’s boys? natalie: Well after this chat, I think I am going to take a few things on board when I go home. di: You butt out. Allow your kids to be independent. sandra: You lead by example. tanya: You encourage your kids to help and to do what’s fair. I see friends who do everything for their kids, and this cannot be good. Don’t pick up after your kids constantly, support a team effort, teach them to have pride and confidence in who they are. natalie: If you mother a child too much, he can’t then exist without his mother. tanya: And then people wonder why those boys won’t do anything. It is because they can’t. katja: [our gorgeous profile photographer cannot help interjecting into the fabulous lunch debate] My older brother lives in New York and my mother recently found out he had no doona cover.

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This was his choice – he just couldn’t be bothered to buy one. But mum couldn’t help herself – she sent him a doona cover by post from Rome to America. I couldn’t believe it! kellie: Some of it is to do with traditional roles in the house. I am from an Italian family and my father’s mother did everything. Conversely though, my dad loves to cook, wash, and clean because he was never allowed to as a child. natalie: I love that Kooper gets to see me working – I hope to be a strong female role model at work and at home. profile: So, do you think mummy’s boys are a dying breed? natalie: I think so, yes. More and more women work and cannot pander to their sons or husbands. kellie: I think they may be in decline, but time will tell. sandra: People have to work now and the family unit has changed for sure. di: I only just about manage to look after myself and my dog! tanya: My girlfriend recently had to go away for a weekend and left her husband with the kids and he was terrified. It did him good though and made a man out of him.

So there we have it. Mummy’s boys are alive and kicking, but they are not appealing. Us women don’t want to have to fight against a third wheel in the form of a mother-in-law (I mean, who has the time or the energy?) and the concept of waiting hand and foot on our men is not a turn on. In a world where we can live anywhere on the planet if we so wish, there is an abundance of choice in where we find our men and, when we do, how close we live to the in-laws. Mummy’s boys had better shape-up or ship-out as they will be either left on the shelf with their mothers, or if lucky, rescued by women braver than I who will uproot and replant their men far, far away from the shadow of their mummies so they may blossom on their own turf. Let it be a warning to us all.

relish RESTAURANT, noosa springs Noosa Springs’ multi award-winning restaurant, Relish, is tucked away at the end of a tree-lined drive. Specialising in modern Australian / Mediterranean cuisine, the restaurant allows diners to enjoy a la carte dining in air-conditioned comfort or to choose the alfresco alternative that enjoys a spectacular outlook. Relish’s chefs use fresh local produce to create dishes of outstanding culinary excellence. The restaurant is rated among the best in Noosa, with a host of industry and local awards.

Relish offered the most sublime service I had experienced in a long time and our menu was equally as decadent. We were treated like VIPs with a fabulous beverage choice including Babich Black Label sauvignon blanc, Johnny Q Sparkling, Seven Hill shiraz, Hungerford Hill pinot, and fresh orange juice to whet our pallets as our main course of braised veal stuffed with spinach and goat’s cheese, together with fried polenta, forest mushroom ragu and salsa verde arrived on the table looking exquisitely sophisticated and tasting just as incredible.

The combination of flavours treated the taste buds to a sensational delight and yet the meal was light; just perfect.

Dessert continued in this superior vein, with a raspberry and burnt lime crème brulee with green tea ice cream – again an explosion of flavour and the clear work of a talented chef.

Relish Restaurant, Noosa Springs is open for breakfast and lunch daily and for dinner Wednesday to Saturday.

Relish Restaurant, Links Drive, Noosa Springs.

5440 3333 www.noosasprings.com.au

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cover story

I’m just awestruck by nature … the symmetry of a spider’s web, the colours on a beetle. I have always had a genuine love of the environment and nature.”

Narelle mccarthy wears ‘green reusable shopping bag’ dress designed and made by the profile team. dress (only top shown) from casar elegance maroochydore, WWW. CASARELEGANCE.COM.AU. accessories from costume fever, maroochydore, phone 5443 5343.

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cover story

words alli grant ll photography alan hughes ll makeup katie mackenzie ll shoot styling genine howard

Imagine a life where you get paid to do what you love. Sportspeople, actors, singers, fitness trainers, chefs, even writers get paid to do what gives them great joy. So how do you get to this happy place? Alli Grant meets Narelle McCarthy from the Sunshine Coast Environment Council (SCEC) in celebration of this month’s eco issue, and discovers that, despite Kermit the Frog’s allegations to the contrary, perhaps it is easy being green after all.

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’ve always envied people who have a clear passion in life to guide them – it defines who they are, gives them purpose and motivates them, professionally and personally. They have one key reason for living.

So it’s a little embarrassing to admit, as I may appear somewhat shallow or like I’m living a life without purpose, that I don’t think I actually have one clear passion. Perhaps I’m passionless. Wow, that’s quite the admission. Makes me sound a little like the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz … born without a heart. Poor dear.

Don’t get me wrong – I live for my family, my husband and my son, but I don’t really think the love you have for your family is the same as a lifelong passion. Or is it?

Surely I have one … um … let me think about this for a minute. I have to be passionate about something. Okay, yes, how about shopping? Perhaps it’s an obsession rather than a passion?

I am definitely appreciative of good food and wine, but you won’t see me on MasterChef whipping up a homemade mayonnaise anytime soon (although you may see me at the local bottle shop every now and then).

I’ve got it! I was really passionate about Today’s Karl Stefanovic winning the Gold Logie – I even texted through a vote or two at the expensive rate of 55 cents a text. Right, so that sounds a little stalker-like. Not a passion – just a crush.

[Insert moment of clarity here.] I am definitely passionate about writing; about sharing the stories of others with the world. I love inspiring, educating and entertaining through my words. But I have only recently discovered this passion. Can I then claim it as a life-altering dream? Perhaps it is. I certainly intend to tip tap away at my keyboard for the rest of my days. Yay! I found it!

Phew, that’s a relief. No need to nip down the Yellow Brick Road to visit the mighty Wizard alongside Dorothy and her heartless / courage-less / brainless friends. I most definitely have a passion – it just took a little longer to bubble to the surface.

Unlike my later-in-life discovery, many people have always lived for a clear passion – art, music, cooking, performing, fitness, sport, nature, cars. I think the ultimate in personal satisfaction is to turn your passion into a career. Chefs, fitness instructors, performers, actors, singers, oh and writers, are all living their dreams, their passions. You know you’ve made it when you get paid to do something you would happily do for free anyway.

Meet Narelle McCarthy. She is definitely living her passion. Narelle gets up every day and feels privileged to be paid to do what she loves. She returns home at night and lives a life devoted to this passion. When it comes to down time with her partner of 30 years, Dean, she gets out in the thick of her passion – she embraces it, enjoys it, celebrates it.

Narelle lives and breathes the environment. As campaigns manager at the Sunshine Coast Environment Council (‘SCEC’ – the not-for-profit peak environment group for the region formed in 1980) she is most definitely a queen of green. But while she has always had an affinity with the environment

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and has lived a “simple life”; she was a late bloomer on the eco-career front, a little like me really. Narelle admits that the environment was always an “underlying theme” in her life.

“I’m just awestruck by nature … the symmetry of a spider’s web, the colours on a beetle. I have always had a genuine love of the environment and nature.”

Born in Sydney, Narelle is the youngest of five children.

“Growing up we lived on a property in Melbourne. I just loved being in the bush. When I was about 11, we moved to North Queensland, to Ayr [near Townsville]. I remember the train ride up there on the Sunlander. It was February and we arrived in the middle of the night. The doors opened and we were surrounded by humidity and sugar cane – it was quite a contrast from Melbourne. It took a little while but I really loved it.”

The family moved back to Brisbane when Narelle was in year 11. She decided to pursue a more practical path and completed a TAFE course in business before snagging her first job in hospitality. She would spend the next 20 years travelling the country, enjoying high profile hospitality roles and experiencing nature with her partner, Dean, whom she met in Brisbane, by her side.

“I worked front of house in a hotel in Brisbane for a few years, then I moved to the Coast in the mid ‘80s. We lived at Point Arkwright – we did so much diving and exploring in the reefs off the point. We just immersed ourselves in nature.”

Narelle’s love for all things green was definitely blossoming. It helped that the couple was also passionate about the water, stemming from their love of diving and sailing. In fact, Dean built a catamaran – a vessel that would take them on many an adventure in the years to come.

“Dean [an engineer and fabricator by trade] is so resourceful. While he built his own boat and works on other projects, he is looking to turn his hand to innovations that benefit the environment. He definitely shares the same affinity with nature as me.”

The ocean still calls to Dean and Narelle and they love escaping the everyday and exploring nature via the deep blue sea. They even sailed to Cape York in the late ‘90s, spending a year “adventuring and diving”.

I get the feeling Narelle had itchy little feet back then. Perhaps that’s just the nature of the hospitality game, or perhaps she was a little lost – searching for the role that would best suit her. The pair definitely experienced life – hitting the open seas when they could and soaking up all Mother Nature had to offer. Narelle enjoyed a number of high profile jobs along the way – with the Hyatt Regency Coolum, a position on Fraser Island and a role with a hotel management company in Sydney.

But it was on a sailing trip to Cardwell in 2004 that Narelle had her epiphany. She realised she had actually found her passion – and now she had to work out a way to live it.

“I had been fortunate with the [hospitality] roles I had had and gave my all, but I wasn’t passionate about them.”

I can appreciate Narelle’s moment of clarity – the moment the light switch

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It was the most heart-wrenching day of my life watching those trees brought down. We tried every avenue to have it stopped …

Sunshine Coast Environment Council’s Narelle McCarthy is living the dream. She gets paid to fulfil a role she would have happily done for free – protect something so dear to her heart, the environment.

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in your brain is flicked on and you realise what you should have been doing all along. I had this moment after the first issue of profile magazine came out, some three years ago. I had always liked to write, but hadn’t considered it as a career. Everything fell into place and I found myself writing the first cover story for the first issue of the magazine, and I haven’t looked back. Although I think I only recently embraced it as my passion. Funny how something can be staring you straight in the face sometimes, yet you can’t see it! For me, it was writing. For Narelle, it was protecting the environment.

She goes on to explain her love of all things eco.

“I was always passionate about natural therapies and holistic medicine. It has been a hobby on the side along the way. I love gaining that knowledge and applying those elements to my life. I also study yoga – I love studying.”

In 2005, Narelle went on to complete a diploma in conservation and land management at Cooloola TAFE in Nambour. But what was Narelle’s dream?

“I knew I wanted to be effective in protecting the environment – that was my mantra. Effective was my doing word! I didn’t know how or where, but I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”

Narelle has spent her entire life celebrating, exploring and embracing nature, so she figured it was time to add ‘protecting’ to the list. While studying, she joined a local Mount Coolum community group, Development Watch, which stemmed from the Mount Coolum Resident’s Association.

“The group was formed in 2004 to protect 30 mature eucalypt trees on a parcel of land that had been approved for development. They estimated the trees were between 250 and 400 years old. They formed Development Watch [of which Narelle is currently vice president] to protect the trees – my hand went straight up when they asked for volunteers. So we got together to see what we could do.”

Unfortunately, while they “almost got there”, the trees were ultimately cleared to make way for development.

“It was the most heart-wrenching day of my life watching those trees brought down. We tried every avenue to have it stopped, and while we couldn’t save the trees [some of which are now monuments at Point Perry in Coolum], we at least quashed the application for a more dense development.”

I have this mental image of Narelle chaining herself to a grand old gum tree or standing in the way of an oncoming bulldozer – she’s that passionate about the environment.

When she talks about the loss of the trees it’s almost like she’s reflecting on the loss of an old friend. What a beautiful gift – to see nature in this way.

So does she think of herself as a ‘tree hugger’, I laugh?

“I have definitely been known to hug a few trees,” she chuckles. “When the eucalypts were brought down I was just so angry. I have also been known to hold a placard or two, but I haven’t thrown myself in front of a bulldozer.

“The environmental movement does have credibility – people realise there are times when direct action is needed.

It’s very much about people power and community voice.

A government often won’t change policy unless people demand it.”

Narelle goes on to explain that it’s all about the physicality of decisions made – a project can be approved in concept on paper, but this is conceptual only. “It’s the

physicality of what is to happen on the site that matters – how it will affect the land, the wildlife, the waterways and the trees once the dozing starts. If development is to occur, and in some cases it shouldn’t be happening at all in certain areas, it should and can be done in a sustainable manner, or nature misses out.

“The Mount Coolum experience was a real learning curve for me. I became far more active and aware about what I could do to help – write letters, make phone calls, being informed and bringing the issues to the attention of the politicians and decision makers. I was so distraught that such environmental vandalism was allowed to happen. Once approvals are in place it can be very difficult to stop the process.

“Although the rate, scale and location of development need to be reigned in due to the negative impacts on our environment and well-being, it’s not necessarily as simplistic as ‘no development’. It’s about appropriate and ecologically sustainable development. There’s a difference.”

Narelle became more heavily involved with SCEC during this period – collaborating on a number of development issues and writing for their newspaper.

So naturally, when a job as a coordinator popped up in 2007, she threw her hat in the ring. Finally – her dream job. She was getting paid to do what she loved.

She could be instrumental in change. She could protect the environment. She could impact the legislation. She could speak for the nature she so loved.

“It often comes down to planning and policy. Someone needs to act on behalf of the wildlife through legislation and advocacy. The massive lack of respect for nature spurred me on.”

SCEC’s main role is to encourage and support Sunshine Coast individuals and communities to participate in working towards the goal of environmental sustainability through leadership, education and environmental activism. They also engage with their 55 member groups and broader membership to manage campaign issues to effect change. These groups include the likes of Maroochy Waterwatch, Noosa Landcare, Coolum Coast Care, the Wildlife Preservation Society, rate payer associations, and a broad and active mix of community groups.

“We are the umbrella group. All these groups do such a fantastic job, but our role as regional affiliate for the Queensland Conservation Council means we can further support these groups.”

Narelle took on the role of manager with SCEC in 2008, saying, “It was an unexpected but welcome step – I was amazed at how the path unfolded. I appreciated the opportunity to speak out and act on behalf of our members and the wider Sunshine Coast community.”

Surely it’s a different world now, compared to when SCEC came about in the 1980s?

“It may be a different era with less of an overt ‘us and them’ scenario, but similarities persist from that period that still confront us today. There is a greater willingness and responsibility to work collaboratively to protect green space and ensure sustainable development.

Development activities that lead to unacceptable impacts on the environment and impact the Sunshine Coast lifestyle are challenged [by SCEC].

“With biodiversity in crisis and many species in profilemag.com.au

cover story

Narelle McCarthy pictured during a Save Our Koala rally whilst being interviewed for an American documentary at Parliament House, Brisbane.

Photographer: Jackie Smith

We all have to look at the way we live. It’s about awareness. We have to be conscious of our role in nature as it’s these choices that make all the difference.”

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decline, conservation efforts are so important. We need to look at policy and how and where it’s letting the environment down. And we are focused on proactive sustainability and addressing issues like unsustainable population growth, over-consumption of resources and climate change.”

Narelle most definitely walks the walk and talks the talk when it comes to protecting the environment (think solar and organic veggie patches), but she is also very modest about what she sees as her small contribution.

“There are so many people in this region who have inspired me, who do so much more than me – Professor Ian Lowe, Jill Chamberlain of Wildlife Queensland, Elaine Green, author and conservationist, Ian Mackay of the Conondale Range Committee, Phil Moran of Noosa Landcare, Leigh Warneminde of Coolum Coastcare, the many wonderful people involved with SCEC over the past 30 years – and innumerable others who contribute enormously to the region. I can’t say I’m an eco-angel but I do what I can and always try to do more. The protection and improvement of the environment is an incredible region-wide team effort.

I’m certainly not a one-man-band.”

While quick to point out that she’s not alone in her crusade, she does admit that her passion is allconsuming. “Sometimes I do feel frustrated. Like I haven’t done enough.”

Haven’t done enough? By anyone’s standards, Narelle is doing more than her fair share. In fact, she even resigned from her post at SCEC to stand for a local seat in the federal election last year, choosing to stand for the Greens.

“It was a natural progression really. I wanted to speak out and represent the community – there was a need for change. Other party policies weren’t addressing issues like climate change and the green economy. I wanted to talk about the issues and offer a positive direction, not just about the environment, but on a broader range of issues. I was so encouraged by the support I received.”

Narelle received an impressive 18 percent of the

primary vote and, while she didn’t win the seat, was heartened and encouraged by the experience. Although feeling buoyant following the election, she admitted feeling somewhat directionless until the position of campaigns manager came up at SCEC. So she’s back doing what she loves – effecting change.

Everywhere we turn we are reminded about the preciousness of our environment and the impact each and every one of us makes each day. What advice does Narelle have for every day folk?

“We all have to look at the way we live. It’s about awareness. We have to be conscious of our role in nature as it’s these choices that make all the difference.

We need to look at our consumer choices, we have to decrease our demand on fossil fuel, be more selfsufficient and definitely be more conscious about our waste. That’s why SCEC’s motto, Our Environment, Our Lifestyle, Our Choices, is so fitting.”

“Some people think that making environmentallysound choices will mean a less comfortable lifestyle but that’s definitely not the case. We have to remember that society is a subset of our environment. Everything we do is linked to the environment and sustainability.

There is so much in decline so we can’t continue on with a ‘business as usual’ mentality.”

But what really touches her heart when it comes to Mother Nature and all her glory?

“While I love the ocean, it’s the trees – definitely.

Trees are very close to my heart, and the vegetation and all it represents. It provides habitat, food and shelter to so many animals. Nature is just so majestic. I just find it magnificent, in all its different forms, from the massive eucalypts to the little wildflowers.”

There it is. That passion. That love. That drive.

Narelle’s love for the environment comes from an intrinsic place – a deeper place. Passions are either there or they’re not.

And best of all? I get to dabble in my passion, writing, to share Narelle’s passion, the environment, with the world. I am proud to be able to help Narelle be “effective”. It’s all in a day’s work, really.

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briefcase

the numbers man.

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glen palmer

nown to some as the un–accountant accountant, Glen Palmer is not your typical numbers man. His business, Core Business and Management Advice, specialises in helping other businesses grow and develop, bringing a twist to the ordinary accountants of old.

A self-described “business builder”, Glen has certainly found his niche. “I moved into business consulting after having been involved with traditional accounting firms who were just focused on putting numbers in boxes. I saw a lot of things that didn’t work and a lot that did and I wanted to be able to share this knowledge with those who were willing to listen.”

After a period living in Sydney, the comparatively quieter roads and relaxed atmosphere are among some of Glen’s favourite things about his home. “Having lived in Sydney for 15 years where I commuted large distances to and from work, one of my favourite things about the Coast is the 10 minute drive to and from work each day,” Glen explains. “Not being caught up in the big city rat race is a big positive.

must love dogs.

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melissa bruce

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n any business, clients can be unpredictable, and when you’re working with animals every single day, it’s a given. But for Melissa Bruce of Clever Paws, this is what keeps it interesting. A love of all things dogs means her work is not just a way to pay the bills, it’s a passion.

And it was this love of animals that meant that when it came to choosing what Melissa would do with her life, there was really no other choice. “I have never been interested in anything else enough to actually pursue a career in it! I have worked with and been passionate about dogs all my life. I started this business just after I turned 18, and I’ve simply never looked back.”

With dreams of joining the Australian Air Force as a military dog trainer driving her forward, everything changed when a head-on collision with a drunken driver forced her to re-evaluate her future. No longer eligible for her dream job, it was the help and inspiration of the dogs she was training during recovery that kept her optimistic about the future.

Training and attempting to modify the behaviour of often difficult and unrelenting clients means that the job does come with some pressures which do not

words jessica williams ll photography shawn abrams

I also love the relaxed, casual atmosphere of the Coast, which is helped by being surrounded by so many people who are on holidays.”

Certainly another favourite thing about his home is the love of sports among locals. “My two passions are sport and food. I enjoy unwinding watching sport – especially the AFL and NRL, but pretty much anything accompanied by a cold beer. I also love to get out and have a meal at the many different restaurants and cafes on the Coast. There is a growing variety to choose from, which is great.”

The un–accountant accountant is definitely making a difference within the business community, thanks to his unique approach to partnering businesses.

“Our clients cover a broad range of industries which allows us a huge amount of variety. No two days are the same which is just the way I like it.”

Whether it is business-building or football, cafes or number crunching, Glen certainly has given the traditional accountant stereotype a bit of a shake up.

words jessica williams ll photography shawn abrams

accompany other careers. “I do this job because I love working with dogs so much, but dealing with the highly emotional side of working with dogs, where I am often the last step before the dog is re-homed or even put down, can be hard.”

While there are challenges that accompany working with man’s best friend, the good moments certainly outweigh the bad. “While I was travelling and working through Queensland and the Northern Territory, there was this little border collie puppy who was about eight weeks old. Every time she saw Storm (my very fluffy Alaskan malamute) she would run and hang off his tail like a mad dog! She thought it was the best fun ever because he could hardly catch her, and she was so tiny she’d just growl and hang on to his fur like a little koala.”

While her clients can often be irritable and sometimes hard to understand, Melissa has made a career out of finding a way to get through to her non-human clients. The language barrier may prove to be a hurdle at times, but Melissa is doing her best to ensure that every dog has its day.

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Quality childcare and early learning for children from 6 weeks to 5 years old.

• Separate Nursery and Pre-Prep wings • Air-conditioned centre • Library, music and sport lessons for Pre-Prep For more information Ph: (07) 5453 7077 • newleaf@scgs.qld.edu.au 372 Mons Road, Forest Glen Qld 4556 www.scgs.qld.edu.au/newleaf

Begin your journey earlier – book a tour today! Phone (07) 5453 7077

june 11

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business promotion

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n the first of these monthly ‘getting to know you’ chats, we meet husband and wife team, Doug Wilson and Lisa Storey-Wilson, both property consultants with Henzells Agency. Doug has worked with Henzells Agency for eight years and is married to his real estate partnerin-crime, Lisa. Together they share not only the same workplace, but a 21-year-old daughter.

What drew you both to a career in real estate? doug: Having bought and sold Sunshine Coast beachfront properties, I had a solid interest in property prices and the real estate market in general. lisa: I had personally bought and sold property for years, and in my previous job I was working with property developers, so I had always had the bug for it.

What is the most frustrating part of your role? doug: Paperwork! That’s why I’ve got a P.A. lisa: No two days start and finish the same – expect the unexpected!

Aside from your job, what is your true passion in life? doug: Having a healthy lifestyle to give me great energy. lisa: Travel, travel travel!

Something most people wouldn’t know about you: lisa: I was a state champion gymnast. I also represented my basketball club in competitions in the USA. doug: I had my own business as a spray painter and panel beater from the age of 20 in Newcastle, NSW, then went into managing a car rental franchise in Cairns in North Queensland.

What do you love the most about living on the Sunshine Coast? doug: Always being close to the water, and it’s still like a big country town in Caloundra in a lot of ways.

Do you have a favourite holiday destination? lisa: We absolutely love Waikiki, Hawaii and go there every year without fail.

Most embarrassing life moment: doug: I still can’t talk about it …

Describe your dream home. doug: A comfortable unit with water views. A home that can be locked up and left so we can spend three weeks in Hawaii, with no concerns about maintenance.

Do you have any unusual hobbies? How do you spend your time off? lisa: Did someone say there is time off with this job? I do find time to get to the beach and I love visiting the local markets.

The best part about working with your spouse? lisa: We know what is required to be successful real estate agents and we support each other to not let things get in the way. doug: I get to boss her around in the office, but she bosses me around at home ...

The big, wide, wonderful world of real estate can be a daunting beast, with so much money on the line and people’s lives and family homes at stake. So it stands to reason that you wouldn’t want to trust the sale of your property to just anyone. With this in mind, meet the stellar team at Henzells Agency, Caloundra – a team of honest professionals who live and work in the local community.

Best quality in your partner / spouse? doug: Lisa is fun to be around, she is upbeat and energetic. lisa: Doug is highly professional, successful, loving and caring – and he puts up with me!

Would you buy a property from your spouse? lisa: Yes, but he’d probably make me pay too much for it ...

Motto you live by? doug: Embrace change, before it embraces you. lisa: What goes around, comes around.

AGENCY

Henzells Caloundra 49 Bulcock Street, Caloundra Qld 4551 Phone: 07 5491 2000 Fax: 07 5491 5166 Email: sales@henzells.com.au

lisa storey-wilson and doug wilson, shot on location at Caloundra RSL.

www.henzells.com.au

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my your ultimate guide to fashion and beauty

narelle wright

style counsel

profile loves

SUPER NATURAL FASHION june 11

my favourite things CURVES ARE BACK

vanity case

HEAVEN ON EARTH fashion

AN OCCASION TO REMEMBER

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window shopping

bootylicious Taupe Fiona McGuinness ANKLE BOOT, $275, purr-dantik, buderim. phone 5445 4885

my favourite things ...

This month my favourite thing is jeans. Yes, those long denim threads that were discarded to the back of our wardrobes for the summer are now making a comeback.

I am, however, too frightened to don my skinny jeans (bought in a moment of shopping euphoria) from last season, as, unfortunately, I wouldn’t necessarily label myself as ‘skinny’ enough to fit into them anymore, although I am working on it. Seems I don’t have to worry as good ol’ Levi’s® are back and they are made for us women with curves – hooray!

from day to night I am a big fan of Australian designer Rachel Gilbert - her sequinned gowns, long and short for evening wear, are just beautiful. Rachel has now branched into day wear with her Ready to Wear line in stores.

Locally, head to Rachel Gilbert advocates, La Vida in Mooloolaba or phone 02 8338 0192 for stockists. www.rachelgilbert.com

GENINE HOWARD PUBLISHER / MANAGING EDITOR

Rachel Gilbert Callum Dress from the Rachel Gilbert Ready to Wear Line, RRP $420. Available from La Vida, Mooloolaba and selected retailers.

on the cover: rachel gilbert bam bam t-shirt (RRP $295) from the Rachel Gilbert Ready to Wear Line.

Available from La Vida, Mooloolaba, and selected retailers.

from buderim to the runway Kooshka Salon duo Daniella Saville and Candice Presland headed to Circular Quay, Sydney, in May, chosen as the only two hair stylists from the Sunshine Coast to take part in the Rosemount Australia Fashion Week (RAFW). RAFW is Australia’s frontmost event in the fashion industry, providing a means for both established and up-and-coming designers to show off their collections to the world’s most prestigious fashion buyers. Well done!

5456 2570

curves are back Women across the world, including me, are rejoicing as Levi’s® have revealed their new Levi’s® Curve ID range in all cuts for the autumn-winter season, claiming to fit 80 percent of women! After surveying 60,000 women worldwide to establish the three universal body types, Levi’s® produced their staple jeans in the Curve ID fit technology.

What clever things! Now their winter collection, including skinny, straight leg, slim leg and boot cut, will come in the Curve ID technology meaning no matter your style you can find the perfect jean.

Look out for ‘Slight Curve’, ‘Demi Curve’ and ‘Bold Curve’, honouring genuine curves and hugging the waist without gaping or pulling. Available from Levi’s® stores and stockists around Australia, starting at $99.95. www.levis.com.au

to help get into those skinny jeans hard as nails Face of Australia has just released their newest range of limited edition nail polishes, Molten Metallics. In eight perfect winter-ready shades, these polishes are made for the upcoming cool season.

RRP $4.95. For stockists, head to www.faceofaustralia.com.au

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Have you heard of Med Countour? It is a non-surgical, non-invasive medical technology using ultrasound therapy for the treatment of fat and cellulite reduction, perfect to fit into those winter denims! This groundbreaking technology claims to break up fat and tighten the skin to smooth body contours, reduce the appearance of cellulite and remove stubborn fatty deposits that don’t budge, even with diet and exercise. In just a single session, the circumference of the treated area is visibly reduced, with the skin immediately taking on a smoother, more toned appearance. The Med Contour treatment is currently only available at Medical Body Contouring, Noosa. www.medicalbodycontouring.com.au profilemag.com.au

   

Finally – Relief From Psoriasis and Eczema Once known as The Fruit of The Kings, Avocados were reserved for Royalty.

Now easily accessible to most, the world is discovering the wonderful benefits of Avocados.

Did you know Avocado Oil: Provides moisture to dry & dehydrated skin Assists with age spots, sun damage & scars Naturally increases collagen production Soothes Nappy Rash & Chicken Pox Makes a wonderfully moisturising massage oil Relieves Psoriasis & Eczema

Now available on-line www.westernspringsfarm.com with free postage within Australia june 11

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heavenly hair pure heavenly treatment, $26.95. available at eco organic hair and beauty, cotton tree. phone 5451 1300

wonderful

a natural beauty jane iredale - THE SKIN CARE MAKEUP Dream Tint, RRP $72. a winner in 2011 natural beauty awards. This super-absorbent product not only hydrates, but prevents water loss, calms inflammation and improves the skin’s elasticity. Plus, Dream Tint® creates a soft-focus effect that minimises the look of large pores and fine lines. For stockist information phone 1300 850 008 or visit www.margifox.com.au

Seven Wonders Moroccan Oil Treatment, RRP $34.95 125ml. For stockists visit www.sevenwonders.com.au

®

don’t fade pureology anti-fade complex pure volume blowdry amplifier, $42. available at kooshka hair and fashion, buderim. phone 5456 2570

beautifully brushed The Body Shop Bamboo Brushes, prices start from RRP $9.95. For stockists or to make a purchase, head to www.thebodyshop.com.au

friendly tools ecoTOOLS Bamboo Nail Files, RRP $5.95.

For stockists phone 02 9526 0777

with Katie Mackenzie beauty director

treat your skin

creamy scrub

the secret’s out

organic magic

hair care

Endota Spa Organic Rose and Myrrh Face Mask, RRP $55. gently clears and hydrates skin with organic ingredients. www.endota.com.au

Thalgo terre and mer Marine Scrub with Organic Almond Shell, $51. This creamy texture exfoliates the skin and neutralises dead cells and impurities. www.stephanies.com.au

Andama Secret Hair Treatment, RRP $199.95.

Andama Secret is a natural herbal treatment with scientifically-proven components which strengthen hair roots and prevent hair loss while stimulating hair follicles and encouraging new hair growth. To purchase head to www.themineralmiracle.com.au

10 serum, $39.95. available at mos organic skincare, montville. www.montvilleorganicskincare. com.au

Label. m Organic Orange Blossom Shampoo, $47.50. Available at Toni and Guy, Cotton Tree, phone 5451 0251

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ll photography shawn abrams Owner of La Vida, Mooloolaba, Narelle Wright has lived on the Sunshine Coast for more than 10 years with her accountant husband, Phil, and boys, David and Steven. Fashion has always been a family affair for Narelle, with her mother handing down her seamstress and design skills to her.

We chat to Narelle about her long-standing passion for fashion.

profile: What is your best style tip?

Every woman should wear colour that suits them and not wear a colour just because it is in fashion.

narelle wright

profile: What looks can we expect to see this season?

The major influence of colour this winter will be shades of tan, beige, caramel and coffee. These neutral colours will team well with navy, white and black pieces from last season. Spring will introduce an earth palette of terracotta and plum with a colour splash of crayola brights. There will be less embellishment and bling on fashion pieces with a concentration on knots, belts and plaiting. The maxi trend is still on-going with a ‘70s revival of bell sleeves and flares. profile: What is the must-have item for our wardrobes this season?

The tan handbag or clutch is a must to accessorise your winter outfit, together with statement jewellery pieces. The caramel or black crop jacket is essential to wear with a good fitting pair of jeans. Felt hats are making a comeback so look out for them. For spring a must is a beautiful maxi dress or skirt to take you from the beach to the bar. profile: Who is your favourite designer?

I have two favourite labels: Sass and Bide is fashion-forward in design, setting the style and trend for each season, and One Season design the perfect holiday and beach wear in hand-crafted 36

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Indian cotton. Their no fuss, non-iron styles suit the busy lifestyle of all women. profile: How would you describe your own style?

I’ve had plenty of time to experiment with different styles. By the time you get to my age you know what suits you and you look for comfort in your clothing. I love wearing something different but I am influenced by my beach lifestyle. profile: What is coming up in-store?

The most amazing collection from Talulah is arriving in July. Talulah was started six years ago by designer Kelli Wharton. This label has come of age in design, fabric and style. Her collection is more day-to-day pieces to complement her move to Byron Bay. The sort-after Sass and Bide ‘Boogie and the History Maker’ range arrives in July. It is inspired by an energetic collection of colours – sienna, plum and ink.

profile: What is your craziest fashion moment?

The ‘70s fashion was moving from the hippie era to where the mini, midi and maxi skirts, hot pants and body suits were in vogue. I remember wearing a maxi skirt split to the waist over an all in one body suit with hot pants … I had a figure then. It was a great time for fashion as there was so much choice! profile: What is your favourite fashion memory?

One customer hugged me and cried because she didn’t think she would find something to fit her for a special wedding. Also, watching Kelli Wharton’s label, Talulah, grow from her first collection has been just amazing. I feel proud of what she has achieved. profile: What do you always have in your handbag?

Too much! Tissues, make-up, perfume, sunnies, pen, notebook, phone. But I can never find anything I need!

profile: What is your fashion fetish?

I have so many great leather handbags from the Luisa Clare designs that I am running out of storage space at home! My other fetish is jewellery. I love pieces that are different and I wear lots of the Blue Turtle range.

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fashion

devine boho Hobo Boho Divine Monk Top, $675 (outerwear), Silent Monk Knit Top, $250 and Boho Monk tie-up shorts, $225.

Available from www. roopapemmaraju.com

everything old is neuw again The creative muse behind denim brand Neuw is more than 2000 broken down, altered, ruined and re-stitched pairs of vintage jeans. Neuw Jeans, priced under $200. For stockist details phone 03 9415 6652 or visit www.neuw.com.au

felt it These cute new felt bags are made from organe or green wool felt from factory excess. Fuz Em Tote Bag, RRP $139.95.

Available at www.kindredgifts.com

be wyse Wyse toga top in black, $129, with Wyse green turtle neck polo, $110.

Soul Diva, Buderim phone 5456 4111

verily green Verily Howl Tunic, RRP $158.00. Available from Soul Diva, Buderim, Essential Style, Cotton Tree, and Carmel’s Designs and Homewares, Mooloolaba, or online www.verily.com.au

Fashion with a conscience … wear these sustainable pieces with pride, knowing you are helping the environment, one garment at a time. tipsy toes Tipsy Toes, $19.95.

Available online at www. tipsytoes.com.au

eco synergy Sinerji short jacket, $139, with Tunic dress, $89. Visit www.sinerji.com.au.

Sinierji clothing has a new home! Their new store is located within the Natural Foodstore building at 330 Mons Road in Forest Glen. The building uses ecological sustainable building methods, recycled beams, rain water tanks and they have installed the first electric car charge station in Queensland in their carpark. Now that’s smart fashion!

top up Obus The long haul cropped long sleeve top, RRP $79.00. Available from www.obus.com.au and selected stockists. Phone 03 9482 5002

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darling doily Reskewed Doily Earrings, $8 to $10.

Available at Adina Community Market, Eumundi Markets and Oople in Eumundi.

Visit www.reskewd.vpweb.com.au

bamboo beauty Cylk Body Sculpting Slip, RRP $135. made using bamboo.

Available from www.cylk.com.au and Noosa Classics, Noosaville, phone 5474 1577

knit one sunny style Dragon Sunglasses, RRP $179.95.

MADE 100 percent from plant-based renewable materials. For stockists phone 03 5261 6660

Hand-knitted bag made from recycled plastic, available in metallic or black, $129.95. Available from Ritz of Buderim, Harper Street in Peregian, Ginger Blossom at Eumundi Emporium, Aura in Coolum, Cooroy Shoes and at www.spoiltbysenka.com

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ONC

E-ASPEC YEAR IAL

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advice

bridal beauty countdown with Leigh Campbell When getting married, a bride naturally wants to look her best. There is so much to think about when organising a wedding, but time should also be made for that all-important bridal beauty preparation. Looking fabulous on the big day does not just happen over night! I have to admit, I was blown away with the natural glow and radiance of Kate Middleton but I am sure she would have had a few treatments to help her out. I am often asked by brides how to get perfect skin before their big day, so here are my tips.

Three months out Skin consultation with your beauty therapist to work out basic skin-care regime for your skin type and design a skin treatment program.

•• The best treatment to start off is a mircodermabrasion. This is a popular and effective skin treatment. It is an advanced form of exfoliation that is going to buff and polish the surface skin and encourage faster production of more fresh skin cells, if done regularly.

Two months out

One week to go

•• Continue with a mixture of exfoliating, purifying treatments.

•• Undertake an all-body waxing program.

•• Skin renewal peels are fantastic for purifying and detoxing your skin.

One month out •• Get your eyebrows professionally shaped.

Eyebrows frame your face, so make sure you get the right shape for you.

•• Start exfoliating your body weekly and moisturising morning and night, concentrating on elbows, feet, knees and hands.

•• Have a spray tan trial. The last thing you want to do is come up orange in your photos!

Two weeks out •• Have a relaxing, calming facial that will re-fresh and hydrate your skin for the big day.

•• Have an eyebrow shape and eyelash tint (your make-up artist will love you)!

•• Enjoy a relaxing massage (even invite your husband to come along for a dual experience).

•• Undergo a spray tan.

•• Have a manicure and pedicure using Shellac.

Shellac has an amazing mirror finish, zero dry time and, best of all, no chips!

•• Try and get your beauty sleep and don’t forget to drink plenty of water among all the excitement.

The wedding day Relax and enjoy yourself, looking beautiful in all your bridal glory. It’s your day, after all!

Lime Health and Beauty 5443 8201 www.limehealthandbeauty.com.au

Our fertility specialists: Dr George Bogiatzis, Dr Kirsten Small, Dr James Orford, Dr Kirsten Morrow, Dr Rebecca Matthews, Nurse Denise Donati.

®

Sharing your journey for life

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advice

shopping for curls with Wade Blackford We’ve hit the midway point of the year, yet again, and wow, it came around so fast! Before the rest of the year flashes by, I thought we should address one of the hottest trends this year and talk about how to achieve this look at home.

Yes, curls are everywhere at the moment and there are a lot of different tools and ways to get this look.

more creative – you can create anything from tight ringlets to loose beach waves. Maybe the best feature of this iron is that it comes with a heatproof sheath. Just slide the sheath on after styling and it protects wandering fingers and bench tops. This little guy is going to cost, but it is worth the outlay (RRP $270). For Cloud Nine stockists, phone 1300 C9hair (1300 294 247) or visit www.cloudninehair.com.

My advice to get that perfect wave is to use a curling wand rather than a flat iron to create your curls. Flat irons tend to give a spiral curl and nobody really wants to go there again. Instead, use a curling wand on a horizontal angle to achieve a more classic wave.

Watch out for Cloud Nine – with a three-point temperature control, you can easily switch temperature to suit fine hard-to-manage hair or dial it up for a super curly look. The Cloud Nine is longer than most conical irons, which gives you that bit of extra room and diameter to play with. The extra length combined with the conical shape gives you the versatility to be

Secondly, I love the new H2D X3. This is the must-have styling tool for 2011. You have to check this baby out – it may just be my favourite find this year! This wand’s best feature has to be the three interchangeable barrels which give the versatility to create so many different looks – from tight ringlets to beautiful curls or, if using the large barrel, a blow-dried look without all the blow drying. Far infrared technology gently heats

the hair from the inside out, curling quickly and safely. Ion field technology seals in natural oils for great condition and shine. Features and benefits include: super smooth tourmaline barrels which create smooth glossy curls; ceramic technology which produces negative ions to seal cuticles and repel humidity, hence no frizz; rapid heat recovery for quick styling and no damage to your hair and LCD digital temperature control. At $264.99 this is a steal! Find a stockist at www. h2d.com.au.

Happy shopping!

Strut Hair and Beauty 5443 5605 www.struthair.com.au

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life

surgical vs non-surgical facelifts with Dr Alison Jamieson The Greeks said that all beauty is mathematics.

‘The golden ratio’ is a mathematical ratio that seems to appear recurrently in beautiful things in nature as well as in other things that are seen to be ‘beautiful’ and it is used to asses both surgical and non-surgical procedures.

and jaw line, volume loss in the cheek area and lower face, repeated muscle movement causing wrinkles, and finally, damage to the skin through the loss of elastin, collagen, and hyaluronic acid, and environmental exposure.

Non-surgical procedures and non-invasive methods for facial rejuvenation with the use of anti-wrinkle and dermal filler injections are fast becoming the social norm by offering patients an alternative to surgical treatments to maintain a youthful appearance.

A surgical facelift (rhytidectomy) involves a surgeon making a surgical cut in the hairline, down past the front of the ears and then up into the hairline again behind the ears. Very rarely, cuts may also be made under the chin if a person wishes to lift a sagging jaw line. The skin is carefully separated from the underlying tissues. The surgeon then removes or repositions the excess fat and tightens the muscles and surrounding tissues in the face. Finally, the surgeon lifts the skin, pulls it back and trims off any excess. While surgical procedures provide a ‘lift’ they do not always provide the facial projection and curves that restore a youthful and natural appearance.

Our facial anatomy goes through numerous changes throughout the ageing process in four steps; bone re-absorption around the eye area

Non-surgical facelifts are far less invasive.

Injectable soft tissue fillers can add definition to key features of the face and help the overall

Some people may be reluctant to undergo surgery, but not all cosmetic enhancement procedures require an operation. Non-surgical treatments are performed as a walk-in, walk-out procedure with effectively no down time, and it is estimated that 88 percent of all cosmetic procedures will be non-surgical by the year 2015!

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symmetry and proportion to create better aesthetic balance. Noses may also be reshaped as an alternative to surgical rhinoplasty, where more subtle improvements are required, such as to straighten a curve, build up the bridge or elongate the nasal tip. A jawline may be strengthened or softened and a chin extended to bring it into balance with the rest of the face. At the same time, fillers may be used to fill in facial laugh lines and enhance thin lips. Anti-wrinkle treatments are used as the finishing touches to the non-surgical facelift by eliminating unwanted wrinkles and fine lines.

We live in a truly blessed era, where the choices to rejuvenate ourselves are not only safe but provide a natural and refreshed look with consistent and optimal results.

COZmedics Medispas – Noosa, Maroochydore, Ascot, Kenmore 1300 792 299 www.cozmedics.com.au

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life

tick tock, tick tock with Denise Donati There is a common belief in today’s society that many woman put off having their children until later in life because they are “professional woman focusing on their career” or because they want to “travel the world before settling down”.

Interesting facts ...

However, the cold hard fact is that many women delay childbearing for one reason only, and that is not having found ‘Mr. Right’. According to a study by the Fertility Society of Australasia (FSA) in 2006, where 2,400 people were surveyed about their fertility expectations, it was found that one in three women in their 30’s remained childless, not because of wanting a career but because they hadn’t found the right partner.

•• From puberty, approximately five to ten thousand eggs die each month.

The example of celebrity older mothers such as Nicole Kidman (41), Madonna (43) and Holly Hunter (47), gives women the wrong impression about the ease of motherhood at an older age.

This type of reporting is frustrating because one thing that is not revealed in the magazine articles is that many of these celebrities did not use their own eggs, but rather a donor egg.

•• Women are born with approximately two million eggs – we don’t grow any more!

•• By puberty, only three to four thousand eggs remain.

•• Nothing stops this loss – not the pill or pregnancy.

•• 27 is the age at which a woman’s chance of getting pregnant begins to decline.

•• By 35, the risk of a miscarriage is approximately 18 percent, by 40 it is around 36 percent, compared to 9 percent at the age of 20.

•• After 40, a woman has only a seven to eight percent chance of having a baby without using donor eggs.

Sadly, we cannot stop our biological clocks from ticking, no matter how much some of us would like to, but we can control our health and wellbeing. Statistics show that as many as one in six couples require a helping hand. However, it is important to be aware that IVF is not the only option for many; often a pregnancy can be achieved with less high-tech procedures, such as ovulation induction and artificial insemination.

If you would like to know more about preserving your fertility, or after six to 12 months you are still trying to conceive without success, seek help from a fertility specialist – don’t leave it too late!

Fertility Solutions 1300 FERTILITY (337 845) www.fssc.com.au

•• At 42, approximately 90 percent of a woman’s eggs are abnormal.

bliss on buderim

beauty

...it’s all about you

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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life

your annual spinal check-up with Dr David Hendrey We all know the importance of having an annual check-up with the dentist. Small hidden problems can be picked up and easily fixed. Prevention is the best medicine, after all.

It is also recommended that we all have a full spinal check-up by a chiropractor every year.

The spine is an engineering masterpiece. Your spine is made up of 24 moveable bones with a disc between each. This column needs a stable foundation which the pelvis provides. There is a channel that runs right down the middle of your spinal cord. When your spine is in great shape, the nerves are well protected.

The way your brain controls and coordinates every function of the body is by sending and receiving electrical impulses along the nerves.

This is known as feedback loops. These impulses must flow in synchronisation for you to perform at your best.

Unfortunately, sometimes your spine can be injured. Knocks, falls, poor posture can cause the spine to lose it healthy shape and performance.

When you are overloaded, either from a stress, toxin or trauma, your spine and nerves can become irritated or subluxated. Initially, we often just ignore the onset of symptoms and get on with our day. This forces the body to compensate, allowing the problem to develop.

It is a sad fact that the average new client who sees a chiropractor has been putting up with their problem for five to 10 years. My mum always said, “A stitch in time saves nine”. When we are talking about your spinal health, this phrase is very appropriate.

Don’t ignore the common warning signs: •• aches and pains, especially back and neck pain; •• poor posture; •• stiffness;

•• dizziness; •• numbness, pins and needles; •• weakness; •• whiplash; and •• scoliosis.

Chiropractic doctors are experts in the spine and nerve system. They have been university educated for a minimum of five years. Your chiropractor is focused on helping you improve the health and performance of your spine and nerves. After you have got your spine working well again, your chiropractor will teach you how to maintain it and prevent further problems.

“To lose one’s health renders science null, art inglorious, strength unavailing, wealth useless and eloquence powerless.” Herophilius 300 BC Hendrey Chiropractic 5437 7222 www.hendreychiropractic.com.au

•• headaches;

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Could your hormones be making you crazy?

Beat anger, irritability, anxiety and depression forever!

Do you suffer mood swings so strong you just want to scream, or crawl into bed and sleep till it’s over?

How about anxiety over nothing, irritability over everything, crying at the drop of a hat, and sadness to boot?

Are you irritable, nervous, depressed, suffering from a low libido, fogged up in the mind, having trouble sleeping, or gaining weight?

Is anything sounding familiar?

Hormonal imbalances don’t just happen without a cause. Why can some people eat anything and maintain their weight, yet you gain three kilograms overnight from just thinking about breaking your diet?

These symptoms are just the tip of the iceberg for what hormones can do to your body when out of balance long term. You’re looking at accelerated ageing, permanent metabolism

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malfunction leading to diabetes and heart disease, and a decline in your brain function, including losing your short term memory, and loss of important older memories permanently.

There are six triggers that affect your hormones – diet, food reactions, nutrient deficiencies, infections, stress, and fitness. The problem is that most people only deal with one of these at a time. But if you don’t address all of them, you’re caught in a cycle that goes on for life.

The frustrating part is once these triggers upset your hormones, your hormones cause these triggers again!

How do you stop it? Actually, it’s pretty easy to stop, as long as you deal with the triggers all at the same time and properly. Hormone creams, the pill, HRT, and bio-identical hormones might help your current symptoms, but they won’t fix the cause, and they won’t fix the permanent effects, so the cycle continues. Fortunately, the Advanced Wellness and Behavioural Centre can treat you, with most symptoms improving within weeks, and often many patients are completely relieved within just a few months.

Hormones are one part of a seven-step process for permanently treating mood fluctuations. These steps have been proven with testing to improve brain and total body function immeasurably, without the help of medication.

If you’d like to know more, call for a free half hour consultation, where you’ll learn about everything that causes hormonal and mood problems, and what to do about it. www.advancedwellness.com.au Jodi Chapman BHSc. Naturopath Advanced Wellness & Behavioural Centre 07 5443 1987 44 Baden Powell St, Maroochydore

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life

how is your oral environment? with Dr Simone Ricketts Do your gums bleed when you brush?

Bleeding gums (gingivitis) can be an early warning sign of gum (periodontal) disease. A few simple procedures started at home can help return your gums to a healthy state, such as brushing your teeth more not less. Keep brushing, even if the gums are bleeding. Rinse with water then keep brushing. Clean between your teeth with dental floss or dental tape. As I have said before, most of the world’s dental problems can be sorted out by flossing! For about three to four days your gums will still bleed when you brush and feel sore but then they will feel remarkably better … so persist with the brushing and flossing. It is definitely worth the effort. The bleeding is caused by plaque (food particles and bacteria) collecting on your teeth and around the gums. Plaque accumulation, if ignored, leads to tooth decay and also gum disease. Untreated bleeding gums can result in an advanced state of gum disease called periodontitis, which is the inflammation and infection of the tissues supporting the teeth.

Periodontitis is a major cause of tooth loss in people older than 30.

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Do you have bad breath? Bad breath (halitosis) is embarrassing but it can be overcome. Anyone can get bad breath. However, women are more likely to have bad breath just before a period.

Hormonal fluctuations lead to changes in the saliva and an increase in bacteria in the mouth.

Bad breath can also be due to chronic sinus problems, plaque and tartar buildup on teeth, reflux or gum disease. Treatment for bad breath includes daily flossing, brushing teeth, brushing your tongue (everything you eat passes over your tongue as well as your teeth), quitting smoking, chewing sugar-free gum, limiting intake of coffee and alcohol (which can worsen bad breath), having a professional clean with your dental hygienist and drinking plenty of water.

Do you have a dry mouth? The official name for a dry mouth is xerostomia. The severity of this condition can vary from a temporary reduction in salivary flow rate (e.g. nervousness before an exam or job interview, which is relatively common), to a more permanent absence of saliva due to a medical condition. Studies have shown

that as many as one in four people complain of a dry mouth. Some of the causes of a dry mouth include stress, smoking, acidic foods and drinks, caffeine, dehydration and a lack of water consumption (have a glass of water for every coffee), recreational sports drinks, medication, infections elsewhere in the body, radiation treatment for oral cancer, or rheumatoid or auto immune conditions (Sjogrens syndrome).

Depending on the cause, there are several professional dental products that will help.

Do you have yellow or stained teeth? Yellow, stained teeth in your oral environment? That’s easy to deal with. Get a professional clean and polish with your dental hygienist, have your decayed cavities sorted out, stop smoking and have your teeth professionally whitened!

Smile by Design 5443 2888 dentist@smilebydesign.net.au

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babies and beyond with Dr James Moir It’s long been a hot topic of debate – natural childbirth versus caesarean birth. Around 30 percent of babies in Australia each year are born via caesarean section, with about 70 percent born vaginally. So which option should you choose?

In general, natural childbirth is considered the safer option. However, there may be factors to take into consideration when making your decision; factors which may make a caesarean birth safer for mother or baby.

of pelvic floor or perineal damage and the chance of a prolonged recovery.

Now let’s look at caesarean birth.

While many thousands of these operations are carried out every year, it’s important to remember that a caesarean is major abdominal surgery.

And, like any surgery, it comes with its own set of risks and recovery time.

labour or the pain of childbirth, or who have had a particularly traumatic experience with a previous vaginal birth. They also have the minor advantage of predictable scheduling – with a scheduled caesarean, you know when your baby will be born and can plan around that timing.

I wish you all the best, whichever choice you make.

Moir Medical There are certain circumstances where a 5444 0799 caesarean birth can be considered the safer www.moirmedical.com.au With natural childbirth, you can limit the amount birth option, such as with ‘breech’ babies and type of pain relief that you use, with some (where the baby is coming bottom or legs first), women opting to keep both themselves and their in cases of placenta praevia (where the placenta baby totally drug-free for the duration of the birth. is sitting over or close to the cervix) or when On the other hand, we know labour and childbirth twins or triplets are to be born. In addition, If you can be long and painful and there are very safe have previously had a baby by caesarean, it is methods to reduce or minimise pain. safer you to haveat your next childClinic by the Peregian Wemarginally welcome Revival same method.

Beach to take advantage of the most sophisticated For a small proportion of women, less attractive aspects of vaginal birth include the sometimes Caesarean births can be a much less threatening early warning system available for preventative breast long and intense labour process, the possibility process for women who have an intense fear of

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health.

Thermal Imaging (DITI) non-invasively detects changes in physiology long before they become a serious problem.

Your scans are taken by female technicians and interpreted by highly trained Medical Doctors.

Early screening can save your life.

Please call or visit www.revival.net.au for further info and case studies.

Phone: 5471 2288 Oasis Arcade, Peregian Beach

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travelfile

ll words jessica jane sammut

When you think of natural beauty, preserved wildlife, crystal clear blue waters, fringing coral reef, white sand and stunning national park, where do you picture?

There is only one place on this earth – Hamilton Island. Profile’s Jessica Jane Sammut visits this incredible isle of paradise.

aerial view of hamilton island

Not just a pretty face, Hamilton has a depth about her which is very likeable – she has a green heart.’

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profilemag.com.au windward pavilion plunge pool. Photography images courtesy of Hamilton Island Enterprises

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ustralia. A land of stunning scenery, diverse climates, sensational indigenous wildlife and roaring oceans. Mother Nature was very kind to our backyard when doling out the looks. She really is one of the most beautiful enigmas on this planet and we are all so blessed to revel in her glory each day.

And so it was with no hardship that I set off to investigate a little corner of the wondrous secret that is Queensland – the spectacular Hamilton Island.

Only a short hour and a half flight from Brisbane, Hamilton is one the most magnificent islands in Australia. Located in the Whitsundays, off the tropical coast of Queensland, her location is sublime. Surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park – the largest marine protected space internationally and a World Heritage Area – visitors from far and wide come to the exquisite jewel that is Hamilton. As my flight descended for landing and I caught sight of my destination, glittering like a diamond in the light against the aqua marine hues of the reef, I could see why. The closer I got, the more I could feel Hamilton starting to weave her magic, burrowing into my heart to take residence forever more.

Not just a pretty face, Hamilton has a depth about her which is very likeable – she has a green heart. Measuring five kilometres from north to south and three and a half kilometres from east to west, more than 70 percent of Hamilton remains preserved as natural bushland and is home to an array of beautiful flora and fauna, including gum trees, paperbarks, palms, pines, ancient cycads, and a variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and butterflies.

Hamilton has an eco-conscience. Positive environmental initiatives have been adopted and implemented on the island for many years now and Hamilton continues to work on ways by which to improve these and reduce its impact on the environment. Innovative building design, guidelines and regulations ensure soil disturbance is minimised, while natural slopes are maintained and the island developments are in keeping with the stunning surrounds, preserving the natural scenic qualities of the surrounding reef, islands and World Heritage Area.

In addition, one mega litre of grey water is recycled daily, used on gardens all over the island, while all green waste on the island is turned into mulch.

Further, Hamilton recycles one tonne of metals per month, and in 2009, invested more than one million dollars in a glass-crushing machine to enable the island to recycle by-products and reduce the volume going to landfill.

On arriving at Hamilton (and instantly falling in love), my husband and I were whisked off to Qualia’s Pebble Beach Restaurant for the most sumptuous lunch of fresh delights prepared by internationally-renowned executive chef Jane-Therese Mulray. Our courses consisted of huge antipasto platters, seafood sensations caught the previous day, tender Wagyu beef, decadent fruits, divine desserts and glorious wines to match, absolutely setting the scene for what I realised was going to be a trip of a lifetime.

A world-class luxury resort, Qualia, meaning ‘a collection of deep sensory experiences’, is situated on the secluded northern-most tip of Hamilton Island, and is a true sanctuary of luxury where everything has been considered to relax the mind, yet completely spoil the senses.

Named in the 2011 UK Conde Nast Traveller’s Gold List and the Luxury Travel Magazine Gold List, Qualia’s harmonious design is the work of Australian architect Chris Beckingham. His philosophy was to create a luxurious Australian retreat that stimulates the senses and draws the outside in, and that it does. The resulting design combines a unique sense of space, openness and harmony. Built to blend into the natural environment, the extensive use of natural light and cross ventilation at Qualia is central to design themes and the meticulous gardens use predominantly indigenous species, with garden waste mulched and recycled to ensure water use is kept to a minimum.

On finishing lunch, my next ‘appointment’ was with Wumundaylin Spa, a relaxing haven of pure oceanic bliss, where I was to have my ‘mainland’ stresses nurtured away with a pampering session to die for – the ‘Destination De-Stress’ package, consisting of an all over body, scalp and spa foot massage treatment, to release tension from body and soul. Mmm, this was certainly environmentally-friendly – I knew I was going to be lovely to everyone I came june 11

into contact with after this!

And my final research for the day was a sumptuous dinner at Bommie Restaurant at the very swanky Hamilton Island Yacht Club, complete with a few glasses of Bollinger. Yet another sensory explosion. It was a good thing we had VIP transfers back to our room (in electric golf buggies, no less … no pollution here).

On waking the next morning, we set off to jet ski around the island, and I have to say, it was one of the most spectacular ways of ‘getting to know’ our new home for the next few days. With over a dozen walking trails on the island, Hamilton is a lush spot just waiting to be explored on foot or by water, as it is surrounded by fringing coral reef, mangrove communities and is home to a diverse population of marine animals. As the sun beat down, the bright topaz reflection and clear waves of the Coral Sea took my breath away, reminding me of my honeymoon in the Maldives, while the lush green hilly nature of the island set the most incredible contrast against the acid blue sky. Wow, the colours, the scenery – Hamilton is nature at its very best.

And if I thought it couldn’t get much better, the afternoon lunch at Hamilton Island Golf Club on neighbouring Dent Island offered an array of visual images which were reminiscent of a Peter Lik gallery exhibition. Cited in Luxury Travel Magazine’s Gold List 2011, Hamilton Island Golf Club really is a piece of artistic excellence.

The stunning Chris Beckingham-designed clubhouse is ideally perched to catch the soft sea breeze and take in the drop-dead views of Passage Peak and the sparking Coral Sea. The 18-hole golf course is not only a golfer’s dream, but it is also an example to us all about environmental sensitivity. The golf course has been constructed around the natural contours and features of the island and works in harmony with it. Even as a non-golfer, I was bowled over by the club and the island, and in fact had to fight the the urge to put on a pair of checkered trousers …

The following day, after cuddling one of the island’s extremely adorable koalas, my last investigation of the magic of Hamilton came to a final crescendo in the form of a day’s sailing adventure through the Whitsundays.

As I laid (with a cold glass of sauvignon blanc) on the deck of the yacht as we headed through the Coral Sea (it’s a hard life), I contemplated how quiet, how peaceful, and how unspoilt this outstanding area of natural beauty is.

You really feel as though you are a thousand kilometres from the mainland, such is the tranquillity of this little haven.

And as I later laid on the snow white sands of Whitehaven Beach with the Sunday papers in hand, I couldn’t keep my eyes open long enough to read about what was going on in the world … what world? Hamilton fever had taken hold, and there was nothing to do but to surrender …

Daily direct flights to Hamilton Island are available from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns, with Jetstar, Virgin Blue and Qantas.

For further information, visit www.hamiltonisland.com.au.

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skyrail

ll with John Alwyn-Jones, travel editor

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Sophisticated and smart, with great weather, great food, great accommodation, great shops, and world class things to do – the perfect destination – where am I talking about? Cairns, of course! John Alwyn-Jones takes a trip up north and discovers a town in full swing.

recently re-discovered Cairns, the queen of Tropical North Queensland, much maligned in recent coverage of cyclones and floods. However, all that is firmly in the past, with Cairns today in full swing, buzzing, vibrant, and I think, a hidden gem of Australian destinations, just a short flight away from the Sunshine Coast. To put it into perspective, Brisbane to Cairns is about the same distance as London to Rome.

How exciting is that?

Cairns during the day is a city of elegant buildings and stylish high-rise apartments, lazily arranged around wide, tree-shaded streets. The marina, with spacious covered verandas (so even on the hottest of summer days there is always plenty of shade), is a jewel in the crown, and of course, that welcoming, refreshing ocean breeze is sublime. And if you did fancy a dip, the stunning lagoon located right on The Esplanade, is there for the taking.

At night, Cairns comes alive, big time, offering something for everyone – from sophisticated restaurants, great value eateries (offering food from every country you can imagine) and fast food, right through to throbbing bars and nightclubs, open until the wee hours so I am told (much too late for me!).

Autumn, winter and spring are my favourite times in Cairns, just when, even on the Sunny Coast, things are getting a tad chilly. But not in Cairns.

Balmy daytime temperatures and refreshing evenings offer the perfect setting for outdoor dining in the myriad of great restaurants and cafes throughout the city which offer superb cuisine, awash with local produce – especially seafood, at great prices.

Life in Cairns is without a doubt slower than other cities in Australia, exuding a feeling of colonial times, with that laid back vibe alive and well.

And why not? I even walked more slowly in Cairns, because there is really no reason to hurry, except maybe to get to that great restaurant or to locate your next ice-cold beer.

With a World Heritage status rainforest in one direction and the unbelievable Great Barrier Reef in the other, Cairns is the perfect place to not only take time out to visit these amazing natural attractions, but also to laze by the pool, soak up some rays (with sunscreen, of course), read a book, in fact do what takes your fancy, because it is all available in Cairns or nearby.

John’s tip for eating in Cairns – go Greek!

Cairns is awash with great places to eat and at great prices, but my favourite, where I discovered some of the best Greek food in Australia, is the Adelfia Greek Taverna, located right in the heart of Cairns. Check out their Greek banquet at an amazing $37.50 a head, including homemade dips with fresh baked bread, mezze platter, saganaki, gyros, seasoned char-grilled chicken, paidakia (seasoned and marinated char-grilled lamb cutlets), Greek salad, potatoes oven-baked in oil and lemon, chilli mussels, Athenian scallops, and a trio of Greek dessert delicacies served in honey syrup, all washed down with awesome Greek coffee. www.adelfiagreektaverna.com.

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John’s top tips for Cairns While Cairns is clearly a destination in its own right, getting out and about is something you have to do, and other than exploring the reef, my tip is to rent a car. The best and greatest value way to do this is, rather than having to call a heap of car rental companies and hassling to get the best price, to use Driveaway Holidays at www.driveaweay.com.au, as they do all that for you!

So, where to go from Cairns? Of course there are the classic drives up the coast to stunning Palm Cove and Port Douglas, but first I suggest stopping off on the way to take in Skyrail, an awesome 7.5kms cable car trip through the pristine rainforest (and sometimes clouds!) For more information visit www.skyrail.com.au.

»» »» »»

»

»» Palm Cove is around 30 minutes from Cairns and while small, there is plenty of choice for lunch along the beachfront. It’s the perfect place for a magical stroll, a spot of shopping at the many eclectic retail outlets, or simply to take time-out to absorb the unique atmosphere and the amazing view.

»»

»

Half an hour or so along what I think is one of the most picturesque drives in Australia is Port Douglas – my tip is to allocate a driver to keep their eyes firmly on the road, not the view, as there are heaps of bends! I love the feel of Port Douglas, the closest town to the Great Barrier Reef.

Port is laid back enough to be classed as sleepy, but it still offers great eating, excellent shopping, pristine beaches and easy access to the reef.

Another tip before you leave home is to visit the Tourism Tropical North Queensland web site www.cairnsgreatbarrierreef.org.au and also before leaving Cairns, visit their information and visitor centre at 51 The Esplanade, where I also found another amazing website, www. greattropicaldrive.com.au. It is perfect for that amazing Tropical North Queensland driving experience, with The Great Tropical Drive offering detailed itineraries for 20 amazing self-drive experiences.

John’s tip for staying in Cairns – have all the space you need!

There is nothing worse that squeezing into a small hotel bedroom, especially when there are alternatives that offer masses of space, and I found the perfect place. 181 The Esplanade is located, yes you guessed it, right on The Esplanade, a short walk from the town centre in a quiet location, offering awesome views across to Green Island and the Great Barrier Reef.

The apartments in 181 The Esplanade are all one and two bedroom luxury air-conditioned units, fully furnished and serviced, with plasma TVs , full kitchens, parking, security and privacy, managers on-site, large balconies, lush tropical gardens, a lagoon with the biggest Koi Carp I have ever seen, a fabulous swimming pool, sauna, and a heated hot tub – perfect for a evening glass (plastic, of course) of sparkling wine!

For more information visit www.181.com.au

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on the table

good things come in small packages Locally-based global company Gourmet Garden is listening to their customers! These new smaller herb range of 80g speciality herbs will be available in selected supermarkets from June. www.gourmetgarden.com.au

NZ 10: AUS 7 with Dr Plonk www.drplonk.com.au

handy aid The new KitchenAid immersion blender is designed to give cooks more flexibility in everything from heavy duty blending to delicate whisking, with maximum hand control. RRP $169.95, visit www.kitchenaid.com.au for stockists. www.kitchenaid.com.au for stockists

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MIX IT, EAT IT, MAKE IT, ENJOY IT! Sustainable building has been taken to a new level here on the Coast with The Natural Foodstore’s iconic new store. The building framework is recycled, as is the refrigerated shelving. External paint reflects heat of the sun, the roof is lined with coolite to keep the heat out, and louvres have been installed to direct internal airflow. The building’s induction lighting works at an even 25 degrees and the massive underground water tanks are filled via water harvesting and used for gardening and toilets along with the water detention centre that filters water prior to it going into council waterways. That’s shopping that’s easy on the environment. Visit their new store at 352 Mons Road, Forest Glen.

Phone 5445 6440

eco-friendly shopping

food, glorious food (and wine!)

Next time you head to the markets or out grocery shopping, take one of these Apple Canvas reusable totes from Kikki-K. One dollar from the sale of each bag will be donated to Climate Positive, a not-for-profit organisation working to reduce global warming. www.kikki-k.com/shop

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Bude rim

Jorl Ct

Strin

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k Rd

Foodies all over the Sunshine Coast have their taste buds tingling in anticipation this year’s ‘A Taste of Coolum’ event to be held at Hyatt Regency Coolum from 24 to 26 June, a weekend of decadent delight including champagne dinner, Winemakers’ Cup Golf Day and wine displays and tasting.

Phone 5449 3430

Goshaw k

Un

ive

rsi

ty 

Only 2mins drive from Uni!!

Open 7 Days Lunch & Dinner 8am - Late 52

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hate to admit it, but the Kiwis are doing a marvellous job for their tourism and wine industry.

I was fortunate enough to recently visit Martinborough in the North Island. From Wellington, Mrs Plonk, child Plonk and I took a one hour scenic train ride to Martinborough, the hub of Wairapara. We hired bikes for $25 and rode around the vineyards, due to their close proximity. Within a five minute ride are iconic wineries – Martinborough Vineyards, Ata Rangi, Te Kairinga and Escarpment. The Martinborough wine centre was a great place to start – wine maps, local knowledge and tastings kicked the day off splendidly.

One of the finds of the region was Schubert wines. Specialising in two individual block pinots with separate clones for vine selection ensured we were tasting wines of great depth and character. I tasted Marions Vineyard pinot noir 2008 $50NZ. A nose of raspberries and cherries with a silky mouth feel and soft tannins made this a cracker.

They also make some impressive cool climate Syrah 2008 with white pepper and herbs, a dark plum bouquet and mid-palate tannins.

We book-ended the day back at the wine centre for a late lunch of venison pie, coupled with a glass of Tirohana pinot noir 2008 NZ$40. I bought a dozen of eclectic, boutique lovelies and had them shipped back. These will be the ‘better than buying a T-shirt or snow globe’ souvenir wines which will ignite the memories of a most beautiful sunny Martinborough day in the vineyards.

Next month, Central Otago, Lord of the Rings country.

0411-877-335 www.ii-naa.com

Drink Voucher One free drink with every purchase over $10 when you mention Profile Magazine!

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n win ew ter m

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abode

harris chair The Harris Chair in Queenscliff Scarlet is available from Oz Design Maroochydore, $1,029. Phone 5479 1377

with Belle Hemming Interior Designer www.spaceplanners.com.au

elvira fabric This beautiful Elvira fabric is part of one of the latest botanical prints from Warwick Fabrics.

Priced at $99 per metre. For stockists contact www.warwick.com.au

peony wallpaper This ECO Peony Wallpaper is VOC free and printed on paper from managed resources. Contact www.wallpapershop.com.au or phone 1300 851 801

Add a little natural styling with a touch of flora and fauna.

These beautiful furnishings and accessories will be sure to freshen up your home.

bonnie and neil boxes Bonnie and Neil’s beautiful handmade shadow boxes are hand printed in botanical and geometric designs. Can be stacked, mounted or used as display shelves. Prices start at $159. Contact White Beach Home and Living, Peregian Beach. Phone 5448 1320

elegant wallpaper

kantha commode Handcrafted Three Drawer, stiched Kantha Commode by Ruby Star Traders, RRP $3,999. Contact Black and Spiro, New Farm. Phone 3254 3000

leaf vine echo chictm wallpaper environmentally friendly wallpapers. $115.50 per roll.available at rosemont decorator showroom, www. rosewall.com.au or phone 1300 765 511.

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business

planning for success with Laurie Clarke Not many of us look forward to applying for a loan. It can take time and be a stressful process.

But there are ways to minimise any potential negative aspects. This month’s column sets out some tips to make the process more pleasant.

This is generic information so it may not suit every reader’s particular circumstances, but the concepts are generally the same for all borrowers.

Firstly, think of what the bank is most interested in – lending to people with a good credit record, being comfortable they have the income to make the repayments and that there is an adequate level of security for the loan in the event something goes wrong.

Armed with that perspective, you can then prepare the information you need to present to the bank.

Some key details to include are:

1. Who is going to be the borrower? The bank will need personal names, your trading company / trust or a new entity.

2. How much do you want to borrow? Make sure you take account of costs such as stamp duty when working this out.

3. Income information. Preferably you will provide the last two years’ financial statements and tax returns (business and personal).

4. What debts does this income need to service? Provide details of all your loans (including credit cards). Preferably you will have the last six months’ loan statements, so the bank can see that repayments are made on time.

5. A statement of personal assets and liabilities.

6. What security are you offering? In the main, this will be real estate. Detailed information could include a purchase contract or contract note, rates notice and insurance certificate, etc.

The information might seem extensive but it should all be reasonably readily available. Don’t be concerned if it isn’t all at hand – start the discussions with what you have.

My experience is that the more information I get from a client, the better the job I can do for them. This particularly applies to the speed with which I can make a decision on the loan, but also makes sure the loan structure is best suited to the customer’s needs, e.g. repayment arrangements, term, price, etc.

Banks are in the business of lending money, so both parties working collaboratively always ensures the best result.

BoQ Maroochydore 5443 2711 laurie.clarke@boq.com.au

This article is for general information purposes only and is not intended as financial or professional advice. The views expressed in this article are solely the views of the author. Bank of Queensland Limited ABN 32 009 656 740 does not endorse, and has not authorised any particular statements in this article. This article has been prepared by, and is the responsibility of the author.

Business Advice

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Superannuation

Grow Wealth

Improve Cash Flow

Financial Planning

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business

travelling green with Zoë Sparks Eco tours and travel options are increasing in popularity – many people want to get back to nature and enjoy the environment, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of the world today. Holidaymakers now often seek rest, relaxation, fresh air and all the calming influences of nature so they can return to the ‘real world’ feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

And nowadays, going back to nature does not necessarily mean having to go back to basics.

There are many wilderness retreats to choose from, complete with eco-friendly activities and first-class facilities that allow guests to take in pristine beaches and amazing rainforests while enjoying fine dining, peaceful locations and luxury accommodation.

Couran Cove Island Resort, Gold Coast One of my favourite family resorts is Couran Cove Island Resort, located on South Stradbroke Island (just off the Gold Coast). The resort is amazing and is only a 40-minute ferry trip

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from the mainland. There is a wide range of accommodation and dining options catering perfectly for a family getaway or romantic long weekend. Couran Cove has many environmental activities to experience ... nature walks (with hosted environmental guides), kayak tours, nocturnal and astronomy tours. There is a new koala haven experience in addition to a foods of the forests walk, a meet the reptiles talk and an environmental centre to visit.

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji Jean-Michel Cousteau is a resort set in the Fiji Islands and is renowned for its luxurious facilities and has won a number of eco-friendly awards.

It’s the perfect place for scuba diving and there is a full-time marine biologist located on-site to educate and assist visitors with their underwater exploration. The resort is also renowned for its deluxe accommodation, fine food and excellent service.

Kingfisher Bay Resort, Fraser Island Kingfisher Bay Resort is also a great spot, located on the world heritage-listed Fraser Island. Fraser Island is home to 4WD adventures, ancient rainforests and coloured sand cliffs. There is an abundance of bird and wildlife and rangers put on talks and share their knowledge on this magnificent environment. The accommodation has been designed to minimise its effect on the environment, conserve energy and minimise waste.

There are also amazing options for you to consider further afield, so why not take an ecofriendly holiday for a back to nature experience?

Travelworld Mooloolaba / Spectacular Events Pty Ltd 5444 3766 zsparks@travelworld.net.au

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weird and wonderful facts with Linda Ireland My mother-in-law came to visit this week and she was talking to me about the barefoot phenomenon. She told me, apparently, walking barefoot has many benefits; it’s good for your spine because your foot bends and flexes, it’s good for your eyesight because your eyes dart back and forth to make sure you don’t tread on anything sharp which therefore exercises the eyeballs, and she was most excited about the fact that it earths our body.

We started talking about several weird and wonderful facts, such as; •• When glass breaks, the cracks move at speeds of up to 3,000 miles per hour.

But enough of the interesting stuff. What about some boring practical tips about lending?

•• It’s a good idea to review your product regularly. Financial circumstances and lifestyles change. Consider how competitive your interest rate is, what features you’re paying for and don’t use or don’t have and need, and the cost versus the benefit equation for refinancing.

•• Can you or are you throwing lump sums into the loan account e.g. your tax return, bonus or leftover wage? Every cent counts in helping to reduce interest owed and the loan term.

•• The roar we hear when we place a seashell next to our ear is not the ocean, but rather the sound of blood surging through the veins in our ear.

•• Are you repaying your mortgage as though its interest rate was at least two percent higher, in preparation for rate rises and unexpected financial changes? This encourages a good savings habit and makes adjusting to increased living costs and interest rates less burdensome.

•• Oak trees are struck by lightning more than any other tree.

•• Consider strategies such as extending your loan term or debt consolidation. Keep in

•• The human eye blinks an average of 4,200,000 times a year.

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mind this will stretch your debt over a longer period, attracting interest with every extra month. Weigh up the financial and emotional advantages and disadvantages beforehand.

•• Are you spending more unnecessary money on transport, entertainment, takeaways and other luxuries? Continually list your expenses to discover savings. Once you’ve revisited all of the above steps, re-do your budget so you really are making your way through your mortgage with confidence.

Contact your broker today to find out ways to make your loan work for you.

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

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profiting ... for the environment with Melanie Jacobson Everyone knows being green is better for the environment, but did you know it’s also better for your business’s bottom line? By addressing water, energy, materials management and consumption, businesses can reduce costs and eliminate waste.

Going green will save you money by; more efficient use of energy, materials and water; reduced waste disposal; better productivity; improved staff morale; and risk minimisation.

As well as saving money, your business can gain a competitive advantage by; meeting;community expectations for better environmental performance; demand for ‘environmentallyfriendly’ goods and services; and supply chain expectations based on international standards.

Not sure where to start? There is much assistance out there for businesses wanting to go greener.

Here are a couple of local options.

EcoBiz This is a program of the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM). It helps companies find ways to improve how they do business. EcoBiz provides a structured program to help your business make environmental and financial savings by implementing eco-efficient business practices.

The EcoBiz process involves the following: •• measuring your current resource use; •• identifying the areas of your business that need improvement; •• planning and implementing eco-efficient and sustainable business practices; and •• then remeasuring to see the savings.

EcoBiz rebates of up to $150,000 are available to support projects that will lead to transformative change in both a business and in the industry in the business operates. More info at: www.derm. qld.gov.au/ecobiz.

Free waste minimisation appraisal The Queensland Government is introducing a landfill waste levy later this year that will increase waste disposal costs to Sunshine Coast businesses by around 35 percent. If you want to know how to reduce waste to landfill and also reduce costs to business wherever possible, the Sunshine Coast Council is offering free appraisals of your business’s waste strategies for the next three months. Call Don Parry on 0407 765 159 for more details.

Start by implementing small changes, they all add up and can make a big difference. Some of the environmentally-friendly things we do at PJT include: a paperless office; air-conditioning at appropriate temperatures; and recycling.

Good luck with your green initiatives!

PJT Accountants and Business Advisors 5413 9300 www.pjtaccountants.com.au

• • •

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business promotion

local design agency’s

ten year

birthday shout

Local graphic design agency Design Central is celebrating 10 years in business in 2011 and it’s their customers who will be treated to the presents. To mark the occasion, the drinks are on Design Central at two of Noosa’s premier spots for wining and dining.

Managing director, Synda Turnbull, says their ten year milestone is due, in no small part, to understanding the importance of long-standing client relationships and the value of loyalty.

“We’re saying to our valued clients, thanks, have a drink on us with a $20 voucher to enjoy at either Berardo’s Bistro on the Beach, Noosa, or Season Restaurant, Noosa,” Synda smiles.

Spreading their good cheer even further, Design Central introduced a new client referral program, which allowed one lucky client to win a fabulous Noosa holiday package which included three night’s accommodation at Maison Noosa Beachfront Resort and two dining vouchers at Berardo’s Bistro on the Beach and Season Restaurant.

“Word of mouth is so important and when we receive quality service we tend to pass on our recommendations.

Design Central wants to reward that trust and respect on which our business is based,” Synda states. “Our new referral program and birthday celebrations recognise the fact that we wouldn’t be in business without our loyal clients. It’s our way of saying thank you for your business and to celebrate our 10 years in business.”

About design central Design Central is a boutique graphic design studio based in Noosaville, offering personalised service to businesses throughout the Sunshine Coast and beyond. Established in 2001, Design Central is a

vibrant design agency specialising in all areas of graphic and web design.

Owner and head designer Synda Turnbull, has been in the game for over two decades, working in Melbourne, London and the Sunshine Coast.

She has been responsible for some of Australia’s signature brands and designs. Synda has worked on large accounts including Crown Casino, Hyatt Regency Coolum, GJ Gardner Homes, Donson, Fernwood Fitness and Buderim Ginger, to name a few.

Small to medium businesses are never forgotten at Design Central, and it is the smaller businesses that Synda enjoys working with, managing their whole brand and assisting with all their design needs and getting to know the business owner really well.

“Getting to know the person behind the business is really important. It gives you an insight into what is important to them, and what they are hoping to achieve from their business, and where they want to take the business in the future”, Synda says.

To date, Design Central has enjoyed working with diverse industries including property developers, resorts, tour operators, health and beauty spas, restaurants, corporate clients, festivals and events, fashion boutiques, manufacturers, retailers and the list goes on.

synda working on promotional material for a local event

Design Central has been involved in some of the Sunshine Coast’s most memorable events including the Noosa Food and Wine Festival, the Noosa Jazz Festival, The Noosa River Festival and the Ginger Flower Festival.

Their other services include: advertising, web design, printing and signage, marketing and publicity.

Design Central Pty Ltd Tel/Fax 07 5449 9972 info@designcentral.net.au www.designcentral.net.au

While Synda is the driving force of Design Central there is a small team of talented designers on hand to service any client needs. With more than a decade of experience on the Sunshine Coast, Synda has also established relationships with printers, signwriters, interior designers, copy writers, marketing consultants, publicists and photographers and can manage any projects associated with branding and design, as well as larger projects, such as exhibition displays and interactive education and information centres.

branding and promotional project example

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Coast Coast to Coast

to Coast

PROPERT Y ADVERTISER BUSINESS ADVERTISER

on the

red carpet

right move

don’t call every home loan lender in town Just call us. Because we can talk you through the hundreds of home loans available to us from our wide panel of lenders, and help you choose which ones suit your needs. And there is no charge for our home loan service. So save yourself time and trouble and call Linda Ireland today.

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industry talk

Welcome to this month’s edition of Industry Talk; a place where we invite our business experts ‘The Panel’, to answer your questions – for free! It certainly can be tough running a small business on your own, so our experts are on hand to offer advice in areas of law, finance, marketing and human resources.

Submissions are open for your business questions – simply email your question to editorial@ profilemag.com.au (business name and contact details will only be published with consent).

the question “As a small to medium enterprise (SME), cash flow is often a problem. What are some ways I can ensure debtors pay on time?”

Anon

Raymond Duffy

Ashley McGuirk

Solicitor, Mumford Lawyers www.mumforslawyers.com.au

There are a number of strategies which can be adopted by business owners to reduce debtors for goods or services supplied on credit or deferred payment: •• Undertake credit checks.

•• Have customers enter into an agreement which sets out your terms of trade, including terms of payment.

•• Consider taking security for payment such as a company charge, a personal guarantee, mortgage, bill of sale or other retention of title mechanisms.

•• Ensure your billings, debtors and payables systems are operating effectively and efficiently. Implement accounting software to manage your cash flow.

•• Obtain upfront payments for all or part of the purchase.

•• Use credit limits.

•• Offer incentives or discounts for early payment.

Director, Core Business and Management Advice mail@corebusiness.com.au

It is important to set the right tone from the beginning of a relationship. If it is an existing relationship, the following can be effective: •• Be explicitly clear about your payment terms in writing when agreeing a purchase with your customer/client. This leaves little room for miscommunication.

•• Ask for a deposit on placing an order. Aim to cover the cost of the goods where you are selling something.

•• Offer an early payment discount. This works well for service providers who may not otherwise be paid until finishing.

•• Remind them promptly every time they exceed your credit terms.

Make it clear you are not a bank funding them.

•• Bill regularly.

•• Stop doing things or selling things to overdue clients when they are outside your credit terms. This works well when you are a necessity for their ongoing business.

•• Follow up on overdue invoices promptly by telephone, letter and/or in person.

Where customers fail to make payment (notwithstanding your collection attempts), you will then need to consider engaging a debt collection agency, seeking assistance through a dispute resolution service, or engaging a solicitor to file a claim for the debt.

•• For repeat offenders, don’t sell to them. If they don’t want to pay you, it’s not a sale and you’ve wasted your time and money.

These may seem obvious, but are you actually putting them into practice?

•• Offer alternate payment arrangements, such as financing, leasing, etc.

•• As a last resort, consider using debtor factoring through your bank or another specialist financier.

Felicity White

Business Development Manager, Ellerfield Financial Planners www.ellerfield.com.au

For SME’s it can be worthwhile examining your accounts and / or payment process. Where possible, direct debit agreements, individual fee schedule agreements and customer sign off processes with on-the-spot payment facilities can save time and money. The traditional seven to 30 day invoicing method can be labour intensive and not the most effective method of collecting payments. Use technology where possible, EFTPOS, direct debit, and on-the-spot card payments to speed up your business’s cash flow.

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business

top 10 reasons for getting a divorce with Leisa Toomey Getting a divorce is a painful but not unexpected occurrence in today’s world.

At the start of the 20th century, there was a slow but steady rise in the crude divorce rate (the number of divorces in a calendar year per 1,000 population), increasing from 0.1 divorces per 1,000 population for each year between 1901 and 1910, to 0.8 divorces per 1,000 population between 1961 and 1970.

But it was not until the latter quarter of the century that divorce rates climbed, when the Family Law legislation came into effect on January 5 1976 requiring only one ground for divorce – irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, measured as the separation of the spouses for at least one year. This new legislation was embraced by a society that, until then, had few options when faced with an unhappy marriage. In fact, according to a recent report released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics[i], the introduction of the Family Law Act 1975 was by far the most important contributing factor involved in the higher divorce rates at this time.

Following the implementation of this law, there was a large increase in the divorce rate in 1976. The rate then declined over the next three years as the backlog of applications was cleared. Since then, the crude divorce rate has remained between 2.2 and 2.9 divorces per 1,000 population. In 2008, the crude divorce rate was 2.2 divorces per 1,000 population.

divorce:

Interestingly, in 2008, 6 percent of divorces involved separation within the first year of marriage, 32.7 percent within the first five years and a further 21.7 percent were separated within five to nine years of marriage. Of divorcing couples in 2008, 16.8 percent were married less than five years, 24.6 percent between five and nine years and 58.6 percent were married for 10 years or more. Around 17.2 percent of divorces occurred to couples who had been married for 25 years or more.

•• religious and cultural strains;

So, bearing all of this in mind, what are people citing as the most common cause of their marriage breakdown? From my own experiences in family law I have listed (in no particular order) the 10 most common reasons people seek a

Schultz Toomey O’Brien Lawyers 5413 8908 www.stolaw.com.au

•• financial issues; •• infidelity; •• communication breakdown; •• physical, psychological, or emotional abuse; •• sexual incompatibility; •• boredom; •• child rearing; •• addiction; and •• differences in priorities and expectations.

There are other reasons which come up, but less so than the ones listed above. Interfering in-laws, controlling behaviour by a spouse and extreme fatigue are other reasons couples cite when ending a marriage.

[i] 1301.0 – Year Book Australia, 2009–10

green machine with Miriam Torres Green technology is undoubtedly one of the most spoken about topics today as it affects every single one of us. As technology has progressed, modern society has come to rely on computers on a day-to-day basis and we, as consumers, are forever upgrading our systems to move with advances in technology.

of old machines through recycling, refurbishment or the correct disposal of units.

However, with technology comes the responsibility of ensuring we understand the impact it can have on our environment and knowing ways we can help to minimise this.

Top seven ways to help the environment

Today, not only have manufacturers commenced their participation in helping reduce energy omissions and toxic substances into the environment, but manufacturers like Acer have also started producing environmentally-friendly products, such as notebooks which have been designed to be more energy efficient as well as being recyclable and biodegradable.

In addition, we are seeing more and more companies emerge that will enable us all as individuals and businesses to minimise the landfill june 11

Companies like MRI Australia, which is certified in environmental management, is able to offer recycling or the correct disposal of computers for as little as $5.50 per computer.

1. Dispose / recycle old technology correctly by utilising companies that are certified in e-waste in Australia, or alternatively, give your old computers to charity, family or friends.

2. Consider upgrading your old CRT monitors to flat panel LCD monitors as they utilise approximately a third of the energy consumption of the older monitors.

5. Purchase a laptop computer, if possible.

Laptops use approximately a tenth of the energy of desktops.

6. Print only what is necessary and recycle office paper wastes.

7. Choose computers that minimise energy consumption.

I will leave the following statistic with you: Australian consumers alone throw out more than 17 million televisions, computers and electronic products yearly with the desire to keep up with the latest technologies.

Secure Access 5443 7766 Miriam@secureaccess.com.au

3. Shut down your computers when you leave your office or home to reduce energy consumption.

4. Enable a monitor’s power-saving mode that places the monitor in a ‘sleep’ state.

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win

sydney harbour marriott

win eco body products

win a night of luxury

Let your natural beauty shine through with the latest range of sustainable grooming products from ecoTOOLS – eco-friendly beauty. Profile magazine and ecoTOOLS have three earth-friendly gift packs to give away, each valued at $25. The packs include a luxurious loofah, bath sponge, Clean Skin Cleaner World body wash and body lotion.

To win, simply head to www.profilemag.com.au.

Sydney Harbour Marriott has secured its position as the city’s premier waterfront hotel following the recent completion of a full $20 million refurbishment. The Circular Quay property is nestled in the heart of Sydney’s dazzling harbour, and now boasts an interior design to suit the stunning surrounds.

Encapsulating all 550 accommodation suites and public areas, the refurbishment reflects the bright and intense natural light of Sydney in every room. With a particular focus on the city, harbour and Opera House views, the local contemporary design elements complement a number of stateof-the-art technological additions.

Together with profile magazine, Sydney Harbour Marriot has overnight accommodation in a newly renovated city or harbour view room for one lucky profile magazine reader! Valued at $745, the prize includes access to the health club with heated indoor pool, spa and saunas.

See www.profilemag.com.au for terms and conditions and entry details.

win a stylish travel bag Australian fashion favourite Camilla Franks has created her first ever bag, inspired by her self-confessed “home away from home”, Singapore. The stylish travel bag, labelled the ‘Singapore Weekender Bag’, offers enough room to pack all your essentials for at least a 96-hour break, along with some extra space for your Singapore shopping finds.

The bag was designed by Camilla to encourage Australians to explore Singapore during the Great Singapore Sale – a must-do event on any die-hard shopper’s calendar, with prices slashed by up to 70 percent across the nation’s premium shopping precinct. The bag comes complete with leather trimmings, a detachable silk scarf and shoulder strap and a removable envelope pouch for valuables.

Profile magazine and Camilla are giving away a limited edition ‘Singapore Weekender Bag’ valued at $550. To further explore Camilla’s Singapore and for more information about the ‘Singapore Weekender Bag’ and the Great Singapore Sale, head to www.yoursingapore.com.au.

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win pollen power superfood Pollen Power is nature’s complete superfood, farmed from the West Australian Eucalyptus trees.

Pollen Power granules are your must-have daily boost packed with live enzymes, vitamins and nutrients that are vital for maximum energy, peak vitality and even a longer life span. For more information, head to www. beepollen.com.au To win, simply head to www.profilemag.com.au.

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the last word

bob ansett

ll photography katja anton Bob Ansett is one of Australia’s most successful businessmen and best-selling authors, having created the ‘Budget Rent a Car’ empire.

He’s also a proud Noosa local who is fiercely protective of the place he passionately calls home. As such, he has been leading the de-amalgamation charge as part of the Hastings Street Association and Friends of Noosa alliance of well-respected locals.

“When I was

growing up I wanted to be ...

President of the United States.

I grew up in …

Vista, California.

I start my day by … running through the Noosa Park from Sunshine Beach to Hastings Street.

“

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My all time favourite movie is …

From Here to Eternity.

I am at my happiest when …

I’m relaxing at my Sunshine Beach home.

I couldn’t live without … a good cup of coffee.

When I am not working I am … trying hard to get Noosa’s council back.

My greatest achievement is … developing the Australian car rental industry.

I wish I could … play the saxophone.

In five years I hope to be … still lecturing businesses on customer satisfaction.

The best meal I have had was at …

Hanae Mori (a Japanese designer with her own restaurant) in Tokyo.

What makes me laugh out loud is … watching an episode of Seinfeld.

My favourite restaurant is …

Berardo’s.

Business entrepreneur and author Bob Ansett is a renowned motivational speaker who proudly calls the Sunshine Coast home.

When I was growing up I wanted to be …

President of the United States (like all kids who grow up in America).

The one person I would most like to meet is …

Clint Eastwood.

My favourite holiday spot is …

New York City.

My hidden talent is …

I’m afraid whatever talents I might have are on general display.

Most people don’t know that I … make the world’s best martinis (and coffee).

If I didn’t live on the Coast I’d live in …

Melbourne.

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todd & sami weekdays 5am - 9am

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New laser technology.

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