March Sunshine Coast Profile Magazine

March 2012

LADS AT LUNCH

a quaint queenslander getaway

why men don’t listen ...

mystyle

a kingfisher bay retreat

the a list

CHLOE HART the hart of the matter MARK GACESA creating worlds MANDY SHADFORTH the oracle of style REBECCA GERLAND the bold and the beautiful SANDRA WILLS an adventurous soul DR SIMONE RICKETTS a life to smile about

ROBYN HILLS

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

WWW.PACIFICMOTORGROUP.COM.AU

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29

mandy shadforth

sonia lee

robyn hills

features 12 future – the hart of the matter

Chloe Hart

17 people – creating worlds

Mark Gacesa

22 lads at lunch – why men don’t listen

Our lunching lads question why women can’t read maps

26 success – the oracle of style

Mandy Shadforth

29 cover – picture perfect

Robyn Hills

50 the good life – a life to smile about

Dr Simone Ricketts

70 secret life – the bold and the beautiful www.profilemag.com.au

Rebecca Gerland

74 the last word

Andy Raymond

regulars 4 publisher’s note

44 vanity case

58 travelfile

6 pinboard

46 style counsel

60 abode

8 he says, she says

49 life

64 business

36 briefcase

56 on the table

72 win

42 profile loves

divine decadence

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

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profilemagazine

7/10/10 11:24 AM

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publisher’s note

I

n this day and age, luxury seems to have been pushed to the side like a half-eaten cupcake … we’d love more of it, but can’t afford to have it all the time. Times have been tough and money is tight … yet the luxury industry still continues to boom.

This was an observation first made by Leonard Lauder, president of Estée Lauder, who developed his Lipstick Index after 9/11 when he noticed a massive rise in sales. Why is that?

In World War II when provisions were scarce, sales of red lipstick soared because women wanted to cling to something that made them feel good, a little touch of glossy decadence to remind them of their femininity.

So I say, bring back luxury! Bring back all those things that make us feel good – like a classic, designer watch, a beautiful pair of diamond earrings or simply luxuries that money can’t buy (like time, oh time, how I miss you!). This issue I am dedicating to all things luxurious – and why not? It’s good for the soul to splurge every now and then.

In keeping with our luxury theme, we just had to interview style queen and epitome of all things fabulous photographer Robyn Hills. Robyn is an artist, an entrepreneur, a business woman, a fashion designer and a helicopter pilot. Read her interview with Alli Grant on page 29 and see our luxury shoot with first-time cover photographer Ben Connolly.

We then chat with local interior designer Mark Gacesa, who has not only rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous but has redecorated their kitchens! We meet real estate guru Rebecca Gerald, who knows a thing or two about luxury properties and chat with rising star and artist Chloe Hart (of Pro Hart family fame). And for a little inspirational shopping, check out our luxury-themed Profile Loves fashion page and Vanity Case.

As usual, don’t miss our Lads at Lunch interview … this time Alli’s with the boys, discussing the differences between men and women over a few beers. Let’s just say it’s entertaining reading!

So this issue, I encourage you to splash out and enjoy a little luxury again … perhaps a glass of Verve Clicquot while reading your favourite issue of Profile Magazine? Now there’s an idea!

GENINE HOWARD

genine howard tests the mercedes benz slk-200

PUBLISHER / group MANAGING direcTOR

THECOVERSHOOT genine howard

This month the Profile team had a great time on the cover shoot working with first-time cover photographer Ben Connolly. Not only was Robyn the perfect model for the gorgeous new range from Pizzuto (available at Gingers Boutique, Buderim), she even helped wheel her

helicopter into line! Ashley Howard from Garry Crick Prestige assisted with the sleek and stylish SLK-200 convertible car, while Genine and Kara played shoot assistants to Ben. Head to www.profilemag.com.au or www.facebook/profilemag for behindthe-scenes video and shots!

visit us on facebook.com/profilemag

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DI VORCE | PROPERT Y | M EDIAT ION SU PER ANNUAT ION | CHILDREN’S ISSUES

We put you and your

Family first Leisa Toomey (Accredited Specialist - Family Law) Liz Catton | Danielle Sturgeon | Asha Egan

SUNSHINE COAST

march 2012

5413 8900

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NORTH BRISBANE

3482 0500

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pinboard

group managing director / publisher Genine Howard

group general manager / publisher Hamish Rose

group editor-in-chief Alli Grant

sub editors Phyl Grant, Candice Jayde Fox

creative director Kara de Schot

graphic designer Johanna Jensen

sales manager Belinda Brill

business development manager Nadine Sullivan

Queensland Symphony Orchestra

feature writers

march 3 to march 4 mind body and soul weekend

Jessica Jane Sammut, Candice Jayde Fox, Angela Bueti Jaclyn Paul (intern)

Check out the Mind, Body & Soul Weekend Expo at Peregian Beach this month. This inclusive community and family-friendly event offers a range of free activities, seminars and workshops for everyone, while showcasing local exhibitors dedicated to health and well-being.

photography

phone 07 5471 2769 or visit www.highervisions.com.au

march 12 guest speaker michael carr greg One of Australia’s most renowned adolescent psychologists, Michael Carr Gregg, will present a special information evening for parents on March 12 proudly supported by Sunshine Coast Grammar School.

The event will provide parents with valuable information, practical advice and proven strategies for dealing with young people and the issues they face. www.scgs.qld.edu.au/michaelcarrgregg or phone 5445 4444

march 16 orchestra performance Come and enjoy the music as Melbourne harpist Marshall McGuire joins the Queensland Symphony Orchestra performing for the first time at The Event Centre, Caloundra. The performance commences at 7:00pm and will showcase an old masterpiece that will leave you enthralled. phone 5491 4240 or visit www.qso.com.au

Ben Connolly

email info@profilemag.com.au

call / fax 5451 0669 / 5475 4405

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

post PO Box 1065, Cotton Tree, QLD 4558

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

march 24 book launch party Join the upcoming book launch party for author Katrina Zaslavsky’s new release A Modern Woman’s Guide to a Natural Empowering Birth. Running from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, the launch will have free show bags, prizes and giveaways on offer, along with a special guest speaker making an appearance. phone 03 9578 2798 or visit www.inspiringbirthstories.com.au

march 31 joy project workshop Wanting to banish those feelings of negativity in your life? Then try out the half-day Joy Project workshop at Sands Tavern, Maroochydore, late this month. Tickets are $125 for a single or $450 for a group of six. visit www.thejoyproject.com

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

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

Designed by www.witchwords.com

Creating Conscious Connections in Business NetConnect Seminar - Thursday March 15th 2012 Mooloolaba Speakers: Jill Chivers, Carren Smith, Jodie Nolan, Jodie Taylor Paterson & Natalie McIvor Venue: 4th Floor Restaurant, Mooloolaba Time: 9.30am til 4.30pm. Tickets $109 pp $99 members RSVP 10/3/12

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march 2012

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7

he says, she says

the politics

of politics ll photography ben stone

There are two things we’re taught not to talk about – politics and religion. But of course, we’re not big on rules … so with elections upon us, we have decided to throw the manners book out the window and get down and dirty on the topic of the politics of politics. Todd and Sami from HOT91.1 share their thoughts ... todd and sami

he says

W

hen I was a boy we didn’t talk too much about politics at our place.

In fact, if a guest even hinted at a political conversation over a barbie on the patio, my dad’s mood went down quicker than an Italian cruise liner. Although he was all over it like Kim Beazley on a packet of chicken Twisties, he’d never talk about it. You see, political opinion in our house was more divided than Madonna’s two front teeth!

My old man, John, was a blue collar Labor man while my mum, Jen, always voted Liberal. To me it was a bit like the movie Cowboys and Aliens; at no point did I have any idea what was going on. What kid would have any idea?

For us, the issues of the day were: get up, slam down a bowl of Kellogg’s Frosties, watch He-Man defeat Skeletor on the telly, build a BMX ramp in the driveway, incinerate a dozen ants with a magnifying glass, and round out the day with a Bubblo Bill ice-cream at the local deli before the streetlights came on and you had to head inside for Mum’s world-famous macaroni cheese!

In fact, in my awesome world, Dad was the PM, Mum was the treasurer, and my uncle Tony was the foreign minister because he could speak a little Mandarin and was ace at ordering Chinese when we went out for tea.

The old man was about as fond of pollies as a kiddie is of a bowl full of minted peas. He told me that politics and prostitution were the world’s oldest trades, with both having a similar job description. Mum, on the other hand, loved her Liberal lads. I always got the vibe she voted for Dr John Hewson cause she thought he was a great big spunk.

For me, I find it hard to take politics seriously when we live in a country that provides 25 candidates to vote for on the X Factor and only two to see who runs the place.

My advice this polling season: Don’t vote. It only encourages the bastards!

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profilemagazine

She says

F

orget the back-stabbing, political party bickering, alliances and back room deals. The true perils of politics clearly comes down to footwear. It is a tricky tango to wear suitable shoes when you are the Prime Minister.

The recent crime against shoe-manity that really made this apparent to me was the unbelievable scenes of Ms Gillard doing the hot-shoe-shuffle down stairs before being bundled by her bodyguard into her official car. The flying orange bob, the shouting crowds, the bodyguard’s rippling abs: Oh, the humanity!

Yes, I talk of that protest that spun horribly out of control on Australia Day when our leading lady was forced to flee and lost a high heel in the process.

The indignity. It is any woman’s worst nightmare. Gingerella’s shoe is now somewhat of a collector’s item.

Just the same as any good fairy tale, it did prove a case of having the Midas touch for the makers of the shoe. Um ... Midas. The company was quick to jump on the shoe-nami of publicity and put up a blurb on their website describing the shoe, named ‘Glorify’, as: ‘Perfect for all those situations like running from mobs of fans and escaping political debacle, these glass slippers won’t come off.’ They have even now introduced a new version of ‘Glorify’ that comes with added extras such as straps. Well, to all the people at Midas who design shoes, this is a little stroke of genius. Admittedly, a strap would have been handy before the blue suede number caused such a shoe-hullabaloo!

Julia needs a shoe that’s classically stylish, that screams professionalism yet hints at a secret, hidden, possibly sensual Julia. She needs a shoe you can run from protesters in, strut in the Senate in, step out of limousines in. One thing is for certain: Julia darling, you need new shoes with straps. You also need some new suits with a kevlar vest popped in the back because we all know Kevin Rudd will only sit patiently for so long before acting on his own soft-shoe-reshuffle.

profilemag.com.au

Property Style

With Grant Smith

Grant smith, director licensee of century 21 grant smith property, sunshine coast, knows real estate. In fact, not only is he classed in the top 2 per cent internationally for century 21, he was australia’s youngest centurion award winner for five years in a row. Not bad for a boy from buderim! Each month, grant shares his secrets to the property market with profile magazine readers …

secrets of a real estate agent ...

When it comes to deciding on a place to buy property, a real estate agent will tell you location is everything. So, why not take it from Buderim’s leading real estate expert and see where he chooses to live? Grant Smith has been a resident of Buderim for many years. He explains the top reasons for calling this leafy hilltop suburb home.

Buderim is steeped in history, with the 150-year celebration kicking off soon in its quiet, charming streets. The town has a strong community feel with long-term locals and businesses alike, so you are guaranteed to run into someone you know in the main street while grabbing a coffee at one of its many quaint cafes.

You simply cannot beat the lifestyle factor in Buderim. It’s a town that is not only clean and green but offers up multiple sporting opportunities, from horse riding to tennis and golf.

Buderim’s location is gold, as it offers convenience, seclusion and space to grow. The suburb is a short 15-minute drive to the beach, has easy access to the motorway and is a short drive to the Hinterland. In terms of weather, Buderim is always a pleasant few degrees cooler than down on the Coast. Oh, and did I mention the views are to-die-for?

The area’s quiet, subdued atmosphere used to be thought of as a retiree’s playground, but these days more and more families are moving in due to the great schools. These include Matthew Flinders and Sunshine Coast Grammar.

Professionals are also moving into the area to enjoy the great cafe and shopping lifestyle of Buderim and the sensational array of restaurants. On any given weekend you’ll often find me having a coffee at The Chopping Block or dining out at Hungry Feel. You have to try their eggs benedict next time you’re in town!

Let’s get down to the facts and figures. In terms of buyer value and growth, Buderim is a consistent player on the Sunshine Coast real estate market. Its current median house price is $476,000, compared to $452,000 around the rest of the Sunshine Coast. As a real estate agent, I have been achieving some fantastic prices for sellers in the last couple of months. Our office achieved two out of the top five house sales, and six out of seven auctions selling under the hammer in the past five weeks. There is so much potential still here in Buderim to get a bargain, so come and take a look at what we have on offer.

Our team and I are locals. We care about our local community and understand the market from our combined experience.

The team specialises in properties found in Buderim, Tanawha, Mountain Creek, Mons, Forest Glen, Kunda Park, Sippy Downs, Mooloolaba, Kuluin, Glenview, Parrearra, Palmwoods and all surrounding suburbs.

So, why not take a look up the hill to see what is on offer in Buderim?

Speak with Grant Smith 0410 21 21 21 grantsmith.c21@century21.com.au facebook.com/grantsmith.c21

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. Each month, we meet and feature an outstanding business person. We find out what makes them tick, what gets them out of bed every day and of course, find out what car they drive. This month we chat to Vicki Fiumara and her husband Norm, the queen and king of bait supply sales in the region. Vicki is a devoted wife, a lover of fine dining and a proud Sunny Coaster.

“... it’s a great looking machine and you can’t go wrong with the power under foot.”

Getting to know... vicki

Meeting this month’s business drivers ...

Vicki and Norm Fiumara What car are you driving?

A black BMW 135i coupe (twin turbo).

What inspired you to purchase your BMW? Vicki: We wanted something sporty, and loved the sophistication and luxury of a BMW. Norm: Now that our three kids have their own cars, we decided to downsize to a more compact car. Of course, it’s a great looking machine and you can’t go wrong with the power under foot.

Why do you love it?

Vicki: It’s a sexy looking little car.

Norm: The way they handle the road is very impressive.

What is your favourite feature of the car?

Vicki: The sunroof, iPod connection, Sat Nav and of course, the blue tooth.

Norm: I love that the headlights turn around corners. The Sat Nav is great so I don’t have to ask for directions, and it only needs to be serviced once a year.

What is your best driving memory with your BMW? Vicki: I would have to say picking it up from Coastline BMW. It was truly an amazing experience.

Norm: When I actually got to drive it, it was great to take my wife for a long drive in the country.

The greatest lesson I have learnt in business is … how vulnerable we are in a small business. You just have to strive harder for success.

If I had my time over, I would … not change a thing.

My mentor is … my 24-year-old daughter, who recently had a serious health challenge. Her outlook to life, her happy demeanour and positive attitude was a life-changing lesson for all of us.

I believe in … enjoying and appreciating each day as it comes and being grateful for my beautiful family and friends.

My first job ... [after business college] was a junior legal secretary for a small firm in Chatswood, Sydney.

My first car … was a red Mazda 808 coupe with a sunroof and mag wheels. I loved that car!

I love the Sunshine Coast because … we escaped the rat race 16 years ago to this beautiful part of the world, and we feel so fortunate to live here.

On the weekend ... you will find me either reading, pottering around the garden, swimming or eating at one of Noosa’s great restaurants.

Coastline BMW

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Sales Finance Service profilemagazine Parts & Accessories

770 Nicklin Way, Currimundi.

Phone 5491 9100 The Ultimate Driving Machine

www.coastline.bmw.com.au

NEXT PAGE: Vicki Fiumara with her black BMW 135i coupe.

Photography by Ben Connolly, Velocity Images. profilemag.com.au

coastline BMW feature

BMW 135i M Sport CoupĂŠ.

The BMW 135i M Sport CoupĂŠ is dynamism in its purest form.

Its sportiness leaves a lasting impression.

Combined fuel consumption 8.5l / 100km Acceleration 0-100kms 5.2 sec Test drive today at Coastline BMW, 770 Nicklin Way, Currimundi.

Phone 07 5491 9100.

march 2012

profilemagazine

11

future

words angela bueti ll photography katja anton

cHloe hart

What’s a girl to do when her grandfather, Pro Hart, and father, David Hart, are revered as two of Australia’s most iconic Australian painters? Paint, of course.

And so Chloe Hart does, but this talented 17-year-old has more than paint flowing through her veins, as she divulges to Angela Bueti.

W

e all grew up with Pro Hart. Prints of his striking bush scenes either hung on our lounge room walls (perfectly complementing our orange vinyl sofas!) or we ate dinner off a tray with an imposing gum tree splashed across it. He could capture the heart of Australia with his vibrant blue, brown and green hues like no other.

And who could forget the television commercial for Dupont Stainmaster carpets where Mr Hart was chastised by the housekeeper for painting a huge dragonfly on the carpet with food and wine? “Oh Mista Hart. Watta mess!”

It’s still vivid in our memories 20 years on as one of those unforgettable commercials.

He was the quintessential Aussie bloke capturing our unique lifestyle with striking depictions of the outback and our wildlife. Hailing from Broken Hill, he had a knack for connecting with the Aussie psyche through his paintings.

But to Chloe Hart, he was just “Pop”.

“I was 11-years-old when Pop died. I was devastated. I remember him well,” Chloe reflects fondly.

With Chloe’s father, David, an esteemed artist in his own right and owner of David Hart Galleries of Mooloolaba and Noosa, it’s little wonder this 17-year-old grew up with a paintbrush in her hand.

“I have been painting all my life. I sold my first painting when I was 11. It was a Noosa beach scene,” she recalls.

Chloe shows me around the studio that forms part of the sprawling Tanawah property where she lives with her parents. It’s a beautiful, light-filled space with plenty of elbow room for both Chloe and David to paint. Ceiling to floor shelving houses their latest pieces. She admits she mainly gets to paint during school holidays, but her father is in there most days.

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The works of father and daughter hang side-by-side, but Chloe’s paintings are far removed from her father’s renowned style of lively impressions of dragonflies, grasshoppers, flowers, and beach scenes. She has forged a style all her own.

“My art has developed over the years. I’ve tried different things. I remember driving out to Broken Hill as a kid and pulling over to look at the stars. I thought: ‘Now that is the most amazing thing ever’. It sparked a space theme in my paintings for a while.”

Chloe’s travels in New Zealand, England, France, Italy, Egypt and America all had an impact on her approach as an emerging artist.

Today Chloe’s art is distinctly contemporary in style and production. Using acrylic and enamels with a resin coating, her paintings are colourful and bold.

When pushed to define her style she says, “Dad describes my art as action abstract”. I would have to agree, as the splashes jump off the canvas, almost taking on a 3D effect.

While the artwork appeals across the board, Chloe says it reaches a younger audience due to being smaller in size, easier to hang and more affordable than larger pieces. The smaller paintings fetch between $750 and $1,100, which indicates their commercial appeal.

I am compelled to ask Chloe if she feels the weight of expectation and pressure given she is a third generation Hart artist. After all, it’s not every day that someone is gifted with such an awesome genetic talent.

Without batting an eyelid, she responds: “My parents are more focused on what makes me happy”.

It must be an immense relief for someone so young with the world at her feet, especially given her desire to pursue a career outside of the art sphere. profilemag.com.au

the studio chloe shares with her father, david hart

chloe beside one of her paintings

I was 11-years-old when Pop died.

I was devastated. I remember him well.”

Yes, Chloe confesses to harboring a strong urge to be a writer. And she is making moves in that direction.

A year 12 student at Sunshine Coast Christian College, she is testing the writing waters studying creative writing as a headstart student at the University of the Sunshine Coast this year.

“I am a massive fan of writing and reading. I would love to be a writer or even a primary school teacher. But painting will always be a huge part of my life – it’s in my blood.

“Painting is my heritage, but I need something of my own. For me writing is it. My ultimate goal is to be an author, or perhaps even a copywriter or a freelance writer,” says Chloe, clearly smitten with the idea.

It’s this love of the written word that drew her to become involved in the Read2Remember initiative of locally-originated charity SunnyKids. The inaugural statewide event attracted omore than 300 schools and 68,000 students who read a specially-penned poem on Remembrance Day last year.

“Although I am pretty busy with my study and art, it’s something I really wanted to do. I am a huge reader and I also think it’s important for us to remember those Australians who have fought for our freedom.”

Despite being up to her eyeballs in study, Chloe is keen to continue supporting Read2Remember as her charity of choice. “It’s something I feel strongly about. School is a priority for me this year. I am looking forward to studying and seeing where it takes me. Although I may not get to do it as often, I will still paint. It’s a personal thing.”

Whether paint or ink, this young Sunshine Coaster has a bright future ahead of her.

march 2012

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13

The 7 things I wish they’d taught me at school

THAT WOULD HAVE MADE ME A MILLIONAIRE BY 25

“

If I had been taught the 7 principles of money, investing and advice I would have known the way to easy wealth accumulation and been a millionaire by 25.

1. ADVICE Everyone loves to give it!

The most important thing I wish I had been taught is ‘Be careful who you take your advice from....’

2. MONEY I wish I had been taught that banks will tell you how to do your banking to increase their profits, not yours. Its like asking the mouse where you should put your cheese!

“

3. CREDIT CARDS If only they had taught me the power of using a credit card properly. 90% of credit card interest paid in Australia is totally avoidable.

Chris Childs THINK MONEY 0419 744 193

6. COMPOUND GROWTH I wish I had been told the simple rules of compound growth, and how it can work for you (or worstcase, for the bank). Compound growth will make you more money than you can ever earn by working.

7. PROPERTY If someone had only told me if I bought an investment property as soon as I could with the magic of compound growth, I could have bought again and again and again with no cost to me or my lifestyle.

THIS IS AN EXCERPT FROM CHRIS CHILDS’ E-BOOK “7 THINGS I WISH THEY HAD TAUGHT ME AT SCHOOL”.

EMAIL chris@thinkmoney.com.au TO GET YOUR FREE COPY OF THE COMPLETE E-BOOK!!

“

You don’t realise until you sit down with a professional, that changing the way you do your banking will make everything fall into place. We are still on the same income but our debt reduction has just been amazing. Our stress level is a lot lower now and we are so happy.

From thinking just a few months ago things were insurmountable, we have not only got our finances under control, within the next couple of months we will be heading towards buying our second investment property.

BILL & CAZ

Magnify Your Money

“

Think Money has changed our lives. Chris and the team have managed in 12 months to triple our property portfolio at a time when we thought we would have to wait another two years to invest again.

Just by changing the way we were doing our banking – and learning to run our property portfolio like a business – we now have the freedom to have a great lifestyle and still grow our portfolio!

With the support of our wealth coaches we were definitely able to reach and surpass our goals faster than we could on our own.”

“

5. SHARES We all know that shares are volatile, but I wish I had been taught that you need to trade shares. Buying shares and holding them long term rarely works except for the odd gem.

Control your Money...

“

4. HOME LOANS I wish I had been told if I set my loan up properly, most mortgages can be paid out in 5 to 7 years without changing your lifestyle, just by doing your banking differently. ...Those pesky mice again.

ROBBY & AMANDA

Luckily it isn’t too late for anyone to start. Chris Childs from Think Money teaches her clients what they should have been taught at school.

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE WEALTH COACHING SESSION

07 5430 4777

Head Office Think Money House 55 Sugar Rd. Maroochydore thinkmoney.com.au

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people

Our environment – the space in which we work, rest, party, dine – is constructed to make us feel a certain way. Mark Gacesa has been studying the science and art of interior design for most of his life, and is passionate about his work. A father, husband, music lover and traveller, he sits down with Candice Jayde Fox to talk about the spaces that define him, and the spaces he defines.

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’ve spent the last couple of weeks catching up with old friends in Sydney, and much of my time has been spent in new environments. At night we strap on glittering heels and strut through blue-lit corridors into sprawling clubs, four levels high, where dancers twist and writhe and chrome sculptures sparkle in the light of the strobe. At midday the next day we lounge and groan and squint in white-washed outdoor cafes, holding our sunglasses tight to our faces, ordering big breakfasts and black coffee and watching the surf roll in.

Broken-hearted from a recent divorce, these new places soothe and excite me. They allow me to pretend I’m someone new, untouchable, fierce. When I get home, it is the textures, sights and sounds of this familiar place that tell me I’m safe.

Mark Gacesa understands that these environments are places for reinventing and reassuring ourselves, and he has made it his business to design them for people all over the world. Winner of multiple interior design awards, including the Australian Design Awards, the Best Renovation in Queensland, HIA Best Bathroom and the Australian Corian Design Award, Mark says he has come a long way from the schoolboy with a talent for drawing and sketching.

“I wanted to be an architect from age six. I had a natural understanding and appreciation of spaces, colours, how these affect people and their mood. My father was one of the biggest interior designers on the Sunshine Coast, with a showroom in Currimundi and a solid reputation with Coast businesses. I was deeply involved in the business from a young age and he was very encouraging as a mentor.”

When a school counsellor suggested Mark should enrol in a new interior design course at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), it was as though the pieces of a puzzle were fitting together.

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words candice jayde olive ll photography katja anton

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people

“I was confused about what I should do with myself after school, as most teenagers are. For some stupid reason I was considering law, which absolutely wasn’t me. Sometimes it takes a stranger to point out what’s right in front of your face. I was made for it [design].”

At university, Mark entered a competition to design a medical centre in Central Plaza, Brisbane. As a result of reaching the national finals, the head of interior design for an architectural practice in Brisbane asked if Mark would work for them while he was still at uni. “I had a window office on the 24th floor.

It was all glamour, high-flying executives, travelling the country. I was still a kid, and it seemed like everything I wanted was unfolding right before me.”

Mark took his skills to work in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sydney. He had a role in redesigning most of the interiors for McDonald’s restaurants in New South Wales, and designed and decorated the most expensive apartment in Australia, located in Cremorne.

I was the official tour guide for M People when they visited, and I attended Tropfest with Kylie Minogue, among others.”

He met his wife, Danae, through mutual friends out one night for drinks.

“We’ve been married coming on six years. Danae impressed me from the first moment. She was attractive, confident and seemed approachable. She was really interested in what I did, and we began to work on collaborative projects. Today she supports me in the business and keeps her foot in the door of merchandising for different industries, which is her specialty.”

The couple has a daughter, Charlie Dee, who is three-and-a-half and “a little bundle of energy and forthrightness”.

After his incredible success in interior design, Mark took some time off in Sydney to pursue his other passion – music.

“I got tied up in the entertainment industry working at managing the Rooftop Bar at Kings Cross that hosted celebrity events and dejaying at the exclusive Sugar Reef nightclub. I was the official tour guide for M People when they visited, and I attended Tropfest with Kylie Minogue, among others. The music and entertainment side of things is something I’ve tried to weave into my home life. If I had the time I’d make my own music, but right now I have to settle for working with the music of others and mixing it to my personal style.”

Mark’s Sunshine Coast-based design practice, Ultraspace, has taken him around the world and back, meeting clients in LA to discuss projects and working with production firms in New York. He keeps a level head, however, and is passionate about making interior design a unique and inspiring journey for each individual.

“A lot of interior designers sit down with a bunch of books and magazines with a client and get them to point out what they want, without getting to know them or caring about the feel they want. It’s cold and characterless.

I prefer to get excited by the way people want to feel, by the ideas people express in their conversations as I get to know them. I’m not constrained by what’s been done before. I have a knack for conjuring up incredibly creative never-been-seen-before designs that blow clients’ minds. At the end of the day if the space I have created for you feels right and excites you, then I’ve done my job.”

Whether it is a moonlit restaurant, a thumping bar or a spacious, beautifully decorated home, our environments define us. They give us strength and can, in turn, dominate and suppress us. Mark makes building these treasured places his work, and loves each and every intricate, glamorous world he creates.

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profilemag.com.au mark gacesa

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© 2012 MicrOrganics19 profilemagazine

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his month we meet human resources and accounts officer Julie Garland, who has been happily married for 16 years, has two children, and a secret talent for judo ...

What drew you to a career in real estate?

An ad in the Sunshine Coast Daily! I’ve always had an interest in property and over the years, I’ve watched Caloundra and the Coast develop into the great place that it is. So for me, real estate is a great career choice.

What do you love the most about your role?

Real estate is such a dynamic industry, so my role is full of variety every day and there is never a dull moment.

What is the most frustrating part of your role?

There are not enough hours in the day!

Do you have any unusual hobbies? How do you spend your time off?

I’m a bit of a numbers freak, so I love Sudoku. My time off is spent with my family; boating, fishing, camping and enjoying the Sunny Coast lifestyle.

If you could be on any reality TV show, what would it be?

I love cooking, so I would have to say MasterChef.

What do you love the most about living on the Sunshine Coast?

Everything the Coast has to offer – beautiful beaches, reef fishing, shopping and markets, but it still has a small town feel.

Three words to describe you?

Loyal, fastidious, short.

Something most people wouldn’t know about you?

I once won a state title in a judo competition!

Favourite holiday destination?

The Sunshine Coast, of course! Why leave the place where everyone else wants to holiday?

Most embarrassing life moment?

I can’t really remember, but I’m fairly sure it involved a beverage or two.

Highlight of your career?

I’ve always enjoyed every job and industry I’ve worked in, but being at Henzells Agency now, I feel like I’m part of the family business, not just an employee. julie garland, shot on location at Caloundra RSL

Highlight of your personal life?

There have been many, but I’m very proud of my two beautiful children.

Describe your dream home?

A large home on acreage with deep water access.

How do you unwind?

I love sitting on the beach with a good book and a coffee.

Motto you live by?

Make the most of the time you have and be happy.

Who is your greatest inspiration in life?

My late grandmother, she was such a beautiful person, inside and out.

She loved life and gave so much love and compassion to everyone who knew her.

ll photography ben connolly 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. When it comes to making one of the biggest financial transactions you’ll make in your life, you want someone you can trust on your side. 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.

Professionals who, after all, are just like you and me.

www.henzells.com.au AGENCY 20

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

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lads at lunch

“They say chivalry is dead. It’s not dead; it’s just on the couch where the last person left it.”

BEN CONNOLLY

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“The moment the sport comes on she wants to chat. She should be able to read the signals.”

LAURIE CLARKE

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1. mark cotterell 2. Kevin Mcsweeney 3. paul hendricks 4. ben connolly 5. delicious african fare 6. phil white 7. laurie clarke and grant smith

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lads at lunch

words alli grant ll photography nadine sullivan ll sponsored by wealthways and boq maroochydore ll venue key restaurant, maleny

Men are from mars and women are from venus. This would certainly explain why men don’t listen and women can’t read maps, as Barbara and Allan Pease’s bestseller explores. Apparently we can’t help it. So instead of getting annoyed, we need to embrace the difference. Could be easier said than done, as Alli Grant discovered during this month’s lads at lunch interview.

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his morning I had an ‘I’m really proud of myself’ moment. I reverse parked. All by myself. Super well.

Didn’t hit the gutter, or another car. Didn’t end up two metres out from the footpath. I cracked it on the first go. And if onlookers standing around outside my gym wouldn’t have considered me a weirdo, I’d have gotten out of the car, cheered loudly and done a wee bit of a moonwalk in celebration.

Why am I so damn excited about my new-found parallel parking skills? Because it goes against my hardwiring. I am a woman, and for that reason I shouldn’t really be able to reverse park at all. And that’s not a cop out. It all comes down to spatial awareness and how our brains are geared.

Before all you Germaine Greer-types get huffy with me, I am not sexist. Far from it. I’m all about the sisterhood and achieving whatever we want in life. Power to us. But I am also a realist, and having read Why Men Don’t Listen and Women Can’t Read Maps by Barbara and Allan Pease, I am now far more understanding of my shortcomings. In fact, I choose to embrace them.

There are real and valid reasons why women can’t identify north just by looking at the sun and men can’t hang their wet towels up. There are real and valid reasons why we want to talk, talk, talk and our men won’t (or rather can’t) listen.

And what a perfect topic for our Ladies / Lads at Lunch series. Let’s be honest: there’s nothing we love more than bagging the opposite sex. My friends and I could make a sport out of it. We’d be men-bagging Olympic champions. But was inviting the blokes to round one of the Why Men Don’t Listen and Women Can’t Read Road Maps debate a wise idea? Hmm ... I was about to find out.

Leading the charge in the Team Man corner was our co-host, Laurie Clarke from BOQ Maroochydore. Over the past three and a half years, Laurie and I have had some funny old

march 2012

lunches together. We knew today was going to be one such get together.

Joining the lads was Grant Smith, director of Century 21 Buderim (single), Mark Cotterell, owner of Mark Cotterell Jewellers (single), Ben Connolly, esteemed photographer and owner of Velocity Images (single), Paul Hendricks, co-owner of Bowler’s Paradise (married), Phil White, owner of Sunshine Coast Antennae Service (married) and Kevin McSweeney, a retired lawyer (married).

Strangely, Team Man seemed to be internally divided into two distinct subgroups: Team Man – Happily Married, and Team Man – Single. They even sat at opposite ends of the table, with me plonked in the middle, like Switzerland. Was a civil war about to erupt? You be the judge ... profile: Let’s start with an easy one. What would be the most obvious difference between men and women? phil: You mean beside appearance? (profile: Yep it’s going to be one of those lunches!) mark: Lack of logic? laurie: I think men are more concerned with outcomes, where women pay more attention to how you get there. I like the fact that we are different though – if we were all the same it would be boring. kevin: I agree. Women want to know if there’s a better way and I just want to get there, and know that yes, I was right. profile: Ben? You’re awfully quiet! ben: Just thinking about how much women have changed over the years. They say chivalry is dead.

It’s not dead; it’s just on the couch where the last person left it. Ten to 15 years ago things were different. Women today are suss of a chivalrous man. mark: I agree – women are definitely suspicious of you when you go all out on the knight-in-shiningarmour business.

grant: Nice guys really do finish last, don’t they?

It’s all aligned now. There’s more of a power trip – some women are really manly about it all. kevin: I agree. It’s certainly different. My wife will stand back and wait for me to open the door, where my daughters will just rush straight in. profile: Speaking as a woman, I agree that we are our own worst enemy. On one hand we want to achieve the same, earn the same, do the same, but on the other hand we want to be looked after. phil: That’s the problem. No one knows the rules anymore. We are living in a bit of a ‘no rule’ society. profile: I get the feeling that there’s a bit of confusion out there in Man Land? mark: I’m just sick and tired of women telling me I’m too nice ... If you’re a nice man you’re treated as ‘soft’. ben: Especially on the Sunshine Coast – it’s almost impossible to find your equal here. Too many women have been ‘arsehole-ised’ previously. paul: There are plenty of fish in the sea, boys, don’t give up. (profile: Bless positive Paul who suggests the Profile girls take on Mark and Ben as ‘set-up’ projects. Hmm ...) profile: Let’s deal with the whole ‘men don’t listen’ thing. Come on. Fess up! Do you ever listen to us? paul: We can’t help it. It’s totally bred into us. As young boys we don’t listen to our mums. laurie: Honestly, sometimes you have to dial out ... just for survival! grant: It’s definitely a bloke thing. profile: So surely you can see why we nag? grant: You need to really engage me to keep my attention. Otherwise I’m a space cadet. mark: We definitely zone out when it comes to repetitive nagging! laurie: And timing, ladies. Deb doesn’t pick the

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lads at lunch

“You need to really engage me to hold my attention. Otherwise I’m a space cadet.”

GRANT SMITH

our lunching lads (and alli) share a beer while discussing ... women!

right time to talk to me. The moment the sport comes on she wants to chat. She should be able to read the signals. profile: And what about the differences on the ‘emotional’ front? I, for one, am a complete sooky-la-la ... mark: I can be emotional too, and have my meltdowns. But as soon as you show vulnerability to a woman, you get shot down. kevin: Men in my time didn’t wear their heart on their sleeve. We were pressured not to show our emotions. laurie: The thing is, we are simple people.

Women tend to over-engineer things. Especially when it comes to emotional issues. profile: Fess up. Who can multi-task? Is this a stereotypical difference between the sexes or is it the truth? grant: I’m the first to admit – I have to do one thing at a time, and then I move on. paul: Nope, I can’t do it. Women are excellent at it. mark: I think it’s crap. Women can do a lot of things, but are they doing them all well? ben: It depends what I’m doing. If I am focused on something, then yes, I would need to stop to take a phone call. laurie: Occasionally I will blame the fact that I’m a man and can’t multi-task for not doing stuff ... grant: I’m definitely easily distracted! profile: Kevin, what’s the secret to a happy marriage? You’ve been married 40 years. kevin: I used to do family law. And I’ve decided I don’t want to carve it [the money] up 40 / 60.

I’m not stupid! But really, it’s fear. mark: It has to be compatibility too. But people do change and grow, at very different rates sometimes. grant: I think the most important thing in a partner is that they are your best friend. profile: Let’s talk about sex then ... grant: Sex is sex. It should be about connection.

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You know there’s nothing really there if they have pre-ordered the cab! Men do have a much higher sex drive. mark: I think that’s changing. More women are doing the ‘wham, bam, thank you mam’ thing. paul: For men I think it’s 99 per cent physical and 1 per cent emotional. We might make love every now and again, but mostly we’re having sex.

Definitely different for women – more emotional. kevin: If I take my wife out for a three-course meal with candles and wine, she knows what’s expected. profile: (Raucous laughter!) Okay, settle down.

Let’s talk about appearances ... ben: Men are definitely more attracted to looks than women. I look at some grooms and then at their brides and think: man, how did you pull her? mark: Men definitely look at physicality more. phil: I would definitely go up to talk to a lady I liked the look of. profile: And the final word on our differences?

Maybe some words of advice? laurie: Be a bloke, open the door, don’t just be a caveman. That’s the key. grant: I just say be yourself. mark: I’m still a little confused about it all to be honest. kevin: I just know I’m glad I’m not a single bloke trying to find a wife. paul: I thank God we are different.

I think that sums it up completely. Confusion reigns supreme! One thing is for certain – we do know and appreciate that, like Barb and Allan said, we are different. Not better or worse, just different. I suggest you all nip out and read Barb and Allan’s book, because if each and every one of us read it the world would be a different place.

We’d certainly be a lot more understanding of our differences.

We might even embrace them.

KEY RESTAURANT, MALENY I’d never really tried authentic African food before, and I was excited about heading to Key Restaurant in the stunning Maleny mountains for my first experience. Thanks to chef and owner Simone Butler who hails from Ghana, we were also to experience taste sensations from the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, all made to authentic family recipes.

As expected, zesty and tasty is the order of the day at Key Restaurant, and while a few of our lunching lads appeared somewhat hesitant when told of the fiery nature of African food, they relaxed a little after seeing the menu – so many choices!

With the entire a la carte menu to select from, we ended up with a wide range of tasty morsels ... I started with the Mooloolaba banana prawns in special marinade – the perfect amount of spice for my sometimes fussy palette.

And I couldn’t go past the Mozambique chicken for main; marinated, char grilled and basted in traditional Mozambique style with a lime and paprika spice base and mild chilli flavours. It was divine. And our lads had similar feedback to share, with everything from the West Indies goat curry to the fish of the week sampled.

Simone clearly cooks from the heart – the food is hearty, honest, innovative and delicious, and I will definitely be back (without the seven blokes) to work my way through her menu.

Key Restaurant is open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner, with an African buffet on offer Friday nights and live music on Sunday afternoons for lunch.

Cairnscross Corner, Maleny 5429 6537 www.keyrestaurantmaleny.com.au

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business promotion

Prue an the simmonds family

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onds

Ellerfield Financial Planning is a leader in its field, its success backed by ethics, a long history of helping individuals reach their financial goals, and a ‘family’ ethos.

Ellerfield would like to introduce Prue Simmonds who, with husband Andrew and their three young children, lives in Buderim on the Sunshine Coast. Prue has kindly agreed to share her family’s experience of deciding to engage the services of a financial planner and what differences this has made to their lives.

What prompted you to consider working with a financial planner?

Andrew and I have three children and we wanted to make sure we had a good start on a plan for the future financially.

Why did you choose to work with the financial planner you selected?

When we met with Ellerfield we were not sold products. David Weir at Ellerfield Financial Planning really worked with us to develop a plan to achieve not just our financial goals but also our life goals.

What were you hoping to achieve by working with a financial planner?

We wanted to have a strong financial future and not to just live month to month.

Has your financial planner been able to help you achieve these goals?

We couldn’t be happier with Ellerfield as we now have solid direction on not just our short-time goals but also our long-term goals.

Could you explain how ‘ellerCentral cash flow management’ has helped your family?

EllerCentral is great. It really helps you keep on track with spending your money on a day-to-day basis and it makes you think before you spend.

march 2012

So much so, Andrew now enjoys entering all our receipts into our budget daily. Within the first couple of months of using Ellerfield’s ellerCentral budgeting process we have saved a substantial amount of money that we would not have done otherwise.

Your financial planner also helped by referring you to another business here on the Coast. Can you tell us about this?

We needed a solicitor and Ellerfield put us in contact with the correct kind of legal specialist at a local Sunshine Coast firm, which was a great help to us. Ellerfield genuinely takes a holistic approach to its clients’ needs and David’s attention to this matter was well beyond what we had expected a financial planner to do.

David Weir is your planner at Ellerfield, and you have said you were surprised by how he looks after your affairs. Could explain this?

David has been great for us. We really feel we have someone watching our back on our financial affairs.

Would you recommend Ellerfield Financial Planning to friends and family?

Absolutely. It has been the best move we have made for our family and our future.

Phone 5476 8744 First Floor, ‘Ballinger Place’, 3-5 Ballinger Road, Buderim, Qld, 4556 www.ellerfield.com.au

Ellerfield Pty Ltd ( ABN 13010991081) trading as Ellerfield Financial Planning is an Authorised Representative of GWM Advisor Services Limited (ABN 96002071749) an Australian Financial Services Licensee, Registered Office 105 – 153 Miller St, North Sydney, NSW 2060. This advice may not be suitable to you because it contains general advice that has not been tailored to your personal circumstances. Please seek personal and tax advice prior to acting profilemagazine on this information.

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success

words jessica jane sammut ll photography ben connolly, velocity images

Many little girls dream of a career in the fashion industry – rubbing shoulders with the greatest designers, the most talented photographers and the mightily beautiful, not to mention the couture clothing. So when Mandy Shadforth of the Oracle Fox blog confesses it all happened to her ‘by accident’, one can only gasp in amazement.

Jessica Jane Sammut investigates.

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any people write blogs. It can be a cathartic way of mentally unloading, a social attempt to reach out to like-minded people, a fun, creative hobby to juxtapose a pressure-laden corporate job, or a just a way to document a moment’s pleasure or an amusing anecdote. Yes, there are all sorts of reasons for writing a blog, so when Mandy Shadforth launched her alter ego, Oracle Fox, onto the blogosphere to share her love of fashion imagery and to feed her creative soul, no one could have predicted the incredible impact she was about to have on the world of fashion. The move made Mandy a sizzling hot topic across Australia and the international arena, conquering Europe and America in the blink of an eye and leading to her own Billabong Capsule Collection just months later.

“I have always loved creativity and art,” explains Mandy. “As a child, I was a bit of free spirit. Having lived on the Sunshine Coast all my life, I have a deep love of the ocean and of natural aesthetic beauty – or my interpretation of it – and this is what has always inspired me. It is amazing that I have been able to harness this creativity and get to where I am today.”

26 profilemagazine mandy shadforth

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success

It must have been hard for them to have had a daughter who didn’t adhere to the school-university-corporate job mentality.”

The elder sister to one brother, Mandy enjoyed an idyllic upbringing among the space and sunshine of the Coast, always knowing that she was not going to fit into the mould of an academic or corporate tycoon.

“As a young girl, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I knew it was going to have to be something artistic,” Mandy recalls. “In grade six, my teacher told me to make my vocation my vacation, and this stuck in my mind. I loved that idea. I wanted to do something positive that people benefited from; I adored art and the joy it offered.

“Mum and Dad both had a very strong work ethic and were more mainstream in their approach to life. It must have been hard for them to have had a daughter who didn’t adhere to the school-university-corporate job mentality, but somehow they managed to be extremely supportive of my talents and encouraged me to follow my own path in this regard. So that is what I did.”

After school, Mandy became a sign writer.

“I worked with a sign writer at first, undertaking a mini apprenticeship, and then at 21 started my own business,” Mandy explains. “I was a bit of a tomboy.

I raced dirt bikes and became quite involved in the dirt bike circuit. I even have screws in my shoulders and right knee from several accidents. It was a world away from the industry I am in now.

“Alongside my sign writing, I continued with my art and set up my own website to it. I found sign writing creatively rather restrictive. It was very

march 2012

commercial, and I longed to be avant-garde, so as the internet became more progressive and blogs were invented, I figured this could become another expressive outlet for me. Oracle Fox was born. Initially, I was motivated to post about the things I liked in order to drive people to my art website, but as time went by, I saw that more and more people were reading my blog purely out of interest for what I had to say. I had no strategy, no goal, it was all very organic. It was then that I started to get approached by the fashion industry, becoming known for my love of street style. To me, I was just posting about the things that I liked, but for some reason, my voice was being listened to.

“Within six months of starting Oracle Fox, I had 3,000 followers and had been nominated as the international Up & Coming Blogger of the Year internationally by Bloglovin’, chosen from over six million blogs. I flew over to New York during Fashion Week for the awards ceremony, and found myself mixing with the editors of high-profile US magazines and renowned fashion photographers. It was a spin-out.

“From there on, I never looked back. When the blog was eight-months-old, I was contacted by Billabong who were looking for a muse for their 2012 spring / summer collection, and much to my amazement, they wanted me to be it. The Oracle Fox Billabong Capsule Collection was created. I had great input into the design of the collection, flying over to California to work on it, and then the collaboration was launched at the Pipeline Masters surfing competition in Hawaii in December, where a huge party was held at the Billabong House. So far, the collection has gone into stores in over 50 countries all over the world and has nearly sold out!”

With some fashion writers / lovers / bloggers spending years, even whole childhoods, dreaming of the day they will break into the industry, it is an utter credit to Mandy that she has achieved this with such speed and ease.

Such is her credibility, artistic eye and ability to express herself through the most beautifully curated inspirational fashion images which she places on her blog, that she is adored by thousands of fans.

A member now of the Harpers Bazaar Style Network, Oracle Fox and Mandy have truly hit the big-time and it blows my mind that this young lady has achieved such success in such a ‘cliquey’ sphere – an arena which certainly holds no prisoners and suffers no fools. With more than 30,000 followers now in just under two years, the Oracle Fox blog is on fire.

“From my blog, I have also become a fashion stylist,” smiles Mandy, “styling editorial fashion shoots. This has also fed my passion for photography. I have been lucky enough to be exposed to some of the best photographers in the world who have taught me a whole range of tips. Like my art and my blog, I apply the same rules to my photography – to me, the point is the ‘look’ of something, whether it be a shoe, a dress, a person. It’s the lines, the light, how something hangs.”

Mandy Shadforth might have been in the right place at the right time. She might have even been fashion’s answer to a black void. Perhaps she was just an editor’s dream in trying to update an old editorial format, but for whatever reason, Mandy has been catapulted into the fashion stratosphere, known the world over for her taste and style.

Now a full-time blogger and fashionista, Mandy keeps her blog updated, works with designers, styles fashion shoots, photographs fashion, attends designer parties and launches (Louis Vuitton in Sydney a recent case-in-point), sifts through products and clothing sent to her by the industry, forecasts trends and fields more than 110 emails per day. Not bad for a girl who admits she always liked a bit of ‘cruisy’ lifestyle. Her 10 hour a day schedule is harder than she has ever worked, but in having created a career out of her passion, she has also created a life without the grind. Mandy has not only fulfilled her dream of making her vocation her vacation, as advised by that wise teacher all those years ago, but you could even say she has smashed that maxim to pieces. And all by accident. It just goes to show what can happen if you follow your heart. profilemagazine

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Join us at Sunshine Coast Grammar School on Thursday, March 22 at 7pm for a FREE Prep Information Evening

View the purpose built air-conditioned Prep Precinct

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cover story

words alli grant ll photography ben connolly, velocity images

ll shoot creative genine howard and kara de schot Robyn Hills is a visionary. An artist. A business woman.

A master photographer. A helicopter pilot. A property tycoon. An inspiration. And she is reaping the rewards that come with such incredible success, living a life most of us could only dream of living. But she has achieved it all the hard way – through dedication and perseverance, and by doing what she loves, as Alli Grant discovered.

T

he tightrope walk between success and failure is a delicate and somewhat precarious one. Some days you make it to the other side; your resolve strong, your vision clear, your balance perfect. But other days you’ll be thrown off balance; distracted, disheartened or simply not focused on the end goal. Making it to the other side.

I have personally walked this tightrope with varying degrees of success, and failure, over the years. As a small business owner and someone who is trying damn hard to follow my dreams and live a perfectly balanced life, some days are diamonds and some days are stone, as the song goes.

It’s far too easy to forget one thing; that I should do what I love. What I am passionate about. Because as they say, do what you love and you won’t work a day in your life. This is certainly something I aspire to.

One woman doing what she loves everyday and successfully negotiating that precarious tightrope walk of life is Robyn Hills. This artist, business owner, property guru, master photographer, helicopter pilot-come-fashion designer is certainly a rare breed. Somehow she manages to perfectly balance the two extremes of creativity and analytical skills – something not many of us can do.

A successful artist, Robyn is driven by powerful imagery and meaningful pictures. But slip that hat off and pop her other hat on and she is a powerful and successful career woman. A woman who has a natural flair for property development. And numbers. Robyn is living the life we mere mortals dream of. On one hand, it’s a life of luxury; flash cars, private helicopters, overseas adventures. But on the other, it’s a tale of hard work, of sleepless nights, wondering at times if

march 2012

ON COVER: Robyn wears Pizzuto Glazier long evening gown, RRP $599, with Swarovski cuff, RRP $180 and matching earrings, RRP $145, Renee Blackwell Design, www.reneeblackwelldesign. com. All available from Gingers Boutique, Buderim. Phone 5445 6616 THIS PAGE: Robyn wears Red cocktail dress, RRP $319, from Gingers Boutique, Buderim. Phone 5445 6616. Model’s own jewels, sequinned beanie and shoes

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cover story

Robyn wears Pizzuot kaftan silk dress, RRP $599, with Swarovski crytsal and topaz necklace, RRP $320 and drop earrings, RRP $150, Renee Blackwell Design, www.reneeblackwelldesign.com.

Shot on location at Caloundra Airport.

Vehicle: Mercedes Benz SLK-200, drive-away price from $89,990. Available from Garry crick prestige, Marooochydore. Phone 5409 0100. www.mbsunshinecoast.com.au.

Helicopter: Robyn Hill’s own

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cover story

it’s all going to hold together or be washed away like a sandcastle, of working tirelessly to see a dream through to fruition. She is an inspiration, on all fronts. How on earth does she do it?

Born in Toowoomba, Robyn’s family moved to the Sunshine Coast when she was just seven, with Nambour their home base. Realising that study wasn’t her thing and that there was a big, wide world out there to be explored, Robyn left school at the age of 14, intent on making a name for herself as an artist.

“I was an average student – I did well at things like art and English, but school wasn’t for me. I wanted to get out there and get on with it. And I was determined to make a living out of art. Dad worked in an office and I knew I didn’t want that, even after they told me that I would have to get a ‘real job’ like most people in the world. But I knew that most people in the world didn’t enjoy what they did.”

It took a few false starts before Robyn was to find her path.

“I left school on the Friday and started in a full time job on the Monday. In an office!” she laughs. Robyn initially worked for an accountant, escaping outside for her lunch breaks to sketch and explore her creative side. Her next role saw her one step closer to her dream of actually working as a photographer – she became a bookkeeper at Nambour’s Robinson Studios, after joining the camera club that met there.

“The studio owner, Ted Robinson, knew I wanted to be a photographer so he gave me my first start, albeit working on the books.”

When Robyn confesses to being quite into numbers I am genuinely surprised. Few creative types are good with the books.

“I know I have quite an unusual personality. I have both creative and analytic skills so use them both as needed. People are often surprised that as an artist, I also love spreadsheets. It’s really a gift and I guess that’s why it works for me.”

While she’s competent on the bookkeeping front, not surprisingly the job didn’t give her the creative challenge she was looking for. So, off she went to find her next challenge; a job in the Big Pineapple’s photo processing lab (the first one-hour mini lab on the Coast), while starting to photograph weddings and take on portrait work, part-time.

It was good grounding to learn about the processing side of the industry and gave Robyn invaluable knowledge about things like getting the exposure right at the time of taking the photograph. These same rules still apply even with digital technology today, she tells me.

“I was 17 and people would employ me to do their weddings. Looking a lot older than I was, I’d put on my best dress and my highest heels, pop my hair in a bun and off I’d go to photograph the wedding.”

At the ripe old age of 20, Robyn Hills decided she would create her own job. She rented and renovated a studio space in Nambour and then thought ‘What do I do now?’

Thankfully, she had a mentor willing to help her – the marketing manager from her professional processing march 2012

lab who was based in Brisbane, a gentleman called Rod Pforr.

“He told me all the reasons I wouldn’t succeed. To own a successful studio I had to be at least 35, have two years worth of studio experience, be married and have had my children, have $10,000 in capital and a desire to succeed. The only item on the list I qualified for was the desire to succeed, so I went ahead and did it anyway,” she recalls. Rod gave her step-by-step instructions, which Robyn just followed, and they worked.

“I learnt about taking the right photos and then how to ensure people bought them – the importance of range, display, and the business side of running a photography studio ... all the things that come after the photographs are taken. I literally did whatever he told me to do!”

And the beautiful world of Robyn Hills Photography was officially born.

When I caught up with Robyn for our interview at her Caloundra studio, it was our first meeting. It becomes immediately apparent that Robyn, an incredibly successful business woman, is an artist, not just a photographer. And often the two are mutually exclusive.

Beautiful family portraits hang opposite striking scenery shots, beside captured moments, around the corner from abstract fine art. It’s a beautiful world and one I was pleased to be invited into.

I ask Robyn about her work – what she enjoys the most.

“I just love photographing people – capturing their personality, bringing their beauty out, because everyone is beautiful. I have always been highly intuitive. I have premonitions and dreams. I’m a prolific dreamer actually. Sometimes I can have a full night’s sleep and still not feel rested.”

Robyn admits that this intuition has been helpful in business.

“I use a balance of this intuition and my analytical skills to make decisions, I guess. Being a perfectionist, I often have to balance that by using my practical skills and be more realistic about getting a project completed.”

After a chance meeting at Sydney Airport and several twists and turns, Robyn is now happily remarried.

“You just never know what events are going to change your life,” said Robyn. Having been named the Australian Professional Photographer of the Year 1997, an exceptional achievement, Robyn was awarded an $8,000 study tour of her choice. She decided to go to Antarctica. It was on that trip that she met Ross Harrison, her future husband, and the two remained firm friends for a few years before officially starting what would be a long-distance relationship.

But Robyn and Ross had a plan to combat the tyranny of distance.

“With Ross’s business interests being in Toowoomba at the time, there was a lot of commuting. Ross has his rotary and fixed-wing licences and owns a helicopter, so suggested I get my chopper licence. I’d actually enquired about getting my pilot’s licence when I was 22. Aviation has always been a fascination.

“It has certainly provided an interesting layer to our lives. I started seeing the world from a different

They told me that I would have to get a ‘real job’ like most people in the world.

But I knew that most people in the world didn’t enjoy what they did.”

Robyn Hills has achieved so much in her career, and this master photographer can add ‘fashion designer’ to her resume

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I am definitely aware of my success. But I am what I am. I don’t do it to prove a point to anyone ... I do it all because I love it.”

Robyn wears Pizzuto Evolution Dress in Black with one shoulder and drape front, RRP $389, with Adore bracelet, RRP $29, Gingers Boutique and swarovski crystal and antique bead necklace, RRP $320, and matching drop earrings, RRP $150, from Renee Blackwell Design, www.reneeblackwelldesign.com All available from Gingers Boutique, Buderim. Phone 5445 6616

perspective. It’s much more than a mode of transport – I can check out the real estate from the air. Also, seeing the earth from this perspective has been inspirational in capturing patterns in the landscape, which I then turn into fine art pieces.”

I ask Robyn if it is surreal to be able to jump into a helicopter at a moment’s notice to nip off to Brisbane or beyond.

“I do know that it is a huge privilege and I don’t ever take it for granted,” she explains.

Robyn certainly isn’t short of drive. Or passion. Or projects. Not only is she a chopper flying artist, she is a property mogul with what she admits is a “nice little property portfolio”. Robyn tells me her photography work provides her income and the property portfolio provides capital growth.

Impressively, Robyn’s first property purchase was a block of flats in Maroochydore. At 22. Yes, a block of flats.

“I am definitely aware of my success. But I am what I am. I don’t do it to prove a point to anyone. I don’t show off. I don’t say, ‘Look at what I’ve got’. I do it all because I love it. And I love all that I have achieved and I take a lot of pride in what I do,” she tells me, reflecting on her life and her achievements.

Amazingly, Robyn has never completed any formal training in photography.

“But I did want to have letters after my name, and I considered going back 32

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to study as a mature-aged student. Instead, I entered the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) Awards every year. In 1995 I was awarded the title of Master of Photography – the youngest in Australia at the time and one of only a few females with the honour.”

This was followed up with a Fellow of AIPP, the highest honour the Institute can give a photographer and an award she is incredibly proud of.

But the best may just be yet to come for Robyn, and she can now add ‘fashion designer’ to her list of successes.

“After the GFC hit, my phone literally didn’t ring for a week. So suddenly I had the time to do the things I had always wanted to do – I organised an exhibition in New York. Over I went ... and I didn’t sell a thing. Not a piece.

It was devastating. But what was I thinking? If Australia was having a tough time, New York would have been doing it tougher. Der! “I was wearing one of my ties at the exhibition that I had made, the one with the green man on it, and braces. I was just being me, wearing some of my own art – one of my photographs printed onto the fabric. An Australian fashion designer based in New York, Sophia Tezel, commented that I should make more, that people would pay good money for my ties. No one wanted to buy my work on the walls, but on opening night at the exhibition every second person in the room wanted to buy my tie!” profilemag.com.au

SMALL GROUP TRAINING FROM AS LITTLE AS

$22.50 per week* *Conditions apply

march 2012

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cover story

robyn hills and a mercedes benz slk-200 from garry crick prestige

This feedback sent Robyn on a journey in a new direction.

Robyn’s current ‘project’ has, by her own admission, been “all about finding out what I don’t know”. She managed to produce a full range of ties in just six weeks, in order to make the 2011 Sunshine Coast Fashion Festival. Yes, in just six weeks Robyn managed to design, brand and produce a range of ties – while learning about production, labelling and fabrics along the way.

The range is called ROBYNgraphs TM, (translates from Photographs by Robyn) and watch out – her ties will soon be coming to a neck near you!

The images are striking and original, with all sorts of her photographic work utilised, from landscapes to portraits and abstract fine art images. Bookings are in for Sydney and Melbourne Fashion Shows and Robyn is already looking for overseas distribution.

I love the fact that Robyn’s current success stems not only from her failings, but from her own quirky nature. Robyn has been wearing men’s ties for years.

“I’m unique and offbeat, yes. I love shape and texture. I love putting things together that shouldn’t be together,” she explains. I admire her eclectic style and how she looks so effortlessly chic in a tie.

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Robyn Hills is most definitely living a picture perfect life, but a lot of this comes down to her nature. Her ability to see a dream and go after it.

“I’m an optimist, and I like to think about opportunities. The glass is always half full in my world. Because I am living my natural talents and using them every day, I like to encourage others to find their talents. Love what you do, and if you don’t love it, find what you do love.”

Robyn is passionate about making the world a better place – helping children in need, picking up plastic on the beach and sharing her life’s lessons with everyone she meets.

And if there’s anything I took away from my time with Robyn, it was this key message. Do what you love. For me it’s writing. It’s telling stories that inspire, that entertain, that intrigue, that inform. Time for me to take a leap forward in my own life; to up the ante on my dreams.

Robyn, thank you for helping me to see what has been right in front of me all along, my own picture perfect life. If anyone is looking for me, I’ll be on that tightrope ...

profilemag.com.au

Ph: 5452 7894

march 2012

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briefcase

beauty mark.

A

s the saying goes, true beauty shines from the inside out. But for permanent cosmetics specialist Lyn O’Connor, she finds that being happy with your appearance is the key to feeling beautiful and bringing out the best in you.

After working in various clinics throughout her extensive career, Lyn opened up her own business from home. Clynic allowed her to help people look and feel their best through cosmetic and para-medical tattooing, from the comfort of her own home.

“It’s really rewarding being able to assist people with their self image, whether it’s enhancing or correcting,” Lyn explains. “Rejuvenating a person’s look and fixing up any faults they might feel insecure about has such an impact on their confidence. They walk away feeling satisfied with themselves.”

Despite her passion, pride and 15 years of experience, tattooing wasn’t always Lyn’s initial career path. “I was in the middle of getting certified in make-up when I met a lady who had done cosmetic tattooing, and after seeing first-hand what it could do, I loved it so much that I changed my course to

ll words jaclyn paul

do the same.” As a self-proclaimed perfectionist, her skills and reputation are on show for the world to see with every finished job.

“I always put everything into my work, no matter how long it takes, and when you’re giving a service to others, I feel you get the most back.”

On her time off, this hard-working lady finds the best way to wind down is a good walk on Moffat Beach or down the spit at Mooloolaba. “I always find it so relaxing and invigorating. Sometimes I do 5:00am starts just to meditate on the beach because I feel so at home near the water.”

While getting any form of tattoo might seem like a daunting experience, Lyn ensures she takes care and consideration with every client. “Being able to work from home is definitely a plus for the business. It’s relaxing for clients to come into a friendly, welcoming environment,” Lyn explains. Her love for her work and changing the way people feel about themselves is enough to guarantee the experience will be an enjoyable and revitalising one.

lyn o’connor

beyond her years.

T

Tegan Ensing

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hey say experience comes with age, but in the case of Reserve Restaurant manager Tegan Ensing, we would have to make an exception. At the ripe age of 19, this born and bred Maleny teenager has proven her knowledge and skills in the hospitality field by being promoted to manager.

Tegan nabbed the top job after showing great maturity and dedication to her work – something rarely found at her age and experience.

After graduating high school, Tegan immersed herself in the fine dining restaurant that had kept her employed during her studies. “I started part-time while I was still in high school and found that I loved it so much I wanted to apply myself more seriously after I finished,” explains Tegan. She did exactly that.

The dedicated employee played a big role in helping achieve many awards for the restaurant with her all-round competent work ethic. “I’ve always worked with older people in the hospitality industry and I find that when you’re constantly around them and working with them, you pick up on a lot of their skills and experience. It has definitely helped me as a worker,” she says. Tegan is a whiz on the restaurant floor; directing staff, seeing to happy customers,

words jaclyn paul ll photography courtesy of The Range News

popping champagne bottles, zipping through the kitchen. It’s a wonder where she gets all that youthful energy from! Oh, wait ...

While Tegan was born and raised on the Sunshine Coast, she has already set her sights on travelling in the not too distant future. “I would love to use my hospitality certificate and knowledge in other countries, and work around the world,” she smiles.

“Although eventually, I’d like to own my own fine dining restaurant. That’s my ultimate dream.”

When asked what she does outside of work, Tegan laughs. “If only there was a life outside of work!” She talks about one of her favourite past times. “I was a dancer for 13 years and did everything from ballet to tap, jazz to hip-hop. I love it!”

It seems that this talented and driven teenager has a grasp on life that is beyond her years. The maturity and professionalism she applies to her work, combined with her ambitious go-getting nature, are all signs that she is heading in the right direction.

She is determined to strive in anything she applies herself to ... regardless of her age. If only all teenagers followed her brilliant example.

profilemag.com.au

business promotion

MEET

ANDREW winner Star Recruit What do you love about working at A and G? The environment, the people, the culture and the support we get.

What is the best thing about your role?

The people here and the culture. It’s great!

What are some of the ‘perks’ of the job?

Performer rewards make the job really satisfying.

How is this role different to any you have had before?

It is so professional and supportive of staff.

STAR AWARDS A masquerade ball was the theme chosen by Auto & General Insurance Services to recognise their star contributors at their 10th Annual Sales Awards evening. Over 150 sales agents, partners and supporters celebrated in style as teams came together from the Kawana and North Lakes operations to reveal their champions based on 2011’s results. With an amazing display of persistence and competitive drive, Ilana Abram

MEET

ILANA winner Sales Consultant of The Year

was named top Consultant for the 6th consecutive year, and Heather Wallace was for the 4th time named Team Leader of the Year. Encouragingly though, one of the most hotly contested awards was for Star Recruit, which was taken out by Andrew Howard. General manager of sales, Mark Deighton said, “We’ve got an amazing team who all do well, so to take out any award these guys have got to be on top of their game. Andrew was

one of five or six new stars who could have won, so that positions us well for increased success in 2012.” Auto and General Insurance Services has been based on the Sunshine Coast for over 11 years and employ 650 staff nationally with over 275 based on the Sunshine Coast. AGIS is the administrative arm supporting general Insurance brands such as Budget Direct & Virgin Money Insurance.

SO WHY NOT JOIN THE TEAM? Our philosophy regarding employee benefits is simple: We offer a range of benefits that help attract, retain and motivate staff by keeping them happy, healthy and wise! Our employee benefits program, called Lurks and Perks, provides employees with a range of benefits including discounts for products, gym memberships and insurance, extra annual leave, massages, financial support for approved tertiary studies and we even have a team to help staff find childcare services. Budget Direct … picture yourself here.

How long have you worked at A and G? Nearly seven years.

What is the best thing about your role?

The ability to earn good money every month!

What are some of the ‘perks’ of the job? Great performer reward activities with development opportunities and of course the awards night!

march 2012

For more detail about us or to apply for a Sales role go to www.budgetdirect.com.au/careers’ profilemagazine

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business promotion

joybells goes online words jaclyn paul ll photography ben connolly, velocity images

Joybells has it all and then some, stocking the Coast’s widest range of boutique art greeting cards, gorgeous collectible teddy bears, divine scented candles and soaps and gifts to suit any occasion.

Walking into the Joybells in Caloundra is like leaving the real world for a fantasy land of trinkets, cards, gifts and treasures. Since opening in 2009, this family-owned and run business has made its mark on the Sunshine Coast, attracting attention from locals and visitors around the country. With increasing demand, a crowded store and a constant influx of emails from customers abroad, it was on the cards for Joybells to expand their business online to cater for customers everywhere.

Manager Haley Whitfield, her mum Jennifer and sister Katherine have witnessed firsthand the rapid growth of their unique store. They are in the midst of setting up the online shop to satisfy the needs of the many buyers outside of Caloundra’s reach. “We receive calls not only from people visiting the store on holidays, but even from Sunshine Coast locals who would ask for items to be posted to them,” explains Haley. “There were even calls coming from overseas inquiring about products people had seen or heard about.”

Haley a

When you enter the bubbly, colourful shop located on Bulcock Street, it is sure to brighten your day. The staff are always friendly and helpful.

It is this welcoming and joyful experience that the staff have integrated into the online store. “What makes Joybells such a hit is the fun, vibrant work environment where we strive to offer the most valuable and personal service,” Haley explains.

“We want customers to have the same shopping experience online as they do in the store, so the site will be updated with our favourite picks and all of the little quirks that make Joybells so unique.”

With the business expanding rapidly through cyberspace, great things are expected for Joybells. What started off as a small, tucked-away family business has now blossomed into an extensive card and gift world, gaining increasing demand and exposure around the country – something that the Whitfield girls hadn’t even planned. “We’ve come such a long way since opening two years ago,” admits Haley. “None of us expected Joybells to become this big of a hit.

It has endless potential.”

nd mak

aya Whit

field

“Our customers will be able to shop with us from the comfort of their own homes and it signals the beginning of a new chapter for us.” A new chapter indeed – Haley’s five-year-old daughter Makaya Joy is the third generation in the Whitfield family to help out in the store. “She’s adorable,” says Haley. “She loves to tie these perfect ribbons on every product bag before they leave the shop.

It’s a little personal touch that speaks true to the theme of the Joybells Card and Gift Store.”

31b Bulcock Street, Caloundra, QLD 4551 07 54912266 |

joybellscardsandgifts

www.joybells.com.au

After long hours of research and preparation, Haley has designed the website to be convenient and easy to use, while offering a wide range of their products at reasonable prices. “We are really excited about adding a new dimension to our family business,” she continues.

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style counsel

meet sonia lee window shopping

meet our makeover winner! profile loves

divine decadence

your ultimate guide to fashion and beauty

vanity case

the a list beauty advice

new season shades

THE GOOD LIFE

MEET DR SIMONE RICKETTS

window shopping

my favourite things ...

This issue, we are excited to show off the first winner of our makeover competition!

We had hundreds of entries from women all over the Sunshine Coast and we have picked the first winner, as pictured here. Don’t stop entering, though! Simply send a recent photo to fashion@profilemag.com. au and tell us your favourite Profile Magazine cover to date.

We had a great time with our luxury theme this issue. Check out our top beauty finds on page 44, tried and tested by the team (lucky us!). Also, don’t miss things we love with a touch of luxury on Profile Loves, page 42.

And we couldn’t go without some luxurious jewels – I have included my bling-love, below. Yum!

on cover: Robyn is styled by Gingers Boutique, Buderim, Phone 5445 6616, head to page 32 for details

GENINE HOWARD PUBLISHER / group MANAGING director

model for a day winner!

Drum roll please … We are excited to present the first winner of our Look Like a Cover Girl promotion with Kooshka Hair – Zoe Sparkes!

Zoe is a busy mum and career woman who juggles her travel business and event company. Zoe entered the competition to refresh her look and adopt a style that was easy to handle. She enjoyed a full pamper session, including a hairstyle makeover from the experts at Kooshka Hair, Mooloolaba, and professionally-applied makeup. Zoe was then styled by the team at La Vida, Mooloolaba, and enjoyed a professional photo shoot with Shawn from Sabra Creative. (www.sabracreative.com).

Kooshka’s Daniella Saville created a modern look for Zoe. “We added a bit of pizazz to Zoe’s long bob [LOB] by enriching her colour and breaking up the LOB with an asymmetrical cut. The overall look is a straight, asymmetrical-style cut. At Kooshka, we use Kevin Murphy products, which are organic and smell divine! I used Body Guard, a weightless moisture product, to help enhance shine and protect from heat damage, along with Straight Defence, a lotion designed to keep hair straighter for longer while adding strength. Lastly, I used Hair Resort – an oil free texturiser that defies gravity and gives a strong volume hold with no weight.

“To get Zoe’s fresh new makeup look I used Youngblood products, starting with a mineral primer – essential in keeping makeup fresh throughout the day. I used Sun Kissed liquid foundation, then highlighted the eyes with ShangHi Nights eye shadows in gem stone. I then set the makeup with loose mineral powder in warm beige and enhanced and shaped her brows using the Youngblood Brow Kit in dark.”

ZOE AFTER. ZOE’S NEW LOOK IS COURTESY OF KOOSHKA HAIR, MOOLOOLABA, AND STYLING BY LA VIDA BOUTIQUE, MOOLOOLABA. PHOTOGRAPHY BY SABRE CREATIVE

Zoe was styled by the team at La Vida. She wears Talulah ‘Nothing is Forever’ Top, RRP $220 and Talulah ‘The other side of summer’ Pants. RRP $149.95 and Talulah ‘Full Bloom’ Dress, RRP $220. Pearl Necklace $24.95. For behind-the-scenes footage, head to www.facebook.com/kooshka.

the right stuff What girl doesn’t love bling? Here are some of my favourite finds for our luxury issue.

Kush Diamonds offer original handcrafted creations – one of a kind works of art. Price on application. Available online www.kushdiamonds.com.au

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Claw-set diamond rings with channel and threadset shoulders, priced from $15,000. One ring features a fancy yellow center diamond while the other features a rare white center diamond with Argyle Pink diamond shoulders. Available from musson jewellers, www.musson.com.au

18ct WHITE GOLD Aquamarine Briolette and Diamond drop Earrings set with 50 Brilliant cut Diamonds, RRP $4,650. MARK COTTERELL MASTER JEWELLER. www.markcotterell.com

profilemag.com.au

bliss on buderim

beauty

...it’s all about you

march 2012

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profile loves crystal clear Ipanema Necklace, RRP $59.95. Antique gold-plated necklace with intricately etched beads and generous teardropshaped clear crystal beads. For stockists, head to www.charachara.com

classic chic

time to shine Classique Ceramic sports chronograph CZ watch, RRP $525. For stockists head to www.classiquewatches.com

divine DECADENCE

Tresor Paris, Czech 9 crystal bracelet, RRP $199 each. For stockists head to www.tresor-paris.com.au

Luxury can be understated ‌ or over the top! We are loving embellishments this month – think sparkle, shine and bling.

Bling it on!

chain mail Wayne Cooper chain clutch, rrp $119.

Available from selected stockists and Myer Sunshine Plaza.

golden glow Burnished Golden Beauty Necklace, RRP $69.95.

Burnished gold-plated with a mesh-like structure which adds to the beauty of the piece. Fabulous clear crystal beads position themselves in between the necklace matrix adding glamour to the piece. For stockists, head to www.charachara.com

divine dress Rose Noir gown, $POA. exclusive to Julie Anne Boutique, Mooloolaba, phone 5477 7144 and Buderim, phone 5453 7777

bling cuffs Sass and Bide ivory jacket embellished beading and sequin detail, RRP $750. Available from La Vida, Mooloolaba, phone 5444 8833

bling it on Silver clutch, RRP $219.

Available from I Cherry Shoe, Noosa Heads or online www.icherryshoe.com.au

shiny shorts Sass and Bide dyed linen shorts, RRP $250. Available from La Vida, Mooloolaba, phone 5444 8833

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vanity case

art of science Crème L/X from ARTISTRY, RRP $415. The definitive solution to youthful appearance.

Forward-thinking science and exclusive CellEffect technology confront internal and external skin aging factors. For stockists head to www.artistry.com.au

nature’s luxury Elemis Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Mask, RRP $120. This luxurious cream mask combines the power of quartz with padina pavonica, adaptogenic noni, moringa and argan tree oil to instantly uplift and hydrate the skin. www.bellabox.com.au

rouge pur couture Vernis à Lèvres YSL Glossy Stain, RRP $50.

Phone 1300651991 for stockists

fountain of youth Skin Virtue Pure Line Repair eye cream, $68. A deep penetrating ultra rich eye renewal complex formulated to replenish eye contour area provides extra moisture needed to fight first signs of aging. For stockists head to www. fountaincosmetics.com.au

the A list

everything that shimmers ...

Orofluido Beauty Elixir and Gold Shimmer Dust Gift Box, RRP $49.95. Set features a full sized bottle of Orofluido Beauty Elixir, plus a Gold Dust hair shimmer powder in a beautiful atomiser. www.bellabox.com.au or Strut Hair, Maroochydore. Phone 5443 5605

We have found the best-of-the best beauty secrets for your vanity case. Tried and tested, these beauty products should have their own red carpet. It’s the A List of beauty! nature’s nectar La Mav Antioxident rich nightly repair nectar, RRP $69.95. La Mav is Australia’s first certified organic skin care range with scientifically proven bio-actives.

For stockists head to www.lamav.com

age defying Thalgo Hyaluronic Cream, RRP $129, and Thalgo Hyaluronic FILLER RRP $69. New Anti-Ageing Skincare Programme using Hyaluronic specially designed for those aged 35 and over.

Available at Aqua Day Spa, Sheraton Noosa Resort and Spa, Noosa

pure decadence Botáni Olive Skin Serum, RRP $31.95 (15 ml). A must for all skin types Botáni’s Olive Skin Serum’s ‘intelligent ingredients’ deliver visible results, leaving the skin silky smooth, with a youthful glow.

Available across Queensland from Terry White Pharmacies, Priceline and independent health food stores and pharmacies www.botani.com.au

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5444 7715 Shop 1, 20 Brisbane Road, Mooloolaba

march 2012

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style counsel

ll photography ben connolly, velocity images

sonia lee

Sonia Lee is the owner and proprietor of Panache Studio at The Wharf, Mooloolaba. While she manages an energetic team of stylists, beauticians and apprentices, 40-year-old Sonia also juggles a husband and two sons, aged 13 and 11. With more than 20 years experience in the beauty industry, she is devoted to making Sunshine Coasters look and feel beautiful.

profile: What do you love most about your job? sonia: I’m really satisfied when I see clients walk out of the salon feeling happy and confident with their new look. I bring energy to people’s image, and I get to do it while enjoying the great water views from the salon overlooking the Mooloolaba River. It is such a relaxing place to work. profile: What looks can we expect to see this season in hair? sonia: Coming into autumn, I think we will see warm-coloured highlights with darker undertones. Longer hair with loose curls seems to be very popular as well. Summer is all about chop and change, and now the weather’s cooling off, it’s time for long locks and deep, sensual colours.

Let your hair down, ladies! profile: What must-have item should be in every wardrobe this season? sonia: A great pair of jeans you feel confident in. Dress them up or down, good jeans are essential. profile: Who is your favourite designer? sonia: I have two. Alex Perry and Collette Dinnigan. profile: How would you describe your own style? sonia: Classic and feminine. I love all things pretty. profile: What and where is your favourite boutique? sonia: I love Princess Polly on The Esplanade in Mooloolaba. profile: What is your fashion fetish? sonia: I love dresses. Long or short. There are so many beautiful styles around.

I’ll go shopping for one and come home with three or four. I’m addicted!

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profile: What do you always have in your handbag? sonia: My sunnies and makeup bag. profile: What is your signature fragrance? sonia: Daisy Eau So Fresh by Marc Jacobs. profile: What is your best style tip? sonia: Always wear colours that suit your skin tone and accentuate your best features. Not everyone can pull off that eye-catching orange miniskirt. Learn about what suits you and relish in the styles that make you look your best. profile: What is your best memory from working in the hairdressing industry? sonia: It was actually working as a hair and beauty volunteer on a pamper day for a group of mums in a women’s refuge here on the Sunshine Coast.

These incredible women had been rescued from domestic violence situations and were in dire need of attention, support and a confidence boost. Being involved in the transformation of their physical appearance and seeing that lifted their confidence was very emotional for everyone involved. It was a life-changing experience for me.

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advice

sassy seasonal shades with Erin Watt ‘Well guys, it’s time for me to say goodbye. I’ve had such an amazing time writing this column every month, and I have to say a big thank you to Genine and the guys at Profile Mag for all the support. Oh, and all the readers, of course. I’m off to the big smoke, Melbourne to be exact, to start a whole new chapter. But before I go, I’d like introduce you to our new hair advice expert; Erin Watt. I’ve worked with Erin for years and I’m happy to hand over the reigns to such a capable young woman. Happy reading! Wade.’

Alright, so autumn is here and for me this doesn’t just mean a change of season or the colour of the leaves. It’s also a great opportunity for a change in hair colour. Changing your colour doesn’t mean it has to be drastic, like going from blonde to black. It is often the most subtle changes that makes the biggest impact.

Adding a lovely golden copper into your highlights or changing the tone of your overall colour is a simple way for you to get that autumn feeling.

Platinum blondes and the two-toned balayage dominated as the hottest colours to have over summer, but this time around it’s a little more golden. Honey tones are a fantastic choice. They are a neutral shade, meaning they will flatter every skin colour.

Keep in mind that red is definitely a highmaintenance hue; that’s why it is great for the cooler climate. Make sure you use a shampoo and conditioner designed to help lock the colour in and you’ll also need to be prepared to go back to your salon once a month to refresh it.

Glistening golden browns and rich chocolate hues are a big yes! But one solid dark colour can be too harsh against most complexions. Ask your colourist for a multi-dimensional tone which doesn’t just look great but also makes fine hair appear thicker.

So there you have it. Some hot hair tips for the cooler months ahead. Remember, when choosing that perfect colour it should always complement the person who is wearing it, enhance but not overpower, and last but not least, make you feel like you.

If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, copper and red are great options for that ‘wow’ factor.

From soft strawberry shades to deep rusty coppers, these colours are by far my favourite for the season and sure do pack a punch. Avoid solid, artificial colours: they often come off stale and unnatural. Opt for a more realistic result with different tones and softer highlights around the face.

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

the abc of skincare with Dr Alison Jamieson One of the most frequent questions I am asked as a cosmetic medical practitioner is ‘What skincare should I be using?’ In Australia, it goes without saying that a 30+ sunscreen is a must.

Barrier sunscreens based on zinc oxide are best, as they reflect most UV rays off the skin. But don’t be fooled. Even though you may be wearing a good SPF sunscreen, unless you are applying it half a centimeter thick you will always be exposed to some UV rays.

Below I have managed to condense the key aspects of an excellent skin care program. These are rules that most international dermatologists and cosmetic doctors would follow when advising their patients.

•• For many years, doctors have known the power of topical vitamin A. In its prescription form, it is one of the most potent antioxidants that can be used on skin. It has been studied intensely and proven to help reduce the

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effects of sun damage and the appearance of blemishes, scars, pigmentation and wrinkles.

It has also been used in the treatment of acne and rosacea. Topical vitamin A preparations can only be prescribed by a doctor in Australia.

•• One of the most exciting advances in skincare research is Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3. Your skin has its own immune system, designed to alert the body of toxic matter or damaged cells. As a result of natural ageing and sun damage, the skin’s immune cells become weakened. Vitamin B3 is known for boosting skin immunity, improving skin tone and reducing sensitivity.

The above ingredients are essentials in a good skincare regime. Other elements such as AHAs, lipids and phyto-oestrogens can also be beneficial when combined with the basics to help boost the skin’s natural moisture levels and improve skin firmness.

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

•• Another molecule that has been studied and proven to be of benefit is vitamin C. Note that L-ascorbic acid, the best form of topical Vitamin C, is a potent skin antioxidant.

It reduces pigmentation and redness and enhances collagen production.

profilemag.com.au

life

your baby team with Dr James Moir Childbirth is an amazing experience, especially for a first-time mum. But it can also be daunting.

One moment, the birth of your baby seems so far away. The next, you find yourself in a room filled with strangers, bright lights, noises. Your most private moment will be shared by dozens of people. Who are all these people? What are their roles? What happens next? I hope this column will give you an overview of the process of childbirth and explain the crucial role each member of your support team will play.

The most important person during your labour will be your midwife. Your midwife will provide one-to-one support throughout your labour, using their knowledge to help you, support you and make the delivery easier.

Your obstetrician is another vital player, checking on you regularly during the labour process to make sure that both you and your baby are coping and aren’t in any danger. The doctor will be called for the actual birth.

Another important person in the delivery room is your birth partner, a loved one of your choosing who will experience the birth. Sometimes the birth partner feels out of their depth to begin with in such a different environment, but most women find that having a birth partner in the room with you is a very positive thing.

If there are no complications, these are the only people who will be with you during your child’s birth. However, if you should need an epidural, an anaesthetist will come in to discuss your history and carry out the epidural procedure.

Finally, your last visit with the obstetrician will be for the post-natal check, which happens approximately six weeks after the birth.

Ensure you rely on others to support you, ask questions, voice your concerns, and let the experience unfold as it will without fighting it.

Hopefully, my column has shown you that you are not alone in this time in your life. Embrace it!

Moir Medical 5444 0799 www.moirmedical.com.au

After your baby has come into the world, the obstetrician will carry out any suturing to the mother’s wounds that may be required.

The paediatrician will periodically examine the baby for up to 24 hours after the birth. For each day of your hospital stay, your obstetrician will check in to see how you and your child are progressing.

NoosaCare Inc.

NoosaCare Inc Carramar • Kabara

Aged Care incorporating Carramar, Tewantin and Kabara, Cooroy

Care Quality & Service to our Resident Community

• Ageing in Place • Permanent and Respite Accommodation • Extra Services Available

march 2012

Carramar, Tewantin

186 Cooroy Noosa Rd, Tewantin Qld 4565 Ph. (07) 5449 8799 Fax. (07) 5449 0195 Email. carramar6@bigpond.com.au

Kabara, Cooroy

20 Topaz St, Cooroy Qld 4563 Ph. (07) 5447 7355 Fax. (07)5442 5199 Email. kabarahostel@bigpond.com.au

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the good life

words alli grant ll photography ben connolly, velocity images

Giving someone a beautiful smile is such an amazing gift.

Dr Simone Ricketts knows all about that. As the owner of Smile by Design, she transforms the lives, and mouths, of her patients daily. In this month’s The Good Life, we find out about Simone’s commitment to her own health and well-being.

D

r Simone Ricketts, owner of Smile by Design in Maroochydore, is a dentist by trade and a country girl at heart. Born in Adelaide, Simone grew up on a sheep and cattle property in Coonawarra. After completing her bachelor degree in dental surgery in Adelaide, Melbourne beckoned Simone. After seven years, she decided, as many do, to head north to the warm waters of the Sunshine Coast. In 1994, Simone opened Smile

by Design.

When she’s not working on improving the smiles of Sunshine Coasters, Simone is dedicated to her charity work with the Zonta Club of Caloundra, with two projects especially close to her heart. Each year, Simone helps put together 2000 birthing kits that are sent to women in third world countries such as Kenya and Vietnam, to ensure safe, clean childbirth. She has also worked on the production and assembly of breast care cushions for women in Sunshine Coast hospitals who have had mastectomies. Two noble endeavours indeed.

Simone and husband Matt, who have two teenage daughters, share a passion for aviation. Matt has painstakingly rebuilt and restored several rare WWII Boomerang fighter aircraft, and the family can often be seen at air shows all over Australia.

So how does Simone balance work and play? Is she as committed to her inner health as she is her clients’ outer health, i.e., their smiles? profile: What is your personal philosophy when it comes to health and well-being? simone: Good health is a choice and a number one priority. Everything else in our lives is unimportant without good health. profile: How do you keep fit and healthy? simone: I have a treadmill at home, a dog to walk and two teenage daughters who keep me busy. In addition, I am a big believer in stretching muscle groups (no equipment required!). profile: What sports do you participate in, if any? simone: Ballroom dancing. My hubby and I started going to small group classes last term and loved it. So far we have covered jive, cha cha, mambo, waltz and fox trot. Incidentally, did you know that when people get up to dance ‘the waltz’ at weddings they are generally really doing a fox trot?

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profile: What’s your favourite ‘good’ food? simone: Seafood. I love it all, but especially New Zealand green-lipped mussels. profile: What’s your favourite ‘indulgence’ food? simone: Raspberry panacotta or a vanilla crème brulee. profile: Western medicine or natural medicine? What’s your preference? simone: Both have a place but western medicine would be the priority. profile: Have you tried activities like yoga and pilates? simone: Yes, yoga, and I loved it. Stretching and proper breathing are vastly under-estimated stepping stones to good health. profile: What health tips do you swear by? simone: A good night’s sleep is absolutely the best beauty therapy, and I swear by having true love in your life (which I am so blessed to have). profile: What motto do you live your life by? simone: Love is the key to everything we seek in life. All we need is to genuinely love and be loved. profile: Favourite past-time or hobby? simone: Flying to air shows, Thai cooking and entertaining friends. profile: What would your dream job be? simone: I love what I do now, but in an alternate universe I would love to be an international spy, working for good, not evil. profile: Greatest sporting achievement? simone: My highest achievements were academic rather than sporting, although I played hockey and tennis at school. I received a gold medal in calisthenics at the Ballarat Eisteddfod when I was 14.

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life

I am worthy … am I not? with Maggie Wilde This month I’d like to share a little story about this sometimes elusive thing called self worth.

I once had a client, let’s call her Lady A. I remember the first day she walked into my clinic. As she sank into the chair, she released a deep, unconscious sigh that echoed a despairing emptiness. She was overwhelmed by juggling a myriad of concerns and responsibilities. She wanted more from her home and work life, but felt conflicted, stuck in a rut and going nowhere fast. I’d heard it before. Lady A was one woman who represented many.

Tears welled up in her eyes. “I’m supposed to be the one that’s in control. I hold it together for everyone else. I feel worthless and I can’t share it with anyone.” Her tears gave away the deeper wish that somehow it could be different. Lady A was trying to be a ‘pleaser’, an ‘achiever’ and a ‘fixer’ all at once.

Throughout our lives we play a variety of roles.

We are mums or dads, husbands, wives or partners, employers or employees, sisters, brothers or friends. In therapeutic terms we act out these roles unconsciously through learned patterns of behaviour.

For example, if as Lady A grew up, she learned that the role of mother was being an efficient cook and cleaner. She learned that the friend or partner role was placation. She learned that her employee’s role was as an achiever and fixer.

However, in her attempt to please everybody she created that internal conflict that caused her to feel torn between what she wanted to do and what she felt she must do. She became overwhelmed, was empty, and in turn could not do anything.

Sometimes it’s important to be, ‘Self-full’, which is different to being selfish. It involves: 1. Self worth - feeling worthy of sometimes saying no, feeling compassion for yourself and knowing deep inside that you are worthy of love, balance, health, wealth and security.

2. Self-full - this can sometimes be the hardest of all. Self-full is being able to take time out for yourself to energise and fill that internal pot of joy so that you do have more to give later. If you’re empty, you can’t possibly be there for others.

What little luxury can you do for yourself each day to avoid emptiness? Perhaps a little time out, ten minutes, is all it takes.

Maggie Wilde Confidence Coaching & Hypnotherapy Centre 1300 664 544 www.maggiewilde.com

TRANSFORM

YOURSELF IN JUST 12 WEEKS. Two trips for 2 to

Hawai’i

up for grabs!

Each worth over

$5,000!

Take part in Fernwood’s famous 12 Week ‘Get Foxy’ Challenge.

Maroochydore Sunshine Homemaker Centre Call 5479 0744 fernwoodfitness.com.au facebook.com/fernwoodfitness

State Prize Shopping Sprees!

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Could your hormones be making you CRAZY? Beat anger, irritability, anxiety and depression forever!

Mood swings so strong, you just want to scream, or crawl into bed and sleep until it’s over. Anxiety over nothing, irritable over everything, crying at the drop of a hat, and sadness to boot! Now, I’m not just talking about menopause and PMS; to all of you men, MANopause can and will happen, so listen up! Are you irritable, nervous, depressed, low libido, foggy thinking, can’t sleep, or gaining weight? Is anything sounding familiar?

Hormonal imbalances don’t happen without cause. Did you ever wonder why some people have great hormones, and you just don’t? Why can some people eat anything and maintain their weight, yet you gain 3kg overnight from just thinking about breaking your diet? It’s not all about weight, but some of it is. 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 malfunction, which leads 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 we have is that most people only deal with one of these at a time. You’ll see a specialist in only one area, though if you don’t address all of them, you’re caught in a cycle that goes on for life. The frustrating part is that 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 them all at the same time and properly.

I have seen hormone creams to balance hormones, the pill, HRT, and bio-identical hormones. These might help your current symptoms, though they won’t fix the cause, and they won’t fix the permanent effects, so the cycle continues and you become reliant on them. Fortunately, these problems can be treated properly, and most symptoms are improved within weeks, and 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 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.

You’ll learn about everything that causes hormonal and mood problems, and what to do about it. www.advancedwellness.com.au Jodi Chapman B.H.Sc. Naturopath Suzi Le Fanue BSc(BMed) ND Naturopath & Nutritionist

Advanced Wellness & Behavioural Centre 5443 1987 44 Baden Powell St, Maroochydore

One in every two Australians will face skin cancer at some point in their life, early diagnosis is critical.

Skin cancer services for the whole family • Partial or complete full body skin check • Digital dermoscopy, computer assisted imaging & analysis • Advanced skin cancer surgery/procedures • Preventative treatment options including Photodynamic Therapy Medicare rebates available / DR referral not necessary.

Call 1300 792 299 to book an appointment or visit skincancer.cozmedics.com.au to find out more

march 2012

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life

fertility – common investigations with Denise Donati In February, we looked at getting you started on your fertility journey. In this edition, we look at the more common investigations that clinics require before you commence treatment.

These may include some of the following: Trail Wash (often referred to as a semen analysis) This is a comprehensive fertility assessment of the male semen. The assessment looks primarily at sperm numbers, movement, shape, and the presence of any abnormalities.

Blood Tests There are a number of compulsory blood tests, and some that are highly recommended. Some of the compulsory tests include screening both partners for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV one and two, and syphilis. Blood group and rubella (German measles) screening is mandatory for all female patients. Testing for the rubella virus helps determine if you have an immunity to the virus.

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If you do not, a booster injection is recommended.

There should be at least 28 days following the booster before pregnancy occurs. IUI or IVF procedures should not be commenced until results of the booster have been reviewed.

Chromosomal Analysis A chromosome analysis, while not mandatory, is highly recommended by many clinics. This blood test checks to see if a person has the normal amount of chromosomes, 46, present and in the right order. The test will usually detect the more common chromosome problems that often result in infertility or early miscarriages. It does not, however, test for potential genetic disorders or guarantee that any resulting embryos will be chromosomally or genetically normal.

Cystic Fibrosis Screen

highly recommended. For a baby to be born with cystic fibrosis, it has to have two abnormal genes; one from each parent. If both parents carry the abnormal gene for cystic fibrosis, while they will be normal, there is a one in four chance that they will have a baby with cystic fibrosis. One in 25 people carry the abnormal cystic fibrosis gene and one in 2,500 babies are born with the condition. While the test is designed to find the more common strands of the disease, this does not guarantee a baby will not be born with more uncommon forms of the disease.

Next month we look at the next steps in fertility planning. Good luck!

Fertility Solutions Sunshine Coast and Bundaberg 1300 FERTILITY (337 845) www.fssc.com.au

A cystic fibrosis screen blood test, like the chromosome analysis, is not mandatory but

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life

feet first; faulty foundations with Tyson Franklin Most patients will see a podiatrist when experiencing ongoing foot and lower limb problems. Basically, if it is below the waist, they think podiatry. However, many patients will comment that after being fitted with orthotics for ongoing foot problems their back also feels better. This is no coincidence. Sometimes, thinking outside the square in terms of what may be wrong with your body and what the solution may be can be beneficial.

Patients tend to keep back pain information to themselves when they visit a foot specialist, as they do not think it has any relevance to their foot problem. Well, it can. Basically, your foot position while standing, walking or sitting will determine how your body weight transfers through the rest of your body – including your spine. Your feet are very similar to the foundations of a building. Faulty foundations lead to long-term building problems.

Does this mean if you have back pain you should not see a physiotherapist or osteopath? Not at all, as I am a regular patient at these clinics when the need arises. If you’ve hurt your back doing some form of activity or exercise, your first thought should be to see a physiotherapist or osteopath – it just makes sense and this is exactly what I would do myself. However, if, after regular treatment, you’re still having ongoing symptoms from the initial injury, your foot may be a contributing factor and should be taken into consideration and assessed professionally.

The point I am trying to make here is that sometimes specialists think in their own sphere of knowledge. It might take a few healthy suggestions from you to get the wheels turning.

The body is connected, and sometimes our ailments are caused by the strangest things. As a human being, you do yourself the best service

by investigating treatments as widely as you can if you have ongoing problems.

Highly professional physiotherapists, osteopaths and chiropractors who are well-trained will usually identify that your feet may be part of your ongoing back problem and will refer you to a podiatrist for further assessment. Beware! If a physiotherapist, osteopath or chiropractor tells you your feet need to be supported, then tries to sell you an off-theshelf arch support instead of referring you to see a podiatrist, you should probably see someone else for future treatment. Get informed, be kind to yourself, and think laterally about your health issues. You will feel the benefits.

Proarch Podiatry 1300 776 272 www.proarch.com.au

Sharing your journey for life

Sunshine Coast Fertility Specialists: Dr George Bogiatzis, Nr Denise Donati, Dr Rebecca Matthews (Scientific Director), Dr Kirsten Morrow, Dr James Orford (Medical Director)

For more information visit our website www.fssc.com.au or call 1300 FERTILIY (337 845) for a brochure today.

march 2012

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on the table

WIN

rdie’s & Co R yn e 72 n pag o k o bo

with Ryn & Cordie Ryn & Cordie – In Search Of The Perfect Partner (The Food & Wine Matching Formula) www.rynandcordie.com.au

marinated squid salad

SQUID AND REISLING ...

THE PERFECT MATCH Wine Match!

This Asia-style seafood dish just screams for riesling. Our choice and the one pictured is a delicious and refined drop from De Bortoli’s Yarra Valley Reserve Release range.

T

he world of Ryn & Cordie is all about demystifying the art of food and wine matching. We knew that matching the right wines to our recipes would require a great deal of research. There’s nothing worse than a match that makes our wines sour or bitter or our food bland. We were up for discovering this magic! We did what we do best; we sipped samples, took notes, researched, conjured ideas and talked to the people ... and our book was born.

This delicious recipe and wine match comes from our everyday food and wine matching cookbook In Search of the Perfect Partner (The Food & Wine Matching Formula).

Marinated squid salad (serves 4) ingredients

method

•• 100ml sweet chilli sauce

1. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil.

•• 2 tablespoons fish sauce

2. In a large bowl, combine chilli sauce, fish sauce, lime juice and chopped coriander.

•• Juice of 1 lime •• 1 bunch coriander (½ chopped, ½ leaves picked) •• 500g squid tubes, cut into rings •• 200g snow pea tendrils (use rocket if unavailable)

3. To cook the squid, place into the boiling water and cook for 2-3 minutes. Drain immediately, then pour the squid into the chili dressing. Allow the squid to cool in the fridge for at least 1 hour.

•• 1 red capsicum, sliced

to serve

•• 300g snow peas

On a large platter, scatter the snow pea tendrils, then the capsicum and snow peas.

Add the squid and top with the picked coriander and mint leaves, roasted peanuts and golden shallots.

•• ½ bunch mint leaves •• 100g roasted peanuts •• ¼ cup of golden shallots, cut thinly on an angle

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luxury is in the eye of the wine drinker with Dr Plonk www.drplonk.com.au

So what is luxury? Money isn’t always a guide to what is luxurious, but it sure helps. So let’s kick off with some champagne, Krug Clos de Abonnay, ($4K per bottle). To fully appreciate this wine, some Loch Ryan Scottish oysters ($100 per kilo) shipped in first-class, seat 1A (sorry Elton). Probably a dab of Beluga caviar ($5K per kilo) on top.

As the foot massage begins, sip on a Domaine de la Romanee Conti white burgundy 2007 ($4K).

You had better scoop some foie gras ($200 per kilo) onto that water cracker (10 cents). Maybe shave some black truffle (God knows how much) over some grilled abalone ($200 per kilo from seat 1B, of course). Probably need some Spanish jamon ham ($200 per kilo) to accompany the 2007 Domaine de la Romanee` Conti ($6K) red burgundy.

Okay, better waddle over to the hand-inlaid silky oak dining room table, set with hand-blown Riedel glassware ($200 per glass) for a plate of wild shot venison strip loin fillets ($150 per kilo). Fire up the grill and throw a few rib eye Nine Plus wagyu steaks on ($150).

Needing some fresh air? Toddle to the stern of the 75 metre tinny that Greg Norman didn’t want anymore. A chilled bottle of 2003 Chateau d’Yquem ($1K) glides across the palate as chef teases you with white chocolate mousse adorned with edible gold leaf.

It seems that luxury doesn’t come cheap and that the French seem to have a strangle hold on all things top shelf in the wine world. Personally, luxury for me a good pinot noir, say 2009 Martinborough Vineyards, oodles of fresh sashimi and oysters, while yakking away with my best mates (wives optional) on my balcony. And of course, the bloody work phone turned off!

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Why visit Harvey Norman® Maroochydore for

cooking appliances?

Because of what you will experience...

At Harvey Norman® Maroochydore, you can count on your friendly, knowledgeable staff to make your shopping experience an enjoyable one. We are totally committed to ‘excellence in customer service’ and ensuring you get the most out of your purchases.

Complimentary cooking demonstrations are held each week, showcasing some of the world’s finest cooking appliances.

Our fully trained demonstrator, Stephanie, will run these sessions and make your kitchen appliance choice fully informed!

We will take the time to guide you to products and technologies that reflect your individual requirements.

Plus after you have

made your purchase we encourage you to come back in for one-on-one sessions with our cooking demonstrator to ensure you get the most out of your new appliances.

There is simply no better way to buy a cooking appliance!

Michael Ryan

Franchisee - Electrical

NO-ONE DOES KITCHENS BETTER! • Pre-purchase cooking demonstrations • Extensive product range and expert guidance • Post-purchase cooking demonstrations • Continued support for the lifetime of your product • Purchasing privileges for life • Excellence in customer service

MAROOCHYDORE

THE COOKING SPECIALIST www.harveynorman.com.au

Shop 5, Sunshine Homemaker Centre, 100 Maroochydore Rd 5452 7144 (Computers/Electrical only) Harvey Norman® stores are operated by independent franchisees.

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But it doesn’t end there!

To make life even easier, we can also organise installation for your new appliances and removal of your old.

travelfile

no place like home

ll words alli grant

There’s nothing quite like an old Queenslander, with its high ceilings and sprawling verandas. Heavenly. Alli Grant, genine howard and hamish rose recently discovered the newest accommodation option on the hinterland block, Montville Lake Terrace; the quintessential Queenslander with a twist.

Alli, Genine and Hamish decided it was the perfect place to combine a little work and play. dining room

lounge ro

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The yesteryear feel has been perfectly balanced with contemporary fittings and modern touches. Give me a claw foot tub or a wrought-iron bed any day!’

I

spent most of my formative years living in the most stunning Queenslander home. Polished floors, sash windows, 14-foot ceilings, stained glass, sweeping verandas, attic, French doors ... I loved it all. While these days I live in a relatively new home, sans those delicious French doors, I love going home to Mum and Dad’s. I instantly feel transported back to a time of innocence: my childhood. And if I had a dollar for every time I snuck out of those French doors in the middle of the night ... Just kidding, Mum! I recently had another little déjà vu moment, courtesy of a weekend away at Montville Lake Terrace – a gorgeous Queenslander set on nine acres of green rolling hills with to-die-for views. For our little organisation, it was the perfect place to combine a bit of business with a bit more pleasure.

You see, Genine, Hamish and I were in need of a little business planning.

And if there’s one thing we are good at, it’s business planning in exotic locations on work-play escapes... with our partners in tow. And that’s the wonderful thing about Lake Terrace. No matter what your special occasion – family holiday, romantic getaway, escape with friends, work retreat or even a small wedding (glorious venue for photography), Lake Terrace is the perfect spot.

The views are spectacular – out over Lake Baroon and the Blackall Range – and instantly relaxing. But it was the actual homestead I fell in love with on our visit. For me, it felt just like home.

You wouldn’t know it to look at it, as Queenslanders are pretty common in these parts, but this particular home isn’t originally from the Hinterland.

No siree; it’s an old schoolhouse that was once a part of St Aiden’s school in Corinda (Brisbane), used for performing arts and dance. The building itself is from the early 1900s, so it has all the bells and whistles of a typical Queenslander – VJ walls, polished floors, big verandas ... but with a modern twist.

But it begs the question, how did it get here? And why? Neil and Heidi Holmes brought the house to Montville to fulfil their dream of renovating and running a holiday home in the Hinterland. That was two years ago. After a lot of blood, sweat and tears, the old schoolhouse is finished and open for business. And she’s a beauty! The yesteryear feel has been perfectly balanced with contemporary fittings and modern touches. Give me a claw foot tub or a wrought-iron bed any day! It is a premium quality property – no expense has been spared on its restoration, and Neil and Heidi should be proud of what they have achieved.

While we three plotted, planned and strategised on the veranda overlooking the dam, our significant others went about planning for our evening of team bonding. The kitchen is fitted with all the mod-cons, plus there’s a barbeque, so I was the first to put my hand up to be in charge of catering. But then again, I always do! We decided on a good old barbeque, with gourmet trimmings, and off they went, bound for the nearest Woolies. Maleny is only a short drive away.

But the biggest decision was yet to be made. Who would sleep where? There are definitely options, as the home accommodates 10. Admittedly, when our little convoy arrived, we all ran from room to room like excited kiddies eager to snag the top bunk on school camp. Quickly we realised they were all fabulous rooms, so we let fate decide – by drawing names out of a hat. All so very sophisticated and mature, but at least we avoided any fights.

Upstairs the home boasts a study, lounge room, dining room, balcony, laundry, two bedrooms (one has an ensuite) and a second bathroom. A wander downstairs reveals a second and third bedroom (both are massive and one has an ensuite) and another bathroom. Oh, I may have forgotten the media room – the boys snuck off for a while and no surprise where we found them!

Off to cook the barbie with you, boys! That’s downstairs on one of the home’s

many, many decks and verandas.

My husband and I scored one of the downstairs bedrooms, also known as the family room. Ironic really, as we had left our little one with Nonna for the night, so for a change we weren’t really in need of that extra bed. Certainly an excellent option for our next visit, though.

The homestead features ducted air-con, wi-fi (perfect for our working holiday), broadband in each of the bedrooms, Austar (although we didn’t even turn the TV on) and an espresso machine in the kitchen. This is a must for my husband, who lives for caffeine. Although it did take the menfolk a few minutes to work out how to use the thing (there’s a joke in there about how many men it takes to turn on an espresso machine, but I’ll leave that for another day).

No expense has been spared on the finishings. The artwork is thoughtful, the towels fluffy, the sheets clearly high on thread count, and the little touches are carefully thought out. Heidi, an interior designer by trade, had some serious fun decking this place out.

At the risk of stealing a line straight out of movie The Castle, I have to say; “Ah, the serenity”. It really is as peaceful as it gets out there.

As we only had one night away from reality, we made the most of it, finished up work quickly and grabbed an icy cold drink, before I started on dinner.

As someone who likes to dabble in the kitchen, it was a pleasure to do so at Lake Terrace. The kitchen is spacious, with an island bench that features a Belfast-style sink and a six-burner gas cooker. Heaven!

The six of us sat and watched the sun go down while the steaks sizzled and we contemplated world domination, as only we can. And after dinner? Board games, a few more drinks, a bit of daggy dancing, a bit more team bonding and off to bed, for we all had early starts in the morning.

Back to being a grown-up ... with a thud. m bathroo

master be

droom

Montville Lake Terrace 226 Western Avenue, Montville 5478 5298 www.laketerrace.com.au reception@laketerrace.com.au

Supporting Queensland Tourism: Profile Magazine, a privately-owned Queensland business, is doing its part to promote Queensland tourism destinations.

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Secure the future for an at risk Aussie kid Donate just 11cents a day/$40 a year www.sunnykids.org.au

Ph: 07 5479 0394 | info@sunnykids.org.au PO Box 1936, Sunshine Plaza QLD 4558

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abode model chic Developed by supermodel Iman for Unique Fabric, the Iman Home fabric collection combines the essence of chic with exotic elements, cultural richness and a modern approach to traditional design. Phone 5446 6802

indulgence Indulge your senses with a luxurious 100 per cent soya wax candle from boutique candle makers Gascoigne & King. Available at White Beach Home & Living, Peregian Beach. Phone 5448 1320 or www.gascoigneandking.com

luxury linen Stunning Shibori dyed bed cover and cushion by luxury linen house Sheridan.

Azura bed cover, RRP $299.95, and Azura pillow, RRP $59.95. www.sheridan.com.au

Everyone deserves a little luxury in their lives. Here are a few suggestions to add that luxe feeling to your home. with Belle Hemming Interior Designer www.spaceplanners.com.au dine in style If you are a fan of Kate Spade, you will fall in love with these new New York ‘Make Headlines’ tidbit plates, set of four, rrp $99. Available at select David Jones stores.

Phone 1300 852 022. www.katespadechina.com.au

fit for a queen The Harriet chair is fit for a Queen with glamorous upholstery and beautiful studding. Available from Domayne Furniture, Fortitude Valley, brisbane. Priced from rrp $1,299. Phone 3620 6600

march 2012

glamour-rug

roman bath

This glamorous and decadent Oxford rug in New Zealand wool is designed by award-winning interior designer Greg Natale for Designer Rugs, RRP $4,350. (200x 300cm,) Designer Rugs, Fortitude Valley, brisbane. phone 07 3852 6433

Bathe in style in the Amalfi bath by Victoria and Albert, RRP $6,590.

Available from NCP Bathroom Centres. Phone 5443 2522

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on the road Ford Territory Titanium FEATURES AT A GLANCE •• 6-speed automatic transmission with sequential sports shift •• Up to 2700kg towing capacity •• Projector headlights and unique front LED position lamps •• Dual-zone automatic climate control •• Satellite Navigation System with Traffic Message Channel (TMC)4 SAFETY •• 5-star ANCAP safety rating •• Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) •• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) •• Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) •• Driver’s knee airbag PRICE AWD $63,240 (diesel) ll words genine howard

O

kay, let’s be up front here. If you are looking for a technical car review by a rev head car expert, please head to the newsagency and find yourself a section marked ‘cars and trucks’. But if you are keen to know what a busy 30-something career woman would happily drive – no, let’s be honest, move into – then look no further. I recently had the pleasure of test driving the all new, all luxury and all fabulous Ford Territory Titanium.

Boy, what a car! I wasn’t in the market for a car ‘til I stepped into or rather sat my rear end in, this beast of a car … sure it is big, sure it is an AWD and I am an exclusive bitumen-road driver, but hey, it looks sensational. And I’m sure if I ever did want to go off track, the Ford Territory would drive over anything, anywhere. It’s that kind of car.

So why did this 30-something gal fall in love with the all-new Ford Territory? Well, it could have something to do with the all-leather interior.

It could also have something to do with the introduction of an eight-inch multi-media screen that doubles as a reverse camera. Yes, this baby is perfect for school drop-offs and safely backing out of driveways. Its height is no challenge for even the most timid of drivers as the rear view camera provides crystal clear images. I had never driven a car with a reverse camera before and I think I could have possibly driven from Caloundra to Noosa backwards … fun, but not particularly legal.

The touch screen functions as a media controller with Bluetooth (you can program in several iPhones and still be recognised), air-con controller and loads of other things I fiddled with while in the car … Not while moving, heavens no.

My love for the Territory could also have a bit to do with its roof-mounted Alpine DVD player.

Yes, this car had its very own cinema. My husband and I joked that we could hop in the back of the Titanium and watch a movie rather than going out … wish we went through with that. If you have

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kids, this DVD player is a Godsend – no more ‘I’m bored’ or tedious games of Eye Spy on long car trips. (Just ask Alli – her little one threw on the headphones and made himself quite at home in the back seat in front of Peppa Pig. She considered leaving him there ... forever!)

Speaking of children – of which I have none – I took my 11-year-old Jack Russell for numerous spins in the Territory. She loved perching on the comfortable centre console while I drove (once again, not sure if entirely legal) and was swamped by the shear space of the vehicle’s interior. We did, in fact, lose her in there for a couple of hours ...

In terms of interior space and comfort, the Territory feels ginormous, but is still compact enough to feel confident driving. It’s akin to a limo really – with seven seats including a folding third row and sliding middle row, you could fit a whole band and their groupies in, or a soccer team

Available at Pacific Motor Group, Sugar Road, Maroochydore. Phone 5458 9704

and their coach after the match.

Now on to the important stuff. Cup holders?

Yes. Many. In fact, they even have adjustable bottle holders in the doors for all sizes of water bottles. The buttons are in all the right places, there are nooks and crannies galore (30 storage compartments!) to store sunglasses, lipsticks, car ‘stuff’ and old McDonald’s fry packs, and it ran as smooth as silk with its six-speed automatic transmission.

The exterior looks like a typical Territory, although I am told it is an updated design. We drove a black top-of-the-range diesel version that had a bit more sex appeal than many of the brands in its class. All in all, this car seriously got me thinking about throwing myself back into the new car market. My only issue is that I might have to buy a bigger dog.

Ford Territory Titanium

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MAROOCHYDORE

THE COOKING SPECIALIST www.harveynorman.com.au

Shop 5, Sunshine Homemaker Centre, 100 Maroochydore Rd 5452 7144 (Computers/Electrical only) Harvey Norman速 stores are operated by independent franchisees.

224338_P02_MCH

EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE AT

milestones

an

words genine howard ll photography katja anton

S

andra Wills is an adventurous soul. At nearly 50 years young, she has seen more of the world than many. A certified financial planner, Sandra and her husband enjoy a strong family bond with their four children and four gorgeous grandchildren. Sandra’s business, Wealthways, provides personal financial planning and wealth advice to individual clients. Genine Howard chats with Sandra about the life-changing moments along the way. sandra wills

Milestone 1: Growing up in Caloundra in the 1960s and 70s Fifty years ago, Caloundra was a small country town by the beach defined by fibro or timber houses on large, mown blocks without fences. Collecting tadpoles and yabbies was a regular after-school treat. Steve Irwin was a classmate and friend, and Harry Butler was my hero.

I grew up outdoors and in the water, always swimming, snorkeling, surfing or playing sport. In my senior years at Caloundra High I studied all the science subjects – chemistry, physics, biology, maths. There was no plan for the future, but there was optimism, excitement and a burning desire to learn, achieve and succeed. Life was simple … and grand.

Milestone 2: The dream job, 1982 to 1985 It took me a few years after high school to decide on a career. Initially, I wanted to teach physical education at secondary school. When I did my prac at the largest high school in Queensland I felt the students were more adult than me, so I needed more life experience before I could become a legitimate teacher. I deferred from teacher’s college and started travelling around Australia. First and last stop became the Whitsundays, where I obtained boat and scuba diving licenses and eventually found full-time employment as the water sports instructor on Daydream Island.

Milestone 3: Love, career and the America’s Cup The America’s Cup is the oldest active trophy in international sport. This ancient, coveted trophy was on its way to the Royal Perth Yacht Club after Australia’s ground breaking win; and in a couple of years I’d be on my way to Perth for one reason – to watch Australia try to defend it. My typing skills landed me an office job as personal assistant in a new financial planning business in the Perth CBD, and I was hooked. I had an excellent mentor with

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a brilliant business mind, professional ethics and an intuitive understanding of financial markets. Hardly surprising, I ended up marrying him! I commenced studies and was issued with my first dealers’ representative’s licence in 1986. I became a member of the Financial Planning Association of Australia in March 1987, and have been a continuous, practicing member ever since.

Milestone 4: The Whittaker Macnaught era, 1993 to 2002 Perth is where I bought my first car, my first home, my first yacht, started my career, got married, had two beautiful sons … and got divorced. I returned to the Sunshine Coast during the recession of 1990 with a six-week-old and 14-month-old. Their father soon relocated to Brisbane and is a well-established and successful businessman. I met my current husband, Tony, about a year after leaving Perth – he was very sporty, funny and genuine and we hit it off instantly and Tony has been by my side ever since. I successfully applied for a position in Whittaker Macnaught’s Brisbane office and met my new mentor, Noel Whittaker. Tony and I married in 2001, 10 years after meeting.

Milestone 5: Wealthways is born, 2002 At 11 and 12 years of age, the boys had an opportunity to attend private school in Brisbane and relocate to their Brisbane home under the watchful eye of their disciplinarian father. After 12 years of being the primary carer, I had an empty nest. This was also a chance to take the next step in my career. I resigned from Whittaker Macnaught in July and Wealthways was incorporated in August 2002. I knew I was a good financial planner, but starting my own business was a huge leap, building the business one client at a time. Our latest achievement was being accredited as a Professional Practice of the Financial Planning Association in recognition of our high professional and ethical standards and despite the global financial crisis, business is good!

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business

renovate, detonate or relocate? with Linda Ireland In search of the great Australian dream home, property owners are faced with the choice of renovating, rebuilding or reselling their family home. It’s a tough choice, with any number of variables making this risky business for the uninformed. How do we decide on the best path to take?

It is best to weigh up the costs versus the benefits of each option. When you reach a point where your property no longer meets your family’s needs in terms of size, functionality and aesthetics, it is important to be diligent and unemotional about your decision. Get informed, do the research, and most importantly, talk to people in the know. Spending that extra time sitting down with the experts may be the difference between renovating or perhaps the perfect transition into a more suitable home.

Plateauing or falling property prices in some areas may be encouraging signs for those looking to buy well-priced properties more aligned to their vision of a dream home. However, buying and

Business Advice

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selling in a market with subdued property prices means some sellers may need to revise their sale price expectations.

of the impact the decision will have on your finances. Forward-planning is the key to avoiding any financial trouble.

When considering relocating, we also need to examine the costs associated with selling and buying, such as fees for real estate agents, advertising, legal advice, stamp duty and removalists. Those with a loan may need to investigate if there are early repayment or discharge fees, if the loan can be transferred to the new property, and if mortgage insurance is payable on the new property.

Should you decide to renovate or rebuild, depending on the scale of your plans, there may be a number of different finance options to consider. These can include:

It may be that for some homeowners, the extra funds needed to purchase and relocate the family to a more ideal home could be better spent upgrading the existing property.

Not all lenders provide all the loans mentioned above and they all offer different rates, fees and features. Visit a professional mortgage broker with a wide range of lenders to help you narrow your finance search to options matched to your individual needs.

To help make the decision, research possible renovation and rebuild costs and ask a local real estate agent for a market appraisal. Talk to a mortgage broker, a financial planner or an accountant (or all three) for an understanding

Superannuation

Grow Wealth

•• Loan top-ups •• Personal loans •• Line of credit loans •• Construction loans

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

Improve Cash Flow

Financial Planning

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business

who’s in charge here? with Danielle Sturgeon Parenting can be difficult at the best of times, but parenting with your ex-spouse can be downright impossible. Despite the obvious difficulties facing parents who have separated, the law places great weight on a child’s right to have a relationship with both their parents, even after their parents have separated and even if the child spends more time with one parent than the other. As a result of this, the law presumes that in most cases it is in the child’s best interests that there be ‘equal shared parental responsibility’ exercised by both parents. But what does that actually mean?

Shared parental responsibility relates to ‘major, long-term’ issues only. The legislation addresses parents who have shared parental responsibility for a child, ‘consulting’ the other parent and making a ‘genuine effort’ to reach a joint decision.

At the crux of this legislation is the definition of ‘major, long-term’. In essence, it relates to issues

about the care, welfare and development of the child of a long-term nature and examples include decisions regarding the child’s education, religion, cultural upbringing, health, the child’s name and changes to the child’s living arrangements that make it significantly more difficult for the child to spend time with one parent.

But what happens when you cannot agree? The place to start is a Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) provider such as Lifeline, Centacare or Family Relationships Australia. These organisations can arrange a mediation facilitated by a FDR practitioner who can aim to assist parents to make a decision in the best interests of their child.

This definition, however, has been interpreted widely and an issue which often comes up is one parent arranging for the child to attend counselling without consulting the other parent.

At first glance, a decision like that made by one parent solely for the purpose of helping their child seems reasonable, however, it can cause difficulties if the other parent is left out of the decision-making process. The reason is that the court considers attendance of a health practitioner in relation to a long-term health issue, including a counsellor, a decision which both parents should be involved in.

Of course, it may be that parents cannot agree, even after proper consultation, and a court may be asked to make the decision. However, every effort should be made to reach a solution prior to reaching that point, as it would mean leaving an important decision in relation to your child to a complete stranger.

Schultz Toomey O’Brien Lawyers 5413 8900 www.stolaw.com.au

• Full serviced office facilities in Maroochydore CBD • Friendly and professional Staff • Meeting rooms • Your own personal receptionist for less than the cost of a coffee per day!

• Telephone answering, mail collection, fax and photocopying • Appointment making, typing and administration services • Ample parking • Dedicated phone number answered in your company name • Let us maximise your businesses potential

march 2012

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want luxury? plan for it ... with Debbie Riddiford We all desire luxury in our life, whether that means more money in the bank, more time with family and friends, or a better work / life balance.

People who have these luxuries didn’t get them by luck. They planned them into their lives. Are there luxuries you want but don’t have? Have you made a plan to get them?

When we talk to our clients, we find out the luxuries that are important to them. Do they want financial freedom, to retire sooner, or to build a better business? Once their goals are stated, we can get started on achieving them. There is much to consider in beginning your plan. Some things to think about are: Setting Goals – How can you get to your destination unless you know where you’re going?

Reducing Debt – Debt structure and management needs to be regularly reviewed to ensure your borrowings are working for you, and not against you.

Protecting Assets – Are your assets structured correctly? Ensuring your assets are owned in the right names or entities can go a long way in making sure they are protected from creditors, and that you’re not paying more tax than you need to.

For business owners, having a plan in place is crucial to your business survival, and to make sure you’re successful enough to enjoy and afford life’s luxuries. Areas to focus on include: Improve Cash Flow – Cash flow is the lifeblood of your business. Even profitable businesses can fold due to poor cash flow problems. Talk to your business advisor about a specialised cash flow strategy.

Increase Revenue – Your business lives on the revenue it creates. Make a plan to focus on different areas to grow your revenue. Small changes could make a big difference to your bottom line.

A lot of people make money easily but struggle managing it, while others are constantly working to try and get ahead but never quite make it.

Putting solid plans in place can reduce these issues and allow you the time, money and freedom to enjoy the luxuries in life. Speak to your accountant today!

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

Improve Efficiencies – Wasted time equals wasted money. Improving efficiencies will directly improve profits and create capacity to do the work you want to do, or go out and pick up more clients.

first move

jump OFF

help us jump off the rental treadmill Think that buying your own home is out of your reach? You may be pleasantly surprised by what you can afford and how reasonable it can be compared to renting.

We’ll help you work out how much you can borrow, find a home loan that suits you and the best way to make your repayments affordable, sort out the first home owners grant and do all the paperwork and running around.

So talk to us today.

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business

rose-tinted glasses? with Linda Harley You can only sell your business once. Most buyers want to pay the right price; this doesn’t always mean they want to pay as little as possible.

Fair market value for one such business might not be the same for another.

It takes a lot of hard work to build a business to a point where it is successful. If you have done this and are now thinking of selling it, no doubt you have a dollar figure in mind. Unfortunately, all your hard work doesn’t really matter if your business is not making enough money to warrant your price.

You might love the look of your business, but in truth it may be too poorly or unconventionally presented to excite your buyer.

What you need is an accurate reflection of the market value of your business in order to determine a realistic price. This is where utilising the services of an experienced business broker can make a big difference.

If the price is not what you expected, it may not

march 2012

be the right time for you to sell. Or you may find that with a few changes to your business you will be able to get the sale price into the range you are looking for. Sometimes all it takes is a few changes to aesthetics, running procedures or general feel to inspire the market. Understanding these elements of the sale is what your broker is trained to help you with.

First impressions count. When it is time to sell it becomes even more important. Consider things such as excess resources in the storage room, staff members not wearing full uniforms, worn paint work, out-of-date paperwork, redundant stock and discretionary cost increases.

amazed at what you see and learn about your business when you consider it objectively.

Check out what an experienced business broker can do for you well before you put your business on the market. Being well-informed, you can make better decisions, optimise the presentation and ultimately see far better results at the end of the transaction.

Savvy Business Sales 5444 3300 Linda@savvybusiness.com.au

All of these things will be impacting on your potential buyer’s feelings about the business.

They need to be addressed well before you decide to sell. Ask yourself: ‘Do I have my rose-tinted glasses on?’ When you look at your business through buyer’s eyes, you have to be unemotional, sceptical and ruthless. You will be

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secret life

the and the words candice jayde fox ll photography katja anton

We all have different faces. Many women talk about the struggle of trying to be a career woman, a friend, a boss, and a happy and healthy member of society. Most of us handle this juggling act with well-hidden exhaustion. Rebecca Gerald, however, seems to do this with limitless grace. Candice Jayde Fox investigates.

I

’m dating for the first time in seven years, so as you can imagine, I’m feeling a little new to the game. Just months ago I was comfortably married, well-accustomed to ignoring the attention of men, and still terribly in love with my husband.

Now, after being unceremoniously tipped out of my marriage and onto the singles’ scene, I’m meeting strangers for coffee, chatting to men at functions, and tapping away to them in online chat rooms. I’ve learned you can’t reveal all of you – your professional life, your personal life, your secret life – in one go.

At a barbeque recently, one of these potential Mr Rights had the misfortune of learning that I’m a university lecturer, a magazine writer and subeditor, a casual publishing assistant, a PhD student, a first-time author, a crazy cat lady and a mean kick-boxer, all in one breath. The look he gave me was akin to having been smacked with a brick.

As young, ambitious and success-hungry women, we lead many lives, and finding a balance can be difficult. One person who seems to have the magic formula is Rebecca Gerald.

A recent addition to the Sunshine Coast, her appointment as manager of Ray White Real Estate Hasting Street, Peregian Beach and Peregian Springs is just one of her many lives.

“I guess you could say I got into real estate as a sort of accident. I sort of fell into conveyancing work after high school, and it was then that inspiration hit.

“A property came across my desk that was affordable and perfect for what I needed. When I tried to enquire all I got were voicemail messages and endlessly ringing phones. The property manager was 70 years old. I thought: ‘there must be a better way to do this.’

“It’s a great industry to be in because your workload and your salary are really dictated by how hard you want to push yourself. I’m really driven. One of my finer skills is negotiating, and I always get my way. It has helped me immensely in my job.”

Head-hunted for one of the top jobs with Ray

70 profilemagazine rebecca gerald

White Sunshine Coast, Rebecca is grateful every day for being able to build a career in such a beautiful and exclusive location.

Her image as a real estate agent and manager is critical to Rebecca’s career. As a boss, she is demanding yet encouraging of her staff, and has high standards for her clients.

“You’ve got a lot of different faces in this job,” she says. “You have to be the knowledgeable, reliable boss when the staff look to you for advice. You have to be the caring and considerate agent to the clients, and the fierce and fearless negotiator on their behalf.”

One such occasion forced Rebecca to do some outdoor acrobatics while showing a house in Brisbane. “It was a property built on a steep slope, and while I was inspecting the grounds minutes before a showing the front door blew shut. Of course, I had no keys. I had to go around the back in my three-inch heels, shimmy up a support pole, swing onto the balcony in my pencil skirt and run to the front door in time to open it for the clients.

It was tricky business.”

Incidentally, Rebecca is also an enthusiastic dirt-bike rider. “To look at me, yeah, most people are surprised I can handle a big, muddy, dirty bike in the roughs of the bush, but it’s something I’ve been doing for a long time.”

If there weren’t enough facets to this multidimensional woman, Rebecca is also an avid cybercitizen. Her blog, White Floors, began as a way of sharing renovation photographs with her friends.

“The blog was something I liked to do sitting at home with a glass of wine after a long day.

Suddenly, people started following, commenting, tuning in to every post. It was never something I thought would get as big as it has.”

With hundreds of followers, Rebecca must now maintain her presence as an online sensation as well as all her other selves. There are many images to juggle in her life, many faces to wear, many roles to fill. She seems to do it, however, with style, class and success. Although there are many Rebeccas, getting to know each of them has been a pleasure. profilemag.com.au

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Swim, canoe, take a leisurely eco-walk and immerse yourself in pristine, natural surroundings yourself or on a ranger-guided tour. This month, Kingfisher Bay Resort Fraser Island and Profile Magazine have a long weekend package to give away, including three-nights accommodation, return passenger ferry transfers from River Heads, and a full day Beauty Spots Tour for two adults. This stunning package is valued at $1200. (Conditions apply.)

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Tours, which are led by three-time Olympian Alex Watson and a team of professional instructors and guides, range from a 1.5 hour beach ride to a seven-day bush and beach tour. This month, Profile Magazine and Equathon are giving away a private two-hour beach and bush ride for two at Noosa North Shore, valued at $330 ($165 per person – conditions apply).

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Her proven property investment strategies and unique Wealth Coaching Program has helped many families and businesses throughout Queensland to reduce their debt and take positive steps towards their future financial freedom. Thanks to Chris and her team, we have a full Think Money Survival Kit to give away, including five master class DVDs and workbooks, valued at $1500.

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“Creating Publicity, Profit and Purpose in your business”

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the last word

andy raymond

ll photography katja anton Andy Raymond is best known in the Australian sports industry for his role as a television presenter on Fox Sports and as a former Channel Seven NRL commentator. A Sunshine Coast local, Andy regularly travels Australia as a guest speaker but loves nothing more than hanging 10 (or trying to) on our Coast beaches.

“My hidden

I grew up in …

North West Sydney (not far from the home of the mighty Parramatta Eels).

When I was growing up I wanted to be … a sports commentator. From a young age it was all I ever wanted to do, and I’m still living the dream.

I start my day by …

I’d love to tell you something like I walk on the beach, or complete an early morning training session, but either I start my day with a large coffee or it doesn’t get started at all!

“

I would love to be a better … surfer. We’ve only been here a few months now and learning to surf is hard work. At 40 years of age, I’m on my Malibu L plates.

My greatest achievement is … that I once dated Elle Macpherson! Okay, maybe not. My greatest achievement is that I have retained the core values instilled in me as a youngster. Boring answer, but I’m really proud of that.

talent is … that I’m a budding magician. Love my card tricks!

When I am not working I am … watching sport. NRL, cricket, boxing, UFC ... anything on Fox Sports. I am the typical Aussie sports tragic.

The best meal I have had was at … one of your Coast surf clubs. I’m not a five-star restaurant guy, more a steak and veggies guy. I feel more at home at a pub or surf club for dinner, and I’ve gotta say some of the surf club feeds up here are awesome, not to mention the views.

Now a Sunshine Coast local, Andy Raymond is most recognisable for his role as a commentator on Fox Sports

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My favourite holiday spot is … here! But if I was travelling, a deserted beach in Thailand or the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas. Very different holiday destinations, but both very enjoyable.

My most annoying habit is … this article just isn’t long enough to even start picking at my many faults. Please refer to [my girlfriend] Terri, I’m sure she has a long list of annoying things I do.

What makes me laugh out loud is … our gorgeous black Labrador. She’s a three-year-old and as cute as cute can be, but she was busy chasing her tail when the doggy brains were handed out.

The one person I would most like to meet …

Muhammad Ali. My hidden talent is … that I’m a budding magician. Love my card tricks!

If I didn’t live on the Coast I’d live … we’re only a few months into our sea change to the Sunshine Coast. I don’t even want to think about not living here.

I love the place! profilemag.com.au

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