Profile Magazine by Profile Magazine

SPE

CIA PIN L ISS K U E

in this issue

wendy barnes

12 22 vicki o’shea

tanya northey

view – a good sport Wendy Barnes

people – true beauty Debbie Clayton

success – a patient approach Sandra Reardon

ladies at lunch – girlfriends Our lunching ladies talk about the importance of gal pals

cover – sisters of strength Survivors of breast cancer share their stories

wealthy’n’wise business promotion Learn how to reduce your debt

60 the good life – raw energy Michelle Kazukaitis and Pauline O’Sullivan 74

the last word Carren Smith

profile loves p50 pink fashion that gives back

regulars 4 publisher’s note

44 abode

6 pinboard

48 vanity case

8 he says, she says

50 profile loves

30 first bite

52 style counsel

34 briefcase

62 travelfile

43 win

72 business

The Network that gives back...

“... where you mean more than just your business card” Natalie McIvor Director

Mooloolaba goddesses@lunch - Wednesday 17th October 2012 Speaker: Leah Squires - “BYO Kids” Venue: 4th Floor Restaurant, Mooloolaba Time: 11.45am-2.30pm. Tickets $49.50 pp $38.50 members RSVP 15/10/12

Coolum goddesses@brunch - Thursday 25th October 2012 Speaker: Sally Gibb-Cumming - Creator of the ‘Self Mastery’ board game Venue: Coolum Surf Club Time: 10am-1pm. Tickets $49.50 pp $38.50 members RSVP 23/10/12

Tel: 0402 462 804 natalie@enlightenedgoddesses.com www.enlightenedgoddesses.com facebook.com/EnlightenedGoddesses twitter.com/Egoddesses Proudly Sponsored by

NOW ALSO IN CALOUNDRA, COOROY & GYMPIE! SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS

Seats are limited! Book online TODAY at www.enlightenedgoddesses.com october 2012

profilemagazine

publisher’s note

genine howard publisher

Breast cancer support organisations’ contact details: Cindy Mackenzie Breast Cancer Foundation www.cmbcf.com.au

very day, 48 Australian women are told the devastating news that they have breast or gynaecological cancer (www.pinkribbonday.com.au). That’s 48 mothers, sisters, wives, aunts, grandmothers and best friends. There wouldn’t be a person reading this who hasn’t been affected by cancer in some way – I have. I remember the first time I heard about breast cancer; I was about 11 years old and my grandmother became extremely ill. We would visit her in hospital and each time she became increasingly more frail … until Mum received that life-changing phone call – Nana had succumbed to the disease. I can still remember Mum sobbing – she wouldn’t have even been 40 years old, a similar age to me, when she lost her mum. Ironically, Mum, who was adopted, found her biological mother and we barely had time to establish a relationship with her when she too passed away from breast cancer. That is why I thank my lucky stars every day … tomorrow it could be me, it could be my mum or it could be you. Breast cancer has no barriers and shows no favouritism. But enough with the doom and gloom. This issue we celebrate the lives of women who have battled this disease and won … and stop to remember the very special souls who sadly didn’t make it. This month’s jam-packed magazine is filled with stories on those who have battled and / or will continue to battle breast cancer (survivors and crusaders). We even show you how to rock pink in the fashion department … yes, boys too! Make sure you read our special cover story on page 22, where we discover the real stories behind four breast cancer survivors; local hypnotherapist Angela Farlam, Nerrida-Rose Humphries, who was diagnosed just four months into her pregnancy, and friends Vicki O’Shea and Sue Le Busque, who were both diagnosed around the same time and shared their journey. A big thank you to Calli B Photography, Kooshka Hair, Eve Boutique and Kylie Jane Artistry for treating the ladies to a full pamper and photographic session – the results speak for themselves! This issue we also meet the inspiring Debbie Clayton, who is dedicated to making cancer sufferers feel beautiful (inside and out), triathlete Wendy Barnes, who is riding her way to a cure, and Sandra Reardon, whose life purpose is helping sufferers of breast cancer. Some inspiring reading, to say the least. We thank you for reading Profile Magazine as we share these encouraging stories of local people. To do your bit for breast cancer research, head to our PINBOARD page or www.profilemag.com.au for a list of fabulous events created to support all kinds of PINK projects. Til next time,

Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) www.bcna.org.au Beautiful You www.beautiful-you.com.au/about-beautiful-you Breast Cancer Foundation www.nbcf.org.au

visit us on facebook.com/profilemag

profilemagazine

P.S. A big congratulations to friend and client Michalle Faulkner on the launch of her first book, The People Investment! Good on you for seeing out your dream, Michalle. Congratulations also to Fernwood Maroochydore who are 10 this year. Happy Birthday!

youtube.com/user/profilemagazine

profilemag.com.au

Complete It Support Network DeSIgN & INStallatIoN • Onsite / Remote Technical Support • Tier 1 Hardware Supplier • Certified Technicians • Server / Desktop / Workstations • Service Level Agreements • Managed Services • 24-Hour Monitoring

Hardware, Software and Support tailored to your individual BuSineSS needS Medical

Hospitality

Retail

“secure access has provided pJt accountants & Business advisors with exceptional service through our association which has enabled our company to grow our business and plan for the future.” wayNe patteN DIreCtor, pJt aCCouNtaNtS & BuSINeSS aDvISorS

ManufactuRing

• Disaster Recovery |

seRvice industRies

“secure access has provided and continues to provide great support and advice when it comes to all of our it related problems and enquiries. Whenever we have a problem or a question we get quick and informative responses.” prISCIlla JoNeS CommoNwealth reSpIte aND CarelINk CeNtreS

07 54437766

admin@secureaccess.com.au web: www.SecureAccess.com.au

email:

october 2012

profilemagazine

pinboard

managing director / publisher Genine Howard

publisher Hamish Rose

editor-in-chief Alli Grant

editorial assistant Ingrid Nelson

creative director Kara de Schot

graphic designer Johanna Jensen

sales manager Belinda Brill

account manager Maree McGrath

trash the wedding dress at maleny dairies

feature writers

20 october fashion therapy

photography

Tonia Zemek, Jaclyn Paul (intern)

Like the sound of an afternoon of cocktails, canapes and fashion? We sure do! Join Therapy Fashion Boutique for the launch of their summer collection in their Bulcock Street, Caloundra store from 1pm to 3pm. Join the fun and even have a mini makeover! Phone 0422 393 087

Calli Burnett

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

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

post

october 21 maleny iga pink pram push

PO Box 1065, Cotton Tree, QLD 4558

Two passionate Aussie mums, Lara Hodgson and Rebecca Mugridge, will lead a parade of very pink prams attempting the Guinness World Record for the most prams moving at once, combined with an exciting family fun day at the Caloundra Kings Beach Amphitheatre. Funds raised will go to the Cindy Mackenzie PINKTOBER® Appeal. www.pinkprampush.com.au

advertising

october 21 trash your wedding dress

subscriptions

To celebrate their 10th anniversary and raise funds for a very worthy charity, SunnyKids, Maleny Dairies is giving women an excuse to get back into their wedding dress! Maleny photographer Emma Ruddle will capture your special moment in the dairy’s rural setting. Join the fun and go into the running to win loads of prizes, while trashing your wedding dress! www.malenydairies.com

accounts

5451 0669, sales@proﬁlemag.com.au

distribution 15,000 free copies are street delivered to high traffic areas such as high-end cafes, fashion boutiques, hairdressers and professional offices across the Sunshine Coast, monthly, and online along with an eMAG sent to 6000 inboxes monthly www.profilemag.com.au/subscription, $65 +gst (12 issues) Katherine Allan – accounts@profilemag.com.au

october 26 fancy dress for pinktober® Support the Cindy Mackenzie Breast Cancer Foundation on Friday 26 October for a Halloween fancy dress party! Held at the 4th Floor Restaurant the night will include live music, drink on arrival, canapés, prizes, gifts and Halloween entertainment. www.pinktoberhalloween.eventbrite.com.au

october 26 pjt accountant’s charity bowls day The PJT annual Charity Bowls Day will be held on Friday October 26 at the Mooloolaba Bowls Club. Teams of four are available at $250 per team, which includes entry, bowls, finger food, drinks and 10 tickets in the raffle draws, with proceeds going to the Wishlist Foundation. www.pjtaccountants.com.au/pjt-charity-bowls-day

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.

Be my Guest!

Let me buy you a coffee! If you’ve been thinking of either buying or selling real estate lately and you just want to chat, join me for a relaxed coffee anytime. “Jodie reads people very well and treats her clients with understanding and consideration” JODIE MCDONELL Next Property Group M: 0419 762 309 P: 1300 400 777 E: jmcdonell@nextpropertygroup.com.au 6

profilemagazine

‘Dream to Downsize’

profilemag.com.au

n o i s s a P e r e h W Meets Purpose

Mortgage stress or mortgage ease? Want to save money on your mortgage? Talk to Mortgage Choice. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve saved our refinancing customers on average $10,000 over 5 years.* Let us help ease your stress by seeing how much we can save you. Call us for a free appointment today. Average savings from 368 customers who decided to refinance from Aug 2011 - Jan 2012.

5476 9333

MortgageChoice.com.au/linda.ireland

Australian Credit Licence 382869

october 2012

profilemagazine

he says, she says

should redheads wear pink? Pink … traditionally a girly girl colour, it’s a hue now embraced by men. But should redheads wear pink or does it constitute an immediate phone call to the fashion police? This month we ask our resident ranga Toddy and his partner in crime, Sami from HOT 91.1, for their thoughts on the matter. To pink or not to pink … especially if you’re red?

he says

here are some things in life that were just meant to be together. Chips and gravy, eggs and bacon, blokes and the man flu, Lindsay Lohan and skankiness … just to name a few. I’m a big fan of the union between reality TV and morons, and I’m pretty partial to the coupling of any sport, including badminton, and the consumption of beer. But I must draw the line at redheads wearing any form of pink! I’m sorry, but it’s like frocked up girls drinking Champagne in the sun all day at the races … eventually it’s going to end in tears. At the start of the day they’re all spruced up, looking a million bucks. By the end of the eighth their hair looks like roadkill, their face looks like a roadmap and they’re stumbling towards the cab rank with heels in one hand and a half-consumed piccolo of Yellowglen in the other. It’s not as though gingers need any more controversy in their lives either. They’re already copping it from all angles as the butt of many jokes, like, “What’s the difference between a redhead and a terrorist? You can negotiate with a terrorist!” What is it that that Carson bloke used to say on the telly on Queer Eye For The Straight Guy? Something about blue and green should never be seen? My advice is “pink and red? You’re better off dead, girlfriend!” (As I said that I’ll have you know I clicked my fingers three times, left to right.) Can you imagine the backlash if Horatio from CSI Miami rolled up to a crime scene on prime time TV wearing his trademark Ray Bans and a pink polo … collar popped? There’d be total outrage. It would be the worst moment in TV since Channel Ten pulled the pin on Aerobics Ozstyle only to replace it with a former Big Brother housemate called Hotdogs doing infomercials for the magic bullet! At the risk of sounding slightly negative, that’s a very big no, nada, no siree Bob to pink on red …

profilemagazine

sami and todd

She says

o pink is the colour of support nationally for breast cancer. I say we should all be cheering ‘think pink!’, especially for redheads. The rule that rangas should wrangle away from rose is oh so wrong! From fierce fuchsia to pretty pastels, I adore a redhead in pink. To quote Lionel Ritchie in the ‘80s, “Hello? Is it me you are looking for?” – yes, pink and redheads, you are what we are looking for because you go together like strawberries and rose champagne. Perhaps Julia Gillard’s popularity stakes would finally climb if our PM strutted in salmon or rocked pink in parliament. Then again, possibly nothing can help Julia at this stage. Tony Abbott only ever wears a blue tie and I think he too should shake up his boring image. How you ask? Hot pink budgie smugglers! Oh what a sight to behold – those big ears and his pink togs running up the beach at Mooloolaba. Anyhoo, I digress. Famous redheads know to break the rules to gain fashion cred. Nicole Kidman, Scarlett Johansson and Cate Blanchett all rock pink with their peaches and cream and ginger tones. Lindsay Lohan would if she could, but our little lost Hollywood starlet is rarely seen wearing any clothes. Oh dear! Which brings me to my closing debate. If any famous redhead has rocked pink of late the crown has to go to Prince Harry. The world saw the royal ranga replete with his pink bits as he partied a twee too hard in Vegas. And the reaction from the globe? We love him even more. Apparently Queenie is none too happy with Harry. But the rest of us just adore him. Even his skin was a little pink in those photos from Vegas. I guess the fair-haired fellow was sunburnt from hanging out poolside with J-Lo. Ba ha ha. Could it get any better? Oh yes, he then decided to race an Olympian in the pool before retiring to his royal suite for some nude Olympics of his own. Pink and red hair did no harm to Harry. Do you think Catherine ever wishes she didn’t marry the boring brother? Long live pink!

profilemag.com.au

october 2012

profilemagazine

Fashion is synonymous with luxury, and Coastline BMW is proud to launch the ‘Driving Style’ campaign in support of our very own fashion industry. The Sunshine Coast is host to a plethora of talent with fashion designers leading the way and making their mark on the world stage. This month, we meet Sally Cook who made the transition from chef to fashion designer of unique and feminine swimwear and fashion. 10

profilemagazine

Model Christie wears ‘Tea party’ balconette bikini, RRP $160. www.saucyrose.com. profilemag.com.au

Coastline BMW

Sales Finance Service Parts & Accessories

The Ultimate Driving Machine

CoastlineLogo.indd 1

3/7/09 2:18:20 PM

MEET SALLY The BMW 118i Hatch. The BMW 1 Series. One Of A Kind. Combined fuel consumption: 5.9l /100km Acceleration 0-100kms: 7.4 sec The BMW 1 Series Hatch range starts from $42,137 drive away* Test drive today at Coastline BMW, 770 Nicklin Way, Currimundi Phone 5491 9100. www.coastlinebmw.com.au

*Drive away price on a BMW 116i Hatch, manual transmission with no optional extras.

profile: Have you always wanted to be a designer? sally: I basically just fell into it. I have been a restaurateur and chef all my life but have always had an overwhelming passion for fashion. In the past five years I have had a desire to open up my own retail outlet and I decided to combine fashion and food. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why my beachside restaurant has a small exclusive boutique selling my own designs. I have a very creative eye for colour and accessories and I never stick to the fashion rules. profile: What makes your designs different from others? sally: The fact that my fabrics are designed and printed with my own unique styles makes my garments very original. My swimsuits reflect a quirky, vintage style and nothing is too over the top in my eyes. The swimsuits are sexy and flirtatious but also have an extreme feminine touch. Lots of frills, buttons, brooches and bows are seen throughout my collection. profile: What or who is the inspiration behind your work? sally: My latest collection was

october 2012

inspired by the gorgeous and demure Audrey Hepburn. I have her image printed all over the fabrics and the colours are a vibrant emerald green and fuchsia. She was also a glamorous woman in the fashion industry and I love her style. profile: Tell us about your current collection? sally: My latest collection features pussy cat fabric, butterfly polka dots and vintage pin-up girl prints. I have a stunning range of full pieces that can be worn from the beach straight out to lunch. I also have brought the rashie back into vogue! My swim-shirt features puff sleeves and intense frills. Women are loving the new look and are wearing the lycra blouses out on the town â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from the beach into the cocktail bars. profile: What about your next collection? sally: I will be designing swimsuits to include the more curvaceous lady and the more mature lady as well. I have had so much interest and feedback to increase my collection with styles and sizing that I have implemented that into my range for next year. The prints, however, will be floral and bright! I plan to have a 30-style collection next year in my swimsuit range and stock my brand in Europe, Dubai and the USA. My whole 2013 will be dedicated to this huge goal and I plan to achieve it.

profilemagazine

view

words tonia zemek ll photography calli b photography

Wendy Barnes

Wendy Barnes loves playing sport. As a triathlete, she thrives on a challenge. But when she discovered a cancerous lump in her breast, she knew she was facing a formidable foe. Four years on, she’s happily in remission. Wendy sat down with Tonia Zemek to discuss her latest test of endurance.

his year has provided some great viewing for an armchair athlete like myself. I’ve relished the opportunity to watch hours of Olympic and Paralympic coverage. I’ve marveled at the athletes and their ability to push themselves to their limits. I’m as far from Sporty Spice as a gal could possibly be, so sitting down with triathlete Wendy Barnes I’m feeling a little intimidated. She laughs when I tell her I know nothing about sport and with that warm giggle she puts me instantly at ease. I feel like we’re old mates. Many of her girlfriends are, in fact, based in South Australia, and Wendy’s been busy planning a weekend reunion here on the Coast. It’s been a while between drinks for these bosom buddies. Four years ago, Wendy and her husband, Trevor, packed up their three kids and relocated to Mooloolaba from a small town north of Adelaide. The move was motivated by a love of the Coast and a desire to give their kids a broader education in a bigger town. Just six months after their move, Wendy was diagnosed with breast cancer. “I couldn’t believe it,” she says with genuine surprise. “We eat healthy foods, I don’t smoke and I hardly drink.” Wendy was actually in training for the Mooloolaba Triathlon. Suddenly she was running a very different race. “The hardest thing was telling our three kids,” she recalls. Wendy sought counselling for her two daughters, Hayley and Tayla, who at the time were 15 and 13, respectively. Her son, Riley, was only eight so she was careful not to give him more details than his young heart and head could handle. At 43 years of age, Wendy underwent a lumpectomy and eventually needed to have all her lymph nodes removed from her left arm. Words like “stoic” and “courageous” do little to sum up her approach to the challenge that lay before her. “I treated it like a triathlon, just thinking every event will be a like a leg of a race.” Fortunately, she wasn’t running alone. Wendy praises her supportive parents and siblings as well as her husband, Trevor. “We’ve been married for 21 years and together for 28. He’s the backbone of our family. He’s a special man.” Her voice trails off as she warns me the tears are coming. They’re not going to be tears of sadness, more likely tears of joy at having been blessed with such a loving family. “They were amazing, they were always happy. They weren’t down all the time, they just took the approach that we’ve got to deal with it and get on with things.”

profilemagazine

When Wendy’s hair succumbed to the chemo, the kids took matters into their own hands. “They shaved my hair, made it into a mohawk and we had a party and filmed it.” All of this took place just one day after her eldest turned sweet 16. Today, some four years on, Wendy feels she’s been given the sweetest gift of all. “I feel like I’ve been blessed with a second chance and it’s taught me to get out and have a go,” she says, with genuine gratitude. “Don’t hold back. Be positive and forget the past.” Last year Wendy was well enough to compete in the Ramsay Health Care Triathlon Pink series. The initiative raises funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Wendy’s two daughters were along for the ride. “I’ve got an amazing photo of the three of us running across the finish line holding hands.”

I treated it like a triathlon, just thinking every event will be a like a leg of a race.” Back in August, Wendy took part in the Rio Tinto Ride to Conquer Cancer. It’s a grueling two-day bike ride covering more than 200 kilometres and raising funds for the Queensland Institute of Medical Research. To take part, cyclists had to raise $2,500. Wendy rose to the challenge and organised fundraising nights and charity auctions. “There’s some very amazing, generous people here on the Coast,” she says. Their goodwill extended far beyond her expectations. In total she managed to raise more than $8,500, tripling her target. The training was grueling but the actual ride was far tougher. The route, a return trip from Brisbane to Wivenhoe, took two days to complete – much of it uphill. “I just treated every hill as a special friend of mine who had passed away with cancer. So I would ride it and think about them and the happy times. “I would think, ‘Well I’m alive and I’m doing this ride for them and we’ll get there’.” Along the way she met a professor who assured her that medical research is progressing well. In the meantime, Wendy intends to keep challenging her mind and body. She’s adopted a motto from the wall of a local gym, “What the mind can believe the body can achieve”. To borrow from our Olympic commentators, I’d say that’s gold to Wendy Barnes. profilemag.com.au

Immanuel Lutheran College At Immanuel, our programs aim to create young men and women of integrity and compassion. Consider for a moment what Immanuel can offer you and your family: • • • • •

Impressive academic record Small classes with individual care and attention in a Christian environment A unique life skills and outdoor education program at our Mt Binga campus Extensive music, sport and co-curricular opportunities A sense of community like no other

www.immanuel.qld.edu.au 126-142 Wises Road, Buderim, QLD 4556 T: 07 5477 3441 E: dabineti@immanuel.qld.edu.au

october 2012

profilemagazine

people

We can only do so much to help, but help we do â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we want to give them the happiest time while they are here.â&#x20AC;?

words alli grant ll photography calli b photography

debbie clayton

profilemagazine

profilemag.com.au

people

As a society we’re obsessed with the idea of ‘beauty’, as it pertains to what we see when we look in the mirror. Debbie Clayton, founder of Beautiful You Cancer Charity, knows all too well that beauty is far more than skin deep. This month, Alli Grant chats to Debbie to learn more about her amazing work, and delivers a perfectly timed dose of perspective, redefining the word ‘beautiful’ in the process.

hy do we do it? Why do we put so much pressure on ourselves to ‘look beautiful’? Why do we constantly compare ourselves to our friends and wish we looked like Hollywood celebrities (who have personal trainers, stylists, chefs, designer wardrobes and exceptional gene pools)? Why do we find it so hard to look in the mirror and say, ‘Wow – I really am beautiful!’? I’m the first to admit that I’m not overly thrilled with what I see in mirror most days – but I’m working on it. I try hard not to focus on the imperfections, on what I want to change, but instead embrace who I am. Today. Perspective is important – it helps us realise that the issues we’re facing really are minute in the scheme of things. Hate your fat legs? Instead be grateful that you can walk. Wish your face was prettier? Instead focus on the fact that it’s free of scars. Wish your boobs were perkier? Instead take a moment to pay tribute to the many women who have fought breast cancer and have lost a breast. Wish your hair was curlier? Be thankful you haven’t lost your hair through chemotherapy. October is an excellent time for such reflection and perspective, and I am sure Debbie Clayton, founder of Beautiful You Cancer Charity, would agree. Debbie works hard to make women feel more beautiful – but not in an ‘I need to look like Angelina Jolie’ way. Her purpose is to support women who are going through or have had breast cancer, to make them feel more beautiful (inside and out). Sadly, she watched her own mother suffer through breast cancer in the ‘90s, an extremely difficult time given that her mum lived in Wangaratta in regional Victoria while Debbie was entrenched in the family fish’n’chip business in Rainbow Beach, where she lived with her husband, Vince, and two children, Carly and Bradley. While her mum beat the hideous disease the first time around, she was diagnosed with a secondary cancer some five years later. Debbie knew it was time to sell-up and to move back to Wangaratta to care for her mum. Nine months later she passed away. Cancer had, once again, won. Before leaving Rainbow Beach, Debbie had a ‘What am I going to do with the rest of my life?’ moment.

“One of the ladies said we should do a morning tea for breast cancer. I thought I’d get 10 or 12 women ... we got 80 and it snowballed from there. Each year in October we’d hold a lunch – 180 would come. And once a month the ladies would come in here for a fun morning ...” Debbie quickly realised that there was a need for such a service. “Women needed and wanted someone to talk to.” Beautiful You was created. So talk Debbie does, making herself available 24 hours a day. In addition to emotional support, the Beautiful You mornings continue to inspire and support, with activities aimed at giving these amazing women something positive to focus on, like jewellery-making, photography shoots, art lessons, guest speakers ... all free of charge. “We also have sessions designed to make the women feel more beautiful – nothing can compare with having to lose your hair, and you’re never really prepared for it. We have makeup sessions and Lorraine comes in with her beautiful wigs ... We can only do so much to help, but help we do – we want to give them the happiest time while they are here,” Debbie explains. I ask Debbie about the idea of ‘perspective’. “Tell me about it! There’s always someone out there worse off than you. Makes you realise that the pain you might have in your leg or arm is nothing compared to what they’re going through.” Today, the Beautiful You Cancer Charity (www.beautiful-you.com.au) has a board to oversee its efforts (it was officially registered three years ago) and two second-hand stores in Buderim and Maroochydore (who are currently on the look-out for volunteers). Debbie’s next goal is to create a retreat for local women fighting cancer. As you would expect, Debbie is modest about all she has done to support women battling this terrible disease. When I ask her to tell me more, she quickly defers to her dear friend, Trish Fitzgerald, who met Debbie back in 2009 after she had lost a breast to breast cancer, and now volunteers with the charity. “I heard about this amazing woman who was running these beautiful mornings once a month. I took myself along and I loved it. It was such a beautiful morning – she organises such lovely activities for the girls and supplies morning tea.” Trish explains that Beautiful You also helps families cope with the additional financial burden. Food packages are provided at Christmas and contributions are made towards breast reconstruction surgery for women who can’t afford it. Deb helps in so many ways. “Deb’s good with humour in bad situations – she might go away and have a big cry when she’s off the phone, but when she’s talking to them she can really make them happy. Her personality is such a gift,” Trish adds. After talking with Trish, I better understand the bond these ladies form, and why Deb describes the women she meets as “like family – my dearest friends”. “It’s lovely to know that you’ve helped someone, to know that they might walk in here looking upset or sad or whatever, but they leave feeling amazing, and just for a little while they have forgotten about the outside world,” Debbie admits. Trish matter-of-factly adds that, “It’s funny, because Debbie called her charity Beautiful You – but she’s the one who’s beautiful.” Now that’s true beauty.

There’s always someone out there worse off ... the pain you might have in your leg or arm is nothing compared to what they’re going through.” “I sat down and wrote 20 things I had always wanted to do. Then I crossed 10 off. Then five off. There were two left – one was to start a newspaper, which I did, and gave it to a guy at Rainbow who did really well with it ... The other thing on the list was to become a massage therapist.” After her mother died, Debbie went on to fulfil this dream, training in massage therapy. When the family relocated to the Sunshine Coast in 2004, Debbie opened Healing Art Therapies in Buderim. While creating a charity that supported women with breast cancer might not have been on the “to do” list, it was clearly Debbie’s destiny. october 2012

profilemagazine

success

I just try really hard to take the edge off any situation. It might be a joke here and there or just sitting down and chatting for a few minutes.â&#x20AC;?

sandra reardon

profilemagazine

profilemag.com.au

success

words tonia zemek ll photography calli b photography

As a medical receptionist, Sandra Reardon dreamt of creating a unique facility for the treatment of cancer patients, and together with her oncologist husband, she made that dream a reality. Tonia Zemek met with Sandra to discuss a place where love and laughter is just what the doctor ordered.

ospitals make me nervous. I get twitchy around people in white coats. I loathe dental clinics too. Combine white coats with drilling noises and I’m frozen with fear. Me and medical facilities don’t exactly gel. So it’s little wonder I’m feeling tense enroute to the Sunshine Coast Haematology and Oncology Clinic. Approaching the façade, I’m pleasantly surprised. The warm yellow exterior and columned entrance looks more like a luxury hotel than a hospital. Inside, the reception area is spacious yet cosy. The room feels welcoming and relaxed. Sandra Reardon, the clinic’s 51-year-old co-founder and CEO, is the woman responsible for this remarkably warm first impression. “I designed it from what I thought patients would like,” she says in a measured, soft voice. “So it’s non-threatening, it makes them feel at home. From the moment they come through that door we try very hard to have that personal relationship.” Even before opening the clinic some 14 years ago, Sandra was well-versed in how to build a rapport with people. As a high school teacher in both Brisbane and Sydney, she learnt the importance of nurturing strong bonds. “Certainly in a classroom it’s very important to win the trust of the kids because your teaching career is very dependent on mutual respect.” Sandra taught for seven years. Along the way she married oncologist, Doctor John Reardon. After a 12 month jaunt overseas, the couple happily settled on the Sunshine Coast. John set up a specialist practice treating cancer patients and Sandra worked as his receptionist. The bulk of John’s work involved administering chemotherapy and blood transfusions. He consulted with patients dotted all over the Coast, from Noosa to Caloundra, because there was no individual centre solely dedicated to oncology work. “Cancer patients would come an hour before their consultation so I had a one-on-one with them before they actually saw John, and I realised after five years I had a huge wealth of information. I had an overwhelming desire to make a difference.” By this stage Sandra and John had two young children and the family was about to embark on a momentous journey. They opened Queensland’s first free-standing day hospital to treat patients with blood disorders and cancers. Based in Maroochydore, the doors opened in 1998. “The people we deal with are the loveliest people,” she says. “We’re very close as a practice and people do feel loved.” None of the staff wear uniforms and everyone’s on a first-name basis. The icing on the cake is the catering. When they first opened the clinic, Sandra did all the shopping and cooking. Today, some 14 years on, all meals are prepared in-house. “Even though we’re busy, nothing is mass-produced. It’s a conscious decision.”

october 2012

The treatment room, where patients have their chemotherapy, is also stamped with Sandra’s personal touches. “It’s painted in calming shades of blue. Patients look out onto trees and a fountain. It’s really comforting and relaxing.” Apparently “it’s not what I expected” is a common refrain from new patients. Sandra truly understands the importance of making them and their families feel comfortable. Her empathetic approach extends from the big picture to the smallest of detail. She fitted the room with television outlets but the TVs were never installed. Sandra says the patients much prefer chatting to each other. “The noise level in our place is just deafening at times and if I blindfolded you and gave you a hundred guesses you’d never guess where you were,” she says. “You can smell the coffee, you can smell the chocolate cake and there’s loads of laughter.” Sandra tells me the camaraderie is particularly important for cancer patients. “I can’t personally tell them ‘I know how you feel’ because I haven’t experienced it, but often the patient sitting next to them can say that.” Sandra is also quick to point out breast cancer is not just a female illness. She says over the years the clinic has also seen men pass through its doors. “I just try really hard to take the edge off any situation. It might be a joke here and there or just sitting down and chatting for a few minutes.” Sometimes the simplest of gestures goes a long way to easing anxiety. Sandra’s become an expert in lightening the mood. Her Lovebird Award is the perfect example of her ability to put a smile on the faces of an otherwise anxious couple. “If someone’s holding hands I’ll come out with some chocolates and say ‘You win the Lovebird Award today’ and it will make them smile.” The expression on Sandra’s face tells me she really takes her work to heart. Her personal empathy marries well with her professional role. One Christmas she gifted all the female patients with Victoria’s Secret lingerie. It happened to be the first day of treatment for a new patient. “I said ‘You must be the new girl’. I rushed into my office and came out and handed her some lingerie wrapped in big red bells. She walked out with a huge grin on her face.” Sandra’s connection with patients is evident all year round. In recognition of her work, she was nominated for this year’s Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network (SCBWN) Business Woman of the Year Award. I congratulate her on this very public nod to her success. Ever the quiet achiever, she smiles and says simply, “I love what I do”. It’s a sentiment shared by everyone working at the clinic. “One of the staff told me she’d heard on the radio that most people only stay in a job for five years,” Sandra says. “Well she’s been here for 13 years so we must be different.” I’m sure her patients would agree.

profilemagazine

ladies at lunch

g a n d wh o “Life is excitin to share wouldn’t want nch of that with a bu ng is what friends? Shari .” women do best Kate Wilson

Ladies at lunch is proudly sponsored by

BOQ MAROOCHYDORE

1 3

2 5

VENUE Karma Waters Mooloolaba

1. shirley leacy 2. kate wilson 3. michelle bounty 4. deliciously smooth coffee 5. robyn smith 6. seared atlantic salmon

profilemagazine

profilemag.com.au

ladies at lunch

words ingrid nelson ll photography calli b photography sponsored by boq maroochydore and wealthways ll venue karma waters, mooloolaba

Girlfriends. Some of us have lots, some have a few. Some are life-long, some are transitional … but girlfriends always have a special bond like no other. Ingrid Nelson caught up with a gaggle of lovely ladies to discover their thoughts on what makes a true girlfriend and what it takes to be one.

he bond between girlfriends starts early in life. Already I can see my 10-year-old daughter, Chloe, forming special friendships with her girlfriends and some of them will be lifelong friends. It’s important to have a BFF (best friend forever) in grade five! They giggle about boys, they talk about fashion, and they lock themselves away for hours doing all sorts of secret girls’ business (no brothers allowed!). And nothing much changes as women get older. By the time we reach adulthood, we have endured squabbles, tears, breakups and makeups (and that’s just me!). As women, sometimes we need to be reminded of what being a true girlfriend means. Too often it takes an illness or loss for us to really appreciate the importance of that special friendship. That reminder can be as simple as a card, a hug or even an email to say hello. Our special PINK issue this month has made me stop and think about my friendships and the special women who are always there to pick me up, lend an ear and have a wine (or a whine) with me. At the end of a terrible week, there is nothing better than offloading with your bestie. As after a few laughs and a glass of bubbles life seems a whole lot rosier. I recently caught up with a bunch of gorgeous ladies over a delicious lunch at Karma Waters, Mooloolaba, where we did what we girls do best – talk, laugh (and have a few bubbles!). Co-hosting lunch was the lovely Sandra Wills, owner of Wealthways Financial Planning, and joining us were the effervescent Shirley Leacy, manager at Element on Coolum, the ever-glamorous

october 2012

Kate Wilson, independent Intimo consultant, the gorgeous Robyn Smith, owner of Robyn’s Beauty Studio, Caloundra, Michelle Bounty, owner of Beach Shack Hair Studio and our talented photographer, Calli Burnett of Calli B Photography.

the time. I was absolutely amazed that girlfriends I had classed as acquaintances stepped up. What they did for my family and I blew me away. sandra: My husband is my best friend ... and thanks to my girlfriends I haven’t had to kill him yet!

profile: Ladies, tell me about your special girlfriends and how important they are to you. kate: I have many girlfriends, but I do have four or five special friends I always ring if I want to share something or get something off my chest. shirley: My girlfriends are a constant in my life. Always there for me for a chat (or a wine!). You can pick up just where you left off last time. michelle: I have a lot of acquaintances but not many girlfriends. I really only have one friend who I would call a girlfriend and that is Robyn whom I’ve known since I was 18. Robyn allows me to be who I am. She has no expectations. Sometimes we may not see each other for a couple of weeks or even a month but when we come together we pick up where we left off. sandra: Growing up with brothers, having sons and working in a male-dominated industry, the women in my life are fewer in number, but very precious.

profile: What do you think it takes to be a good friend? kate: I do consider myself to be a good friend. We are all busy but a good friend is someone who doesn’t forget her friends. A good friend shares the friendship equally; they ring out of the blue to ask how you are. shirley: To have good friends, you have to be a good friend. It means being there for each other no matter what the problem is – maybe to offer advice, maybe to chat about things or just be there and listen. Never to be judgmental. michelle: Friends will be there for you whenever you need them. They don’t have to be there 24/7, phoning every week, but they are always there and you know it. sandra: I’m pretty lousy at keeping in touch. My good friends are very forgiving. calli: To me, a good friend needs to be honest and considerate. I like spending time with positive people and don’t attract people who are negative. I’d like to think I am a good friend; I try to be there for my friends when they need me. robyn: I think to be a good friend you need to do a lot of listening, try not to judge when things get tough, keep in touch and accept each other, warts and all.

profile: Can you think of a time when a girlfriend has helped you through a tough time? kate: My best friend is in Perth. She’s been on the other end of the phone whenever I have needed her, no matter what time of day. Thanks Jasmine! michelle: My son had a body surfing accident three years ago and had a stroke, he was eight years old at

profilemagazine

ladies at lunch

friends, “To have good a good you have to be friend.” Shirley Leacy

profile: Have you found your circle of friends has changed as you have aged? kate: My circle of friends has changed a lot over the last 10 years and I only have a couple who are still around. Life changes, partners change and careers change. However, the last four years my friendships have started to stay the same and I am only happily adding to my friendship group. It is very strange to look back and realise the friends you no longer have around, especially when they may have been in wedding photos and on family holidays. shirley: My circle of friends has evolved over the years as I have moved house, state, changed jobs or careers. A lot of those friends I can still contact and catch up with, but even though it is wonderful to catch up, it is not quite the same as being with them all of the time as your interests have changed ... michelle: My circle of friends changes with where my children are in life. Friends change from sport to sport, or school to school. sandra: Acquaintances have changed but friends are for life. calli: The main thing with friendships changing for me has been distance. As I’ve moved (or my friends have moved) further away it changes how often you see each other. We’re still friends but the relationship is different. robyn: As you go through life, your friends come and go, especially when you have children and things change in your life. But I think if you have five good friends you are truly blessed. profile: I think it’s fair to say we all have different types of girlfriends. shirley: I think there are three types of friends – reason, season and lifetime. Some are there when we need them, some are there when we are involved in a sport or hobby, and some come into our lives and we know they are going to be there forever. sandra: I agree. There’s a difference between acquaintances and friends.

profilemagazine

robyn, michelle, ingrid, shirley, kate and sandra

calli: I agree with this, I’ve had friends fall into these categories. I think though at any stage you may meet somebody who becomes a lifetime friend. michelle: Friends come and go, and they enter your life for a reason at that certain time. profile: Are there things you might tell a girlfriend that you might not even tell your husband? kate: I might run something past a girlfriend before I tell my husband, but we pretty much tell each other everything and I don’t feel the need not to share with him. If a girlfriend tells me something and doesn’t want him to know, I won’t tell him! shirley: My husband is my best friend and we have no secrets (none that I know of, anyway). Well, maybe some clothes I bought, but my husband wouldn’t notice anyway. sandra: No. My husband’s not a very good listener so I can tell him anything! profile: Your final thoughts on girlfriends, ladies? kate: Everyone needs friends. Life is exciting and who wouldn’t want to share that with a bunch of friends? Sharing is what women do best. shirley: My girlfriends are often my grounding. They tell me just as it is – no pretence. So I value their opinions and honesty. michelle: Friendships should not be hard work. sandra: Girlfriends are kindred spirits and wonderful for the soul. As we sat chatting and laughing, I looked around the table at this fabulous bunch of ladies and realised that this is why we have girlfriends – to share things with, connect with and most importantly, have a laugh with. As we bid each other farewell, I felt as though I had known these women much longer than just a couple of hours. After all, we spent the entire lunch doing what we gals do best – talk!

KARMA WATERS, MOOLOOLABA Located on the bustling Mooloolaba Esplanade, Karma Waters restaurant boasts a fabulous waterfront location and a relaxed, casual ambience, with indoor and alfresco dining options. Owners (and husband and wife team) Tex and Kellie Teixeira are passionate about sourcing the freshest produce to create an imaginative selection of dishes that capture the robust flavours and spices synonymous with Portuguese cuisine. I couldn’t go past the salt and pepper dusted calamari and it didn’t disappoint. Lightly fried and tossed through rocket, red onion and capers and finished with dill vinaigrette, it hit the spot (and I struggled to finish the generous portion). The Atlantic salmon on creamy mash potato with roasted pumpkin, green beans and an orange maple glaze was a popular choice among the ladies, and received rave reviews, as did the premium grain-fed eye fillet (200g), served on dijon mustard mashed potatoes with green beans, crispy bacon and a red wine jus. But the best was yet to come ... dessert. I couldn’t resist the warm sticky date pudding – a traditional pudding full of juicy dates with a butterscotch sauce – divine! Equally as delicious was the peach and passionfruit cheesecake, smooth and silky with a generous topping of peach and passionfruit gel, it also got the thumbs up. Our meals were washed down with chilled glasses of 2011 Capel Vale verdelho – Margaret River, WA, and 2010 Oakridge Over the Shoulder pinot noir – Yarra Valley, VIC. A wonderfully smooth cappuccino was the perfect end to a delicious lunch. Cnr Venning St and The Esplanade Mantra International Building Mooloolaba 5452 6722 www.karmawatersrestaurant.com.au

profilemag.com.au

DATE

TIME

SESSION

COST

MON 8 OCT

5.30-8.30PM

STAND YOUR GROUND 1

$99

TUE 9 OCT

6.30-8.30PM

STAND YOUR GROUND 2

$99

WED 10 OCT

9.00AM-12.00PM

PRIVATE CONSULTATION (1/2 hr)

$66

WED 10 OCT

6.30PM-7.30PM

STAND FIGHT FIT

$22

THUR 11 OCT

9.00AM-12.00PM

PRIVATE CONSULTATION (1/2 hr)

$66

THUR 11 OCT

6.30PM-7.30PM

STAND FIT FIGHT

$22

THUR 11 OCT

8.00PM-9.30PM

MIND FITNESS

$66

FRIDAY 12 OCT

9.00AM-12.00PM

PRIVATE CONSULTATION (1/2 hr)

$66

FRIDAY 12 OCT

6.00PM-7.00PM

EMA-ZEN YOGA

$22

SAT 13 OCT

9.00AM-12.00PM

STAND YOUR GROUND 1

$99

october 2012

profilemagazine

cover story

‘I made it, I beat it, I’m here’! Everything else just seemed so unimportant.” Sue Le Busque 22

profilemagazine

clockwise from left: angela farlam, vicki o’shea, nerrida-rose humphries and sue le busque. Shot on location at Profile Magazine studio, Maroochydore. Our cover girls wear: Florence Ivory Gowns courtesy of Eve Boutique, Maroochydore, phone 5443 7472. White tank tops courtesy of Country Road, Maroochydore, phone 5572 3450. Jewellery supplied by Wallace Bishop (www.wallacebishop.com.au). Make up by KJ Artistry, hair by Kooshka Hair, mooloolaba. Photography by Calli B Photography

profilemag.com.au

cover story

words ingrid nelson ll photos calli b photography ll hair kooshka hair ll makeup kj artistry ll styling victoria gooch

Breast cancer – old or young, it doesn’t discriminate. The insidious disease affects so many women and leaves a trail of devastation in its wake. From the survivors to the family members to the support organisations, its effects are farreaching. Ingrid Nelson caught up with four inspiring local women who have faced the disease head-on and beaten it, and she feels honoured to share their stories.

n 2012 it is estimated 14,610 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer (source – BCNA), making it the most common cancer affecting women. Most of us have been touched by breast cancer in some way or another, through a family member, friend or acquaintance, and have seen the pain and heartache the heartless disease leaves in its wake. Fortunately, most women survive breast cancer. In fact, latest statistics (2006) show that the five-year survival rate for women diagnosed with breast cancer is more than 88 per cent, with many living long and healthy lives beyond this point. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Sue Le Busque, Vicki O’Shea, Nerrida-Rose Humphries and Angela Farlam who shared their very personal experiences with breast cancer. There were lots of tears, lots of laughs and lots of hugs, and I have come away from the experience humbled and in awe of these amazing women who have taught me not to sweat the small stuff, to enjoy life and to live each day to the fullest.

october 2012

Meet

Sue Le Busque

alking alongside her two daughters at the Relay For Life’s 10th anniversary march in 2010 is something 45-year-old Woombye mother of three Sue Le Busque and her family will never forget. Ironically, just six months earlier, her eldest daughter, Abby, had signed up for the fundraising event through Saint Joseph’s Catholic Primary, Nambour. Little did they know it would hold such significance for their own family and that Sue would be walking as a proud survivor of the disease that claims the lives of so many women each year. “It was surreal. I remember walking along thinking, ‘I made it, I beat it, I’m here!’ Everything else just seemed so unimportant,” says Sue. Sue’s journey began when her husband, Stewart, discovered a lump in her breast. Having gone for a check-up with her GP, Sue was referred to a specialist who gave her the all clear on two occasions and asked her to return for another mammogram in three months. However, thanks to the persistence of her GP and a referral to a second specialist, Sue was found to have a very aggressive form of breast cancer. She tells me that had she waited another three months for that mammogram, her story may not have had such a happy ending. “I was actually quite blasé about it all to be honest. Even though I was sent for a second opinion, I thought ‘I have been to a specialist twice, I have the all clear, it will be fine’.” However, all wasn’t fine and Sue remembers vividly the words delivered by her specialist that day that would change her life forever. “She simply said, ‘Sue, it’s not good. There is no other way to tell you, you have breast cancer’. I sat there looking at her not really registering, as if she was saying it to someone else. I thought, ‘This can’t be happening to me’. She said ‘You can cry or scream and swear!’, but all I could do was just sit there.” Sue’s eyes well with tears (mine too) as she relives this poignant moment in her life. I can’t even begin to imagine how it would feel to receive such devastating news. Fortunately, Sue was in surgery within 24 hours of her diagnosis and says her saving grace was not having too much time to think about the gravity of the situation. “Luckily, because I had plenty of breast tissue, I had a lumpectomy and not a mastectomy, but even if I did have to have the breast removed I wouldn’t have thought twice about it. I was just thinking, ‘What do I have to do to get rid of this cancer?’ The worst part was waiting a whole week to get the results.” Thankfully for Sue, the prognosis was the best it could possibly have been. The surgeon successfully removed the tumour and it had not spread to her lymph glands or other parts of her body.

profilemagazine

cover story However, at this stage Sue didn’t realise that this was not the end of her journey, she still had a long battle ahead to full recovery. “My specialist was all smiles when we went back for the results and we thought, ‘Great, that’s it’, but I had the most aggressive type of breast cancer and we just couldn’t take the risk of one rogue cancer cell being left in my body so I had to have chemotherapy and radiation therapy.” The next few weeks were some of the toughest for Sue and her family. The constant nausea and chronic fatigue were relentless, and with a young family to look after, Sue tells me she would not have made it without the incredible support of family and friends. “There are some days when you don’t want to set foot outside the door. My husband, Stewart, was amazing, as were my parents. Often husbands get forgotten, because all the attention is on you, but they are right alongside you every step of the way. He was always so positive, that kept me going. “The Saint Joseph’s community was fantastic. There was one mum at school who knew when my chemo days were and she would always have a meal cooked for me on those days so I didn’t have to worry.” I ask Sue if her journey has changed her outlook on life. “It has definitely made me change the way I look at life. As a family we have come through stronger. After the last Relay for Life, which we now do every year as a family, my three children, Abby, Teaghan and Zac, gave me a big hug and said, ‘Thanks mum, thanks for fighting, thanks for not giving up’.” Anyone who knows Sue will know her famous catchcry has always been, “It’s all good!” Thankfully, with Sue in full remission, it certainly is “all good”.

I had a good life before the diagnosis but all the things that were holding me back are gone now. I am out there enjoying life and not sweating the small stuff.” Angela Farlam

Meet

Vicki O’Shea

f there is one woman who is living proof that mammograms really do save lives, it’s 50-year-old physiotherapist and mother of three Vicki O’Shea. Having had no symptoms whatsoever, Vicki’s cancer was discovered during a routine mammogram, which she diligently undertook every two years. “I discovered it quite incidentally. I have gone along regularly for my mammograms every two years since I was 40. I thought I was all good because it wasn’t until two weeks later the doctor’s office contacted me to come back. “I distinctly remember the lady on the other end of the line saying, ‘Vicki, we need you to come back for some tests, but please don’t be worried about this’ – well then of course I was worried! From there things happened very quickly. They laid everything out on the table and before I knew it I was having a mastectomy.” Not surprisingly, as a young, fit and healthy woman, Vicki’s initial reaction to the news was as you would expect – complete shock! “I felt quite numb. I had always considered myself fit and healthy. I was conscious of health and diet. I thought, ‘This can’t be right’.” After two rounds of surgery, one to remove her breast and one to remove her lymph nodes, Vicki had to endure several gruelling weeks of chemotherapy and radiation. Determined to keep family life as normal as possible for her young son, Hamish, who was just seven at the time, Vicki says returning to her normal routine was paramount to her survival. “That became really important to me. It’s what got me though. I told my two older daughters, Sophie and Lucy, exactly what was going on but I really wanted to protect him.” So much so, that Vicki returned to her son’s school just two days after her surgery to attend a concert he was performing in. Incidentally, both Sue and Vicki’s sons were in the same class at Saint Joseph’s at the time and the

friends went through their breast cancer journey within months of each other. Initially, Vicki’s diagnosis was not great and she admits there were times she thought the worst. “I got to the point where I was trying hard not to think negative thoughts. I had a lot of tests and every time I got the pathology results it was never good. I underwent full body scans and had to wait overnight for the results. I distinctly remember it was one of the worst nights of my life. By that stage I was convinced it was going to be bad news. I really was.” The break in Vicki’s voice shows just how emotional that time was for the courageous Kiel Mountain woman. Thankfully, the news was good and Vicki was given the thumbs up that the cancer had not spread to other parts of her body. “Once I got the all clear, I never looked back. I have always been a glasshalf-full person but this really heightened my resolve to keep going. I felt like I was given a last chance.” Like most breast cancer patients, Vicki cannot praise the medical staff enough. “I went through the public health system and they were so wonderful. My surgeon was a delight and the oncology staff at Nambour Hospital are just such a great bunch of people and so supportive. “The support you get from everyone is wonderful. My husband, family and the school community were incredible. It really reminds you how good humankind is.” I ask Vicki to share her advice to women who may be reluctant to go for a mammogram. “Mammograms are crucial. Don’t put it off. I put mine off for three months and I think that was even too long. Every month can make a difference.” Sound advice from someone who is living proof.

cover story Meet

Nerrida-Rose Humphries

olding her perfect baby girl, Montaya, for the first time two-and-a-half years ago, 38-year-old teacher aide and mother of three Nerrida-Rose Humphries had more than most to be thankful for. Diagnosed with breast cancer four months into her pregnancy, this courageous woman underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy before delivering her precious third daughter. Incredibly, it was a two-year journey for the Buderim mother before she was finally diagnosed and took three doctors and two specialists before she was given the mammogram and biopsy that would save her life. “I was an unusual case in that I didn’t have a lump but rather a discharge from my breasts that began when I was 33. I was told by two doctors that I was too young to have cancer and that it was hormonal but I remembered hearing somewhere along the grapevine that the symptoms I was having could mean breast cancer, so I followed it up and went for a second opinion.” After numerous tests and several doctor’s visits, Nerrida was finally delivered the news she was dreading, two years later. “The rang me and said, ‘Nerrida you need to come back in for more tests’. My specialist did an ultrasound and a biopsy that day and it was the worst feeling ever because she went really quiet and I knew something was not right. By the time this all happened I was 35! If I didn’t fight for those tests I would probably not be here.

“To be four months pregnant and told you have breast cancer was devastating. It was the worst sickening feeling I have had in my life. I didn’t care about losing the breast I just thought, ‘I can’t leave my husband and children’. “I rang my GP and couldn’t even get my name out. They got me in to see my specialist straightaway and she said, ‘Nerrida you can do this, there have been other women who have done it and your baby will be fine’. As soon as I heard that I stopped crying and I thought, ‘Okay, let’s do this’.” Just four weeks before Christmas, Nerrida had her breast removed and started chemotherapy. “I just did it, what else could I do?” I ask Nerrida what she would say to other young women who may be worried something is not quite right with their breast health. “I get cross and angry when I hear of doctors who say to women under 40, ‘No you are still too young’. But if I waited until I was 40 I wouldn’t be here or I would be fighting for my life. I am passionate about that. If you feel something is not right follow it through.” Amazingly, like the other brave women I have spoken with, Nerrida is quick to point out that although her journey has been incredibly difficult at times, there is a silver lining. “As much as cancer is so negative, I have had the most positive experience of my life with it. Between family, friends, my work at Woombye State School, the doctors and the support groups, it has been an amazing experience in many ways and has taught me to appreciate every day. Life is too precious to take for granted.”

Meet

Angela Farlam

s a hypnotherapist and life coach, 53-year-old Angela Farlam is used to helping others overcome life’s challenges, so she never imagined she would one day have to draw on her own skills to fight one of the biggest battles of her life – breast cancer. Diagnosed in April this year, the fit, healthy and diminutive mother of two grown children says she was in complete shock when she received the news that she had two cancerous tumours … over the phone! Having found several unusual but benign lumps in her breasts previously, Angela thought nothing of delaying her routine mammogram and core biopsy that had been scheduled before a trip to visit her son in Thailand. Angela underwent the tests on her return, and unfortunately the results were not what she expected. “It’s sounds terrible but it costs $1,000 to have core biopsy and I was just about to go on holiday and I have had so many core biopsies and they have always been clear so I wasn’t concerned at all. “I had the biopsy when I returned and I was told over the phone that I had two cancers. It was such a shock. For about half an hour afterwards I was thinking, ‘Oh my God I’ve got cancer’. I was numb. It was like it was happening to someone else.” Within a week of her diagnosis Angela was in surgery. Fortunately, because the tumours were detected early and had not spread, Angela did not lose her breast and did not have to undergo chemotherapy or radiation. “It sounds terrible but the first thought that went through my head was, ‘Oh no I am going to lose my hair and get fat!’. I appreciate that I was so lucky every day. It sounds strange but I feel guilty that I haven’t been through october 2012

the whole journey of chemo. It has been so much worse for other women.” Angela tells me it was a conversation with an old friend who had survived breast cancer that helped her tremendously to deal with her diagnosis. “When I found out, I didn’t want to speak to anyone but I took a call from an old friend and I didn’t realise she had been through the whole journey herself. Just talking to her calmed me down and I thought, ‘I can get through this, I am going to be okay’. “I thought, ‘This is going to be a chance to walk my talk’. Because I’m a hypnotherapist, I help people every day. It’s not what happens to us that causes fears and anxiety and stress, it’s how we respond that counts.” It’s hard to imagine anything positive about breast cancer, but Angela tells me in some ways it has been one of the best things to happen to her! “I had a good life before the diagnosis but all the things that were holding me back are gone now. I am out there enjoying life and not sweating the small stuff. “Just recently I ran the Gold Coast Half Marathon with my husband and we raised $1,600 for Breast Cancer Network Australia. It was great to give something back. The whole time I was running I had a big grin on my face. I was thinking, ‘I am alive. I am running. I am so lucky’.” After wrapping up this story, I turn off my computer and give my husband and three children an extra-tight hug. I am simply thankful to be alive and healthy. Suddenly my list of things “to do” seem unimportant and I head out into the sunny afternoon to watch the kids ride their bikes and take time to enjoy life and all its blessings. Thank you to these brave ladies for sharing their stories with us - each and every one of them has touched my heart.

profilemagazine

business promotion

words ingrid nelson ll photography calli b photography

sandy riba

profilemagazine

profilemag.com.au

business promotion

Having always had a passion for numbers, it’s no surprise Sandy Riba has spent her entire career working with them. Ingrid Nelson caught up with the glamorous mother-of-two and discovered how this talented number’s wizard has been helping small businesses across the Coast to improve their bottom line.

andy Riba was born to be an accountant. Starting from the ground up, the Buderim local began her bookkeeping career straight out of high school and worked for several businesses across the Coast before going on to study part-time for six years while working full-time as a trainee accountant for a large chartered accounting firm. Part of the first intake at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Sandy graduated in 2002 and has been employed as a qualified accountant ever since. Passionate about helping small businesses with a more hands-on approach to their accounting needs and day-to-day finances, Sandy and her business partner, Bernard Kasteel, proudly opened the doors to their own accounting firm, RibaKasteel Chartered Accountants (in Duporth Ave, Maroochydore) just three months ago and have hit the ground running. “Bernard and I worked together for a large chartered accounting firm and we both agreed the traditional model of accounting practice wasn’t working for a lot of businesses on the Sunshine Coast, so we wanted to set out to provide more value-added services to businesses”. “There is something like 35,000 businesses on the Sunshine Coast and 80 per cent have less than five staff. They can’t afford to have someone in their business who knows how to maintain an accounting system and look at the numbers, and we feel those businesses need a little more help, training and assistance.” The dynamic duo began holding free presentations through the Sunshine Coast Library to gain exposure for their fledgling business, and the response from local business owners was overwhelming. “Through the workshops, we found a lot of business owners were saying they weren’t getting a lot of help from their accountants and we just started looking at providing more hands-on assistance and general advice. Things like looking at a better type of accounting system a business could be using can make all the difference. MYOB and QuickBooks are not for everyone.” It wasn’t long before the positive feedback was relayed to the Sunshine Coast Regional Council who approached Sandy and Bernard to collate resources for their Business Ezy Council website. “They had very positive feedback from their branches that we were doing a great job. We have since built a great relationship with the Council. I don’t think a lot of small business owners know about the assistance they can apply for through their program.” Through their local business support office, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council is aligning businesses that require legal, accounting or town planning assistance with professional service providers and are also providing funding to help small businesses across the Coast. “Ed Gainer and Geoff Peters [from Council] have been wonderful. Through their program we have been aligned with businesses we wouldn’t normally be engaged with. We are currently working with 35 businesses and we are overwhelmed with that response.” Sandy tells me many of their clients are surprised to find out that accountants do much more than simply get the tax done at the end of the year or prepare a BAS statement.

october 2012

“There is a lot more your accountant can do, such as looking at the performance of the business, looking at where there could be improvements made to reduce expenses and increase income, and looking at trends and where they might need guidance and help to understand what the numbers are saying. “A lot of small business owners don’t have the experience when it comes to the figures. It might even mean they need to be aligned with a bookkeeper who is affordable rather than try to do it themselves or look to their accountant for more support. “The most rewarding part of my job is helping small business owners survive. The Coast has experienced lots of upheaval and giving them help and training is rewarding. The biggest problem is always cash flow and there are lots of peaks and troughs in small business. There is a lot of pressure and a lot of stress out there.” So how can businesses apply for assistance? “If they are needing assistance with their business they can have a chat with Ed and Geoff and they will assess their needs and direct them to the right service provider. They might need to make contact with a lawyer because they are looking to franchise or license or replicate their business, or they might want to grow and need assistance with cash flows – those sorts of things. “Accountants, lawyers and planners have forwarded a capability statement to be accepted as a professional partner with Council, and then Geoff and Ed align them with the appropriate practice to get the help they need. In most cases, Council subsidises most of the fee, which is incredible.” Chatting with Sandy, you can see the passion she has for her work. I ask her how she manages a busy full-time career and new business while raising two children, Kate, 10, and Will, seven. “It’s a busy time. I get up at 5:00am and make sure everything is done at night. It’s all about being organised,” she laughs. “I spend my day here loving what I do so it doesn’t feel like much of an effort.” Told you, born to be an accountant!

profilemagazine

Sunshine Coast Council supports local business Online interactive guide for starting and operating a business

Connecting local business with professional support

Assisting local business to tender for government work

Accessing economic development grants

yo oda

Building partnerships to deliver business skills

â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

ncil

ou st C

act ont

Sun

eC shin

l loca

ines

bus

ort

pp s su

t team

1 93

4 n 54

astu o c ine.gov.a h s un .qld s . s s

i bus

st ing or t e Coa p p n su shi Sun ess in bus

profilemagazine

profilemag.com.au

milestones

ll photography calli b photography

jack childs

ack Childs is one half of the Think Investment Realty team, working alongside his wife of 34 years, Chris. While both Jack and Chris are both passionate about property, Jack still gets a buzz out of his personal passion … speedway racing! Having spent much of his youth building speedway cars, Jack races on the weekends, when he isn’t celebrating the Sunshine Coast lifestyle and revelling in his passion for property. jack’s pride and joy

Life changing milestone 1: Passion for property, 1969 Having watched my father build a property portfolio, I made my first foray into property in 1969, purchasing an old dilapidated house and spending the next 12 months working hard to renovate it. Spending all my weekends doing that while my mates were off having fun was hard … but in 12 months I had more than doubled my money. Mistake one – I then sold it! Although I bought and sold my own houses a number of times, it wasn’t until 2000 that we (me and my wife of 34 years, Chris) bought our first investment property. Moving into the investment property market for the first time was a bit daunting. However, during the next three years we bought, sold and renovated our way through four properties but hadn’t kept any! We made all the normal mistakes of a novice investor. It wasn’t until we bought and kept an investment property that we started to see the power of capital growth. Life changing milestone 2: Speedway, 1982 Speedway has been my passion for 30 years. I started in 1982 in bombers, which included converting an old Torana into a speedway car with a co-driver. From that point I was delighted to win QLD 1 in 1984 before progressing to Production Level in a Ford Escort. For the past 20 years I have been racing Super Sedans. It is a lot of fun, and I am enjoying the challenge of giving the new generation of drivers a run for their money! I am currently building a Mustang Super Sedan to race the 2013 season. Life changing milestone 3: Career changes, 1983 to 2008 Having managed hotels for many years before meeting and marrying my beautiful wife, I felt it wasn’t the lifestyle I wanted to continue as we raised our young family. I was fortunate to commence working for Wayne october 2012

Hammond of Trueline Aluminium, who as well as being my boss and mentor, became my best friend. I stayed with Wayne and Trueline for 26 years, working my way up from salesman to state general manager. After Wayne passed away and the business was sold, I felt it was time to look at another career change, so I opened my two current businesses, Queensland Investment Building Corporation (QIBC) and Think Investment Realty. It has been so rewarding to combine all those years of experience in the building industry with my passion for investing in property, and to help my clients build and buy investment properties in remarkable areas. I love my job! Life changing milestone 4: Moving to the Sunshine Coast, October 2007 We had been regular ‘Christmas tourists’ for many years. In fact, I have been coming here with my family every year since I was four. After my wife and I met in 1978 in Rockhampton, it became a goal of ours to relocate to the Sunshine Coast. Running businesses in Central Queensland and having strong family ties found us delaying the move. You tend to put off shifting kids during their school years and before you know it … 20 years have flown past! In 1997 we set ourselves a 10-year plan and started putting in place what was needed to make the move. I have always loved the Sunshine Coast and moving here has been a dream come true! I love kayaking off my jetty in Hideaway Waters, walking on the beaches at Mooloolaba and Point Cartwright, visiting Kondalilla Falls in summer – we live in a spectacular part of the world, and I am proud to call myself a local.

profilemagazine

with Annette Sym Symply Too Good To Be True author www.symplytoogood.com.au Recipe from Symply Too Good To Be True Book 5

mango passion

fruit cheeseca

ingredients (serves 12)

method

filling

To make base: In a food processor crush biscuits. Add melted margarine and milk, blend together. Coat a 22cm spring-based cake tin with cooking spray, press biscuit mix evenly over base. Refrigerate.

•• 1 x 500g tub low-fat cottage cheese •• 125g Light Philadelphia® cream cheese •• ⅓ cup sugar •• 300g frozen mango cheeks defrosted •• 2 x 200g tubs diet mango yoghurt •• 1 sachet mango flavoured lite jelly crystals •• 1½ tablespoons gelatine •• ⅓ cup boiling water •• ⅓ cup passionfruit pulp (about 3-4) base •• 15 Highland oatmeal biscuits •• 1 tablespoon (15g) Flora Light® margarine melted •• 2 teaspoons skim milk •• cooking spray

first bite cook

To make filling: Clean food processor. Blend cottage cheese until very smooth, add cream cheese and combine well. Slowly pour in sugar, mix until dissolved. Add defrosted mango and mix until combined. Pour mixture into a large mixing bowl. Add yoghurt and combine using an electric beater. Dissolve jelly crystals and gelatine in boiling water then pour into mixture, beat well. Pour filling over biscuit base. Refrigerate. Once set, spread passionfruit pulp evenly over top of cheesecake. Variation: Replace frozen mango cheeks with 800g canned mango slices drained. Suitable to be frozen.

nutritional information •• Fat Total 4.9g (Saturated) 0.6g

•• Sugar 13.6g

•• Fibre 1.6g

•• Sodium 166mg

•• Protein 11.6g

•• Kilojules 649 (cals 155)

•• Carbs 15.9g

•• Low GI

FUNCTIONS, PARTIES & SPECIAL OCCASIONS.

organi

september 2012

profilemagazine

coconut crab

ll words ara phillips, mezze bar mooloolaba

ince starting our adventure sailing across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in 2010, I have been fortunate to combine my two greatest passions – food and travel. My partner and I have seen some beautiful, exotic and sometimes remote destinations, each unique and special in its own right. Our latest trip landed us in beautiful Vanuatu. Food is the part of travelling that I find most exciting – discovering what each location has to offer. With its rich volcanic soil and high rainfall, Vanuatu produce is fresh, tasty and in abundance. In the towns of Port Villa to the South and Espiritu Santo to the north, walking through the local markets is a great place to start. You won’t find shiny, well-displayed fruits and vegetables like in Australia but you will experience real taste and flavour, bush apples, wild raspberries, fresh herbs, tropical fruits, sea snails, live chickens, seafood and shellfish. You name it, they have it. Going to the markets and seeing the locals present their wares is a real treat – everyday there is something new to discover. Not only is it great quality, it’s cheap and there is so much on offer. The key is to focus on what is available and you will always get fresh. Never travel with the attitude of wanting what you have at home or you will be disappointed. The opportunity to try coconut crab is a must. These large prehistoric land crabs feed on coconuts and go roaming the dense jungle at night. The flesh of the coconut crab has a distinct sweet coconut flavour.

local markets

first bite tour

Land and sea provides an enormous amount of delectable choices, including lobsters, fish of every description, bugs, sea snails, octopus, clam, cuttlefish and crabs. Enjoy yellowfin tuna, so fresh it’s still warm and moving as it hits the pan. Many of the freshwater streams are a source of freshwater prawns. The island of Espiritu Santo in the north is well-known for its local beef, some of the most tender and tastiest beef I have sampled, with local producers exporting to Japan. But, of course, it’s not just the food that attracted us to Vanuatu. Every island in the chain has something truly unique to offer. The people of Vanuatu are traditional and proud of their custom and culture. Throughout the many islands, you can experience water music (as its name suggests, music and drum beats created through movement of hands through the water) and traditional dance with people dressed in only paint, leaves and woven palms. Music and dance ensures a spiritual connection between the people and their land and it’s spectacular to watch. Accessible enough to be reached by everyone, but still untouched by large numbers of tourists, Espiritu Santo is the adventure island. World-class diving and game fishing combined with a number of “back to nature” experiences are guaranteed. Whether you’re looking for a family holiday with the kids, a romantic getaway on a remote island surrounded by crystal clear azure waters, or adventure escape, Vanuatu has something to offer everyone.

vanuatu local

local produce

profilemag.com.au

sweet treats

september 2012

serious coffee

yummy food

fluid bed roaster

profilemagazine

briefcase

social butterfly.

eanne Fitzpatrick is a genuine people person. Talking to people, helping them or supporting them – there’s nothing she thrives off more. And as practice manager of Lavish Cosmetics, she’s grateful to be able to live this passion in her everyday work. “I love seeing the transformation of a patient from when they first walk in the door to when they walk out,” Leanne says. “The difference in confidence is amazing.” And while she has worked in various medical practices, she loves the atmosphere of working in the cosmetic side of the industry. “It’s refreshing to be able to interact with people who choose to come in because they want to be here, not because they’re sick,” she explains. Leanne has always done her bit to support friends and family members diagnosed with cancer in the past. “I did a 20-kilometre walk from Coolum to Noosa Surf Club to raise money for the Breast Cancer Foundation,” she says. “I had to do it for my sisters because it’s really nothing compared to what they have gone through.”

words jaclyn paul ll photography calli b photography

Clearly inspired by the positivity of her friends and siblings in the face of adversity, she tells me of one who completed half a hike in the middle of radiation. Working in an environment with all female staff, Leanne admits that it’s the most fun and rewarding workplace she’s been a part of. “It’s such a great atmosphere. All the girls have an adoring sense of humour, so there’s never a dull moment at the office,” Leanne says. While she is quite the social butterfly, in and outside of office hours, Leanne is devoted to spending time with her friends and family when she can, going on outings and catching up on their lives. And having moved from Sydney seven years ago, she often pinches herself as a reminder that she really is living on the stunning Sunshine Coast. “I feel so blessed to be living here; it’s the best lifestyle for me and the kids, not to mention the beach!” Ironically, Leanne’s friendly and down-to-earth character resembles the welcoming nature of our region, even though she wasn’t born and bred here she is a people person, inside and out.

leanne fitzpatrick

risk taker.

words jaclyn paul ll photography calli b photography

eborah Baker is living proof that if you’re passionate about something, you shouldn’t think twice about going for it. And starting up her own clothing line, Abakus Design, was Deborah’s way of delving into her longing passion for creativity and aesthetics. Being involved in the modelling industry in Japan where she temporarily lived and travelled extensively, this fashionista fell in love with the culture and wanted to interpret it into her designs for everyday people. “I’ve always loved fashion, and when you model, you get hooked to the other side of it … the fabrics and patterns,” she explains. “There’s so much gorgeous culture in Japan and the different parts of Asia where I lived and I wanted to bring a piece of that to Australia.” After running her clothing store in Eumundi Square for the past seven years, Deborah says she’s now ready to launch a new outlet on the Mooloolaba Wharf. “I’m always looking forward to a new challenge and I feel like this is the beginning of great things to come,” she says fervently. With the job of creating wearable pieces of art, Deborah doesn’t mind the long hours she puts into her business.

“I’m really fortunate because when you do something you love, it’s not work, and thankfully that’s what it’s like for me.” While the most rewarding aspect for Deborah is being able to see her finished products worn on others, she has also kick-started her own exercise regime proving to be extremely rewarding for herself. “Now that I’m 40, I figured I’ve got another 40 years up my sleeve and I need to look after my body and spirit,” she confesses. “It’s really opened my eyes to an active life where I run about 20 kilometres a week.” And her stamina doesn’t end there, earlier this year she took part in the gruelling Tough Mudder challenge on Phillip Island and she recently participated in the Bridge to Brisbane. “When you commit to doing something, you have to put your heart and soul into it. It’s about mind over matter,” Deborah says. It’s safe to say she’s done exactly that. If anything, this enthusiastic woman is a prime example that at 40, life has only begun. With a new store on the way and serious fitness goals to achieve, it’s certainly the start of an exciting time for Deborah Baker.

deborah baker

profilemagazine

profilemag.com.au

MAGAZINE FEATURE

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE

REDUCE YOUR DEBT ... FAST! Read how to avoid the 10 biggest mistakes most people make when trying to reduce their debt PLUS Learn how to pay off your home loan in less than 10 years

Think Money is giving one lucky reader the chance to win a Debt Reduction Kit, consisting of DVDs, one-on-one sessions with a Think Money debt reduction specialist, access to online modules and more. To ENTER to win this amazing prize, please email your name, address and phone number, along with a little info on yourself, to chris@thinkmoney.com.au.

Call 07 5430 4777

chris@thinkmoney.com.au

MEET YASEEN HULL THINK MONEY DEBT REDUCTION SPECIALIST

chris CHILDS | 0419 744 193 | chris@thinkmoney.com.au

WELCOME to this Wealthy ‘n’ Wise magazine feature,

where property investment expert Chris Childs gives you her professional tips on debt reduction. Think Finance Solutions welcomes Yaseen Hull to the team. A mortgage broker and debt reduction specialist, Yaseen has 11 years experience in both industries.

Experience. There is no substitute for it in any successful business. Just ask Chris Childs, founder of Think Money Wealth Through Property. With more than 20 years’ experience under her belt in the financial planning, mortgage broking and wealth creation through property industries, Chris has helped countless people take charge of their finances and turn their lives around. More importantly, Chris has achieved success from her own personal experience, creating her winning system not from theories but from years of experience creating wealth through property herself. Having been a financial planner and mortgage broker for many years, Chris and her husband, Jack, bought their first investment property in 2000. The dynamic duo went on to buy, sell and renovate several properties over the next three years, but it wasn’t until they bought and kept an investment property that they started to see the real value of capital growth. In addition to accumulating a large property portfolio, Chris also opened three mortgage companies in three years and began to teach her clients her top tips and strategies on accumulating wealth through property – hence Think Money was born in 2007. “My mortgage broking clients, having been diligently learning my debt reduction strategies, wanted to learn more about how we were accumulating properties. So I began to teach some of my clients what to do and more importantly what not to do.”

‘Most mortgages can be paid out in five to seven years, just by doing your banking differently.’ Passionate about helping others achieve the same financial freedom she and her family has achieved, Chris now employs a team of professionals to assist clients to achieve their goals while avoiding the pitfalls most of us suffer when we begin the daunting property investment journey with little knowledge and experience. Chris says reducing your debt and accumulating property doesn’t have to impede your lifestyle.

Yaseen has also been a financial planner, specialising in self-managed superannuation and property funding in superannuation. This specialty has enabled his clients to add an exciting dynamic to their retirement planning and options. Yaseen’s family relocated to the Sunshine Coast from Sydney for a better lifestyle. He and his wife, Imaan, and two sons recently welcomed baby Dean, the newest addition to their family a few months ago. With a firm belief in structuring his clients’ finance to suit their needs and not the banks, Yaseen focuses on a client’s specific goals and objectives. This enables him to design the right finance platform to create wealth and utilise his passion to help people aggressively reduce their debt. “I love helping people. The fact that I have seen personally the damage the big banks can have on individuals inspires me to help people beat the banks at their own game,” says Yaseen. Make a time to have a chat with Yaseen, and he can teach you to reduce your debt, and not your lifestyle! To contact Yaseen phone 07 5430 4777

WEALTHY ‘N’ WISE

FOCUSING ON BANK ACCOUNT BALANCES FOR SPENDING DECISIONS

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

NOT HAVING A CASH MANAGEMENT PLAN

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

GETTING THE WRONG ADVICE – FROM FAMILY, FRIENDS AND BANKS

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

AVOIDING CREDIT CARDS

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

FALLING FOR THE ‘INTEREST-FREE’ TRAP

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

DEBT CONSOLIDATION – YOUR BEST FRIEND OR YOUR WORST ENEMY

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

CHOOSING THE WRONG LOAN

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

NOT SEPARATING PERSONAL AND INVESTMENT INCOME OR EXPENSES

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

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

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

PROCRASTINATION

The biggest mistake of all is procrastination. If you look at where you are and what you have and don’t like it – do something about it. Think about your situation this time last year and this time the year before. Are you getting ahead, marking time or going backwards? The next step – you need a coach, a Wealth Coach. Can you name an Olympian who succeeded without a coach?

WEALTHY ‘N’ WISE Don’t believe what your parents told you. The biggest fallacy our parents taught us is to believe your home loan is a ‘long-term’ debt. Most of us saw our parents work hard all of their lives to pay off their mortgage, and then struggle to retire comfortably. It is nurture not nature that keeps most of us imprisoned on the debt mouse wheel. Our grandparents, god bless their little cotton socks, were taught by the banks how to do their banking. They passed this on to their children who passed it on to you. They had a lot to say about money …

RECOGNISE THESE SAYINGS? •• “Money doesn’t grow on trees”. •• “A penny saved is a penny earned”. •• “If you count your pennies, the dollars will take care of themselves”. •• “If you can’t pay for it – don’t buy it”. Most of us believe that we should work hard, save to buy our home, spend the rest of our lives working to pay it off, and hopefully, save a bit to retire on. It doesn’t have to be that hard. By treating your money right in the first place, learning the benefits of how loans should work, and setting up the correct finance platform for both fast debt reduction and smart wealth creation, most of us can pay our homes in five to seven years instead of 25 and get 10 properties in 10 years without struggling with the holding costs. It’s just a matter of setting your loans up properly. Look at your current situation. Have you been paying your loan off for years and seem to be getting nowhere fast? Add up the amount you have paid into your loan to date. Your monthly payment is say $2k x 12 months x 5 years = $120k. Most loans have only reduced by $5k or so in that time. Now we have an OMG moment! Time to do things a bit differently. Change the way you are doing your banking … if you follow the next six steps you will be well on your way to making a huge difference and will get out of debt fast.

STEP 1 GET THE RIGHT LOAN I believe the most powerful way to take control of your money (and life) is to set your financial platform up properly and have a clear plan of how to achieve your goals. I use a line of credit as my preferred option for fast debt reduction. I also prefer to split the debt into two sections, a line of credit and a term loan – both interest only. This enables you to have a smaller chunk of debt to concentrate on paying off at first, therefore you can see a bigger result more quickly which will keep you focused and motivated to do more! How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!

STEP 2 SET UP YOUR MONEY PLAN – (CASH MANAGEMENT) The next vital step is to work out what money comes in and goes out. I use the term ‘money plan’ instead of budget, as unfortunately, the word budget is often associated with pain and restrictions. A money plan is just getting organised with your money, keeping track and making sure that your proposed spending is less than your income. It is also very important to track what you spend against what you planned to spend, otherwise your efforts of debt reduction will always be thrown off track by the ability to afford to respend these savings on ‘stuff’ and shoot your debt reduction plans in the foot!

Using a credit card for all of your spending, and then paying it out on the due date, means you are using the banks money free of charge for up to 55 days. Yes FREE. Now look at it in simple terms. Most people deposit their money into a bank account, and the banks pay little or no interest, and in fact, charge a monthly fee for the privilege of holding your cash. They are also usually sitting on a mortgage with the same bank and paying 6 or 7% interest on the money the bank has lent them. To top it off, they then borrow a few more thousand on a credit card and pay through the nose for the ‘short-term loan’. And worse still, continue to pay that money again and again and again making the item they purchased with the card five times more expensive than if they had paid cash! Let’s break the cycle! (Sorry, getting off the soap box now!)

STEP 4 BANK YOUR PAY INTO YOUR LOAN Let’s cut out the middle man, your bank account that earns you nothing but costs you to have it is like the middle man in a transaction. Banking your money straight into your home loan is like going straight to the wholesaler – saving you a fortune! Your line of credit is just like a bank account. You can bank money in, set up direct debits (but first check if the direct debit can be on the credit card for no extra cost), and you can use an Eftpos card to withdraw cash. All the while your cash is sitting on your loan, reducing the principal and you are paying much less interest. All of your normal spending is being done on your credit card, and you are paying no interest at all on the card. The credit card can be paid out in full on the due date from the line of credit. This can also be set up automatically so you don’t forget!

‘Banking your money straight into your home loan is like going straight to the wholesaler – saving you a fortune!’

STEP 5 STAY ORGANISED This method works so well. But … you need to stay organised. It is much less effective if you don’t actually do Step 2. Because your money is mixed, you can’t look at the available balance of the line of credit to determine what you can or can’t afford. This will often lead to a financial catastrophe, as you get a false sense of wealth. By constantly respending the amount you have reduced your debt by, you will never pay off your loan. This loan is like a loaded gun. In the right hands, it can be a safe and easy method of beating the banks at their debt game. In the wrong hands, or misused, it can shoot you in the foot.

STEP 6 NOW START REALLY GETTING AHEAD ... INVESTING By reducing debt, you are creating more and more equity in your home. Combine this with the natural growth in property and you can start to use this equity to create wealth with the purchase of investment properties and the like. Then the fun really begins. Ahhhh … but that is another good story. Think Money Wealth Through Property specialises in helping people just like you get off the wheel of debt, and start to accumulate wealth, without having to reduce your lifestyle. In fact, our clients usually find the added and unexpected benefit of achieving their goals and reducing their debt improves their lifestyle as well. We teach you the benefits of beating the banks at their own game by using a cash management program and the right loan structure to own your home sooner. Get rid of your credit cards and consumer debt and start living the life you only dreamed about.

ARTICLE CONTINUED OVER PAGE

WEALTHY ‘N’ WISE

STEP 3 USE A CREDIT CARD

WEALTHY ‘N’ WISE

STEP 7 KEEP PERSONAL AND INVESTMENT BANKING TOTALLY SEPARATE The main reason people struggle with their finances is because they do not separate personal and investment income and expenses. By mixing your money you will feel every hiccup of the investment journey in your hip pocket. This is a huge part of my clients’ success. Most of them are on a ‘10 properties in 10 years’ path. This is made easy and stress-free by following this simple rule. We then concentrate on reducing the debt on their own home, allowing for an improving lifestyle, while being able to easily create wealth for retirement by having a self-funding investment portfolio.

TAKE CONTROL NOW!

Think Money offers group seminars on debt reduction and one-on-one consultations with a debt reduction specialist to look at your personal circumstances. First session is FREE! DEBT REDUCTION GROUP WORKSHOP The Think Money Debt Reduction Workshop – learn the secret to fast home ownership.

COMPLIMENTARY DEBT REDUCTION CONSULTATION

This one-hour workshop covers:

Think Money would like to offer you the chance to start to dramatically reduce your debt – without sacrificing your lifestyle.

• Separating your personal and investment finances.

At your free two-hour consultation you will learn:

• How to set up your personal banking platform.

• Proven debt strategies.

• Do your banking to suit you – not the bank.

• The correct loan structure.

• Use credit cards to help, not hinder your plan.

• Financial advice you can trust.

• Comparing loan types.

• Budgeting and cash management.

• Cash management system.

• Record keeping for taxation.

• How to pay your loan out in five to seven years.

• Advanced cash flow planning.

To attend our next debt reduction workshop call 07 5430 4777 or book online at www.thinkmoney.com.au.

• How tp set up your financial platform. To book your consultation with our debt reduction specialist call 07 5430 4777 or book online at www.thinkmoney.com.au.

WEALTHY ‘N’ WISE Chris Childs is excited to welcome Lynn Levitt to the Think Money team. Introducing goal mapping as part of the ongoing education and mentoring system will certainly help accelerate Think Money’s clients’ results. It is also a great place for people to start to put together a road map of where they want to get to in the future, or to take their dreams, goals and plans to the next level. Goal mapping has proven to be an amazing way of achieving what you want in life. Lynn gently guides her clients through the stages of goal settting, and if her results are anything to go by, her new clients will certainly be achieving far more than they ever believed possible. By learning how to set your goals and focus on them effectively, and by getting both the right and left brains engaged, the sky is the limit to your success!

‘Lynn assists people from all walks of life to achieve a more successful and rewarding lifestyle.’

lynn levitt | 07 5430 4777 | lyn@thinkmoney.com.au

A goal mapping wizard, Lynn Levitt has been setting goals and (more importantly) achieving them for well over 20 years. Four years ago, she became one of just a handful of people in Australia to become a Certified Practitioner in Brian Mayne’s Goal Mapping Success System. Lynn’s passion for business, property and wealth creation has now seen her become part of the Think Money success team. A full-time qualified trainer and coach, with diplomas in business and management, Lynn’s ability to motivate you to create and follow this very easy and successful goal mapping system will leave you wondering how you ever got through life without it! Lynn assists people from all walks of life to achieve a more successful and rewarding lifestyle. Having trained people in business, leadership and personal development, she recently re-entered the investment property market herself, and through her own use of the goal mapping system is now on her way to successfully creating the life of her dreams through property. The goal mapping system touches all areas of your life and takes a holistic view of your current lifestyle and what could possibly be holding you back from living the life you want! Lynn works with many successful and wealthy clients who understand the principles of success by goal setting who are now fast-tracking their goals through the goal mapping system. Think Money is excited to be hosting goal mapping events to help people reach their full potential. You can learn how easy it can be to set and acheive goals using this proven and fun program. Book your spot today. We have a number of upcoming one-day courses to choose from. Venue: Think Money House, 55 Sugar Road, Maroochydore. To book phone Think Money on 07 5430 4777 or go to our website to find out more and book your seat at www.thinkmoney.com.au/events

GET YOUR

FREE

E-BOOKS

win

win an empowering book for mums-to-be Fardoulis Chocolates (www.facebook.com/Chocolatediaries), Australia’s couverture Chocolate makers, has partnered with local author Katrina Zaslavsky to celebrate the launch of A Modern Woman’s Guide to a Natural Empowering Birth (www.inspiringbirthstories.com.au). This must-read book is a collection of inspiring birth stories, expert tips and practical insights to reclaim your birth power, providing a preparation guide that will take you on a powerful journey of discovery, giving you the keys to transform your birth experience. Profile Magazine is giving one reader the chance to win a luxurious Fardoulis Chocolates gift hamper and a copy of A Modern Woman’s Guide to a Natural Empowering, valued at $350.

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

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

win collectable jewellery Having grown from humble roots as a small Frenchinspired Australian-made jewellery label, SanCerre (www.sancerre.com.au) is now wholesaling and retailing (online) a stylish range of easy wear, transseasonal women’s clothing and accessories. Each piece in the collection is handcrafted using the finest quality materials, finished with a medallion, charm or authentic Australian coin. Its earthy, natural range truly resonates with women of all ages. SanCerre and Profile Magazine are giving readers the chance to win a $350 spending spree on the SanCerre website.

great read

win good food show tickets The Good Food and Wine Show (www.goodfoodshow.com.au/cityhub/ brisbane), November 9, 10 and 11, will get your taste buds racing as hundreds of leading food producers, winemakers and chefs come together in Brisbane for a food and wine lovers’ dream day out. There’s so much to do! Catch a show with your favourite celebrity chef, take a seat in a master class in fine wine, cheese or chocolate, go to cooking school, enjoy an unforgettable meal or lose yourself in a maze of delicious produce from Australia and the world – all the ingredients for a fun day out. Profile Magazine has 10 double passes to give away, valued at $47 each!

october 2012

Tremendaspie is a delightful tale about Jack, a young boy with Asperger’s Syndrome. Told from Jack’s perspective, it follows his journey through heartbreak, confusion, diagnosis and finally acceptance. Author Tracey Gottliebsen (www. traceygottliebsen.com.au) also wrote Tremendaspie – The Guide which explains the events that take place in the novel and provides great strategies and solutions for parents and teachers trying to understand Asperger’s Syndrome. Entertain yourself with the novel and educate yourself with the guide (www.tremendaspie.com.au). Profile Magazine has 10 packages to give away, including a Tremendaspie novel, Tremendaspie Guide and Tremendaspie bookmark, valued at $50 each. profilemagazine

abode bedhead

in print

Add a beautiful focal point to your Bedroom, with the Modern Romantic Bedhead in English toile, RRP $1,200 (Queen Size Bedhead). www.peonihome.com.au

Add a splash of colour with this classic print by Vintage Venus. Available in different sizes ranging from RRP $15 to $165 (Code PP92). www.vintagevenus.com.au

kitchen delight You kitchen will squeal with joy with this Kitchen Aid Artisan Pink Stand Mixer, RRP $749. For local stockists details head to www. kitchenaid.com.au

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

Support breast cancer month and indulge your home in a little pink loveliness this month. petal power Add a touch of softness to your Bedroom with this beautiful Mercer + Reid â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Petalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; quilt cover set Queen, RRP $199.95. www.adairs.com.au

kiss me quick The Kiss My Neon poster is RRP $40 and includes free shipping. Available from www.theminimalist.com.au

profilemagazine

sitting pretty The industrial Marias Chair was originally designed in the 1930s, RRP $179. www.clickonfurniture.com.au

profilemag.com.au

Charli Rose Homewares is a boutique gift shop in Maroochydore, specialising in unique homewares featuring french provincial, seaside and rustic inspired pieces. Coffee & cake also available. Open 9-4 Monday-Saturday.

ph. 07 5443 8606 | follow us on facebook | Aqua Vista Resort, 64 Sixth Ave, Maroochydore

www.charlirosehomewares.com.au

october 2012

profilemagazine

business promotion

THE SPECIALIST WOMEN’S IMAGING CENTRE TEAM

ocated on Nicklin Way, Currimundi, the Specialist Women’s Imaging Centre (SWIC) is a state-of-the-art facility featuring the most advanced breast, obstetric and gynecologic imaging modalities available. Co-located with Coastal Medical Imaging, the SWIC was established in 2009 by Dr Sean O’Connor to provide an advanced level of women’s imaging, previously only available in Brisbane. The breast unit at the centre installed the first private Full Field True Digital Mammography machine on the Sunshine Coast. The facility was designed in consultation with internationally-acclaimed breast radiologist Professor Laszlo Tabar from Sweden, and breast ultrasound specialist Dr Tom Stavros from the US – both of whom attended the opening of the SWIC Breast Unit. Professor Tabar and Dr Stavros maintain close contact with Dr O’Connor, often consulting on difficult or interesting breast imaging cases. “Professor Tabar is one of the most eminent breast radiologists in the world,” says Dr O’Connor. “We have developed quite a close personal relationship over the years. My children call him Grandpa. Whenever I have a difficult or perplexing case to share, Professor Tabar is always willing to give me advice. “Last year, my youngest daughter was seriously injured and Professor Tabar sent emails to her every day in hospital. After her recovery, as a treat we flew to Sydney for the weekend after Professor Tabar’s ‘last ever’ conference in Australia. We went to the Sydney Aquarium, the Sydney Tower and the Outback Adventure. We had reservations at Bambini Restaurant, not very

ll photograpahy calli b photography

appealing for an eight-year-old, but ended up eating dinner at McDonald’s instead.” Dr O’Connor graduated from the University of Queensland in 1997 and spent three years at Nambour General Hospital while living at Moffat Beach in Caloundra. “I absolutely fell in love with Moffat Beach and purchased the home we live in now as soon as we moved here,” says Dr O’Connor. Dr O’Connor trained in radiology in Brisbane at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and after a fellowship in Women’s Imaging at the Royal Women’s Hospital, he completed a Fellowship in Women’s and Body Imaging at the University of Toronto, with an extensive breast MRI component. He was offered a position as an associate professor in radiology at McMaster University, but the lure of the Sunshine Coast proved too strong and Dr O’Connor returned with his family in 2006. “We enjoyed living in Toronto, but I wouldn’t live anywhere else,” he says. The staff at the Specialist Women’s Imaging Centre are highly regarded for being caring, conscientious and compassionate. “Dedication to the patient is a requirement to work here. That and a natural tendency to smile.” Despite Professor Tabar saying that he had done his “last ever” conference in Australia, Dr O’Connor was able to persuade him to come back - this time to the Sunshine Coast. Professor Tabar will hold two training courses at the Novotel Twin Waters in February 2013. Attendees will be coming from all over Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia.

profilemag.com.au

your ultimate guide to fashion and beauty

STYLE COUNSEL

beauty advice

Models wear Shilla Once Lace Piping Detail Mini Dress, RRP $119.95. Available from therapy fashion boutique. phone 5499 7936

vanity case

salon-smooth Veet EasyWax Electrical Roll-on Kit, RRP $39.99. Available from supermarkets and pharmacies. Visit www.veet.com.au

pink pack Elemis Little Superstars limited edition pack, RRP $65. Available from Amytis Gardens. Phone 5450 0115

with Johanna Jensen fashion and beauty editor the edge LĂŠ Edge exfoliater, RRP $39.95. available from www.le-edge.com.au

October is all about thinking pink! Now is the time to update your vanity case and help support breast cancer awareness month at the same time.

rosy glow Modelco blush cheek powder, RRP $34. Available online at www.modelco.com.au

tutti frutti Bio Sculpture Grapefruit Nail Polish, RRP $17.95. For stockists phone 1300 BIO GEL

hot hair KMS Hotflex spray, RRP $31.95. Available from Platinum scissors, maroochydore. Phone 5479 1944

sun sense SunSense Lip Balm SPF 30+, RRP $4.95. The SunSense range is available in pharmacies and Priceline stores nationally

Our Da yS welcom pa es all guests

profilemagazine

profilemag.com.au

october 2012

profilemagazine

profile loves

chill out happy feet

Handmade by artisans in Latin America, pink hammock, RRP $225. The Toucan Shop will donate 10 per cent of pink hammock sales to NBCF when you mention Profile Magazine. Visit www.thetoucanshop.com

Supermodel stud jelly in honeysuckle and tangerine, RRP $62.99. Available at www.holsterfashion.com

bling ring Sterling silver ring made with Swarovski Zirconia, RRP $128. Available from Wallace Bishop Maroochydore, Kawana and Noosa Civic. Visit www.wallacebishop.com.au

What better way to welcome the sunshine and warmer weather than with these fabulous fuchsia finds. Get spring-ready and support breast cancer awareness month!

in the pink

with Johanna Jensen fashion and beauty editor

string along

Voda Swimwear bikini top, rrp $74 and Bottom, RRP $52. Available from Therapy fashion boutique, Shop 3/9 Bulcock Street, Caloundra. Phone 5499 7936

pink plates PPQ personalised plates, RRP $495 per set. PPQ will donate $68 from every new set of Pink Ribbon plates to the NBCF to fund vital research. Visit PPQ.COM.AU for more information

pink orchid Abakus orchid dress in pink, RRP $169. Wear as a dress or a top with ruched side ties. Shop online at www.abakus-design.com or visit Shop 8a Eumundi Square, Albert St, Eumundi. Phone 0416 534 600

right time

pink frames Derek cardigan glasses, RRP $98. Clearly contacts will donate $25 from each pair of frames sold to the national Breast Cancer Foundation. Visit www.clearlycontacts.com.au

profilemagazine

Guess 2012 sparkling pink watch, RRP $349. Guess watches will donate 10 per cent per watch sold to the NBCF. For stockists phone 02 8543 4664 or visit www.guesswatches.com

profilemag.com.au

shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist

FASHION & ACCESSORIES

october 2012

Spring into Summer Destinatio n Therapy! Join us for Cocktails + Canapes + Summer Collections Saturday, 20 Octobe r 1-3pm

profilemagazine

style counsel

ll photography calli b photography

tanya northey

Tanya Northey is a woman who IS living her dream. Six months ago, Tanya took a big leap of faith and left her husband’s dental business to start her own venture – a unique gift shop stocking an eclectic mix of stationery, homewares, books and jewellery. Located in glorious Cotton Tree, Tanya says her quirky shop, The Lovely Bird, truly reflects who she is and what she loves. We meet Tanya and find out her hot tips for the latest in homewares and design this season.

profile: What do you love most about your job? tanya: Hands down, the best thing is the people I get to meet. Don’t get me wrong, it is my dream come true to be surrounded by all the things I love – stationery, books, magazines, jewellery, notebooks, cushions and homewares, but the people I’ve met and the new amazing friends I have made are priceless. I also get to design and create things. Some days I spend all day sewing or making bracelets, or designing invitations or cards.

profile: What is coming up in-store? tanya: I am most excited about my very own range of vintage-style invitations and stationery. I am currently sourcing a lot more journals, diaries and notebooks and I have a large selection of unique books coming in. I stock many hard-to-find books on home-styling, craft and DIY and design books. And I have a lot of industrial kinds of homewares, benches and furniture.

profile: What looks can we expect to see this season in the home? tanya: Upcycling and recycling is definitely back in style. Anything with a vintage, antique or worn feel to it is popular – turning pallets into coffee tables, vintage furniture pieces painted in bold colours, old timber chairs as bedside tables and rustic industrial light shades are all in vogue. People are getting creative with their home décor with vintage typewriters, cute little glass bottles, wooden bobbins and the like.

profile: Where does your love of homewares come from? tanya: I grew up on a farm in rural NSW, that’s where my love of anything old, wooden or worn comes from. I also have a love of the modern and quirky. I’m crafty and I love to make stuff. This craftiness / resourcefulness was certainly passed down from my mother and my grandmother.

profile: How would you describe your style? tanya: I definitely have an eclectic style. I love to derive ideas, style or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources. I adore the old vintage, rustic farmhouse style, and I love modern contemporary. Many people are surprised to know that I have a new contemporary home that has splashes of old wares and industrial furniture throughout. Everyone presumes I would have a very vintage kind of home!

profilemagazine

profile: What is your best style tip? tanya: Only buy things that make your eyes light up. profile: What was the inspiration behind the name of your shop? tanya: Birds represent freedom to me, and the idea of me actually following my dream and starting my own business certainly felt like I was flying off and leaving my nest. The lovely part – well, if you’ve ever spent 10 minutes with me you will discover everything and everyone is just lovely, it’s one of my favourite words!

profilemag.com.au

october 2012

profilemagazine

advice

controlling chemo hair loss with Daniella Saville When you’re first diagnosed with cancer, you may feel overwhelmed by all the ‘physician speak’ and big medical terminology … and then how do you tell your friends and family? You may begin to feel as though you have lost all control of yourself. Once the news has sunk in and treatment has been prescribed, what about your hair? Adriamycin Cytoxin (AC) is the most common round one chemotherapy drug for sufferers of breast cancer, and unfortunately, AC does cause hair loss. Usually within one or two weeks of your first treatment with AC, your scalp will begin to feel strange. Some describe the feeling as a “tingle” some say it “burns a bit”. But whatever words are used to describe the sensation, it is the precursor to what is about to happen. And what is about to happen involves running your hand through your locks and finding yourself with a palm covered in hair. An unnerving experience for anyone.

Cancer robs us of many things, control is one of them, which is why we urge you to take back the power – exercise control whenever the opportunity presents itself. This is one such opportunity. At the first sign of hair loss, get a haircut. If you have very long hair, get yourself a shoulder-length bob cut. It’s a very long step from waist-length hair to ‘cue ball’. A much shorter and therefore less jarring step from bob to bald will help the transition. If you do decide to go the full shave, it’s best to have someone else do it for you – a professional if possible. At this time your scalp will be sensitive, the skin tender, and you don’t want to cut yourself because your immune system will already be a bit challenged by the toxins in the chemo.

This is a great time to take control again and rock a hot turban or head scarf while you are waiting for your locks to grow back. When your hair does begin to return, don’t be surprised to find that it’s coming back with a completely different texture to what it was (medical science is still debating the reason why this happens). Often women who have had dead straight hair find themselves with a head full of lovely soft curls, or luscious wavy locks when their hair returns. During this transitional stage it is probably wise to seek advice from a professional hairdresser to help you style your glorious new hair! Kooshka Hair 5444 7715 www.kooshkahair.com.au

Also, be prepared. It can be a shocking moment. But as the shock of that first glance at your hairless head sinks in, remind yourself, out loud, that hair grows back, and yours will begin to return in a few short months.

SPRING SPECIAL

profilemagazine

profilemag.com.au

advice

skin deep with Benita May Your skin is your largest organ so it makes sense to take care of it. Spring is the perfect time to take a closer look at our skincare regime. With the warmer months fast approaching, we need to protect our skin from the sun by covering up and wearing sunglasses, a hat and clothing that protects our skin, as well as a good quality sunscreen that gives both UVA and UVB protection. Use a sunscreen that is a physical protectant rather than chemical, look for the active ingredient zinc oxide. This means that it reflects around 99 per cent of UV rays if applied correctly. A chemical sunscreen has to be absorbed into the skin to cause a reaction with the melanin to prevent burning. Always apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going into the sun, otherwise it is like basting a chicken and putting it in the oven. Unless you apply your sunscreen half an inch thick, you are still going to get some UV

exposure, so don’t fool yourself by thinking you have sunscreen on and can stay in the sun for hours without some damage. Always avoid the sun between 10am and 3pm. Avoid chemicals. The skin is very absorbent so be aware of what you put on it. There are chemicals present in cleaning agents, perfumes, pesticides and many other commonly used household items so learn to read labels and be aware. The incidence and severity of some types of eczema can be lessened by reducing chemical contact. Use skincare that is organic or doesn’t contain parabens, synthetic fragrances, sulfates, mineral oils, propylene glycol and artificial colours. Studies show these ingredients are carcinogenic! Drink six to eight glasses of purified water every day. Not only does it hydrate your skin but your whole body, which is 70 per cent water. It also helps to flush toxins from your skin.

Invest in a water filter and a stainless steel water bottle as plastic leaches chemicals into your water. We are what we eat. And your skin tells the truth about what is happening on the inside. Nutrition is very important for healthy, glowing skin. Reduce your intake of sugar as well as refined and processed foods, replacing them with fresh, whole foods, and your skin will start to shine. Increase your intake of essential fatty acids, particularly if you have dry skin or suffer from eczema or dermatitis. Cleanse your skin. Removing pollution that lands on your skin as well as perspiration, makeup and sunscreen properly will make a big difference to the appearance and function of your skin. Bliss on Buderim 5477 1430 www.blissonbuderim.com.au

• • • • • •

october 2012

profilemagazine

life

laughter is the best medicine with Maggie Wilde There are approximately 80 different auto-immune diseases. In Australia and New Zealand, at least one in 20 people are affected. Common types such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and thyroiditis affect one in 100 people, whereas rarer types such as Goodpasture’s disease affect one in one million. These figures are predicted to rise over coming years. As someone who has experienced the extreme symptoms of multiple auto-immune issues for most of my life (symptoms were present long before my original diagnosis about 25 years ago), I have needed to develop a number of key strategies to help manage the stress that having auto-immune issues can cause, including ways to help minimise the internal and external factors that can exacerbate the symptoms. Numerous studies over the years and the anecdotal evidence that I witness again and again shows that the treatment of auto-immune disease should include stress management and behavioural change regarding diet, unhealthy habits and ways to deal with internal emotional stressors that accumulate during our ‘busy lives’.

profilemagazine

Tips to manage the stress of auto-immune and help minimise symptoms include;

10. Learn ways to manage and reduce anxiety or worry.

1. Learn to meditate or use self-hypnosis (practice at least 10 to 15 minutes per day).

11. Schedule stress reduction minutes throughout the day. Set a reminder on your phone or computer to take five or 10 minutes every hour to stretch, take a deep belly breath, walk around, drink a glass of water or go outside to get fresh air.

2. Practice yoga. 3. Use deep belly breathing regularly. 4. Develop skills to process unhealthy emotional stress or grief. 5. Learn Meridian Tapping techniques to balance and de-stress. 6. Ensure you maximise your opportunities for deep, restful sleep. 7. Never speak of the auto-immune issue as “my” disease or symptom. The subconscious mind processes literally so it will assume ownership of the symptom or disease creating unconscious attachment to it. If you speak of it, call it “the” disease or symptom.

And lastly, learn to laugh. It’s great for you! Maggie Wilde and Mind Design Hypnosis Centres 1300 664 544 www.maggiewilde.com (This information is provided as a way to minimise the stress factors that can exacerbate auto-immune issues, it is not a substitute for medical care or advice; please consult with your medical or mental health practitioner regarding the use of these tips for your specific auto-immune issue).

8. Do at least 30 minutes of appropriate movement daily. 9. Reduce or eliminate gluten, wheat and processed sugars.

profilemag.com.au

life

iodine during pregnancy with Dr James Moir This column’s topic is an important one – the need for sufficient iodine in pregnant and lactating mothers. Iodine is found in seafood, kelp, eggs, bread and some vegetables. But in decades past, most of us got much of our iodine in our diet in two ways – from iodised salt, and through iodine-containing sanitisers used in milk production. These days, the dairy industry no longer uses these sanitisers, and more than 80 per cent of Australian families (and our food manufacturers) don’t use iodised salt. You probably use rock salt or sea salt in your home, and most of these do not contain any iodine. Because of this, iodine intake has more than halved over the last 10 years. These changes have led to some drastic effects in terms of iodine levels in the body. There is now irrefutable evidence that iodine deficiency is widespread in Australia. The World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies the Australian population as mildly iodine deficient. Several studies have shown the reemergence of mild

to moderate iodine deficiency in school-aged children, healthy adults and pregnant women. Studies of pregnant Australian women show that their estimated daily iron intake is about half of the recommended daily requirement. So, what’s the big deal about iodine? Iodine is one of the main components of thyroid hormones (Thyroxine, or T4, and T3) which regulate much of our metabolism and promote the growth and development of our brains and bodies. Iodine deficiency reduces the amount of thyroxine that the fetus receives. This is vital to the development of the brain and body in babies and young children. A reduced amount of thyroxine can cause stunted growth, diminished intelligence and mental retardation. These changes are usually irreversible. In fact, iodine deficiency is the most common cause of preventable intellectual impairment around the world. In places where iodine deficiency is severe (not in Australia) IQ scores in children are reduced by between 10 and 15

points. As well as the intellectual impacts, hearing can be impaired. There may be a link between iodine deficiency and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Of course, not all women will have an iodine deficiency, and there are several ways improved iodine levels can be achieved. You can increase your iodine intake by dietary means. Since October 2009, iodised salt has replaced non-iodised salt in all bread sold in Australia, except organic bread. You can use iodised salt rather than untreated salts. Or you can take iodine supplements. Pregnancy and breastfeeding vitamins now contain iodine at appropriate levels, usually 150 micrograms. Moir Medical 5444 0799 www.moirmedical.com.au

• • • • • • • • • • •

october 2012

profilemagazine

life

think pink for gums with Dr Simone Ricketts Gum disease is basically an infection and inflammation of the gums. It is caused by plaque, which is a soft, sticky layer of bacteria and food that develops on teeth every day of your life. If this plaque is not cleaned off the teeth and gums by brushing and flossing, the gums will become red, swollen and bleed (gingivitis). As a result, your gums look red, not pink. Plaque buildup over a few days eventually leads to the formation of hardened plaque or calculus (tartar). Calculus can no longer be removed by brushing or flossing. It actually encourages more plaque to grow on it so the plaque problem is exacerbated. You will need a professional teeth clean by your dental hygienist. The colour of your gums is also a good indicator of your general health as well as your dental health. A healthy body system will have the correct balance of white and red blood cells and is free from infection, thus a healthy mouth

profilemagazine

will have clear pink gums. Red, bleeding gums are often also associated with bad breath. So how do you keep your gums pink? Use a soft toothbrush to massage gums and teeth twice daily for two minutes, and floss daily. If your gums bleed, then gently brush them more. Brush in a routine pattern so that you don’t miss any tooth or gum area. Change your toothbrush every season or after a cold or flu. If your gums bleed after brushing, try warm salty mouth rinses or an alcohol-free mouth rinse for a few days. Mouth rinses do not replace the need to brush and floss everyday! Ask your hygienist or dentist to check and tell you if you are missing cleaning any areas in your mouth.

effects from certain medications, so please ask for professional advice for your specific situation. Dentists can also provide hints on how to brush or floss better and may advise you to use interdental (between the teeth) mini brushes for the first time. The moral of the story is, if there is “pink in the sink” after rinsing you need to take a seriously close look at your gums and take action today! Smile by Design 5443 2888 www.smilebydesign.net.au

Remember, the risk of gum problems can change at different times of your life, for example during pregnancy, menopause or due to side

profilemag.com.au

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 till 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 just 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

october 2012

loss of important older memories permanently. There are six triggers that affect your hormones, starting with 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, although if you don’t address all of them, you’ll be 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, but 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, it 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 7-step process for permanently treating mood fluctuations. These steps have been proven with testing to improve brain and total body function immeasurably, without the help of medication. If you’d like to know more, call for a free half hour consultation, where you’ll learn about everything that causes hormonal and mood problems, and what to do about it. Also, you may wish to view the free webinar “7 Steps to Freedom from Anxiety & Depression” at www. advancedwellness.com.au. A webinar is simply a seminar you can see on the internet. 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

profilemagazine

the good life

words genine howard ll photography calli b photography

Michelle Kazukaitis and Pauline O’Sullivan

ichelle Kazukaitis and Pauline O'Sullivan met at a mutual friend’s baby shower 11 years ago and have been inseparable besties ever since. Together, they are now fearless wellness warriors on the path to make a difference to people living with food allergies and intolerances. Michelle has degrees in marketing, IT and accounting. She and her husband have two children, while Pauline comes with a behavioural science and social work background, and has three children with her husband, Frank. When Pauline struggled to find the right diagnosis and treatment for her daughter’s health condition the two embarked on The Allergy Menu journey – an online world where sufferers of allergies and intolerances can find recipes and support to manage their diets. We meet the ladies and find out how they keep themselves and their families in good health. profile: What is your personal philosophy when it comes to health and well-being? michelle and pauline: Prevention is better than cure. It is not until you or a loved one is faced with a health crisis that you really learn to value your health. We can maintain good health by caring for our bodies with good food, staying active and trying to get enough sleep. profile: How do you keep fit and healthy? michelle and pauline: We focus a lot of effort on ensuring our families eat well. We cook the majority of our food from scratch and try to source fresh vegetables from local farmers’ markets and suppliers. We spend a lot of our time on weekends running around local parks and at the beach with our kids. profile: What’s your favourite ‘indulgence’ food? pauline: Coconut cream-based key lime pie using all raw ingredients. michelle: Dark chocolate.

profilemagazine

profile: Western medicine or natural medicine? What’s your preference? michelle and pauline: We need both. We think there is great value in combining western medicine with natural therapies in an integrative approach. Western medicine has brilliant diagnostic methods and is second-to-none for emergency care, but natural medicine can prevent disease and support the body’s natural healing processes. An integrative approach utilises the strengths of both systems. profile: Do you do organic? michelle and pauline: Yes, we prefer organic food. Though people argue that there is no difference in the nutrition content of organic produce to regular produce, we believe that it is important to avoid pesticides. On the Coast we have so many great farmers’ markets where you can buy fresh, local and organic food for very reasonable prices. It is economical, it is much healthier, it saves on food miles and by buying local you support our local farmers. profile: What health tips do you swear by? michelle and pauline: The older we get the more we value sleep. Michelle swears by the benefits of drinking super green drinks and Pauline swears by aged liquid garlic to stay healthy (it is powerful but doesn’t make you smell of garlic). profile: What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working? michelle and pauline: Pauline spends as much time on the beach with her family as time and the weather will permit, but aside from that spends every spare minute she can find reading. Michelle also lists reading as her number one hobby, but also loves gardening, cooking and fishing! profile: What motto do you live your life by? michelle and pauline: “Be the change you want to see in the world,” as spoken by Ghandi. profilemag.com.au

Pregnancy, labour, birth, and lactation planning Breastfeeding support Special post natal care after discharge from hospital Well mother and baby checks at home or at our Minyama clinic Gift certificates available Visit www.yourownmidwife.com.au for details

october 2012

profilemagazine

travelfile

spiceoflife ll words ingrid nelson

spicers tamarind, maleny

More than just your average Hinterland accommodation, Spicers Tamarind Retreat, Maleny, is a unique rainforest escape, perfect for those wanting to totally relax and unwind. Ingrid Nelson was lucky enough to enjoy the full Spicers Tamarind experience during her recent stay and discovered a piece of paradise so close to home.

nveloped in the hot bubbles of the outdoor cedar jacuzzi, overlooking the lush green Hinterland, chilled sparkling in hand, soaking up the tranquil sounds of surrounding birdlife and the nearby fresh waterfall – it doesn’t get much better than this! It was certainly a stark contrast to the chaotic abode we had escaped, leaving our three darling children (with doting grandparents) just 45 minutes earlier. In fact, we were just up the hill from our Palmwoods home, enjoying Spicers Tamarind Retreat, Maleny, a divine romantic haven perfect for stressed-out couples in need of a little R&R (that would be us!). Set next to Gardners Falls in a stunning rainforest setting, just three kilometres east of the quaint township of Maleny, Spicers Tamarind is the ultimate rainforest escape. As we turned into Obi Lane and drove along the narrow, secluded road towards the retreat, it felt like we were miles from anywhere. The 12 secluded cabins are completely out of sight, with each of the one or two-bedroom villas offering total privacy and seclusion. Our beautiful villa, complete with luxurious king-size bed, cosy wood-burning heater and plush furnishings, was just what the doctor ordered. After enjoying a thoroughly lazy afternoon on our private deck, soaking in the hot tub and enjoying pre-dinner drinks, we made our way to the retreat’s award-winning restaurant, The Tamarind. I had heard great things about this Asian-influenced restaurant and it didn’t disappoint. I am not surprised to hear The Tamarind recently took out the Best Restaurant Accommodation division at the Queensland Hotels’ Association Awards for Excellence 2012 and was also the recipient of a coveted Chef’s Hat, a significant feat in the culinary world. Perched on a high stool at the beautiful restaurant bar we sampled a couple of the exotic cocktails before sitting down to a truly memorable meal. Bringing a taste of Thailand to Maleny, The Tamarind specialises in

profilemagazine

innovative Asian cuisine. The menu is to-die-for, and with so many amazing dishes on offer we decided to indulge in the three-course menu (well-priced at $75 per person). My husband’s entree of cuttlefish and prawns with Asian herbs was first-class, as was my Noosa whiting, which was perfectly pan-fried and served with a Thai herb salad. For mains, I stuck with the seafood theme and thoroughly enjoyed the juicy Moreton Bay bugs, seared and served with chestnut noodles in an Asian broth. The Red curry of duck with lychee, snake beans, Thai eggplant and basil served with jasmine rice received rave reviews from my husband. But the best was yet to come – dessert. The caramelised banana bavarois with tapioca, palm sugar syrup and honey sesame ice cream was possibly the best dessert I have eaten – ever! But the coconut and white chocolate crème brulee came a close second. Having experienced the restaurant first-hand, I am not surprised to hear that guests drive from as far as Toowoomba and Brisbane to enjoy a Tamarind dining experience. It is certainly worth it the drive. And if the delicious cuisine inspires you to create some of your own culinary masterpieces from home, Spicers Tamarind offers cooking classes that teach you how to prepare gourmet Thai food. The hands-on classes are conducted twice-weekly in small groups in a purpose-built kitchen, with participants actively involved in the preparation of a banquet menu before dining on their creations over lunch in the tranquil surrounds. After a wonderful night’s slumber, we awoke to a beautiful breakfast hamper which we enjoyed on our private deck. We did have an uninvited guest, but thankfully the very large brown snake sharing our deck was happy to bask in the sun while we enjoyed our tropical fruit, cereal, eggs and other breakfast treats. No trip to Spicers Tamarind would be complete without indulging at the revered Anise Day Spa, where I enjoyed an hour-long relaxation massage under the magic hands of senior masseuse Kitty. Don’t let the diminutive frame of profilemag.com.au

spa lounge

Take the time to relax and rejuvenate Spa Anise, Spicers Tamarind Retreat is a purpose-built day spa and boasts four beautifully appointed treatment rooms, a spacious

s S pi c erri n d Ta m are a t , Re t e n y Ma l

lounge, private relaxation chambers that open to a large breezy deck, foot therapy room and luxurious hydrotherapy room including a steam room, rain shower and mineralised spa. two-bedroom villa

88 Obi Lane South, Maleny, Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Queensland

Bookings 1300 194 086

www.spaanise.com.au

cedar spa

this experienced massage therapist fool you. I requested a firm massage and Kitty delivered! Lulled into a deep sense of relaxation, I felt the stresses of the working week fade fade away by at the end of my treatment my shoulders were no longer up at my ears. The first thing that strikes you about the Anise Day Spa is the ambience. Purpose-built, with four beautifully-appointed treatment rooms and a luxurious hydrotherapy room including steam room, rain shower and mineralised spa, Anise offers a range of indulgent treatment options, from Lush Lemongrass Massage to a French Lavender Purifying Facial. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amazing how much just one night away from lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stresses and a little pamper time can make such a difference. My husband, David, and I felt like shiny new people when we left this haven, compared to the tired, strungout couple who arrived just 24 hours earlier. I think the receptionist did a doubletake on our departure. It may have only taken us 45 minutes to arrive at Spicers Tamarind, but we seriously considered taking the long way home ... via Cairns maybe? Ingrid Nelson was a guest of Spicers Tamarind, Maleny. www.spicersgroup.com.au 88 Obi Lane South, Maleny For bookings, phone 1300 785 669 october 2012

profilemagazine

excellence in business awards feature

Sunshine Coast Excellence in Business Awards

We all know having an award under your belt means credibility for business – and none more so than a prestigious Maroochydore Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Business Award. These awards draw out the best businesses from their daily grind to rise above the pack and show the Sunshine Coast just how amazing they are. Head to www.maroochy.org to see a full list of winners and finalists. we now meet some of the finalists.

ERIK LARSEN

finalist Building Manufacturing

CIRLOCK Family business Cirlock has been manufacturing lockout equipment for more than 20 years. “Cirlock is the original and only Australian company manufacturing a full range of lockout / tagout equipment for energy sources,” CEO and founder Erik Larsen said. Attaching a lock to isolated energy sources such as circuit breakers, fuse, valves and plugs before working on equipment is essential to workers’ safety. Cirlock’s products are distributed Australia wide and exported to EU, Asia and NZ. Lockout kits are used widely by local contractors as well as by large corporations and mining companies. Cirlock also produces a wide range of safety signage and labelling at its factory (54 Enterprise Street, Kunda Park), and the company can help local business to get safety signage up to standard. A free copy of Cirlock’s 90-page catalogue can be collected from their office / showroom. Products can be purchased online, direct or from most electrical and other wholesalers. Phone 5445 2910 www.cirlock.com.au

ben amos

elaine forster

finalist

Building / Manufacturing Innovation

freespirit caravans Free Spirit Caravans (FCS) entered the off-road caravan market with a mission – the design and build of a durable and lightweight off-road caravan. Using Australian skills and resources, they have created a technologically-advanced product for their customers. Their attention to detail has seen them engineer a unique chassis and wall framing system enabling the FSC’S to weigh approximately 300 to 500 kilograms less than any competitor, thus reducing vehicle expenses. Free Spirit Caravans have in-built longevity. Taking a factory tour will show you why this product will outlast any competitor. Their longevity and lower weight has been achieved not by compromise, but by innovation in design and build, including the use of high-grade materials and first-rate processes. This winning combination has seen them recognised by the Australian Institute of Commercialisation, winning an Innovation Scholarship in November 2011 and the MSQ (Manufacturing Skills Queensland) award for Manufacturing Skills and Traineeships in June 2012. Phone 5438 9898 www.freespiritcaravans.com.au

Creative Industries

innovate media Innovate Media is a local video production company specialising in unique brand stories, corporate documentary, web video strategy and life stage films. Ben Amos (Director of Innovate Media) works with businesses and individuals across the Sunshine Coast to produce stunning professional video content, helping clients to communicate more effectively with their market. Innovate Media have recently launched an innovative approach to online marketing for businesses. Their ‘Innovate Plan’ packages include unique, branded online video powered by a customised online-video strategy that is designed to get results. They know the value that professional video content can bring to a business online and are able to work directly with their clients to produce engaging, informative, powerful online films that stand a business apart from its competition and then make that video work to produce clear results. At the heart of Innovate Media’s service is storytelling and every business has a story to tell. They are offering a free no-obligation online video consultation to discuss how online video can work for your business. Phone 0434 399 027 www.innovatemedia.com.au

excellence in business awards feature traci castle

marcus koolen

leanne francia

finalist

creative industries

environmental industries

hospitality

studio republic

perfect earth

Traci Castle is an up and coming Young Australian Entrepreneur, C.E.O and founder of Studio Republic, an international award winning portrait studio located here on the Sunshine Coast. Pioneering a revolution within the portrait photography industry by combining on trend makeup artistry, fashion styling, highly trained expert photographers and the latest advances in digital technology usually reserved for the high end film and fashion industries. Studio Republic is a world-class portrait studio that makes this standard of photographic excellence available to everyday people. Traci says, “There is nothing else like this that we know of in Australia that is available to the general public, so we really are pioneering a new approach to studio portrait photography in this country.” Traci has big plans for Studio Republic. She’s currently developing concepts to accompany the growth within the industry and of franchising opportunities globally.

sunshine coast kid’s club

Perfect Earth is an environmental contracting company providing outstanding services and products. Director Marcus Koolen says, “Perfect Earth’s high quality service, attention to detail and project commitment combine to meet specific needs of all clients. We strive to provide an outstanding reputation by only using quality product and a qualified team.”

Leanne Francia has a vision to support local business, tourist operators and community groups by adding value to their clientele’s experience. As a mother of two young daughters, Leanne is passionate about helping both families and local business. She observed that with a large amount of the tourist market going overseas, savvy business owners needed new strategies to bring the tourist dollar and families back to their businesses.

This local business has consistently and continuously provided quality product and services to varied industries, including mining, pipeline, government, schools, civil construction, environmental, water treatment industries and much more.

Leanne also noted that all things digital were front and centre and that the traditional arts and crafts were losing focus. Therefore, the Sunshine Coast Kid’s Club was born.

Perfect Earth’s services include environmentally friendly and sustainable soil amelioration, revegetation, erosion control, earthworks and project maintenance. They use the latest technology and innovation such as their own Australian designed and built Hydromulch 8x8 Mine Spec Truck. This unit provides outstanding safety and is the first in Queensland.

Studio Republic – specialising in high-end luxury portraits. Love who you are and can be with Studio Republic.

Perfect Earth have developed their own Queensland-made organic spray on environmental coating systems to provide revegetation, control sediment and erosion; along with daily landfill covers and batter stabilisation systems to cover all environmental aspects.

Phone 5493 1931 www.studiorepublic.com.au

Phone 5476 6298 www.perfectearth.com.au

The Kid’s Club caters for children four to 13 years of age and develops programs for small, medium or large events. As their tag line suggests “kids just want to have fun” and that end is always in mind with the Sunshine Coast Kid’s Club – to provide creative and fun family-friendly events that become memorable and not just a memory. Phone 0412 443 486 www.sunshinecoastkidsclub.com.au

CIRTAG®

SAFETY SIGNS & LABELS

CONTRACTORS LOCKOUT KITS

Available from most Electrical Wholesalers

CLK-1 shown

* * * * * * * * *

Standard Kits include in Bag: Universal Lockout Device for MCB/MCCB Universal Lockout Device for Fuses Lockout Hasp Lockout Padlock Multifunction Cable Lockout Danger and Warning Tags Plug / Hose Lockout Little Book about Lockout Screwdriver, Pen, Cableties

DANGER

KEEP OUT

HIGH VOLTAGE

www.cirtag.com.au #120024

QUARANTINE AREA DUST MASK

AUTHORISED PERSONNEL ONLY

MUST BE WORN NO ENTRY

www.cirtag.com.au #120303

240 VOLTS www.cirtag.com

www.cirtag.com

NO SMOKING IN THIS AREA

www.cirtag.com

See our website for our full range of LOCKOUT / TAGOUT equipment & SIGNS www.cirlock.com.au Ph 07 54452910 Fax 07 5445 8612 54 Enterprise St. Kunda Park Email: sales@cirlock.com.au october 2012

profilemagazine

excellence in business awards feature shaun blackman

jason mcconnell, shelly barber and tim mills

jules o’neill

finalist lifestyle

iplaysports Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports was founded in 2010 to create a new experience in the Indoor Sports Arena. After fantastic growth from the Maroochydore Centre over the last two years, the company is being rebranded and is about to begin franchising. The business will be known as iPlaySports and will help deliver a high quality, customer-focused and professional indoor sports centres. iPlaySports is backed by a team with more than 40 years’ experience and knowledge in the setup, marketing and operation of successful indoor sports management. The systems and programs within iPlaySports have been finelytuned to ensure the ongoing growth and success of the business, proven across multiple centres and locations. iPlaySports offers a wide variety of sports such as indoor netball, indoor soccer, beach volleyball, beach tennis and dodgeball. The range of sports ensures that there is an option for every style of player. Phone 5479 1913 www.sunshinecoastindoorsport.com.au

finalist

lifestyle services

Professional/ Business Services

womens wisdom Peregian Beach local Jules O’Neill can transform your life by teaching you how to listen to your body and its energy through Women’s Wisdom, with focus on balance and harmony in areas at home, in relationships, parenting, self esteem, communication, health and wellbeing, sex, career and purpose, and so much more. Jules’ Women’s Wisdom Workshops will motivate, inspire and empower you to look at life in a new and exciting way. You will experience an increase in mind-body awareness and learn how to identify underlying patterns and programs that are blocking you from creating the life you desire. And you will see and feel shifts within your body, helping you make conscious choices and create a life that flows easily. With a growing list of clients praising her results, Jules has been the impetus for life changing moments for women nationwide. Phone 5471 2201 www.womenswisdom.com.au

east coast freight One of Queensland’s proud success stories, East Coast Freight Distribution (ECFD) has been acknowledged as a Q400 business (Top 400 privately owned businesses in Qld) for the past four years and is a member of the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme. Their core business is the transport and distribution of general freight between the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Caboolture and Sunshine Coast including Gympie. They also specialise in Australia-wide management for permanent hire, third party logistics and event / festival logistics. Their fleet is extremely versatile and consists of:

•• •• •• •• ••

4WD One Tonne Rigid Trucks Semi-Trailers Tailgate Lifters Mobile Forklift

ECFD has been in this business for 23 years and has earned an excellent reputation for outstanding service, reliability, punctuality and damage-free deliveries. East Coast Freight Distribution will help you solve your transport needs thanks to the ease of true professionals. Phone 5476 8322 www.ecfd.com.au

profilemagazine

profilemag.com.au

excellence in business awards feature RICK BAiLLIE

al emery

finalist Professional / Business services

haycroft Haycroft Workplace Solutions wants to keep employment simple. As an employer or employee, you want to do your job and not spend endless hours on employment-related functions. They remove the hassles by providing a broad range of services to streamline processes and simplify administrative tasks. The company has spent more than 20 years building a reputation in the employment industry, providing innovative solutions to advocate simplicity and flexibility in the workplace. They offer a broad scope of employment services including payroll, human resources, industrial relations, Fair Work compliance, and Workplace Health and Safety, which can be purchased individually or jointly for a complete employment solution. This Coast business takes pride in delivering superior service to hundreds of clients and thousands of employees Australia-wide. The consultants pride themselves on their broad base of expertise and can offer expert, tailored services to suit your business and budget. Contact Haycroft Workplace Solutions to find our how you can work smarter, not harder. Phone 1300 766 380 www.haycroft.com.au

terence seymour

finalist

Professional/ Business Services

momentum

sc private hospital

Momentum Software Solutions provide customised MYOB Enterprise Solutions to businesses throughout QLD, NT and Northern NSW, which is the MYOB product range specially designed for larger more complex businesses that are experiencing growth and feel that they may have outgrown traditional software products like MYOB AccountRight or Quickbooks.

After helping thousands of Sunshine Coast patients since 1980, The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital at Buderim is currently undergoing its own $20 million operation. A brand new Maternity and Women’s Health Unit has recently opened, a stand-alone Mental Health Unit is now under construction, and the Intensive Care and Critical Care Unit will soon be expanded.

It is a complete and fully integrated financial and business management system that provides a unified view of the internal and external factors affecting a business, so management can have the ‘big picture’ information required to make critical business decisions and Momentum can help with the successful transition to take your business to the next level.

“The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital at Buderim is a not-for-profit facility where additional funds go back into improving the hospital to keep up with the growing population,” said General Manager Terrence Seymour. These three projects will see almost $20 million poured into the facility, bringing huge benefits to the local economy in terms of construction jobs and long-term employment of extra medical staff.

Momentum’s experienced consultants are able to assist businesses with system selection, implementation, training, customisation and ongoing support, plus are a fully accredited MYOB Enterprise Solutions Platinum Partner. Director, Al Emery, says, “Businesses that have benefited from our solutions include wholesalers, importers, not-for-profits, mining services, manufacturers, labour hire, retailers, professional services, job or project-based businesses and more.” Phone 5479 1877 www.momentumsoftwaresolutions.com.au

(Available Phone or Skype)

october 2012

“The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital at Buderim is consistently rated amongst the top 1% of Australian hospitals, and these improvements can only enhance our ability to look after the people of the Sunshine Coast to the highest standard. It’s great to have our commitment to local healthcare recognised as a finalist in the Sunshine Coast Excellence in Business Awards,’’ Mr Seymour said. Phone 5430 3303 www.tscph.com.au

(Available Phone or Skype)

profilemagazine

excellence in business awards feature david davies

julie sangster

finalist SPECIALTY SERVICES

abbey french polishing When David Davies was in high school he was a talented art student and keen musician. On the advice of his parents, he apprenticed himself to Macedo’s, Sydney’s premier antique and reproduction furniture firm of its time. David’s plan was to complete his trade qualifications then pursue an arts career. Little did he realise the artistic nuances he would be required to master to become a French polisher, or how fulfilling this career could be. David restores, repolishes and repaints modern and antique furniture for customers across Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. He and partner Kylie’s workshop in Nambour is a hive of activity as they transform tired and decimated pieces, restoring and creating heirlooms for people who appreciate quality. Service is their key ethos and as locals for the past 16 years, David and Kylie enjoy being part of the Sunshine Coast community. “Being an award finalist is an honour. My next goal is to train a new generation in the art of furniture restoration,” David said. Phone 5448 4928 www.abbeyfurniturerestorations.com

craig lucey

finalist

retail specialist services home based vendors

Retail, Specialist Services, Home Based Vendors

angel girls cleaning Angel Girls Cleaning was created six years ago by single mum, Julie Sangster, who desired a flexible way to support her young family financially while providing them with her quality time. Angels Girls Cleaning has supported many parents just like Julie to easily combine work and family and has empowered parents professionally, personally and financially to create new and fulfilling lives. What began as a business that primarily supported Julie soon became a thriving local business that has assisted the growth of many other parents to create successful businesses for themselves. It has grown from servicing residential properties to also include builders cleans, real estate cleans, commercial cleans and servicing local outdoor community events. Angel Girls cleaning prides itself on employing qualified and reliable sub contractors and providing professional and efficient cleaning services and prefers using environmentally friendly cleaning products. Angel Girls Cleaning: “The one area in your life you don’t have to worry about.” Phone 0408 006 826 www.angelgirlscleaning.com.au

nambour exhaust and towbars Nambour Exhaust and Towbars is a professional undercar specialist centre providing honest service, committed to the supply and installation of quality mufflers, custom exhaust systems, suspension products, towbars and Ironman 4WD accessories. Trusted by vehicle owners, enthusiasts and restorers to understand their passion for their vehicles and carefully deliver their requirements, Nambour Exhaust and Towbars’ experienced technical team and modern workshop (equipped with hoists designed specifically for the variation of vehicles and the work required) caters efficiently for all vehicles including classic cars of days gone by, modern muscle cars, rally cars, trucks, vans, commercial vehicles, motor bikes and 4WD’s. To service customers in remote regional areas, Nambour Exhaust and Towbars offers Towbars Australia (www.towbarsaustralia.com.au), a complete and comprehensive online towbar store listing towing solutions for over 1,000 vehicles. Complete DIY towbar kits are packaged specifically for each model vehicle and distributed nationally and internationally and backed by free phone and email installation support. Please drop by – we are waiting to help. Phone 1300 TOWBAR (1300 869 227) www.towbarsaustralia.com.au

overs The Stress Free M

The

Stre

ss F ree

Mov

ers

The Stress Free Movers

profilemagazine

profilemag.com.au

excellence in business awards feature pauline attias

grant kimmorley

finalist

retail specialist services home based vendors

tres noosa After showing her art at the Eumundi Markets for the past seven years, Pauline Attias aka ‘Shells by Pauline’ has now opened a retail shop in the heart of the newly renovated Noosa Junction. Doubling up as a studio and workshop, including art from various local artists and featuring a sandcovered floor, the shop was recently renamed Très Noosa. “Most of my customers kept on saying that my shop was very Noosa looking,” says Pauline. “My husband, being French, thought Très Noosa was the best name for it.” Pauline says the key to a successful business is to diversify and always keep on your toes. “I’m actually split three ways, the market side of things, the retail shop and my online store.” Très Noosa at the Noosa Junction now offers workshops where kids and adults alike can make their own shell art supervised by the artist herself. Très Noosa: It’s the shop with the sand on the floor and Noosa’s best kept secret! Phone 0422 927 700 www.shellsbypauline.com

dianne ford

finalist

training knowledge and developement

fuji xerox

smart learn

Grant Kimmorley is the dealer principal and driving force behind the locally-owned and operated Fuji Xerox Business Centre, Sunshine Coast. Grant has excelled in his industry for the past 20-plus years, having always demonstrated strong initiative, leadership and commitment to his staff, customers and community through implementing strong communications, management and innovation strategies. The team at Fuji Xerox Business Centre prides themselves on their friendly, caring approach to service and sales excellence. Grant and his staff strive for continuous improvement, making them stand out in their industry. Their commitment to implementing human resource management strategies that support service excellence and their comprehensive employee education, training and development raises the bar for their competition and provides a positive work environment. Grant and his team’s success is largely due to the fact that they love what they do each day – they have created a fun, supportive and growthoriented workplace. Phone 5451 7333 www.fxbcsc.com.au

think you’ve outgrown MYOB?... THINK AGAIN!

Training, Knowledge & Development

SmartLearn Training and Development has been in business for 11 years. Dianne Ford, founder and owner, believes the continuing success of the business is thanks to their clients wanting more. SmartLearn Training and Development began by simply teaching the internet to home users. From there they expanded into training rooms and a large range of computer training. Their clients have included small to large businesses, government departments, schools and individuals. While most of their clients are based in the Sunshine Coast and Caboolture areas, others have travelled from Brisbane, Gympie, Gladstone and even interstate! In 2006, they became a Registered Training Organisation to offer nationally recognised certificates in Business, Retail and Training. In Business training they have helped many organisations use government funding to train their staff. Through distance and online training, they have clients scattered throughout Australia. “Some things never change,” observes Dianne with a wide smile. “And that’s our outstanding, friendly customer service and the fun we have!” Phone 5494 8866 www.smartlearn.com.au

Momentum Software Solutions provide customized MYOB Enterprise Solutions to businesses throughout Qld, Northern Territory and Northern NSW. MYOB Enterprise Solutions is the MYOB midmarket product range specially designed for businesses that are experiencing growth and feel that they may have outgrown traditional software products like MYOB Premier or Quickbooks.

to discuss your business needs or book a demonstration, contact us on 07 5479 1877 or enquiries@momentumss.com.au october 2012

profilemagazine

excellence in business awards feature chris turner

beth walsh

bruce campbell

finalist

Innovation Training Knowledge and Development

sunny kids

taylaw solicitors

For more than 12 years, SunnyKids has been at the forefront of providing integrated solutions in response to issues facing at-risk children and families.The organisation aims to break the intergenerational cycles of poverty and disadvantage, providing the hope and resilience to move forward, both as individuals and as a society. Early intervention is a key factor in breaking the cycle. Every child should expect and have the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of their circumstance. Capable children are the foundation of a capable and prosperous society. SunnyKids believes every community problem has a community-based solution and that effective community-based solutions emerge when the community comes together to share expertise, resources and effort. Since inception, SunnyKids has developed a suite of integrated support systems and awardwinning child-focussed programs including: •• SKIS – Prevention and early intervention in schools. •• Read2Remember – Broad based well being and literacy program. •• Najidah – Homelessness Services.

Beth Walsh is admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia and is a member of the Queensland Law Society, Family Law Practitioners Association and the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia. Family law matters of separation and divorce are a difficult and stressful period in a person’s life. Property and children’s arrangements need to be negotiated and settled in your interests and you need the right advice and direction to achieve the best results. Beth holds the qualifications, experience and approachability to provide sound legal representation to successfully negotiate property settlements, children’s orders, Binding Financial Agreements and domestic violence matters. Beth is frequently engaged to advise in complex property and children’s arrangements including family trust settlements, children’s relocation applications and issues of children’s international travel after separation. As employed Associate in Caloundra, Beth is engaged by clients across the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. Phone 5491 9911 www.taylawsolicitors.com.au

Phone 5479 0394 www.sunnykids.org,au

finalist

Outstanding Employee of the Year

outstanding business person of the year

action coach Bruce is a Licensed ActionCOACH Business Coach and has conducted business in 31 per cent of the world’s countries. The “Common Goal” that gets Bruce and his team out of bed in the morning is creating 2,000 more jobs throughout S/E QLD over the next 4 years through growing businesses in the following areas: •• Increasing business profits & cashflow •• Buying & selling businesses, and franchising •• Business systemisation •• Creating stronger work cultures •• Managing work/life balance Based on results with his clients, Bruce has been awarded Global & Asia/Pacific Coach of the Year for 2 and 3 years running respectively, and was awarded the coveted ‘Australian Franchisee of the Year’ by Franchising Council of Australia. He was awarded Millionaire Level Entrepreneur Coach status which puts him as the No.1 Coach globally out of 1,400 Coaches. Bruce also enjoys charitable work with close ties coaching AGL Action Rescue Helicopter Service through ActionCOACH’s “Coaching For A Cause” Initiative - a worldwide volunteer effort. No matter what type of business, let Bruce and his team ignite your business towards the goals you deserve. Phone: 1300 282026 www.actioncoach.com/brucecampbell

We sustain business. People sustain us. When it comes down to it, great business success begins with great people.

The future of your business: training staff today

Brighter Business... Sustainable Solutions.

Sustainable practice through innovation

07 5457 1000 www.sunshinecoast.tafe.qld.gov.au Find us on

profilemagazine

Investing in staff training is one of the best business decisions you can make. Building skill levels, improving productivity and retention of key personnel all have a direct impact on profit margins. Quality training is a positive and profitable way to develop and grow a motivated and skilled workforce, generate higher profit margins and increase customer/client satisfaction and ultimately, productivity. Sunshine Coast TAFE offers pre-vocational programs to Advanced Diplomas as well as dual qualifications with universities and skill-set based short courses. We offer fully customisable, cost-effective and nationally accredited programs to suit not only the requirements of your industry but more directly of your business. We are ideally placed to support your business growth through a mix of innovative, practical and sustainable business solutions.

Access to funding to support your business Sunshine Coast TAFE can assist with advice and support in accessing Government funding and incentive payments to help support your business.

profilemag.com.au

excellence in business awards feature natasha marshall

sandra nizette

anthony walsh

finalist

outstanding business person of the year

style marshall Natasha Marshall is the bubbly personality behind an environmentally-friendly cleaning company, Style Marshall, which is responsible for making homes ‘sparkle’ Coastwide. Looking for a new adventure, she arrived in paradise four years ago with her two young children. With a background in education and diversional therapy, Natasha had to do a quick rethink around her career when her youngest daughter was diagnosed with a tumour. “I needed to be there for Emily and cleaning gave me the flexibility to do that.” Hence Style Marshall was born. This experience helped develop her strong belief in work-life balance, something she supports and offers her staff. Her interest in sustainability and her environmentally friendly approach also comes from her belief in doing her bit to give her children and the next generation a planet to live on.

san nizet Sandra Nizette re-established her label, San Nizet, when she moved to the Sunshine Coast and since then has shown in two fashion festivals and built her clientele base privately, nationally and globally, selling from her studio to selected boutiques and online. This year, Sandra has moved the direction of her label into designing capsule collections that are classical, a little edgy, very wearable and limited edition that enhance her clients’ existing wardrobe. She has designed her own fabrics, which are manufactured in Australia and will be a gem, especially for the travelling client as they are light and slinky, wash and wear. Sandra has fantastic plus-size designs ready for the new San Nizet Essence of Elegance Plus Size website which will be launched soon, along with a great range of versatile accessories and styling tips.

Natasha is launching the second phase of her business later this year – Male Styling – making men on the Coast look good and feel fabulous. This is one woman to watch.

She enjoys passing on her fashion and interior design tips from her HomeHeart lifestyle section, through her blogs and business Facebook. San Nizet’s muse is, “Using our creativity to enhance the lives of others”.

Phone 0449 697 161 www.stylemarshall.com.au

Phone 0418 887 296 www.sannizet.com.au

rbs morgans caloundra RBS Morgans Caloundra was established in 2003 with a commitment to deliver excellence in financial advice to our clients. The business is owner managed which differentiates us from many other stockbroking and financial planning groups, adding another level of commitment, focus and dedication to our clients. “The team offers a uniquely diverse combination of technical and practical experience in providing a full suite of financial products for our clients to utilise in conjunction with an active management approach from their adviser.” – Anthony Walsh. Our range of services include: Stockbroking, Wealth Management , Retirement Planning, Superannuation, Self Managed Superannuation Funds, Estate Planning, Portfolio Administration, Managed Funds, Margin Lending, Derivatives, Personal Insurance and risk management, Cash and fixed interest “Our aim is to partner with our clients throughout their journey to retirement (and beyond), to ensure that their personal and financial goals are met, and in many instances, exceeded” – Anthony Walsh. Phone 5491 5422 www.rbsmorgans.com/caloundra

The Sunshine Coast Excellence in Business Awards has a long history as one of the most prestigious awards on the Coast. We thought we would take a look in the past to recognise the Hall of Fame recipients.

Sunshine Coast Excellence in Business Awards Hall of Fame

Advanced Metal Turning (2011), Twin Waters Golf Club (2010), New Staff Solutions (2009),

The Sunshine Coast Excellence in Business areSolutions this year(2009), proudly sponsored by; Sunshine Coast AscentAwards Building Global Living Furniture (2009), LakeCouncil; Weyba Cottages Mountain SpringUniversity Water (2007), Interiors (2007), Spirit House (2007), Telstra, Suncorp, Sunshine Coast TAFE,(2008), LexusCooroy of Maroochydore, ofNeuendorf the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast AustraliaAustralia, Zoo (2006), Ellmo's Of Ocean St (2005),of TravelWorld Corporate & Events Tourism, AusIndustry, dnd Graphiks, Mission Sunshine Coast Chambers Commerce, Sunshine Plaza (2005), Diamonds of Distinction (2004), Cooroy Mountain Spring Water (2004), Lifeline Sunshine and media partners WIN Network, HOT 91.1 and Sunshine Coast Daily.

Coast (2004), Ron Hill Automatics (2004), Laser Sight Centres Australasia (2003), Rockcote Enterprises Pty Ltd (2003), Sunshine Coast Haematology & Oncology Clinic (2002) The Gala Awards Presentation Evening will be on Saturday 10 November 2012. See you there and good luck to all the finalists!

october 2012

profilemagazine

business

banking – a checklist for your business with Laurie Clarke BOQ Maroochydore has added another new member to our team (we now have three lending specialists and a business banker), so I’ve been able to spend a bit more time out and about with local businesses over recent months. It is always interesting to hear from a wide range of people about what they get from their bank and what they would like to get. From those conversations, and our own experiences, I’ve updated my little checklist of business’ needs – call it a “wishlist” if you like – when it comes to a banking relationship. And the list excludes the provision of basic products and services – that’s pretty much a given. Instead, it focuses on the value you get from your banking relationship. The items listed will be of varying importance to each business, but maybe it’s worth taking a few

minutes to run through the checklist against your business and your existing banking relationship. There are genuine alternatives in the banking market. If you’re not getting what you need, your business deserves better and it’s time to review the options. Are the following needs important to your business and can you answer yes to the following when it comes to your bank?

•• Returns phone calls and emails •• Willing to work with your advisers •• Efficient payment systems •• Deal with the same people every time •• At least one or two staff members know your name •• One stop shop •• Short queues most of the time

•• Industry knowledge / expertise

•• Parking readily available

•• Direct access to your banker

BOQ Maroochydore 5451 9600 laurie.clarke@boq.com.au

•• Your banker has a personal interest in your business •• Reasonable turnaround times on loan applications •• A joint annual review of your business and its financial needs

This article is for general information purposes only and is not intended as financial or professional advice. The views expressed in this article are solely the views of the author. Bank of Queensland Limited ABN 32 009 656 740.

profilemagazine

profilemag.com.au

business

has your home outgrown you? with Jodie McDonell Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wake up one day and realise your life had changed? Gone are the days when you were woken by the sound of children playing in the backyard or fighting over which channel to watch on a Saturday morning. As you walk down the hallway of your home there is no longer a gauntlet of toys, clothes or obstacles to avoid … all these signs point to only one thing – you have become an ‘empty nester’.

should establish a relationship with a real estate agent you know has the experience, and has your trust. Your relationship with and trust in your agent is crucial at this time in terms of successfully selling your family home and achieving your goals. Your agent should assist you in pricing your property for the current market and avoid the trap of marketing your property based on sentimental value alone.

This time in your life is a precious time, one that should be enjoyed and cherished rather than the cause of stress and uncertainty. Many empty nesters simply don’t know what to do when the time to ‘downsize’ comes. The most important thing to remember is not to stress.

The first 30 days after a property has been introduced to the market are the most important in terms of gaining enquiry and attracting buyers. If you were to price your property incorrectly during this time or not utilise all available methods to market your home, it could hurt your outcome in the long-term.

Start by making a list of the requirements you have for a new home. That could be location, property attributes such as waterfront, views, close to amenities, communal facilities – the list goes on. Once you know what you want, you

An expert in downsizing will be able to work with you simultaneously to not only sell your property but also assist you in finding the right property for your future. Those facing an empty nest should enjoy this time in their life and not be confused by all the noise in the marketplace. The most fundamental element of successfully downsizing is to work with an agent experienced in this unique area of the market - someone you can trust. Next Property Group 0419 762 309 jmcdonell@nextpropertygroup.com.au

Once you have taken the first step, which is selling or at least listing your home, you will then need to discuss the next move with your agent.

Support the Sunshine Coast’s Cindy Mackenzie Breast Cancer Foundation and join us for the

2012 Pinktober ®

Halloween

FANCY DRESS PARTY

Friday 26th October 2012 4th Floor Restaurant Mooloolaba 6.30pm - 11pm

Party with live music with The Flackoes, Canapes, Drink on arrival, Prizes, Gifts, Halloween Entertainment and Spooky Cocktails*! (*cocktails available to purchase @ $10 ea) Cost: Dress: Contact: RSVP:

15% o & 5% ff all Costu off all me Hir r Costu etail with a e ny @ Cos me Hire tu News mes Galor paper e Place Mar (Just m oochydo re enti

$75 per ticket Fancy Dress Halloween Natalie McIvor 0402 462 804 21st October 2011

on this

event)

TO UGHT LY BROY D U O R P YOU B th Floor nd 4 GEM a staurant Re

Book online at: http://pinktoberhalloween.eventbrite.com.au/ Proudly Sponsored by:

intuitive branding for your words and design

october 2012

profilemagazine

the last word

carren smith

Carren Smith is an inspirational speaker, entrepreneur and now author of her newly released autobiography, Soul Survivor. As a survivor of some of life’s most tragic occurrences, including the 2002 Bali bombings, Carren shares her experiences in an inspiring way that will leave you moved, touched and warmed by the courage and strength of the human spirit.

Most people don’t know that I … studied martial arts since I was eight.

Carren Smith is one of the most inspiring women you’ll ever meet, devoting her life to supporting and encouraging others to follow their path 74

profilemagazine

I grew up in … Sydney.

When I was growing up I wanted to be … just like my mum.

I start my day by … meditating.

My all time favourite movie is … The Matrix.

I would love to be a better … runner.

I couldn’t live without … the love and support of my friends and family.

I am at my happiest when … I’m making a difference and contributing to the world.

My greatest achievement is … surviving the adversities in my life.

When I am not working I am … hanging out with my family and my dogs.

My most annoying habit is … collecting speeding fines.

I wish I could … sing in a band.

In five years I hope to be … the world-renowned television host of Carren’s Couch.

The best meal I have had was at … Spirit House, Yandina.

What makes me laugh out loud is … my brother’s sense of humour and his wicked laugh!

My favourite restaurant is … One on LaBalsa.

The one person I would most like to meet … is Nelson Mandela.

My favourite holiday spot is … Tokoriki Island, Fiji.

My hidden talent is … singing in the shower.

Most people don’t know that I … have studied martial arts since I was eight.

If I didn’t live on the Coast I would live … in Manly, New South Wales. profilemag.com.au

SHOP L I K E

STAR

Listen to Hot 91.1 for your chance to win a $1000 shopping spree! www.hot91.com.au

For a special occasion or to add an elegant new twist to your everyday wear, treat yourself to something exquisite from the Captured Hearts Collection. These beautiful pieces in sterling silver and rose gold are Made with SWAROVSKI ZIRCONIA - the perfect way to guarantee your look is chic, stylish and up-to-the-minute.

PRICES STARTING FROM $198