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PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 3

editor’s NOTE the

Welcome to this issue of Profile Magazine - and truly my first issue back in the Editor-In-Chief seat!

I am so proud of my team bringing together this issue dedicated to Mother Gaia.

It really is a sign of the times that we can create a magazine full of environmentallyfocused stories. It makes sense; when you live in a region with stunning coastlines, mountains, and basically every form of natural wonderment in between, of course you would want to preserve it.

This issue is dedicated to showcasing the people, organisations and businesses making positive changes to this beautiful region, and more broadly, the planet we call home.

On the cover Melissa Ambrosini shares her recent renovations to make her new Noosa home toxic free. We speak to Carly Willoughby Rolls about how adopting a minimalist outlook can drastically reduce your impact on the world around you (and improve your quality of life). Carren Smith shares her journey to Spirit Hive after surviving the 2002 Bali bombings. Discover the innovative and imaginative world of tiny houses. Plus, we speak to the sustainable business woman of 2017, Anne Gibson about micro gardening and her mission to educate consumers on how to improve their health with homegrown food.

In our fashion section, we look at ways to reduce our environmental impact via our wardrobes and speak to the founders of The Travelling Kimono about their sustainable and ethical ethos.

I’m certain our soul-filled stories will fill you with a renewed love for Mother Earth plus inspire you to walk a little lighter upon her.

With love & grace,

Genine x

GENINE HOWARD FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Genine Howard

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MEDIA DIRECTOR Rebecca Patterson

EDITORIAL Journalist Hayley Wright Journalist Nicole Fuge Sub-editor Richard Bruinsma editorial@profilemag.com.au

C R E AT I V E Art director Tara Williams Production manager Ellen Parker design@profilemag.com.au

ADVERTISING

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DISTRIBUTION Distribution manager Joey Fabrizio joe@profilemag.com.au

CONTRIBUTORS Photography Adam Doyle, Amy Higg, Bayleigh Vedelago, Chloe Horder, Janneke Storm, Leah Blissett, Megan Gill, Rikki Lancaster and Tara Williams Editorial Ingrid Nelson and Caitlyn Spanner

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DISTRIBUTION Each month Profile Magazine is read by over 37,500 readers monthly across Sunshine Coast and beyond. Grab your free copy on the Sunshine Coast or online at profilemag.com.au.

D I G I TA L Our email magazine is sent to 14,000 inboxes monthly. We have an average social media reach of up to 150,000 per month across Facebook and Instagram. Profile is available to read and share on issuu.com, attracting up to 60,000 impressions per month. Our overall digital reach is up to 315,000 per month.

Profile Magazine is a free publication (subscriptions available) published monthly by CPM Trust. All rights are reserved and the contents are copyright and may not be reproduced without the written consent of The Publisher, CPM Trust (“The Publisher�). Their related companies and officers hereby disclaim, to the full extent permitted by law, all liability, damages, costs and expenses whatsoever arising from or in connection with copy information or other material in this magazine, any negligence of The Publisher, or any persons actions in reliance thereon. Any dispute or complaint regarding placed advertisements must be made within seven days of publication. Inclusion of any copy must not be taken as any endorsement by The Publisher. Views expressed by contributors are personal views and they are not necessarily endorsed by The Publisher.

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PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 5

FEATURES 10

EDITOR'S SAY

12

FINDING YOUR INNER MINIMALISTA

Genine Howard

22

Carly Willoughby Rolls

14

MORE THAN A PRET TY DRESS

18

THE JOURNEY TO SPIRIT HIVE

The Travelling Kimono

Carren Smith

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COVER STORY

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COLOURISTS WHO CARE

30

SOWING SEEDS OF KNOWLEDGE

Melissa Ambrosini Haras Tarlinton

Anne Gibson

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BUSINESS & INDUSTRY EXPERTS

STYLE 44

THE STYLE EDIT

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FASHION

50

SLOW FASHION

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ESSENCE OF ESSENT IAL OILS

Styling on the Wild Side Sass + Bide Abby Vuister

Kim Morrison

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AUTUMN HUES

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LIF T ING HEALTH

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HEALTH & BEAU TY EXPERTS FOOD FADS AND DIE T MY THS

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Revlon

Ainslee Gordon

TRAVEL MELISSA AMBROSINI

Tess Keightley

60 62 64

SOAK AND SOOTHE SMART LIVING Jimmy Hirst and Kimberley Palmer

STYLISH AND SUSTAINABLE Josh Martin

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NEW SEASON TRENDS Kate Gillard

GOURMET 75

THE GOURME T EDIT

76 78

FOODIE TRAIL FEEDING CHANGE

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RECIPES

Nicole Fuge

Cyndi O’Meara

82 86

GIRLS GE TAWAY WEEKEND ESCAPES Hunter Valley

CULTURE 88 89

THEATRE ART

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THE WORD

Katherine Wood Costa Georgiadis

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10

PROFILE | EDITOR’S SAY

Shifting BUSINESS WORLD Our

WORDS GENINE HOWARD PHOTOS MEGAN GILL

GENINE HOWARD

PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 11

Profile Magazine Founder and CEO of global coaching company, Iconic Empires, Genine Howard reveals one simple daily practice to help us adapt quickly in our ever-changing business world.

We are in a state of massive, unprecedented change in the world. We humans are searching for more in life – more meaning, more freedom, more choice, more time.

And this yearning is boiling over into the corporate world. In my experience as a business coach for entrepreneurs over the past few years, I have seen firsthand the almost literal ‘jumping out the corporate window’ all over the globe.

I have coached women who were in finance wanting to become yoga and meditation teachers, social workers wanting to create parent coaching programs, lawyers yearning to do more good in the world by teaching spirituality and abundance.

AND THESE WOMEN ARE NOT ALONE All around us we are seeing a massive shift in the way people want to live – the Sunshine Coast, in particular, is more popular than ever before for corporatefatigued Sydneysiders and Melbournians looking to raise their children here with more freedom and security. Even my family and I moved back from a few years in the city, to raise and school our children here on the Coast.

This trend is only the tip of the iceberg and, if you own a business, you had best get set to adapt quickly to keep up with the ever-changing desires of your employees.

So just how can you keep up in this fastchanging world, or better yet, how can you lead the way in doing business that creates more freedom, money, time, choice and flexibility, for both you and your employees?

IT’S ALL ABOUT VALUES We all get the meaning of ‘values’ in a company sense, but do you truly live by your values? In fact, do you even know what your and your company values are these days?

When I begin coaching a client, I start by asking ‘what do you want?’, and, more often than not, this is the key challenge blocking their growth – they don’t even know what it is they want. Or, in other words, they have forgotten what their values are as they have, no doubt, changed immensely over the past few years.

As we evolve as a planet and our consciousness grows, many people are

what I term ‘waking up’. They are waking up that there really is a different way of being and doing in both business and life. They are waking up that what they used to define as success has changed.

But to what? I see many people stumble because, at their core, they know they want something different, they want more meaning; however, what that actually is, they can’t put their finger on it.

“WHEN I BEGIN COACHING A CLIENT, I START BY ASKING ‘WHAT DO YOU WANT?’, AND, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THIS IS THE KEY CHALLENGE BLOCKING THEIR GROWTH.” So this is the crucial place to start if you want to be a leader in business today and to lead a more connected, on-purpose life.

Well then, just how do you work out what you value? How do you tap into what your purpose is so that you can have more time, more freedom, more choice and more flexibility.

Here is where I like my clients to start JOURNALING Yes, yes, I hear some of you groan when I say journaling. You know it’s something you probably should do, but often there is resistance to, what I believe, is a fundamental daily activity to tap into your values and desires.

So first, let me get this straight.

Journaling is not keeping a diary. In fact, journaling is less about what you did each day and more about tuning in to a space of ultimate potentiality.

I see the process of journaling as a sacred act of allowing yourself to move into your creative mode, into full imagination of what could be possible and, sometimes, awareness of what is blocking you from achieving that.

JOURNALING IS AN ART FORM If persisted and mastered, becomes almost a meditative experience. For me, journaling is a place where I tap into my values and desires, get them down on paper, and then, allowing those desires to manifest into my reality. It’s a way to put out to the quantum what you desire to come into your world.

Other than meditation, journaling is by far my most productive business tool – sounds far fetched I know, however, this is

where it all starts. It’s where I become clear on who I am, what I am here for, what I desire to experience, the business I want to develop, the way I want to be in this world.

And for the naysayers, all I suggest is that if you are not sure on where you want to be going with your business and life, or perhaps your business is not growing or feeling heavy, then why not try something different?

What I have learnt over the years is that business is more about who you are being than what action you are taking. I mean, we’ve all been in the ‘busy being busy’ mode before, and I ask, how did that work out for you?

Business and life, in this ever-changing world, is about being tuned in, being adaptable and nimble-to-change as our society’s values change. And that includes our employees and our customers.

So, if you are wanting to be a leader in business, to live a more connected, on-purpose life, then perhaps it’s time to get out the pen and paper and get journaling. As they say, all things start from a thought. Use the opportunity to think better thoughts in the process of journaling and tune into your own internal wisdom of where to set the course of your business and life.

Genine x

Many people say they don’t have time to journal, however even though I am a busy mum of two I still set aside time just for me each morning to connect, align and create space to do my daily practice.

MY MORNING ROUTINE 5:00am Feed chickens and check in with Mother Earth (grounding) 5:15am Morning alignment meditation 5:45am Tea and journaling on the deck 6:15am Watch my Mind Movie (a 3-minute video I create with images, affirmations and music on my current dreams and goals) 6:30am Breakfast with the family

12

PROFILE | FEATURE

minimalista

FINDING YOUR INNER

WORDS HAYLEY WRIGHT PHOTOS JANNEKE STORM

Carly Willoughby Rolls is a qualified life coach, educator and changemaker who helps modern women ditch their busy, overwhelming lifestyles to find contentment. Profile sits down with Carly to find out how ‘mum life’ drove her to become a minimalist.

PHOTO BY CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLIST HAYLEY JENKIN, WHOLEHEARTED STUDIO AND PHOTOGRAPHER JANNEKE STORM

PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 13

Carly says her passion is helping busy, overachieving women achieve a decluttered life. From her own experience, as Carly cleared away the physical objects that no longer made her happy or served a purpose, she became lighter within. Sitting at a coffee shop in Moffat Beach, Carly is calm and happy speaking about her loved ones. With a husband who also followed his dreams and opened up a car restoration business, and two adorable girls aged six and three, she has time to enjoy and appreciate every moment with them. They moved to the Coast for a lifestyle change, so it was important to Carly that she really embrassed the new lifestyle instead of falling back into her old routine. She now spends her time coaching one-on-one and creating workshops to help empower everyday women… and the occasional man too.

“So from questioning my physical belongings of, ‘Do I need this, do I want this?’, to what else am I carrying from my youth from being bullied, what unhelpful beliefs have I accumulated, previous relationships and, from this, I was able to declutter.”

CARLY WILLOUGHBY ROLLS

Earning great money, spending it on designer clothes, and living in a nice suburb in a fancy apartment in Brisbane – from the outside, Carly Willoughby Rolls had it all, yet she still felt a bit lacklustre. Having grown up living in an uncomplicated household in regional Queensland, Carly tells me she had a simple childhood, but, as an adult, ‘simple’ very quickly became ‘busy’. As life took over, she says she was trying to maintain a certain perfection, but instead found herself feeling anxious and stressed.

“I SEE IT MORE AS A VEHICLE TO THE LIFESTYLE WE WANTED TO LIVE RATHER THAN PERHAPS THE LIFESTYLE WE HAD BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO.” “I was a perfectionist, maximalist, anxious ridden and discontent, but successful-onpaper career woman,” she explains.

“I was feeling pretty good with life, but there was more to life than doing things that stressed me out.”

It wasn’t until the birth of her first child six years ago that Carly started thinking of ways to get better organised. Immersing herself in blogs and books, she stumbled across Joshua Becker’s Becoming Minimalist, which resonated strongly with her.

“The way he talked about simplifying everything, from not just your physical possessions, but your finances and having

more time with your family,” she says of the book.

Carly found being on maternity leave made her question what she wanted her lifestyle to be like with kids, a big change for many women leaving their work-driven lifestyles behind.

“I see it more as a vehicle to the lifestyle we wanted to live rather than perhaps the lifestyle we had become accustomed to,” she says.

In June last year, Carly launched her own business, Minimalista, a platform to help share her wisdom and experiences with other like-minded women.

“We got significantly out of debt, we were able to move to the Sunshine Coast, my husband started his own business, which he always wanted, and eventually we were in a position where I could launch Minimalista.

“I am not the first person to talk about minimalism, or blog about it or write about it, but there is a huge upswell at the moment of people questioning their lifestyle.”

The idea of giving it all up and living with the bare minimum sounds scary and also alluring, but how is that achievable when every lifestyle and family is different?

“It doesn’t mean you go without, it’s all about being more conscious about what you are bringing into the house,” says Carly.

“We have made some huge changes; it is doable, it is accessible and it is also imperfect.

“Yes, there are minimalists who live with 55 possessions and live in a tiny house; I applaud that, but it’s not for us.”

THREE SIMPLE STEPS TO DECLUT TER. ASK; • Do I need this anymore?

• Does it bring me joy?

• Is there a sentimental value anymore?

While it’s sometimes easier said than done, how do we maintain a minimal lifestyle without slipping back into old habits?

“The questions I ask if I’m buying something new: Is it the best quality? Is it going to last for a long time? Do we really need it? Do we already have something like this?” says Carly.

“I guess shooing convenience for practicality,” she adds with a laugh.

While buying, owning and having less started out as a short-term lifestyle, Carly says now it’s one she doesn’t think will ever change. Listening to her, it’s clear that what’s most important about being a minimalist is that you make it suit you and your life.

“I’m still in the trenches trying to figure this out as well,” she says.

“It’s absolutely alright to not have your life together; anyone who gives the perception that their life is completely together is probably the person who needs to do the most inner work.”

Carly is enthusiastically throwing herself into a series of exciting new projects this year, so watch this minimalista’s space.

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PROFILE | FEATURE

JANELLE RAWLINS AND NICKI EDMISTON

PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 15

MORE THAN A

pretty dress

WORDS CAITLYN SPANNER PHOTOS CHLOE HORDER

Born out of a love of the humble kimono, The Travelling Kimono has flourished into one of the most sought after labels on the Sunshine Coast. It is steadily gaining a devoted following across Australia, thanks to their quality garments and dedication to sustainable and ethical practices.

The Travelling Kimono boutique in the heart of Noosa Junction is a beautiful and welcoming space, brimming with stunning garments, unique trinkets and handmade accessories. You can tell that owners Janelle Rawlins and Nicki Edmiston have put a lot of love into creating the boutique; almost as much love as what goes into hand-making each item of clothing.

Every Travelling Kimono piece is lovingly created with exquisite details like handbeading and lace trimmings, and comes in quality fabrics like luxurious silk, delicate cotton and breathable linen.

Most of us only see this side of a fashion label; the final product and the store it’s displayed in. But there’s hundreds of other steps that go into creating an item of clothing, and Janelle and Nicki are ensuring they approach each of these steps as transparently and sustainably as they possibly can.

Janelle started the label six years ago with her friend Tara after falling in love with sketching and designing kimonos.

“I was a personal trainer for about 10 years. I was far from being into fashion. It was more that I wanted to do something creative and something from scratch; something that I started,” she explains.

“I was obsessed with kimonos at the time and I hated the price of them when I knew they were just mass produced and poor quality. I had family friends in Vietnam so I knew we could hand make them and they’d be amazing quality. I did a trip over and got some made for myself and the quality was insane.”

Janelle is a mum of three and says getting the label to where it is today has been a slow and gradual process. But since having her youngest baby and bringing on lifelong friend Nicki to The Travelling Kimono team, her focus has changed and she has big plans for the future of the label.

“I think we can take it to another level now,” she smiles.

One thing Janelle was always certain on from the beginning was producing the garments with the environment in mind. All The Travelling Kimono pieces are hand made by a woman called Men who Janelle says has become more like family over the years.

The production process involves designing the pieces, sourcing deadstock fabrics from a market in Ho Chi Minh city, then working out what fabrics will suit each piece.

If you’re unfamiliar with deadstock fabric, it’s leftover textiles (sometimes thousands of metres) that labels no longer want because it didn’t turn out the way they had hoped or they produced too much.

“We use the ends of rolls or leftover fabrics so that we’re not contributing to the wasteful textile industry. There are so many good fabrics out there so our aim is to try and use them,” says Janelle.

“SUSTAINABILITY IS A HUGE JOURNEY IN ITSELF, SO FOR US, IF WE DO LIMITED RUNS, USE ONLY WHAT’S AVAILABLE, MAKE IT AS NATURAL AND ORGANIC AS POSSIBLE, AND CONTINUE TO HAND MAKE, THEN WE’RE HAPPY.” Men and her small team hand make each item with precision and intricate detail.

Because The Travelling Kimono pieces are all made in this way, they have managed to minimise and sometimes completely cut out waste at every stage.

“We use all our leftover waste to make children’s clothes or headscarves,” says Nicki.

“We try to keep all our waste minimal or zero.”

Nicki came onto The Travelling Kimono

team nearly two years ago. She’d been volunteering around the world in organisations that focused on human trafficking prior and when she returned to Australia she was unsure of what to do.

With some convincing from her best friend Janelle, she moved to the Sunshine Coast to start afresh.

“I always used to say to Nicki, ‘I don’t know how but you’re going to be involved in The Travelling Kimono one day’,’’ says Janelle.

The pair acknowledge that being an eco friendly label comes with its complications and contradictions, but they also know being perfect is impossible.

“Sustainability is a huge journey in itself, so for us, if we do limited runs, use only what’s available, make it as natural and organic as possible, and continue to hand make, then we’re happy,” says Nicki.

A big goal the pair have for the future of The Travelling Kimono is to support the community they work with in Vietnam.

With high levels of domestic violence in the area, they hope to help teach the women how to sew, speak English and simply have a safe space and support system that they can rely on. While the process towards a fully sustainable and ethical label is an arduous and complicated one, Janelle and Nicki are making monumental change in a traditionally wasteful industry, while changing the lives of many women in Vietnam.

ANANNASA TROPICAL KAFTAN

Exotic

PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 17

ELEGANCE An exotic new fashion retailer, Birds In Paradise, has opened its doors along Mooloolaba Esplanade, offering summer elegance in stylish resort wear, accessories and on-trend homewares. The collection allows you to feel like you’re chasing the sunshine all year round.

Think bright, colourful, fun and, most definitely, flamboyant when you set foot inside Birds In Paradise, a beautiful new retail store offering stunning resort wear for women. Marketing manager Teneale Rush says she wanted the store to represent a ‘bright colourful fiesta, celebrating colour’.

“There are a lot of easy-to-wear linens and neutrals available on the Sunshine Coast, we wanted to inject colour into the coast with our broad selection of fun and exotic prints. In particular we love our gorgeous tropical prints that very much tap into our coastal environment and lifestyle,” says Teneale.

Nestled along the holiday strip, Mooloolaba Esplanade, Birds In Paradise showcases a stunning and exclusive collection. The eclectic and extraverted range showcases elegant Gypsy skirts, crisp silk harem pants, floral wide-legged pant suits – perfect for travelling and lounging around in – not to mention the handmade silk kaftans, which are simply mesmerising. When you walk around the immaculate store, bursting with colour, it’s evident there’s something for everyone, something for 18 to 80 year olds and caters for all sizes. “We do a lot of Boho styles, which is lovely for the younger ladies. We do also cater for the plus sized ladies; we have kaftans with a large range of sizes, stocking up to XXL, and everything is easy to wear and is breathable,” explains Teneale.

The Anannasa Tropical Kaftan (pictured) is one of my absolute favourites and has been incredibly popular. The latest collection heroes beachside living, exotic escapes and tropical destinations – making the range ideal to wear all year round.

“We have Anannasa, Bonita Kaftans and we are also the only stockist in Australia with Raga, which is an American brand,” says Teneale.

Birds In Paradise also has an exotic range of jewellery, sequined and printed fabric turbans, coastal homewares and also offers Spanish label Mapol, a handmade shoe that is crafted with the finest leather.

“What is fantastic about many of our

outfits in store is that you can take it from the beach and then put on a pair of heels and suddenly you are set for an evening out,” explains Teneale, pulling out different styles to take you from day to evening.

The boutique offers a range of brands including Adrift, Lula Soul, Natasha Gan, Naudic, Robb & Lulu, Ruby YaYa and Solito, allowing women to find something for any occasion.

“IT’S SOMETHING NEW FOR THE COAST, THERE IS NO ONE ELSE WHO STOCKS THESE COLOURS AND FABRICS AND SOME OF THE BRANDS ARE VERY EXCLUSIVE TO OUR STORE.” “We’ve had a number of excited shoppers jet setting to tropical destinations who have purchased their outfits here, in fact, we had a woman the other day who was headed to a wedding in Cancun, Mexico who brought three outfits for her trip,” says Teneale.

The Birds In Paradise team are just as welcoming as their clothes, helping browsers and returning customers

ADRIFT BONNIE DRESS IN SEERSUCKER

find their perfect fit and style.

“The fun and the flamboyance of this store, the excitement and the colour that we bring to the Coast, I think is really important because it’s the first time we have actually opened something that does throw that colour out there.”

The store opened its doors late last year and has just recently launched its online store thanks to high demand from interstate visitors and overseas tourists who fell in love with the products on offer at Birds in Paradise.

The next time you are in Mooloolaba, grab yourself a coffee and enjoy the exotic elegance Birds In Paradise has to offer.

PHONE: 5444 6204 SHOP 12 ZANZIBAR RESORT, 47-51 MOOLOOLABA ESPLANADE, MOOLOOLABA BIRDSINPARADISEMOOLOOLABA.COM

18

PROFILE | FEATURE

THE JOURNEY TO

Spirit Hive WORDS HAYLEY WRIGHT PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

A woman with passion is how I would describe Carren Smith. As life goes, it takes you on a journey, but Carren’s life has been more of a roller coaster ride.

She shares how she founded Spirit Hive after losing her partner to suicide and fighting for her own life after surviving the 2002 Bali bombings.

CARREN SMITH

PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 19

Blinded by grief, Carren admittedly blamed can determine is they were blown forwards “A person can’t go through something into the bar which had gas tanks behind it herself for the death of her partner of like that and not come out spiritually eight years. She had successfully and which exploded. They never made it home.” transformed. You come face-to-face with The bomb levelled buildings and quickly progressed up the corporate your mortality and you see who you are shattered windows several blocks away. ladder in Sydney, until she was the general and what you are. What I’ve seen is people Many of us can recall the faces of frantic manager of the world’s largest recruitment believe they aren’t good enough. I was victims running for safety; the debris and organisation at the ripe age of 29. working so hard and pushing so hard sadness that splashed across the news “Everything I have done in my life, I have because I needed to make a difference in channels and newspapers across the world. done out of pure passion and curiosity of the world, but I got to a point where I didn’t But hearing firsthand about the attack, desire, which I think has been a big part have it in me anymore.” from a survivor, sends chills down your to my recipe of success over the years,” As Carren burnt out, she took a break arms, as Carren describes how she fought says Carren. to recoup and find her energy. But it was her way out of the bodies and into chaos in From here, however, her life took an in this downtime that steered Carren in search of help. unexpected turn after tragically losing her the direction of Spirit Hive – a world-first Carren’s skull was crushed in the incident. partner to suicide. She was totally unaware charity that acts as a haven for those She was rushed back to Australia for of any problems and totally unprepared for suffering life’s challenges. surgery, with doctors fearing she would “Spirit Hive played out to me like a movie the devastating loss. develop epilepsy from her injuries. one morning. I thought, ‘kay, I am just going “I didn’t have a clue. He was in the movie “When I found out that I had been in a to follow the inspiration every day’,” she says. industry and we had been together for terrorist attack, and Jody and Sharmain Spirit Hive is not a church and it’s not-forabout eight years,” she says. “He had gone had both been killed, I thought, ‘If I get profit. It is an organisation that moves the away to make a movie and when he came epilepsy, then that’s what I deserve, minds of millions through self awareness, back he was very different. I thought it was because I went to take my own life and I am self discovery and support. It offers crisis a problem with me and that he didn’t love the only one who came home – completely services, free of charge, for those in their me anymore and he had met someone else.” undeserving’,” says Carren. greatest hour of need, suffering anxiety, After her partner passed away, depression, addiction or suicide. devastation washed over her. The “I know if someone is suicidal, next 12 months became a journey they are not going to wait two of depression and pain as she “WHAT I’VE SEEN IS PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY weeks to see a psychologist or dealt with the turmoil. Carren AREN’T GOOD ENOUGH. I WAS WORKING psychiatrist,” explains Carren. subsequently made a decision SO HARD AND PUSHING SO HARD BECAUSE The World Health that she too would end her own Organisation reports that one life, in Bali, on the anniversary of I NEEDED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE person commits suicide every 40 her partner’s death. Her two best WORLD, BUT I GOT TO A POINT WHERE I seconds and by the year 2020 it’s friends boarded the plane with expected to be every 20 seconds. her, unaware of her intentions.

DIDN’T HAVE IT IN ME ANYMORE.” It’s a staggering statistic that “I had already taken my needs addressing urgently, life before I flew to Bali…

The weight of guilt on her shoulders, and something Carren says she couldn’t live emotionally,” explains Carren. feeling responsible for causing not one, with without trying to help.

“It never even occurred to me the pain but now three deaths, meant the next six And help she has. Spirit Hive has today I was going to put my family through and years carried for her an arduous task of branched out across to the Gold Coast, my friends.” learning to deal with her loss that she felt Toowoomba, Newcastle, Brisbane and the On the 12th October, 2002, Carren and she had caused. But what it also gave her Sunshine Coast, helping dozens of families her girlfriends went for a night out at the was a clear definition of what she wanted, change their lives. Astonishingly, it’s the first tourist district of Kuta, to the Sari Club. The moving away from taking her own life to organisation of its kind in the world that’s events that followed completely changed fighting for it. trying to make a difference in this area. the direction of her life. In the following “As I share this story, there are still parts “The recipe for us is about changing the hours, three bombs went off in the district, way people think, question their belief I feel complexed, that it was me. As I sit killing more than 200 people, including system and their reasoning. Had there here now under the shaded trees near the 88 Australians. been a Spirit Hive, it would have been my Boat Shed in Cotton Tree, I still can’t quite “I was blown backwards onto the dance life raft.” believe that was me.” floor, which later I discovered was like a The next chapter of her life led Carren human grave. Because the bomb blew a on a huge journey of self discovery, using huge whole in the middle of the Sari Club SPIRIT HIVE COMES TO THE SUNSHINE her personal experiences and group and I was blown into the bottom of the pit.

COAST ON 3 MARCH AND 7 APRIL coaching to speak with more than 650,000 The only reason I survived was because all people around the world, trying to save the bodies landed on top of me. Then the For 24/7 crisis or suicide prevention and inspire people who were feeling what roof landed on top of them, which was on support, please call Lifeline on 131 114 or visit lifeline.org.au/gethelp she once felt. She was working incredibly fire,” recalls Carren. hard to turn a negative into a positive.

“My girlfriends were there, and what we

CIRCA good, honest food

Nestled in the heart of Cooroy is where you’ll find Circa – a reformed 1930s car dealership whose character lives on through exposed brick walls and rustic ceiling beams in a new incarnation.

Circa is a French-style bakery and woodfired pizzeria known for its good, honest food.

You’ll need to work up an appetite because Circa, along laid-back Maple Street in Cooroy, with its own onsite roastery, serves up not only great coffee, but the Frenchstyle bakery is also home to some of the sweetest treats on the Coast, especially its warm flakey Croissants. But the delicious offerings shouldn’t really come as a surprise, because Circa is the brainchild of Craig and Maeva McCabe, who also own Felix, on Hastings Street, Noosa, and République at Noosa Junction.

“We love food and, when I came to Australia, I found it really hard to find good bread and good pastry. If we had one good French patisserie in Noosa it would go really well. So we opened up République,” says Maeva.

Craig adds: “I was the head chef at Noosa Waterfront Restaurant in 2010, and then, after almost four years, we saw a space that came available at the Junction and I had a baking background, so we tried to make that transition from working restaurants and nightlife to more day time hours to suit with the kids.”

Maeva works hard creating restaurants that all serve up good-sized portions of delicious food. After living in Cooroy for the last six years, raising their family, Nina, 8, twins Marco and Matteo, 6, and Gisele, 1, the duo decided it was time to expand their business into the hinterland.

“Living in Cooroy, we fell in love with the town, it’s a busy little town. It has plenty of character and it’s well-serviced and an easy drive to Noosa. We thought this would be a really good opportunity to put a good footprint down here,” says Craig.

It’s been no easy feat for the pair. Craig says the real driver behind the businesses is Maeva.

“It has been really hard. I had my parents come over and help with the kids,” says Maeva. “You always feel guilty as a mum, but when I wasn’t at the shop I didn’t like it, as I’m a bit of a control freak, I like things done my way. It’s all about finding that balance.”

“She has only just started to step back from working on the floor to have more

MAEVA MCCABE

time to do advertising and social media,” says Craig.

The pair fell in love with the 1930s style car dealership, the old Madill garage, which has been gorgeously renovated, boasting an ornate granite bar in the restaurant, exposed brick walls and beams and a stylish patisserie, welcoming locals and destination diners seven days a week.

“I RECOMMEND THE VANILLA SLICE, THE ECLAIRS ARE BEAUTIFUL, CIRCA ESPRESSO COFFEE IS AMAZING AND EVERYTHING IS MADE ONSITE, INCLUDING THE BREAD. THE PIZZA AND LAMB DISH WITH RATATOUILLE IS GOOD, HONEST FOOD.” “We have had people come in and say, ‘We have been waiting 30 years for something like this’,” says Craig.

Maeva adds,“I recommend the vanilla slice, the eclairs are beautiful, Circa

espresso coffee is amazing and everything is made onsite, including the bread. The pizza and lamb dish with ratatouille is good, honest food.”

“We now have the company at a place where we have good managers in place and we can have time with our kids as a family.”

Already, two weddings are booked for the end of the year at this trendy new restaurant, with plans to turn the terrace into a beer garden with vine arbor, so book a table today.

CIRCA COOROY | 34 MAPLE ST OPEN 7 DAYS PHONE: 5472 0061 INSTAGRAM - NOVELLUSGROUP NOVELLUSGROUP.COM

Monroe Design on display at Aura City of Colour

Limited Release Terrace Homes From $318,000 Minimum maintenance and maximum lifestyle is what the Terrace Collection is all about.

Enjoy the comforts of a full sized home on a terrace allotment with width sizes starting from 4m and going up to 8m wide.

With internal courtyards perfect for entertaining, front or rear entry double garage options, large gourmet kitchens and open plan living, there is a multitude of designs constantly evolving to suit all sizes of allotments.

High ceilings and internal voids in the well-designed layouts ensure excellent light exposure to these modern and contemporary home designs. You’ll miss out on nothing when you buy a Terrace Collection home, except mowing the lawns!

HOUSE & LAND SPECIALS FOR MARCH

2 Bedroom Terrace Homes From $318,000 3 Bedroom Terrace Homes From $369,900 4 Bedroom Terrace Homes From $448,900

With no body corporate to worry about, the Terrace Collection is the perfect solution for a busy family, professionals or retirees. Easy to live in and easy to lock up and leave.

Speak to us today to create a home you can be truly proud of 1300 981 820 | vantagehomesqld.com.au

22

PROFILE | COVER STORY MELISSA AMBROSINI

PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 23

LIFE amongst the

TREE TOPS WORDS HAYLEY WRIGHT PHOTOS BAYLEIGH VEDELAGO

Splitting her time between Noosa and Bondi, Melissa Ambrosini opens up to Profile about moving into her dream home in Noosa, after renovating the ‘Tree House’ to be toxic-free and organic.

Here we reveal Melissa’s journey to creating her very own wellness sanctuary.

L

et’s take a leaf out of Melissa’s book – ‘pour yourself a cuppa, get comfy and let’s get to know each other’.

In this case, let’s get to know the woman, motivational speaker, podcaster, queen of self-love and bestselling author of two books, Melissa Ambrosini.

“My mission is to help women create a vibrant, fulfilling life — one that you’re actually excited to get out of bed in the morning for, and that genuinely makes you feel like the stunning, powerful being you are,” says Melissa.

The Sunshine Coast local splits her time between the Noosa Farmers Markets to bustling Bondi, with plans to eventually make the Coast home.

“We haven’t actually moved to the Sunshine Coast entirely, we still have our Bondi apartment and we will keep that until Leo, my bonus son, finishes high school, then we will move to Noosa full time. But how could you not want to live here? It’s stunning!”

Melissa and her musician hubby Nick Broadhurst moved into what they describe as their dream home, after an eight month renovation that came to fruition last Christmas. A stunning home that’s nestled amongst the tree tops, making it the perfect all-year-round retreat.

“It’s called the ‘Tree House’ because it’s up in the trees, surrounded by birds, but also close to the beach, which is perfect for us because we love the ocean and nature. This home is our wellness sanctuary and I’m so excited to create many magical memories in here.”

The house sounds beautiful, serene and peaceful, with an energetic vibe, but it’s not just your ordinary home. No, there’s nothing ordinary about the way Melissa approaches her dreams. And since this is

her dream home, she wanted it to reflect her inner journey. So she sought expert builders to renovate the house to be toxin free and organic.

“Our aim is to live as toxic free and as organic as possible, so when it came to designing our home, that was a major priority for us. We used toxic free paint and glues and the most natural materials we could find,” explains Melissa.

“OUR AIM IS TO LIVE AS TOXIC FREE AND AS ORGANIC AS POSSIBLE, SO WHEN IT CAME TO DESIGNING OUR HOME, THAT WAS A MAJOR PRIORITY FOR US. WE USED TOXIC FREE PAINT AND GLUES AND THE MOST NATURAL MATERIALS.” “We used a non-toxic paint called Bio Paint which was infused with lemon essential oil for the whole house. It smelt amazing and didn’t have that toxic paint smell, which was great. We also used a nontoxic glue, a non-toxic floor sealer called Envirox. Along with all natural materials throughout, from the timber shiplap walls, white oak joinery, table and desk were all waxed with the Biowax.

“After all, we will be spending a majority of our time in there so we don’t want to be breathing in toxic chemicals. Our health matters.”

The home also has jaw-dropping silver Travertine floors, with smooth marble bathrooms. Nick was incredibly hands on and project managed the whole renovation

and was even on the tools at times. Melissa explains that the process, like many renovations, had its ups and downs, as Nick thought on his feet, and moved through any challenges with ease, as they both watched their dream come together. The pair worked with architect and long time friend of Nick’s, Dirk Anderson, from NDRSN. “He actually came and stayed in the house with us before we started the renovation, to really get a feel for what we can create,” says Melissa.

Dirk adds, “The home is surrounded by these panoramic views of nature and the interiors have been reworked with softer natural materials of stone, timber and textural furnishings to reflect the surrounds.”

He says the clean lines of weatherboard walls really mirror the character of the coastal location, along with the selection of striking charcoal finished joinery, making it a contemporary feel.

“It’s the contrast of tone, which tends to lead the eye towards the external outlook, accentuating an experience of being completely surrounded within the canopy of a tropical forest,” says Dirk.

The ‘Tree House’ is a stunning example of how you could be left speechless when seeing it for the first time, and that’s the exact reaction Melissa received from her family.

“They loved it. How could you not? Nick’s parents saw a lot of it during the process but they were still blown away, and my parents were speechless.”

In regards to the interior furnishings, it was important for Melissa to stay local, so she enlisted Clo Studios to help with the interior design process, in which the ladies sourced everything from the neutral couch, to the artwork and the rugs.

MELISSA AND HER FAMILY IN THEIR NOOSA TREE HOUSE. PHOTO BY NIKOLE RAMSAY

Having a home that reflects her ethos and lifestyle was important for Melissa to continue her wellness journey and get the utmost out of life, being healthy and happy.

“We wanted our ‘Tree House’ to not only be a toxic free home, but we wanted it to be a wellness sanctuary, which is why we have an infrared sauna from Sunlighten in the garage and a yoga room perfect for our daily yoga and meditation sessions,” she says.

While it looks and sounds like Melissa has her life figured out, she explains that wasn’t always the case. She says that in her ‘past life’, which she likes to call it, she was a professional dancer at the Moulin Rouge in Paris, an actress and TV presenter.

“I entertained quite a destructive path for many years, which looked a lot like this... Running around at a million miles per hour to avoid sitting with myself, travelling the world and living out of a suitcase, working way too much in order to ‘feel’ successful, not loving myself at all, I was highly stressed and anxious, drugs and alcohol were my go-to quick fixes, I was dealing with panic attacks and lived off champagne and canapés. And my anxiety would allow me on average four hours sleep a night,” she explains.

Melissa says it was only a matter of time before her body didn’t keep up and she burnt out. She says along this path she struggled with a long list of health problems.

“With adrenal fatigue, thyroid problems, high levels of mercury, serious hormonal imbalances, depression, an eating disorder, loads of vitamin and mineral deficiencies, SIBO, hives, candida, adult acne, eczema all over my body and a serious case of the cold sore virus,” she reveals.

“My body was screaming at me to stop.”

Through this, Melissa spent a long and exhausting time in and out of emergency and the doctor’s clinics, before she landed in hospital after ignoring all the signs to simply, slow down.

“In hospital, I started reading Louise Hay, You Can Heal Your Life, and it all started to click. It was like everything started to make sense. Looking back, it was such a pivotal

moment for me as the one thing I needed in order to work was my body and that was now taken away from me. It was the first time I realised that, if you don’t have your health, you’ve got nothing.”

This was the turning point for Melissa to get her life and priorities on track. She went on to study nutrition at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, coming out with a holistic health coaching certificate, before going on to study yoga, life coaching, energy healing and meditation. She read every self help and personal development book she could get her hands on to help her on the next chapter of her life. Along the way, she started sharing her journey and knowledge with others. Sharing that it’s okay to put yourself first.

“LIBERATE YOUR LIFE, STRIP OFF THE FEAR, WASH AWAY THE SELF DOUBT AND DRESS YOURSELF IN HEALTH, WEALTH AND LOVE.” “It took some time, but, eventually, I managed to climb out of the negative spiral I was in and create a life that I actually wanted, which means that, these days, I live every day from my heart. I choose love over fear,” she says. “I ain’t ever going back.”

The knowledge she consumed has paved the way for her career, a career she shaped to inspire people across the globe to activate their dreams and live life on their own terms. She’s gone on to be a motivational speaker and self-love teacher, also known as the ‘self-help’ guru by Elle Magazine. Melissa has also written two bestselling books, Mastering Your Mean Girl, and Open Wide.

“I plan on spending a lot more time in my ‘Tree House’, that’s for sure. This is where I plan on writing my third book, which will take place this year.”

And yes, Melissa has big plans for her top rated podcasts, which will come

thick and fast this year.

“My intention has always been to share all the wisdom, knowledge and inspiration that has impacted my life, that’s why I created my podcast The Melissa Ambrosini Show. And because my intention was pure, that’s why it’s taken off. We have had almost five million downloads in two years.

It’s awesome and I won’t be stopping any time soon,” she says.

“We have some epic guests coming on the show in March, so you won’t want to miss out. Make sure you head to your podcast app and hit subscribe so you never miss an episode.

“I’m still learning, and still getting the occasional ass-whooping from the Universe. And I love sharing all in my books, blog posts, podcasts, on social media and at my live events.”

It’s clear that Melissa isn’t just a smiling face with glossy hair, she has pure intentions to empower everyone she meets in all areas of their life, from health, wealth and love. Melissa is known for this very raw and true message – “that love is sexy, healthy is liberating, and wealthy isn’t a dirty word.”

“How we feed and treat our bodies is a direct reflection of how we are truly feeling about ourselves, ” she says.

Like her book suggests, Melissa is proud to admit she had to learn how to master her inner Mean Girl (and still does) and says she had to learn how to become, “wildly wealthy, fabulously healthy and bursting with love.”

If this doesn’t empower you, or get you off the couch and into some yoga pants, or give you the courage and strength to take your next career step, then I don’t know what will. Because every moment, whether it be listening to Melissa’s podcast or at one of her live events, or seeing the words jump out at you in her book or on social media, are enough to make you feel liberated.

As I started writing this article with a quote by Melissa, I will leave you with her lasting words…

“Liberate your life, strip off the fear, wash away the self doubt and dress yourself in health, wealth and love.”

PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 25

“LOVE IS SEXY, HEALTHY IS LIBERATING, AND WEALTHY ISN’T A DIRTY WORD.”

MELISSA AMBROSINI

26

PROFILE | FEATURE HARAS & CO TEAM

COLOURISTS WHO

care

WORDS HAYLEY WRIGHT PHOTOS RIKKI LANCASTER

It’s well known that beauty comes at a price, but, at the moment, it seems it’s also coming at a cost to our environment. Hair salons are sending more than 1.5 million kilograms of aluminium and colour tubes into landfill every year, a nasty statistic that was enough for hairdresser Haras Tarlinton to cut out waste and make a difference.

PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 27 Is your hair salon part of the solution or part of the problem? It’s a question that many of us should ask ourselves the next time we head to the salon.

On average, women get a colour and cut every eight weeks. Every week, salons turn over more than 7500 foils, and that’s not including the colour tubes and chemicals, hair clippings and plastic that also go down the drain and into landfill. While a pamper is often well deserved, salons are one of the biggest industries that generate waste that is potentially costly and damaging to our environment. It’s an industry that Haras Tarlinton loved, but she knew it needed to change.

“You see firsthand the waste. Even your hands were sore from the chemicals on your skin, even when you were shampooing,” says Haras.

“I was interested in the products, where they come from and where they are made. Ten years ago, when it came out that big brands and companies, which we thought were safe, that they were testing on animals, I became super aware about cruelty-free products.”

It’s from this training that Haras moved from Toowoomba to the Sunshine Coast seven years ago, with nothing more than her suitcases, seeking out a seachange. Two years later, Haras opened up her own salon, Haras & Co. It’s a space that encourages limitless individual style, but, when you combine the team, their creative forces make them leaders in the hair industry.

While helping clients discover their true hair potential was fulfilling, it wasn’t enough for Haras. She wanted her team members’ attitudes and ethics to make a greater impact and have a greener focus. It wasn’t until Haras stumbled across Sustainable Salons on Instagram that she knew it was right for her brand. Founded by Paul Frasca and Ewelina Soroko in 2015, Sustainable Salons collects up to 95 per cent of salon bins and recycles the waste for reuse.

“Ewelina and I created Sustainable Salons eight years ago after a very long drive around Australia – which, by the way, took four months and $7000 in petrol,” says Paul.

“We had many, very long discussions about hairdressing sustainability, and whether it was a product or a service that it needed. We didn’t know, and what we came up with was zip – nothing.”

Paul and Ewelina embarked on a plan to study the waste bins of 160 salons, in the hope that they would find the answer lying

HARAS & CO PEREGIAN BEACH

in their rubbish. To their relief, they did.

“We realised that salon waste had no place to go – except into landfill, or into a yellow council bin. Small businesses can’t actually put most of their waste in that bin, like hair or chemical waste, most plastic or fillers from product delivery,” explains Paul.

“I FEEL LIKE EVERY WOMAN SHOULD FEEL GLAMOROUS WHEN THEY LEAVE THE SALON AND HAIR IS THE ONE ACCESSORY YOU DON’T TAKE OFF. SO NEXT TIME YOUR HAVING A COLOUR AND CUT, ASK YOURSELF, IS YOU’RE SALON DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD?” Today Sustainable Salons is widely recognised throughout Australia and New Zealand, with teams coming into each salon and taking away waste bins to recycle. Paul explains that the hair trimmings from the salon floor are put into a specific bin; that hair is then turned into a hair boom that can soak up oil spills along our coastline. To date, Sustainable Salons has collected more than 18,900kg of hair, which, incredibly, can soak up 63,100 litres of oil in a coastline spill.

But there’s been even

more sustainable outcomes.

“Chemical waste is turned back into clean water used for manufacturing and building, rather than going down the drain and contaminating our oceans,” says Paul.

With 16,400 litres of excess chemicals recycled back into water, all of the salons’ metals, including foil (125,000kg), colour tubes and product packaging has been diverted from landfill and back into recycled resources. Haras explains, from a business perspective, it has been easy to adopt in her Maroochydore and Peregian Beach salons, but it has also led to much more of a personal attitude change for herself and team.

“My team is fairly young, under 35, and we all love the beach and the lifestyle here on the Sunshine Coast and we were all like, ‘This is our home and we want to look after it’,” says Haras. “Since we have implemented the change, my colleague Bethany Butcher, when she is walking along the beach, she picks up rubbish and has started recycling at home. It has made us so much more aware about what we can recycle.”

Offering a salon that reflects her values was important for Haras and her clients, along with many beauty and hair salons across the Sunshine Coast that have adopted sustainable ways.

“When I do hair I see it as a blank canvas. I feel like every woman should feel glamorous when they leave the salon and hair is the one accessory you don’t take off.”

So next time you’re having a colour and cut, ask yourself, when it comes to helping the environment, is your salon doing more harm than good?

You can find out which hair salons are sustainable at sustainablesalons.org

ANTONIA O’BRIEN, KENDRA BULLOCK, KATE MAYNE PHOTO BY MEGAN GILL

women 2019

the year of

in CONSTRUCTION You only need to look around the Sunshine Coast at the moment to see how dynamic this place is in terms of growth, both residential and commercial. Our best kept secret is fast becoming a wellknown destination for holiday makers and relocations, which means change… good change. For us at Vantage Building Group, one of the most exciting things about this change, is that more women are choosing to enter and work in the construction industry.

“Vantage employs the right people for the right job,” says Director of Vantage Shane O’Brien. “While we pride ourselves on this fact, we’re also exceptionally thrilled with the number of females employed to help us reach the calibre of work we do. In fact, 30 per cent of our current workforce is made up of women.”

From 2005 through to 2018, together with the accommodation and professional services sectors, construction remained one of the more stable industries amongst its highest competitors throughout the nation. Here on the Sunshine Coast, construction is the second largest employment sector behind health care and social needs.

With statistics such as this, it’s no wonder more and more women are attracted to the industry.

However, Queensland wide only 12 per cent of the total industry is made up of women. As an industry leader here on the Coast, we want to help pave the way for more women in construction, across both the trade and administration side of the industry.

Roles within construction vary greatly and there’s so many more opportunities available these days. From interior design and site supervisors to estimating, drafting, marketing, accounting, project management and the assortment of hands-on trades such as carpentry, plumbing, electrics etc… the prospects are endless.

“After 18 years in business, we are exceptionally proud of the name we’ve created for ourselves here on the Sunshine Coast, as well as the culture we’ve carefully carved for all employees,” says Shane.

Kendra Bullock has been working with Vantage for over 12 years as the HR Manager. She has recently evolved her role, following a different passion, becoming Vantage’s Interior Design Manager.

“Kendra has been integral to the direction of the Vantage product,” says Sales manager Kate Mayne.

“We bring together a design and building team to ensure our home plans suit the clients intended lifestyles.

“We’re about changing perspectives when it comes to working in the construction industry. When you think of construction you don’t need to see yourself holding a hammer, although no one here

“VANTAGE EMPLOYS THE RIGHT PEOPLE FOR THE RIGHT JOB.” Shane O’Brien - Managing Director of Vantage Building Group

at Vantage will stop you,” laughs Kate.

Antonia O’Brien has been with Vantage for over two years now, is a graduate of Curtin University with a Masters in Architecture, and is part of our Drafting team. For Antonia, the biggest attraction continues to be the achievements associated with starting with a bare, blank canvas and working to create a beautiful home, that in many instances, has a lasting impact.

“I enjoy site visits and watching the build come to life. The reality of the building site can be quite different, you learn so much from the site foreman and trades, that it really translates back into your future creations,” says Antonia.

The positives of a stable, ever advancing industry just keeps growing.

As the Sunshine Coast continues to move forward, you can be sure Vantage will be at the forefront of this growth, and as we continue on this journey, watch this space as we’ll be constructing our leaders of the future too.

VANTAGE HOMES PHONE; 1300 981 820 VANTAGEHOMESQLD.COM.AU

Just a girl boss building her empire.

I C O NI C E M P I RE S . C O M WE BUILD EMPIRES.

30

PROFILE | FEATURE

SOWING SEEDS of

knowledge WORDS INGRID NELSON PHOTOS BLISS PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEAH

ANNE GIBSON

It was a major health crisis in 2004 that inspired micro gardener Anne Gibson to start growing nutrient-dense food in her own backyard. Now, she is helping others discover the benefits of a more sustainable lifestyle, by teaching them to create their own edible garden to feed the mind, body and soul.

“These are for you,” Anne Gibson says, handing me what appears to be a rustic

bunch of pretty flowers, but, as I was about to discover, this was not your average bouquet.

“You can eat everything in it. It was all picked fresh from my garden this morning,” says Anne, proudly pointing out the array of edible flowers and leaves including nasturtium, pineapple sage, baby celery, sorrell kale, red russian kale, duranium spinach and rosemary.

“Did you know nasturtium is one of the most powerful antibiotics on earth?

Scientists have tried to emulate tromalat, which is a chemical compound in the plant, to see if they could extract the antibiotic

benefits, but they can’t copy it because it works synergistically in the plant.

“So if you have a sore throat or you are feeling a bit dodgy have a few leaves or flowers and within an hour you will feel better. This is a medicinal garden, it’s sensory, it’s beautiful, it’s fragrant.”

Anne became increasingly aware of what she was putting into her body when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer at just 40 years of age, which led to an insatiable thirst for knowledge about her family’s food source and how it was grown.

“To be honest, it was when I got cancer that was really the catalyst. I am actually

PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 31 grateful for that experience, which might can absorb in your body.” sound really strange. It came as a real But perhaps the most important shock. I thought, ‘How could this happen message Anne wants to share with the to me?’ It wasn’t until I was diagnosed wider community is that you don't need that I thought, ‘Wow, why was my immune a lot of space to start growing your own system not able to fight it?’ nutrient dense food. In fact, you can “I did an audit of our pantry and I went grow it just about anywhere, from a small through our trolley and realised I didn’t garden space, to a balcony, to pots on your know where any of the food came from.” kitchen window sill.

This realisation led Anne on a research “When I say micro I mean scale it back to journey, where she discovered the something that is sustainable for you to do key ingredient in within your lifestyle,” producing food with she says. the highest possible “It might be “I THINK THERE IS A nutrients – healthy soil. something like BACKYARD REVOLUTION “It was a lightbulb growing herbs in a COMING.” moment when I pot, that might be discovered soil health your starting point, influences plant or you might have a health, which basically relates to human balcony. I have some clients whose garden health,” she says. is all in the shade so we brought their “We just walk around on the soil and garden up to their decks and use their we don’t give a thought to the health of vertical space to grow close to it. There is food in the soil for plants, but their kitchen.” there are also chemicals, compaction, all And, according to Anne, it’s not just these different issues with our soils today.” your body that benefits from growing your So what exactly is nutrient dense food own food. and what are the benefits?

“I think growing a garden, even if it is on “If you look at these plants, you will see a balcony, has so many therapeutic effects glossy leaves and they are full of colour. on our psyche. The colours, the fragrance, Look at the kale, it’s really vibrant and it has it’s part of our healing and nurturing a crunch to it, it’s like it has a life force of internally through food and on the mind,” its own,” Anne says, pointing to the vibrant she says. bunch of edible goodness.

“I want to know the story behind my “Nutrient dense food is pest and disease food. I have so much more respect for my resistant because the soil has all the body now and, when you have had a really minerals the plant needs to grow into big shock like cancer, to me it’s the best healthy plants without pest and disease preventative health insurance. Everyone attack. Pests are just there to take out weak has an opportunity to do it.” plants, that’s nature’s way.

But a word of warning, it can be “Farmers measure nutrient density on a life changing.

BRIX scale, it means the level of sugar in the “I have to say, it’s quite a sneaky strategy leaves or the fruit or the flowers of a plant; to start with a pot because, once you start, when a plant has high BRIX, it is high in it’s quite addictive. It’s great for the budget natural sugars, tastes sweeter, the colours too,” she says. are vibrant, it lasts longer and stores well “I think there is a backyard revolution and has the highest possible nutrients you coming.”

32

PROFILE | BUSINESS

business & industry

EXPERTS

Compliance: Workplace Health & Safety and Quality

Royal Commission and Borrowers

Compliance is a word that should be embraced not feared. It allows your business to remain sustainable and ahead of the competition by focusing on continued improvement.

WHS: The acronym has been known as OHS, OH&S and HSE but they all focus on workplace health and safety. It’s legislated that employers are to make the workplace as safe as practicable. It also states the workers are also responsible for creating a safe workplace. By streamlining processes, risk management and human resources, you are a workplace that will be forward in WHS and reduce costs incurred from workplace injuries, fines from government agencies and be socially responsible.

Quality: What is it? And how do you measure it in your product or service?

Quality is a process intended to ensure that product quality or performed services adhere to a defined set of outcomes or standards. This equates to consistency of product/service quality and any defects/issues that can be picked up beforehand. Think of McDonalds – you know exactly what you are going to get when you order that cheeseburger. There is no deviation from the quality process.

What three steps can I take to adhere to quality and WHS standards?

1. A strong management system.

2. Policies and procedures that are aligned with the system.

3. Training for employees to guarantee compliance.

Chances are you have heard the debates going on very recently about mortgage brokers and the way they get paid. Most mortgage brokers are free as they get paid an upfront payment, by the Lender, once a loan is settled and then a monthly trail fee. The Royal Commission is recommending that the upfront payments and trail be abolished so that the customers pay a fee for service to the mortgage broker.

With over 17,000 mortgage brokers in Australia, industry representatives are lobbying across the country to ensure that these recommendations do not pass legislation. It is feared that this move may reduce competition giving the big banks greater market share, thus leading to increased interest rates.

For borrowers, it may mean paying a service fee to a mortgage broker which will be a percentage of the loan amount, or a fixed price.

Borrowers may opt to go directly to a bank for free, however in today’s’ lending environment, it may not be as easy. Borrowers could end up having to approach many banks to get the outcome they need.

Going to a mortgage broker gives the borrower choice straight up and can often save them thousands of dollars in the process.

For more information on the Royal Commission changes, contact leading mortgage broker Deborah from Aussie Dream Home Loans.

Christine Genocchio

Deborah Murphy

IMPERIUM CORPORATE SERVICES PHONE: 0408 788 829 IMPERIUMCS.COM.AU

AUSSIE DREAM HOME LOANS PHONE: 0439 772 373 AUSSIEDREAMHOMELOANS.COM

PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 33

Support for Small Businesses Did you know that the Sunshine Coast is home to more than 30,000 businesses who contribute to a strong and resilient economy that enables the region to grow as a great place to live, work and play? At the Sunshine Coast Council we are committed to delivering the Sunshine Coast Regional Economic Development Strategy (REDS) which is our region’s blueprint for economic growth and sets a goal to achieved a $33 billion economy by 2033. Council’s Local Business Support Team is committed to supporting micro and small businesses to establish and grow. The Local Business Support Team connects startups and established businesses to relevant information and advice on starting a business, running a business, growing and expanding a business. Setting up your own business can be an exciting time, but can involve a level of uncertainty and risk.

Before you start, save yourself time and money by being aware of what’s involved in running a business. The Local Business Support Team at Sunshine Coast Council works directly with local businesses to provide easy access to relevant information and offer the tools needed to successfully manage and grow their business on the Sunshine Coast.

ASSISTANCE CAN INCLUDE: • One-on-one client support meetings • Workshops to increase business skills • Key information dissemination • Referrals and connections • Access to specific market reports

Communication: 3 Steps to Ultimate Impact and Influence “I hope to inspire and motivate others to BELIEVE anything is truly possible. If you’re never given limits, then you think ‘I can do anything’,” – Jennifer Bricker.

Born without legs and abandoned at birth, Jennifer Bricker was adopted by a loving family who raised her with no limitations and one simple rule – never say the word can’t. Her inner-drive and commitment to bring positive inspiration for change resulted in her becoming an accomplished acrobat and successful speaker worldwide. Whether you are a budding entrepreneur or the CEO of a large organisation, effective leaders know how to step into their ‘no limitations’ so that they can inspire, empower and support others. In order to engage and influence confidently and authentically, communication skills are fundamental to creating your success.

3 STEPS TO YOUR ULTIMATE IMPACT AND INFLUENCE: 1. CLEAR CONCISE MESSAGE You stand out to others when you prepare, polish and position yourself.

2. IMPROVE YOUR LISTENING ABILITY “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” – Stephen Covey 3. UNDERSTAND BODY LANGUAGE AND NONVERBAL CUES Did you know this is 55 per cent of communication?

Jeanette Allom Hill

Kim Taylor

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER SUNSHINE COAST COUNCIL BUSINESSDEVELOPMENT@SUNSHINECOAST.QLD.GOV.AU

KIM TAYLOR ULTIMATE SPEAKER PHONE: 0408 714 088 ULTIMATESPEAKER.COM.AU

Becoming

community?’and I thought the best way was for me to share all of that knowledge, skill set and experience that I have refined during my career in the corporate world and with small-to-medium sized businesses.”

sus tai na ble everfocus with

From a leading global company to finding his work-life balance, Ryan Hollis, has bought his wealth of knowledge in assisting businesses become more sustainable, to the Sunshine Coast.

Ryan Hollis is a business leader that knows what good looks like. Being involved in world-class companies has given him a unique skill set that he’s now using to give back to his community. His expertise has developed over 23 years of working in many industries and covers a diverse portfolio of operational, commercial and sustainability roles.

“During my career, I have been fortunate enough to benchmark other businesses across the globe who are leading in sustainability. An example being a study tour of DuPont, learning about their business practices, which has been running since 1802,” says Ryan.

As Ryan’s global experience grew, he felt it was time to use his skill set and give

“I AM PROUD THAT I HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE TO GIVE BACK AND SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY. FOR BUSINESSES WHO BECOME SUSTAINABLE, YOU WILL OFTEN FIND IT CAN LOWER COSTS AND MAKE YOU MORE PROFITABLE, AS WELL AS ADDING VALUE TO YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.”

RYAN HOLLIS PHOTO BY BLISS PHOTOGRAPHY

BY LEAH

back locally. Ryan and his wife moved back home to the Sunshine Coast’s scenic hinterland, driven with a passion to see their community become more sustainable.

“My wife and I were living in Brisbane and decided we wanted to give our family a space to live and grow in a more natural environment, so we moved to the Sunshine Coast and built a sustainable home in Montville,” says Ryan.

“We were really motivated to live to our values and were drawn to the stunning environment here, as well as being excited by the Sunshine Coast Council’s vision which focuses on innovation and building a more sustainable region.

“That led me to think, ‘How can I contribute to and work with our

And so everfocus was born, offering consulting services to businesses and not-for-profit organisations that aim to be better by being more sustainable.

Around 10 per cent of their working time is donated as pro bono services each year.

“The work we do spans across many industries, including agricultural, manufacturing, tourism, construction, schools and retail. I often have conversations with people that sustainability can be a lot more broadly focussed than the common environmental aspects of waste, water and climate change, like good health and wellbeing, education, reducing inequality and urban development,” says Ryan.

“I am proud that I have that knowledge to give back and share with the community.

For businesses who become sustainable, you will often find it can lower costs and make you more profitable, as well as adding value to your local community.

Quite often I think there is a misconception that, if you want to be more sustainable, it will cost you more, but it is actually the opposite.”

And it’s clear that the aims of everfocus also align with those of wider society. Ryan says that 80 per cent of people prefer to buy a product from a sustainable business as opposed to one that’s not. It’s a way the community can be part of the solution by engaging with business who have like minded goals and value sustainability.

RYAN HOLLIS EVERFOCUS FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR INFO@EVERFOCUS.COM.AU EVERFOCUS.COM.AU

WHEN THE MASSES BUY IN POINT OF MAXIMUM FINANCIAL RISK

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44

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STYLING ON THE

wild side

Let us take you on an urban safari where strong, bold and vivacious animal prints from leopard, snake and even zebra, are making a comeback this season. Designers are taking a modern approach, infusing warm reds, burnt oranges with feminine silk and linen, allowing us to add animal prints to our everyday wardrobes. Add the pieces with block colours and don’t be afraid to mix, match and clash your prints – it’s time to take a walk on the wild side!

BOOHOO, FRILL DETAILED BELTED SUIT IN ZEBRA, RRP $50, AVAILABLE FROM BOOHOO.COM.AU

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PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 45

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www.mfac.edu.au 07 5477 3200 Buderim | Sunshine Coast

46

PROFILE | FASHION

TOP: DIVINE LOVE DRESS, RRP $290 THE DUCHESS HEEL, RRP $490 BOTTOM: MR MOUTARDE DRESS, RRP $550 AVAILABLE AT SASS + BIDE IN MYER MAROOCHYDORE PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY SASS + BIDE

PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 47

CINQ Á SEPT Sass + Bide’s Spring Fall ‘19 collection, Cinq Á Sept, conjures cocktail hour that celebrates summer’s last languid moments. The classic go-anywhere wardrobe offers delicate yet dramatic pant suits and feminine dresses. The collection heroes silk linen and crisp cottons with signature touches of metallic embellishments.

48

PROFILE | FASHION

MONACO NIGHTS JACKET, RRP $650 MONACO NIGHTS PANT, RRP $350 SECRET ESCAPADE TEE, RRP $220 AVAILABLE AT SASS + BIDE IN MYER MAROOCHYDORE

PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 49

PALAIS ROYALE CAMI DRESS, RRP $490 THE REVOLUTION KNIT JACKET, RRP $390 (AVAILABLE 11 MARCH) AVAILABLE AT SASS + BIDE IN MYER MAROOCHYDORE

50

PROFILE | FASHION

ABBY ROSE COLLECTION

PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 51

Moroccan

muse

WORDS HAYLEY WRIGHT PHOTOS AMY HIGG

A journey to Morocco has influenced the Autumn 19’ collection of Abby Rose bikinis. Sewing runs in the blood of the founder of the influential label, Abby Vuister, who designs and handmakes sustainable swimwear – a brand reflecting the slow fashion movement.

Our beaches are some of the best in the world, so it’s only natural that we leave only our footprints on the sand. But when you wear Abby Rose bikinis, you are leaving a lasting footprint; that is, a lighter carbon footprint. It might be an unusual connection, but the fresh, chic boutique in Noosa is doing just that, offering women of the Sunshine Coast and everywhere else, a place they can shop without contributing to fashion waste.

The designer and founder of the influential label, Abby Vuister, is a breath of fresh air. Her kind-hearted nature, mixed with her strong business mind, is reflected throughout her stylish label, which, subsequently, was founded after finding a lack of swimwear that she loved on the market.

“So, naturally, I started to make my own swimwear, which turned into me making them for my friends, and friends of friends too. After deciding that I could potentially make a business out of this, I began selling my pieces at markets and over Facebook, and it all grew from there,” says Abby.

Five years later, and the Abby Rose Boutique and studio came to fruition in Noosa Junction. From a young age, sewing ran in her blood. Abby studied design for a short time, which led her down the path to opening her own business, designing and hand-making ethical and sustainable swimwear. The label prides itself on being completely handmade; so much so, that behind the curtain in her shop is Abby’s studio where each style is meticulously designed, cut and sewn.

“This is obviously something that is quite rare to find these days and we love that we can offer our customers this. By hand making everything in our Noosa Junction store ourselves, we can focus on producing high quality pieces and creating a truly sustainable swimwear option,” explains Abby.

The movement of ‘slow’ fashion has made waves across the globe, with many brands making a conscious decision to

have a sustainable business.

“The more educated we become on the impact that ‘fast’ fashion is having on our environment, the better. Social media is amazing for educating people on this subject and I think it creates a sense of responsibility to fashion labels to start moving in this direction.”

While the ‘slow’ fashion movement is shaping the way brands approach business, for Abby the decision came naturally. She sources all of the materials ethically and sustainably from using recycled lycra for all of the swimwear, right through to using compostable postage packaging.

“BY HAND MAKING EVERYTHING IN OUR NOOSA JUNCTION STORE OURSELVES, WE CAN FOCUS ON PRODUCING HIGH QUALITY PIECES AND CREATING A TRULY SUSTAINABLE SWIMWEAR OPTION.” “Knowing that it was possible to create a label and our designs, from such readily available sustainable materials, we really saw no other option. We’re so conscious of the impacts that ‘fast’ fashion has on our environment and planet, and I always keep this in mind throughout the Abby Rose journey,” she says.

Currently, all of the lycra used for the swimwear is made from 100 per cent regenerated pre and post consumer waste – that includes discarded fishing nets, carpet, clothing and fabric scraps. They also use elastics, based on natural rubbers, that are a renewable and sustainable resource.

“Not only are both these materials sustainable, but they are of much higher quality than more commonly used materials, making for a longer lasting

product,” says Abby.

“I feel it’s also the consumer’s responsibility to start shopping consciously – not only with labels that are handmade or made from sustainable materials, but to start shopping for fewer pieces. Instead opt for higher quality pieces that will last and not be thrown out after a few wears. I also love reselling or repurposing garments, rather than simply disposing of them.”

This month, Abby launches the first drop of her Autumn Winter 2019 collection, with the prints and colour palette inspired by the hues and textures that Abby fell in love with on a journey to Morocco.

“We gather inspiration from pretty much anything and everything for our prints.

Once we decide on the direction we want a collection to go in, we create an inspiration board on Pinterest. From here we work with our local print designer to create magical prints of our dreams,” explains Abby.

“Our print designer will hand draw or paint elements for each print that are then turned into a seamless and always beautiful repeat. Once perfected, this is then digitally printed onto our recycled lycra.”

The ever-evolving label continues to create striking, comfortable garments that empower women, while also educating them on the importance of sustainable fashion.

ABBY VUISTER

52

PROFILE | BEAUT Y

the

essence of

OILS Many cultures around the world have used essential oils for centuries, for religious purposes and for healing the sick. Profile enlists aromatherapist of 27 years, Kim Morrison, who shares her knowledge and love on the uses of essential oils.

LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA From the vast purple fields of France, lavender is a soft, romantic flower. The buds from lavender were commonly used in Roman baths to scent the water. Now it’s best known for helping improve sleep.

Whether it’s a few drops in a diffuser or a drop on your pillow case, it’s believed to give you a soundless night’s sleep.

BLENDS WELL WITH: BERGAMOT, SANDALWOOD, LEMON AND PEPPERMINT

EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS The ever-green blue gum is an Australian native tree, which can branch up to 90 metres high. It’s this strong, robust tree that can help fight infection and boost immunity. If you put a few drops in a diffuser, the smell can help open up airways during the night and combat a foggy head cold.

BLENDS WELL WITH: CEDARWOOD, FRANKINCENSE AND GRAPEFRUIT

CITRUS LIMONUM The zesty flavour of lemons are the aromas of Italy – from being woven into the designer label of Dolce Gabanna to sipping the bittersweet flavours of Limoncello.

For centuries, Italians used the sour fruit for a wide range of remedies, the most common being organic cleaning products, health cleansers or making oils. The peel of a lemon is pressed creating a lovely aroma, which locals use for its antibacterial properties. It’s also said to help with digestion, mood and soothe headaches.

BLENDS WELL WITH: BASIL, PEPPERMINT, ROSE AND ORANGE KIM MORRISON

PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 53

We are a patientcentred practice where the focus is you. Covering your health care needs is our priority.

We have onsite pathology, psychology services, a fun and interactive children’s area and a friendly welcoming team.

ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS

MELALEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA

Originating in Spain and widely used throughout southern Europe, rosemary was considered by the Greeks and Romans as a sacred plant. They believed the plant’s oils brought peace and comfort to one’s life. Today, the herb is sacred in the kitchen and is also said to strengthen and stimulate memory.

Tea tree is native to the sunshine state and New South Wales. For centuries it has been used as traditional medicine by Aborigines and they would apply the crushed leaves to irritated skin for a cooling effect. It’s also considered the most antibacterial of all the essential oils. A few drops of tea tree in a diffuser helps combat mosquitoes in the late afternoon.

BLENDS WELL WITH: LEMON, CHAMOMILE, LEMONGRASS AND LAVENDER

ROSA DAMASCENA A romantic Bulgarian aroma boasting beautiful, strong and sweet floral scents.

During the middle ages, rose oil was said to bring balance and harmony, and for thousands of years it was used for skin care. Rose oil is known to improve mood and reduce anxiety. A few drops in a diffuser is the perfect remedy after a hard day at work.

BLENDS WELL WITH: LAVENDER, LEMON AND ROSEWOOD

BOSWELLIA CARTERII An earthy-woody smell is often associated with frankincense; the hardened sap from a tree also known as resin. Egyptians commonly used frankincense oil for perfume, salve to soothe skin and it was also found in Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb! The essential oil has a beautiful spicy aroma, which is thought to promote feelings of peace and relaxation.

BLENDS WELL WITH: PATCHOULI, BERGAMOT, FRANKINCENSE AND GERANIUM

BLENDS WELL WITH: LEMON, LAVENDER AND SANDALWOOD

MENTHA PIPERITA

CITRUS PARADISI

As vibrant in colour as it is in taste, peppermint is an acquired smell which was first grown in Europe. The flowering herb has a strong, clean, fresh and minty aroma. It’s also one of the oldest and most well known digestive aids, and is thought to boost energy. Many aromatherapists also use it to help ease inflammation in common colds.

BLENDS WELL WITH: EUCALYPTUS, LAVENDER AND GRAPEFRUIT

Our services include: • Children’s Health • Women’s Health • Men’s Health • Veteran’s Health • Travel Medicine • Coal Board Medicals • Occupational Health • Chronic Disease Management • On-Site Fracture Clinic • Pre-employment medicals

Bright and bold, grapefruit has an even punchier taste, with the citrus oils from the peel providing an invigorating and energising aroma. A few drops in a diffuser is the perfect way to start your day feeling fresh. The fruit is also renowned for its purifying qualities and is said to help promote clear, glowing skin.

BLENDS WELL WITH: BASIL, FRANKINCENSE AND PEPPERMINT

ORIGANUM VULGARE Italians have been using the herb oregano for centuries to add a pinch of flavour to their dishes, but its relish extends far beyond the kitchen. The herb has natural anti-inflammatory properties and is loaded with antioxidants; a higher amount than most fruits and vegetables.

BLENDS WELL WITH: ROSEMARY, TEA TREE AND EUCALYPTUS

Note: Oils should always be used with care. Consult a qualified aromatherapist or medical specialist for advice before using oils. Some essential oils cannot be ingested or applied to the skin in certain circumstances.

303/3 Emporio Place, Maroochydore OPENING HOURS

Monday – Friday 8:30am – 5:30pm Saturday 8:30am – 12:30pm

phone 5329 2105 OR BOOK ONLINE AT

eclipsemedical.com.au

54

PROFILE | BEAUT Y

Autumn

HUES

According to Revlon, these are the brunette trends that are burning up in 2019. As the temperatures slowly dip heading into Autumn, trending colours are getting warmer. This season you can expect to see rich honeycomb hues with ribbons of warm chestnut. The secret to nailing this colour is to have various depths to add contrast to your mid-lengths and ends. Ask your hairdresser for some hair painting or balayage highlights with a golden chestnut rinse over the top. The perfect way to maintain this colour between your salon visits is with Revlon Professional Nutri Color Creme to maintain your Autumn hues.

Here’s our favourite colours for this season.

Nutri Color™ Creme is a cocktail of colour, providing care and shine for your locks. The creamy blend combines provitamin B5, grapeseed oil, and a selection of ionic pigments keeping your hair healthy all season.

LIGHT COPPER For those with rich ginger hair, Nutri Color Creme 740 Light Copper works to enrich faded shades whilst providing a glossy, high shine finish. With active fruit acids combined within the cream formula, the colour delivers a smooth, full finish to keep you looking your best between salon visits.

FROSTY BROWN To maintain your classic lustrous brown, 513 Frosty Brown provides instant colour to your hair in a nourishing detangling treatment.

Ionic pigments interact with the hair improving gloss, revitalisation and repair. A nourishing treatment to enhance dull, tired hair.

DIRECT IONS: 1. Wash and towel dry hair.

2. Wear gloves.

3. Spread the creme with comb or fingers.

4. Comb through and time for 3 minutes then rinse thoroughly.

NOTE: Do not apply onto the scalp. If skin is stained, wash at once with cotton soaked in water and shampoo.

Queensland has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Early intervention is the best form of prevention, which is why our doctors at Cotton Tree Medical Centre provide state-of-the-art skin cancer care.

In addition, we offer services in all areas of general health and have been committed to providing the very best health care in a family friendly environment.

ASH BROWN Frequent shampooing can lead to your colour fading, so to maintain a deeper warm brown look, 411 Ash Brown is intensely pigmented, it’s expected you’ll see the colour working within three minutes. The perfect way to take all the hassle out of keeping your hair looking flawless.

LIGH T BEIGE Hydration is key to going lighter and is really important for your hair without it going brittle.

Nutri Color Creme 931 Light Beige provides a silky, soft finish whilst maintaining the hue of dark blonde hair.

A complex of active fruit acids penetrate the hair to provide much needed nourishment in between professional intervention.

Cnr King St & Memorial Ave, Cotton Tree OPENING HOURS Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm Saturday 8am – 12pm

phone 5443 3768 OR BOOK ONLINE AT

cottontreemedical.com.au

56

PROFILE | HEALTH

The making of a

STRONG WOMAN WORDS HAYLEY WRIGHT PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Ainslee Gordon lives with diabetes type one. She juggles being a single mother and full time personal trainer. She’s overcome many personal battles including domestic violence, but has used these experiences to find inner strength; strength that has led her to reach world number one in the Strong Woman competitions.

Ainslee shares her insight into how she stays uplifted.

When we think of being uplifted, we don’t necessarily think of lifting 235kg of weight, but for Ainslee Gordon, that’s all in a day’s work. In 2016, Ainslee was Queensland’s strongest woman in the under 82kg division, and went on to be the world’s strongest woman after lifting 235kg at the Static Monster competition. She then went on to be Australia’s third strongest woman in 2017 after competing at the Arnold Classic in Melbourne, and last year she became Strong Woman world number two. Ainslee has achieved all of this, while managing type one diabetes.

“While being fit and healthy is good for me, it does come at a risk. Some exercises push my blood sugar levels up, which comes with my adrenaline being heightened,” explains Ainslee.

“That’s why winning made it even more impactful, as I knew the amount of work that had gone into my training and a lot of extra work into maintaining my blood sugar levels.”

Ainslee was diagnosed at 35 years old, admitting she was ignorant of what it was and what it entailed, assuming it was something with which children were diagnosed.

“Initially, I just felt very lethargic and was losing weight, despite actively trying to gain weight, then I noticed that while I was reading my son bedtime stories I’d become very short of breath. I would wake up in the

middle of the night with a pounding heart, shaking and sweating, which I now know was hypos (low blood sugar). A fasting blood sugar test showed that my blood sugar levels were 38 and a normal level would be four to five,” says Ainslee.

“THERE’S SO MANY POSITIVE BENEFITS TO EXERCISING, NO MAT TER WHICH FORM YOU CHOOSE, BUT ONE WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME IS MENTAL WELLNESS AND I’VE RECENTLY ADDED OUTDOOR EXERCISE BACK INTO THE MIX WITH HIKING AND CLIMBING.” Ainslee grew up on the South Island of New Zealand called Owaka – very picturesque, rugged coastline with rolling green hills and native bushland. While the town was beautiful, her home wasn’t a safe place to be. She soon moved to the Sunshine Coast where she lives in Maleny.

Prior to being diagnosed, Ainslee had her now 13-year-old son Tyler, who she says has been a real driving force to live her best life, after coming out the other side of a domestic relationship.

“My confidence was at an all-time low from that relationship. As I built strength I was building my confidence back up and I eventually built mental strength,” she says.

Ainslee says her coach Rob Reed from Raw Power Personal and Group training was a real motivator into getting her back on track.

“He saw the potential and gently pushed me to compete. He had a huge amount of confidence in me and my abilities, a confidence that I didn’t have in myself. I showed up, I did the work, I trained hard, I didn’t give in and, when I didn’t believe in myself, I had to use his belief in me to get through.”

Hard work, commitment and

determination has made Ainslee the inspiration she is today. Overcoming hardship and using fitness to build her physical and mental strength back up has, consequently, led her to the world stage.

It’s a platform where she can inspire others who are also going through personal hardship and health challenges.

“I don’t think I’m special or extraordinary – you just do what needs to be done. Some days are easier than others, some days it comes down to prioritising what is really important and what needs to be done and you just do it,” she says.

“There’s so many positive benefits to exercising, no matter which form you choose, but one which is really important to me is mental wellness and I’ve recently added outdoor exercise back into the mix with hiking and climbing.

“Some days don’t go to plan, but you get up and give it another crack.”

They are words we could all use for a little extra motivation.

AINSLEE GORDON WITH RUSSIAN PRO STRONGMAN – MIKHAIL SHIVLYAKOV

PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 57

health & beauty

EXPERTS

Has your summer holiday caused pain to your heels?

Meditation for Maximum Wellbeing

As the holiday season comes to an end and we head back to work, many of us have been too busy and have neglected our feet. You may be feeling intense pain in your heels when you take your first step of the morning or after resting. This is most likely because you have plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is a condition where the plantar fascia (a thick tissue that runs along the sole of your foot) has been overused causing pain almost commonly under your heel. The cause is due to many factors including, flat feet, increase in exercise, poor footwear, occupations that require standing and tight calves.

I find many of us try and relieve the pain by adding cushioning under the heel in our shoes, however this is a common mistake that plantar fasciitis patients make. Cushioning the heel does not support the plantar fascia and therefore it’s still being overstretched. Treatment for plantar fasciitis is a case-by-case basis and treatment of the symptoms as well as prevention for recurrence, needs to be addressed. Alignment of your skeletal structure to create better function when walking and standing with Kinetic orthotics will alleviate the pain of plantar fasciitis in the long term. In conjunction with this; shockwave therapy, strapping and a stretching and strengthening plan can be made to aid recovery as quickly as possible.

If you knew that a simple 10 minute meditation practice each day would improve your self-confidence, clarity and decision-making abilities you’d likely be onboard, right?

So, what prevents most of us from setting an alarm clock a few minutes earlier each day to make time for this beneficial practice?

The biggest misconception around meditation is that to be successful at it, you have to sit still in one spot and for a long period of time. And it’s myths like this, that make us want to hit the snooze button.

It takes as little as 3-minutes: A great way to ignite a daily meditation practice is to start with a simple three minute meditation. You can use a guided meditation from apps like Insight Timer to start with and then try without guidance after a week or so. This will allow you to build up to a 10 minute practice over time. Meditation allows us to focus on one thing at a time and the attention is placed kindly, and curiously on whatever is unfolding, moment by moment. This creates space in the mind for you to begin to choose what you are responding to. Without attention training, it’s easy to get caught up in reacting quickly and habitually to events as they arise, within and outside of you, which often leads to regrettable emotional episodes and the creation of disease like stress, anxiety, and overwhelm, that can manifest physically into cardiovascular and other health issues. So, set that alarm clock and make time for this super-beneficial practice.

Book in and make an appointment today!

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58

PROFILE | HEALTH

Food fads AND

DIET MYTHS WORDS HAYLEY WRIGHT PHOTOS ADAM DOYLE

With so many diets and health trends circulating on social media, it’s hard to work out what’s good for you and what’s bad.

Profile enlists expert nutritionist and dietician Tess Keightley who identifies the health fads and diet myths of 2019.

TESS KEIGHTLEY

Speaking with Tess Keightley, it’s evident she leads a healthy and happy life. Growing up on the Sunshine Coast she says she was constantly in and out of the water, surfing or participating in Surf Life Saving.

“I grew up as a fairly active kid. My lifestyle now has a very balanced approach when it comes to nutrition. I like running along the beach and I enjoy pilates. I guess I practice what I preach,” laughs Tess.

After becoming a qualified dietician and nutritionist, Tess started up her own business, Authentic Spoon. It first began online, busting diet myths and teaching people about food fads, before developing into consulting.

“I want to be able to give the general public evidence-based nutritional information because I feel like there is an oversaturation by online, social media and ‘Dr Google’, with a lot of people promoting healthy eating and diets which aren’t necessarily backed by science,” says Tess.

Nutrition is a difficult subject to cover and is approached differently by all of us.

So what we are aiming to do is divulge the food trends and the dos and don’ts when it comes to nutrition.

“I am very mindful of how I do it. People have different views and opinions, so I look at the pros and cons of the situation and use my nutrition science to see how it will benefit your body or have a negative impact.”

Before we get to the fads, let’s look at the diets and how social media influences what we eat.

“There is a lot of pressure online – and we call it ‘diet culture’ – for females to maintain a certain body shape and size,” says Tess.

It’s important to remember, before criticising what you see in the mirror on the outside, isn’t always a true reflection of inner health.

“People think they need to be a certain size to be healthy, when there is a huge push in the dietetic community to say it’s what you are on the inside, not what you look like on the outside,” says Tess.

Flipping through countless magazines and scrolling Instagram feeds, there’s no denying we can’t escape the media models.

“A lot of young girls look at this and think, ‘that’s what I need to look like’ and that has been happening for years in beauty magazines. Now it’s become an issue with social media influencers doing products and promos with weight loss products.”

Tess stands by her motto that health should come from food first, before people take on diet shakes. Magazines have been promoting body image for years, before hitting social media. It’s the same with food, the latest crazes come and go. In 2017, it was the year of the paleo, last year we saw the Ketosis movement and this year it’s ‘fasting’. So are these fads any good for us? And are there any benefits?

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“Ketosis is a very low carb diet with make sure you are still getting adequate moderate protein and high fat. The idea is to nutrients that you need. When we remove severely restrict carbohydrates in a way that animal products, there are a few products your body can burn its fats,” explains Tess. we need to be mindful of, things like B12, “With paleo, people don’t have dairy, Iron, Omega 3 and vitamin A. Gluten-free which is fine as there are ways around bread does not have as much fibre or it, but there was a huge public health vitamins compared to a whole grain slice epidemic when the paleo movement came of bread. If I were to compare the two, in, where everyone there would be a was restricting lot more fibre and “THERE IS A HUGE PUSH IN THE dairy. We started nutrients in the seeing people with wholemeal slice of DIETETIC COMMUNITY TO SAY calcium deficiencies bread compared IT’S WHAT YOU ARE ON THE and Vitamin D to the gluten free INSIDE, NOT WHAT YOU LOOK deficiencies.” slice. If you are And, like the name celiac, by all means LIKE ON THE OUTSIDE.” suggests ‘fasting’ avoid gluten.” promotes no food However, Tess but water for three days. However, many is a firm believer that if it fits with your are opting to take a juice cleanse instead to lifestyle and makes you feel good, then eat keep the hunger at bay. it and, of course, everything in moderation.

“Fad diets are dangerous because they “I do keep space for treats, so if I want try and restrict whole food groups, which to have chocolate, I will; if I want cake, I will we try and avoid,” she says. have cake. So I have a very healthy lifestyle, So are these fads any good for us? but it is a very maintainable lifestyle. I really “Take the juice cleanse, the reason why it encourage that healthy eating doesn’t have works is because you lose water weight as to be hard or expensive, it’s about bringing you aren’t eating anything, but come three it back to basics. Be comfortable within days later, after the cleanse, you will go your own skin and body.” back to normal.”

Tess says most fads aren’t long term or sustainable, and when diets cut out certain HEALTHY TIPS food groups like carbohydrates (things • Vegetables: aim for five serves (½ a cup) like fruit, vegetables and grains, which are each day or try to include vegetables with really high in fibre) it can lead to bigger each meal. problems and nutrient deficiency.

• Fruit: two pieces of fruit a day provides “When you restrict food groups, it can vitamins, fibre and good sugars. create a food negative relationship and • Protein: lean protein provides a good can bring on eating disorders. My motto is source of iron and zinc about eating – all of the foods in balance • Fat: healthy fats like olive oil, avocado, and moderation and it’s something you can nuts seeds and salmon are great for you. enjoy and is sustainable long term. I ask, • Whole grains: brown rice and quinoa are ‘Can you eat like this forever?’ and 99 per high in fibre and nutrients. cent of the time the answer is, ‘no’, which means you shouldn’t be doing it.”

While we have covered the food fads, WHAT TO AVOID what about the more longer-term health • Highly processed refined foods trends like veganism and going gluten-free • Packaged superfood by preference?

• Junk food “If you are being vegan, I would highly • Eating out or ordering takeaway suggest to see a dietician or nutritionist to • Added sugars: cake, soft drinks, biscuits

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60

PROFILE | HEALTH

SOAK AND

SOOTHE

We often move self-love to the back of our mind, but there’s no better time to find your body bath ritual than right now – the health benefits are worth it! So grab your Profile mag, pour a glass of Rosé and enjoy a luxe bubble bath, because it’s time to get soaking.

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PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 61

BUBBLE BATH What better way to relax after a long day than in a soothing bubble bath? One of our favourites is Soak Society’s Bath Dew Flower Power, which combines the delicate extracts of magnolia, rose and orange, along with magnesium and larch tree extract, to soothe and hydrate your body.

The warm bath will help alleviate muscle pain and relax your mind and mood. You could also enjoy your ‘me-time’ with a glass of wine.

“THE WARM BATH WILL HELP ALLEVIATE MUSCLE PAIN AND RELAX YOUR MIND AND MOOD.”

they do vary slightly; traditional Finnish saunas use dry heat with relative humidity, while Turkish-style baths involve greater levels of humidity. Either way, sweating it out is known to increase circulation, reduce muscle soreness and promote relaxation.

INNER GLOW Needing a little facelift? A steam facial might just do the trick, helping you achieve fresh dewy skin. A facial steamer is an easy two-step process: the warm vapour helps loosen and flush out dirt and impurities that are clogging pores, while giving you a warm and fuzzy feeling. The cool mist then closes pores, enhancing skin tone and elasticity, leaving you with a glowing complexion.

SALT SOAK If bubbles aren’t your style, why not try a luxe-wellness soak from your own home?

Take some time and indulge using active Pink Kaolin clay, rose oil and Himalayan pink salts that help promote detoxification.

Float like a queen in your own pink bath for about 20 minutes (uninterrupted) for maximum benefit.

PENINSULA HOT SPRINGS

FLOAT SPACE It’s said that floating inside a float pod for an hour is equivalent to eight hours sleep... need I say more? Float therapy is a small pod containing a shallow Epsom-salt water solution, which is recommended to ease pain and stress while reviving your mind and body. It’s an hour of power that’s assured to leave you feeling refreshed.

SO STEAMY Saunas and steam rooms have been used around the world for centuries and widely known for improving cardiovascular health.

While a sauna and steam room are similar,

“SWEATING IT OUT IS KNOWN TO INCREASE CIRCULATION, REDUCE MUSCLE SORENESS AND PROMOTE RELAXATION.”

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62

PROFILE | HOME TINY HOUSE DIMENSIONS Length 6.5m Height 4.3m Width 2.5m

smart LIVING WORDS HAYLEY WRIGHT PHOTOS BLISS PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEAH

Sprawling homes are part of the Australian dream, but what if I told you the way of the future is taking our upsized lifestyles and downsizing it? Jimmy Hirst and Kimberley Palmer, show us the ins and outs of low impact living.

Jimmy Hirst and Kimberley Palmer are partners in life and in business; they lead a simple and modest lifestyle. For seven years Jimmy has poured his time, energy and passion into developing Polkadot Tiny Houses, a social movement encouraging communities to live in sustainable houses no bigger than your average living room.

“About a third of the people who live in a tiny house feel it’s not just a house but it’s a piece of lego that will help us downsize and reduce our impacts on the planet,” says Jimmy.

For years Jimmy worked in mass media as a ‘social engineer’ introducing electronic dance music from Europe to mainstream radio in Australia.

“I wanted to use my skills, which I learnt in media, to bring an even greater effect to society,” he says. “So that’s why I discovered and founded tiny houses and ecovillages, a more conscious and connected way of living, which is affordable.”

Looking around the living room, it’s easy to see minimalism has become them.

Kimberley explains that while they have essential items at their fingertips, living in a tiny house is about changing the way they approach materialism – what you want versus what you need.

“If you live in a tiny place you have to downsize, you don’t have space for three jet skis or too many shoes,” adds Jimmy.

As developers create smaller and smaller lots, trendy terrace homes and townhouses are becoming increasingly popular and are inundating the property market. While tiny houses are still relatively new to our part of the world, the ‘tiny movement’ has gained international attention, with America, Europe and Asia leading the charge.

“Portland in Oregon in the US is definitely a place that is regarded as an epicentre,” says Jimmy. “And the West

Coast of America, being California, they’re all really into tiny houses.”

The influence of Japanese architecture is also being infused through style and design in modern homes. The trend and culture offers people simplicity, not just to declutter their homes but their lives.

“The Japanese already live in tiny houses and they have proven with its large population, that their small apartments, the size of a tiny house, can cater for the whole family,” says Jimmy.

While compact living questions our traditional values, it also challenges architects to create functionality within limited spaces. Designers like Kimberley are constantly looking at ways to repurpose rooms – transforming a bedroom into an office or living room.

Maximising space is one thing, but how do you make a functional house feel ‘homely’? For years, Kimberley has dedicated her time researching new ways to maintain the essence of a home. Now her work has almost come to fruition as the four walls to their own tiny house go up.

Kimberley smiles as she shows me the

PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 63

JIMMY HIRST AND KIMBERLEY PALMER

with advanced technologies to reduce floor plans of their new abode, comprising energy consumption and will eventually a queen size bedroom that’s separated by have integrated smart lightning. There are the kitchen, with a bathroom. also some firsts; a compostable toilet and “On one of the sliding doors (in the an atmospheric water system, which takes bathroom) will be a moving vanity so when the humidity out of the air and converts it the doors are closed you can still put on to filtered drinking water. your make-up, there is also a little sink,” You would think says Kimberley. a state-of-the-art “Underneath the “ABOUT A THIRD OF THE home like this bed is storage where PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN A TINY would have a big you can put your price tag, but even seasonal clothes.

HOUSE FEEL IT’S NOT JUST that’s tiny! Jimmy While either side of A HOUSE BUT IT’S A PIECE says they start the bed has flooraround $30,000 to-ceiling hanging OF LEGO THAT WILL HELP US and can go up to space and drawers.”

DOWNSIZE AND REDUCE OUR the price of a luxury The pair says IMPACTS ON THE PLANET.” caravan, $100,000. going green has “What is more been an important alluring?”, asks Jimmy. “A cute little tiny decision from design to construction, house with a loft? Or just a deposit on a allowing the couple to reduce their mortgage which you are going to be stuck footprint on space and energy. The with for 30 years?” building materials have been recycled It sounds too good to be true! If these (where possible) and once complete, homes are so popular and affordable, why the house has the option to go off the haven’t we seen more of them? Jimmy says grid and be powered by solar. It’s a it’s a big ‘grey area’ when it comes to how sustainable but smart home, fitted out

the state and local governments categorise tiny houses. The problem they have is a tiny house can be fixed on land or have wheels to be towed.

“The hard and fast rule at the moment is a tiny house is a caravan and a caravan is allowed to stay on a property on the Sunshine Coast for up to six weeks without needing an approval,” says Jimmy. “If the house is fixed, you need to own your property and it must comply with current building regulations.

“The thing is, it’s an attitudinal change which a lot of younger people and middle aged people are being forced to confront due to the economy.”

In the meantime, Jimmy and Kimberley are working to educate communities, councils and the State Government around what flexible, sustainable and smart living looks like and how it can be used for the benefit of our environment moving forward into the future.

64

PROFILE | HOME

Stylish AND

SUSTAINABLE WORDS HAYLEY WRIGHT PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Nestled amongst bushland, pulsing with natural watercourses, it’s evident from the first look that this Lake Macdonald property was made to blend comfortably in its natural environment. Built and designed by Josh Martin, we unearth what makes this home so special and sustainable.

LAKE MACDONALD PROPERTY

Day in day out, Josh Martin is a man who works hard. He admits he needs to be kept busy, using his skills and trade to build not just homes but his business, Josh Martin Design and Constructions.

“By the age of 18, I was a fully qualified carpenter. My job was my passion,” says Josh.

That passion continued over the next 26 years, designing many unique homes that capture the region’s coastal sea breezes and natural environments.

“I wake up pumped for the day and get a real buzz out of seeing my client’s dream homes become a reality,” he says.

He isn’t shy to say he is a perfectionist with his buildings reflecting confidence, experience and professionalism qualities that are also mirrored in the dedicated builder.

“In my experience, I have seen both successful and unsuccessful builders, and the most important rule I learned was to keep quality in all you do,” he explains.

“This has always been my mantra and, so far, it has treated me and my clients well.”

What’s important to Josh is making sure his designs reflect their surroundings, taking into consideration the dwelling and the land. Many of his projects are on sloping blocks, residential areas and in the hinterland.

“All of these environments have special consideration during the design process.

It’s great working with a range of different sites, each one having their own unique challenges,” says Josh.

There’s no doubt building is difficult and has its challenges, but for Josh the hard work has paid off. Last year, he was honoured and proud to receive the Queensland Master Builders Excellence in Sustainability award for the stunning Lake Macdonald residence.

“I WAKE UP PUMPED FOR THE DAY AND GET A REAL BUZZ OUT OF SEEING MY CLIENT’S DREAM HOMES BECOME A REALITY.” “Knowing that my first house as a builder was given recognition with these credentials has only encouraged me to keep fulfilling my career aspirations to be a successful and renowned builder,” he says.

“There are many talented builders out there and to be chosen for this award was a humbling experience.”

The home is steeped with natural beauty from the outside in, and from design to inception, sustainability was imperative to the project. It was built with rammedearth, which helps regulate temperatures and noise, improve strength and durability

and, essentially, make the house low maintenance. The house also runs off 12kw solar units and has two 25,000-litre rainwater tanks.

“The home has a Blackbutt timber floor in the living, dining, kitchen area, which is milled from a sustainable plantation along with the hand-crafted timber trusses.”

LED lights are also used throughout the home, with an energy efficiency rating between 80 to 90 per cent, providing longevity.

“I think, as a society, we are all more aware of the impacts we are making daily.

Even the smallest of considerations when it comes to building or renovating a home, such as lighting choices, can help improve a person’s ecological footprint,” says Josh.

Building with comfort and the future in mind, our homes play a vital role in reducing our carbon footprint. There are things we can all do around our own homes to make them more sustainable and cost efficient.

“Depending on cost, you can make small and large changes to your home to create a more sustainable dwelling - change to energy saving bulbs, install solar panels, use local materials, use thermal blackout curtains, the list goes on.

“Any form of change can help make a difference.”

They’re all smart ideas to consider when we purchase or build our next home.

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PROFILE | HOME

NEW SEASON

trends

PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 67

Forget ‘cookiecutter’ styles this season. Sunshine Coast interior designer Kate Gillard reveals her top five trends to transform your home. From earthy tones to reviving Art Deco, this style edit has something for every home.

As a new season brings about change, it might be the perfect time to look beyond just your usual clean and focus on giving your home a new look. Profile enlists the help of Sunshine Coast and Brisbane-based Studio Collective interior designer, Kate Gillard, who shares her industry experience spanning six years.

After extensively studying Interior Architecture and Interior Design and Fine Art, her eye for detail has led her to work across a variety of different fields, including visual merchandising, residential and commercial design, along with revamping hotels.

Delivering projects from concept to the final stages of styling is a major part of Kate’s role, along with knowing what works and what doesn’t. Things like understanding where to place furniture and art, and what colours and textiles, shapes and surfaces respond well with each other and the homeowner.

On that note, Kate shares with Profile her top five interior trends for this season.

SUITABLY SUSTAINABLE Using furniture and items that can be recycled, or made with repurposed materials, gives a home an authentic look. Don’t be afraid to use timber that has imperfections, it offers an earthy feel throughout the home while vintage or second hand one-off pieces can bring character. Sourcing sustainable items might take a little longer, but it’s a small price to pay for a healthier planet.

CORAL COLOURS The global leader in colour forecasting, Pantone, has revealed the colour of the year is ‘Living Coral’. The vibrant colour symbolises our innate need for optimism and happy pursuits. The deep pinky peach colour certainly brightens a living room space.You could add a pillow and linen throw over the lounge, or even a boutique coral lamp in the reading corner. It’s also a lively and spirited colour useful for revamping the guest bedroom. This year, we will see this colour populate everything from our instagram feeds, the runway and our interiors - it’s definitely a colour with which to get on board.

ART DECO It’s the European movement, which first appeared in France before the First World War, an era that influenced decades of architecture, furniture, jewellery and fashion. The movement revolves around strong geometric shapes and patterns offering opulence and glamour while setting the theme for the room. Kate says Art Deco will give your home an influential comeback with items including bar carts, metal furniture and tasteful feature walls.

Remember it’s all in the detail!

MINIMALISM As always, less is more - a rule that is simple but effective, especially when it comes to Spring cleaning. Keeping this rule in mind when you are shopping allows you to stop cluttering your home with pointless ‘stuff’

and save your bank account. Instead it will force you to question what you need and don’t. By ruthlessly Spring cleaning, you will find your home looks and feels fresher and also highlights hero pieces that need showing off.

GREEN WITH ENVY Greenery in a house not only purifies the air, but it’s a wonderful way of brightening a home. Adding a fiddleleaf fig in the corner, or maidenhair fern on your bookshelf, for instance, is aesthetically pleasing and boosts moods, while a succulent will thrive just about anywhere. Hanging ferns or potted vines are also growing in popularity, perfect if you have limited space and want to add a certain something to your outdoor courtyard or balcony.

SKILLING THE SUNSHINE COAST COMMUNITY A growing population, expanding infrastructure, a brand new CBD and soon, an international submarine cable – with so many opportunities available, there has never been a better time to be in business on the Sunshine Coast.

The Sunshine Coast has earned a reputation for being the entrepreneurial capital of Australia based on the large proportion of the population owning their own businesses, and with so many key developments coming in the next five years, local industry is only going to grow further.

But as TAFE Queensland’s Dean Sherwell explains, mutually beneficial partnerships and quality training are giving local enterprises an edge over their competitors.

“Quality, industry-standard training has the power to boost productivity and skills – which in turn can save a business plenty of time, effort and money in the long run,” Dean said.

“People often say, ‘what if I invest my time and money into my staff and they leave’, but what they should really be thinking is, ‘what if I don’t and they stay?’.

In his role managing TAFE Queensland’s Business Development team on the Sunshine Coast, Dean connects with the Sunshine Coast Council, Chambers of Commerce and local businesses to ensure that TAFE Queensland is responsive to the training needs of this growing community.

It’s a vital role that he says allows TAFE Queensland to keep its finger on the pulse of the region’s demands while it works to fill the skills gaps.

“While we remain dedicated to providing students with hands-on experience and organisations with training for their

employees, the focus is also about what training for the region needs to look like in the future,” Dean said.

“By being so heavily involved in the community and connecting with industry, we are not only ensuring the quality training of

Quality, industry-standard training has the power to boost productivity and skills – which in turn can save a business plenty of time, effort and money in the long run. future and current employees, but are ensuring that we are across new developments so we can address the region’s training needs as they arise.”

Dean has lived on the Sunshine Coast since 2011 and says although the region has grown and changed over the years, one thing he believes has remained consistent is the collaborative nature of local businesses, and how supportive the community are of local enterprises.

“I don’t think the Sunshine Coast will ever lose that quality; it may be growing, but we are still very much a tight-knit community that care more about supporting people they like and believe in,” he said.

“TAFE Queensland has been around for over 135 years and is the largest training organisation in Queensland, so we clearly know what we’re doing. But it’s our authenticity, and our genuine desire to help local businesses be the best they can be, that draws industry to partner with us.”

Discover study options at TAFE Queensland by visiting tafeqld.edu.au or calling 1300 308 233 to learn more.

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dessert LOST IN THE

WORDS NICOLE FUGE

There’s no denying it, dessert is my favourite. It’s what you’re left thinking about at the end of a meal, as the final flavours linger at the end of your palate and you’re left looking down at your empty plate wishing it had the magic of a never-ending packet of Tim Tams.

When it comes to birthdays and other celebrations, my mind always swirls with inspiration and flavour combinations, but sometimes I find it even more fun to whip up a delicious dessert instead of a traditional cake. For my husband’s birthday, I made two cakes (for two celebrations) and they were slight adaptations on each other. I had two white chocolate mud cakes in the freezer (thanks for the tip, Katherine Sabbath), and these formed the canvas upon which I built my flavours. The first was based on lemon meringue pie; iced with lashings of chantilly cream, a lemon curd drip, meringue disc on top and sprinkled with lemon zest. The second was even more decadent (and I’ve included the recipe below for you); white chocolate mud cake glazed in caramel, topped with macadamia nut meringue and sprinkled with white chocolate curls.

WHITE CHOCOLATE MUD CAKE 400g butter, chopped 500g white chocolate 400ml water 2 cups caster sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla 2 cups plain flour 2 cups self-raising flour 4 eggs Preheat the oven to 150°C and grease a 20cm round cake tin.

Stir butter, chocolate, water, sugar and vanilla in a saucepan over low heat until smooth. Transfer mixture to a medium bowl and allow to cool for 15 minutes. Whisk sifted flours into chocolate mixture, then whisk in the eggs.

Pour the mixture into the tin, then bake for about about 2 hours (until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean). Allow to cool completely in the tin before turning onto a wire rack.

Note: If you’re going to pre-make the cake and store to decorate when you have more time, Katherine Sabbath’s handy tip is freezing it. A mud cake can be frozen for

two or three months before it gets freezer burn. If you’ll be decorating the cake in the morning, remove the cake to thaw the night before.

MACADAMIA NUT MERINGUE 2 eggs 110g caster sugar Handful of chopped macadamia nuts Preheat the oven to 150ºC and line a tray with baking paper (because I planned to sit the meringue on top of the cake, I marked out the shape and size I needed on the underside of the sheet). Separate the eggs, so you only have the whites in the bowl (you can store the yolks in the fridge for up to 24 hours, they are very handy for making lemon curd or carbonara sauce).

Whisk the egg whites on a low speed until they become foamy and then increase speed to high for about three minutes, until soft peaks form (don’t over whip, otherwise the eggs split and become watery).

Add the sugar, one tablespoon at a time, and the mixture will become glossy and form stiff peaks.

Gently stir in the macadamia nuts, being careful not to knock the air out of the meringue. Spoon the mixture onto the prepared tray and create dramatic peaks using the back of a spoon. Reduce the oven temperature to 140ºC and bake for 35-40 minutes and then turn the oven off, leaving the meringue to cool and dry out for three hours.

Note: You can double the recipe and make two meringues, in case one doesn’t work out.

Once you’ve made the mud cake and macadamia nut meringue and both have cooled completely, lather the cake with caramel (I use Top n Fill because it’s easier and has a thicker consistency to ice a cake, but you could always make your own), then carefully place the meringue on top and dress the cake with white chocolate curls (I use a vegetable peeler to achieve long curls, but you can always grate chocolate for a different visual appearance). Serve with your favourite vanilla ice cream.

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PROFILE | GOURMET

Eat well,

FEEL WELL The Sunshine Coast is home to a plethora of eateries proudly serving delicious dishes that are low on food miles and high on taste – you’ll also find they’re good for you too. Win, win!

JUNGLE JUICE Acai berries, pineapple, passionfruit, strawberries, banana, apple juice and honey Twenty years ago, Raw Energy launched as a healthy food and lifestyle alternative, born out of the daily life of the Sunshine Coast. With a focus on fresh food made from real ingredients, they offer healthy and hearty all day breakfast and lunch menu, energy bowls, burgers, wraps and sandwiches, and of course their delectable choice of smoothies and juices.

RAW ENERGY 20 MEMORIAL AVE, MAROOCHYDORE PHONE: 5443 7322 RAWENERGY.COM.AU

AGNELLO (LAMB) PIZZA

2019 AND 2018 WINNER OF AUSTRALIAN GOOD FOOD GUIDE BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT SUNSHINE COAST

Slow roasted victorian pulled lamb shoulder, Greek feta, oven roasted capsicum, Spanish onion and finished with fresh rocquette and house-made tzatziki Can’t decide what to order? Why not bring your family and friends together and indulge in a share-style spread. With over 25 years at the forefront of the hospitality industry, All’ Antica offers some of the best Italian cuisine on the Sunshine Coast. The fully licensed restaurant boasts traditional dishes, all created from the best produce sourced locally, as well as imported ingredients from Italy.

ALL’ ANTICA 3/115 POINT CARTWRIGHT DRIVE, BUDDINA PHONE: 5444 0988 ALLANTICA.COM.AU

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MISO R AMEN Miso broth, pak choy, roast baby carrot, spring onion, chilli oil and wood ear mushroom Following a plant-based diet no longer means you need to deprive yourself, thanks to revolutionary eateries like Cafe Vie. Whether you’re a devout vegan or not, Cafe Vie’s menu offering is guaranteed to please, with breakfast burritos, waffles, burgers and baos. On the corner of Gloucester Road and Main Street in Buderim, make sure you pop in for breakfast or lunch soon.

CAFE VIE 2 MAIN ST, BUDERIM PHONE: 5445 3388

HEALTH LAT TES Charcoal, matcha, turmeric, beetroot and blueberry health lattes made on 100 per cent powder extract and steamed with almond milk; and matching health balls. All vegan, dairy free, gluten free and refined sugar free While Mint Buderim (and now their newlyopened espresso bar in Birtinya) is known for serving delicious speciality coffee, did you know they also offer a wide range of health lattes to nourish your soul? Mint also has a scrumptious selection of bites too, including protein balls and bowls.

MINT 8/67 BURNETT ST, BUDERIM 10 CAPITAL PLACE, BIRTINYA PHONE: 5370 9557

TACO Free range Rhodavale pork shoulder, house pickles, guacamole, chipotle mayo Hungry Feel Eating House is a place for you to eat well, drink well and enjoy the company you share. Hungry Feel believes in good food, served well. They use fresh local and seasonal produce with respect and their chefs source quality ingredients from local businesses and producers to keep their food miles minimal.

HUNGRY FEEL 29 MAIN ST, BUDERIM PHONE: 5477 1331 HUNGRYFEEL.COM.AU

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PROFILE | GOURMET

feeding

CHANGE WORDS NICOLE FUGE PHOTOS BLISS PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEAH

CYNDI O’MEARA

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Eating food has become such an automatic response that we’ve forgotten why it’s there in the first place – to nourish us, to give us energy, to keep us healthy.

But with chemical-coated ‘food’ continuing to dominate fridges and pantries, Cyndi O’Meara has ramped up her quest to educate the masses.

Cyndi O’Meara snacks on nasturtium flowers plucked straight from the vine, as she shows me around her happy place in the Hinterland. The self-seeding garden is abundant with beautiful herbs and vegetables, complementing the fruit trees planted across the undulating 60-acre property and a larger garden boasting heartier vegetable varieties, all of which feed Cyndi and her family. Cyndi’s eldest son, Brogan, also works on the farm and shares her ethos for fresh, organic produce, a serendipitous full circle movement, given Cyndi’s thirst for knowledge began when she was pregnant with Brogan 30 years ago.

“This all started because I had babies and I wanted to do the best for my babies,” she says.

“When I look back on what I knew 30 years ago and what I know now; and I was pretty ferocious 30 years ago; I think of the mistakes I made, but it’s because I didn’t have the knowledge, nobody had the knowledge and what I know now, it’s for my grandchildren.”

Cyndi’s home is humble, an old dairy with polished concrete floors, clay coated walls and second hand furniture. It’s real, it’s organic, and it couldn’t be more home for Cyndi, who dreamed of owning acreage since she was 19.

“It’s food security for my family, that’s why I planted the trees immediately, there will be enough food here for my whole family and future generations to live on and some left over for the local community, that was my aim; it’s for my family,” she says.

Originally from Bendigo in Victoria, Cyndi, who was also a fanatical skier, attended the University of Colorado in Boulder. Knowing she wanted to work in the field of health, Cyndi studied pre-med to tick off her science subjects.

“IT’S FOOD SECURITY FOR MY FAMILY, THAT’S WHY I PLANTED THE TREES IMMEDIATELY, THERE WILL BE ENOUGH FOOD HERE FOR MY WHOLE FAMILY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS TO LIVE ON AND SOME LEFT OVER FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.” “I took a class in anthropology, it was all about food and what we ate in order to get to where we are now, and how we evolved from hunter and gatherer, to agriculture and herding societies, from people who lived a vegetarian lifestyle to those who lived on meat and/or dairy,” she says.

“I found the whole thing really interesting, so I thought I’m going to be a dietician.”

It wasn’t until Cyndi was at the end of her Bachelor of Science majoring in nutrition, that she stopped firmly in her tracks.

“I thought, ‘This is bull****,’ none of this makes any sense to me. I had a guy, whose stomach was bigger than a medicine ball, and he’d be talking about nutrition and recipes and cooking and I thought, ‘This isn’t what I signed up to do’, so I decided not to become a dietician, went back to university and did two years of human anatomy. At the end of that I knew what the body needed, it needed exactly what I learned in anthropology – real food, food we’ve always eaten, traditional food.”

Cyndi, who was a vegetarian at the time, started following a macrobiotic diet (40 to 60 per cent wholegrains, 20 to 30 per cent fruit and vegetables, and 10 to 25 per

CYNDI O’MEARA WITH HER SON BROGAN

cent bean and bean products). She then fell pregnant and craved meat.

“I started eating meat again and from there I started looking at what was real food versus what’s not real food and that’s how I started,” she says.

In 1998, Cyndi wrote her first book Changing Habits Changing Lives, which explored the problems with common grocery items such as breakfast cereals, margarine and low fat milk, and exploring the healthier alternative.

“It wasn’t about moo-less milks, it’s about let’s get back to the basics of milk. Let’s make old fashioned yoghurts instead of yoghurts with flavours, fillers, thickeners and colours. And what’s behind the word flavour – 48 chemicals that people don’t even know. That’s what I taught and I just taught real food,” she says. Citing examples of paediatricians changing children’s diets to be wholly organic, ridding their little bodies of genetically modified foods and chemicals, and noticing an unbelievable improvement in their health; Cyndi’s argument for eating organic couldn’t be more logical.

“Everyone says it’s expensive, but the likelihood of you getting cancer or Alzheimer’s is far greater; you can either choose to spend a bit more time and money now for your health and ward off diseases, or face problems in years to come,” she says.

Walking around Cyndi’s property, sampling the bounties of her hard work, she explains that it all starts with the soil, an ecology likened to our own gut health.

“We grow microbes in our ‘soil’ and if that’s healthy, the healthy microbes live and the parasitic ones are pushed to the side, so we’re healthy,” she says.

“It’s the same with the soil, if the soil has microbes, worms, protozoa and fungi, it has this communication system which allows the plant to pull up minerals, it also gives strength to the plant so it resists disease. At the moment, what’s happening is we’re desertifying our lands, we have a drought happening, but they’re not talking about the farmers who do what I do, they’re only talking about the farmers who do conventional modern farming, using chemicals, have their land bare with very little organic matter, therefore very little carbon sequestering.”

So why aren’t more people doing this?

“Because they don’t know any better, they haven’t educated themselves in order to make changes. Once you know, you can’t not know. When you learn about what they’re putting on or around our food; for example, glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup (which is a patented antibiotic) that kills our microbiome, (the human ecology), and also kills the ecology of the soil,” she says.

“How can you buy food that has been sprayed with it? How can you buy a strawberry that has been sprayed with 10 chemicals and feed it to your child?”

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PROFILE | GOURMET

PROFILEMAG.COM.AU 81 HONEY TOASTED MACADAMIA NUTS AND CRISPY BROCCOLI SALAD

Health FROM WITHIN

We spend so much time focused on what’s going on around us that we forget to take a closer look within.

Nutritionist Cyndi O’Meara shows us a few simple ways to incorporate real foods back into our diet.

PECAN CINNAMON SPICED FRUIT CAKE 3 1/2 cups mixed dried fruit (I used oil and preservative free cherries, raisins, dates, figs, apricots, currants, goji berries and cranberries).

3 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg 2 tbsp vanilla essence Zest and juice of 1 orange 1/3 cup coconut oil 1/2 tsp seaweed salt 5 eggs 1 cup almond meal 1/4 cup rapadura sugar 3/4 cup emmer wheat flour, sifted 1 cup mixed nuts (I used almonds, brazil and pecans + extra pecans for garnishing) Optional: Add in ginger, turmeric, all spice, cacao melts, espresso shots to taste etc.

Preheat the oven to 170ºC. Grease and line a spring form cake tin.

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl until combined.

Pour into the cake tin and top with the pecans decoratively.

Cover the top with alfoil and bake for 40 minutes.

Remove the alfoil from the top of the cake and bake for a further 15-20 minutes or until cooked through yet still moist.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

HONEY TOASTED MACADAMIA NUTS AND CRISPY BROCCOLI SALAD SERVES 2

1 cup macadamia nuts 1 tbsp honey 2-3 large handfuls of rocket 1 head of broccoli 2 tsp turmeric 1 tsp garlic powder 1 medium sweet potato (peeled if it’s not organic) Coconut oil for cooking each ingredient Seaweed salt and pepper to taste Roughly ½ cup of pesto (visit website below for homemade recipe) Optional: 1/8th cup olive oil, 1/2 lemon or lime juiced Preheat oven to 200ºC. Chop up the sweet potato into your

desired sized pieces. Place in a bowl and coat with 2 tbsp melted coconut oil.

Line a baking tray with baking paper, and lay out the sweet potato pieces evenly (smaller pieces for faster bake).

Sprinkle with salt and pepper evenly, and place in the oven to bake for 40-50 minutes or until browned and crispy.

While the sweet potato is baking, chop the florets off the broccoli.

In a medium to high heated pan, add 3 tbsp coconut oil, and then add the broccoli to start cooking.

Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder and the turmeric and fry for roughly 10 minutes, or until they become crispy and softer. Set aside.

In a small bowl, coat the macadamia nuts in the honey, and in a medium to high heated pan, add 2 tbsp coconut oil and then the honey macadamia nuts.

Stir constantly until they have become browned and crispy just like the photo.

Once all is cooked, allow each ingredient to cool just slightly so it doesn’t immediately wilt the rocket.

Lay out the rocket, and then top with each ingredient evenly, sprinkle with salt and pepper and an extra drizzle of olive oil and/ or lime/lemon juice if you feel it needs it.

FOR MORE RECIPE IDEAS AND TO BUY BAKING PRODUCTS DIRECT, VISIT CHANGINGHABITS.COM.AU

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PROFILE | TRAVEL PEPPERS MINERAL SPRINGS RETREAT, DAYLESFORD

Girls

getaway

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Ditching the partner and kids for a weekend away with the girls works wonders for the soul. There’s plenty of laughter, bubbles, dancing, sometimes tears, and a lot of pampering, allowing you to return home feeling rejuvenated. Profile shares our top weekend destinations for every girl tribe looking to plan their next weekend escape.

THE BOUTIQUE GETAWAY Daylesford, VIC According to our sources, this could be the best place for a spot of pampering on your mini-break. Daylesford is home to 72 hot mineral baths and is renown for its range of boutique accommodation, shops and, not to mention, the food and wine. Just 90 minutes south of Melbourne is Daylesford, where you can check into heritage listed Villa Parma, a luxury self-contained Italian landmark, sleeping up to eight of your friends. The best part about this weekend away, besides wine and catching up, is the Mineral Spa Luxury Day Spa, a relaxing

haven with a detox box, lavender saunas and outdoor mineral spa pools. After a day at the spa, make sure you book into The Lake House, for cutting edge seasonal food overlooking magnificent views of Lake Daylesford.

ADVENTURE SEEKERS Lord Howe Island, NSW If you are craving a luxury Island escape but don’t want to make a long haul flight to get there, then why not consider Lord Howe Island for your next ladies weekend? This is definitely an island that offers both luxury relaxation and adventure. From lying on the sand to stand up paddle boarding, kayaking or diving a little deeper to snorkel, the water babies are covered. On the land, enjoy a spot of golf with incredible island views, or you can stretch the legs – Lord Howe Island is home to some amazing hiking trails. Enjoy a scenic hike up Mt Gower or capture the panoramic views from North Bay, or head up Malabar Hill overlooking Mt Gower and Lidgbird. After all those activities, rest the legs at Capella Lodge, the island’s premium boutique accommodation, commanding ocean views.

LORD HOWE ISLAND. PHOTO FROM DESTINATION NSW

CAPELLA LODGE, LORD HOWE ISLAND

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PROFILE | TRAVEL HOBART, TASMANIA. PHOTO FROM TOURISM TASMANIA AND KATHRYN LEAHY

DESTINATION DESIGNER THREADS Sydney, NSW If your tribe is in need of a weekend of serious retail therapy and your kind of relaxation includes happy hour at a rooftop pool, then this might be just for you. This destination is sitting pretty on the corner of Glenmore Road and Oxford Street in Paddington, home to high-end fashion and the occasional celebs. Brimming with home grown designers – the likes of Zimmerman, Manning Cartell, Alice McCall, and Scanlan and Theodore – this intersection is one of the most fashionable shopping districts, offering the country’s most polished threads. Sydney is spoilt for chic shops, but for a good dose of retail therapy, clustered along Pitt Street, there is an abundance of stores. If you can manage, carry your bags back to one of our favourite places, Le Rivage in Sydney’s Darling Harbour – accommodation that offers a ravishing rooftop pool bar that overlooks the city. Relax and catch up on that muchneeded girl time. You might even catch the weekend fireworks igniting the sky.

LE RIVAGE POOL BAR, SOFITEL DARLING HARBOUR, SYDNEY. PHOTO FROM DESTINATION NSW

THE BIG CHILL Hobart, TAS A short flight away and you feel like you are in a different part of the world; instead you’ve flown just over four hours and landed in Hobart, home to rugged beaches and green rolling fields. If renting a home is more your style, there are plenty on offer. Cosy up by the fireplace when the temperatures drop and enjoy a homemade meal, cooking together over a few bottles of wine, dance away to your favourite songs and end the night with a good chick-flick. If you need a little more charm, book into a bed and breakfast or quaint Fitzpatrick Inn. There’s plenty to see and do in Tasmania, like roaming around Launceston seaport boardwalk, drive around some of Tasmania’s heritage architecture including Government house before venturing to Home Hill Winery where you can enjoy the stunning views over a tasty drop and cheese board.

BEACH BLISS Byron Bay, NSW Just a three hour drive south, you’ll cross over the border and into beautiful, and commonly known, ‘hippy’ Byron Bay. It’s a place that is calm, casual and cool – a place that offers endless beaches, organic places to eat and farmers markets on alternate weekends, making you feel like one of the locals. Rent a house or beachside camp.

There’s plenty to do if you are looking for a casual and relaxed beachside escape. Some of our favourite picks for coffee and eating include Harvest Cafe, Three Blue Ducks and roaming The Farm. The fresh air and footpath wandering is likely to end you up at Spell – a high-end bohemian fashion house boasting stunning colours and patterns. End your evening by stepping into the Mediterranean-styled Mez Club for a cocktail specialty.

BYRON BAY. PHOTO FROM DESTINATION NSW

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PROFILE | TRAVEL

Weekend Escapes:

HUNTER VALLEY WORDS HAYLEY WRIGHT PHOTOS TARA WILLIAMS

If you are looking for a place to explore, indulge and invigorate your senses, then Australia’s oldest wine region might be the perfect place for your next weekend escape. Profile shares our insights on the premium wines, delightful degustations and will take you up, up and away over the many vineyards of the Hunter Valley.

KEITH TULLOCH WINERY

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MATILDA BAY BREWERY

HOT AIR BALLOONING OVER THE HUNTER VALLEY REGION

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

A short flight from the easy-going Sunshine Coast Airport will have you landing in Port Macquarie for a short drive to the Hunter Valley. We do recommend you fly out Friday night to wake up fresh and maximise every moment you have around the untouched natural landscape that is home to the Hunter Valley. One of the best ways to get around is by hiring a car and heading winery hopping, but if you are planning a boozy day out then opt for a taxi. Start at Keith Tulloch Winery, where the family-owned vineyard grows Semillon, Marsanne, Chardonnay and Shiraz, all planted in 1968 on the ancient floodplains of Rothbury Creek. Enjoy a wine tasting and sit out on the balcony overlooking the abundance of grape vines. We recommend your next stop be Tyrrell’s Wines, which has been Australian family owned since 1858, for a cellar door tasting at the country homestead – well known for Australia’s awarded wine, Vat 1 Semillon. The Hunter Valley has all the ingredients for a gourmet getaway, with four SMH Good Food Guide hatted restaurants. We recommend an al fresco lunch in one of the nearby vineyards, or Two Fat Blokes gourmet kitchen for a casual bite. For your next stop, drive down the road to Matilda Bay Brewery. What better way to finish a hard day of wine tasting than with a cleansing beer?

Instead of watching the sun rise over your balcony overlooking vineyards and bushland, you will be watching it from a hot air balloon. This is a must-do activity when in the Hunter Valley for the weekend. Fly high over the vineyards and countryside to see the region through the eyes of a bird; it’s an experience you will be recommending and, I promise you, it’s unforgettable! Once you have your feet firmly back on the ground, enjoy a champagne breakfast before using the day to explore this gem of a place. There’s a plethora of wineries you can venture to, or go horseback riding around the beautiful Molly Morgan Range, experiencing the Lower Hunter and as far North as Barrington Tops. Visit the famous Hunter Valley Gardens that span 14 hectares with 10 different themed gardens, all meticulously designed and manicured. All this can be done while indulging in cheese, chocolate and artisan products at the markets. When you board the plane back to the Sunshine State, you’ll be planning your next trip. With the Hunter Valley boasting 150 wineries to choose from, it will keep you busy for weeks!

SATURDAY NIGHT Head back to Spicers Vineyard estate, set amidst grape vines in a country style manor. If you aren’t wine-ed out, you could sample some of the fruits of the estate over a delicious farm fresh meal by chef Matthew Bremerkamp, in the restaurant.

You’ll want an early night in this romantic getaway for two because tomorrow we have plans to take you up, up and away…

HORSE RIDING

SAMPLING THE LOCAL WINE AND CHEESE

HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVOURITES WINERIES FOR YOU TO CHECK OUT • Hope Estate • Thomas Allen Wines • The Wine House Hunter Valley • Mcleish Estate • Tallavera Grove Vineyard • Brokenwood Wines • Misty Glen Wines • Oakvale Winery • Tellace Wines • Ridgeview wines • Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard • Glandore estate • Hanging Tree Wines • Margan Cellar Door • Pepper Tree Wines • De Bortoli wines • Stomp Wines • Tempus Two • Saddlers Creek Wines

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PROFILE | CULTURE

Great ensembles

GRACE QPAC’S STAGE Standing among some of the world’s greatest ensembles, The Sixteen delivers a sound-bite of heaven at Queensland Performing Arts Centre. While Silkroad Ensemble connects cultures in a roving musical performance. Two shows you won’t want to miss!

THE SIXTEEN – THE IMMORTAL LEGACY Celebrating 40 years in 2019, the UK choir The Sixteen is acclaimed worldwide for performances delivered with precision, power and purity. Standing among the world’s greatest ensembles as peerless interpreters of Renaissance, Baroque and modern choral music, The Sixteen’s tonal richness, expressive intensity and compelling collective artistry is drawn from

THE SIXTEEN

SILKROAD ENSEMBLE Inspired by the colours of the world and the rich musical language born from our cultural differences, Silkroad Ensemble has been described as ‘one big joyous band’. Founded by superstar cellist Yo-Yo Ma in 1998, the Grammy Award-winning super group’s performances are a vibrant and passionate celebration of global artistic traditions.

Yo-Yo Ma founded Silkroad Ensemble as a radical experiment seeking to understand the fear and insecurity sparked by globalisation. Bringing together musicians from many corners of the Silk Road, the ensemble creates a musical language connecting people and ideas from around the world. Performed by contemporary musicians from dozens of nationalities and instrumental disciplines, it’s a stellar performance that will have you captivated from the first note to the last. The lineup of nine extraordinary musicians coming to QPAC includes two of Silkroad’s co-artistic directors, Jeffrey Beecher on bass and multi-percussionist Shane Shanahan, together with internationally-acclaimed Galician bagpipe master and classical

pianist Cristina Pato, pioneering cellist Mike Block, multi-talented percussionist Mark Suter, Indian tabla player Sandeep Das, violist Mario Gotoh, Wu Tong, who has played the sheng and suona since he was five, and Kayhan Kalhor, who is an internationally-acclaimed virtuoso on the kamancheh (spiked fiddle).

Not only does Silkroad Ensemble unite international artists, but each show is unique, famous for its never-to-berepeated concerts. As continents and

SILKROAD ENSEMBLE

the passion of Founder and Conductor Harry Christophers CBE. The Sixteen’s more than 100 recordings reflect the choir’s quality in a range of work spanning the music of 500 years.

The choir has won many awards, including the coveted Gramophone Award for Early Music and the Ensemble category at the prestigious 2018 Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards. An Immortal Legacy is one of The Sixteen’s most popular programs and spans more than 500 years of British choral music. Composers from the 16th century, Thomas Tallis and William Byrd wrote at times of religious turmoil and national upheaval, producing magnificent works of beauty and musical mastery. Their legacy can be traced to some of Britain’s most celebrated 20th and 21st century composers, including Benjamin Britten, Sir Michael Tippett and James MacMillan, whose works complete this enlightening program. The incredible clarity of The Sixteen’s voices is a majestic match for QPAC’s Concert Hall.

WHEN: 14 MARCH 2019 WHERE: QPAC CONCERT HALL BOOKINGS: QPAC.COM.AU OR 136 246 cultures forge on the stage, guests will enjoy a night of Chinese and Kazakh music, Finnish folk songs, Indian classical, popular jazz, traditional Vietnamese music and much more. Performing their genre-defying music for the first time in Queensland at QPAC’s Concert Hall, it’s certainly a night to remember.

WHEN: 7 MARCH 2019 WHERE: QPAC CONCERT HALL BOOKINGS: QPAC.COM.AU OR 136 246

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MONT VILLE

through an artist’s eye

WORDS HAYLEY WRIGHT PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Large-scale windswept landscapes intricately created by the brush strokes of international artist Katherine Wood. For more than a decade, Katherine has expanded her work from South Africa to the Sunshine Coast, opening up her first fine art gallery in Montville.

With a repertoire of solo exhibitions in London, Dubai, New York, Australia, Cape Town and Johannesburg (to name a few), acclaimed international artist Katherine Wood is now calling the Sunshine Coast home, returning here after living in Melbourne for a year and falling in love with Noosa at first sight.

“When we went back to South Africa, we always thought of how we would ultimately love to one day live in Australia,” says Katherine.

“When we had our two daughters, Satara and Meagan, it became an obsession as to where we could give our daughters the best life.”

After many years of paperwork, they now call the Sunshine Coast home, but Katherine still splits her time between here and South Africa, where her career skyrocketed in 2002.

“We still have a second signature gallery in Knysna, South Africa, which we have had since 2004, and I return to twice a year to supply,” she says.

Katherine now draws a lot of her inspiration from Australia’s rugged landscapes and stormy seas.

“I use the sky in landscapes as my main theme, as it’s infinite and not only infinite but also infinitely changing – the perfect subject of abstract expression. My philosophy is that everything is made up of energy, we can never be disconnected from everything around us because we are all made of the same thing,” she explains.

With more than 30 private galleries on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, it’s no wonder she snapped up the opportunity to

open her first Australian gallery in Montville.

“We love the once-off uniqueness of Montville, the other existing art galleries and just the special atmosphere it offers.

Montville has always been a wonderful creative hub for tourists, but, with a number of new galleries opening in the last year and the expansion of the Sunshine Coast Art Gallery Trail, I am attracted to the collaborative and supportive creative community that the Sunshine Coast offers,” says Katherine.

“MOST OF MY PAINTINGS ARE SPONTANEOUS AND THEY SIMPLY EVOLVE FROM THE PROCESS OF PAINTING.” Located in the iconic Montrose Waterwheel building, Katherine Wood Fine Art officially opened its doors late last year and has been well received by the art world. Spectacular landscapes come to life in the gallery, with many reflecting our coastal landscapes.

“I take inspiration from my surrounds and creating these artworks on the Sunshine Coast means there are a number of beachscapes,” says Katherine.

It’s a good thing the Coast is plentiful with oceanscapes as it’s one of Katherine’s favourite symbols to paint, embodying the soul, the subconscious and emotion.

“The high, crashing waves represent our overwhelming emotions. If we are able to stand back and watch the waves unfold,

KATHERINE WOOD

then we are capable of doing this with our emotions, so our feelings don’t need to control us,” she explains.

“Through my paintings, I attempt to draw the viewer deep into its (the painting’s) space and encourage us not to turn away from problems, but to stand in the eye of the storm with a calm and collected response.”

Katherine says she has always lived and breathed paint. It was a passion from even when she was in primary school, which led her to the University of Stellenbosch, in west South Africa, where she spent five years studying fine art.

“Most of my paintings are spontaneous and they simply evolve from the process of painting,” she says.

Katherine’s gallery also features work from local artists Rayma Eveson and Tara Spicer, along with well-known South African artist Carrol Boyes – all of them commanding an art enthusiast’s eye.

“There is a definite trend worldwide to seek out more bespoke cultural offerings when travelling, and Montville provides a complete cultural experience for people – strolling through galleries that offer sculptural works, photographs, prints and paintings, eating at beautiful restaurants and then shopping at boutique fashion retailers – all with a spectacular view,” says Katherine.

It’s a flourishing art scene that’s worth the drive.

KATHERINE WOOD FINE ART GALLERY 1/180 MAIN ST, MONTVILLE KATHERINEWOOD.COM

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PROFILE | THE WORD

Costa GEORGIADIS For seven years, green thumb and gardening expert Costa Georgiadis has been entering our living rooms, sharing his charm, charisma and passion on ABC’s Gardening Australia television show. The much-loved host is an eco-visionary, focusing on the sustainability and availability of soil and water. Costa shares his tips for a luscious green garden and his views on sustainability.

I GREW UP… in Sydney in North Bondi. I also spent a lot of time on my godfather’s farm in the Bylong Valley, New South Wales.

THE FIRST THING I DO IN THE MORNING IS… open the blinds and look outside to enjoy what day has been delivered. I’m immediately conscious of the sounds of the birds when I wake up. Then I make my bed; it’s something I was taught by my mum to always do.

I BECAME A GARDENER BECAUSE… gardening was just part of growing up. My grandparents were always in the garden and growing something to eat and equally loving the flowers to bring into their home – the colours and the scents. They were so sustainable about their lives, without the term or the trend or the movement. They lived frugally because they understood the value of saving… saving what they had to make it stretch for the future.

MY FONDEST CHILDHOOD MEMORY IS… being on the back of the ute on my godfather’s farm on a cold morning or night, and being allowed to jump off the ute and open and close the gate to allow the car to go through.

I LOOK UP TO… Sir David Attenborough, I admire the vision and capacity to connect the innermost workings of our planet and deliver the information in such accessible and engaging storytelling.

I VALUE OUR ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE… it’s what we have when it’s all boiled down.

It’s who we are, where we come from, how it has shaped us. It supports and supplies us with food and fibre and shelter and, at the end of the day, our cities and suburbs are our campsites.

MY GARDENING TIP IS… never underestimate the importance of soil preparation. Spending time to check and test your soils pH, to add some organic matter in the form of compost and worm casting, to ensure your soil has a skin in the form of mulch… all of these preparatory activities build a soil bank account that you and your plants will be able to draw upon.

MY HIDDEN TALENT IS… being able to sing and dance and play music with our band The More Please Orchestra. It’s a part of my world that I treasure.

IF I COULD BE ANYONE FOR A DAY… I would love to immerse myself in the world of iconic oceanographer and lifelong oceans and environment campaigner Sylvia Earle.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

P RO FI L E M A G . C O M . AU AB UN D AN CE | STYLE | EASE | GRACE