September Profile Magazine 2015 by Profile Magazine

WELCOME

THIS PAGE TAMARA WEARS ZHIVAGO DRESS RRP $440 FROM EVE BOUTIQUE IN MAROOCHYDORE, EARRINGS FROM LOVISA AND SHOES TAMARA’S OWN.

t’s an exciting time here at Profile headquarters, not only are we busy working on the next few issues of the magazine (including our Christmas bumper issue, can you believe it!) – this month we also launch our inaugural Profile Runway event. We had such a great response from fashion designers and boutiques both locally and interstate, we’re already thinking about next year’s event! A big thank you to all our loyal readers who have been flocking to our new Profile stands, they’ve been so popular we’ve had to order more to make sure you can always get a copy of your favourite local mag. The Profile stands are located at Big Top Market Fresh in Maroochydore, IGA Montville, Maleny Newsagency, Woolworths Kawana and Landsborough Bakery. Don’t forget about our digital platforms too, allowing you to get your hands on all things Profile whenever you please – follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and of course our website www.profilemag.com.au, where you can read the latest copy of the magazine online. Enjoy this month’s issue!

WELCOME TO THE FASHION Kara ISSUE KARA DE SCHOT, GENERAL MANAGER

he Profile team is so excited to bring you the muchanticipated BIG FASHION ISSUE! We had such fun catching up with some of the movers and shakers in the fashion field who call the Sunshine Coast home and boy do we have some amazing talent right here on our doorstep! This month’s mag is jam packed with great stories as well as all the very the latest in fashion and style for the Spring/ Summer 2015 season – you are going to love it! Nicole Fuge chats with our glamorous cover girl, self-confessed fashionista Tamara Wrigley who shares her journey

towards the career of her dreams in the fashion industry. She and husband Peter may be polar opposites but together the savvy couple has built a successful real estate business together over the years and are now focused on their latest venture – istyleTV. We also catch up with milliner to the stars Cindy Vogels, local model Caity Sanderson shares her story of success and revered Brisbane designer Sacha Drake has the Last Word. Our Style section is also bursting with fashion stories as well as all the latest tips for the spring/summer season. Check out our rapidly growing About Business section too. Jam packed with

facebook.com/profi lemag CONNECT WITH US WITH facebook.com/profilemag @profilemagazine CONNECT US september 2015

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interesting stories as well as advice columns from the experts plus lots more, it’s your go-to business guide. As always, we bring you right up to date on all the latest in food, culture, real estate, sport, health, beauty and lots more. Enjoy!

INGRID NELSON, EDITOR

www.youtube.com/profilemagazine www.profilemag.com.au twitter.com/profilemag www.profilemag.com.au

To advertise your business in the Coast’s largest lifestyle magazine call 5451 0669.

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Nicole

Deanna

Tara

RED LIPSTICK

SKINNY JEANS

LEOPARD PRINT

Kara

Ingrid

PRINTS & PATTERNS

TAILORED JACKETS IN VARIED COLOURS

Maree HIGH HEELS

WHAT IS YOUR MUST-HAVE FASHION ITEM? The ProямБle team share their fashion staples

Chelsea MASCARA

Anna

A SPRAY TAN

Johanna STATEMENT JEWELLERY

Danielle

VINTAGE STYLE DRESSES

Anne

A LITTLE BLACK DRESS

Wade SUNNIES

Emily UNIQUE ONE-OFF PIECES

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CONTENTS

24 104

SEPTEMBER/15

138 30

86 Freshen up for spring s with these beauty buy

22 ON TH E C OVER

24 78

126

REGULARS 03

welcome

social

let’s chat

people cindy vogels

view marilyn crystelle

Lisa Hyde

Designer and star of The Bachelor, Lisa Hyde talks fashion, travel and what’s next.

secret life caity sanderson

future lisa hyde

homegrown suess griﬃn

Tamara Wrigley Fashion house.

Peter and Tamara Wrigley built their property empire and now press play on iStyle TV.

Boy meets girl.

Xavier Rudd Soul singer.

Xavier Rudd catches up with Profile ahead of the Caloundra Music Festival.

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events

136 competitions

138 the last word sacha drake

BUSINESS 46

glenn cooper

pippa colman

laurie clarke and debbie battaglini-clarke

51 54

blokes about town simone milasas

karey galea and rebecca gill

REAL ESTATE 62 64 66 71

Marilyn Crystelle turns brides’ dreams into reality

Find out the fashion real facts must-haves jason jaeger of the Proﬁle tanya mungomery team jeanette singline

Glenn Cooper opens the vault of the family business

126 51 128 92

Brighten up your abode for spring!

STYLE 74

tamara wrigley

beauty: springing back

beauty advice

HOME & FAMILY

CULTURE & TRAVEL

102 liesl walker

126 xavier rudd

103 dave lammin

104 blake cochrane and jan cameron 106 sunshine coast falcons 108 doctor hugo pin

chelsea bennie

doctor james moir, chase and jan becker

GOURMET

tanya obertik

115 steve street

Chelsea Bennie shares her love of styling, weddings and special events

SPORT & LIFE

juliana wassink

catherine joy

100 amanda rootsey

103

128 anne fraser and john templeton 130 chontia robinson 132 kate dever

134 chambers island

110 health advice

114 matt yurko

Introducing Proﬁle’s Gourmet Ambassador, Matt Yurko

116 ladies at lunch

120 stephen geurds 122 foodie trail

114

124 recipe

Surﬁng with e a sustainabl e os rp pu

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SOCIALS

LEGENDS LUNCH On 7 August, Think Speakers and Events hosted four iconic sporting identities for a sports luncheon at the Mooloolaba Surf Club. Brisbane Lions Champion, Brownlow and Norm Smith Medalist Simon Black, former Australian Wallabies Coach John ‘Knuckles’ Connolly, ex-New Zealand strike bowler turned cricket commentator Danny Morrison and footy legend Trevor Gillmeister entertained a large crowd, with the panel-style event hosted by Nathan ‘Nugget’ Dell once again. photos Cheryl Nonmus

CHRIS AND BOB MCMAH

SCOTT BURTON, MARK OLIP HAN

GEOFF OHMSEN AND TREVOR LARKINS

LISA WILKINSON

T, DAVID HARRISON AND

SCOTT HARRISON

WAYNE LAWSON, TREVOR GILMEISTER, RITCHIE MCGUINNESS, MIKE BURKE AND LUKE DUFFILL

CELESTE MITCHELL, FAYE PARKINSON AND KRISTA EPPELST

LISA WILKINSON Lisa Wilkinson attracted a recordbreaking crowd for Think Speakers and Events with over 320 people packing into the Maroochy RSL on Friday, 31 July. The star of the Today show was very generous with her time as she delighted the audience with an insight into her illustrious career in Australian media, before making a surprise return to the stage for an impromptu Q&A. photos Rebecca Smith AMBER COPLEY BUCKLEY AND JUDY COPLEY

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KIRALEE TUCKER AND WILL WHITE

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SOCIALS PAUL BURNS (BIN 106), SCOTT COLLETT (WOODSTOCK

WINES) AND STEPHEN PULMAN (LE BISTRO JARDIN

)

LEISA HEATHER AND LYELL COCHRANE

BIN 106 OPENING Guests were treated to delicious wines and gourmet treats at Bin 106 wine tasting event at the new waterside garden at Le Bistro Jardin (Now Bin 106) at 106 Brisbane Road, Mooloolaba. Wine was presented by Scott Collett from Woodstock, perfectly matched with delicious food from Michelin-Star-Chef Stephan Pulman. BRETT THOMSON, SHANE SMITH, PAUL JENKINS AND TONY OTTON

photos contributed

Thinking.

PREP AT

GRAMMAR

Discovering.

Creating.

372 Mons Road, Forest Glen, Queensland 4556 Australia telephone + 61 7 5445 4444 facsimile + 61 7 5445 4345 email enquire@scgs.qld.edu.au web www.scgs.qld.edu.au A School of the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association september 2015

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EVENTS

SEP TEM BER.

3-6

NOOSA JAZZ FESTIVAL

The annual Noosa Jazz Festival will see the cream of Australian and international jazz talent grace the stage at Festival Village in Lions Park. This year marks the 24th anniversary of the festival, and will run from Thursday, 3 September to Sunday, 6 September, featuring an array of musical genres, master classes, talent search, Legends Lunch Series, Jazz river cruises and the ‘Tastings on Hastings’ event. The first release of performers include Emma Pask, Darren Percival, Todd Hardy and Anita Spring, Berardi/Foran/Karlen, Jan Preston, Clayton Doley, The Lachy Doley Group, Noosa/Buderim Concert Band, Inaburra Big Band, Sunshine Coast Grammar School and St Andrew’s Anglican College to name just a few. Daily adult tickets from $30, with a variety of season passes and specialty packs available. www.noosajazz.com.au

GLENN COOPER Meet beer brewing royalty, Glenn Cooper, who is a fifth generation of the Cooper’s brewing family. Glenn is recognised as one of Australia’s finest CEOs, come hear from a gentleman and scholar as he shares his family’s story which spans back to 1862. This special event is part of Think Speakers and Events’ Get Up and Get Motivated Breakfast series and is at the Maroochy RSL Events Centre, from 6.45am to 8.30am, tickets cost $55. www.thinkspeakersandevents.com.au

BUSHLAND VIBES Head to the Bushland Vibes event on Father’s Day at Maroochy Botanic Gardens on 6 September. The event features an art exhibition, a musical entertainment program, children’s activities and some entirely new experiences as well, in a free family fun-filled day in the gardens, with all it has to oﬀer. The renowned local Gubbi Gubbi Dance Troupe will perform a welcome ceremony, song, dance and storytelling, with music, bush poetry, pottery demonstrations, wildlife education, bush food taste testing, weaving workshops, stalls, lunch, snacks and coﬀee available. www.bushlandvibes.wix.com/2015

12- 13 13 SUNSHINE COAST REAL FOOD FESTIVAL

This annual celebration of good food and beverages will be held at the Maleny Showgrounds from 9am to 4pm on Saturday, 12 September and Sunday, 13 September, supporting the best of the Sunshine Coast’s regional food. Local food producers, manufacturers, retailers and restaurants will showcase their delicious wares, while visitors can enjoy following the food supply chain from paddock to plate. Now in its fifth year, the festival is a joyful celebration of good food and a unique gathering of the Sunshine Coast food community. This year the festival includes more than 50 presentations across seven venues including the Real Food Kitchen, Food for Thought, Nourishing Ideas, Food Craft, Kitchen Garden and two new venues - the Café Pavilion and Eat My Words which will focus on food writing, food bloggers, cookbook authors and restaurant reviewers. There is also lots of great kids activities in the Little Sprouts area. Entry is $20 per adult per day, kids under 16-years-old are free. www.realfoodfestivals.com.au 10

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IRONMAN 70.3 IRONMAN has chosen Mooloolaba to host the 2016 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship on Sunday, 13 September. Triathlon’s toughest competitors will take in the best Mooloolaba has to offer, starting with a swim off the surf beach followed by a flat and fast bike course. The run will tie up the day’s exciting events with a two-lap course around Mooloolaba Esplanade, lined with spectators to bring them home. IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast provides a fitting warm up for those athletes heading over to Kona to take on the IRONMAN World Championship in October. Race is free to watch. www.ap.ironman.com/triathlon/events/asiapac/ ironman-70.3 profilemag.com.au

FOOD & FASHION ‘FUNRAISER’

CALOUNDRA FRINGE FESTIVAL

A fabulous Food and Fashion FUNraiser for local charity SunnyKids will be held on Wednesday, 16 September from 5.30pm to 8pm. Award-winning international star Kim McCosker from 4 Ingredients will be on stage showcasing a quick and easy food recipe, joined by Vicki Taylor from Red Hot Chilli Pepper, and Lorinda Rogers from Ideas in Icing. There will be a FUN interactive fashion parade featuring bridal wear, race day and formal wear, and summer fashion from local labels including KC Bridal, Just Divine Ladies Fashion and House of Frock. The theme encourages buying local and supporting local businesses. Business women and mums who want to get their Christmas presents all organised – this is the event for you! Cindy on 0414 392 004 or Cindy@KCBridal.com.au

This 11-day festival on the boardwalk of Caloundra features over 80 events of music, food, arts, culture, comedy, workshops and film. The event will be centred around a central entertainment hub at the beach and pool area, to allow festival fans the chance to soak up the sights and sounds. Caloundra Fringe Festival is open access, which means anyone in the community can run their own event, such as a performance, workshop, demonstration or show. The festival is volunteer-run, and bases its success oﬀ the grassroots community support shown to the event as it showcases Caloundra in a cultural mecca. The theme promises a beach vibe, including a stage to support free performances throughout the week. Entry is free. www.caloundrafringefestival.com.au

9 October

PROFILE

25 Sep -5 Oct

WOOMBYE CARE GALA NIGHT

Join the Gala Night of Elegance for Woombye Care at the Maroochy Events Centre, Maroochydore RSL on Friday, 9 October. Woombye Care is a small, not for profit aged care facility, founded in 1986 with the sole purpose to ensure there would always be residential beds for those in the community who have their pension as their only income; the organisation has recently started to build extra accommodation and support local families. The gala evening is Woombye Care’s major fundraiser, and will feature a masquerade theme, and tickets include canapés, a three-course dinner, beer, wine and champagne! There will also be entertainment, lucky door prizes, raﬄe tickets and big ticket items to be auctioned! Tickets from $150. www.facebook.com/woombyecareinc

NCEssEs PiRATEs & PRi 0AM – 11.00AM

WED 23RD SEp 9.3 princesses! Ahoy little pirates and morning of fun Come along for a super nts hu re asu tre · ord · making your own sw wn cro ss nce pri d an escope · building a boat or tel d an s up ss dre · loads more

FREE EVENT

School holiday adventure MorninGS Designed for children aged 2-8 (babies and older siblings welcome). Come and keep the kids entertained in our amazing new centre, surrounded by our farm. A delicious morning tea is provided for everyone with goodie bags to take home. Registrations required due to limited numbers. Click on the link at the top of www.nccearlylearning.com.au

LET's gET ARTy & C RAFTy WED 30th SEp 9.30AM – 11.00 AM Not your standard arts and craft, have some fun with · making masks · beading bracelet s · making and flying a kite · creative biscuit de corating

term time: Come & See days every Wednesday at 9.30am. Check out our website for further information.

Nambour Christian College | Early Learning Centre McKenzie Road, Woombye Qld 4559 | ph: 5451 3330 Email: earlylearning@ncc.qld.edu.au | www.nccearlylearning.qld.edu.au

september 2015

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LET’S CHAT

NICOLE FUGE SENIOR JOURNALIST

“Don’t stray too far from WHO YOU REALLY ARE – that’s when fashion blunders rear their ugly heads.”

LET’S CHAT

s s e r p m i o t s s e Dr

WORDS NICOLE FUGE

When it comes time to prove who you are, you sign off with a signature, but what’s more telling is your visual autograph – the way you present yourself and how you express yourself to others through your choice of hairstyle, outfit or accessory. That is a true reflection of yourself.

s I sit down to write this month’s column – it’s all about fashion and my mind starts sifting through my colour-coded wardrobe looking for inspiration. Then I think about my weekend shopping spree and my stomach is a-flutter. You see, that’s the feeling fashion evokes, people who consider themselves to be fashionistas can’t get enough of it, whether it’s showing off a newly acquired pair of shoes on Monday, styling outfits for the rest of the week on Wednesday, or settling in to binge-watch episodes of Project Runway on a Friday night, while wearing your favourite pyjamas and matching dressing gown – it’s all about fashion. But I digress, while in the midst of writing this column I am distracted by the bevy of beauties walking past the editorial room, each with their own sense of style and I suddenly realise my inspiration has been right in front of me all along. Here at Profile Magazine headquarters, we all have our own sense of style and we would look quite ridiculous if we were to try and emulate someone else’s look. For a while now, I have been regarded as somewhat of a Stepford 12

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Wife, in large part to my love of baking, but also because of the way I dress. My body shape lends itself to the outfits that are cinched at the waist and flare at the hem and the nickname really stuck when one day I completed the look with a ballerina bun hugged with a red scrunchie (yes I’m showing my age now aren’t it? But I promise you it was years ago and I’ve since learnt my lesson). While I appear to be stuck in a vintage era, many of the other ladies here in the office sport more of a modern look, pulling off structured blazers and fitted skirts with finesse. I have tried to change my look before, investing in signature pieces that everyone else wears with aplomb, but I just look ridiculous and frumpy, if I’m being honest. I’m not saying it’s forbidden to experiment with your look as you grow, just don’t stray too far from who you really are – that’s when fashion blunders rear their ugly heads. But I guess that’s the whole point isn’t it? What a boring place the world would be if we all dressed the same and had the same interests. Fashion is a way of expression, a way of introducing yourself to strangers before you utter a single word. profilemag.com.au

Sunshine Coast photographer Paula Brennan’s talent shares the beauty of women with the world but more importantly with the women themselves. From finding an identity after divorce, shedding a ‘cloak of invisibility’ at 50+ and overcoming ‘mummy guilt’, Paula shares an insight into the stories of three local women who have recently celebrated who they are with an incredible transformation.

JANINE FINDS HER SPARK

e all know that with tending to marriage, kids, jobs and bills, life can leave little or no time to give ourselves some TLC, but what I am finding more is a lot of women feel like they have lost a sense of their identity as a woman. I know after my separation it happened to me. It’s no wonder that my client, recently separated Janine, came to a point where she felt like she was not her ‘sparkly self ’ anymore. When the mother-of-two saw a few of the images taken of another client, newly empowered Kate after her awesome body transformation, she said to herself, ‘I want to feel like that again’, and gave me a call. “Apart from your wedding photographs you don’t get the chance to have someone capture the essence of you,” says Janine. As a wedding photographer for 16 years, this is something I have seen time and time again. For Janine’s shoot, it was all about finding herself, the passions of being a female. “You can forget in the ‘doing everything’ that we tend to put ourselves last, it’s been a long, long journey of not doing anything for myself,” she shares. However, Janine has recently turned things around. Since her separation, the last year has been about doing things she’s passionate about and living in the moment. “I wanted you to capture where I am at, kind of coming

out of that long tunnel,” she tells me. As with many women I share this experience with, for Janine it was a celebration. “It was the start of doing something for me. It’s not about being too stylised … it was me wanting to express who I am again,” she says. “In my marriage, I did tend to end up wearing tracksuits and jumpers and hiding who I was as a female. I want to be feminine and feel special for myself.” On shoot day, Janine enjoyed the individual part first – wearing a few new items collected with the help of her sisters to express a new style fitting her new image. “It was an opportunity to be the best of yourself and experience being a female and celebrating that, it’s all about discovering yourself,” she smiles in recollection. After Janine’s studio shoot, we then headed down to Point Cartwright where her two handsome boys were waiting, eagerly watching the surf, and we created a beautiful collection of images. “It was a milestone for us as a family, so the boys and I could have something tangible at this stage in our lives,” Janine smiles brightly. I loved chatting with Janine and her journey will resonate with so many women.

“It was the start of doing something FOR ME. It’s not about being too stylised … it was me wanting to express who I AM again.”

PROMOTION

SELF LOVE CELEBRATION

PROMOTION

KATHI: FIT AND FABULOUS AFTER 50

is often touted that youth is wasted on the young. And as I grow (ahem) wiser I am finding myself more intrigued with women who hide themselves from the world, rather than sharing their precious gifts and journeys. I recently photographed Kathi, who at 48-years-old was left with a shattered life after suffering nine seizures each hour for more than 12 hours; the debilitating episode leaving her feeling “useless and worthless”. Kathi was left frustrated that she could not recover to her previous capacity, and soon found herself in a depressed state. “I didn’t like being negative, it hurt, it made me unhappy and I went round and round. I was clinically depressed but didn’t know it at the time,” she reflects. It was lying on her couch, night after night, feeding her emotions with chocolate that Kathi decided she wanted to choose another way. And, although Kathi’s depression after her accident was the catalyst for change, Kathi’s path into weight gain and self neglect had been conditioning for years. “Since my divorce I ate my emotions to hide from the world and become invisible. I didn’t even know who I was. My identity was in other things, in my children, in my work, in being needed,” she says softly.

KATHI LAST OCTOBER BEFORE CALLING ME IN MAY THIS YEAR. SHE’S NOW A STAGGERING 38KG LIGHTER AND THE HAPPIEST SHE HAS BEEN FOR 30 YEARS.

“Once my kids got their own lives, I felt invisible to them. Also because I was very overweight I was invisible to the world because I wasn’t pretty, I wanted to just be at home and be quiet.” Kathi reached a point where she was left questioning – “At over 50-yearsold, what use do you have to the world?” Making the choice to work through the hurt, and get off the ‘Pity Potty’, Kathi had a desire to find herself, who she was and her beliefs. “I wanted something for me so badly because I had given so much to my kids for the last 20 years, so I made the choice to continue with work on myself,” she reveals. Kathi decided to take on the MAB 10 week challenge and when she called me in May 2015, just six months after she started, had lost a staggering 38kgs. I could tell from her initial call that putting herself out there like this was an enormous deal. To be seen, to feel

“To be seen, TO FEEL BEAUTIFUL and celebrated was not something Kathi was accustomed to, although deep down inside she was yearning for it.” beautiful and celebrated was not something Kathi was accustomed to, although deep down inside she was yearning for it. “I felt really empowered, I walked through the fear and it didn’t hurt. I was on a high at the end,” she smiles. Kathi’s reaction to seeing the final photos was so profound for me. There was silent sobbing for about 10 minutes, as I just kept reassuring her that yes, that was her on the wall. “To walk in and see all those photos of myself ... I knew it was me, but it didn’t look like me. They were all beautiful. I was shaking and couldn’t speak,” she shares. The journey to self love for Kathi is still a work in progress, as she focuses on more than 50 years of ‘unconditioning’, but will use the beautiful images to keep her on track. “I am going to put those photos up on my wall so I can look at myself and look at the journey I have made, and to encourage what others see in me, to continually grow,” she says.

PROMOTION

LOUISE: A MOTHER’S MEMORIES

self confessed ‘mumtographer’ who loves to dress up her girls to take photos regularly, Louise looked back and realised she was missing from all of her family photos. So she visited me for Mother’s Day to not only capture this special time in their lives but also celebrate a whole new relationship she now has with her own mum, Jenny. Louise shared, “I have photos of the girls at every stage of their lives but I’m not in any of the photos. I just wanted to be in some of the photos with my girls.” When I told Louise to leave the girls behind for a few hours so she and her mum could enjoy the pampering in peace before we invited the girls to join in, I could tell this made her feel a little uncomfortable and guilty. However she left her anxiety and nerves about leaving her two daughters behind so she and Jenny could spend a few precious hours bonding. The two ladies are enjoying a whole new relationship as Louise has recently moved back to the Coast after living away. “As a new mum I now understand a lot of things that I didn’t beforehand about how

hard it is,” Louise admits, sharing she now has a “whole new respect” for her mum. Of the actual experience on the day, Louise was delighted. “Being a mum I don’t get to go out a lot, I don’t get to dress up, so having a glass of wine and getting your hair and make-up done, it was very special. And having someone there to fix make-up and zhoosh your hair made me know I am going

to look good in these photos.” It was awesome to see how Louise and Jenny relaxed and really started to enjoy being spoilt – this is where I get so much pleasure, seeing women get into their feel good zone. “You do lose a little sense of yourself as a woman. I felt guilty having photos taken of just myself without the girls. You put your kids first, that’s just what you do, so it was nice to have something just for me,” says Louise. For me, photographs of three generations are just precious to capture so when the little ones arrived to join in, I got so excited! They were dressed in the cutest little outfits and we got to capture some really beautiful portraits I know they will all look back on and treasure. As Louise told me she was “blown away by the photos of herself and the four of them together”. When I asked her to bring along a few of her favourite photographs for the video interview, she told me she would have to tear them all off the walls as they are all over her house. Needless to say I told her to leave them right where they are. To know I have taken a photo of a woman that she will be proud to hang on the wall in her home makes my heart smile.

To watch the full interviews with Janine, Kathi and Louise and to see more gorgeous images go to www.paulabrennan.com.au

september 2015

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PEOPLE

THE

mad(ame) hatter WORDS NICOLE FUGE PHOTOS REBECCA SMITH

It’s 8am and Cindy Vogels flicks through her Instagram feed when her finger lands on a photo of Lady Gaga donning a very familiar head piece – hers! The milliner’s life changed in that instant and she’s been on a whirlwind ever since, but it hasn’t been without a lot of hard work.

ady Gaga sits in the corner of Cindy Vogels’ studio, crooning through the speakers of her stereo, as if singing a lullaby to her as she works late into the night. Cindy’s four children are tucked into bed and fast asleep, it’s been a long day, but Cindy’s only just getting started – she has the upper echelon of Hollywood on her shoulders, waiting for a bespoke couture piece to wear to a special event in Beverly Hills. It’s an impressive clientele Cindy caters to, and one she has built up while continuing to work from her home in Gympie. “It never stops,” Cindy says, exuding a passion that is only getting stronger. “I think in 3D and can build elaborate designs in my head while driving on the highway or sipping a tea.” For Cindy, who was born, raised and schooled on the Sunshine Coast, some of her earliest creative memories were from her early teens, drafting and constructing in her mother’s garment manufacturing studio. “I had a strong desire early on to understand the cut and construction of everything fashion, hats included, and with rolls of fabric and machines threaded up in every colour, there was just creative freedom abound,” she says. “I made the finals of the then RAQ awards as a teenager one year with a sportswear collection, I had even hand made visors and caps to match the outfits. “From a very young age I knew I was destined to be a fashion designer/manufacturer, I’ve been creating fashion items of every description for so long I almost don’t differentiate between millinery and clothing. It’s all just a gorgeous expression of what I want to share with the world.” But it wasn’t until Melbourne Cup 2012 that Cindy took a serious interest in millinery as a sole focus when she designed and made three

pieces for a luncheon event as an elaborate project-come-businessexperiment. Cindy wound up taking out first, second and third prizes at the same event, cementing her decision to master a career in fashion. “I knew I was on track with my life that day, it was a powerful stepping stone to move forward and launch The Devoted Milliner in January 2013. “Great fashion makes you feel great, put a couture millinery piece on for the right occasion and you’ll be high on ‘glamorous’ and hooked for life on headwear!” Within 18 months, Cindy made her big break when she began working with Brandon Maxwell Studios, after one of their young designers saw a particularly flamboyant design Cindy had posted on Instagram, “in the wee hours one night”. “It was an incredible experience that spanned many months during the promo phase for Cheek to Cheek with Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett,” she enthuses. “It was also quite torturous in that I was engaging with and working for the largest fashion machine in the world, the people who dress Gaga, but couldn’t really talk about it, that was a tough secret to keep.” Cindy shipped eight or nine of her custom-made pieces to Gaga’s team in New York City, without the guarantee anything would come of it, “there never is when you take a creative gamble and lend to styling teams, there was some doubt in my mind for a few months if it would pay off creatively.” But it did – and the photo of Lady Gaga wearing Cindy’s black feathered crown for a rendition of I Won’t Dance with Tony Bennett catapulted her career.

“My DREAMS are BIG, my hands are full, but so is my HEART.”

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PEOPLE

TICS UP COLORPOP COSME IGNS. HAIR AND MAKEAUTUMN / WINTER DES E OF HER FAVOURITE CINDY SHOWS OFF SOM

“The news broke at about 2am here and it wasn’t until 8am that morning that I realised I’d been publicly credited. It was life changing as a designer.” That moment opened a flood gate of opportunities in America, the first was a lady in Santa Barbara who saw a new collection Cindy was showing in the afterglow of her Lady Gaga recognition. “She had never worn a hat before, but purchased a large orange ‘hatinator’ to wear to the Verve Polo Classic there, she was so well received at the event, images of her in my design were everywhere on all the Verve social media platforms,” says Cindy. As fate would have it, that lady was the national brand manager for Australian jewellery company Wearing Memories and introduced her to the Designer/Director and the pair have since formed a creative bond – just one of the many exciting collaborations Cindy has been involved in. “I’m part of showings at both London and New York fashion weeks with Wearing Memories utilising my designs to help showcase their jewellery on the international fashion stage. “And newly crowned Miss Australia, Deedee Zibara recently graced Day 2 of the Championships at Randwick wearing a Spanish-inspired fur felt hat and fashion by my clandestine clothing label Racy&Lucky.” In May, Cindy began a social media project with Lincraft Australia, writing articles to engage with their audience and test the waters for further engagement as a voice in their industry. “The original hat that sparked the Lady Gaga connection was made entirely of materials I’d purchased from Lincraft,” says Cindy. “I want to share with budding designers the possibilities that can unfold when you express yourself with easily obtainable materials and a passion for fashion and design. I love to inspire and this will be a wonderful platform to do so.” Last month Cindy lapped it up at Darwin Cup, having been selected to be part of Racing Fashion ‘The Movie’, a special feature film celebrating Australian racing fashion and millinery. She has also been kept busy fulfilling her ambassador roles to The Late Mail Luncheon in Brisbane and Melbourne, as well as her role as Arts and Cultural Ambassador for the Gympie region alongside celebrity chef Matt Golinski and X Factor star Caitlyn Shadbolt – whom Cindy also styled for her debut album cover shoot and video clip released last month. At the end of the day, when the champagne has lost its bubble and the perfectly-manicured race attire has been replaced with something a little more comfortable, a stripped-back Cindy is back at home, being a single mum to her four kids who are her whole world, “my dreams are big, my hands are full, but so is my heart – life is truly a beautiful chaos”.

Mastering Millinery profile: How do you choose the right hat? cindy: If you’re tall you can pretty much wear anything; try plenty on, fascinators with a smaller base and some fun height work well on short-to-average height women; do your research, Pinterest is where I send my newbie clients; find headwear that makes your heart beat faster, hats should be performance enhancing. profile: What is the best hairstyle when wearing a hat? cindy: Sleek is best, it’s all about the headpiece. profile: What are your styling tips for Race Day? cindy: Choose your shoes well, you need to be able to walk out at the end of the day looking as sassy and comfy as when you arrived, so pace yourself with alcohol also. Bobby pins are handy if the wind picks up and your headwear doesn’t play nice. profile: What’s in your clutch on Race Day? cindy: My Samsung Galaxy Note 4; business cards; favourite lip gloss; mini perfume; and if there is fabulous champagne being consumed I’m probably hoarding the little decorative metal caps to pop into my Wearing Memories jewellery.

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PROMOTION

words ingrid nelson photos rebecca smith

Child’s T

P lay

he highly anticipated Harmony Early Learning Journey is looking forward to opening its doors to the Sippy Downs Community. The new privately owned state of the art long day care and outside of school hours centre, is conveniently located in the hub of Sippy Downs, opposite the Sunshine Coast University and right next door to the Ochre Health Super Medical Centre. The essence of Harmony values, is the commitment to nurturing the development that allows every child to grow into whoever they were born to be and discover their unlimited potential. The focal point of the curriculum exemplifies the importance of the school readiness program, for each child who embarks on this journey from six weeks through to the moment they graduate. Key elements include: • Social connectivity including play and creative arts • Emotional competence including building resilience, selfawareness and exploring their identity • Foundational learning including literacy, mathematical concepts and inquiry based learning • Physical health and wellbeing including fostering physical independent and promoting fundamental movement skills Manager Lauren Hall says “It is a well-known fact that families are the first and most important influence in a child’s life.” Families know their children’s strengths, abilities and aspirations and have expectations for their child’s educational outcomes. Early childhood educators have the professional knowledge of the early childhood curriculum and school readiness programs. Together, in a genuine and collaborative partnership, expertise can be shared and decision can be made to ensure mutual outcomes and goals can be achieved. The centre surroundings encompass the imagination of children and the wonders of childhood encouraging learning through inspiration. The naturalistic outdoor play space will include real grass, vegetable gardens, water play

and much more to offer sensory experiences for children’s exploration of nature. The brand new purpose built centre will be showcasing its learning environments by holding a grand open day and would like to extend an invite to the community. Lauren explains “Families will have the opportunity to meet with the educators and view the exciting array of brand new resources while children explore the indoor and outdoor environments. Come down and enjoy the free entertainment and BBQ, but don’t leave without saying hello to our animal friends. We will also be holding private tours for enrolled families allowing the opportunity for families to receive a more personal service.”

“The naturalistic outdoor play space will include real grass, vegetable gardens, water play and much more to offer sensory experiences for children’s exploration of nature” Harmony Early Learning Journey caters for children from six weeks to twelve years and provide nutritionally balanced meals prepared by qualified chefs. Hats and nappies are also provided making the whole experience convenient for parents. The centre opens from 6:30am through to 6:00pm and also offers outside school hours care. Don’t miss out on our School Vacation Care program, which will be operating during the Christmas holiday period offering children a diverse range of programs in a nurturing, safe and fun environment. Registrations are currently being taken for the centre. To secure your place on the waitlist for October 2015, call 1300 HARMONY, visit www.harmonylearning.com.au or like us on Facebook for exciting updates.

Harmony Sippy Downs, 7 Ochre Way, Sippy Downs. Phone: 1300 Harmony

T H E M O U N TA I N V I L L A G E

The Chapel & Poets Gallery A picture perfect setting for your special day ...

167 Main Street, Montville, QLD 4560 Email: info@coolabineridge.com Ph: 0409 279 467 thechapel.website I weddingsatpoets.com.au I montvillestudiosuites.com.au ellesplacemontville.com I coolabineridge.com Facebook: The Chapel I Cupids Coffee I Coolabine Ridge

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Every girl’s

DREAM

In the seaside town of Mudjimba, Marilyn Crystelle sits at her sewing machine, turning a bride’s fairytale dreams into a romantic reality. Now this award-winning bridal wear designer is sought-after by brides across the globe, Carly Smith unveils the magic behind her designs. WORDS CARLY SMITH PHOTOS CHESTERTON SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

ike any girl, I dreamed of walking down the aisle to the rhythm of a beautiful dress swishing to and fro, as I Will Always Love You echoed in the background. This year it was finally my turn, I had found my prince charming and we had set a date, now it was the difficult and stressful task of navigating my way through a maze of tulle, lace, chiffon and silk gleaming in whites, off-whites, ivories and champagnes. Little did I know I had another beautiful surprise in the making and shortly after I found a dress, I was blessed with the news I was expecting my first child. But then the panic set in, I needed a dress, I needed a custommade dress to fit my new blossoming body and needed my dressmaker to be flexible. Then I met Marilyn Crystelle and she was everything I dreamed of in a designer. The bridal wear designer works in her humble home in the seaside community of Mudjimba – with dresses lining her hallway and pins and materials draped over the

furniture in her studio, Marilyn lives and breathes all things beautiful and bridal. Marilyn embarked on business when she became a mother and started up at home eight years ago and has since hit the forefront for young brides-to-be, not only here on the Coast, but across the world – even more so since her win with the mesmerising Clarissa gown at the Queensland Bridal Design Awards (which appeared on the cover of Profile Magazine in February). Marilyn took out the couture section and wowed overall with the Grand Prize Supreme Award, while also being named as runner up for the People’s Choice award. “It was totally unexpected, I had entered only the one dress and I had never entered before,” says Marilyn. “I was contemplating whether I should even do that as I was up against the top of the trade, so to walk away with three prizes was very overwhelming.”

“It is certainly rewarding in the way you see people’s DREAMS COME TO LIFE in their wedding dress.”

MARILYN CRYSTELLE

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september 2015

“It was always bridal, I always knew that bridal was what I wanted to do and it was what I was drawn to.”

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Now, it seems everyone wants their very own Clarissa gown or a custom-made design, with brides from overseas and interstate flying to the region to have their dream dress made during a holiday. “I love working with brides individually because you can work through the process from the sketch to the finished garment, but I also love designing for my couture range which I am generally inspired by the fabrics I am able to source,” says Marilyn. From the moment she set herself up in front of a sewing machine at seven-years-of-age, Marilyn knew her heart was always going to be in fashion. Like myself, she dreamed of glamorous gowns and fairy tale weddings so it was no surprise she was drawn to create bridal fashion. “I was encouraged by my aunty and my grandmas to create outfits during the school holidays from a young age,” remembers Marilyn. “I made my first wedding dress for a client when I was 14, not a family friend or a friend, an actual client. It has always been bridal, I always knew bridal was what I wanted to do and it was what I was drawn to.” And that first wedding dress was just the beginning for this talented young designer and from her later teenage years she successfully entered the industry where she worked with a reputable local bridal wear designer for five years until she became senior machinist. Marilyn then moved into the retail and alterations scene for a number of years before her first child Joey and Marilyn Crystelle Bridal was born. At one of my dress fittings with Marilyn, she joked she better start sending out invoices soon as she often got so carried away with the designing and creation process. For Marilyn, money is a bonus, what makes it all worthwhile is being in the forefront of a bride’s mind on their big day because their dress was perfect. “Quite often on a Sunday, I wake up to a text from a bride saying, ‘I love my dress,’ from her wedding the day before,” says Marilyn. “Obviously to have had me on their mind the next day is really special. “Everyone is an individual and has had my heart and soul put into their dress from the initial consultation. It is certainly rewarding in the way you see people’s dreams come to life in their wedding dress.” Marilyn spends anywhere from six to 38 hours on a dress design, with the help of her fashion side kicks – a machinist and hand sewer. If the fabric is doing all the talking for a dress it can be made to perfection in as little as six to 10 hours, meanwhile the dresses with extreme detailing can take up a full week – like her Clarissa gown. It wasn’t surprising to hear that a woman surrounded by the wedding industry found herself married to her true love at 20-years-of-age. After creating countless wedding dresses while working for another designer at the time, it was finally her turn. It was everything that embodies Marilyn as a designer and her talent shone through with a waisted silk dupioni in pale pink with a heavily embellished beaded bodice and a massive full skirt. It was very much fit for a princess. “It was what I always wanted from day dot, it was the style I was going to have and even now I think I would still have the same style,” says Marilyn. “The style dimensions of Clarissa are very similar to my wedding dress but it is a modernised version of my gown. “Today I love Clarissa, but each gown I create I fall in love with. “You think you couldn’t love something more but you always find something different.” The love of designing is now firmly embedded into her five-year-old daughter Naomi’s mind too as she loves to help out Mummy in her studio. “Naomi is my little shadow who is constantly watching what I am doing, she has her own little sewing machine and we are making a little dress for her at the moment and she is spoilt in that way,” says Marilyn. “She is allowed any scraps from the bin and on the floor and creating her own styles on the mannequin.” It sounds like the business is in safe hands.

COVER STORY

THE FASHION HOUSE OF

WORDS NICOLE FUGE PHOTOS CHESTERTON SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY HAIR AND MAKEUP SAMANTHA KATE MAKE UP

She’s the fashionista with an insatiable love of the finer things in life, he’s the penny-saving businessman with an innate capacity for finance. Together, Tamara and Peter Wrigley worked hard to build a property empire and are now placing all bets on ‘Tam Wrigley from iStyle TV’.

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TAMARA WEARS ZIAN COUTURE DRESS, EARRINGS AND RING FROM LOVISA. PETER WEARS BLAQ JACKET RRP $130, BLAQ DRESS PANTS RRP $69, CALVIN KLEIN BLACK BUTTON DOWN SHIRT RRP $89.95, BLAQ TYQUIN BLACK SHOES RRP $119.95, JEFF BANKS LONDON BELT RRP $59.95, ALL AVAILABLE FROM MYER, SUNSHINE PLAZA.

amara Wrigley opens the door and welcomes me with a beaming smile and kiss on the cheek. She’s wearing a white quilted jacket, black cigarette leggings and black ankle boots, her chocolate brown hair slicked back into a ponytail. Today is an ‘office day’ for Tamara and even still she’s looking every part the stylish glamazon. We step into the living room, which is sophisticatedly styled with accents of zesty lemon furnishings and accessories, overlooking a Balinese-themed outdoor area and swimming pool which looks ever-so inviting. Tamara introduces me to her husband Peter, who takes a seat beside me, coffee in hand and swings his left foot over to rest comfortably on his right knee. Hold on, what’s that? Peter’s big toe – poking through his holey black socks. On face value, Tamara and Peter seem like polar opposites, even they rib each other over their differing value of fashion, but it’s their extensive knowledge of the property industry which brought them together and their respective success which has gone on to allow Tamara to pursue her dreams of becoming a presenter. “I was like most 16-year-olds, when I left school I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” says Tamara, shuffling back into her cream Victorian armchair.

ZHIVAGO DRESS RRP $695 FROM EVE BOUTIQUE MAROOCHYDORE, FEATHER SHAWL FROM DOTTI, EARRINGS AND RING FROM LOVISA.

“We had this little shoebox office and it was just the two of us, we had 80 properties and from THERE WE GREW.”

to tell me all about it and the first thing I saw was a Building Unit Plan for six units, and I said to him, ‘One day, I’m going to own one of these, what do I have to do to do that?’” Peter admits while he didn’t have any money he had a great idea and teamed up with his brother, who at the time was working for international commercial firm CBD Richard Ellis. Peter handled the legal side of the business, while David took on the acquisition of properties and negotiations. They then called on their former flatmates from university, who were architects to draw up the plans and off to the bank they went to secure a loan. Peter, whose family hails from British heritage, also spent two years overseas working, just as his brothers did before him. “When I came back the first thing my brother said was, ‘I think you should start up a real estate office,’ so that’s what I did,” he says. “I enjoyed it because I was working for myself and I like the fact there’s no limit on what you can earn. I could see if I worked really hard and built up my business, I was growing, rather than being stagnant. “So I worked seven days a week for 18 months to build up the business.” A year after opening his office in St Lucia, he poached Tamara to come on board. “We had this little shoebox office and it was just the two of us, we had 80 properties and from there we grew,” she says. The next step was opening an office on Racecourse Road in Hamilton in 1997 and over the next nine years they grew the business to include six staff and a portfolio of 330 properties, opening a third office in Burpengary in 1999.

COVER STORY

“I was living in Tasmania at the time and there weren’t a lot of options down there and I asked my mum if I could move to Queensland to live with my father at 18.” Upon moving to Brisbane, Tamara joined a real estate firm in Greenslopes as a junior receptionist and went on to complete a 12-month property management traineeship in 1996. While at the Real Estate Institute of Queensland at Coorparoo, she met Peter who was also doing a traineeship and the pair struck a connection. Peter, on the other hand, was around 14 when he was introduced to the real estate industry, as his father, who was a bank manager, always “had a thing for property”. “He was sick of being limited by the amount of money he could earn being a bank manager and he decided to take a risk in 1980 and open a real estate office in east Brisbane,” he says. “I’m a twin and we were the youngest of our brothers, we lived an hour from my father’s office, so on the way home we would often look at property with my father, I wouldn’t look at it intentionally but I got absorbed by it all. That started the passion.” When Peter was 20, he and his twin brother, David, went to QUT, he studied law while his brother studied construction management. Peter went on to become an article clerk in a law firm, but held onto his passion for property. “I always remember this guy had the property portfolio … he started

september 2015

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COVER STORY

“The banks turned around to Pete and said, ‘We’re happy to keep funding your developments but you need cash flow,’ and because we knew real estate, having both done it from a young age, the opportunity came to buy Carolans First National in December that year. “We bought Carolans with about 170 properties and over the last six years we’ve grown that to be one of the largest on the Sunshine Coast. “Property development in Australia suffered big time, there were a lot of developers who went under because of the banks and their decisions and we’re just thankful that we had a really good business in Carolans that floated us through that period.” In 2011 they purchased their fifth office, Palmwoods First National, but made an economical decision to merge it with Carolans First National in Nambour in 2012. The following year, Tamara was named Sunshine Coast Corporate Businesswoman of the Year and says she fulfilled her goal to make Carolans First National the “number one agency on the Sunshine Coast”. “We’ve won Queensland and national awards – where do we go, we’re at the level where we are one of the biggest agencies with rentals. It is now the agency I desired it to be, where do I go now? “Being in real estate for nearly 20 years, I needed a new challenge and I’ve always wanted to present on TV, always loved fashion and style and that’s where that drive came from for iStyle TV, that was my new challenge.” Tamara says for many years, life stood in the way of fulfilling her dreams – building their real estate empire, creating an impressive portfolio of 30 investment properties and having children, “everything else took precedence over what I wanted”. But when she fell seriously ill in 2013, it was a wake up call and Tamara realised it was now or never. “I wanted to start doing the things I want to do, that make me happy and passionate and make me bounce out of bed of a morning,” she says. And so Tamara went under the wing of close friend Natasha Zuvela, a TV presenter for 15 years, who was running a video presentation course, which became the catalyst for launching iStyle TV. Initially the concept was for a panel-like show, similar to The View, where women would delve into current issues and topics. But someone beat her to the punch, leaving Tamara to conjure up another brilliant concept. “I love fashion and I love style and there wasn’t a show in Australia that just focused on fashion designers and labels,” she beams. “There are so many amazing designers and stylists even here on the Sunshine Coast that just aren’t known, that might work from home but have a fantastic brand.” Tamara pitched the idea to Innovate Media Creative Director Ben Amos, who she says has become an integral part of iStyle TV, building the YouTube channel, logos and style concepts. He has also become a mentor to Tamara, coaching her along the way to become “better and more confident”. “I just stand in front of the camera and have a great time, but it is Ben that puts the show together and makes it shine,” she says. On 16 May last year, Tamara uploaded her first episode of iStyle TV all about winter racing trends. Another one of her earlier episodes was of Sunny Coast label Embellished Kaftans, who have since experienced great growth in their business and now signed on to do more promotional work through iStyle TV.

TAMARA WEARS BARIANO DRESS RRP $429.95 FROM JULIE-ANN BOUTIQUE IN BUDERIM, EARRINGS AND RING FROM LOVISA. ON FRONT COVER TAMARA WEARS GODDESS BY NATURE DRESS RRP FROM $500, EARRINGS AND RING FROM LOVISA.

In 2002, Tamara and Peter married and in the same year started a family, welcoming son Ashton and then in 2004 daughter Mikayla was born. In 2006, they sold both agencies and travelled the world for four months with their two children, then aged two and four. “When we came back I wanted to try something a little bit different,” says Tamara. “Pete wanted to get back into doing property development because that’s his passion and his love, so he went off and did that. I went and worked for Mercedes Benz as their business manager and then the GFC hit in 2008.

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“People see the value in that exposure and I think video content is a huge thing now, it’s endless, you can play it anywhere and everywhere,” she says. While Tamara envisioned iStyle TV to be a local brand, it has become a national one, with her travelling around Australia to interview people about their collective passion – fashion. “Katherine Kelly Lang, who plays Brooke on the Bold and the Beautiful, was a great one because she just loves acting, she’ll be on Bold and the Beautiful until the day she dies. But her other passion is fashion and what a

“I love fashion AND I LOVE STYLE and there wasn’t a show in Australia that just focused on fashion designers and labels,” lot of people don’t know, is she actually grew up in the whole industry, her mum owned fashion stores in LA and when she was a little girl she would play in the shops. I just love listening to those back stories.” Reporting on the TV Week Logie Awards red carpet earlier this year was another highlight. “I set myself a goal of working really hard for the first two years to build the brand and the profile of ‘Tam Wrigley from iStyle TV’, I’m just blown away by how quickly I’ve got there,” Tamara says modestly. “To go to the TV Week Logie Awards 12 months into the concept of the show was such an amazing opportunity to meet all these beautiful people on the red carpet. “One of my standouts was meeting Alex Perry and having a chat with him … it was very exciting, but it was very nerve-wracking because I’d never done the TV Week Logies before but once I got there, it was almost like a shift because everyone else was in the same boat. “I had my iPad so I could sit and flick, but five minutes before the red carpet opened I turned around to Ben (cameraman) and threw him all the stuff and just had my microphone and went for it. My daughter was there with me and she was my little drawcard, everyone loved her. “Just talking to people and seeing all the fashion was fantastic and hearing about all

the designers they were wearing. There’s this theory going around at the moment that women want to be asked more than ‘Who are you wearing?’ on the red carpet, but to be honest they loved telling you and they love dressing up.” Next year, Tamara and Peter are looking to head to Paris, London and New York to attend the prestigious fashion festivals, but the pinnacle would be to be signed by a television network. “The whole reason we launched the show was to build me as a brand and a person to hopefully get the show or myself picked up on cable or free-to-air,” Tamara says. “I would love to see her fulfil her dream of being on TV where she’s watched and appreciated for being who she is, that would be lovely,” Peter gushes, evidently proud of his wife. “I’m still acquiring and selling properties because it’s what I love to do, but as I said to Tam when your passion isn’t there you’ve got to change and I don’t want to be on my death bed with her next to me saying, ‘You never let me do this’. “It’s her passion and she’s doing a very good job at it, but she works very hard, that’s what people don’t understand. Successful people don’t get successful by doing nothing, they work very hard.” So has any of Tamara’s fashion flare rubbed off on Peter? “It has a little bit,” he says, coyly looking at his black holey socks. “I want to do a geek to chic episode,” Tamara says in jest. “When I met Pete his clothes were five times too big on his little body and he wore owl glasses and he had scruffy hair.” While Peter has a newfound appreciation for fashion, he still maintains he struggles with the cost associated with it. “I do like dressing up, but it’s the expense of it all,” he says. “I have a different philosophy, what I’ve always tried to do is build up a bank balance and live off the income. I don’t believe bank balances should be zero, I believe they should be a million dollars, if you’ve invested that money then you live off the interest. “I’ve been at zero, where you’ve had no money and got to think of how to survive, and that’s not a nice feeling, so I’d rather have the same holey socks for a little while longer. “It’s hard to earn money, so I don’t like wasting it and I see clothes, to a degree, as a bit of a waste.” Tamara quips, “He’d love to run around naked if he could!” I think that’s my cue to go.

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OF A

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AT A U S S I E W O R L D WRAP UP YOUR YEAR WITH THE ULTIMATE IN FESTIVE FUNCTIONS

WRAP UP YOUR YEAR WITH THE ULTIMATE IN FESTIVE FUNCTIONS

Contact our experienced functions team today on 5494 5444 to arrange a site visit.

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Fashion, Food &

Fun-raising! words anna rawlings photos supplied

Food, fashion and fundraising will descend on the Sunshine Coast this month, with special celebrity foodie guests, demonstrations, shopping galore and more. Food and Fashion FUNraiser event organiser Cindy Steele chats about the event.

aloundra RSL will host a fabulous Food and Fashion FUNraiser for local charity SunnyKids on Wednesday, 16 September from 5.30pm to 8pm. Guests can enjoy a range of stalls featuring local products and services, and an interactive fashion parade, showcasing bridal, race day, formal, casual and summer wear from local labels including KC Bridal, Just Devine Ladies Fashion and House of Frock. The evening will also feature award-winning international star Kim McCosker of recipe giant 4 Ingredients fame, who will be joined onstage by boutique spice shop Red Hot Chilli Pepper’s Vicki Taylor and the uber-talented cake queen Lorinda Rogers from Ideas in Icing to demonstrate a quick and easy food recipe – an interactive experience making a Christmas cupcake with four ingredients and four spices! The FUNraiser is the second event in what will become a twiceyearly fundraising venture. The inaugural event, a Mother’s Day theme, was held in May 2015. Fundraiser founder and organiser, and event management guru Cindy Steele put her networking skills, honed from years of holding business events in her former Sydney residence, to good use when she moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2012.

“After moving, we re-established our family business, Top Gear Security, and used my networking expertise and our knowledge on developing strong relationships,” shares Cindy. “My ethos, along with my husband Anthony, has been to buy and support local.” After settling their sons, Max, 11 and Jack, eight, at Our Lady Of The Rosary School, Caloundra, Cindy reflected on her charitable past and decided it was time to support a charity again. Cindy met with local children’s organisation SunnyKids CEO Chris Turner in early 2013, and the rest is big-hearted history as Cindy became an ambassador for the charity and tirelessly campaigned for the brand and awareness. She also aligned with her niece to launch KC Bridal, combining her interest in the food and fashion industries to create the FUNraiser series. “The Mother’s Day event went marvellously well so we are going to do this every six months, that’s how it has all evolved,” Cindy shares. “There’s so much SunnyKids do in front line from the women’s shelter, working with the teachers and staff in various schools to get the children back in school life, so just running the whole charity itself they need a lot of support, not just monetary.” As part of Caloundra Connect and the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce, Cindy’s passion to be an integral part of the Sunshine Coast’s events scene will see her connect with valuable local stakeholders to promote their businesses with a stall at upcoming FUNraiser events, creating networking opportunities, building alliances and engaging new clients ahead of the Christmas shopping season. “It’s a win-win-win theme for everyone involved. For business owners, and then the busy business women and mums who want to get their Christmas presents done and all organised, this is the event for you!” The 16 September event runs from 5.30pm until 8pm at the Caloundra RSL, in the auditorium room. Tickets are $39 per person, and include a drink on arrival, canapés and entertainment throughout the night and a 4 Ingredients Christmas book!

“My ethos… has been to buy and support local.”

Tickets can be purchased via www.KCbridal.com.au/events, and for more information, please call Cindy on 0414 392 004 or email Cindy@KCBridal.com.au

SUPPORTING:

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SECRET LIFE

CAITY SANDERSON

all the

WORLD’S a

STAGE

If the modelling industry wasn’t already a tough game to crack, add to the mix a new generation of Instagirls whose popularity is governing the who’s who of the moment. But it makes no difference to Sunshine Coast model Caity Sanderson – who has well and truly got her act together.

WORDS NIKKII JOYCE

aity Sanderson is an out-and-out drama queen. Unequivocally, irrevocably and unapologetically, the girl confesses she cannot help herself when it comes to rolling out the theatrics. Whether it’s the rarity of ‘treading the boards’ with her fellow thespians, or the more likely alternative of striding down a Milan catwalk in front of the cream of high fashion, thunder in her eyes and to-die-for Bulgari dripping off her body – this 19-year-old loves a good dramatisation. It’s been five years since the Sunshine Coast was recognised as the next big thing in the fashion world. Agencies from across Australia started appearing on street corners scouring the Coast in the hope of

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PHOTO THIS PAGE BY DANIEL SANGERMANI

emulating the overnight international success of another Coast local – Codie Young. While Caity’s trail may be on a slower burn, it’s one no less impressive – from editorial shoots with Marie Clare and Harpers Bazaar to international fashion shows. You get the sense this ethereal beauty, who is always her typical burst of sunshine on a grey and cold afternoon, has come to a place of genuine acceptance for the way the dice of the fashion world rolls. With her newfound maturity on increasing public display, the mature teen shares her revisited goals as well as her upcoming commitments and promises, while stumbling through her own boundaries. Because despite her spectacular debut and early successful career, profilemag.com.au

“The SECRET to being successful these days? I think it’s all about being CONFIDENT.” the work and sacrifices ahead of her if she wishes to pursue her career to its full heights. What strikes me about the young composed lady on the other end of the telephone line, is her relaxed focus on her control of the future ahead; a stark contrast to her early days: where she was desperately eager to fast-track to the rest of her adult life – at the then tender age of just 14. Caity’s positivity has most recently been further bolstered by her role as the poster girl for the 2015 winter Sacha Drake collection, showcasing the latest from the Brisbane-based designer. It’s a look that works well for the statuesque 179cm Caity, but she admits she loves taking a few more risks with her editorial shoots. “I think at the moment my best work is in print – with lots of editorials and high end commercial work, which is really cool,” says the proud Noosa local. “I like the really edgy, super challenging, intense make-up, strong editorial shoots. While I do love to do weddings, it can get quite repetitive and it’s always selling something, but with the other more contemporary shoots it’s more about the art,” says Caity. But what disturbs Caity most, like many others, is the future of the september 2015

SECRET LIFE

perhaps most surprising is the fact there hasn’t been a stronger representation of designers wanting Caity for their own. After all, this is a model whose 32-24-35 frame is extremely in demand internationally – being identical to that of Victoria’s Secret Angel and rocker Adam Levine’s wife Behati Brinsloo, Aussie supermodels Miranda Kerr, Gemma Ward and Nicole Trunfio, and yummy mummy of the moment, Her Royal Highness Kate Middleton. “It’s been an interesting year, I haven’t been so busy, but my agent has been very selective,” says Caity from her temporary Melbourne digs, where she is attempting to step up her workload by hitting the streets for casting calls. “There is nothing worse than casting calls. I think the maximum one for me was three hours. You could be standing outside their doors with 100 girls inside it and for it all to end in nought. “I have been thinking about where I want to go. Sometimes it really doesn’t seem it’s worth it. “You don’t have all this money, you don’t have these tear sheets and you start thinking about what was happening this time last year.” All of her fears and concerns fade away to oblivion once her theatrical-self takes the stage, and her feet begin that epic walk. “When you are walking, and then you stop and look around and there you are in among these elegant beautiful creatures in this elegant dress – you forget you are Caity from the Sunshine Coast. You are part of this ridiculously good-looking group of girls, you feel so special. I enjoy my moment in the spotlight. It’s filled that hole that I have from not acting.” I have been lucky to enjoy several interviews with Caity since she was put on the fast-track to superstardom after being discovered in a Girlfriend Magazine several years ago. Our catch-ups are always candid, not least because of Caity’s compellingly honest reflection on the industry that remains illusively appealing yet devastatingly cutthroat. Our conversation drifts between favourite op shopping haunts, our mutual fascination with MasterChef, gym workouts and her goto beauty products – mascara, all the while Caity speaks knowingly of PHOTO LEFT BY CAROLYN HASLETT PHOTO ABOVE BY JASON ZAMBELLI

industry and the misdirection she believes social networking is sending the profession. “The secret to being successful these days? I think it’s all about being confident. And sadly, having a lot of Instagram followers, which I don’t agree with,” she says. “There is such a trend towards social media, which is not great for girls like me who are all editorial, but great for girls who have the commercial profile.” In her first few years of modelling, Caity confesses she found it difficult being away from home, crediting the friends she made at casting calls as the single biggest support to her. “One of the biggest myths of modelling is the girls you meet. Most girls I have met, bar one or two in five years, have become friends instantly. They saved my first international experience for me,” she says. “I am a bit of a homebody and being suddenly independent in a brand new place where you don’t speak the language is extremely difficult.” But Caity concedes for her to achieve her dream of working in London, she will need to conquer those lifelong fears. “It’s always a bit of timing and luck. So much of what you do is up to you – what’s next, where can I go – so you really have to be on your agent’s case,” she says. “I might not be the most beautiful, the coolest or the one with the most Instagram followers, but I will always deliver a character.” And there is no doubt about that.

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PROFILE

THE CAREFLIGHT HELICOP

TER

THE 2014 GALA BALL

CAREFLIGHT GALA BALL is your passport to Paris

From lavish can-can dancers to Parisan glamour, the world famous Moulin Rouge will come to life on the Sunshine Coast this October when RACQ CareFlight Rescue holds its annual Gala Ball.

areFlight Deputy Chairman, Don Moffatt, says CareFlight’s Gala Ball is the Sunshine Coast’s premier black tie event. “The eighth annual ball has a magnificent Moulin Rouge theme, treating guests to a night in Paris,” Don says. As a charity event, the Gala Ball provides an opportunity to celebrate CareFlight’s lifesaving work in the community and raise vital funds to ensure the rescue helicopter service remains in the air. “It’s a great way to update guests on our service and also acknowledge and thank our wonderful sponsors, supporters, volunteers, staff and our rescue crews on the frontline of critical care,” he says. “Our 2014 Gala Ball saw our generous Sunshine Coast supporters raise $175,000 to help us continue saving lives. I hope the community can come together again this year to support its local helicopter rescue service.” Helping to raise much-needed funds at the 2015 ball will be an exciting raffle with an array of sought after items up for grabs. Fitting with the French theme, there will be a trip to Paris including a travel voucher for flights. Other prizes include a Tour de France lunch and experience package with Australian cycling champion and three time Tour de France Green Jersey winner, Robbie McEwen. CareFlight’s biggest fundraiser of the year would not be possible without the generosity of local businesses.

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“We are so grateful for the support we receive from all our sponsors and the local community who contribute to our lifesaving cause,” Don says. “This year we are excited to have long-term supporter The Hervey Bay Boat Club on board as the event’s naming rights sponsor.” CareFlight’s North Coast Fundraising Manager Angela Miles says the black tie gala is the hottest ticket in town. “Every year tickets sell out incredibly quickly, which is testament to how popular the event is,” Angela says. “Everyone is reminded to be quick if they don’t want to miss out on this memorable night.” The much-loved fundraising event is a fantastic evening of fine dining, quality wines provided by Balgownie Estate and outstanding entertainment. See opposite page for details. VISIT WWW.CAREFLIGHT.ORG.AU/GALABALL FOR MORE INFORMATION.

CONGRATULATIONS ANGELA FOR WINNING 2015 PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR.

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RESCUE

CareFlight Gala Ball october 30 2015

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BUSINESS PROMOTION

time for a detox? Fatigue or Insomnia / Depression/Anxiety / Chemical or Food Sensitivities / Weight Gain or Loss / Bloating, Digestive Pain or Constipation / Hormonal Imbalance or Cancers...

What do these debilitating conditions all have in common? Suffering these symptoms may lead to further chronic illness. We discuss what you can do to avoid or reduce these symptoms, and become the healthiest version of yourself.

eing exposed to toxic substances is inevitable, creating havoc with your health and mental wellbeing. Toxic substances from the environment or in your diet can impact your mood and energy almost immediately, creating a reaction for up to 24 hours, or may build up causing years of ill health, depression, anxiety, and chronic disease. The liver comes into play when you consume anything of a toxic nature to your system, and can be very different for every individual. During this time, enzymes and nutrients required by the liver for detoxification are used in excessive levels in this system, disrupting sleep, mood, digestion, and energy, where these enzymes are also necessary. Your liver is designed to process these toxins and have them excreted from your body, however, problems develop when the toxic load becomes too much, and disease processes begin.

CASE STUDY A 39-year-old female patient with eight years of severe depression, panic attacks, chronic fatigue, insomnia, weight gain, and hypoglycaemic symptoms including nausea, shaking, weakness and feeling faint every two hours, unless food was ingested, although all testing showed normal blood sugar levels, and no diagnosis of hypoglycaemia. High levels of styrene toxicity was found with a symptom description range of dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, drowsiness, nausea, impaired balance, fatigue, depression and anxiety. Treatment for detoxification began, followed with symptom relief within four months of the diagnosis. Call 5443 1987 for a free half hour consultation with one of our naturopaths, where you’ll learn about everything that may be specifically affecting you, and what to do about it.

What to avoid: 

Pesticides, herbicides and fungicides are endocrine disruptors, known as xenoestrogens, causing oestrogen dominance conditions such as breast, prostate and testicular cancer, obesity, infertility, endometriosis, early onset puberty, miscarriages and diabetes.



Preservatives affect up to 65 per cent of the population with reactions such as fluid retention, weight gain, irritability, headaches, migraines, asthma, sinus, hives, rapid heart rate and sometimes anaphylaxis.



Alcohol, drug use, medications, and even food allergens or intolerances will trigger a response that can last from hours to days. Allergy testing can be of great benefit and there are many types of tests available, some better than others. Speak to your practitioner about your choices first. The more toxic your liver, the stronger your food sensitivities respond.



Skin care with parabens and chemical sunscreens all have a xenoestrogenic effect. These chemicals increase your risk of liver toxicity, hormonal imbalance, or some types of cancers.



Plastics such as non BPA-free bottles, can leach plastic substances into your food. Avoid heating or freezing foods in plastic containers, and drinking hot liquids from styrofoam cups. Avoid using cling wraps and microwaving



Household cleaners such as bleach, dishwashing liquid, and laundry powders are also very toxic and hormonal disruptors.



Styrene and xylene found in paints and solvents, toluene from automotive sources, phthalates and benzenes found in personal care products and phthalates found in any scented items such as air fresheners, candles and plastic items are all detrimental to your nervous system and endocrine system. Conditions affecting your nervous system, such as mental health disorders, severe depression, anxiety and panic attacks, and hormonal imbalances and disorders, not to mention all kinds of cancers can be produced due to these overloads.

AdvAnced Wellness & BehAviourAl centre Call 5443 1987 | 44 Baden Powell St, Maroochydore

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laurie Clarke and debbie battaglini-Clarke on family, business and CHarity

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PiPPa Colman introduCes rising star HannaH robinson

meet tHe grouP of migrants making tHeir mark on tHe Coast

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Glenn Cooper a taste of success

The fifth generation of Coopers Brewery pops the cap on the Aussie family’s success

Brought to you By the coast’s leading lifestyle magazine www.profilemag.com.au

BUSINESS

JACK AND CHRIS CHILDS

DRUM ROLL PLEASE… here at About Business we have some exciting news, from next month we’re going to be producing a bigger and even better magazine, fulfilling all your business needs.

e’ve had such an incredible response to our business magazine to date, but you want more and I’m delighted to tell you we’re listening and we’re delivering. From next month you will be able to catch up on the latest in all things business here on the Sunshine Coast as well as making sure you’re up to date with facts and figures from across Australia. We have some exciting new columnists locked in and even meatier feature articles on leaders in business and real estate. But that’s enough for now, you’ll have to wait until next month to find out more. This month we have Glenn Cooper from Coopers Brewery on the cover. We caught up with the fifth generation Cooper ahead of his guest speaking appearance with Think Speakers and Events. While the Coopers brand is steeped in history and tradition, interestingly Glenn initially chose a different path, studying electronic engineering and later establishing a successful private business in computer sales and contract services. But in 1990, Glenn joined the family brewery and is now the Chairman and Ambassador for Coopers Brewery. For more, don’t miss this special feature inside. We also chat with Simone Milasas, who is a one-woman marching band for business. As the director of multiple companies and the worldwide coordinator of Access Consciousness, she also adds business mentor and accomplished author to her list of career highlights. And as always, we bring you Blokes About Town, this time talking all things multiculturalism as Profile Magazine editor Ingrid Nelson catches up with some local migrants who now call Australia home and have some amazing skills to share with the Sunshine Coast community. We hope you enjoy this issue of About Business.

WWW.CHRISCHILDS.COM.AU

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BUSINESS GERRY MORRIS

It’s respectable to have a tall glass of beer with breakfast right? On 4 September it will be, when Mr Glenn Cooper of Coopers Brewery comes to town for our Get Up and Get Motivated Breakfast, sharing some of his family secrets from the vault.

owsers what a month we had last month. Kicking it off we had our Legends at Lunch with John Connolly, Danny Morrison, Trevor Gillmeister and Simon Black who took to the stage to talk all things sport. The following week we had ironman champion Guy Leech over for breakfast and he gave us all a kick in the right direction when it came to creating a healthy business – inside and outside of the boardroom. But that’s enough reminiscing, let’s take a look at who we have coming up on the calendar of events. I’m excited to announce we have the queen of job creation, Sarina Russo locked in for a special dinner on 4 November. I’m sure you would have heard her beaming voice over the radio in the last few months and let me tell you, she’s even more impressive in person. Her genuine passion for linking job seekers with prospective employers is inspiring and I’m sure she’ll have everyone on their toes. Then later in November we have a special luncheon planned with Aussie cricket legend Matthew Hayden who is an inspiration on and off the cricket pitch. Along with taking on the gig of opening batsman for the Australian cricket team, throughout his career Matthew competed in 568 matches, clocked up 39,669 runs, a high score of 1014 and an impressive 119 centuries. Since retiring, Matthew has been even busier, becoming a philanthropic businessman and motivational speaker, healthy eating advocate and quasi-chef, as well as an ambassador for a whole host of charitable organisations. Then in December, ‘Mr Body Language’ himself, Allan Pease, will be hosting an inspirational breakfast which I’m sure will have us all thinking differently about how we carry ourselves in conversation. Stay tuned for more announcements, they’re getting even bigger and better!

46 48 54 57

GLENN COOPER Glenn Cooper, a fifth generation of Coopers Brewery, pops the cap on the Aussie family’s success.

BLOKES ABOUT TOWN Meet the group of migrants making their mark on the Sunshine Coast at this month’s Blokes About Town.

SIMONE MILASAS Simone Milasas is a one-woman marching band for business. What’s her secret to finding the joy in business?

LAURIE CLARKE AND DEBBIE BATTAGLINI-CLARKE Laurie Clarke and Debbie Battaglini-Clarke talk all things family, business and local charity.

MUCH MORE! Otium shows you why you should be blogging in business and Pippa Colman introduces her rising star in family law.

For a full list of events go to www.thinkspeakersandevents.com.au Like us on Facebook to stay up-to-date with all these great events.

september 2015

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Glenn Cooper is a fifth generation Cooper, born into a family steeped in tradition; his forefathers boasting impressive facial hair and sipping on boutique craft beer before it was cool. When people argue Coopers has outgrown craft beer, Glenn quips, ‘We are the grandfather of craft,’ and nobody can dispute that.

TASTE OF

success WORDS NICOLE FUGE PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

GLENN COOPER

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“W

BUSINESS

e lived just down the road from the old original brewery and I used to go there on weekends when Dad would check the brew,” Glenn Cooper shares, a smile creeping across his face. “In those days we had those little roller conveyor lines and I would get inside the old beer boxes, they were wooden boxes in those days, and I would sit in them and have a ride down the roller line like a roller coaster. It was a good place to grow up.” Glenn refers to his childhood at the brewery as the “old days,” but in perspective to the family business’s considerable history, they weren’t old days at all. The Coopers Beer story began in a newly established colony with a brilliant accident in 1862. After turning his hand to a number of trades, Thomas Cooper discovered his talent as a brewer by mischance; when he created his first batch of beer as a tonic for his ailing wife Ann. At that time, South Australia was only 26-years-old and although there were a number of well-established breweries, most settlers preferred to drink imported beer from the mother country rather than colonial beer. And so Thomas Cooper saw the opportunity to create a beer free from the ‘peculiar flavour’ of colonial ales and introduced an all-natural beer from the “very best ingredients”. “In the very old days it was really only a small brewery in South Australia, they had no interstate connection and it was virtually unknown around Australia and relatively unknown in South Australia, not like it is today,” says Glenn. Growing up in the Cooper family, it would be fair to assume Glenn’s first taste of beer was much younger than yours or mine, but as he reveals, through reminiscent laughter – that’s quite a story.

“In the very old days it was really only a small brewery in South Australia, they had no interstate connection and it was virtually unknown around Australia and relatively unknown in South Australia, not like it is today.” “The family was at a park in the Adelaide Hills and in those days to keep ice cream cold they’d have a pack of dry ice,” he says. “The old man got one from the bottom, that had been sitting on the dry ice, and when I licked it my tongue stuck to the ice block and was burning because the dry ice burns you. “He and his mates were sitting there drinking a tally of sparkling ale and I was screaming and all he did was put the bottle all over my mouth and on the ice block and it came off my tongue. I was probably about five or six.” Despite that early taste of success, it wasn’t until many years later that Glenn joined the family business, after first going out into business on his own. “There was no choice because the brewery was struggling and it didn’t look like it was going to survive, and they said, ‘We think it’s going to go broke, we’ll stop making anything further than fourth generation, so better start looking at doing your own thing’.” That’s when Glenn studied electrical engineering and went on to work for a few computer companies before establishing his own business. In 1988, the same year Coopers changed its name from Cooper & Sons Ltd to Coopers Brewery Ltd, Glenn was appointed to the Board after the retirement of his father Ken. Glenn says he made the decision to join the family business when the fourth generation Coopers approached him and his cousin Tim, who he used to play with in the brewery as a child, to come on board. september 2015

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“We’ve had substantial growth since then, particularly after 1998 when we really started getting some interstate workings going on and the big momentum occurred when we made the decision in ‘98 to build a brand new brewery because it was struggling for room at the old site. The new brewery opened in 2000 and then it really took off.” A decade ago, on 1 September, beverage company Lion Nathan launched a hostile takeover bid for the company. “The two major reasons why Lion wanted us was they didn’t have any ales – we had sparkling and pale ale and at that time ale was really doing well all around Australia,” he says. “The other reason was their brewery, here in Adelaide, is fairly close to the city and has little room for expansion – we had a brand new greenfield site brewery, environmentally friendly with plenty of room.” But in December, 2005 Coopers’ shareholders voted to change constitution to effectively defeat the Lion Nathan takeover bid. “You’ve got to remember we’re fifth generation and the brewery was going really well, probably the most successful period of its time and we didn’t have any debt of great note; we were going well, had good plans,” says Glenn. “The only reason you would sell was because of greed, but remember we didn’t start it, we didn’t get it through the tough times, so it was really a fact of why would you sell other than to put money in the fifth generation pockets.” While the takeover bid was the biggest challenge in Coopers’ history, the company has faced other hurdles, but always prevailed. “We made a conscious decision to market ourselves distinctively different, people were moving away from VB and XXXX and that sort of thing, they wanted beers with flavour and it was this younger generation that was coming through and saying, ‘I don’t want to drink the same as my father did, I want something different,’ and Coopers was already there being different. “It’s been more competitive for us because we’ve had more people moving into what we call our arena, although it’s become more competitive with more people doing our style of beers, it’s moved more people into being more experimental with their drinking. That helped us because it moved people away from general lager beer. “People say, ‘You’re too big to be craft now’, but I like to say we are the grandfather of craft beer.” Coopers is also the world’s largest in home brew around the world and is now a substantial product exported around the world. “When home brew came out in the late ‘70s it really did save the brewery, because beer was struggling,” Glenn reveals. “Now it contributes to the brewhouse operations and efficiencies and we are a world leader, we also own a home brew distributor in the USA called Mr Beer.” During his time with the family business, Glenn has played a pivotal role in its growth and success and last year retired from executive duties, passing on the sales and marketing directorship. “But I’m still very busy,” he admits. “I’m still a chairman of the company, I’m also their appointed ambassador and I look after USA export and Asian market export. “On top of that I’ve got another couple of board positions, one of them is chairman of Australian Made Australian Grown, and two family company boards of Australia Bundaberg Ginger Beer and Haymes Paint, which is the fourth biggest paint supplier in Australia.” So Glenn is quick to say he’s “not on gardening duties” in retirement, although he does enjoy the occasional round of golf when time permits. The father-of-two also has a beach house in York Peninsular, where he spends much of his downtime with his wife Elspeth, “I love the fishing and I love mixing with the farming community in York Peninsular, where a lot of our barley comes from”. Glenn also enjoys coming to the Sunshine Coast to visit his older brother, who lives in Buderim, and says they’ll be squeezing in a game of golf when he’s here on 4 September, for a Think Speakers and Events breakfast at the Maroochydore RSL. Cheers to that! profilemagazine

THE MAKING OF A NATIONAL ICON 1862: On 13 May, Thomas Cooper brewed his first recorded brew. Made from four bushels of English malt and eight pounds of Kent hops in 46 gallons of water, this brew was fermented as a pale ale and a heavier ale. 1870: Thomas moved his operations to High Street, Kensington. In 1870 and 1871, he brewed 16 brews a year of between 100 and 150 gallons a batch, to sell to regular customers. 1872: Thomas’ first wife, Ann, died in July, aged 44. Thomas was left with seven surviving children. 1880: In February, Thomas purchased land at Upper Kensington (Leabrook) to build a new brewery costing £550. 1881: The first brew of about 400 gallons of beer was produced at the Leabrook Brewery in July. Leabrook remained the home of Coopers for the next 120 years. 1897: Thomas Cooper died on 31 December, aged 71. The running of the brewery passed on to four sons. 1923: Coopers was incorporated in October.

1928: Coopers brewed one million gallons of beer for the first time (4.5 million litres). 1968: Coopers launched its first lager beer Gold Crown in September. 1975: Plant commissioned to fill 280 bottles per minute. Beer volume reached 3 million gallons (13.6 million litres). 1977: Coopers launched Brewer’s Own Pack (homebrew) in Melbourne. 1988: Coopers changed name from Cooper & Sons Ltd to Coopers Brewery Ltd. 1999: Single strain ale yeast was cultured to replace the mixed culture that had been in use since 1910. Beer volume reaches 20 million litres. 2011: Following the takeover of Fosters by SABMiller, Coopers became the last major Australian owned brewery. 2012: Coopers commemorated its 150th anniversary profilemag.com.au

PROMOTION

MEDIATION VERSUS LITIGATION WORDS NICOLE FUGE PHOTOS REBECCA SMITH

The tales of divorcing couples wasting their money and time in feuding court battles, leaving families broken and angry are all too familiar, but it doesn’t have to always be that way. By entrusting the mediation process, an amicable resolution can be reached, as Michael Gray explains.

aving seen the strengths and pitfalls of the Australian legal system, Michael Gray is well positioned to determine whether the mediation or litigation process will best serve the needs of his clients. And while he has favoured mediation throughout his 35-year career, he is now focused on presenting it as a more structured discipline – packaged as the “new” way. “I can say I know these things will help because I’ve seen it work,” he says confidently. “One of the things I see in my general practice, with people you can usually tell after three to six months, and after they’ve spent $5000 to $10,000, whether this is going somewhere or whether it needs to go to court; and there are some cases that do. “It’s a matter of where you choose to take the first steps – mediation or litigation. “If you take your first steps in mediation, your chances of resolution in a short time frame are greatly enhanced, because if you take your first steps in litigation you will find yourselves in a place where you are entrenched and it’s extremely hard to move from that place to bargain a dignified outcome.” That’s where Gray’s Family Law comes in, providing some of the tools needed to resolve or manage conflict through mediation. While Michael says, ‘There’s nothing new about mediation,’ having done his first mediation training in 1992, he

says it’s more about how you approach the process and how you assess the relationship of the couple. “Mediation is traditionally about getting people out of the trenches and onto some nice open field where they can talk sensibly like adults, about how they’re going to resolve this or how they’re going to manage it. I think it makes more sense to start talking before you get into the trenches. You have more chance of achieving what I call a dignified outcome. “What I’m suggesting is people get ahead of the game and start involving themselves in the mediation process as a first step,” he says. “The benefits of mediation come in two principal ways, the first and most obvious is the financial benefit – the costs associated with running an old fashioned (litigated) matter is anywhere from $20,000 and $50,000 each and that’s fairly typical. There are a lot of cases where each party will spend $20,000 to $50,000 and having spent all that money, may well resolve it before trial anyway. To me that doesn’t make sense. If you’re going to settle anyway – more than 95 per cent of cases that are initiated do settle, why not do it early and avoid all that cost? “By adopting what I call the new way, I would expect costs to be somewhere between $3000 and $5000 each, so an enormous difference and to be honest they’re probably going to finish with the same outcome.”

We will be conducting a workshop in late November/early December and will have a number of speakers on a range of topics relevant to separation and conflict resolution. To find out more email info@graysfamilylaw.com.au or call 07 5445 4214.

Michael says other benefits are the impact on people emotionally and psychologically, as well as their time. “If you can’t avoid going to court then take a two year slab out of your life and put it to the side and let that run your life. At the end you’ll have an outcome over which you had no control. It makes no sense. It has its place but not invariably,” he says. “By involving a mediative process, over which you have some measure of control, you will likely resolve, or manage your conflict within a three to six month time frame. In most cases at the end of that time frame you will still be able to respect each other, relationships won’t have been destroyed and more importantly the individual’s emotional and psychological outlook won’t have been devastated.”

WANT TO KNOW MORE? MICHAEL GRAY

Give us a call on 07 5445 4214 email info@graysfamilylaw.com.au or visit www.graysfamilylaw.com.au It won’t cost you a cent!

PROMOTION

MINDFULNESS in the Law

The practice of being mindful stems from centuries of religion and schools of thought and in today’s society, it can be an integral part of modern life, including the stressful aspects. Mark Wiggins from Griffiths Parry Lawyers & Notary, discusses how the laws of mindfulness play a part in your legal battles.

irstly, what is Mindfulness? We all remember as children being told to “always be mindful of others” but were never taught or told to be mindful of ourselves as that was considered to be selfish. According to the Collins English Dictionary (2nd Ed) mindful is an adjective meaning “keeping aware; heedful”. Wikipedia however, elaborates a great deal further with “mindfulness is the intentional, accepting and non-judgemental focus of one’s attention on the emotions, thoughts and sensations occurring in the present moment”. It is believed to have Buddhist origins being derived from the Pali-term sati. Taking this into consideration, there are clearly two schools of thought regarding mindfulness, with one group believing it is simply the latest fad and unless you take heed you will not be seen to be ‘cool’, and the other group believing that unless we embrace mindfulness in all of our lives we will continue to see a greater propensity for people unable to cope with their lives. The ultimate cost for this inability to cope is unfortunately borne by immediate families and the wider community as they are left to pick up the pieces. How then does this relate to the practice of law? It is necessary for legal practitioners to embrace mindfulness to assist with their ability to carry out their profession, it is also becoming increasingly vital as a tool to take the pressure out of very intense interactions. What do I mean by this, I hear you ask? I am sure we all know someone who has been involved in a legal dispute.

Be that a divorce that was not completed on amicable terms, a business dispute with a partner, or an issue with a client of your business. All of these trigger our “fight or flight” response which begins in a tiny part of our brain called the amygdala and if we are going to be honest we all will have had times when we have known that feeling. Imagine then that you are either feeling that all is lost and there is no hope in anything, or that you are going to destroy the so and so who has upset your world. Either feeling does not lead to a lot of rational thought, however say you sit down for a meeting with your lawyer (the champion you have selected to be by your side in your battle), and you can immediately tell that: (a) they are busy, their office is strewn with files, hassled, not coping and can’t wait for you to leave; or (b) you walk into a tidy office where the lawyer makes you feel you are the only reason they turned up for work, they calmly talk you through your issue, they assist when you get angry or upset and you leave feeling as if you have been listened to. Not a very hard decision at the end of the day is it? Naturally you will want your legal representative to be very good at what they do, with a greater win to loss ratio than 50/50, but it would be a bonus if it was accomplished with a sense of calm, control and civility. Wouldn’t it? If you take nothing more from this article than the fact it is ok to be mindful for yourself then I will be a very happy person. It was said to me sometime in the recent past, that we are known as “human beings” and not “human doings” for a very good reason, yet we seldom take time to just… be.

BUSINESS MARK WISCHNAT

HAMED ASIL

JUAN ALTAMIRANO

BL O K E S ABO U T TO W N WORDS INGRID NELSON PHOTOS WADE FUGE VENUE NOOK AND CRANNY

Since the First Fleet dropped anchor in 1788, close to 10 million settlers have moved from across the world to start a new life in Australia, helping to shape our multicultural society. Ingrid Nelson caught up with some recent migrants who shared their story and some of the challenges they face.

s an emigrant from my birth country of Ireland to Australia with my family in the late 1980s, I am all too familiar with some of the challenges faced by those who make the brave move to start a new life in a foreign country. A teenager at the time, it was only some years later I realised how difficult such a move halfway across the world with three young children in tow must have been for my parents. There’s the friends and family you leave behind, language barriers, climate adjustments, cultural differences, employment … the list goes on. But for most, the rewards, including Australia’s enviable climate and laid-back lifestyle, are well worth the initial upheaval. Australia is a multi-cultural melting pot, it’s what makes us so special. Migrants to our country bring with them a plethora of skills, many of them starting their own businesses and creating employment opportunities for others. I recently had the pleasure of meeting two highly-skilled and educated migrants to Australia, Hamed Asil and Juan Altamirano, who have left their home countries of Iran and Chile respectively to start a new life in Australia. And despite finding it difficult to secure employment due to language and cultural barriers, both men are optimistic about the future and 100 per cent certain they have made the right decision. Joining us

was Nambour Community Centre coordinator Mark Wischnat who is involved in the migrant acceleration program which has been a great support to both men. Co hosting the lunch was my partner in crime and fellow Irish immigrant Mr Gerry Morris. Here are their stories.

HAMED’S STORY:

“Life is challenging, it’s up and down. When you are at the bottom, the only way is up…”

september 2015

I’m originally from Iran and moved to Australia in 2011. It was a big change. I had my own successful business with seven employees and things were good, but I had visited family in Australia and I was hooked by the lifestyle. I wanted a new challenge and I decided to take the plunge. It wasn’t easy but I’m glad I made the move. Every day I am 100 per cent sure I made the right decision. My previous background was in importing medical equipment. When I arrived in Australia I was looking at exporting medical equipment from Australia to Iran but I found it very difficult due to the rules and regulations and policies etc. It was the same when I looked into importing medical equipment from Europe. Getting a licence is very hard. So despite 12 years experience in the industry and being able to fix and install the machinery, I was unable to continue in that field. I decided on a big change and opened a fish and chip shop but it wasn’t for me. I have to be creating something. I applied

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BUSINESS for many jobs, my fingers were automatically sending applications for different sales positions but I faced some of the same challenges as Juan. When I arrived in Australia, I was applying for jobs 24 hours a day. The problem is I have never received an interview due to language barriers. Selling means talking but I never had the chance to prove myself. It’s hard to get local experience without anyone giving you a break. I would be happy to work as a volunteer for a couple of months. I just wanted employers to give me a chance to show them what I could do. But that is business. Life is challenging, it’s up and down. When you are at the bottom, the only way is up and that’s the time you rise and get to the top again. I am now looking at other opportunities in importing luxury items from Europe to Australia. I have no doubt I will find success, it just takes time. JUAN’S STORY: I’m from Santiago, Chile. I moved to Australia in February this year but I was here from 2010 to 2012 to study for my masters degree in civil engineering thanks to a scholarship, having completed my bachelor degree in Chile. I was lucky enough to meet Mark and the team at the Nambour Community Centre and they have been such a great support to me. I have found it very difficult to find work due to cultural barriers and lack of local experience. But engineering is the same the world over. We work with concrete and steel and I have been working hard on my English, which is quite good now. Unfortunately, the reality is if your resume shows you are from another country and English is your second language, it’s tough to even get an interview. I have been looking for work 24 hours a day as well as working with a recruitment agency. I love the Sunshine Coast, it’s absolute paradise and I am still very happy with my decision to move to Australia. Now all I need to do is find work and it will be a dream come true. MARK’S STORY: I work with the community centre in a co-ordinator role, which allows me the opportunity to meet interesting people such as these guys. The community centre is a crisis type community organisation for homeless people, those in a domestic violence situation etc – we are at the prevention end. We want to build people’s confidence and make them feel good about themselves. We have a number of programs that are funded, including a settlement program and a migrant community development program. The community centre allows an affordable place for people to run their own programs and groups etc. We are just the facilitators. The migrant business acceleration program is part of what we do. We have a funded multicultural worker and settlement worker to help those who are new to the country to find work. We aim to raise the profile of these people who are often very skilful and have lots of qualifications. There is a lot of potential and creativity and ideas these people can offer that businesses can maximise and invest in. Migrants often start up new businesses and create employment in Australia. It’s all about integrating people who are new to Australia and making the transition into employment easier for them. We have a dinner once a month, where people from all corners of the globe cook their traditional dishes and just connect and support each other. It’s a great community.

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The Venue...

NOOK AND CRANNY

here’s a buzz in Nambour. And it’s thanks to young entrepreneurs with a vision to see the once tired little town transformed into a hip and happening hub much like Melbourne’s eclectic town of St Kilda. Cameron Scott is one young visionary who is leading the pack. Originally from Melbourne, Cameron, also a qualified accountant, saw the potential in Nambour and predicts there will be huge growth over the next few years. If the figures are anything to go by, he is on the money too, with a 25 per cent population increase in the area in the last five years, due to young families taking advantage of the affordable housing. The recent opening of Cameron’s trendy Nook and Cranny on Currie Street, and more recently his Downtown burger bar has further added to Nambour’s appeal, drawing the younger crowds to the Hinterland town. The lads and I recently caught up over a selection of delicious pizzas at the Nook and Cranny and they were as good as I had been told. Selections included Salami, roasted eggplant and jam relish; Pumpkin, feta, nuts, rocket, balsamic with evoo; and marinated chicken, roast capsicum, chilli relish and feta with napoli base. Yum! Don’t miss the dessert pizzas too. After a tip off from my sweet-toothed colleague, I sampled the caramelised pear and roasted almond pizza, which was to die for. The milk chocolate and marshmallow option was just as delicious. The best part is the fantastic value! At just $9.80 per pizza, it certainly makes for an affordable lunch or night out. Next stop Downtown! Nook and Cranny 113 Currie St, Nambour | Phone: 5476 1393

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BUSINESS HANNAH ROBINSON PIPPA COLMAN & ASSOCIATES SOLICITORS

WHY I CHOSE FAMILY LAW

as a career

This month, Pippa Colman would like to take the opportunity to introduce to you one of her “soon to be lawyers” – Hannah Robinson – and her story about why she chose to work in the area of Family Law.

commenced my Bachelor of Laws degree back in 2010, having worked in hospitality and real estate prior to commencing my studies. I grew up in regional Queensland and moved to Brisbane to study. I have always been a family orientated person. I love children and being around them makes me happy. I had a few friends that had separated families, but I never saw first-hand the difficult situation they faced growing up. During my studies I discovered an interest in family law and undertook work experience in a family law firm voluntarily. From then on my passion grew, where I enjoyed helping clients resolve their matter, in particular helping parents come to an agreement about the care of their children. I have a strong passion for guiding families to an outcome that is in the best interests of the children, and that is manageable for the parents, without affecting their own lives moving forward. I have continued my studies and am currently completing my Masters of Applied Family Law, where I am continuously improving and enhancing my knowledge and experience. I consider myself fortunate, being mentored and guided by Pippa Colman herself, experiencing complex family law matters and reaching agreements for our clients. Sometimes families are faced with challenges that are hard to

overcome by themselves. I feel privileged that my clients allow me to guide them through the legal challenges and help them move forward in their lives at a difficult time. Clients who are involved in family law matters can often be overwhelmed by the legal process and the emotional strain of their circumstances. I hope that by working with them to achieve outcomes that allow them to move forward with their lives, I can help ease the burdens our clients face. I am passionate about my work in finding solutions and I thrive on the challenge of helping my clients overcome the difficult legal situations they face. I also find great satisfaction in getting a successful result for my client who might otherwise have thought there was no hope. These are the positives I get from what can often be a very negative and emotional situation. Hannah has now completed all the necessary requirements to work as a solicitor, and is awaiting admission due in September/October.

“I am passionate about my work in finding solutions and I thrive on the challenge of helping my clients OVERCOME the difficult legal situations they face.”

september 2015

For further details contact Pippa Colman & Associates Solicitors on 07 5458 9000 12/64 Sugar Road, Maroochydore Qld 4558 www.pippacolman.com

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BUSINESS

The joy of

BUSINESS WORDS KATE DAVIES PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

SIMONE MILASAS

Simone Milasas is a one-woman marching band for business. As the director of multiple companies and the worldwide coordinator of Access Consciousness, she also adds business mentor and accomplished author to her list of career highlights.

rom standing in the streets of Athens haggling passer-bys to dine in a restaurant for which she could not speak the language, to living a double life as a party-goer who was $187,000 in debt, to now running multiple companies – if there is one life story worth hearing about, it’s Simone Milasas’. Firing answers to questions faster than a pen can draw ink, Simone is the energetic public speaker and mentor with a knack for getting businesses out of debt. She is the worldwide coordinator of Access Consciousness and is helping others find the ‘joy of business’ as mentor and public speaker. Her debut book, The Joy of Business, is an international sensation, and has been translated into seven languages, with a loyal Turkish following that could rival the likes of Richard Branson. Yet, from her Peregian Beach home, where I had the pleasure of meeting this lively powerplayer, Simone toasts a simple watermelon juice to her success, and admits it hasn’t been without mistakes. “I was always doing different things; one job for six months and then leave, or go from industry to industry. For me it wasn’t that I

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couldn’t make a choice or settle down, I was just having so much fun learning about different business,” Simone says, reflectively. “From working in a warehouse as a sales manager to working in restaurants and bars, to managing businesses, to owning them, to having investors to investing in other things – I have done all of it. “I have chosen really bad business partners and I have chosen really good ones. But that’s the thing, it’s not about getting it right, it’s about choosing and then you have the awareness, it’s that choice that creates awareness.” Simone reflects on her years of travelling the globe and an unwillingness to settle down for her innate sense of self, which inevitably led to her favourite word “create” – a motto she holds like a fortress around her businesses and herself. “When I left school I worked as hard as I could so I could save enough money to go overseas, and I ended up leaving for three years. I worked in so many different places and when I came back so many people were patting me on the back and saying well, now you have

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“MONEY is something that shows up as a result of what you have CREATED. Business is more about creation and people tend to forget that…” “I was delusional for quite a long time. I thought that everybody loved what they did and that’s why they chose to do it, because my point of view was, why would you do something if you didn’t love it?” she says. “I had a conversation with Gary one day about a choice someone was making that didn’t make sense to me because there was no joy with the choice they were making and he said, ‘people don’t do business in this reality for the joy of it’, and that’s when I was like, what! Why!” It was this realisation that started Simone on her own path, to bring about the The Joy Of Business. “My point of view is, what if every business person in the entire world actually functioned from a place of the joy of business; the joy of business is not about laughing at jokes, it is about asking questions and the willingness to change everything and choose everything, and the willingness to follow what you know, what have you always dreamt of doing but didn’t think was possible because of how old you are or another reason – but anything is possible.” She admits her tools for creating The Joy of Business was nothing

new or inventive, but an acceptance of things that business people tend to turn a blind eye to, or think of as taboo. “Everyone has a definition of what business is supposed to be like rather than, what if it was just creation? What would you like to create today?,” says Simone. “I often use the analogy of when I was a kid I used to make mud pies and I would sell them. I had no point of view that the mud pies were too small or too big, too soft or too tough, you just created. “I don’t know what age it is but we tend to go to judgment of what we are creating and it just diminishes what we do, rather than think, no, it’s your creation, your ideas. You look at Richard Branson, he never takes no for an answer and he will create anything he desires, he doesn’t care what people think. But people start to diminish their business and their money flow by worrying what other people think, rather than asking the question, if you were creating a business today, what would you choose?” Simone says one of the biggest mistakes people make is putting money before business. “Money is something that shows up as a result of what you have created. Business is more about creation and people tend to forget that and instead think, well I have to maintain my lifestyle or, I have to keep the family and pay the bills. They have all these justifications as to why they are in business and why they have a job, which doesn’t sound like much fun, rather than, well what can I create?” Simone says when she is home (which these days is only three months of the year) it’s like a holiday and she finds joy in the simple pleasures of cooking a meal in her own kitchen and spending an afternoon on the verandah with her husband and their son, Nash. “I have an absolutely stunning house in Peregian Beach that my husband created. I came home the other day and thought, oh my goodness, it’s so nice to have so much luxury around us. Our house is probably our most luxurious place to get away, with the ocean and the trees,” she says. “My husband travels with me 80 per cent of the time. It’s a different lifestyle, but I love it because I always wanted to travel. Right from the beginning I wanted to have my own business and I wanted to travel, and then I realised I wanted to make money and change the way people looked at the world, the way they looked at each other and how they dealt with it all. “I figure at the moment I am incorporating all of that, and I am so incredibly grateful for my life.”

BUSINESS

that out of your system you can settle down, get a job and you know, find ‘the one’,” she laughs. “I was like, oh my goodness, this is just the beginning! “I was never one of those people to say, when is more money going to show up. I was just like, well, what do I need to create? I don’t know why that is, I must have different blood running through my veins. I knew I could create money, even when I was in debt.” Described as a catalyst for change, Simone’s unique ability to get to the core of an issue and make a positive change is testimony to her devotion to her job. She fondly dedicates a lot of her success to Gary Douglas, the founder of Access Consciousness – a program to equip people with the tools to change things in their life they haven’t been able to change.

TOP TIPS one. Don’t judge yourself.

two. Choose – choice creates awareness, you have to keep choosing. three. Be aware of your financial reality, how much money you have and don’t have. four. Money follows JOY, Joy does not follow money, so are you doing something you love? ﬁve. Ask questions – questions will always empower, an answer disempowers … some questions to ask, what possibilities are available that you have not yet instituted? And, how does it get any better than this?

september 2015

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PROMOTION

Blogging for business WORDS MARIEL DAWSON

hen you have a problem or there is a question you urgently need to know the answer to, what’s the first thing you do? You Google it! Good old Google. How did we live without it? Google is bombarded with over three billion search queries a day. That’s a mind-blowing, one trillion searches per year. Being a business owner, it’s safe to assume your target market and potential clients are online searching for answers, ideas, entertainment and solutions. Why start a business blog? Adding blogging to your marketing mix allows you to connect and convert on a worldwide scale. The best part is, it is easy and affordable to implement, no matter how small your organisation is. Here are some interesting stats on the power of content marketing and blogging that business owners can’t afford to ignore.

Companies who blog receive 97 per cent more links to their website and links remain a key ranking factor when Google examines your site. By 2020, customers will manage 85 per cent of their purchasing relationships without talking to a human. 92 per cent of companies who blog multiple times per day have acquired customers from their blog. Website conversion rates are nearly six times higher for content marketing adopters. Marketers who have prioritised blogging are 13 times more likely to enjoy a positive return on investment (ROI). Blogging will achieve three things for you business. It will increase your website traffic, boost customer engagement and build trust and authority in your market.

Companies who blog receive 97 per cent more links to their website

If you want to significantly expand the digital reach of your business then get blogging. Google and other search engines favour original, quality content. The more blogs you publish, the more chances search engines will pick up your content. Develop a Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) strategy with help from a SEO professional to boost your page rankings and acquire organic search traffic. For example, Sunshine Coast based accounting and financial planning firm Otium Group started blogging in 2012 publishing a minimum of one blog per week. At first it was just the CEO Drew Grosskreutz, hurriedly writing something on a Friday night ‘just because he had to’. Today, the company works closely with an SEO ninja and its target is a minimum of three blog posts per week. As a result organic visits to the website have tripled.

Boost customer engagement

Build authority

Getting started

Blog promotion and measuring success

Customers will love you for creating content to solve their problems, educate, inform or entertain them. Blogging also gives your business the opportunity to engage and interact with the online community, especially if you use social media to promote your posts.

Have an understanding of what appeals to your target audience. To grab their attention and rise above the noise of the digital world you must prove that your content is worthy of their time.

What to blog about This thought alone can stop new bloggers in their tracks. The secret is to just start. An SEO expert will be able to do the research on your market and give you some idea of the right keywords to incorporate into your blogs to drive organic search traffic and improve your rankings. Get into the mindset of your target audience Brainstorm some ideas, pick a topic and start writing what comes to mind. Get all of your thoughts out, aiming for a minimum of 400 words per post and then go back over your draft and edit it.

Blogging shows clients and prospective customers that no one knows the industry like you do and gives your business a voice. Posting relevant, useful content on a regular basis expands your following and builds trust. Never fear giving away free information or advice in your posts as this demonstrates you and your team’s expertise through your blog.

Your latest blog post is published and live on your website. Now to sit back and wait for the clicks and leads to start rolling in, right? To increase the reach of your blog you need to promote it. Share your posts across social media channels, link to them in your email marketing and reach out to influencers, others in your industry who you think will find your content interesting. How do you know what’s working and what’s not? Shares, likes and positive comments are a great indicator of whether your target audience is finding value in what you have to say but using traffic analysis tools similar to Google Analytics allows you to gather data on your website’s performance and can reveal the success of your blogging efforts. For example, at Otium Group important metrics, including unique views, conversions, page bounce rates and average duration (how long our audience spends on each page) are analysed each week and used to improve future content marketing tactics and strategy.

if you’re a small business owner interested in finding out more about strategies to grow your business contact otium Group. Phone: 1300 468 486 Website: www.otiumgroup.com.au email: info@otiumgroup.com.au

Blogging and the bottom line

Get your content strategy right and blogging will draw in new leads, improving the bottom line of your business, but it’s vital to ensure this isn’t the sole reason behind why you do it. The key purpose behind every post you publish must be to add value for the audience. If your reader feels you are just dressing up a sales pitch or constantly talking about how great your service/product is they will lose interest and click away. Modern marketing is about “telling not selling”. Drew Grosskreutz AND GorDoN MCGreGor

PROMOTION

Increase website traffic

BUSINESS

priceless

BOND

LAURIE CLARKE AND DEBBIE BATTAGLINI-CLARKE WITH THEIR CHILDREN JAMES, SOFIA AND ADDISON

Laurie Clarke and Debbie Battaglini-Clarke’s business is in banking. However, their heart lies in giving back, and together they have raised more than $200,000 for the local community. Here, they talk family, love, life after a serious diagnosis and their passion for philanthropy.

WORDS ANNA RAWLINGS PHOTOS CHESTERTON SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

f the wealth of a person is measured by the happiness in their life, then Laurie Clarke and Debbie Battaglini-Clarke have discovered life’s riches. As we chat in their gorgeous Rosemount abode, the giggle and chatter of their three energetic children, Addison, eight, and four-year-old twins James and Sofia mix with the yips of their two cute dachshunds. We sit on the deck overlooking tennis courts and lush acreage, a sleek black helicopter lifts off from their neighbour’s property and Laurie races off to a meeting, smartphone in hand; it’s a reminder that although home is clearly where the heart is for the couple, they’ve flourished in the business arena too. As philanthropic believers of giving back, the couple is set on making a difference in the community in which they are doing business. Laurie and Debbie have, to date, raised in excess of $250,000 through their annual CCGD and Corporate Sports Lunch, together with major stakeholders and supporters, for various local children’s charities. And incidentally, it was charity work that initially brought the couple together while both were living in Melbourne in 2004. Previously, Laurie had spent 30 years with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) in northern and western Melbourne, after migrating to Sydney from the United Kingdom as a young child. Deb, who was raised in Queensland and Canberra, had a background in event management which saw her working for the Alannah and Madeline Foundation and was tasked with supporting the CBA General Manager to host a joint event. She was offered two tickets to attend the evening, and upon advising

her contact she was single, he quickly organised one of CBA’s ‘eligible bachelors’ to accompany her – and that was Laurie. The couple decided on the Sunshine Coast for their wedding, and after falling in love with the area, moved up in 2008 – interestingly, our photographer for this story, Tanya, was the couple’s wedding photographer! It was a change of pace for the couple, who at that stage had baby Addison and while Debbie loved her job, Laurie was growing dissatisfied with the corporate structure of working for one of the ‘Big Four’ banks. “Deb had owned a business before and my background is only in banking, so buying a bank was perfect,” says Laurie of their decision to move and buy into Bank of Queensland (BOQ) Maroochydore in August, 2007. The couple admits their first foray into their award-winning business complete with 10 staff, was a “hard slog”, with the GFC hitting a month after they bought the bank; however they prevailed and 12 months and a growing business later, launched their first charity venture. “The opportunity it gave us was going back to the grassroots level and doing stuff Laurie loved to do, and I ultimately loved to do which was helping people. I saw how we could bring some unique events to the Coast and at the same time give back to the local community and work with various charities,” smiles Debbie. Debbie has just resigned from a SunnyKids ambassadorship, to focus on a new partnership with the Hear and Say Centre, and they hope to raise $40,000 for children with hearing loss, learning how to listen and speak with new cochlear implants. “They’ve only had three ‘switch ons’ on the Coast and we were able to

“I saw how we could bring some UNIQUE events to the Coast and at the same time GIVE BACK to the local community and work with various charities.”

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BUSINESS invite our major stakeholders to one … we watched this little girl who was six-years-old have her implant switched on for the first time. There were grown men crying, the tissue box was definitely passed around!” remembers Debbie. “I think while we own a business we will always find a charity to support. With the charities that are based on the Coast and the amount of fundraising events, it’s a tight arena and the fact people are attending those events, putting their hands in their pockets, or helping in a philanthropic voluntary way is just outstanding,” she adds. Children’s charities and organisations are a cause close to Debbie and Laurie – the twins were born four weeks prematurely, and James was later diagnosed with Level Two cerebral palsy (CP), which causes potentially limited motor skills. James and Sofia were conceived via IVF through highly regarded specialist Paul Stokes, and born in 2012. After opting to have their last two viable eggs in for their fifth, and last, attempt, the couple were in “shock for the first few months” after learning they were expecting twins. “Because of my age we had to go to Brisbane to have the amniocentesis test and that’s when we found out we were having a son as well. Laurie has two daughters to his first marriage, so we were delighted there was going to be another Clarke in the family,” smiles Debbie. When James and Sofia were assessed after birth, James had severe blood sugar problems and had to be transported to Brisbane for intensive care. Later, when the twins reached their 10-month check, the paediatrician signed off Sofia but expressed concern over James. “We went for an MRI scan just before the 12-month mark and I remember coming to get the result and all I heard is the word ‘cerebral palsy’. I just stopped listening, lucky Laurie was there,” says Debbie. “We were lucky because we got support straight away. The turning point, and the paediatrician agreed, for us was James having a twin sister because wherever she was at with her growth, he would want to be. So if she was walking, he wanted to be walking, if she was crawling, he wanted to be crawling. He didn’t know he had cerebral palsy, he just wanted to be doing what she was doing and that’s what has pushed him as well as our regular physio.”

“I love to give back and MENTOR a number of other small business owners informally … to support others in their quest for GREATNESS and success.”

september 2015

“It’s a bit ironic, twins have a greater chance of one of them having cerebral palsy, but at the same time having the able-bodied twin helps them through their therapy,” adds Laurie. Today, after an eye correction operation, Debbie shares you wouldn’t know James’ disability if you saw him. After two years off with the twins, Debbie returned to work, scooping a coveted Sunshine Coast Business Woman of the Year Award, which gave her an opportunity to reflect on her philanthropic efforts. “We’d raised $200,000 for the Coast by then. When you start to put it all together and realise that in itself has made an incredible difference to the lives of the people we’ve helped, it puts together a bigger picture,” she says. “It’s humbling and rewarding. I love to give back and mentor a number of other small business owners informally as well, to support others in their quest for greatness and success.” Now, Debbie has this year made the commitment to split her time between home, family and time for herself. “I’ve decided the time I do have is now spent with the kids. It hit home I’m not going to have any more babies so I want to spend time with them while they’re still little. I think we’ve given a lot in terms of community involvement, and I’ll definitely be back hitting some of the voluntary positions again – but now it’s about giving more time to my family,” she says. And that’s something money can’t buy.

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BUSINESS

WORDS ANNA RAWLINGS

Karey Galea

Rebecca Gill

Hairy Pepper Noosa

Maroochydore Homemaker Centre Maroochydore

rom trading a banking career in Balmain to chasing a literal sea change, Noosa-based hair product entrepreneur Karey Galea’s success lies in testing the waters. Karey grew up in Balmain, Sydney, and after leaving a 15-year career in the banking industry to start a family and welcoming two daughters, Karey and her former husband bought a 26-foot boat before being tempted by new horizons. “We sold the little boat, the house, cars and furniture and bought a 42-foot yacht and off we went,” Karey smiles.

“I get an enormous amount of satisfaction when someone uses my product and I see the diff erence it makes to their confidence.” What was initially planned as a 12-month journey turned into a four-year coastal passage up and down the east coast of Australia. Although Karey was schooling the girls via distance education, when her eldest daughter reached senior school years the family settled in Mooloolaba. After moving off the boat in 2008, Karey bought into a bakery business and went on to work within the jewellery industry as a certified diamontologist. “I had been thinking about going out on my own,” she shares. “I have always had a passion for hair and beauty, however never had the opportunity to make it a career choice.” Then, during a trip to the hairdresser Karey’s attention was drawn to a small patch of her own thinning hair, which gradually worsened. With her hair follicles too damaged to grow back, Karey began her research and after 12 months of tests and trials, surrounded by the support of special people in her life, Hairy Pepper was created. “I get an enormous amount of satisfaction when someone uses my product and I see the difference it makes to their confidence, especially women,” she shares. Karey is now focused on marketing Hairy Pepper, which naturally restores the appearance of thinning hair within seconds, with a vision to see it stocked in at least one hairdressing salon in every city in Australia. 60

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ebecca Gill has had to shop around for a career for the past 18 years – but not for the reason many might think. As marketing manager for the Maroochydore Homemaker Centre, Rebecca has worked with a number of regional and neighbourhood shopping centres during her 18-year career, since graduating from Griffith University with a degree in marketing and commerce. “In my last semester of uni I had to do some work experience ... I met with the national marketing director of a company and did two weeks work experience and they offered me a job,” Rebecca says. “I was one of the lucky graduates who walked out, straight into a job.” Joining the Maroochydore Homemaker Centre just over 12 months ago, Rebecca’s role as marketing manager entails looking after the centre’s marketing, campaigns and promotions, working with the individual retailers and the national agency team in Sydney.

“I’m confident I can say I have struck a good work/life balance.” “I’ve experienced a few different styles of shopping centres. Here, there’s a great centre management team, the retailers are fantastic, quite savvy and love what they do,” she smiles. “I love it. I think I’m confident I can say I have struck a good work/ life balance.” Rebecca works three days per week, spending her days off with her husband and two children, aged eight and four. “I’d just had two years off, so coming back into the workforce, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do and I was lucky enough to find the perfect job for me,” she says. Over the past almost two decades, Rebecca has seen the change in retail and customer service, particularly with the advancements of technology and online shopping. “Shopping centres were the hub of the community and now with the internet, online shopping and strip centres, the competition in the marketplace is much higher!” she says. Now, Rebecca is motivated by a vision for the Homemaker Centre to stand out on the Coast as a superior destination, with the enclosed centre unique to the region and Queensland. profilemag.com.au

REAL ESTATE

INDUSTRY

Jeanette Singline proves why sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an all-round role model for women

september 2015

inside

REAL FACTS 64 How does aff ordability

and lifestyle concerns shape your buying habits?

PROPERTY

When it comes to buying a home, weigh up the pros and cons to buying new versus established

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REAL ESTATE

Woman ON

TOP WORDS JESSICA CROFTS PHOTOS REBECCA SMITH

Lucrative Business Manager and all-round role model for women, Jeanette Singline has experienced what it's like to be a part of a minority group. Here, she shares her life's influences and how it impacted her to be a voice for women in building today. JEANETTE SINGLINE

eanette Singline is on a pursuit to change the ethos of the building industry with its stereotypical male-dominated trend. Boasting a genuine personality and hardworking ethic, Jeanette certainly knows what it’s like to be a minority in a specific field, which sparked her passion to help other women break into the construction industry. “I spent two years growing up in Arnhem Land which is an Indigenous-based area in the middle of nowhere, so I learnt to adapt quickly as we were very much a minority within a minority,” says Jeanette. “I’d never change these experiences though as I feel it’s made me who I am today.” Despite her unusual upbringing, Jeanette’s life experiences have led her to where she is today, an award-winning business manager for Buildmore and Project Manager of Industry Women Central, an online education hub that supports and links women in the building and construction industry. “Industry Women Central is what we proposed needed to happen after the Women into Building project, which saw 80 women from around Queensland construct and design a small-lot home,” she says. “After this project was completed, we sent a comprehensive report to the Industry Skills Council to start Industry Women Central, which would give women and businesses a place to go for information in all areas of construction and building. “I am also part of the Sunshine Coast Technical Trade Training committee, which rolls out trade day programs for young women thinking of doing a trade. It’s important to get this information out there because industry support is definitely out there, but it is scattered.”

Jeanette’s successful career stems back to when she started out as a personal assistant to one of South Australia’s top real estate agents, where she was unaware that her professional profile was already being marketed around the state. “I landed a job managing a few real estate offices around South Australia, but then I wanted to take my job further and wanted to know more about how to build a house. I moved up to Queensland and secured this job with Buildmore and have been with them for seven years now,” says Jeanette. As a diligent worker Jeanette has remained a positive role model in the industry and her ability to involve women in a male-dominated world has been nothing but admirable. Jeanette receives contact from women from all over Queensland on a daily basis seeking advice on building-related issues. “I never put my hand up to be a mentor, but I started getting phone calls from women who wanted to be pointed in the right direction,” she says. “I want to aid women into building and show that young girls or women already in the industry can put their stories out there and realise there is no stereotype. “I’m definitely a people’s person, I don’t like to be shoved in the corner. I’m meeting different individuals every single day and because I’m not a government representative I can say things others can’t. I’ve got a voice that some others don’t have the courage to use.” Along with Jeanette’s lucrative background, she continues to push for a stronger female presence in the building industry by working with other networks such as the National Association for Women in Construction (NAWIC) and Supporting and Linking Tradeswomen

“Sure there are a lot of males in the industry, but there are also a lot of females. The numbers are low but we are MAKING RIPPLES, and ripples turn into WAVES.”

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(SALT) who supply women with monthly workshops and other educational events. “The key is to become more visible and accessible, the more women recognise they are role models and have something to give, the more the younger generation can see that,” she says. “Women are generally role models in everyday life. There is no reason women can’t do the same job men do, and what makes a project any different if it has women standing in front of it? “Sure there are a lot of males in the industry, but there are also a lot of females. The numbers are low but we are making ripples, and ripples turn into waves.” Jeanette is immensely pleased that major corporate companies have already jumped on the bandwagon to incorporate women into the industry, with some CEOs endorsing a Champions of Change Initiative, which calls for equal rights and pay for women in the workforce. “Having a diverse workforce with women in board positions gives businesses profitability. There are things that need to change in order to accommodate equality, such as being more flexible and stop stereotyping women, but it all starts from the top. It’s about supporting your coworkers whether you’re male or female,” she says. Last year Jeanette’s success continued to flourish with the addition of her being added to the board of Master Builders, a major Australian building and construction industry association. “They called me and asked if I was entering the Women into Building Award because they’d heard of my involvement on the project we did, and the fact I was on the Sunshine Coast Technical Trade Training committee,” she says. “I was astounded they knew all about me but I entered at the last minute and amazingly I won the award. I wear this award as a badge of honour and have since been asked to sit on the Master Builder Board.” An achievement as enormous as this would likely top anyone’s work aspirations, but Jeanette remains grounded and strives to promote women in the building industry while she actively manages Buildmore and their growing business goals. “People say all the time that I’ve been really lucky, but I believe you make your own fortune and it all comes back to the choices you’ve made. As a young girl I didn’t have the greatest family environment and was always going around to different places. I didn’t have an appreciation for the experiences I was going through. Adapting to different environments and talking to different people was the norm for me,” she says. “I’ve always been a personal assistant, promoting and supporting other people and trying to get them on the pedestal, so for me this was a great personal achievement.” With a driven work ethic and the ability to sway others, Jeanette maintains her stance on bringing women into the workforce and growing Buildmore’s already highly regarded reputation. I asked the successful business woman what her most prized advice would be to women wanting to get into the building industry, she says, “explore your options, there is a vast array of exciting and rewarding career options in the building industry and get in touch with your local support groups like Master Builders and NAWIC. The Buildmore Group and I have always been very passionate about women and changing our “traditional” roles and I think that is why this cause has struck a chord with me, because during my life’s experiences I’ve always been in a minority situation”.

“Women are generally role models in everyday life. There is NO REASON women can’t do the same job men do, and what makes a project any different if it has women standing in front of it?”

september 2015

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REAL ESTATE

Whether you’re looking to enter the real estate market or are already a seasoned home-buyer, it pays to know the trends and predictions within this often-fickle industry. Profile keeps you in the know for all things real estate.

REAL FACTS AFFORDABILITY AND LIFESTYLE CONCERNS SHAPE BUYING HABITS OF YOUNG AUSTRALIANS Younger Australians have significantly changed their buying habits because of affordability pressures and lifestyle concerns. The LJ Hooker Youth White Paper found under-30s have embraced “new and innovative buying habits” to enter the property market. This has seen first home buyers “fly under the radar”, according to the report, and led to an under-reporting of their numbers and changing habits. The report says the most common new buying habit is that of the ‘rentvester’, who invests in a cheaper suburb while continuing to rent in a more expensive and desirable location. Another approach is to partner with family or friends to buy a larger property to co-inhabit or as an investment, it says, “The major decision here is how to structure the ownership arrangement. The two most common are as tenants-incommon or joint tenancy”. Some young families who can’t afford to buy a larger home in their preferred area are choosing to purchase an older and smaller home, then add rooms and levels. Other young families are abandoning their local area in favour of a newly built suburb, “This has seen demand for houseand-land packages in new estates rise considerably over the past few years,” the report says. “For those not willing to compromise on location, purchasing a vacant lot and building from the ground up has also been a way to remain within their preferred area.” Another trend is for younger Australians to buy an off-the-plan

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apartment, so they can postpone their mortgage repayments until it’s been built. “This has been popular with the under-30s as it allows them to keep saving or maintain their lifestyle in the short term until they move into their new property,” the report says. “This has also been popular for the younger generation of investors who want to lock in today’s price and capture the capital growth over the construction period.”

STAMP DUTY SKYROCKETS Property buyers have suﬀered colossal increases in stamp duty over the past two decades. According to new research from the Property Council of Australia, Brisbane is up 532 per cent, from $1329 to $8400. Property Council of Australia chief executive Ken Morrison says stamp duty has become a “runaway cash grab” that is locking out potential home buyers. “The community should be outraged that they are being slugged with such excessive charges, especially at a time when housing aﬀordability is an acute challenge,” he says.

BRISBANE INVESTMENT ON THE RISE Investors who are speculating on big capital gains in Sydney and Melbourne look set to be cruelly disappointed – but Brisbane looks a safe bet. In Brisbane, house prices are tipped to rise 13.5 per cent to $590,000 and unit prices are tipped to rise 5.7 per cent to $460,000. Sourced from www.rebonline.com.au

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Playing the Property Game

Investing in property can be an expensive gamble so it is imperative you develop a low risk investment strategy and diversify your property portfolio to achieve the maximum benefits.

ne of the most effective ways to reap great returns is to invest in location and lifestyle. Identify what attracts people to the area. Does it have great beaches and coastal views? How close are the local shopping centres and universities? Is there public transport within walking distance? It certainly pays to conduct your own research and find areas undergoing new developments, such as new hospitals and health precincts. Investing in a location before it booms is one of the keys to future rewards. It is also important to spread your investments across different suburbs to avoid holding all your eggs in one basket. Investing in different suburbs can help to reduce risk if one suburb undergoes an infrastructure change which goes against your favour â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

for example, a new refuse tip or a change to the flight path. When investing interstate, education, knowledge and expertise are very important. There are many companies that specifically cater to the needs of interstate investing. Do your research and try to engage somebody with local knowledge and an understanding of where the current and future hot spots are likely to be. Achieving stable and long term returns is not just dependant on where you invest, but also what you are investing in. Purchasing a fourbedroom home in an area where most of the population can only afford a unit will not necessarily work in your favour. As with anything, education is key. Research the properties available for rent, how much they are achieving and how long they sit vacant for.

Tracey Rossow Investment Manager

49 Bulcock St, Caloundra 0448 616 055 trossow@henzells.com.au

When building your property portfolio, it is important to think long term and about diversification. For instance, have you considered rural investing? With increasing population rates a few acres of low maintenance land could be your gateway to housing developments down the track, ideal if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re considering the investment to be your retirement fund. Remember to choose quality over quantity. Better quality = better returns. A newer home with modern features will cost you less in maintenance and provide a better tax return when it comes to depreciation as opposed to a golden oldie that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve purchased and renovated. If you are in a position to buy multiple properties, consider choosing a select few that are high quality instead of lots of cheap ones. n

REAL ESTATE

l o r t n o C e k a T

WHEN SELLING YOUR HOME

BE PRESENTABLE When selling, you should present your home like you don’t live there. Okay, maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration. Looking like you live in your home is fine; just get some expert advice on presenting it properly. Most of the time owners aren’t stylists so it makes sense to source the best advice on this one. Buyers are looking for a home that they instantly connect with and feel like they want to live in. Establishing this connection comes from style and creating a WOW factor. Often owners think that having a clean house is presenting it for sale when this is only part of it. Styling is about maximising the space for appeal and flow. How a home flows is just as important as how it looks. You only get one chance to make a first impression so speak to the people who specialise in first impressions. Most agents will be able to point you in the right direction for good stylists.

BE REAL Not everyone is going to love your home. The fact is, a lot of buyers won’t like your home at all. Don’t get discouraged when you get feedback about your home, see it for what it is, they just don’t like it.

The most important feedback is what the marketplace thinks your home is worth. This way you can adjust early if the feedback isn’t in alignment with your expectation. Following are some examples of the kinds of people you should (and shouldn’t) pay attention to when it comes price feedback. Neighbours and friends: don’t listen to them about what they think your home is worth, they are always too high. Buyers that are ready to buy, have inspected your property but don’t like it: These buyers are usually quite educated and fairly accurate with price feedback because they see it for what it is and have no emotional connection to your home. Buyers who are interested in your home: They will usually give slightly lower price feedback initially because they are interested.

BE QUICK TO ADJUST One of the biggest mistakes owners make when the market is slow in responding is assuming it is only “early days” in the sales process and there is no need to adjust. This can cost you dearly. Market momentum is everything and if in the first two weeks the market feedback is lower than where your price point is, that is a strong indication that your price is too high.

WORDS JASON JAEGER, HENZELLS AGENCY

Often owners will say “we haven’t had any offers” and therefore cannot gauge whether to lower their price or not. Listen closely. You aren’t getting any offers because the buyers feel your house is too dear and they are voting with their feet and walking away. Work closely with your agent in these early stages and feel the rhythm of the market and you will be able to read what is going on. If everything is lined up right from day one you should have interest and offers in the very early stages. If you aren’t getting interest in those early stages, adjust and you’ll be on your way!

BE RELAXED All you can do is your best and make sure you have done everything you possibly can to position your home right, market your home correctly and select the best agent. Once you have ticked all the boxes sit back and relax and work closely with your agent in partnership. Allow the agent to do their job and be open to understanding the market and everything should work out just fine. Follow these tips and the chances of selling your home within 30 days will be very strong.

Buyers are looking for a home that they instantly connect with and feel like they want to live in.

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WIDE OPEN SPACES CLOSE TO THE ACTION ONLY 15 MINUTES FROM MAROOCHYDORE

NOW SELLING 19 ARCHITECTURALLY DESIGNED HOUSE & LAND PACKAGES

INVEST OR LIVE

artist impressions only

FOR YOUR FREE INFORMATION PACK CALL 07 5451 1080 WWW.THINKINVESTMENTREALTY.COM.AU

WIDE OPEN SPACES AND LARGE LEVEL BLOCKS CLOSE TO THE ACTION

Leafy hinterland Woombye is only minutes from it all ... Plantation Park Woombye is a peaceful hinterland setting only 15 minutes from the vibrant and dynamic urban hub of Maroochydore – the Sunshine Coast’s commercial heart. Along with access to world-class beaches less than 20 minutes away, Plantation Park is the perfect blend of beach, hinterland and urban lifestyles. • Woombye is well-positioned for both car and rail connectivity to Brisbane and other destinations. • Brisbane is 80 minutes drive with access to the Bruce Highway only minutes from the Woombye Town Centre.

• The Woombye Train Station has daily trains to south to Brisbane or north to the rural centre of Gympie. The Woombye lifestyle, sense of community and familyfriendly location make Woombye an ideal place to live. Locals love the immediate bushland surroundings that include impressive children’s playground areas. The area’s convenient proximity to other parts of the coast or outside the region are also a key feature.

“I like how close we are to everything. We live in an area that is more country-like, but it’s only a 15 minute drive to the beach.”

FOR YOUR FREE INFORMATION PACK CALL 07 5451 1080 WWW.THINKINVESTMENTREALTY.COM.AU

WOOMBYE IS THE AFFORDABLE HILLS ALTERNATIVE TO THE COASTAL STRIP BY TERRY RYDER, DIRECTOR, HOTSPOTTING.COM.AU

Choose from a mix of 3, 4 or 5 bedroom homes with nature on your doorstep • Plantation Park is a new release of nineteen exclusive House & Land turnkey packages ready to buy off the plan. • Choose from a mix of 3, 4 or 5 architecturallydesigned homes – some with media rooms. • Large, level yet elevated blocks master planned within a natural bushland setting. • Perfectly located in the idyllic, semi-rural hinterland setting in the sought-after growth area of Woombye on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

For more information visit plantationparkwoombye.com.au

Woombye is part of the Sunshine Coast, which we rate as one of the strongest up-and-coming markets in Australia. And, in numerous different ways, Woombye has better statistics than Sunshine Coast averages. It is more affordable, its houses sell faster, its discounting levels are (slightly) lower and its long-term growth rate is (slightly) better. Woombye is a hinterland town of about 3,000 people west of the Bruce Highway, inland from the coastal strip. This means it’s about hills and acreage living rather than beaches and apartments. It also means it has an advantage the coastal suburbs lack – it has a train station with rail links to Brisbane. Woombye’s history is as a hub for pineapple and citrus farmers. It’s now making a gradual transition to urbanization in an area where the acreage lifestyle is popular. Gradually it is merging with neighbours Nambour to the north and Palmwoods to the south. Woombye is a comfortable drive to Sunshine Coast shops, beaches, restaurants and nightlife. The key centres of Maroochydore and Mooloolaba, as well as the Sunshine Coast Airport, are all within 20 minutes by road, while Noosa Heads is a 40-minute drive. Shopping in Woombye includes an IGA supermarket, a post office, a newsagent and a hardware and rural supplies store. Nearby Nambour has two shopping centres: the long-established Nambour Plaza is anchored by Woolworths, while Coles built a new store in 2013, creating 300 construction jobs and 100 operational jobs. Proximity to the services and infrastructure in Nambour is one of the core elements of Woombye’s appeal. Nambour General Hospital, a major regional hospital, recently had a $24 million expansion and employs around 2,500 people. It is currently the major hospital for the Sunshine Coast region, but will be supplanted by the $2 billion Sunshine Coast University Hospital now under construction at Kawana. Selangor Private Hospital is also at Nambour. The Sunshine Coast Regional Council has its HQ in Nambour. State Government agencies in Nambour include Primary Industries, Natural Resources and Transport. The Nambour Civic Centre offers a 900-seat concert hall and a 200-seat theatre. Parmalat, a subsidiary of dairy giant Pauls, has a milk processing plant in Nambour, while the Department of Primary Industries Maroochy Research Station is about 3km from Woombye. There are numerous schools and colleges within easy reach of Woombye residents. Woombye township has the Woombye Primary School and Suncoast Christian College, while Nambour Christian College and St Johns Catholic College are on the southern fringe of Nambour, within 2km of Woombye township. Nambour has numerous other primary and secondary schools, plus the Sunshine Coast TAFE Nambour Centre. Affordability, solid rental yields and low vacancies are key characteristics of the Woombye property market. The median house price is $435,000, compared with the Sunshine Coast average of $500,000. Its long-term capital growth average is 3% per year, compared to the Sunshine Coast average of 2.4%. Typical Woombye houses sell within about 90 days (Sunshine Coast average 125 days) and discounting is typically around 6%, slightly better than the area average. The median rental yield is a little over 5% and the vacancy rate is low around 1%. Woombye’s future appears to be as an acreage lifestyle suburb on the fringe of the Sunshine Coast, with good proximity to the Maroochydore CBD, the Sunshine Coast Airport and the services and amenities of Nambour. The airport, where a $450 million upgrade is planned, is a 20-minute drive from Woombye.

FOR YOUR FREE INFORMATION PACK CALL 07 5451 1080 WWW.THINKINVESTMENTREALTY.COM.AU

artist impressions only

SELLING FAST

INVEST OR LIVE

LARGE ELEVATED LOTS IN A LEAFY HINTERLAND SETTING ONLY MINUTES FROM THE URBAN HEART OF THE SUNSHINE COAST

The homes at Plantation Park Each Plantation Park home has been designed by award-winning architects to capitalise on generously proportioned large land lots – some with elevated views across the rolling hills of Woombye, and others

• Large level, elevated blocks overlooking a landscaped green belt of parkland • Architecturally-designed and quality construction by an award-winning builder

overlooking designated parkland. They are designed for

• Higher than standard ceilings

comfortable living, with generous rooms and outdoor

• Quality finishes including stone bench tops

areas filled sunlight and easy, flowing layouts. This development delivers exceptional value without compromising on style, finish, or functionality.

• Close to major infrastructure such as hospitals, railway station and the Bruce Highway • Close to one of the Coast’s best primary schools

For more information visit plantationparkwoombye.com.au

FOR YOUR FREE INFORMATION PACK CALL 07 5451 1080 WWW.THINKINVESTMENTREALTY.COM.AU

REAL ESTATE

tanya mungomery Integrity. Knowledge. Results. Tanya Mungomery brings 20 years of client service experience to her role with McGrath and prides herself on exceeding clients’ expectations through her friendly and professional manner. Dedicated to delivering exceptional results in a stress free manner with proven results, Tanya makes an excellent choice for the sale of your property offering six star service and advice delivered with integrity.

Tanya Mungomery Sales Agent M 0414 260 711 T 5450 8000 E tanyamungomery@mcgrath.com.au W mcgrath.com.au

NEW HOMES vs ESTABLISHED HOMES –

which should I buy?

POSITIVES OF BUYING A NEW HOME A new home is up-to-date. A new home will most likely have modern technology like wi-fi, USB plug-ins, surround sound, smart gadget capabilities and more. They could be built with green initiatives in mind, such as energy-saving wall insulation and windows, along with the installation of energy star appliances which could help save thousands.

THE POSITIVES OF BUYING AN ESTABLISHED HOME Includes appliances. Moving into an older home definitely has its perks. Not only will a buyer get a place with charm and character, but most sellers include their appliances. Many sellers will offer to sell the buyers pieces of furniture they don’t want to move to their new place. This furniture is usually sold for much less since it is used and a burden for the seller to move.

Customise a new home. The many benefits of a new home are that the owner can choose customised items, for example, the carpet, countertops, flooring and colour of the walls. Buyers can also be more particular and pick things out like sinks, shower heads and door handles.

Uually in established neighbourhoods. Homes in a neighbourhood that has been established can be a huge lift to property values and buyer confidence. A buyer may enjoy a home that is already in an established neighbourhood, close to necessities and have a neighbourhood culture.

Worry-free and clean. New homes are clean, no one else has lived in them and all the appliances are brand new with warranties. Buyers have less worry about appliances failing from too much use.

NEGATIVES OF BUYING AN ESTABLISHED HOME Upgrading to modern technology. If a buyer wants to make a change to energy-efficient appliances or more “smart” technology in an established home, it could cost them a lot of money. This means more holes in walls, more remodelling and even more money for the buyer.

NEGATIVES OF BUYING A NEW HOME New homes cost more. A new home costs approximately 20 per cent more than an established home. Those upgraded features that are customised by the buyer or modern inclusions can significantly increase the price. Often in less established neighbourhoods. New homes are usually created in brand new subdivisions that have houses built at the same time. Buyers could be stuck in a construction zone for a few months or years after purchasing the new home. Most necessities may not have been built close by, forcing buyers to drive longer to schools, grocery stores and work. september 2015

Hiding huge money traps. Although a home may look fine, it could be hiding major issues beneath the surface. What if the roof leaks in winter? What if there are major problems with the heating or air conditioning? These are all questions buyers face when purchasing an established home. Unfortunately, some of them come true! The buyer has to foot the bill. Appliances and systems have been used. The buyer also knows the appliances and systems in the home have been used. Previous wear and tear can be hard on a buyer’s wallet. profilemagazine

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STYLE

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FASHION

Get up to date on what’s hot in colours and prints this season

PROFILE STYLE AMBASSADOR TAMARA

FUTURE

Coast designer and star of The Bachelor Australia Lisa Hyde talks fashion, travel and what’s she’s up to now

HOMEGROWN

Suess Griffin shows off her smashing jewellery collection made from antique china plates

september 2015

WRIGLEY OF ISTYLETV SHARES THE LATEST TRENDS IN SPRING/ SUMMER FASHION

Welcome to Spring is here and you know what that means – the launch of spring/summer collections. Orange is the new black and it’s hitting our shores and stores as we embrace this season’s colour trend of papaya, coupled with fantastic nautical colour palettes of marine and aqua blues, right through to boyhood blue. FOLLOW ISTYLETV ON

Tamara Wrigley PRESENTER OF ISTYLETV

SPRING / SUMMER FA S H I O N T R E N D S

“Spring/Summer brings with it fantastic colour palettes from hues of ORANGES such as papaya, to a range of beautiful blues.”

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ashion designers have looked to the sea for inspiration this season, updating maritime styles with a modern twist. This must-have theme is ideal as the first drop into a fresh new spring season and it can also transition well into high summer. A classic stripe print will incorporate color pops and changes in direction while uneven hems and wraparound layers introduce an urban element. Cutout cotton is going to be huge this spring/summer too, with fabrics from the cotton family being updated with the use of laser-cutting and lace techniques, forming modern patterns with a nod to broderie anglaise. Lightweight materials emerge in shades of pure white for a clean appeal. Key styles include contemporary sunhats, sleeveless tops, cutout skirts, dresses and casual coordinations, which can also be layered with crisp, opaque cottons for a directional summer look. Spring/summer brings with it fantastic colour palettes from hues of oranges such as papaya, to a range of beautiful blues. Think vibrant aquatic blue for this summer season, inspiring a boyish charm with nautical undertones for a fresh new look. Along with the nautical theme, we will also be seeing lots of dots and playful prints with cut-out shorts and skirts to add a feminine touch. So the wrap up for this spring/summer fashion is – Stripes and dots with a few playful prints; Orange, aqua and marine blues with a splash of tonal colours (don’t forget that yellow also looks great with navy), and look out for laser-cut and lace trends in fabrics. On another note, unfortunately, due to one of our national designers having two sudden deaths in the family, we are postponing Coastline BMW Profile Runway for a later date out of respect to all concerned. Please stay tuned for future developments, we will keep you updated and any tickets sold will be fully refunded.

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passion for pattern

FASHION

CAIRO DRESS, RRP $139, AVAILABLE FROM NAUDIC STOCKISTS FROM SEPTEMBER, WWW.NAUDIC.COM

get sporty ¾ PALM TREE PRINT TIGHTS, RRP $129, SHOP FROM WWW.NEYKU.COM

PRINTS& patterns

corporate accessory! THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING MISS LINKS CUFF LINKS, CRAFTED FROM .925 STERLING SILVER AND FEATURING SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS, FROM THE INTERNATIONAL AUTUMN/WINTER 2016 COLLECTION, RRP $80, AVAILABLE FROM WWW.MISSLINKS.COM

With spring just around the corner, get ready to brighten up your wardrobe with vibrant patterns and prints!

coastal cool CHELSEA TIMEPIECE, RRP $145, EXCLUSIVE TO WWW.WANDERLUSTWATCHES.COM.AU

ﬂoral fun MALIBU DRESS – WHITE ROSES, RRP $195, WWW.MADEBYAFRIENDOFMINE.COM.AU

something blue PURE MODA HARPER LACE COBALT DRESS, RRP $299.95, SHOP FROM WWW.PUREMODA.COM.AU

september 2015

make a statement PURE MODA SAMANTHA WILLS REALITY OF DREAMS RING, RRP $129, AVAILABLE FROM WWW.PUREMODA.COM.AU

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profile: What was your inspiration in opening a men’s resort wear store in Mooloolaba? grant: Queensland needed one, truly. We live in one of the great resort regions in the world, in one of the best climates in the world, yet the style for men often still mirrors what is worn in big cities or regional centers. We found a lot of guys, me included, waiting until they went on that overseas trip to purchase or wear clothes that fitted a resort-type region. Not anymore. profile: Interesting name choice? grant: It’s a bit of fun. At the end of the day the key really is about what you build around your brand. For us it’s about people seeing our brand and store and that person saying to themselves, “I want to look and feel like that”. profile: What types of labels and fabrics can we expect to find? grant: When we decided to open we didn’t want mainstream brands. We wanted exclusive labels and first class fabrics that fitted our lifestyle, climate and energy here on the Coast. And they needed to be at a price that is appealing to most. From the understated sophistication of linen and Italian cotton to the funky mix of colours and fabrics from labels such as Ginger Snap, Eva Putu, IO/CO Homme, 7Shores and 69 Slam, we believe we have a great mix for all age groups.

Grant and EsthEr

BarnEtt

PROMOTION

Meet Grant and Esther Barnett, the owners of men’s resort wear store XX!! in Mooloolaba as we talk all things fashion.

profile: Esther you’re renowned as one of the best hairdressers on the Coast and your style is always impeccable. What style influences have you brought to the store? esther: Growing up in England we always holidayed in resort destinations like Portugal, Cyprus, Spain and France. Nobody does style better than the Europeans. They always looked the most relaxed when on holiday and a big part of that was what they were wearing. I am a big believer that a well-dressed man is to a woman what lingerie is to a man. So dress them up ladies!

We wanted exclusive labels and first class fabrics that fitted our lifestyle, climate and energy here on the Coast. profile: As a male what is the “must wear” item when attending a beach or island wedding? grant: A sand coloured linen short with a white linen or cotton long sleeve shirt, sleeves rolled up. Make it simple but significant. And if allowed, no shoes. Shoes at a beach wedding is like wearing flip flops to a night club. We dress a lot of people going to beach or island weddings and have a great range of fabrics and colours.

PROFILE

“We found a lot of guys, me included, waiting until they went on that overseas trip to purchase or wear clothes that fitted a resort-type region. Not anymore.”

profile: All these cruise ships are coming to Mooloolaba. It would seem a great opportunity has presented itself for your store and many others in Mooloolaba? grant: We are truly lucky. Places like the Gold Coast and Noosa don’t get to enjoy this type of opportunity so we all need to make the most of it. Mooloolaba is a great resort town and the spin off to the community will be long lasting if we do it well. profile: Speaking of boats. Grant, you spent 10 years travelling the world as a professional water skier and coach. What brought you to settle on the Sunshine Coast? grant: My family built and established a large private lake at Woodford where I trained and operated an international ski school, so the Coast was very familiar. After retiring from skiing I spent some years in Brisbane before deciding the Sunshine Coast is where I wanted to settle. We both love it here and are very involved in the local community. profile: So we can expect to see Coast men looking more relaxed than ever in your clothes this summer? grant: Absolutely. Dressing well is a form of good manners and they’ve got no excuses now not to look the most relaxed and sharpest Aussies this summer.

FUTURE

Noosa fashion designer Lisa Hyde was a fan favourite on The Bachelor Australia. Now, Lisa’s found love all on her own, and ahead of a big move to Sydney talks social media, travel, fashion, social activism, and what’s in store next, with Anna Rawlings.

Lisa’s style tip: “Mix up plain black. Try to experiment with neutrals rather than the classic black, on the Sunshine Coast you can get a really lovely tan so a neutral colour will bring that out.”

BOY GIRL WORDS ANNA RAWLINGS PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

“Y

ou’ve got to be comfortable, keep it stylish and classic. I think the best way to describe my personal style is if you think of that unisex look – boy meets girl,” Lisa Hyde confides. “I love my jeans, a nice classic tee and some trainers, hence the Nikes on at the moment,” she says, lifting one white Nike-wedge-clad foot to show me as we chat over green tea at Noosa. “My style over the last few months changes all the time because I’m travelling,” she adds. Lisa’s referring to her jetsetting lifestyle with partner, Tyson Mayr; they have recently returned from filming a production in Fiji and a sojourn to Venice Beach, LA and California. Lisa, the former Bachelor star who came runner-up on the 2014 season of the show, has had a whirlwind life overhaul since filming wrapped, meeting Tyson at a races event in Melbourne while fulfilling media duties late last year. Tyson is a model and TV personality himself, through his blog The

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Naked Traveller and an appearance on the 2015 season of I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! Australia. “I met a guy, which is quite obvious to everyone, that’s what people seem to focus on the most – are any of the girls with someone?” the petite brunette laughs. Of course, Lisa’s new relationship isn’t the only change post-Bachelor. After leaving the show, the fashion designer worked on reinventing her online fashion website Shevoke, before focusing on sunglasses – currently working on a 12-piece collection launching before December and incorporating a travel and style blog into the website. “The show has helped create more awareness, I think the type of girl who watches The Bachelor would go for my style,” she says. “I just started off small, designing for my friends and selling at the local markets, so I can be really proud that the label has got to where it has through my passion for designing,” she smiles. Lisa is flying to Sydney straight after our interview to set up house with Tyson and a group of friends, and pursue her television and fashion

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“Sammy is excited I’m moving to Sydney so we can catch up a little bit more and hopefully go on double dates,” she laughs. Closer to her heart, Lisa and Tyson look set for a bright future, with news Tyson has just signed for another travel production, and Lisa could very well be part of it too. “Expect more of me on TV coming up,” she shares. Lisa is also tapping into the other dimension of the public eye; social media. Her self-managed accounts include an impressive Instagram profile, with more than 120,000 followers. A single photo Lisa uploads, wearing a camouflage print jacket, tailored denim cut-offs and white sneakers on a New South Wales beach, garners 200 ‘likes’ in 10 minutes. Later, the photo has amassed close to 2000 likes, and Lisa has replied to questions ranging from the brand of her jacket, to whether she is still friends with the girls from the show. “Tyson and I like to respond to everyone’s questions…I want people to see me as real, I would hate anyone to look at Instagram and say, oh that’s fake,” she says. It’s her presence as an online ‘influencer’ that Lisa is using as a tool for change. “As much as my life seems to be all fun, fashion, events and being on a social scene, there are other areas that need help,” she says. “The biggest impact on me from The Bachelor was on the second last date Blake took me on, we were in Africa and went to an orphanage. It really opened my eyes to wanting to help them, or another third-world country,” she shares, including future plans with Tyson, who’s as equally passionate about making a difference. “My message to anyone with an influence is, you can have a big impact on people who follow you, so do something for the greater good with your following.” And with this, Lisa dashes off to catch her flight, leaving behind the impression of someone who is refreshingly humble, self-deprecating and funny, inspired for change and ready to do something about it. And creating success and happiness of her own design? Well, that’s just her style.

FUTURE

career, signing with a new agency in Sydney – although she’ll stay true to her local upbringing. “Sydney thinks it’s the big fashion capital but I think the Sunshine Coast girls do have style, moving into this summer it’s that hippie, boho look so the Coast girls have already got that down pat!” she says. Lisa grew up on the Sunshine Coast until she was 17-years-old, attending Coolum State High School, before relocating to Brisbane after spending four years on the Gold Coast. “I love the Sunshine Coast, having the family (her parents, sister and new little nephew) here is a big influence to visit. This is a special place, especially Noosa and Coolum.” Since she was 12-years-old, Lisa had been a keen sewer, and launched the first of two clothing lines at age 18. “I just really worked hard on the sewing machine, everything I made myself I just experimented with and didn’t have any teachers,” she says. “My mum was a seamstress, both her and my grandma were a big influence for me starting to sew.” While in Brisbane, Lisa completed a Bachelor of Business degree at the APM College of Business and Communications, to complement her eye for sewing and design, eventually coming up with Shevoke. “Aside from doing Shevoke I was also an ambassador for the college. I went to career expos, schools. I was in front of a big audience and I had to talk all the time so that really helped me with going onto the show,” she says, of the lead up to The Bachelor. Inevitably, our conversation drifts to ‘Bach talk’. “I’m very open-minded and optimistic so I knew it may not be a happy ending, the decision to go on was to have fun and a life change because I’d focused so hard on working so I thought, I’m 27, I’m single, why not give it a go? I was ready to meet someone,” says Lisa. “Behind the scenes the girls are really close, I remember we used to sit out in the courtyard and question the process all the time – a lot of us are strong women that have our own businesses or are successful and here we all are chasing the one guy?” she reflects, somewhat incredulously. The 2015 season of The Bachelor has already wrapped filming, meanwhile 2014 winner Sam Frost (who was dumped by bachelor Blake Garvey for second runner-up Louise; but that’s a whole different story), Lisa’s close friend and who she came runner-up to, is currently in the Hunters Hill, Sydney mansion filming Australia’s first season of The Bachelorette.

Lisa’s sunglass style tip:

“With summer I think we’re coming into a bold sunglass, reﬂectors were big last season and I think we’re going to see a few reﬂectors still in there ... quirky and notoriously cool I’m going to say.”

september 2015

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september 2015

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HOMEGROWN

SUESS GRIFFIN

A PLATE FULL OF

inspiration WORDS KATE DAVIES PHOTOS CHESTERTON SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

When Suess Griffin sits down to look at a box of forgotten and neglected antique china plates it’s not elegant dinners that come to mind, but a unique and one-of-a-kind jewellery collection that whispers stories from the past, and looks pretty smashing too!

worn down box in an old antique store in the middle of “nobody knows where” is the secret place that Suess Griffin finds her inspiration. Old china dinner plates, some up to 100-years-old are stashed in these treasure chests, bearing famous names such as Queen Anne, Royal Doulton and Royal Albert. Some are one-of-a-kind, others are from collections passed down through generations – and all have a special meaning to Suess. But it is what this grandmother-of-two does to preserve these china homewares that makes her business, Liliah Rose Jewellery so unique, a little unconventional, but special in a way that many would not consider. You see, Suess transforms the dinner plates into necklaces, bracelets and charms, preserving the history in an intricate piece of wearable art for every age and generation. The idea to sculpt dinner plates this way started after a dream, which Suess remembers felt like more of a nightmare two years ago. “I have a piece of my mother’s porcelain, which is an old tea strainer, probably from the late 1800s,” she says. “It was my grandmother’s before that, and I dreamt I broke it. In the dream I was really upset about breaking it and so I made jewellery out of it, and that’s what inspired me to start making the jewellery.” The stunning pieces are bound together with antique spoons, most

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of which have also been discovered in the back corners of secondhand stores and small antique shops. “There are a lot of people who use spoons for making jewellery but everybody does it differently, you know, everybody has their own technique,” she says, twirling a bracelet in her hand to inspect the individual design of the spoon. “I am a chef by trade and many years ago when I used to work for a solicitor, I was his private chef, he came to me one day and gave me this old ‘50s beauty-box full of beautiful cutlery. He said he didn’t want it anymore, he was just tired of polishing it,” Suess explains. “So he gave it to me and I hung onto it and carried it with me for years and years, and then one day I thought I should do something with it, something extraordinary and that’s when I started doing the spoon bracelets. “I source cutlery from all over the place, I have long since used the cutlery he gave me and I now venture to antique shops and antique fairs.” Helping Suess find the perfect pieces for her Liliah Rose Jewellery is her 13-year-old grandson Noah, who Suess says has the eye for business. “Noah goes out and sources plates and things for me, he is one of my main buyers – he is really good, astounding actually. He will go out and find the most extraordinary plates for me,” she says, proudly.

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Her workshop at the back of her Beerwah home is packed with inspiration too, with wall-to-wall of china dinner plates and antique spoons. “I walk down here in the morning and think, what can I use today? I have so much inspiration in the art of the plates,” she says, holding out a piece of Queen Anne to show off the hues of blue and pink. “When I sell them, I always put a little card in it to say this is a piece of Royal Albert, Queen Anne or Royal Doulton, just to make it that much more special. The brand of the plate makes them more valuable to people.” Since its beginning a little under two years ago, Liliah Rose Jewellery has grown enormously, with unique pieces being sent across Australia and internationally. Suess sells mostly online, but does offer a special service to customers who wish to purchase a piece of jewellery from her workshop, which is where she also makes children’s clothing, complete with aprons and handpainted dresses, with her friend Robyn. “I am working full-time now, with my niece Judi helping out when she can, it is very busy, which is fantastic because I love it and I get to work in a fantastic location too,” she says, overlooking her homestead. Looking out, two miniature horses named Casper and Harry Trotter wait at the gate, hoping for a pat from Suess as she works. There is also a bird aviary, ducks, a dog and chickens to keep her company. “It’s never dull here that’s for sure, and that’s why I love what I do. I get to make people feel pretty and wear something unique and beautiful and that’s satisfying enough.” Visit, www.facebook.com/LiliahRoseJewellery or www.liliahrose.com.au to find out more.

HOMEGROWN

“I have a shop I supply to in Kenilworth, Affordable On Elizabeth, and the owner Toni buys quite a lot off me, and every now and again she will find me a plate and I will do an earring and necklace set for her, and the rest of the plate is mine to use. “That’s how Noah got into it, he listened to this deal I made with her and on the way back in the car we stopped in an antique shop and I was looking around for plates and then he came out and said, “Will these do? I’ll buy them and get a set of jewellery out of it!” “I had to laugh, he is smart. That’s the deal with Noah, he finds plates and buys them, and ‘half is mine, and half is yours!’.” As a doting grandmother, Suess even named her jewellery range after her granddaughter, nine-year-old Liliah Rose. “Up until we moved here two years ago I was working in real estate and as a chef and doing this as a hobby more than anything, and when we moved here I thought, I want to do what I want to do, and this is it. “I really wanted to do something I could connect with, and I thought Liliah Rose was the perfect name for beautiful jewellery.” The jewellery-making itself is quite tricky and it took Suess more than a few smashed plates and cut fingers to master the art. “I have a friend, Suzanne, who comes and stays and grinds away at the china for me, because once it is all cut out from the plate it has to be smoothed off on the edges before I can start soldering it,” she says at her workbench, which is dusty with worn china. “When I first started doing the plates it was a real hit and miss, it took me ages to work out how I could cut it without it breaking up and eventually I worked it out and found the right tools for it, and now I find it quite easy.”

“When I sell them I always put a little card in it to say this is a piece of Royal Albert, Queen Anne or Royal Doulton, just to make it that much more special. The brand of the plate makes them more valuable to people.”

september 2015

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BEAUTY

“Forget nip and tuck, STITCH AND TUCK is now the way to go.”

I’m looking for an alternative hair removal to waxing, what can you suggest?

BODY SUGARING? With Alison Love White and Taylah Dennis

Body sugaring is a gentler alternative to waxing and other forms of hair removal with the sugar melting into the hair follicle. The technique involves pushing against the hair and using a spatula to remove hair at a particular angle to reduce pain. So how does it trump waxing?

BEAUTY

• It’s all natural with sugar, citric acid and water to stop it setting • It’s virtually pain free, a lot less painful than waxing • It’s quicker than waxing • The results last longer than waxing • Applied at room temperature so no more wax burns (or shaving rashes)

My skin is all saggy but I don’t want to go under the knife. What can I do?

THE PUPPET FACELIFT with Dr Hugo Pin

Forget nip and tuck, stitch and tuck is now the way to go. The Silhouette Soft thread lift, also called the invisible facelift or puppet facelift is one of the most in-demand recent treatment in cosmetic. Until now, thread lifts have received mixed reviews, and results. However, taking the non-invasive cosmetic world by storm is this revamped technique that is exciting patients due to the instant and noticeable results. As we age so does our skin, and as we all know trying to hold oﬀ the sagging or drooping of our skin is one of the desires of women (and men!) everywhere. Not all of us want to undergo the knife though, and sometimes fillers and injectables are just not enough on their own or don’t appeal for one reason or another. 84

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Silhouette Soft threads are made of polylactic acid (PLA). Used in the medical field for years, this thread is completely biodegradable. These threads are placed approximately 3mm to 5mm under the skin via a fine needle (no incisions necessary) and are held in place by cone shaped “anchors” that hold and lift the thread in order to allow the skin to be tightened according to the required lift. The tissue under the skin is compressed and elevated and produces visibly smoother skin and can also assist to increase volume in saggy areas resulting in better shape and form. The results last around 18 months. Swelling and redness post-procedure disappear in a few days. SUNSHINEVEINANDCOSMETICCLINIC www.sunshineveinclinic.com.au

• Hair is removed in the direction it grows, greatly reducing ingrown hairs • The sugar exfoliates so if there are any ingrown hairs they are reduced each visit • Live skin cells are not damaged like wax, the sugar just removes dead skin cells • No hair snapping. Any hair is removed from the follicle whereas wax can snap hairs. • The product is fragrance free and anti-bacterial so great for people who have sensitive skin – suitable for all skin types, even people with psoriasis and eczema. • It’s also water soluble. No sticky bits of wax leftover! Alison and Taylah are Diploma of Beauty graduates from TAFE Queensland East Coast and started their business at Pacific Paradise in 2014. Enquire today about a beauty course at TAFE Queensland East Coast. Visit tafeeastcoast.edu.au or call 1300 656 188. VIXEN MUSE Phone: 5450 7061 profilemag.com.au

• • • • • • •

BEAUTY

in bloom NEW COVERGIRL FULL LASH BLOOM MASCARA, RRP $17.95, STOCKIST: 1800 181 040 OR WWW.COVERGIRL.COM.AU

naturally beautiful

max impact

NATURE’S SYMPHONY TRILOGY PACK, MOISTURISING SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER 250ML, RRP $19.95 EACH AND PURE HAIR SERUM 50ML, RRP $31.95, SHOP NOW FROM WWW.NATURESSYMPHONY.COM.AU

NEW MAX FACTOR MIRACLE MATCH FOUNDATION, RRP $31.95, STOCKIST: 1800 181 040 OR WWW.MAXFACTOR.COM.AU

scouting for spring SCOUT COSMETICS METALLIC HEART COLLECTION, RRP $185.65, AVAILABLE FROM WWW.SCOUTCOSMETICS.COM

spring skin ZK’IN LINE SMOOTHING SERUM 25ML, RRP $59.95, AUSTRALIAN MADE CERTIFIED ORGANIC WRINKLE SMOOTHING PRODUCT, SHOP FROM WWW.ZKINORGANICS.COM.AU

fresh faced HOMEDICS NEWA SKIN REJUVENATION SYSTEM, RRP $499, AVAILABLE FROM WWW.HOMEDICS.COM.AU

BACK! These beauty finds are the perfect products to pep up your appearance and create a fresh and peachy spring-worthy look!

balmy days NEW MAX FACTOR COLOUR INTENSIFYING BALM, RRP $17.95, STOCKIST: 1800 181 040 OR WWW.MAXFACTOR.COM.AU

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Want a more youthful appearance? Indulge in the Lavish experience:

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our doctors

Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery, Anti-Wrinkle Injections, Dermal Fillers, Skin Rejuvenation Treatments, Anti-Aging Treatments, Infini Skin Tightening, Acne Scarring, Priori Perfecting Mineral Makeup, Clear & Brilliant Fractional Laser, Aspect Dr & Medical Obagi Skin Care Dr Jayne Bambit is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery and is one of the few female doctors in Australia who perform cosmetic surgery with years of experience. Dr Gary Liew is a fully qualified plastic & reconstructive surgeon who has been in private practice for over 25 years. Dr Liew specialises in cosmetic & plastic surgery procedures including skin cancer removal.

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HOME & FAMILY MOCKA LIFESTYLE SHOT, MOCKA POST BOX 3, RRP $89.95, SHOP NOW FROM WWW.MOCKA.COM.

latest trends

+ MORE...

i90nside HOME

Chelsea Bennie shares her love of styling weddings and special events

93 94

GARDEN

Learn about companion planting with Juliana Wassink

FAMILY

Doctor James Moir joins Chase and Jan Becker on the trip of a lifetime

september 2015

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HOME

in love with

STYLE

CHELSEA BENNIE

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Chelsea Bennie unveiled her penchant for styling special events at her own wedding, having noticed a gap in the market for beautiful furniture and decor hire and styling on the Sunshine Coast. After months of researching and sourcing pieces from around the world, Simply Style Co was born and Chelsea has gone on to create beautifully-styled memories for her customers.

profile: What trends are you loving? chelsea: I am really loving metallics – gold and copper used throughout the styling adds a glamorous feel to any styling.

profile: How would you describe your preferred style when it comes to special events? chelsea: When it comes to styling weddings and events the possibilities are endless. I love creating beautiful spaces and working with a blank canvas, my preferred style would be a natural approach. I like to use raw timbers, key furniture pieces, specialty linens and fabric, and texture through glassware and props. Keeping a sense of simplicity, elegance and sophistication.

profile: How have you noticed trends change here on the Coast when it comes to wedding styling? chelsea: Trends change and vary greatly from wedding to wedding. Dependant on the location, the Sunshine Coast has a lot to offer couples getting married with our gorgeous coastal locations or a magical venue tucked away in the stunning hinterland. The two locations being quite opposite keeps things interesting and a lot of fun for us. Our coastal beach styling almost always consists of white décor to fit an oceanfront ceremony or reception. In our hinterland wedding styling, couples love the ‘french elegance’ trend.

profile: If people are on a budget, what are three things people just can’t skimp on at their wedding? chelsea: Table styling, key furniture pieces, and flowers! Table styling has a large impact on an event, especially if it is sit down. The rest of the styling is then followed after we have determined what the look and the feel the dining will have.

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profile: What colours are you enjoying working with? chelsea: Pops of bright colours including fuschia and oceanic blue hues coming through for spring styling. I love that the colours we work with change from season to season.

profile: If people are looking for inspiration for their wedding day, where is the best place to start? chelsea: Pinterest is an amazing place to start, creating a wedding board to pin your inspiration; and The Bride’s Tree – an online bridal blog especially for couples getting married here on the Coast.

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BEFORE

september 2015

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sweet seat CANDY STRIPE CRASHMAT, RRP $139, AVAILABLE VIA WWW.CRASHMATSTORE.COM.AU

HOME

For Spring Gardening

true blue SOUTHERN CROSS NON-SAFETY BLUE BOOTS, RRP $195 (VARIES SLIGHTLY DEPENDENT ON STORE), CAN BE PURCHASED NATIONWIDE, FOR A FULL LIST VISIT WWW.STEELBLUE.COM.AU/WHERE-TO-BUY

retro beach ‘WAVE ZONE’ AND ‘SWIMSUITS’ CUSHIONS, PRINTED ON BOTH SIDES AND MADE FROM 100 PER CENT RECYCLED PET, RRP $56 EACH, STOCKISTS: SURFBUMANDCO.COM, ECLECTIC STYLE, NOOSA AND SOUL SANCTUARY, PEREGIAN BEACH

INTO

HOME STYLE Refresh your abode this season, with these bright products and trends!

spring picnic

fresh furniture

PASTRY THAT’S HOW I ROLL APRON, RRP $39.95, 100 PER CENT LINEN, DESIGNED IN AUSTRALIA. SHOP NOW FROM WWW.KOOKERY.COM.AU

MOCKA POST BOX 3, RRP $89.95, SHOP NOW FROM WWW.MOCKA.COM.AU

sounds of summer EDIFIER PRISMABT SPEAKER, RRP $199.95, SHOP FROM WWW.EDIFIER.COM/AU/EN/SHOP

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HOME

spring

INTO YOUR GARDEN Welcome to spring! I hope your garden is beginning to come alive and produce beautiful blooms for you to enjoy. WORDS JULIANA WASSINK, THE GARDEN, MALENY

 To keep plants in bloom over the next few months

regularly remove spent blooms or pick them earlier and pop them in a vase to enjoy while you are indoors.

 While you are out enjoying your garden, keep an eye out for spring pests – they love the new growth on your plants. There are many chemical-free options for controlling these including companion planting. When planning your garden consider what plants will encourage the good insects and what plants will deter the insects that will cause damage to your plants.

 With companion planting, for example, plant your

broccoli near your oregano, beans or carrots (just to name a few) for best results. Onions work well with cabbages, carrots and tomatoes. They also help to repel aphids

so you can position them near plants that are susceptible to aphids to protect them.

 Weeds love the spring weather. To keep the weeds away, mulch garden beds and weed and fertilise your lawns so they are looking nice and lush for the warmer months.

 Water features are often forgotten over winter. Now

is the time to give them a good clean out. Empty the water, scoop out algae and dead plant matter and re-pot and fertilise your pond plants.

 Now is the time to plant broccoli, cabbage, capsicums,

carrots, cucumbers, onions, radishes, rhubarb, corn, tomatoes and zucchinis.

0439 069 553

september 2015

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FAMILY CHASE BECKER, DR JAMES MOIR AND SR JAN BECKER

DELIVERING HOPE WORDS INGRID NELSON PHOTOS REBECCA SMITH AND CONTRIBUTED

“C

We meet with the Sunshine Coast medical trio making a huge difference to the health and wellbeing of mothers and babies in developing countries … saving lives one birth at a time.

haotic, upsetting, heartbreaking, rewarding and wonderful all at the same time.” This is how second-year medical student Chase Becker described her recent visit to the labour ward of Amana Regional Hospital in Tanzania as part of a clinical placement to the developing country. Accompanied by her mother, highly skilled midwife Jan Becker and high profile Sunshine Coast obstetrician/ gynaecologist Dr James Moir, the trio recently spent a rollercoaster two weeks at the basic hospital facility where up to 100 babies are delivered each day, many of them requiring surgical intervention and emergency care. It isn’t the first time the plucky teenager has been part of a third-world clinical placement, having travelled to the labour wards of remote Thailand several times previously under the watchful eye of her mum. “Mum and I originally looked at a midwifery magazine for trips to China this time and we found this one to Tanzania in Africa. Mum was looking for a hospital with a high birth rate so there would be lots for us to do so we wouldn’t be sitting around waiting for babies to be born and it certainly lived up to our expectations,” laughs Chase.

Although the mother and daughter are no strangers to working in remote and rural areas, this was the first time the duo had the advantage of travelling with a specialist of Dr Moir’s calibre, which made their placement even more valuable. “Having James with us this time was fantastic because someone of his calibre is like gold bars to everyone over there,” says Chase. “It was less stressful knowing we had the backup of someone so senior and James and my mum have worked together for a long time, they make a great team.” According to Dr Moir, the Amana Regional Hospital typically delivers 80 to 100 babies per day, compared to a public hospital on the Sunshine Coast, such as Nambour General Hospital, where the delivery of 10-12 babies would be considered a busy day in the labour ward. “The Nambour hospital might deliver 200 babies per month, which would be the same number of babies born at the hospital in Tanzania in just two days,” says Dr Moir. Although the medical care at the hospital is similar to what is provided here in Australia, Dr Moir says it is at a very basic level. “They don’t have the facilities to offer high end intervention. There are no facilities for high risk premmie babies and if babies are very

“The Nambour hospital might deliver 200 babies per month, which would be the same number of babies born at the hospital in Tanzania in just two days.”

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A HAND-HELD ULTRASOUND DEVICE

FAMILY

sick they have to be transferred to the main teaching hospital in town, which is a couple of hours in the traffic,” he says. Surgical procedures are also less “high tech”, with facilities not as well equipped as in Australia. “There is no scrub nurse in theatre, you have to open your own packs and prepare the instrument trays and then take the instruments off the tray as we perform the surgery. Many of the instruments are past their best too, but they work well with what they’ve got.” Chase tells me it is not unusual to see up to three women sharing a bed in the maternity ward, with many sleeping on makeshift beds on the hospital floor. CHASE AND DR MOIR ON DUTY IN TANZANIA

MARIA A WEEK AFTER SURGERY

“For many of the women, this is the first time they have seen a doctor during their pregnancy. I believe up to 91 per cent of women in rural Tanzania only attend one antenatal appointment after 31 weeks, which is quite late,” she says. “I recall one woman who came in with eclampsia of pregnancy with very high blood pressure. She was frothing at the mouth and fitting. It was one of the worst cases I had seen,” recalls James. “We don’t see those conditions as much in Australia because they are picked up at their antenatal screening. “There are also more babies born with malformations and abnormalities. In the bigger centres they would pick those things up with ultrasounds. The most detail they would get from the basic ultrasounds at the rural hospital would be whether the baby is alive, roughly how big it is and what way it’s facing.” Dr Moir and his team were excited about showing off a hand-held ultrasound device they brought with them from Australia. However, due to unforeseen circumstances it only arrived one day before their departure. “Unfortunately we only had one day to show it off. But it sorted out a fair few problems very quickly in the pre-assessment room.” Doctor Moir recalls many difficult deliveries during his time at the hospital including one woman who lost so much blood he had to perform an emergency hysterectomy to save her life. “I remember it was a particularly busy day, there were more than 30 women in the waiting room ready to be admitted. I was helping out in another theatre when I was called to assist this lady who was very very ill,” he says. “She had already received one bag of blood but there was debate

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JAN AND CHASE AT AMANA REGIONAL HOSPITAL IN RURAL TANZANIA

as to whether she would receive the second bag of blood in case she passed away. That is how short the supply of blood is there, they couldn’t afford to waste it. Thankfully Maria survived and made a great recovery after two more blood transfusions.” You can feel the passion both Dr Moir and Chase have for improving the health and wellbeing of mothers and babies in underdeveloped countries and I get the feeling this is not their last trip. “Myself and Jan have been around a long time and have seen and done a lot so it is great to be able to pass that on and it is very rewarding to be able to help in any way we can,” says Dr Moir. “It’s amazing to see what a huge difference you can make there and how many people’s lives it affects, it’s a great feeling,” says Chase. For more information on how you can help go to www.midwifevision.com.au

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FAMILY

MUM KNOWS ‘BREAST’ WORDS TANYA OBERTIK, GENERAL PRACTITIONER

ike many new mums to be, I had a plan. I had a plan for how I’d spend my last few weeks before delivery and it was going to be a wonderfully relaxing time. I had a plan for how the delivery would go, how I would be stoic in the face of adversity. And I had a plan for breastfeeding. My child was going to be exclusively breast fed for five months and then I would wean down to quickly fall pregnant again because, at 37, I was a late bloomer! I prided myself on being level headed, but on Christmas Day I went into labour, three weeks early. There was no relaxing break, no labour playlist, no aromatherapy, no birth plan and there was certainly no stoicism. The bouncing back has yet to come and the breastfeeding … well, that didn’t go to plan. For six weeks I gritted my teeth, curled my toes, took regular painkillers, tried to soothe a relentlessly crying baby and it wasn’t uncommon to shed a tear in

anticipation of the upcoming breastfeed. It was torture. My nipples were cracked and burning and I was exhausted. I had to keep going though as that is what mums did!

“Had I failed her? Had I not tried hard enough? Of course not.” At our six week check with my obstetrician and midwife, little Harper wasn’t thriving. Had I failed her? Of course not. Breastfeeding is natural and ‘breast is best’, but what people fail to elaborate on is breastfeeding is hard. There’s mastitis, cracked nipples, thrush, poor milk supply, oversupply, fast let down, slow let down, poor latching, tongue tie, and the list goes on. Sure there’s a solution for each

of these aspects and often they work but if they don’t it can leave a mum emotionally and physically drained, meaning precious bonding can be overshadowed. My midwife, Jayne, suggested topping up with formula and we would work together to source the issues and said I could stop breastfeeding if I needed to. I needed this permission and felt a weight lifted. My priority was to ensure Harper was healthy and thriving and that needed a calm and happy mum. I went on to breastfeed, top up and express. I was still taking painkillers, milk producing stimulants and using nipple creams and gel breast pads (which I highly recommend). Harper started to thrive and she started to sleep. Speak to your GP, your midwife, your local breastfeeding consultant. There’s a lot than can be remedied. But remember to always put your baby’s and your wellbeing above all else.

NEW LEAF IS

branching out!

New Centre - Alexandra Headland

Opening in January 2016 with places available from ages 6 weeks to school-age. Contact us to secure a place for your child.

372 Mons Rd, Forest Glen, QLD 4556 Phone 07 5453 7077 Email enquire@newleaf.qld.edu.au www.newleaf.qld.edu.au september 2015

An initiative of the

SUNSHINE COAST GRAMMAR SCHOOL A Service of the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association

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FAMILY

“If you’re NOT COMFORTABLE living a two-dimensional life then it’s time for some radical self-care.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF SELFCARE WORDS CATHERINE JOY, LINED WITH SILVER

f you happen to be the primary care-giver of your family then you’ve probably had to introduce yourself to a parent meeting or some other kind of information evening in a weirdly unsatisfying moment of truth – ‘Hi, I’m Judah’s Mum’ or ‘I’m Catherine and I’m a part-time teacher’. We can’t define ourselves that simply in real life so this kind of labelling makes everyone feel somewhat reduced. But perhaps these awkward moments are magnified every single day because you’re no longer sure of who you are aside from your partner, your children or your job. If you’re not comfortable living a two-dimensional life then it’s time for some radical self-care. Self-care is more than just healthy eating and exercising. Self-care means looking after every aspect of yourself. It means discovering what makes you tick and spending time doing those things. Self-care is doing what makes you laugh, what makes you feel excited, what fires your imagination and what makes you feel purposeful. Self-care means managing your time, your resources and your unique needs in a way that helps you know your own value. Self-care enlarges your sense of identity and makes you more interesting – even to yourself.

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ANSWERING THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN LOTS OF DETAIL SHOULD IMMEDIATELY OPEN UP YOUR PERSPECTIVE: • What makes you really, really happy? • What are your unique talents and skills? • What do you view as your greatest successes? • What are the best features of your personality? • If money was no object, how would you treat yourself? • If you had some time all to yourself, how would you spend it? • What in the world do you feel the most strongly about? • What would you like to be when you ‘grow up’? See? You’re more than someone’s wife/mother/colleague. You’re someone with dreams and visions and gifts and needs. Your identity is rich and completely unique. You have a life to inhabit wholeheartedly.

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FAMILY

NOURISH TEEN SKIN FROM WITHIN WORDS AMANDA ROOTSEY, SHINE FROM WITHIN

Despite what you may think, beautiful skin is not determined by the products we use. The food we nourish our bodies with, the amount of water we drink, the level of stress in our lives, hormone levels, how much sleep we are getting each night and whether we exercise, all have a huge impact on our skin’s health.

ur skin is the largest organ in the body and the pores absorb all sorts of things, from chemicals in our beauty products to pollution in the air. Because our body is already working hard to eliminate these toxins, we want to lessen the burden and make it as easy as possible for our skin to shine. Working from the inside out is always the best way to ensure beautiful skin but a good skin care regime will help skin to shine. What should you use? Our skin is thought to absorb around 60 per cent of what is applied to it so choosing natural, gentle products is really important, especially in the teen years when our skin can be more prone to breakouts. The scary thing is there is actually no regulatory body that governs cosmetic and beauty products. Out of 10,500 ingredients used today, 89 per cent have not been evaluated for safety. This means we have to be our own watch-dogs and know exactly what we are putting on to our skin. How can you tell if something is natural? Well unfortunately just reading the title of a product can be misleading as pretty much anything can be labeled ‘natural’. The best thing to do is read the ingredient list. The list is always in order from the ingredient that features most in the product to the ingredient that features least in the product. If the first ingredient is a really long, complicated word that looks suspiciously like a chemical, back away slowly. A great free resource is the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Guide to Cosmetics, which rates the safety of over 80,000 personal care products – www.ewg.org. What about problem skin? I had quite bad skin as a teenager so I know exactly what it feels like. Mum and I tried all sorts of harsh treatments and products, to no avail. What I understand now is that our bodies are amazing. The skin already knows what it needs to do so, instead of stripping away all of the oils and attacking the face until it looks the way we want it to, we should encourage and strengthen our skin’s natural processes. Acne sufferers often carry a higher bacterial content on their skin, while also overproducing the sebum (oil) in the skin. When the body is stressed, this bacteria reacts with the increased level of oil. Acne needs healing and strengthening with very gentle products rather than over cleansing, which is a common mistake.

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TIPS TO CLEAR UP PROBLEM SKIN:

 Use a gentle, cream cleanser or gel rather than an abrasive scrub.

 Always remove make-up before bed. Coconut oil is a

wonderful eye make-up remover! Scoop out a dollop of coconut oil with two fingers, warm between fingers and apply in circular motions over your eyelids, working it into your lashes with eyes closed. Remove with a warm face cloth or damp cotton pad.

 Essential oils such as lavender, tea tree, camomile and

calendula encourage healing and have an antibacterial eﬀect on the skin so look for products with these ingredients. I personally love Sunshine Coast brand, Twenty8 Skincare’s Healing Skin Boost featuring some of these ingredients.

 Try to avoid processed foods, dairy and white sugar which can all add stress to the skin.

 Ensure you are going to the toilet regularly. The skin is used by the body to eliminate toxins so if the rest of the body is not eliminating correctly, it can add to the burden of your skin.

 Drink lots of water and herbal tea.  Be gentle and loving with yourself. Your skin is a reﬂection of what’s going on on the inside and it can take a bit of time to heal.

You can get 20+ pages of natural beauty tips and DIY skincare recipes in the free eBook at ShineFromWithin.com.au

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SPORT & LIFE

inside 104 108 110 september 2015

SPORT

Meet our elite Paralympic High Performance Squad going for gold

LIFE

Learn about the latest cosmetic treatments with Doctor Hugo Pin

HEALTH

Is snoring costing you more than a good night’s sleep?

PROFILE SPORT AMBASSADOR LIESL WALKER OF LIQUID LIFE TALKS ABOUT MIXING THE SOCIAL SIDE OF LIFE WITH SPORTS

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AGAZINE

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KE AL W

L UID LIQ

g n i r p s INTO A FRESH START

Spring is my favourite time of the year…the air has less of a chill and the water starts warming up. It’s the perfect time to start losing some of the winter woollies and the extra few kilos you may have stacked on during the colder months. Spring: a time for new beginnings and resolutions. This spring I plan on spending some time on the squash court, doing some boot camp sessions, going for walks along the beach and, as the wind starts to pick up, I’ll be launching my kite and making the most of our perfect kitesurfing coastline.

WORDS KIRSTIN JANZ PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

EAT SLEEP SURF There is always talk of the lifestyle here on the Sunshine Coast, we live where others dream to holiday. But when I say: eat, sleep and surf, for many of us coasties this might just be the ultimate dream and Dylan Brayshaw and Rian Cope are living it – and they’ve taken it global.

n his first overnight cycling trip from Buddina to Kin Kin and back via Montville, Dylan Brayshaw thought ‘I can actually do this, it might just work’. So in 2009, Dylan and his mate Rian Cope had a crazy idea of cycling across Indonesia with their bodyboards, chasing the best waves. From Banda Aceh to Bali, they rode and filmed the adventure over three-and-ahalf months. Their documentary airing on the Nautical Channel in Europe and on GloboSat in Brazil. This was the beginning of making their dream a reality. Since then, the boys have cycled New Zealand and Taiwan, and Dylan has done a five week solo trip in Indonesia, all the while, filming these adventures to produce more episodes for the show. Their ultimate goal is to have eat.sleep. surf become a TV series that inspires people

to travel on a bicycle. Dylan says when you travel on a bicycle the whole experience slows down and becomes more enjoyable – you get to be a part of things you may not have been otherwise. Dylan says when travelling by bicycle and looking for surf at the same time you have to be pretty lucky to find some decent waves. After nearly a month of not finding much on their Taiwan tour, their spirits were pretty low, but as they rounded a headland, they saw a river mouth, with A-frames breaking everywhere. So they camped for a few days, enjoying the time on the waves. To dream, by definition indicates a series of images, ideas, emotions and sensations occurring in the mind during sleep. Whereas, reality is the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea. What Dylan and Ryan have accomplished is the absolute merging of the two – these guys are really ‘living the dream’.

DYLAN BRAYSHAW AND

RIAN COPE

“When you travel on a bicycle the whole experience slows down and becomes more enjoyable – you get to be a part of things you may not have been otherwise.”

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Surfrider Foundation Sunshine Coast is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the protection and enhancement of our beaches, oceans and waterways, through C.A.R.E. – Conservation, Activism, Research and Education. The organisation is an affiliate of the global ‘Surfrider Foundation’ family, established in 1984 in the U.S., Surfrider Foundation has over 50,000 members worldwide!

WORDS DAVE LAMMIN, SURFING QUEENSLAND PHOTOS ZAC NOYLE

PROTECTING OUR

urfrider Foundation Sunshine Coast advocates the sustainable Regular environmental education & awareness campaigns management and use of the coastal zone, including river – regular presentations are conducted in schools and at events in line catchments and offshore activities, as well as actively working with the organisation’s ‘Rise Above Plastics & Endangered Waves’ on Surfrider Australia's campaigns relevant to the Sunshine campaigns. Coast region. Monthly beach clean-ups and dune care activities take place in Since the Sunshine Coast Branch re-surfaced in collaboration with local councils, Coastcare and 2009, it has been extremely successful in building other environmental groups. sustainable relationships with local authorities, Annual Eco Challenge – a free community the surfing fraternity, coast care groups and other event held annually on the Sunshine Coast, like minded environmental bodies. organised and run 100 per cent by Surfrider The organisation is all about pro-activity. Volunteers. The event showcases sustainable Surfrider Foundation Sunshine Coast is active culture, leisure and business and features live along the entire stretch of the Coast, organising riseaboveplastics.org.au music, wooden surfboards, eco-markets and beach clean-ups, dune care sessions, educational surfrider foundation much more. presentations as well as monitoring and investigation of environmental related matters Whatever your connection to the Sunshine and events. Coast, we all share a common bond, being a deep passion for our Some notable achievements and activism of Surfrider Foundation amazing local beaches, oceans and waterways, and a desire to ensure Sunshine Coast, include: they are kept clean and healthy. Via the Surfrider Foundation network spread throughout Australia, Surfrider preserves, protects and/or ‘Clean Up’ Double Island Point weekends – bi-annual restores coastal environments, so our future generations can derive the camping weekends involving huge scale beach ‘clean ups’, ‘dune care’ same level of enjoyment and pleasure from these natural assets, as we sessions, activities combined with educational presentations, movies and do now. live music on the beach. In the past two years, ‘Clean Up’ Double Island Point weekends have attracted over 250 volunteers, with an average of For more information visit www.surfrider.org.au over two tonne of rubbish removed from the beach on each occasion. september 2015

Almost 90 per cent of all floating material in the ocean is plastic.

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gold

GOING FOR

WORDS ANNA RAWLINGS PHOTOS CHESTERTON SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

The elite USC Paralympic High Performance Squad training out of our own backyard in Sippy Downs is home to global swimming superstars, including Paralympic gold medalist Blake Cochrane and internationally-renowned coach Jan Cameron.

BLAKE COCHRANE

The Swimmer

With powerful movements, Blake Cochrane slices through the water, following the black line along the bottom of the pool on his way to a streamlined victory. Later, he pulls on the green and gold jacket of Australia’s pride to step onto the podium, swimming his way into the world record books as an Australian champion and Paralympic swimmer. Today, Blake is number one in the world in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke events, he has swum for Australia in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Paralympic games, was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2014, with a host of school, regional and state representative swimming awards. Blake, 24, has been swimming since, “I got too big for the bathtub”. Growing up in Redcliffe, his parents introduced him to swimming, nippers and surf lifesaving to help with asthma, but Blake soon developed his own love for being in the water. Blake has a congenital limb deficiency from birth, which means he is missing his fingers and toes on both hands and feet. “I use every component of gear you can when it comes to swimming (training),” he says. “There are a few modifications that are made to some of my equipment, like with my flipper I have an attachment that goes into the fin so I can wear it on my foot. “But in competition there is no assistances or aids, you swim with what you’ve got.” 104

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Blake explains within Paralympics, swimming is the only sport to have a ‘functional classification system’, which means swimmers of all disabilities compete against each other. Swimmers are assessed and given a permanent classification when they are aged 18, which can be contested by opposing countries twice during a swimmer’s career. “It’s not the perfect system...it can seem a little bit unfair but the way I’ve looked at the system is that you’re at a disadvantage in some events, but you’re at an advantage in another,” he says. After entering competitive swimming in 2006, Blake’s own first international event was in 2007 at the Arafura Games in Darwin; an “eye-opener”. BLAKE COCHRANE

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“I learnt very quickly that if you want to step up in the world you have to be putting in that time and effort,” he says. “Growing up I was a breast stroker so I was fortunate to have natural talent; but when you build hard work on top you can definitely come away with some pretty strong results.” The talented swimmer went on to set a new world record in the men’s 50m breaststroke at the 2013 Australian Swimming Championships (a time of 36.13), take home two gold medals at the 2012 London Paralympics in the 4x100m freestyle and the 100m breaststroke, a silver medal at the 2008 Paralympic Games in the 100m breaststroke, and an individual gold medal at the 2010 IPC World Championships in Eindhoven in the 100m breaststroke and again in the same event at the 2013 IPC World Championships. He’s also represented Australia and medalled at the 2008 Beijing IPC World Championships, Commonwealth Games including 2010 in Delhi, 2014 in Glasgow and the Para Pan Pacific Championships in 2011 in Canada and 2014 in California, and the IPC World Short Course in 2009, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “It’s a reward of all the time and effort you’ve put in leading up to that one moment,” Blake says of those podium finishes. “We put in almost 24 hours of work a week and our main event lasts less than a minute-and-a-half, so you do a lot of training for that one moment of glory.” On top of training nine times per week in the pool, Blake tackles regular gym sessions and when it comes to academia, he’s certainly no fish out of water; currently studying a Bachelor in Exercise and Clinical Science at the university, which will see him graduate as an accredited exercise physiologist. With recent records including a new world record in the 100m breaststroke at the Berlin International swim meet in April 2015 in a time of 1:16:84, Blake was hopeful the momentum would carry him forward to the 2015 IPC World Championships held in Glasgow in July, where he took home a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke and a bronze in the 4x100m freestyle relay. He is now aiming towards the next Paralympic games in Rio in 2016, with an eye on the 2018 Australian Commonwealth Games.

“It’s not the first time I’ve coached Paralympic swimmers, but it’s the first time I’ve had a whole squad of Olympic swimmers – there are seven of them in the squad here.”

JAN CAMERON The Coach

As a former Olympian and with her fair share of competitive aquatic accolades, USC Paralympic High Performance Squad coach Jan Cameron brought her stellar coaching pedigree to the coaching position in 2013. From pool to podium herself, Jan has represented Australia at Olympic and Commonwealth Games, winning a silver medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics for her part in the 4x100m freestyle relay, and with more than 47 years of swim coaching behind her, including high profile roles for Swimming New Zealand, came out of retirement to head up the Coast’s Paralympic High Performance Squad. Back to where it all began, Jan was studying to be a teacher at a Wollongong university when her ex-husband, former Australian national coach Don Talbot, recommended her for a swim coach position at a local country club. Aside from a three-year break following the birth of her son (Scott Talbot – who would go on to become a representative swimmer and swim coach for New Zealand), Jan has been coaching ever since, from being a sole coach, assisting

september 2015

JAN CAMERON

Don Talbot in Sydney, developing a swimming club from scratch in Canada, coaching high performance squads in the US, ‘feeding’ young swimmers through for the Olympics and coaching in New Zealand; upon retiring, Jan moved back to Australia and settled on the Sunshine Coast. “I was asked to relieve the former coach for a little bit and one thing led to another and they asked me to apply for the job so I did,” she remembers. “It’s not the first time I’ve coached Paralympic swimmers, but it’s the first time I’ve had a whole squad of Olympic swimmers – there are seven of them in the squad here,” she says. Jan now trains the squad alongside the ‘able-bodied high performance squad’ in a recent collaboration spearheaded by former Paralympian Dr Brendan Burkett, in a move that will see them merge as the USC Spartans Swim Club. Jan also inherited three senior Paralympic gold medallists in Blake, Rick Pendleton and Michael Anderson, along with a clutch of younger swimmers for the squad’s succession planning. “It’s very tough to get on the Olympic podium so that’s why it’s so special to have three on the Olympic podium here in the program for the others to see what has to be done,” she says. “They can mentor and be role models for the younger swimmers.” Jan has just travelled with six of the seven-strong squad to the world championships; with up-and-coming Lakeisha Patterson scooping a gold medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay, silver in the 50m and three bronze medals; while the rest of the team brought home an assortment of bronze medals and finalist rankings. But for Jan, it’s not always about the medals. “It’s about seeing young people grow, mature and achieve in life. That’s really for me, the most satisfying.”

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KICKING

GOALS WORDS ANNA RAWLINGS PHOTOS CHESTERTON SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

As our local rugby league team, the Sunshine Coast Falcons are hoping to soar to new heights during the Q-Cup season, with 50 players and 15 staff based at their home ground of Stockland Stadium. We catch up with co-captains Tom Murphy and Ryan Hansen to find out more.

PLAYER PROFILE: TOM MURPHY

t 24-years-old, Sunshine Coast Falcons captain Tom Murphy has been playing rugby league since “grassroots” football as a five-year-old. “It’s a great sport, a great team environment and I know I wouldn’t be the person I am today without growing up and being part of grassroots rugby league,” Tom shares. “You build a lot of friendships and learn a lot of life lessons in winning and losing and training for a goal.” 106

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After growing up on the Coast, Tom played representative underschool-age footy at boarding school, then moved to play for the Canberra Raiders, before a move up north to the Redcliffe Dolphins, playing in the Queensland Cup (Q-Cup) Grand Final and at Suncorp Stadium. He was then signed for a year with the Canterbury Bulldogs in Sydney, but was released from his contract after being sidelined with an ankle injury during pre-season. “I took a lot of training tips away from it, learning the ropes off guys who have had 10-years-plus careers at the top. “I was a bit behind the eight-ball with the injury so I wanted to start fresh and decided the Falcons would be a great opportunity to do that,” Tom says, joining the Falcons in 2014. A 2014 announcement that the Sunshine Coast Falcons were confirmed for a three-year contract as a ‘feeder club’ for the Melbourne Storm, meant that junior rugby players on the Coast could have a direct pathway to the big league teams. Off the back of the news, Tom spent six weeks during pre-season down with the Storm prior to Christmas. “It was good to be down there with that calibre of players and coaching staff and it was good to be back in that professional kind of environment, I loved it,” he says. Tom shares that his current captaincy involves leading a “great bunch

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of blokes”, aiming to be in the mix of teams come the September 2015 grand finals. “For me the biggest thing is trying to lead by example and being the captain you have to take the results on your shoulders,” he says. “For the last couple of years the Falcons have struggled to leave their mark on the competition … so the only way is up at the moment.” Outside of football, Tom, who is personally aiming for a professional NRL career, works as a personal trainer at a Caloundra gym, while recuperating with physio on the sidelines following a shoulder dislocation. Having a ‘day job’ is common for most of the Falcons team, with players juggling training and games with their personal lives and fulltime jobs. But every day life is a distant memory when the players file onto the field on game day, under the watchful eyes of Falcons CEO Chris Flannery and coach Glen Dreger. “When you’re playing on the field and you have the crowd backing you it lifts your energy and enthusiasm,” says Tom. “I love the competitiveness and the drive to win, with footy you can’t be half-hearted when you walk across that white line because you’re going to be found out. “My advice for the younger generation would be to train hard and put your best foot forward in everything you do.”

PLAYER PROFILE: RYAN HANSEN

“I

t was tough handing over the captaincy to Tommy, I was the first to ring him up and congratulate him,” says former captain Ryan Hansen. Still stepping up to the captaincy plate during times of Tom Murphy’s absence, Ryan grew up as a “sporty” kid, trying cricket, union, league, swimming and athletics before getting into footy at age six. Two days after completing school, Ryan moved to Melbourne for a football contract, before returning home to Brisbane in mid2009. During this time, Ryan had made the Australian Schoolboys team and played in a young squad in the NRL trial against the Titans, before doing his time at the Broncos, then moving back to the Sunshine Coast. He started with the Falcons in 2013, and is today the second oldest player at 25-years-old, and the most experienced with 80 games under his belt. “I was captain last year – it was good to lead around a good bunch of young blokes who are still learning the craft,” he says. With a keen sense of business as a property developer on the side, these days Ryan plays the

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT

Falcons player, husband and father-of-two James Ackerman died after being knocked unconscious during a tackle in a Queensland Cup match in Brisbane on 20 June. You can show your support for his young family by visiting www.scfalcons. com.au or donating to his family trust fund.

september 2015

game for the love of it. “For that 80-minute battle … you just live for that 80-minute test. “I’d love to get into coaching and even the business side of the club ... a couple of us really care about the club and we want to see it succeed, we’ve been there through the tough times.” Ryan has been part of the feeder pathway himself, and can commentate on the transition between clubs. “When I was with Melbourne I came to the grades at Norths which was their feeder club and Broncos took over at Norths so we went through the influx of having Broncos come through, it just takes time to gel and for them to learn our culture and for us to learn theirs,” he says. “I think the biggest thing is having a pathway so kids will stay and want to play for us and now they will because you’ve got the under-16s, under-18s, Colts and if you’re good enough you’re down at the Storm. “With the new pathway, we will start to see the benefits down the track and I see the Falcons becoming a powerhouse of the competition, we have a good coach and good structure.”

Ackerman Family Trust Fund Bank Of Queensland BSB: 124 001 Account No: 1150 0777 Ref No: 151 181

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LIFE

PINS AND NEEDLES PHOTOS CHESTERTON SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

uring medical training in France, Doctor Hugo Pin spent a year working in Facial Surgery, assisting the surgeon in complex facial reconstruction procedures, repairing damage done by cancer or trauma. “I always kept the secret desire to become a surgeon, but life and family quickly sent me overseas and I started to work as a GP in the West Indies,” he says. The first time Dr Pin heard about Botulinum Toxin (botox) was from female friends, gushing about how good they felt after the procedure. “When I started in general practice in Australia nine years ago, I began training in aesthetic medicine,” he says. “I rapidly added more training, more qualifications and was travelling overseas (France, USA).” Three years ago, Dr Pin founded Sunshine Vein & Cosmetic Clinic at Peregian Beach, which is dedicated to treating unsightly veins and cosmetic treatments.

profile: What is the most common cosmetic treatment? hugo: Botulinum Toxin injections to treat fine wrinkles. It is the first step when a young woman starts to notice wrinkles in the crow’s feet area, or between the brow lines. Dermal fillers come after, used to replace loss of volume when ageing. profile: What are some patient concerns when resorting to cosmetic treatment? hugo: Their first concern is: is it going to be too much? Everyone wants a natural look, but they also want a significant result, so the goal is to find a balance between using enough fillers to correct the concern, and not doing too much. profile: What is the main demographic using cosmetic treatment? hugo: Around 95 per cent are women – from 25 to 75. I have a lot of patients over 65 coming for unsightly vein removal or facial cosmetic treatments. They want to look good at the grandson’s wedding or be able to wear a bathing suit at the pool or at the beach, without the confronting looks and it’s ok to do it! They deserve it, there is no vanity in that, just a loss of confidence to repair. There is a new trend for men to have Botulin Toxin and fillers to look younger as well, it is still a small trend, but men are not afraid anymore to ask for cosmetic treatments. Interestingly, it’s their partner who sends them most of the time. profile: What are some lesser known treatments? hugo: Amidst the non-surgical new lifting procedures, the latest Dissolvable Thread Lift, launched in Australia last year, is an exceptional tool to finalise and refine our approach to natural and non-surgical

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face maintenance. Another treatment people may not be aware of is the use of PRP (Platelets Rich Plasma), which is using the stem cells in one’s own blood to rejuvenate one’s skin through micro-punctures or skin needling (Dermapen). The treatment is suitable for the face (eyelids, cheeks), neck, décolletage, inner arms, knees, inner thighs, and is especially useful for hair growth. It is sometimes called the “Vampire Lift” in magazines. profile: How do some of those more advanced techniques, like deep dermal fillers or resorbable threads, work? hugo: Resorbable threads is a technological innovation offering women a redefined face, restored volume and reduced wrinkles in a 30-minute treatment, for a result lasting up to 18 months. This treatment combines two effects: lifting and regenerating. The lifting effect is the result of compressing and elevating tissue and adjusting the thread. In this way, the doctor reshapes the surface of the skin and makes it smoother. Once the threads are in place, the Poly-L-Lactic acid acts on the deeper layers of the skin and naturally stimulates the body so it produces its own collagen. This continues over time and increases the volume of saggy areas and restores shapeliness to the face gradually and naturally. profile: How is the popularity of cosmetic treatment increasing? hugo: I see more and more women around 45 to 50-years-of-age that never had anything done on their face or legs. Meanwhile the young women want to stay young and start with light treatments like lasers. It is possible, if you use the different techniques according to your individual needs to age gracefully, while still looking like yourself, and keeping the need for surgery at bay.

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HEALTH

IS SNORING COSTING YOU MORE THAN A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP ? Snoring and sleep apnoea can have a devastating eﬀect on your health, relationships and work. Snoring is a result of the airway narrowing, causing vibrations at the back of the throat. Sleep apnoea is when the airway is completely closed, and breathing temporarily stops during your sleep cycle. The airway can repeatedly collapse during the night, preventing oxygen from reaching your lungs. This means you wake up often to allow breathing to start again, although typically you won’t be aware of this. Some people may be aware they wake up to go to the bathroom frequently, however it can be your cessation of breathing that triggers you to wake! OSA or obstructive sleep apnoea is a common sleep disorder, meaning your airway collapses while you are sleeping. This can happen hundreds of times during the night while each apnoea (period of no breathing) can last from 10 to 60 seconds or more. You will wake, gasp for breath then fall asleep again. This fragmented sleep pattern means you wake up constantly tired! In addition other symptoms of OSA include daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, poor memory and concentration, depression, low mood, irritability, low libido, getting up to go to the bathroom often at night, loud snoring and experiencing a choking sensation during sleep. It is often your partner who will notice when your snoring stops intermittently, your breathing has also stopped. Important things to know about OSA: - Untreated OSA increases the risk of heart attack by 30 per cent - OSA significantly increases the risk of a stroke - 80 per cent of stroke patients have sleep apnoea - Almost 60 per cent of Type 2 diabetics have OSA - Patients with depression are five times more likely to have OSA - People with OSA are 10 times more likely to have a motor vehicle accident - Over half of patients with idiopathic high blood pressure have OSA - Thin people can have sleep apnoea too! Treatment of OSA may include lifestyle changes, CPAP (continuous positive airways pressure) machine and/or a custom made oral appliance called a MAS (mandibular advancement splint). People have a variety of mouths and jaw shapes so you should find a dentist who is trained in designing a custom made device. If it’s not comfortable you won’t wear it, so go for comfort for your health’s sake. The MAS appliance is ideal for patients who travel as it is small and easy to use every night.

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GRANDE SKINNY PILATES Pilates is my tool for movement. I use it to assist individuals to reach their optimal health as it relates to the function of their joints and systems. But something I see too often is the belief that we have to be a certain shape, size, height or weight to participate in it? How liberating it would be if we could trust the inner wisdom that our bodies have to move freely and joyously and arrive at a studio or class in confidence, ready to nourish our body’s purpose. The way we have been designed is to be efficient in movement. Simply put, efficiency is about not working too hard or too little, but just the right amount to get a desired result. Think of Goldilocks! When we follow the patterns in our joints and muscles to create efficiency, we organically receive a healthy body. Why? Joints need three things to maintain their health – regular movement in all possible ranges where applicable; compression; and decompression. When joints at a bony level are functioning well, the ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves and tissues around those structures will automatically be at ease. This has a direct effect on the other body systems and together everything works as a symphony.

Talk to your GP, dentist or specialist about having a reputable sleep study if you suspect you are snoring or experiencing any of the symptoms above.

We are all designed the same on the inside, so why not bring your skeletons in to a session to discover how you were born to move.

SMILE BY DESIGN 102 Wises Rd Maroochydore 5443 2888 dentist@smilebydesign.net.au

KINECTED PILATES STUDIO 0420 308 565 www.kinectedpilates.com.au

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NON LASER TATTOO REMOVAL

PROMOTION

edmo

CALL ME

WORDS NICOLE FUGE PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

As an awkward teen, Lynda Edmunds found her voice in radio, and after a brief sojourn as a school teacher, she followed the airwaves back to her true calling and is now one half of Hot 91.1 breakfast radio show Sam and Edmo.

“H

i, I’m Nicole from Profile Magazine and I’m here to interview Lynda ... Edmo ... Lynda Edmunds ...” Goodness, what do I call her, I think to myself? But my question is swiftly answered when I’m met with a beaming smile and an outstretched hand, “Hi, I’m Edmo”. Donning a tangerine blazer and her hair and make-up looking fierce, Edmo is quick to assure me, “I don’t normally look like this”. The crew at Hot 91.1 radio station is in the midst of taking fresh promo shots and I make myself comfortable on the red couch in the boardroom-come-photo studio, ready to chat with Edmo, one half of their hit breakfast show Sam and Edmo. It’s a dream come true for this pint-sized 35-year-old who has been involved in radio since she was a high school student in Redcliffe. “When I was 14 we did work experience at school and my teacher told me I talk too much in class and I should do radio,” Edmo shares. “So she called the local radio station and set it up. “On the first day my mum picked me up and I said, ‘I love it here, I want to come here every day for the rest of my life and I just knew that was what I wanted to do.” But as Edmo explains, her mum was more sensible than her and suggested she go to university and couple her drama studies with a teaching degree. “I’ve always loved radio and always done community radio since I was 14 and I decided I wanted to have an adventure with teaching so I went really far bush, went to

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Middlemount in central Queensland and there was no radio station for me to work at and I was lost, so I used to read out the school notices in form class,” she says, giving me a run through of the detention list in her best radio voice. “The kids said you should really do that as a job and eventually I realised it is what I want to do.” And so Edmo pulled out a big map of Australia and applied to radio stations far and wide, eventually landing a job in Townsville. “I started writing and then I got into the newsroom and worked my way up to news director for Queensland,” she says.

“When I was 14 we did work experience at school and my teacher told me I talk too much in class and I should do radio.” “Now I’d had some fun with that, I wanted to try something new. I’d always wanted to be a presenter I just took the longest route possible to get there. “Every part of radio is fun and I think it’s really good to experience everything because you appreciate what everyone does – I’ve written ads and read the news and helped out in promotions, so I know a lot of the different sides to it – I haven’t run the place yet, but there’s still time!” Having owned the role of news director at Hot 91.1 for around eight years, the shift to announcer on 29 September, 2014 was an exciting change for Edmo and her partner in

breakfast radio crime Sam Coward. “We have a lot of fun and we probably spend more time together than with our respective husband and wife so you have to like each other and we genuinely do,” she says. Edmo has also been adapting to life with two children since the birth of her sixmonth-old daughter Miranda. “I don’t think you ever get used to breakfast hours, you get slightly used to less sleep, it’s never been so hard as it is now, for me personally, because I’ve got two children now including a baby at home and I’m so lucky I have a really wonderful husband who gets up every time the kids wake up throughout the night, so I’m very lucky. “I’m still trying to find that balance, but I think every working mum struggles everyday with that and your children change, their needs change, one week they want mummy all the time, the next it’s daddy, so it’s really hard to go to work on those weeks where the kids are stuck to you,” she says honestly. “It’s a challenge I’m facing at the moment but it’s not unusual and I think it’s something everyone goes through.” In the meantime, Edmo is coming to terms with being a local identity. “I’ve had people say to me, ‘Your voice sounds familiar’ and I say, ‘Really?’ I’m usually pretty shy about it, I don’t tend to say I’m on the radio,” she says. “I don’t get recognised all that often … that’s the joy of radio, people don’t see your face and you could be anybody, it’s a mystery, it’s fun and then people say, ‘You don’t look like how I pictured you’.” In true radio segway fashion, at that point the photographer turns around and calls Edmo up to the set, ‘It’s time for your close-up’.

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GOURMET inside 116

LADIES AT LUNCH

The lunching ladies talk all things fashion

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CHEF PROFILE

Stephen Geurds takes no shortcuts in the kitchen

foodie trail

+ MUCH MORE...

RECIPE

Whipping up a passion fruit cheesecake has never been so easy

PROFILE GOUR MET A MBASSADOR AND CHEF EXTR AORDINAIR E MATT Y URKO FROM THE CANAPÉ PROJECT SHAR ES HOW TO MAKE OUR SEASONAL PRODUCE SHINE ON THE PLATE

september 2015

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GOURMET

I love the way spring flavours flit around in my mouth – long before I’ve even cooked them. They’re so memorable, so exciting that even a long cold winter (with all its red wine and meaty stews) can’t make me forget what absolute treats we are in for.

he days are finally getting longer and I for one have been enjoying the opportunity to stop in at the local diner for a milkshake in the afternoon with my family while we watch the hustle and bustle of the day’s end and the night’s beginning unfold around us. Sunday arvo beers with friends is an awesome way to kick off an early barbecue, showcasing the best of what spring has to offer. Swordfish is fantastic at this time of year – don’t be afraid to cook it on the flat plate outside, just splash it with a bit of evoo and salt and pepper. Make the most of ruby red grapefruit by turning it into a salsa to serve with your swordfish. Segment with

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another type of citrus like orange or lime (or both) and slice some fresh mint, some spring onion and fresh chilli if you’re feeling fancy. Asparagus is one of spring’s best gifts – even if it only hangs around for a month or two. Chuck this on the barbie too with some evoo, salt and pepper and you’ll win over the toughest green vegie critic. I’m all for preserving foods and I get that it has to be done – but asparagus in a tin gives greens a bad name. Whoever invented that one has a bit to answer for if you ask me. I’d love to encourage you, as the weather warms up, to try something new. Grab a leg of new spring lamb, deboned and butterflied (your butcher will do this for you) and give it a rub – go on, get your hands dirty. I like

with Matt Yurko

ras el hanout, which you can buy – or make your own with ground nutmeg, cumin, coriander, turmeric, paprika, fenugreek, garam masala, cloves and cinnamon. Chuck it on the barbecue instead of roasting it and all those smoky flavours will be making your tummy rumble long before you’re actually hungry. Some boiled new potatoes tossed with butter, sea salt, dill and mint are best mates with either the lamb or the fish, and you can turn leftovers into a potato salad the next day. Go out and get some sun on your skin this spring, the backyard barbie is calling. Invite your friends – good food should always be shared.

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WORDS STEVE STREET CSW (CERTIFIED SPECIALIST OF WINE USA)

am regularly asked questions about the many facets of wine. So this month we’ll investigate some of the common questions that may help you clear up a few things next time you’re looking for that little Tuesday nighter or a boutique number that you need to buff your enthusiast friends with. Q: I’ve noticed some red wines seem to be fuller in body than others. Why is there a difference? A: On the greater wine scale from lightest to heaviest, the more common varieties would range in this order: Pinot Noir – Merlot – Grenache – Tempranillo – Cabernet Sauvignon – Shiraz. However in many cases some of the above varieties may vary slightly due to factors affecting fruit ripening, climate, region or the style the winemaker sets out to achieve. No wine style is ever hard and fast. Q: What is the difference between a $10 wine and a $50 wine? Will I be able to taste the difference? A: All wines start in the vineyard. You will hear a grower say this and you will always hear the winemaker back him up. Think of it like this – do you walk into a supermarket or your greengrocer and head straight to the clearance table with the fruit and vegetables that have blemishes and a few bruises? The fruit used to produce premium wine can command in excess of $5000 per tonne, allowing you to press off around 600 litres of juice for each tonne. Throw in some new French oak barrels worth $1200 a piece plus production costs

and you can see how quickly outlay costs compound. Alternatively, if we are only interested in producing a quaffer, the price may fluctuate as low as $150 per tonne with fewer overheads that are required for a cheaper style of wine. As for tasting the difference – plush dark fruits with lashings of mocha, black pepper and vanillin matched with that charred grilled sirloin and red wine jus? It costs money to accrue those nuances. Q: Why do some red wines give me a headache after a couple of glasses? A: Red wine has an array of organic compounds and to a much lesser extent, added chemical compounds. One of the main factors which causes some of the trouble is an organic compound called tannin which is part of the phenolic family. Sourced from mainly oak barrels, it is also extracted in lesser amounts from the skins, seeds and stalks. Red wine also has low levels of histamines along with similar organic compounds that may trigger receptors attached to prostaglandins which may also cause headaches. Try a red that has no oak or minimal oak impartation which may include (but not in all cases) varieties such as Grenache, Pinot Noir and quite a few Italian numbers. Alternatively, there have been trials, with good results, with small amounts of Aspirin and Ibuprofen ingested about an hour before wine consumption, which alleviates some of the constriction of the frontal lobe capillaries by increasing blood flow to the area. You should always see your physician if your pain is ongoing. Visit www.thewinewall.org for information.

GOURMET

ine TIME WQUESTION

Bin 106 Stage One is here – come and check it out. THE FRIDAY SUNSET SCENE TO UNWIND WITH FRIENDS Meet in the waterfront garden – boutique wines, beer and cider. Wood fired oven specialities from Michelin Star Chef Stephen Pulman – French Burgers, Calzones, Pizza’s and more… Located at the rear of Le Bistro Jardin premises, 106 Brisbane Road, Mooloolaba (near Jetts Gym).

Waiting to tempt you from Friday 11th September Bin 106 Stage Two coming soon B OUT I Q UE WI NE TAST I NG S • E URO P E A N C UI S I NE • C E L L A R I NG • P R I VAT E F UN C T I ON S Phone 07 5477 6588 (Tues – Sat) 106 BRISBANE ROAD, MOOLOOLABA september 2015

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PROFILE

“I can be driving along and think of a DESIGN and it will trigger an adrenaline RUSH that gives me tingles for 20 minutes.” CINDY VOGELS

1. KAREN BAZZAN 2. NATALIE CUNNINGHAM 3. ESTHER BARNETT 4. CINDY VOGELS 5 JUDY COPLEY 6. THE LUNCHING LADIES 7. ANGELA HARRISON

THE VELO PROJECT, Mooloolaba 7

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FASHION

FORWARD WORDS INGRID NELSON PHOTOS REBECCA SMITH VENUE THE VELO PROJECT, MOOLOOLABA

Being our Big Fashion issue, I took the opportunity to catch up with some of the amazing local designers who are making big waves in the industry to discover their passion, inspiration and top tips in fashion.

here is such a buzz in the Profile office this month being our Big Fashion issue so I thought it was the perfect time to sit down with some of the Coast’s best talent to discover a little more about the inspiration behind their designs and share some of their top fashion advise with you. Interestingly, apart from their proven success in business, this bevy of talented women has also managed to raise large families in their spare time! In fact, a quick head count revealed that between us we have produced 27 children. Yes, you read that right, 27! Goes to prove us women are great multi-taskers! Joining me for a delicious lunch to talk all things fashion at the Velo Project, Mooloolaba was Cindy Vogels of the Devoted Milliner; Karen Bazzan of Hampton Threads; Judy Copley of Judy Copley Couture; Esther of Kis Kiss Bang Bang (XX!!) and her good friend Angela Harrison and last but not least Natalie Cunningham of Emu Designs. profile: Can you share your background and how you got into the fashion scene? cindy: I studied fashion on the Gold Coast and have worked in Sydney and Brisbane in different fashion roles. Most of my grounding though was as a child from my mother. She was a designer/dress maker. I have such great childhood memories of the travellers arriving with their vans full of materials and picking the fabrics with mum, I loved being able to feel and touch everything. By the time I was 10 I could whip a bikini together in 30 minutes to show it off at the beach. It’s always been part of my life. It’s only now that I realise how much of what I do is in my DNA! Every piece I make is bespoke. The designs come out of nowhere. I don’t sketch because it holds me to an ending or completion. I like it to be organic as I’m going. karen: My background is actually in nursing. To be honest I have always been a very textbook, structured type of person and work well to a plan but my creative side has always been there, just waiting for the right opportunity. When I married, I joined my husband in his building firm. We were furnishing our display homes and got tired of seeing the other furniture vans arriving, we thought why not have our own, so I was very involved with picking all the furnishings and decor to make the homes sell. We then decided to open a pop up store in

september 2015

Noosa and at the last minute we were not allowed to sell the brand we intended to as another store in Noosa stocked it. So I had to jump on a plane to China and design a collection and have it made in five to six weeks to have ready to open. We stock a range of beautiful clothing for children. As a mum-of-four I know what mums want, things that wash well and are stain resistant! We are introducing an equestrian range soon, which I am very excited about. Particularly as my family are very involved in polo cross. esther: I’m the other half of Kis Kiss Bang Bang (XX!!) mens clothing store in Mooloolaba, owned by my husband Grant. I also have my own hair salon in Buderim where I have been for nine years. Grant opened the store a year ago and specialises in relaxed, laid back menswear. Think linens, wedding attire, resort wear. We went over to Thailand and Bali to pick our fabrics, and they are made in Thailand by a top designer. I work with Grant a couple of days per week. natalie: I started Emu Designs after having four children and not being able to find shapewear swimwear that was also trendy and suited to young mothers so I decided to make my own. The miracle suits available at the time were old fashioned. I wanted to create swimwear that make you appear five kilos lighter and still look good. I guess it’s also in my genes. My grandmother used to make clothes for Rod Stewart including his famous white suit. judy: I have always loved having the luxury to create something beautiful. My mother worked for a fashion house in Melbourne in the 1930s making bridal gowns and she taught me. I am one of seven and I’m the only one that way inclined. I think I am just meant to do it. profile: What is the inspiration behind your work? judy: Sometimes, when I start a dress, I don’t know what I’m going to do. It’s art. I design bespoke bridal gowns on the Coast, hand created and do all the sewing and beading myself. I dabble in every era and not in any particular niche. My work is very detailed and I love pushing the boundaries. I have so many ideas I won’t live long enough to get them all out. natalie: I wanted to create something uniquely Australian and being from an Indigenous background myself, I decided to base my designs on the work of Indigenous artists from around Australia. Each tag of

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my range shares the Dreamtime story on the print I have used for that particular garment. I’m very excited to be showcasing my range at New York Fashion Week this year! cindy: When my children were younger we would move several times a year with my husband’s work, often arriving back in Australia around Melbourne Cup time and I would always get excited about putting together outfits for my family and friends. It was then I saw the longevity and beauty in hats. When you give someone a hat, you are giving them love and creativity and they want to put it in a box and show their friends. I am completely addicted to it, it’s my drug. I can be driving along and think of a design and it will trigger an adrenaline rush that gives me tingles for 20 minutes. MOOLOOLABA PRAWNS

profile: How much has social media helped grow your business? karen: In abundance. Without it we wouldn’t have anything. When you live in a small town as I do and you have a retail store just waiting for people to walk in, you wouldn’t get very far. We blog regularly for both businesses and we update our Facebook page daily. cindy: Karen told me more than 18 months ago I needed to be on Instagram, even though I didn’t even know what it was at the time and I’m so glad she did. It allows me to live in a small regional/rural setting which I love and run my business from there too. I was noticed by the largest fashion machine in the world and it was completely irrelevant to them where I was as long as I could get the first shipment to a Fedex counter. Brandon Maxwell Studios in New York started watching me on Instagram last year and in June they made contact about supplying a hat for Lady Gaga, which she did end up wearing. Karen was the first person who saw their email because I didn’t believe it was real. It’s so cool that we shared that moment together. I’ll never forget it. You just have to put it out there. It’s definitely my main driver and has allowed me to connect with people all over the world. karen: You have to be in people’s faces. It’s a subtle way of advertising. Facebook is a friends thing whereas with Instagram you are following the people you are interested in, you don’t have to be friends. profile: What item in your wardrobe could you not live without? angela: I’m a Melbourne girl so it would have to be my black roll neck sweater. natalie: My Converse Chuck Taylors. I live in them. esther: My long white linen shirt. I like wearing it with the collar up with jeans. karen: Twelve months ago I would have said an A-line dress. Now it’s slouchy pants. You can wear them with heels or flats they are so comfortable. cindy: I am a ripped jeans girl. I have seven different pairs at the moment. I love them. It might not be something that everyone else is wearing, I don’t care, it suits me. I can wear them with thongs, stilettos, ballet flats. I love pulling on a pair of jeans and then trying to make my outfit as interesting as possible. I’m also all about colour and I know when I wear colour it makes other people happy. judy: A white long-sleeved shirt. I’m older and it covers everything. If you wear colour people look and I like being in the background. profile: Can you share your best fashion advice? judy: Wear what you love not what’s in fashion. cindy: As I came closer to 40 I started to understand it was more about what suited me and culling the things I felt uncomfortable in. karen: Try to be a bit different. Make the outfit your own. natalie: Dress for your shape and accessorise. angela: Be happy with what you are wearing because it will show on your face. If you look in the mirror and you don’t like it, change it. esther: Always have well groomed hair. It doesn’t matter what you’re wearing if you have good hair.

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THE BAD HUNTER

THE VELO PROJECT, MOOLOOLABA

had heard such rave reviews about the Velo Project, Mooloolaba, and after my recent lunchtime visit I can understand why!

The eclectic little neighbourhood restaurant tucked away in Careela Street has to be one of the Coast’s best kept secrets. Quaint and homely, the rustic decor consists of mismatched tables and chairs, with lots of vintage pieces and interesting little knick knacks making it feel like a home away from home. The atmosphere at the Velo Project is warm and welcoming. Service is prompt and friendly and the delicious smells wafting from the kitchen are a good indication of what’s to come. Owner Sarah Nash had prepared a delicious two-course menu especially for the lunching ladies, starting with the Bad Hunter for entree. Consisting of potato and mushroom gratin, served with sauteed kale, sweet corn, fresh parmesan and a poached hen’s egg, it was light, delicious and bursting with ﬂavour. Next, we were treated to grilled Mooloolaba prawn salad. The succulent local prawns were served with red quinoa, sweet corn, red elk, fresh tomatoes and orange dressed with sweet chilli vinaigrette – yum! Make sure you try one of the healthy blends of freshly made juices on oﬀer – not only are they delicious, your body will thank you too! With a focus on supporting local farmers and suppliers, it’s no wonder the Velo Project guarantee to use the freshest ingredients available and the proof is in the pudding. You can taste the love that has gone into preparing the dishes. Don’t miss this little gem next time you visit Mooloolaba. You won’t be disappointed. The Velo Project 19 Careela Street, Mooloolaba Ph: 5444 8693

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ing “I believe more than anyth that when you have passion and pride in your work, it translates to the plate.”

Angelo PuelmA Head chef

chef Angelo See Restaurant head years. The ht eig Puelma is a chef of Australia to ved mo f che orn Chilean-b South his s use in 2010, and now erience exp and , ing ring upb American f, as a fusion as a cruise ship che ning, modern -di fine the in influence tes up at the pla Australian dishes he His culinary t. ran tau res t waterfron the cultural by passion is driven fresh, local ng usi d, foo of e importanc with new ing ent produce, experim and pride ts, ien red ing and flavours hes and dis ible red in constructing inc h. atc scr sauces from

the see

twist, I’m trying to use all the local and fresh ingredients I can, to engage the public here to try different foods, flavours and combinations without presenting something too different. “It is important to me, to preserve and showcase the quality produce we have available on the Sunshine Coast” says Angelo, who regularly visits markets here and in Brisbane to find ‘challenging’ ingredients to add to his repertoire while still paying homage to the family’s Chilean heritage. And with a setting overlooking lapping blue marina waters, naturally Angelo uses delicate seafood, plucked from the Mooloolaba trawlers to create his gastronomic delights, changing the usual concept of paddock-to-plate dining, to from the sea to See.

f the fresh salt air of the Mooloolaba Wharf isn’t enough to whet your appetite, then the mouth-watering fine dining fares of waterfront panoramic vista See Restaurant will do the job. The restaurant is co-owned by head chef Angelo and his father, Antonio after buying it more than 14 months ago. Angelo was already working as head chef at the restaurant and with the new takeover was joined by his father who hosts frontof-house duties, his younger sister working as waitress and brother taking on the role of kitchen-hand – family ethos is clearly the order of the day as they create a warm, welcoming dining ambience. “We change the menu every three months according to the seasons, we have a lunch special menu and a la carte menu, they all change completely,” reveals Angelo. Following their successful winter menu, their new spring menu will be launching this month and will feature tantalising and delectable flavours while maintaining the Chilean influence. “I would say it is also modern Australian with a South American

See Restaurant is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to late and Sunday for lunch, and is available for functions. www.seerestaurant.com.au 123 Parkyn Pde, Mooloolaba QLD 4557 (07) 5444 5044

Angelo’s PlATe

Dough –

‘Like’ See Restaurant on Facebook for recipe videos and look out for another recipe in the next issue of Profile.

Empanadas

“Empanadas are a very traditional Chilean pastry, usually deep fried or baked,” shares Angelo of the mouth-watering seafood pastries, one of his specialities. “Every town or village along the coastline in Chile will have its own kind of empanada, varying from prawn to scallops to crab.

Filling -

IngredIents: • 2 cups of roughly chopped king prawn meat • 2 cloves of garlic finely chopped • 4 tbsp. of finely chopped parsley • 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese • Salt and pepper to taste Method: Mix all ingredients.

IngredIents: • 4 cups plain flour • 1 cup hot water • 1 tspn salt • A dash of olive oil Method: 1. Sift flour and salt together 2. Add olive oil and hot water 3. Stir together until flour and water bind and form a crumb-like product 4. Hand-press and knead into a dough 5. Roll dough into small balls, approximately 2 inches in diameter 6. Roll dough balls into a flat base, similar to that of a small pizza (approximately 25cm across) 7. Place one tablespoon of king prawn mixture in centre of flattened dough, and fold over to form a semi-circle 8. Press the dough together, careful to remove any air bubbles which may appear 9. You may have to wet the dough in order to make it seal 10. Deep fry until golden and enjoy!

PROMOTION

TAsTe of

words anna rawlings photos rebecca smith

GOURMET

STEPHEN GEURDS

taking stock Having dished up over 25 years experience in the kitchen, Stephen Geurds now adds another feather to his chef’s hat – mentor to young and aspiring apprentices. Nicole Fuge finds out where his passion comes from.

WORDS NICOLE FUGE PHOTOS REBECCA SMITH

hen I say San Remo, my guess is you start thinking about rich and delicious tomato sauces coating a generous serving of silky al dente pasta, peppered with parmesan cheese. While you’re not wrong, it’s also a fishing village in Victoria and the place where Stephen Geurds started his cooking career in 1989. But unlike the former Italian ingredient, Stephen’s repertoire is much broader, specialising in a whole host of international cuisines. Stephen says he has always liked working with food and learnt the art of cookery from his mum and grandmother. “I wasn’t very good with anything else at school, home economics was the only subject I did really well in,” he says. “When an apprenticeship came up in a local hotel I did my time there. I spent nearly 10 years working with them and then moved to Melbourne for five or six years to get into a busier environment.” Stephen thrived in the bustling venues, dishing up 600 to 700 meals a day, before craving another change and shifting to the Northern Territory in 1999, where he spent 13 years working for various award-winning sports clubs. In 2011 he made a seachange to the Sunshine Coast and worked at the Yacht Club in Mooloolaba, then the Nambour RSL and just over a year ago took on the role of head chef at The Creek Tavern. Stephen has since had the opportunity to broaden his specialties, whipping up dishes in a wide range of cuisines to cater to everyone’s needs, as well as running daily specials to test and measure new meals – the popular dishes are then graduated to the summer or winter menu. “I try and get all the chefs in the kitchen to have their input so when a dish goes out they’ve got that feeling, ‘that’s my dish’.

At the end of the day we’re all here to provide good service and food for the customers so we’re quite flexible in allowing them to experiment,” he says. In allowing the younger chefs the freedom to experiment in the kitchen, Stephen has become a mentor to them, teaching the tricks of the trade and how to make delicious meals from scratch – all from recipes he’s developed over the years. “It’s good when you get someone who’s eager to learn and you see their eyes light up when you show them something new,” he says. “We make our own stocks and bases, so all our sauces and dressings are made in house, which for the apprentice is a good thing because nowadays a lot of places use bucket mayonnaise, hollandaise – everything comes out of a bottle.” And the perfect accompaniment to a delicious sauce? “I’m a steak person, I love a nice piece of steak,” he says, elaborating on his love of cooking with red meat. “I also like doing things like the lamb shanks, braising, osso buco and oxtail, all the old style traditional cooking, slow cooking. I find when you have a nice lamb shank that’s been cooking for four or five hours, the meat melts in your mouth.” But despite his penchant for the old style of cooking, Stephen still revels in sampling new flavour combinations and testing out recipes, it’s a passion that never tires. “I’ll get here of a morning, before everyone else, and tinker around, have a look at what’s in the fridge and put things together,” he says with a beaming smile. “It’s the experimentation of creating new items and new food and serving customers and making people walk away happy.”

“It’s the experimentation of creating new items and new food and serving customers and making people walk away happy.”

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Thursday Steak night

steaks from

$16!

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GOURMET

All’ Antica Established 25 years ago, All’ Antica is one of the Sunshine Coast’s must-try dining experiences. Boasting an authentic Italian menu and being fully licensed they oﬀer a warm, rustic atmosphere. Their menu is an exciting mix of traditional dishes from the Northern Alps to the rich waters of the Mediterranean that surround Sicily, created with the best local produce and imported ingredients straight from Italy. All’ Antica also oﬀers tailored function packages where the entire restaurant may be exclusively booked for with 40 or more guests, they also cater for all dietary requirements. So, what are you waiting for – make a date and dine at All’ Antica. 3/115 Point Cartwright Drive, Buddina Phone: 5444 0988 www.allantica.com.au

Follow our Foodie Trail each month as we explore what the Sunshine Coast has to offer for food lovers!

Homemade Bliss For a guilt-free cake made from quality fresh ingredients, Homemade Bliss Cakes supplies cakes and tarts which are gluten free, dairy free, vegan, paleo and superfood – and raw cakes are available too. Everything is made fresh to order, by hand without any of the nasty artificial ingredients, preservatives or additives. Big Top Market Fresh, Ocean Street, Maroochydore Phone: 0413 505 904

Big Top Smokery Noosa River Smoke House is now available at Big Top Market Fresh where they produce some of the finest quality cured and smoked fish products, using some of the finest artisan methods for curing, smoking and ageing the fish. Being in business for the last nine years, Noosa River Smoke House has grown and expanded their customer base to include the local IGAs, restaurants, hotels, fresh food markets and farmers markets. For any smoked and cured fish products, Noosa River Smoke House is your one stop shop.

www.facebook.com/noosariversmokehouse Big Top Market Fresh, Ocean Street, Maroochydore

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Asian Street Food combines the exotic ﬂavours of Asia with the Sunshine Coast’s freshest produce to bring you restaurant quality foods at market stall prices! If you’re craving Asian food, discover the extravagant ﬂavours from Vietnamese omelettes to Som Tum salad with smoked ocean trout, Laab Gai with sticky rice and crispy braised pork with Thai Mee Grob noodles. Although Asian Street Food is no longer available at Big Top Market Fresh, you can still get all of your street food goodness at the Noosa Farmers Market.

GOURMET

Asian Street Food

Noosa Farmers Market, Noosa www.asianstreetfood.com.au

Heavenly Spring Rolls With ﬂavours ranging from Thai chicken satay, with thai peanut satay sauce inside, and vegetarian options, it’s enough to make your mouth water. Come and find out what happens when the best Thai chicken satay you’ve ever eaten is married with a crisp and non oily spring roll. For vegetarian spring roll lovers, there is a delicious option with a mixture of sweet potato, carrot, pumpkin and potato, kaﬃr lime leaves and garlic and ginger. Big Top Market Fresh, Ocean Street, Maroochydore Phone: 0404 103 028

Frozen Sunshine Icy poles, ice pops, popsicles, paddle pops, call them whatever you like, but Frozen Sunshine calls them ice blocks. These handcrafted ice blocks are not only gluten free, but dairy free as well, using only local and seasonal ingredients. The ﬂavours are to die for, ranging from caramelised banana, chocolate, cold brew coﬀee, salted caramel, strawberry lemonade, vanilla bean and more. Frozen Sunshine has made it their mission to make their food as allergy-friendly as possible with no dairy, gluten, eggs, nuts, colours or preservatives. Big Top Market Fresh, Ocean Street, Maroochydore

www.frozensunshine.com.au

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RECIPE

The base

• 1 cup (120g) raw almonds • 10 fresh dates, pitted • ¼ cup raw shredded coconut Place the three ingredients into Thermo Appliance/blender. Blend for 20 seconds on speed 8. Using a spatula, scrape the mixture out into a 22cm (9 inch) pie dish, press it into the corners of the base and chill for at least 30 minutes.

The ﬁlling

• 250g cream cheese, softened • 400g can condensed milk • 1 x 10g sachet gelatin • 2 x passionfruits Add cream cheese to Thermo Bowl/mixing bowl. Blend for 10 seconds on speed 8. Add condensed milk and blend for 2 minutes on speed 4. Add the gelatin to ¼ cup of hot water and stir briskly with a fork until dissolved. Add it and passionfruit pulp to the creamy mixture. Mix for 30 seconds on speed 2. Pour this mixture over the base and return to the refrigerator. Chill for at least 4 hours.

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CULTURE & TRAVEL

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MUSIC

Xavier Rudd warms up the vocals ahead of his Caloundra Music Festival gig

DANCE

Anne Fraser and John Templeton reunite on the dance fl oor

TRAVEL

Discover the Sunshine Coast’s best kept secret – Chambers Island

culture trail

+ MUCH MORE...

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“I get so much inspiration from the earth, it’s such a beautiful, powerful beast and there’s so much music that comes from that.”

Soul XAVIER RUDD

WORDS ANNA RAWLINGS PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Australian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Xavier Rudd is in the midst of an Australian tour, featuring his newly-formed band The United Nations in a show of cultural harmony. We catch up with the free-spirited, socially-conscious musician ahead of his headline act at the 2015 Caloundra Music Festival.

tanding with bare feet, surrounded by his international band, with the natural amphitheatre of rolling green hills dotted with rocky outcrops and a flowing river past the edge of the raw wooden church-style stage, Xavier Rudd seems to channel his surrounds into the melodic croons of his performance, set in the mountains of Mishawaka in America. “I draw a lot of my inspiration from life pretty much, it’s like there’s so many amazing things, I get so much inspiration from the earth, it’s such a beautiful, powerful beast and there’s so much music that comes from that,” Xavier says. “I am more pumped to play whenever it is outdoors… just in incredible natural beauty.” The surf/roots artist is known for seeing music as an ‘ancient ceremony’, and molds his fluid lyrics around the influence of the earth and of life – everything from the ocean, the land, the sky and the animal kingdom, to compassion, love, Indigenous communities, spirituality and the environment. A regular on musical festival circuits in Australia, North America and Europe, Xavier is adept with a range of instruments, including guitar, shaker, didgeridoo, Weissenborn slide guitar, Tongue drum,

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media and to be able to grow awareness is a huge honour,” he says. “It needs our help, so it’s important to do what we can and if people don’t then it’s selfish in my eyes.” Xavier has also recently formed a nine-piece international band, The United Nations, featuring guitar, bass, drums, percussion, keys, horns, flute, saxophone and vocals; hailing from the diverse cultures of Australia, Indigenous Australia, South Africa, Samoa, Germany and Papua New Guinea. The band is currently touring to celebrate the release of Flag, the second single from their acclaimed debut album, Nanna, as part of the Australia-wide Flag Tour that kicked off in August, including 35 performances around the country. “It’s been amazing, it’s totally different from what I’ve done in the past, and it’s been pretty powerful, it’s a different approach,” says Xavier of the band’s formation. “I’m more of an entertainer now and I like engaging people, whereas I used to hide behind my instruments.” Following the band’s incredible European tour across seven countries, Xavier and The United Nations are booked as the headline act for the Caloundra Music Festival 2015 from 2 to 5 October. “I love the Sunshine Coast, it’s beautiful, the people are always happy, the weather is good and the beaches are beautiful,” Xavier says. Of what’s planned for the show, Xavier shares, “there is going to be a lot of the new record and a lot of versions of other songs we’ve been doing ... we’re constantly evolving the show, it’s going to be a lot of fun and a bit of a boogie for everyone.”

CULTURE

stomp box, djembe, harmonica, ankle bells, and slide banjo, sometimes played simultaneously. Xavier is the product of a grassroots upbringing near Bells Beach in Victoria, where he discovered a self-taught interest in music – including learning how to play the didgeridoo by practicing on a vacuum cleaner pipe. “I was always keen on learning instruments and writing songs right from when I was a kid, my brother had a guitar. I was self-taught, like if there was a piano around I would teach myself,” Xavier says. “Most of my music comes from an earthbased place because I’ve always been outside, as a little kid I grew up in the bush and on the coast, so I guess naturally my music lent itself to earth based things,” drawls Xavier, his every sentence seemingly carefully considered before he speaks. It’s this presence in the present that shines through in Xavier’s lyrics. “It’s part of our natural existence on the planet so it comes through song,” he says. “I get a lot of inspiration from that, and then you’ve got emotional stuff like family and things that gives you more inspiration and love,” he says. In his personal life, Xavier, 37, has recently become engaged to fiancee and well-known holistic personal trainer Ashley Freeman, and has two sons, aged nine and 15, who occasionally join him on tour. He balances touring with a healthy approach to life, preempting the typical musician’s rider with a focus on an active lifestyle, eating well and choosing to explore his surrounds, such as the recent Mishawaka performance where he hiked to the top of the mountains where, “I could see for miles, it was incredible.” “It’s just all about being conscious of like, where you are and then being disciplined.” Talented musicians are common, but less so are those with a social conscience, and Xavier’s respect for earth is evident, and protecting and preserving it and its inhabitants by spreading a message through song is something he is passionate about. “When there’s an environmental group or issue, naturally those kind of places are drawn to my music and then being able to have the ability to help organisations spread their message through my social

“I grew up on the bush and in the Coast and it was always just hanging out so I guess naturally my music lent itself to earth based things.”

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CULTURE

Strictly

BALLROOM WORDS INGRID NELSON PHOTOS REBECCA SMITH

It may be 40 years since they last hit the dance floor, but local ballroom duo Anne Fraser and John Templeton are proving age is no barrier when it comes to enjoying the many benefits of dance, as Ingrid Nelson discovers.

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CULTURE

sk anyone who knows me and they will attest to my absolute love of ballroom dancing. The glitz, the glamour, the bling, the fake tan … I love it all! I vividly recall the very first lesson my mum took me along to as a child and being mesmerised by the music and in awe of the dance couples moving together as one in perfect unison, not to mention the stunning costumes. Some of my fondest memories are of my dancing days and they came flooding back to me recently as I watched local dance couple Anne Fraser and John Templeton waltz effortlessly across the floor at Templeton Dance Studio in Eumundi. This isn’t your average dance couple either. Remarkably, Anne and John were a competitive ballroom duo more than 40 years ago and after both enjoying successful careers as teachers in different fields, Anne in jazz and ballet and John in ballroom, they have recently reconnected and are hitting the competitive dance scene as a couple once more. “I have been dancing and teaching ballroom for a long time,” says John. “Anne and I competed for almost seven years back in the ‘70s before a knee injury took me off the dance floor for some time and we went our separate ways. Anne started her own jazz and ballet dance studio, which is still highly regarded on the Coast today.” Although the couple kept in contact over the years, both referring dance students to each other from time to time, they had not danced together since their youth, until recently when John finally took the plunge and invited Anne back onto the ballroom dance floor. “Even though I was teaching, I was really missing the social aspect of dancing with a partner so I made the call to Anne and suggested she come back to ballroom as my partner again, and thankfully she said yes!” says John. Despite Anne’s commitments with her dance school, where she still has a hands-on role, she didn’t hesitate to accept John’s offer. “I thought about my busy life, but I missed ballroom and it wasn’t until I got back into it that I realised just how much I missed it. I love the social connections you make with ballroom and although I love teaching, I jumped at the opportunity to dance for myself again.” Now known as Dancesport, ballroom has come a long way during the past decade, with popular TV shows such as Channel Seven’s Dancing with the Stars influencing the comeback of what was once known as somewhat of an “old fashioned” style of dance. But despite its modernisation, both John and Anne agree the basics really haven’t changed. “It’s just our ages that have changed really,” John quips. “It all comes down to good technique and hard work,” adds Anne. “Unfortunately, these days people are time poor and they want instant results but you have to work hard for the rewards.” And work hard they do! In fact, the talented couple is about to compete in their first competition just a few months after reuniting under the tutelage of John’s nephew, champion ballroom dancer, Luke Brown, and John couldn’t be prouder.

PHOTOS FROM LEFT: ANNE FRASER AND JOHN TEMPLETON IN THE EARLY DAYS, AND NOW.

“Even though Luke started his ballroom dance career with me as his teacher, he has gone on to learn from other great teachers in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and overseas. He has trained much higher than I ever did and is more qualified, so I enjoy learning from him now,” says John. But Luke is quick to point out his appreciation for the strong foundations his uncle instilled in him as a young dancer and says he still uses those techniques with his students today. “It is an honour to pass on what I have learnt to John and he is an awesome student, as is Anne,” says Luke. “Nothing is too hard and they always try their best no matter what I throw at them. John provided me the opportunity to travel and have lessons all over the world but I still use the techniques and even the words he used when he taught me all those years ago.” I was lucky enough to see Anne and John in full swing as they rehearsed for an upcoming competition in costume on the day of our interview and despite being more mature than when they originally partnered in their 30s, both look fit and fabulous thanks to the hours spent in the dance studio. Donning an elegant white ballgown, Anne’s slender limbs glide effortlessly across the dance floor, John’s strong frame-hold guiding her with ease. Her black latin costume is just as glamorous as they heat things up with a cha-cha. “The costumes have changed a lot over the years,” says Anne. “They were more conservative when I last competed. It took 75 metres of tulle for the underneath of a ball gown and the latin dresses were more fluffy with less skin exposed,” she laughs. The attire might have changed but one thing is clear, people from all walks of life continue to love to dance and Luke is passionate about sharing the benefits of partner dancing with the Sunshine Coast community. “Ballroom hasn’t changed, it’s the atmosphere that has changed. There are not as many places to do it anymore. People love to see couples get up and dance. When John was starting out it was a very common thing to have dozens of couples up on the RSL floor, now you would be hard pressed to find one couple, I want to change that. The health benefits are wonderful too and it doesn’t have an age barrier, it doesn’t discriminate, it’s for everyone to enjoy!” So what advice would Anne give to those thinking of taking some ballroom dance lessons? “Don’t hesitate, just get out there,” she says. Couldn’t have said it better myself. Now where did I put my dance shoes?

“Unfortunately, these days people are time poor and they want instant results but you have to WORK HARD for the rewards.”

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BEAT OF HER

heart WORDS KATE DAVIES PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

There are times in life when all you need is some music to float away in a hammock to, and when those moments arise, Chontia Robinson is just the folky tune that will have you swept off your feet.

CHONTIA ROBINSON

t’s true what they say: everybody needs good neighbours. And even better is when they can sing you a lovely tune to warm you to the tips of your toes, like singer/songwriter, Chontia Robinson. The folky lass, with the most soothing of voices, has recently made her home on our coastal shores, bunkering up in the Diamond Valley to record an album and entertain crowds at local venues in the most spectacular fashion. The former Sydney-sider first picked up a guitar at the age of 10, learning how to strum a tune with the help of her singer/songwriter mother, Leslie Flemming – a well known vocalist in the Queensland entertainment scene. “I have been singing since the day I could talk, you couldn’t shut me up,” says Chontia. “I get that from my mum, lots of people tell me I sound like her when I sing, which maybe leaves a few people doing a double take.” Leslie died when Chontia was 15, leaving her a handbag of influential albums, including the emotional classics of Janis Joplin and Joni Mitchell. The records became her motivation to continue on the singer/songwriter quest and live out her mother’s dreams as well as her own. “As well as mum’s handbag, I was left an old Hondo acoustic guitar and I would play for hours every day, writing songs and singing after school, or whenever I got the chance,” she says. “From the start I only learnt one cover song, I was taught to listen to the chords and create my own music, which is why writing has become so natural to me.” At the age of 18, Chontia performed two of her original songs for the first time at a songwriter night at the Ivanhoe Hotel in Manly, Sydney to a packed house. Her performance was so well received she was soon picked up for regular gigs at other well known entertainment venues, creating her

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own following and picking up regular work throughout Sydney. Before Chontia knew it she was selling out shows and had built a reputation as one of the most booked solo artists in Sydney and the central coast. But this was all put on hold, when at age 25 she was diagnosed with a spinal disease that left her debilitated for two years. Keen to get back in front of a crowd, Chontia then moved to the central coast of New South Wales to pick up where she had left off. She met producer Parris Macleod in 2011 and set out making an album together, performing their music at festivals, including the Woodford Folk Festival, Tamworth Country Music Festival and the Airlie Beach Music Festival. “I had a pretty incredible journey from there, working with Rick Price, who became my mentor for a while, as well as working with didgeridoo player Mark Atkins,” says Chontia. “I have played at the Woodford Folk Festival three times. It’s such a great vibe there; the crowd is always so wonderful. I just really enjoy playing at festivals.” In search for an inspirational change, Chontia and Parris moved to the beautiful Diamond Valley on the Sunshine Coast earlier this year, taking the time to record and write a new album. “It’s always nice and exciting to start fresh somewhere where nobody knows you and you can work on creating a new following,” she says. “Living out here among the trees in a beautiful wooden house, which is actually round, is really inspiring and has given me the fresh air I needed to work and feel positive about my music.” Stretching her musical vocabulary, Chontia is self-taught in violin, harmonica, drums – and pretty much any instrument she decides to pick up and try. She is also testing her vocal chords, belting out a more blues-like tune for her latest album.

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CULTURE

Earlier this year she and Parris performed at Rick’s Garage in Palmwoods in front of more than 80 people, living streaming the concert around the world. “It was exciting and we had only been here a while and have become well known in the valley, so it was incredible to sell out a performance like that so quickly,” she says. With her song writing skills as flavoursome as ever, Chontia says she writes from the heart but admits her style has evolved over the years. “Back when I first started I was writing the same thing; the meaning of life and giving positive vibes in a song for people to feel good. I did write a couple on how I felt about losing my mum too,” she says. “I never just sit there and plan on writing, I start playing and all of a sudden it comes to me, I feel something there and put the lyrics together.

Before Chontia knew it she was selling out shows and had built a reputation as one of the most booked solo artists in Sydney and the central coast. But this was all put on hold, when at age 25 she was diagnosed with a spinal disease that left her debilitated for two years. “I just want people to listen to my music and feel happy. I want it to give them hope, lift them up and just be that relaxing tune they can turn on any time.” Chontia recently formed a trio, The Chontia Robinson Trio, with Parris and Nik Davey on double bass. The Trio has recorded a CD entitled Silence Broken. You can catch Chontia at the Woodford Folk Festival this New Year.

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TR AVEL

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAVEL INSURANCE WORDS KATE DEVER, LIVE IT TRAVEL

The Government of Australia’s official travel advisory website Smartraveller advises, “If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel!”

o your flights are booked, accommodation is paid for, transfers are confirmed and day trips are organised. Now you’re left with the question, ‘Do I need travel insurance’? The answer is simple, travel insurance is equally as important as your passport. It may seem like another add-on expense for your trip that you just don’t need. However, if you and your family are uninsured for your overseas trip, you will be personally liable and responsible for covering all unexpected incidents such as; travel cancellations or interruptions, medical expenses, lost or stolen luggage and much more. In most cases your travels will run seamlessly, the last thing you have in mind is becoming seriously ill or injured in a foreign country. Unfortunately accidents can happen to anyone. Every year thousands of emergency and evacuation claims are made by Australians while travelling overseas and unexpected medical costs can reach hundreds of thousands. Pre-purchasing a good travel insurance policy may eliminate the risk of having financial hardship in the future due to unforeseen incident costs upon your travels. Some people believe all travel insurance policies are the same regardless of the price, but remember the cheapest option is not always the ‘best deal’. Different insurance companies will all have various policy inclusions, exclusions and excess amounts. It can be overwhelming when it comes to selecting the right level of cover, so take your time to read the fine print and ask as many questions as possible to determine an insurance policy that’s right for you. Whether you lose your passport, or get caught up in a natural disaster, travel insurance protects you for a range of difficulties during your trip. If you’re travelling overseas on a long-awaited holiday, taking a business trip, or embarking on a cruise, don’t leave home without packing your travel insurance. Contact Live It Travel for assistance in booking your holiday and choosing a travel insurance policy that is right for you.

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Five major beneﬁts to check when choosing your travel insurance policy: 1. MEDICAL EMERGENCIES AND EVACUATION Hospital bills in various countries can approach $10,000 per day, while emergency transport home for treatment can cost anywhere between $50,000 and $250,000! Ensure your policy covers a high amount or, better yet, unlimited medical cover.

2. TRIP CANCELLATION Imagine spending a large sum of money on a holiday only to find out at the last minute, for unforeseen circumstances such as illness, accident or death of a close relative, your trip needs to be cancelled or postponed. Take out your travel insurance policy the same time you book your ﬂights and other travel plans, to start your cancellation and amendment cover.

3. BAGGAGE AND PERSONAL BELONGINGS The right travel insurance can cover you for loss, damage or theft of your baggage and personal belongings. Consider your high value possessions such as laptops and cameras when checking your policy for item limits.

4. PERSONAL LIABILITY If you are involved in an accident or accidentally cause damage to a third party, you may be held accountable for it. Check your travel insurance can cover your personal liability and legal expenses.

5. COMING HOME EARLY AND RESUMING YOUR TRIP If for some reason you need to return home earlier than expected, due to a medical evacuation or family emergency, your travel insurance should allow you to resume your trip and continue travelling from where you left oﬀ. profilemag.com.au

TR AVEL

“The island boasts an impressive children’s playground, CALM protected waters on the southern side and a host of FISHING spots to test your luck.”

SUNSHINE COAST’S

HIDDEN GEM WORDS CASSIE DAVIES PHOTOS WADE FUGE

The untouched beauty of its surrounds, the family-friendly play park, abundance of wildlife, popular fishing spots, adventurous sailing and rowing clubs are just part of what makes Chambers Island a little slice of paradise, right here on the Sunshine Coast.

“Y

ou can still crack an oyster on Chambers Island and eat it.” Sunshine Coast councillor Jason O’Pray has an affinity for Chambers Island, having visited since he was a child. “Having grown up in Maroochydore, we used to come here all the time as kids, we would chase lizards and crabs and used to fish on the northern side as well as snorkel around the island,” he says with fond recollection. “Now I bring my kids here and get some fish and chips from across the road and come sit at what I like to call, ‘the fish and chip table’ and eat, then do a little fishing and watch the kids at the park or go for a swim.” Jason says Chambers Island is incredibly easy to get to, he’s surprised not many people know about it, “It really is a little jewel in the crown of Maroochydore”. “The kids often catch a whiting or a bream – that’s what they catch on Chambers Island,” he says. Jason says it’s the most fun a family can have for free on the Sunshine Coast. Located off Bradman Avenue, Chambers Island is accessible via the footbridge and is the perfect little getaway for you to relax and unwind. While I was over at Chambers Island, learning the local secrets from Jason, I could see families basking in the sun, while watching their children play.

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The glistening waters, the sound of the birds in the mangroves, made me want to jump in the water and go for a quick dip. Boasting large shady trees and plenty of open grassed areas, Chambers Island is an ideal location to visit with your family. Picnic tables, a playground and fishing spots all are popular options for you to enjoy. This location of the Sunshine Coast has been paid a lot of attention recently, with the council spending another $100,000 this financial year to provide more play park equipment for the children. Simon Ambrose, CEO of Sunshine Coast Destination believes it truly is a hidden gem, saying “The truth is, many locals have never crossed the footbridge over to Chambers Island”. “The island boasts an impressive children’s playground, calm protected waters on the southern side and a host of fishing spots to test your luck,” he says. “The name dates back to Charles Chambers, one of the early settlers in the area, and is today home to the Maroochydore Sailing Club.” It also happens to be one of Simon’s favourite spots on the Sunshine Coast. If you’re planning to visit Chambers Island, it’s best to do it during the day, as there isn’t much lighting at night. If you’re trying to keep the kids entertained throughout the holidays, then Chambers Island is your next bucket-list destination. With an assortment of freshly caught and cooked fish and chips in one hand and your family in tow, toddle over the footbridge onto Chambers Island and make a day of it. profilemag.com.au

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traddie’ as it is known by the locals, is renowned for its stunning beaches and coastal vistas, laidback seaside villages, and rich Aboriginal history. Straddie is a unique opportunity to experience the old school beach holiday! Together with Profile Magazine, Straddie Camping is offering one lucky reader and three friends the chance to experience an unforgettable ‘glamping’ holiday staying in one of the newly opened EcoShacks, in their Amity Point Camping Ground. The Amity Point camping ground is a spacious family friendly campground with calm water beach perfect for the kiddies, and an abundance of native wildlife. The Amity Point township has a friendly island vibe that welcomes all visitors. Head to www.profilemag.com.au to enter this month’s competitions! Straddie Camping North Stradbroke Island – off the coast of Brisbane Phone: 07 3409 9668 www.straddiecamping.com.au

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Return vehicle ferry from Cleveland on the mainl (just outside Brisbane) Half-day electric bicycle hire You’ll also enjoy dinner for four at the local Seashells Café/Restaurant

r for 1 vehicle, dates subject to Stay dates subject to availability. Ferry transfe ng school holidays. includi apply, may dates out Block availability.

Enter online at www.proﬁlemag.com.au for your chance to WIN! 136

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WIN A SKIN REJUVENATION SYSTEM

general manager / creative director Kara de Schot generalmanager@profilemag.com.au editor Ingrid Nelson editorial@profilemag.com.au publication coordinator / graphic designer Johanna Jensen-Brown editorial coordinator / senior journalist Nicole Fuge digital coordinator / journalist Anna Rawlings graphic designers Danielle Murphy, Deanna Byers, Chelsea Holliday

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business development manager Maree McGrath account manager Anne Luxford sales co-ordinator Tara King office co-ordinator / events and marketing Emily Steckelbruck hinterland specialist Danielle Lilley distribution Wade Fuge feature writers Kate Davies, Carly Smith, Nikkii Joyce, Jessica Crofts photography Tanya Chesterton Smith, Rebecca Smith, Wade Fuge, Cheryl Nonmus phone 5451 0669 address Beach on Sixth, 102 / 65 Sixth Ave, Maroochydore PO Box 1065, Cotton Tree, QLD 4558

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occasion. ARIA has received many awards and accolades since it first opened in 2009 and currently holds two coveted Chef’s Hats. The restaurant features a seasonal menu showcasing local Australian produce with an award-winning wine list, while the ARIA Bar offers a tempting range of cocktails in an ambient setting, perfect for getting the night underway. Visit www.ariarestaurant.com/brisbane and sign up to the mailing list to be the first to hear of news and events, including wine dinners, new menus and enticing lunch offers. ARIA Brisbane, 1 Eagle Street, Eagle Street Pier, Brisbane. Phone (07) 3233 2555 or email enquiries@ariabrisbane.com. Enter now for your chance to win the ultimate night out for two at ARIA Restaurant Brisbane valued at $350. Enter now at www.profilemag.com.au

distribution 30,000 free copies are street delivered to high traffic areas across the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane, monthly.

digital Our email magazine is sent to 7,500 inboxes monthly. We have an average social media reach of up to 150,000 per month across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Our local digital reach is up to 315,000 per month. Profi le magazine is a free publication (subscriptions available) published monthly by Th ink Publications Pty Ltd ATF Profi le Mag Trust. All rights are reserved and the contents are copyright and may not be reproduced without the written consent of The Publisher, Th ink Publications Pty Ltd ATF Profi le Mag 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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L AST WORD SACHA DRAKE

I grew up in... Brisbane – all over. We moved 10 times.

WORD PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

As a statuesque size 14, Sacha Drake was never able to quite find the perfect dress to flatter her shape. So she started designing a little range of party dresses for women with curves, so that they too, could be flattered and look and feel their very best, “My aim was to craft a label that would flatter both small and larger sizes, and all body shapes”. Sacha’s experience in made-to-measure pattern-making, sewing and costume design have been some of her greatest assets in building a brand that finds and is, constantly perfecting, the fit of its products. Today, the ever-growing collection is available at over 100 stockists throughout Australia. “I create for women who, like me, are doing it all and want to look good while doing it. From day to night, work to play, Sacha Drake is for the modern woman who appreciates craftsmanship and quality,” she says. “Each garment represents all I had been in search of for all those years – memorable, compliment-catching pieces that are truly flattering, and versatile in your life.” 138

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The first thing I do when I wake up is... sneeze! It’s so annoying it’s funny. If I could be better at anything it would be... providing food to guests I invite over! I hope my friends are reading this! They’ve eaten a lot of cheese. I am at my happiest when... cuddling my kids. And working alone in my design room. When I am not working I am... with my family or friends. I wish I could... clone myself so I could travel internationally. My biggest fashion blunder was... at 19, walking down Queen Street in the city. Not realising my light floaty home-made skirt had fallen off and something was getting in the way of me walking. Fortunately I was wearing opaque tights. A single press stud is not a suitable closure for a skirt. Most people don’t know that I... can do a great Kookaburra impression. Thank goodness this is not a radio interview. When I was growing up I wanted to be... a Fashion Designer. I couldn’t live without... my husband. My greatest achievement is... living the life I want. My most annoying habit is... inconsistent perfectionism. I laugh out loud when... at as many silly things I can. My kids and husband dancing funny, when my fashion ideas turn out wrong, when my team go into deadline delirium. With my friends in the face of ageing. profilemag.com.au