TNQ Profile Magazine August 2011 by Profile Magazine

22 14 DAVID HALL

NICKY SWAN

Roz Pappalardo

features 12

view – reviving the races Graham Thornton

people – the music magnet Roz Pappalardo

success – enjoying the ride Nicola Constantinidis

ladies at lunch – ageing (dis) gracefully Our lunching ladies get frank about the always sensitive topic of ageing

secret life – puppy love David Hall

cover – seizing the day Nicky Swan

the last word Mark MacLaughlin

a luxury bali villa experience pg 45

regulars

august 2011

4 publisher’s note

46 on the table

64 win

6 pinboard

50 abode

65 on the road

8 he says, she says

54 business

42 life

60 milestones

44 travelfile

62 rsvp

special features 31 austropex 2011 34 cairns business women’s club

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publisher’s note

ifteen years ago, I drove into Port Douglas for the first time. The air was thick with moisture, the sky was grey and ominous, and the sweet smell of the north clung to my skin. It was the heady smell of opportunity, although I didn’t know it at the time, and I was in heaven. What a plethora of opportunities this area has offered up to me: from several years working at the award-winning Rainforest Habit (now Wildlife Habitat) and in the ancient rainforests of the Daintree, to meeting the love of my life, to working in the tourism and media industries … TNQ was my land of possibility. And I’m not alone. Our region has long opened its arms to those searching for their rightful place. Not to mention the locals who have tirelessly carved out their own niches in the business community, through hell or high-water. I thank the Tropical North for again offering me an opportunity; the opportunity to bring profile magazine to my former hometown, embraced by the support of my business partners, Hamish Rose and Alli Grant. I am thrilled to bring you TNQ profile magazine: a celebration of local people who, like the profile team, have seized the day. And this is what we are all about – celebrating local success, rewarding local initiative, and recognising locals who excel in their fields, just like Nicky Swan, our inaugural cover person. Nicky is testament to the fact that there is opportunity to be found in any situation, no matter how bleak. She is the apotheosis of our magazine. Nicky has not only made TNQ her home, but also her passion, and she is doing her part to showcase our region to the rest of the world. Read her inspiring story by Alli Grant, in the first of our many in-depth cover articles. So, dear readers, I am proud to introduce you to TNQ profile magazine – the result of many years of passion, determination, hard work, and perhaps just a little bit of luck. “Opportunity is missed by most people because it’s dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Thomas Edison.

www.profilemag.com.au group managing director / publisher Genine Howard

group general manager / publisher Hamish Rose

group editor-in-chief / publisher Alli Grant

publication manager Coral Florian, 0419 483 183

tnq editor Alana Rushton, 0422 288 545

sub editor Phyl Grant

creative director Kara de Schot

graphic designer Mark Johns

mystyle contributors Katie Mackenzie, Natalie Cumming

profile writers Mia Lacy

photography Andrew Watson, Veronica Sagredo

email Sales: coral@profilemag.com.au Editorial: tnqeditorial@profilemag.com.au General: info@profilemagazine.com.au

editor’s note

call / fax (head office)

elcome to TNQ profile magazine – a breath of fresh air and a dose of optimism, just when we need it most. This month we meet Graham Thornton, head of the Amateurs Racing Carnival, and learn more about his journey from award-winning cook to racing visionary. If you’re not donning a frock and heading to the track, you’ll be taking in the sights and sounds of the Cairns Festival. Check out my interview with Cairns Festival music coordinator Roz Pappalardo in our ‘people’ section. We also introduce you to Nicola Constantinidis – general manager of Oceans Hotels and Tourism – a true success story, starting life as a food and beverage attendant and working her way to the very top of her profession. If it’s ‘warm and fuzzy’ you’re after, look no further than our secret life story on local Overflow FNQ director David Hall, a man who, having achieved success in his business, now dedicates his time to helping his furry friends at the Young Animal Protection Society (YAPS). And don’t miss our first instalment of ladies at lunch – Mia Lacy and her lunching lasses discuss ageing … gracefully or (dis)gracefully? Drop us a line at tnqeditorial@profilemag.com.au with your feedback and story ideas. This is just the tip of the TNQ profile magazine iceberg. Enjoy our first issue.

07 5451 0669 / 07 5475 4405

post (head office) PO Box 1065, Cotton Tree, QLD 4558

distribution 14,000 copies printed monthly.10,000 are home delivered and 4,000 copies are street delivered to high traffic areas such as highend cafes, boutiques, hairdressers and professional offices across the TNQ region (from Cairns to Port Douglas), monthly, and online along with an eMAG to 6000 inboxes regularly.

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

accounts Katherine Allan – accounts@profilemag.com.au Profile magazine is a free publication (subscriptions available) published 12 times a year by Brisbane Profile Publishing Group Pty Ltd. All rights are reserved and the contents are copyright and may not be reproduced without the written consent of The Publisher, Brisbane Profile Publishing Group Pty Ltd (“The Publisher”), their related companies and officers hereby disclaim, to the full extent permitted by law, all liability, damages, costs and expenses whatsoever arising from or in connection with copy information or other material in this magazine, any negligence of The Publisher, or any persons actions in reliance thereon. Any dispute or complaint regarding placed advertisements must be made within seven days of publication. Inclusion of any copy must not be taken as any endorsement by The Publisher. Views expressed by contributors are personal views and they are not necessarily endorsed by The Publisher.

THECOVERSHOOT It’s our inaugural issue, and what better way to celebrate the launch of our very first Tropical North Queensland magazine than with a story on a specialist in tropical expertise and innovation? Naturally, we had to ensure Nicky Swan’s shoot oozed the tropics and so threw in a few heliconias for effect!

What fun we had! Nicky looked fabulous in all our frock choices (thanks to both Shine by Val Carne Collections (4041 0660) and Vivienne Francine (4031 5700)). The Kabuki mandarin butterfly dress ($169.95) from Vivienne Francine features on the cover – the perfect way to show off Nicky’s amazing legs. Shoes, $199, from Sassi Shoe Boutique (4031 1081). The team at Pulse Hair and Beauty (4051 4212) made Nicky look and feel like a super model. Genine Howard led the creative direction and styling of the shoot, assisted by our local TNQ editor, Alana Rushton. Cover story photography and post-shoot retouching was done by Andrew Watson. The results speak for themselves; she is a beautiful vision of tropical splendour. 4

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with Jenny Thompson A List Events www.alist.com.au

2 august la traviata Oz Opera’s La Traviata, Cairns Civic Theatre. www.ticketlink.com.au

4 august aim networking

cairns cup centenary luncheon Celebrate the Cairns Cup Centenary in the Silks Pavillion with a delicious seafood buffet, live entertainment and a guest speaker ($75 per person). www.cairnsjockeyclub.com.au

19-21 indigenous art fair

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF), celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, music, dance and theatre. www.ciaf.com.au

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Australian Institute of Management ‘Networking for People Who Hate Networking’ seminar (from 5.45pm). www.aimevents.com.au

5 august julian wilson trio With their contemporary yet timeless music, this lyrical Melbourne trio creates a special, intimate magic. Part of Jazz Up North 2011, Tanks Arts Centre. www.ticketlink.com.au

7 august cairns cup

cairns jockey club cairns cup ladies day Cannon Park. Frock up and be fabulous! www.cairnsjockeyclub.com.au

Cairns Jockey Club Cairns Cup, Cannon Park. www.cairnsjockeyclub.com.au

12 august mighty reapers The Mighty Reapers, Tanks Arts Centre. One of finest live blues acts on the Australian circuit. www.ticketlink.com.au

12 august austropex conference Austropex Conference (www.austropex.com.au) at the Shangri-La Hotel, and the Tropical Innovation Awards, Cairns Convention Centre. www.ticketlink.com.au

12 august cairns chamber golf day Cairns Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Day, Half Moon Bay Golf Club. www.cairnschamber.com.au

13 august timeout TimeOut Day In The Park (Fogarty Park). This not-for-profit music festival run by The Cairns Post will feature The Living End, Drapht, British India and Nina Las Vegas. www.cairns.com.au/timeout

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13 - 14 august charity rally IGA Far North Queensland Charity Car Rally. www.igacarrally.com.au

19 august udia golf day Annual UDIA Cairns Golf Day, Paradise Palms Resort and Country Club. cairns@udiaqld.com.au

20 august jeff lang This songwriter, collaborator, virtuosic guitarist and stunning lyricist brings his Chimeradour album to the Tanks for one night only. www.ticketlink.com.au

aug 19 - sept 4 cairns festival Now the region’s largest cultural celebration, this year’s 50th Festival will run from August 19 to September 4, with a blend of free and ticketed events spanning art, music, culture, entertainment, comedy and more. www.cairnsfest.com.au

21 august cairns festival grand parade The ‘Far North Time Machine’ theme will celebrate 50 years of Cairns community fun in the tropical sun, 5pm, Cairns Esplanade. Contact Heather on 0451 180 611

21 august yaps fundraiser One Hundred Thousand Yaps Fundraiser Fair, Cairns Jockey Club. www.yaps.org.au

22 - 25 august maritime matrix Marine Engineering, Science and Technology Conference, Cairns Convention Centre. www.maritimematrix.com

23 august ten tenors The Ten Tenors, Cairns Civic Theatre. www.ticketlink.com.au

23 august cairns chamber lunch Cairns Chamber of Commerce August Networking Lunch. Pullman Reef Hotel Casino with special guest Bill Cummings from Cummings Economics, and Rick Carr, from Herron Todd White. www.cairnschamber.com.au

next month ... 2 september cbwc lunch Cairns Business Women’s Club Lunch at Amateurs, Ladies Day, Friday 2nd September 2011. www.cbwc.org.au/book.lunch

august 2011

richard clapton Don’t miss one of the most influential figures in Australian rock history when Richard Clapton performs live at Tanks. www.ticketlink.com.au

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he says, she says

to spend? Yep, times are a little tough. The days of extravagance are but a distant memory, and budgeting is no longer a dirty word. But should we be squirreling away our hard earned cash or spending like there’s no tomorrow? We ask Dave and Inkie from the Zinc FM Morning Zoo for their thoughts on the matter. To save or to spend? ZINC’S INKIE AND DAVE

he says

She says

et’s make no succulent, tender lamb shanky bones about it. Saving is expensive. Grab your cravat people, because I’m about to plate up. I recently spent $68 on a slow cooker that was on special. I saved 20 bucks, but here’s the pinch of irony that goes into every dish; a ‘slow’ cooker saves you ‘time’! It’s almost an oxymoron. And when it comes to my slow cooked beef stew it’s a Gravoxymoron! My point is that it depends on what you’re trying to save. How many inventions have been created to save time, which ultimately save you money? I’m not going to sit here and bang on about what you should or shouldn’t do with your hard earned. That’d be like asking Shane Warne for relationship advice. But when you next have an S.O.S (save or spend) moment, think about what you’re actually saving by spending. I saved my marriage by spending on a dishwasher, it saw an end to the rolled-up, wet tipped, tea-towel fights over who’s washing and who’s drying. I saved a cassowary by spending on a cute little fluffy stuffed one at ARF. If you don’t buy a stuffed cassowary, cassowaries are stuffed. My wife’s busy trying to save her own skin by spending on moisturiser. Save on power bills by spending on solar. I’ve saved precious memories by spending on a video camera. To save or to spend? It’s a question that’ll outlast religion, but I will say this … if you want to spend with absolute abandon, then spend the most precious currency we have, and that’s time – spend it with your family and the ones you love. It’s the most rewarding investment you’ll ever make. And for $68 a slow cooker will buy you that time. If you’re interested in a good deal, I know a guy who knows a guy. Bon appétit!

TaNKs ARTS CENTRE

MUSIC • ARTS • COMMUNITY • EVENTS • CULTURE

One of the finest live blues acts on the Australian circuit and festival favourites, at Tanks for one night only as a part of the inaugural Blues Series.

I COST: $30 / $25 (CONC) (PG) SHOW: 7.30PM

THURSDAY 25 AUGUST

Songwriter, collaborator, virtuosic guitarist and stunning lyricist, Jeff Lang brings his Chimeradour album to Tanks for one night only.

He’s back! Jim Woodring, one of the sharpest intellects to ever make a comic book, is at Tanks, straight from an international Sydney cartoon festival.

I COST: $30 / $25 (CONC) (MA 15+) SHOW: 7.30PM

46 Collins Avenue, EDGE HILL - 4km north of CBD 8

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JIM WOODRING

SATURDAY 20 AUGUST

I COST: FREE SHOW: 7.30PM

tanksartscentre.com

RICHARD CLAPTON

FRIDAY 26 AUGUST

Don’t miss one of the most influential figures in Australian rock history when Richard Clapton performs live at Tanks. I COST: $40 / $35 (CONC) (MA 15+) SHOW: 7.30PM

All tickets sold through

SAGD12348

THE MIGHTY REAPERS JEFF LANG FRIDAY 12 AUGUST

n the words of a well-butchered (and slightly altered) William Shakespeare quote, “To spend or not to spend, that is the question” … and I say spend! But before we go on, I need to inform you that I’m a Generation Y. True to form it’s bred in my Gen Y DNA not only to shorten words like OMG (oh my gosh) and ROFL (roll on floor laughing) but also to spend … with reckless abandon. Well that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it! We now live in a society that makes it oh so effortless to spend, even if you don’t actually have the money. They even encourage and reward you for doing it. As I go through my cow print purse, I see three exhaustedly worn-out credit cards and compartment after compartment full of buy and save cards like Fly Buys, Myer One, Woolworths and a Mazda card (I have no idea what this last one is for but I can’t for the life of me throw it out). I even found a Hanson ‘buy one fan shirt and get a bonus life-size Hanson poster’ card that was stuck on the back of an IKEA card. It’s like winning the lottery with these things … spend and swipe to save and win … how can you lose? Okay, I know what you’re thinking … rewind … Hanson, really? Yes that’s right. I can’t believe I was once in love with those blond haired, girlie looking MMMMBOP’ing boys. Trust me, I still to this day cringe thinking about it. Someone pass me the scissors so I can dispose of this card – just the one. Don’t get me wrong, I love to save. Nothing makes my eyes light up more than seeing a ‘save 20 per cent off a pair of Tony Bianco heels’ sign, or a ‘two-for-one cocktails during happy hour’ offer, or a half price sale on handbags. And while I love spending, the most important spending in my life is on quality, memory-making time with my loved ones, ‘cause that, more than anything, fills my soul with bliss.

ticketlink.com.au profilemag.com.au

OZ OPERA’S LA TRAVIATA Money makes the world go round. This is the bleak truth behind Violetta Valery’s life of champagne, silk dresses and extravagant parties - when the music plays and the admirer pays, she must perform. So when she finds herself falling in love, her very livelihood is threatened. Can the beautiful songbird escape her gilded cage?

Venue:

Cairns Civic Centre

Date & Time:

Tuesday 2 August & Wednesday 3 August, 7:30pm

Tickets:

Adult: $56, Concession $49, Child $28, Group 10+ $47* (*For every group of 10 or more booked receive one additional complimentary ticket)

CIRCUS OZ The legendary Circus Oz has been touring the world for more than 30 years, as well as entertaining generations of Australians. From Kununurra to New York, Circus Oz has taken its self-crafted performances of wit, grace, spectacle and satire to 26 countries across five continents, to critical acclaim.

ACO2 QUEENSLAND TOUR The Australian Chamber Orchestra’s regional touring party combines with hot young up-and-coming Australian musicians. In August 2011, young British violinist, Thomas Gould will make his Australian debut directing ACO2 Queensland Tour in one of the greatest pieces of music of all time, Bach’s Goldberg Variations.

In 2011, Circus Oz will bring to Cairns, a crew of highly-skilled performers, with new and exciting acts, all set to the rocking sounds of the live Circus Oz band. This two-hour performance features absurd acrobatics, graceful aerial performances, fast-paced knockabout comedy and more. Circus Oz presents a rock ‘n’ roll animal-free circus to be enjoyed by people of all ages. Venue:

Cairns Civic Centre

Date & Time:

Friday 26 - Wednesday 31 August

Tickets:

Tickets: $25 - $39

Venue:

Cairns Civic Centre

Date & Time:

Friday 19 August, 7:30pm

Tickets:

Adult: $33 Concession $28 Child $16, Group 10+ $28*(*For every group of 10 or more booked receive one additional complimentary ticket)

august 2011

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AU D I C E N T R E CA I R N S

Audi drivers choose prestige as a way of life. These luxurious cars are far more than just a mode of transport – they are a lifestyle choice. Welcome to the first instalment of ‘behind the dash’. Each month we profile a local Audi driver – we learn more about their personal and professional lives and hear how their Audi perfectly suits their lifestyle. This month the Audi Centre Cairns welcomes Greg Gilboy out from behind the dash.

WITH GREG GILBOY GREG DRIVES AN AUDI Q7.

LET’S MEET GREG …

GREG’S REVIEW …

Greg Gilboy, from Forest Gardens, is the owner of Gilboy Hydraulic Solutions – a plumbing engineering business for home and commercial developments.

From one to 10 (10 being the highest), individually rate your car...

“If it has water, waste, gas or effluent passing to it, from it or through it, chances are that it needs hydraulic design. We are successful in this plumbing design field because we love what we do. This passion and the drive to be challenged recently rewarded us (in conjunction with two other local businesses) the 2011 Queensland Premier’s ClimateSmart Award for Built Environment on the William McCormack Place stage 2 building in Sheridan Street.” On any given Sunday, me and my car go … with my family. We hitch up the caravan and go to a local caravan park somewhere between Mission Beach and Craiglie (near Port Douglas). My car’s best interior gadget is … is the Audi MMI (multi-media interface) system. I love it, hands free voice control equals no hassles. My favourite exterior asset of the car is … the 19 inch Audi wheels; they look great and are easy to keep clean. Each day I am in my car for … about 37 minutes. Too short when you own a sports car!

Safety: 10. The reversing camera is so clear and has great vision, especially when you have a two-yearold that loves riding scooters in the garage. Value: 9 Design: 8.5 Technology: 9 Practicality: 10. It’s way more practical than the sports car, not as much fun, but way more practical. Fuel economy: 9. I get 830km to the tank. Driveability: 9. You sit up nice and high, have great comfort with the seats and everything including the rear air-conditioning controls can be reached while in the driver’s seat. GREG’S CAR Car featured: Audi Q7 3.0 TDI (stop-start) quattro 8 speed tiptronic. Acceleration: 0-100km/h 7.9sec Fuel consumption: 7.8 L/100km

Being behind the wheel of an Audi makes me feel … like I am more successful than I really am. Ha!

Engine: V6 cylinder with 4 valves per cylinder

The stretch of worldwide road I would choose to drive my car on is … China’s Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Bridge – 42km of over water driving. Simply awesome.

Power: 176kW/3800-4400rpm

My car and I are similar because … when you come to a stop at the end of a journey you can hear our turbos winding down.

Capacity: 2967cc

Safety: Eight airbags including side bags, electronic stabilisation program, electronic differential lock, electronic brake force distribution, traction control, roll stability program, panic brake assist, speed sensitive power steering. Cost: $115,186 drive away

I HAVE HAD THE Q7 SINCE OCTOBER 2010 WHEN I HAD TO TRADE IN AN AUDI TT SPORTS CAR TO SUIT A FAMILY ADDITION. .

AU D I C E N T R E CA I R N S

www.audicentrecairns.com.au august 2011

Audi Centre Cairns 303-309 Mulgrave Rd Phone 07 4046 6322 profilemagazine

view

words alana rushton ll photography veronica sagredo

GRAHAM THORNTON

A national award-winning chef, Graham Thornton has gone from head cOOK to managing one of the local economy’s most crucial revenue raisers – Cairns AMATEURS. In HIS FIRST year as chief executive officer of the Far North Queensland Amateurs Turf Club Inc, he has re-shaped two committees to work together. All in time to celebrate the Cairns Jockey Club’s 100 years of racing at Cannon Park, as Alana Rushton discovered.

far cry from the usual race day traffic frenzy at Cannon Park, I parked my car at the very front of the iconic gate to interview Cairns Amateurs CEO, Graham Thornton. Everything was quiet. The track looked radiantly green and the space devoid of people. I couldn’t help but envisage the hype when I usually arrive for a day at the races. I would be in a freshly-ironed dress, matching jewels, shoes, bag, nail polish colour and lipstick. Hair whisked up, hat in place, a champagne already under my belt and band-aids at the ready. Not one to drive to the races, hubby and I would shuffle across the shiny plastic-covered taxi seats and step out to run the gauntlet of frivolity, glamour and gambling. Today all that was different – I was here to see the man who creates the race day magic. When I meet the unofficial local guru of fashion, he is dressed immaculately in a lavender shirt, grey pants and black shoes. His hair is distinguished, speckled with greys. He swears they are a direct result of taking on the CEO position in tough economic times. “Last year it was about saving the carnival, and this year it is about giving back to those who supported us. The clubs have struggled financially, but we are working together, sharing common facilities, knowledge and contacts – and we are now seeing a much brighter future,” he explains. “We ran the Amateurs Carnival on the smell of an oily rag,” Graham said. “Yet the two-day carnival and events in 2010 resulted in economist Bill Cummings equating $8.5 million spin-off for the wider economy, with $3.5 million of that coming from outside Cairns. The clothing, accessories and

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makeup alone were worth $2.7 million and there was more than $1 million in the restaurant and catering industry.” It’s a crucial money spinner that makes Cairns tick – and it’s all within the grip of Graham’s hands. But he is quick to point out that he has done it with the help of his event and administration manager, Christina Buddle, two extremely generous and hardworking committees and sub-committees, as well as the ever-important sponsors and event partners. Born in Sydney and raised in Moruya, south of Batemans Bay, he said his life was very much about the beach, the river and camping. Graham was the eldest of three children and he recalls the fun their surroundings allowed them. Family outings were the norm, and he was very active at Nippers carnivals on the beach every weekend. The tinnie also got the whole family outdoors, and when I ask him if he wished he still had a boat he laughs. “No because boats are like horses – you have to keep pouring money into them.” Now in Cairns, he tries to fulfil that younger fisherman in him by getting out to the spectacular reef at least once a year to catch the elusive coral trout. For an outdoorsy kind of guy, cooking does not seem to go hand in hand. But his interest in the kitchen grew out of wanting to help his parents. “Mum was a matron for a hospital and always did shift work, so Dad’s absolute speciality was ham, cheese and pineapple on toast. My grandfather was also a baker, and I remember as kids we used to pick corn from the fields and catch eels that our grandmother would cook up for us after school.” profilemag.com.au

He said cooking was par for the course when he wanted to work at the Top End of Town Motel in Narooma. “They sat me down and told me that if I was ever going to get into the hotel/ motel management industry, I would have to learn how to cook. I recall my mum and dad were devastated when I told them I was going to be a chef as they wanted me to go to university.” At 15, he was employed as a kitchen hand. Continually aspiring for the best in everything he did, Graham was awarded Apprentice Chef of the Year four years in a row, at a national level. His work then took him to the height of heights – serving up to 200 lunches a day in the Gallery of New South Wales Restaurant. “It was a very stuffy crowd and one of Sydney’s best restaurants that only opened for lunch.” He went on to work as a cook in idyllic locations like Hayman Island and Noosa, and has spent most of his “not 40-yet” life in Queensland. And he said he has not looked back since moving up here with a campervan and his Jack Russell. He said it was the “end of the road”. Graham later set up his own business called Catering Offsite.

If we just sit here with our mouths shut, nothing would happen; but we need to tout what we have here.” The business grew at a decent pace and Graham and his partner moved into a lovely property in Whitfield with their dogs, expecting to spend time blissfully pottering in the garden. That all changed a year and a half ago when he was asked to do a race-meet alcohol catering audit – providing advice and feedback to the club on how best to make money. The committee liked what they saw and hired him as CEO. Graham explained that the Cairns Jockey Club, which is celebrating its centenary of racing at Cannon Park during 2011, runs various meets a year between April and December, including charitable days and the lauded Cairns Cup on August 6 and 7. The Cairns Amateurs (established in 1959) has two race days on September 2 and 3 – along with many other events in the lead-up such as the Ladies High Tea, and the high-point of the social calendar, the Cairns Amateurs Ball. The two clubs have run separately in the past and still do – but Graham’s ideology is to get them thinking like one unit. “There used to be rivalry to compete for punters and guests, but the view I take is, the more we do for racing in the lead up, and the more people we have interested as a whole – the better the [racing] industry. People call me a media tart. If we just sit here with our mouths shut, nothing would happen; we need to tout what we have here.” It does not come across that Graham set out to create sweeping reforms – but he has swiftly refreshed the racing scene in Cairns by bringing younger membership dollars and ideas to the table, and pitting them with the wise heads of the sport of kings Jockey Club. “There is a very fine line balancing the needs of the younger generation and the traditional Club membership.” When my hour-long interview with Graham wound up, he insisted on escorting me from the grounds back to those very front gates where it all began – gentlemanly helping me to carry my handbag and six-month-old baby. As I hopped into my car impressed by his friendly manner, I looked into the distance and could see him lifting a large refrigerator up a set of stairs with the tradies. Graham Thornton is just what Cairns needs. He’s caring, an event-visionary and oozes a can-do attitude. And it doesn’t hurt that he looks fabulous in a designer suit.

august 2011

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people

I have not played at the Opera House, but I really can’t think of a better place to play music than here.”

words alana rushton ll photography andrew watson

Having toured almost every folk and country music festival in the country with her duo, Women in Docs, Cairns Festival’s music program coordinator, Roz Pappalardo, knows how to attract the bands. She only has to mention the spectacular location of the festival and the music makers flock to her, as she explained to Alana Rushton.

Roz Pappalardo (SHOT ON LOCATION AT JUTE THEATRE)

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people

efore I met Roz Pappalardo I did my homework. As I sought to get a run down from the internet on her act, Women in Docs, my initial assumption was that she would be a stand-up comedienne. I certainly would not have associated the heavy, black, lace-up Doc Martin boots as being worn on the feet of a folk / country music duo (a duo formed with her friend, Chanel Lucas). It became apparent that I was not the only one to query this; it has confused many journalists in the past. Quick to explain, she said the name originated at an open-mic night when they were introduced by the brand of shoes they wore on stage. “Our name was not really something we put a lot of thought into, but it stuck.” Likened to the sound of The Dixie Chicks or The Waifs, those hard and sturdy shoes have strangely served as a metaphor, with the pair toughing it out over 12 years to forge an international music career. Born in Sydney but raised in Innisfail with her sister, Roz rates Tropical North Queensland as a haven for anyone with a love for instruments. “I have not played at the Opera House, but I really can’t think of a better place to play music than here.” She believes Cairns looks after both patrons and musicians by making art affordable. “A venue like The Tanks presents brilliant, local, national and international acts for an exceptionally good price. I believe it’s the best live venue in Australia, hands down.” Roz, who is a qualified teacher, grew up in a musical family. “My earliest memories of music are of my father and his brother practising in their band under our old Queenslander home in Mena Creek. And if it wasn’t the band making music downstairs, it was Simon and Garfunkel or ABBA on the record player. “It just seemed natural to me to pick up one of their guitars, open a book of chords and strum. One day I opened my mouth and sang. My next door neighbour was with me and he said, ‘let’s start a duo’. So we learnt five songs and our first gig was at the Mena Creek Hotel. The band was called the Concrete Pile Ons and we wore jeans with really high waists. We were terrible. But all our family and friends consistently lied and said we were great. Thank God for them.” Roz is one of the savvy artists who has managed

to forge a successful career. Her business experience has come from co-managing Women in Docs and her four-year-old country-rock solo project, The Wayward Gentlemen. “Roz’s roles have involved a variety of headspaces, including tour arrangement, publicity, recording sessions, managing band members and accounts, so festivals are really an extension of organising a band’s everyday life. Just heaps more bands. And potentially an exponential number of things that can go wrong,” she laughs. She is not afraid to say that she made a living and travelled the world on a shoestring budget – by rigorously planning gigs in advance to make sure she could afford to eat. “You work really hard, you become a grant writing demon, beg for money from your family and save all the money you make by selling CDs at shows. Unless you have a team of people around you from the get-go, you have to treat your music career like a business.”

You work really hard, you become a grant writing demon, beg from your family and save all the money you make by selling CDs at shows. . Roz’s move back to Cairns from Brisbane has seen her work on a variety of public events through Cairns Regional Council’s Creative Partnerships’ team, as well as co-ordinating A-Venue, which is an Arts Queensland-funded position, also under Cairns Regional Council. “As part of this organisation, I coordinate business development workshops for emerging regional musicians, as well as providing them with performance platforms. I really like the idea of giving back, because I was a young artist once.” This year, Roz is the musical director of The Cairns Festival, which runs from August 19 to September 4. “The theme ‘50 Years Under a Tropical Sun’ has been woven through the festival with a mix of emerging acts like The Medics and Kuranda band Zennith,” she said.

“It also pays homage to iconic northern names such as Seaman Dan who have inspired the upcoming generation to become what they are today. We are absolutely spoilt for choice up here, in all aspects of music.” As part of the festival, she also co-ordinated a local council CD gift for newborn babies, Opening Notes, whittling down 80 musical submissions to 20 for the album. In the lead-up to an event, Roz admits she does not sleep. “I write and rewrite lists and make sure that everything is planned to within an inch of its life. Run sheets are like bibles ... and there are contingencies for things that may go wrong. Everyone knows exactly what they need to do, and at what time.” At the time of the interview, Roz was rehearsing at JUTE for a one act play she wrote – inspired and named after her Nonna, Rosa. You would also recognise Roz’s face as the former co-lead as Margarita in the Paronella Park production of The Impossible Dream. “Cairns has offered me the opportunity to try the new thing that I want to do – act.” A spiritual diversion in Roz’s life has working in indigenous communities in Arnhem Land where she has written songs with young children and elders. “I like to find out as much as I can about the community I’m going to write with first, then go there with an open heart and open mind and be ready to learn. It’s a totally organic and truthful process.” She reflects that these visits have had a lasting effect – reminding her “not to sweat the big stuff and let her life breathe. “Every day, working on the Cairns Festival is fun, different, inspiring and unexpected. The acts who are coming to perform at this event really want to come. It’s such a great thing to have people around who love what they’re doing. “The main stage at Cairns Festival is totally free, so it’s good reason for people to go out, have fun with family and friends and give themselves a pat on the back for a hard year, financially and emotionally.” And what better way to celebrate and relax than with Roz’s hand picked musical line-up.

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success

words alli grant ll photography veronica sagredo

I was determined to succeed. Some like to call me stubborn, I prefer the word determined.” Nicola Constantinidis

We all know there’s no such thing as an overnight success. The only way to truly succeed is to work hard, damned hard. The days are long and sometimes the rewards are minimal, but you’re far more likely to achieve your goals. Just ask Nicola Constantinidis, group general manager of Oceans Hotels and Tourism. As Alli Grant discovered, while Nicole has had to work very hard to achieve her goals, she has certainly enjoyed the ride.

’m a bit of a wuss, truth be told, but boy I wish I was more adventurous. I’d love to experience the power of a super fast car or an even faster motorbike, but I’m just not quite brave enough. Nor am I a fan of helmet hair, but that’s a different story. I certainly can picture what it would feel like to cruise the highway on the back of a powerful motorcycle, hugging the road with every turn, wind in your face, power at your fingertips. I imagine it would provide the ultimate in conflicting emotions – while the speed and power is certainly within your control, one slip in focus, one mistake and you’re at the mercy of the cruel, hard road. You would need to keep your wits about you. For someone like Nicola Constantinidis, group general manager of Oceans Hotels and Tourism, it’s the perfect release. “It’s really hard to explain, but it allows me to clear my head and makes me feel free, in a sense. Riding helps me to relax and to put things into perspective. It’s certainly good thinking time. It was probably once an obsession, but now I’d call it a vice,” she explains. Nicola, who spent two years begging her father to buy the then 12-year-old her first trail bike (a bright green Kawasaki 100cc) when she was a youngster living in South Africa, today rides a powerful Honda VTR1000. As someone who has taken the long, hard road to the top of her profession, it’s no wonder Nicola enjoys the sense of freedom that comes with hitting the road on her bike – reward for the many years of hard work required to become a success in her field. But boy, wouldn’t it be nice if success just happened? And by ‘just happened’ I mean didn’t require long hours, hard work, stress, tears and risk. But, news flash, there’s one non-negotiable ingredient for success … bloody hard work. Thomas Jefferson said, “I’m a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” I’m sure Nicola would agree. Her story is like a ‘how to make it to the top

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by working super hard’ manual, working her way up from food and beverage attendant to general manager. Born in Johannesburg, Nicola spent part of her childhood in a small mining town before migrating to Brisbane with her family in grade 12. Not surprisingly, the teenager was far from thrilled with her parents’ decision. “I was angry at my parents for taking me away from my friends, and it was really hard to break into a clique [group of friends] … but in hindsight, it did harden me up for what was to come in my career,” she laughs. Her mother suggested Nicola consider a career as a nurse or in the hospitality business, so off she went to college in Gatton, west of Brisbane, to complete a two year hospitality diploma. During this time she completed a six month industry placement working as a food and beverage attendant at the Sheraton Hotel in Alice Springs, returning to the Red Centre upon completing her course to take on a role in the front office. She was quickly promoted to front office assistant manager. After three years in Alice, it was time for a change. She moved to Adelaide. “I worked at the Ramada as a duty manager, doing a bit of everything. I’d work night shifts for months on end – surviving on four hours of sleep a night.” Nicola aspired to work for the then Hyatt in Adelaide – the “bee’s knees” of the hotel world, but she was put up for a role with the Hyatt Coolum – so she headed back to sunny Queensland. “I had a fantastic boss. He was so inspirational and kept me motivated. He taught me so many fundamentals about the industry.” These fundamentals were to be put to the test. Nicola applied for the position of front office manager, but it was suggested she pursued a senior role with executive housekeeping instead. “I spent the first few weeks physically working ... I knew it would be hard, but honestly I thought it was going to literally kill me. Making 20 beds a day, lugging bags of linen up and down stairs … I had never worked so hard in my life. profilemag.com.au

“Some of the stories … you can only imagine the personal items we found in the rooms. I have seen it all! Walking in on guests in compromising situations, and having guests open the door to your knock stark naked (and looking at you as though there is nothing wrong) … maintaining a sense of professionalism at that point was rather difficult,” she laughs. Exhausted, she went back into the office to learn the ropes, and, after just three months, the executive housekeeper left for another job. Nicola was thrown into the big chair. “I thought I’d give it a shot! So I worked seven days a week, 7am to 7pm. I don’t like to fail, but I was so out of my depth … I was determined to succeed. Some like to call me stubborn, I prefer the word determined.” She stayed in the role for two and a half years. From here, Nicola spent the next few years working in Sydney, following her former boss into the world of Sydney Olympics Village accommodation management. And what an experience it was. “It was the best two years of my life. I would highly recommend the experience to anyone. It was a challenge … having to learn about all the different cultures from the 200 countries. It certainly rounded off my negotiating skills. I had to pull every trick I had out of the bag,” she recalls with obvious fondness.“But I loved it more than anything.” It was certainly an experience – Nicola lost 15 kilos and took three months off to recover. With the wind back in her sails, she spent a few more years in Sydney working in a new niche – strata hotel management, a position that would bring her to Cairns in 2003, accepting a role with The Lakes – a massive strata title project. Soon it was time for a change, something Nicola is clearly comfortable with. “I really love change. I get bored pretty easily. I guess moving from South Africa, such a massive change for a teenager, allowed me to become adaptable. I don’t get attached to homes and possessions – just to people,” she tells me. Nicola had “put out to the universe” that she was ready for a change and Sea Temple Port Douglas responded – how could she turn down a role with the glamorous resort? She had always wanted to be a general manager – what better place to fulfil her dream than in Port Douglas in a six-month-old resort? After 18 months, the commute from the northern beaches of Cairns took its toll. She knew it was time for another change. A former boss called to offer her a role with Peppers in Palm Cove. To cut a long story short, she accepted the challenge, but it wasn’t what she envisaged. So, Nicola decided to leave the job without another position to go to, a concept foreign to her hardworking nature. Of course, she did find somewhere to focus her energies … her partner’s café in the Cairns CBD, Spoons. “I thought I’d take three months off and work in the café … three months turned into 12! Remember how I said working in housekeeping was hard? This was harder! But I had a ball. It helped me to get back in touch with people on a human level. I loved it.” Yep, you guessed it, Nicola got bored. One of her customers, a recruitment consultant, suggested a role to her … group general manager of Oceans Hotels and Tourism. “It was bigger than anything I had done. We have five hotels and the reef boat business. Hotels are my comfort zone, but the reef boat? Boy that was a learning curve.” During peak season, Oceans Hotels and Tourism employs some 230 staff, and 180 in the off season. She now oversees nine resorts, hotels and hostels, including Long Island Resort in the Whitsundays, in addition to Sunlover Reef Cruises. So is this all Nicola needs? Has she reached the pinnacle? “Is this all I need? Well it’s certainly all I can handle,” Nicola smiles. “I might look calm on the surface, but below the water my little feet are paddling away. It’s certainly a tough industry and a tough time, but we are really lucky that we own everything outright.” Despite being a demon for change, Nicola seems perfectly content in Cairns, and after eight years, she doesn’t plan on leaving any time soon. She has too much to do! Nicola is most definitely a reminder that those on top of the mountain didn’t fall there … august 2011

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ladies at lunch

if “youButmusthonestly, age, do it gracefully. Otherwise ... it’s messy.

“

1. Carol Fleming and Claudia McFadden 2. Mecca Bah’s menu 3. Carol Fleming 4. Natasha MacPherson 5. Mecca Bah’s kataifi pastry 6. MIA LACY 7. Mecca Bah’s famous Turkish pizzas

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ladies at lunch

words mia lacy ll photography alana rushton and mia lacy ll venue mecca bah, cairns

“Growing old is no more than a bad habit which a busy man has no time to form,” said Andre Maurois (French author). Getting on. Becoming mature. Ageing happens while you’re not looking. Seemingly to other people, until you hit 40 (usually with an ouch!). But let’s face it, we’re all doing it. Some well, and some … well! What’s the upside and the downside, and what role models do we look to to blaze a path? Mia Lacy asks a few local ladies in our first instalment of Ladies at Lunch.

he brief: take three ladies to lunch and put a topic on the table beside the breads. Discuss. Write it up. Sounds terrific. My all time favourite movie line swam into my head: ‘Let’s go somewhere with a view of the ocean and drink lunch.’ Jane Fonda gets to say this in Motherin-Law and I wish, wish, wish I’d written that. “Tackle the big issues,” said The Editor. Okay ... what? “Oh, er,” she said, thinking to let me slip gently into the shallow end of the pool. “How about ageing (dis)gracefully first? Everyone’s got an opinion on that subject.” They sure do. A friend – whom I’ve known since I was 13 – told me to be careful using our new rowing machine “at my age” this week. I know she’s half joking and half right; that’s the issue. I am being uber careful. Once I would have thrown myself into it and now, well let’s describe the action as ‘slow and graceful’. No, let’s. Care, caution … these are words to describe the feeling that you know your body doesn’t react to being asked to do something new quite as it did 20 years ago. That, readers, is the “wisdom born of pain” to quote that wonderful role model Helen Reddy. Am I showing my age here? Isn’t that the point? Joining the conversation today are ladies from three different decades. Natasha MacPherson, 36, is married to John. She made the switch from career woman to motherhood and is full time mum to a daughter, aged two, and a son, aged five. Claudia McFadden, 49, works full-time as director of sales for Hideaway Resorts. She has two daughters, aged 13 and 16, and, after a wonderful marriage lasting 16 years, her husband JP lost his battle with cancer last year. Carol Fleming, embracing 60 this December, has been married to Jeffrey for 35 years and together they operate the Exclusive Spas Group Australia in Port Douglas, Palm Cove and the Gold Coast. The couple has a daughter aged 29. So now, we’re sitting beside the ocean, the gauzy white drapes of Mecca Bah are billowing in the breeze and it’s a brochure day looking over the Cairns Marina. The entire ‘drinking lunch’ thing has already been dropped because two of the gang are on an AFD (yes, that’s an alcohol free day – you august 2011

do them when you get older!). I set the phone to ‘record’ and lean in. Ladies, let me ask you … profile: What age would you go back to and why? carol: I would love to go back to my 20’s – they were an amazing, unforgettable time. Four girlfriends and I left our hometown of Hamilton in New Zealand and flatted together in Christchurch for five years and it was all about being girls. We had wonderful jobs and were on the lookout for guys, but those years were really all about looking after and looking out for each other. claudia: Yes, 20’s. I was about 20 when I first arrived in Australia from Denmark and that was my first taste of freedom – no one checking on me, no one to answer to. natasha: Same. I’d left uni, no more study, I had a good income and no responsibilities and it was fun – it was so much fun! It was like we were allowed to be naughty because we were young and irresponsible and we could get away with it. claudia: All of a sudden the only responsibility you had was to yourself. It was scary at first, but once you got used to it, it was great and you didn’t have to justify anything you did to anyone. It was an amazing time. profile: So all of you say early 20’s … might that be ‘the magic age’? carol: It was. We had the best of everything, we set our goals high, we were invited to the best events ... I would go back there any time! Three years ago we had a reunion after 20 years apart. We cried for mothers passed-on and babies born, and we all slotted right back in together like we’d never been apart. profile: What are the must-do’s of ageing – e.g. should you have a bucket list? claudia: I think that’s a movie phenomenon. It’s more about setting goals – people just define them differently. My parents have always had things they wanted to do. carol: I like to call it your dream list … or your wish list – it’s about your goals, what you strive for and, ultimately, adding ‘cream’ to your achievements. claudia: When you get the time, that’s when you’ll

do them. natasha: At the beginning of the year my husband and I sit down together and write our goal list for the year. We also discuss our five year goals and we go from the big to the trivial, like this year I am going to do at least one triathlon! profile: What about health, how does that fit in to the ‘musts’ as you age? carol: Yes definitely, but its broader to me. I describe it as looking after ‘self’ – the body, the soul, the mind and the spirit. Nurturing these things is most important for you to keep moving forward. There’s a great feeling of achievement when you get to the end of the race. I’ve taken up outrigging recently and after doing 12kms, you feel terrific! natasha: And try to have a positive outlook whatever happens – that helps you through. profile: What about ageing disgracefully? What’s outlandish and does being older give you licence? carol: I think it can, if you are that type of person. claudia: Some people can get away with it. carol: There are certain people that can get away with a little bit of outlandish behaviour. People will say ‘she’s slightly touched, but isn’t she lovely?’ But honestly, if you must age, do it gracefully. Otherwise ... it’s messy. claudia: I think as a 22-year-old you can get drunk and messy and everyone goes ‘oh it’s her age’ but you have no real excuses when you’re older. carol: Even though I love to have a good time, there’s a boundary and old people do know the boundaries whereas young people don’t, so know your boundaries! claudia: Yes, like knowing when to go to bed … that’s a great exit strategy. profile: Who are your role models for ageing, and why? natasha: My mum. She’s incredible ... amazing. She still works full-time and has as much energy as my two-year-old! Mum has the most positive outlook on life and is such great fun to be with. carol: I’d also choose my mum, and my aunt. They profilemagazine

ladies at lunch MECCA BAH, CAIRNS MARINA

MECCA BAH CAIRNS MARINA Mecca Bah offers a taste of the exotic – North Africa and the Middle East – beside the marina. There are five already in Australia and early in 2012 Mecca Bah L.A is set to open. Ever since Mecca Bah opened in Cairns I’ve been a huge fan of the menu. This is cuisine that is exotic yet light, and it suits our tropical climate. A quick check on Tripadvisor shows I’m not the only one. “Food mecca on the marina” is one reviewer’s apt description. Sharon, who looked after us throughout our ladies’ lunch, explained the menu has changed recently, with new items like Marakesh king salmon added to the grills, and other touches. A great way to dine in true Middle Eastern style is to share, so we elected to go for the banquet menu priced at $44.90 per person (minimum four guests) and it did us proud.

profile: What’s great about the age you are now? claudia: Everything! You know who you are; everything’s been tried and tested, there are less surprises and you listen. You take things on board and try them, whereas when you were younger, you thought you knew everything and didn’t listen to anyone! That’s part of getting to where you’re at – you go through the process to arrive there. carol: I just love being this age. But I’ve loved being every age because I’ve found a niche at each one. There are pockets – there’s school, then there’s 18 to 25 and then your children go away and you find yourself like Jeffrey and me – being Darby and Joan and being in the position of doing everything you want. And you know what? Where once I winged it and made up stories, I can tell you … I know everything now!

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just love being this “ Iage. But I’ve loved being every age because I’ve found a niche at each one.

“

were the matriarchs of our family. And my sister is the other one – she’s 13 years older and she’s an amazing woman. We’ve all come through in layers of generations and we’re all very similar. For me, role models aren’t celebrities or famous people; they’re my family. Oh, except for Jane Fonda. I think she’s amazing. Every decade she’s redefined herself – from activist to actress and beyond, and you see her now looking a million dollars on the red carpet and you just think ... ‘yes’! claudia: In terms of ageing, my role model would be my dad. He was in the air force and he’s always had focus and discipline. I look at the way he’s approached his life and I can see the results in his outlook – he’s remained young. And his attitude: ‘no matter what age, you can still do it’. That type of attitude is prevalent in my family and I hope I pass it on.

natasha: I don’t ever have to give birth again! But seriously, I knew who I was before I had children and now I am relearning everything. And it’s limbo land – it’s like you left the carefree 20’s, and your 30’s is kids and all of a sudden it’s not about you, in fact, nothing is about you anymore! It’s like you are waiting to emerge as you re-discover yourself as a mother and a role model. carol: Oh ... and cheek bones. No, really, you get cheek bones as you get older because your face loses its chubbiness. One thing we can agree on about ageing is that it’s inevitable. And the older you get the more you realise that, really, it doesn’t matter. When you’re 19, the degree choice you make matters. When you’re pregnant, age matters. But once you get past that and you hit the middle of the road, then slowly, inevitably, the realisation creeps towards you … it doesn’t matter like you thought it did. As you get older, you don’t question yourself anymore. You might also care less about what other people think. And you may discover it’s easier to be positive. And if you’re wrong occasionally … it doesn’t matter!

The first course, or mezee, began with warm Turkish bread and Mecca Bah dips – hummus, tahini and baba gannouj – which were so delicious we had to hold back, knowing what was to follow. Next, we savoured a selection of dishes and each came with four pieces so we could all sample everything: sweet potato falafels with tahini sauce, kataifi pastry filled with Middle Eastern cheeses, and spicy lamb and pine nut boureks (voted tops for taste by all of us). It was a hard act to follow, but not when the fragrant Moroccan spiced calamari served with Turkish bean salad arrived. Garlic chicken kebab with mjaddarah and tabbouleh, Tsire spiced lamb kebab followed, and somehow we made room on the tabletop for two Turkish pizzas: spit roasted lamb, rocket, yoghurt and sumac plus harissa spiced tomato, haloumi, parsley and eggplant. Glasses were refilled with Yarra Valley’s Domaine chardonnay (creamy and delish) and Yealands Way sauvignon blanc from New Zealand. A spritzer of cranberry and soda with a slice of lime was an excellent palate cleanser, mid-course. While we didn’t dessert (those diets… don’t ask!) we were well aware of the temptations of basbousa with orange syrup and chocolate / Turkish delight brownies with chocolate sauce. At an advanced age, just looking at these can put calories on you! Mecca Bah, Cairns Marina, Harbour Lights Building Phone 4051 3737 eat@meccabah.net www.meccabah.net/cairns

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For information or to register your interest:

www.cairnsep.com.au Phone 4044 3322

august 2011

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secret life

words alli grant ll photography veronica sagredo

DAVID HALL WITH ROXANNE AND HARRISON

We all have a passion in life that fulfils us; something we live for, over and above our work. While we would all happily pursue this passion every day if we could, sadly, reality kicks in and the daily grind takes over. David Hall’s not-so-secret passion is animals, dogs specifically, and as Alli Grant uncovered in this month’s secret life, he certainly makes the time for his four-legged friends.

’ve always been mad about animals. Fish, mice, birds, cats, dogs, guinea pigs, ducks, chickens, silk worms (don’t ask!), even lizards kidnapped while sunbaking in the back yard – you name it, I have had it as a pet at some stage over the last 30-something years. Right now I have three fish, two cats, a dog, a toddler, a husband … and a partridge in a pear tree. Yep, it’s quite the menagerie here. So David Hall (managing director and owner of Overflow FNQ) and I were always going to bond. Instantly. How could we not? This successful businessman-come-furry-animal-crusader lives his life to help animals in need of homes … and of love. As one of the driving forces behind YAPS (Young Animal Protection Society), David has committed his personal time (and a significant amount of cash!) to supporting unwanted and unloved critters. It’s most definitely his passion, and his eyes light up as he tells me how he came to work with YAPS. “I’ve always been a pet person – I was the kid who was forever bringing home the injured bird from the park. I had to leave the movies crying after

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five minutes of Bambi! “But I love dogs more than anything. They just give you such unconditional love, don’t they?” They certainly do. And when it comes to unconditional love, I don’t think there’s a love greater than that expressed by a ‘refuge’ animal – most have been poorly treated or have simply gone without love for far too long. Once you show them an ounce of kindness and affection, they’re yours for life. Hook, line and furry little sinker. “They definitely know what real life is about so I think they love you that little bit more,” David explains. About five years ago, David had his first encounter with YAPS. “I had always been aware of YAPS and what they do, but in the early days of my business I was struggling enough to feed myself, let alone a dog,” he laughs. “Five years ago, at Christmas, I went to YAPS and came home with Roxanne – the smiling assassin. She had this cute little Christmas hat on – I couldn’t resist!” profilemag.com.au

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Roxanne (Roxy), a Labrador cross, had been rescued from a local indigenous community – she was one of 40 dogs housed in a small pen. Food would be tossed in and it would be survival of the fittest as to who would eat that day. Sadly, or perhaps luckily, Roxanne wasn’t the strongest of the bunch. Understandably, she was a tough nut to crack, and David had to spend a great deal of time and money on her training; a labour of love, no doubt. While she still has a feisty side, David assures me it’s all an act and that on the inside she’s a real pussy cat. “Then about two and a half years ago I took a friend to YAPS to get a dog, and I came home with Harrison [a wolfhound cross]. About then I became more involved [with YAPS].” Harrison (Harry), who was also rescued from an indigenous community, is the polar opposite of Roxy, preferring a ‘flight’ over a ‘fight’ response to danger. David has had to put new “Harry-proof” fences around his property as he became far too skilled at escaping (even learning how to unlock the gate)! As David’s Overflow FNQ empire grew, so did his level of commitment to the organisation, doubling when he purchased Overflow Smithfield, increasing from four to six stores in 2009. While incredibly humble and modest about his community work, David should be proud of the help he has given this organisation (and to the local RSPCA and Innisfail Animal Refuge, for that matter). His company funds advertising throughout Cairns and Townsville, and every animal lover who adopts a pet (even a guinea pig, he assures me) receives a $20 gift voucher to spend at one of his stores. “It is about giving back to the local community. Business is business, but this is the fun bit. I’ve always wanted to reinvest in the community, to give something back, and I love that I am now in the position to do this. That’s the best part!” A clearly clever businessperson, David has almost managed himself out of a job at Overflow, with a talented team around him to run the 10 stores (a business he shares with two silent partners). This allows David far more time to come up with fundraising ideas for YAPS, like the One Hundred Thousand Yaps Fundraiser – set to raise the $100,000 needed to fund the purchase of a block of land for the extension of the organisation’s boarding facilities, their primary source of income. “I had 2000 tins made up, and then I thought – what are we going to do with them? I worked out that, just like Overflow’s business model, the best approach would be to generate a massive amount of small transactions.” With that goal in mind, David set about creating the One Hundred Thousand Yaps Fundraiser (launched July 17) – securing partners to help him achieve what he sees as a fairly simple goal. (Tins are available at any of David’s six local Overflow FNQ stores or via www.yaps.org.au or www.overflowfnq.com) “We just have to get 1000 tins out there – and for each to bring in $100 over 28 days … and we’re there.” On August 21, David will also run a One Hundred Thousand Yaps Fair from 10am to 2pm at the Cairns Jockey Club – another way for locals to get behind the worthwhile cause. For David, this is what success looks like. Having worked incredibly hard to build a thriving business, he can now spend more time doing what he loves – raising funds to help poor little pooches like Roxanne and Harrison to live happier and healthier lives, with a little love – puppy love – on the side.

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cairns chamber of commerce

A WORD FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER As this is the first of what will become a regular contribution by the Cairns Chamber of Commerce, I felt it worthwhile to explain what a Chamber of Commerce does. Chambers are a network which are a local organisation of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses, and in our case, the broader community of Cairns. Local businesses or individuals join as members and they elect a board; for us this occurs annually. We employ four staff to deal with the operations of the Cairns Chamber. The first Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1599 in Marseille, France. The first local business organisation was started in Cairns in 1886, and after some false starts the Cairns Chamber of Commerce, as we know it today, was formed on 8 October 1909. During this time, the Cairns Chamber has worked on every major business and economic issue facing the region. In 1909, the keys issues were potential trade with Papua New Guinea and better road access into the city. Interestingly, these are still areas of interest for the Cairns Chamber today. Chambers can be considered local, regional, state, or nationwide. Local Chambers work on the local level to bring the business community together to develop strong networks, which can result in a business-to-business exchange. In most cases, Chambers work with their local government and local representatives to develop pro-business initiatives. The Cairns Chamber works at both the local and regional level. We have very strong connections with our counterparts in the cities around this region, such as Mount Isa, Townsville, Port

Moresby and Lae, and have close ties with other Chambers in the region, such as Mareeba and Port Douglas. State Chambers of Commerce are far different from local and regional Chambers of Commerce as they work on state and sometimes federal issues impacting the business community. Just as the local Chamber is critical to the local business community, state Chambers serve a unique function, serving as a third party voice on important business legislation that impact the business community and are critical in shaping legislation. In Queensland, the state Chamber is the Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland (CCIQ). The Cairns Chamber works closes with CCIQ and provides input into the development of policy. Chambers of Commerce receive their main income from members and the activities they hold, not from government funding sources. The Cairns Chamber is one of the largest Chambers in Australia, with more than 600 members (businesses) who employ more than 6,000 workers. The majority of member businesses have less than 10 employees and represent every sector of the business community. Our tag line of ‘Building Business’ captures the essence of what we do on a day-to-day basis. We also work with other organisations at the broader economic development level to create a framework that supports business growth. Sandy Whyte Executive Officer – Cairns Chamber of Commerce

WHAT’S ON WITH THE CAIRNS CHAMBER? 12 August

Annual Golf Day, Half Moon Bay Golf Club

18 August

Resource and Industrial Taskforce Breakfast (7am to 9am)

23 August

Cairns Chamber Lunch Meeting, Pullman Reef Hotel, Cairns

For bookings visit www.cairnschamber.com.au

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cairns chamber of commerce

CAIRNS CHAMBER NEWS AND VIEWS Resource and Industrial Taskforce Update Gaining the attention of mining companies across Australia and Papua New Guinea has resulted in increased business coming to Cairns and the expansion of a fly-in-fly-out workshop from this region. Formed seven years ago by the Cairns Chamber, the Resource and Industrial Taskforce has successfully marketed the region to the resource sector, resulting in more than 50 mining operations seeing first-hand the capability of the region. The Taskforce operates a number of programs – all funded by the membership and the Cairns Chamber itself.

Inner City Taskforce News In 2002, the Cairns Chamber formed the first CBD Taskforce as a result of concerns of the visual appearance of buildings and issues associated with alcohol-related behaviour. Significant inroads on both these areas were made at the time, and the group was disbanded in 2005 as it had achieved its objectives. Concerns were raised by members in 2009 about the inner city. In early 2010, a lighting audit of the CBD was undertaken, highlighting deficiencies in both public and private sector lighting. Further research has been undertaken on the location of public and private security cameras to identify gaps for Cairns Regional Council to consider addressing. A close relationship has been established with Cairns Regional Council with a member of the ICT sitting on their CBD Steering Group. This group now oversees the CBD Masterplan – an initiative that has been pushed by the ICT for some time and which brings together the various strategies and planning aspects affecting the CBD into one unified process.

Lending Small Business a Helping Hand Feedback from members indicated that small business in particular was hurting, and that the support from governments was not enough to ensure business continued to trade. It was identified through our strategic plan that small business needed a hand and the Cairns Chamber had a major role to play in this space. A number of initiatives will be rolled out by the Boost Small Business Taskforce. Better use of the existing government and non-government programs will also be a priority, as well as engagement with governments on small business policy and program delivery.

Celebrating the Young Chamber Young Chamber is a group of eight individuals who are awarded a Cairns Chamber of Commerce Cre8ing Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship. The scholarship includes the establishment of a Young Cairns Chamber of Commerce subcommittee where the eight members have tenure of two years to lead activities for contacts of the Cairns Young Chamber of Commerce. The Young Chamber plays a pivotal role in developing tomorrow’s leaders by promoting and supporting aspiring business people in Cairns. There is no age limit or prerequisite to become a member of the Young Chamber. However, the Young Chamber events and activities are often geared towards people who are at a stage in their career or business where they are looking for professional development and networking opportunities. The Young Chamber’s primary objective is to provide development opportunities, mentor, promote and network aspiring business professionals and the Gen-Y workforce. Regardless of whether you are an employee, business owner, or come from a corporate environment or an industrial work place, the Young Chamber recognises that the future of business in Cairns is in your hands. Visit www.youngchamber.com.au

august 2011

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cover story

Hair and makeup by Pulse Hair and Beauty, Spence Street, The Boland Centre, 4051 4212. Maria Morrison from Pulse used Artdeco products such as Double Finish Foundation with SPF 30 to give her a flawless look. For Nicky’s eye makeup she used the natural tones of browns, coffee and creams to enhance her gorgeous eyes. Bronzer was used as a blusher, with bitter orange lipstick and gloss as the finishing touch. Cover photo features ‘Kabuki’ Mandarin butterfly dress, $169.95, from Vivienne Francine, Cairns Central, 4031 5700. Purple earrings, $27, and bracelet, $59.95, also from Vivienne Francine. Stylist’s own purple bead necklace. Purple shoes, $199, from Sassi Shoe Boutique, Grafton St, 4031 4999. This page: Purple dress with flower, Lounge, $299, from Shine by Val Carne Collections, Cairns Central and Shine on Grafton, 4041 0660. Contents: Nicky wears stylist’s own hand-made dress featuring heliconia collar.

You always have to look for opportunities. Even in disaster you can’t dwell on things.”

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cover story

words alli grant ll photography andrew watson

ll hair pulse hair and beauty ll makeup maria morrison, pulse hair and beauty ll shoot styling genine howard

Defining moments – our lives are peppered with them. Moments that test us. Moments that devastate us. Moments that show us there has to be more to life. But did you stop to think that each and every one of these defining moments is an opportunity – an opportunity to learn and to grow? Nicky Swan from Advance Cairns believes so, as Alli Grant discovered.

ell, what a year it has been. What a shocking, terrifying, overwhelming, unbelievably cruel year. And 2011 isn’t just in the bad books when it comes to the Tropical North. I think it’s safe to say that 2011 is unpopular on a global scale. Sorry 2011, but when it comes to popularity you’re up there with fish-flavoured ice cream, rain on your wedding day, Paris Hilton’s singing and Tiger Woods at a fidelity convention. No ‘Miss Congeniality’ awards for you any time soon. Personally, I have had to unexpectedly farewell far too many loved ones, I have shed far too many tears … 2011 is definitely off my Christmas card list. But that’s life, hey? I am a firm believer that what doesn’t kill you most definitely makes you stronger, an overused cliché, yes, but so very true. Especially in 2011. I have been writing for profile magazine since our first issue on the Sunshine Coast three years ago, and in this time I have met the most inspiring women, women who have been to hell and back, women who have had to face complete and utter heartbreak. These women share one trait. Optimism. I don’t mean the cheesy, ‘smile through gritted teeth and pretend everything’s okay’ optimism. I mean the ‘yes I have been to hell and back but boy am I stronger and wiser for the experience’ kind. Often the most unimaginable tragedy somehow brings about opportunity and hope. It teaches us. It strengthens us. One woman with a story of great inspiration is Nicky Swan, sustainable regions project officer at Advance Cairns. Like so many, Nicky has faced her share of adversity. But from the depths of sadness came great passion – a passion that has led her to where she is today, leading the way towards a more sustainable future. Frankly, had Nicky not been faced with such adversity I’m certain she would not be the powerhouse she is today. She would august 2011

have found herself on a completely different path. Nicky embodies the Tropical North. In fact, when we meet she is dressed in the most divine yellow frock with a lime green cardigan – like some kind of rare tropical bird. She oozes the tropics and is the perfect ambassador for the region. Part Pom, part Aussie, part fire cracker, Nicky was born and bred in London, although her mother was a sixth generation Australian. Nicky’s father was a Scottish / Argentinean naval officer who met his future wife in Sydney. The couple moved back to the UK and soon after, her father left the navy and discovered his entrepreneurial spirit. “Dad was actually a co-founder of the Yellow Pages in the ‘60s. He was a bright boy and a lovely man – he engaged people so well. He was a natural at sales and loved to learn. “I guess Dad had a rather mercurial career. Sometimes there’d be lashings of money and ponies, and sometimes it would be tough. Dad would go off and buy a publishing company so the ponies would have to go back,” she jokes. How I adore Nicky – not only did she use the word ‘lashings’ in a sentence (so perfectly English!), but she also had a pony; every little girl’s dream. “Daddy, can I have a pony?” Sigh … Sadly, when Nicky was four, her mother was tragically struck down with polio, an incredibly difficult time for the family. “Here was my mum – a young, strapping, six foot blonde Aussie and she had to live with severe disabilities for the rest of her life.” We chat about Nicky’s teenage years and I uncover her penchant for the arts – for dance and drama. “I was five foot 10 which made me six foot with my points on. I really wasn’t good enough to be at the top of the game, although I did like to think I was.” Nicky was to enter a bit of a rebellious phase, as so many teenagers do, deciding not to pursue university at that stage of her life. “It was the late ‘70s. I was used to getting my

own way, so I did whatever I felt like. I thought I’d go out there and have some fun.” Fun? Nicky Swan? Surely not! After several years of travelling, at age 20 she landed a plum job as a copy writer for an advertising company that published directories in London. The only female in the business, she achieved great success in 18 months and was head-hunted by Screen International, another publishing company, selling advertising. “I was sent down to the Cannes Film Festival to pull in advertising in the early ‘80s which is where I met my first husband. The boyfriend I was with at the time was managing Duran Duran. I had fun times before choosing between the two!” Nicky laughs. We chat briefly about bad ‘80s hair and Simon Le Bon, who, Nicky assures me, was “not that sexy and was rather chunky with a truly dodgy hair cut.” How I love her raw sense of humour. Fast-forward a few years. The couple courted, married and had a son, Thomas, while managing their successful film production company and living “an absolutely luxurious life”. Life was good. Two years later, Nicky fell pregnant with their second son. In 1986 Nicky’s life changed forever. She changed forever. Nicky was to go through the most unimaginable pain – she lost her baby boy, Toby, to cot death (or SIDS as it’s referred to today). He was just 10 months old. “I’d left the little one with our nanny – we were in the South of France for work. He died during the night and we got the phone call in the morning. “I would not wish that on my worst enemy,” she tells me as I lose her for a few seconds. Understandably, I am sure she grieves little Toby’s loss each and every day, even some 24 years later. “I just wish I could have been there. I lay no blame – I’m not that sort of person. I’m pragmatic, strong and spiritual. I believe everything and everyone has its place.” profilemagazine

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I’d left the little one with our nanny – we were in the South of France for work. He died during the night and we got the phone call in the morning.”

Nicky Swan is living the dream – she has managed to turn her passions into a career. Protecting the environment and ensuring a sustainable future is all in a day’s work for Nicky.

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We all grieve differently. Nicky became focused on seeking a resolution, coming to a more concrete conclusion. To be told that her son died of cot death was not enough. “I was intrigued – I needed to know why. Even today they can’t tell you, they are still investigating. But there was talk about a link with toxins in the paint on a newborn’s walls, among other things.” Nicky commenced research into toxins as a way of coping and understanding. She helped out at support groups for people who had lost a baby – and this talking helped her to heal. “Talking really helped me a lot. I think life is all about sharing and about collaborative experiences. Engaging with other people is how you learn. If you sit there knowing everything, you really know nothing. “I love learning. It’s a good day when I’m learning. I have a strong ethos when it comes to learning. We have all been through shitty times, but I still wake up eager to learn. It truly made me realise that you have to seize the day. Mummy getting sick also showed me this. “I guess the thing that has always held me together is this – you always have to look for opportunities. Even in disaster you can’t dwell on things. To dwell takes you nowhere. To seize an opportunity takes you everywhere.” And what was the opportunity for Nicky? She became focused on gaining a better understanding of toxins in society, on living organically and on preserving the environment. She became an environmental crusader. “It took a serious interlude to make me wake up and smell the coffee,” she confesses. Nicky’s marriage fell apart after the death of Toby, which happens with so many relationships. “United you stand, divided you fall,” she reminds me. “It’s very common – I don’t blame anyone. He had his philosophy about how to deal with it and I had mine, and never the twain shall meet. It was an amicable divorce – but I left behind a very comfortable life.” Showing an entrepreneurial spirit her father would have been proud of; Nicky launched an environmentallyfocused company called Second Nature. “I guess it was ahead of its time – we looked at living organically, at how to clean up our lifestyle, at water treatment solutions … the company was built on marketbased solutions. It was about being proactive, not reactive. “But it was tough in that era. It was like spooning a lake dry with a teaspoon. People looked at me like I was mad. Actually, that’s not true. They didn’t look at me at all!” Onto the next chapter. Nicky had successfully expanded Second Nature to South Africa and was running the business from London. And then she fell in love with her second husband (whom she had actually known since she was 18), adventurer and environmental crusader (some would say a match made in heaven), Robert Swan. “Rob was the first man to walk to both Poles [North Pole and South], and he did a lot of work outside of the walks with young people. He was also looking at the effects of climate change on both Poles. It made sense for us to join forces.” Nicky certainly met her match in Rob, and while they had a lot in common he also opened her eyes to a whole new world – a world she wanted to explore. And fast! “I overheard him [Robert] talking about a walk he wanted to do to the North Pole. I asked to join in and

he categorically told me no. Not because I was a woman, really, but because it was just such a dangerous thing to do. That was like waving a red rag to a bull. I went into ‘me, me, me, me, why not me?’ mode. He gave in!” No surprise there. So in 1994, Nicky Swan became one of the first women on the planet to walk the last section to the North Pole. Now that’s a walk; a long, icy walk, with a bunch of blokes … that took two weeks. “There’s not a dirty joke I haven’t heard,” she laughs. “It really wasn’t about being the first woman it was about doing the walk. Being first was irrelevant.” Surely she was at least a little anxious? “I was very, very nervous before we set out. I was sure I had set myself up to fail as there are so many things that can go wrong. It was definitely enjoyable, but it pushed me to my limits.” Despite a few hiccoughs, Nicky’s strenuous “skiing uphill” training did the job and she completed the walk. Incidentally, she still has amazing legs! “People’s perception is that it will be all icy and flat and bland. In actual fact it’s frozen ocean so it moves and cracks and breaks apart below you. It’s like crossing a car park by going across the tops of the cars. “The colours are amazing – it’s just the most beautiful place, but so isolated and dangerous. The pollution haze was a shock for me. I didn’t expect it. It certainly fuelled my passion further.” Sadly, these walks have all but ceased thanks to the effects of global warming. “Very few people will get the opportunity to do what I did. It’s unlikely my sons will ever get to do it. It’s sad, but it makes me more galvanised and motivated.” Nicky tells me that while she’s committed to educating the business world to the advantages of protecting the environment, she doesn’t want to scare people into thinking that it’s too late. It’s not all doom and gloom – here’s that optimism. “It’s actually about opportunity – we have the opportunity to sort it all out. It’s just another cycle in the earth’s history, like the ice ages. I believe wholeheartedly that we can effect climate change, that we can make a difference.” The dynamic duo returned from their walk and continued their work – bridging the sustainability gap between business and the environment. Rob is a soughtafter public speaker, and Nicky moved into that field as well. But despite their common interests and similarities, the marriage was deteriorating thanks to the demons that are part and parcel of such an adventurous life. Rob and Nicky amicably parted ways in late 1997. “I think we were too similar,” she muses. “But we are such good friends and work colleagues today.” So, she was left sitting in London with an environmental business and two boys, Thomas, and now 16-year-old Barnaby whom she had with Rob during their marriage. Nicky continued her work in sustainability. In 2000 she met a “new chappy”, Gwion, who was running a building and design company in London. And yes, he is a fellow Brit. To cut a long story short, the pair decided to up and move from the UK to Australia following a holiday Down Under. “We were holidaying in Kakadu – it was raining profilemag.com.au

cover story elephants so we decided to stick a pin in the map to show us where to go next.” That pin landed in Port Douglas. “Wow, I thought Port was the most different, most alluring place. We put an offer in on a home and headed back to England to pack.” Nicky and Gwion actually lost that home, the deal fell through, but ended up instead purchasing 50 acres, sight unseen, over the internet (Nicky claims love at first ‘byte’). “We bought 50 acres north of the river – no power, no running water, with just a steel shed on it. I arrived and burst into tears, but I thought ‘Oh my God, I love this land’. And I haven’t ever lost my love of the place. I am absolutely passionate about this region.” Ten years later and this raw land is still their home, although with a slightly more impressive dwelling, by the sounds. “Gwion converted that steel shed into the most amazing, contemporary home. It’s like Notting Hill meets the rainforest. “We’re completely self sufficient, in regards to power. We dug a bore and have a great water supply. We’re a two minute drive from an amazing beach. There’s a fantastic organic orchard. We have horses, greyhounds and a Siamese cat who basically runs the house. It’s heaven.” So, having handed over the Second Nature business to Rob before leaving the UK, Nicky came to Australia with no plans, except “being Zen”. The universe said “you’ve got to be joking!” And as usual, the universe provided just what Nicky was craving – a new opportunity. She spent the next few years in retail, creating a profitable business and brand. But sadly her mother was very ill and so she reluctantly sold the business as she was spending much of her time in England. “She had a long, hard fight with polio. The toughest part was the post-polio syndrome – it’s polio in reverse. It’s just horrendous.” In 2009 opportunity once again came knocking. “I was just wondering what I would do next. I had been invited by the Young Chamber to give a talk on my walk and afterwards I was approached by Advance Cairns to look after Sustainable TNQ. I started in a part-time role and this grew into other roles and positions …” Nicky is focused among other things, on her work identifying and pursuing a tropical economy for the region via tropical expertise. As project coordinator for the Austropex Conference (Friday August 12 which will be followed by the Cairns Regional Council Tropical Innovation Awards), she and her team will bring together tropical specialists from nine industry groups, highlighting what is a key business driver for the region. “We have this amazing opportunity to focus on what we do best up here – on making our tropical innovation bigger and better. We’re battlers. We’re used to making do, to dealing with the heat and the rain, to not getting our way. It all stems from necessity and from hard work.” august 2011

This approach to “getting by and making do” has formed the basis of what is an incredibly exciting opportunity for Cairns – creating and exporting tropical innovation market solutions. “As a region we are good at looking for opportunities and at being innovative. If we keep focused and enthusiastic we can be the most extraordinary region. I bet wonderful things come out of this era – it’s a time of great opportunity.” Nicky is certainly passionate about her career. “I get the best of all worlds in my job. I get to look at energy, marine, solar, the environment … and how it’s all embedded intrinsically with sustainability. “I love seeing people embrace a new paradigm – creating their own energy, having a better understanding about how important it is not to take food and water for granted. It’s about standing up and being counted. It’s no one else’s responsibility – it’s our own.” Life is good for Nicky. She splits her time between her Daintree property and Cairns, while her husband tackles the real estate business. She adores her sons – her eyes sparkle as she tells me all about their dreams and aspirations – clearly a proud mother. “I really enjoy life. I’m here for the long haul – hook, line and sinker. I’m absolutely in love with the region – I look forward to it being reciprocated,” she smiles. It’s amazing to think that if the unthinkable hadn’t happened, if Nicky hadn’t lost her beautiful baby boy, I wouldn’t be sitting with this amazing woman chatting about what makes her tick – the environment, sustainability, learning and opportunity. Who knows where she would be or what she would be doing had life not dealt her such a cruel, cruel blow? Nicky Swan is living large and loving life – seizing opportunities each and every day and learning along the way.

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HOW TO

For more information visit www.tropicalinnovationawards.com or call 4044 3347

TURN YOUR

GRE T IDEA INTO PROFITABLE BUSINESS

The Advance Cairns Business Enterprise Centre (ACBEC) offers low cost business advice and a FREE one hour consultation with one of our expert Business Advisors. We also offer four low cost Business Programs that will equip you with the tools and knowledge you need to successfully manage your business through its various life cycles. The ACBEC can help you understand:- Why having a Business Plan is vital for the future growth of your business - The basic business tools and how these will assist you to plan for future growth - What are your financing options and which one is right for you? - The choices which can be made between Debt and Equity to fund growth To find out more please visit us online or call us on 07 4080 2913

The services provided by the Advance Cairns Business Enterprise Centre are partially funded by the Australian Government.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here for business www.advancecairnsbec.com.au bec@advancecairns.com Phone. 07 4080 2913 30

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austropex feature

celebrating Australian tropical expertise words alana rushton ll

The far north’s weather is not just a physical environ that dictates how we live. It also produces the need for tropical expertise in the form of people and products who will all gather in Cairns this month. Alana Rushton shines a spotlight on just a smidgen of Tropical North Queensland’s innovations and expertise on show at the Austropex Conference and Cairns Regional Council’s Tropical Innovation Awards - both on August 12.

f it’s not enough to luxuriate in the Tropical North’s rainforests, sun, sea and sand, we also need reminding of the talent that bubbles within our population. It’s time to look deeper into the quality of skills, knowledge, products and experts staring us in the face. We should be proud of the depth of talent that exists at our fingertips. Our tropical climate presents special challenges which in turn seed unique solutions. These solutions are called tropical expertise. Austropex (a conjunction of Australian tropical expertise) brings together tropical specialists across eleven industry groups including health, education and training, aviation and marine. The inaugural Austropex Conference features sessions from mining, environment, built environment, agriculture, food, energy, tourism, the Advance Cairns Business Enterprise Centre

Max Shepherd Tourism

As a leading Cairns attraction and winner of the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism (‘08 and ‘09) – it’s no wonder Skyrail is called on to address educational groups for best practice management and sustainable tourism in tropical destinations. Max Shepherd, managing director of Skyrail Rainforest Cableway says sustainability should be an underlying principle in tourism development, guiding everything from construction to day-to-day operations. “The high quality tourism product and unique expertise that has been developed in Tropical North Queensland not only enhance the environmental experience our visitors receive, but provide a knowledge platform from which other tropical destinations can grow.”

august 2011

(ACBEC) and the Queensland Wide Innovation Network (Q-WIN). The conference will focus on the key industries that make up our region while identifying issues, challenges and opportunities both within each industry and across the sector as a whole. Each session is designed to help businesses push their products, skills and services further into the domestic and international market. The final session, the regional leaders panel, will see local leaders discuss their vision for the future. Advance Cairns CEO Stewart Christie said, “The Austropex Conference is all about providing market-ready solutions to some of the biggest challenges of our time, and building awareness of the opportunities.” Environmental consultant and Austropex member Kim Forde said, “Twenty-first century green is pro-business, pro-people, and

Craig Squire Food

Craig Squire has spent the best part of 15 years in guest-chef roles promoting Australia and Australian cuisine. Instrumental in setting up the Adelaide Red Ochre Restaurant before heading north to open the Red Ochre Grill in Cairns in 1994 (Ochre Restaurant and Catering), Craig was invited to become a member of the Catering Institute of Australia and Les Toques Blanches International. His experience in the use of Australian bush foods is probably the most reviewed and long-standing in Australia. Craig was active in forming the regional food industry group australiantropicalfoods.com. “The aims are promotion and networking of regional foods, its growers, producers and its cuisine.”

pro-environment. It’s positive and forward looking. It’s guided by economics. The hallmark of the new green age is innovation.” As a fitting closer to the day, the second annual 2011 Cairns Regional Council Tropical Innovation Awards (at the Cairns Convention Centre from 7pm) will recognise, reward and support innovation and inventions across Far North Queensland. While August 12 will be a busy day for the region, it is sure to remind us all that we don’t need to look any further than home for inspiration. Here is a sample of the tropical expertise on show at the inaugural Austropex Conference (www.austropex.com).

Dr Ian Bally Agriculture

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation’s (DEEDI) horticultural scientists are leading the world in mango genetic improvement which may enhance cancer protection. Principal horticulturist Dr Ian Bally heads up a team working on the Australian Mango Breeding Program, developing molecular tools and investigating the genetics of components such as flavour and disease resistance. Dr Bally is also collaborating with University of Queensland researchers to determine fruit properties that relate to cancer protection and cardiovascular diseases. “Knowledge of these specific health properties can be used to promote the nutritional value of current mango varieties as well as providing for the selection of new varieties.”

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austropex feature

John Johnston, Queensland Wide Innovation Network (Q-WIN)

Pyksis’ managing director John Johnston’s best advice is to “implant an innovative culture within your organisation which is an important ingredient for sustained success”. As part of the state’s network of innovation support providers through Q-WIN, Pyksis helps to accelerate the successful penetration of Australian innovation opportunities into global markets. Pyksis focuses on assisting companies into Australian and world-wide markets by conducting targeted business-to-business market research, building effective strategic plans, providing mentoring and board assistance, and delivering experience-based company development programs. Technologies range from renewable energy, water and waste water, agribusiness, food and food processing, ICT, engineering and transport, construction and materials recycling.

Robyn VanRooye Mining

People requiring mandatory standards of training and inductions to work on a mining site no longer have to travel out of Cairns. Robyn VanRooye, training manager with Dawsons Group of Companies explains; “Prior to our offering scheduled courses, local companies would have to send their employees to Townsville or engage a trainer to travel to Cairns. Options for locals trying to up-skill and enter the mining industry were not available, as there were no public courses on offer.” Dawsons Training has grown from one classroom to three in the past year, with weekly scheduled deliveries in safety courses, site specific inductions and high risk training and assessment.

Cameron Slack Environment

Cameron Slack was the award-winning project manager undertaking environmental studies for the Torres Strait Land Use Planning Project, where collections of fauna species were preserved, documented and sent to the Queensland Museum to update collections which haven’t seen significant contributions since the 1970s. As the manager of the RPS Cairns Office Environment Group and an experienced ecologist and environmental practitioner, Cameron says, “An intimate understanding of the tropical environment is critical to our delivery of tailored solutions.” Cameron has spent the last seven years working in Tropical North Queensland, having undertaken many local projects. He has also represented the Planning and Environment Court as an expert witness.

Kim Kelly Advance Cairns Business Enterprise Centre (ACBEC)

Everyone in the Cook, Cairns, Cassowary and Tablelands regions has access to the low-cost, small business advisory service called the Advance Cairns Business Enterprise Centre (ACBEC). Manager Kim Kelly says, “The services we offer help businesses reach their potential. ACBEC will be presenting a session on how to turn great ideas into profitable business. With tropical expertise fast becoming a rapid growth market, it’s important to understand why early business planning is vital to future growth and how it contributes to the finance options available. Our presentation will also provide businesses with a range of tools they can implement on business planning, feasibility analysis and other financial diagnostics.”

David Smyth Energy

A revolutionary product that attaches to electricity poles and feeds photovoltaic (PV) energy into the system recently won a Queensland Government and Australian Industry Group’s ‘Big Idea Awards’. David Smyth (co-director) who helped co-develop the PolePower generation technology, will speak about the opportunities for Tropical North Queensland to become a hub for smart energy solutions. “TNQ’s high cost of energy, natural wonders and abundant renewable energy resources is providing significant incentives for the application of smart energy technologies. This, combined with our geographical location with easy access to both the east and western markets means TNQ is an ideal location to develop, manufacture and supply new technologies.”

Daniel Leipnik Built Environment

Both federal and state governments have awarded more than $4 million to research and development of roof integrated solar material, which, when commercialised, will be a world-first innovation in renewable energy generation. The Speciality Group, headed by CEO Daniel Leipnik, is a specialist producer of coated, laminated and impregnated technical and industrial textiles. It’s one of the largest manufacturers of technical textiles in Australia, producing more than 1000 different types of products across 20 industries, such as aerospace, mining, interior furnishings, sportswear and food and beverage. The Speciality Group has a sister company, Australian Composites, that manufactures resins, pre-impregnated fibreglass and epoxy pipe repair materials.

celebrating Australian tropical expertise 32

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innovate. brand. design.

Brands, logos, advertisements, signage, brochures, publications, stationery, books, promotional items... We love designing it all. Let our innovative and creative juices flow for you. PROUD SPONSOR OF THE TROPICAL INNOVATION AWARDS.

Suite 12, The Conservatory, 12-14 Lake St, Cairns Q 4870. Phone 07 4051 6263

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august 2011

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cbwc feature The Cairns Business Women’s Club (CBWC), founded in 1984, brings business people together to offer mutual support, inspiration, networking and professional development opportunities through its monthly lunches, programs and annual awards. In recent years, the club has matured and evolved into a professional body of like-minded business people who understand the power of networking and sharing business experiences. As an advocate of women in business, the club’s new Gold Partner, profile magazine, is proud to present its first quarterly feature highlighting some of the members. To find out more VISIT www.cbwc.org.au.

Zanzoo Tiles PTY LTD

Trudy Di Cola Trudy Di Cola is a scientist who is now selling tiles in Smithfield! How did that happen? Trudy worked for more than a decade in the pharmaceutical industry as a jet-setting national sales manager. When she settled in Cairns, becoming a wife and mother, she established Zanzoo Sales Solutions, providing workshops for sales people and businesses, teaching the fine art of sales techniques. Behind the scenes, Trudy also assisted her husband Michael with the running of his tiling business, Zanzoo Tiling Solutions. During 2010, Trudy and Michael travelled to Italy and China, searching for unusual tiles to bring to Cairns. In Christmas of that year, Trudy and Michael combined their skills to bring Zanzoo Tile Gallery to the North of Cairns, offering another choice in wall and floor tiles. And what a choice there is – amazing 3D glass for splash-backs, a huge range of beautiful, polished porcelain tiles, natural stone tiles for patios and pools, even mosaics created from a photograph. You should see the Michelangelo mosaic they have on the ceiling of their showroom reception! At the Zanzoo Tile Gallery, Trudy and Julian will help you find the prefect tile for your home or renovation, and Michael, Natale and his tilers will even lay the tiles. This makes Zanzoo Tile Gallery a one-stop tile shop. www.zanzoo.net.au Phone 4038 2008

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WORKLINK

Dorothy Dunne Dorothy Dunne, co-founder and CEO of Worklink (opened in 1996), has taken the organisation from a launch team of two to 30 staff members. The organisation is dedicated to supporting people who have experienced mental illness /distress in their journey of recovery. Worklink has grown from being specifically a provider of employment services to now include rehabilitation services, professional support and counselling services, and a range of training programs tailored to meet the needs of employers. Worklink’s vision is that people who experience mental health issues have the opportunity for employment, improved economic and social well-being and acceptance in the community. Dorothy is passionate about mental health and has worked in the fields of disability and mental health for more than 30 years, initially commencing her career as a nurse. She strongly believes in the importance of employment to one’s recovery and supports the research which shows that the therapeutic value of work cannot be overstated. It is one of the most important defining aspects of who we are; our sense of meaning, value and belonging. Worklink is funded by the Australian Government www.worklink.org.au Phone 4031 0877

IPA

Bianca Morgan Bianca Morgan’s career most definitely has an international flavour. After working for a recruitment company in the UK, she was bitten by the travel bug, taking a break to tour Europe followed by an extended stint living and working in Spain. She then spent seven years with her husband in Japan, working as a teacher at two local universities and then at a British international school. It wasn’t long before Bianca returned to the world of recruitment, tempted by a friend who just knew she had a talent for finding great people for great clients. “And I haven’t looked back,” she says. Bianca’s focus was initially on the pharmaceutical industry, placing CFOs, accountants and supply chain managers in roles with foreign capital companies. Four and a half years ago, Bianca returned to her hometown of Cairns to take on a role with IPA, starting out as a recruitment consultant and moving up into the role of branch manager. “I love the wide range of challenges my job offers up on a daily basis – the unparalleled training programs have helped me to achieve my goals, just as I help our clients and candidates to achieve their goals.” In September, IPA will move to new premises on the corner of Spence and Grafton Streets. www.ipa.com.au Phone 4044 2666

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cbwc feature profile magazine

Coral Florian

Digital Divas

Precedence

Jodie Coomber

Nicky Jurd

As a philosophy graduate, Coral’s study of logic, reason and argument, which taught her the ability to solve problems through an analytical and systematic approach, has in fact led to a very successful and fulfilling sales and marketing career.

Nicky is the owner and operator of Cairn’s largest full-service website development and hosting agency, Precedence. She is also a super-keen public speaker and is certainly in her element delivering workshops on web-related topics.

A multi-media advertising professional who also happens to be TNQ profile magazine’s publication manager, Coral has both local and international experience that spans more than 10 years, across media disciplines including television, print and online. So, making the transition into the world of glossy magazines seemed like a great fit.

A seasoned professional, Nicky has been involved in the web industry since 1996. She has gleefully helped hundreds of businesses to profit from their website through stunning design, ethical online marketing and well-planned website architecture.

Coral’s own philosophy in her work is to never just assume she knows best, regardless of how many similar businesses she may have worked with. “Do your homework, do the research and have the discussions with your clients before you determine how best you can help them. Advertising is not one size fits all, even in businesses within the same industries, in fact especially so.”

Precedence’s web design team boasts experience in building websites with budgets from $2,000 to $200,000 — and you can expect the high level of service, care and professionalism you would expect from an established company which has provided web solutions for more than 1,000 Australian businesses.

Call Coral today to see how her professional approach can help your business.

Nicky is proud of her qualified, experienced and incredibly talented team of web designers, web programmers and hosting technicians, and would love the opportunity to put her team to work in developing an online strategy for your business.

www.profilemag.com.au Phone 0419 483 183

www.precedence.com.au Phone 1300 363 460

There has never been a better time to join the Cairns Business Women’s Club...

Jodie, a born and bred Cairns girl, is the founder and director of Digital Divas Pty Ltd, a business consultancy firm specialising in administration solutions. After working in PA roles for 17 years, Jodie decided to take her skills to the wider community so developed a business model aimed at becoming the first point of call for people working in demanding roles to take advantage of outsourcing and delegating cumbersome administrative tasks. Her clients prefer to spend what little time of the day that is left more effectively on either increasing business in their area of expertise, or simply leaving the office at a reasonable hour to enjoy time with friends and family. Since its inception in 2008, Digital Divas has been successful in providing numerous organisations in varying industries with a diverse range of services and support; from transcription and document formatting to assisting clients to use social media more effectively. www.digitaldivas.com.au Phone 0405 035 239

CBWC has “serious fun, while doing serious business” Cairns Business Women’s Club’s focus is to build a business community that is Inspirational, collaborative, sustainable and generating success. We invite you to explore innovative ways for the CBWC to collaborate with your business. Benefits of joining the CBWC:

• Discounted pricing for all events. • Discounts and member only offers with Gold Partners • Access to members only promotional areas • Access to members only website area • An opportunity to promote your business as a 1 minute speaker at our lunches • 2 Free E-Notice Board postings per year

To join or renew your membership please visit our website www.cbwc.org.au

august 2011

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profile loves

black netting fascinator, $POA. enquiries to www.facebook.com/SHOWPONI

mad hatter

Blush Orchid teardop hat, $285. Jean’e Mae, phone 0439 787 757. Available from Vivienne Francine, Cairns Central, phone 4031 5700

Alli, group editor, says ... “You can’t go wrong with an enormous hat – keep it super simple for uber chic style. Sometimes, less is actually more.”

Cairns is abuzz with pre-race fever leading up to the Cairns Amateurs. From the Ladies’ Fashion High Tea on Thursday September 1 to Cairns Amateurs Cup Day on Saturday September 3, this is a racing carnival not to be missed. But what will you wear track-side? The race is on for race-day fashion … ladies, it’s time to frock up!

be-jewelled Ribbon necklace draped with black jewels to add drama to an outfit. RRP $19.99, available from Equip, Cairns Central, phone 4031 7622

Rachel Gilbert Positano Dress, RRP $495. for stockist details visit www. rachelgilbertshop.com.au

shrug love Matching silk flower shrug for night-time glamour, RRP $59.95, Demand. Available at Sunny Girl, Cairns Central, phone 4051 1960

Genine, group managing director, says ... “It’s important to retain race-day etiquette. It’s never a good idea to dress like you are going to a nightclub. Dress for the weather, certainly, but go for lady-like glamour – it’s all about style.”

the eyes have it go for gold Gold beaded clutch, RRP $77, LFA. Available from Tea Lily, Cairns, phone 4041 4150

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Ralph Eyewear, RRP $300. These glasses embody feminine glamour and radiate a ladylike, classic elegance with a refined vintage feel. Very Mad Men-esque for the races! Budget Eyewear, phone 1800 335 207 for your nearest store

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profile loves Slip these super comfy Fabz Folding shoes into your handbag on race day - perfect for the long walk home, from $69.95, www.fabz.com.au.

Alana, TNQ editor, says ... “You don’t want to be ‘that girl’, carrying (instead of wearing) your shoes home. Sky-high heels aren’t always comfortable, or practical, so throw a pair of folding shoes in your handbag – just in case.”

clutch it Capri Clutch in Retro Orchid Fabric, RRP $49.95. View the full collection at www.escapetoparadise.com.au. Available from Anushia, Port Douglas, phone 4099 5539; Bamboo Shack, Port Douglas; Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, Palm Cove, phone 4055 3576; Lime Homewares, Cairns, phone 4041 5579; Port Douglas T-Shirt Co, phone 4099 5509; and Tropical Collection, Palm Cove, phone 4059 1316

racy heels

White leather stiletto with black racer sole detail, RRP $269.95, Belle. Available from Sassi Shoe Boutique, Cairns, phone 4031 4999

with a little sparkle Salmon canvas bag with a hint of glitter for that little bit of sparkle, RRP $59.95. Available from Sassi Shoe Boutique, Cairns, phone 4031 4999

silk appeal Dramatic triple-silk blossom clip, $50. This gorgeous flower is lovely and attentiongrabbing. Made with three gorgeous textures of silk with a charcoal glossy floral centre. Contact teeki_@hotmail.com

Rachel Gilbert Rae Dress, RRP $465.00. for stockist details visit www. rachelgilbertshop.com.au

pretty in pink Pale pink and cream silk strapless dress with black bow waistline and black flower clip, RRP $89.95, Demand. Available from Sunny Girl, Cairns Central, phone 4051 1960

Coral, TNQ publication manager, says ... “If you’re looking to enter Fashions on the Field, attention to detail is paramount, from the tips of your toes to the top of your head.” photography Amy Nelson-Blain augustby2011

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vanity case

pump it up

hot oil

Schwarzkopf Osis Pump My Curls, $28.95, pulse hair and beauty, cairns. phone 4051 4212.

Bio-oil, rrp $14.95. The number-one selling beauty product in australia. Bio-oil is used to treat stretch marks with amazing results. For stockists phone 02 8436 8300

With spring just around the corner, it is the perfect time to get your skin in optimum condition. Get ready to shed that winter coat and embrace the sunshine. Top up your hair treatment, book in your wax and treat your hair and skin with these beautiful products – it’s almost time to bare the skin you’re in.

with Katie Mackenzie beauty director

sweet polish Saya raw sugar body polish, rrp $26.95. Available in frangipani or vanilla fragrances. For stockists visit www.Sayaskin.Com

scrub up Mos lime and sugar scrub, rrp $25.99. With raw sugar crystals blended with jojoba oil and lime essential oil. Sexy recyclable packaging and a distinctly sassy fragrance make this the perfect gift, or maybe a secret indulgence. To purchase, visit www.Montvilleorganicskincare.com

peachy skin Pelactiv body lotion, rrp $43. For your nearest stockist, visit www.Pelactiv.Com.Au

the best defence Thalgo’s Oxygen-3 Defence protects and moisturises the skin while allowing it to breath, RRP $87. Available from Beauty Spa Club International Shambhala, The Pier, Phone 4031 8800

need a lift?

luscious locks

salon treatment at home

Medik8 Pretox Eyelift boasts an intensive cream-serum formula to combat wrinkles and loss of firmness around the eyes, RRP $79. Available from Beauty Spa Club International Shambhala, The Pier, Phone 4031 8800

The body shop rainforest moisture hair butter, rrp $26.95, Luxuriously rich and intensive deep-conditioning treatment for soft, glossy and tangle-free hair. With pracaxi oil, manketti nut oil and community-trade honey and olive oil. there are no silicones, parabens or colourants. Visit www.Thebodyshop.Com.Au

De lorenzo equilibrium, rrp $29.95, 250Gm. maintain optimum hair health and shine. For local stockists visit www.delorenzo.com

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august 2011

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SPECIAL

G N I N E E R C S E C N A V D A

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$21

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style counsel

ll photography veronica sagredo

This month we meet local fashion designer Karlie Jay, known for her uber feminine and girly glamorous designs. Karlie, who is based in Mossman and works for Attitudes in Port Douglas, takes inspiration from the Tropical North, embracing the natural environment in which she lives and works. We’re dying to see what Karlie Jay will step out in this racing season.

KARLIE JAY

profile: What do you love most about your job / career? karlie: That every day is different. I can go for hours cutting, sewing and designing in my studio, to running down to Townsville for a photo shoot, heading back to Cairns to be part of a catwalk show and then rushing back to the studio for fittings. But most importantly, I love my clients. I have amazing clients whom I have been working with for years, and every day I get to meet someone new. profile: What looks can we expect to see from your range this season? karlie: My latest collection has a very vintage vibe; simple silhouettes that are influenced by the silver screen but very much brought into the modern time with the contrast of flowing cuts. Sequins, frills and flowers have been sewn on to satin and raw silks, all creating a mix of different fabric textures in a soft palette of colours. Dusty raspberry and oyster hues and a pop of magenta pink contrast against crisp black and white. profile: What must-have item should we all have in our wardrobes this season? karlie: If I am not frocking up I am very much a jeans and singlet girl. So my must-have item is the ultimate black jeans by Nobody Denim – cult skinny. They are a higher waist jean with a super skinny leg. That ‘70s glamour look is very hot right now. profile: Who is your favourite designer? karlie: I have never been a follower, but just being married myself, I have had weddings on my brain for the last six months. I have always admired Collette Dinnigan. Her work is beautiful and timeless. Alex Perry is the master of glamour, and I also love the beautiful freestyle shapes, cuts and falls of the Vera Wang Bridal Collections. august 2011

profile: How would you describe your own style?  karlie: Soft and feminine with a hint of vintage glamour. I love simple silhouettes with big details or a huge pop of colour. I want my garments to draw attention when you enter a room, while not being too over the top. profile: What is your fashion inspiration? karlie: Inspiration can come from something as simple as a flower in my garden or a stamp on a letter. Sometimes the print on a fabric is ideal for a certain style and it just flows from there. profile: What are the ‘must-wears’ if you’re looking to enter Fashions on the Field this racing season? karlie: Clean, new, undamaged shoes! Nothing is worse than seeing a beautiful dress with a perfectly matched head piece … and shoes that look like an after-thought. When you put your outfit together for Fashion on the Field you need to think from head to toe, including the finer details, such as polish colour. These days, the competition is getting tougher, so you need to put the work into the smaller details to get the extra edge. profile: Hat or fascinator? karlie: I love the idea of a big, sleek, black hat, but I personally cannot wear hats. So I am always up for a fascinator. You can have so much more fun with them. You can go as big and bold as you like, or keep it chic with a simple flower.

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life

bone health with Robin Gordon It’s a pleasure to be part of profile magazine’s launch in Cairns. Over the coming months, various topics will be discussed that relate to your health and well-being from the experts at both Cairns Women’s Imaging and Cairns Radiology. This month, we begin with bones.

Who should have a bone mineral density test? A BMD is highly recommended if you:

What is a bone mineral density test (BMD)? A BMD is an x-ray that reveals how strong your bones are and whether you are at risk of future fractures due to osteoporosis, which is the loss of bone tissue causing the bones to become weaker and more likely to fracture. Most times, you find out you have osteoporosis by getting a fracture after minimal trauma in common body parts such as the hip, spine and forearm.

•• Are male with clinical conditions associated with bone loss

Why have a BMD test? A BMD test is essential if you want to find out if you have osteoporosis, are at risk of developing it or want to keep an eye on how your bones are responding to treatment if your doctor has already diagnosed you with the disease. Osteoporosis can be successfully treated, especially if detected early.

•• Have a personal or maternal history of hip fracture or smoking •• Are post-menopausal •• Are over the age of 70

•• Use medications that are known to cause bone loss (including corticosteroids and various anti-seizure medications) •• Have type 1 diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease or a family history of osteoporosis

radiographers or technicians that perform the tests are able to be in the room with you while the examination is being performed. Where can I go for a BMD? There are several facilities in town with bone density machines, including Cairns Women’s Imaging. Our machine has a weight capacity of 160kg which will accommodate most people. A radiologist will interpret your results and send a report to your doctor the same day or soon after. It’s a good idea to bring old bone density tests with you so the radiologist can compare these with your new results.

•• Suffer or have suffered from fractures under minimal trauma, hyperthyroidism, malabsorption, excess thyroxine and rheumatoid arthritis.

Can I be bulk billed for my test? Medicare has strict criteria in order to be eligible for a rebate so you will need to ask your doctor if you can be bulk billed.

How often should I have a BMD test? Generally, every two years – check with your doctor.

Having a bone mineral density test is a safe, fast and easy way to ensure your quality of life is not affected by this treatable disease.

Should I be concerned about the radiation dose?

Bone mineral density tests do use some x-rays, but the amount is extremely small. So small, the

Cairns Women’s Imaging 4042 6888 admin@cairnswomensimaging.com.au

what is a heel spur? with Tyson Franklin This is a very common question and a misunderstood problem. People are often told they have a heel spur just because they have pain in the heel area. They are also told that not much can be done about it, other than surgery. Wrong. Only an X-ray can diagnose if a spur is present and even then the spur isn’t necessarily causing the heel pain. This is why it is important to see a podiatrist if you have a foot problem, as we are experts in foot and lower limb problems. If you stopped 100 people in the street and had their feet X-rayed, you would find a large percentage would have a heel spur and didn’t even know. So the existence of a heel spur does not equal pain. A heel spur is really a traction spur. On the bottom of your foot is a group of tissues called the plantar

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fascia, which attaches itself to the heel bone. The plantar fascia can tear away slightly from its attachment to the heel bone and create a micro-bleed in the area. The bone cells then ossify the area of bleeding. This happens though, over a long period of time, not in a week or a month. So yes, heel spurs do exist and they are developed over a long period of time,. However, the spur itself is not usually the cause of your heel pain.

Tearing of the plantar fascia is only one cause of heel pain; but it is not the only cause. This is why it is important to see someone who is specifically trained in diagnosing and treating foot conditions. You wouldn’t go to the optometrist to have a tooth pulled, so why would you take your feet anywhere other than to a podiatrist? Proarch Podiatry 4033 2218 www.proarch.com.au

Most people with heel pain will notice it first thing in the morning when getting out of bed, or upon rising if they have been sitting for an extended period of time. The pain can be quite intense. However, once they get mobile and warmed up the pain tends to be reduced.

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august 2011

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travelfile

KERANG KEMBAR LUXURY VILLA, BALI

ll words genine howard BALINESE LUXURY IS WITHIN REACH – ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE WILLING TO BRING SOME COMPANY ALONG. GENINE HOWARD DISCOVERS AN IDYLLIC PRIVATE VILLA IN BALI WHERE LUXURY OOZES FROM EVERY FRANGIPANI FLOWER.

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travelfile

ne of the highlights of 2010 for me was an amazing overseas group holiday to Europe. My husband and I, together with six of our closest friends, spent an idyllic week nestled high on the hills of Amalfi in Italy, overlooking the azure waters of the Mediterranean. Each day was spent lazily kicking-back in a three-storey, century-old villa – breakfast on the terrace followed by a walk to the local village for supplies, a couple of quiet hours relaxing poolside reading books, followed by fun-filled afternoons of swimming, local wine, laughter, eating, more wine and of course all the while gazing down over the picturesque town of Amalfi. Jealous? Well you should be. This was a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ holiday that can never be recaptured or recreated. Or can it? I think I have found the perfect holiday destination that will certainly help us recapture our amazing summer holiday – in actual fact, it may very well surpass it. There are the coastal sea views. Check. Gorgeous warm sunny days. Check. Enormous villa for eight (even 10!). Check. Gorgeous local produce. Check. Sun-filled deck and massive swimming pool. Check! This villa is not in Europe. Nor is it beachside in Antigua. No, this is Bali. And it is Bali at its absolute premium – a once-in-a-lifetime holiday experience. I have found Kerang Kembar, a state-of-the-art holiday villa perched at the cliff top on the southern-most beaches of Bali. But before you go flipping the page thinking this would be out of reach for your price tag, stop and read on. I, for one, am as thrifty as they come and want value for money for my hard-earned dollar. I have therefore mastered the art of organising once-in-a-lifetime holiday experiences that don’t require the need to take out a second mortgage … you just need a few willing friends. So enough with the jealously. Pop online, book your tickets, pack your bikini and grab your closest friends. This is luxury at your fingertips – Bali style. Situated in the Ungasan area of Bali (close to the famous surfing beaches of Uluwatu) Kerang Kemar Estate prides itself in providing an ultimate luxury experience, interwoven with pure Balinese traditions, look and feel. So let’s take it step-by-step so you can truly understand why this magnificent villa was worthy of my ‘wow’. Divided into three separate wings, we first took a tour of the main building. With its architectural design, soaring ceilings and wall to ceiling glass doors, the area plays host to a commercial size kitchen and breakfast bar, elegant dining area and open-plan living room complete with plump furniture, antique pieces and full entertainment system (including games cupboard, DVDs and a vast array of CDs). The villa then opens out to the timber pool deck which hugs the 21-metre infinity pool and provides numerous relaxation areas: multiple pool lounges, an outdoor dining setting and cosy love seats. We wandered next to the master bedroom wing which was to become our private sanctuary for the duration, and we were yet again wowed. The master bedroom leads off from the pool deck and the glass doors can be pushed back completely to give picture perfect views of the ocean below, while still remaining discreet from the rest of the villa. A king-king size bed (if there is such a label!) awaited us, complete with king-king sized pillows. Like its own private oasis, the master room offers a TV, DVD player and stereo. Leading away from the master bedroom and up a level, we discovered a private massage room. Further along is a delightfully decorated children’s room, furnished like a home-away-from home for kids … in fact, Englishowner Wendy Wilcox (who lives in Singapore) personally decorated each and every room of the villa, and nautical-themed touches from her two children can be seen in the room with his and her name life-buoy signs hanging from the bunk beds. With the tour far from over, we headed up yet another level to the bathroom. Now when I say bathroom, I mean palace … this was possibly the largest, most exquisite bathroom I have ever seen. Black marble tiles, wall-to-wall, opulent lighting and Chinese antique cupboards, together with a spacious shower and separate toilet. But that was only the start. Leading from the bathroom, separated only by floor to ceiling glass doors, is a sumptuous outdoor bathing area, complete with frangipani tree. Typically Balinese, this amazing outdoor

august 2011

retreat has a marble bath carved entirely from one block of stone and an over-sized showerhead promising a waterfall of cool water. If that wasn’t enough, the third wing of the villa (decked out with another three bedrooms of similar size to the master room) also has its own private outdoor bathroom. Luxury personified! Each bedroom contains an en-suite also, as well as entertainment systems and of course bigger-than-Ben-Hur beds. I could just imagine our group of friends feeling quite at home here at Kerang Kembar … so long as we snaffled the master suite! To sum up in one word, the food was simply … divine. We dined on tropical fruit platters, pancakes and omelettes for breakfast; freshly caught salmon and tuna for dinner, and nightly canapés poolside … along with a refreshing mojito (or three … or four). The food was simply five-star and we wanted for nothing. The staff was on hand from 7am ‘til 11pm, and the only time I entered the kitchen was for an early morning filtered coffee, kindly set out the night before by the charming staff. That was one of the things that sets villa Kerang Kembar apart – the staff. Balinese people are well-known for their friendliness and beautiful spirit, and our delightful staff was no exception. At first we were a little uneasy about having people wait on us … but we quickly got very used to it! Even the villa manager, Kadek, paid daily visits to ensure we had everything we desired, and of course when he suggested the chauffeur, Komang, take us down to the villa’s private beach house we jumped at the idea. Komang is on-hand each day to drive you anywhere you wish – a tour of Ubud, lunch at neighbouring Karma Kandara resort, or in this case down to the private beach house (which came complete with bales and a plunge pool overlooking the reef). We wanted for absolutely nothing. Should we wish for a relaxing Balinese massage or facial, we simply arranged it with the staff an hour before, all in the privacy of our own dedicated massage room. The most enjoyable part of our Balinese retreat was simply relaxing poolside each day, taking in the breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, admiring the surfers dotted along the rugged coastline, watching the local farmers gather their harvest of seaweed on handmade wooden rafts … all with a mojito in hand. Kerang Kembar is a special place that you could visit again and again, and possibly never leave. Take my advice: this is the perfect villa for those who prefer company … all in blissful luxury.

To celebrate the launch of TNQ profile magazine, Kerang Kember Estate is giving one lucky winner five glorious nights in their luxurious Bali villa, with airport transfers, daily breakfast and one dinner, and a driver and car provided for their stay. This amazing package is valued at $4655* AUD (accommodation only). Visit www.profilemag.com.au to enter our fabulous launch promotion. DETAILS Kerang Kembar Estate (+65) 9018 1742 (Singapore mobile GMT+8) www.bali-karangkembarestate.com

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on the table

ll photography alison george lime golden syrup dumplings

with Clare Richards Tropical Cuisine: Cooking in Clare’s Kitchen Author www.tropicalcuisine.com

ropical Cuisine: Cooking in Clare’s Kitchen was released in November 2010 and is both a comprehensive cookbook for the tropics and a food encyclopedia for tropical produce. It’s a must-have for lovers of tropical and sub-tropical cuisines and produce. This recipe for lime golden syrup dumplings is a great opportunity to make use of our luscious limes and indulge in a bit of winter-warming dessert fare. Golden syrup dumplings were a favourite from my childhood. When my sister, Ness, made them she really ramped up the lemon content as we loved the balance of tart and sweet flavours. My version has a similar tart / sweet balance but, instead of lemons, I make the most of the generous juice, zest and grated rind of the limes available year-round here in Far North Queensland.

method Preheat the oven to 190ºC. Place the flour in a mixing bowl with the cinnamon, nutmeg and lime zest and mix well to combine. Rub the butter into flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs then gradually add milk a little at a time to form a moderately stiff dough. Divide the dough into 10 equal pieces and shape into dumplings a bit bigger than a table tennis ball. Bring the water, golden syrup, sugar, peel and lime juice to the boil in a medium saucepan, stirring to dissolve the sugar, then remove from heat. Pour about one cup of syrup evenly over the base of the casserole, arrange the dumplings in a single layer, then pour over the remaining syrup. Cover and cook in the preheated oven for 20 minutes then remove lid and thoroughly dunk the dumplings under the syrup, or baste the dumpling tops with syrup if there is not so much liquid. Cook uncovered a further 20 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Serve with cream or sour cream. Note: I use about eight limes in this recipe. I zest three or four of them, thinly peel the skin of one with a sharp knife removing any pith and then juice them all to make one cup of fresh lime juice. For this dessert, you’ll need a wide-based casserole or baking dish with a lid (or one that can be covered with foil) that will fit the dumplings snugly in a single layer. 46

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lime golden syrup dumplings ingredients (makes 12 dumplings) •• 2 cups self-raising flour •• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon •• Pinch ground nutmeg •• Grated zest 3–4 limes •• 80 g cold butter, diced •• A little milk (2–3 tablespoons) •• 3 cups water ••

cup golden syrup

•• ½ cup caster sugar •• Thin strips peel from 1 lime (no pith) •• 1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice •• Cream or sour cream, to serve

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SPARK YOUR CREATIVE SIDE ...and bring your interior ideas to life.

Coast can cater for any taste creating quality interiors on any budget. Visit the Coast showroom and explore your design ideas.

OPEN 7 DAYS 2 Industrial Avenue, Stratford, Cairns P: 07 4055 1241 sales@coaststylishliving.com.au www.coaststylishliving.com.au

FURNITURE

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DECOR

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INTERIOR

DESIGN

abode natural glow This retro-style pendant light, called Inside, will bring an orange glow to any room. Available from Beacon Lighting, 331 Mulgrave Road, Cairns. Phone 4033 0700

with Richie Stevens Inside Out Stylists www.insideoutstylists.com.au

rug up We had this stunning ‘fanfair’ rug custom-made for an apartment so we could add a touch of orange. This 100 per cent New Zealand wool rug is available from Designer Rugs. Prices start at $2,600. www.designerrugs.com.au

Spice up your living space with a big, bright, bold splash of orange – the perfect way to show your zest for life. And is there a more appropriate colour for life in the Tropical North? We think not.

tropical salad This designer resin salad bowl with salad servers will be a stunning addition to any table. No two are the exactly the same. Bowl $74.95, salad servers $32.95. LIME Homewares, 46 Lake St, Cairns. Phone 4041 5579

a touch of paradise You could definitely brighten up a dull room with a little Birds of Paradise wallpaper from Eurowalls. A full 10m roll starts at just $99 and can be purchased online at www.eurowalls or by contacting 02 9310 2300

by candle light a slice is nice This Orange Slice chair designed by Pierre Paulin (1960) plays on the Pop Art psychedelia of the times. It’s sure to add a zing to any room ($POA). Available from Kezu Furniture, www.Kezu.com.au

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Not only does this Galapagos Candle ($37.95) look good, it smells delicious. We love them so much we put one in every house we do! Who doesn’t love the smell of kaffir lime and coconut? Available from LIME Homewares, 46 Lake St, Cairns. Phone 4041 5579

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abode

special … it is within reach with Kate Ifould Have you noticed that, for the average consumer, the world is becoming smaller and smaller? Even with the advent of online shopping, it seems that there are fewer options in interiors and more of either mass-market or bespoke, niche and designer products. It’s far easier to jump online and buy whatever you want from wherever you want … but where has the hands-on experience gone? I’m calling it ‘The Great Divide’. While I acknowledge that there is a place for high volume, low price and mass-market, consumers risk falling prey to a sense of ‘average’. Conversely, while more unique items do carry that sense of something special, many people think they come with a price tag that screams “I can’t afford it” so will not even flick the tag, walking out dissatisfied. Sound familiar? Our homes are supposed to be a place of comfort, sanctuary and relaxation – a reflection of our lifestyle and who we are. I believe your

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home should be an extension of your personality. How do we achieve this when it seems there are so few options and even fewer we think we can afford? Should we have to settle for anything less than what we deserve?

it. If you can’t find that special piece of furniture or soft furnishings, ask for a custom quote – it could be far more affordable and will be much more a reflection of you and what you want for your home.

I have no desire to decorate my home with the latest mass-market goods. However, nor am I made of money. It’s a quandary. Thank goodness there is help at hand. Quality and a sense of ‘special’ doesn’t always have to cost a fortune.

Go on … be brave!

You might be surprised to know that where bespoke, custom and designer used to be considered only for the elite, they are no longer beyond our reach. In an effort to recapture that sense of something special there are now gorgeous products that combine quality, design and style with an affordable price tag.

“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.” William A Foster. Coast Stylish Living 4055 1241 www.coaststylishliving.com.au

So where are these elusive products? Well, they are here in Cairns, but you have to be prepared to flick the price tag rather than submitting to the fear and assumption that you cannot afford

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abode

preparing for cyclone season with Roslyn Smith It’s probably an opportune time to consider whether your home will be able to withstand cyclones and future weather patterns similar to what we have recently experienced. What if Cyclone Yasi had actually hit Cairns and passed over your suburb? Is your home built to cope with that kind of extremity of weather and do you understand what the cyclone ratings mean?

extreme). In cyclonic areas there are generally three categories for housing construction. These range from Category 1 (41 metres per second – a mild cyclone) to Category 3 (60 metres per second – an extreme cyclone). We should really be calling them by their correct description which is ‘design wind speed for housing construction’ and save a lot of confusion.

There’s a reason why most of the newer buildings are still standing and it’s mainly the older buildings that have been affected by cyclones in the past 30 years. After Cyclones Althea (Townsville, 1971) and Tracey (Darwin, 1974) the Australian Building Codes were revised and much work was done on testing for cyclonic design wind speeds. As a result of this work, stricter building codes were introduced in 1985.

I say ‘generally’ because the certifying engineer may deem it is necessary to design to a higher wind speed. These wind speeds are also determined by the surrounding terrain. If there is solid protection by the surrounding terrain within 500 metres, then it will help with protection of the home.

Understanding cyclone ratings can be confusing, so I’ll briefly explain the differences. There are five categories for rating cyclones that range from Category 1 (mild) to Category 5 (most

If the home is out in the middle of a flat cane paddock or on the edge of a hillside then it will have little or no surrounding protection so the design wind speed could differ from suburb to suburb. It should be noted that, due to these engineering requirements, building a home in a

cyclonic area does add to the cost of your home construction. Maintenance of your home and surrounds is one of many important factors that will affect the strength of cyclone resistant construction; dangerous trees overhanging your home may cause damage during high winds; insufficient site drainage may undermine footings and land stability. My advice is to talk to an experienced local builder or engineer to make sure you have taken all the appropriate precautions before the next cyclone comes, especially if you’re new to FNQ. Affinity Designer Homes 4051 8866 www.affinitydh.com.au

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abode

horse play The Brumby fabric is a funky fabric design by Julie Paterson by Cloth Fabrics, phone 02 9699 2266

chalk it up Get creative and transform any surface into a child’s chalkboard. Now available in many great Porters Paints colours. RRP $38.30 for a one litre tin. Available from Cairns Coatings, 4041 3311

with Belle Hemming Space Planners www.spaceplanners.com.au

Looking to decorate your kid’s room? Here are some pint-sized decorating ideas for stylish kid-friendly spaces. join the circus This Circus Silhouette wallpaper reflects both a love of Victorian Circus illustrations and a fascination with 18th Century Silhouettes. Catherine Martin Silhouette Wallpaper, RRP $220 for a 10.5 metre roll. Available from Paint City, www.paintcity.com.au

light of your life This gypsy chandelier will add a touch of glamour to your little girl’s room. $189.95 available from Mini Style at www.ministyle.com.au

for the birds Accessorise with this cute little Twitter Bird Table lamp, also available in white, yellow, and black, $69.95. Available from Beacon Lighting, Cairns, Phone 4033 0700

diy scrolls Design your own kid’s bus scrolls, a great addition to any child’s bedroom. For more info visit www.busscrolls.com

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oh so plush

eggsellent

This gorgeous kid’s rug is from Netherland Designer Brink and Campman. Premium quality plush acrylic pile. 180 X 120cm. See www.spaceplanners.com.au for information

Replica children’s egg chair in pink; the Incy Egg Chair is available through Mini Style $399. Visit www. ministyle.com.au

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abode

stereotyping native plants with Marcus Achatz

No one likes to be stereotyped, and if plants could talk they would certainly agree. Australian native plants generally get thrown together in the one dusty basket. On the positive side, they are seen as tough and drought tolerant. While a less complimentary view sees them as gnarly and generally dry looking. Much like someone mustering cattle up in the Gulf. And it’s true. Due to the harsh nature of this country, many plants have evolved to match its rugged beauty. They can cope better with floods, droughts and fires than we humans can. This description is true for some native species, but certainly not all. Many native plants are lush, colourful, elegant and soft. Some are even delicate and need protection from the elements. And that’s very un-Australian in the eyes of most. Subsequently, when most people think of a native garden, they’re thinking of a generic bush garden, one that contains the obligatory grass tree, bottlebrush, grevilleas, native grasses and

an iconic gum tree. And that’s fine with me, because it’s probably my favourite style and I think there should be more of them. However, if you think that’s all there is you’re going to be missing out on a lot of local potential. Lush green gardens don’t need to be constructed with exotic palms, cordylines, gingers and leafy shrubs. There’s always a native alternative, and the local birds and butterflies will be most appreciative. Australia’s plant diversity is a lot like its landscape. Much of it is tough and dry, yet there are also pockets of lush green. After all, you shouldn’t forget that you’re living beside a rainforest full of potential native garden plants. Yuruga Nursery 4093 3826 nursery@yuruga.com.au Cascading Bean (Maniltoa lenticellata) is a small, highly ornamental tree which produces annual flush of soft, pink, new growth.

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Master Builders

MA S

R BUI L RS

august 2011

Master Builders

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ENSLAN

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ENSLAN

Master Builders

Master Builders Brand Identity Standards Manual

MA S

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business

happy staff equals happy customers with Kirsten Le Roux Congratulations to Genine and her team on the inaugural edition of TNQ profile magazine. CBC Staff Selection is proud and excited to be a monthly contributor to such a high quality publication, and to share some of our observations and advice on human resource and recruitment issues affecting Cairns, as well as right across the globe. We hope to cover topics that enlighten employers, employees and job seekers (at all stages of their career) as we draw from our own experiences and expertise in the industry and our specialist recruitment fields. With a current team of 13, we have a lot to talk about, but we also get plenty of questions and comments through our Facebook page and Twitter site. Hot button topics identified through our social media networks will definitely find their way into this forum for discussion and suggestions.

One subject that has come through as a focus at this time of year is salary surveys. The start of a new financial year is a good opportunity for employers to conduct a full salary review of all their staff to check parity, fairness and market rate.

What is universal though is that employees who feel valued are more productive and content. They take less personal leave, are more engaged and loyal to the business and are less likely to look for other jobs. Reduced staff turnover means lower training and recruitment costs.

Remember that salary increases are not the only motivational factor in retaining and motivating staff. In fact, a recent online survey found that flexibility, praise and recognition, work-life balance, and training and development rated highly as motivators too.

Most importantly, customers who interact with satisfied staff record a more positive interaction, resulting in better outcomes for the business.

Considering this, it would be worthwhile factoring in a training review of staff at the same time, and to plan for and diarise any training, resource and development requirements in the team for the next year. It’s worth bearing in mind too that motivation is relative and personal, and will vary depending on the person’s values and background.

Happy staff equals happy customers! CBC Staff Selection 4051 9699 Kirsten@cbcstaff.com.au

Want an Australian Visa? At Visa Connection we provide expert and personalised immigration advice to individuals and corporations worldwide. We have a vast knowledge of: • Australian Migration Law • General Migration Advice • Family sponsored visas • Spouse and Defacto visas • General Skilled Migration • Australian Citizenship and • Work sponsored visas (457 and RSMS/ENS)

Call us today on: (07) 4051 9043 to arrange your FREE half hour consultation Registered Migration Agents Fiona Ryan, Registered Migration Agent No. 0640004

e: info@visaconnect.com.au www.visaconnect.com.au 54

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business

the credit union difference with Jenny Neal More than 4.5 million Australians are already members of a credit union or building society across the country. So if you’re feeling a little anxious about your bank’s interest rates, fees and charges then why not consider the alternative … joining a credit union?

Personalised banking Excellent customer service is just one of the reasons why one in five Australians prefer credit unions. Not only do members receive personal service, they obtain competitive interest rates and a broad range of products and services.

What is a credit union? A credit union is a financial institution made up of members who each own an equal share of the business. Credit unions are committed to improving the standard of living of their members by encouraging savings, making loans available at the lowest possible cost, and providing services to suit the banking needs of members and their families.

Many bank customers mistakenly believe that the big banks are a ‘safer’ investment and that their money is more secure with a bank. This is a wide-spread misconception.

Unlike banks, credit unions aren’t publicly listed companies and have no external shareholders to pay dividends – as such, they do not usually seek to make large profits or capital gains. This puts them in a better position to save you money by offering members competitive interest rates and lower fees.

STRATEGIC PLANNING

Credit unions have to comply with exactly the same regulations as banks. Like banks, credit unions are authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADI) and are regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). And like banks, credit unions were also included in the government deposit guarantee introduced a few years ago due to the global financial crisis.

HUMAN RESOURCE CONSULTING

Helping the community As mutual organisations owned by and run for the benefit of members, credit unions often look to create a positive impact on the local community by supporting local organisations and participating in charitable and communityfocused events. What have you got to lose? If you think you could benefit from a banking organisation which offers more personalised service and has your interests at heart, why not consider making the switch and joining a credit union today? ADCU 4725 4299 www.adcu.com.au

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

BUSINESS MENTORING

Exciting news for fortis one! We are moving to our new location at

153 Buchan Street in early August. We are in the mood to celebrate and would like to extend an invitation to all our fortis one friends to drop by and visit the team.

new ofc

We look forward to welcoming you to our new home. Cheers! 4225 5333 enquiries@fortisone.com.au

a boutique advisory firm

august 2011

www.fortisone.com.au Follow us on Facebook

delivering unique solutions

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MIGRATION PLUS BUSINESS PROMOTION

philosopher’s corner … the very concept of truth Helping you to settle, work or study in Australia. Employer Sponsored Migration Family Migration Business Skills Migration Migration Review Tribunal EXPERIENCE Over 25 years experience in Migration Advisory work with agents holding the most recent qualiﬁcations. OFFSHORE MATTERS We can help with other matters such as Working Permits for Papua New Guinea. STUDENTS • Student Visas • Course Advice • Enrolments • Qualiﬁed Education Agents TYPE OF CASES We can assist with migration cases for • Employment • Visitors • Retirement • Investors • Business • Citizenship

MIGRATION to Australia has never been more complex or difﬁcult. Our experience can assist your case.

with Dr Chris White

Truth – we all know what this is, don’t we? Truth is something we know to be “correct”, or is “right”. According to the Encarta Dictionary, truth is “something factual: the thing that corresponds to fact or reality”. We never think of truth as being subjective or an opinion; we regard it as objective, a given, a simple fact. Thinking this way will lead us into arguments and dogmatic behaviour as we put our opinion forward as being “the truth”. We also see these opinions as the truth when they are just that; opinions. What is your view of truth? Is truth constant? Does truth change with time? Many believe that once we have found the truth, the search ends … the facts are there! We consider that the truth is a single objective state, that it is cast in stone. Try thinking of truth as simply your opinion at any given time. Maybe this means there is no truth. I don’t think so, but in many cases we make judgements on matters and things and give them the quality of truth. Rather it is something that, at this time and place, is an opinion. How many times do people go into meetings believing that they have the truth and are entirely closed to hearing views from others? How often do we argue for our facts or our truths as we perceive them, when they are nothing more than opinions, beliefs or images in our own mind? When this occurs, the real truth cannot emerge and conflict will arise. Truth will be accepted by all sane people once it is known; opinion may only be accepted by the holder of it. For ancient mariners, if they were sworn before a court to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, would they be lying when they said the world was flat? No. At that moment this was the perceived truth … it was believed to be a fact. Now we know it was merely an opinion, and an incorrect one at that. The truth can only surface by continuing to examine, search and investigate. When we have found it we should think again! If you commit to continuing to search for the real truth in every matter you will find a destination for your life’s journey. Migration Plus 4041 2620 www.migrationplus.com.au

Dr Christopher R White MARN 9255749 Yoko Yamaguchi MARN 0964594 Kinga Urban MARN 0956576

Level 15 Cairns Corporate Tower, 15 Lake Street, Cairns Qld 4870 P. 07 4041 2620 F. 07 4041 5011 visa@migrationplus.com.au

www.migrationplus.com.au 56

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FORDE GROUP BUSINESS PROMOTION

Your career; your choice! With Paul Fitzgerald

Having a job is more than just about earning a wage; it’s about providing for your family, enhancing your self-esteem, creating a positive example for your children and increasing control over your own future. But does it reflect your life’s goals? Recent years have seen a paradigm shift in what we used to take for granted. In simpler times, our options were limited but so were our risks. We had professionals who could nurture and advise, not confuse and divide. Who can we depend on now? Our politicians? Our scientists? The judiciary? The media? The unions? In a global world, where disasters overseas can have such a profound impact on our own lives, surely it is time to seek alternative solutions to life’s challenges? The façade perpetuated by vested-interest groups that they somehow have our best interests at heart has been ruthlessly exposed in recent times and surely now is the time for an era of personal accountability! Having your own future in your own hands is one of life’s great pleasures and is something worth fighting for. Empowering yourself to be an appreciating commodity in the workplace creates the kind of momentum which is both compelling and desirable to any employer. Investing in yourself today delivers lifelong outcomes. It is your own personal bank of experiences and learning … you are the sole beneficiary. It is utterly secure, free to deposit, delivers immeasurable yields, is ethically sound and deeply gratifying.

Are you staying ahead of the game?

Personal accountability is not a journey you have to make alone. On the contrary, it is about collaborating with others whom you can share ideas and opportunities with, but always retaining the right to decide for yourself. It can be about working in tandem with specialists in their field and opening your options to fresh challenges and new directions. But above all else, it is about personal integrity.

With falling share prices eating into retirement savings, retirees are some of the worst affected by the market downturn. But with a bit of careful planning you can safeguard your investments and maximise your position for when the market recovers.

Be decisive. Take back your own career and be responsible for the outcome. Tap into your own internal resources and find the genius within.

We can help you:

Choose your confidants wisely and take great care whose advice you listen to and never, ever, blame other people for failing to reach your potential.

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www.fordegroup.com.au gm@fordegroup.com.au Call RetireInvest Cairns on 07 4041 5772 to book a FREE no-obligation appointment today. The information contained within this advertisement does not consider your personal circumstances and is of a general nature only. You should not act on it without first obtaining professional financial advice specific to your circumstances. RI Advice Group Pty Ltd ABN 23 001 774 125, AFSL 238429

august 2011

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using a migration agent with Fiona Ryan Navigating Australian immigration law can be complex and confusing. To avoid the complex maze, registered migration agents are available to help guide you through the immigration process. A migration agent is someone who uses up-to-date knowledge of migration procedures to offer advice and assistance to a person wishing to obtain a visa to enter or remain here in Australia as a lawful non-citizen. Migration agents can also offer assistance to companies and businesses nominating or sponsoring skilled overseas workers. In Australia, only people registered as migration agents may provide immigration assistance. Migration agents operating within Australia are required to be registered with the Office of the Migration agents Registration Authority (OMARA) which is the governing body for the migration advice profession.

The MARA set registration requirements for migration agents to enter the profession which include qualification requirements of either a current Australian Legal Practising Certificate or the Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice. Registered Migration Agents (RMA’s) must abide by a Migration Agents Code of Conduct at all times which sets standards of professional conduct that an Agent must abide by. As migration law changes frequently, registered migration agents are also required to undergo continuing professional development training for annual repeat registration. Using a registered agent can maximise your chances of a successful visa outcome as you are dealing with a professional with proven knowledge on Australian migration law and procedures. These professionals can also save you a great deal of time as they can assist in the preparation and lodgement of a visa application and liaise with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on your behalf.

For some visa classes, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship has introduced a Decision Ready Checklist system for RMA’s whereby an RMA can certify his client’s application as decision ready and gain access to priority allocation and assessment. With more than 150 visa subclasses available, a Registered Migration Agent can provide advice on which visa options are the most suitable for you and guide you through the process. By using an agent you enjoy the peace of mind that every aspect of your visa application will be professionally managed from beginning to end. Visa Connection Pty Ltd 4051 9043 info@visaconnect.com.au (Fiona Ryan, Registered Migration Agent No. 0640004)

seize your opportunities with Elmarie Gebler Congratulations to the team at profile magazine in launching their Tropical North Queensland publication. Seeing an opportunity and moving swiftly to take advantage of it shows great entrepreneurship. Acting quickly on new prospects and being aware of gaps in the market demonstrates a shrewd approach in implementing strategic intent. It is increasingly important for business owners to keep their eyes open in the market and seize each opportunity with zeal. Remember you won’t see a diamond in the rough unless you are looking for it. It is also important to give due consideration and weight to each opportunity to ensure you are operating within your values and remain aligned with your ultimate business vision. Decisions of this type are not taken by merely moving your business into unchartered waters, but rather come about to satisfy an element of the business’s strategic appetite.

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Keeping your business moving in the direction of its goals ensures that a strong focus on outcomes is maintained. When new ideas are developed or new opportunities present themselves they need careful contemplation and planning to gain the full benefit. Relying on your business instincts is a great start. However, you should avoid knee-jerk reactions and take the time to consider how the opportunity may impact on all areas of your business going forward. Remember; don’t be disappointed if every opportunity doesn’t get off the ground, as historically only 5 to 10 per cent of business ideas are adopted to full fruition. Making mistakes is part of the process and learning from each error will provide valuable knowledge as you progress with other opportunities.

his focus on the ultimate goal, stating; “I have not failed; I’ve just found 10,000 ways that don’t work”. Will 2011 go down as yet another ‘character building’ year for you or it could be the year your future is changed by grasping a new opportunity and running with it? We are sure 2011 will be a monumental one for profile magazine and we wish the team the very best and every success with their new venture. Fortis One Pty Ltd 4225 5333 www.fortisone.com.au

Thomas Edison was not discouraged by a lack of success in his quest of discovery and maintained

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understanding super with Teresa Farrah I am so happy the end of financial year has been and gone – we have ensured our clients have made their required contributions to super and now I can relax. I walk into John’s office, the other financial adviser in the office and also my husband, as I wanted to talk to him about what I should write for our first article in TNQ profile magazine. Somehow, we start talking about super and people’s knowledge of super. It concerns me that so many have such little knowledge of the benefits their super can bring to them. It’s common for us to speak with people who are just about to retire and they see us for advice on how they can generate an income from what they have in their super. In the ideal situation, the retiree will have surplus to their income needs in retirement but more often than not most people won’t have this luxury so have to make compromises.

Perhaps now you are thinking, “Have I got enough for my retirement?’ From experience, I have never found anyone who had ‘too much’ in super. Whatever you have may not be enough! It’s all about how much you spend in retirement that will dictate what you need. The cost of living for a couple at 60 is around $40,000 per year and potentially there is the aged pension at 65 to supplement your income if eligible. You should be cautioned about relying on the age pension to substitute for proper retirement saving. The age pension is already under significant pressure from an ageing population and it won’t go close to providing what most would consider a comfortable retirement income. For example, if you were currently earning a $60,000pa income, the rule of thumb is that you would need a retirement income of around $40,000pa. The age pension is not going to deliver that sort of money, so it is up to the individual to plan ahead.

The fact is that retirees in their first few years spend a lot more than $40,000. So just how much are you going to spend? What impact will it have on your superannuation capital? To help target such retirement savings goals it is important to take advantage of whatever government incentives are available. This is where seeking professional advice can help. Your super can make the difference as to whether you have a comfortable retirement or you are just able to make ends meet. RI Cairns 4041 5772 teresa.farrah@ricairns.com.au (Teresa Farrah is an Authorised Representative of RI Advice Group Pty Limited ABN 23 001 774 125, AFSL 238429. This editorial does not consider your personal circumstances and is of a general nature only. You should not act on the information provided without first obtaining professional financial advice specific to your circumstances.)

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august 2011

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milestones

words alana rushton ll photography andrew watson

“It’s good to celebrate success.” Sally Mlikota

Featured in a book on inspirational recruiters in Australia is our very own Sally Mlikota, owner of CBC Staff Selection recruitment consultancy in Cairns, and a well-respected professional in her industry nationally. As Alana Rushton discovered, not only is Sally a leader in her field, but she has managed to achieve that elusive work-life balance.

chieving a work-life balance, for many, is like trying to find the pot at the end of the rainbow. Enter Sally Mlikota, owner of CBC Staff Selection who was recently named in a book called Different Thinking – 20 Inspirational Leaders, by author Nicholas Beames which profiles 20 of the recruitment industry’s most inspirational and motivational business leaders. Not only is Sally acknowledged as a stand-out in her industry, but she has managed to achieve this goal while juggling motherhood. Recruiting for 23 years in Hong Kong, London, Sydney and finally Cairns, Sally moved into a management role early in her career and now leads a team of 12, as director of CBC Staff Selection in Cairns. Sally has owned and managed CBC for seven years (but has been with them for 12), specialising in professional and office administration for clients throughout the Far North and PNG.

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“I’m very flattered to have been selected as an inspirational leader in an industry that employs more than 19,000 people in Australia, and I’m delighted to be flying the flag for Far North Queensland in a current economy where there are many doom and gloom stories. It’s good to celebrate success,” she said. Sally’s first year in the recruitment industry began in 1989 while living in London. She admits at the time she had no grand plans for a future career in the industry – but rather to have fun and earn some money. Just one year into the job, Sally realised she loved going to work every day. “I set myself a goal initially to be one of the best in the business then used this career choice to help me travel the world.” She spent a year recruiting in Hong Kong before being enticed to Sydney to manage a team for Michael Page. After getting married and starting a family,

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WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION BUSINESS PROMOTION

she moved to Cairns for a better work-life balance. “Joining a small business in Queensland, I ruffled feathers by introducing new concepts and ideas. I wasn’t the most popular of team members, but within two years I was managing the business – working three days a week while enjoying parenthood. My aim was never to own a recruitment business, but in 2004 the business was for sale and it seemed a logical and natural progression, so with the encouragement and support of my husband and silent, business partner (though, not always silent!) I bought the business. That really is where my leadership skills have been tried and tested.” As a manager and business owner, Sally believes she has the opportunity to elevate her enterprise from merely being a place where employees go to earn a living to something that satisfies the individual needs of each person and brings out their best while achieving success for the business. I asked Sally what advice she gives new employees wanting to be the best. “Knuckle down and watch those around you. You can learn as much from the under-achievers as you can from the top billers. “It’s also important to bring your own style into the role and ask for constructive feedback often. If you have the potential to be one of the high achievers but your company doesn’t, make a move. Don’t compromise!” Sound advice indeed. For business owners, she gives simple advice. “Turnover is vanity, profit is sanity.” She also believes in creating a knowledge bank of people and mentors – agreeing with the age-old adage of surrounding yourself with people who are experts in their job. “If you are lacking in any one area, find an expert to work with.” Sally’s personal focus is most on definitely achieving a work-life balance. “I’ve only grown my business in Cairns, not beyond, because my key focus is family and work-life balance. I’ve seen plenty of business owners and managers who grow their business for ego – and have missed out in other areas of their lives.”

Milestones ... We asked Sally to share the key milestones in her life that have shaped her, changed her and defined her, personally and professionally. Milestone 1: A global childhood Being brought up in Africa, the Caribbean and India during my childhood definitely shaped me as it fuelled my desire for travel, made me appreciate the world and also made me an optimist.

do you have lost super funds waiting? with Robert Blank Westpac recently unveiled a towering cube of money representing the $18.8 billion of lost super held in 5.8 million accounts across Australia. Findings of a nationwide survey indicates almost half (46 per cent) of Australians could be missing out on part of their superannuation. Surprisingly, the survey found that of these, 15.8 per cent of people questioned knew they had unclaimed or ‘lost’ super but are not actively trying to recover it. “It’s alarming to see that nearly half of Australians have lost super,” says Westpac Group executive of retail and business banking Rob Coombe. “So many people are missing out on money that is rightfully theirs and that could make a significant difference to their lives once they retire. That’s why we’ve launched an initiative to help our customers, and indeed all Australians, actively find and reclaim their lost super. “For example, having just one super fund, versus having an equal amount of super spread across five accounts, would cost someone who is 30 today a staggering $47,000 by the time they retire. That’s why it’s so important that we help our customers take action today by visiting their local Westpac branch!” Across the country, Westpac branches have already reported a multitude of examples of people uncovering their lost super. One Westpac banker found $260,000 in lost super in just one week for multiple customers. A Westpac financial planner conducted a lost super search for a retired man who was living on the Age Pension and was convinced he had no super. He uncovered $200,000 that will now support him in retirement. Customers can enquire about BT Super for Life at any Westpac branch.

Milestone 2: Meeting John Meeting my hubby, John, in London 1991 was a key milestone in my life as it led me to move to Australia, and inevitably, the beautiful city of Cairns.

“While the amounts of lost super uncovered have varied, as have the situations and ages of the recipients, the point is clear. The sooner people uncover any lost super they have, the sooner it can start working to contribute to a more comfortable retirement,” said Mr Coombe.

Milestone 3: Buying the business In April 2004 the opportunity to buy CBC Staff Selection from Dennis Howe arose. By investing in this business I have achieved business goals I had never dreamed of, with an opportunity to balance my family and personal life with work.

“We’re urging our customers to call into their local Westpac branch. By ensuring their super is in one place and effectively managed through a product like BT Super for Life, customers can achieve visibility and control of one of their largest financial assets.”

Milestone 4: Becoming a mother Having my two children in 1999 and 2000 has definitely impacted on my life, because as a parent I am a more balanced individual focused on others not just me. It helps you put life into perspective and grounds you.

Speak with your local manager, Robert Blank at the Cairns Central Branch, on 0429 044 088 today to find your lost super. Westpac Banking Corporation 125 Sheridan Street, Cairns Phone 4030 0709

Milestone 5: Climbing a mountain In June 2010 I climbed Kilimanjaro, Tanzania – Africa’s highest mountain at 5895 metres. It reconnected me with nature, reminded me of what we are capable of when we step out of the comfort zone and what your heart and head can achieve when they work together. august 2011

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Moonlight Cinema Opening Night, Port Douglas

The Tropical North is a hive of activity at this time of the year - so many things to do, places to go and people to see! Have you been snapped at one of our RSVP events?

clockwise from left: Liz and Matt Hurley Jandi Lees-Smith and Ali Purcell Brad King and Za Harrichan Casey Dix, Gavin Child, Georgia Child, Hollie Child, Abbey Robertson

Opening Night of TWO 4 ONE, Jute Theatre, Cairns clockwise from top: Laura Pegrum and Lauren Hall Mark and Judy Evans Luke and Bridget Evans

Cairns Festival 50th Anniversary Launch, Cairns

far left to right: Local band, Northern Soul (Scott Paterson, Luke Weston, Emmaline Anderson, Nick Emtage and David Breeze) Allan Reading, Kay Hilder, Cairns Festival Parade Queen 1964, Mayor Val Schier and jazz singing legend Wilma Reading Eric Holowacz, producer of Cairns Festival 2011

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Cairns Business Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club July Networking Lunch, Shangri La, Cairns

clockwise from top left: Mary-Ann McEacham, J.M. Switchboards, Sally MLIKOta, CBC Staff Selection, and Helen Cook, Creative Communications Troy Haines, Action Coach, Sharon Vella, TOSCO, Kylie Gabutto, Sebel Furniture and CBWC Janita Pavey, Ralph Smithers, ECU Australia, and Trudy DiCola, Zanzoo Tile Gallery Susan Lucas, Suna Shoes, Natalie Dean and Lisa Krause, Rydges Hotels, and Kaj Haffenden, Precedence Kristy Taylor, Collin Messervy, Pynes, and Dijonne Calanna, Calanna Pharmacy Kylie Maher, Lady Needs a Tradie, Juliet Murray, savvE-marketing, and Danielle Harris, Lady needs a Tradie photography by stuart Frost

Cairns Chamber of Commerce, Breakfast with The Hon Andrew Fraser MP (QLD Treasurer) clockwise from far left: The Hon Andrew Fraser MP, Treasurer of Queensland Kellie Claremont, ANZ Bank, and Jasminder Higgins, Miller Harris Lawyers Fiona Bawden, Arup, and Nikki Colverson, Body Corporate Services Ian McKirdy and Darren Cleland, Dept of Employment, Economic Development AND Innovation, Andrew Fraser, Treasurer of Queensland

august 2011

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win

win a fascinating fascinator It’s racing season in the Tropical North – the perfect time to snag a fabulous new fascinator! www.fascinator.net caters for all tastes, styles and budgets, also stocking handbags, bridal veils and hair jewellery. Pre-made fascinators are available online or at their temporary store at Stockland Shopping Centre. Profile magazine and www.fascinators.net have five fabulous fascinators (valued at $90 each) up for grabs this month. Enter online at www.profilemag.com.au

win golden ticket double to cairns festival A Cairns Festival Golden Ticket entitles the bearer to one free admission to select 2011 Cairns Festival Golden Ticket performances (subject to availability). Simply use your Golden Ticket to secure advance tickets at the TicketLink counter to ensure a reserved seat for your desired events. Golden Ticket holders will also gain two-for-one admission to Paronella Park in August and September. Cairns Festival (www.cairnsfestival. com.au) and profile magazine are giving away three double Golden Ticket packages valued at $100 per double ($50 per ticket). Enter online at www.profilemag.com.au

win luxurious mulberry silk linen Silkyard’s pure silk products treat your skin and hair to the ultimate sleeping experience. The benefits of mulberry silk are many and Silkyard’s silk is the finest available, cleansed in pure spring water and kept away from chemicals. Gentle yet strong, silk is now known as the luxurious alternative for beautiful bed linen. Silkyard’s products include duvet covers, sheets, pillowcases and eye masks in contemporary colours to enhance any bedroom. For the complete range visit www.silkyard.com.au. Profile magazine and Silkyard have three pamper packs to give away each valued at $100, featuring a mulberry silk pillowcase., matching silk eye mask and a sample of tenestar silk wash. Enter online at www.profilemag.com.au

win a host of fragrant delights Alkoomie perfume house has been turning heads with their organic fragrance and candle line. The hand-crafted, alcohol-free and synthetic-free perfumes containing Australian boab flower essence combined with botanicals including bergamot, boronia, orange blossom and sandalwood, are blended in bespoke, artisan batches to ensure the quality and purity of each and every perfume. Visit www.alkoomieperfumehouse.com.au. Profile magazine and Alkoomie are offering one lucky reader the chance to win one of each perfume from the range plus an organic soy wax candle, valued at $400. Enter online at www.profilemag.com.au

win hot new underwear for your man Sly Underwear is Australia’s newest underwear brand. Founded amidst a flamboyant and forward-thinking culture, Sly Underwear is the alternative for those wanting to look and feel good from the bottom up, representing designer quality combined with streetwear-inspired designs. See www.slyunderwear.com. Profile magazine and Sly Underwear are giving away $300 worth of underwear to one lucky profile reader. Enter online at www.profilemag.com.au 64

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meeting captiva’s baby brother …

on the road

HOLDEN CAPTIVA 5 ll words hamish rose

holden captiva 5

s I picked up the keys for the series 2 Captiva 5, I felt like we had already met. The Captiva 5’s styling reminded me of the original Captiva 7 that, while not the perfect make for my DINKS (double income, no kids) lifestyle, I really enjoyed driving. I certainly could not fault the Captiva 7 for value for money in its class. This medium SUV boasts AWD, a torquey diesel motor, seven seats, ample interior room and a features list much longer than you would expect for a $40K SUV. So as I was handed the feature and price list for its younger brother, (under $30K, drive-away), I wondered if the series 2 Captiva 5 could be too good to be true. The introduction of the series 2 Captiva range has bought with it a complete review of the Captiva 5, resulting in increased fuel economy, increased performance and a decrease in price. A quick read over the specifications list proves strong value for money, with the all-important features in this class, such as air-conditioning, six stack CD player with MP3 capabilities, dual front and curtain airbags, ABS and alloy wheels, all ticked off. There were a few extras thrown in by Holden that surprised me – leather steering wheel, cruise control, front fog lights, and even front and rear park assist. I certainly don’t expect these add-ons in this price range. Holden has done a great job keeping the choice really simple. They have increased the features of the Captiva 5 so buyers are not found looking for more and upgrading to a higher model (something we can all relate to – going in for the ‘special deal’ only to find out it doesn’t have the features you require and having to spend thousands more than expected). Holden removes the stress from the equation by offering two choices; a standard 2WD 2.4 litre four cylinder petrol with a 19 per cent increase in power than the previous model to 123kw, or an AWD 2.2 litre turbo diesel model producing 135kw … simple. For this test, I chose the petrol model at $28,490 drive-away. I was keen august 2011

to test it for value. While the exterior has been revamped, the original styling of the Captiva remains, albeit with a new front grill and chrome-surrounded fog lamps to add a classier look. First impressions inside the Captiva 5 exceed all expectations. A leatherwrapped steering wheel with radio controls, nice looking, easy to read dials, just the right amount of chrome style finishes, ample personal storage (including a clever centre console bin under the cup holders – a great use of otherwise wasted space), and even a single-touch electric park brake … perfection. While I admit I was acting in true male fashion and did not read the instructions for the stereo system and trip computer, it would appear the technology for this is quite good – six stacker CD player, MP3 and trip computer with full stereo controls. This review was conducted in and around Cairns at varying speeds and driving conditions. This 123kw petrol motor provided enough power and performance needed for this category of vehicle. Fuel consumption at a claimed 9.1 litres per 100km is reasonable for its size. As Holden have not designed the Captiva 5 for serious off-roading, they have been able to provide added extras, such as hill start assist technology and electronic brake force distribution to make everyday driving just that little bit easier. Suspension setup is good for city driving and cabin noise is limited by good sound deadening, adding to a reasonable 11.8 metre turning circle and good visibility. While I’m a fan of its bigger brother, the Captiva 7, I must admit that the addition of the Captiva 5 to the family is a clever move for Holden. I was certainly pleasantly surprised. If it’s an off-road, seven-seat vehicle you’re looking for, the Captiva 7 is a great option. However, if you are in the market for a medium-size SUV for nipping around town without the need for an AWD, the Captiva 5 offers fantastic value for money and is a must-drive.

THE FACTS ... Holden Captiva 5

features: - 17 inch alloy wheel s - Electronic stabilit y control - Electric park brake - Front & rear park assist - Cruise control - 6 airbags - ABS & EBD - Hill start assist

engine: - 2.4 litre 4 cylinder petrol with 123kw and 230Nm torque OR - 2.2 litre 4 cylinder turbo diesel with 135 kw and 400Nm torque fuel consumption: - 2.4 litre 4 cylinder petrol motor – 9.1L per 100km - 2.2 litre 4 cylinder turbo diesel – 8.5L per 100km price: - 2.4 litre 4 cylinder petrol from $28,490 (as tested)

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the last word

MARK MACLAUGHLIN

ll photography andrew watson Locally, Mark MacLaughlin is synonymous with coffee. As manager of Skybury Coffee on the Atherton Tablelands, Australia’s oldest coffee farm, Mark lives and breathes the stuff. But beyond the Tropical North, Mark is better known for his marital status, or lack thereof, as a contestant on reality TV show.

When I was “growing up I wanted to be … a rally car driver.

I grew up … in Mareeba but lived away for many years at boarding school, university, and then travelling for a few years after uni.

Most people don’t know that … I was born in Muscat, the capital of Oman in the Middle East.

I start my day by … hitting the snooze button at least three times. Ha! I’m not really a morning person, but who is at 5:30am? I get up and try to have a big breakfast because you never know what the day is going to throw at you.

When I was growing up I wanted to be … a rally car driver, and used to practise around the farm in my Datsun 120Y, but it never really got much further than that.

I am at my happiest when … Mum and Dad are happy, as I know everything is running smoothly.

“

When I am not working I am … usually out in the sunshine, enjoying the outdoors, having adventures or downing a cold beer. I wish I could … slow down time. Seems there is never enough time in one day.

Mark had hearts fluttering all over the country due to his soft and romantic nature. He didn’t snag a wife, but thankfully, he’s more than happy with his life on the farm

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The best meal I have had … was at one of Dad’s famous meat barbeques. Nothing else; just meat! My favourite holiday spot is … any place with blue water and waves. We are blessed living so close to the Great Barrier Reef … but it does mean no waves!

I couldn’t live without … my coffee, of course! But seriously, there would not be many days in a year I would go without one. My greatest achievement is … well, uni and travelling around the world are ticked off the list, but I guess a wife and kids would be great! In five years I hope to be … still living the dream and, hopefully, sharing it with someone. What makes me laugh out loud … is people’s reactions to things – they are priceless and so entertaining. The one person I would most like to meet is … Denzel Washington. He nails every role. My hidden talent is … obviously still hidden, I guess. profilemag.com.au

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august 2011

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