Tropical North Queensland Profile Magazine

JULY 2012

Ladies AT LUNCH

technology: friend or foe?

mystyle

time to shine

helene young heroes headed north

a luxe staycation at Sarayi Palm Cove MARK ALLEN the extra mile AVRIL QUAILL reach for the stars TONY ROBERTSON flying high SANDY ROBERTS the last word

in this issue

12 mark allen

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24

avril quaill

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future – the extra mile Mark Allen

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people – flying high Tony Robertson

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success – reach for the stars Avril Quaill

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24

ladies at lunch – technology: friend or foe?

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milestones – studying for the future Carol Doyle

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the last word Sandy Roberts

cover – heroes headed north Helene Young

special feature 22

cbwc award winners

helene young

regulars

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4 editor’s note

32 vanity case

6 pinboard

34 style counsel

8 he says, she says

36 life

21 on the road

40 on the table

29 mystyle

43 abode

30 profile loves

48 business

a luxe staycation at Sarayi Palm Cove

Mediterranean and Seafood Restaurant

Lunches from only $14.50 july 2012

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editor’s note

C

hampagne is usually reserved for celebratory events but I do seem to be drinking it an awful lot of it lately. First, some of our family visiting from down south and we decided to buy six bottles instead of one (as you do).

Reasoning: ‘it’s cheaper to buy in bulk’! It was a long weekend though, reason enough to celebrate, I say.

Next, I found myself mingling with a nice bunch of ‘foreign’ journalists (from Sydney, Hobart, Brisbane ... and even one ‘token Pom’ as he was affectionately known) who were here experiencing the Tropical North and sampling upcoming delights that will form part of Festival Cairns. On reflection, another good reason to toast a glass of sparkly.

And, of course, the Profile girls were in full swing at the recent Runway Twenty Twelve fashion extravaganza held at Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park – an amazing local event ... and therefore, another reason to celebrate.

With so many good things going on – Destination Q forum held here recently (getting our tourism industry back on track), sublime winter weather, Cairns Show this month, the Mareeba Rodeo, our ever evolving magazine (welcome to our additional staffer, Sharelle) – I realise us locals here in Cairns have got plenty to celebrate. Pop the champagne!

Hence the theme of July’s issue. We’re applauding Tony Robertson (for his fantastic JUTE production, Intimacy), Mark Allen for his amazing Bikebus initiative and Avril Quaill for her artistic endeavours.

Congratulations too goes to our talented cover star, pilot and author, Helene Young, who is releasing her third book this month. No doubt we’ll be clinking more glasses at that launch.

They say that in life we should look for the good – the positive, the reason to celebrate – and I have to agree. Kanpai, prost, salut, cheers – no matter how you say it, pour a glass of bubbles and toast to something worth smiling about this month.

Sarah

Celebrate with a little

on page 30 visit us on facebook.com/tnqprofilemagazine watch us on youtube.com/user/profilemagazine follow us on twitter.com/profilemag

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

group general manager / publisher Hamish Rose

group editor-in-chief / publisher Alli Grant

tnq editor Sarah Blinco

publication manager Coral Florian, 0419 483 183

account manager Jodie Sherman, 0477 642 424

sub editors Ingrid Nelson, Phyl Grant

creative director Kara de Schot

graphic designer Johanna Jensen

profile writers Mia Lacy, Bronwyn Webb, Alana Campbell, Samantha Alexander

photography Stuart Frost, Charlotte Rose

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

call / fax (head office) 07 5451 0669 / 07 5475 4405

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

distribution 14,000 copies printed monthly. 9,300 are home delivered and 4,700 copies are street delivered to high traffic areas such as high-end 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.

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Virginia

Kirsten

Karen

Sam

Amanda

Jo

Kerry

Chris

Executive & General Management | Finance & Accounting | Information Technology | Legal Sales & Marketing | Human Resources | Engineering & Technical | Secretarial Office Administration | Government | Community Services

july 2012

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pinboard

with Jennifer Thompson A List Events International To register your event email jennifer@alistevents.com.au

july 13 cairns chamber of commerce lobby bar get-together

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taikoz shifting sand Excitement at Cairns Civic Theatre as TaikOz’s ethereal sounds, thunderous taiko drumming, and dance captures the beauty and force of the ocean. One show only, 7:30pm. Tickets $42.

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www.ticketlink.com.au or 1300 855 835

www.cairnschamber.com.au

july 10 cbwc monthly lunch If you’ve never been to a Cairns Business Women’s Club lunch, there’s never been a better time to join! Book online for the upcoming lunch at Cairns Hilton Hotel, featuring special guest speaker Larke Riemer, Director, Women’s Markets, Westpac Banking Corporation. Members $48, non members $64. www.cbwc.org.au

easter

july 14 tradies and ladies review

However you choose to celebrate Easter in the Tropical North, be sure to enjoy a relaxing long weekend with family and friends, with fabulous, fresh local seafood and a few chocolate treats.

All the action will be at the Cairns Jockey Club, Cannon Park, today. Enjoy air-conditioned comfort in the Winning Post Bar for the Tradies for Ladies Review at the Tradies and Ladies Race Day. Champagne, canapés, ladies only! Tickets $40; general admission to races $10.

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emma louise live Cairns’ own Emma Louise returns to town with her stunning vocals and intimate performance. Expect musical magic in Tank 5, Tanks Arts Centre, 6:30pm. Tickets $25. www.tanksartscentre.com

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A new after-work opportunity to network and share business cards – Pullman Reef Hotel Casino, from 5:00pm.

profilemagazine

www.cairnsjockeyclub.com.au or 4044 3562

july 21 don walker Catch the creative force behind iconic Aussie band Cold Chisel. Arguably one of Australia’s favourite songwriters, Don Walker, at Tanks on his Night Fishing Tour with special guest Roy Payne. Tickets $35. www.tanksartscentre.com

profilemag.com.au

pinboard

july 28 bell shakespeare school for wives Falling in love is never easy. Take the hero of School For Wives. He desperately wants to get married but is afraid that a smart woman will cheat on him so goes about ‘designing’ a ‘perfect wife’! Or is she? Tickets $35, Cairns Civic Theatre. www.ticketlink.com.au or 1300 855 835

july 29 tanks arts centre markets day Relax under the leafy trees at Tanks, enjoy local markets, musicians and entertainers, get the kids involved in a workshop or wander the art gallery, It’s all free on the last Sunday of every month, from April to November, 9:00am to 2:00pm. www.tanksartscentre.com

july 5, 12 and every thursday paint your own pottery Never painted your own pottery before? Drop by Wonky Duck at Haven+Space every Thursday, or The Pier once a month. They have a fabulous selection of unpainted pottery to choose from. Create your own special gifts, engage in a new hobby and make friends. www.wonkyduck.com.au or find them on Facebook

NEXT MONTH

6&7

queensland ballet, cloudland An iconic Brisbane building for decades, the Cloudland ballroom was the focus of the city’s social life. Cloudland is a charming ballet based on real-life stories of romance, friendship and war-time relationships. Tickets $48. www.ticketlink.com.au or 1300 855 835

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cairns show The Cairns Show is Cairns’ largest community event and has been dubbed the best regional show in Australia! It takes place over three exciting days of sideshows, competitions, animal displays, food, fun, fashion and enjoyment. www.cairnsshow.com.au

august 17 to september 2 cairns festival Excitement abounds for this year’s festival. There’ll be street parades, shows, dance, foodie delights, art and exhibitions. A highlight includes Don Quixote by The Australian Ballet at Cairns Civic Theatre, 16 August. www.cairns.qld.gov.au/festival and www.cairnscivictheatre.com.au

august 20 cupcake day for rspca Do we really need another reason to eat cupcakes? If so, this is a good one. It’s the biggest bake-off in the southern hemisphere and you’re all invited to partake for a very good cause, the RSPCA. www.rspcacupcakeday.com.au

25 & 26

pin drop Part documentary, part urban thriller, Pin Drop is an award-winning audio-sensory work exploring the phenomenon of fear in our daily lives. At the Centre of Contemporary Arts, Abbott Street, 7:30pm. www.artscairns.com.au or 4050 9400

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july 2012

beauty spa club international shambhala The Pier Phone 4031 8800 www.beautyspaclubint.com.au profilemagazine

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he says, she says

It’s a month of fun and festivities, which got us all to thinking about the term ‘celebration’ – how, when and why do we do it? And how, when and why should we do it?! We chat to Dave and Inkie from Zinc FM for their take.

he says

P

op quiz peeps. What band from the ‘80s was responsible for the following lyrics: ‘There’s a party going on right here, a celebration to last throughout the year, so bring your good times, and your laughter too, we’re gonna celebrate your party with you!’ If you just mouthed out loud Kool and the Gang, pull the string on your Party Popper. Ironically, due to its repetition, listening to KATG’s Celebrations was like riding the Gravitron. No-one really celebrates the kid next to you vomiting.

If I have a point, it’s not very obvious so I’ll point out my point. We haven’t in our home of Far North Queensland, felt like there’s been much to celebrate over the last few years so I think it’s important that we don’t forget how to ‘celebrate’ the good things, the fun stuff, the important events that keep us connected to where we live and who we are. Like the Port Douglas Carnivale, Innisfail’s Feast of the Senses, Babinda’s Harvest Festival, Cooktown’s Discovery Festival and the Cairns Show. If you cast your eyes to the horizon, the Cairns Festival and Amateurs Carnival are about to come into view. Party ahoy!

Like turtles, we’ve all had to pull our heads in to protect ourselves from the prevailing conditions but I think it’s time to stick our necks out a bit and take a look around at where we are now and what we’ve actually got. I love all the different ways we celebrate our personal milestones and minor victories.

Birthdays with cake, the birth of a child with the wetting of the head and perhaps a cigar, a goal in soccer by pulling a shirt over our head. We spray champagne and we shout the bar. We plant a tree to celebrate the life of a loved one lost. When I look at what’s going on around the world I’m grateful we don’t live in a place that celebrates victories by firing automatic weapons into the air; more importantly, that we don’t live in a place that needs them.

I’ll raise a glass to that. ‘Celebrate good times, c’mon. It’s a celebration’.

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ZINC’S d

in ave and

kie

She says

A

s I’m writing this I have the most excruciating, can-hear-everyheartbeat-through-my-head, self-inflicted hangover. It was a few bottles of champagne which started out in elegant glasses topped with fresh strawberries, then quickly turned into swigging out of the bottle singing really bad Madonna karaoke-style songs at 2:00am ... But why the celebration? Oh just that it was a Friday night! I don’t think we need an excuse to celebrate, do we?

Yasou – the Greeks celebrate by smashing plates. Maybe a little expensive because you’ll always be dashing out to the store to buy new ones, however on the brighter side, no washing up!

Lads wetting the baby’s head. Your wife gives birth, yep firstly she’s the one who carries this little miracle inside her for nine months, then huffs and puffs for eight hours to bring this baby into the world not to mention all the other things that goes with it, and you’re the one who has to wear a stack hat (helmet) because it is way too stressful; a bit like watching your favourite pub burn down. The doctors don’t want you to become the next patient but in no time you are sitting with your mates smoking a cigar as they pat you on the back saying, ‘top job buddy’.

Celebrate the Cairns Show coming to town by eating three dagwood dogs and washing it down with a frozen raspberry drink thingy that has a dollop of ice-cream in it … possibly not a great idea before jumping on the $10 ride, the Gravitron, that whips you around at up to 3G’s (force of gravity) which undoes all of that deliciousness that you’d just inhaled … head to the showbag stand to buy the super mega pig-out bag. That’s the Cairns Show, and we love it!

Life is one big roller coaster of celebrations! The ups and the downs; the joys, heartaches, the milestones – enjoy them, celebrate them, and if you hear me singing Madonna songs at 2:00am on a Friday night, knock on the door and come join the party!

profilemag.com.au

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

ll photography stuart frost

AUDI DRIVERS CHOOSE PRESTIGE AS A WAY OF LIFE. THESE LUXURIOUS CARS ARE FAR MORE THAN JUST A MODE OF TRANSPORT, BUT WE LIKE TO HEAR IT STRAIGHT FROM THE DRIVERS THEMSELVES! THIS MONTH, THE AUDI CENTRE WELCOMES MARK WHITTAKER OUT FROM BEHIND THE DASH.

LET’S MEET MARK ...

Mark Whittaker is the director of Rotary Kiln Services Australasia, a company that supplies, installs and maintains process equipment throughout Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia. He is one extremely busy local, but in his downtime he enjoys days with his wife, Jenny, and children, Josh, Evelyn and Caitlin … or you’ll find him fishing or indulging in sport.

I earned my way to the top in business by … being in the right place at the right time and then taking the opportunity and working hard.

with Mark Whittaker MARK DRIVES AN AUDI Q5 2.0 TDI QUAT TRO S TRONIC

MARK’S REVIEW ...

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

Safety: 10 Value: 9 (if I say 10 they may jack the prices up) Design: 9 (last vehicle was a S Line Q7 and I have to say it just had the edge, although the Q5 is more practical around town) Technology: 10 Practicality: 10

On any given Sunday, me and my car go … north to Port or up to the Atherton Tablelands.

Fuel economy: 9

My car’s best interior gadget … there are so many subtle technological advantages you tend to take them for granted until you drive another make of car. I regularly drive hire cars and the differences between an Audi and other cars are noticeable.

Resale: 9

My favourite exterior asset of the car ... the shape.

The vehicle I learnt to drive in was ... a Holden Monaro.

My garage also houses ... a 24’ Bayliner Trophy Boat.

The stretch of worldwide road I would choose to drive my car on is ... my favourite local road, the Captain Cook Highway from the Northern Beaches to Mossman.

My car and I are similar because ... we’re practical and efficient.

Driveability: 10 MARK’S CAR Safety: Eight airbags including sideguard. Electronic stabilisation program (ESP) with roof rack detection and off-road functions incorporating ABS, Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), Electronic brake force distribution (EBD), Traction Control (ASR) and Brake Assist. Electromechanical parking brake. Hill descent assist. Servotronic speed sensitive steering.

Standard equipment highlights: 17” alloy wheels, 7-spoke design with 235/65 profile tyres. Aluminium exterior trip. Audi Music Interface (AMI). Audi parking system plus; front and rear. Auto dimming rear view mirror with light and rain sensor. Cruise control. Daytime running lights. Inlays: in Aluminium dimension. Interior lighting package. Leatherette trim. Mobile phone preparation with Bluetooth function. Multifunctional 4-spoke steering wheel.

Rear bench seat plus. Tailgate, electrically opening and closing.

Options fitted: Metallic paint, Xenon Plus headlights, 18” 10 spoke V-design alloy wheels, single colour paint, air conditioning plus, electric drivers seat, climate control cup holders.

Cost: Drive Away $79,197

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profilemag.com.au

I earned my way to the top in business by ‌ being in the right place at the right time

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

MARK WITH HIS AUDI Q5

www.audicentrecairns.com.au july 2012

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

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view

words samantha alexander

ll

photography stuart frost

Working for free is not something many of us take part in, but doing his bit is Mark Allen. Speaking to Samantha Alexander, Mark’s contribution has not gone unnoticed. mark allen

F

inding time in our busy schedules to help others is more challenging these days. We are constantly feeling the demands at home, at work and socially. I personally cram as much in as possible – much to my partner’s frustration. It feels like I am making the most of what time I have and I really enjoy knowing I have achieved so much.

This also helps calm my mind before my head hits the pillow each night.

Ask me to give up some of that precious time to others; well I haven’t mastered that one yet. I am still working out how to fit it in. For Mark Allen however, he has it down pat. Deputy principal at Trinity Beach State School, Mark is always in demand as he donates much of his time to others.

A big portion of this time is dedicated to the Bikebus. If you drive along the Captain Cook Highway through the Northern Beaches at about 8:00am each work day you might see Mark in action with his Bikebus. For those who haven’t, you might be wondering what a Bikebus is.

In a nutshell, the Bikebus is a group of children riding to school with a few teachers and parents. Since starting out at Trinity Beach, other schools have come on board so you may have come across one elsewhere around Cairns.

Trinity Beach often has 90 to 100 students riding to school as part of their Bikebus.

Sound simple? It is, but getting children to school on a bike has more challenges than you might think.

Mark is a keen cyclist himself and is the champion of the Bikebus concept.

Never anticipating that his local Bikebus would pave the way for a state-wide active travel program and form part of the Queensland cycle strategy, Mark is very satisfied with what he has achieved. Most recently, he and Trinity Beach State School set a new Guinness World Record for most people riding to school. Making history with 639 riders he sent a buzz around Australia.

“It’s taken off more than I could have ever imagined – who’d have thought something so simple as kids riding to school could be such a big deal?! It’s such a cool thing for the kids and their families – I wish every school had someone to champion this type of thing.”

The idea behind Bikebus began 10 years ago. “I had a group of kids in my class who wanted to ride to school – but the road was super dangerous, and their parents were too busy. I told them to meet me at the corner shop and

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we rode together one day a week,” Mark explains.

Since then, the Bikebus has transformed and Mark’s life has become only busier. “My mates say I operate on a 730-day-a-year diary. This helps! I have a very understanding wife; and I try to focus on the most important things all the time, refusing to allow pop-ups to get in the way.”

Beyond the Bikebus it is Mark’s irrepressible energy and huge smile that people love. In his local community at Trinity Beach State School, it is his presence that lightens people’s day. I can see the effect he has and it makes me smile.

My mum gave me my energy – she’s flat out man! She sets the pace for us [kids].

Mark is also very humble. He knows that he does such a good thing getting up twice a week to ride with the kids and knows without his effort none of the outcomes achieved so far would have come to fruition. He also does charity work for Distance Education and the Hospital Foundation.

Throughout this time, Mark hasn’t sought any personal gain and doesn’t look for praise. Perhaps this is due to his upbringing. “My mum gave me my energy – she’s flat out man! She sets the pace for us [kids]. Some of my earliest memories are of Mum taking us on her bike to kindy. Such wonderful freedom from a young age. I then rode to school from year one.”

Playing guitar at home with his small family, at school with the kids and to a crowd at the Salthouse every now and then, Mark has a few other talents.

Ask him about it though and he will claim that talent it is not. “I’m not good at many things but I do work well with people. Education is a people business and I find it very satisfying. I love having a positive effect on kids and their lives, and more importantly, I love watching them progress and succeed.”

Helping others is part of Mark’s job, but going above and beyond is not.

He strives to see people be the best they can be though, even when it intrudes on his own time.

People like Mark need to be celebrated and I will definitely cheers to that. profilemag.com.au

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LIVE. LOVE. LIFESTYLE. july 2012

www.bluewaterliving.com.au profilemagazine

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people

tony robertson

B words bronwyn webb ll photography stuart frost

We all have them, but for many of us our dreams are, well, just that, dreams. So when you meet someone who is actually living theirs it can be quite refreshing.

Bronwyn Webb catches up with Tony Robertson to find out how having his head quite literally in the clouds has given him the drive to live his dream of being a playwright.

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utterflies in the tummy, lines rolling around and around inside my head. Here it is, my moment. I enter stage left and I become someone else. The execution of my piece is perfect (of course) and then it’s over. The adrenalin is pumping and the feeling of elation is so consuming that to try and describe it in words would ruin it.

Judging by that performance I am destined for stardom, or at least my teenage self thought so. Now, here in my real life the thought of speaking in front of a crowd turns my stomach, that’s not to say though, that the urge to become an actor still doesn’t surface every now and then.

This is one of those moments and I blame a recent conversation with Tony Robertson.

Right now both of Tony’s careers have him soaring to dizzying heights.

He’s a pilot so spends a lot of time with his head literally in the clouds but when he’s not at the controls of a small aircraft he’s penning plays.

Just last month his first ‘real’ play was performed at JUTE Theatre. Intimacy is a romantic comedy about a middle aged man’s battle with his libido. The play, Tony hopes, will be the first of a trilogy to be taken to the stage.

“Half of Intimacy was written at Coast Roast at Cairns Central. I prefer to be out and about when I am writing because if I am at home I tend to be thinking about mowing the lawn,” Tony says.

“I must look odd because I spend a lot of time talking to myself and making wild hand gestures – acting it out as I go.”

Tony’s love for the theatre hasn’t always been a view from the wings.

Long before he put pen to paper and began writing scripts, Tony’s love of the stage was in fact performing on it as an actor.

“I knew I loved it when I was in kindy. The teacher was telling a story and I had to wear a policeman’s hat and I had to take it off and say ‘good morning’ at the right moment,” he recalls. “I couldn’t be stopped.”

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I knew I loved it when I was in kindy. The teacher was telling a story and I had to wear a policeman’s hat and I had to take it off and say ‘good morning’ at the right moment.

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Tony performed throughout his childhood and teens and auditioned for the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) when he finished school.

He was asked to re-audition the following year. You could consider it fate that the audition wasn’t successful because another was.

“I was impatient and wanted to start my career now so I ran off and joined a theatre company.”

For the next decade, Tony travelled with the company, which was based out of Los Angeles, and held themed educational performances at schools and churches. It was during this time that he met his wife who would become the mother of his two beautiful daughters, Hannah and Sarah.

“We travelled for eight months of the year and spent two months in training, but after 10 years of living out of a suitcase the lifestyle began to take its toll. My wife was Canadian and Canada was closer than Australia so we moved there. But after 10 years I found I wasn’t qualified for anything so my wife suggested I become a pilot. I agreed because it was more expedient than studying for a degree. I had tried to get a theatre company off the ground and I had written a play for a travelling theatre company but it just wasn’t paying the bills and I didn’t have the energy. I needed a rest.”

While undertaking the pilot training and working as an instructor, he worked as a security guard. Seven years after setting up house in Canada, he felt the tug of Australia and moved the family to Sydney. For 18 months he struggled to find employment before landing a job as a pilot in Alice Springs and later Gove, before moving to Cairns to work for Hinterland Aviation six years ago as his daughters approached high school.

“I was tired of being a bush pilot. I had been doing it for five years. It was very isolated and for six months of the year we couldn’t even drive out to a neighbouring town because of the wet,” he says. “It was nice to move to a city where everything is at your fingertips.”

It was around this time that Tony decided he “might have a crack at breaking into professional theatre” by writing pieces for a wider audience.

He chose JUTE as his target theatre company and used the hours between flights to put pen to paper. “I sent off my first piece, Lucid, and was told it was too big and that I needed to write something that was smaller and easier to produce. That’s when I joined the Enter Stage Write program.”

Eventually, Intimacy was penned and turned into the stage production Tony had been dreaming about. “It’s a mixed roller coaster of emotions when they said they wanted to produce Intimacy. It was elation when they said they were interested. Then they said ‘fix this, fix this’ and I got anxious.

I was so excited and then I started to think ‘did I write crap?’.”

It is about this time that I began to reminisce about my own moments on the stage and asked Tony if standing in the wings listening to his own words being spruiked gave him the same buzz as being on stage.

“This is my creative outlet. It is what I am passionate about. It is where I belong,” he says.“Words can’t describe what it feels like.”

I know exactly what he means. And there they are – memories of that rush of excitement, emotion and adrenaline haunt me again. I think I too need to run away and join a theatre company.

Smarter Business Solutions profilemagazine

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success

You had to be prepared to not eat and not be able to pay the rent.�

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avril quaill profilemagazine

profilemag.com.au

success

words samantha alexander ll photography stuart frost

There is something unique about our culture. It is rich and diverse and something Avril Quaill knows all too well. Speaking to Samantha Alexander, Avril highlights the importance of our traditional culture and how she has made a living bringing it to life.

S

uccess. What is it and how do I achieve it? This is something I often wonder about. I hear it, read it and see it, but continue to come back to the same questions. What do people who are successful have in common? What do they do differently? What is the key? It appears that there is not one recipe for success, but many. What makes it more difficult to attain is our perception of it.

For me, it’s feeling I’ve done something worthwhile, that I’ve made a difference. Most of all though, that I can hold my head up high and be proud of my efforts. For me, this means I continue to strive for more and refuse to settle.

It is not just about doing something well, but contributing to the community and making a difference. Speaking to Avril Quaill, I might just have found some more pieces to my ever complex puzzle of success. Avril is the artistic director of the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair – commonly known as CIAF. A picture of success, Avril has overcome many challenges in her years, only adding to her impressive experience.

“I’ve been working in Aboriginal Arts for the last 25 years and saw CIAF as a great opportunity to bring all that experience, expertise and my networks back to Queensland, my home state. I am very honoured to be the first Aboriginal director of CIAF.” Being the first Aboriginal director of CIAF is a great achievement, and yet another for Avril to add to her list. Working at the Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency (QIAMEA), Queensland Art Gallery, National Gallery of Australia and helping to establish an arts cooperative have all been part of her journey so far. As you might have guessed by now, Avril is passionate about Indigenous affairs. “It tells a story about its times.

Indigenous culture in Australia is the longest, continuous living culture in the world and we should be very proud of that fact.

“It’s not politics, it’s not land council fights and it’s not all the things which Indigenous art gets bogged down with. It is a positive way people can engage in Indigenous culture,” She adds. Avril has definitely channelled this passion in a productive way. Knowing there are many opportunities outside of being the ‘creator’, she forged her way into the fickle industry – something only those with strong will survive.

“I have an arts degree from the Sydney College of Arts and majored in painting and visual arts which was the beginning of my career. I didn’t ever think you could do a job for over 25 years and be paid for it in the arts and I certainly couldn’t have done that as a painter, so I went into arts administration. You can have a vocation in the arts without having to be an artist.”

With such a long and rewarding career, it would appear that Avril had this journey all mapped out from the beginning. This definitely wasn’t the case.

july 2012

As with most people living in the world of art there were many hardships.

“I never had a plan. Back in the ‘70s there were no careers for Australians in any of the arts (black or white) – people left Australia and went to Britain.

You had to be prepared to not eat and not be able to pay the rent in the early days, rely on other arts students and eat cheese for a long time and nothing else. You had to be prepared to not get a job and not to have people take you seriously when you looked for a job,” Avril reminisces.

Being the structured and practical person that I am, I know that all that uncertainty would have driven me crazy. For Avril however, it is almost that experience that built her resilience and her acceptance of change. “One thing is to not to be scared of change. I have been through many changes and I have witnessed moments where all of a sudden support and goodwill changes things. You get individuals who make a difference and that’s what has surprised me. It’s refreshing.”

I didn’t ever think you could do a job for over 25 years and be paid for it in the arts.”

Nevertheless, Avril acknowledges the support she had early on contributed to her success. “The only way I could’ve done it in the past, and in the first instance, is having a good core group of Indigenous people in similar vocations and positions around Australia – and good mentors (Indigenous and non Indigenous) in the industry.”

Despite her achievements however, Avril is in no way ready to start winding down. She still has a lot more do and achieve – and a vision she so eagerly wants to see come to fruition. I have no doubt Avril will see this vision through. I can see it in her eyes.

The drive Avril has to reach the highest of highs is evident in her mannerisms and her voice. It is part of who she is. A drive that is only seen in people aiming for the stars. It is almost intimidating. Avril cannot identify which parts of her personality kept her on the path to success; she simply acknowledges her good education and support. Sitting on the outside however, it is very clear to me.

I can see the ambition, determination and focus she fosters and know that these qualities, combined with her passion and resilience, are the reasons she has succeeded. This is something you cannot learn. You either have it or you don’t. Here’s hoping I have it too.

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ladies at lunch

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“The thing with technology is that you can always turn it off.� rebecca munroe

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1. rebecca munroe 2. khilum 3. sheryn bewert 4. judy freeman 5. mia and the ladies chat over lunch

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profilemag.com.au

ladies at lunch

words and photography mia lacy ll venue sirocco restaurant

Are you an App-happy camper? Or do you struggle with your cross platforms? If there’s a constant battle between screen time and dream time in your house, there’s one essential ICT option – turn it off! Mia Lacy takes the ladies for a spin along the information super-highway.

M

y brother admitted to me recently he doesn’t check his emails on the weekend.

And I admit I’m guilty of seeking more ‘me’ time and less ‘screen’ time. My personal diagnosis? Online fatigue.

My online fatigue began when I bought my dream – a sexy new Macbook Pro. I adored it, but like many affairs it hurt me. No, I mean it really hurt me. One month of remedial massages weekly and a new seating configuration later, we’d negotiated a wary truce. I still fancied it madly, but my declarations of love were now tempered with the fact that I didn’t want to sit down to my computer, which is a bad thing when you depend on it for income.

This made me think about being online, and my addictions. While I’d used it to connect, being online was making me feel increasingly disconnected from what I enjoyed more: being present. Don’t get me wrong, I think the online community is amazing. I’m just downloading a little.

To test the theory, I invited the ladies to lunch at Sirocco. Rebecca Munroe, 32, is a joint managing director of Jobsnap. Sheryn Bewert, 38, is a graphic designer and co-owner of Engine Room Creative, and Judy Freeman is director of Freeman Productions and co-presenter of an eclipse event.

Rebecca and Sheryn brought their iPads along to lunch with us, and we were extremely impressed with Sheryn’s bright green, child-friendly iPad stand. “I just brought it along to show you, I wouldn’t normally bring it to lunch,” she said.

Yep, we believe you! profile: Ladies, are you friends with technology, or is it your foe? judy: Absolutely a friend – no question. sheryn: A friend while it’s working! rebecca: Definitely a friend. profile: Does anyone recall what it was like when we couldn’t be contacted 24/7? judy: I reflected on it, and the first calculator was only available for public use in the mid ‘70s, the

july 2012

first fax machine was built in 1966 and wasn’t available commercially until the late ‘70s, and my first computer in 1984 was an Apple 2 and had 64kb of memory! When I first travelled overseas, I had to write an aerogram and we had poste restante. That’s the last 30 years – what’s coming in the next? rebecca: When I was a kid we had to plan things – like saying ‘I’ll meet you at the movies at 6:00pm’, and making arrangements to be picked up at a specific time by my parents – there was none of this ‘I’ll call or text you!’ sheryn: I remember my mum running to the bank on Friday afternoon to get cash out for the weekend and missing it. We wouldn’t have any weekend money because she got held up at work; and the local store would let us book stuff up until she could get to the bank on Monday! profile: What technology do you employ for your business and your own use? rebecca: Mobiles, iPads, Macbooks and broadband. sheryn: All of the above plus we have Apple TV, and I love Skype. judy: I have a Macbook Pro, an iPhone 4 and a large flat screen LED TV – but I’m limited because I live in a remote area. I can only get mobile broadband, I‘m constricted by that. I use Skype too, it’s great. profile: Apps – what, apart from social media, do you use a lot? judy: Bump – it’s a contact one I use. sheryn: Events Cinema, Shazam. judy: Spotify just came out in Australia this week girls! rebecca: Shazam, and online shopping – Coles, Woolies. I’m not sure I should admit to it but I’ve downloaded The Block’s app. judy: For media, I use The Times of India, www.cairns.com.au and lots of others. rebecca: Oh and Fisher Price baby apps for my one-year-old! profile: Which social media – Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook do you use? judy: Facebook. I don’t really use LinkedIn,

although I’m on it. sheryn: Just Facebook and just for personal, not for business. profile: So you have a separation? sheryn: I do. judy: Me too. rebecca: Facebook for personal and another one for our business and a little bit of Twitter. judy: I think there’s a bit of resistance about using Facebook to promote your business. People are smarter than that. sheryn: I agree, you need to separate it. rebecca: Same. My personal Facebook is all about our lives, photos etc. There’s no crossover. profile: Can you give an example of technology that’s positive in your life? sheryn: In my line of work, it’s awesome. No more waiting for camera ready artwork, it’s just a pdf via email! My job has become infinitely easier, and more portable because of technology. judy: While I’m working on this eclipse event I can talk to people from the four corners of the world without leaving my living room. rebecca: I can work around my son, which is ideal for me. It gives me flexibility, that’s what’s so valuable. profile: What about negative impacts – can you think of any? rebecca: Googling when your child is ill is the worst thing a mother can do. You’re convinced of everything and it can keep you awake all night! judy: I do it for medical stuff all the time – I love it. rebecca: Yes, then we go to the GP after we’ve been googling. judy: Not me! I’d trust Google before a GP most of the time. rebecca: But Google doesn’t have a medical degree, the GP does! profile: In your opinion, what’s the ‘new etiquette of technology’ about using our techno toys in a social environment? sheryn: I think you shouldn’t use it when you’re socialising. If I go for lunch with someone, I like profilemagazine

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ladies at lunch sirocco’s vegetarian chickpea curry

sirocco, cairns Overlooking the central atrium inside the Holiday Inn on Cairns’ Esplanade, Sirocco has stood the test of time and has recently enjoyed a terrific menu makeover.

to talk to them. Not Facebook that I’m having lunch with so and so! rebecca: I’m likely to have my iPad around! But it does annoy me – I’ve been to weddings where the phone’s rung. Actually it even happened at our wedding! sheryn: It’s like, turn it off, or just don’t take your phone. judy: But don’t you feel so naked when you don’t have your phone with you? Like you aren’t dressed properly? If there’s a lull in the conversation, I’m on my phone checking on what’s going on. I know it’s awful, but I’m not the only one! rebecca: Have you noticed how if there’s a debate with your friends, everyone just Googles the correct answer on their phones? profile: What do you think are the rules of posting online? sheryn: Think first. Don’t put anything on social media that you wouldn’t be happy to see on television or advertise in a newspaper. rebecca: No one’s forcing people to put their private information on Facebook, it’s their choice to put it there. If you comment, then it’s your choice and your responsibility. judy: I’m concerned about slander more. During the local and state elections I was tuning into the Facebook sites and there were serious accusations – people saying comments were slanderous and threatening to get the police involved. What’s happening on Facebook now is all about interpretation and perception. If you perceive it as slander, is it really so? rebecca: No one’s forcing people to post. No one’s got their hand on the keyboard forcing you to type that comment in! judy: But then, if no-one says anything, then it ceases to be a forum for communication and that’s one of the key benefits of social media! We need to agree what the guidelines are though. profile : What about online retailing – who shops online? judy: Retail will be impacted more than anything else by technology. I live on such a remote 20

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property I doubt it’s on Google Maps and last week I ordered 400 metres of fabric tape online.

At a national retailer in Cairns it would have cost $1.85 per metre and I paid 18 cents online with free postage and they delivered it to my door – can you believe that? rebecca: I shop online for clothes – I love eBay. I can buy decent branded clothes and shoes as well.

I’ve had some misses but if you only pay $10 it’s okay and I’ve had some fabulous hits as well. I’m wearing eBay head to toe today! sheryn: I wanted a doona for my son’s bed – spent three hours looking around town, couldn’t find it, went online and found it in 30 minutes and it got delivered yesterday. It’s the future. profile: How do you balance the time for other things against technology? judy: You have to be organised and make yourself do it. Every day I do 40 minutes of yoga and ride a stationary bike for 40 minutes and play musical instrument. I’m online every other hour.

I get up early! sheryn: The kids and I do arts and crafts with the iPad, so I guess it enhances our time. We cook with it in the kitchen, looking up online lessons. rebecca: You need to embrace technology or you just get left behind. And remember, kids still love going outside to play, that won’t change.

Like it or loathe it, technology is with us to stay, and Rebecca’s advice is spot on. The funniest take on technology during the lunch came from graphic designer Sheryn, so I’ll leave you to ponder this one: After weeks of colour correcting images for a magazine, she said, “We took the family down to the Esplanade and it was a beautiful day. My husband remarked on how great everything looked and I went, ‘yes’, but that tree there needs less magenta, the green’s too dark’!”

Head chef Sanjesh Shankar says his cuisine is influenced by his family and their journey through both obstacles and achievements.

Originally from Fiji, Sanjesh was involved in major hospitality brands there, including Sheraton and Four Seasons before taking the step overseas to broaden his culinary horizons. He says the new Sirocco menu reflects guests’ desires to see something different and showcase the wonderful range available here. “Our menu needed to blend in the region, food, culture and different cooking techniques into one. I felt it was important also to teach upcoming generations of chefs to explore beyond the same old boundaries,” he said.

Sirocco has a breezy, modern style which is reflected in its menus. The classics are there if you’re looking for a simple lunch (BLTs, Caesar, club sandwiches) but there’s a world to explore on Sanjesh’s tables. Try tapas to begin (grilled wild boar with tomato kasundi is just one choice) very reasonably priced at three pieces for $12. The tasting platter for two people was also excellent value at $25, with crocodile rolls, kangaroo skewers and barbeque wild boar.

Also gluten-free and most impressively presented was the reef fish en papillote. This was the fish of the day, cooked in parchment paper with preserved lemon, chilli, parsley, spinach, white wine and baby potatoes. It satisfied on all levels!

We also tried the potato gnocchi sauteed with chorizo, and a terrific vegetarian chickpea curry with a delicious pawpaw chutney. I was intrigued by something that recurred on the menu and had to ask, ‘What is EVOO?’ Extra virgin olive oil! (who knew?).

Desserts caught our eyes, especially as we’d been tipped that we definitely should indulge. For something completely different, try the fettuccini suzettes, which are finished in brandy cream with fresh oranges and vanilla mascarpone. The dessert is light, with a delightful clean finish. Also with a wow factor is the chocolate tart, with dark chocolate mousse artfully presented in a square chocolate ‘box’ with delicious wild berries compote.

Sirocco presents a childrens’ menu with a choice of mains and dessert for just $13 altogether (Hawaiian pizzas are popular!). The restaurant is open seven days for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

4050 6047 Level 1, Holiday Inn, 121-123 Esplanade (Cnr Florence), Cairns www.holidayinn.com/cairns

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on the road

Holden Captiva 7

ll words hamish rose

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here is something that keeps drawing me to a review I did in 2008 of the original Captiva 7 diesel – it was one of my favourite reviews. I can’t pick exactly why it sticks with me as such a positive experience, but recall a versatile, fuel efficient yet powerful motor, seven seats and a bunch of features you wouldn’t normally expect from the sharp pricing that Holden offered it for. Four years on and the release of the Series II Captiva 7 sees a brand new 2.4 litre petrol motor, and I was keen to see how it compares with my great memories of the original Captiva diesel.

The power in the brand new 2.4 litre four cylinder petrol motor has increased 19 per cent to 123kw at 5,600rpm and torque increased to 230Nm, yet fuel consumption decreased by six per cent to 9.1L/100kms. This officially positions the Captiva 7 as the most fuel efficient sevenseater in its class, a proud badge for Holden to wear. Standard safety features are as you would expect: electronic stability control, ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution, active rollover protection and hill start assist. In addition to these safety features, at the bargain basement price of only $33,990 driveaway, Holden has been kind enough to include 17-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth connectivity with audio streaming, six airbags and a leather steering wheel.

The Series II Captiva has only improved in the looks department, with major changes to the front july 2012

ll words hamish rose

end and changing the rear tail lights to a clear lens design for a classier and more prestigious external appearance. Internally, Holden has carried over the practical use of space with numerous storage compartments and improved it by adding a push button handbrake for even more space. The internal cabin is spacious, with ample room for five adults plus the additional two seats for the kids in the back. The interior finish is even better than the original Captiva, with new seat fabrics and a cool blue back-lighting on the instrument panel to complete the package.

On the road, the 123kw motor is matched perfectly with the six-speed automatic transmission to provide enough low down torque for around town and top end power for highway driving and overtaking. The Captiva 7 is easy to manoeuvre around the city as it feels much more like a mid-sized car than an SUV. The steering is light, but responsive, body roll is minimal and the brakes are suitable for this size vehicle.

The Captiva 7 is a great all round seven-seat SUV and would make an ideal family car for the largest of families. The updated internal and external appearance make for a classy, comfortable and great value medium-sized SUV. But does the Series II petrol model live up to the expectations of my review of the original Captiva 7? You bet!

And at the current advertised price of $33,990 driveaway, with bonus sunroof and side steps, the value for money really can’t be overlooked.

THE FACTS

Holden Captiva 7 Series II FEATURES: •• 17 inch alloy wheels •• Electronic Stability Control •• Bluetooth Connectivity with audio streaming •• 6 Airbags •• Leather steering wheel •• Hill start assist ENGINE: •• 2.4 litre 4 cylinder petrol with 123kw at 5,600rpm and 230Nm at 4,600rpm FUEL CONSUMPTION: •• 9.1L per 100km PRICE: •• 2.4 litre 4 cylinder petrol SX from $33,990 To test drive this vehicle, contact: Ireland Holden 227 Mulgrave Road, Cairns Phone 4052 3666 profilemagazine

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CBWC feature

words alana campbell ll photography stuart frost

Cairns Business Woman of the Year Jenny Cavallaro tackles her business the same way she tackles life, with grace, humility, kindness and a whole lot of fun. She chats to Alana Campbell about her trials, triumphs and the success she’s found along the way.

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eing recognised with one of Cairns’ most prestigious business accolades is a privilege Jenny Cavallaro, owner with her husband, Wayne, of Allaro Homes (formerly Better Homes Queensland), is taking very seriously.

She says taking part in the awards process has been one of the most humbling and fulfilling experiences of both her personal and professional life. “Being there on the night with the other extremely talented and professional finalists, I was genuinely humbled,” Jenny explains. “It takes me back to when I was first nominated and I thought I am not worthy of something like that, it is too much.”

Born in Bundaberg, Jenny grew up in a family full of racing enthusiasts.

Her father was a professional stunt driver and champion speedway driver and, along with her three brothers, she confesses racing is in the blood. Moving to Ayr and after finishing high school, Jenny’s father was responsible for signing her up as Queensland’s first female apprentice motor mechanic – this was Jenny’s first taste of being a female in a male world.

Her apprenticeship came to end after two years when her family moved to Cardwell. “There was only one mechanic in the town at that time and when he was asked if he would give me a job, he just laughed and told me to get out before he put his two Dobermans onto me.”

Fortunately, times have changed and Jenny is accepted as an equal in the business as well as on race days, when she mixes it with the men in her Ford GT. Completely at odds with her passion for racing is her love of fashion design. Jenny has always been creative and credits her mum with this gene.

A twice RAQ finalist, Jenny earned herself a notable reputation for her sassy designs and chic boutique, JC Inspirations. “It was about finding my own identity. When you work with someone your whole life, sometimes you need to do something for yourself. I had to follow my dreams to fulfill that.”

Jenny is quick to talk about taking chances in life and making the most of the opportunities that come up.

In 1976 she met her husband Wayne, an apprentice carpenter at the time.

The pair hasn’t looked back and have always approached life very much as a team.

Being a mother and raising their four sons has always come first for Jenny and as their children grew up so too did their business in the building industry – W&J Cavallaro. As her time in the business increased, together Wayne and Jenny planned big things for their future. “We have worked very hard to achieve the success and good reputation that we have today and have always tried to keep the balance between work and play,” she adds.

Many would say the Cavallaro family has helped to shape the building industry in Tropical North Queensland over the last 130 years. However, Jenny is also quick to recognise the team of people behind the business. “We are lucky to have fantastic people at Allaro Homes who are like family and we all enjoy being together,” she adds.

In 2002, W&J Cavallaro Builders became Better Homes Queensland.

Now, 10 years later, their family-owned business is going through another important transition – this time to Allaro Homes. The name Allaro Homes, which has been inspired from the Cavallaro family name, continues to build on the family’s origins, where its values and beliefs originated.

“Opportunities come along and you either see them as a chance to grow, better yourself and exhaust them or you miss out. Life is just too short, but through it all, you will find the things you are passionate about.”

Wayne and Jenny’s focus is now to drive the new brand, Allaro Homes, in Tropical North Queensland. This is the first step in a long-term plan to establish a franchise model that can be replicated across Australia. “If you can make it succeed once, it is just about duplication. We pride ourselves on the personal and individualised service we offer based on our own moral and ethical beliefs and we want to share this with the rest of Australia.”

The next 12 months will be extremely busy for the Cavallaros. However, for Jenny, a self-confessed girl who loves to throw a party and have fun, life is about balance. “You have to enjoy what you do, otherwise find something else.

You only have one life, so you need to live it and make it count.”

Profile congratulates the winners of the Cairns Business Women’s Club Awards ...

Jean Hunt, Infusion Marketing Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year

Esther Ritchie, Mental Health Queensland Michelle Commins Legacy Award

Raya Mayo, Dial A Doctor New Directions in Business

Katrina Spies, Q.I.T.E Westpac Manager in Business Woman of the Year Award

Dianne Healy, I.D Blinds Small Business Owner of the Year 22

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profilemag.com.au

CBWC feature

The Cairns Business Women’s Club (CBWC ), founded in 1984, brings business people together to offer mutual support, networking and professional development opportunities through monthly lunches, programs and annual awards. In recent years, the club has evolved into a professional body of like-minded business people who understand the power of networking and sharing business experiences. The club celebrates successful women in business, as does Profile Magazine. Success and inspiration take on many forms … and these exceptional CBWC awards’ nominees exemplify some of the best TNQ has to offer.

Starr Electrics and Solar

Starr Electrics and Solar is a long-established electrical contracting company of which myself and my husband Dan have been a part of for the past five years. We have three divisions to our business – construction, service and solar electricity generation. Each of these divisions is run according to the organisation and sales methods appropriate to that division, therefore, I have had to implement three different systems within one business and determine how best to tie them together under one organisational umbrella.

When we diversified, we needed to draw on the individual strengths of both myself and Dan and this led to Dan continuing in a hands-on / technical role and me taking over management of the business. In the past five years I have moved our business from predominately domestic construction – with one client providing 95 per cent of our business – to a diversified electrical contracting company with a client base of 350 plus.

Dan and I hold very strong values of honesty, trust and integrity and these are deeply entrenched in the way we carry out our business. I have identified the need for quality and reliability within the ‘trade’ industry and constantly endeavour to fulfil these needs for our clients.

Trish Elsden

Phone 4045 0028 www.starrsolar.com.au

IPA

Bianca Morgan’s career as Branch Manager of IPA Personnel has taken off over the past 12 months. She was the winner of the Best Branch Manager in 2011 for the Paul Veith Awards for Excellence and for going ‘above and beyond’; her branch also won ‘best branch’ in Australia in the same annual awards, and now another milestone – being a finalist in the Cairns Business Women’s Club (CBWC) Business Manager of the Year category of the CBWC Business Woman of the Year Awards.

Bianca is proud of her work, as she is proud of her company’s reputation. IPA is part of the ESH group, a leading provider of employment, training and recruitment services. IPA has been providing staffing solutions to organisations across Australia for more than 28 years and today, is one of the largest privately owned national branch networks in the recruitment industry.

While IPA are a part of a group of companies, Bianca states, “My business is local and as such, I work hard to bring value to the community by building positive relationships that benefit people in the area looking for work and assisting clients in better understanding the market forces that can impact their business.”

Bianca comments on the future: “My vision is to lead, grow and Inspire for outstanding performance, and my mission is to impact people’s employment and development for a better tomorrow.” Bianca believes sitting still is not an option!

Bianca Morgan july 2012

Phone 4044 2666 www.ipa.com.au profilemagazine

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cover story

Helene’s contemporary-cool corporate bob with beautiful blow dry was styled to be fresh, shiny, smooth and to withstand the windy weather of the day. Schwarzkopf products were used; particularly of note, Flatliner and Soft ‘n Straight. Hair styled by Pulse Hair, marita cheng Spence Street, Cairns, 4051 4212, with clothing by target Maria Morrison makeup artist 0422 287 299. Fashion styling by Viva Boutique, 24Grafton profilemagazine Street, 4041 5188

profilemag.com.au helene young

cover story

words sarah blinco ll photography charlotte rose ll hair pulse hair and beauty ll makeup maria morrison ll styling and clothes viva boutique

HAVE WE FOUND A COOL LOCAL FOR YOU THIS MONTH! SHE FLIES (OFFICIALLY SHE’S A ‘CHECK AND TRAINING CAPTAIN’ WITH AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST REGIONAL AIRLINE) AND WRITES (AWARD-WINNING NOVELS, NO LESS)! SARAH BLINCO MEETS THE MULTITALENTED HELENE YOUNG AND DISCOVERS HOW TWO SEPARATE IDENTITIES CAN MERGE INTO ONE REALLY INTERESTING LIFE.

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hen the idea was pitched to Profile that we should consider interviewing a very interesting local woman who is an accomplished aeroplane captain and awardwinning suspense romance novelist, a resounding yes emerged from our offices. This woman, by anyone’s standards, sounded like one super cool gal.

So cool, in fact, that we thought her cover-worthy, and so we all came to meet the very fabulous Helene Young.

I’d been liaising with Helene via email in order to organise our cover photo shoot, and by all accounts she seemed lovely as well as talented, and following much Googling, reading, tweeting and research on this popular author from Tropical North Queensland, I was quite excited to meet her! Imagine a life of flying along our sunny Queensland coastline, viewing the world from above (actually, I’m scared of heights so won’t delve too far into imagining that particular scene); then by night penning stories of intrigue and love – thrilling tales set within our own tropical landscape – stories that become so popular they are sold in department stores, bookstores and of course, online as e-reader downloads. We met in person on the morning of the cover shoot – a day far from the sunny Queensland winter bliss we’d all anticipated.

In fact, the day was “more like a grey, blustery, rainy British day,” we joked on discovering Charlotte (photographer), Helene and I had all done time living in the ‘motherland’. As we chatted, makeup artist Maria and hair stylist Teagan also began asking the delightful Helene about her interesting july 2012

life as a pilot / author, and so began our almost Sex in the City-ish ‘girly’ morning – a morning that ended with us all gaining interesting insights into Helene’s fascinating world, and a few new friends.

As the wind wailed down Spence Street outside Pulse’s salon, we talked inside and discovered our collective ‘Cairns heritage’; Helene being the only one of us not actually born here, although her mum was a local, born and bred, who moved south during World War II. “We [my husband and I] came up almost 15 years ago for my job with the airline. I was only supposed to stay two years and we had the option of being posted back down in Brisbane, but we fell in love with the place. I can’t imagine living anywhere else now. It’s the best kept secret in Australia,” enthuses Helene.

One of the first things you learn about Helene by browsing her website is that she has always loved to write, so I wondered when did the flying aspect come into her own life story? “As a career, flying came first but I always thought I’d carry on writing at some stage. If you write, you write, and I’ve always loved writing. Currently I’m a senior check and training captain with Australia’s largest regional airline, and I love it! My obsession with aviation started when I was young. We had a little beach shack at Currumbin, near the Gold Coast.

Aircraft used to come in over the roof – it was a novelty, and as kids we’d run down to see it. I saw a little Cessna land on the beach near Tugun and just loved it and wanted to do something with flying ever since. I wasn’t particularly diligent at school though. I was good at what I loved but none of the other subjects. I wasn’t going to get into the Air Force, which is the only option I’d considered, so flying was something that went on the backburner.

I went away and did the young backpacker thing

We were at The Spit [Gold Coast] and saw helicopters coming and going and I said to my husband that’s [flying] all I’d ever wanted to do.”

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cover story

My obsession with aviation started when I was young. We had a little beach shack at Currumbin, near the Gold Coast. Aircraft used to come in over the roof – it was a novelty, and as kids we’d run down to see it.”

Helene Young is beautiful, intelligent and loves her jobs as pilot and author in equal measure. Similarly, she refers to herself as a teacher, having positively mentored many aspiring aviators and writers

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and it wasn’t until I came back from England that I looked into it again. We were at The Spit (Gold Coast) and saw helicopters coming and going and I said to my husband ‘that’s all I’d ever wanted to do.’ He said ‘just do it!’ So I worked while I trained, and I was eventually employed by the company that trained me. I got a job then training others which I found really rewarding. There’s something special about sending people off for their very first flight.

I did that for seven years and loved it. It’s especially rewarding when you’ve trained people, sent them off for their first flight then years later send them off on their first flights as captains!”

Helene continued to develop her aviation skills in south-east Queensland, before making the move north. Of course, our gaggle of girly-girls taking care of hair, makeup, photography and writing began asking questions of Helene regarding her life in what is perceived as a male-dominated industry. “Four per cent of Australian working pilots are women; in Cairns 13 per cent are women, so here at least I have a better chance of going to work with women than most pilots do. That said, it’s becoming less of a male dominated industry, although I do see that there are reasons less women do this. The big one being juggling families is difficult. Regional flying is a little better, and I love it because I’m home more. We have some wonderful female pilots up here, but most are men.

I have had some amazing mentors over the years and I can’t honestly say I’ve had a problem. As always there’s one or two that can cause issues but you get that in any industry. It’s been a fantastic career for me. Even to the point where the boys at work are really supportive of my work as an author.

They’re wonderful. They ask questions, turn up to book launches and are surprisingly wonderful about it all.”

In fact, it was the men in the field who inspired her move towards writing, and now Helene is a proud published author of three books within the Border Watch series – Wings of Fear (2010), Shattered Sky (2011) and out this month, Burning Lies. “The series is loosely based on the customs border patrols that operate all around Australia, including the base in Cairns. The stories each started from three different little kernels of an idea. Around 1999, a small boat landed on Holloways Beach full of illegal Chinese immigrants, and fascinated, like most of Cairns, we went down to have a look.

Everyone was amazed that this vessel had made its way so far. That was really the beginning of the Australian government beefing up surveillance and putting more planes in the air to look out. I later ended up working with a few of those guys who had been flying the surveillance aircraft, and they told me about things they had seen as part of their operations. People really don’t appreciate how close we are to the northern borders. So many things come and go that no one knows about. A while later, sadly, I found a body washed up on Trinity Beach. This set me thinking about how it could

turn into a story. The other two books evolved from there using the Dash 8 aircraft that I fly as a central theme. These are also the aircraft used for border surveillance, so I have written stories not based on fact but including things I do know about and also on what those surveillance guys told me they saw coming and going.”

It’s nice to know that while the north has recently been represented on screen in a prominent way (The Straits, Sea Patrol, Reef Doctors, Neighbours) it’s also the setting of popular contemporary fiction. “I portray our region in a very positive way, highlighting for people the differences between here and the city, for example, how remote it can be. It’s a five-hour drive from Cairns to the next major city, Townsville. Aviation here is different from down south too. I’m very aware, for example, that come the wet season for some people and communities we’re ‘it’ – their only life-line. The other day we had an 80-year-old man who had never been in aircraft. He had always taken the barge to Horn Island. He was a bit nervous, bless him. People down south forget it’s still a remote area here. Very very beautiful, and we’re at the mercy of the weather.”

Helene’s fiction has not only been well-received by fans the north, and world over, but she has been awarded accolades including a RBY (The RWA’s Romantic Book of the Year) in 2011 for Wings of Fear (also voted favourite romantic suspense title in the same year); Favourite Romantic Suspense story for Shattered Sky in 2011, which has also been shortlisted for the RBY again, winner to be announced in August this year. Helene’s titles fall within the genre of ‘romantic suspense’ and Helene explains that luckily, the stigma (of sorts) that existed around the term ‘romance’ for many years has been removed. “Now we are seeing representations of romance that are not so soppy but instead are universally reflective – stories like The Notebook and Marley and Me.” Through Helene’s fiction we can all experience our own little imaginative slice of flying through the northern skies, dramatic and romantic encounters, handsome heroes and contemporary heroines. Has Helene herself ever experienced action in the air as her characters have? “No,” she laughs. “There is a crash scene in Wings of Fear but the background to that was from having experienced how disorienting it can be to crash a plane via a flight simulator, which for all intents and purposes felt very real. I learnt the tactics for crash landing, but fortunately I’ve had a very safe and boring career in that sense.”

While Helene’s third Border Watch offering, Burning Lies, is in bookstores this month, she’s already conceived the fourth instalment. “For me, something triggers an idea for a story. I can tell you that the fourth book involves a photojournalist who has been working in Afghanistan with her sister, a journalist. Her sister is tragically killed, which was a storyline that came about from a spate of news stories around this happening in profilemag.com.au

cover story

Less than 10 per cent of engineers in Australia are female, and only 14 per cent of engineering students are female.”

helene young

I portray our region in a very positive way, highlighting for people the differences between here and the city, for example, how remote it can be.”

july 2012

the war zones there. The story will look at the impact of the death on her family, what stories she might have been chasing at the time to put her in harm’s way. The hero is a serviceman – often in my stories they are, as they come with a skill set which means they’re capable of killing, are strong under pressure and, of course, they’re gorgeous,” Helene smiles. “My characters normally turn up before the storyline; I listen to their stories and that becomes the narrative.”

Between dreaming up cool characters for the page and flying, Helene is evidently a very busy woman. However, she still finds the time to follow through on what she feels is another calling, teaching. She works in conjunction with the Queensland Writers’ Centre to facilitate mentoring and educational courses in regional areas, is an online facilitator for the National Year of the Novel and is a ‘reading champion’ for the local libraries as part of the National Year of Reading. “There are huge literacy issues unfortunately for young and old. Something like 46 per cent of people can’t read or write well enough to fill in a form. It’s staggering – something I take for granted. Literacy is the building block of what makes life work for us and we have to work to improve it for those who find it difficult.”

Now that we’re all acquainted with the lovely

Helene, we’re eager to read her books. It’s nice to know that romance, and any form thereof is present and as engaging as ever. In fact, many female Australian writers are finding themselves at the top of the best-seller lists thanks to the evolution of e-readers and downloadable fiction which have made a wider range of relatable, heart-warming stories accessible to a worldwide audience. Helene is full of praise and admiration for her Australian contemporaries and explains that social media has also played a critical role in the promotion of their collective personalities.

“There is an expectation that you will have a Facebook page, blog, website, Twitter account; Google + and Google Hangouts are rising stars too. You certainly need to be interactive with readers. My hubby would say I’m a little addicted to Facebook, but it’s really lovely to connect with readers and other writers. There’s a real sense of community. It’s actually an unexpected joy of being part of this industry. Another lovely part has been receiving messages from people who love the books. In fact, a lot of the mail has been from men. Surprising, but I believe their wives have bought the books, told their partners to read them and they have been the ones to make contact and say ‘keep up the good work’. It’s unexpected, but I love it!”

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business promotion

D

ameon Jamie Web Design offers a startup package that includes an original website theme, domain name registration and website hosting – everything you need to be up, running and be formidable!

Starter websites include eyecatching galleries, blog or news pages, maps, forms and much more.

Websites can easily be expanded to include online stores that sync with a store on a Facebook page.

With every website, Dameon offers a complimentary tutorial session, search engine optimisation, social media integration and ongoing support.

Dameon is passionate about WordPress websites. They can be forever modified with new themes and plugins that extend functionality.

WordPress is constantly in a state of refinement. Add to that the ability to access and modify your website from any browser, iPhone or android phone and you have not just a 24/7 online presence but one with super-powers that can be updated at literally a moment’s notice!

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“My approach to design is to make everything as simple as possible.

Design should be intelligent and attractive and should say, ‘Look at this’, not ‘look at me’. That goes beyond the look and feel of the website. Updating and managing the website should be enjoyable and trouble free,” Dameon says.

“My first websites were for [my wife] Sajeela and her fashion projects in Bali. Working with computers on an island with frequent blackouts, hardware failures and slow to no internet connection was ... painful!

When we came to Cairns in 2004 and I had my first Broadband connection it was like throwing sandbags off a balloon. It was so wonderful to be able to create without interference. That’s when I officially launched my business.

For me, websites are about endless possibilities.”

Some of the work that Dameon is most proud of include the websites he has built for emerging artists and designers, including Julie Silvester and the Pastel Society of Perth;

Wayne McGinness of Aboriginal Steel Art, and photographers Ray and Sue Udy who now have over 10,000 fans on Facebook. Most recently he created a website and is developing an online store for the Sugar Boutique, Cairns local designers at the Pier.

Dameon jamie

“The fastest growing sector of online communication is the mobile platform.

Websites that are friendly with all internet devices will fare well.”

“The fastest growing sector of online communication is the mobile platform. Websites that are friendly with all internet devices will farewell.

Our websites are just that. Every website is made to be compatible with all current browsers, operating systems and devices. In the very near future it will s.o.p. for every website to have a dedicated mobile site or mobile application. My online stores are already optimised for mobile devices.”

Dameon adds, “All new websites for the month of July are 10 per cent off for anyone who kindly lets me know that they found me in Profile Magazine.”

profilemag.com.au

profile loves

time to SHINE

Get your bling on in these glamorous finds

your ultimate guide to fashion and beauty

vanity case

style counsel

MEET SARAH BREMNER

SAVING FACE Products for the morning after

profile loves

wild bling Hammered Gold Crystal Choker and matching earrings, RRP $99.

Available from www.wildbling.com.au

maximum impact on cover: Diamonds and Pearls maxi nude, RRP $249. Visit www.nookie.com.au

all that jazz Chara and Chara Jazz clutch RRP $110.00. Visit www.charaandchara.com

night light Coco Ribbon All That Glitters jacket RRP $695. Visit www.cocoribbon.com

it’s a ring thing Pandora sterling silver rings. available from pandora cairns central. phone 4041 7373

with Johanna Jensen fashion and beauty editor

We all love to shine every once in a while and what better time than in our celebration issue? Get ready to party with these glamorous finds. It’s your time to shine …

glamour bag Amorni bag, RRP $70. available from shoetopia, woodward street, edge hill. phone 4032 2941

give me fever silver lining Anu fully sequined draped dress, RRP $730. Available from www.oscarandwild.com

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shine bright

Fever York Dress with shoulder trim that flutters in the breeze. Available in Caramel and Midnight Blue from Annie’s boutique Palm Cove. Phone 4059 2112

Paris Gold Glitter dress, RRP $104. Visit www.celebboutique.com

profilemag.com.au

Combine to create

YOUR OWN STYLE

vanity case wiped clean dry time

NIVEA VISAGE Daily Essentials 3 in 1 Waterproof MakeUp Remover, RRP $8.80. Available from supermarkets or phone 1800 103 023

osis+ refresh dust bodifying dry shampoo, rrp $28.95.

Available from pulse hair and beauty, spence street. phone 4051 4212

bright eyes Models Prefer Eye Brightener, RRP $12.99. Available from Priceline stores or phone 1300 884 411

get glowing Arbonne sheer glow highlighter, RRP $55. Available from www. arbonneinternational.com.au

the bees knees Burt’s Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes with White Tea Extract, RRP $9.95. Available From Myer or phone 1300 855 478

sen anna Jen itor with Joh ed nd beauty fashion a

It’s the m or feeling a ning after the ni g little wor se for we ht before. Did yo recover y u wake u ar? Trea and pam t yourself p pering w ith these to a day essential of beauty ite ms. grime be gone Qsilica Remove Makeup and Grime Cleansing Gel, RRP $19.95. Visit www.qsilica.com.au for stockists

time to detox Thalgo Micronised Marine Algae sachets RRP $15.

Detoxifying, draining, re-mineralising and revitalising 100 per cent natural. Available from shambhala beauty spa club international, Cairns. Phone 4031 8800

get lifted Simplicité Results Lift, RRP $83.70. Visit www.simplicite.com.au

pure mist Youngblood Minerals in the Mist, RRP $48.40. Available from Aroma Hair, Windarra St, Woree. Phone 4033 1300

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hair care Al’chemy Ginkgo & Jojoba Vitamin Masque, RRP $19.95. Available at Priceline stores and pharmacies

profilemag.com.au

AromaHair

june 2012

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style counsel

ll photography stuart frost

Sarah Bremner is the beautiful 2012 Cairns Miss Showgirl runner-up and an up-and-coming local fashion designer. She’s completed study in fashion design, has won a Cairns Amateurs Fashions on the Field design competition and styles lucky ladies all over town. You can catch Sarah most days at DeVine Bridal on Martyn Street, where she loves sewing, creating and styling brides-to-be.

sarah’s style

profile: What do you love most about your job? sarah: I love the personal connection that I have with my brides. This is such a momentous time in their life and I feel very lucky to be part of it. profile: What looks can we expect to see this coming season? sarah: For spring / summer expect peplums, pastels and a hint of lace. profile: What must-have item should we all have in our wardrobes this season? sarah: Loafer shoes and a killer statement accessory. profile: Who is your favourite designer? sarah: Stella McCartney. profile: How would you describe your own style? sarah: I would describe myself as a style chameleon; my favourite style is ‘urban chic’, that sort of un-done yet expressive style that I see girls in New York or Melbourne rocking. profile: What is your fashion inspiration? sarah: I take a lot of inspiration from my sister, Jaydee Paino; I always tend to converse with her on looks I am planning to put together. I also get a lot of inspiration from local business women in Cairns. They have great advice on polished looks. profile: What and where is your favourite boutique? sarah: I am a big online shopper. I enjoy scouring through the pages of ASOS, Topshop and of course, the ever-faithful eBay! profile: What is your fashion fetish? sarah: I have a lot of shoes, bags and accessories. profile: What do you always have in your handbag? sarah: iPhone and Baby Lips lip balm. profile: What is your signature fragrance? sarah: Paco Rabanne, Lady Million.

Sarah Bremner

profile: What is your best style tip? sarah: Quality over quantity. profile: What is your craziest fashion moment? sarah: When I was completing my Cert IV in fashion design at TAFE and my final collection was about to hit stage a zip popped on my dress and sent me into overdrive!

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profile: What is your best memory from working in fashion? sarah: I was lucky enough to be part of the Cairns Central fashion magazine and was a stylist assistant to an established freelance Sydney stylist. This was a real eye-opener for me in the industry and is by far the best experience I have had to date. profilemag.com.au

Better photos

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

Learn how to take better photos today

BOOK NOW FOR NEXT COURSE !

•Beginner to Intermediate • Personalised • Small classes More details: stuart@calypsoproductions.com.au CALYPSO IMAGERY CENTRE 1 SPENCE ST • T 4041 5581

N PAS S I O

july 2012

ION H S A F r fo

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life

sesamoiditis with Tyson Franklin Sesamoiditis is a common condition that causes pain in the ball of the foot, specifically under the big toe joint. The sesamoid bones are very small bones that are located under the big toe joint within the tendons that run to the big toe. Due to their location and functions they are subjected to massive amounts of pressure and force every time the big toe is used to push the foot forward.

Treatment: Initially, after a thorough examination of your lower limbs, a podiatrist will usually make a temporary support to redirect weight away from the painful area and to control your overall foot function. In most cases, the temporary support will reduce your pain by about 80 per cent in the first 48 hours, as pain relief is initially the primary goal.

Symptoms: Sesamoiditis typically starts as a mild ache under the big toe joint and gradually becomes worse. In some cases, it will cause intense throbbing even when the person is resting. Once sesamoiditis starts, it makes it very difficult to enjoy simple activities, even walking.

Normal feet rarely get sesamoiditis, however, people with both high-arched or flat feet tend to be more prone to this problem.

If the temporary support has been successful, which it will be, your podiatrist will then discuss making a permanent foot support (orthotic) for the patient to use long-term. To be effective, the permanent foot support should be made using softer rubber-type materials and should also be full-length.

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of these forms of treatment only complement having foot supports made. Foot supports treat the underlying cause of the problem and this is really the only way to treat the problem effectively and to stop it from reoccurring.

Surgery: In very severe cases or following a true fracture of the sesamoids, which can occur, surgery may be required to remove the damaged or fragmented sesamoid bone, but this is quite rare.

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

Immobilisation, rest, ice and oral anti-inflammatory drugs can also be very beneficial. However, all

profilemag.com.au

life

what is bone mineral density? with Robin Gordon Bone mineral density is tested by an X-ray that reveals how strong your bones are and whether you are at risk of future fractures due to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is the loss of bone tissue causing the bones to become weaker and more likely to fracture. If you’re like most of us, you’ll be unaware you have osteoporosis as it is a silent and progressive disease. Most times, you find out after experiencing a fracture after minimal trauma.

A bone mineral density test is essential if you want to find out if you have osteoporosis or are at risk of developing it. A bone mineral density test can also 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.

july 2012

Bone mineral density testing is highly recommended if you: •• Have a personal or maternal history of hip fracture or smoking.

•• Are post-menopausal.

•• Over the age of 70.

•• Are male with clinical conditions associated with bone loss.

•• Use medications known to cause bone loss (including corticosteroids and various antiseizure medications).

•• Have type 1 diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease or a family history of osteoporosis.

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

These tests do use some X-rays, but the amount of radiation is extremely small. So small that the radiographers or technicians who perform the tests are able to be in the room with you while the examination is being performed.

You can have your bone mineral density test at Cairns Women’s Imaging, among other facilities in Queensland. 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. If not, a fee may apply.

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. Make your booking today!

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

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life

congratulations! with Dr Bob Miller The theme of this month’s Profile magazine is celebrations and congratulations. Queensland Fertility Group Cairns would like to pass on congratulations to all those couples, over the past 12 years, who have had a baby successfully with the help of assisted reproduction. In our clinic, that is 650 by IVF alone and many more with the help of simpler techniques, such as ovulation induction therapy and intra-uterine insemination.

Unfortunately, medical science will never be able to help everyone, and we raise our hats to all those couples who have done everything possible to achieve their dream, and handled disappointment so bravely.

Ongoing research has gradually lifted the bar of success. Congratulations must go to the pioneers, researchers and scientists responsible for the first IVF baby, and the millions since. A trip down memory lane. Louise Brown, the first

IVF baby, was born in England on July 25,1978.

Candice Reed, Australia’s first IVF baby, will be 32 on the June 23. Assisted reproduction has since made great strides in improving success rates and minimising interventions to make treatment as comfortable and convenient as possible.

Techniques considered revolutionary a few years ago are now commonplace. The new frontier is picking the perfect embryo. Current embryology is good at choosing the embryos with the optimal growth. Unfortunately, such embryos will not guarantee an ongoing pregnancy. Ideally, the perfect selection process would be non-invasive.

Perhaps one day we will have such a method.

The next ‘sure thing’ is here. It is called 24-Sure.

It allows every chromosome in the developing embryo to be checked during the culture phase. It is proving to be very reliable, but does involve embryo biopsy and coordination with the Brisbane centre. As embryo biopsy is

potentially detrimental, the technique is reserved primarily for those with recurrent miscarriage, and recurrent IVF failure.

Each couple is different, so your treatment should be investigated and individualised. A plan and overview should be formulated at the first fertility specialist visit, with a realistic assessment of options and likely outcome. Often the treatment need not involve IVF. Treatment is now largely clinic-based. Teamwork is everything and fertility trained nurses and the all-important embryologist will all help you on your journey.

If you have been trying to conceive for over a year, or six months if over 35, consider seeking medical advice sooner rather than later. Our wish at QFG Cairns is to be able to congratulate every couple who seeks help with their fertility.

Queensland Fertility Group, Cairns 4041 2400 cairnsivf@qfg.com.au

Invisible Hearing 24/7.

Lyric is the first completely invisible, extended wear hearing aid. It requires no handling at all and remains in the ear for up to four months with outstanding sound quality. www.phonak-lyric.com

Call 4041 7860

and enjoy better hearing today!

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COM PL INVIS ETELY I & LO BLE N WEA G RING !

Phone 4041 7860 www.audiohealth.com.au Suite 1 Marquis on Grafton, 125 Grafton St Cairns profilemag.com.au

life

better hearing all the time with Kerry Magee Imagine the convenience of being able to have a small device inserted into your ear canal which enables you to hear day and night for up to four months at a time. This new, long-wear product called Lyric is proving to be very popular with people of all ages.

Lyric enables people to forget they have a hearing problem as you simply forget you have a device at all. Insert it and forget. No fiddling with battery changing either. It goes a long way to helping people overcome the perceived stigma that so often accompanies hearing loss. Not only it is hidden in the ear, but by not having to extract it for months at a time you simply forget that it is there and potentially forget that you have a hearing loss at all.

Being able to wear the device all the time means you can optionally hear at night.

july 2012

A young mother who was interviewed on the Today show welcomed this improvement in her lifestyle as she didn’t have to fumble with her hearing aids when her children wanted her attention. She felt more confident and relaxed as she knew she would hear her children and could respond to their needs. Then there’s the added benefit of security and being able to hear warnings during the night as well.

The device is only available from a limited number of clinics in Australia and we are one of the few that are accredited to fit it. We have undertaken specialised training to fit the device and made a substantial investment in the medical equipment required for clinical management, including an operating microscope.

The device can be purchased on a subscription basis; another first and popular choice. Rather than pay the full amount up front, a monthly

payment system is available which is much more flexible for some people. Private health rebates and a tax rate (as it is a medical expense) may apply to make it even more affordable.

Not everyone will be able to wear the device as good ear health is requirement. That is, if you have a perforated ear drum or discharging ears or very small ear canals you will not be able to physically wear the device.

A free pre-candidacy check is on offer to assess suitability of ears for the device. This is a complimentary check of ear health, including a screening test of hearing. If you are interested you have nothing to lose but your hearing loss.

Audio Health 4041 7860 www.audiohealth.com.au

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on the table

with Craig Squire Chef director www.ochrerestaurant.com.au

O

chre Restaurant is one of Cairns’ most popular, quality dining experiences. The man behind the cuisine, Craig Squire, is respected the nation over for his depth in the field as well as his innovative tastes and techniques.

He and his award-winning team are proud to deliver modern Australian cuisine, not only via Ochre Restaurant but through its successful catering arm too. Some of their most famous dishes include salt and pepper prawn and crocodile, grilled kangaroo with Quandong chilli glaze, wattleseed pavlova and the Australian antipasto plate. This month, Craig has been kind enough to share one of his delicious recipes with Profile.

chilli, tom

ato and lem on

myrtle crab

chilli, tomato and lemon myrtle crab SERVES: 4 ingredients Sauce •• 1 brown onion - sliced •• 2 red chilli – sliced •• 20 gm ginger – shredded •• 4 lemon myrtle leaves – shredded

•• Add to above and simmer to melt sugars – approx 10 minutes

•• 1 clove garlic – crushed

•• 1 x 400g tin crushed tomatoes

•• Sweat in 60ml vegetable oil

•• 4 diced fresh tomatoes

•• 40gm palm sugar

•• 2 star anise

•• 40gm castor sugar

•• 20ml fish sauce

•• 80ml rice wine vinegar

•• 200ml water or fish stock

•• 40gm Thai soya chilli paste (or 30 ml soya sauce and 20 gm chilli paste)

Simmer all together for ½ hour. Store or set aside

method the crab

tip. ma, if s ’ f e h C rus aro erful cit

o nd ds a w mongrass. yrtle ad m r le o n e o ite m Le affir lim lated wh ble tr y k e coagu is cooked c ti o unavaila n ld ou shou dicates the crab ell. ooked y in fish as w When c es on crab, this ith white ic w ju t d p e e k c o co con , use this through

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Allow one to two swimmer or sand crabs or one mud crab per person. To prepare fresh green (raw) blue swimmer, sand or mud crabs, remove cap from crab, wash out gut and remove gills, chop crab in even quarters. For mud crab, crack main part of claws lightly, try not to split apart. to cook Bring sauce to simmer in broad pot or wok, add crabs, allow sauce to coat, put lid on and lower heat to gentle simmer. Cook for 10 minutes, turn over during cooking.

Serve with rice, rolled up sleeves and napkins. Enjoy with a fresh pinot gris.

profilemag.com.au

@ TRINITY

july 2012

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business promotion

C

BC Staff Selection has been delivering successful recruitment and human resource services in Cairns, the Far North and Papua New Guinea for more 24 years.

Owned by Sally and John Mlikota, two of Cairns’ most highly respected and admired business professionals, CBC Staff Selection is a name synonymous with quality recruitment – attracting the top talent from around the world.

They are specialists in providing temporary, contract and permanent professional and office administration talent to small, locally-owned and operated commercial businesses to national and international corporations, government departments and government owned corporations.

Through activity in the community and success in understanding customer needs, a number of clients have asked CBC to provide professional expertise to help recruit talent via their Townsville offices as well.

After months of research, the organisation is happy to announce the opening of CBC Staff Selection, Townsville; operating out of Stanley Street in the CBD. The new office will have two new directors in Chris and Jenny Cunsamy.

Originally from Mauritius, Chris has more than 25 years’ management experience in London, Sydney and Cairns. Chris has been working with CBC Staff Selection since May 2006, specialising in the recruitment of senior

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the cbc staff selection team

executives, finance / accounting and engineering.

Jenny is a certified trainer with a strong background in senior management and has worked in recruitment in London and Sydney for more than four years. She also lead a high performing team of national sales managers remotely from Cairns, for a large top-10 publicly listed company for more than five years.

Both Chris and Jenny have first-hand experience in moving from big cities to regional Queensland.

Like many, they have successfully adjusted to the tropical weather, re-established their support network, experienced for themselves the competitive job market, and are aware of the restricted medical facilities and schools available to them and their three children, who were all born in Cairns.

These relocation experiences have put them in good stead as they reassure other people looking at moving to regional Queensland seeking work/ life balance.

and jobs available to them and their families. To be in a position where we can provide the variety of jobs Townsville and the region have to offer is fantastic,” adds Chris.

Building company and personal brand awareness is the key to any individual’s or business’ success.

This is something that CBC have been very good at doing simply because the team gets involved at a community level and network. They are excited to continue to do this in Townsville, having recently attended the 130th anniversary for the Townsville Chamber of Commerce.

The organisation supports local sporting, education, business and government groups, not to mention various professional associations such as The Institute of Chartered Accountants and Engineers Australia.

Only last month, CBC Staff Selection was one of 16 finalists in the Corporate Social Responsibility Award, selected from around 60 applicants from the

The opportunities afforded to people wanting to relocate to North and Far North Queensland are endless ... “ “People need to speak with those on the ground and hear their experiences in order to help make up their minds. They need to be reassured that they will be made to feel welcome, safe and valued.

The opportunities afforded to people wanting to relocate to North and Far North Queensland are endless, provided their expectations are managed correctly,” says Chris.

The two CBC Staff Selection offices will allow the group’s pool of talent to leverage off presence in Papua New Guinea in the north, Mount Isa in the west and Mackay in the south; offering a diverse range of job opportunities across all industries.

The company will continue to specialise in the recruitment of executive and general management, finance and accounting, information technology, legal, sales and marketing, human resources, engineering and technical, secretarial, office administration, government and community services.

“I continually have a number of talents from interstate and overseas enquire as to our economy

Recruitment and Consulting Services Association Australia & New Zealand (RCSA), the leading industry and professional body for the recruitment and the human resources services sector in Australia and New Zealand.

“What separates us from our competitors is our ability to assist on establishing a personal brand. It’s a very competitive marketplace, therefore, giving the right advice in order to distinguish yourself from your competition is vital,” says Chris.

Exciting and challenging times lie ahead for CBC Staff Selection. However, with the positive response and embracing arms of the Townsville businesses to date, they are certain they can provide some brightness of future to a lot of people.

Chris or Jenny can be contacted on 1300 133 801 or apply.tsv@cbcstaff.com.au.

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sustainable building

BUILDING BUDGETS

nursery rhymes beautiful spaces for your bub

image courtesy peoni homes, www.peonihome.com.au

abode

chirpy imagery GORGEOUS WALL CANVAS BY KAS AUSTRALIA, ‘TWITTA TWOO’, 25cmx25cm, RRP $29.95, WWW.KASAUSTRALIA.COM

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cute cushions RAPEE PETAL PEAR PETAL, RRP $51.95. AVAILABLE FROM SPOTLIGHT STORES NATIONALLY

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

happy hampers FANTASTIC FURNITURE MURRAY BLANKET BOX – STANDARD RRP $128, WWW. FANTASTICFURNITURE.COM.AU

Create a space that’s blissful for you and your bub with these beautiful new ideas for baby’s room..

on the side REPLICA JOHN BRAUER ILLUSION SIDE TABLE, RRP $249. FROM MATTBLATT.COM.AU

marvellous mobiles MOBILES ARE AVAILABLE From WWW.BABYJIVESCO.ETSY.COM (VARIOUS PRICES)

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wonder wall CANDY STRIPE WALLPAPER FROM PORTERS PAINTS (PRICE ON APPLICATION) FROM WWW.PORTERSPAINTS.COM

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rice!

st P Best Product! Be

july 2012

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abode

budget planning for your new home with Roslyn Smith You’ve made the decision that you need to upgrade your tired home for a new model. We do it with cars and technology, and so we should do it with our homes. Our circumstances change over the years and new homes are better suited to today’s modern living. The most important deciding factor will be your overall budget.

Sometimes there may be a bargain on land but the cost to build on it will then put you over budget. This may influence you to build a new home or renovate the home you live in, so do a little homework initially and look at the total budget available for your completed home project. Discuss it with your financier and try not to over extend your household finances. You may end up with a beautiful new home but not be able to afford the repayments.

If you decide to build a new home you will need to allow an amount for land, a reasonable amount to build the home you want, with the inclusions of

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your choice and then allow for those additional features like curtains, swimming pool, fencing or landscaping. Too often I see clients come to see me after they have purchased the most amazing block of land and then not have enough left in the budget to build their dream home.

When talking to builders, make sure your quotes are for completed items. Some builders do not include things like site works, water meters, termite treatment, driveways, water tanks and many other requirements. You may find that the initial quote is then increased to include some of these things whereas other builders will include them. Check with the builder and make sure all the inclusions are in writing, not just agreed to verbally.

Most builders will be happy for you to perform some of the works yourself to help save some dollars but there are some works that are best kept with your builder as they may affect your

overall home construction warranty. Examples of some of these are tiling to wet areas, external wall painting and sealing, structural retaining walls and site works.

I’d suggest talking to a few good builders before you commit to buying that fantastic block of land. Work with them on a conceptual budget.

If this is done at an early stage then it avoids disappointment or embarrassment later and you know exactly where you are financially. That way the building and finance processes are tied together, creating not only your dream home but the dream home you can afford.

Affinity Designer Homes 4051 8866 www.affinitydh.com.au (Roslyn is a building designer and licensed builder QBSA 533314)

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abode

environmental sustainability with Phil Leahy There are a lot of buzz words and frequently coined terms relating to the environment and development. Perhaps the most common is ‘sustainable development’ which in this day and age, is an expectation that the community holds a developer responsible.

In working towards sustainable development objectives a stringent environmental plan should be adhered to. Environmental plans can include tangible elements such as a pledge to preserve and revegetate natural fauna within a large percentage of a site. Also typical is the implementation of specific architectural and landscape guidelines that are designed to ensure a development integrates seamlessly with its surrounding environment; that house designs incorporate energy efficient features and that vistas are retained and maximised.

For a development that is surrounded by quality natural landscape with high environmental

values, it is now expected (and required) the sustainability plans are implemented and adhered to. This benefits the homeowner in a multitude of ways including adding value to the property and enhancing the character of the community. Other environmental benefits include water conservation, fauna habitat, shade, wind protection and reduced maintenance.

•• Views and vistas into and out of the site; •• Drainage of the site particularly surface drainage and measures to prevent erosion or sediment loss; •• Species selection is to respect the site context and be directed towards native plants.

In particular, consideration should be given to:

In short, the development and building industry and community in general, needs to understand the importance of environmental sustainability and construction in particular. This need is driven by a realisation that sustainable practices make sense to everyone – developers, builders, landscapers, home owners and the wider community.

•• Climate conditions specific to the site particularly in relation to solar orientation and prevailing breezes;

Bluewater Living Trinity Beach 4055 6040 www.bluewaterliving.com.au

•• Relationship with adjoining lots and appropriate screening;

(Phil Leahy is the National Director of Brookfield residential properties)

Landscape treatments should contribute to the visual amenity of the streetscape, and maximise lifestyle opportunities for outdoor living areas. It should also encourage blending with the naturally forested surrounds and the local environment.

Logo Clearspace

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Master Builders Brand Identity Standards Manual

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The Master Builders logo must be reproduced clear of any other graphics or type to a minimum distance of one ‘y’ unit surrounding the logo.

july 2012

The clear space of one ‘y’ unit equals the measurement from the top of the Symbol to the top of the Logotype.

In regards to the reversed version (see Section 2.3), the clear space is filled with only the background colour.

If an Identifier is used, the clear space

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business

why being good looking is everything! with Col Hancox Being good looking makes you stand out from the crowd and more appealing to the opposite sex. Likewise, being unattractive also makes you stick out like a sore thumb, but for all the wrong reasons.

Presenting your home for sale is like finding your next girlfriend or boyfriend on dating website RSVP – first impressions count! Upon looking through RSVP, it amazes me that people use camera phones to photograph themselves in front of the mirror resulting in horrible photos.

Or their photos look blurred with poor lighting.

Presentation of the potential suitor was also unattractive; some people looked like they just got out of bed, weren’t smiling or laughing, or were wearing clothes that said, ‘I don’t really care how I look’. Don’t even get me started on the introduction descriptions – how boring! It’s almost like these people were thinking, ‘I’ll take a photo or two of myself when I’m cleaning the house, write a few lines of text about myself and

upload to the Internet’. Seriously, what were you thinking? And you wonder why you’re still on RSVP after three months without any kisses (replies)!

You don’t have to look like George Clooney or Jennifer Aniston, but presentation and how you market yourself makes a big difference between being noticed where someone looks twice, or when they don’t even bat an eyelid!

Selling your home is no different. Sellers need to present their home like a display or show home but with that lived-in look to emotionally appeal to the widest number of buyers. De-cluttering the home is so important to make it as spacious as possible. Remember less is more; but not empty. Stained carpet, cigarette and animal odours or an untidy home are all turn-offs for buyers. Making sure everything works is also vital to avoiding excuses from buyers later who wish to reduce the price or don’t want to buy the home at all.

Most real estate agents are not skilled in the art of photography, so engaging the services of a professional photographer is money well spent.

A photographer can highlight the best features of your home, and together with great lighting, different angles and clever photoshop, can make your home shine and stand out.

How you present and market your home to buyers has a direct consequence on your end result; whether you get a great price and a quick sale from being attractive to buyers, or whether your home languishes on the market for months and months and you end up selling for far less than the market price. Either way, your home will stand out, so make it stand out for all the right reasons!

Stand Out Property 4032 5088 www.standoutproperty.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 48

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business

migration agreements with Fiona Ryan The Australian Government has announced the introduction of Regional Migration Agreements (RMA) and Enterprise Migration Agreements (EMA) to fill skill vacancies in regional Australia and in the resource sector.

The Regional Migration Agreement program is a new temporary skilled migration program to help address skill shortages in regional areas of Australia. The program enables employers to sponsor overseas workers in circumstances that are not otherwise permitted under the standard visa classes available.

Overseas workers sponsored under an EMA or RMA will hold 457 temporary business visas which is a maximum four-year visa.

An RMA is an agreement between the Australian Government and a state or territory government, local council or another stakeholder. RMA’s are for remote and regional areas experiencing labour shortages.

The agreement, once set up, will specify the occupations, numbers of workers and visa

july 2012

requirements for the sponsorship of workers from outside Australia to certain regional areas.

Benefits of RMA’s are the ability for employers to nominate a broader range of occupations that are currently not on the occupations list for other standard skilled migration programs where a genuine need can be established. It will also provide for a streamlined process to sponsor overseas workers.

Enterprise Migration Agreements are a new, temporary migration initiative to help address the skill needs of the resource sector. Through EMA’s, major resource projects will be able to access overseas labour for genuine skill vacancies. EMA’s are available to resource projects with capital expenditure of more than two billion dollars and a peak workforce of more than 1500 workers.

The terms set out in an EMA will include the occupations, qualifications, English language skills, wages and conditions of the foreign workers on the project. For semi-skilled occupations a cap / limit will be set during EMA negotiations with projects required to provide evidence as to why Australian workers are not available to fill these vacancies.

Gina Rinehart’s Roy Hill Mine has just been approved the first Enterprise Migration Agreement to bring in 1700 overseas workers on temporary visas to fill skilled vacancies in their iron ore project in the Pilbara in Western Australia.

Visa Connection Pty Ltd 4051 9043 info@visaconnect.com.au (Fiona Ryan, Registered Migration Agent No. 0640004)

Projects will need to demonstrate investment in up-skilling of Australians to meet future skill needs in the resources sector. They will also need to demonstrate effective and ongoing local recruitment efforts.

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creating quick wins with Kirsten Le Roux When times are good there’s always plenty to celebrate: best month, best quarter, highest sales, most new customers; and everyone feels the warm glow of success and the contribution they made.

When times are tough and challenging, and the dark shadow of the old celebration benchmarks loom overhead, it’s easy to be hard on ourselves and feel that there’s no reason to break out the champagne. However, this is the most important time to be looking at creating and celebrating quick wins for yourself and your team.

Celebrating achievements is a proven motivational tool and morale booster. There is always something to celebrate and the skill is to learn how to generate and position milestones or ‘mini targets’, so that you can recognise and congratulate achievements.

When business goals and annual key performance indicators are long-term and far away, it’s tempting to focus solely on that target and only celebrate once you have achieved it.

In reality, having this view makes it easy to feel overwhelmed, lose focus and feel demotivated.

If you seek, produce and celebrate enough small victories, you will create momentum en route to the long-term goal. Stringing short-term, quick wins together energises the team, silences the critics and builds momentum as people are engaged in trying to fulfil the vision, becoming increasingly excited as the target gets closer.

Celebrating little wins on the way to achieving a long-term goal also encourages regular opportunities to pause and review. These can provide you with valuable insights that will improve the process and outcomes.

In our business we have two weekly gatherings where we focus on setting and celebrating achievements. At Tuesday’s staff meeting we set targets and milestones, review projects and goals, as well as talk about general good new stories for our business, the community and ourselves. Thursday’s cheese and wine is about celebrations. It’s the opportunity for

announcements of small wins and mini targets that were met and achieved. We also send out a fortnightly newsletter to all our clients, with the best good news story from the business over the past two weeks. Deciding what to write as a team helps us to reflect on what we have achieved and consider the most noteworthy activities happening in the business and in our lives.

Finally, and most importantly, creating short-term milestones and quick wins presents a great opportunity to share a heartfelt thanks and appreciation in recognition of everyone’s effort to reach that point. A sincere thank you is still the best motivational tool available to us all.

What small win can you celebrate today?

CBC Staff Selection 4051 9699 Kirsten@cbcstaff.com.au (Kirsten Le Roux is a senior recruitment consultant with CBC Staff Selection)

the best of a bad situation with Travis Sturgeon Most of us would consider winning a court case to be cause for celebration. However, wins are few and far between. Statistics demonstrate that approximately 90 per cent of cases settle out of court. Therefore, the chances of a case being heard in the court are low. On average, a victory can be bittersweet given the time, money and stress involved and the outcome may be a ‘hollow victory’. For instance, the loser may not be able to pay you the damages awarded by the court and the loser is forced into bankruptcy.

all costs. Legal costs are awarded on a scale determined by the government which is far lower than lawyers charge. You are the one to cover the shortfall and sometimes that can be substantial. Some say this is the unintended result of the bureaucracy as it encourages out of court settlements.

Court proceedings deal with serious disputes between people or businesses and the process is slow, the result uncertain and you are faced with your opponent (albeit through lawyers) over a long period of time.

The law is inherently shades of grey, therefore black and white answers cannot be given to clients when providing advice or exploring various options. There can be so many factors influencing the end result of a case. These factors have little to do with your lawyer. Cases turn on evidence. If a key witness is rattled in cross examination and starts to change his or her story, it can be devastating to a case.

It is costly. There is a saying among litigation lawyers that “no one ever wins”. Regardless, if you win your case and the court orders the loser to pay your legal costs, you will not recover

Is there some cause for celebration then? The best advice I can give is to genuinely try to resolve a dispute before engaging a lawyer. Of course, there are times where rights are severely infringed

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upon and it is wholly appropriate to go to court.

However, be prepared to sincerely make an effort to negotiate an outcome with the other party directly and be prepared to compromise.

Endeavour to detach yourself from the dispute and look at the bigger picture.

If your dispute is resolved in a reasonably suitable manner without starting court proceedings, this would be the best possible outcome. Although it may be difficult to recognise at the time or feel like it’s something to celebrate due to a possible compromise, a great deal of stress has been avoided and great deal of money saved. Saving your time and money and preserving your health is great cause for celebration – the best has been made of a bad situation.

Williams Graham Carman 4046 1111 www.wgc.com.au

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MIGRATION PLUS

philosopher’s corner ... visa permanent work

the race to the end? with Dr Chris White

Do we live our lives as if it were a race to be run, a destination we don’t understand but a place we just run towards, like lemmings, running to the edge of the cliff and then jumping? Consider some quite profound statements from a philosopher of the ‘50s, Miyozo Yamagishi, and see if anything has really changed in the past 60 years.

Try to look at the faces of passers-by on the road, the bus, the train. Or look at the people full of pride who wear fine clothes and breeze along in exclusive cars or the people featuring in the news day by day, what are they moving for, working for and living for?

Are they living a life by knowing and being aware of what true happiness is or are they impatiently focussed on making money and wealth and its transitory state of joy or sadness when they make a profit, when they lose money, when they achieve high position (without solving its fundamental problems), or when they fall from fame and glory? When people who were good friends until ‘yesterday’ look darkly at each other and quarrel. Is this a race of people who feel, who know and understand real happiness? He states: ‘It is absurd, it is laughable and it is really hard to watch.’

Can you see some similarities with our ‘society’ today, have we advanced in the last 60 years? Have we advanced in the last 200 or 2,000 years? He goes on to say: ‘Among those who coloured the history of the past and also among the present merchants, workmen, farmers, statesmen, doctors, and also religious leaders there are so many frauds, a life full of lies and full of faults, there are so many fools who end their life chasing for bubble pleasure.

There is possibly nothing more foolish than to not really know or understand human life. But do any of us really understand it? Not to know the true self, not to live the true way of living is indeed regrettable. The true life is one that lives in concert and harmony with others and the world, the universe around us. Only if all people are happy can we, individually, be truly happy.

Is it time to take a severe self-examination and reflection of our daily efforts. Are we suffering for nothing? Should we be conscious of the present folly of being intoxicated by momentary and temporary happiness feelings which disappear quickly like a dream? We have a choice to stand up for happiness and to establish a peaceful community and world that prospers eternally.

Surely that should be a true motivation in life and what we are born for. [With quotes directly from Miyozo Yamagishi].

4041 2620 www.migrationplus.com.au

july 2012

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milestones

C

words sarah blinco ll photography stuart frost

arol Doyle is the efficient and friendly president of Study Cairns – an important network of educational and training institutions that works collaboratively to grow and support international students and ‘study tourism’ in the Cairns region. She has worked in the vocational educational and training sector as a manager and teacher for more than 16 years, assisting both domestic and international students. When Carol’s not busy liaising with our region’s network of education institutions, language schools and international students themselves, she is enjoying the serenity of her Kuranda home with her family.

carol doyle

Milestones ...

Life changing milestone 1: My first overseas trip to Belgium and France This school excursion when I was 12-years-old transformed my life and led to a lasting desire to meet new people, experience new cultures, eventually leading to a career in travel. Growing up in Bath, England, up until then, my family holidays were usually short day trips to the seaside at Weston-super-Mare or longer holidays at my uncle’s farm in Woking, Kent. I think I was the first person in my family to travel overseas. I had been learning French for three years and was excited at the thought of being in another country and speaking to someone in their mother tongue. My first attempt was a bit of a disaster, the shop assistant spoke so fast I could not understand a word and I ran out of the shop without uttering a sound. I can still vividly recollect this adventure including the wonderful taste of my first croissant dipped in coffee – it seemed much more exotic than dunking chocolate digestive biscuits in my tea at home.

Since then, I have travelled to many other countries around the world and I still get that same rush of anticipation and excitement.

Life changing milestone 2: Having my daughter Becoming a mum at such a young age (16) shaped the rest of my life and definitely taught me the life skills that have shaped the person I am today.

I never thought I missed out on life, quite the contrary. It taught me to be independent, to have the confidence to make my own decisions, to realise my mistakes and how to learn from them. I had wonderful mentors and friends who supported me along the way. Maybe this is why I am so passionate about working in travel, tourism and education, as I now get great pleasure in helping make a difference to other people’s lives. Raising my daughter in Renmark, a country town on the River Murray in South Australia, was definitely not a disadvantage for her. It was a great lifestyle for a family, with wonderful facilities. My job opportunities, paid and unpaid, included tourist officer, co-ordinator of local festivals, board member of the local community hotel, secretary of the Arts Council, and finally owner / operator of a travel agency for 12 years. I never became rich in monetary terms, but I am rich in experience.

Life changing milestone 3: Moving from England to Australia I moved here at 17, and Australia has given me opportunities I am sure would not have been available had I stayed in England. My two loves, travel and education, have taken me on a working journey from the waters of the Murray River, the outback of Australia to the reef and the rainforest of Tropical 52

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North Queensland. My parents moved to Australia when my father had an opportunity to come to the ‘lucky country’ with his employer. I did not have my parents desire to live in Australia and was determined to stay in the land of my birth. However, after a few months as a very young mum, I realised the importance of having your family around you and successfully applied to come to Australia as a 10 pound Pom. Life changing milestone 4: Meeting the love of my life and my best friend In 2001 I found what had been missing in my life. I have had many a fulfilling journey, made life-long friends, seen my daughter grow into an amazing person and marry another, have two wonderful grandchildren, travelled to fascinating destinations, yet there was always something missing.

Now that empty space in my heart has been filled by sharing my life with a wonderful man who I admire, is fearless, makes me happy, shares my love of travelling, is kind to others and is a much better cook. Our family has now grown, with the addition of two dogs: Kira, our incredibly intelligent and affectionate Jack Russell and rat catcher, and Spot, our Kelpie cross, rescued by my partner after being left to die in the bush after an accident, a dog with an old soul, always smiling when he sees you.

Life changing milestone 5: Enrolling at university this year Over the years I have come to realise the benefits of lifelong training and education, to both further your career and challenge your mind. Opportunities to study did not exist with a young daughter in my teens, so my education was learnt on the job, taking any opportunity to improve my skills and knowledge.

My enthusiasm and desire to work in the vocational education and training system partially stems from my experience in applying for recognition of prior learning. RPL has enabled me to gain formal qualifications by acknowledging my skills and knowledge obtained through many means: formal training and study, self-tuition, work experience and life experience. I am now about to start a new business, a registered training organisation delivering distance education for accredited qualifications. To demonstrate to potential clients that I have the experience and qualifications to provide quality education and training, I decided that it was time to take that next step, at the next level, and achieve a university degree. I did not realise how much this meant to me until I rang my mum to let her know that I had been accepted at Central Queensland University, and then promptly burst into tears. profilemag.com.au

win sarayi palm cove

win a stay fit for a princess The Sarayi, meaning ‘palace’ is exactly that, a boutique hotel that boasts unique architecture making it a one of its kind in the region. Sarayi (www.sarayi.com.au) is centrally located on the esplanade at Palm Cove and overlooks the Coral Sea. The roof top pool is the perfect spot for an afternoon barbecue or cocktails over sunset, and one-ofa-kind events. Take a break and enjoy an invigorating swim, read a book, or just relax in the sun. All guests are given free access to wireless internet for the duration of their stay.

Profile is offering you a chance to win a fabulous weekend away with two nights accommodation in an Ocean View Spa fully self-contained apartment.

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

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

win inner health Purewellness is a high quality, all natural range of products endorsed by Lisa Curry for general wellbeing. Made up of natural, gluten-free and allergen-free products, the range has been designed to enhance nutrition by putting everything you need into your lifestyle. Super easy to take, the range is for everybody – from gym junkies to those who simply want to improve their general health. Free from all artificial colours, flavours and preservatives, the products come in a range of whey and pea proteins fortified with super foods including acai, goji and elderberry, designed to give you everything you need in one simple step.

Purewellness is offering one lucky Profile reader the chance to one month’s supply of Purewellness protein shakes and supplements valued at $350. For more information, head to www.purewellness.net.au or www.lisacurry.com.au.

win suspense and romance in the north Burning Lies, by our cover star, Helene Young, is out this month. It tells the story of Kaitlyn Scott who is searching for the truth about her husband’s death. What she uncovers is a criminal willing to stop at nothing to keep his secret. Ryan O’Donnell, an enigmatic undercover cop, is investigating arson attacks when he is drawn into Kaitlyn’s world. He tries to fight his attraction to her, hoping the case might put his own demons to rest, but it only threatens to push him over the edge. With Kaitlyn and Ryan on a collision course, the arsonist seizes the chance to settle some old scores. As the Atherton Tableland burns, the three of them are caught in a fiery dance of danger and desire, and not everyone will come out alive! Keep up-to-date on Helene’s news and events by finding her on Facebook and Twitter and visiting www.heleneyoung.com. This month we have two copies of Burning Lies to give away.

win luscious locks Thanks to the new Precision Foam Colour from John Frieda Hair Care, you can now achieve a salon-finish colour at home. Offering prescriptive formulas to illuminate and enrich every colour, this innovative new collection represents a true breakthrough in the self-colour experience. With salon-quality coverage for flawless results, Precision Foam Colour comes in a range of 20 colours, from blonde and brunette to red and black shades. Profile is offering eight lucky readers the chance to win two packs of Precision Foam Colour in the colour of their choice. Each pack is valued at RRP $22.99. www.johnfrieda.com.au. july 2012

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the last word

a cattle station.

“

people don’t know that I “…Most was once a stockwoman on

sandy roberts

Sandy Roberts has lived in Cairns for nearly six years. She loves her job as general manager and financial controller of Status Plus, and is proud of her successful 21-year-long career; But it’s not all about work … Sandy also enjoys running (lots – like half marathon lots), spending time with friends, and walking her dog near Redlynch Valley.

I grew up in … the outskirts of Brisbane, on a small farm with many animals and a wonderful country atmosphere.

I start my day … very early and always with a hot cup of tea.

I would love to be better at … remembering names. They seem to slip my mind the second they are spoken.

When I am not working I am … running, or looking for new and interesting places to visit.

I wish I could … take my niece and nephew on holidays to all the fantastic countries I have travelled to.

The best meal I have had was at … my best friend Craig’s house. He is a sensational cook!

My favourite restaurant is …

Salsa in Port Douglas. One of my girlfriends insists we never go anywhere else.

Sandy has always loved animals, having grown up with them, she once wanted to be a vet

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Most people don’t know that I … was once a stockwoman on a cattle station.

When I was growing up I wanted to be … a veterinarian.

My all time favourite movie is …

Love Actually. Hugh Grant’s staircase scene always leaves me in fits of laughter.

I couldn’t live without … my beautiful dog, Bessie. She is a gem.

My greatest achievement is … two-fold this year, between running my second half marathon, and being a finalist in the Cairns Business Women of the Year Manager in Business Award.

My most annoying habit is … getting addicted to a good book and not being able to drag myself away from it.

What makes me laugh out loud is …

Carl Barron, he is hilarious!

The one person I would most like to meet … is the Dalai Lama.

If I didn’t live in TNQ, I’d live … in Europe again. I lived there for four years and miss all my wonderful friends that I made over there. profilemag.com.au

102.7 Radio Network Partner to the 2012 London Olympics

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SEE ZINC ON THE STREETS July 1 July 3 July 14 July 14 July 18 - 20 July 27 July 29

Ford Vs Holden Day at Lake Street City Cummins Racing Team Open Day at Cummins Portsmith AFL: Richmond Tigers Vs Gold Coast Suns at Cazalys Tradies & Ladies Race Day at Cairns Jockey Club The Cairns Show London 2012 Olympic Games (start) Sunday Session Race Day at Cannon Park

For all the latest Zinc locations and events - www.radiozinc.com.au/cairns Listen to Zinc this month for Julive, the best live music, hottest live events and culminating in the world’s most anticipated live sporting event, the Olympics. july 2012

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