Geelong Business News - 192

ISSUE 192 DECEMBER 2010 / JANUARY 2011 $4.50 (inc Gst)

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BUSINESS NEWS

CONTENTS

GEELONG BUSINESS NEWS FOR LOCAL BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS

FEATURES 12 Profile -

Where the future meets the past

14 Cover story -

Business Confidence: are you confident about the year ahead?

24 Feature -

Centenary of a City

CONTENTS 05 11 17 23 47 50 55 58

Biz News Appointments Competition Small Biz Gadgets Arts After Hours What's On

COMPETITION Thanks to EMC Group Geelong, the Geelong Business News has some of this December's hottest tickets to give away.

The Geelong Waterfront will be the most sought-after place to be on December 31. The iconic New Year on the Pier event returns to Cunningham Pier with a masqerade ball. And inside the newly renovated The Pier entertainment venue, the City Quarter Soiree will be held at the elegant new boutique bar located on level one. At midnight, the spectacular fireworks display will herald in the new year.

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EDITOR

From the editor By this time, you would all have heard and read every possible angle of spin on the Victorian election result, and I certainly won’t be adding to it here. I will, instead, be posing a question – What will a snapshot of Victoria look like in 2014? Because, as we all know, it is not the election result that really matters, it is what the government does over its four-year term.

What I would say on the election result is that there was nothing remarkable in it. The Labor Party had held government in Victoria for eleven years by the time the November 27 election rolled around and the Opposition Coalition campaign was free of any major gaffs. The election was a pure example of Australian politics at play.

Now we need to see progressive, positive politics at work, and there is plenty of work to be done.

As a state, Victoria has experienced a decade or so of strong economic management. We have seen positive programs of reducing red tape and freeing up the operation of business – to the advantage of all. We have seen our health, education and public service sectors being supported. We have also seen the economic landscape change significantly, with a reduction in the state’s dependence on manufacturing and an increase in the public service sector. With this comes a responsibility, for the Government, to ensure the continuing support of our public service sector. We are a state that can no longer sustain the slash and burn of government spending to improve our bottom line. That worked, to a large degree, in the Kennett era of the 90s, but in the second decade of the 21st Century, it would be calamitous.

What we do need to see is smarter spending, and by that I do not mean the implementation of yet more productivity reviews. What I do mean is that Victoria has changed significantly, and it will continue to do so. Over the last decade, much of the change has been positive. Over the coming decade, there will also be many positives, most

particularly a population boom, and we will see a significant portion of that growth here in Geelong. Not all of the changes to come will be positive, however, and it will remain to be seen whether party room politicking can be put aside to effectively tackle what is surely going to be one of the biggest issues facing our society. Climate change policy is a reality around the globe. In our state, the challenge of managing the shift to a low-carbon economy has the potential to become a make or break move, and not just for the Government.

If this sounds like an over-dramatisation to you, consider what it will mean to you when your essential services costs close to double over the next five years? Be prepared, it’s going to happen. So, the question then becomes, what is the State Government going to do about it? Victoria has been progressive in its policies on carbon reduction, on supporting the establishment of alternative energies, and on researching and testing carbon reduction methods such as carbon sequestration.

This must continue. In addition, we need to keep a very close eye on the big picture. What will we get in return for our investment in sustainability measures? Will the costbenefit analysis of the desalination plant, for example, show it has been a more cost-effective measure than, say, the installation of water tanks, grey water recycling units and solar panelling across the state? Are we looking so hard at the big projects that we are losing sight of the big picture?

We cannot effectively tackle the challenges of creating a sustainable, economically strong state if we don’t ensure that every house, every building, every business and every industry is becoming more sustainable. The simple fact of the matter is, that regardless of political rhetoric in 2010, if in 2014 we are struggling or unable to pay the electricity, gas and water bills, then we will be a state in serious trouble. The changes must start now.

ISSUE 192 DECEMBER 2010 GEELONG BUSINESS NEWS, an Adcell Print Group publication, is mailed to more than 5000 businesses in the G21 region.

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PUBLISHER Maureen Tayler MANAGER Caroline Tayler EDITOR Davina Montgomery editor@geelongbusiness.com.au

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T(03) 5221 4408 F(03) 5221 3322 203 Malop Street, PO Box 491, Geelong Vic 3220 www.geelongbusiness.com.au

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BIZNEWS $100,000 in 100 days for the Leukaemia Foundation

The challenge has the full support of the staff, who will donate all their summer tips towards the goal, which accumulate to around $5,000.

From November 21st 2010 until February 28th 2011 The Wharf Shed Café will take on the challenge of raising $100,000 in 100 days for the Leukaemia Foundation.

Geelong study shows link between immune system and depression

The Wharf Shed Café will be transformed into the Leukaemia Foundation Shed throughout the fundraiser with staff sporting Leukaemia Foundation t-shirts. To maximise their fundraising capabilities The Wharf Shed Café will be running raffles for every donation of $10, as well as a major prize to be awarded to the customer who makes the largest single donation.

Leukaemia Foundation Fundraising Manager, Meaghan Bush, praised the Wharf Shed Café’s commitment to raising the needed funds.

“It’s fantastic that such a prominent business has become involved with raising awareness for the Leukaemia Foundation. A donation of this magnitude will benefit many patients living with blood cancer, provide support for their families and needed funds for research into better treatments,” Ms Bush said.

Wharf Shed Café General Manager, Peter Temple, took on the challenge to give back to the community.

“It’s such a great cause and we are in the fortunate position where we can help make a massive contribution to the Leukaemia Foundation. If we can collect a $1 donation from every customer that comes through our doors we’ll be well on the way to reaching our goal,” Mr Temple said.

Ground-breaking research in Geelong has found that imbalances in the immune system can cause the onset of depression.

Women with higher levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of immune system inflammation, were at an increased risk for developing major depression. The findings have recently been published in the prestigious British Journal of Psychiatry.

Associate Professor Jasco Pasco and her team from the University of Melbourne at Barwon Health have been collecting information about women’s physical and mental health for over a decade, as part of the Geelong Osteoporosis Study.

Assoc Prof Pasco said that raised levels of C-reactive protein have been detected in the blood of individuals with depression.

“What is new, however, is that the level of C-reactive protein in the blood is related to whether or not women develop depression.

C-reactive protein is known as an inflammatory marker because its level commonly rises in response to infection and injury. However, it can also be increased by stress, unhealthy lifestyles and obesity.

“We are very excited about this finding because it supports a role for the immune system in mental health and sheds some light on how depression develops.

“We measured the level of C-reactive protein in the blood of over 600 women who were free of depression at enrolment and followed them for 10 years to document who developed major depression,” said Assoc Prof Pasco.

The research will assist in understanding why some people are more likely to become depressed and has important implications for the prevention and management of this debilitating and common condition.

Celebrating what it is to be a bloke The success of the 2010 Blokes Day Out held earlier this year has prompted organisers to start preparations for an even bigger and ‘bloke-ier’ day out in 2011.

Over 1000 men and families participated in the week-long event last year, celebrating what it is to be a bloke in the Barwon Region. More than 30 local organisations, groups and clubs provided educational, recreational, activities and workshops related to boys, teens and men.

Blokes Day Out working party spokesman, Peter Kelly, said the day was a huge success, but the 2011 event looks to be even better.

“At our inaugural event this year, people were excited, interested and engaged and we realised that this was the beginning of an ongoing event.

Geelong really got behind the idea of celebrating what it is to be a bloke and we want to keep the momentum going for 2011,” said Mr. Kelly.

Convened by Barwon Health, Blokes Day Out will be launched on Friday 25 March 2011, followed by a week of exciting activities and events for blokes of all ages and abilities.

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BIZNEWS

The week will end in a celebratory festival on Sunday 3 April 2011 at Johnstone Park. A variety of services, clubs and groups will be united in delivering a free fun day out for boys, men, their friends and families. “We are putting the call out now to organisations, clubs, businesses and groups to contact us if they are keen to participate either by running an activity during Blokes Week or to be part of the Blokes Day Out festival day. You can book a site and simply provide information, or go all out, get creative and run a fun activity to promote the family friendly feel.�

The purpose of Blokes Day Out is to promote the positive involvement of blokes with their families, friends and the community. It’s about creating awareness and promotion of men’s health and wellbeing. It encourages boys and men to connect with their family and friends.

For those interested in registering to provide an activity or stall for Blokes Day Out 2011, please contact Peter Kelly Health Promotion Officer, Barwon Health on phone (03) 5260 3810.

Registrations close January 30 2011.

areas, such as community lawyers, government lawyers, mentoring and pro-bono work.

Dan was presented the LIV named General Award in recognition of excellence and his outstanding contribution within the legal profession. In presenting the award, Law Institute President Steven Stevens stated that ‘Dan is an outstanding practitioner with a deep commitment to access to justice...’ Dan was nominated for the award by Public Interest Legal Clearing House (PILCH), the body primarily responsible for the delegation of probono work amongst legal firms and barristers in Victoria, in recognition of his role in assisting PILCH in establishing the Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic in Norlane. However, the award also recognised Dan’s many years of practice, his role as chairman of the Law Institute of Victoria Business Law Specialisation Committee, and his many external involvements, including chairman of the Geelong Advertiser Geelong Business Excellence Awards judging panel, a member of the board of Kardinia Health Ltd - a

Local Law Institute Award

Federal Government initiative under the ‘Super

The latest WorkHealth check data from WorkSafe Victoria reveals that younger workers are setting themselves up for long term pain thanks to bad lifestyle habits.

Compared with their older colleagues, workers aged under 25 drink more, smoke more and eat less fruit and vegetables. While the data show that workers’ habits tend to improve with age, this coincides with a marked increase in risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

WorkHealth Director, Pam Anders, says the research reinforces the importance of looking after your health from the outset and raises serious challenges for sustaining workforce participation into the future. “We’re looking at a younger generation of workers who appear to be taking their health for granted, with alcohol consumption, smoking and unhealthy eating far out of step with the other age groups tested,� Ms Anders said.

Law School.

“It’s encouraging to see that these lifestyle behaviours improve with age, but it’s far better to start off on the right note than play catch up all your life. This is a real call to action for employers to start investing in the health and wellbeing of their workers, young and old.�

On receipt of the award, Dan noted the contribution that the legal community made to many Victorian communities, and acknowledged the assistance of the directors and staff of Harwood Andrews Lawyers in enabling him to achieve recognition through the granting of the award.

The Monash University report, based on results from 200,000 WorkHealth checks, shows it’s not just young workers that need to change their ways, with 23.5 per cent of workers overall found to have a high risk for developing type 2 diabetes and a further 4.4 per cent found to have a high risk for developing cardiovascular

Harwood Andrews Lawyers’ Managing Principal, Dan Simmonds, has been awarded a Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) President’s Award.

Clinics Program’ - chairman of the Barwon

The LIV President’s Awards represent the most esteemed category of awards granted within the Victorian legal profession, not only recognising outstanding contributions that promote and advance the legal profession, but also honouring those achievements which have benefited the community.

Advisory Board of the Deakin University

Twelve individual awards were made, the majority of which recognised achievement in specific

Unhealthy habits paint bleak future for younger workers

Region Salvation Army Area Consultative Committee, and member of the Academic

THE GEELONG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The Geelong Chamber of Commerce - representing Geelong’s business and industry sectors

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NEWS disease. More than 16 per cent of all workers tested were found to be at high risk of both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The report also found that 2,011 workers were found to be at extreme risk and advised to seek immediate medical attention; two thirds of these were male.

The report also revealed: t .BMFT XFSF UXJDF BT MJLFMZ BT GFNBMFT UP IBWF a high risk of type 2 diabetes (29.8% of males and 15.9% of females) t .BMFT XFSF UJNFT NPSF MJLFMZ UIBO GFNBMFT to have a high risk of cardiovascular disease (27.4% of males and 7.6% of females) t )BMG PG UIF XPSLFST XJUI UIF IJHIFTU SJTL PG type 2 diabetes considered themselves in good health t " RVBSUFS PG XPSLFST UFTUFE IBE IJHI DIPMFTUFSPM t 8PNFO XFSF NPSF MJLFMZ UP ESJOL BMDPIPM BU risky levels and have a waist circumference indicative of a greatly increased risk of chronic disease t PG XPNFO BHFE VOEFS ESJOL BMDPIPM BU risky levels, compared to 54% of males t .BDIJOFSZ XPSLFST XFSF NPTU MJLFMZ UP IBWF high risk of type 2 diabetes, while sales workers and professional were least likely to be at high risk Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health Director, Professor Malcolm Sim, says the report delivered the most comprehensive snapshot of worker health in Australia, but there is opportunity to build participation within some industries. “The fact that WorkHealth checks include actual physical and biomedical measures provides a rich source of information. With over 200,000

checks to date, we’re building a world-first picture of the state of health in the working population,�

Professor Sim said. “Overall, participation is lowest in ‘blue collar’ industries such as construction, transport and trade, where the evidence suggests there’s increased health risks.�

7

Ms Anders said it was important for all Victorian workers to have access to a WorkHealth check and get vital information about their health, and called on Victorian employers to “put their hand up� and offer these checks to their workers.

Evologic joins the who’s who of Australian IT Local IT services company, Evologic Technologies, have been nationally recognised for their strong performance in providing IT solutions to Victorian businesses by being named CRN Magazines 25th Fastest Growing IT Company. The CRN Fast 50 awards are a “who’s who� of Australia’s smartest IT companies and recognises the hard work and dedication of Australia’s brightest channel partners. “As a small Geelong business, being in a room of 49 other high achieving Australian IT Companies and being recognised for our hard work was both humbling and inspiring,� Managing Director, Chris Davies, remarked after returning from presentation event in Sydney last month.

The award captured the company’s significant growth amid the global economic downturn. Whilst many businesses were struggling, Evologic Technologies managed to increase their revenue figures whilst expanding their staff by 50 per cent. Mr Davies said this growth was managed through strong relationships and by a thorough understanding of clients’ business

requirements, with a focus on matching clients to the right technologies in a way that differed from competitors. “We’ve got great staff, happy customers and are now recognised as one of the top IT businesses in Australia. Does it get better than this?� said Garry Kovacs, Director of Operations.

From starting out in 2002, Evologic Technologies has grown to become a leading Managed Services provider, offering a variety of IT solutions for small and medium sized businesses throughout Victoria. With the use of cutting edge software tools to keep businesses’ IT investments working as they should, the future for Evologic Technologies is bright, with the company on track for further growth throughout 2011.

In celebration of their Fast 50 award, Evologic Technologies are offering readers of the Geelong Business News the opportunity for a free IT Risk and Opportunity Analysis. For further details, please refer to the advertisement on page 12.

understanding

THE PARTNERS AND ALL THE STAFF AT COULTER ROACHE LAWYERS WISH ALL THE BUSINESSES OF GEELONG A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR. The ďŹ rm will be closed from 1pm Thursday 23rd December and will reopen Wednesday 29th December 2010. Please note we will also be closed on Monday 3rd January for the New Year’s Day Public Holiday.

T: 03 5273 5236

www.coulterroache.com.au

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COMMENT

Big issue debate should run on facts Many public debates come down to facts – issues like “Whose costing of the opposition's spending plans was correct?” or “How many people died in Iraq?” Too often the media report a strident opinion from both sides and we have to guess that the truth lies somewhere in between. Surely we can do better when it comes to facts.

Some issues of course come down to values, not facts. For instance, I cannot convince someone on the issue of gay marriage by quoting a scientific study. But many issues require us to agree on a set of numerical facts.

Once we have these, we can then make our own value judgements and trade-offs. But often you cannot discover the facts by a quick browse of Wiki. You need expertise and experience to find the relevant numbers, and even more to interpret what these numbers mean.

The Rudd government spent about $10.4 billion in discretionary stimulus spending in 2009. We avoided a recession. That doesn't mean one caused the other. Many other countries also applied stimulus packages of varying size.

Surely their outcomes would tell us something.

Did those countries that applied larger stimuli see a better economic outcome, after adjusting for other relevant factors?

Treasury had a go at this question in the last budget. They placed Australia amongst 11 peer countries and plotted the size of the stimulus against a standardized measure of GDP growth.

And they found that the higher the stimulus, the better the outcome.

This was always going to be controversial. Star blogger, Possum Comitatus, called this 'the most important graph in the budget.' Star academic economist, John Quiggin, commented more carefully: 'No doubt this will be subject to reanalysis, but it's a striking result.' And reanalyzed it was.

Treasury was strongly criticized by RMIT economist, Sinclair Davidson, who noted that if you include all countries in the G20 then the tendency of high stimulus to be associated with better outcome evaporates. Treasury was accused of selective use of statistics and 'data snooping'.

What was the final outcome of this controversy?

The story got cold and we never found out.

It would not be difficult for an expert statistician to look at which countries are most like Australia and to offer an opinion on an appropriate peer group. The same expert could also have commented on much more serious problems with the Treasury analysis than which countries you include. There are real difficulties in establishing causality with a study of this kind.

For instance, suppose the IMF predicted that a country was about to have a major depression

and that they should impose a big stimulus to avoid it. The Treasurer listens to the IMF and spends up big, and the country does not go into depression. Now, is this due to the stimulus, or isn't it just as possible that the IMF gave a pessimistic forecast in the first place and generated the stimulus in the process? You would then tend to see higher stimulus for those countries that did better than expected, but the stimulus would not be causing it.

Another public issue that is of constant interest is Australia's population. A decade ago, Peter Costello argued that we needed more babies and the government brought in the baby bonus.

More recently, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbot have been competing in talking down the total population, partly in response to Rudd's flippant 'big Australia' comment.

The population is set to age drastically over the next 30 years...

Having more elderly per worker is largely inevitable, and the very favourable age distribution that we had in the past 30 years is an unsustainable deviation from equilibrium.

One of the main issues with population is the age distribution; specifically how many people we have of working age to support those who are not of working age, namely the young and the elderly. You would think demography would be uncontroversial enough that the facts could be on the public table and there would be some consequent consistency on public policy and discourse. Here are three propositions that I researched myself but on which, I think, all demographers would agree.

First, the population is set to age drastically over the next 30 years. This is a consequence of having fertility rates of 3.5 children per woman post war and then seeing this fall to less than 2 in a generation. Having more elderly per worker is largely inevitable, and the very favourable age distribution that we had in the past 30 years is an unsustainable deviation from equilibrium. Surely then, we would be better off debating how we are going to cope. Encouraging later retirement and savings rates are pretty obvious starters.

Second, to the extent that we can affect the number of elderly Australians per Australian worker, either higher fertility or migration is equally effective. If you crunch the numbers, you will find that under zero population growth,

people will have to retire at the age of 73 if we are going to maintain the current dependency ratio. If we increase fertility and/or migration by plausible amounts, this would reduce to about 71. Not a huge effect.

There is much more hand wringing about the number of elderly than the number of children.

No politician can talk about the burden that too many children might place on an economy. But we can.

The third point is this. If we include children as dependents, as well as the retired, then the required retirement age to support this expanded base of dependents will again increase to around 73 under zero population growth. But the best way to mitigate this total dependency problem is by a combination of migration and lower fertility rates. The reason is that fertility injects babies into the population who have to be fed and educated for 15 years, whereas immigrants tend to be overwhelmingly in the more productive age ranges. Low fertility and highish immigration was pretty much where we were 10 years ago, before politicians started suggesting that the aging population was a problem that could be fixed by financial inducements.

Surely, these facts should be more generally known and public commentators who deviate from these facts should be reminded of them.

We could then focus on more complex problems such as the implications of a larger population on the natural and urban environments, as well as the amount of cultural diversity people are comfortable with.

There are plenty of other media stories I could have mentioned. How many people died in Iraq? Did Howard's gun buy-back have an effect on homicide and suicide rates? How should we measure the performance of schools?

Does prison reduce crime? How much of the falling road toll is due to random breath testing.

And let's not forget that endangered polar bear in the room - climate change.

Let's not blame the media for this though.

Journalists run on a short news cycle, and most of them would love to be able to resolve an issue with the help of expert input. Unfortunately academics, for various reasons, are often reluctant to become public commentators. But with the greater public accountability of universities, there is a changing mood. I sense that there may be some change coming with the next generation of academics.

For the sake of intelligent democracy, I hope so.

Professor Chris J. Lloyd Associate Dean of Research Melbourne Business School

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10

APPOINTMENTS

A new way for United Way Geelong The organisation at the very heart of charitable work in Geelong, United Way Geelong Region, has announced that it will be amicably disaffiliating from United Way Australia and United Way International in early 2011. The organisation, previously known as Geelong Community Chest until joining United Way in the 1970s, will also announce a new identity early in the New Year.

United Way CEO, Adam Charleston, said the decision to disaffiliate was not taken lightly, with the process of working to find a solution to the differences between how United Way Geelong Region believe they need to operate and how they would be asked to operate under the new national system, extending over the past two years. But in the end, the decision was made that the Geelong body should continue not only to be operated, but also managed, in Geelong.

Adam explained that a key point of difference was in a proposed reform of the Workplace Giving system.

“With workplace giving, we use all the existing systems within a business. Payroll systems are already processing tax and superannuation, so having a deduction to give to us, and that deduction appearing on a group certificate, is really a very positive and simple exercise. Today, most of those companies will just remit us some funds each a month.

“We don’t have to issue paper, because all the receipting is on the group certificate,

and we don’t have to maintain systems for those businesses, because it’s already part of their payroll.”

The organisation has a long and proud history

Under the new centralised model of United Way Australia, a new Workplace Giving system would be installed in all giving businesses. Payroll staff of those businesses would have to be trained how to use the new system, but of most particular concern to the Geelong Region body was that businesses using the system would also be charged 7 per cent of the Workplace Giving total in administration fees.

funds directly to local charities will remain

“We were looking at it and saying that they’ve gone for the centralised model, because they believe that in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, where they have United Ways that are pretty small, they would have a better chance of succeeding as part of a larger group,” Adam said.

in Geelong, and while the name will soon change, the dedication to sending donated unchanged, as will their strong relationships with businesses, community support organisations and people across our region.

Adam explained that from the office building, which was donated to the organisation, to three business vehicles supplied in an ongoing support arrangement by Ford Australia, to the fundraising events, all of which are funded by local sponsors, UW Geelong Region operates on absolutely minimal overheads. This means that money donated locally, goes straight into local programs.

United Way is a voluntary, non-political, non-

“Whereas, we’re regional and, until the centralisation, we were the largest United Way in the country. If the total of United Way’s income was around $10 million, here in Geelong we would represent around $3 million of that.”

sectarian fundraising organisation dedicated to

Workplace Giving represents one third United Way Geelong Region’s total annual income, and Adam said that having consulted many businesses around Geelong, and particularly the organisation’s four largest business partners – Shell, Alcoa, Ford and G-Force, as well as the United Way Geelong Region Board, the decision to break away from the national and international organisations was unanimous.

region, thousands of workers donate through

Engineers make it happen.

helping local people. UW Geelong Region – a voluntary, non-political, non-sectarian fundraising organisation - acts a central focus, in many ways, of charitable giving in Geelong. Across our the Workplace Giving program in the knowledge that, each year, the organisation distributes funds to over 70 vital health and human care agencies across the region, benefiting tens of thousands of local people.

Davina Montgomery

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APPOINTMENTS

11

Real Estate

Real Estate

Hayden Real Estate has gone to great lengths to welcome Darryn Arnold back to Ocean Grove. Darryn is an experienced Property Manager of many years and constantly attends training to ensure the best possible systems and techniques are always in place. Darryn is a Past Chairman of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria Geelong Division and a Lecturer in Real Estate at the Real Estate Institute of Victoria in Melbourne.

Hayden Real Estate Welcomes Linda Craig to its dynamic Sales team. After years of retail experience and, more recently, Geelong real estate sales, Linda is back working on the Bellarine Peninsula. Growing up in the area Linda has a first hand knowledge of the benefits that are derived from living in this wonderful part of the world. An unquestionable work ethic, combined with her commitment and passion, make a winning combination when it comes to ensuring the highest price for your property.

Business Groups

Automotive

Bernadette Uzelac, former CEO of People @ Work recruitment agency, is delighted to be appointed to the role of Executive Officer of the Geelong Chamber of Commerce, the oldest Chamber of Commerce in Australia having been established in 1853. Bernadette’s vision for the Chamber over the next 12 months includes a focus on membership growth and development with an emphasis on broadening the range of benefits and services to members.

Clint Breust has recently been appointed as Manager at Prestige Geelong Motor Group. Clint is a qualified mechanic and has worked as a Service Manager at several Geelong dealerships. Clint is customer focussed and is committed to providing clients with the highest possible customer service.

Legal

Psychology

Coulter Roache Lawyers are pleased to announce that Martin Reid will take up the position of Partner from January 1st 2011.

Martin has particular expertise in, and provides many of Geelong’s leading employers with, strategic advice on all areas of workplace relations. He also advises on occupational health and safety, unfair and unlawful dismissal claims, antidiscrimination claims, union right of entry and enterprise bargaining negotiations.

Zora Bradonjic has recently joined the team of specialist psychologists at Chris Mackey & Associates. Zora has a doctoral degree in health psychology. She offers therapy predominantly for anxiety and depression, pain management and grief.

Zora works with adults and adolescents and has a particular interest in working with clients who are experiencing chronic health conditions.

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12

PROFILE

A telling story of a storyteller If you were to examine the Glenn Shea story, it would likely read parallel to a condensed miniseries novel, with regular weekly instalments, but with so much yet to unfold.

But where to begin is the conundrum. Does one talk about Glenn Shea the actor, the playwright, the writer, the inventor, the football player, the storyteller or the youth justice worker?

Glenn’s latest achievement is the launch of an inventive board game he authored and designed, called The Storyteller, created as a way of teaching people about Aboriginal culture.

Through his involvement with the local traditional landowners, the Wathaurong community, Glenn has organised cultural camps for neighbouring young people as a means to impart knowledge he himself had journeyed to discover about his heritage.

The drive to learn about his culture and connectthe-dots of his life culminated with the board game idea, conceived five years ago at his home in Corio one night during the pre-dawn hours.

Glenn took a risk and invested $50,000 of his own money into the project, because no one was prepared to financially back the idea in its organic stage, which, he jokes, “I’m still trying to pay off.”

“I took a big risk with regards to using my own money, and because there’s no benchmark for it, nobody could understand kind of what I was really on about. And people and organisations that I approached couldn’t financially support it, because within their constitution, they couldn’t.

People wanted to, but they couldn’t and I couldn’t find anybody else (to invest), so I sacrificed things to pay for it,” says Glenn.

will, his Aboriginal heritage has called out to

He said the board game’s production now pays for itself and the aim is for future recouped sales to fund Wathaurong development programs that he hopes to implement.

and regularly threw a curve ball, a reassociation

Already, The Storyteller is being introduced into public and private schools, including Geelong Grammar, and the Department of Education purchased some board games for their literacy teaching.

Glenn is part of the Stolen Generation. Like

However, unlike the aforementioned roles of which Glenn can assume or divest himself of at

in Glenn and raised him until the age of 13 or 14.

him across time. And although the path to reconnect to his birthright wended and weaved eventuated.

The 43-year-old Glenn is laid-back and mirthful; however, jollity was infrequent in his early life. countless Aboriginals from the Stolen Generation, he was taken from his birth mother and adopted out. A Baptist family in Shelford, the Sheas, who also adopted seven young Aboriginal girls, took It was around this age,

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PROFILE recalls Glenn, that he noted a point of difference in his life.

looking for another challenge to pursue. Glenn, however, remains an avid Cats fan.

“For me it was kind of when my older sisters started to search for their family and community and country, that made me aware that this is not how it’s meant to be.”

With nowhere to go, somehow Glenn found his

Glenn was born in Melbourne, in Woiwurrung country and raised in Geelong in Wathaurong country. And while many of us, when we reach 21, celebrate the coming of age, for Glenn it marked the reunion with his birth mother.

When I met my mother for the first time, I was performing at GPAC in A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” recounts an emotional Glenn. “And it was like looking in the mirror. From that moment, from the first moment, I just kind of connected. I looked in the mirror and I could see that now I know who I am; I know my identity, place and belonging.”

From that moment a clearer identity emerged for Glenn. As for his father, his identity is unknown.

Sadly, what is known is that Glenn’s father doesn’t want to be acquainted with his son.

Clearly, Glenn’s teenage years were a time of upheaval, but also a time during which he immersed himself in Aussie Rules footy. Glenn showed such promise that the then Geelong Football Club recruiter, Billy McMaster, somehow got wind of the talented teen who’d already been playing in the Seniors’ side at age 15 while in Maldon, Castlemaine.

Glenn came home one day to find his belongings packed and was whisked off by McMaster to be accommodated in the Geelong Football Club’s special house for developing players. His time at the club didn't work out and at age 18 he was

way to Wathaurong elder, Trevor Edwards.

Glenn continued to explore his potential and place in the world through artistic expression.

From a young age, he displayed a dominant artistic streak, writing his first play at age 11, while also delving into the world of acting.

Glenn studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) from 1994 to 1996, honing the philosophies of how western theatre works, and was the Institute’s first Aboriginal actor to graduate.

Glenn took part in the ABC series, East Of Everything, and the Melbourne Theatre Company’s performance of Harry Pinter’s The Birthday Party.

Touring Australia as a performer afforded Glenn the opportunity to seek out counsel from Aboriginal elders wherever possible. He says the key lesson he learned during that time was to, “sit, listen and learn. Massively, massively important to sit, listen and learn,” he reiterates.

“To be aware of environment, relationship with Mother Earth and things like that. To give back in regards to it being a part of your role and responsibility in handing back, in passing down knowledge on your journey, which is a little bit different from past practices of a role being handed down from one generation to the next, because we weren’t allowed to do that,” Glenn said.

And as another piece of his life puzzle clicked into place, Glenn’s anger began to ebb.

13

“There’s probably a period of about four years in my early 20s where I was just peeved,” jokes Glenn at the memory.

“And I was angry, here, that I’ve been denied the right to my Aboriginality; I’ve been denied the right to my traditional cultural practices, that I’ve been denied my identity, place and belonging. I mean that’s massive for somebody who is a part of the oldest living culture in the world, for society to continually suppress you.”

But as Glenn discovered, he needn’t let the circumstances, which had had a hand in shaping his past, mold his future, and instead he took a firm hold on fashioning his own.

Glenn has also been a youth justice worker for six years with the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative, working with young Koori offenders. His experience with disaffected youths, and through his personal voyage, inspired another of Glenn’s creative outings, a play titled 3 Magpies In A Tree, which submits a thorny glimpse into Aboriginal life in the big smoke.

Despite being in draft form, the play has garnered Glenn a script development award from the R.E. Ross Trust, and an invite to next year’s Playwriting Australian National Scriptwriting workshop.

“3 Magpies is about my journey in regards to the youth justice work. And the stories that are within 3 Magpies are the stories from the board game, so it’s all connected,” points out Glenn.

“It all tells (of) the journey.”

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14

COVER STORY

How confident are you feeling?

The past year or so has delivered a very mixed bag for businesses. In an overall sense, business in Victoria has managed to come through the international economic downturn quite well and in general the state economy is powering on.

Locally, in Geelong, there is a sense that many businesses have been putting the wider economic concerns aside and getting on with running their own business. While in a lot of ways that has been the overarching response of businesses in our region, there are a number of sectors that have not had it easy, and many businesses have born the brunt of falling consumer confidence. As we approach the end

of 2010, we talked to VECCI Chief Economist, Steven Wojtkiw, about doing business in Victoria and in Geelong into the year ahead.

“The overall picture has been of an economy at state and national levels that has been quite resilient, but within that, we have some masking of alternative experiences by other sectors and businesses. Interest rates having been on the rise in recent times means new pressures on rate sensitive areas of the economy, including the retail sector, upper areas of discretionary spending including dining out, and of course the housing sector.

“Housing affordability remains a difficulty and with higher interest rates works against the housing sector. We now also have the impact of the Australian dollar being persistently high, which works against many of our exporters, not least in manufacturing, but certainly also in inbound tourism and other sectors that are struggling with that impact,” Steven said.

“There are differences by sector, and even the fact that the national economic results are showing strong growth, falling unemployment and strong economic activity, a lot of that is still very much due to what we might call the twospeed economy, which is the resource rich states versus the rest.

“There is also quite a disparity in performance between large corporations, where we’re hearing about large profits by our telcos, our banking and insurance sector at this time of year, but of course many in small business aren’t performing anywhere near that level of profitability, because competition is tight, margins are low and consumer caution is still there, due to higher interest rates impacting on households. The small business sector is still doing it hard.”

Economic headlines around the country are overwhelmingly positive, yet little has been written about the challenges being faced by many in the nation’s small business sector, and it is this sector that is, in many ways, the driving force of Australia’s economy. Small business performance is a barometer of national economic performance that needs to be carefully watched.

“In terms of the number of people employed, the number of businesses and the diversity of small business operations across the entire gamut of services and goods producing industries, small businesses very much are the backbone of the Australian economy, but because they are so many, so diverse and so dispersed, they don’t often get the headlines that many of the bigger companies do get when it comes to items in the news,” Steven said.

As the end of the year approaches, retail, tourism, hospitality and accommodation sectors are firmly focused on the peak Christmas and Summer holiday period ahead. For many other businesses, it is a time to shift the focus on the coming new year and to contemplate what it might bring.

Factors such as rising interest rates, continuing consumer caution, the rise of the Australian dollar and some continuing impacts of the global financial crisis remain across the economy, and there is no way of knowing how long these factors will continue to impact those businesses already experiencing tough times.

COVER STORY “Many of those issues have been persistently with us for some time. Obviously there is also a skills gap, which is not likely to dissipate quickly.

There are issues around higher interest rates and the trend in interest rate setting at the moment is still certainly more likely to see increases over the short to medium term, rather than decreases, so we are still likely to see interest rate pressures bear on the economy,” Steven said.

“Despite some reforms and commitments by the banks, we know many in small business have, and are likely in the short to medium term to continue to experience difficulties in accessing competitively priced finance. And the dollar; in the absence of fundamental improvements in, for example, the US economy, or a major change in commodity prices by overseas buyers, which are unlikely to happen, we are going to see consistent pressure on the dollar, which will continue to work against our export interests.

So, while we would hope that things will not become more difficult, there is some way to go, I think, before we see the storm clouds disappear and we see an enduring sustainable growth with some of these pressures on business having eased. It’s still going to be a tough twelve months for business.”

Across the Geelong region, there is a strong sense that the shifting of the city’s economic base from manufacturing to the service sector, with strong growth in health and education services, has helped to create a more resilient wider local economy. To a certain extent, the same can be said for the State economy. Victoria is not a minerals rich state, but the positive performance of the State during the GFC may be due to it being a people rich state.

“There are those inherent buffers (in Victoria).

Local Government, for example, is a significant employer and a significant spender or investor in regional Victoria. Over the past few years particularly, and this in part reflects Federal stimulus measures flowing through the states and down through local governments, but just generally, the capital expenditure programs of local councils have provided some good opportunities for solid and enduring business at the local level in regional Victoria,” Steven said.

“Then there are also those industries that are more resilient to the vagaries of the economic cycle, so we’re talking about healthcare and about education. They are two good examples where, irrespective of whether the economy is good, bad or indifferent, people still require health services, and education is a necessity of life here, so that will continue to be an important part of our community. With that, there is not only the delivery of education, but all the services that are situated around education – up and down the stream industries – whether that be the construction of new schools, or maintenance, laundry services, recreation or sport services, or equipment for schools, such

as computers. So the health and education industries have helped provide a certain amount of buffer to businesses around Victoria, through what would otherwise have been pretty difficult times.”

At the national level, Australia’s resilience throughout the economic downturn has largely been attributed to the continuing demand for the country’s minerals, predominantly from China. The huge flow of wealth to Western Australia and Queensland from the mining sector, however, has not been a predominant factor in the strength of the Victorian economy.

Steven said that unlike the resource rich states, there has not been one single sector determining our State’s economic performance.

“To be fair, and not wanting to sound political, it’s probably been a combination of good economic management by the Government over that period of time. They’ve kept debt low, and in fact delivered budget surpluses in an operating sense. So the overall financial and economic management of the State has been something that has obviously been looked up on favourably by businesses and also job seekers. With job participation rates being high, people are looking and gainfully thinking and believing there are opportunities for jobs in the state, and our unemployment rate has reflected that. Victoria has been a good state to do business in and to live and to work.

“The State’s industrial structure being as diverse as it is means that we are not volatile, we don’t have all of our eggs in one basket, as some other states may have. Even though it’s good now for the resource rich states, if there were to be downturns in commodity prices for example, then you would find that those states would be quite hard hit, because they don’t have as wide an industry base as we do in Victoria. We have, albeit a smaller, manufacturing sector, but also quite a diverse government sector, in both local and state government; we have quite significant service industries, transport and distribution, education, tourism, banking and finance industries. We have primary and tertiary and secondary industries; which means that we have spread some of that shock across industries, so at least in difficult times, when some sectors are not doing so well, others are perhaps doing quite well.”

In November, a new scorecard released by the Business Council of Australia ranked Victoria as the best Australian state in which to do business, based on levels of red tape, regulation and consultation processes. For many businesses entering the Australian market or looking to set up a new business, Victoria has become the state of choice.

“The pattern of businesses leaving the state has diminished in recent times. The fact that we have most of the major banks now headquartered in Victoria, in Melbourne, are good examples of that. For me, the measure of the buoyancy of

15

the State, is not only in businesses, but in people coming to the state; we’ve had outstanding population growth.”

Population growth is a big factor in the Geelong region, and the knowledge that the local customer base is set to boom is a factor that should and does add to a building sense of confidence amongst the local business sector.

“It’s vital for business, and particularly for small businesses, which often rely on large volumes and small margins. To know that they can sell into a consumer market that is growing, even if the dollar high, to know that they can rely on a large swell of population in an area like Geelong – where you have a spill over of population of Melbourne as well as people coming there from interstate and overseas – that’s really going to add a bit of a buffer for local traders in whatever wares or services they might sell.

“Even though things might be tough, to know that there is a growing local economy with a lot money flowing in and around the Geelong area, and to have good infrastructure that allows people to live, work and move around the area is helpful, too. People are not just shopping in their local strip shops, but can move around freely and go to different shopping and entertainment locations.

“For the service industry and even for manufacturers, being able to get their goods to market quickly or moving their goods across the state also is good. It all bodes well for regional Victoria and major cities like Geelong,” Steven said.

One major issue that is impacting on business in Geelong, in Victoria, and indeed across Australia, is the continuing skills shortage in a range sectors. For businesses that are growing, too often that growth is hampered by the inability to get the right people with the right skills.

“That’s one of the unfortunate barriers to growth that is unlikely to ease over the foreseeable future in all locations across Victoria.

Skills gaps have been a persistent problem and that reflects the ageing workforce. Where we are having fewer new entrants and the older members of the workforce are leaving at a faster rate, we are relying on our young people to take those places. We have the usual lags with apprenticeship intakes and completion rates, and that took a bit of a hit when we had the global financial crisis, because many employers thought it was not a good time to put on apprentices and trainees with demand falling away. Fortunately, that has bounced back, but there is always a bit of a lag before the confidence is up enough amongst employers to take on those apprentices and

16

COVER STORY

trainees and put them through their programs, Steven said.

“Then there’s the resource rich states, where it is no secret that they are not so much stealing, but there is a bit of a brain drain of skilled workers from here and the other states going to take up the work that is in high demand there.

Even with the Federal stimulus package, it did mean that if there weren’t already pressures on certain occupations like trades and even in the service sector, a lot of those people were all of a sudden required to get involved in insulation or school maintenance programs. A lot of that has now been expended, but business is going to continue to face skills gap for some time.

There’s no silver bullet that’s going to fix that in the short term. We can rely on skilled migration, but that’s only a temporary fix, and that brings with it challenges of its own, in being able to mentor those migrants and have them assimilate with their families into local communities, which bring another set of pressures and challenges.”

It is a multi-faceted picture, when we look at where we are in Victoria and in Geelong. It seems as though most people are feeling like

this is a pretty good place to be right now, but there are of course some issues. The question then becomes, what needs to be done to keep business confidence growing, to keep our economy on track and to keep injecting skills into the workforce?

“There is much more upside than downside when we’re looking ahead,” Steven said. “The challenge will be for governments at all levels to

reforms that are so vital for all of our major cities. They are all under pressure now, even regional cities, with much more traffic moving through them, and with larger populations, we need to continue to refresh our infrastructure, because otherwise we get bottlenecks and congestion that is inefficient and reduces the liveability of our regions and the quality of life.

continue to help businesses reduce their costs,

“We also need to help our exporters, because

and that means continuing reforms at state and

they’ve got challenges in a global market that is

federal levels in business taxation – particularly

still very fragile, and the Australian dollar is not

around the costs of employing labour, so that

helping their efforts at the moment. We need to

means, at the state level, payroll tax and

look at what we can do to get more businesses

WorkCover premiums.

into export and to help ameliorate the risks that

“We need to continue to lift the numbers of

go with the higher dollar, and to look at some

students into our TAFE and our vocational

alternative strategies to help exporters be

education and training system, and to continue

competitive in non-price ways is important.

reforms there to ensure that businesses get the skills and students that they need. And naturally

“And then, just generally, particularly for small

we need to ensure that higher education

business, it’s important that we keep stripping

continues to be focussed and relevant to

away red tape, so that business operators can

business as well.

focus on running their business rather than

“We need to continue with the roads and the rail, and public transport and air infrastructure

completing paperwork.”

Davina Montgomery

COMPETITION

17

Spend it incognito, in style or in elegance Thanks to EMC Group Geelong, the Geelong Business News and Ruby magazine have some of this December's hottest tickets to give away.

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Cunningham Pier. Local favourites Passionfruit Pulp and Test Pilot Molly plus renowned DJ Joe Joe are mixing the tunes through the night with a fabulous masquerade theme. The floor to ceiling glass windows and terrace provide the perfect position to see the colourful midnight fireworks over Corio Bay. Tickets include basic spirits, beer, wine and soft drink as well as cocktail food and an after pass to two great venues in the city to keep the party going.

City Quarter Soiree will be held at the elegant new boutique bar located on level one on Cunningham Pier. The fan-tabulous Angie Hilton Trio will provide the entertainment along with a DJ. City Quarter is the prime viewing position of the dusk and midnight fireworks over Corio Bay and will be a sophisticated way to bring in the New Year. An after party pass into two of Geelong's hottest night spots is also included. Tickets include cocktails, wine, beer and soft drink and canapĂŠs.

New Year at Edge will be a stylish affair, set on the beautiful waters edge on Eastern Beach Road. Tickets include a glass of bubbly on arrival, finger food from 7:00pm-9:00pm.

Zane Carroll duo will provide the entertainment along with a DJ. Gold Diggers Arms will be a casual celebration, opening from 11:00am and closing late.

Diggers offers a great night at a great neighborhood pub where you can book for dinner in the dining room or enjoy the acoustic tunes from Matty Orchard in the public bar.

No door entry, first in best dressed.

New Year's Eve at Lambys will be a night full of laughs and will definitely be one to remember.

Resident band Passionfruit Pulp and DJ Cliff and DJ Vinnie will drum up the best tunes to entice you onto the dance floor. Tickets are $10 and sold on the door on the night.

For your chance to win a double ticket to a fantastic NYE event, simply log on to www. adcellgroup.com.au and enter your details on the competition page.

18

LEGAL

Post employment restraint clauses developing an electronic program guide for internet television. Soon after leaving IceTV, the executives did some consultancy work for a competitor, Mobilesoft. Mobilesoft was also having discussions with IceTV prior to the cessation of the executives’ employment at IceTV, with a view to becoming a client of IceTV. A recent decision of the NSW Court of Appeal provides employers with a timely reminder of the benefits of having a properly drafted restraint of trade clause in employment contracts. In the case of Ross v Ice TV, the court upheld restraint clauses that prevented two executives from competing with their former employer or soliciting clients.

In 2007, IceTV terminated the employment of its chief executive officer and its chief technology officer following an unsuccessful bid to float the company on the ASX. At the time, IceTV was

The executives’ employment contracts contained restraint clauses that prevented them from soliciting clients or competing with IceTV’s business for twelve months after their employment contracts ended.

The NSW Supreme Court found that the executives breached the restraint clause in their employment contracts by being involved in a business that is in competition with IceTV and soliciting Mobilesoft from IceTV. IceTV was awarded damages of almost $44,000 plus costs for the executives’ breaches of their employment contracts. This decision was recently upheld on appeal.

IceTV’s interests in its confidential information and customer connection. The period of twelve months during which the restraint was to operate was reasonable due to the senior positions the employees occupied and their knowledge of IceTV’s operations.

The message for employers from this case is that successful enforcement depends on appropriately drafted restraint provisions.

Restraint clauses are extremely useful to protect businesses from the impact of former employees approaching, canvassing or soliciting customers of the employer or inducing other employees to leave the employer.

To enjoy the protection of restraint clauses, employers should regularly review and update their employment agreements and post employment restraint clauses to ensure effective and enforceable clauses are in place.

Post employment restraints are generally difficult to enforce. A restraint clause must be reasonable and should go no further than is necessary to protect the employer’s interests.

What is reasonable will depend upon the time the restraint operates for and the area it operates in, the subject matter of the restraint, the nature of the employer’s business, the employee’s relationship with the employer’s clients and the nature of the work performed by the employee.

Jim Rutherford, Principal and Accredited Specialist in Criminal and Workplace Relations Law; and

In this case, the restraint clause in the contracts was found to be valid and reasonable to protect

Melissa Sykes, Lawyer

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19

Work and health – getting the right balance In the past few weeks, two reports have been published by two separate bodies looking, at the relationship between work and health.

VicHealth recently released a report titled ‘Estimating the economic benefits of eliminating job strain as a risk factor for depression’. This report, along with a similar report published by VicHealth in 2006, seeks to associate public health issues as being contributed to by work stresses.

Professor Anthony LaMontagne from Melbourne University’s School of Population Health, which receives funding from VicHealth, found that depression attributable to job strain (where workers are under high pressure to perform, but have little job control) costs Australian society $730 million a year.

According to Prof LaMontagne, approximately 13 to 17 per cent of working men and women, respectively, suffer from depression attributable to job strain. The report also states that job strain represents only one of a number of workrelated psychosocial hazards, such as effort/ reward imbalance; injustice at work; job insecurity; and bullying.

Prof LaMontagne argues approach to reducing job under Occupational Health legislation to improve public

that a systems strain is required and Safety (OHS) health.

Another report, however, takes a completely different tack. ‘Realising the Health Benefits of Work’ is a position statement of the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental

Medicine (AFOEM), under the auspices of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. The position statement has two underpinning principles that claim a strong international evidence base: work, in general, is good for health and wellbeing; and long-term work absence, work disability and unemployment have, in general, a negative impact on health and wellbeing.

The position statement states that long-term unemployment is one of the greatest known risks to Public Health: the health risk is equivalent to smoking 10 packs of cigarettes per day; the risk of suicide in young men who have spent more than six months out of work is multiplied by 40 per cent; suicide rate, in general, is six times greater with longer-term unemployment; the associated health risk and life expectancy impact is greater than many ‘killer diseases’ and carries a greater risk than most dangerous jobs.

Improved community health is an important challenge that demands a community-wide approach. Demonising work and employers will result in marginalising an influential segment of the community from the health effort.

workers with the opportunity to have a free, confidential WorkHealth check in their workplace.

During November VECCI’s doors opened for workers to participate in this important program.

WorkHealth checks aim to identify and reduce the risk of preventable chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Absenteeism due to illness and injury costs Victoria over $440 million each year, therefore improving the health of workers will improve the bottom line and increase business productivity.

Participating workers complete a short questionnaire; have their waist circumference, blood cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose measured; obtain confidential, immediate and constructive feedback on results and lifestyle improvement; and be referred to their GP when applicable.

Although VECCI has already visited Geelong, you are still able to sign up your organisation or simply enquire about WorkHealth checks at your workplace by contacting John Wigg, WorkHealth Project Manager – VECCI on 03 8662 5132, mobile 0403 457 631 or by emailing jwigg@vecci.org.au.

Support for and cooperation of employers in promoting the health message to employees will not be gained by assigning blame and responsibility. Improving public health needs a community-wide effort.

VECCI realises this and is a promotional partner for the WorkHealth program. The WorkHealth program aims to provide Victoria’s 2.6 million

Open Wednesday – Sunday for lunch & dinner 5222 6377 | manager@baveras.com.au www.baveras.com.au

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20

RECRUITMENT

Why flexibility isn’t such a stretch Work-life balance takes priority over job security for a good many candidates in the marketplace.

While many of us believe work-life balance is achievable, it does require effort and perseverance. However, the key to its attainment is a flexible employer. The alternative is taking matters into one’s own hands and forgoing working for someone else, which requires a great deal more time, and much concerted effort.

But with the lines between our working, social and private lives blurring more so today than ever before, the answer to accommodating our ever-demanding lifestyle choices is workplace flexibility. And because many of us are no longer content to be bound by the rigours of a nine-to-five existence as we once were, employers are increasingly recognizing the benefits of offering flexible workplace arrangements.

are willing to forego the lucrative salaries and career advancements in exchange for personal satisfaction that comes with the freedom to be more in control of one’s work and downtime, and being able to adjust it accordingly.

support and concern for their employees.

Through the creation of a flexible workplace, employers are much more likely to be considered attractive to future candidates, which garners an employer a strong standing within industry.

The tendency towards contracted working weeks and working part-time is largely favoured, due to being able to enjoy more personal time, care for children or elderly family members, and considering the outlook regarding Australia’s prospective demographic shift, requirements will necessitate a further increase. As a result, job-sharing and working from home options are becoming more widespread.

Meanwhile, the demand for certain skills continues across a range of industries, including legal, architecture, banking, sales and marketing, construction, engineering, human resources, logistics, manufacturing and operations, information technology, and accountancy and finance.

For employers, the benefits of offering a more flexible approach in the workplace is evident in the increase in employee retention, reliability, more productivity, as well as in demonstrating

Due to the particular shortage severity of professional salespeople, profitable offers are at an all-time high, as professional sales people are considered to be key drivers in shaping future expansion and impetus for business growth.

Terry Broun Jr

Those employers smart enough to note this upward trend are quick to ensure they address employee requirements. Particularly, at this time, the public sector has an advantage over the private sector in offering workplace flexibility to its staff.

Without a doubt in a time when it’s critical for employers to retain their top candidates to ensure business recovery, it is in an employer’s best interest to offer the finest options to workers on an individual basis.

Salaries, career progression and job stability have figured high on the list of priorities when it comes to whether a position fulfils a candidate’s requirements. But more and more Australians

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21

Self-education expenses – ATO loses fight The ATO recently lost a case in the High Court of Australia that appears to overturn the longheld position that education expenses are not deductible against various Commonwealth educational assistance scheme support payments.

The High Court case decision in Commissioner of Taxation v Anstis was handed down on 11 November 2010. The decision attracting substantial media attention, even though the dollars at stake were trivial.

The case concerned Commonwealth Youth Allowance payments and the ability to claim deductions against those amounts for self education expenses.

In summary: During the 2006 income year, the respondent (Symone Anstis) was enrolled as a full time student at the Australian Catholic University undertaking a teaching degree.

To claim a deduction for those self-education expenses, the respondent had to satisfy the relevant conditions of the general deduction provision of the income tax legislation.

employment in the long term, but that is not

In part, the general deduction provision provides that a taxpayer is entitled to a deduction for losses or outgoings incurred in producing the taxpayer’s assessable income provided that the loss or outgoing is not of a private nature.

characterised as private in nature in these

The High Court considered whether:

number of other types of government income

The Youth Allowance was assessable income;

In her income tax return for that income year she declared Youth Allowance as assessable income in addition to around $15,000 from a part time job she held as a sales assistant. She also made a claim for self-education expenses of around $920 for expenditure relating to her university course, such as textbooks, travel and computer depreciation.

The ATO disallowed the claim for those self education assessments on assessment.

were incurred in producing assessable income.

The self education expenses should not be circumstances.

This High Court decision may have a much broader impact than expected. It raises the question of deductibility outgoings in relation to a support payments such as Austudy, ABSTUDY and Newstart, and may lead to a flood of

If so, whether the self education expenses were incurred in “gaining or producing” that assessable income; and Whether the self education expenses were made non deductible by virtue of being private in nature.

amendment requests to be lodged with the ATO. A decision impact statement is expected from the Commissioner of Taxation. In the meantime, the ATO has released a message on its website requesting taxpayers who believe they may be affected by the decision to be patient whilst the

In upholding the claim for the expenses, the Court unanimously held:

During that income year she received Youth Allowance of around $3,600.

determinative of the question of whether the costs

ATO considers the impact of the decision.

Alex Duonis

t UIBU UIF :PVUI "MMPXBODF XBT BTTFTTBCMF income on the grounds that it was income according to “ordinary concepts” and was not made exempt income by any provisions of the Tax Act; t UIBU UIF TFMG FEVDBUJPO FYQFOTFT XFSF JODVSSFE in producing the assessable Youth Allowance income on the grounds that her entitlement to that allowance was dependent on her being enrolled in her full time University course. The motive of the respondent in incurring those costs might be characterized as obtaining

Tax Director WHK Western Victoria Readers should not act on the basis of this information as the contents are of a general nature and do not reflect individual circumstances. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation other than for the acts or omissions of financial services licensees.

WHK Pty Ltd ABN 84 006 466 351

22

LEGAL

Foreign investment policy reviewed Earlier this year, the Federal Government announced that Temporary Residents are now required to seek Foreign Investment Review Board ("FIRB") approval to acquire residential property in Australia.

If the Temporary Resident is eligible for approval under the amended FIRB policy the acquisition of the property will be approved, subject to legally binding conditions, which will differ according to the type of real estate being purchased.

It should be noted that not all acquisitions of property require FIRB approval. It is not necessary to submit an application for FIRB approval if: t :PV BSF BO "VTUSBMJBO DJUJ[FO MJWJOH BCSPBE t :PVS TQPVTF JT BO "VTUSBMJBO DJUJ[FO OPU B permanent resident) and you are purchasing residential real estate in both names as joint tenants (not as tenants in common); t :PV BSF B /FX ;FBMBOE DJUJ[FO BOE ZPV BSF purchasing residential property; t :PV IPME B 1FSNBOFOU 3FTJEFOU WJTB BOE ZPV are purchasing residential property; t :PV BSF QVSDIBTJOH OFX EXFMMJOHT GSPN B developer who has pre FIRB approval to sell those dwellings to foreign persons; t :PV BSF BDRVJSJOH BO JOUFSFTU JO B UJNF TIBSF scheme which does not permit you (or any of your associates) more than four (4) weeks entitlement per year; t :PV BSF QVSDIBTJOH DFSUBJO SFTJEFOUJBM SFBM estate in an integrated tourism resort; t :PV BSF BDRVJSJOH BO JOUFSFTU JO EFWFMPQFE commercial property where the property is to be used immediately and in the present state for industrial or commercial purposes. The acquisition must be wholly incidental to the purchasers proposed or existing business activities; and t :PV BSF BDRVJSJOH BO JOUFSFTU CZ XJMM PS CZ operation of law (i.e. a Court order regarding the division of property in a divorce settlement) or you are purchasing property from the Government.

The amendments to the FIRB policy are for the following purposes: t UP SFEVDF UIF QPTTJCJMJUZ PG FYDFTT EFNBOE JO the existing housing market; t UP FODPVSBHF UIF TVQQMZ PG OFX EXFMMJOHT many of which will become available to Australian Permanent Residents or Citizens through purchase or rent; and t UP NBJOUBJO HSFBUFS TUBCJMJUZ PG IPVTF QSJDFT and the affordability of housing for the benefit of Australians.

Second Hand (Established) Dwellings The amended FIRB policy still allows for foreign persons to acquire established dwellings if they are the holder of a Temporary Residence visa

and intend to use the dwelling as their principal place of residence, however, FIRB approval must first be obtained. FIRB approval will generally be granted on the condition that the dwelling must be sold when it ceases to be the Temporary Resident's principal place of residence.

The amended FIRB policy does not allow for foreign persons to acquire established dwellings for investment purposes, whether or not they are Temporary Residents.

Vacant Land The acquisition of a single vacant block of land for the purpose of constructing a single residential dwelling on the block would generally receive FIRB approval on the condition that construction commences within 24 months.

The acquisitions of parcels of land for the purpose of building multiple residential dwellings would generally receive FIRB approval on the conditions that construction commences within 24 months and at least 50 per cent of the acquisition cost or the current market value of the land, whichever is higher, must be spent on development. Once the construction has been finalised the properties may be rented out, sold to Australian interests, or other eligible purchasers or retained for the foreign investors own use.

New Dwellings FIRB approval is generally obtained in relation to off the plan sales if the dwellings: t IBWF OPU QSFWJPVTMZ CFFO TPME BOE t IBWF OPU CFFO PDDVQJFE GPS NPSF UIBO UXFMWF months.

Properties purchased through off the plan sales may be rented out, sold to Australian interests or other eligible purchasers or retained for the foreign investors own use.

Residential Property for Development The amended FIRB policy allows for an established dwelling to be acquired for the purpose of demolishing it and constructing a new dwelling, however, it does not allow for the refurbishing or renovating of an existing dwelling.

FIRB approval is generally obtained on the following conditions: t UIF FTUBCMJTIFE EXFMMJOH XJMM OPU CF SFOUFE PVU prior to demolition and redevelopment; t UIF EFWFMPQNFOU XJMM SFTVMU JO BO JODSFBTF JO the number of dwellings; and t UIF FTUBCMJTIFE EXFMMJOH NVTU CF EFNPMJTIFE and construction of the new dwellings must commence within 24 months.

It must be noted that the amended FIRB policy has changed the landscape for foreign purchasers and Australians selling to foreign purchasers in numerous other ways that have not been discussed within this article. Please contact a member of Coulter Roache Lawyers' Property & Development department to discuss the possible restrictions and opportunities created by the amended FIRB policy.

Nic Redman Lawyer

SMALL BIZ

23

NYE resolution: avoid enterprise fertiliser There are so many competing demands for your attention in a small business. How many times a day do you get the low-grade interruptions from the telephone systems sales people? I get two or three some days. They are easy to say no to, but the charities are much harder to say no to, but again, there is just too many wanting our support.

Then there are my colleagues – the business consultants – we are on the road trying to sell our most current version of some recycled business ideology. You may not have received the visit or phone call, but you will be influenced by the magazines, TV and other forms of media.

You may not have had the request for your attention yet, but you will. Some of the requests for your attention are very worthwhile but most are a waste of time.

There really is a lot of crap out there. Misleading information presented as a factoid, perhaps with a personal interview and the ubiquitous, but spurious, testimonials, “Yes this corporate rabbit’s foot worked wonders for me”. The missing bit in this sentence is how much money you will waste trying to get the rabbit’s foot working before you give up.

Even some respected authors are selling enterprise fertiliser. A couple of the bestselling business books are based on poor thinking and even worse evidence collection. I will let you in

on the secret; if you dress it well, say it confidently and get on Oprah, your books will skyrocket in sales. Great for sales for them, but not so good for you! Even if it is packaged well, and broadly available, it will still be better on your roses than your bookshelf.

Here is the rub, of all the things that are presented to you, how do you select the right ideas and concepts to develop your business?

I love an idea presented by Eli Goldratt, he said if he couldn’t find a way to get your business to achieve a net profit that is equivalent to your current total sales within two years, there is no charge. Imagine that guarantee offered by your computer company or your phone system company, or the local training college. I would like to see that... But I am not holding my breath I am a sceptic. Hey! There’s a bit of news for free.

For instance, I am not sure about this climate change stuff – I am told lots of things, but I personally have no evidence that I can trust. If I were to say that I believe in the climate stuff it would only be because I am going along with the popular opinion. At the same time I am not a denier, because I don’t have the evidence to deny it either I am just ignorant. (Many people would say they already know that!).

The same level of scrutiny is used for business concepts. We are told that business plans are vital, yet most of the plans that we see are mild and neutral and have little strength. How are they going to help a business do anything useful? Most SWOT analyses are so predictable as to be another waste of time and activity; I wonder why people bother, if it all they get is a weak result.

Amhar Bhide says of business plans: “They are a great tool for academically inclined people to feel comfortable making intuitive decisions about their business.”

A much better approach is the discovery plan approach of Rita Gunther McGrath. This process really digs into a business and explores the assumptions and unknowns and looks for potential for growth. It looks for and suggests management and business changes based on real evidence, not some freakish fad that is little better than the current emperor’s new clothes.

Just to concrete this concept, can you answer these questions: “What would you need to do in your business to grow your profit by a factor of 3, and how would this differ if you were going to grow your profit ten times? And what would prevent you from growing your profit next year?”

You see, by answering these questions truthfully and in depth we get to the limits of our business knowledge. For some people, this is surprisingly shallow. They don’t actually know the drivers of their business. Take, for example, when we ask the ten times profit question, their answer strays into the vague land of generalities. “I would advertise more” – that is just a mushy answer.

And now we can return to the main premise of this article and see that the reason that there are so many wishy-washy books and management fads of margin value is that in a world of mushy businesses, people tend to grasp these straws in desperation.

When I travel around and see well run, professional businesses, I invariably see a few well-worn management textbooks, and often an insignificant frame presenting a significant professional qualification. These people seriously know a good idea and concept, and regularly use them.

So, my New Year’s resolution is to resist fads, reject demands on my time and seriously develop one aspect of my business each quarter. (Oh! And have more fun!!!) What are your New Year’s resolutions for your business?

Clint Jennings Australian Business Development Centre www.abdc.com.au

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25

Geelong, Target’s home sweet home since 1925 National retailer, Target Australia, is one of Geelong’s greatest home-grown success stories, having started locally early last century, today it is one of the country’s best known and most trusted retailers with sales over $3.8 billion, 25,000 team members and 291 Target and Target Country stores across Australia.

“Target began in Geelong in 1925 and it has been our home ever since,” said Colin Haggerty, Target’s General Manager Stores.

It all started with the vision of one man, George Lindsay, who together with Alex McKenzie, launched a number of stores with product ranges including dress fabrics, manchester and furnishings.

“Being based in Geelong for over 85 years, we are proud to be a key employer in the community. Today, we employ almost 1300 people in the area - over 900 at our National Support Office in North Geelong and more than 350 across our Geelong and Waurn Ponds Target stores and Ocean Grove Target Country store. Over 75% of these team members live in the Geelong area, and relish being able to live and work in locally, without having to commute long distances.

“Target is a family focused business. We are a key destination for customers wanting childrenswear and child related products that are great style, quality and value, and this extends also to clothing for the whole family as well as the home,” he said. “At our National Support Office in North Geelong, we have buyers, planners, designers, accountants, marketers, supply chain, IT and visual display specialists – you name it - everything a large scale national retail business needs to run efficiently and effectively. Our team members always feel incredibly proud when they are out socially and someone tells them that they or their family are wearing our clothes and what great quality or value they are, it’s why we’re in business - to delight the customer!”

Loaned Executive Program to help them improve the lives of people in the Geelong region. This year, Target’s Managing Director, Launa Inman, was United Way’s 2010 Campaign Leader, working to help encourage more local businesses to come on board and make a meaningful difference to the lives of people here in Geelong and surrounding areas.”

Each Christmas, Target also supports the community through UnitingCare in an annual Christmas Appeal, which has been run nationally in every Target and Target Country store for the past 18 years.

“The wonderful thing about this appeal is that gifts donated locally, are distributed locally, so you really know you’re assisting someone less fortunate in your own The family focus doesn’t just extend to the community” said Ms Hanlon. product offer either. Target’s Community Relations Manager, Teresa Hanlon, says Target also proudly supports a range of that the company’s community strategy other local community partners, including revolves around “safe and happy families” Bethany Community Services, Ardoch and the company’s philosophy ensures that Youth Foundation, Diversitat and MacKillop a contribution is made locally: “Target has Family Services. been a long-term supporter of United Way So the saying goes, there is no place like Geelong, through our team members home, and for Target, they are proud to call participating in Workplace Giving and the Geelong home sweet home.

Viatek grows with Geelong After over 25 years in regional Victoria, Viatek has forged a strong relationship with Geelong’s business community and has also undergone significant change as the city has grown and flourished.

The name change to Viatek, together with significant re-branding of the total organisation, was designed to better reflect their expanded range of services.

a thorough and obligation-free workflow assessment, so our clients have a real understanding of the hidden costs associated with their business and how these can be significantly reduced or even eliminated. We then demonstrate how these costs can be recovered and, in many instances, turned into profit. The cost savings and return on investments have been considerable. Importantly, it is all measurable.”

Viatek Western Victoria’s General Manager, Joedy Van Eekelen, who is based at Viatek Geelong’s Fyan’s Street headquarters, said, “I believe our growth in Geelong has been the result of our close working relationship with our clients. The fact that we work together with clients to realise each business’ full potential, and that we are a services and solutions-based company. We Viatek is also committed to environmental sustainability and a future of zero landfill.

Viatek still proudly partners Fuji Xerox, in support our clients all the way.” addition to Telstra, Lexmark, NEC and HP. Viatek capabilities allow them to benefit On Geelong city’s Centenary, Mr Van They have also entered into a joint venture large and small businesses, which include Eekelen said, “We are so proud to be part partnership with highly regarded, Victorian heavy industry, marketing, printing, finance, of this city and everything it has to offer based, Sage IT Services to form Viatek Sage legal, health, council, education and retail, from both a business and lifestyle IT Services. amongst others. perspective. Geelong came of age well Viatek are their clients’ one point of contact Mr Van Eekelen said, “Before any before the Centenary, but we are proud to for all equipment, services, enquiries and implementation, either print, IT, or be part of this moment and look forward to telecommunications related, we undergo our future in Geelong.” technical support.

Formerly Geelong’s Xerox Business Centre, specialising in printers, copiers and multifunction devices, Viatek’s services expanded to improve business efficiency and performance through Managed Print Services, Managed Communication Services, Office Automation and IT services.

>L OLSW NYV^ [OL I\ZPULZZLZ [OH[ NYV^ V\Y JP[` Formerly Geelong’s Xerox Business Centre, we are proud to have grown with a city that has really come of age. Now, we help grow local businesses by providing solutions and services that increase performance and improve the bottom line.

4HUHNLK 7YPU[ :LY]PJLZ 4HUHNLK *VTT\UPJH[PVUZ :LY]PJLZ 6MÄJL (\[VTH[PVU 0; :LY]PJLZ To find out how Viatek can help grow your business, please contact us on 03 5225 5600 or email geelong.enquiries@viatek.com.au

163 Fyans Street, South Geelong 3220

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Western Victoria

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A Century of Change The 2010 Geelong Council has twelve wards, The success of the federal Labor Party was each represented by a Councillor. repeated across the country at state elections, Alderman Edward Philpott was elected Mayor except in Victoria. in November 1910. The mayor was entitled to In 1910, John (Jack) Murray was the Premier an annual allowance of £300. of Victoria, at the helm of the Victorian Liberal Councillor John Mitchell was elected Mayor in Government. Murray’s Liberal’s were 2009. He is entitled to an annual allowance of re-elected in 1911, holding 43 seats to Labor’s 20. $86,364.

The City of Geelong was a burgeoning regional centre in 1910. The Victorian Municipal Directory of Geelong for that year listed a town hall, exhibition building, hospital and benevolent asylum, orphanages, several DID YOU KNOW? churches, free public library and art gallery Geelong City Population 1910 - 15,000 (in Moorabool Street), Mechanics Institute City of Greater Geelong Population – 217, 935 library, post office, His Majesty’s Theatre, banks, insurance agencies, clock tower, Geelong City Dwellings – 3,220 fire station, grammar school, law courts, City of Greater Geelong Dwellings - <95,000 Geelong College, state schools, meatGeelong City Total Area – 3,012 acres (approx. freezing company, tanneries, wool scouring 12 square kilometres) works and 38 hotels.

City of Greater Geelong Total Area – 307,646 acres (1,245 square kilometres) This month marks the Centenary of Geelong as a City. When Geelong was officially named a City in 1910, the Geelong Council had only the four wards of Barwon, Bellerine, Kardinia and Villamanta, each represented by an Alderman and three councillors.

In Geelong, in 1910, the majority of the workforce was made up of factory workers, clerks and managers – not the most lucrative of professions, but professions with a substantial wage divide. Factory workers earned, on average, £157 16s 8d – of course that was only if you were a man; if you were a woman working in a factory of the day, you could expect a wage of less than half that, £70 17s 5d.

As a clerk or manager you would earn a considerably more satisfactory wage of £264 8s 1d, or £118 6s 9d if you were a woman At the national level, 1910 was a landmark working on those roles. year in Australian politics. At the 1910 federal If you were looking to stake your claim on the election, Andrew Fisher’s Labor Party became great Australian dream and build the latest the nation’s first federal majority government design of California Bungalow in 1910, you and held Australia’s first Senate majority. The would perhaps have looked at an outer-urban Fisher Government was not only the first subdivision such as the Drumcondra Estate, majority government in Australian political released between 1910 and 1920. history, but also the first majority Labor Continued over page...

Government in the world.

Moorabool Street, c. 1910 GRS 2076/6 Geelong Heritage Centre Collection

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per cent in the two years to 2009-2010, and active adult memberships were up by 122 per cent.

A century on from the declaration of Geelong as a city, the big drivers of economic growth have changed. In 2009-2010, amongst the city’s major economic stimuli, were the Geelong Ring Road and Major Events, with events stated in the Annual Report as delivering a $38 million economic benefits to the region.

One thing that hasn’t changed is that on a family day out you may well have headed to Kardinia Park… but you wouldn’t have seen the Cats there. What you would have seen were a variety of ducks from Australia, China and Europe, peacocks, white swans and guinea fowls; you would also have seen monkeys, kangaroos, a small herd of deer, and even a lemur. In 1910, Kardinia Park was home to a zoo.

In 2010, Geelong is on the brink of a population explosion, predicted to take the population from just under 220,000 to around 350,000 over the next twenty years. The median housing price across the city has risen to $365,000 (June quarter 2010).

Despite the encroachment of residential land developments into the former farmlands of the city’s fringe, Geelong maintains a plethora of open space. The City boasts 180 kilometres of bike paths, 125 kilometres of off-road

In the 2009-2010 financial year, construction projects totalling $348 million were completed in the Geelong region. Another $813 million worth of redevelopments and construction are currently underway, and projects totalling walking trails, 267 public playgrounds, and more than $1.8 billion are confirmed and 11,639 hectares (116 square kilometers) of awaiting commencement. wetland reserves.

But when we look at economic stimulus, little The newly released 2009-2010 City of Greater can compare with suburban expansion in Geelong Annual Report showed public assets Geelong. In 1910 it was Drumcondra, in in Geelong are valued at $1.6 billion, having 2010 it is Armstrong Creek, currently the increased by $373 million over the last five largest continuous growth area in Victoria. years - quite a different picture to the Geelong Greater population brings the potential for of 1910. Although with a greater asset pool enormous economic growth, however we comes an exponentially greater challenge to know now that to be successful, population keep these assets – community/public growth must be sustainable. buildings, pools, streets, footpaths, parks, Reductions in water use and greenhouse gas gardens and recreational and sporting emissions are being made in Geelong, with facilities – maintained and upgraded. Over the City of Greater Geelong itself making the past financial year, the City spent $48 significant changes, as it seeks to lead by million on maintenance and renewal of example on carbon footprint reductions. But community infrastructure. with a booming population and shrinking As a city surrounded by water, there is a strong focus on learning to swim. The Annual Report recorded that enrolments in the City’s learn to swim program had increased by 56

green spaces, the challenge of climate change will perhaps prove the most important challenge over the second century of Geelong as a city.

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When experience matters…

When building or decorating your home, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the decisions that have to be made, and the massive range of choices available. We all want our homes to look good, so seeking expert advice can help alleviate stress and help to ensure you are making the right choices.

When it comes to window coverings, Brax Window Treatments have the most experienced team in Geelong, with over 68 years in business and a Sales Team with extensive knowledge. Offering advice and providing solutions is what we’re good at.

Brax Window Treatments opened for business in April 1942, and have a proud history of manufacturing and retailing blinds and awnings for almost 68 years, but today they have so much more to offer than just blinds – they offer the latest range of innovative solutions designed to enhance your home and lifestyle.

Our unique and modern showroom has full size interactive displays, where you can touch, feel and even operate the full range of blinds, awnings, shutters and more, including the latest in home automation.

We encourage our customers to visit our showroom to see the full range we have on offer before they make the decision to buy.

By automating your blinds & awnings, you can save even more.

With our factory located in South Geelong, we’ve invested in manufacturing locally and employing local people. While many of our competitors have turned to cheaper imported products, we’re committed to continuing to manufacture right here Experience the personalised expert advice in Geelong. from our friendly showroom consultants.

Our service doesn’t stop there – we can visit As well as having the largest range of your home and provide an obligation free internal and external awnings and blinds, in-home consultation to ensure we assist Brax are also Geelong & districts only you in selecting the best solution to suit licensed ‘Crimsafe’ dealer. your individual style and functional Family owned and operated, Brax Window requirements.

Treatments have been proudly servicing Choosing the right window coverings can make a huge difference to the energy Geelong & district since 1942. We invite you efficiency of your home, for both new and to visit our showroom today – 332 Pakington existing homes. Choosing the right window St, Newtown, to view our innovative range of protection can save you around $200 each awnings, blinds, curtains, shutters and year in reduced heating and cooling costs. security products.

Bell Park Driving School The late Ivan Marks had a vision to increase overall safety on the roads by training clients to be more accomplished drivers.

And with that goal in mind, he established Bell Park Driving School in 1968.

Today, that vision is upheld by sons Tony and George Marks, and the company prides itself on not only training clients to be better accomplished drivers through obtaining various qualifications offered, but also training the clients to have the confidence to believe that they are valuable assets to their current or future employer or business/company.

Today the business has grown significantly, servicing clients throughout Victoria, providing courses in all Heavy Vehicle licences, Transport & Logistics (T&L), Warehousing & Storage, Civil Construction (earth-moving) and Work Safe Licensing.

“We strive through our methods of training to not only train clients to drive a vehicle but to also plant a seed in a person’s mind to be an asset and not a liability for their business. Not only do we train that person to drive defensively and to safely transport

their load from point A to point B, we also train the individual to drive economically.

Therefore, the driver contributes to lowering not only the cost of running their vehicle but also lowers maintenance costs on the vehicle. As a result productivity is gained, therefore creating profit margins for the business. There has never been a greater need for better accomplished, economically minded drivers, than there is today, in this current recession we are all experiencing,” says Quality Assurance Manager, Tony Marks.

The team at Bell Park firmly believes “trucks drive our economy,” and that the country would come to a grinding halt without trucks. “Transport is the backbone of our economy,” declares Mr Marks.

“Our main priority is to deliver exceptional services to our clients by exceeding their expectations,” he comments. “Our clients are our highest priority and our main objective is keeping them satisfied, because at the end of the day, our clients are our business. Without their continuing support we wouldn’t have grown to be the company we are today.”

With over 40 years in T&L, Bell Park Driving School, keeps abreast of changes within the industry and adopts and implements legislative amendments accordingly.

Whether you need group, workplace or one-on-one training, Bell Park Driving School has the experience and commitment to deliver its promises to clients.

“People often ask me, do I enjoy training on heavy vehicles? As if it would be torturous,” Mr Marks states. “Well, I love it. What I enjoy most is helping people achieve a result, that then would give them employment opportunities or possibly starting up their own businesses.

There have been many previous clients who have gone on to starting up their own businesses. Some have grown into multimillion dollar enterprises, which has helped create further employment opportunities for others, as well as helping our economy grow.”

Ivan Marks 1934-1989

BELL PARK DRIVING SCHOOL A registered organisation No 21574

Since 1968 we have trained over 40,000 people A vicroads accredited Heavy Vehicle Training and licence testing provider.

We provide courses in the following: * Certificate courses in Transport & Logistics sæ&UNDEDæTRAININGæPLACESæAVAILABLE sæ(EAVYæ6EHICLEæ,ICENCES sæ,IGHTæ2IGIDæææsæ-EDIUMæ2IGIDæææsæ(EAVYæ2IGID sæ(EAVYæ#OMBINATIONæææsæ-ULTIæ#OMBINATION sæ,ICENSESæFROMæ æPERæPERSON *æ#IVILæ#ONSTRUCTIONæ EARTHæMOVING sæ3KIDSTEERæ "OBCAT æsæ%XCAVATORæsæ&RONTENDæ,OADERæ sæ"ACKæHOEæsæ2OLLERæsæ$OZERæsæ'RADER sæ0ACKAGEæCOURSESæSTARTæFROMæ *æ7ORKæ3AFEæLICENCES sæ&ORKLIFTæsæ#ONSTRUCTIONæINDUCTIONæCARD sæ%70æææsæ#RANEæ4RUCK

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ph 5272 2660 www.bellparkdriving.com.au

Electrical and data cabling services

Quality starts with our people

Established Since 1953 'ORDONæ-C+AYæ0TYæ,TDæISæAæLEADINGæFORCEæINæ ELECTRICALæCONTRACTING æDATAæCOMMUNICATIONSæ ANDæMAINTENANCEæSERVICESæWITHINæTHEæ electrical contracting industry.

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Gordon McKay Pty Ltd to allow it grow to meet new challenges., The customer oriented management team and dedicated staff at Gordon McKay Pty Ltd have been focussed on finding solutions to the electrical and data cabling needs of local businesses for almost six decades.

- Caravan park site power supply through the invention of K-Mac power heads

Managing Director, Gavin McKay, said the strength of the business goes beyond the internal management systems, beyond the dedication of its staff and even beyond its award-winning apprentice-training program.

He said the strength of the business has been built on relationships with members of staff and the families that support them, and the relationships the company has built with In 2009, Gordon McKay Pty Ltd was named businesses throughout the region.

Business of the Year at the Geelong Business The story of this company starts in 1953, Excellence Awards. It was an award that with Gavin’s father, Gordon McKay. recognised, according to the award judges, Gordon started his electrical business by ‘the commitment to organisational restructure connecting the town and farms of Inverleigh to reduce the reliance on the owners, invest to the new electricity supply. . in other senior managers and ensure appropriate systems and processes are in Gordon continued to diversify and place are a clear strength. Equally, the progressively develop the business into:

Gavin began his working career in the company in 1972, learning the business from his father and the rest of the team, and eventually taking over the management of the company after his father retired in the 1990s.

Building a strong business that stands the test of time is all about building a strong team of people. For 58 years, Gordon McKay Electrical and Data Cabling Services has been building: building a strong team and a strong business that has been helping build businesses around Victoria.

At Gordon McKay Pty Ltd, they are particularly proud of the company’s history with longterm employees The company currently employs150 people including 22 apprentices.

21% of employees have been with the company for over10 years, with many of the senior staff and managers having served with the company for 20 to 35 years.

business understands the need to diversify and identify new markets.’

Gordon McKay Pty Ltd has proved itself a leading Geelong business by implementing systems and developing the skills of its staff

- Motor rewind and repair workshop - Traffic light maintenance contracts - Major construction projects

In 1992 Gavin set up a second branch of the business in Melbourne. What began as a two-person operation fulfilling a traffic light maintenance contract in the western suburbs. Melbourne has continued to grow where it now employs 60 people.

Today, Gordon McKay Pty Ltd is a leading force in Victoria within the electrical contracting industry. The team of skilled and highly trained staff have continued to - the industrial and commercial sector, Including service and maintenance grow and diversify the business to provide other businesses and organisations with contracts with 24/7 callout availability.

- Sales & service agents for variable speed solutions, and delivering results in an everchanging world. drives and electrical supplies,

Eyecare Plus – professional optometry There have been many changes in the optometry industry over the past thirty years, but one thing that hasn’t changed, is that professional, clinically driven optometry, delivered with excellent customer service and affordable pricing, is something that is never out of style.

These values are at the very heart of Moran, Pritchard & Roche, now operating as Eyecare Plus Geelong, Eyecare Plus Corio, Eyecare Plus Belmont, Eyecare Plus Drysdale and Eyecare Plus Torquay.

As a young optometrist, James Moran bought into his first optometry business with highly respected optometrist, Athol Graves. Athol had been operating the business since the early 1960s, and in the same year James joined the business in 1979, the pair decided to open another practice in Corio. This became the first local optometry practice to be opened outside of central Geelong. At the same time, James was providing optometry services, one-day each week, at the Torquay Health Centre, and this is a service he continues to provide.

services outside the city centre continued. He opened the Belmont practice in 1984, which was still only the second practice to be located outside of the city centre.

James explained the importance of offering professional service not only to customers seeking the latest designer frames, but also to pensioners and health care card patients. He said that like a number of excellent local independent optometrists, the key to success has been the focus on clinically-driven services that keep track with the latest technology, combined with personalised service based on caring for each patient’s eye health, not the business’s bottom line.

In 1986, Trevor Pritchard joined the business along with his wife, Gail Murray, and the business, now known as Moran, Pritchard & Murray, continued to focus heavily on professional customer service. A third partner, Neil Roche, saw the business name once again added to, becoming Moran, Pritchard & Roche. In the early 2000s, Amanda Edwards “We don’t think optics is something that people joined the team as a junior partner. should be tricked into paying more for than The expansion continued, with a new practice they need,” he said.

opening in Drysdale in 1989. Moran, Pritchard & Roche had built not only a group of strong satellite practices, but had perhaps more importantly built an excellent relationship with local ophthalmologists. Unlike the eyecare chain stores now dominating this industry, the expansion of Moran, Pritchard & Roche was always about providing a very important service to the Geelong community through local When Athol retired, James took over the optometrists. It is this level of patient care that business, and the move to provide optometry continues to set the business apart.

Thirty years ago, ethical, independent, clinically-driven service was almost a given in the optometry industry. Sadly, that is no longer the case. This is why independent, local optometry businesses like Moran, Pritchard & Roche, who still believe strongly in ethical, professional service, have banded together to operate under the banner of Eyecare Plus. To trade under the Eyecare Plus name is an option only available to independent optometry businesses that operate under a strict mandate of professionalism and ethical service.

MORAN

www.eyecareplus.com.au

PRITCHARD ROCHE

&

Locally owned and operated, providing professional eyecare to Geelong for over 30 years

Assessment of Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Eye Disease, Glaucoma & Cataracts

Comprehensive Eye Examinations Experienced - not expensive

Digital Retinal Photography

Qualified and professional staff

Quality spectacle frames, lenses & contact lenses GEELONG

80 Moorabool St

5229 2176

ProDesign

CORIO

9 Gellibrand St

5275 3997

Fendi

DRYSDALE

2/7 Palmerston St

5253 1313

Calvin Klein

BELMONT

54 Thomson St

Ted Baker

5243 9596

Versace

TORQUAY

100 Surfcoast Hwy

5260 3900

Nike

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Celebrating women in Local Governmant

Additionally, a number of national initiatives have been devised, endeavour to address the imbalance within local government by inviting councils to promote, encourage women to stand for council, and to devise ways in which councils can provide practical assistance.

As the governmental level closest to the people, local government involves decisionmaking that affects the living conditions of constituents to facilitate community growth, and is deemed the optimum level at which women could best serve.

To date, the Charter has been implemented across 43 of Victoria’s 79 councils.

The City of Greater Geelong is one of the 43 to endorse the Victorian Local Government Women’s Charter. Last month, in November, Cr Jan Farrell was endorsed as the Council’s champion of the Charter. She said endorsement of the charter reinforced Council’s commitment to gender equality and equal opportunity.

“Being the International Year of Women in Local Government, now is the ideal time to raise awareness of the value and contribution of women, not only in local government, but in the wider workforce,” Cr Farrell said.

2010 is the Year of Women in Local Government, recognising and celebrating the contributions women have made and continue to make at civic levels of government.

While we have seen much achievements and advances over the past few years, the number of positions held by women at the highest echelons of third-tier government is still considered too few.

According to the Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) figures from July 2009, female councillors represent 28.4 per cent of councillors nationwide. Meanwhile, figures across Australia reveal that under 20 per cent of senior managers are women, while a mere 5 per cent of the country’s 565 CEOs in local government are women.

Cr Farrell is one of only three women councillors in on the 12-member Geelong ALGWA recognises and celebrates the Council, along with Cr Barbara Abley and Cr successes of women in local government in Kylie Fisher. decision-making roles and in upper The longest-serving of the three, Barbara management, but ALGWA is continually Abley, is a third term Brownbill Ward pushing for more women to get involved in Councillor, first elected to council in 2001. In politics to better reflect a more balanced 2002, Cr Abley became the first woman to be societal representation. In their position, the named Mayor of the City of Greater Geelong association is keen to help augment female Council, and remains the only female Mayor standing and encourage female representation in the City of Geelong. She served a two-year in councillor roles. term as Mayor and also served a one-year Councils across the state are being term as Deputy Mayor. In 2007, Cr Abley was encouraged to adopt the Victorian Local appointed a Member of the Order of Australia Government Women’s Charter, which was in Queen’s Birthday Honours List. developed in 1997. The Charter encourages councils to tackle the issue of women’s under-representation within Victoria’s councils.

Cr Farrell was elected to Council in 2004, representing the Beangala Ward, and Cr Fisher was elected in 2008, representing the Corio Ward.

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Priscilla became president of ALGWA in 1988, and she also served on the Barwon Water board.

By 1993, women’s representation in local government had risen somewhat, but progress was undermined when Council amalgamations took place in 1994 under the Kennett Government.

The restructuring meant Councils were directed to operate parallel to corporate business boards, with less focus on local community, and more importance placed on strategic development.

Pre-amalgamation, 453 women were elected to local government, compared to 134 post-amalgamation in 1997.

Fearing damage to the cause, a group of women, including Priscilla, started the Women for Local Government lobby group, who strived to encourage women to stand for third-tier government.

Priscilla’s efforts to the wider community garnered her an OAM in 2005 and, to date, her community service continues via cultural, learning and water reserve associations.

Terry Broun Jr A SHARED PASSION FOR CIVIC SERVICE ALGWA, of which she served a two-year tenure as president.

ZILLA CRAWCOUR A peek through our own history of women in local government reveals that since the 1850s, 36 females have served as councillors, with eight also serving as mayor.

From 1957 to 1975, Zillah served as Councillor for the City of Newtown, and on two occasions from 1964-65, and 1968, she served as Newtown Mayor.

For her community service, Zillah was awarded an OBE in 1969. During her third term as Mayor in March 1977, Zillah died in her sleep. In a posthumous tribute, Zillah Crawcour Park and Zillah Crawcour Reserve Immersing herself in local society, Priscilla were named in her honour. also presided over the Good Neighbour Council and was the first President of the PRISCILLA PESCOTT Geelong Branch of the Business and Professional Women’s Club. Her activities Much like her mother, Zillah’s daughter, led her to fill a position on the Newtown and Priscilla Pescott sought to progress women’s Chilwell City Council in 1957. And roles within the community and was inclined remarkably, throughout her local council to augment women’s roles within society. career, Zillah was elected unopposed for Her platform featured women’s issues and her posts thereafter. conservation when she secured a South Zillah championed the move for women to Barwon Council position, where she served enter local government. She became the as a Councillor until 1993, and as the founding member of the Victorian branch of Council’s Mayor from 1979 to 1981.

One exemplar of a local female councillor was Priscilla Crawcour, known as Zillah Crawcour, who via a modest needlecraft/gift shop heightened her community involvement.

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Byars Packaging Byars Packaging was established in 1985.

Before starting the business, Daryl Byars worked for a paper bag manufacturer in Melbourne. Like many start up operations, when Daryl decided to start his own business, he started it from home, in his garage. Within two weeks, he needed a bigger site. He found a small warehouse in Dowsett Street, South Geelong, where he continued to grow the business to the point where they were packing orders in the driveway because the warehouse was full to over flowing.

By 1991 Daryl was moving his business again, this time to a site in Fyans Street, in a purpose-built warehouse complex. As the Geelong region’s specialist packaging supplier, Byars Packaging has continued to steadily grow. Daryl’s two sons joined the business and as business in Geelong grew, so too did the demand for packaging of all shapes and sizes.

Looking back on the development of his business, Daryl said just like every other business, Byars has had its ups and downs.

Once a major supplier of bags to super

markets throughout the region, he recalled a year when the business lost 25 per cent of its business when the two big supermarket chains bought up and took over local supermarkets. While there have been losses, Daryl said there have been many more opportunities. The growth of healthier take-away food options, including Thai restaurants, has seen orders for food packaging grow exponentially, with Byars now supplying to almost every Thai restaurant in the region. And while some of the big business orders that used to form a major part of the demand for packaging have fallen away, the boom of small businesses throughout Geelong and surrounding regions has seen demand grow just as rapidly.

Today, the majority of Byars’ customers are small business owners, retail businesses, bakeries and take away food businesses, and business is booming. Over the past five years, Daryl said that Byars has grown dramatically. Open five and a half days a week, the Fyans Street premises holds around 5,000 different types of packaging products – from paper and plastic bags to

wrapping papers, gift wrap products such as ribbons, tapes, bubble wraps and industrial packaging. In the warehouse, there is a product for just about any packaging purpose you can think of.

In the past, businesses in Geelong would have gone to Melbourne or further to order packaging, but with the growth in Byars Packaging, many of those businesses have the convenience and time saving that comes with having their packaging needs supplied locally.

Byars has clients covering the entire Geelong region and neighbouring regions, from Geelong to the Bellarine Peninsula, along the Surf Coast to Apollo Bay, also Ballarat, Bacchus Marsh, Melton and Werribee.

Though all of the ups and downs, and particularly through the recent large scale growth years, Daryl said he has been lucky to have dedicated, skilled, long-term staff members. As well as having two sons and a son-in-law now working in the business, he said most of his staff members have been with Byars for around ten years.

St Laurence Community Services Inc Stay at Home as they Age; Healthy Lifestyle and Physical Wellbeing Programs to Prepare Retirees to Live at Home Longer; Care for People who are Ageing or People who have a Disability – Case Management Services; Respite Services for People who are Ageing and for People who have a Disability; Some of our services have been in Vocational Training and Further Education continuous operation since 1958. Since Services. that time, St Laurence has become a major Advanced Career Training (ACT) is a provider of human services, supporting Registered Training Organisation that offers many thousands of clients and their families nationally accredited qualifications as well as industry specific short courses. ACT’s each year.

In 2009/2010 St Laurence operated from Scope of Registration includes training 26 sites throughout the Barwon and packages in the Business Services, Grampians regions of Victoria, with over Hospitality, Retail and Community Services areas.

540 staff and 250 active volunteers.

St Laurence Community Services Inc was established as a separate entity in 1996 after the Brotherhood of St Laurence divested its Geelong regional operations. St Laurence is a community-based, independent Public Benevolent Institution founded to assist communities in South and Western Victoria.

As a not-for-profit organisation St Laurence t &NQMPZNFOU 4FSWJDFT heavily relies on government grants, Our professional job placement and support donations from the public, support from staff understand the needs of the local local businesses and community support in labour markets in Geelong and across the order to provide a wide range of services Wimmera, Otway and Hampden regions. which include: Residential Care Services We are committed to working with employers for People who are Ageing; Care and and local chambers of commerce to meet Support Services Designed to Assist People the recruitment needs of local communities.

We are accredited by the Commonwealth Government to deliver Job Services Australia and specialised Disability Employment Services across south western Victoria t 4PDJBM &OHBHFNFOU 4FSWJDFT St Laurence provides a range of services designed to assist individuals to participate more fully in the everyday life of their local communities.

We also provide highly specialised individualised initiatives that seek to assist and strengthen families and local communities by actively engaging people who would otherwise remain socially and economically isolated.

A number of social enterprises provide paid employment, skills development and training opportunities for employees who would otherwise not always be able to maintain stable and secure participation in many workplaces.

Our enterprise workforce delivers highly valued products and services to local communities in the Geelong and the Colac areas.

Father Tucker’s Vision St Laurence Community Services Inc. Reg. No. A0033023X

In 1959 Reverend Father Tucker created a community of the “forgotten people” and laid the foundations to what was to become St Laurence Community Services Inc. Named after the patron saint of the poor, St Laurence has continued to follow Father Tucker’s vision of building facilities and services that respond to the needs of local communities by improving the quality of life for everyone in need.

The employees of today bring similar determination and zeal to actively living out Father Tucker’s vision.

St Laurence has grown into a quality provider of a range of human services which are centred on the philosophy of “helping people help themselves”.

www.stlaurence.org.au

2011 Celebrates 40 years of Entertainment Excellence • Pharoahs Bistro • Function Room • Sportsbar/TAB • Cazbar Night Club • Sphinx Poker • Toot n Come In Thirsty Camel Bottle Shop • Accommodation 2 Thompson Road North Geelong Ph: 5278 2911 www.sphinxhotel.com.au info@sphinxhotel.com.au

A popular tourist destination and entertainment venue

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The Sphinx For 39 years, the Ramia family has operated an entertainment venue on Thompsons Road in North Geelong. Formerly the Golf View Hotel-Motel, a major reconstruction saw the development of the Sphinx Entertainment Centre in the late 1990s.

The venue, with its towering 15-metre replica sphinx is one of the most recognizable buildings in our region – creating a taste of Egypt in the heart of Geelong.

The story behind the development of The Sphinx Hotel is, in essence, a story about family – and in this story, the Ramia family.

Ray Ramia arrived in Australia in 1946.

Setting up a small business in Geelong, he established himself as a local tailor. Amongst other clients, Ray made the uniforms for Geelong’s Police Officers and Traffic Officers. When the manufacturing boom saw a wave of migrants arrive in the city in the 1950s and 60s, Ray got to work suiting them up.

While his work as a tailor kept him very busy, Ray was harbouring a dream, a vision

to build a really BIG hotel in Geelong. A really big hotel required a really big site, and that he found on Thompson’s Road – a high traffic location with views across the road to the golf course. That is where Ray saw his dreams become reality, and the Golf View Hotel was built in 1971.

first hotel to bring Disco into Geelong, and Disco has never left the building since.

The 90s saw even greater changes. The introduction of gaming and poker machines into Victoria in the early part of the decade created a huge demand for gaming venues.

The Golf View Hotel introduced machines In the 70s, the Golf View was easily the in 1993, and this move was soon followed biggest hotel in Geelong, and in the heyday by the large-scale redevelopment that of Australian rock music, it became a rock transformed the Golf View into The Sphinx. ‘n roll venue, hosting some of the biggest For almost forty years, the Ramia family live bands and shows in the country. has been answering the ever-changing You can name just about any big name demands of Australia’s hospitality industry.

Australian act from the 70s, they all played The success of the entertainment centre at the Golf View. Bands including Cold has made it an iconic destination that is Chisel, Billy Thorpe, the Little River Band, recognised around the world as a popular the Saints, The Angels, even the Village tourist and entertainment venue.

People played shows there. Later came Today, The Sphinx combines dining in the INXS, Aussie Crawl and Icehouse, just to popular Pharaohs Bar, comfortable 3 1/2 name a few. star accommodation, TAB/Sportsbar, The early 80s brought a change of pace, Entertainment Lounge, Luxor Lounge when everyone wanted to Disco. Again, the Conference & Function Room, Drive-Thru Golf View Hotel led the way, and was the Liquor Store and Cazbar Dance Club.

Christian College 30 YEARS OF GROWTH AND SUCCESS t 7 JTJPOBSZ MFBEFSTIJQ BOE TUSBUFHJD planning enabled Christian College in IN GEELONG 1996 to respond to the need to expand In 2010 Christian College celebrates 30 into the Bellarine peninsula with the Years of fine, independent education in purchase and conversion of the Rural Geelong. From small beginnings in 1980, City of Bellarine offices in Drysdale into Christian College has grown to now Christian College, Bellarine for Years encompass five campuses and a College Prep to 9. dairy farm at Scotsburn. t 5IF QFSDFJWFE OFFE UP QSPWJEF B VOJRVF Milestones in the development of Christian experience which developed character, College have included: a good work ethic and leadership, as t 5IF PSJHJOBM )JHIUPO DBNQVT XBT B well as applied practical learning during leased wing of the iconic St Augustine’s the adolescent years, led to ‘Back orphanage in Highton with 64 students Creek’ Scotsburn becoming a Year 9 from Prep to Year 10. The buildings were residential program on the working dairy purchased by Christian College in 1987 farm in 1997. with parents, staff and Board members t 8JUI UIF $ISJTUJBO $PMMFHF JOWPMWFNFOU JO contributing to the deposit required. the pilot VCE program and the opportunity t "T FOSPMNFOUT HSFX BOE NBJOTUSFBN to purchase the former Geelong Grammar Churches became involved in the School buildings in Pigdon’s Road, Waurn governance of the College, the opportunity Ponds, the Christian College Senior came to purchase the original Glastonbury School was established in 2000. buildings complex in Belmont – with a t *O $ISJTUJBO $PMMFHF QVSDIBTFE B Junior School and Kindergarten being restaurant built in adobe style on the established on the site, ideally suited for Princes Highway in Waurn Ponds. younger students.

This has been converted into a specialist Senior Art, Technology and Design Centre, ‘Villa Paloma’ where students can work in a studio environment conducive to creativity.

Throughout the past 30 years of operation, Christian College Board, staff and families have recognized the need to support those less fortunate, both in the local community and overseas. The College students and staff are now actively involved in the Alcoota community in Central Australia and in the Viqueque region of East Timor.

Year 9 rearing calves at ‘Back Creek’ for East Timor

From small beginnings in 1980, Christian College has grown to encompass ďŹ ve campuses and a College dairy farm at Scotsburn. Enrolments from Prep to Year 12 in 2011 stand at 1850 students with another 150 students at Williams House Kindergarten.

Throughout its short history, Christian College has consistently emphasized: Junior School, Belmont

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Bellarine Campus, Drysdale

With the recent introduction of Directorships, Christian College continues to offer students outstanding opportunities in Music, Sport, Art, Technology and Design as well as academic success across a broad range of studies.

With the growth in enrolments, a vital decision was made to form smaller, specialist Campuses, which has enabled each to cater for different age groups and to promote student leadership at each Campus.

JUNIOR SCHOOL Belmont - Kinder to Year 4 P: 5241 1565

Senior School, Waurn Ponds

MIDDLE SCHOOL Highton - Years 5 to 9 P: 5241 1899 BELLARINE CAMPUS Drysdale - Years Prep to 9 P: 5253 2998 SENIOR SENI OR S SCH CHOO OOL L Waurn Ponds - Years 10 to 12 P: 5241 1577

Year 10 at Alcoota Community

www.christiancollege.vic.edu.au

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The Geelong City Centenary Mayoral Ball A whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s who of Geelong gathered at the Geelong Arena to celebrate at the Geelong City Centenary Mayoral Ball in November. This star-studded event took guests on a journey over the past 100 years, showcasing the history of Geelong.

The event was hosted by Catriona Rowntree and Jeremy Kewley, with a guest performance by Joe Camilleri and plenty of toe-tapping beats to keep the party rolling, with entertainment provided by the Victoria Police Showband.

The Blue Ribbon Mayoral Ball was the showcase event of the Centenary of a City celebration, and all proceeds raised on the night were donated to Barwon Health for the Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ward at the Geelong Hospital. The event was proudly sponsored by TAC. Stephen Yewdall, Peter Hitchener & Patricia Yewdall

Yogi Stefanovski and Paula Kontelj

Vickie Harris, Mayor John Mitchell, Maria Stalio & Jacqueline Moore

Jacqueline Moore & Catriona Rowntree

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GEELONG BLINDS CO. Designing and Manufacturing Window Furnishings in Geelong since 1969

All products are custom designed by our Interior Designers, to best compliment your existing home or add a feature to enhance the overall design intent of your renovation or new home.

There is no standard product and every aspect of detail is addressed from headings, fabric, and colour selections, tracks, accessories and every imaginable detail.

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Since 1969 Geelong Blinds Company have been manufacturing premium quality window furnishings and has established an enviable reputation for unsurapassed quality and service.

HEAD OFFICE & SHOWROOM: 86 Pakington St, Geelong West VIC 3218 SHOWROOM HOURS: Mon - Fri 9am - 5:30pm Saturday 9:30am - 12:30pm

Our range of products are designed by professionals and manufactured in our Geelong Workroom and studio.

Come and visit us to ďŹ nd out why we are continually creating the most beautiful interiors in Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf coast right through to Lorne.

P: (03) 5229 9588 F: (03) 5221 5925 E: geelongblinds@optusnet.com.au

www.geelongblinds.com.au

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Geelong Blinds Geelong Blinds has been supplying high quality locally manufactured window furnishings for 41 years. Neven Mikin started the business at Christmas in 1969, during the busiest time of the year. Starting a business is always hard, but the usual hardships of starting out were magnified by the fact that Neven didn’t have the money needed to buy the equipment he needed to manufacture blinds.

So how do you build a manufacturing business without any capital? Perhaps if you were trying to do it now it would be impossible, but at the time Neven found good suppliers who had a bit of faith in the budding business – enough faith to give him the equipment he needed on credit.

Even in 1969 that was a big risk, but it was a risk that paid off. Neven grew the business, through a strong focus on customer service and plenty of hard work. He paid his suppliers back and repaid their faith with years of loyal custom.

gotten into the blind business in the first He said that a team of good staff makes it a place. But the success of the business over lot easier to be successful, all of whom share Neven’s belief that every order, four decades has not been an accident. regardless or size, style or location, deserves Geelong Blinds began with Neven the very best care and level of service. It is manufacturing Venetian blinds and Holland this focus on quality – quality products and blinds in what was a pretty conservative quality services – that has seen Geelong marketplace when it came to window furniture. Now, the options are as varied as Blinds remain successful in what is now a they used to be limited. Geelong Blinds is highly competitive marketplace. The still manufacturing on Pakington Street, but company has supplied the window in a much larger site than the original small shop front. A team of ten people sell, produce and fit everything from curtains and myriad styles of interior blinds in all shapes and sizes to outdoor awnings and exterior blinds.

“It’s completely different now,” Neven said, reflecting on the many changes in the industry since he first began. “We use different materials, different textures, and the styles are changing all the time. We Neven said he has been lucky over the have to keep up, and to be successful, we years, and was in many ways lucky to have have to remain a step ahead.”

furnishings for redevelopments at Deakin University, the Geelong Conference Centre, many schools including Christian College, GMHBA, Retirement Villages and many more, covering an area that extends from Apollo Bay the western suburbs of Melbourne.

“From one blind, to a full house to a big commercial job, everyone receives the same service and the same courtesy. And we guarantee our products, so our clients know we will repair them if there are any problems,” Neven said.

Godfrey Hirst Australia competitive costing and most importantly, high quality end products. We procure first quality raw materials, which are converted into fibre, manufactured into yarn and tufted into carpet,” Mr. Maishman said.

new levels of performance plus enriched softness. With superior stain protection, the most stubborn household food and beverage spills can be removed with cold water, even red wine and cordial.

The key element to Godfrey Hirst’s longevity and success is its willingness to embrace change through continuous innovation.

Recently the company successfully built and commissioned a state-of-the-art Water Recycling Facility and is now saving up to 250 million litres of water a year. “The incorporation of both Storm Water and Effluent Water Recycling systems in this facility not only improves the efficiency and environmental performance of our operations, but will assist to sustain Godfrey Hirst has always been at the Geelong’s water supply”, said Mr. forefront of the Australian carpet industry.

Maishman.

Godfrey Hirst Group Operations Manager Tim Maishman said, “Our reputation for Godfrey Hirst has recently launched eco+, quality and innovation is recognised world the next generation carpet. Manufactured wide and sets the standard by which others with Sorona® renewably sourced polymer, are measured.” Godfrey Hirst is the only Godfrey Hirst eco+ is made from natural Australian carpet manufacturer to fully corn sugar.* The Sorona® polymer in integrate its operations. “Our fully integrated Godfrey Hirst eco+ places less reliance on production process ensures consistency, non-renewable resources. It also provides

Godfrey Hirst Carpets is a household name in Australia, which generations have grown up with. Mr. Maishman said, “It is no wonder that carpet is still the most popular floor covering. No other floor covering provides colour, texture, noise reduction, softness and warmth to a room like carpet.

Godfrey Hirst has a strong tradition of being first to market with new and exciting products. We constantly research the latest trends both locally and overseas and develop new colour ranges and styles to ensure the latest fashion products are always available in the marketplace.”

Godfrey Hirst Australia was established in Geelong in 1865 and is the largest carpet manufacturer in Australasia. Australia’s largest exporter of carpets, today Godfrey Hirst has offices and subsidiaries all over the world. One of Geelong’s largest employers, the local 33 hectare state-ofthe-art manufacturing facility produces hundreds of thousands of metres of wool and synthetic residential and commercial products for the domestic and international markets. Carpet tiles for the commercial market are also manufactured at the Geelong plant. Godfrey Hirst products can be found in all leading carpet retailers Australia wide.

“Godfrey Hirst is proud to be a part of Geelong’s rich history, and look forward to continuing to manufacture carpet well into the future.” *Sorona® polymer contains 37% renewably sourced content by weight.

godfreyhirst.com

Established in 1865, generations have grown up on a Godfrey Hirst carpet. Located here in Geelong, today Godfrey Hirst is Australasiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest carpet manufacturer.

COMMUNITY

47

Little things making a big difference Karingal BacLinks would like to thank our Premier Partners: Alcoa, GMHBA, the Rotary Club of Highton and the City of Greater Geelong; Premier Supporters GPAC and K Rock/Bay FM; as well as all our many business members and other businesses who have generously contributed to their community through projects that we have coordinated - you have helped us to make a difference in our community.

Via email ‘Calls for Support’, the ‘BacLinks Backyard’ eNews and the 730 Breakfasts, community organisations seeking specific support have had opportunity to access our extensive business network. The successful 730 Breakfasts have provided a forum for businesses to hear what our local community has needed and provided an opportunity to respond to that need.

Each project facilitated by BacLinks ensures that a community organisation attains a goal that otherwise may not have been achievable.

Businesses heard first hand about the realities faced daily by some of our community members through guest speakers - Russell Shields from SecondBite, a program that collects and distributes leftover food to the needy; and Carol Cooke, MS Australia Ambassador and MS sufferer who is also an elite athlete on an international level.

Sheree Holdsworth, BacLinks Manager said: “It is great to see so many businesses actively supporting our community whether it be through employee volunteering, donations of goods and services or by sharing their knowledge and resources with the community. All these things can and do make a difference.”

Events such as the Girls Big Day Out, Winter and Summer Workplace Big Day Outs, YChef Cooking Challenge and Dare to Succeed were made possible through the generous support of the Alcoa Foundation, Powercor Australia, MatchWorks, GTEC, G-Force Recruitment, the Geelong Manufacturing Council and Quiksilver.

This year BacLinks also took over responsibility for coordinating Karingal Karnivale and KarnivART. These annual events promote social inclusion and focus on abilities and strengths while highlighting the extensive services and capacity of Karingal services.

Sponsorship by Westpac, Lodden Mallee Housing Ltd. and Greening Australia made these two events possible.

United Way Geelong Region

As part of educating business on how to best contribute to community, leaders in business, Pat Murnane, Regional Manager, Bendigo Bank Southern Victorian Region and Kate Betts, Community Relations Officer, Alcoa Point Henry Smelter, shared their expertise and understanding of the mutual benefits of supporting community.

BacLinks ‘Leader 2 Leader’ Ambassadors, Pat Murnane, Peter Dorling, and Frank Costa did an amazing job in assisting to build the BacLinks Business Network.

The following BacLinks business members have all supported the program to continue its work in the community and made significant contributions to the many projects and events undertaken this year: Adcell Print Media; Alcoa; Allabout Tours & Travel; ANZ Banking Group; Barefoot Media; Barwon Water; Bendigo Bank; Buxton Real Estate; City of Greater Geelong; Commonwealth Bank; Corio Shopping Centre; Coulter Roache Lawyers; CSIRO - AAHL; DPCD; Dzign Diezel Group; Evologic; Ford; Francis Fabrics; Gartland Real Estate; Geelong Community Telco; Geelong Manufacturing Council; G-Force; GMHBA; GPAC; GRVEC; Kingman Consulting; K Rock/Bay FM; LBW Accountants; L.Bisinella Development P/L; MatchWorks; McManus Real Estate; Mercure; Patrick Rowan & Associates; Powercor; Quiksilver; Rotary Club Highton; St John of God Pathology; Shell; Tasman Meats; Tuckers Funeral Services; TAC; Telstra Country Wide; Village Cinemas; Westpac Bank; Wightons Lawyers On behalf of Karingal, BacLinks and our community we sincerely thank each and every one of you for your support and wish you a very happy, safe Christmas and New Year.

To find out how you can get involved contact BacLinks on 5249 8989 or visit our website www.baclinks.org.au

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48

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Advertising Feature

Highton Eyecare ^r^ m^lmbg` lng`eZll^l ]^lb`g^k ^r^p^Zk

>QI:G=BG@ HNK ;NLBG>LL''' Previous Owner Dr. Alan Johnston Highton Eye Care hands over the keys to new owner Mandy Lovett of Eye Gallery

Highton Eyecare was established in late 1993 by Geelong Optometrist, the late Paul Muirhead, and purchased in June 2000 by Dr Alan Johnston. Announcing his return to Melbourne to focus on his work with seriously vision impaired patients, Alan said he would miss the strong community spirit and many friends he made in Highton Village.

Taking over the business is Mandy Lovett of Eye Gallery in Geelong West. Alan said he is delighted with the transition of the prominent Highton business to Mandy, who has 15 years experience in the dispensing of quality eyecare service. ìWith her optometrists, Marnie Laurie and Deborah Hackett, I can be confident that Mandy will expand her optometric and spectacle services for the benefit of our Highton people," Alan said.

Both optometrists bring unique skills to the area. Deborah is therapeutically qualified and speaks fluent Italian. Marnie has 17 years optometry experience and a passion for childrenís optometry services; she has worked with many children with learning disorders and developmental conditions.

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Advertising Feature

49

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Morris Finance Morris Finance is an independent and Australian owned company that has been trading for over a decade. Mainly servicing an Australia wide client base MFL has opened its doors to the Geelong Market.

Whether it’s a new motor vehicle for your business or a Prime Mover to service your contract MFL offers customer service to make sure you get on the road to reaching you goal, our staff have over 175 years of experience in the plant and equipment

Gain financial control.

market and we cater for a number of different industries from Medical Practioners, IT consultants to Owner drivers and self employed Plumbers.

We can also offer Insurance products to protect you in the event of an accident or theft of your motor vehicle that will have you back on the road in no time.

For more information please visit www.morrisfinance.com.au or call one of our friendly staff on 5223 3453.

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Waterhouse Walsh Kirtley are one of Geelong’s leading insurance advisors and have been providing general insurance advice since 1984. We have a highly qualified and experienced commercial and domestic team. Located in West Fyans Street, Newtown we are easy to get too with no problems for parking.

Our aim is personalised service and we are dedicated to tailoring the best, most cost efficient insurance products for our clients at all times.

We are proud to be a member of Geelong Professional Alliance Network (GPAN). This enables us to not only provide insurance services but have access to other experienced and skilled local companies to benefit our mutual clients and the community Please call Wayne Waterhouse on 5229 6008 or email wayne@wwk.com.au for all your insurance answers

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50

ARTS

Chordophone Craftsmanship As a maker of stringed instruments, luthier Dan Robinson will tell you there’s nothing like the satisfaction of hearing a wellfashioned creation.

“All of a sudden it has some kind of life beyond just the skill with which it’s put together or the way it looks; it sings! And that can be almost overwhelming if it sounds really good,” he describes.

Unfortunately, as Dan discovered, inspiration doesn’t always translate into financial feasibility. Having started out as a fulltime luthier, he slowly came to the realisation that as fulfilling as the creation of beautiful instruments was, it simply was not going to provide a full-time income. Looking back, he said part of the reason for the low return on the investment of his time came from building what he wanted, rather than what potential customers wanted to buy.

“That was me being selfish and being an artist rather than simply a manufacturer,” he admits without hesitation or regret.

However, musical instruments are considered luxury items even at the best of times. “[Instruments] take a bit of a dive in times of uncertain economy. Now we’ve just been through a bit of a downturn and the pundits keep telling us that it ain’t over yet. It didn’t affect me because I have another job and my sales are sporadic at the best of times. It’s just a bonus when I sell a guitar,” which for Dan is now a couple of instruments per year.

A full-time maker would have to be selling at least ten instruments a year.

“My suspicion was that it wouldn’t be [a viable living] unless I settled down and created a factory-type situation, where I was building quantities of the same instrument.

And I decided that that wasn’t going to satisfy me. I’d rather be constantly experimenting and just put food on the table some other way. I still do the odd gig and I work as a disability carer. I regard myself more as a glorified amateur than a professional, but I’m always happy to relinquish my amateur status whenever anybody waves money at me,” Dan laughs.

What’s extraordinary about Dan’s foray into making stringed instruments is he decided to make them for a living as a quinquagenarian.

“I was past 50 when I started,” he reveals.

“And that’s sort of interesting in itself. I went to a school where they taught me to

speak Latin, but neglected to teach me to cut a dovetail or drive a nail or do anything useful.”

Dan says making instruments was something he’d always vaguely been interested in doing, but simply lacked the know-how.

“I guess you reach an age where you say ‘Bugger it! I’ll just do it,’” he laughs. And at 63, Dan demonstrates thirst for acquiring skill and knowledge is ageless.

“I’ve been a musician all my life, so I guess it’s related. I built a couple of houses and then I started building furniture. And then I figured, well, I’ve finally got the wood skills and I’ve always had the music knowledge, now let’s just bang the two things together and see what happens,” he said.

Dan hand-fashions what he calls “little parlour guitars;” nylon and steel string guitars, plus small acoustic basses which he makes entirely out of native Australian timber; King William (Billy) Pine and Blackwood. He also doesn’t follow a pre-existing pattern, so each instrument is unique.

“I don’t slavishly try to recreate the same instrument over and over, which means I’m constantly producing prototypes. But most people want a known quantity when they buy an instrument. Unfortunately with guitars, people want what somebody famous plays,” says Dan giving a wry laugh, then added joking. “So what I need to do is to get somebody famous to play one of my instruments.”

The Melbourne-born and Warrnambool-raised Dan has resided in Anakie since 2000.

Classically trained as double-bass player, fresh from school he played rock’n’roll, touring Europe and UK-based for a stint.

Back in Australia he attained a music degree and taught secondary/tertiary levels and continued to play.

“There is a time when I’m not working on an instrument; it’s a constant in my life. It’s probably, along with being a musician, how I describe myself. So it’s important, but I just accept that because of my notions of the way I want to build these things, I’ll never be able to make it a full-time career.

But that’s okay,” accepts Dan. Terry Broun

ARTS

A season of incredible stories GPAC has unveiled a spectacular nineshow line-up for its 2011 Alcoa Theatre season, promising fantastic performances from Australia’s best companies.

General Manager, Jill Smith, said GPAC’s 2011 Alcoa Theatre Season would again have a strong emphasis on great writing and intriguing real-life stories, while the line-up would include some of Australia’s best known and most loved performers.

“We’re looking forward to a fantastic array of celebrated performers including Ian Stenlake, Rachael Beck, Nancye Hayes, Reg Livermore, Christine Anu and Richard Piper, but behind the razzle and dazzle is a season of substance and quality,” Ms Smith said.

The 2011 program is overwhelmingly about great storytelling: nine incredible stories. The season begins with Love Letters, a story of enduring yet ill-fated love, starring two of Australia’s favourite performers, Ian Stenlake and Rachael Beck. Then Breast Wishes, an uplifting new Australian musical, tells of life, love, family and silicon. The comedy continues with Peter Houghton’s Commercial Farce, a new take on the magic of farce, a time-honoured tradition of the theatre.

In Rainbow’s End we gain an insight into early fifties Australia, seen through the eyes of three generations of Koori women.

Then two icons of Australian theatre, Nancye Hayes and Reg Livermore, take to the stage in the world premiere tour of TURNS, a journey through the colourful and much loved world of pantomime and follies.

A gripping story of war and coming of age emerges in the new Australian play Capture the Flag, by award-winning playwright and director Toby Schmitz. Then one of Australia’s most renowned storytellers, Joanna MurraySmith returns to GPAC with The Gift, an intriguing insight into modern moral dilemmas.

The season moves into the sporting arena with Krakouer, based on the lives of footballers Jimmy and Phil Krakouer.

Closing the season will be Namatjira, the deeply moving story of Australian water colourist Albert Namatjira, whose beautiful paintings told important narratives about our nation.

In addition to the Theatre Season program, GPAC is offering subscribers first option to experience opera at its best with Oz Opera’s La traviata, appearing for one show only in The Playhouse. Subscriptions for GPAC’s 2011 Alcoa Theatre Season are now on sale. Go online to www.gpac.org.au, contact Box Office on 5225 1200 or call in to 50 Little Malop St, Geelong.

51

52

EBIZ

An all-in-one media centre for your boardroom

What kids want Surprise, surprise - kids want technology for texting, gaming and social networking. So what will you put under the Christmas tree? Whether it’s for Christmas or when you are sending your kids back to school, the Nielsen Company has presented a cadre of individuals with a list of nice, shiny gadgets and let them cross off anything and everything they'd like to buy in the next six months, and here’s the results. Top of the list? 31 per cent of kids aged 6 to 12 years picked the iPad, with a slew of gaming machines, phones and other shine pieces of technology to follow. Check out the list below.

Let’s face it, you’ve had a tough year and want to buy something nice for your boardroom or office. Our technology writer Jon Mamonski has found just the thing.

You want to catch up on the news, see the latest product offering on DVD or check out the video you just took. What you need is an all-in-one TV, Blu-Ray player and personal video recorder and Kogan have created it.

The 32" full HD panel (1080p) ensures crystal clear TV and DVD playback and it also doubles up as an excellent computer monitor. The built-in PVR function lets you pause, rewind and record TV directly to any USB plug and play flash drive or powered hard drive. Simply insert your USB device into the TV to record or playback news, programs and photos. You can also future proof yourself with the built in region free BD2.0 Blu-Ray player that plays all your DVDs and CDs.

International Space Station 10th Birthday

Expensive? No, only $699 direct from kogan.com.au

Texting causes bad habits It pays to keep a close eye on the texting and social networking habits of your kids. According to a recent study of 4,200 teens, "hyper texters" and "hyper networkers" are more likely to indulge in fighting, drugs, binge drinking, and sex than their peers.

"Hyper texters" are defined as teens who send more than 120 text messages in a day. "Hyper networkers" are those who spend more than three hours a day on social networks. Hyper texters are three and a half times more likely than their peers to engage in sexual activity. Hyper networkers, are apparently more into drinking and fighting.

The authors of the study from an Ohio University looked at more than 20 high schools, where one in every five teens is a hyper texter and one in every nine is a hyper networker.

It's not often you get to mark a ten year anniversary in space, but that's just what the International Space Station is now celebrating. It was ten years ago that the first crew arrived for a stay on the space station (which itself had been in orbit for two years prior), and it has been continuously occupied by humans ever since. It has also expanded considerably during that time period and seen its share of bumps along the way, but it's not ready to de-orbit any time soon. The anniversary also marks the halfway point of the ISS's expected lifetime and, if past history is any indication, it could well end up getting an extension beyond that.

Jon Mamonski

GADGETS

53

The future is back It’s a DeLorean!

If the Back to the Future movies had your heart racing after a DeLorean, here’s your chance to own one - a small one at least.

Consider Flash Rods' latest 1:18 scale replica, which not only faithfully reproduces the DeLorean Time Machine (complete with Mr. Fusion reactor from Back to the Future II), but actually contains a 500GB Seagate hard drive inside to give you some justification for actually having it on your desk. Of course, it will cost a considerable premium over a regular 500GB hard drive, but I can certainly think of plenty of worse ways to spend $300.

Logitech Solar Keyboard We’ve had solar calculators for years, so why has it taken so long for a solar keyboard? When wireless peripherals were first introduced, we'd be lucky if our alkaline cells lasted a week, but these days the firm's lowpower mice can go months on a charge. Now, Logitech has taken the next logical step and made a solar keyboard. With an ultra-slim 1/3-inch profile and a full slate of laptop-style chiclet keys, the Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 isn't your average rack of buttons, but the ambient light solar panels installed on the top of either side should mean you'll never need to plug it in to recharge, as the company says its low-power integrated circuits can theoretically run for three months even if you leave it in a dark desk drawer. It should sell at your favourite PC outlet for around $90.

It’s a plain (watch), it’s an iPod Nano Expect to see many manifestations of these iPod Nano holders that make yours look like a watch. TikTok and LunaTik concepts by Scott Wilson of Minimal Studios are definitely good looking “iWatch” accessories, even though technically, the products are still pipe dreams flowing through the funding platform Kickstarter.com. But this concept has already doubled its requested funding goal, so there's a very good chance these concepts will actually come to market. The TikTok features a simple snap-in design for quick wrist mounting and is tentatively priced at $40. The LunaTik, on the other hand, is marketed as a "premium conversion kit" that secures the Nano in a two-piece CNC-machined aluminium case held together with stainless steel bolts and should ship for $80. Now if only the iPod nano was actually a good watch...

iPhone eats Blackberries Blackberry phones came to prominence on the crest of their miniature built in keyboard. Well, move over, cause iPhones can now have one too.

BoxWave is stepping in to make your life complete with the BoxWave Keyboard Buddy Case. It’s just what it sounds like, a Bluetooth keyboard embedded in an iPhone 4 case, only instead of flipping out or slide-tilting it, BoxWave's solution is a simple sliding affair that adds very little to the iPhone 4's profile and hardly anything to its footprint. You can buy it now (I have) for around $90 from the Boxwave Website.

Jon Mamonski

54

WINE

The Rosé Revolution Definitely the most misunderstood of all Australian wines is rosé. Half way between white and red, it’s been a difficult style for the average consumer to get their head around.

In the past, for many Australians, their foray into Rosé wines was the imported Portuguesemade, Mateus. A sweet fizzy wine best served close to freezing, popular in the 70’s and seemingly replaced by Passion Pop for the modern day sweet tooths.

Understandably it has been a difficult path for wineries that have chosen to produce the more respected drier styles that are recognised throughout Europe. Many have felt that they have had to go it alone, but luckily for us, these wineries have banded together to now form the Rosé Revolution.

A collection of our best Australian wineries including our local Lethbridge winery, are working together to prove to the masses that Rosé is a serious wine style. Recently, respect for Rosé has been growing, led predominantly by boutique wine stores and restaurant sommeliers. These traditional, drier, more complex wines are not only perfect summer drinking, but also a versatile accompaniment to both traditional and modern cuisine.

Made with well-known varieties such as Pinot Noir, Grenache, Syrah/Shiraz, Cabernet and Sangiovese, these are serious wines with fabulous elegance and balance. With such a diverse range of varieties, Rosé is produced with precision in all regions across Australia.

Using traditional, predominantly old world

methods, select wineries have put their heart and soul into producing first rate wines, rather than the sometimes simple wines previously produced as an afterthought from pressings or with leftover tanks of unknown bits and pieces.

Educating the masses is a long process and the purpose of the Rosé Revolution is to encourage the consumer to dip their toes for the first time, or revisit the style, with a more informed confidence.

It’s been a sometimes hard road for these serious producers, but through the solidarity of the Rosé Revolution, the often misunderstood, dry, pale and sometimes savoury styles are now recognisable through a website http:// rosewinerevolution.com. The website is an invaluable resource for those who wish to gain a better understanding of Rosé wines. There is an extensive explanation of Rosé production from esteemed local supporters and world experts such as Jancis Robinson. There is even a Facebook site or you can twitter your Rosé experience to a like-minded Rosé passionate community. There are lists of various events planned to promote Rosé and links to the websites of the 50-plus wineries and industry supporters that are taking part.

The potential for Rosé in Australia has often been recognised, but never realised. Our warm climate and love of alfresco dining is perfectly suited to the consumption of these wines. As a long time lover of Rosé, I urge you to visit the site and next time you have the opportunity make an informed choice, choose a Rosé wine for your table and really impress you friends.

Adrian Marchiaro When not immersed in his work as winemaker’s assistant and jack-of-all-trades at the award-winning Witchmount Estate Winery, Adrian presents wine tasting evenings at Lamby’s Restaurant + Bar.

AFTER HOURS

55

Clear road forward for glass business The brand new Edge Glass showroom was officially opened last month, with State Member for Geelong, Ian Trezise, cutting the ribbon and offering his congratulations to the company on its recent success.

The opening event was attended by around 50 local business people as well as a selection The Edge Glassâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; industry contacts and clients.

The business was also celebrating the awarding of $600,000 in Federal and State Government funding towards the creation of a new glazing plant and the new showroom.

Above: Rhianna Dorling (RedStick Strategic Communications), with Darrel and Sue Linke (Edge Glass)

Paul Malishev (Malishev Group), and Brian Schultz

Above: Steve Kim (iglass), Nick Robson (Robsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Glass), Gary Watts (Signature Homes) and Johnny Pak (iglass)

Bernadette Uzelac (Geelong Chamber of Commerce), and Ian Trezise (State Member)

Above: From Edge Glass, Mark de Bie, Tania de Bie, Mark Sostheim, Jo Gow and Colin Gow all enjoyed a great night

56

AFTER HOURS

Christmas spirit arrives It was an early taste of the true meaning of Christmas last month, with the launch of the BayFM Bethany Giving Tree appeal at The Carousel.

The appeal has over 70 Giving Trees are located throughout the region, where the community can leave presents that are distributed to 10 local agencies. Donated gifts bring some much-needed joy to children and families in need in our region.

State Member for Geelong, Ian Trezise, officially launched the appeal, while the Choir from Oberon South Primary School sang Christmas songs. And what would a Christmas party without a visit from the man in red? He made his entrance on the back of a Harley Davidson!

Santa makes his entrance

Fiona Williams Chair of Bethany, Grant Boyd CEO and Ian Trezise MP

Santa and members of Geelong Chapter of Geelong Harley Owners Club

Don't just rearrange the deck chairs!

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Children from Oberon South Primary School who entertained the crowd at the launch

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AFTER HOURS

57

An Adroit take on fantastic fun and fundraising Two local charities were the beneficiaries of a fantastic day of fun and fundraising at the ninth Adroit Insurance Group annual charity golf day, held at 13th Beach Golf Links.

For the first time in the event’s history, Adroit Insurance Group has decided to split the support of the Golf Day between its traditional beneficiary, St John of God Hospital Geelong, and the Geelong Community Foundation.

Proceeds from the 2009 event kick started the St John of God Hospital Geelong Special Care Nursery Appeal, which has now passed the half way mark towards the $400,000 total, and 2010’s proceeds will again be directed to this Appeal.

Mr Stephen Roberts, CEO of St John of God Hospital Geelong, said, “As an organisation, we are always grateful of support from the community and Adroit have long been generous in their contribution to the hospital.”

Above: Taanya Widdicombe (St John of God) Andrew Lawson (CEO Geelong Community Foundation)

The Geelong Community Foundation will use funds raised from this event to help match a $100,000 challenge grant from the Department of Community Development. If this grant is matched by local donations, then the Foundation is eligible for a further grant of $200,000. Income from the resulting fund of $400,000 will be used to fund programmes in the northern Geelong region as well as in the city’s east, where the Government has invested in neighbourhood development work.

Executive Officer of the Geelong Community Foundation, Andrew Lawson, said: “I am thrilled by the support from the local Geelong Business community.”

Adroit Insurance Group Managing Director, Andrew Locke, said, “We are proud to contribute to these two Geelong based initiatives and support our local community.”

One hundred and forty Adroit (meaning skilful or dexterous) players were involved in the event this year, including a range of local and Melbourne based business competitors, who competed for the Meatball Cup, named in honour of the late Graham Page.

The day was capped off by a sumptuous seafood buffet in the Clubhouse and enjoyed one of the highlights of the event, an auction conducted by Anthony Mithen, which raise funds from a range of items donated by local business.

Above: Darren Halley; Tony Goldsmith; Alan Morgens; Lou Hvalica; Jackey Lee; Rohan Hutchinson; (Alllianz & Club Marine)

Above: Stephen Garner (Keppel Prince); John Law Above: Helen Chandler (Adroit).

(Quiksilver) and John Skidmore (Adroit).

Photos by Terry Broun Jr

Above: Gary Wall (Quiksilver).

58

WHATS ON 27 NOVEMBER 2010 to 13 FEBRUARY 2011

Mary and Max, 2009, Dir. Adam Elliot

MARY AND MAX: THE EXHIBITION In ways both big and small, December is a time of wonder, of childlike excitement and moments of magic. This month, and through to February, experience the wonder and magic of Mary and Max: The Exhibition at the Geelong Gallery.

An acclaimed Australian ‘clayography’ (clay animated biography), created by Adam Elliot, Mary and Max chronicles two simultaneous life stories. Spanning 20 years and 2 continents, Mary and Max tells of a pen-pal relationship between two very different personalities: Mary Dinkle (voiced by Toni Collette with Bethany Whitmore as young Mary), a chubby, lonely 8-year-old living in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia; and Max Horowitz (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a severely obese, 44-year-old Jewish man with Asperger’s Syndrome living in the chaos of New York City.

Mary and Max (2009) took five years to make, including one year of filming.

The exhibition explores the creative and technical processes behind the acclaimed Australian animation by showing a selection from the thousands of items created for the film alongside imagery from the finished film. It illustrates the imagination, ingenuity and painstaking work that goes into a 92-minute stop-motion animation project like Mary and Max and allows us to appreciate the finished product and the incredible artistry of Adam Elliot and his team.

Items on display include character models, as well as sets, props (such as vehicles, a phone box, Max’s TV and more) conceptual sketches and storyboards. The exhibition also features stills and clips from the finished film, time-lapse sequences showing the animators at work, and behind-thescenes footage shot for a making-of style ‘mockumentary’.

Courtesy of Melodrama Pictures

The director, writer and designer, Adam Elliot, has personally selected the figures, props and sets to include in this exhibition and hopes that visitors will enjoy this behind-the-scenes insight into his craft.

“The diversity and complexity of the sets for Mary and Max was extreme; everything from a desert island to a chocolate heaven needed to be made. The New York skyline set was the biggest and most time consuming and took two months to complete by the entire art department crew of twenty people,” Elliot said.

“So it’s nice to be able to ‘lift the veil’ on the whole process for Victorian audiences.”

Elliot is a celebrated independent animator. His short films, Uncle (1996), Cousin (1998), Brother (1999) and Harvie Krumpet (2003), have been seen in over five hundred film festivals and won over one hundred awards, including in 2004 the Oscar ® for Best Animated Short Film for Harvie Krumpet.

Mary and Max, Elliot’s debut feature with long-time collaborator and producer Melanie Coombs, enjoyed its world premiere as the opening night film of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and has since screened at film festivals the world over, winning several awards including Best Animation at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, the Inside Film Award for Best Production Design and numerous others.

Mary and Max: The Exhibition is an Australian Centre for the Moving Image touring exhibition managed by National Exhibitions Touring Support (NETS) Victoria.

Where: Geelong Gallery. Details: www.geelonggallery.org.au

To 18 December

To 13 February

Trio – This exhibition brings together the works of three local artists, Barry Oliver, Les Smith and Stewart Wackett, who have been colleagues and friends for more than forty years.

Where: Brougham Gallery @ BRACE. Details: www.brace.com.au

…a person looks at a work of art… - At the centre of this ‘art museum interior’ exhibition are three large, recently acquired photographed by contemporary Australian artist, Anne Zahalka.

Where: Geelong Gallery. Details: www.geelonggallery.org.au

To 30 January Reflections of the lotus – ceramics from Thailand - An exhibition of works from the Art Gallery of South Australia's internationally recognised collection of Thai ceramics. The exhibition includes the most unusual of the Sawankhalok sculptural subjects, the rare sixteenth-century War elephant. Where: Geelong Gallery.

Details: www.geelonggallery.org.au

18 December THE CHURCH – An Intimate Space – THE CHURCH return to Australia for a 30th Anniversary Acoustic Tour. Where: Drama Theatre, GPAC. Details: www.gpac.org.au

To publicise your event in GBN’s What’s On in February email: editor@geelongbusiness.com.au

WHATS ON 19 December Carols in the Park - Traditional Outdoor Christmas Carols in the centre of the Highton Community, featuring Caleb Vines and Duncan Esler. Where: Barrabool Rd playground.

Details: www. www.stjohnshighton.org.au Northern Carols by Candlelight - A shared community carols evening with choirs from local primary schools and supported by the Karen (Burmese) choir. Where: Corio Community Park (Shell Park). Details: www.geelongaustralia.com.au

24 December Geelong Carols by Candlelight - Christmas entertainment from a range of artists plus a chance for the whole audience to sing along to carols with support from a large chorus.

Where: Johnstone Park. Details: www.geelongaustralia.com.au

31 December The Pier Festival Geelong - New Years Eve celebrations including The Festival, Dusk fireworks and Midnight fireworks.

Rides along Cunningham Pier, roving entertainment. Live music and twilight market. Where: Cunningham Pier, Steampacket Quay, Youth Activities area & Steampacket Gardens.

Details: www.thepiergeelong.com.au

02 January Amy's Ride - Mass participation cycling event for all levels/age of riders, promoting harmony and respect between all road users. Where: Eastern Park.

Details: www.amygillet.org.au/amys-ride-victoria

02-04 January Jayco Bay Cycling Classic - Recognised as the world's fastest criterium series - The Jayco Bay Cycling Classic showcases some of the world's best cyclists racing against the cream of Australian cyclists. Where: Eastern Park and Ritchie Boulevard.

Details: www.geelongaustralia.com.au

the quality art and craft markets; taste fine local food and wine; be entertained by buskers, street theatre and talented musical acts across three stages. Where: Waterfront Geelong. Details: www.victoriaweek.com.au or www.rgyc.com.au

26 January Suicide Awareness Walk - Did you know that each year in Australia approximately 2000 people choose to end their own life? Suicide CAN be prevented. On 26 January, join in a walk to raise awareness of suicide and the need for better community understanding. Where: Johnstone Park.

Details: www.suicideawarenesswalk.com.au

28-30 January Victorian Country Swimming Championships - Come and see the best swimmers from Geelong and all over country Victoria.

Where: Kardinia Park Swimming Complex.

Details: www.gdsa.com.au/countries 29 Australia Australia Day - Childrens Free Funday - Celebrate Australia Day with this family friendly event for all ages. Where: Rippleside Park. Details: www.geelongaustralia.com.au

29-30 January WH Pincott 130th Barwon Regatta - A rowing regatta for all classes of boats with entries from Clubs and Schools from all over Victoria. Where: Barwon River.

Details: www.rowingvictoria.asn.au

06 February

Summer Fun Programme - Bring your children to the National Wool Museum during the Summer school holidays and share in the fun of Toys: Science at Play. Please contact the Museum on 5272 4701 for details and bookings. Where: National Wool Museum. Details: www.nwm.vic.gov.au

Gatorade Triathlon Series Portarlington - One of Australia's most popular mass participation triathlons, catering for all elite, age group and novice competitors, celebrates its 25th Anniversary.

Where: Portarlington. Details: www.supersprint.com.au Music in the Gardens - Renowned for their infectious rhythms, superb harmonies and toe-tapping tunes, Soul Sister Swing have performed all over Australia. Where: Geelong Botanical Gardens.

Details: www.gpac.org.au

07-29 January

09 February

Geelong Night Market - Featuring stalls boasting everything from local wineries and artisans to live entertainment and activities and food showcasing both regional delights and cuisines from around the world. Where: Johnstone Park.

Details: www.geelongaustralia.com.au

Mikado - The Gilbert & Sullivan Company Of Australia return with a fantastic new treatment of the most popular Gilbert & Sullivan classic of all time. This new version of The Mikado will be performed in full costume against a backdrop of stunning scenery. The show will contain many more musical delights as well as comedy sketches that will have audiences in gales of laughter. Where: The Playhouse. Details: www.gpac.org.au

04-28 January

08 January Portarlington Mussel Festival - A community festival showcasing the prosperity of the Bellarine Peninsula, the local food and wine, and of course, the wonderful Aussie Blue Mussel. Where: Portarlington. Details: www.portarlingtonmusselfestival.com.au W-League at Skilled Stadium - Melbourne Victory take on Canberra United in the W-League. Where: Skilled Stadium.

Details: www.a-league.com.au

08-10 January 2011 Inter Regional Country Tennis Championships - The Barwon Region Tennis Council will host the 55th Inter Regional Tennis Championships. Where: Geelong Lawn Tennis Club.

Details: www.geelonglawntc.com.au

18-21 January School Holiday Family Shows - Theatre 3Triple2 for Kids return to present their popular school holiday performances.

Where: Potato Shed, Drysdale.

Details: www.geelongaustralia.com.au/potatoshed

22-29 January Audi Victoria Week - Australia's largest sailing regatta and Victoria's oldest sporting event, is the largest sailing regatta in Australia with over 400 yachts competing over the five days.

There are plenty of shoreside activities on offer for those not competing - take a stroll along the Geelong waterfront through

12 February Orchestra Victoria in Geelong - Experience a musical masterpiece by the bay. A spectacular free outdoor orchestral concert will be performed by the entire Orchestra Victoria orchestra under the stars and by the bay in Geelong. Where: Eastern Beach Reserve. Details: www.orchestravictoria.com.au

12-13 February Australian Formula Powerboat Grand Prix - This event offers different activities to spectators, which includes Powerboat racing, displays, childrens activities and various other attractions. Where: Geelong Waterfront.

Details: www.formulapowerboats.com.au

14-16 February 1st International One Health Congress - This congress aims to provide an opportunity to think "outside the box" and into the future in order to make recommendations on policy and organisational changes using the underlying science to inform and drive the process. Where: Melbourne Convention Centre.

Details: www.onehealth2011.com

To publicise your event in GBNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On in February email: editor@geelongbusiness.com.au

59

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