Imagine Two

+ li f e + weal th

your lifestyle

EVENTS GUIDE The best events, TRAVEL Blissed Out Byron BOOKEND:

PETE EVANS

books & movies.

LIZARD ISLAND Luxury and Lures

Chef, Author, Would-be Accountant DESTINATION:

NEWYORK Winter Wonderful PROPERTY PRIORITY Get serious about selling AUS $6.95 • NZ $8.95 ISSN 1838-0514

imagine two Summer 2011 www.imagineyourlifestyle.com.au

imagining in Australia.

ISSN 1838-0514

Imagine Your Lifestyle Pty Ltd ABN 27 120 725 073 ACN 120 725 073

Publisher Nicholas Reid publisher@imagineyourlifestyle.com.au

the

Publisher’s Desk.

S

On a personal note, please make o here we are, at another sure you spread the Imagine word year’s end, the start of as we want to grow with you a new decade and the and become the best lifestyle and launch of Imagine Two. wealth magazine in Australia.

It’s certainly true what Finally, I would like to thank they say, ‘time flies when you’re Oprah Winfrey for allowing us to having fun’. feature her in Imagine Two, and Firstly, I would like to thank all allowing us to share her passions the readers who penned the team and visions for the future. congratulating us on the first Before I leave you to read on, we successful issue. By all accounts truly welcome all your feedback Imagine One struck a chord with so please keep it coming and, if readers and the positive and warm so inclined, join us in the virtual correspondence has been more world on Facebook and than well received. You Twitter. We’d love have given us a real to see you there. sense of achievement.

Simply search for So, on behalf imagineyourlifetyle of everyone at Those who seek on facebook and Imagine HQ, a big @imagine_mag thank you. out wise counsel on Twitter and Next, we want prosper. join the Imagine more! Letters, Chinese Proverb family for timely questions and updates, helpful comments that is. We information, tips, ask for and encourage exciting competitions and you to share questions, amazing prizes. comments and suggestions Please send your questions, that you may want answered, comments, suggestions, feedback aired or printed. You may remain or story suggestions to letters@ anonymous if you wish, but please imagineyourlifestyle.com.au. send more of them in. There are So sit-back, relax, enjoy and keep fantastic prizes to be won if you imagining! do!

Just like in Imagine One we have again been inspired by amazing stories for Imagine Two, thanks to some amazing professionals Nicholas Reid we have met along the way. Enjoy Publisher what they have shared with us this issue. www.imagineyourlifestyle.com.au

Join us for all the latest news & WIN! imagineyourlifestyle 4

@imagine_mag

Editor Jeni Bone editor@imagineyourlifestyle.com.au Advertising Sales & Marketing John Blondin - Media Titles Pty Ltd advertising@imagineyourlifestyle.com.au Art Direction Reid Media Pty Ltd studio@reidmedia.com.au www.reidmedia.com.au Printed in Australia by Caxton Web www.caxtonweb.com.au Imagine Two Contributors

Carol Yip

Lizzie Loel

Andrew Winter Sam Tannous

Dr May Marr

Lauren Brittain

www.reidmedia.com.au

Every issue of Imagine Your Lifestyle is prepared with careful attention to accuracy.

Please use this magazine as general guide. It is important to consult a professional before making decisions relating to your own financial investment. Imagine Your Lifestyle expresses the views of the authors and is based on the information available at the time and it is not to be taken as advice.

Disclaimer No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied in any form by any means without prior written permission from the Publisher.

Opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Imagine Your Lifestyle Pty Ltd. All editorial material is accepted in good faith. We welcome editorial and photographic contributions.

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

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ACTIVE_11.2010

TRAVEL: BYRON 96

OPRAH 18

PROFILE: CUA 24

TRAVEL: NYC 88

I wanted to kick off my 25th season in a big way, and I’ve heard Australia is the ultimate adventure.

BEVERAGE 68

CONTENTS REGULARS

HOME

Publisher’s Desk

04

Ask a Planner

08

Noticeboard

09

OUT & ABOUT Events & Holiday Guide

10

Books & Films

13

GALLERIA

Property: Focus on Serious Sellers

56

SOHO Decluttering for sanitation and sanity

58

Interiors: Here’s to Homemade

61

AT HOME

Latest Instore

16

Kid Pleasers

17

FEATURES

87

TRAVEL NYC

88

Byron Beckons

96

The Rise and Rise of Cruising

98

108

Boating Feature: Pisces – fish-finding off Sydney Heads

110

Game Fishing: Lizard Island luxury

112

42

BOOKEND Pete Evans: Life, happiness, wealth and my first career choice

FINANCIAL PLANNING

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Getting in to Golf: Lessons and Courses

Grey Nomads: Caravanning & RV

Profile: Miessence Potent Potions

54

82

106

50

Helicopter Parenting: Social Smothering

Sunshine Coast: Golfer’s Paradise

Motoring News

Paul Hockey No Mountain Too High

FAMILY MATTERS

ACTIVE

67

44

34

80

104

Life After Sport

38

78

Save the Skin You’re in

Motoring Feature: Volvo S60 will move you

24

Camerons

Summer Spruce Up

64

CUA: Profile of CEO, Chris Whitehead

Accountants: A User’s Guide

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Tastes of Burgundy

Beverage: 68 Beer tastes, blow the budget

30

74

DETOUR

18

Planner Profile: Troy Theobald

70

Rich and Rare: Pink Diamonds

62

Oprah-tunity for a tourism boom

28

Summer Fashion

Market News: on the shelf Cuisine: Fare Go for Christmas

Family Planning: Carol Yip

FASHION

114

CUISINE Fare Go: 67

BOOKEND Pete Evans: 114

7

Letters Follow us @imagine_mag

FAQ ISSUETHREE

YOUR SAY. Send your letters, comments, questions or feedback to:

letters@imagineyourlifestyle.com.au

win

The letter of the Quarter will win a Dr. Sp iller prize pa ck with the complim ents of Aust ralian distributor, OmniDerm.

Valued at

$498

If you would like to ask our experts any investing, planning or insurance questions or something generally relating to your lifestyle, email your questions to: ask@imagineyourlifestyle.com.au

HOW DO I START INVESTING? When it comes to investing, it’s important to have a very clear understanding of what your specific aims or objectives are.

The question you need to ask yourself before you invest is: “what do I want to achieve with my investments?”

Generally, the needs of an investment fall into one of three categories: • Achieve capital growth • Provide an income • A combination of both.

You can invest for various reasons including: • To build wealth • Save for a deposit for a house • Pay schools fees at some time in the future • Fund university education for yourself or your children

ONE FOR THE BOYS: MANAGE AGEING

The Dr. Spiller prize pack contains: Manage Your Skin Refreshing Facial Cleanser, Manage Your Skin Calming After Shave Balsam, Manage Your Skin Daily Moisturizing Fluid, Manage Your Skin Effective Eye Contour Serum. RRP $498.

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This summer, men need not be forgotten when it comes to skincare and preventing the signs of ageing. But fulfilling the brief of spending minimum time fussing to achieve maximum results, the Manage your Skin Range from Dr. Spiller is the right combination. Manage Your Skin is a highly effective modern skin care range that

• Provide an income when you retire • Provide extra income now that you are retired.

WHEN DO I START? It’s useful to think about your personal goals and how long it will take to achieve them.

Simply put, the younger you are, the more time you have to focus on your investment and ultimately reach your life goals. When you approach retirement, whenever that may be, your priorities might change to receiving income from your investments, rather than only generating capital growth. Depending on your investment time frame, you will need to choose one or more asset types, or classes.

contains a patented bio-active ingredient specifically developed for the special needs of male skin.

Formulated in Germany, Manage Your Skin is the result of decades of research and practical experience gained in the laboratories of Dr. Spiller Biocosmetic.

For the complete range of Manage Your Skin products, visit www.omniderm.com.au

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

noticeboard

In$urance WHAT IS INSURANCE?

sufficient amount of cover for you and your family.

Insurance is protection.

Insurance helps you protect yourself and your family against everyday risks to your health, home and financial situation. It allows someone who suffers a loss or accident to be compensated for the effects of their misfortune.

We can’t always assume that traumatic or tragic events will only happen to other people. But even if we accept life’s realities, it is hard to prepare for the emotional toll that tragedy could take.

Fortunately, we can take action to minimise the otherwise devastating financial impact that serious illness or disablement can have on our lives, or premature death could have on the lives of our family.

The different types of Life insurance products that are available are - Life insurance, Total and Permanent disablement, Income Protection and Business Expenses insurance.

As individual cases vary, it is still important to see a financial adviser. You can then develop a comprehensive risk management plan and work out a

Insurance helps you protect yourself and your family against everyday risks to your health, home and financial situation. It allows someone who suffers a loss or accident to be compensated for the effects of their misfortune.

LIFE INSURANCE provides a lump sum on your death or on the diagnosis of terminal illness.

Life insurance provides financial support when it’s needed most, giving your loved ones financial security and freedom to make choices about their future. You can generally buy your Life insurance within super, or outside of super depending on the type of cover.

TOTAL AND PERMANENT DISABILITY INSURANCE (TPD) provides a lump sum if you suffer an illness or injury that leaves you totally and permanently disabled.

INCOME PROTECTION pays a monthly amount while you are unable to produce an income as a result of illness or injury.

FACT:

Only 4% of Australia n families with dependants have enough Life insuranc e to sustain their family’s lifestyle if a parent died.

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It is easy to dismiss illness and injury with an ‘it won’t happen to me’ mentality. But millions of Australians who might once have thought the same, have been impacted by unexpected illness, injury or premature death.

INCOME PROTECTION There are three main types of Income Protection policies.

1. ‘Hours based’ policies: pay benefits if you are unable to perform your regular duties, but will still allow you to work up to ten hours per week without offset of the income earned.

2. ‘Duties based’ policies: pay benefits if you are unable to perform one or more of your regular duties.

3. ‘Loss of income based’ policies: pay benefits if you suffer a loss of income as a direct result of your illness or injury.

Your financial adviser will help determine the right product and strategy for you.

Many policies will cover up to seventy five percent of your salary if you are totally or partially disabled. iyl

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s t n e v E r a d n Cale January 2011

TASMANIA TASTE FESTIVAL 28 Dec – 3 Jan 2011

December 2010 BOXING DAY TEST MATCH 26 December 2010 With the excitement and exhaustion of Christmas Day over, the Boxing Day Test at the MCG is one of the hallmark events to mark on the calendar and this year’s Australia-England match from December 26-30, 2010 is sure to be one to remember. Andrew Strauss and his English team will be looking to retain The Ashes when it takes on Ricky Ponting’s Australians in the fourth Test of the five-match series at the MCG in the traditional post-Christmas clash. In the days before the match, visitors can go behind the scenes on an MCG Tour or visit the world-renowned National Sports Museum – where you can come face-to-face with Shane Warne!

THE NUTCRACKER – AUSTRALIAN BALLET 3 – 22 December in Sydney After sell-out seasons in 2007, Peter Wright’s magical production of The Nutcracker returns for a very special encore season. A perennial favourite, The Nutcracker is the perfect introduction for newcomers to the beauty and energy of ballet and is guaranteed to cast an unforgettable spell over the entire family.

CAROLS IN THE DOMAIN 18 December

LE GRAND CIRQUE From 6 January 2011 in Sydney

Australia’s biggest Christmas concert!

Celebrate the true meaning of Christmas in Sydney’s Domain, while raising funds for The Salvation Army Oasis Youth Support Network.

ROLEX SYDNEY TO HOBART YACHT RACE 26 Dec – 1 January 2010 The annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is one of the most prestigious races on the world yachting calendar and attracts boats and crews from all over the world.

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For seven days and nights, Hobart’s waterfront is transformed into a display of colour and life as the Taste Festival ignites the historic Sullivans Cove Precinct, showcasing the uniqueness and diversity of Tasmania’s produce and gourmet food and wine to approximately 250,000 people.

This summer, Le Grand Cirque returns to the harbour city with a new turbo-charged show featuring some of the most extreme acts in the world. Le Grand Cirque - Adrenaline is a jaw-dropping visual feast of the most dangerous, entertaining and thrilling Cirque acts combined with physical comedy routines and feats of skill and agility. Extravagant and mesmerising, Le Grand Cirque Adrenaline will capture the imagination of the entire family and, with adults at kids’ prices for families at special matinees, it won’t break the bank.

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

NATIONAL EVENTS & FESTIVALS

February 2011 MOVIE EXTRA TROPFEST AUSTRALIA 20 February 2011

BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL 2 – 9 January 2011

Movie Extra Tropfest is Australia’s most prestigious short film festival and one of its most iconic cultural events. It is also the largest short film festival in the world. Eighteen years on, Movie Extra Tropfest in Australia attracts a live national audience of more than 150,000 people on a single night. The event is hosted at Sydney’s Domain in the Royal Botanic Gardens, with live satellite links to outdoor locations in Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Brisbane, Hobart, Adelaide and Surfer’s Paradise.

Play ball! Queensland will serve up some hot event action over summer with the third annual Brisbane International tennis tournament. Some of the world’s best star tennis players will return to compete in the Brisbane International at the Queensland Tennis Centre in January 2011, which marks the beginning of the Australian Open Series.

SA CELLAR DOOR WINE FESTIVAL 25 – 27 February, 2011 More than 100 of South Australia’s wineries are set to make history by taking part in South Australia’s first state wine festival. The festival will kick off the state’s internationally renowned “Mad March” arts festival line-up. The threeday event will bring cellar doors from all across the state to converge in the city for the first time, bringing you the opportunity to sample the very best wine, food and regional wine experiences from all the regions, including: the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Coonawarra, Eden Valley, Langhorne Creek, McLaren Vale, Padthaway and the Riverland. w w w.imagineyourlifetsyle.com.au

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’ s d i k Summer

Holidays

Kids in the Kitchen

Disney Live!

Where: South East Queensland – Also in various restaurants and cooking schools across Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

Visit www.ourbrisbane.com

When: December 28, 2010 -

When: Summer school holidays How Much: Varies

Aquarium of Western Australia

Where: National How Much: Family tickets start from $99 for 4 people Make your family’s Christmas a truly magical one this year by taking them to Disney Live! presents Three Classic Fairy Tales, which tours Australia these summer holidays. Performing from December 28, 2010 to February 2, 2011, the show rediscovers the classic tales of three treasured Disney Princesses - Cinderella, Snow White and Belle – through the eyes of Mickey and friends as they journey through ‘happily ever after’.

Walking with Dinosaurs

Werribee Zoo Keeper for the Day Where:

Harbour, Western Australia

Where: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Newcastle

Werribee Open Plain Zoo, Werribee, Victoria

When: All summer holidays How Much: 2 adults

When: April 2010 How Much: $69.90 (concession

Summer school holidays

Where: Hillarys Boat

and 2 children $75 Explore 12,000km of Western Australia’s coastline in just one day.

AQWA takes you on an underwater journey to discover the fascinating and unique marine life of Western Australia. This summer visitors over the age of 12 can become an AQWA reefwalker and discover diving as they walk underwater through the colourful world of a living coral reef.

12

February 2, 2011

for children 16 years and under)

When: How Much: $99 (13-18 yr olds only) Come and discover what a keeper’s day really involves! Keeper for a Day allows participants to work in the zoo for the day, helping out our zookeepers and learning about one of the most rewarding jobs at a zoo!

You will also get to go on a safari tour with a difference and have the opportunity to speak with zookeepers about their jobs and experience.

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Foreword

club

Imagine Summer Reading

Bligh: Master Mariner

R

ob Mundle’s very modern biography puts you at the heart of a great nautical life: a story that embraces the romance of the sea and the adventure that comes with exploration under sail. Author of best-selling Fatal Storm, Mundle expertly takes readers back to sea, this time the 18th century, when brave mariners took their ships beyond the horizon in search of an unknown world. From ship’s boy to Vice-Admiral, Captain Bligh is larger than his infamous bad temper. Rob Mundle’s Bligh is about bravery and brilliance, endurance and integrity, great battles and victories! You’ll never think of Bligh as a villain again.

Hachette Australia RRP $49.99.

Heart & Soul: Australia’s First Families of Wine

A

ustralia’s foremost wine industry group, Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW), has launched a book delving into their history and heritage to coincide with their first anniversary.

Heart & Soul: Australia’s First Families of Wine offers an exclusive look behind cellar doors into the winemaking stories of the collective. Each chapter of the book is dedicated to one of the 12 families giving a narrative of each winery amongst private photographs from the archives, information on their vintages and maps of the regions.

Written by Graeme Lofts and with a forward by Australia’s doyen of wine writers, James Halliday, Heart & Soul: Australia’s First Families of Wine, is a rich reflection of Australia’s wine heritage.

100 Journeys for the Spirit

T

he compiled works of travel writers and novelists such as Michael Ondaatje, Paul Theroux, Jan Morris and Alexander McCall Smith, this beautiful book guides the reader on a journey around a selection of 100 of the world’s most spiritually uplifting sites. From the prehistoric megaliths of Carnac in Brittany to the Buddhist templecomplex of Borobodur in Java, from the giant medicine wheel at Bighorn, Wyoming in the USA to the Confucian Temple of Heaven in Beijing, you will experience the wonders and significance of each of the 100 sites.

Simon & Schuster RRP $45.00.

Wiley RRP $39.95.

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Foreword

club

Imagine Summer Reading

Dannii: My Story

D

annii Minogue first appeared on television aged seven. She signed her first record deal at the age of 17 and ever since she has been wowing audiences around the world with her charm and charisma. Most recently, she has found a new army of fans as a judge on The X Factor. This very personal autobiography covers the highs and lows of her 30 year career, her marriage and subsequent divorce to Julian McMahon, the trials and tribulations of her role as an X Factor judge, her relationship with sister, Kylie and becoming a mother.

Long May You Run: All Things Running

W

ritten by Chris Cooper, this is an inspirational tome that will encourage and challenge runners of all levels to maintain their passion for the sport as long as they live. A collection of essays, stories, statistics, humour, resolutions, achievable goals, and advice on nearly 200 separate topics, Long May You Run includes the stories and running tips from 19 Olympians, runners and authors.

Simon & Schuster RRP $29.99.

Borders believe you deserve the star treatment this summer, which is why the Borders v.i.p. loyalty program offers you exclusive benefits that you will enjoy; earn shopping vouchers, v.i.p. shopping nights, special offers, prizes and unique 14

F

ollowing in the tradition of her bestselling French Women Don’t Get Fat and French Women for All Seasons comes Mireille Guiliano’s insightful guide to navigating the working world, living the good life, and savoring every minute of it! From facing a job interview or performance review to hosting a dinner party, Mireille tells it like it is as she shares her secrets for feeling good, facing challenges, getting ahead, and maximizing pleasure at every opportunity.

Simon & Schuster RRP $35.00.

Simon & Schuster RRP $35.00.

Borders v.i.p. loyalty program.

Women, Work & the Art of Savoir Faire: Business Sense & Sensibility

get your

$20

*

experiences. shopping Sign up online and Borders would like to offer you a $20 reward to spend next time you visit them in store. To claim your reward

voucher

and get your membership status fully up and running, you simply need to activate your online member profile and pick up a card instore. Visit www.borders.com.au/vip to sign up and for full terms and conditions. *Terms and conditions apply.

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

SilverScreen THE TOURIST December 26 Johnny Depp stars as an American tourist whose playful dalliance with a stranger leads to a web of intrigue, romance and danger in The Tourist. During an impromptu trip to Europe to mend a broken heart, Frank (Depp) unexpectedly finds himself in a flirtatious encounter with Elise (Angelina Jolie), an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Paris and Venice, their whirlwind romance quickly evolves as they find themselves unwittingly thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse.

BURLESQUE January 13 The Burlesque Lounge has its best days behind it. Tess (Cher), a retired dancer and owner of the venue, struggles to keep the aging theatre alive, facing all kinds of financial and artistic challenges.

With the Lounge's troupe members becoming increasingly distracted by personal problems and a threat coming from a wealthy businessman's quest to buy the spot from Tess, the good fortune seems to have abandoned the club altogether. Meanwhile, the life of Ali (Aguilera), a small-town girl from Iowa, is about to change dramatically. Hired by Tess as a waitress at the Lounge, Ali escapes a hollow past and quickly falls in love with the art of burlesque.

Backed by newfound friends amongst the theatre's crew, she manages to fulfil her dreams of being on stage herself. Things take a dramatic turn though when Ali's big voice makes her become the main attraction of the revue.

win

One of six double passes to Burlesqueorone of six double passes To How Do You Know.

THE FIGHTER January 26 The Fighter is the inspirational, true story of these two brothers who, against all the odds, come together to train for a historic title bout that will unite their fractured family, redeem their pasts and, at last, give their hard-luck town what it’s been waiting for: pride. The story unfolds on the gritty, blue-collar streets of Lowell, Mass, where Dicky (Christian Bale) was once known as “The Pride of Lowell” having gone the distance with the world champion Sugar Ray Leonard. However, after losing that fight, like the town of Lowell, Dicky’s fallen on hard times. His boxing days are behind him and his life has become shattered by drug abuse. Younger brother Micky (Mark Wahlberg), meanwhile, has become the family’s fighter and fading hope for a champion.

Simply email your details with ‘FILM TICKETS’ in the subject line to competition@ imagineyourlifestyle.com.au

HOW DO YOU KNOW February 3 From James L. Brooks, the Academy Award®-winning director of such memorable classics as Broadcast News, Terms of Endearment and As Good As It Gets, How Do You Know focuses on a love triangle between George (Paul Rudd), a white collar exec and Matty (Owen Wilson), a professional baseball player who both find themselves smitten with Lisa (Reese Witherspoon).

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IMAGINE GALLERIA FABULOUS FOSSIL Add some sparkle this season with Stella by Fossil, in pink mother-of-pearl, glittering crystal accents and a round multifunction dial. RRP $169. www.fossilaustralia.com.au

TOUCHSCREEN TIMEPIECE Kenneth Cole New York presents a functional and beautiful series of watches that does more than tell time – they keep track of world times for 32 cities and have a built in alarm, stop watch and chronograph. Faces have electro luminescent backlights to display digits and the controls are all operated with a simple tap of the screen. RRP $279-$379. Available from Myer, David Jones and selected retailers. www.kennethcole.com

WAMBAMBOO Winner of a host of “Sustainable” awards for materials and aesthetics, the Wambamboo range has been designed by Kent Gration and will become a focal point for any room. The Costello seat’s organic form and sophisticated use of laminated bamboo, reveals a mosaic of vertical and horizontal DNA-like grain patterns, representing innovation in design and material usage.

RRP $950. www.wambamboo.com.au

Gadgets& Gifts CHIC PACK These stylish and chic getaway bags featuring three of India Hicks’ signature indulgent products are the ideal gift for those en route to a fashionable destination.

This delightful pack includes: Shower Gel 50ml, Body Lotion 50ml, Eau de Toilette 30ml. RRP $49.95.

GOURMET GOODS Sumptuous flavours, beautiful packaging, and unique treats combine to make Crabtree & Evelyn’s new fine food collection a true indulgence. The new comestible range includes classic English treats including biscuits, teas, preserves, and confectionery, as well as a limited edition festive Christmas Collection. The Crabtree & Evelyn Kensington Hamper range is full of gorgeous treats such as fruitcake and preserves set in the classic hamper inlayed with bright striped lining.

Kensington Hamper Petite, RRP $79.95.

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Imagine Two | Summer 2011

IMAGINE GALLERIA

BOGGLE FLASH delivers a fast, frantic and addictive play experience unlike any other using an innovative ‘Smart Tile Technology’.

GUESS WHO? MIX N’ MASH, putting a twist on the traditional guessing game by allowing up to four players to create, and then guess, their wacky face arrangements.

kid pleasers

summer holidays, Just in time for those endless toys are nothing less Hasbro’s new release games and some revamped favourites than sensational.They include that will provide and some entirely new concepts www.hasbro.com ily. hours of fun for the whole fam

BATTLE OPS BUMBLEBEE.

This large-scale figure truly shows fans the Autobot hero’s personality. It features a variety of electronic sounds and lights, accompanied by a converting plasma cannon.

FURREAL FRIENDS Lulu’s Walkin’ Kitties are so real – stroke their backs and your new pets will prance around happily mewing just like real kittens. Each pet is sold separately.

IMAGINE GIVEAWAY

We have one of each of the follo wing for three lucky readers.

Simply email yo ur contact deta to competition@ ils imagineyourlife style.com.au with HASBRO GAM ES in the subjec t line.

GAMES

BABY ALIVE MY REAL BABY DOLL, the most responsive doll to join the Baby Alive family.

She speaks more than 50 phrases and features life-like facial expressions and eye movements. My Real Baby loves to play games and sing songs.

w w w.imagineyourlifetsyle.com.au

Boggle Flash RR P $69.99 Guess Who Mix N’ Mash RRP $3 9.99 Pop Goes Froggi o RRP $34.99 Gator Golf RRP $34.95

BOYS

Transformers Sp eedstars RRP $5 9.99 Transformers Bu mblebee RRP $1 19.99

GIRLS

FurReal Walki n Kitties RRP $4 9.95 Baby Alive My Real Baby RRP $99.99

17

Imagine

DEEMED BY TIME MAGAZINE AS ONE OF THE 100 MOS T INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE OF ALL TIME – THE ONLY LIVING WOMAN TO MAKE A LIST THAT INCLUDES JESUS CHRIST AND ELVIS PRESLEY – OPRAH IS POPPING IN FOR A TASTE OF AUSSIE HOSPITALITY, ALBEIT IT BRIEF AND INTRICATELY STAGE MANAGED. Story by Jeni Bone

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Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Exclusive

A

fter 25 years on air, TV host, media magnate and Forbes’ highest earning Hollywood female star, Oprah Winfrey, is celebrating the final season of her eponymous show with a trip to Australia – just Ms Winfrey, her entourage and 300 of her Ultimate Viewers in a brand new chartered Qantas A380.

The eight-day, seven-night trip, called “Oprah’s Ultimate Australian Adventure,” will offer her fortunate gaggle of guests a sample of the sights, sounds, tastes and unforgettable experiences that Australia has to offer. Sydney is turning out the red carpet, complete with renaming the Opera House to the “Oprah” House for a special show taping on December 14 before thousands of Australian fans. At least two episodes of The Oprah Show will tape throughout Australia and will begin airing in early 2011.

“I wanted to kick off my 25th season in a big way, and I’ve heard Australia is the ultimate adventure. It’s one of the places I’ve always wanted to visit, and who better to take with me on this trip of a lifetime than some of my most loyal viewers? My team has been planning this trip for almost a year, and we are so excited to go Down Under,” Winfrey says.

“For many people around the world, Australia is a dream destination,” adds Andrew McEvoy, managing director of Tourism Australia – who scored the coup for our country and is counting on massive exposure to the prime US travel market. “We are excited to show them and Oprah’s global audience why there really is nothing like Australia.”

From pitching the idea to taking care of the innumerable logistics involved, “Oprah’s Ultimate Australian Adventure” took almost a year to plan. McEvoy refers to the opportunity as “the ultimate product placement”, taking the delights and attractions of Australia (mostly Sydney) to 40 million in the US and a global audience in 145 countries.

The Australian and NSW governments chipped in $3 million to attract Oprah’s production road

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19

imagine

show Down Under, a price that will be thoroughly mitigated if it converts to a stream of US tourists over the next few years.

Former federal tourism minister, John Brown has hailed the concept “the best tourism marketing campaign since actor Paul Hogan put a shrimp on the barbie” during his tenure as minister.

“I’ve waited all these years to see something that might match (the Hogan campaign),” Brown said when the deal

was announced. “You couldn’t quantify what this will do for us.”

The occasion will be the first time the show has been shot outside of North America. When Winfrey announced the deal live during her season premiere, her studio audience erupted in an orgy of tears and hugs and waved Australian flags handed out by 20 RM Williamsclad promotional staff.

Qantas ambassador and actor John Travolta alighted from t he nose of

a Qantas jet rolled on to the set to announce that the long-haul flight would be very comfortable in the new A380.

Qantas, which is a partner in the deal with Oprah, broadcaster Network Ten, the state tourism bodies for NSW, Victoria and Queensland, Tourism Australia, the Sydney Opera House and RM Williams, will fly the crew and audience members to Australia.

Tourism Australia chief executive Andrew McEvoy appeared on the show

What material success does is provide you with the ability to concentrate on other things that really matter. And that is being able to make a difference, not only in your own life, but in other people's lives. oprah Winfrey

20

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Oprah

and extended a warm Aussie welcome to the audience with a characteristic “G’day”.

Federal tourism minister Martin Ferguson said visitor numbers grew 3% last year and the proportion of visitors from the US to Australia was increasing.

Coming in as number one on Americans’ lists of dream destinations, Australia was definitely on the radar and this would be just that kick-along that might inspire them to book and pay for their trips.

Following Oprah’s jaunt Down Under, Tourism Australia will hit the US with intensive trade marketing activity, leading up to the G’day USA promotion which takes place around Australia Day, 26 January, and is a high-yielding 14-day program that takes business, art, education and tourism events to eight cities (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Denver,

BORN IN 1954 AND CHRISTENED ‘Orpah’ after a figure in The Bible, Oprah has often spoken of the privations of her upbringing in Mississippi, which inspired her success and generosity.

SHE STUDIED AT THE

Oprah owns, and syndicated to 215 domestic stations by CBS Television Distribution and to 145 countries by CBS Studios International.

WINFREY HAS REMAINED the only

University of Tennessee and graduated with a BA in Speech and Performing Arts.

African American to rank among America’s 400 richest people nearly every year since 1995.

AT 19, SHE WAS THE YOUNGEST news

ACCORDING TO FORBES in September

anchor and the first black female news anchor at Nashville’s WLAC-TV.

WINFREY’S CAREER really began to take off after moving to Chicago in 1984 to host “AM Chicago”, an early morning talk show at WLSTV. It went on to become the number one ranked talk show shortly after she started and it was renamed “The Oprah Winfrey Show” after one year.

SHE WAS A MILLIONAIRE at

2010, Winfrey was worth over $2.7 billion.

CNN DECLARED OPRAH the most influential woman in the world, with greater credibility and influence than the President.

THE POWER OF WINFREY'S opinions and endorsement to influence public opinion, especially consumer purchasing choices, but also US elections, has been dubbed “The Oprah Effect”.

32 when her show went nationwide in the US.

HER GRANDMOTHER, HATTIE Mae says Oprah was a born performer, telling of how as a child, Oprah played games interviewing her dolls and the crows on the fence of her family's property.

THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW has remained the number one talk show for 23 consecutive seasons, winning every sweep since its debut in 1986.

IT IS PRODUCED IN CHICAGO by Harpo Productions Inc, which Photo: Tourism NSW

w w w.imagineyourlifetsyle.com.au

21

Imagine

C

M

Y

Oprah with Jay-Z. CM

Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge at night. Photo: Robert Wallace; Tourism NSW

MY

CY

CMY

K

Houston, Boston and New York). In 2011, more than 30 events will reach targeted audiences in eight cities through conferences and forums, networking, product sampling and promotions.

Now back to Oprah.

Fans need not despair, it’s not ‘farewell forever to y’all’. Despite wrapping up her show in September 2011, this doyenne of media will launch her own network – OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network – guaranteeing we will see even more of her and her concepts in to the future.

It will commence January 1 2011. Oprah is chairwoman of the channel and head of editorial control. This is Winfrey’s second foray into cable television; she was a co-founder of the channel Oxygen until she and her fellow partners sold it to NBC Universal in 2008.

Oprah has confirmed she will host a new prime-time show on the channel called Oprah’s Next Chapter, screening two or three times a week. iyl

22

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Imagine

24

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

CUA

CUA NEXTGENERATIONBANKING

Chris Whitehead, CEO of CUA, is overly modest when he notes that he “just fell into banking”.

“It kind of just happened,” he says, referring to his migration to finance from IT 25 years ago.

Story by Jeni Bone

B

ut his experience, which includes Regional Director of the Bank of Scotland, Chief Executive Retail Banking at BankWest and senior roles with Advance Bank, UNISYS and Cardinal Network, thoroughly equips him to handle the top job at Australia’s fastest growing credit union.

Get him started on the appeal of the finance industry, specifically with CUA, and Chris’ passion is evident.

“Banking is fantastic and fascinating.

It’s all about making people’s plans and dreams come to fruition. And CUA is helping a lot more people achieve their dreams by providing vital competition to the big banks– challenging their paradigm of a focus on shareholders to a singular focus on customers. CUA is owned by its customers and does not have to pay out big dividends – that is the difference.”

Born in Wales to an Irish mother and English father, then growing up mostly in Scotland, now living in Australia, Chris is remarkably free of identity issues. “I should have been born here,” he says, only half joking. “My mother’s family w w w.imagineyourlifetsyle.com.au

had migrated here in the 40s and 50s, so I was always intrigued with Australia.

Now living here, I am certain there is no better place to live and raise a family. The lifestyle is tremendous!”

With his Aussie wife, Kerrie and twin daughters, 15-year olds Jessica and Katie, Chris is based in Brisbane, and has also sampled the best of the rest living in Perth and Sydney.

His father’s job in the Ministry of Defence meant Chris spent a peripatetic childhood attached to the British Navy.

“Every three years we moved to a different naval base. We lived all over the place, but the most influential was living near Glasgow in my early teenage years” He lost none of the wanderlust in his 20s, when on graduating from Manchester University with a degree in Chemistry, Chris turned his back on the lab and chose instead to enter the emerging field of computing.

“At that time, there were too few computing graduates to fulfil demand for computer trainers, so people with science degrees were in demand for these well paid and interesting roles. I wanted to work with people and my initial role 25

Imagine

was in training. I was 21 and offered a company car. It seemed like a very good job indeed.”

Rising up the ladder as the burgeoning IT industry extended its tendrils into every business sector, Chris began working within banks, installing computing systems and training staff, then for the banks in-house as their reliance on technology increased.

Australian subsidiary which provided great experience in innovation and entrepreneurship. Initially I was running every aspect from the administration and banking to sales and implementation management.”

A senior role with the Advance Bank followed, then after his twin girls were born, the family moved to Western Australia, to be closer to his wife’s family. Across in Perth, Chris initially joined BankWest to run IT but was soon moved into the top retail banking job .

BankWest became a wholly-owned subsidiary of HBOS, ironically inspiring an “executive swap” for Chris who travelled en famille back to his old stomping ground of Glasgow for a stint with the Bank of Scotland.

“The girls were 12 by then and appreciated the British and European exposure,” he recalls. “It wasn’t until they complained about going to Paris for the weekend, again, that I realised it was time to come back to Australia.”

At the helm of CUA since August 2009, this charismatic, caring banker has

We care for each other, our members, the community and we care about the business and are diligent and committed to growing it.

“Within the industry I worked across a very wide range of roles including training, technical support, project management, sales, marketing, and general management – which really prepared me for this role.”

First migrating to Sydney in 1989 Chris was a Product Manager for US computer giant, UNISYS. He then springboarded to a general manager position for New Zealand company, Cardinal Network. “I established the new 26

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

CUA

found it a good fit.

“We are not operating on behalf of shareholders, so the emphasis is on members and their needs. It’s a simple business model, with strong service orientation and utterly transparent.”

Given the bad press lately surrounding the Big Four banks, CUA has ideal conditions in which to flourish.

The Banks have been accused by some of gouging through raising interest rates and imposing exorbitant charges and fees despite immense profits.

“We are not on the bandwagon to bash banks, but we are offering something different. People are drawn to the CUA because we are personal and committed to caring. We don’t lend to corporations or big business and our values are genuine.”

Internally and to customers, CUA is “friendly”, says Chris. “We are low on internal politics and there is no constant sense of a trade off between customers and investors. Our customers pick up on that.”

The “three Cs” of CUA’s brand values are, from the inside out: “Care, Create.

Contribute”.

As Chris explains: “We care for each other, our members, the community and we care about the business and are diligent and committed to growing it. We are dedicated to Creating new opportunities and being open to new ideas. We also Contribute to CUA’s results and our members’ success by doing our bit.”

CUA is very active in its communities, partnering with Relationships Australia on its biannual survey on the health of Australian relationships, as well as supporting the RSPCA to help pets in families in crisis and sponsoring fun runs as a healthier means for schools to raise funds.

“CUA wants to be seen as friendly, approachable, helpful, low on ego, not fancy or complicated,” Chris continues. “That’s why Scott Cam [the tradesman and perennially positive host of renovation programs] is such a great personification of CUA. Scott is genuine, he’s everybody’s mate, he gets behind causes and is a hard working, caring person.”

The all-pervading Scott Cam campaign, created by agency, The Beach has really hit a cord with Aussies disillusioned with banks. Latest results from the year to July 2010 show CUA lending has grown 40%, and Chris reports, more growth w w w.imagineyourlifetsyle.com.au

still five months on.

“We absolutely compete with the banks, but we obviously can’t take them on in terms of their marketing might. Where previously CUA was perhaps not as visible, we are making a concerted effort to show how we have changed banking for the better.”

CUA is the largest of the Australians credit unions, with 78 branches in NSW, VIC and QLD, and just one so far in WA. “We are now getting to a scale where

we can be much more visible and show people there is an alternative. Credit Unions have five and a half million members collectively. CUA alone has 400,000+.

CUA has an ambitious plan for the next five years.

“More growth, to become even more visible, relevant and challenge the banks, particularly in this age of electronic and mobile payments. We want to be next generation banking.” iyl

VITAL STATS

HIGHLIGHTS

NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS More than 400,000

FEBRUARY 2010: $650 million Residential Mortgage- Backed Security (RMBS) issue.

ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT $8 billion STAFF NUMBERS 728 NATIONAL BRANCH NETWORK 72 CALL CENTRES 3 AUSTRALIA-WIDE REDIATM NETWORK More than 3,100 CALLS ANSWERED 475,000 per month VISITS TO WWW.CUA.COM.AU 1,135,000 per month VALUE TRANSACTIONS (#) 7,959,000 per month VALUE TRANSACTIONS ($) $4,817million per month CARDS ON ISSUE 393,000

MARCH 2010: Standard Variable Home Loan rate cut of 0.25 per cent.

MARCH 2010: Employer of Choice for Women Citation (EOWA).

MAY 2010: Winner ‘Most Popular Home Loan of the Month’ in inaugural InfoChoice.com.au Popular Home Loan Awards.

JUNE 2010: Winner ‘Credit Union of the Year’, Australian Banking and Finance Awards.

JUNE 2010: Plenty Community Credit Union announced its intention to merge with CUA. 27

Financial Planning

Family Planning with Carol Yip

Planning family business and wealth legacy that lasts for generations.

F

amily businesses and wealth are the cornerstones of the most modern economies.

Research has shown that family businesses make up more than 80% of all businesses in the world and 37% of Fortune 500 companies. Family businesses also contribute almost 50% of the US GDP (gross domestic product) and more than 75% of GDP in most countries outside the US. In Asia, Chinese family fi rms contribute significantly to the market capitalization of companies in Thailand (90%), Singapore (81%), Indonesia (73%), Malaysia (60%) and the Philippines (50%).

Yet despite the large role family business play in these economies, contributions of family businesses and wealth can sometimes short-lived because of the vulnerability of family break-ups during inter-generational successions. There is a Chinese proverb that says, “Wealth never lasts for three generations: First Generation creates the wealth, Second Generation grows the wealth, Third Generation spends the wealth.”

The fact of the matter is, regardless of fi nancial, economic and businesses challenges, families are a universally human construct. While the emotional complexities that we face with each of our own family members may be

28

THERE IS A CHINESE PROVERB THAT SAYS, “WEALTH NEVER LASTS FOR THREE GENERATIONS: FIRST GENERATION CREATES THE WEALTH, SECOND GENERATION GROWS THE WEALTH, THIRD GENERATION SPENDS THE WEALTH.”

'private’ issues, we forget that the family nucleus and family ownedbusinesses are ‘organizations’ that have a defi ned structure and need an effective communication approach to function well.

UNIQUE FAMILY STRUCTURE AND GENERATION GAP What makes family businesses and wealth unique is the fact that we juggle two larger collective entities and identities i.e. two "families" to think about: the immediate family and the business family. The two ‘family’ concepts are often founded upon very different mindsets - the private family being innately emotional and value-based and the business family traditionally defi ned by rationality and strategic thinking.

There is a need to focus on ‘wellthought’ planning and execution for the family business and wealth preservation, installing an effective family team that allows appropriate ownership and involvement, not forgetting that family business and wealth needs to continue

Carol Yip is a Personal Financial Coach, Author of “Money Rules & "Smart Money-User” and CEO and Founder of Abacus For Money. www.AbacusForMoney.com

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Carol Yip

with future generations and succession plans formulated.

As one generation makes way for another - grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren, there are always issues around leadership, management style, succession and continued generation and ownership of wealth − who will continue to carry on the growth of family businesses and wealth, preserving values, traditions and legacy?

Different communication stances, in spoken and unspoken words (behaviors and actions) about money among family members, can be misinterpreted, leading to tension in the family. And remember, money matters, due to their nature always are a sensitive and emotional subject in the family. Generation gap, education exposure, differing communication style and relationship dynamics with spouse, children, parents, siblings and grandparents can be very complex and even more so, when relatives, extended family members and in-laws are added to the family tree.

FAMILY DYNAMICS AND CHALLENGES Each family nucleus is unique. And of course, each family member is different.

If the founder is all about the business and does not concern himself with the family, business succession for the family won’t work. There are personal and family issues, be it implicit or explicit, that need to be resolved before they become complicated and too difficult to resolve.

Heartbreaking and painful encounters can create great misfortune for the family because of different personalities and characters. If family members can work in harmony with a guided family blueprint, family values and traditions could be preserved and family wealth could be multiplied. For it to work, each family member has to look in-depth into the issues and understand the emotional distress because of the following: Inequitable division or transfer of wealth in the family can cause issues of power, greed, control and alliances among members - possibly leading to break-up or disowning family ties. When a family is able to communicate effectively with mutual understanding, with feelings openly

•

w w w.imagineyourlifetsyle.com.au

•

expressed in an unbiased and nonjudgmental manner, and individual differences recognized and accepted without prejudice, family traditions and wealth has a higher probability of being preserved.

Intimate relationships and complex money matters can lead to ‘rigid boundaries’ where disengagement between family members occurs or ‘diffuse boundary’ where everyone is following everyone else’s affairs. Either boundary style creates difficulty in attaining optimal adaptation. Family structures that either lack flexibility (too rigid) or have too much flexibility (too diffuse) will not permit successful readjustment of all the family members.

Only ‘clear boundaries’ around family

preventing the occurrence of family feuds. The business founder must consistently instill good values and beliefs with spouse, children and other family members who are involved in the businesses – building a strong foundation that strengthens family ties.

Due to complexity of emotional attachments in family relationships, it is wise to have a team of specialized professionals with experience and knowledge to develop defined techniques, strategies and methodologies for family communication and planning, relationships and conflict resolution to strengthen the family foundation to achieve the desired outcome. They could be your family lawyer, accountant, tax advisor, private banker, business

As one generation makes way for another - grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren, there are always issues around leadership, management style, succession and continued generation and ownership of wealth

•

members is ideal because it creates firm yet flexible connections, and permits maximum adaptation to change.

Difficulty in trusting immediate family members and ‘outsiders’ (including in-laws, extended family members and friends) to manage family business and wealth. Once the trust is broken because of lies, infidelity or disbelief, it is difficult to rebuild the trust and relationship unless there is forgiveness and letting go of the past.

STRONG FOUNDATION TO STRENGTHEN FAMILY TIES Family businesses are essentially built on family ties. As family businesses become larger, family feuds can develop if family ties are weak. Hence, corporate governance and leadership become increasingly critical in managing businesses and wealth, especially in

advisor, wealth advisor and family therapist.

When this team of experts is successful in helping you to design and document out the family road map to strengthen family ties with right mindset and vision, appropriate roles and responsibility, sense of ownership, cohesiveness with standard practices and rules, your family legacy, businesses and wealth can be preserved for more than one generation, if not a few - unless you have decided join other world-renowned philanthropists to give away your wealth to do good for the society!

It is important to consult a professional before making decisions relating to your own financial investment. This column expresses the views of one individual and is based on the information available at the time and it is not to be taken as advice. iyl

29

Planner Profile

Profile

Getting to know the real financial Planners.

PLAnnER PRofiLE:

in their shoes.

Robina financial solutions is known for valuing their clients’ assets as their own. This friendly, forward-thinking and thoroughly committed approach has won awards and a steady stream of referrals for its principal, Troy Theobald.

30

e

nsconced in a grove of Eucalypts, buffered from the constant drone of roadworks surrounding the burgeoning commercial hub of Robina on the Gold Coast, Robina Financial Solutions is a peaceful retreat from the pace of the streets below.

But beyond the corporate tableau and impressive reception, Troy Theobald and his colleagues, Tony, Col and Ken of CWL Accountants, are just as industriously working on wealth creation for their clients.

Financial planner, Troy Theobald explains: “Robina Financial Solutions was established in 2004 to provide quality Accounting, Financial Planning and Lending advice to clients from a controlled source. As a group we are a Financial Planner, Mortgage Broker and several qualified Accountants, which allows for a blend of experience and expertise to better devise a financial strategy to suit our clients’ needs.”

The bigger picture aim, says Troy is “peace of mind and direction for every stage of your life”.

“I deal with every client to the best of my ability and treat their money as if it were mine. For retirees I treat every client as I would treat my parents’ money.”

Responsive, personal, proactive service is the hallmark of RFS, according to the innumerable client testimonials which support Troy’s commitment to do anything for his clients “from when I get in the car at 8am until I arrive home about 6pm”.

Rather than by epiphany or burning ambition, Troy’s path to financial planning was a steady, determined one.

“I did have a goal to do Accounting when I finished school, but it wasn’t all consuming,” he explains. “As a kid I was more interested in how fast I could run 100m and hurdles and win at tennis than anything else. No matter what I did, it was

at one million miles an hour and I wanted to win.”

While studying for his Accounting degree at Griffith University on the Gold Coast, Troy was earning a wage on the side, managing his parents’ holiday flats as well as selling shoes at Mathers. “I enjoyed sales and managed to win their monthly sales awards most months.”

Not content with just swanning through his uni years, Troy applied for a job in an Accounting firm in Murwillumbah. “I was looking to get into the professional side of industry and thought this would be the way. At the time I was not sure where Murwillumbah even was!

“They offered me an extra $5,000 a year at the time to cover costs to drive down there each day, so three days a week I got up from the flats, dealt with those responsiblities, drove to Murwillumbah and then to Southport in the afternoons for Uni until 9pm and then home. As I look back they were long days.”

Troy finished his degree in 1997 and then undertook a Diploma in Financial Planning and CFP. He also went onto become an accredited mortgage broker and SMSF specialist.

That competitive spirit and relentless pace have paid off in business. RFS has been a Platinum business with Professional Investment Services for the last five years.

He has won the most Determined Achiever for his efforts and has been nominated for various other awards.

“On some occasions, I have declined to enter awards or travel to accept them, as my goal is to look after my clients, and my family.”

Troy is the consummate family man. With wife Taeha he has two beautiful daughters, aged two and five and they enjoy the myriad of family activities the Gold Coast has on offer.

Troy attributes his exceptional people skills to a childhood growing up with supportive parents who nurtured and Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Troy Theobald

sarah Parkin and Jenna schipanski with Troy.

While the industry may have suffered issues.” encouraged in him sporting, social and in the past from bad press, Troy believes Financial Planning became Troy’s focus studious pursuits. that Financial Planning is now so in the business due to his optimism “I think my people skills come from dad crucial in so many people’s lives, with and passion for forecasting. “Financial taking me to swap meetings growing up. spectacular results, that it has shed any planning is about looking forward and My mum always believed in me as well, remnants of an image problem. working on a strategy to get there. I so I had a good grounding. I also have an “I love my industry! It has a great future. thrive on helping people achieve their incredibly supportive wife. When I left When someone says ‘thank you for dreams, by working out a plan to get the last firm to start RFS she believed in helping us’, that is the ultimate reward. I them there.” me and we made the decision together have the best job in the world and have never looked back. so it is easy to be good at I know I could not run a something you love.” successful business without THAT is A GREAT fEELinG – Like any job, Troy her support.”

To HELP PEoPLE REWARD recognises there are issues, His choice of business challenges and its fair share partners too was a firm THEMsELVEs WiTH WHAT THEy of barriers to getting the job footing for the foundation WAnT As PART of A PLAn. done. In many cases, the job of RFS. “I have the best of Financial Planner is part business partners anyone counsellor, he says. could want. They are three “Working with people can be interesting.

He cites the experience of a client who stand up blokes. Tony, Col and Ken of It may shock you to know that couples consulted him about buying a car. “He CWL Accountants have become great do not always talk to each other about came in and we did the number s and he mates, not just business partners. We money and their goals. This comes out can easily afford the car the wants, not set the structure up together over a on a regular basis. Retirees are the classic the one he was going to settle for. That few meetings and a beer and the rest examples. Both want to travel, but he is a great feeling – to help people reward is history. I firmly believe you should wants to tow a van and she wants to themselves with what they want as part treat your business partners how you travel the world. It’s tricky. I think the job of a plan.” would want to be treated and there are no

w w w.imagineyourlifetsyle.com.au

31

What’s on your

Bucket List?

We’ve all got a Bucket List – whether it has been put to paper or in the back of our minds; it may be buying a boat, ballooning over the pyramids or spending time in Europe.

The question is how do you ensure that you can afford what’s on the bucket list?

Seeking professional advice, is the first step when it comes to your wealth creation and family protection. Whatever your situation or stage in life, a financial adviser can guide you through the strategies available that will work to securing your long-term needs.

Professional Investment Services is Australia’s leading independently-owned network of financial advisers and accountants. Professional Investment Services’ network of qualified advisers and accountants can provide you with quality financial advice tailored to suit your individual circumstances; the planning you need to achieve your bucket list goals sooner.

It’s never too late or too early – the sooner you start, the easier it is.

www.profinvest.com.au Professional Investment Services Pty Ltd | ABN 11 074 608 558 | AFSL 234951

Troy Theobald

PLANNER PROFILE: is at least one-third counsellor.”

What is not debatable is the financial planning is essential for people no matter what their situation or walk of life.

“It always astounds me the number of people who think they can just buy a rental property or a few shares and live on that for the rest of their lives. What I like about numbers is they do not lie. I like to work with people on what income comes in and what expenses go out and work on what is left. What they do with that will change their lives.”

Troy deals with around 100 clients he terms “high nett worth individuals”, as well as working with others on building a mortgage reduction/wealth creation system and private nett wealth for superfunds and retirees.

Working alongside Troy are his indispensible duo, Sarah Parkin and Jenna Schipanski who run the administration and client liaison. His three partners run a successful Accounting firm and direct referrals to Troy from other Accounting firms, mortgage brokers and solicitors.

“The key is working with well qualified and ethical people,” says Troy.

The philosophy and commitment have paid off, not only in accolades but also in word of mouth referrals and client loyalty.

“We set up a new website and asked clients for testimonials. I was thrilled to receive a lot of great comments. That makes every bit of effort totally worthwhile.”

The glowing comments are characteristically about Troy’s practical, yet thoroughly personal approach. Many compare his zeal and commitment to each client with the impersonal service of their previous experiences, many with banks or other financial institutions.

Professional referrals are just as praising.

D-Tax says it “happily refers clients to Robina Financial Solutions for their Financial Planning needs, and know from experience that Troy and his team have the knowledge, skill and care to assist our clients best in all their needs. We also enjoy a great integration of information referred back to us to work together on any implications that involve taxation or business, so that we’re always achieving the optimum outcome for each client. Thanks Robina Financial Solutions for valuing our clients as much as we do.”

Still others, divorcees, couples, retirees, widows, are effusive in their comments about Troy’s demystifying the jargon and complicated concepts involved in the w w w.imagineyourlifetsyle.com.au

minutiae of Financial Planning options.

“Patience, understanding, level-headed and practical, accountability, eased my anxiety” are all terms and phrases often repeated.

But the final word belongs to another longstanding client of RFS, who has found in Troy a stable, informative and reassuring source of advice. “With the financial world in such tumultuous times it has been very reassuring to know that in Troy and his great team I have someone who is very careful in his investment strategies when caring for my financial future. I have utmost respect for Troy as a professional and always feel as though I am among friends when I visit his practice.” iyl www.robinafs.com.au All Risk and Financial Planning Services provided by Troy as an Authorised Representative of Professional Investment Services Pty Ltd AFSL 234951, ABN 11 074608 558’.

STATS&FACTS: MAKING THE CASE FOR SOUND FINANCIAL PLANNING STRATEGIES

LIFE EXPECTANCY of newborn in 2000 Boy = 77, Girl = 82

IN 2001 THERE WERE

128,544 registered deaths in Australia (66,835 males & 61,709 females)

and the average length of widowhood is 15 years

ONE THIRD (31%) of

Australian adults aged 18 to 59 do not have any life insurance

1 IN 3 AUSTRALIANS says

THE AVERAGE TRAUMA claim in Australia is a mere $110,000

a lack of understanding is a reason for them not having life insurance. Over half believe they do not need it

THERE HAVE BEEN ONLY

LESS THAN 10% of the

300,000 trauma policies sold in Australia

working population has income protection

CANCER (59%), heart attack

1 IN 4 HOUSEHOLDS in

(16%), stroke (6%), and by-pass surgery (5%) comprise 86% of all trauma claims

Australia does not have any home or contents insurance at all

75% OF THE workforce is female

households is without home insurance

48% OF AUSTRALIAN

1 IN 3 DOES NOT have

marriages end in divorce

contents insurance

ACROSS AUSTRALIA in

APPROXIMATELY 7.5% of

2004, 28.0% of all applications for a divorce were joint applications whereas 41.0% were made by wives and 31.0% by husbands

BETWEEN THE AGES OF 25

1 IN 20 AUSTRALIAN

home buildings are insured for less than 70% of their replacement value

20% OF HOME BUILDINGS

are insured for between 70% and 90% of replacement value.

to 54 there are 57,500 widows

33

Financial Planning

Cultural Evolution

Named after the street address it has occupied for around 70 years, Camerons Accountants & Advisors is the largest locally owned accounting practice in Tasmania and one of the largest regional accountancy practices in Australia, with 70 employees and around 6000 accounting clients and just over 800 clients within the financial planning department.

C

amerons operates statewide with offices in Devonport, Launceston, Scottsdale, Deloraine, Ulverstone, St Helens, Bicheno, Swansea, Smithton and both King and Flinders Islands.

With the motto: “A fresh approach to financial planning� the financial planning team at Camerons is a 34

Back row left to right: Matthew Carter, Nicole Baylis, Ashley Moore, Emily Dent, Glynis Shea.

Front row left to right: Matthew Bellenger, Gerald Matthews relatively new addition to a practice that has been in business since the 1930s. Commencing in 1999, it is headed up by Gerald Matthews, who has been with the firm since 1980.

Gerald recruited Emily Dent to manage the financial planning department in April 2009 and since that time, the group has increased its authorised representatives to five: Gerald, Emily, Glynis, Matt and Matt

On finishing Year 12 Emily worked for an international stockbroking firm where she found her passion for investments. Emily completed her Financial Planning degree with RMIT in 2001 and immediately became an authorised representative and has been financial planning since 2002.

Glynis has been working in financial planning practices since 1995 and providing tailored financial advice to Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Camerons

clients since 2002 when she became authorised. Glynis has incredible technical knowledge and provides impeccable client service which shows through her very loyal client base.

Providing personalised risk insurance solutions to our clients is an exciting new part of our business at Camerons, whilst Matthew Carter has only been with Camerons since April this year he has been working in financial services since 2001 and providing advice since 2007.

Matthew Bellenger completed his Diploma of Financial Services in

WHAT ARE YOUR SPECIALTIES? In the financial planning division we specialis in: • Estate Planning • Investment Planning & Wealth Accumulation • Retirement Planning • Superannuation Strategies (including Self Managed Superannuation) • Centrelink & Aged Care Advice • Business Superannuation & Insurance Needs • Personal Insurance (Life, TPD, Trauma & Income Protection) • Tax-effective Strategies • Risk Planning Management

WHAT ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE YOU HAD RECENTLY – AWARDS? 2010 PIS High Performance Accounting Practice for Financial Advice.

WHY DO YOUR CLIENTS CHOOSE YOU – WHAT ATTRIBUTES ATTRACT PEOPLE TO YOUR BUSINESS? At Camerons we are proud of our established reputation achieved through objectivity, integrity and independence.

Our aim is to create a longterm partnership with our clients to ensure whatever stage of life they are at; their goals and objectives are being achieved. We

2007 and has been a successful paraplanner since that time. These years of paraplanning have enabled Matthew to develop immense technical knowledge that he is now putting into practice with his clients.

New faces aren’t the only addition to the Camerons’ environment.

As Gerald explains: “Camerons has undergone a positive restructure over the last few years. After a strategic w w w.imagineyourlifetsyle.com.au

review, which highlighted that on top of the recent introduction of flexible work hours and University and post-graduate study allowances, that Camerons needed to focus on corporatising the practice.

“With this new drive and the assistance of a local design and marketing company, Camerons re-launched to staff and clients. The re-launch involved a new logo, image and standardisation of practices throughout all four regional offices. Internally and externally these changes have brought a new lease of life to the firm.”

perfectly suits the vibrant office culture.

“Our main change in focus over the past 18 months has been to create a dynamic young team with a new, fresh approach to financial planning and accounting. It’s an enjoyable place to work and this caring, fun environment is transmitted to our clients. It is a place where our staff want to work and a place our clients enjoy coming too.”

Other changes are the result of industry evolution. “With all the changes in our industry looming we have already moved away from commission/

believe our fresh approach to financial advice provides clients with an innovative holistic financial plan that is tailored individually to suit their situation.

Gone are the days where we use mum and dad’s accountant and financial adviser. With the vast amount of information available to clients on the internet and the huge choice of providers, clients are seeking independent non-biased advice whether it be for financial planning, mortgage broking general and personal insurance needs.

In the uncertain times we are in with the GFC, clients are also looking to safety and security and that is

Part of the restructure involved the financial planning department evolving from several individual authorised representatives to a corporate arrangement. “This change moves with the firm’s new direction to working as one team to standardise procedures and give the financial planning clients some continuity,” says Gerald.

With the corporate refresh came a redirection in focus, which Gerald says

not just with their fund managers but with the people they are trusting to give them financial advice.

At Camerons we are a corporate representative of Professional Investment Services Pty Ltd AFSL 234951, ABN 11 074608 558, which is Australia’s leading independentlyowned network of financial advisers and accountants.

This non-alignement to product reflects our strategic advice policy which aims to ensure clients feel comfortable they are provided with a recommendation that suits their particular needs and the product that best fits their situation.

product based fees. Our focus is providing the right strategy for our clients needs and our clients have a full understanding of what services they are receiving and for what cost.”

Camerons has always been dedicated to providing clients with a comprehensive package which includes accounting, taxation, insurance and financial planning advice.

“The financial planning department 35

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Camerons

has learnt many lessons from the well established accounting practice that on-going training and education in-house and externally are vital to keep on top of relentless legislation changes,” says Gerald. “Clients have the benefit of our advisers specialising in individual areas such as risk specialist/retirement and Centrelink specialist, as well as having the in-house benefits of tax specialists.”

There is no doubt, the financial planning team is motivated by their impact on their clients’ lives and livelihoods.

number one priority at Camerons.

Regardless of the GFC, we are still able to provide benefits to clients in the current environment whether it’s minimising tax or obtaining Centrelink benefits. The change in our industry that is to come with banning of commissions is a positive step for clients to ensure that they are receiving strategic advice NOT product.”

People in all their diversity and the myriad of their needs are considered “the most rewarding aspect of the job”.

background and varying levels of experience but most importantly we all have the one focus, providing superior client service,” adds Gerald.

The importance of Financial Planning is evident in the feedback from clients and their own experiences. “Sound financial advice can help you to make the most of what you have now and help get you where you want to be in the long-term,” Emily explains.

“Everyone, no matter what stage of life, can benefit from seeing a Financial

Camerons has always been dedicated to providing clients with a comprehensive package which includes accounting, taxation, insurance and financial planning advice.

“Our job is focused around helping people be financially secure,” explains Emily. “Assisting our clients to achieve peace of mind with their financial position provides immense job satisfaction. With all our knowledge and expertise under one roof at Camerons we are able to ensure that we provide complex strategies to clients but with simple explanation.”

Adds Gerald: “Strategic advice is our

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“The biggest challenge with working with people is that everyone is different and has different expectations when it comes to financial advice,” says Emily. “Whilst life experiences can enhance your people skills and enable you to relate to all walks of life, listening to what a client actually needs is imperative to being able to provide an adequate solution.”

“Our team comes from a diverse

Planner. Ranging from a client venturing into investment markets who perhaps hasn’t the time, expertise or confidence to do it on their own, and clients who are looking to minimise tax or prepare for retirement, to young families looking to protect their wealth, a financial planner can help.” iyl www.cameronsaa.com.au

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Feature

User Instructions:

Accountants Story by Sam Tannous

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Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Accountants

LET’S FACE IT. NO ONE LIKES PAYING TAX! BUT THERE ARE MANY MORE REASONS BEYOND WORKING OUT YOUR DUES TO THE TAX OFFICE TO DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH AN ACCOUNTANT THAT CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR FINANCIAL GOALS.

T

he modern day accounting firm has branched out into a range of services that are designed to help individuals and businesses to manage their finances beyond 30 June.

Financial planning, insurance products, personal and business lending, debt recovery services for business and selfmanaged super funds are all some of the additional services that you can now access via your accountant.

“If you have a goal, you are more likely to achieve it, and that’s where your accountant can help,” says John Eales, director of Brisbane accounting firm, The Peak Partnership. “Everyone should have a financial plan. We encourage everyone who comes here to sit with one of our financial planners and set some goals.”

While anyone in business is likely already to be working with an accountant, there are many benefits for the individual as well.

Even if you are at a simple “salary and wage” tax return stage of your life, the right accounting firm can look at the bigger picture and recommend a path to greater financial security.

“Accountants are among the most trusted professionals,” says Eales, “so we have an opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives.”

CHOOSING THE RIGHT ACCOUNTANT FOR YOU

Because of the nature of this relationship, there are a few guidelines that are helpful when choosing an accountant.

Anyone charging a fee to prepare a tax return must be registered at the Tax Practitioners Board, which can be searched at http://www.tabd.gov.au.

Most accountants will also belong to one of the major industry bodies, of which there are several. The two main bodies are the CPA, or Certified Practising

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Accountants with around 80,000 members in Australia, and the ICAA, the Institute of Chartered Accountants with more than 50,000 members.

Reputation is obviously very important.

Recommendations from family, friends and other trusted associates can help you to draw up a shortlist of accountants that might suit your needs. Eales says: “Potential clients look for endorsement of trust as a starting point. Often in a social or family environment, taxation comes up in conversation, and comments about ‘my accountant does this’ or ‘my accountant doesn’t do that’ can act as a prompt for someone to try a friend’s accountant.”

Next, look at the range of services the firm offers, to see whether they will be able to give you well-rounded advice about your financial affairs.

Some common services now offered by accounting firms include financial

they have very good standards,” explains Eales. “If they say, yes but we get a lot of deductions for our clients, they might have an aggressive approach – but that might suit a business person with a higher risk tolerance.”

Standards are also relevant when the information prepared by your accountant might need to go to a bank or financial institution, such as when you are applying for a loan. Correct and professional presentation goes a long way in those situations.

The size of the firm should also match your needs. A mid-sized firm will have the staff numbers to ensure they share the areas of expertise, with each person a specialist in one or several areas. This is vital when it comes to complex areas such as capital gains tax.

Another area that might be relevant is strategic partnerships. Often a firm might not have a particular service in-house – such as legal or highly specialised accounting knowledge – but they will have established strategic partnerships with other firms who can provide those services.

Eales says: “One of the first things we ask a new client is, do you have a will? You’d be surprised how many people don’t. We have strategic partnerships with law firms who can help our clients with this aspect of their estate planning, while we can help

Even if you are at a simple “salary and wage” tax return stage of your life, the right accounting firm can look at the bigger picture and recommend a path to greater financial security. planning, risk management and insurance services, loan services, superannuation and business services such as debt collection and book keeping.

You should look beyond your immediate accounting and tax needs to services you may need in the future, otherwise you may find yourself looking for another accountant because your needs have changed.

It’s fair to ask about a firm’s standards, says Eales. Ask about the accounting standards they adhere to, their ethics, and even whether many of their clients get tax audits.

“If they say they’ve had very few tax audits in the past 10 years, then its likely

with other aspects.”

In addition to those factors, Eales says to remember that it’s also about people. “As soon as a prospective client comes in, you start to build a relationship with them,” Eales says. “You tend to build a client base of people you get on with and who listen to your advice.”

The opposite, he says, can create serious problems for both client and accountant.

MAKE THE MOST OF THE RELATIONSHIP Once you have commenced with an accountant, there is an onus on you as well as the firm to make sure you get the most out of the relationship.

39

Feature “Communication is key, both timely and regular,” says Eales. “We encourage our clients to contact us before they make any decisions about their business, financial or tax affairs. After the event is too late.”

The relationship will not be successful unless there is transparency and openness from both parties.

Be prepared to ask questions of your accountant. “People who sit there nodding their heads while you explain something is often an indicator that they aren’t understanding. So don’t be scared to ask if you don’t know, and if you still don’t know, ask again!”

Ensure your accountant is fully informed of your activities and affairs at all times.

If something like a tax audit comes up, you want your accountant to be ready and on your side.

Give your accountant the time they need to prepare advice. Eales says: “Frequently a client will call and say, I want to do this, is it OK? But the client doesn’t realize the complexity of the question, such as in relation to capital gains, and we need to properly research the issue before being able to give the best possible advice, and can’t give an answer straight away.”

Keep good records. If you have to file BAS statements each quarter, you will already know that good record keeping is essential. For everyone else, it can also have an impact on your fees, as most accountants charge on a per hour basis.

Good records also show you how you are tracking financially and will help with future planning.

“One of the most important services we offer to clients, especially if that client is a business, is a budget and cash flow projection,” says Eales, . Invariably the client asks us how we can see into the future! But you can, when you apply some process, you can get a fairly accurate projection of at least the next 12 months.

“In my experience, this helps people to feel much better, as they have some control over what’s happening. We can help put accounting processes into their business at any level, we can handle it for them or train them to take responsibility for their record keeping.”

WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE?

Fees are a slightly grey area when it comes to accounting, as they are generally determined on a per hour basis, with the size of a firm also having a bearing on their fees. The “big end of

40

town” might charge three or four times that of a mid-size firm, which might again charge 50% more than a small firm or sole practitioner.

Eales recommends asking for an estimate of fees, and ensure that the scope of work relating to that estimate is specified. Any

additional work may incur additional fees.

While there is no rule of thumb about fees, you need to feel like you are getting value out of the relationship and the services provided– that is, you are advancing your financial position and achieving your goals. iyl

JohnEales

accountant is taking an umbrella view of your financial position. Even if they don’t offer services in-house like to help our clients (such as legal), they can oversee achieve their business a client’s financial affairs and and personal financial coordinate them. goals, we want to help “Our approach to diversifying them comprehensively and that was that we set a clear strategy to is our vision statement as a firm, only add services that our clients to be the first point of contact find useful and that enhance our for our clients’ optimal financial relationship,” he says. and business solutions,” says The same approach applies to the John Eales, founding partner at firm’s strategic partnerships with Brisbane accounting firm, The other professions, such as legal, and Peak Partnership. highly specialised accounting or tax John has been instrumental in practitioners who can be called in on changing the direction of Peak a needs basis. over the past two decades, from a “We try to keep our clients’ costs to traditional taxation and business a minimum while making sure they advice firm into the diverse range have what they need,” Eales says. of services they offer today.

There’s no line in the sand as to when you should progess from DIY tax returns “If you have a goal, or going to what you are more likely Eales calls the to achieve it, and “street corner tax agent” to that’s where your establishing accountant can help,” an ongoing relationship with says John Eales an accountant.

The decision “We started to offer financial should come from your ambitions. planning about 18 years ago, and “Even with simple tax returns, we all of our partners are qualified look at the client’s whole picture. to give financial planning advice,” They might be paying tax on he says. “It was a great move, interest earned from savings, or because we are helping our clients they might have a family and no to achieve something and they can income protection insurance. We see the value in that.” ask them about these things and as Since then, The Peak Partnership a result, we get them to sit with our has added other services including financial planners or risk advisers.” risk insurance, lending and Their clients’ successes are the most superannuation. For business they rewarding aspect of the profession, also offer services beyond book for Eales. “There are some instances keeping, such as assistance with where, if it wasn’t for us, that person debt recovery – an issue faced by could potentially be in real financial many small to medium businesses. trouble now,” he says. “It’s our client Eales believes the real value in success stories that are the most using a firm like his, is that your rewarding part of what I do.”

“I

All Risk and Financial Planning Services provided through Professional Investment Services Pty Ltd AFSL 234951, ABN 11 074608 558’.

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

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MLC. With you on life’s journey.

MLC can help you grow your wealth and protect you from life’s uncertainties, just as we’ve been working with Australian families for 120 years. So ask your financial adviser about how MLC’s investment, personal insurance and superannuation solutions can help you achieve your goals.

Investment

| Personal Insurance | Superannuation

Business Feature

FACE VALUE

From hand-bottled products at the kitchen bench to global turnover of $20m in just 10 years, Narelle Chenery is the epitome of the epithet: “from little things, big things grow”.

Story by Jeni Bone

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I

t’s not often a business conceived in a Gold Coast kitchen wins effusive praise from a head of a global company. For Narelle Chenery, a mum of three from Nerang and co-founder of the Miessence range of skincare, cosmetics and household products, the glowing comments from the chief chemist from Aveda at the Sustainable Cosmetics conference in New York came as a pleasant surprise and reassured her that she is doing something right.

What began as one woman’s quest for pure, chemical-free products for herself and her family has grown to become the world’s first Certified

Organic Australian cosmetic, health and wellbeing company and multi-national eco-leader.

“10 years ago when we started, organic had nowhere near the buzz it does today,” says this pioneer of the concept.

Back in 1999, with a background in science, Narelle was perplexed that the skincare and cosmetics she was using were not as “natural” as they professed to be. Then there was the array of toxic chemicals she was using to keep her home clean.

“I was pregnant with my third child and worried about all the dangerous substances I was exposing myself to. I started making my own, experimenting with formulae on the kitchen bench.”

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Profile

Eager to share her discoveries, Narelle began giving her friends tubs of her concoctions for Christmas and Birthdays gifts, and they would always come back with requests for more.

“So many people have allergies and reactions to skincare brands, shampoos and other household products, or the products just don’t do what they promise. It became clear there was more than a small gap in the market for truly pure, organic products with integrity. Actually, it was more like a giant chasm!”

Narelle converted her passion for potions into a profession. “I thought, if I could do anything in the world, what would it be? And I decided to throw all I had into it and take it to the world.”

Teamed up with husband Colin, business activist Alf Orpen and John Hunter to form the ONEGroup – Organic and Natural Enterprise Group – Narelle drew on her knowledge from an Applied Science degree and delved into the challenges of producing a diverse organic range.

As Narelle recounts: “The main issues with organic are those of shelf life and emulsification. That’s why the big brands and most of those who label themselves ‘organic’, rely on preservatives, anti-bacterial agents, anti-oxidisers and antibiotics. I researched heavily and read anything I could fi nd. My background is maths and IT, so thorough research is my strength.”

After 18 months of research, Narelle revolutionised the beauty industry with the world’s fi rst certified organic skin care products, Miessence, launching in 2001.

“The response to the certified organic Miessence range was enormous.

Our sales grew by 2500% in the fi rst 18 months in Australia and ONEgroup quickly developed in other significant ways too.”

The creation of ONEgroup was the beginning of a grass roots education movement about organics, green and healthy alternatives. Now, dubbed “The Green Goddess”, Narelle travels the country and frequently overseas to spread her message of uncompromising passion for educating people on “green washing”.

“People need to understand that

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89% of the 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products have NOT been evaluated for safety,” she says.

“The average woman is exposed to more than 130 different chemicals every day. My aim is to help them learn to read labels so they know if a product is as pure as it claims to be.”

Miessence products were the fi rst certified organic cosmetics products in the world and are independently certified to international food grade standards by the world’s most respected organic certifying organisations, including Australian Certified Organic (ACO), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and IFOAM (Europe).

Miessence is sold in more than 60 countries and operates with 50 staff.

The business has reached an incredible annual turnover of nearly $20m. The model, which relies on online sales and distribution via selected health food stores and beauty therapists, was built on the fundamental values of “long-term sustainability and integrity with nature”.

Ten years on, Narelle’s inspiration is as strong. She has launched a range of baby products and is working on a certified organic range of fragrances, a nutritional range of whole food powders and freeze-dried foods, as well as a probiotic range of home products under the Mienviron brand – cleaning agents that actually increase the health of the home.

“I have plans for a recipe book too, so people can buy the basics and for a few cents, make their own. That will free them from the toxic cocktail of chemicals most people use in their homes.”

She is an energetic educator and activist for social and consumer change, speaking worldwide to business leaders, entrepreneurs, cosmetic industry professionals and government bodies.

Working from her semi-rural property at Worongary, Narelle keeps fit with Taekwondo and staying involved in the lives of her teen children and their friends. Tired is not a word in her vocabulary.

“I have so much still to achieve.

There’s a whole world of people out there to make healthy.” iyl

Q&A

More at www.miessence.com

HOW DID YOU FIND THE CAPITAL FOR YOUR VERY GOOD IDEA? We grew from cash flow.

I started small, really small. Think hand painted labels stuck on with sticky tape! Our first big break was a Federal Government Grant for $110,000 that we pledged to match dollar for dollar.

HOW DID YOU MANAGE YOUR GROWTH – DID YOU HAVE FINANCIAL ADVICE? We had accountants, who helped us make decisions as they arose.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU LEARNT ALONG THE WAY, THROUGH EXPERIENCES, GOOD AND BAD? Trust your gut instinct. Don’t believe everything you hear.

Value yourself. Don’t worry about your competitors, let them worry about you. Focus on what you do well, and find people to do the rest.

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY NOW THAT YOU’RE A LITTLE WISER AND THE BUSINESS IS 10 YEARS OLD? Not a thing! Everything up until now has been a perfect learning experience. It’s what we do in the present that counts towards our future. No use lamenting about the past.

ANY ADVICE FOR PEOPLE STARTING OUT WITH A GREAT BIG IDEA, NOT KNOWING WHERE TO TURN? Do your research. Know your market inside out.

Be the best. And act!

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Feature

Elka Whalan: from pool and podium to media, promotion and speaking circuit.

44

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Life after Sport

POST-SPORT PROFESSIONS Transitioning from the rigours of the sporting arena to the 9-to-5 grind takes patience, planning and investment in a reliable network of people – family, counsellors and financial advisers.

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W

omen’s magazines thrive on their hard luck stories – high profile sporting stars who reach their careers’ end and have nothing to show for their brief, brilliant years on the track, field, circuit or in the car or pool. Theirs are frequently tales of mismanaged funds, misplaced trust in those closest to them, a lack of planning or sudden departure from their chosen sport due to injury or calamity.

But there are many, many more positive tales of elite athletes who have moved in to stellar, satisfying, lucrative careers beyond their sports, with balanced, creative and contributing lives in which they are able to apply the lessons learnt from the trials and triumphs of their sporting incarnations.

Elka Graham was a household name and familiar face, dripping and elated with a smile that lit up the stands as she took to podia around the world, swimming for Australia. With 10 Australian and numerous Commonwealth records under her belt (or bathers!), Elka took home a medal from every international meet since the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, World Championships, Pan Pacific Games, Commonwealth Games, World Cup and the Athens Olympic Games.

In 2001 she recorded the fastest swim in the 200m Freestyle and took out the

coveted position of number one in the world. 2001 to 2004 saw her in the top 3 in the world for both the 200m and 400m freestyle. In 2003 she won gold in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m – a feat that no woman has ever achieved.

With her positive attitude and vibrant personality, Elka survived a month in hospital after she was diagnosed with a heart condition. Miraculously, she went on to World Championships in 2003 just a month later and came home a multiple medallist.

Then after 20 years of swimming, Elka retired after the 2006 Commonwealth Games at just 24 years of age.

Now Elka Whalan, she met fellow athlete, Aussie water polo champion Thomas Whalan, at the Athens Games, whom she married in 2008. They are the proud parents of baby Nevada, who surely must be blessed with some incredible, aquatic skills!

Elka says she always intended to have a career post-swimming.

“I planned to have a job that would come in to contact with lots of people. I love life and learning about people and hearing all their amazing stories, so media was the first choice. In my final years of swimming, and knowing I wanted to be involved in the media, I started working twice a week for Fox Sports and loved live TV. Now a sought-after speaker, commentator and writer, Elka is content, yet just as competitive as ever.

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Feature

Duncan Free still pursuing Olympic dreams, has been cultivating his post-sport path for several years.

“There is no comparison to swimming – it’s apples and oranges. I don’t miss competition because I’m still so competitive, I just find other ways to keep the fire burning. I still swim and love it and even when someone in the lane is keeping up with me I become totally switched on! My swimming career opened doors for me to create new and very successful partnerships.”

Unlike many athletes, solely focused on their sport and competing, Elka was determined to “have a life” during her sporting career.

“I have always loved writing. I love art and music. My interests were and are creative and the centre of it all is sport.

Being outdoors and exercising is my haven.”

At school, Elka was an achiever. “I have always been a ‘Think outside the box’ type. At school I liked history, personal development and health, Bible studies and of course sports. I never was the mathsscience girl!”

Fortunately, a large, close family including an uncle who is a Financial Planner, created an environment of stability and nurturing at every stage of Elka’s career.

“I am from a family of six and I have always turned to my parents for advice.

My uncle is a very successful Financial Planner so I regularly ask for his advice in all things financial.”

Elka is a firm believer in making the best use of the resources at hand, and in the case of elite athletes, there are plenty

46

Photo by Craig George at the Little Takas launch, October 2010.

AFTER 20 YEARS OF SWIMMING, ELKA RETIRED AFTER THE 2006 COMMONWEALTH GAMES AT JUST 24 YEARS OF AGE. available.

“In every sport there are avenues of advice and support. It’s up to each individual to pursue them and do their own research. Sport doesn’t last forever as it relies on your physical body. It just won’t last at an elite level your whole life so planning your money, career and finances is vital and sensible.”

Along with keeping up her daughter, Nevada, Elka says her days are filled with freelance media work, speeches, MC

roles and work for clients. “Every week is so different and flexible I love it.”

Despite not being in the public eye as much, she has secured a host of sponsors, leveraging her profile and media exposure. “I have wonderful sponsors and ambassadorships I’m humbled to be involved with. Swisse Vitamins has been with me since my swimming days and I’m now promoting their pregnancy range. I recently started working with Little Takas nappies, which launched in

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Life after Sport

Sydney last month. I love that they are a world first at over 90% biodegradable.

Park Hyatt and Vodafone are also long term partnerships.

“This year I have also been involved with a great program called projectABLE which is a project designed to promote careers in the disability care sector to secondary school students.”

Two decades in the pool, and the umpteen hours training, as well as those brief moment on the dais, have equipped Elka with mental strength and focus.

“I have learned to be myself and not try to please everyone, to learn to be gracious and humble. I have learned a race is just that and it doesn’t define who I am outside of the pool. Importantly I have learned to handle my finances.”

She admits she was “a free spender”, typical of most girls in their 20s, mostly on travel and trips away. And while she doesn’t regret too much, in retrospect, saving more would have been part of the plan.

“I should have sat down with my parents and really had a plan. I don’t have any regrets in my life – mistakes, sure – plenty of them! But if I were to do it all again, I may have saved more . . . although the memories of the many holidays I went on are well worth the money I spent!”

Herself a mum, Elka is older and wiser these days. Her advice to others, aspiring athletes and the rest of us is: “If you have passion, or can see yourself being a world class performer in whatever field it is,

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then pursue it. I always say ‘take the road less chosen’. Often the right thing to do is the hardest, but the rewards are truly amazing.”

Duncan Free is a veteran of four Olympic Games – Atlanta 1996 to Beijing in 2008, when he achieved Gold, and the pinnacle of his sporting career. Duncan is employed at Professional Investment Services, as an internal motivational speaker at events and for clients. He is also training for London 2012.

Rowing, his sport of choice, has a characteristic longevity to it, but can still result in its own array of back and joint injuries, forcing its proponents out of the arena.

As Duncan – a Gold Coaster born and bred – recounts, rowing was a family passion he got into at 12 years old. “I started rowing in 1985 at the club level and didn’t attend a rowing school until 1988 in Year 10. My rowing interests were further developed then, and each year after that as I matured as an athlete.”

While rowing is a popular event, its sporadic competitions in between Olympic Games, meant Duncan was aware he would need a back-up plan.

“I have always created opportunities to try to create a career pathway. Over the years in rowing I obtained a Bachelor of Sport Science degree at Griffith University, worked in the banking industry for eight years, tried my hand at professional rowing coaching and am now working in the Financial Planning Industry with Professional Investment

Services.”

Independent advice has played an important part of Duncan’s life. “My dad was always a great person to go to for advice in rowing as well as outside of rowing. Also for career development, I have met some great people along the way, some being business executives, that have guided me and assisted me in creating opportunities.”

Attitude too, has proven the crucial ingredient in Duncan’s preparation, training and edge over the competition.

“As well as a good attitude, sport has taught me how crucial it is to have the right people around you, the best way to deal with adversity, the fact you can always stretch yourself more than you think, and definitely persistence. It took me four Olympic Games to achieve my goal of winning a gold medal.”

After the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Duncan took a year off to spend time with his family - Danica 8, Zara, 5 and Luca 4 and his wife Belinda. It was also time for a mental and physical break, the opportune time to establish the next phase in his career and prepare for retirement after London 2012.

He is now enjoying getting back into rowing, feeling just as committed and competitive as ever.

“I have found that there are so many similarities between being successful in sport and success in business, or the workplace. I use many of the characteristic that I’ve learnt in sport every day at work and also help others

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Feature around me to understand them as well to try to better their productivity and enjoyment levels.

“Although rowing does take up a lot of time, I spend a large majority of time not training or competing in the office working and further developing my skills within PIS. As far as ambitions go, I’m going for gold again at the London Olympics while at the same time learning more about the financial planning industry.”

An exceptionally positive person, Duncan is adamant that a commitment to sport is not “a sacrifice”, but rather a choice.

“It’s a choice that gives you the opportunity to do some great things, meet some great people, learn a great deal about ourselves and allows us to achieve something that we may have dreamt of as a child, such as competing at an Olympic Games. “ Duncan’s advice to aspiring sportspeople and young people keen to row in his wake, is: “If you have the opportunity to do something like that in life, take it and run with it. Have no regrets along the way and make the right decisions.

“Also, have a balanced life, otherwise you won’t have the longevity and may never reach your potential.”

EXPERT OPINION

Dr Nathan Price, National Athlete Career and Education Program at the Australian Sports Commission says the

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unpredictable and “cut throat” nature of sport means it’s imperative athletes have a plan B, or at least a plan for post-sport.

“A promising sporting career can only be a knee or back injury away,” he explains.

“In professional sport in particular, many will sacrifice education in pursuit of lucrative contracts, possibly unaware of the realities of the occupation in which a relatively high number of players don’t make it.

“If these athletes for one reason or another are unsuccessful in their sporting pursuits they can be left a little directionless with no tangible entry into a new profession. Any lack of preparation can leave athletes vulnerable to the challenges of retirement. Athletes are very focussed and driven people and will often continue to require challenges post their sporting career. It is important to have goals outside sport that athletes can focus on when their sporting career is over.

“Planning for retirement can also reduce some of the anxiety that often is felt by players as they near the end of their career or have a serious injury.”

Dr Price advocates to elite athletes the importance of consulting advisers in various facets of their lives.

“It is important to have someone who can provide an independent point of view – someone a little removed from the ‘inner circle’ of the sport to provide unbiased guidance and support to the athlete.”

He says it’s also vital that athletes accommodate time to acquire “developmental tasks” they will require later in life. “There are people available to assist in this. For example, the Athlete Career and Education (ACE) Program in Australia has dedicated staff in each state and territory who assist around 3000 athletes each year. The ACE staff ensure they are provided with opportunities to achieve both their sporting and their career, educational and personal development goals, as well as prepare and assist athletes with transition through and from sport.”

While career longevity depends on each sport and each athlete’s fortunes, some sports such as rowing have multiple repeat Olympians with an older age profile, and Dr Price says there are examples in sailing, volleyball, equestrian, shooting and sailing.

“However, these are exceptions,” he adds.

“Typically three to four years would be the length for many of the professional high contact sports such as rugby union, rugby league and AFL. Of course many may have a 10 year career, but there are many more who will only play one or two seasons.”

De-selection or retirement can be very difficult times for elite athletes, Dr Price observes. “It not only involves leaving the elite level of sport they love, but often also the social support and social circle of team-members, and in some cases their

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

10 Life after Sport

Duncan credits a “fabulous family” with keeping him mindful of the future.

Top 10 Tips for Transition: 1

I HAVE MET SOME GREAT PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY, THAT HAVE GUIDED ME AND ASSISTED ME IN CREATING OPPORTUNITIES. income. Athletes may go through a range of emotions if their career is suddenly halted, some researchers have even likened it to a grieving process.

“Often retirement can be harder for those athletes who don’t feel they achieved what they wanted in their sport, or had to retire involuntarily, this is often due to the athlete being unprepared for the event. Athletes can feel like they have lost part of their identity. This is also why it is important that athletes have other interests in their lives outside of sport and are actively engaged in something meaningful and productive.”

Other athletes, often those who choose to leave, can embrace retirement and see it as a new chapter in their life and an opportunity to spend more time with family, or embark on a new challenge.

Athletes’ adaption to life after sport largely depends on the resources and planning they have undertaken to overcome any difficulties. Typically an athlete will require a new job/ profession after sport, they may feel they need to broaden their circle of friends, they will often search for things that will provide them with as much satisfaction and fulfilment as their sporting career did.

According to Dr Price, moving into the next phase of life/career involves athletes “having a focussed and structured plan”.

“Expand your identity – don’t define yourself just as an athlete.

Being involved in pursuits outside of sport such as education or employment is good for the transition and can actually assist in performance by providing athletes with a mental break from the sport. Try to have some balance in your life.”

Athletes should be aware of the transferable skills that they have acquired through sport that can be applied in other settings, such as time management, working under pressure, performance and goal orientated. iyl

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EMBRACE the transition phase, don’t fear it. Transition is a part of the elite athlete experience, a new chapter of your journey as an elite athlete.

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UTILISE and maximise every opportunity within your sport. Try to have few regrets, and be aware of the reasons you are making the transition.

3

PLAN to have other activities and goals outside of your sport. Not only will these enable you to develop other skills, they will complement your sport through personal development and confidence building, as well as giving you something to enjoy when you have low days.

4

PREPARE for transition by having a focused and structured plan. Think about things you have wanted to do, but have not had time for as an athlete.

5

ORGANISE your transition as a step-bystep process. Know how to complete each task, seek support when feeling unsure, and believe that you can do it.

6

BE PROACTIVE and conscious of the transition process. Apply your technique as an elite athlete into creating a successful and smooth transition. Commitment, discipline, dedication.

7

SEEK ADVICE and support from family and friends, and coaches and support staff within your sporting institution.

Talk with other athletes who have experienced the transition process, taking note of things they regret or should have prepared better for, and make this specific to your own goals and desires.

8

TAKE YOUR TIME to move through this transitional phase of your career. There is no definitive date it must be completed by, and every athlete experiences things differently. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, and move at your own pace.

9

KEEP IN CONTACT with team members and those you have spent most of your sporting career with. The fact that you are no longer competing at an elite level does not mean that friendships have to end.

Enjoy socialising without the pressure of sporting commitments.

10

KNOW where you want to go after sport. Be realistic about the future and be ready to experience change. Don’t be afraid to seek help, mentally or physically, during or after the transition phase.

ACE advisers are available at each state institute/ academy of sport.

Source: National ACE program, prepared by the Victorian Institute of Sport ACE program ausport.gov.au/ace

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Feature

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Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Inspiration

Mountains to

CLIMB Paul Hockey doesn’t believe in letting an amputation ruin his life. By Jeni Bone

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n Anzac Day 1963, just three weeks old, Paul was operated on to remove the lump in the humerus bone of his right arm.

“They found it was carcinoma and took my arm off,” he says, matter of fact. 47 years on, he says he has never known anything to compare with it, so in a way, feels lucky.

“It’s hardly a disability,” Paul says.

“I just get on with it.”

Getting on with it has included a lifetime of martial arts, motor bike riding and two attempts at scaling Everest – the second successfully summiting to make him the first disabled person ever to climb the north face of the infamous mountain.

Now a motivational speaker, Paul is in demand from corporates, schools, universities and other organisations for his “seize the day” philosophy, acquired from a lifetime of surmounting challenges and believing fear is the only barrier between a person and their greatest dreams.

“I always say the essence of motivational talk would only take 10 seconds,” he says with characteristic modesty. “Live in the moment, love and be loved, never, ever give up.”

He emphasises that he is not

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special, despite achievements that place him among a handful of human beings to scale the world’s highest peak. “It’s my job to remind people of truths that deep down they know. From my presentations, people walk away realising life is short. There’s no point having fear. You don’t want to end up in a nursing home with a long list of regrets.”

Saying that, Paul admits his wife and kids, and broader community of Cairns where he lives, all had opinions about his ambition to climb Everest.

“I copped a lot of criticism at the time,” he says of his 2005 attempt.

“There was a raging debate for weeks in the local newspaper.

People were ranting about my selfishness, at 42-years old with a family, what an egotistical idiot I was and that I should just get a real job.”

Many of the fears and observations were founded in fact. Since 1953 when mountaineers first took on the great mountain, 250 people have died on its frozen form. Paul himself saw the frigid remains of as many as 10 bodies on his climb, all left in the snow above 7,500m – aptly termed “the death zone” – ghastly reminders of the peril of Everest. “I was struggling to survive myself and knew what to expect. I was at peace with that.”

His first attempt at climbing Everest in 2004 was cut short 280m from the top, when he ran out of time and oxygen.

On the second attempt, Paul himself came close to death. “At that altitude, with no oxygen, your body shuts down. I was freezing, feeling drunk and dizzy, with a massive headache and diarrohea.”

It was blustery and bitterly cold, at -40°C. The final 850m to the summit is vertical in places, then there are three steps to the pinnacle.

“Experienced mountaineers had said it would be impossible to climb with one arm, but I did it.”

As Paul recounts: “We had left the summit day very late in the season – the 5th of June. People generally attempt Everest in mid-to-late-May when there’s a weather window.

When we reached the top, the sky was purple and dark, with snow and storm conditions obscuring our view. We stayed there for about half an hour. Then towards the end, for 10 minutes, the sky cleared and the sun broke through dazzling us. You’re so close to space. It’s dizzying!”

So delirious was Paul at that stage, he could scarcely comprehend the moment. “I had been planning to take a photo of one foot in Tibet and the other in Nepal, but by the time I got myself together and took out my camera, I had forgotten what I was

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Feature

As well as his three kids, those people willing him to succeed and with him in spirit included Paul’s step-father and mum, who had both passed away from cancer, his many friends, family and supporters, and a Canberra woman who on hearing of his venture, contacted Paul to ask him to scatter on Everest the ashes of her own Paul met his hero in November 2005, Sir Edmund Hillary (aged 86) and commented: “He is a pure parents, life-long gentleman, in the old school way, humble and modest.” mountaineers.

“She donated $5,000 to the cost of the climb, so I did it,” going to do. I was that disorientated.” explains Paul, as if referring to a quick Coming back down was the hardest, as run to the corner store. climbers must lean their right sides on Together with Sherpa Nima Tsering the mountain. Paul couldn’t use his right Sherpa, who Paul refers to as his side or hold an ice axe for balance. He brother, Paul entered the record books had to manage it through sheer fortitude and completed a feat only a few, and focus, all the while trying to detach extraordinary people can claim. himself from constant the physical Paul is living proof that all people are agony, chaotic, jumbled thoughts and the equal. “Anybody can do anything they ominous outlines of corpses in the snow. set their mind to,” he states emphatically.

While he was fastidious about protecting “I truly believe that. I was an ordinary the fingers on his left arm, travelling kid who was an armchair mountain with innumerable gloves, one thing he climber, reading books about Sir Edmund couldn’t protect was his lungs. Paul Hillary and other adventurers. But I suffered pulmonary oedema and after made it happen.” a triumphant ascent, had to spend the From the age of eight, Paul practised night at Camp 4, at 8,400m – right in the various forms of Chinese and Japanese death zone. “Even though people are not martial arts, eventually travelling to supposed to stay there – it usually is a Japan to hone his skills and become a death sentence – I had no choice. There teacher. He has three black belts in two was another climber there, and of course different disciplines of martial arts. my Sherpa climbing partner, Nima. I was Over the years, Paul lost many loved drowning in my own blood. It was a long ones to cancer, raising in him an acute night.” awareness of the value of funding to He managed his pain and concentrated progress research. on staying alive by harnessing the He decided to take his childhood passion techniques and thought processes for stories of derring-do and channel developed over 35 years of martial it to actual climbing, starting with arts. “I kept the mindset of prolonging mountaineering courses in New Zealand, life. I focused on breathing, repeatedly then the Andes in South America, coughing up the mucus and blood, climbing Mt Aconcagua, the highest clinging to the things that mattered to me, mountain in the Southern Hemisphere, that would help me stay alive.” before “getting stuck in to it” in 2004 His kids – Selina, Tia and Jack – were when his mum passed away. in his heart and mind, their initials on “I had always wanted to climb Everest an amulet around his neck – one of the before she died, but it didn’t happen,” talismans Paul had carried with him from he says, referring to the aborted climb Australia for the feat. “It was a case of and the impetus her passing added to the mind over matter,” he says. “I had a lot of second attempt. people wishing me on and wanting me to Once back down the mountain, Paul took return.”

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three months to recover, six months until he was capable of getting out and about, and a year to get “back to normal”.

“Climbing Everest strips you bare, psychologically and physically. I had frost bite on my face, I lost 21kg of muscle. I was so skinny, my bones were rubbing together. It trashed me.”

Paul still has dreams about his Everest encounters. “Sometimes they’re euphoric, blue skies and the peaks around me, other times I am gasping for breath and reliving every horrible moment and the pain.”

Was it worth it?

“I raised over $300,000 for various cancer charities and now raise funds through sharing my experiences, my wisdom such as it is, with people who can see that overwhelming challenges are not necessarily impossible. It was worth it.”

Would he do it again? “If a sponsor came onboard to make it worth my while, I would find it hard to refuse. They say it’s harder climbing K2 from Pakistan. There’s a much higher death rate. I would probably need 18 months training . . .” iyl To contact Paul for speaking or to donate funds email: paulhockey@hotmail.com

WORDS IN ACTION

Malcolm Hills, Branch Development Manager from Professional Investment Service s Townsville has heard Paul Hockey speak on a few occasio ns and has contracted Paul for a Financial Planning Association event in Cairns in December.

He says Paul is “a beacon” for all people. “He is resilient, positive , doesn’t give up and is motivat ed by all the right reasons.

“When I hear him speak, I am reminded that this man has the vision, the ability to set goals and make his dreams a reality – so what’s my excuse,” explain s Malcolm. “There are barriers to getting things done – excuses that we are all guilty of. When you listen to Paul he connects because he embodies the fact tha t you need a plan, sound advice and good people around you in order to grasp your dreams and execute them.”

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

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Home&Property

Of course I am I hear you cry!

Are you sure? Because if you are not, I will know, agents will know and I am afraid, buyers will too. with Andrew Winter

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Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Real Estate

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f your motivation is not sincere and you are not truly committed to selling your home, you either will not sell until you do get serious, or worse, you could sell for less than your home’s full potential value.

You ‘unserious sellers’ actually do more harm to our housing market, in many areas, than you may realise!

HERE ARE SOME TYPICAL SIGNS OF SELLERS NOT PREPARED ‘TO GET WITH THE PROGRAM’ ASKING PRICES, or value expectations, that really have no relevance to other similar homes for sale, or sold in your area.

A HOME HAS been listed for months and months, maybe years and still no sale. Offers possibly, but not a sale!

ZERO EFFORT HAS been given to preparing the home for the market.

ABSOLUTELY NONE, or at a push, minimal $$s have been spent on general promotion or advertising.

A SELLER WHO BELIEVES buyers will have to work around them for inspections, opens, even negotiations and will basically eventually succumb to the home’s numerous, seller only, perceived charms.

So why do unmotivated vendors adversely affect the market in such a dramatic way? In simple terms, it just adds stock to the housing market. By adding excess supply, a buyer may get an incorrect impression of your area’s housing market.

Over a brief research period, they may find many homes that meet their criteria.

Now that does not sound bad, however what that does is give the impression of plenty of choice. For sellers this is a massive negative! The more homes for sale, the more detrimental the effect on a home’s potential sale value.

Buyers will feel they have time to search and no urgency is required, buyers will feel they can play hard ball when it comes to negotiations – all traits that tend to push house sale volumes down and prices too!

No buyers rush to buy or pay top dollar when half the suburb is for sale; even if half that stock is being marketed by the ‘unserious crowd’. I am sure you have heard of people who say, or worse still, have said yourself to an agent that you would just like to ‘test the market’? Well please don’t!

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Just get serious or don’t bother!

Imagine you are a buyer, keen to secure your next home. How frustrating are overpriced properties, vendors who simply refuse to negotiate, poorly presented homes with a well presented price tag and those listings you just cannot get access to?

What makes people really want to sell?

Maybe for the work move, or upsizing, downsizing, wanting to release equity, the lifestyle change, found your new dream home, whatever the reason ensure you really do want to achieve that goal and what is the time parameter?

Serious Sellers are evident in many ways and genuine buyers love them! Get serious but NOT desperate. Buyers adore the desperate/forced sale scenario, so do not put yourself in that very vulnerable position as you are very unlikely to get a top price in those circumstances.

So beware. It can be a fine line.

SIGNS OF A SELLER THAT IS SERIOUS AND READY TO GO A VENDOR that is educated about a realistic achievable value for their home, always taking into account that price expectations can change in a positive and negative way, even during a short marketing campaign.

A SELLER THAT has made sure their home looks its very best and ready for inspections. This does not mean it has to be ‘a little bit fancy’, clean, tidy and not cluttered is a good start.

VENDORS THAT will consider offers good and bad; whilst continually keeping up to date with sales activity in their area.

SELLERS THAT LISTEN to quantified agent’s advice and are not scared to invest in advertising and promotion.

SERIOUS SELLERS UNDERSTAND that their home is just another home ‘for sale’ and that buyers have to be wooed and accommodated with all the peculiarities and annoyances that go with that.

What I always found confusing, as a Real Estate agent for nearly 25 years myself, was the genuine misconception sellers had of their own desire and motivation to sell.

The claim was ‘we want to sell’, but then all sorts of ‘subject to’ options would be added - it could be subject to this and subject to that, very frequently only if a seller could get ‘his price’ or if he or she could secure that particular home,

at of course a heavily discounted price!

Unless the housing market at that time in that suburb was literally on a roll – boom, boom, boom, the chance of getting a sale would be slim to none and this is was mainly due to the fact that buyers will soon spot the non serious seller and just move on.

In many circumstances the non serious vendor becomes the serious one; but that too can bring on problems. By then that ‘top offer’ may not reoccur, more homes like yours may have come on to the market. Your home then can be branded as the one that has been on the market for ages, which always draws buyers who want a real bargain.

I am the first one to tell buyers and sellers to beware of sweeping generalisations when it comes to the housing market, but this ‘get serious’ rule aids any housing market for sellers. In a rare case where markets conditions are so seller focused, stock levels are low and demand for your home type is so high, you may just get away with it, but how often does that happen?

So testing the market or ignoring the rules could work, but in maybe no more than 5% of all housing transactions each year, so the odds are not great.

I will end on a few final points: unserious sellers are quite prevalent in areas and regions where supply can be already be a little excessive and can tip the balance of a fragile housing market just by adding to those stock levels.

When you as a seller do not want to accept the market conditions, just note how you could impact the market.

Remember one day that could be you.

Imagine you are a buyer and you inspect a home, not just any home, but the home of your dreams, but the seller is not one of those serious types. How disappointed and annoyed will you be when you find you are unable to purchase that home for whatever barrier the seller is putting up?

You will not be happy will you? iyl

Andrew Winter is best known as host and residential property expert for the award-winning series Selling Houses Australia, exclusive to The LifeStyle Channel. He is also author of the ‘No Nonsense Guide to Buying and Selling Property’. www.andrewwinter.com.au

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At Home > Interiors

CLEARING THE CLUTTER Aussie expat, Peter Walsh has made a name for himself as the consummate declutterer. Here he speaks with IYL about how to combat the financial lie of craving more and more stuff, and how to beat the allure of “more stuff”.

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ant to know how we, the Western World, managed to arrive in our present financial pickle? An addiction to the credit we need to buy stuff.

Not just plasma TVs, but the gamut of clothing, household goods, gear, gizmos and gimmicks. All guff. And it’s filling our lives, our homes, sheds and storage units at the expense of our relationships, motivation and sanity.

Oprah’s de-cluttering expert, Peter

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Walsh is an unassuming Aussie originally from Melbourne who has made organizational change his vocation. Armed with a degree in Psychology and a background in education and training with organizations like the Drug Foundation and Heart Foundation, Peter has called LA home since 1994, when he relocated to become a “professional organizer”.

After a stint of several years on radio in LA, he was whisked up in Oprah’s orbit and has helped thousands of Americans declutter their homes and their lives,

most recently via his own program on The Lifestyle Channel, “Clean Sweep.

Now, in the rarefied environment of the US, some would say the epicentre of consumer addiction, Peter counsels all manner of people on clearing the clutter.

With a disarming, characteristically Australian blend of “telling it like it is”, Peter is evangelical in his approach.

“We are in danger of overwhelming our lives with clutter,” he explains.

“Clutter – whether that’s in your home or in your mind – causes you to lose focus on your goals and stops you from being the person you want to be. It’s a burden.”

The Western obsession with buying things in place of values and virtues is creating barriers to our ability to direct energy in to the things that really matter – people, nurturing our families, partners and ourselves.

Marketers will be very pleased that

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Clearing the Clutter

After a stint of several years on radio in LA, he was whisked up in Oprah’s orbit and has helped thousands of Americans declutter their homes and their lives

their alluring brand promises cut through the estimated 3000 advertising messages that assault us each day, creating a purchasing frenzy.

“When we invest in the promise, rather than the product, we end up with clutter. We are increasingly defining ourselves by our possessions. ‘More is better’ is the accepted attitude. But when we focus on stuff as our primary relationship, we lose our sense of self, balance and calm.”

The main excuse to beginning the process of decluttering – whether that’s an office space or your entire life – is “No time”, says Peter.

“It’s all in our minds,” he begins. “Just like your home, your head is filled with clutter that interferes with how you live your life. Things – physical and emotional – get in the way of finding clarity and achieving your goals.

“Grocery shopping gets in the way. Bill paying gets in the way. Anger, greed, envy and a host of other emotions get in the way. All the unfulfilled promises that accompany ‘the stuff’ and that clog the arteries of your home also clog the arteries of your mind and body.

Clutter, whether it’s in your home or in your mind, causes you to lose motivation, focus, open space, clarity, a place where you can relax and be nurtured.”

His 2009 book, “Enough Already”, Peter urges us to examine six key areas of your life: family, relationships, work, health, money and spirituality,

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At Home > Interiors and shows us how all these parts are connected so that if one is cluttered, the clutter will creep into other areas, throwing your life off balance.

they can reframe how they view what they own, what they can afford and how to prioritize what matters most for them and their families.

“For example, people often say they’re overwhelmed at work but how much time do they spend chatting, or surfing the net or paying bills? How much time do people actually spend working?” says Peter.

“Happiness can come from less. This book is not about being financially strapped; it’s a book about going beyond finding your happiness and self-definition in what you can acquire and own to identifying who you are and what gives you meaning in life.

This is a book for each of us who want to embrace the idea that happiness can come with less, anyone who wants to remove the excess of stuff and get back to a simpler, richer way of life.” iyl

“Now imagine that you stay back at work to catch-up and you still leave the office with 10 things on your to-do list. How do you think that impacts your personal life when you get home?

You’re hungry but you’re too tired to cook so you order take-away. You don’t feel like you did a good job at work so you feel down and dull the feeling by watching TV and not talking to your family or partner,” says Peter.

The main excuse to beginning the process of decluttering – whether that’s an office space or your entire life – is “No time”, says Peter.

“Even if just one part of your life is cluttered it’s stopping you from being the best person you can be. And having the life you want to live.”

Next on his publishing agenda is the tome “Lighten Up”, which continues the theme of ridding our lives of the burdens of clutter, but this time, how to combat the emotions of craving stuff.

“It’s basically a roadmap for all those struggling with the lingering desire for too much stuff, on the one hand, and too little resources on the other which leads to a life that is essentially a financial and emotional lie,” says Peter with his characteristic precision.

The book shines a harsh light on the culture of over-consumption and mindless acquisition. Peter asks readers to take three audits: a life audit (your overall goals and how close you are to them), a home audit (what do you own and what is it costing you), and a financial audit (how honest are you about what you make, what you own, and what you owe) These audits and Peter’s step by step direction are aimed at helping people clearly see how to clear up their financial clutter (and any emotional baggage that goes with it) so

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Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Which Craft?

MadeIt

There’s a quirky, cosy, caring movement going on in the kitchens, spare rooms and crafting bees around the country. Bec Davies, founder of Madeit.com.au explains how the Net has had a hand in breathing life back into hand-made.

WHAT’S YOUR BACKGROUND? After High School I studied photography, worked in the industry for a couple of years, travelled overseas and returned and studied Design at university.

I mainly worked for small companies in Sydney before starting madeit.com.au. I’m a 30-something handmade lover!

I love going to the markets, I’m addicted to the internet. I love to create, bake and garden.

HOW DO YOU PROMOTE IT? Madeit is advertised in a number of mainstream magazines and we do our own promoting to buyers/sellers through weekly newsletters, blog post and twitter and Facebook updates. We have also formed partnerships with a number of handmade markets around Australia and our cards are handed out at these markets.

We also encourage our sellers to promote themselves and the site through blogs and social media.

WHAT GAVE YOU THE IDEA FOR A SITE?

HOW DOES IT WORK AS A VENDOR?

I was selling T-shirts at Glebe Markets while at university and thought it would be great to sell handmade items 24/7 to anyone in Australia. I have always been interested in all things handmade and independent. I love buying unique, small run, handmade goodies. I wanted a place on the internet where all these things were in one place.

The website started as a directory in 2006 and we evolved into an online store in mid 2007.

The seller is responsible for uploading items and communication with the buyer as well as shipping the goods. There is a one off listing fee of 35c and if the item sells there will be a 4.5% sales commission charges. We also have a range of advertising options for the sellers to choose.

HOW DID YOU GET CAPITAL TO START IT? Personal savings got us started and the business has funded changes and upgrades.

WHAT KINDS OF PRODUCTS ARE SOLD ON MADEIT? Anything that is handmade, they include Clothing, Homewares, Baby and Children, Art, Stationery, Jewellery and much much more!

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT RUNNING MADEIT?

businesses and seeing sellers make their first sale. I also love that there is a group of people who have a common interest yet they reside in different corners of Australia and come together as one big handmade family. Getting feedback from our buyers and sellers is also very satisfying.

WHY SHOULD PEOPLE POP ON AND TAKE A LOOK – WHAT’S THE APPEAL OF HOME-MADE? Everyone is creative in one way or another and I feel this is why more and more people are buying handmade. Buyers love that there is a story behind the item. Most often, the item is made on the lounge room table or the spare bedroom and the buyer can really connect with the sellers whether they are a stay at home mum or an after-hours crafter.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOUR BUSINESS? We have also recently just opened a sister site for craft supplies called craftumi (pronounced craft-u-mee) www.craftumi.com. au and there are a lot of more ideas in the pipeline to connect the Australian craft community.

Watching sellers grow their

DID YOU GET FINANCIAL ADVICE FOR YOUR BUSINESS? No not really, there was already another overseas site doing a similar website so they set the benchmark of what we could charge. w w w.imagineyourlifetsyle.com.au

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At Home > Cuisine

In Season mmmmmmm MANGOES

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ndigenous to India, the mango has been adopted by Aussies as a summer staple. Mangoes are one of the most versatile fruits on the market; delicious as a healthy snack on their own, a perfect addition to your favourite chicken and prawn dishes, light summer salads, cocktails and smoothies and sweet desserts.

High in energy, low in fat, mangoes are a great source of calcium and vitamins essential for good health. A 200g serve of ripe mango (the equivalent of less than one mango) provides you with up to three times your recommended daily intake of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Vitamin C, an antioxidant important in protecting the body from infection, is required in the formation of collagen, a protein that gives structure to bones, cartilage, muscle and blood vessels.

MANGO ICE CREAM This simple recipe will have kids and kids at heart clamouring for more!

Ingredients 2 cups (500ml) mango puree (3 large mangoes) ½ cup (125ml) thickened cream 1½ cups (375ml) packaged custard ¼ cup (60ml) lemon juice ½ cup (80g) icing sugar 62

Vitamin C also aids the absorption of iron, necessary for transporting oxygen from the lungs to cells all around the body.

And the good news doesn’t end there. Mangoes also provide more beta-carotene than any other fruit and are a rich source of fibre and potassium. Beta-carotene is a powerful anti-oxidant that can help protect the body against disease and also fight the signs of ageing by assisting with the growth and repair of cells, tissues and skin.

Nutrition is just a bonus. The real virtue is the mango’s delicious, succulent and aromatic flesh. Gobble to your heart’s content! iyl

Method 1. Pour combined ingredients into an ice-cream maker.

Churn according to manufacturer’s directions.

Or, if you don’t own one of these marvels, just pour combined ingredients into a loaf pan, cover with foil and freeze until a 2cm rim has formed around the edge.

2. Then, transfer to a chilled bowl and beat with an electric mixer until all ice particles have broken up.

Return to pan and continue to freeze until almost firm.

3. Then break up into pieces and beat once more. Pour mixture into a loaf pan, cover with foil and freeze until firm.

MARKET NEWS What’s delectable from the providores and gourmet specialty stores.

Black Pearl for Christmas

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his Christmas at Brisbane’s Black Pearl Epicure, you can find something for every member of the family and even your fussiest friends! Along with an array of festive product lines unique to Black Pearl, you will find Saksia Beer’s ‘Black Pig’ Christmas hams – made from the free-ranged black skinned, Berkshire pigs, with three different hams to choose from, Tetsuya Wakuda’s own brand Soft Smoked Ocean Trout and 40 year old La Vecchia Balsamic Vinegar. There’s the clever Glide Gourmet Pate/Butter Knife, designed by a jeweller, Anita Dineen. Extremely lightweight, this perfect companion to pate, dip or butter is balanced and refined for ease and aesthetics.

RRP $24.95 www.anitadineen.com.au Stock up with gourmet goodies with one or many of Black Pearl’s new range of gift hampers incorporating delectable delicacies themed Italian, Spanish, Moroccan, ‘Only the Best’, Truffle or Caviar. Get in early for 2011 Cooking School! www.blackpearl.com.au

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

At Home > Cuisine

bounties of

LaBourgogne Aussie chefs share the secrets of French home-style cuisine, in Burgundy. For cooking enthusiasts with a penchant for French cuisine and a drop of Pinot Noir or Chardonnay, Tastes of Burgundy is the perfect experience.

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osted by Aussie chefs, Manu Feildel, Christine Manfield and Annie Smithers, starting in May 2011, Tastes of Burgundy will be running cooking schools from that iconic gourmet region of eastern France, La Bourgogne (Burgundy).

Home to such world-renowned and typically Burgundian dishes as coq au

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vin, beef bourguignon and Époisses de Bourgogne cheese, Burgundy is a gourmand’s dream come true. Now Australians have the chance to enroll in a one-week cooking school hosted by one of the three Aussie icon chefs.

These three high profile foodies have signed up to teach two one-week schools each in May, June and July 2011. Each week will include three “cooking days”, involving market visits, menu design, afternoon cooking class and culminating in dinner that evening.

The non-cooking days will be packed full of trips and experiences including barrel tastings, visits to local artisan farms, restaurant meals ranging from small bistro to Michelin star, cultural visits, wine tasting and vineyard visits with a farewell degustation dinner at the famous Three Michelin Star restaurant, Lameloise in Chagny.

The week is all inclusive from being collected in Le Creusot, seven nights accommodation in a beautiful chateau, cooking classes, cultural visits, transport during the week, all meals, wine, spirits, champagne and the return transfer to Le Creusot for onward travel.

Participants must make their own travel arrangements to and from Le Creusot (which is serviced from Paris by the TGV high speed train). iyl www.tastesofburgundy.com Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Fare Go

Who says the roast is required for Christmas cuisine? Make it an Aussie flavoured festive season. Keep it cool, chic and simple and focus on the peace and goodwill, rather than slaving over the stove. Lizzie Loel shares her tips for your best and lowest fuss Yuletide yet!

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h Christmas....T’is the season to be jolly fa la la la la lul la la la. Or is it the season to be jolly stressed and more than just a little bit la la? Chances are if you have a seat reserved at a favourite relative’s lunch table and all you have to do is wrap the gifts and show up then you fall into the first category.

If you are that kindly, generous soul who is hosting the big bash then option two is very possibly where you fall. Being the family cook, I have had my share of option two Christmases and boy, did I used to make life complicated.

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I’d start with a special breakfast of prosciutto and washed rind cheese croissants for after church which, of course, didn’t suit the kids of which there were plenty. So that meant making a second option and serving it, all before turning a tonne of turkey into lunch.

My mother has made potato salad and melon balls every Christmas since I was born. Why? You’d have to ask her but it has become an institution and we all look forward to both of these incongruous dishes (never served together!). I mean it’s not like you eat melon balls every day.

Every time I think of Christmas I immediately flash back to 2000 when my boys were 9, 9 and 8 years old and the whole family arrived after a 7am Church service for the day. By 9am it was 36 degrees but in the kitchen where both my ovens were blazing it was a sauna.

Hot baked ham, roasted turkey followed seafood and it wasn’t until my father, 65

At Home > Cuisine mildly Alzheimic and not a little bit baffled about the Chrissie chaos surrounding him, commented that I looked 70 as I pulled my head out of the oven after checking on the bird.

Why do we do this to ourselves? I definitely felt 70 that day, and for several days after. So we simplified. On any other given day in our subtropically sticky summers would we seriously gather all our nearest and dearest to the table in the hottest part of the day and feed them baked vegetables, roasted meats and steamed-stuffed poultry?

HERE ARE MY TOP TIPS FOR A PAINLESS AND HOPEFULLY ENJOYABLE DAY ON THE 25TH • GO COLD or room temperature – skip the hot veges and go for chilled options like poached asparagus, antipasto and big, colourful salads.

• IF YOU are going to do anything hot, make it one or two of the meat dishes like ham which can be baked early in the morning and stored in an esky to stay warm. This also makes it incredibly tender and juicy.

• COUNT THE number of dishes you have planned and self assess for overzealousness. Do you really want a fridge full of takeaway containers half filled with yesterday’s heroes to contend with on Boxing Day? • IF SOMEONE offers to help, accept immediately – delegation is a magic word at Christmas.

• PLAY TO your strengths – if you are a wonderful sweet cook, go for the big dessert buffet finale that can largely be prepared in advance. If not, buy dessert in or farm it out to the family sweet tooth.

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asked a couple of top chefs what they ate on Christmas with their families. Most chefs have been working crazy hours throughout November and December with all the extra entertaining going on in restaurants so how do they enjoy their day with the family without making it seem like just another day at the oven?

Spanish-born chef Pablo Tordesillas from The Courier Mail Restaurant of the Year, Ortiga tells me that traditionally food is a massive part of family life in Spain. During Christmas, this becomes almost obsessively so. “A huge trip to the local market precedes everything.

Chicken carcasses, fresh crustaceans from Barcelona, deep water fish from the waters around San Sebastián and lamb from the basque regions would land on my mother’s kitchen table to become Christmas lunch overnight,” says Tordesillas. “Chicken consommé with sherry, jamon with crusty bread, Langoustines served simply with alioli, roast

• THE DEVIL is in the detail. Many small jobs like peeling garlic, chopping onions, making bread crumbs and making salad dressing, can be done a day ahead as long as you seal them well in airtight containers. Work through your job list and get as much done as possible before the big guy comes down the chimney.

• IF YOU are the family food fairy, be sure to appoint helpers, carriers, cleaner-uppers and even shoppers etc.

No one loves a martyr on Christmas Day. • IF ALL of the above has your head swimming then make this: a reservation. It’s an easy solution to feeding a crowd but you’d better get cracking. If not, read on.

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Recipe

suckling lamb with potatoes and whole baked turbot or grouper with lemon.”

And if you lived through that, then there was the onslaught of traditional Spanish sweets of turron, polvorones, mazapán.

“This however does not translate to a 38 degree Brisbane Christmas day. Here, we have learnt from the locals and basically stick to Queensland’s two essential cooking methods - BBQ and salad. We start with a Salpicon (a marinated and diced dish) of mussels and a Salad of fresh Mooloolaba prawns with granny smith apple, cucumber, watercress and yoghurt. Char-grilled quails with figs, hazelnuts and rocket and Spanish sweets from Pennisi Foods in Brisbane’s Woolloongabba.

Young gun and head chef of the uberpopular Jellyfish, a CBD fish specialty restaurant and second venue to carnivorous cousin, Cha Cha Char, Rhett Willis also favours prawns. Christmas for him means time spent with family and friends, plenty to eat and drink and lots of laughter. “As part of a family with some Italian heritage the annual discussion about the menu for Christmas lunch is almost as enjoyable as the meal

itself. I love of fresh, seasonal produce and seafood adds interesting elements each year to the traditional turkey and trimmings,” says Willis. “For as long as I can remember our family Christmas table has enjoyed the company of a ‘ring in’, someone who is at loose ends during the festive season. It’s always very last minute, a chair squeezed into the corner of the table, a paper hat pressed onto their head and a plate piled high.”

Willis says he occasionally purloins an apprentice who is away from his family to join the celebration. “An extra pair of skilled hands when it comes to preparing several kilos of fresh prawns on Christmas morning can be a very nice gift!”

And at my table? Freshly shucked oysters, bugs with anchovy butter, Spatchcock grilled with sage, chilli and lemon, vegies done antipasto style and whole sides of salmon poached in a traditional Norwegian style (see recipe below) will make the menu. And Grandma Paula’s potato salad and melon balls of course! Merry Christmas and Bon Appétit! iyl

NORWEGIAN MARINATED SALMON Ingredients One whole side of salmon, skinned and pin-boned 1 cup olive oil 3 cloves garlic finely crushed Zest of a small orange Juice of a small orange 1 cup dill leaves Salt and pepper Method Place garlic, juice, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix. Using a whisk, gradually pour in the oil until mixture is emulsified.

Add zest and dill and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Pour over salmon and rub over both sides. Place in an air tight container (not metal) for at least 5 hours (or overnight).

When ready to serve, pre heat the oven to 160 degrees C. Place salmon in a non stick baking pan and cover with foil.

Reserve any excess marinade.

Cook for aprox 20 to 30 minutes or until salmon is paler on the outside and still pink inside. Rest in a warm spot for 10 minutes before serving.

For the sauce, place marinade ingredients into a blender or magimix and blend until it thickens. Adjust seasoning to taste. You can add more oil/ juice etc if there isn’t enough marinade left.

Note: don’t use processed/bottled juice as the acid levels are different.

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At Home > Cuisine

B R AV O B E E R A funny thing has happened to beer.

The amber ale has been elevated above the slam-it-down-ice-cold-on-ahot-summer’s-day. Now, it’s art.

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By Jeni Bone ritics are swilling it, comparing it, scoring it.

Somewhere between catchy jingles about blokes in utes crackin’ a coldie and clever operatic and cinematographic masterpieces revering its foamy refreshment, beer has come over all posh. The world’s third most popular drink after water and tea, beer is also the oldest alcoholic beverage. Neolithic remnants exist 9000 years before Christ, and the Ancient Mesopotamians and Egyptians penned hymns to the product of their fermentation of barley, wheat and maize.

Commonly known as the working man’s preference, beer has undergone an extreme makeover, with modern day scribes rhapsodising over the varieties of ales, stouts, pales and browns.

A 300-page tome was released in time for Father’s Day this year, The Beer Lover’s Guide to Australia, a tribute to our beer culture (with a capital C) and its proponents new and old.

Did you know we have over 150 different Australian beer brands with an average of around three types in each? According to the publisher, Scribal Publishing, The Beer Lovers Guide to Australia is “a snapshot of the Australian beer industry, showcasing those beer brands plus over 100 Breweries and 100 Specialist Beer Venues”.

It traces our fascination with its strains from the Porter and sly grog that sustained a Colony when the first fleet dropped anchor in Botany Bay in 1788 to the current “renaissance of beer appreciation in the 68

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Beverages

mainstream Australian culture”.

It is written by experts, beer connoisseurs and epicureans, among them Dr Peter Aldred, Andrew Perry, Paul Mercurio and Laurie Strachan.

The Location Guide lists Australia’s most passionate beer venues state by state, which it says makes this book “the perfect way to plan your next beer adventure”.

Apparently, beer has evolved to the point that it’s worth planning an Odyssey around. And, if the hype and accolades

brewing technique more commonly used for wine.

Just 7,000 bottles were released, each individually numbered, hand-waxed and sealed in its own presentation case. The 2010 release incorporates trademark qualities such as the fresh Galaxy hops and distinctive crystal malt of the previous two vintages, however, unique to the latest release is the careful blending of a small portion of the 2009 Reserve brew, which has been aged in French oak barrels for 12 months.

According to Crown Ambassador Reserve Master Brewer, John Cozens blending the two vintages, a technique typically reserved for wine and champagne, will deliver a level of complexity in the beer similar to that of oaked wines.

Cozens waxed lyrical at its launch: “We’re thrilled with the third vintage of Crown Ambassador Reserve. Again, the signature Galaxy hop character is really dominant on the nose and notes of Christmas cake evident on the palate. However, the addition of the 2009 Reserve portion has certainly

Apparently, beer has evolved to the point that it’s worth planning an Odyssey around. surrounding Crown Ambassador Reserve Lager are anything to go by, there’s as much history, expertise and jargon poured in to every drop as the wine industry has capitalised on for decades.

In August, the third vintage of Crown Ambassador Reserve Lager was released to the adulation typically reserved for fancy brews aimed at connoisseurs or clubbers. This version of Crown is a limited edition lager created using a rare w w w.imagineyourlifetsyle.com.au

added interesting oak flavours to the brew, making it a completely unique proposition and an exceptional beer to savour or cellar.”

Convinced? Then get in smartly.

At $89.99 per 750 ml bottle it’s an investment that comes complete with bragging rights, but the new generation of beer gardens might just have snapped them up by now! iyl NSW LOCATION GUIDE

LOCATION GUIDE

NSW

SPECIALIST BEER VENUES NEW SOUTH WALES LISTED BY POSTCODES

2010/11 NEW SOUTH WALES - EVENTS The 6th Annual Beer Festival The Australian Heritage Hotel 16-17 October 2010

The 5th Annual Beer Festival in 2009 saw in some of Australia’s best microbrews all the one place – The iconic Australian Hotel.

Over 20 Aussie Brewers from all around the country came to showcase their beers over two fun filled days. Day one saw 7,500 people come through the entrance – beer connoisseurs, beer curious and beer lovers alike tried and tasted over 130 different Australian Brews. www.australianheritagehotel.com Brewer’s Market Festival Paddy’s Brewery October 2010 Oktoberfest German-Austrian Society Fairfield Showground October 2010

Bitter & Twisted Beer Festival Maitland Gaol Hunter Valley 6-7 November 2010

Beer Festival Australia Entertainment Quarter 2 April 2011

The 2009 Bitter and Twisted International Share a pint with 10,000 beer fans in the Boutique Beer Festival proved to be a great sun this summer. There’ll be dozens of AUSTRALIAN BEER BRANDS Attracting around 4,000 people success. different beers on offer as well as wine, over the weekend, not even the heavens champagne and spirits too. The drinks will opening could dampen the spirits of beer a be complemented by gourmet food and lovers and festival punters. Highlights great line-up of entertainment to enjoy. included Mark’s Home Brew stall which For more information visit: gave local home brewers a chance to put www.beerfestivalaustralia.com.au their brews up against the professionals. www.bitterandtwisted.com.au

Newcastle Beer Fest Sunday October 10, 2010 from 10am - 5pm This is the inaugural Newcastle beer fest, the and will take place at the termination of be Crowne2Crowne bicycle charity event and a feature in the Honeysuckle Creed Maritime

Stella Artois Draught Master Kit & Kaboodle Kings Cross September 9, 2010 Awards Spring Sydney Royal Fine Food Show 1-10 September 2010 www.sydneyroyalshows.com.au

Australian Heritage Hotel 100 Cumberland St The Rocks NSW 2000 Ph: (02) 9247 2229 Bar

Lord Nelson Brewery 19 Kent St The Rocks NSW 2000 Ph: (02) 9251 4044 Brewery

Local Taphouse 122 Flinders St Darlinghurst NSW 2010 Ph: (02) 9360 0088 Bar

La Boheme Restaurant 332 Darling St Balmain NSW 2041 Ph: (02) 9810 0829 Restaurant

Bavarian Bier Cafe - O’Connell 16 O’Connell St Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: (02) 9221 0100 Bar

Lowenbrau Keller Corner of Playfair & Argyle Sts The Rocks NSW 2000 Ph: (02) 9247 7785 Bar

Doma Bohemian Beer Cafe 29 Orwell Street Potts Point NSW 2011 Ph: (02) 9331 0022 Bar

St Peters Brewery 15 May St St. Peters NSW 2044 Ph: (02) 9519 0191 Brewery

Bavarian Bier Cafe - York 24 York St Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: (02) 8297 4111 Bar

Pumphouse Bar 17 Little Pier St Darling Harbour NSW 2000 Ph: (02) 8217 4100 Bar

Prague Beer Restaurant 42 Kellett St Potts Point NSW 2011 Ph: (02) 9368 0898 Restaurant

Malt Shovel Brewery 99 Pyrmont Bridge Rd Camperdown NSW 2050 Ph: (02) 8594 0200 Brewery

Belgian Beer Cafe - Heritage 135 Harrington St The Rocks NSW 2000 Ph: (02) 9241 1775 Bar

Redoak Boutique Beer Café 201 Clarence St Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: (02) 9262 3303 Brewery

Bavarian Bier Cafe - E.Q. 212 Bent St Moore Park NSW 2021 Ph: (02) 9361 3833 Bar

Belgian Beer Cafe - Epoque 429 Miller St Cammeray NSW 2062 Ph: (02) 9954 3811 Bar

Harts Pub Cnr Essex & Gloucester Sts The Rocks NSW 2000 Ph: (02) 9817 5454 Bar

Royal George, The 330 George St Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: (02) 9240 3000 Bar

Bavarian Bier Cafe - Bondi 108 Campbell Pde Bondi Beach NSW 2026 Ph: (02) 8988 5935 Bar

Bazaar Beer Cafe 1 Albany St St Leonards NSW 2065 Ph: (02) 9438 1999 Bar

Jacksons on George 176 George St Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: (02) 9247 2727 Bar

Schwartz Brewery 42 Wentworth Ave Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: (02) 8262 8844 Brewery

Oceans Bar Cnr Arden & Carr St Coogee NSW 2034 Ph: (02) 9315 9178 Bar

James Squire Brewhouse 22 The Promenade, King St Wharf Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: (02) 8270 7901 Brewery

Essen Restaurant 133-135 Broadway Ultimo NSW 2007 Ph: (02) 9211 3805 Restaurant

Belgian Beer Cafe - Balmain 82 Darling St Balmain East NSW 2041 Ph: (02) 9810 1663 Bar

AUSTRALIAN BEER BRANDS

Happy Goblin Brewery 11/1 Marina Close Mt Kuring-Gai NSW 2080 Brewery 4 Pines Brewing Company 29/43-45 East Esplanade Manly NSW 2095 Ph: (02) 9976 2300 Brewery

festival. www.newcastlebeerfest.com

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BUCKLEY’S BEER

BRIGHT BREWERY PRODUCT RANGE Hellfire Amber Ale

BUSH SHACK BREWERY

PRODUCT RANGE

PRODUCT RANGE

Dark Ale

4.5%

Dark Bock

Bock

5.5%

Pale Ale

6.7%

Ale

4.5%

Twisted Lemon Lager

Pale Ale

6.8%

Pilsner

4.5%

Chilli Beer

Chilli Beer

4.5%

5.0%

Pale Ale

5.0%

Dubbel

8.5%

Dark Ale

5.7%

Pilsner

Bright Lager

Lager

4.7%

Razor Witbier

Wheat Beer

5.0%

Pharaoh’s Spelt Beer Strawberry Blonde

BYRON BAY PRODUCT RANGE Premium Ale

Bitter Original Ale

Ale

Blowhard Pale Ale Fainters Dubbel Staircase Porter

Ale

CARLTON

CASCADE

Carlton Black Dark Ale Carlton Draught Lager Carlton Sterling Lager Carlton Dry Lager Carlton Dry Fusion Lager Carlton Mid Lager Carlton Cold Lager Carlton Natural Blonde Lager

COLDSTREAM BREWERY

PRODUCT RANGE

PRODUCT RANGE 4.7%

Wheat Beer 4.5%

Dark Roast Wheat Beer Wheat Beer 3.0%

4.4% 4.6% 2.5% 4.5% 4.2% 3.5% 4.0% 4.2%

5.0%

Cascade Premium Light Lager

2.6%

Naked Ale

Ale

4.8%

Cascade Draught

Lager

4.7%

Cider

Cider

6.0%

Lager

4.4%

Pilsner

Pilsner

4.5%

Cascade Bitter Cascade Lager Cascade Pale Ale Cascade Stout

Lager

4.8%

Pale Ale

5.0%

Stout

5.8%

Amber Ale

5.0%

Brown Ale

5.0%

Cascade Green

Low Carb 4.5%

7.2%

Cascade Blonde

Wheat Beer 4.8%

Dirty Dan’s Dark Delight Stout

PRODUCT RANGE

Cascade Premium Lager Lager

Yallingup Old Chocolate Beer

COOPERS PRODUCT RANGE Sparkling Ale Original Pale Ale Mild Ale Extra Strong Vintage Ale Dark Ale Premium Lager Premium Light Clear Coopers 62 Best Extra Stout Birell

Ale Pale Ale Ale Ale Dark Ale Lager Lager Low Carb Pilsner Stout Low Alcohol

Bright Brewery 121 Great Alpine Rd Bright VIC 3741 Ph: (03) 5755 1301

Buckley’s Beer 30 Hunter Rd. Healesville VIC 3777 Ph: (03) 5962 2701

Bush Shack Brewery Hemsley Road Yallingup WA 6282 Ph: (08) 9755 2848

Byron Bay Brewery 1 Skinners Shoot Rd Byron Bay NSW 2481 Ph: (02) 6685 5833

Fosters Group Ltd 77 Southbank Boulevard Southbank VIC 3006 Ph: (03) 8626 2000

Cascade Brewery 140 Cascade Rd South Hobart, TAS 7004 Ph: (03) 6224 1117

Coldstream Brewery 694 Maroondah Hwy Coldstream VIC 3770 Ph: (03) 9739 1794

Coopers Brewery 461 South Road Regency Park, SA 5010 Ph: (08) 8440 1800

For stockists visit www.brightbrewery.com.au

For stockists visit www.buckleysbeer.com.au

For stockists visit www.bushshackbrewery.com.au

For stockists visit www.byronbaybrewery.com.au

For stockists visit www.fostersaustralia.com.au

For stockists visit www.cascadebrewery.com.au

For stockists visit www.coldstreambrewery.com.au

For stockists visit www.coopers.com.au

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5.8% 4.5% 3.5% 7.5% 4.5% 4.8% 2.9% 4.5% 5.0% 6.3% 0.5%

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NEW YEAR’S CHEER! WIN one of FIVE copies of The Beer Lover’s Guide to Australia.

Simply email your name and contact details with BEER LOVER in the subject box to competition@ imagineyourlifestyle.com.au 69

InFashion

Seafolly red bikini top $69.95; Seafolly bottoms, red/ white spot $69.95; Suboo kaftan, pink/ orange multi $169.00. David Jones

imagine

Summer Blue Suboo kaftan $139; Bondi Beach bag co: Cream trilby $29.95; The two Mrs Grenvilles scarf $29.95. David Jones

Cruising, jet setting, hitting the road or just loafing at home, these are the fashion perennial, style staples that will take you through summer wherever you spend it. Trends are as diverse as ever: Nautical, tropical, denim, nudes, pastels, brights, Gypsetter (sophisticated Bohemian) graphic designs or dazzling white, all conjure up images of balmy destinations and sun-soaked recreation.

Shoes and accessories are just as varied and range from embellished thongs, to gladiator sandals, patent stilettos and the classic wedge for women, and the modern take on boat shoes, sandals and slip-ons in soft leather and the classic moccasin for men.

Wittner Shoes Angie $149.95

Wittner Shoes UThong $119.95

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Witchery Shell thong $129.95; Nara High Heels, $149.95.

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Womens

Camilla kaftan $569; Trent Nathan snake skin print scarf $39.95; Samantha Wills Zebra bangle $130. David Jones

Essentials Country Road Print Kaftan $99

Country Road Roll Up Linen Short $69.30

Country Road Short Cargo Playsuit $149.

Akira Resort 2011, Beaded Spiral Shibori Bag w w w.imagineyourlifetsyle.com.au

Akira Resort 2011, Spiral Shibori Bag

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InFashion

1.

2.

RM Williams 1. Newport Shirt $189.95; 2. Waikarie Shirt $119.95; 3. Phillip Bay Shorts $79.95; 4. Stratham Shorts $89.95.

3.

4.

Ben Sherman White Polo $69.95; blue chino $129.95; White Bally Wardi Loafer $575; Tan Ben Sherman Belt $39.95.

MEN:

IMAGINE

Reef Shoes J-BAY. Boasting the’ highest grade of premium leather, the J-Bay also utilizes low impact to the environment materials while exceeding Reef’s superior fit, quality and comfort standards.

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Reef Shoes Deckhand 2. Soft breathable canvas shoes fully loaded with a bevy of innovative sandal comfort technologies.

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Trenery Ecru long sleeve utility shirt $99.00; royal navy place striped board short $59.95; Canyon Beekman leather thong $79.95

Mens Corner

Trenery Mariner long sleeve multi stripe shirt $79.95; Mariner mini check short $79.95; chocolate Beekman leather thong $79.95

Trenery Royal navy short sleeve check linen shirt $79.95; faded scarlet solid board short $64.90; chocolate Beekman leather thong $79.95

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Trenery Ecru long utility shirt $99.00; Midnight Ink Ethnic Print board short $59.95; chocolate Beekman leather thong $79.00

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InFashion

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Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Jewelry

PRETTY IN PINK Treasured by the ancients as splinters of stars fallen to earth, or in other cultures, tears of the Gods, diamonds and their origin are still somewhat of a mystery to modern day scientists and geologists.

What is fact, is that women and men around the world are dazzled by this most alluring gemstone, and by its pink incarnation in particular. Story by Jeni Bone

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InFashion

T

he diamond is the hardest of all gemstones, yet it is the simplest in composition – common carbon, like a lead pencil. But billions of years of volcanic heat and pressure beneath the earth’s crust created a stone that has a melting point of approximately 4,000 degrees centigrade – two and a half times greater than the melting point of steel.

The pink diamond is the rarest, presenting in hues from intense purple to a blush pink champagne.

90% of the world’s pink diamonds are mined in the far north of Western Australia, at the Argyle Diamond Mine, where the world's only intense pink diamonds are found.

To put the true rarity of the gems into context: of every million tonnes of rough diamonds produced, a mere one carat is suitable for the exclusive Argyle Diamond tender. These diamonds are of superior quality and are sought by jewellers the world over.

These rare pink diamonds attract on average 20 times the price of their white diamond compatriots.

The Argyle Pink Diamonds business 76

has its headquarters in Perth, Western Australia, also the location of its stateof-the art cutting factory. The Perth factory cuts and polishes the finest pink diamonds from the Argyle mine that are then sold via an exclusive tender.

These special auctions are prefaced by viewings, traditionally held in New York, Tokyo, Perth, Antwerp, Hong Kong, London and Geneva. Participation in these events is by invitation to the world’s leading diamantaires and diamond jewellers. The tendered pink diamonds have an average size of about 1 carat. Around 40 to 50 carats in total are sold at these auctions each year. Prices achieved range from US $100,000/ct to over US$1,000,000/ct. iyl

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Jewelry

EXPERTEYE

trained jewellers and current high tech manufacturing equipment we can create anything and everything. Recently for a special client with unique tastes we created a solid gold peanut featuring every colour diamond you can think of.

Are they a good investment in terms of appreciation in value?

Over the past 10 years Argyle Pink diamonds have outperformed the major equity indices like the S&P 500, Hang Seng and the Dow Jones Total Industrial.

As demand grows especially from the emerging markets of India, China and Russia the supply is slowing and will cease shortly. Rio Tinto, Argyle’s parent company predicts the end of the Argyle mine within the next 10 years.

What should people know before choosing gemstones and jewellery?

Know what you like, fine jewellery is an expression of your personality, it is not fashion, it is for you. Love it first and let the admiring glances of others come a distant second.

Olivar (seated) and Robert Musson.

Robert Musson is the founder and patriarch of Musson Jewellers. Robert commenced his jewellery apprenticeship with Clarke and Walton’s in Sydney’s Surry hills in 1967. He is an Argyle Select Atelier, one of a select few jewellers, chosen by Argyle, who have access to the full range of Argyle diamonds.

What are the hallmarks of Musson design and craftsmanship?

Musson pieces are recognisable in the often homogeneous jewellery industry for their flowing almost organic design.

Generally the pieces carry a volume suitable to quality jewellery. As for craftsmanship our pieces are always perfect otherwise they do not leave the studio.

Which awards have you won?

Our first accolades were two consecutive Australian Jewellery Design Awards in the 70s and the one that stands out as a special moment, was being a finalist in the De Beers Diamonds International Award in 2000.

What is the appeal of working with Pink Diamonds as a jeweller?

Argyle Pink Diamonds are stunning in their presentation, uniquely Australian w w w.imagineyourlifetsyle.com.au

and beyond rare. Every piece I make is a collectable, whether it’s five thousand or five hundred thousand, they will be admired forever.

How should diamond and valuable jewellery be stored and treated? Is there a regularly “check up” required for gems?

Yes like anything you own that is valuable you should look after it. Always have your pieces checked annually by a jeweller. You wouldn’t drive your car for five years without having it service. www.musson.com.au

Why are they so prized?

It’s simple: they are the rarest gem in the world. Anyone can have a large white diamond but pinks are special.

What kinds of clients are attracted to owning pink diamonds?

Pink diamonds appeal to everybody, from mature clients looking to diversify their superannuation funds to young couples wanting something special for their engagement ring.

In what kinds of pieces have you been commissioned to use them?

With a team of ten classically 77

Health&Wellbeing

Female for Life Flaunt the bits you love and conceal the bits you don’t with Female for Life, the Australian activewear label for real women with real curves. Its new range of exercise gear for Spring/Summer 2011 boasts great colours, fantastically flattering designs and fabrics and lots of support for real women in all shapes and sizes!

Female for Life spokesperson, Fiona Faulkiner , ex-Biggest Loser and now a model for Bella Models is the perfect example of what Female For Life is trying to achieve. “As a happy healthy women with curves staying active is part of my life and wearing the right clothing that is flattering and gives me great support is very important, but very hard to find”, says Fiona. www.femaleforlife.com

Health&Wellbeing

78

Aquapower for Men

Smooth the furrows with Frownies

Boasting the equivalent quench power of 5,000 litres of thermal spring water, the Biotherm Homme range Aquapower relies on a rich blend of Pure Thermal Plankton (PTP). This extract found in thermal spring water is rich in trace elements, mineral salts and proteins and delivers skin a dose of ultra-hydration. Dedicated to men’s skincare, Biotherm has pioneered solutions to suit male skin needs and is the world’s number one brand for men.

This magic little product has been a Hollywood secret for decades, but is now enjoying a resurgence – led by results! Frownies are facial pads made from natural, skin-friendly materials. While you sleep, Frownies form a splint holding the visible layer of skin smooth and flat overnight for the natural, smooth, healthy-looking skin. Frownies Rose Water Hydrator Spray enhances the effectiveness of the Frownies Facial Pads, acting as a facial toner in combination with the Frownies range.

Testimonials from actors and celebs attest to their rapid results, just three weeks to see smoother skin. Check out the benefits and actual results at www.frownies.net.au

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Family Health

Dr. Spiller Summer Solutions

Face of Australia This nifty little product is a “3 in 1”, moisturiser, primer and sunscreen.

Specifically formulated to moisturise and then prime the skin so that makeup glides on easily, it also contains SPF 15 to protect your skin against the effects of the sun.

Face Base Primer 3 in 1 smoothes skin tone, fills fine lines, while delivering instant hydration that retains skin’s moisture level and controls shine. Improves performance and foundation wear and smooth skin’s texture. Face Base Primer is oil free so it won’t clog pores. RRP $12.95. www.faceofaustralia.com.au

A minute a day for clean, clear skin ‘Winner Of Best Of Sephora’ US 2008 as well as other beauty accolades, Clarisonic is the must-have skin care product in Europe and the US and now available in Australia. Used by top dermatologists and spas, the Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System comprises three key products – the Clarisonic Classic, Clarisonic PLUS (with both face and body brush) and the Clarisonic PRO (for skincare professionals and only available through spas and salons). It involves a professional-calibre brush that uses a gentle sonic micro-massage action to cleanse deeply, clearing pores

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We love the beach and outdoors, but there is a high price to pay.

The harsh environmental elements are a primary cause of premature ageing. Paul Fister, Managing Director of Australian skincare distributor, OmniDerm says “These environmental conditions “disrupt the skin’s natural protection, the lipid barrier, causing moisture loss and sometimes inflammation, which are major contributors to premature aging.”

The Dr. Spiller Biocosmetic skincare creams contain skin-friendly oils designed to prevent moisture loss in a light, silky formula that penetrates the skin easily and provides lasting moisture protection. Dr Spiller’s formulations ensure your skin is getting the nourishment and antioxidants it needs to successfully repair daily damage without being overloaded with a heavy cream that can cause breakout. www.facebook.com/dr.spiller

without harsh abrasion or chemicals, so that skin care products absorb better. Clinical results of Clarisonic show that six times more makeup is removed than manual cleansing which can bring about the reduced appearance of pores, fine lines and wrinkles, and improved skin tone. The Clarisonic Classic (RRP $329) and PLUS (RRP $369) are available from David Jones, Myer and leading pharmacies. www.brandpoint.com.au 79

Health&Wellbeing

SAVE OUR SKIN Dr May Marr has made it her business to diagnose and treat skin.

Over the past two decades, she has acquired the qualifications and training to understand every facet of our largest organ and while the treatments are high-tech and effective, Dr May’s advice is relatively simple.

“A

of disorders, specific skin conditions. Aesthetics, correction and rejuvenation are major aspects of my work.”

Dr May has had a life-long fascination with skin. But it wasn’t until she was working in the hospital system, rising to Oncology Registrar that her interest turned intensely personal.

“I was 24 years old and suffering dreadfully from acne,” she recounts. “I used cosmetics and expensive skincare brands, topical ointments, all the quick fixes I could find.

Then I decided to tackle this as a medical condition and treat myself.”

Trial and error led her to a customised formula of prescription dose Vitamin A, the oral contraceptive pill and antibiotics which suited her affliction.

Microdermabrasion lessened IT LITERALLY DISSOLVES the scarring, and she is very FAT, USING A SOY conscious to stick to a diet bursting with wholesome DERIVATIVE WHICH IS fruit, vegetables and INJECTED INTO POCKETS unprocessed food.

“From then on, I wanted to OF RESISTANT FAT. bring the same relief and solutions to my patients, so skin became my focus and my forte.” a need for treatments of all skin disorders, from acne and Dr May is highly critical of the rash of TV programs showing pigmentation to scars and jaw reshaping.”

Hollywood-glamour entwined with “extreme makeovers”, She attended the Australasian Academy of Cosmetic promising life-changing miracles.

Dermal Science (AACDS) in Perth, Western Australia, an “There’s no one-treatment suits all,” she says. “They all have accredited teaching clinic where she obtained post-graduate their place and can work for anti-aging on the face, hands qualifications in Cosmetic Dermal Science and non-surgical and neck, on common skin conditions like acne, Rosacea, cosmetic procedures. hyperpigmentation and scarring, as well as hair removal, “My objective is prevention, educating people about and jaw or chin correction. But people should be realistic. maintaining skin health. But realistically, there are hundreds void the sun, wear a hat, long sleeves, sunscreen every day, religiously, and look after your skin with a good diet, no smoking and moderate drinking,” she prescribes. “It is simple, but people don’t follow it, and I see the results in people aged 18 to 88.”

Along with medical and surgical degrees from Flinders University, and Membership of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Dr May was determined to acquire the skills required to focus on skin.

As she explains: “As she explains: “I didn’t just want to get on the ‘anti-wrinkle injections’ bandwagon. There was

80

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Family Health It’s about maintenance, not an expensive one-off overhaul. You have to change habits in many cases and be disciplined enough to protect your skin.”

With the deluge of practitioners, beauty salons and GPs offering laser treatments and injectables, Dr May advises to choose wisely.

“Equipment is not all the same and the operators are also not all experienced. Some procedures, administered poorly, can make your skin worse.”

Working from her Medical Aesthetics Clinic in Lennox Heads, northern NSW, Dr May has been awarded Advanced Injector Status by both Allergan and Q Med, the international makers of Botox® and Restylane dermal fillers. Along with the range of anti-aging cosmetic procedures, Dr May’s expertise covers scar-free mole removal using the latest Radioablative techniques, medical grade chemical peeling and corrective solutions for keloids.

Dr May regularly upgrades her equipment and updates her skills, introducing techniques to address a host of issues her patients present with. One of these is an amazing (and relatively ancient) treatment called Lipodissolve therapy.

Based on mesotherapy techniques that were devised in France in 1952, it is a non-surgical alternative to liposuction – which will please many people familiar with that procedure from those gruesome reality TV surgery shows.

“It works so well. It literally dissolves fat, using a soy derivative which is injected into pockets of resistant fat. It is excellent for shifting the stubborn fat and the dimpling that exercise and diet can’t.”

But perhaps Dr May’s best advice is for a simple skincare routine that anybody can employ – with none of the mystical products or complex regimes beauty behemoths would have us follow.

“Without doubt, a well formulated sunscreen is vital, both for retaining youthful appearance and reducing the risk of skin cancers.”

Two factors are important when using a sunscreen: the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) and the ingredients. “The SPF determines the amount of time you can spend in the sun without getting burnt. For a very fair skinned individual, this may be as little as five minutes in the height of summer. If a sunscreen has an SPF of 30, liberal application of a sunscreen with SPF 30 would allow this individual to stay for 150 minutes without getting burnt.”

As far as ingredients go, Dr May advises looking for the indication of “broad spectrum”. “By this I mean a sunscreen which offers protection from both UVA and UVB rays. The best broad spectrum ingredients are (in this order) Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, called mineral sunscreen agents, and Avobenzone, which is a chemical sunscreen. It is important that you look for the presence of one or more of these agents in the ingredient list as the SPF only refers to protection from UVB radiation. If these ingredients are not present in your sunscreen, you are not getting the best protection from the sun.”

On top of that, Dr May recommends regular use of an exfoliant with AHAs (Alpha-hydroxy acids) at around 8-15%, and a Vitamin A-derived moisturizer.

Prevention, as people find out in time, often when it’s too late, is the best approach. “It is never too late to start looking after your skin. You can’t replace it.” iyl

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Skin Deep Australians have the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Each year over 1,300 of us die from this almost totally preventable disease.

U

ltraviolet radiation levels are higher here than in Europe and the US, since we’re located closer to the ozone hole over the Antarctic and during summer, the earth’s orbit brings us closer to the sun than Europe during its summer. This, coupled with our cleaner atmosphere and an appetite for the outdoors, means we’re exposed to up to 15% more UV than Europeans, according to Cancer Council statistics.

Skin is an excellent record keeper, every ray of UVA and B that manages to penetrate your skin is ‘documented’ in your DNA,

we need in the activities we undertake in the course of daily life – hanging out the washing, walking from the car to the office or walking the dog.

“A tan is literally skin damage that builds up year after year. There’s no such thing as a healthy tan.”

The sun does not need to feel hot to damage your skin. The damage is done by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, not related to temperature.

UVA ages the skin and UVB burns the skin. Both can cause skin cancer.

There are two types of sunscreen. Absorbers (eg. cinnamates) soak up UV rays and prevent them reaching

A TAN IS LITERALLY SKIN DAMAGE THAT BUILDS UP YEAR AFTER YEAR. THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A HEALTHY TAN.” then slowly the skin relays this damage back in the form of wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, premature ageing, repressed immune system and a higher potential for skin cancer.

There are many conditions associated with sun exposure – none of them pretty. Rough texture, pigmented lesions such as freckles, deep wrinkling and looseness, cysts, liver spots, and the scaly, red, thickened areas of the skin that refuse to heal There are pre-cancerous. And that’s just what’s visible on the surface of our skin.

Executive Director of the Queensland Cancer Fund, Dr Jeff Dunn, says we get enough exposure to sun to generate the Vitamin D

the skin. Reflectors (eg. zinc oxide) reflect or scatter UV rays away from the skin.

Not all sunscreens have the same ingredients – if your skin reacts, try another with different chemical. Reflectors may be more suitable for sensitive skins. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30+. Broad spectrum means it blocks out UVA and UVB. Make sure the sunscreen is water resistant and check the use-by date. Water-resistant sunscreens should be used for swimming, The Cancer Council Australia has a great range of products and advice available online, as well as state-specific information about avoiding skin cancer.

Visit www.cancer.org.au 81

Active > Sport

GOLFING PARADISE Queensland has it all!

Golfers travelling in Queensland are spoilt for choice. How about teeing off overlooking the Great Barrier Reef or boarding a helicopter for a tour of stunning Whitsunday Island courses? They’ve got tiny Outback courses where the “greens are brown” and even one of the world’s only fully-organic golf courses. Here’s a run down of what’s new or out of the ordinary on Queensland greens.

BROOKWATER GOLF COURSE, BRISBANE The Spa Orient day spa at Springfield Lakes west of Brisbane has joined forces with Six Eagles Luxury Retreat – a private mansion overlooking the Brookwater Golf Course - to offer day spa fans and their golf-loving partners great couples’ packages. Spa Orient has five treatment rooms, two couple’s suites and two single treatment rooms, all with their own plunge bath in an authentic Thai setting of a lush tropical rainforest garden.

It also has a specialised single Thai Massage Treatment suite. Packages are available including overnight twin-share accommodation at the retreat, breakfast and a 90 minute spa treatment for two at Spa Orient. For an additional fee, couples can also enjoy a round of golf, use of a private golf cart, beverages and gourmet cheese and biscuits. www.spaorient.com

AZZURA GREENS RESORT, HOPE ISLAND, GOLD COAST A championship golf course, Pat Cash tennis centre and private fishing charter boat are all on the doorstep of the just-opened Azzura Greens Resort on the Gold Coast. The new fivestar development offers 159 apartments incorporating one and

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two bedroom deluxe apartments and two bedroom executive apartments. Each of the air-conditioned rooms feature modern furnishings, private balconies and stainless steel appliances. The resort is also very close to restaurants and cafés, the marina, and Sanctuary Cove, and a short drive to Gold Coast theme parks and shopping centres. www.azzuragreens.com.au

HYATT REGENCY COOLUM, SUNSHINE COAST Home to the Australian PGA Championship the course is rated one of the best resort courses in Australia. The course covers more than a third of the resort, the landscape ranges from holes right next to the ocean to woodland holes framed by clusters of melaleuca and native flora. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Junior this is truly a unique golfing experience.

Accommodation is in private, low-set villas set in beautiful surrounds. Miles away from the everyday, yet close to all the facilities needed at the same time. The par 72, 6263 metre championship course has been officially rated by the Australian Golf Union 73 from the championship tees, and is rated as one of Australia's top resort golf courses by Golf Digest Magazine. www.coolum.hyatt.com

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Golf NOOSA SPRINGS, SUNSHINE COAST Indulge in some pampering Sunshine Coast-style at Noosa Springs Resort’s new Spa and Fitness Centre. While your partner tees off, take the chance to relax at the resort’s worldclass spa. The ultimate in indulgence, the spa offers pampering and therapeutic treatments with a focus on hydrotherapy and other aqua treatments. Features include nine massage rooms, steam rooms, infrared saunas, relaxation pools, a fully-equipped beauty salon and flotation pool. The fitness centre contains a boutique gymnasium, group fitness room and 25m heated pool. The spa and fitness centre is open to Noosa Springs Resort guests. www.noosasprings.com.au

KABI ORGANIC GOLF COURSE, SUNSHINE COAST The Sunshine Coast is home to one of the world’s few organic golf courses. Kabi Golf Course was created to provide a place for recreation while preserving the environment. The organic aspect of the course makes it completely different from most other golf courses in the world. No toxic chemicals or fertilisers, usually used in modernday green keeping, are used at Kabi. The ground staff hand weed the greens and use natural sprays such as daisy extracts and worm-based fertilisers.

The course also uses composting toilets. Located on 300 acres including a farm and orchard, Kabi Golf Course offers 27 holes and caters for golfers of all standards. Kabi’s Riordan’s Restaurant practices and runs by organic certified rules using 95% of organic ingredients other provided by the farm or from local organic growers and is open daily for lunch from 11am to 4pm. A scenic 25 minute drive from Noosa Heads via Tewantin brings you to Kabi, located near Boreen Point in the Lake Cootharaba area. www.kabigolf.com.au

ZILZIE GREAT BARRIER REEF RESORT, CAPRICORN COAST The world’s first 18-hole synthetic golf course is being built at Zilzie Bay, site of a 447 hectare Zilzie Bay Great Barrier Reef Resort being built on the southern tip of the Capricorn Coast about 30 minutes from Rockhampton. Built around a spectacular $12AUD million clubhouse, the par-70 Reef Palms course on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef will feature 18 fully synthetic greens and surrounds and 18 synthetic tee blocks.

The $1.6 billion resort is the work of English multi-millionaire developer Chris Dadson, who searched the world for a place to build his vision.

Apart from dealing with big hydration issues, it will also eliminate the need for watering, coring, feeding and will eradicate the risk of disease that affects some greens.

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Golfers will be able to play the course in perfect condition every day they step onto the tee. A number of the world’s leading golfers, including Australia’s US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy and former world No. 1 Vijay Singh, have synthetic greens built at their homes to practice on during breaks from the PGA Tour. www.zilziebay.com.au

HELI-GOLF, WHITSUNDAYS Visitors to the Whitsundays can take a helicopter across the Whitsunday Islands right to the door of the prestigious Turtle Point Golf Course located on the water’s edge at the Laguna Whitsundays Resort. Enjoy 18 holes of championship golf at this exclusive David Grahamdesigned course, which includes a beach club, racquet club, swimming pools and restaurants. Guests can either fly direct from Hayman Island or depart from Shute Harbour near Airlie Beach. Heli-Golf tours include golf fees, clubs, shoes and buggy hire. Departure times available to suit either a half or full day golfing. www.islandair.com.au

TEE OFF ON AN ISLAND GOLF CRUISE, WHITSUNDAYS Arrive by cruise boat, play at one of the country’s top golf courses, snorkel and dive on the Great Barrier Reef and cruise the Whitsunday islands on Australia’s first island golf cruise.

Barefoot Cruises’ Whitsunday Islands Golf Cruise allows guests to discover the region’s unforgettable golfing experiences while cruising aboard the luxurious Reef Odyssey. The highlight of the cruise is playing Australia’s number one public access course, Turtle Point golf course, at Laguna Whitsundays which meanders through native bushland and lush rainforest with the Coral Sea lapping at a number of fairways. Non-golfers can enjoy activities including hiking island national park trails, beach walks, snorkelling and diving the islands’ fringing reefs or a massage.

The cruise is available for private charter with a maximum of 36 and minimum of 26 guests.

Cruises depart from Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island. www.barefootcruises.com.au

SEA TEMPLE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB, TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND The newest addition to Tropical North Queensland’s stunning array of courses is the Sea Temple Golf & Country Club. Located in beautiful Port Douglas, it offers an opportunity for people to relax and enjoy the magnificent rainforest backdrops and the traditional game of golf. The course has been voted in the top 50 public access courses in Australia (The Golf Course Guide) and been ranked in the Top 6 Links-style golf courses in the country. www.seatemplegolf.com.au

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Golf

Brookwater Golf Course, Brisbane.

Above and below: Hyatt Regency Coolum, Sunshine Coast.

RAMADA PELICAN WATERS, SUNSHINE COAST Ramada Pelican Waters is located on Queensland's famous Sunshine Coast and is Caloundra's first and only four-and-a-half star international full service hotel. Positioned overlooking the Greg Norman-designed Club Pelican golf course, the hotel offers views of rolling greens, structured fairways and picturesque waterways. Surrounding the resort are sparkling beaches to the east and the majestic Glass House Mountain ranges and rainforests to the west. Ramada Pelican Waters offers 114 luxury rooms all with modern conveniences and contemporary furnishings, a championship Greg Norman-designed golf course, Vida Health & Spa and conference facilities for up to 500 guests. www.ramadapelicanwaters.com.au

AND FOR FUN: YOWAH GOLF COURSE, OUTBACK There aren’t many golf courses like the nine-hole course at Yowah. For a start, there’s no grass, the fairways are sand and the greens aren’t green! The club house offers protection from the sun, although it is not exactly luxury… it’s a tin shed. The Yowah Golf Course provides a venue for the people of this remote opal mining town and the surrounding cattle stations as well as those stopping to take in the vastness of the Australian outback. This is a course for those who want to experience golf as not many have.

Accommodation is at the Artesian Waters Caravan Park, the local free council caravan park and other operators in the area.

Ph: (07) 4655 4976.

Noosa Springs, Sunshine Coast.

BEDOURIE GOLF COURSE, OUTBACK The town of Bedourie is part of the colossal Diamantina Shire.

The shire covers 95,000 square kilometres or twice the area of Denmark. It is a strange circumstance then that finds one of the smallest golf courses in Australia in this town. The course itself is made up of sand and spinifex grass meaning every shot needs to be teed up. There are a number of water hazards on the course as well despite the area being incredibly dry. Nearby accommodation is found at the Simpson Desert Oasis. www.diamantina.qld.gov.au

DAYDREAM ISLAND MINI GOLF, WHITSUNDAYS

One of the most elaborate mini-golf courses in the world is found among the old pines and palms on Daydream Island. “Putt your Way Around Australia” is a million-dollar 19 hole course featuring famous icons including Kakadu, the Daintree, Sydney Harbour, Ayers Rock and (of course) the Great Barrier Reef. www.daydreamisland.com

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Earlybird Specials for 2011Tours

Book before 31st January 2011 if not sold out, for all tours listed on this advertisement and save 5%* * Queenstown Tour for sales until 15th December 2010

Experience Thailand Collection 2011...

5 star luxury escorted tours - Non golfers welcome

Welcome and farewell Dinners for all 3 tours included Phuket 11 days June 26 - July 6. Staying at Sheraton Grande Laguna Resort

Golfing Highlights include ■ Phuket Country Club ■ Loch Palm Golf Club ■ Blue Canyon - Lake Course ■ Laguna Golf Club ■ Mission Hills Golf Club ■ Red Mountain Golf Club... Golfers from $3,89.7pp. twin share. Non golfers deduct $1,000.pp.

Bangkok and Pattaya 11 days Sept 11 - Sept 21. Staying at Sheraton Grande Sukhomvit and Sheraton Pattaya Resort

Golfing Highlights include ■ Thai Country Club ■ Bangpra Golf Club ■ Burapha Golf Club ■ Siam Country Club - Plantation ■ Laem Chabang ■ Siam Country Club Old Course... Golfers from $2,897.pp. twin share. Non golfers deduct $650.pp.

Bangkok and Hua Hin 11 days Dec 04 - Dec 14. Staying at Sheraton Grande Sukhomvit and Sofitel Centara Grand Resort Golfing Highlights include ■ Thai Country Club ■ Palm Hills Country Club ■ Imperial Lakeview Golf Club ■ Sea Pine Army Golf Club ■ Black Mountain ■ The Banyan Club...

Golfers from $3,598. pp twin share. Non golfers deduct $650.pp. Estimated Group sizes - 24

Vietnam Gourmet Golf Cruise 2011...

Super luxury inclusive Cruise Charter for golfers, light golfers and non golfers with many sights and options.

Vietnam 9 days Nov 9 - Nov 18. Private charter by Gourmet Golf Cruises on board the new Orion II for maximum 90 guests Golfing Highlights include ■ Phan Thiet Sea Links ■ Phan Thiet Ocean Dunes ■ Nha Trang Diamond Bay ■ Montgomerie Links ■ Da Nang Golf Club... Golfers from $10,522.pp. twin share. Non golfers from $9,657.pp.

NZ Gourmet Golf Cruise 2012...

On board Orion I, our second exclusive Golf Cruise charter in New Zealand, this time around Auckland’s Islands and The Bay of Islands.

Auckland and Bay of Islands 6 days Feb 20 - Feb 26. On board the award winning luxury small ship, Orion I. Golfing Highlights include ■ Gulf Harbour ■ Carrington Resort ■ Kauri Cliffs twice...

Prices will be released soon. Please contact us for registration now or visit our web site to register for first release.

Experience New Zealand Collection 2011... 5 star luxury escorted tours - Non golfers welcome Queenstown 8 days Feb 13 - Feb 20. Staying at Peppers Beacon Resort

Golfing Highlights include ■ Queenstown Golf Club ■ Jacks Point ■ Arrowtown Golf Club ■ Millbrook Resort Golfers from $2,098. pp twin share. Non golfers deduct $490.pp. Estimated Group size - 24

Auckland and Taupo 8 days April 10 - April 17. Staying at Gulf Harbour Lodge, Hilton Lake Taupo & Millennium Rotorua A Golfing Highlights include ■ Gulf Harbour Country Club ■ Rotorua Golf Club ■ Kinloch Golf Club ■ Wairakea Golfers from $2,475.pp. twin share. Non golfers deduct $725.pp. Estimated Group size - 24

British Open and Ireland 2011... 7 days July 18 - July 24.

Join us in London for a quick look at the British Open in style followed by a week of superb golf in the Emerald Isle.

Golfing Highlights include ■ Killarney ■ Tralee ■ Ballybunion ■ Adare ■ Lahinch on an all inclusive land package with various options in London to see the British Open at Royal and St. Georges in Kent.

From $3698.pp. twin share.

Stay at The Sea Temple Resort...

PORT DOUGLAS in a fantastic swimout luxury apartment all year round and receive 2 free rounds of golf at Sea Temple Country Club including 18 holes and a cart FREE. Valid for all bookings of 5 days or more. Studio from $250. per night, 2 bedroom from $480. and 3 bedroom from $580. Special rates for more golf available.

For detailed itineraries and pricing for tours listed, other tours and events, please go to: www.gourmetgolftours.com or call 1300 788 666

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▌ Gourmet Golf Tours Pty Ltd ▌ ‘St Andrews’ PO Box 299, 112 Bittern-Dromana Road, Merricks North, Victoria 3926 Australia ▌ Phone: 03 5989 7596 ▌ Fax: 03 5989 7664 ▌ Email: ggt@events.com.au ▌ www.gourmetgolftours.com Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Golf

GOLF.

.

T I N I E B

GOLF PLAYERS HAVE A LOWER DEATH RATE REGARDLESS OF SEX, AGE AND SOCIAL GROUP.

HOW DO I START?

However you want! Go lf allows for a variety of ways to get into the game . If you have not playe d before, you may want to con sider a couple of lesson s at a club near home. If yo u're feeling confident, practice at the driving range . If you've played bef ore and want to again, book a tee-time at your loc al club now. Your golf is wh atever you want it to be.

WHAT'S INVOLVED?

Essentially, you'll ne ed yourself, golf clu bs and golf balls. This equipment can be hired at low cos t if you're trying golf for the first time and do n't want to commit to a set of clubs straight away.

If you already have clubs, yo u're set to go!

GOLF? WHY CHOOSE spo rt and an extremely

Golf is now a truly global ple worldwide. popular leisure activity for peo golf each year in play ple More than 1 million peo healthy lifestyle, a n ntai mai to s Australia! It help gives participants gets you out in the fresh air and over time. rove imp the chance to see their game a range of nce erie exp to Casual golf is a great way can book a round different golf courses and you or a lesson at a course close to you. Find a club, locate a pro who can start you off with lessons at www.golfaustralia.org.au

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G

olf can be a good investment for the health, according to a recent study from the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet. The death rate for golfers is 40% lower than for other people of the same sex, age and socioeconomic status, which correspond to a five year increase in life expectancy. Interestingly, golfers with a low handicap are the safest – more reason to start playing!

A team of researchers from Karolinska Institutet presented a study of the health effects of golf, which involves more than 600,000 Swedes.

The study, published in Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, is based on data from 300,000 Swedish golfers and shows that golf has beneficial health effects. rofessor Anders Ahlbom is not surprised at the result, as he believes that there are several aspects of the game that foster longevity.

"A round of golf means being outside for four or five hours, walking at a fast pace for six to seven kilometres, something which is known to be good for the health," he says. "People play golf into old age, and there are also positive social and psychological aspects to the game that can be of help."

Golf players have a lower death rate regardless of sex, age and social group. The effect is greater for golfers from blue-collar professions than for those from white-collar professions.

The effect is great in better players.

"Maintaining a low handicap involves playing a lot, so this supports the idea that it is largely the game itself that is good for the health," says Professor Ahlbom.

One of the most highly participated in sports, golf attracts around 1.18 million players at every level, according to Australian Sports Commission estimates. They have a lot of choice in Australia, which boasts more than 1530 courses.

As Golf Australia will tell you, “golf is for everyone”. Regardless of age or gender, golf can be as simple as social round with friends or competition golf at your local club. Golf lets you choose how you want to be involved. iyl

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Travel > International

WE LOVE NYC New York City's five boroughs are home to some of the most recognizable and cherished landmarks and attractions in the world. Every holiday season New York City transforms into a winter wonderland. By Jeni Bone

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he City radiates with holiday spirit as the five boroughs offer a dazzling array of performances, shopping, dining and more.

NYC & Company, the City’s official marketing, tourism, and partnership organization, encourages visitors to plan their holiday travel now to take advantage of all the City has to offer. With so much to see and do, a trip to NYC may seem a little overwhelming. To help, we have rounded up the season’s top attractions that belong on any visitor's to-do list.

‘Tis the Season!

NOW in its 78th year, Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular continues to amaze both visitors and residents alike. Until 30 December, experience the joy of Christmas with outstanding performances by the world-famous Rockettes, along with stunning special effects, costumes and excitement that will create lasting memories.

Ticket prices start at US$45 www.radiocitychristmas.com THE Theater at Madison Square Garden will host Wintuk, a Cirque du Soleil production, for its fourth and final season this year, full of acrobatics, theatrics and music, until 2 January 2011.

Tickets range from US$30-220 30% discount for select children’s tickets. www.cirquedusoleil.com

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THE New York City Ballet will present one of the season’s favorite annual productions, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker until 2 January 2011.

Tickets range from US$20-135 www.nycballet.com/nutcracker THE City twinkles with holiday spirit, particularly as its famed stores and iconic hotels strive to outdo the previous year’s celebration. Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor and Macy’s spruce up their window displays with beautiful holiday-themed decor that awes visitors year after year. Indoor and outdoor holiday markets at Columbus Circle, Bryant Park, Union Square and Grand Central Terminal have become a new must-go for shoppers looking for unique gifts created by local artists and

vendors. The lavish Midtown hotel Le Parker Meridien will host its second annual Gingerbread Extravaganza, during which local bakeries display their large-scale confectionary creations, until 9 January 2011.

THE Big Apple Circus celebrates its 33rd season this year with an all-new show, Dance On! at the big top at Lincoln Center, complete with unicyclists, contortionists, animals and the hilarious clown, until 9 January 2011.

Tickets range from US$15-92. www.bigapplecircus.org IN the Bronx, visitors can experience the Annual Holiday Family Day at the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum on Saturday, December 4, from 10am to 2pm. Get into the spirit with the whole family at the festively decorated 19th-century mansion and participate in programs and activities for children, including photos with Santa. www.bpmm.org

Rockefeller Center Ice Rink

Ice skating at Rockefeller Center is a quintessential NYC winter experience.

The Rockefeller Center Ice Rink is located within a complex of buildings between 47th and 50th Streets and 5th and 7th Avenues. It gets crowded and only accommodates 150 skaters at one time. You can book ice skating lessons. www.therinkatrockcenter.com

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Travel > International

Perennial Favourites

Year round, these are the must-sees of the Big Apple.

NYC Skyline

The city’s skyscrapers, bridges, waterways, islands and monuments create a breathtaking panorama that is instantly recognizable worldwide. The grandeur of the cityscape is best viewed from above. Take an elevator ride up 1,050 feet to the 86th-floor observation deck of the Empire State Building; New York's tallest structure, this soaring art deco masterpiece offers a completely unobstructed, 360-degree view of the city below. Top of the Rock, located on the 67th, 69th and 70th floors of 30 Rockefeller Plaza (home of NBC Studios) also offers a great vantage point, day or night.

Times Square

The expansive stretch is a feast for all five senses—including massive digital billboards whose bright lights make midnight look like mid-afternoon, star-studded Broadway shows (and reduced-price tickets to see them available from the TKTS Discount Booth),

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NYC people peddling art and jewelry on the street and, of course, the Naked Cowboy, who plays guitar in his tighty-whities.

Visitors can shop in flagship locations of such stores as Toys "R" Us (which boasts an indoor Ferris wheel), take pictures with wax celebrities at Madame Tussauds, watch the ball drop on New Year's Eve or grab a pre- or post-theater meal along Restaurant Row (West 46th Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues).

Central Park

Spanning 843 acres in the heart of Manhattan, Central Park is one of the world's greatest urban oases, encompassing a diverse landscape of rolling fields, walking trails, tranquil bodies of water and, of course, some of the most vivid fall foliage in the City.

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Among its landmarks are Wollman Rink, the Central Park Zoo, Belvedere Castle and the Friedsam Memorial Carousel, an amusement great for kids of all ages.

NYC Museums

No trip to New York City is complete without experiencing some of its world-class cultural institutions, and Museum Mile is a good place to start.

Offering a diverse cultural spectrum, the nine museums along the mile are The Metropolitan Museum of Art, GoetheInstitut New York, Neue Galerie, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the National Academy Museum, CooperHewitt, National Design Museum, The Jewish Museum, the Museum of the City of New York and El Museo del Barrio.

Just a few blocks away from Museum

Mile, the Whitney Museum of American Art showcases one of the nation's premier collections of 20th-century American masters, while just across Central Park, the mammoth American Museum of Natural History and the Rose Center for Earth and Space feature larger-thanlife science exhibitions. The European masterpieces of The Frick Collection, currently celebrating its 75th anniversary, are housed in Henry Clay Frick's magnificent Fifth Avenue mansion, and Midtown's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is home to some of the world's most important contemporary artworks.

The Brooklyn Museum, the City's second largest museum, boasts a wide-ranging collection that spans cultures and artistic movements in its Beaux-Arts home at the northern end of Prospect Park.

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Travel > International the off-season or when the team is on the road), the dugout and Monument Park, as well as the New York Yankees Museum.

Bronx Zoo

Statue of Liberty Ellis Island

New York City's most renowned historic landmark is best appreciated up close and personal. Tourists have access to the monument's pedestal and observation deck as well as the crown (which is open for limited admittance, by reservation only). Your Statue of Liberty pass will also grant you an additional ferry ride and admission to the nearby Ellis Island Immigration Museum, located in the building that served as the first port of entry in the United States for more than 12 million immigrants.

Yankee Stadium

The original Yankee Stadium, known as "The House That Ruth Built," opened in 1923 and served as the Yankees' home until 2008. The new Yankee Stadium opened in 2009, and the team capped the venue's inaugural season with their 27th World Series title. Visitors can take a guided tour, which includes stops at the clubhouse/batting cage area (only during

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Spanning 265 lush acres, the Bronx Zoo is the largest urban wildlife preserve in the United States, home to several authentically re-created habitats that house more than 4,500 critters. Daily activities, including sea lion and penguin feedings and primate and tiger training sessions, keep visitors busy all day long, while the Bug Carousel, Dora & Diego's 4-D Adventure and the Children's Zoo are perfect for kids. Open seven days a week, the Bronx Zoo offers pay-what-you-wish admission every Wednesday.

Brooklyn Bridge This engineering masterpiece recently celebrated its 125th birthday. Best experienced with a leisurely stroll across its elevated pedestrian walkway the bridge offers views of downtown Manhattan and New York Harbour on every step of the 5,989-foot traverse. The Manhattan-side entrance is at Park Row and Centre Street, across from City Hall Park.

Staten Island Ferry

More than a means of transportation, the Staten Island Ferry is an attraction unto itself. For no charge, visitors can enjoy the 25-minute voyage by water from Lower Manhattan to Staten Island and take in the Statue of Liberty and amazing views of New York Harbor and the Manhattan skyline. The ferry drops off visitors at the St. George Ferry Terminal, just a short bus ride from the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. iyl

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Be Part of of the the Be part Studio studio Audience audience It's fun, and free, to attend the tapings of popular television shows filmed in New York City – from news, current affairs, comedy, sitcoms, cooking shows and entertainment programs.

The wait for tickets is often long, so it's best to write in for them far in advance. Some shows have standby options if you're willing to wait in line. See below for the addresses, schedules and other important info for NYC-based TV shows.

Today (NBC) The Today show tapes on the ground floor at the corner of West 49th Street and Rockefeller Plaza.

Ticket Info: No tickets are necessary.

Location: 30 Rockefeller Plaza (bw Fifth and Sixth Aves and W. 49th and W. 50th Sts.) Schedule: The show tapes Monday through Friday from 7 to 11am.

The Early Show (CBS) The Early Show offers viewers the chance to be on national television by joining in on the fun outdoors on the plaza. After the show, you can even go backstage and take pictures inside the studio for free.

Ticket Info: No tickets are necessary.

Location: The Early Show plaza is a ground-level set located in the General Motors Building at Trump International Plaza, next to FAO Schwarz, at Fifth Avenue and East 59th Street.

Schedule: The Early Show tapes Monday to Saturday from 7 to 9am. On weekdays, weatherman Dave Price gives the forecast outside in the plaza at 8 and 8.30am. Arrive no later than 7.15am.

Good Morning America (ABC) Good Morning America is broadcast live on weekdays at 7am.

Ticket Info: To receive tickets, submit your request via their website http://abcnews. go.com. For standby tickets, arrive by 6.45am.

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NYC Show Requirements: Studio audience members must bring a valid photo ID. Bags should not be larger than a basic purse.

Location: Times Square (at Broadway and West 44th Street) Schedule: Good Morning America tapes Monday to Friday from 7 to 9am. (There is no studio audience for the weekend edition.)

Late Show with David Letterman (CBS) David Letterman has hosted Late Show since 1993. The show airs weeknights at 11:35pm.

Ticket Info: To get tickets, register at www.cbs.com or in person at the Ed Sullivan Theater box office Monday to Thursday from 9.30am to noon, or on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm. (Do not line up prior to 9am or you will not be eligible for tickets.)

Show Requirements: You must be 18 or older to attend. Location: 1697 Broadway (bet. W. 53rd and W. 54th Sts.) Schedule: Late Show tapes two shows on Monday at 4.30 and 7pm, one show each on Tuesday and Wednesday at 5.30pm and one show on Thursday at 4.30pm.

Saturday Night Live (NBC) Saturday Night Live is a live comedy and entertainment show that features celebrity guest hosts and musical performances. The show is a hot ticket among visitors and New Yorkers alike.

Ticket Info: Tickets are given out once a year through a lottery. To enter, send an email to snltickets@nbcuni. com during the month of August only. Include all contact information and do not request a specific date.

One email per household allowed. Winners will each receive two tickets for a specific show date and performance (dress rehearsal or live show). You will be notified only in the event that you are selected.

Requirements: Show Requirements You must be 16 or older to attend.

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Travel > Destination Local

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Byron

BYRON BLISS Australia’s most easterly point, Byron Bay is a haven of culture and creativity.

Immerse yourself in alternative therapies, or fivestar spa luxury, a drumming class, or a gallery tour.

By Jeni Bone

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hatever appeals to your palate and personal psyche, it’s dished in lavish helpings at Byron. There’s something on every night in the cafes and on the streets of Byron during summer (and all year round), from fire-twirlers, buskers, dancers, poetry and live performances.

Each Saturday night, there’s the Artisan Market at Railway Park, specialising in local art, craft and creative products.

Byron Bay, Byron Shire and the Hinterland are famous for the creative and industrious people who make incredible pieces for the shops and galleries scattered throughout the district. On the first Sunday of each month is the Byron Bay market in Butler Street, and on every other Saturday and Sunday there’s a market somewhere.

Plus there's a wonderful Farmers Market on Thursday mornings in Byron Bay, and on Saturday mornings in Bangalow.

Byron is on the doorstep of the Northern Rivers region with its rainforest, picturesque towns and villages and fertile countryside filled with smaller farms growing produce such as macadamia nuts, coffee, blueberries, lychees, stone fruit, dairy goods and cheese. Many of these local crops are available direct from the growers at one of the many markets.

No visit is complete without a spa experience focusing on health, healing, wellbeing and beauty. Byron Bay is famous for its alternative therapies, as well as high end spas and resorts.

For what’s on and the pick of the region’s attractions, your first port of call should be the Byron Visitor Centre, Old Station Master’s Cottage, Johnson St, Byron Bay. www.visitbyronbay.com

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Travel > Destination Local

by name by nature

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dyllically positioned in 45 acres of rainforest, The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa is the place to do as much or as little as you choose.

Whether visiting for business or leisure, family or as a couple, the options are endless.

The rainforest atmosphere embraces you on entry. Just five minutes south of Byron Bay, it is a self-contained microcosm of wellness and tranquillity, with all of the mod cons and luxuries of a 5-star spa resort.

Stroll along the boardwalks that wend their way through verdant vines and ferns to Tallow Beach, perfect for yoga, a morning walk or just watching the sun rise over the ocean. Relax by the 25m infinity pool or poolside sauna or experience the ultimate indulgence in the luxurious day spa. For the active, there are top notch tennis courts and a fully equipped gym. If you’re a devotee

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or would like to try it, join in with the complimentary yoga on-site each morning for an authentic Byron way to greet the day!

Each of the 92 one-bedroom suites, designed in harmony with the bushland surrounds, has its own kitchen, separate lounge and dining area, plasma TV as well as two enclosed balconies.

Luxurious bathrooms have deep free standing bathtubs and separate shower and the California king beds ensure dreamtime exist each and every slumber.

John and Lyn Parche are the managers of this sublime resort, having worked in resorts all over the world. As Lyn explains: “Here the concept was to facilitate an experience that allowed the beautiful natural surroundings to sooth and nurture our guests.”

The formula is a success, with Condé Naste Traveller and the world’s luxury tourism media declaring it one of the

country’s gems. “We have many guests who return each year, many more than once a year,” says Lyn. “They tell us that the resort becomes more lush and beautiful over time. We have also added more unique local artworks, both in the suites as well as installations around the resort grounds. Byron is home to immense creativity and we can showcase some of that here.”

The accolades include being voted Number 2 Spa in Australia for 2010, as well as awards for cuisine and the performance of head chef, Gavin Hughes, who has developed a national reputation for creative, largely organic cuisine crafted from local produce. Gavin goes that extra mile to take resort guests on trips to the farmers market weekly to meet the local growers.

The relatively youthful resort (opened in 2004) underwent a comprehensive refresh this year, bringing it up to Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Byron

sparkling as new condition. Lyn says 2011 promises a host of exciting events including the annual Vogue Living Champagne Dinner and many more activities and local attractions for guests.

“We believe the resort is perfect for anybody that is in need of a break and wants to escape their everyday routine. We find that many guests celebrate special occasions with us such as birthdays and anniversaries, even expecting parents who take advantage of our ‘Babymoon’ package and enjoy a holiday together before their bundle of joy arrives. Of course the resort is also a beautiful wedding venue and honeymoon destination. We also host many small meetings and business events and the delegates enjoy the resort so much that they return for a holiday with their loved ones.” iyl

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Travel > Cruise

Cruise Control ONCE THE SOLE PRESERVE OF THE WEALTHY, MOVIE STARS AND GLITTERATI, CRUISING IS ENJOYING A RESURGENCE, ACCESSIBLE TO ALL AND ADAPTABLE TO EVERY TASTE AND INCLINATION.

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Cruise Control

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espite the global economic crisis the Australian cruise industry reached new heights in 2009, with the number of Australians taking a cruise holiday rising 11 per cent to a record 366,721, according to figures from The International Cruise Council Australasia (ICCA) Australian Cruise Industry Report, compiled by InTouch Data.

The local cruise industry experienced its fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth – phenomenal given the slump in other travel and tourism sectors.

ICCA Chairman Karen Christensen said the results followed the industry’s largest ever cruise season, with more ships sailing in Australasian waters than ever before over the 2009-10 summer.

“As the economic downturn hit last year, it seems Australians really hunted for value from their holidays and we’re delighted to report a record number chose to cruise,” Ms Christensen said.

“It’s a fantastic result, particularly when you consider that so many industries reported a decline in 2009.”

The annual number of Australians taking a cruise holiday had almost doubled since 2005, when 186,666 passengers took to sea. The South Pacific continued to be the most popular destination for Australian cruisers in 2009, attracting 137,473 passengers and accounting for 38 per cent of the total cruise market. A surge in the number of ships

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Travel > Cruise

offering cruises to New Zealand and around Australia resulted in the largest growth in passenger numbers attributed to New Zealand, which chalked up an 74.5 per cent rise (35,329 passengers).

Meanwhile Australia attracted 66,759 passengers, a 51.5 per cent increase, making it the second most favoured destination.

Ms Christensen said that the economic downturn, along with an increase in local capacity, appeared to have influenced cruisers’ choice of destination with small falls in the total number of passengers travelling to longer haul flycruise options such as Alaska and Europe.

Overall, the proportion of Australians taking a cruise holiday has risen from 0.6 per cent of the population in 2002 to 1.7 per cent in 2009, overtaking many European markets and comparing favourably with the penetration of more mature cruise markets such as the UK and North America (2.5 and 2.9 per cent respectively).

The data also revealed a growth in the proportion of longer cruises of 15+ days as well as shorter cruise breaks of under four days Meanwhile estimated annual

sea days rose by 16 per cent to almost 4 million in 2009 as the number of cruise passengers increased along with the popularity of longer cruises.

ICCA general manager, Brett Jardine said the increasing appeal of cruising is down to one thing: “Value”.

“It’s all inclusive,” he added. “The last couple of years, during tough times, people are looking for value for money and to make their dollar go further.

For the family market, said Jardine, there are more than enough kid-friendly activities to keep the little ones busy while parents can experience a genuine holiday. “There are kids’ clubs for entertainment, with more gadgets and games than they have at home, as well as the excitement of travel. Parents get a break as well knowing their kids are safe and looked after by qualified crew.”

For those anticipating “being cooped up”, cruising has changed since the days of nautical miles and miles at sea. “There are many different types of cruises,” explained Jardine. “There is no need to be cooped up, with regular day trips. And in the case of expedition cruising, it’s all about what’s off the ship!”

People looking to find the ship and itinerary most suited to their requirements need only consult an accredited, specialist cruise travel agency. “When you are qualified by an expert, your requirements and style will be matched to your ideal experience.”

And it is successful – both the matching and the cruise experience. “The repeat factor of cruising is over 90%. Cruising has that effect on people.” iyl

you get a different view every day, and the entertainment, food and activities are all included.

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Cruising stands out like beacon. Your accommodation comes with you, you get a different view every day, and the entertainment, food and activities are all included.”

No matter what your inclination, there are a myriad of options. There’s the allure of the interaction, activities and camaraderie, or you can retreat for a nice quiet getaway. “It’s a cliché, but it’s spot on. You can do as little or as much as you like.”

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Cruise Control

CRUISING TOP10 1. Australia

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ruising has been undergoing a renaissance the past 10 years, finding new markets across all demographics – retirees, couples, singles, families and any other combination of these.

To put it in numbers, international passenger growth since 2000 has risen an average of 7.4% per annum, despite economic downturns and fluctuations in the fortunes of other travel options. The cruise industry prides itself on being relatively “recession resistant”, despite rising fuel prices, the stock market uncertainty, the housing market creash, corporate restructuring, stimulus plans and bailouts, and most significantly, fragile consumer confidence.

Cruise companies have the ability to adapt to a changing climate. They can move and redeploy vessels to areas of value and are viewed by consumers as “a product with the highest perceived value for money spent”.

In this age of code share, queues, baggage limits and innumerable security measures, if you love travel and all the creature comforts and camaraderie of life onboard, cruising could be just the ticket for 2011.

Around the globe there are travel expos, proactive and informed cruise specialists and amazing discounts, but if you’re looking for inspiration, Cruise Critic recently published its top 10 destinations by boat. Look to the horizon and start planning your dream holiday.

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Avoid long coach tours, time-consuming drives and expensive internal flights, by cruising along the coasts, stopping at all the best tourist spots, from the Great Barrier Reef in Qld to WA’s Ningaloo Reef and everywhere in between. From Australia, the idyllic islands and cultures of the South Pacific are a mere tootle away.

2. Vietnam/Cambodia Both offer beautiful scenery and vibrant cultures but making your own travel arrangements to tour these exotic destinations can be hazardous. Taking a cruise along the Mekong River is an excellent way to enjoy the scenery and cultural diversity, with all the comforts of home.

3. Middle East A cruise offers a gentle introduction to the region and its many Emirates.

4. Alaska The most relaxing way to enjoy this fascinating region, a cruise offers spectacular views and generally the best way to see the wildlife.

the added safety of returning to a ship each night.

6. Northern Europe Some of the Scandinavian countries in this region are expensive to explore, so the inclusive pricing offered by cruise lines can make the trip more affordable.

7. Western Mediterranean Explore a new town, and new beaches, every day.

8. British Isles Avoid the traffic and expensive accommodation, plus visit more remote places such as the Orkney Islands, while meeting people from around the world.

9. Europe’s Rivers River cruising has added some wonderful new ships and more active excursions, allowing passengers to visiting several countries in a single trip.

10. Caribbean Flying between islands is expensive and eats in to valuable relaxation time, so consider a Caribbean cruise and just bask by the pool until the next port of call.

5. South America This massive continent is easily explored during day trips, with

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1 0 0 S P E C I A L C A R S C E L E B R AT I N G 1 0 0 S P E C I A L Y E A R S

I N T RO D U CI N G T H E LI M I T ED ED I T I O N 1 0 0T H A N N I V ERSA RY G T ALFA ROMEO 3 . 2L V6 ENGINE 18” ALLOYS, RED BR AKE CALLIPERS SPORTS LE ATHER SE ATS SATIN EFFEC T SIDE MIRRORS SPORTS PEDALS BLUE&ME ™ PHONE SYSTEM ASK FOR A TEST DRIVE TODAY

A L FA R O M E O . C O M . A U

KNOW YOU’RE RE ALIVE

Detour > Motoring

Something to get excited about.

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Volvo S60

Ever since pint-sized English actor, Dudley Moore came up with the “boxy but good” campaign in the film, Crazy People, the Swedish brand has had to wear the sensible, safe and somewhat tame tag.

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hen the new generation burst through, with sculpted more aggressive lines, svelte shaping and more attention to the art of the motor car – apparently inspired by the soaring peaks and dramatically hewn cliffs of its Scandinavian heritage.

The all-new S60 range is testament to this ethos and has been heralded as “the most dynamic Volvo sedan ever produced”.

Not only is it decidedly sensual from the outside, and the epitome of luxury within, it racks up a series of “firsts” that Volvo hopes will make it a class-leader.

First vehicle worldwide to feature Pedestrian Detection and Avoidance technology, first sedan with Advanced Stability Control, and the first Volvo to offer new 2.0 Gasoline Direct Turbo Injection (GTDi) engine.

Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March this year, the all-new Volvo S60 is entering one of the toughest automotive segments, staking its claim with “a new extroverted attitude never before seen from Volvo”.

The marketing collateral states “the Volvo S60 will appeal to the emotions of buyers thanks to its sporty design, dynamic driving properties, innovative technologies and, of course, groundbreaking safety standards.”

Volvo Cars President and CEO Stephen Odell explains: “The sporty design delivers a visual promise of enthusiastic driving characteristics and I can assure you that the all-new S60 truly lives up to that promise.

Its driving properties are better than those of any previous Volvo. What’s more, the car’s innovative new technologies help you become both a better and a safer driver.

Buyers in this segment know exactly what they want, Odell continues.

“The emphasis is on emotional stance, sporty design and dynamic driving properties. Success in this segment means a lot for the brand’s image and we are convinced that the all-new S60 will be one of the strongest contenders,” he says.

The compact, yet roomy S60 will be available in three models: the 224kW 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-charged petrol T6, Volvo’s recently updated 151kW 2.4-litre five-cylinder twin-turbo diesel D5, and introducing Volvo’s new 177kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder GTDi (Gas Turbo Direct Injection) petrol engine in T5 guise.

Power for both the T6 and D5 models will be distributed to all four wheels by Volvo’s All Wheel Drive system and mated to Volvo’s sixspeed Adaptive Geatronic transmission, offering the choice of manual gear selection or a more responsive ‘Sport’ mode.

This transmission also features a neutral control function, which lowers fuel consumption and reduces emissions by automatically switching from Drive to Neutral when the car comes to a complete stop.

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Detour > Motoring

Holy Hulme!

You may have seen New Zealand’s Hulme CanAm sports car at its local debut at the Australian International Motor Show in October, but it’s worth another look.

Powered by a 447kW, 600Nm, 7.0-litre Chevrolet V8, the Kiwi supercar is named after the late Denny Hulme (1967 F1 World Champion) and is coloured in the trademark orange of Hulme and his mate Bruce McLaren. Hulme and McLaren dominated the American Can-Am sports car series in a range of racers designed and built by McLaren (Hulme won that series in 1968 and 1970). Hulme Supercars Managing Director, Jock Freemantle, says the CanAm was intended as a sports car which can do double duty – on the roads during the week and track days at weekends.

The mid-engined two-seater has been described by critics as nicely styled, modern and a triumph of Kiwi ingenuity.

Swedes power play

Volvo Cars is working with Powercell Sweden AB to develop a fuel cell which could massively extend the range of electric-only vehicles without carbon dioxide emissions. The technology could extend an electric vehicle’s range between battery recharges by as much as 250kms – in addition to the range available by the battery pack. If successful, this breakthrough would provide electric-only vehicles with the day-to-day convenience of conventional petrol-engined vehicles.

Called ‘Range Extenders’, the technology consists of a fuel cell with a reformer which breaks down a liquid fuel – such as petrol – to create hydrogen gas which

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is then converted into electrical energy to power the vehicle’s electric motor.

The companies claim the technology is also suitable for renewable fuels. The beauty of this system is it will potentially enable vehicle manufacturers to use smaller batteries in electric-only vehicles, providing the interior space and cargo carrying volume demanded by customers.

Current electric-only vehicles are forced to fill valuable passenger space and boots with batteries and ancillary components.

Volvo plans to have two prototypes – based on the Volvo C30 DRIVe Electric ready for testing early in 2012.

New gen Mustangs At this year’s Las Vegas SEMA show (2-5 November), the Ford stand showcased nine customised 2011 Mustangs along with the 2012 Mustang Boss 302 and the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca. Both Boss 302 vehicles are both powered by a 440-hp, 5.0-liter V-8 rated at 380 pounds feet of torque.

The Laguna Seca is a stripped-down, reinforced version of the Boss 302 with improved handling. The rear seats have been replaced by an X-bar support to stiffen the chassis. Ford has also upgraded the springs and the rear stabilizer bar.

The T5 model’s new engine will drive the front wheels and feature Volvo’s Powershift dual-clutch automatic transmission.

In addition to benefiting from classleading standard safety features including City Safety, Advanced Stability Control (including roll over sensor and torque vectoring), Intelligent Driver Information System (IDIS) and Pyrotechnical seatbelt pretensions for all passengers – plus Volvo’s usual array of standard active and passive safety systems – the all-new Volvo S60 introduces Australian buyers to a world first innovation.

Volvo’s pedestrian detection and avoidance system will be offered for the first time in its S60 range.

Available as an option (Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist function and Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and Pedestrian Detection) or as part of Volvo’s Drive Support Pack, the pedestrian detection system introduces revolutionary technology to the segment making it available for Australian customers for the first time.

The system, which has been in development for over 10 years and tested in some of the world’s most densely populated cities, aims to protect our most vulnerable road users by either avoiding a collision or significantly reducing the impact speed.

Using a camera and radar, the system is a driver aid that is designed to activate in the event of driver distraction. In takes just 0.5 seconds for the system to detect a pedestrian and determine whether or not it is in danger of being hit by the oncoming car. If so, an audible alert and visual display on the windscreen is activated to alert the driver. If the driver fails to respond full braking power is applied. This entire process takes under one second.

At speeds of up to 35 km/h an accident with a pedestrian can be avoided, while at higher speeds the focus is on reducing the impact speed. For example, if the vehicle is travelling at 50 km/h the impact speed is reduced to just 25 km/h – the difference from free-falling from 10 metres to just 3 metres. Put simply, it is the difference between life and death.

The all-new S60 will also introduce Volvo’s new infotainment system, which features a five or seven inch multifunction screen, full iPod and Bluetooth connectivity as standard combined with the convenience of steering wheel control and voice activation.

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Volvo S60

In addition, the interior will feature Volvo’s trademark simple yet intuitive Scandinavian design, full leather trim and an interior that complies with the strict international standard Oeko-Tex 100, which ensures that all material and metals are free from hazardous substances.

Commenting on the introduction of the all-new S60 range, Alan Desselss,

managing director of Volvo Car Australia, said the model would be a game-changer for Volvo.

“The all-new Volvo S60 range will bring a new level of excitement, performance and style to the Volvo brand. We have high expectations for this model and believe it will be a key part of our aggressive growth plans for 2011 and beyond.” iyl

THE ALL-NEW VOLVO S60 S60 T5 S60 D5 AWD S60 T6 AWD

$51,950* $57,950* $64,950*

Driver Support Pack: $4,990 • Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and Pedestrian Detection • Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist Function (ACC) • Lane Departure Warning (LDW) • Driver Alert Control (fatigue warning system) • Blind Spot Identification System (BLIS) The S60 is available from December. www.volvocars.com/au * Pricing does not include dealer delivery and other statutory on road costs.

w w w.imagineyourlifetsyle.com.au

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Detour > Explore

CAR RY O N

CA R AVA N N I N G Way back at the turn of the century, 2001 to be exact, the term “Grey Nomad” appeared in newspapers, marketing tomes and on the radar of brands serious about reaching this cashed-up consumer group. By Jeni Bone

O

lder travelers, they asserted, were far from being over the hill. They were more likely to be climbing it! With time, good health, superannuation and a thirst for packing in as much as they can, these Boomers+ generations are camping, 4-wheel-driving, caving, trekking skiing, backpacking and generally, putting younger generations to shame with their energy and enthusiasm.

These mostly retired or semi-retired senior travelers form an important segment of the market. With money to spare (SKINS was coined at the same time: Spend Kids’ Inheritance Now), Grey Nomads have a passion for getting out there. Remember, this is the generation that invented rebellion, blue jeans, rock and roll and Woodstock!

The Caravan RV and Accommodation Australia believes that the rise in interest

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in life on the road, whether that’s for a month, or a couple of years, is that it promises an antidote to our hectic, urban lifestyles and is the reward for a lifetime of hard work.

In our increasingly technology-driven work lives, many of us seek balance through simple, slow and natural holidays. However, it’s sometimes hard to know exactly what you’re after.

Thanks to the versatility and freedom of caravanning and camping holidays, and these days, the broad range of parks and grounds to choose from, you can determine your own style of holiday.

No longer simply a place to rest and relax, these days many modern caravan holiday parks have high quality facilities on offer at a fraction of the price of a resort.

Caravan, RV & Accommodation Industry of Australia (CRVA) CEO, Ben Yates says the emergence of caravan holiday parks with theme-park features as well as traditional back-to-nature parks

with modern facilities have helped the caravanning and camping industry thrive in Australia.

“Caravan holiday park owners are rising to the occasion to ensure that domestic and international holiday-makers alike can afford to take a break in some of the most scenic destinations Australia has to offer,” he says.

“While caravan holiday parks still offer guests the opportunity to relax, many also offer families the opportunity to keep the kids entertained with organised activities and first-class facilities over the summer break.”

Australians are increasingly looking to get better value out of their holidays, driving the caravanning and RV market.

“The caravan and holiday park industry provides some of the most affordable holiday options in Australia,” says Yates.

“Our research also shows that people really value and enjoy the sense of friendship and family that is unique to

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

this lifestyle.”

And those who invest in their own RV can be sure of strong resale. “Modern RVs have some of the best resale value ratings in the tourism sector,” asserts Yates.

“With RVs to suit all tastes, requirements and budgets, Australians are in a great position to invest in a vehicle that will continue to provide for the family without really depreciating.”

RVs of today are often decked out with more “bells and whistles” than our homes! A great example is Australian owned company Sunliner Caravans and Motorhomes, which are synonymous with quality and high end style. In particular, the flagship Mont Carlo range hosts the latest technologies including strip LED lights, remote controlled blinds, flat screen televisions and bars that rise from concealed panels.

Sunliner can also deck out your RV with full leather upholstery, stainless steel appliances and double glazed windows for maximum comfort. There recent development of ThermoTough™ wall construction ensures that all Sunliner products have an extremely strong exterior to protect your home away from home.

For the family, you can’t go past Royal Flair Caravans’ Family Flair Range which is stacked full of great features that will keep the entire family entertained. Mum and dad can cook up a storm on either the foldout BBQ or indoor grill while the kids play the Play Station 2 on the stylish flat screen television. Be sure to speak to the friendly team at Royal Flair about their top of the range Vanroyce Range of caravans as well which has plenty of amazing features in a package that won’t break the budget.

Some top spots to park or ©walk in walk out©

RV Nirvana:

A

new range of luxury, ecofriendly, safari-style tents available in caravan holiday parks across Australia have made camping out under the stars more comfortable than ever.

Caravan, RV & Accommodation Industry of Australia (CRVA) CEO, Ben Yates says “walk in, walk out” camping is relatively new to Australia, and is proving to be very popular with people looking to get back to nature while still enjoying their creature comforts.

“Camping is a relaxing way to enjoy the great outdoors, but many travelers just don’t have the time to buy all the equipment that is necessary for a trip away,” he says. “Walk in, walk out camping is a hassle-free way to enjoy the experience of camping, without the tent pegs.”

BIG4 ADELAIDE SHORES CARAVAN PARK is home to six sustainable Eco Tents, the first of their kind in the state. Each Eco Tent is furnished with a double bed and a bunk bed, internal light and power sources, storage cabinets, an esky and two shaded desks. The tents boast large windows to lap up the cooling breezes and the overhanging roof can reduce the temperature within the tents by up to six degrees Celsius in summer. In fact, the adjacent amenity blocks have solar panels specially installed in order to power the eco tents and achieve carbon-neutral status.

TWEED COAST HOLIDAY PARKS have installed a range of ‘Surfari Tents’ to cater for guests wanting a closer experience with nature at both Hastings Point Holiday Park and Kingscliff North Holiday Park in northern NSW. Tweed Coast Holiday Parks’ executive manager, Richard Adams says tents are elevated on a platform, to ensure guests enjoy a sea view of Kingscliff or an uninterrupted view over the creek at Hastings Point.

“Since fitting three tents at Kingscliff North, they have been extremely popular with guests wanting a more naturecentric holiday,” he says.

CAIRNS COCONUT HOLIDAY RESORT is renowned Australia wide as a fantastic park to visit whether with friends or family. It has won “Best Park in Australia” four times and has plenty of features including an 18 hole mini golf

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Caravanning

course, several swimming pools, and a water park with four water slides and over sixty interactive water features. You can cook up a BBQ with friends on one of their eight BBQs located around the site and be sure to check out their luxury villas and condominiums fully decked out with flat screens and plenty of room for the family.

Featuring spectacular ocean views and an amazing array of facilities, the MERIMBULA BEACH HOLIDAY PARK is a great choice for a summer holiday. For the family there is the jumping pillow, fully equipped playground, games room, tennis courts and a heated pool. They have a wide range of accommodation options from family cabins to the Honeymoon Spa Retreat and Beach House with 90% of accommodation featuring ocean views.

With a brand new conference room, modern facilities and a fantastic range of accommodation, the park is also ideal for groups, reunions, weddings and conferences alike.

Opened just one year, BIG4 BELLARINE HOLIDAY PARK was built from the ground up to suit the family market. The park has an abundance of facilities including indoor heated pool and Water Park, pedal go-karts, adventure playground with jumping pillows as well as AFL goal posts, basketball court, soccer nets, cricket pitch and a tennis court! For those with kids, there is an indoor toddler playroom and a Kids’ Club that is run over the school holidays and long weekends hosting a wide range of activities. There are plenty of accommodation options available, from the romantic Vineyard Suite for two, right up to a six person unit. iyl

CARAVAN SHOWS FOR EARLY 2011 February 23-27 South Australian Caravan & Camping Show www.caravanandcampingsa.com.au March 10-15, 2011 Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow www.ciavic.com.au March 17-21, 2011 Perth Caravan & Camping Show www.caravanandcampingshow.com.au For more information about caravanning, travel tips and more www.welovethiscountry.com.au

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Photo: Robert Wallace; Tourism NSW

Detour > Marine

Pisces

Visitors to Sydney, and indeed Sydneysiders themselves, would be surprised to know the abundance of game fish just beyond the harbour for which the city is famous.

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Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Boating & Fishing

T

he old-salts at Motor Yacht Charters Sydney, are experts at locating the best sport fish on the coast, but times ahve changed since Hemingway battled the black marlin. Guest onboard Pisces enjoy the experience surrounded by $3.5m in technology, equipment and luxury features.

The Riviera 56 Open Flybridge luxury cruiser is decked out with a shiny ‘fighting chair’, a swag of Ian Miller rods (enough to fill a very plush cabin!) and all the technical and navigational equipment you would expect of a seriously advanced game fishing boat, Pisces is exceptional.

Fishing fanatics and amateur anglers alike will be impressed by Pisces specs.

Custom built by Riviera, she is as stylish as she is practical. The massive cockpit comes complete with a capacious livebait tank with tuna tubes, as well as inbuilt video cameras to capture lasting memories of the catch of the day.

The complement of 20 Ian Miller rods onboard was crafted by one of the world’s top three master rod makers and the kit comprises Championship Shimano reels, 6kg to 130kg reels, and Championship lures by Hawaiian, Joey Lee and Pakula.

State of the art navigation equipment including 3D GPS aim to guide anglers to the biggest and best of Sydney’s game fish. Those who are less experienced at the sport of game fishing can learn under guidance from the best. Skipper Michael Tess is a champion game fisher with 35 years local and international experience.

Spend a few moments with Michael and the world of game fishing, just off the Sydney Harbour environs, opens w w w.imagineyourlifetsyle.com.au

up to even the uninitiated, as he reels off tantalising destinations like Browns Mountain, The Bait Station and Heatons Hill about 46 nm off the coast, and as far north as Norah Canons and far south as the Southern Canons of Port Hacking.

As for secret drop zones, Mick won’t be drawn. “We’ve got a few little places we like to go, that people might not be conversant with. I know where to go to get really nice Snapper, but we keep a secret. And the same with the Kingies.

“For clients, we just take them to where the fish are firing. There are 20 or 30 places, but it’s a matter of where they’re biting. We check up with the pro fishers to see where they’re headed, look at the weather and conditions, water

Jew Fish, you can take them home and eat them.”

Pisces is a luxurious battle wagon, which took six months from ordering to completion and is tricked up with around one million dollars worth of options, including $180,000 in game fishing electronics alone. The vessel boasts two state rooms with ensuites, and another bathroom with laundry washer and dryer.

There’s a full galley with convection oven, microwave and cooktop, and several fridges and freezers, an ice maker and desalinator.

“She’s powered by twin 1015hp caterpillars, so even loaded up, Pisces performs,” asserts Gerard, adding that in heavy seas, the boat can attain a high

Fishing fanatics and amateur anglers alike will be impressed by Pisces’ specs temperature, time of year.”

All year round, but particularly during high season, September to the end of February, the coast off Sydney abounds with game fish species such as Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, numerous types of sharks, yellow fin and striped tuna, and even Blue Marlin, Black Marlin and Striped Marlin.

There is also plenty of action for anglers in the bottom fish species, like Flathead, Snapper and Jew Fish.

“That is half the fun,” adds Gerard McCord, Sales Manager of MYCS. “You fight them, bring them in, video footage of the action, photos all round, tag them and let them go. Game fish are tag and release, by choice, because we’re concerned about supporting sustainable sport fishing. But with bottom fish, like

speed of 30 knots, and cruising 24 knots.

Game fishing expeditions are full catered, offering a selection of cuisine and beverages. The vessel has capacity for up to 10 people, plus crew, for offshore game fishing. Pisces also doubles as a unique function venue for those seeking a more intimate experience for up to 30 guests within Sydney Harbour.

Groups can choose from a range of pick up points along Sydney Harbour including Sydney’s King Street Wharf.

All inclusive game fishing charters for 10 people start from $5,500 for up to eight hours. iyl For more information visit www.mycsydney.com.au

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Detour > Explore

MarlinMecca O The reefs and waters that so confounded Captain Cook are now a magnet for marine biologists, scientists and game fishing enthusiasts. By Jeni Bone

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ne thousand six hundred and twenty four (1624) km’s northwest of Brisbane, Lizard Island is located right on the Great Barrier Reef, just north of Cooktown, and is Australia’s northernmost island beach resort. It was so named for its plentiful lizards by Captain Cook when he ended up in its shallows on 12 August 1770. Some 240 years on, Lizard is home to one of the most important reef research stations in the world, as well as a luxurious resort that is popular with those looking for utter seclusion, ample accoutrements and azure sea as far as one can see.

The Island boasts 24 powdery-white beaches and 40 luxurious suites. Cuisine is one of its key drawcards. Ospreys Restaurant has a menu that changes daily, showcasing the finest local produce and

freshest seafood.

The accolades are as plentiful as the wildlife. Lizard Island was voted as the top hotel in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific and one of the top 100 hotels and resorts in the world at the 2008 Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards. In the 2009 Gold List Awards, Lizard Island was voted second in the category 'Best Australian Resort'.

Lizard Island is a National Park covering 1,013 hectares with 24 sandy beaches and a lagoon. Our resort is easily accessible from Cairns.

The waters surrounding Lizard Island boast some of the most exciting fishing in the world. From September to December each year Black Marlin, some weighing a massive 1,000 pounds or more, are caught here.

Thanks to the rigorously enforced tag and release policy operating for the past 10 years, the chances of catching (and

Imagine Two | Summer 2011

Lizard Island releasing!) a legendary ‘Grander’ in the waters off Lizard are considered by the experts better than anywhere else on earth. Hemingway would be envious.

But it’s not exclusively for old salts.

Whether you’re a seasoned big game fisherman, or it’s your first time in the chair, the resort and plenty of other game fishing operators in the area are on hand to make the experience memorable.

The famous Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic is held in October, for seven day, attracting 70 to 100 anglers from all over Australia and around the world, eager to taste the thrill of the pursuit and fight one-on-one with one of the Marlin species.

Bob Lowe is President of the Lizard Island Game Fishing Club, host of the Classic, which is scheduled to suit the moon and tides and consequently, changes its dates each year.

Although a resident of Sydney, Bob heads to Lizard each year on his Mariner 43 ‘Rebel’ as religiously as the fish he chases, clocking up 28 years this year.

Lizard is surrounded by the Coral Sea, the breeding ground of the massive Marlin of game fishing legend.

Bob is adamant the tournament and fishing in the region offers “the best heavy tackle fishing in the world”. This year’s event attracted 76 anglers from 11 countries, all of them pitting their wiles and weapons against the Black, Blue and Striped Marlin.

What appeals most to veterans like Bob

is “getting the right rigging, the skill of the boat driver and angler to locate, land and then tag and release the biggest fish possible”.

Anglers’ data and observations are invaluable for the Australian Institute of Marine Science researchers interested in the breeding and behavioural habits of the Marlin, their population numbers and their response to rising sea temperatures.

The Game Fish Tagging Program of NSW Department of Primary Industries has relied on charter and private angler data for its information on migrations, species numbers and recapture rates.

Bob says it’s a part of game fishing his members embrace with gusto, to ensure the future of the sport and preservation of the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem.

“There are Green Zones where we may not fish,” he explains, “but there is plenty of area where the tournament covers – from Jewel Reef to Cairns, starting at Lizard Island each day.”

This year the event was held 17 to 23 October, while the 2011 event has been slated for 1 to 8 October, to coincide with the moon, tides and best fishing.

There is no place like Lizard, Bob asserts.

“It’s a great destination. Competitors stay at the Lodge, or raft up to mother ships, or live aboard charter or private boats during the tournament. We keep gentlemen’s hours, starting at 11am and finishing at 5pm, so there’s plenty of time to enjoy snorkelling, diving, lazing around and soaking up the scenery.” iyl

Flat out like a Lizard Fishing: Guests on the island can enjoy fishing all year round, or come especially for the Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic.

OUTER REEF FISHING The outer reef fishing grounds can be reached in 50 minutes. The fish caught in this area include Mackerel, Tuna, Trevally, Mahimahi, Sailfish and even small Black Marlin at certain times of the year.

Fishing tackle of the highest quality is provided.

INNER REEF FISHING A short 15-minute boat ride takes you to the inner reef fishing grounds. This spectacular area is comprised of three reef systems, which are home to an amazing variety of fish including Mackerel, Queenfish, Trevally and other pelagic species.

LIGHT TACKLE FISHING Some of the most exciting light tackle sports fishing can be enjoyed on Lizard Island. The motorboat, ‘Fascination III’ is available for both full and half-day charters, which can be tailored to suit guests’ needs.

Many of the fish caught are of superb eating quality and can be prepared by the resort chefs.

Lizard Island is accessed by air from Cairns Airport in northern Queensland, Australia. Cairns Airport is accessible from all major Australian airports and directly from some cities in Asia. www.lizardisland.com.au www.lizardislandgfc.asn.au w w w.imagineyourlifetsyle.com.au

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Bookend:

Pete Evans is a chef, author and co-host of My Kitchen Rules, Series 2 returning soon to Channel 7.

WHAT DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE OR DO WHEN YOU “GREW UP”?

Ha ha ha. Believe it or not, I wanted to be an accountant! I never had any aspirations to be a chef at all. Ideally, I would love to have been a professional surfer, but unfortunately I didn’t inherit the right genes for that to happen.

AT SCHOOL, WHAT WERE YOUR MAIN INTERESTS AND MAIN AREAS OF EXCELLING? I was a dedicated student most of the time and the subjects I loved were maths, science,

...I WILL GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND PURSUE MY DREAM OF BECOMING AN ACCOUNTANT... accounting and geography. I loved anything tangible and that made sense to me. I was horrible at English and because I failed at English but excelled in my other subjects, I didn’t get enough marks to get me into university to be an accountant, which is why I decided to become a chef.

HOW DID THIS INDUSTRY FIRST OPEN UP FOR YOU? During my high school years, I worked in fast food establishments (McDonalds and Sizzler) to understand the importance of working for money and also to “grow up” and not be a bludger, basically. So from those early days I really enjoyed the process behind a restaurant’s make up – the systems, the organisation, the team work and ultimately the service industry.

So when I didn’t get into university I thought I should get a trade behind me and I looked at all the trades available, plumber, mechanic, electrician etc ,and the one that made the most sense to make my life better was cooking. I thought ‘once I get my trade behind me, I will go back to school and pursue my dream of becoming an accountant’. And at least I would be able cook well for myself and my family for the rest of my life. So it was a common sense decision to be a chef.

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HOW DID YOU VIEW WORKING? My parents had instilled in me, by leading by example, that work was very important and you should be the best and always push yourself to be better than your competition. My parents worked seven days a week, morning and night when they were starting out and I have taken onboard that work ethic. Now I try to work smarter and look for opportunities to grow and expand my business at every opportunity, while encouraging my staff to take on lots more responsibility and growing and evolving themselves. I think it is so important to let your staff evolve with you and also to surround yourself with the best team you can, and hopefully they are a lot smarter than you, so they can see opportunities as well.

AS YOU’VE MATURED, HAS YOUR ATTITUDE CHANGE TOWARDS MONEY? Yes, I started out in my apprenticeship earning $3 an hour. I moved out of home when I was 17 and lost my safety net of living with my parents.

I thought, ‘if I am to grow and mature and learn the importance of money I need to throw myself in the deep end’, so I have always, since day one, worked anywhere from 70 to 110 hours a week. Basically I have tried to not go broke, but also to work harder than anyone next to me, not only for monetary reasons but to be the best in my field. Money for me isn’t the goal. I love to push myself and challenge myself on a daily basis and I don’t want to look back and think ‘what if?’ I am on an amazing journey which I have created for myself and I actually think I am still at the starting line for what I want to achieve.

DO YOU IN PLACE A PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS, TRAUMA COVER AND LIFE INSURANCE? Yes to all of these.

HAVE YOU HAD PROFESSIONAL FINANCIAL ADVICE OVER THE YEARS? Yes, through our dealings with accountants, friends and colleagues.

WHAT WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT FINANCIAL LESSONS YOU’VE LEARNT OVER THE YEARS? Don’t go broke! And there is always a way around a problem if you open your eyes and your mind.

WHAT ABOUT MONEY AND FAMILY – WHAT DO YOU WANT TO PASS ON TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT WORKING AND EARNING MONEY? I want my kids to be happy and live their lives anyway they see fit to do so. I would rather them be happy and poor than rich and miserable! The goal would be to be very wealthy and the happiest people on earth – that is my goal. iyl Imagine Two | Summer 2011

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