salt magazine - winter 12 by salt magazine

YOUR COMPLETE SUNSHINE COAST LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

WINTER ’12

from the editor Welcome to the WINTER 2012 edition of salt.

With the change of season come changes in life and so it is with the greatest of pleasures and the humblest of hearts that I find myself settling into the editor’s chair at salt for the rest of the year. To get the ball rolling I’d like to send big congratulations to salt’s creator Kate Johns on the arrival of her darling daughter, Finn. If Finn is raised with the love and understanding with which salt has been brought up, she will no doubt turn into an inquisitive and remarkable young lady. This edition we’re also celebrating salt’s seventh birthday (yippee!). And whilst there may not be big bright bows on the cover, there is something better wrapping her tightly – a captivating image of a rock pattern shot at Shelly Beach by Neil Paskin.

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Art is one of the biggest drawcards of the Sunshine Coast, so this winter writer Leigh Robshaw wound her way across the region to discover the best home studios and art galleries on offer. From page 6 you can join in the ultimate art trail packed with must-see painters, sculptors and galleries from beach to bush.

I met up with a bunch of colourful characters – vintage caravans – and their owners and share stories of their relationships on page 18. I sought to discover where the passion stems from and why the home away from home is so special. On page 34, we head to the vibrant village of Noosa Junction for a day exploring with writer Linda Read and photographer Anastasia Kariofyllidis. Tucked over the hill from Hastings Street, the Junction is a charming mish-mash of old meets new, with an assortment of op shops intertwined with delicious cafés and impressive boutiques. As always, we’d love to hear your feedback. So please drop us a line on the Speak Up page of our website and on our Facebook or Twitter pages. We’ve also recently leapt into the world of Pinterest, so if you haven’t already visited, we’d love to see you there! Stay warm and happy reading,

CLAIRE PLUSH

contributors Which piece of furniture could you never get rid of and why?

Writer Tyson Stelzer “Just a couple of months before we were married 15 years ago, I learnt woodworking and built a massive queen-sized bed from the most glorious handselected flame red New Guinea rosewood.”

Writer Linda Read “I could never get rid of the retro Genoa lounge chairs in my study (for which I recently paid a fortune to be re-upholstered), because my dog and three cats never get off them. Apparently, they’re very comfortable.”

Writer Leigh Robshaw “My Indian cabinet made of rosewood. I can see my book collection through the wrought iron floral design in the doors, and it’s so solid I imagine it will outlive me and my grandchildren’s grandchildren.”

Photographer Anastasia Kariofyllidis “My old leather sofa that my husband and I picked up for a song at auction. I feel totally ensconced in it – especially with a cosy throw blanket on a chilly winter’s night.”

cover photographer NEIL PASKIN “I have always had a passion for nature and the outdoors, so capturing it through the art of landscape photography is a challenge I relish. My aim is to capture nature’s amazing palette of colours, textures and form that may not always be there for the viewer to witness, but through my photography the scene can be enjoyed forever.” Neil’s work can be found at Markets on Bulcock in Caloundra every Sunday and online at neilpaskin.com

Thanks to other contributors Karina Eastway, Alex Fynes-Clinton, Frances Frangenheim, Benjamin Law and Michelle Weller. salt is subedited by Jane Fynes-Clinton and proofread by Jane Todd.

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ingredients

WINTER

2012

“salt is born of the purest parents, the sun and the sea” Pythagoras

IN THE LIMELIGHT

wandering with creative purpose salt meanders across the coast, tapping into the rich vein of artistic creativity that runs from mountains to sea.

love on wheels travels far A group of Sunshine Coasters explain their love for their vintage caravans.

44 close to home

TOTALLY COVERED The cover image was captured at Shelly Beach on a Canon 5D Mark II using a TS-E 24mm lens. The aperture was f/11 with a shutter speed of 4 seconds and an ISO of 100. Cover kindly supplied by Neil Paskin. neilpaskin.com

secrets Get authentic information on the best things about the Sunshine Coast from the only people who really know – the locals.

precinct feature Noosa Junction is a community centre with a rich history and a sublime location.

108 GREAT OUTDOORS salt profiles 10 skate parks on the coast.

Editorial and Advertising enquiries: Email: info@saltmagazine.com.au General Enquiries: 0408 445 219 Website: saltmagazine.com.au 4

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26 creative expressions

taste & tipples

body & beauty

table talk salt meets Peter Brettell and his wife Belinda Williams Brettell, whose restaurant Wild Rocket @ Misty’s honours the building’s history but has a deliciously modern menu.

fashion A sensational spread of the most fabulous styles for winter.

beauty Quick fixes that beautify and glamorise.

NOSH NEWS Snippets from the industry that gives us fabulous fine food.

cut & dye Hair wizardry at Noosaville’s smyths inc. salon.

HEALTH salt looks at the powerful world of art therapy.

pursuit of passion The surprising story of love and family behind Bar Sushi Noosa and Mooloolaba.

BOOKS&BLOGS Four coffee table books and blogs on food, glorious food give readers a reason to linger.

PRODUCE PEOPLE The story behind Galeru, growers and providores of wondrous bush food.

bold visionaries Fritz Schwarz makes beautiful, unique spectacle frames from wood for the world’s glasses wearers.

culinary creations The chefs from Thomas Corner share a treasured recipe.

relaxed recipes Mouth-watering, warming pies are on the menu.

salt cellar The warming, wondrous taste of shiraz is just the tipple for winter.

ARTISTS Two artists whose work is on display in the Sunshine Coast Art Prize 2D and 3D exhibitions share their inspiration. OFF THE WALL salt meets renowned artist and adventurer Ando, whose artworks fine and colossal have awed the world. art DATES The Sunshine Coast has some of the best art galleries in the world. Find out what will be on show, where in the winter months. art SPACE salt’s very own gallery space, featuring some of the finest artworks on the coast.

living & lifestyle

100 in your dreams The design for

a Peregian Beach home was guided by nature.

104 homewares Hints of the exotic in

furniture and homewares spice up any room.

106 MEET THE DESIGNER Millie Fairhall designs and hand makes a range of clothing, jewellery and homewares under her new label Millie.

staples

six senses A selection of items based on the special powers that we humans use to experience the world – touch, see, hear, smell, taste and feel.

calendar of events salt has hand picked a variety of events on the Sunshine Coast that are guaranteed to please throughout winter.

look at me Surf photographer with a difference Matthew O’Brien shares his story and philosophy of life.

LAW ACCORDING TO BENJAMIN Columnist Benjamin Law offers a view on the Sunshine Coast and its brushes with famous people.

110 tourist information Essential

info for all visitors to the coast, including travel times, surf safety and market details.

112 MAP

salt is a free quarterly magazine published by Johns Publications Pty Ltd for distribution between Bribie and Fraser Island and inland to Kenilworth and select areas throughout Brisbane. PO Box 1015, Maleny QLD Australia 4552 Fax: +61 7 5441 6589 © Copyright 2012.

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FEATURE

Wandering with creative purpose words l e i g h r ob s haw photos cl a i r e plu s h

Soft rain drizzles down my windscreen as I cruise into leafy Montville early on a Saturday morning to begin my weekend art gallery trail. It is perfect art-viewing weather, and I’m beckoned by the promise of beautiful brushstrokes and creative brilliance to brighten up the pewter skies blanketing the coast. I pass a row of rainbow-hued umbrellas, folded up beside glistening tropical foliage and step into the warmly lit space of Montville Art Gallery (5442 9211). Owners Joan and Tony Page exhibit mostly traditional fine art, including landscapes, seascapes, figurative and narrative works. I’m drawn to the explosion of colour that is the work of Kendall, Lorraine Burns’ quintessential Australian beach scenes, and the outstanding works of the now retired Maleny painter Ken Wenzell, which radiate his deep love for nature in their delicate capturing of light and shade. 6

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Only a couple of minutes’ walk from here is the coast’s only dedicated art market, Artists on the Green, but it’s only held on the third Sunday of the month and I’ve missed it. It showcases the work of 20 members from the Arts Connect group and is a great opportunity to chat with the artists about their work, so I make a mental note to return. I continue north towards Flaxton and take a steep nosedive down Philipps Road, Dulong, to visit Reid Pottery (5478 6496). I ring the buzzer in the gallery, and vibrantly healthy vegan Ian Reid dashes out of his studio to share details on how he makes his multiglaze stonewear and pottery. He then leads me down a short garden path to his studio, where every surface is stacked with nude, unfired pots waiting to be glazed with cobalt blues, rusty coppers and dusty greens. Driving back up the steep hill and continuing north, I turn left into pretty Mapleton village and followObi Obi Road to Kenilworth, braving a steep descent into the Obi Obi Valley (2km of this road is an unsealed goat track, so drive with caution). Towering forests line the road, and they soon level out into quintessential countryside. >

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Artistic connection Arts Connect Inc. runs the excellent Open Studios event each year to encourage engagement with Sunshine Coast hinterland artists. According to Arts Connect president Pam Magdefrau, last year’s event attracted more than 600 visitors to some studios. “This year we’re running it for four weekends instead of two,” says Pam. “We want people to come up to the hinterland, go to studios and cafés, and stay overnight.” “We have to re-establish the idea that the hinterland is an arts destination,” says Pam. “People used to come up here in the ’80s and ’90s and there were a lot of artist’s studios in Montville and along the ridge. A lot of people come here with the idea they can meet an artist and buy their work direct, but that doesn’t happen very much. “We have a reputation as being an arts destination, but the artists who live here have very few places to show. We’re trying to give artists opportunities to show their work, and also by working together on projects like this, we swap knowledge and ideas and we spur each other on to do better work.” Open Studios runs from September 15 to October 7. artsconnectinc.com.au or 5442 9219.

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Sweeping, rain-soaked views wash over me as I pass dairy farms and cross narrow bridges, arriving at Kenilworth, with its unique air of rustic charm.

Rowley Drysdale is a must-see, so I set sail for Quixotica Art Space (5442 6063), excited by the unplanned detours I’m discovering as my art adventure takes shape.

I’m here to visit Lasting Impressions Gallery (5446 0422), an apt name for a gallery that has been running for 26 years, the oldest on the coast. A series of Ian Mastin still lifes of food lining a feature wall are so lifelike, I want to reach inside and help myself to the wine and cheese. A few rogue rays of sunshine break through the clouds outside and illuminate a display of delicately etched vases positioned in the front windows. Gallery owner Kaye Cathro explains how the artist, Amanda Louden, sandblasts the glass to create opaque and transparent nature etchings on her exquisite vases.

Rowley shows me the studio space he has been building since 2000. Set on five hectares, with a large dam and lush tangles of subtropical vegetation, Quixotica boasts two studios, a showroom and two guesthouses, where Rowley’s students and colleagues can bunk in for creative weekends immersed in ceramics heaven. Firing pots is no small affair at Quixotica – Rowley’s outdoor wood kiln will be filled with 500 to 1000 pots and fired for three days at a time – and he has two gas kilns in his studio, where he holds Saturday classes.

I take advantage of the brief pause in the rain to have a stickybeak along Kenilworth’s main street, stretching my legs before hopping back in the car as the rain starts up again for a meandering half hour drive along the flat Kenilworth-Eumundi Road to Cooroy. This cheerful village is home to the famous Butter Factory Arts Centre (5454 9050), where I become entranced by an interactive exhibition of Alison Lester’s children’s book, Are We There Yet?, complete with journals, maps and preliminary sketches. I’m told the nearby studio of ceramics master

Leaving Quixotica, I head back into the real world, stopping by the excellent Noosa Regional Gallery (5449 5340) in Tewantin, before skimming alongside the Noosa River for five minutes to arrive at The Gallery Eumundi in Noosaville (5474 1494), a large, light space with unobstructed river views that add to the gallery’s fresh appeal. I admire the work of Euan McLeod and Arone Meeks, before returning to the strangely haunting paintings of Caroline Magerl exhibited at the front, their unusual female subjects and moody blues and greys calling my attention in a dreamy, subdued voice. >

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CREATIVE COLLECTIONS • Highly Strung (5442 7044) is a one-stop shop for anything in the art realm. From custom framing to the widest range of fine art supplies in the region to a full suite of stretching services to a premium gallery, Matt Holmes and his team combine over 20 years of experience to bring you the best. • Specialising in modern Australian and contemporary indigenous art, Neo Gallery (5471 6175) is a newcomer to the Sunshine Coast art scene. Moving from Brisbane to Mount Coolum, the gallery – run by Peter Gonthier – presents bi-monthly changing exhibitions from esteemed artists including Peter Hudson, David Hinchliffe and Barry Fitzpatrick. • Australian artist and book illustrator Michelle Pike’s concept store at Eumundi Square (5453 7885) showcases the artist’s colourful range of paintings, books and much more. Mixing Australian colour with a dash of humour, Michelle produces lively pieces that would make the perfect local keepsake. • The relaxed viewing of more than 300 artworks in a garden setting at Nambour is Gallery At No.10 (5441 6638) in a nutshell. Ian and Meryll Muller display a balanced mix of well-known artists with old and emerging masters.

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I amble along the stunning stretch of coastal road between Noosa and Marcoola, and arrive at Studio 4 Gallery (5457 0298), a small and relatively new gallery showcasing work by established and emerging local artists. Owners Jennifer Stiller and her son Richard both have art degrees and provide detailed information about artists like James Fearnley, Kim Schoenberger and Laurie Wall. I drive through the outskirts of Maroochydore and up into the verdant hilltop town of Buderim, where I visit my last three galleries of the day. The first is Art Nuvo Gallery (5456 2445), a fresh, modern gallery with well-selected contemporary artworks and an excellent framing service. An imposing work called Anaty, by Aboriginal artist Jeannie Mills Pwerle, pulls me in like a multi-coloured magnet and I revisit the piece in my dreams later that night. A world away in style (but just on the other side of town) is Tiffany Jones Fine Art Gallery (5450 1722). Its Persian carpets, Tiffany lamps and lounge chairs make for a lovely place to linger, and the artwork of many prestigious Australian artists makes the lingering worthwhile. A dedicated room showcases a substantial Norman Lindsay collection, and I feel privileged to leaf through his books and see his original work up close in a gallery so close to home. Five minutes down the road is Middle Earth Pottery (5445 4223), the otherworldly studio gallery of renowned potter Michael Pugh and his artist wife, Shelley. The Pughs have owned the 9.5 hectare for 42 years

and Michael says he never wants to leave. His studio is a large dwelling with no walls, almost completely engulfed by subtropical forest. “You never get to the point where you have it completely under control,” says the veteran potter. “You’re always learning.” Michael’s work features a range of oceanic and forestinspired blues and greens, but there’s a unique brown glaze reminiscent of Indonesian batik I find most appealing. The sky is a flawless canvas of powder blue for day two of my art trail, and I stroll in the early morning sunshine through the lively arts and crafts market of Bulcock Street in Caloundra, throwing some coins into a didgeridoo player’s hat before wandering over to Caloundra Regional Gallery (5420 8299). There’s an exhibition called Drop the Dust on, which comprises two and three-dimensional artworks. A 10-minute drive west takes me to the wonderful Landsborough Galleries (5439 9943). The simple exterior of the gallery belies the artistic brilliance concealed inside this 400 square-metre purpose-built gallery. Owners Jack Olive and Giovanna Cattoi, a renowned underwater artist, live and breathe art. You get the feeling they could talk for days about their artists: masters such as Hugh Sawrey, Pro Hart and Darryl Trott. >

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Sunshine Coast Art Co - operatives An artist co-operative is an independent collective of artists who jointly own and operate their gallery space, usually sharing gallery duties and expenses amongst members. Co-op galleries are an important part of the art tapestry of a region, and are an excellent place to discover talented emerging artists. salt visited the following artist co-operative galleries: • Harbourside Gallery (0422 225 965) enjoys a prime position overlooking the water at Noosa Marina. There are currently 25 artists from the co-op showcasing a high standard of work from a variety of mediums, with a special gallery dedicated to threedimensional art. • Seaview Gallery (5491 4788) exhibits the work of the members of Moffat Beach Co-op, which has been running for 17 years. The gallery overlooks the beach and houses a diverse range of quality artwork including painting, sculpture, jewellery, textiles and glass. • The UpFront Club (5494 2592) is an iconic Maleny restaurant, café, live music venue and gallery rolled into one. It is one of Australia’s longest running co-ops and though not a dedicated art co-op, has art exhibitions changing each month and an art opening every third Thursday of the month.

The landscape creeps skyward and flashes at me in shocks of iridescent green as I make my way up the range and into Maleny. I arrive at the long-established Art On Cairncross (5429 6404) on the final day of a Rex Backhaus-Smith exhibition, and the owners Jane Caraffi and Tony Gill are swept along in the rush of people eager not to miss out. I am delivered from Art on Cairncross into Maleny’s town centre via a glorious vista of rolling green hills. I visit the studio gallery of ceramist and sculptor Ken Munsie (5494 2882), well-known around town for his creation of COMA (Collaboration of Maleny Artists). His small gallery is filled with rustic, rectangular ceramic vases and planks of wood lined up against a wall, waiting to be transformed into one of his award-winning “rescued assemblage” pieces. The series combines salvaged timber, rusted metal and handmade paper to create very original “reincarnated” pieces. I’ve seen many magical things over the two days, but there is still more magic to be had, first at Maleny Arts Retreat (5499 9801), a 10-minute drive along Stanley River Road, which presides high over the distant Glass House Mountains. New owner Heather Barker explains her vision for the retreat, which will become a centre for the creative and healing arts.

• Peace of Green (5499 9311) is a thriving Maleny arts collective that has been running for 17 years in an old gallery space full of character, smack bang in the centre of town. There’s a multitude of art and craft available, from paintings and glass art, to textiles, ceramics, jewellery and timber.

My final stop is the studio gallery of the gracious Heather Jones (5435 8135). This small, softly spoken woman owns a lakeside property in Witta, which is filled with her superb oil paintings and pastels, capturing the mystique of the desert in rustic reds and oranges, and the olive green light of the Australian bush.

• Kari Gallery (Kenilworth Artist Run Initiative, 5488 6376). This collective comprises a diverse group of established and emerging artists from around the coast. The gallery showcases contemporary art by its members and selected guests, with exhibitions changing every few weeks.

Returning to Maleny, I make one last food stop at 112 MalenyWitta Road, to stock up at a farm gate offering fresh macadamias, homemade jams and pickles.

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I’m going to need the extra sustenance after an epic two days that has left my body weary but my soul and my senses truly satiated.

SIX SENSES

six senses salt takes a fresh approach to the powers that we use to experience the world. We look at items that evoke us to see, hear, smell, taste and touch and we’ve tossed in an extra just for fun – feel. HEAR Just as the title suggests, the pocket-rocket with a “pistol for a mouth” Miss Gin Wigmore is paving her road to success with Gravel and Wine; as the gravel in her extraordinary voice and the party-soaked atmosphere of this album is seducing everyone from her New Zealand homeland to the tough critics of the US. Her unique sound can at once break your heart and have you stomping your feet with exuberance. With thumping bass drums, horns and honky-tonk keys, the album is a musical delight ranging from catchy, sexy, empowering, dance numbers to soft, brooding, shiver-invoking ballads. review by libby munro We’ve got three copies of this stunning album to give away. Visit the WIN page of saltmagazine.com.au and enter your details to go in the draw.

TOUCH Treat yourself to the ultimate relaxation experience during June, July and August when Noosa’s leading day spas join forces to launch Noosa Destination Relaxation. This luxury initiative offers clients specials such as a 60-minute “Spa Discovery” visit for $135 or an in-depth “Spa Experience” for only $185. Participating spas include Aqua Day Spa at Sheraton Noosa Resort (5449 4777), Ikatan Day Spa (5471 1199), The Spa at Noosa Springs Golf and Spa Resort (5440 3355), One Spa at RACV Noosa Resort (5341 6900) and Stephanies Ocean Spa at Outrigger Little Hastings Street Resort & Spa (5473 5353). Heal, unwind and de-stress as you’re pampered from top to toe.

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Illustration courtesy of twigseeds studio, twigseeds.com.au 14

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SEE

SMELL Leave behind potent perfumes and get back to nature with an aromatic essential oil blend. Combining citrus hues of bergamot, mandarin and lemon with ylang ylang, geranium and rosewood, Joy from Young Living is a fragrant mix that inspires romance and nostalgia. Its calming scent and complex inner workings make it an uplifting necessity this winter. A 15ml bottle of Joy will set you back $80. Available at Kansha Natural Therapies, 6 Mary Street, Noosaville. 5473 0724 or kansha.com.au

Topical, controversial, explosive and insightful, this Oscarnominated documentary exposes the repercussions of gas drilling (hydraulic fracturing). With the vast majority of Queensland now slated for gas mining, it is time to educate ourselves about the vast ramifications of the technique known as “fracking” used by gas companies to extract the coal seam gas from the ground. And what better way to do it than via an inspiring and compelling film that covers multiple states and numerous families’ documented experiences with this environmental outrage across the US. Filmed mostly on a handheld camera, the film documents the gas companies’ denial of responsibility, heartbreaking personal accounts of debilitating health issues and evidence of toxic water supplies and devastating environmental damage. Director Josh Fox is deserving of every accolade he has received for this brave and important documentary. review by libby munro

TASTE Guilt-free, fruity ice blocks are for the taking (and licking) thanks to the team at Ice Block! Handcrafted from all natural and nutritious ingredients, these frozen goodies contain less than or equal sugar to a ripe banana. Flavours range from the holiday-vibe mojito (lime and mint) to the seasonal fruit salad or the smooth kulfi (an almond, pistachio and cardamom milk ice block). Available at The Cooking Company, 20 Lanyana Way, Noosa Heads. 5447 4480 or thecookingcompany.com.au Head to the WIN page of saltmagazine.com.au for your chance to win one of three boxes of 20 fruit salad ice blocks.

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secrets

SECRETS

only a local would know Winding 6km through residential and bushland areas, the Currimundi Lake Canoe Trail is a hidden vein of the region beckoning to be discovered. Lined with paperback trees and she-oaks, the sheltered waterway is ideal for beginners or those looking for an easy paddle. Launch your canoe or kayak into the wet at Noel Burns Park on Mulloka Esplanade, Wurtulla. Map reference: N18

Blessed with postcard vistas and clear winter days, the Sunshine Coast is a prime location to greet the sun as it rises from bed. From mountains to beaches there are ample vantage points to soak in the first rays of the day. salt’s top spots for watching the sunrise as voted by our Facebook fans include Point Perry, Moffat Beach headland, Point Cartwright, Mount Ninderry, Buderim Lions Park and Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve. Map reference: N15, O19, O17, M15, N17, J19

The newly opened Gallery Café at Secrets on The Lake offers day-trippers a chance to savour a unique blend of splendour and seclusion on the shores of Lake Baroon. Enjoy a light lunch surrounded by local artworks followed by a stroll among the gardens near the water’s edge. Breathe in the fresh air, embrace the stillness and head home feeling recharged. 207 Narrows Road, Montville. 5478 5888. Map reference: K18

PICK Twenty-eight metres below the Sunshine Coast’s glistening ocean surface lies a hidden dive spot, the ex-HMAS Brisbane. The impressive “Steel Cat”, as she was affectionately known, was strategically prepared for diving before being scuttled. Since being sunk in 2005, the warship (which had two tours of duty to Vietnam) has become an exciting 133m artificial reef to marine life including turtles, rays, octopus, colourful reef fish and coral. The wreck and surrounding area is now a protected marine park, so visiting permits are required through Sunshine Coast visitors centres on 1800 882 032 or a guided tour can be booked through Sunreef (5444 5656) or Scuba World (1300 677 094). Map reference: O17

Barbecues – check. Play equipment – check. Picturesque scenery – check. Koala Park has all you need to enjoy a chilled Sunday in Nambour. Accessed from either Panorama Drive or Bade Street, its central location to the town’s bustling hub makes it a local favourite. Explore bush tracks or unwind on lawns surrounded by towering trees. Map reference: K17 16

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Caffeine Culture’s unassuming street front makes it a real hidden gem, only frequented by the initiated and those in-the-know. But look for the graffitied shipping container on the corner. Out-of-place in the business district, yes, until it opens out to become a morning take-away bar for the Sunshine Coast’s hippest coffee outlet. In addition to indoor/ outdoor seating options, there’s a dedicated bench top for DIY toast and weekly barista training for those who take their coffee seriously. There’s also ample bicycle accommodation and a boutique bicycle store. Open 6am-3.30pm Monday to Friday and 6am-1pm Saturday. 4 First Avenue, Maroochydore. 5451 0060. Map reference: N17

Delectable and decadent, it is sweet tooth paradise at Designer Desserts Patisserie Cafe at Sippy Downs. Owners Allen and Sue Hayter moved from Noosa more than a year ago, but they continue to share the magic created by the combination of sublime recipes, fine ingredients and a passion for cooking. salt has sampled many of their offerings, but the orange and almond and hummingbird creations take the cake! Pieces of pure heaven. 3/30 Chancellor Village Boulevard, Sippy Downs. 5453 4742. Map reference: M18

For map references see map on page 112.

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FEATURE

on wheels travels far words & P HO T OS c l a i r e p lu s h

They say home is where the heart is, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never been truer than for a group of Sunshine Coast locals who have been swept up in a cloud of nostalgia and an overpowering affection for beauties from another era.

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The hearts of Lisa Mora, Jim and Bev Humphreys and Jo Wilson lie parked in their front yards, on display at classic shows or hooked up to the back of their cars. Brightening up the country’s roads with colour and bringing to life what once was are their vintage caravans. Maleny local Lisa has had a long-lasting love affair with all things vintage for as long as she can remember. Looking like she’s stepped out of the 1950s, Lisa’s passion for vintage vans flourished after her marriage broke down. Forced to move into a caravan whilst she found her feet, Lisa says that it didn’t take long for her to embrace her new living arrangement. “I was the happiest I’ve ever been in my life,” she says. “That was my first taste of having a caravan.” Twelve years on and four caravans later, Lisa now travels the country in the company of Vicky, her 1965 Viscount van. “I found her on Trading Post; she was completely original and had been in a shed all her life,” she says. While the interior was in great condition, the brown and cream colour scheme didn’t reflect the happy space Lisa wanted. “I took everything out, sanded it all back down and painted it white,” she says. “I haven’t done anything to the structure of it, all I’ve done is tart it up.” Lino was ripped out and replaced with black and white chequered flooring, giving the illusion of more space. 20

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“It’s cosmetic stuff. It’s paint, curtains and upholstery,” Lisa says. Most of which are shades of pink. Even the exterior is a mix of the original silver aluminium cladding and a baby pink strip of paint. “I started with the pink on one corner and thought I needed to paint more to get the full effect,” she says of the exterior. “Next thing you know I’ve painted around the whole caravan.” The decorating process pushed Lisa to discover and release a side of herself that she’d kept hidden for a long time. “When my marriage broke up, it was really about expressing a part of me that hadn’t been able to be expressed before,” Lisa says. Labelling it “Barbie’s pink caravan meets Gidget’s Hawaiian holiday”, Vicky captured Lisa’s heart from the beginning, and the longer she holds onto her the stronger that connection grows. “I’m sure they absorb the energy of the happy times that they’ve had and the longer they’ve been having happy times, the better they feel when you step inside them,” she says. “I look at these big fancy new caravans and I think they all look the same. I want my space to reflect my personality.” Lisa’s love for vintage vans runs so deep that last year she started the world’s first vintage caravan magazine. Her passion for vans has turned into her day job, and allows her to attend vintage events across the country and more recently join the judging panel at The Beach Hop in New Zealand. She even plans to take Vicky across to New Zealand on a boat to join in the fun next year.

It seems Lisa’s appetite for vintage vans has turned into somewhat of an addiction, with Lisa owning a second 1930s wooden van and a third van currently in NSW that she is yet to see first-hand. “Everyone I know doesn’t stop at one,” she says. “You just can’t.” For Bev and Jim Humphreys, Lisa’s sentiments ring true. It was their love for classic cars that brought the first vintage van into their life. “We’ve always had old cars, and it sort of just came with that,” says retired panel beater Jim. “I like old things and how they look.” “We always say that’s why we like each other,” laughs Bev glancing at her husband. Jim and Bev are the proud owners of a deep orange 1957 caravan that matches their orange 1957 Buick wagon. Towing the van behind the Buick certainly captures attention, with people waving and taking photos as the couple cruises by. Jim and Bev started the year-long search for a vintage van after a bad back was placing a strain on their camping arrangement when holidaying. “I started looking for one but we couldn’t find anything, and so I asked a mate of mine in Palmwoods to keep an eye out,” Jim says. His friend’s wife directed them to her parent’s house, which turned out to be a few doors down the road from Jim and Bev’s Tanawah home. “I’ve known the chap I got it off for about 35 years but it was in a shed >

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Joining the vintage caravan craze • There are still bargains to be found lurking in the paddocks and sheds in rural Australia but be very wary, as there are plenty of hidden potential costs that may turn your dream caravan into an expensive nightmare. • Always inspect the caravan in person as online photos will often make the van look better than it really is. • Interstate transporting of caravans is very costly so those far-away bargains may turn out to be a lot more than you’d expect. • Check that the drawbar and chassis of the caravan are solid and rust free, and that the tow coupling moves freely as new chassis and/or drawbars are costly. • Check all corners and joins for leaks. If possible inspect the caravan in wet weather as older caravans are notorious for leaking and there is no point restoring an interior if it will be spoiled once a Queensland storm hits. • Check the tyres and wheel bearings. If the van has not been on the road for a few years, it will need to have the tyres replaced with light truck tyres and the bearings may need to be greased and repacked. Thanks to Lisa Mora for compiling this list of useful tips.

out the back of his property and I never knew it was there. It was so uncanny that it turned out to be the same year as the car,” Jim says. “Sheer luck,” adds Bev. In the years leading up to Jim and Bev purchasing it, the van had been used to store car parts and timber. Jim undertook the job of restoring the van with gusto, turning it from a rundown trailer to a retro masterpiece. “It was something different to do and I could spend a couple of hours on it at a time,” he says. Jim and Bev leave the van open if they stop somewhere so that others can have a peek inside. “It’s no use having something if you don’t share it,” he says. “More than half the fun of having the van is seeing others get so much joy out of it.” Peregian Beach mum of three and serious vintage collector Jo Wilson found a fourth daughter in her 1959 Bondwood van about a year and a half ago. Named Lucille, after Lucille Ball, the van is a classic teardrop shape and has been painted cream with a splash of red. “I originally had a little caravan that I planned on doing up but I ran out of time and skill so it never got done,” she says. Instead, Jo sold the old caravan and bought the fully restored Lucille. Some would say it was serendipity. 22

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“One of my daughters had gone onto the internet and saved a photo of Lucille on my phone long before I bought her,” she says. “I didn’t even know the image was there until afterwards.” On top of that, a vintage caravan magnet that Jo bought before she had even seen Lucille is now stuck on the mini fridge inside and resembles the van’s lines and colours. “I’ve crocheted her a blanket and we always buy little presents for her,” Jo says of Lucille. “Even when I went on holiday to New Zealand I brought something back for her.” Vintage canisters and Tupperware are perched on the kitchen bench, a stack of old magazines lie sprawled across the bed and floral-print lino covers the floor. But the most standout feature of Lucille is her stained glass windows. “She’s beautiful,” Jo says. “She has so much character. It’s like an escapism for me. I can just sit in her and forget about whatever else is happening.” Like people, these homes on wheels have become permanent members of the family – each with its own personality, flaws and library of untold stories. “My girls would never let me sell her,” Jo says. And Lisa couldn’t agree more. “If I had nothing else but this caravan, I’d be happy as,” she says. FOR EXTRA SALT visit saltmagazine.com.au to see more photos of vintage vans and their owners.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

dream discover

explore JUNE

OPEN COCKPIT WEEKEND Take to the skies, or at least pretend to, at the Open Cockpit Weekend. Get up close to iconic airliners, helicopters and jet fighters at the largest display of aircraft in Queensland. when June 30 to July 1 where Queensland Air Museum, Pathfinder Drive, Caloundra cost Prices start at $7 qam.com.au

JULY LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AT THE GINGER FACTORY Head to the Ginger Café during the frosty months and enjoy free live entertainment by some of the coast’s top performers. Savour your Sunday afternoon with great food, refreshing beverages and chilled music. when July 1 where The Ginger Factory, 50 Pioneer Road, Yandina cost Free gingerfactory.com.au QUEENSLAND GARDEN EXPO Dust off those green thumbs and join in this three-day celebration of all things gardening. Attracting more than 30,000 visitors in 2011, this year’s event will feature free demonstrations and lectures, stunning landscape garden displays, tips on how to grow your own produce and much more. when July 6 to 8 where Nambour Showgrounds, Coronation Avenue, Nambour cost Prices vary qldgardenexpo.com.au DINGO CREEK WINE, JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL Sultry blues, smooth jazz, tasty food and home-grown wines make this down-to-earth festival the perfect way to spend a weekend. when July 13 to 15 where Dingo Creek Winery, 265 Tandur Traveston Road, Traveston cost Prices vary dingocreekfestival.com.au NOOSA EROICA If all things vintage tickle your peddles then the Noosa Eroica is a must-see. Cheer on competitors as they begin a 115km loop along country roads, past stunning vistas and through gentle towns on retro steel-framed cycles. when July 22 where Race begins at Noosa Marina cost Free noosa-eroica.com.au

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Queensland Garden Expo

POMONA KING OF THE MOUNTAIN This famous race begins in the quaint town of Pomona before heading bush and up a gruelling track to the top of Mount Cooroora. Make a day of it and head to Pomona early to join in the family-friendly events, including the World Thong Throwing competition. when July 22 where Pomona cost Free kingofthemountain.com.au

REALITY BITES FESTIVAL Book readings, panel discussions, interviews and workshops will be presented by some of Australia’s sharpest minds and gifted storytellers at this weekend-long literary event. A delicious festival of food for thought. when July 26 to 29 where Cooroy Library, Maple Street, Cooroy cost Prices start at $15 realityliteraryfestival.org

AUGUST ANACONDA ADVENTURE RACE Watch on as the first ever Anaconda Adventure Race to be held in Noosa takes centre stage. The premier 63km race will see athletes plunge into the water at Noosa Main Beach, kayak along Noosa River, cycle through Tewantin State Forest and run along the shore of Lake MacDonald. when August 11 to 12 where Various locations across Noosa cost Free rapidascent.com.au HAPPY BIRTHDAY PETER RABBIT – CELEBRATING 110 YEARS! Celebrate the 110th anniversary of Peter Rabbit with a captivating musical that breathes life into the world’s most loveable bunny. when August 23 where The Events Centre, 20 Minchinton Street, Caloundra cost $15 theeventscentre.com.au NOOSA JAZZ FESTIVAL Noosa Jazz Festival is pulling out all the stops for its 21st birthday with a stellar line up of big names including Bob Barnard, James Morrison, legendary musician Ed Wilson and original motown composer Gil Askey. With more than 90 performances at a variety of spectacular venues, this is one event that can be tailored to suit your tastes. when August 30 to September 2 where Noosa cost Prices vary noosajazz.com.au

SEPTEMBER REAL FOOD FESTIVAL Food, glorious food is at the heart of this vibrant celebration. Showcasing a delicious variety of local food from producers, manufacturers and restaurants, the Real Food Festival will inform and delight foodies of all ages. when September 8 and 9 where Maleny Showgrounds, 13 Stanley River Road, Maleny cost Prices start at $12 realfoodfestival.com.au CALOUNDRA MUSIC FESTIVAL Six years young and with no end in sight, the Caloundra Music Festival will pump Australian and international tunes into the core of this beachside town over three jam-packed days. when September 28 to 30 where Kings Beach, Caloundra cost Prices vary caloundramusicfestival.com KENILWORTH CELEBRATES! The tiny town of Kenilworth will come alive at the annual Kenilworth Celebrates! With a program featuring street entertainment, markets, art exhibitions, workshops and live poetry, there really is something for everyone. when September 22 to 29 where Various venues across Kenilworth cost Prices vary kenilworthcelebrates.org.au FOR EXTRA SALT visit saltmagazine.com.au for more events and exclusive giveaways to the Queensland Garden Expo, Reality Bites Festival, Happy Birthday Peter Rabbit, Noosa Jazz Festival and the Real Food Festival.

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LOOK AT ME

Outside the frame words K a r i n a E a s t w a y PORTRA IT N AT LA N YO N

Matthew O’Brien can remember the exact moment he fell in love with photography.

He kept the snap to prove it – a heavenward view of dense Californian redwood forest, a single shaft of sunlight cutting through the central canopy overhead. Not bad for a 10-year-old. Now 25, Matthew’s photos are sought after and admired the world over. His credits include surf brands Kustom, Billabong and Hurley and last year he was among the top 10 most published surf photographers in Australia. It was winning a surf photography competition three years ago that threw him straight into the industry spotlight. The winning shot sold globally and international success followed quickly after. Behind the lens though, Matthew was battling a crippling arthritic condition. The cause had doctors baffled but Matthew describes the ordeal as his blessing in disguise. Recovering from one of several operations to repair a painful hip joint in 2009, Matthew turned to film school and photography to fill the void previously spent surfing or skateboarding. “Arthritis got me to where I am,” he says. “I hated it at the time but now I look back, it’s a positive. I went through a really bad stage when I couldn’t surf and things weren’t going well. There was a whole serious mental side I had to deal with. “I’d always surfed but it was just so frustrating. All of a sudden I just 26

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couldn’t even stand up – when I tried, I’d go straight down to my knees. It was so painful, even when I was just sleeping.” Matthew says that in addition to the physical pain, it was difficult to be on the sidelines while friends continued to surf and skate, but it gave him an opportunity. “It gave me what I needed to actually pursue my dreams,” he says. “Growing up I always knew I would do something with my life. I always knew I was going to do something good.” Thanks to his parents, who broadened their children’s education through travel to countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Nepal and India, Matthew has seen some of the most unusual and remote places in the world. This has had a guiding influence on his approach and style. “A lot of photographers will just set up a shot of the surfer,” he says. “To me those photos are boring because they could be taken anywhere in the world. Every guy shoots that stuff and I really don’t want to be like anyone else in the industry. “I’ll take a wide shot and show what’s going on around it. I think it’s spawned from shooting travel. I think it’s a lot more important than just focussing on the actual athlete.”

Ask Matthew about his ideal shoot and his answer includes chasing tornados, photographing street protesters or exploring the hidden, darker side of urban life. “I’m in my element when I’m around chaos or the shadier side of the community – although I’m the furthest thing from it,” he says. Matthew says he loves street photography and candid moments.

put my head in the sand and accept what’s on TV.” Matthew now mentors other young artists on the coast and spoke at a creative conference for students last year. “A lot of young kids email me their shots and say my work’s inspiring. That means a lot to me and I want to help,” he says.

“Being a photographer, you can get into situations most people can’t,” he says. “You can meet people and see parts of the world most people wouldn’t. That’s really what I want to do because it’s not mainstream.

“I tell them they can do whatever they want if they really put their mind to it. I knew from a young age what I wanted to do and it was always going to happen because I wanted it to. But I also put in a lot of hard work and effort.”

“I want to know as much about the world as I can. I don’t want to

matthewobrien.com.au

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PURSUIT OF PASSION

Trust, togetherness and sushi rolls wor ds LIND A REA D photo S a n a s ta s ia k a r io f y l li di s

They met and fell in love in a sushi bar, and they have been surrounded by sushi ever since.

In fact, it’s fair to say that their lives revolve around it – and neither of them would have it any other way.

Holly and Fabio make all their own sauces and prepare all their own meat, and produce is sourced locally.

Holly Reynolds was the head chef at her family’s business, Bar Sushi Noosa, when Brazilian chef Fabio Westphal came in for something to eat. The rest is sushi history; after continuing to work in the iconic Noosa business together, the couple opened the popular Bar Sushi Mooloolaba just over a year ago.

And while some may think only the Japanese can make good sushi, this couple’s successful food style and philosophy flip that stereotype neatly on its head.

It’s very much a family affair – Holly’s parents still own and operate the original Bar Sushi they established in Noosa in 2005, with the two restaurants sharing the same menu, created and overseen by Holly. Business, it seems, is booming, and when I take a peek behind the scenes it’s not hard to see why. It’s about an hour and a half until opening time when I arrive at Bar Sushi Mooloolaba, and Fabio, 34, and Holly, 30, are hard at work lining seaweed mats with sushi rice. They barely seem to look at what they are doing, yet each piece is perfect. “The secret to sushi is freshness,” says Fabio, adding a few more mats to the ever-growing pile before him. “And to keep it simple,” adds Holly. “Keep it simple and easy and fresh and clean.” Freshness is definitely the order of the day. Holly explains that the sushi rolls are made fresh every day, and unlike many sushi restaurants, the rolls and hot food are made to order, with any combination of ingredients you fancy. 28

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“Once you learn the basics of how to make a roll, it’s a matter of working the flavours, and knowing what works,” says Holly, who makes everything she does sound and look deceptively effortless. “If you know flavours and you know food, you can make delicious sushi rolls without having to be traditional.” They work in the open kitchen which will become their stage once the doors are open. The pile of sushi mats is growing. When I comment on how many they have already made, Fabio throws back his head and laughs heartily. “That’s nothing,” he says, explaining that on a busy day they might do 400. No mean feat, considering their every move will be on show. “Working in an open kitchen is a bit harder than in a normal kitchen,” says Holly. “We are making food in front of people; you have to be immaculate in your presentation.” The couple’s passion for what they do is palpable – just as well, given that Fabio is in the restaurant seven days a week, and Holly between four and five. They are also parents to Jackson, six, and baby Isabella, six months. “People say ‘how do you work together?’ but that’s all we’ve ever known,” says Holly.

“You’ve got to respect each other,” says Fabio. “I trust her knowledge, she trusts my knowledge.” Holly praises her parents as successful role models in this area. “Mum and Dad work together,” she says. “They have their own positions but they work together. And when we did Noosa we all worked together. You have to respect each other; you have to be open and honest.” Holly’s parents, Milton Reynolds, a former police officer and businessman, and Denise Reynolds, a hairdresser, originally moved from Melbourne to Noosa to retire. But they soon “got a bit bored”, and looked for a new venture. Bar Sushi Noosa was born. One of the staff members – there are nine here, and 10 or 12 at Noosa – has just arrived and is preparing for opening. It’s time for me to go. Fabio tells me he’s a “future man”, and that they definitely plan to open more sushi restaurants. I believe him. As we are talking, Holly conjures a sushi roll – roast duck, avocado, hoisin and chives – and it materialises in my hand for me to take away. As it melts in my mouth, I remember the words Fabio used to explain the secret to their success: “We love what we do.” It shows. Bar Sushi, Shop 5, Landmark Resort, Mooloolaba Esplanade, Mooloolaba. 5444 4970 or Shop 5, Ocean Breeze, Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads. 5449 2866

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R E V I E W S CLAIRE PLUSH

Home is where the heart is: it must be true, because that is how the adage goes. These coffee table hoggers and links to cyberspace food heaven showcase the mastery of others. Mr Wilkinson’s Favourite Vegetables Matt Wilkinson | Murdoch Books | Hardcover | $50 For chef Matt Wilkinson, the creating of a dish at home or in his Melbourne eatery begins with vegetables in season. In this book, Matt shines a spotlight on his favourite 24 vegetables, dedicating an in-depth chapter to each one. Beautifully illustrated with an eye-catching layout, Mr Wilkinson’s Favourite Vegetables is a luscious celebration of the simple foods that are often left behind.

Notes from the Jam Cupboard Mary Tregellas | New Holland | Hardcover | $24.95 Packed with a collection of preserve recipes, this book contains the step-by-step information you forgot to ask Grandma about. Scattered throughout the pages of this hardcover treasure are over 100 recipes covering jams, marmalades, curds, chutneys, jellies, pesto and pastes, and flavoured oils to name a few. Stuffed with rustic photographs, lovely anecdotes and a dash of history, Notes from the Jam Cupboard is a practical guide you will come to rely on.

Signature Dishes Compiled by Michelle Tchea | New Holland | Hardcover | $29.95 What do Adam D’Slyva, Guy Grossi, Michael Moore, John McLeay and Tobie Puttock have in common? They all spill the beans on the recipe that defines them in this tantalising volume of Signature Dishes. Featuring leading chefs and restaurateurs from across Australia as well as best-selling cookbook authors, this informative walk through the culinary greats explores how and why each person was inspired to call a recipe their signature dish. Mastering the Art of Baking Anneka Manning | Murdoch Books | Hardcover | $50 If learning to bake has always been on your to-do list, this book will become your bible on the path to a successful fluffy brioche or a caramelised tomato tart. A breakdown of essential equipment followed by detailed recipes and step-by-step photographs make this book the perfect learning tool for beginners or passionate home bakers who want to fine tune their skills. FOR EXTRA SALT visit the WIN page at saltmagazine.com.au for your chance to win one of two copies of Signature Dishes and Notes from the Jam Cupboard.

BLOG ROLL

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SITES TO BOOKMARK What Katie Ate – Run by Australian-based photographer Katie Quinn Davies, What Katie Ate effortlessly combines stunning images with reviews, recipes and life updates. whatkatieate.blogspot.com.au Seven Spoons – What began as a recipe file whilst embarking on a new life with her boyfriend has turned into an online home for Tara O’Brady’s thoughts, meals and family. sevenspoons.net Smitten Kitchen – Adored the world over, Smitten Kitchen compiles simple food photography with easy-to-follow recipes and intermissions of personal insights from a New York cook, photographer and writer. smittenkitchen.com Roost – Stemming from a loved one’s illness, photo stylist Caitlin began this blog to share with people her interest in cooking and enjoying organic, whole foods. roostblog.com

LAW ACCORDING TO BENJAMIN

A look in fame’s window word s b e nja m i n l aw illustration p e t e r h o l l a r d

Back in the 1990s, I was an Asian teenager with braces on my teeth, scoliosis in my back and stars in my eyes. Even though I was scrawny, “not conventionally good-looking” (let’s be diplomatic here) and developing the kind of acne you could probably describe as medical, I was still convinced I was going to be famous one day. Think Ricky Wong before Chris Lilley made him up for We Can Be Heroes: I was basically that person. As a teenager, I didn’t really think through exactly how I would become famous – or even question why I wanted to be – but like everyone else, I assumed the fastest way of getting there was acting. I enrolled in private classes where we would perform monologues from Party of Five, pretend to be having a “private moment” and practise American accents. All of the students held strong hopes to one day hit the big time – which, for us, was scoring walk-on roles in US television shows and films being shot at Movie World on the Gold Coast. We aimed high. One of the acting school’s students had recently scored a talking role on the American rebooted series of Flipper, which gave us all hope. And when Channel Seven newsreader Rob Brough’s daughter started to attend the same acting classes as me, I

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quietly saw it as a good sign. Back then, Brough had a national presence hosting the game show Family Feud, and for me, that alone proved that anyone could be someone important in the world, even if you came from the Sunshine Coast. I have no idea where this obsession with fame came from. Looking back, I guess I was watching a lot of Home and Away. I also think coming from the Sunshine Coast had something to do with it too. Back then, it felt like an aggressively ordinary place. No one important seemed to live here (Rob Brough excluded), and no one famous seemed to visit*. Although, I do remember Kamahl visiting Kawana Shoppingworld’s food court to sign his memoir in the late 1990s. My sister and mother both queued up to buy a copy of his book to get it signed, but I’m still not convinced either of them really even knew who Kamahl was. And there was that other time I met Toni Collette while I was working at my dad’s Thai restaurant in Mooloolaba. She came in to eat with her husband and a Buddhist monk, and seeing her there felt completely disorientating, like encountering a penguin in the Sahara or passing the Queen down at Bunnings. It was my first contact with an actual

bona fide famous person, and I nervously asked her to sign my copy of the Nick Hornby novel I was reading, because I knew she was starring in an upcoming film based on another Nick Hornby novel soon. It was weird and awkward. “Sorry, Nick,” Toni said, signing the book and looking perplexed. Sure I’m mortified now, but back then I was thrilled. Thrilled, I tell you. Anyway, the fame thing fizzled out for me. Trust me: it’s better this way. And I know what you’re all thinking: I was wrong about the Sunshine Coast. Various elite athletes, mildly popular federal politicians and renowned musicians have called this place home for years. This is basically a Mecca for celebrities. Someone with an entrepreneurial spirit could probably make a killing by hiring a minibus and doing celebrity tours like they do in Los Angeles, pointing out iconic landmarks to paying guests. “Over here is Lisa Curry’s multi-coloured mansion, and if you’d read the Women’s Weekly profile on Curry and thenhusband Grant Kenny in the 1990s, you will know that their shower contains two showerheads! Cold for her, hot for him! (Please, no photos.) Plus, did you know the Sunshine Coast is where Kevin Rudd

and Wayne Swan grew up? We can call the drummer from Powderfinger our own. Add Jessica Watson to the list, and Channel Ten newsreader Georgina Lewis, as well as Rachel Ward and Bryan Brown, and are we seriously going to forget Bindi Irwin?” Or something like that. And because the Sunshine Coast is the retirement capital of Australia, there is a load of famous mothers on the Sunshine Coast. Or, let me rephrase: many mothers of famous people live here. Kristen Stewart’s mother grew up here! Geoffrey Rush’s mother, from what I have heard, also lives here! And who could forget Julian Assange’s mother, who from what I understand, has ASIO bugging her Noosa home right now. Because hell, if we can’t be famous ourselves, at least we can project our dreams onto our children and properly put this place on the goddamned map. *Excluding the time Princess Diana and Prince Charles visited the Big Pineapple in 1983. And the time Jackie Chan shot key scenes at Underwater World for his 1996 film Police Story 4. benjamin-law.com To see more illustrations by Peter Hollard visit peterhollardart.blogspot.com

PRECINCT FEATURE

Worlds collide at the Junction words LINDA READ photos anastasia kariofyllidis

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“It is better to travel well, than to arrive.” So reads a little hand written sign I spy in a shop window at Noosa Junction, the vibrant village which lies over the hill from Hastings Street. The sign is an apt saying for a town which certainly has some travel tales to tell. Sprung from the bush, and imbued with an undeniable community spirit, Noosa Junction – named through a competition in the local paper in the 1980s – is now a thriving business, shopping and arts precinct. It is strange to think that only about 50 years ago, it didn’t exist – not as a town at least. My own dim childhood memories of this place during numerous family trips to Noosa are sketchy at best. That’s because it was, quite literally, a junction in the bush where two dirt roads met; a petrol stop. It was the place which meant you were “nearly there”. Today, I stop off at the Junction to learn some of her stories, and to seek answers to the question: exactly where did she come from? With a plan to end up in Hastings Street, I weave my way up the coast and find Sunshine Beach Road, Noosa Junction’s main street. There is a distinct modern-village vibe as soon as I pull in.

well into her 80s and still owns the building, which she now rents out. She still comes to the Junction every day, she says, to “check on everything”. “The doctor said it would be good for our daughter to come to the coast,” says Jean. “We had the shop built, and everybody said ‘you’ll never have any neighbours’.

I find a park almost right outside the earliest residence here.

“I can remember it as if it was yesterday. And my husband said ‘talk to me in 20 years time, we’ll see how many neighbours we’ve got!’ It didn’t take long before we had a chemist shop, and bakers there. And now it’s gone ahead.”

George and Jean Cookman came here for some fresh sea air in the late 1950s from Goondiwindi with their little daughter, who was asthmatic. They built a shop and residence, where they lived and raised their four children. Whilst George died in 1988, Jean is

It certainly has. Strolling down the footpath I find myself continually stopping and peering into windows. An assortment of shops beckons me; a curious mixture of old and new. Genuine op shops with retro treasures sit comfortably beside swish boutiques, >

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FEEDING FRENZY Split into two stores on either side of Lanyana Arcade is The Cooking Company (5447 4480). Cuisine by The Cooking Company is a foodie’s dreamland, with a cabinet full of gourmet cheeses and cold meats. Stock up on pasta, delicious sauces and condiments or sit down and devour a bagel, hot soup or a smooth coffee. Across the arcade is the retail counterpart where owner Jeroo Pavri showcases her flair for culinary and homewares trends. Shelves are brimming with top-of-the-line cookware, tableware, glassware, aprons and much more.

RETAIL ROAMING For the ultimate fashion fix drop in to Minx and Max (5447 3366) on Lanyana Way. Racks of high quality labels such as Verge, Sandwich, Nougat, LTB Jeans and Moyuru will make it almost impossible to leave empty handed. A short stroll away is Noosa Optical (5447 3711), the village’s go-to store for superior eyewear. Choose from a large range of well-known brands like Oroton and Trussardi, and treat your eyes to a pair of new spectacles or sunglasses.

BEAUTY SPOT The newly opened Nails @ Noosa (5447 3380) is situated on Sunshine Beach Road. Run by mother-daughter team Tammy Pardon and Kimberley Wacker, this pampering haven will have your hands and feet looking beautiful in no time.

shiny cafés, surf shops and galleries. There’s real personality here: a pleasant merging of past and present, rather than a clash. One early entrepreneur who has witnessed this merging firsthand is Len Daddow, who built the Mobil service station at the Junction in 1972. “When I first came to the area in 1966,” says Len, “Sunshine Beach Road Junction was a dirt road. “The only house in the street was the Cookmans’. I found a fellow who lived in Charters Towers who had 10 blocks of land [at Noosa Junction]. I bought the 10 blocks of land off him for $6000 in a package deal. I built the service station after that and then sold the corner block for $30,000.”

Len owned and operated the service station until 1995, living in the residence above. He saw Noosa’s first roundabout built, and the roads bitumened. He sees Noosa Junction as having developed its own special style and character which contributes to the overall makeup of the shire. “I think Noosa Junction is quite unique,” says Len. “What it’s doing is living up to that uniqueness that Noosa has, in that we have a variety of villages. That’s Noosa. All these little unique villages form a unique Noosa.” The Junction has long been known as the business hub of Noosa, and I can see why. Interspersed amongst the shops are doctors, >

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FLOWER POWER Tucked away along Lanyana Arcade is The Ultimate Florist (5447 2262). Boasting a spacious showroom with creative floral displays, owner Chris Evans and her team will help you pull together the perfect arrangement. Boutique florist Noosa Florist (5447 3628) is run by the lovely Susa MacDonald. From floral favourites like tulips and sunflowers to exotic orchids and Australian plants, the artistic team at this flower heaven can work to suit any occasion.

DREAM DESIGNS Carole Tretheway Design (5447 3255), situated on Arcadia Walk, is the go-to studio for anything interior-related. Carole is a font of knowledge for your next residential or commercial interior design project or property refurbishment. Blending a unique studio and consulting space with select homewares, Carole Tretheway Design has long been a favourite with Noosa locals.

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lawyers, accountants and myriad consultants, as well as various trades and services, all the major banks, and the more recently added Coles and IGA supermarkets. I could, in fact, be in a suburban shopping strip near a large city – until a tall blonde girl in a skimpy white bikini emerges from one of the shops, and I am reminded that I am near the beach. The cinema complex, in the middle of the main strip, and The J, an impressive performing arts complex just round the corner, give the Junction an arty edge. The cinema café spills onto the footpath and is a favourite haunt for locals. It’s the locals, I hear, who are really the heart of Noosa Junction. Although tourists are welcomed, it is the locals who shop, eat, and do their business here with a loyalty and friendliness usually reserved for country towns. Lloyd Pardon, who has owned the local fruit market with his wife, Tammy, for 11 years, first came to the Junction 26 years ago and worked in a fruit shop. He is well aware of the local loyalty, and says this is one of the many things he loves about Noosa Junction. >

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BUILDING A COMMUNITY • Late 1950s George and Jean Cookman move to Sunshine Beach Road from Goondiwindi and build the first shop and residence. The business was a plumber’s workshop. The building is still owned by Jean Cookman, rented as retail and residential space. • The 1960s Aub Burge builds a residence and two Shell petrol pumps on Sunshine Beach Road, where the Oasis shopping centre now stands. About 1969, Ron Sadler builds Banksia Caravan Park and the Ampol Service Station on the Noosa Drive corner. The site was a popular destination for southern tourists, and was also home to permanent residents. Irish Murphy’s pub is on this site today. • The 1970s 1970: Ray and Sandra Garraway build the Noosa Squash Centre on the site where the IGA supermarket now stands on Sunshine Beach Road. 1972: Len Daddow builds the Mobil Service Station and residence on Noosa Drive. He lives and works here until 1995. The service station is still operating today. Late 1970s: Council appoints a town planner to manage the growth in the area. • The 1980s Noosa’s first roundabout is built at the Junction, at Cooyar Street and Sunshine Beach Road. Devin Minchin builds the “Cinema House” in Sunshine Beach Road, which remains a popular nightspot in the area. A local newspaper competition sees Noosa Junction get its name. • Today Noosa Junction is home to about 300 businesses – and four roundabouts. The Sunshine Coast Council says it has a “placemaking strategy” for the area. Its strategy says: “The project aim is to develop the character of the Noosa Junction shopping precinct to reveal the potential of its unique local qualities and define it as a destination.”

“It’s a bit more individual here,” he says. “We still have some of the same customers [from 26 years ago]; they’re still around.” And the location isn’t bad either, according to Lloyd, if you fancy a swim before work. “You can walk to the beach in 10 minutes,” he says. “I do that quite often in the morning, then I’ll walk back to the shop.” Travel agent Betty Croft has been in the Junction for 31 years, and is also well aware of the local loyalty. “I still have clients that come into my office that were my very original clients, in my first couple of years of trading,” she says. >

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“The owners all know each other; it’s got a really good vibe and feel. It feels like you’re part of a family.” I walk past the sparkling new bus station at the end of the street, and see a clique of tanned backpackers unloading their packs. Nearby there is an English school, buzzing with the sound of a hundred voices, and the comings and goings of young travellers. And there is the inconspicuously famous Franks – the gym of choice, apparently, for local celebrities such as Pat Rafter and Kevin Rudd when he visits. Franks was built 32 years ago by Frank Everett, and is still run by the Everett family. “We pride ourselves on being family owned and run,” says marketing manager and long-time family friend Victoria Gremo. “We really pride ourselves on looking out for our own, for other businesses in the area,” she says. I suddenly realise the day is escaping me, and I should be on my way to my next destination. But the Junction has too much to tell for such a quick stopover, and she invites me to stay a little longer. I discover a Melbourne-like arcade, a chocolateria, bookshops and a garden centre. I follow the paved Arcadia Street, and walk into a shop with a sandcovered floor, where a waiter from one of the cafés brings the shopkeeper a plate of something. They engage in an animated conversation in Italian, and I smell freshly brewed coffee in the air. I am feeling quite at home. I decide Hastings Street can wait a little longer.

TABLE TALK

Modern historyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s delicious twist words linda r ea d photos a na sta sia ka r iofyllidis

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From a colourful past, a beautiful present can blossom. So it is with Wild Rocket @ Misty’s, the 18-month-old creation of English chef Peter Brettell and his Aussie wife Belinda Williams Brettell that is causing an excited murmur amongst visiting foodies. The Montville building in which it lives is affectionately known by locals as Misty’s – after the former restaurant which operated there for many years, and Peter and Belinda included “Misty’s” in their name as a nod to the building’s heritage. Complete with resident ghost, the early 1900s building is one of the oldest in Montville. Before it was Misty’s, it housed a general store, as well as a fancy goods and lolly shop. Vacant for four and a half years before the Brettells gave it new life, the iconic building is now home to Wild Rocket’s decidedly modern Australian menu – with what Peter describes as “an English twist”. “I’ve always wanted to have my own place,” says Peter, who has been a chef for 15 years and who moved to >

Catch of the day: grilled sword fish, baba ganoush, chickpea falafel, spinach and harissa sauce.

Australia permanently about three years ago. “The UK’s never really given me any of those opportunities.” Belinda, a former sign writer who “always did hospitality on the side”, had long harboured a desire to open a food business. “My sister and I had always toyed with having a café or something like that, but it never eventuated,” she says. “When I met Peter, I tasted his food and thought ‘he’s definitely the right person to do it with’!” After a generous lick of paint, a kitchen update and a “few cosmetic touches”, Wild Rocket @ Misty’s was born. While Peter heads the kitchen, Belinda looks after the front of house. They praise their team of floor and kitchen staff, but both remain hands-on, five to six days a week. Belinda’s parents tend to the impressive gardens, and help out with the couple’s three children: Toby, 9, Asher 7, and Peaches Rose, 1.

include seared calves’ liver and bacon, or Eumundi rump. But while Peter’s culinary influence may be English, his produce is as local and as fresh as you can get. “All our food is local, and all made from scratch here,” he says. “We’ve got a veggie patch out the back where we grow our own herbs. We buy a whole cow from Eumundi which is grass fed, then it goes to Gympie to be slaughtered, and to a butcher at Beerwah. “We hang it here in our cold room and age it for another two or three weeks. We use every part of it. “We’re very conscious of food miles – we use free range chickens, ducks and eggs. And we’ve started buying olive oil from Obi Obi in Mapleton. I haven’t tasted any better. “I make all the desserts, breads and salsas here. The only thing I buy in is the ice cream, from Colin James in Maleny.”

An ambience of romance and casual elegance pervades, and is matched with an impressive seasonally changed menu in which Peter showcases his culinary credentials earned in the restaurants of London and England’s West Country.

Peter and Belinda are also keen to reduce their environmental footprint. All their scraps – including napkins and paper – are taken in big buckets each week to a local worm farm and composted. Apart from giving them smell-free bins, Peter says this practice “finishes off the cycle”.

Mains include crispy free range duck breast; pan roasted rump of lamb; Moreton Bay bug ravioli; and herb gnocchi. Specials may

With seating for up to 120, the restaurant consists of a series of boutique dining spaces, which render it perfect for intimate

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weddings and functions. There is the main dining room and the cosy “Montville room”, both with fireplaces. Outside, there is a leafy enclosed garden courtyard area and bar. On the second floor, there is another dining area and verandah, and up a charmingly narrow staircase there is the “tower room” – a round table for eight, in what used to be a fire lookout tower. It is here, and on the second floor dining room, that some of the staff and locals have reported feeling a ghostly presence. “We’ve had a couple of girls who won’t go up into the tower room at night,” says Belinda. “I’ve never had a bad feeling about it. A lady told us that it’s a girl who sits on the steps and swings her legs, and hits her feet on the back of the steps.” But the Brettells are not worried about their ethereal guest. “Apparently she doesn’t come past the first landing,” says Peter matter-of-factly. “If there is one, it’s not a bad one.” Belinda agrees. “The building has a good feel to it,” she says. “It’s really nice to work in.” Wild Rocket @ Misty’s, 142 Main Street, Montville. 5478 5560 or wildrocketfood.com.au

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NOSH NEWS

An evening unfolding around beautiful wines and delectable dishes is what Hungry Feel’s Meet Your Maker events are all about. Five courses form a one-off menu specially designed to complement wines from the host winemaker’s vineyard. Bookings are essential. Hungry Feel, Middy’s Complex, 29 Main Street, Buderim. 5477 1331 or hungryfeel.com.au

Cheers!

Wit h winter biting, it only makes sense that people who usually

enjoy eating piping hot fish and chips outdoors want to retreat to warmer places. That’s why Sandbar Café and Kiosk is opening a new section of its Caloundra restaurant to accommodate their take away customers. Munch away in heated comfort and take advantage of the licensed bar. Sandbar Café and Kiosk, 26 The Esplanade, Bulcock Beach, Caloundra. 5491 0800 or sandbarcafekiosk.com.au

NOSH

NEWS

Whether it is simple daily sustenance, the centrepiece of ceremony and something that brings the sheerest of pleasures, dining in and out has never played a bigger part in our lives. Here salt shares news, information and products that enhance our passionate consumption.

If you’re a nude delicafe fan like us, then you’ll be thrilled to know that the local favourite is now open for dinner on Friday nights. Usually open during the day only, the deli has launched into the night scene with hearty $10 burgers, salads and nachos, as well as a specials menu that alternates each week. Licensed and effortlessly relaxed, the café is the perfect early evening detour on the way home from the beach. nude delicafe, Ground Floor, La Balsa, 45 Brisbane Road, Mooloolaba. 5444 4371 or nudedelicafe.com.au 48

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Spicers Clovelly and Spicers Tamarind have added yet another feather in their caps. The Tamarind in Maleny was awarded one Hat and The Long Apron at Spicers Clovelly, Montville was awarded two Hats in the Queensland Good Food Guide awards recently. The Long Apron also took out the Regional Restaurant of the Year award, cementing its place as one of the nation’s best restaurants.

Daisy’s P lace

Have you been to at Glenview and dined in the rainforest surroundings? An expansive deck extends from the renovated premises out to lush, green surroundings. Here, you can nibble on tapas, earthy wood-fired pizzas and freshly made cakes. After eating, wander in the speckled shade along Daisy’s winding boardwalk and over trickling water – you’ll leave feeling blissfully energised. Daisy’s Place, 2859 Steve Irwin Way, Glenview. 5494 5192 or daisysplace.com.au

Tantalising dishes leap from Sirocco Noosa’s new winter menu including the famous Moroccan lamb tagine of aromatic slow braised lamb, roasted artichoke hearts and poached quince with preserved lemon, and the crispy skinned confit duck on a bed of honey roasted root vegetables with a muscatel jus. Perch in front of the crackling open fire as you consume Sirocco’s seasonal fare, tempting beverages and smooth espresso over breakfast, lunch or dinner. Sirocco Noosa, 2/257 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville. 5455 6688 or sirocconoosa.com.au

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PRODUCE PEOPLE

Rainforest bounty word s & photos c l a i r e p lu s h

During The Dreaming, Galeru the rainbow serpent unleased his colourful coil across the sky, bringing rain to seed the land with life. Much like the serpent, Martha Shepherd and David Haviland have used their passion and knowledge to turn what was once a sparse sub-divided dairy farm into a thriving orchard.

how these things happen.”

Tucked in a valley behind the small country town of Cooroy, it is here on the 4.5 hectare farm that the couple planted a variety of native species and their business, Galeru, sprouted.

“I’d look out our window in Brisbane and I couldn’t recognise a single tree,” she says. “I was embarrassed.”

“It’s not the most practical block from a farming standpoint because it’s so steep and presents a lot of problems, but we saw it and that was it,” Martha says. Like all good stories, theirs began with a tale of love; first for their adopted homeland and then for each other. Raised in Michigan in the United States, Martha came to Australia in 1993 as the director of product research and development for US gourmet bakery retailer Mrs Fields.

They settled together in Brisbane, but despite the affection she had for her new homeland, Martha felt as if she couldn’t completely embrace it.

Knowing that something had to change, Martha enrolled in a TAFE course that focussed on native trees. David accompanied Martha to the classes and together they began collecting native berries and plants on bushwalks. She had expected to learn their names, smells, properties and what they looked like during the course. But what she left with was a grand business idea. “We got a bit more than we bargained for,” she laughs.

“I think they thought they were sending me here on assignment,” she laughs. “But this was a dream to me.”

Using riberries that she had found, Martha created chutney for a Thanksgiving celebration that the pair was hosting.

David, who migrated from the United Kingdom to Australia with his family when he was five years old, was on a much-needed break from the entertainment industry when he first met Martha. Martha laughs as she recalls their first encounter.

“Martha made a turkey with conventional cranberry and one made from the riberries,” David says. “By the end of the night there was still the cranberry sitting there as everyone had gone for the riberry.” That night was the beginning of Galeru.

“I was in a shopping centre getting some office supplies for my new office and he came up and gave me some line,” she says. “I thought, ‘who is this guy trying to pick someone up while they’re buying envelopes’.

Not long after, in 1996, they bought the Cooroy property with a not-so-distant plan to grow and sell native rainforest foods.

“I was really focused on my work and wasn’t worried about meeting somebody, but that’s

It wasn’t until 1998 that the couple left Brisbane and firmly planted roots down in the form of a house built on the highest point of the farm. >

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Sitting on a sprawling balcony, Martha and David now overlook 3000 native plants including Rainberries (syzygium luehmannii), Rainplums (davidsonia pruriens), native tamarind (diploglottis cunninghamii) and lemon myrtle (backhousia citriodora). The farm is also the only commercial orchard in the world that produces Raincherries (syzygium fibrosum). What is harvested from the farm is used in gourmet products, ranging from baked goods and yoghurt to chutney and salsa, all produced locally by Galeru. Martha and David took this approach to break down the barrier that consumers would have when faced with a fruit they were unfamiliar with. “We knew we would have to take what we were growing and put it into a form consumers could enjoy,” Martha says. “You can’t just put a bunch of trees in the ground and think somebody is going to buy them if they’ve never heard of them.” While David looks after the farm, Martha focuses on creating new and exciting recipes. The rhythm they now enjoy has replaced the guesswork they encountered in the beginning stages. “We’ve learned a lot from trial and error because there’s not a lot of people doing this,” admits Martha. “Things as basic as how far apart do you plant the trees, how big do they get when they’re out in the open like an orchard instead of a rainforest.” Despite the original hardship, tapping into an undiscovered market has brought its rewards to the pair. Not only have they won a number of awards as a company and individually, but they also have a list of esteemed restaurants – including Restaurant Number 8 at Crown, Melbourne and closer to home

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Rainforest FOODS • Native species, such as the rainplum, have a superior level of antioxidants when compared to a common blueberry, renowned worldwide for its health benefits. • Lemon myrtle is commonly used in the cosmetic and cleaning industry because of its high anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. • Rainberries (commonly known as riberrys) are reported to be one of the first fruits made into jam by early colonists to Australia. • Raincherry trees can take up to five years to bear fruit. • Until the 1990s the only native Australian food product that was commercially produced was the macadamia nut. Berardo’s Restaurant, Noosa – that use Galeru products in their dishes. But out of all their achievements, it is the face-toface relationships they have made with the people who enjoy their products that they thrive on most. “It really is gratifying when you show up on a Saturday morning and people come every week, and they won’t buy anyone’s yoghurt except yours. Or they come up and say ‘this is the best cake I’ve ever tasted’,” Martha says. “It really keeps you going.” Galeru’s range of rainforest foods and gourmet products are available at The Big Pineapple Fine Food, Growers and Artisans’ Markets or galeru.com.au FOR EXTRA SALT visit saltmagazine.com.au to see more photos of Galeru.

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CULINARY CREATIONS

CULINARY CREATIONS R E C I P E davi d r ay n e r & z e b g i lb e r t photoS A N ASTASIA K ARIOF YLLI D IS David Rayner

Beetroot salad

Ingredients Serves 6

3 large beetroots 1 bunch baby beetroots 250ml vinegar 175g sugar 2 bay leaves 2 garlic cloves, peeled 54

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1 thyme sprig 1 bunch mint 1 bunch chervil 1 bunch parsley 500g goatsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cheese 4 oranges, cut into segments

200ml vincotto or aged balsamic 50ml water Strips of paperbark from a tree Salt Extra virgin olive oil

Hot Tip

Maggie Beer Vincotto is brilliant for this recipe, and can be purchased from any good deli or large supermarket.

Method

Cooked beets Begin the cooked beets method a day in advance. Place large beets in a pot and cover with cold water. Bring to simmer and cook until just tender. Remove from water and peel whilst still warm. Once cooled, take half the beets and slice into 1cm x 6cm batons. Reserve the remaining beets for pickling. Pickled beets Cut the remaining beets into slices 1.5cm thick. Using a small, round pastry cutter, cut the slices into circles. In a pot, bring vinegar, 25g of sugar, bay leaves, garlic and thyme to the boil. Reduce slightly and taste to make sure acidity is balanced (you may need to add more sugar). Drop beetroot disks into pickling liquid and remove from heat. Place in fridge to cool. Smoked beets Take beetroot batons and cover with 100g sugar and 50g salt for one hour, then remove from cure and rinse. On a barbecue or Weber, place torn paperbark on base then lay out beetroot batons on a lattice and place over paperbark. Smoke for 5-10 minutes or until beets are smoky. Candied oranges Peel rind from four oranges, cook in saucepan with 50g sugar and water. Let mixture boil and then reduce to a low simmer until the liquid becomes a syrup.

Assembly

To assemble, arrange pickled beets down the centre of plate and put three batons of smoked beetroot over the top. Make three quenelles of goatsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cheese and place randomly over beets. Scatter orange segments and herbs over the top and finish with very finely shaved baby beets. Dress with vincotto and extra virgin olive oil. PHILOSOPHY Design your dish around what is in season. WINE TO MATCH Tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Gallant Cape Schanck Pinot Grigio II Available at Thomas Corner Eatery, Corner of Thomas Street and Gympie Terrace, Noosaville. 5470 2224 or thomascorner.com.au FOR EXTRA SALT visit saltmagazine.com.au to download a Melon and Champagne Dessert recipe by Thomas Corner Eatery chefs David Rayner and Zeb Gilbert.

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pie in the sky RELAXED RECIPES

words s a l ly t r u d e photos a n a s ta s i a k a r i Ofy l l i d i s

Pies are pieces of nostalgia – ways to remember favourite places, people and events and to share that same wonderful feeling with others. Mango pie Pastry 2½ cups plain flour cup sugar 225g cold butter ½ cup ice cold water ¼ tsp salt Combine flour and salt in a mixing bowl and toss together. Add butter, mixing with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add water slowly to form a dough. Knead lightly. Divide mixture in half and form two balls. One will be the top crust; one will be the bottom crust. Wrap in cling wrap and chill for 30 minutes. Roll out the pastry and line the bottom of a 23cm pie dish with one of the pieces of pastry. Filling 5 cups fresh mango, sliced 1 tsp lemon juice 1 cup sugar ¼ cup flour ¼ tsp cinnamon 2 tbsp butter Preheat oven to 170˚C Mix mango and lemon juice. Stir together sugar, flour and cinnamon. Mix with mango. Pour into pie crust, dot with butter. Cover with top crust and cut steam vents. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until crust is brown and juice begins to bubble through slits in the crust. Serve warm. Note: Fresh mango can be substituted for 3 x 425g tinned mangos.

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Vegetable pie Pastry 1Â˝ cups wholemeal plain flour Pinch salt 115g butter 1 egg (lightly beaten) 1 tbsp water Combine flour and salt in a mixing bowl and toss together. Add butter, mixing with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Add a tablespoon of water to the beaten egg and mix into the flour/butter mix. If dry add a little more water. Knead lightly, make a ball, and wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes. Filling 250g tomatoes 250g turnips 250g carrots 250g potatoes 1 tbsp sago 1 tsp mixed dried herbs 3 hard boiled eggs 50g butter Pepper and salt to taste Preheat oven to 170Ë&#x161;C Peel and dice all the vegetables. Cook them in the butter and 500ml water until nearly tender. Add the salt and pepper and mixed herbs to taste. When cooked pour the vegetables into a deep pie dish, sprinkle in the sago and add a little water if necessary. Cut the hard boiled eggs in quarters and place them on the top of the vegetables, cover with the pastry and bake in a moderate oven for 35-40 minutes or until the pastry is brown.

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Sweet potato pie Pastry

Filling

1¼ cups plain flour ¼ tsp salt 115g cold butter, cubed ¼ cup water, ice cold

4 eggs 1 cup milk ½ tsp salt ½ cup grated cheddar cheese 1 sweet potato, boiled, peeled and sliced thinly ½ onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 cup corn kernels ¼ cup green capsicum, chopped ¼ cup red capsicum, chopped Dash olive oil 1 tomato, chopped

Combine flour and salt in a mixing bowl and toss together. Add butter, mixing with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add water slowly to form a dough. Knead lightly, so the mixture comes together into a ball. Wrap in cling wrap and chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes before use. Roll out pie dough on a smooth, flat, lightly floured surface. Lightly dust your rolling pin and dough with flour and remember to occasionally re-flour everything to prevent stickiness. Starting at one end, gently roll the dough around the rolling pin. Centre the dough over the pie dish, then gently unroll it. Carefully lift up the sides of the dough and use your fingertips to fit it gently against the bottom and sides of the pie dish, taking care that it does not stretch or tear. 58

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Preheat oven to 170°C. Sauté onion, garlic, corn and capsicums in olive oil. When the onion turns translucent, turn off the heat and add tomato. Whisk eggs, and add milk slowly. Add salt to egg mixture. Spoon ¾ of the onion mixture into the pie crust. Layer slices of sweet potato over the onion mixture. Sprinkle evenly with cheese. Add another layer of sweet potato slices. Top with the rest of the onion mixture. Pour the egg mixture over all, letting it seep through to the bottom. Bake uncovered for about 45 minutes.

Crusty salmon pie Pastry 1 cup grated matured cheddar cheese 1 tbsp butter 1 cup plain flour Pinch paprika Filling 1 grated onion 415g tin drained red salmon 250ml sour cream 1 tbsp mayonnaise 3 beaten eggs Salt and pepper Dash of Tabasco 1 tbsp dried mixed herbs Â˝ cup grated cheese

Mix pastry ingredients in food processor until it resembles breadcrumbs. Press into small spring form cake tin, making a base and tall sides. Keep a bit of pastry mixture for the top. Mix together pie filling ingredients and spoon straight into the uncooked shell and sprinkle pastry crumbs over the top. Cook in medium oven (170Â°C) for 1 hour. Eat either hot or cold. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

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SALT CELLAR

Diverse shades of shiraz W O R D S TYSO N STELZER

What’s the best red to cuddle up with this winter? The answer has to be shiraz. Australia grows shiraz better than any other wine grape. Fact. So prolific is this variety that its production almost outweighs every other red wine variety put together. A bland monoculture of characterless bulk wines? Quite the contrary. Australian shiraz is as diverse as the far-flung places in which it is grown and the dextrous hands that turn it into deep red wine. From Margaret River in the south-west corner of Western Australia to the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, shiraz thrives in every winegrowing region in the country. Even the final frontier of Tasmania has mastered the variety, stunning the wine world last year by taking out the Jimmy Watson, Australia’s most coveted wine show trophy, not with pinot noir but with shiraz. The homeland of shiraz is on the baked slopes of the Rhône Valley in the south of France, where it is named ‘syrah’ (as it is everywhere outside Australia). Here, warm days ripen its rich blueberry, blackberry and plum flavours, while cool nights coax out its edgy, peppery, herbal complexity. Australian shiraz enjoys every shade in this diverse spectrum, from the deep, sumptuous, red-blooded wines of warm regions like South Australia’s Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale to the restrained, spice-infused, textural elegance of the cooler reaches of Victoria and New South Wales. This regional diversity has long been celebrated, but in recent years a new age has emerged in which greater stylistic distinction is sought within regions. ‘Sub-regionality’ is the new buzz word. Wines are no longer simply labelled as ‘McLaren Vale’ but increasingly identified with one of the many subdistricts of the region. 60

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The style sought by the grower and maker defines shiraz every bit as much as the place in which it is grown, and a new generation is striving for styles of greater intrigue and detail. The ageold stereotype of Barossa shiraz as big, rich and American-oaked is being challenged by creative makers with the daring to play with the perfumed fragrance of earlier-harvested fruit and the subtle support of French oak. In Victoria’s Yarra Valley, a new age of shiraz is defined by a fundamental change in the way it is fermented. ‘Whole bunch fermentation’ is a technique borrowed from some of the more progressive makers of the Rhône Valley and Burgundy. Rather than destemming the harvested berries, some or all of the fruit is left on its stems to enhance structure and add floral and spice complexity. No grape variety is better suited to the kaleidoscope of blending permutations enjoyed by shiraz. The traditional northern Rhône blend of shiraz with the white grape viognier was popularised here in the 1990s, whilst the southern Rhône blend of grenache shiraz mourvèdre has a long history in Australia and is continuing to rise in prominence. Australia’s own definitive blend of shiraz cabernet is the recipe for some of the most revered reds of the past century, whilst new blends like shiraz tempranillo, shiraz cabernet merlot and even shiraz pinot noir are showing increasing promise. Shiraz spans every hierarchy of Australian wine like no other grape. From bottom shelf quaffers to the stratosphere of Penfolds Grange, Henschke Hill of Grace and Australia’s cult sensations, there’s never been a better time to explore the diversity of our most famous grape.

1. The Armchair Critic Under & Over Heathcote shiraz 2010...$13 Under (priced) and over (delivering), get out of your armchair to discover the vibrant black fruit and savoury allure of Victoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Heathcote region. 2. Cape Mentelle Marmaduke shiraz 2010................................$19 Margaret River takes the juicy black fruit and milk chocolate of shiraz and adds a pepper-infused overlay, making it at once cuddly and intellectual. 3. Teusner The Riebke Northern Barossa shiraz 2010...............$19 Young gun Kym Teusner is the latest sensation in Barossa shiraz, and this gloriously plush, poised and intricately defined wine proves his talent on a budget. 4. Balnaves of Coonawarra shiraz 2009.....................................$24 Coonawarra is famous not only for cabernet, and its finest shiraz is blessed with enchanting restraint and legendary longevity.

5. Paringa Estate Peninsula shiraz 2009......................................$25 The Mornington Peninsula is hardly renowned for shiraz, but Paringa is changing all that with a maelstrom of exotic spice and black pepper. 6. Chapel Hill McLaren Vale shiraz 2009....................................$30 Chapel Hill is redefining McLaren Vale density by proving that longevity can be achieved through firm, finely textured tannin structure. 7. The Lane Block 14 Basket Press Adelaide Hills shiraz 2010....$39 This wine resonates with the character of its remarkable vineyard high in the Adelaide Hills. Its aroma implants you on a granite outcrop in a rainstorm. 8. Tyrrellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wines Vat 9 Hunter shiraz 2009...............................$91 The true spirit of Hunter shiraz is flatteringly soft and textural yet disarmingly long-lived. No Vat 9 has captured this more articulately than 2009. FOR EXTRA SALT visit saltmagazine.com.au for your chance to win a mixed case of Teusner Wines, including The Riebke Northern Barossa shiraz, valued at over $300.

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FASHION

Moss and Spy

64 CONFERENCE CALL Work with a little play 66 MOUNTAIN MYSTIC Rug up and head for the hills 68 CITY LIGHTS Sparkle in luxury dresses 70 CULTURAL AFFAIR Classically casual with a unique twist 72 ROMANTIC RENDEZVOUS Loved-up outfits 74 GO WEST Wander in carefree styles 76 JEWELS OF THE DESERT Must-have winter gems

ON THE ROAD Throw out the to-do list and release your wandering heart this winter. Cloudless, bluebird skies are beckoning you to hit the road for a day, week or indefinitely. This is a chance to discover new places, create fresh memories and flaunt your winter wardrobe. So pack the car, wind down the windows and turn up the tunes. We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t control the weather, but we can help you look the part. WORDS AND STYLING CLAIRE PLUSH

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Mesop

Available at: Moss and Spy, JulieAnn Boutique, 47 Burnett Street, Buderim, 5453 7777 or Minx and Max, Shop 3/18 Lanyana Way, Noosa Junction, 5447 3366 or OV Boutique, Shop 4, The Dunes, 27 Cotton Tree Parade, Cotton Tree, 5479 4505. Mesop, Carmelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Designs & Homewares, Shop 20, The Peninsular, Mooloolaba, 5444 3767 or Shop1/212 David Low Way, Peregian Beach, 5535 9255 or 21B James Street, Burleigh Heads, 5535 9255 or carmelsdesigns.com.au

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Katherine

CONFERENCE

CALL Sleek and stylish with a hint of playfulness. Make the most out of travelling for work and seek new experiences in different places. Throw out the boring suits, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chic and sophisticated from here on out.

Available at: Mesop, Carmelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Designs & Homewares, contact information on page 63. Katherine, Gingers Boutique, Shop 2, 56 Burnett Street, Buderim, 5445 6616 or OV Boutique, contact information on page 63. 64

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Mesop

Carmel’s Designs

Available at: Carmel’s Designs, Carmel’s Designs & Homewares, contact information on page 63. LouenHide, Giddy and Grace, Shop 2, 1 Maple Street, Maleny, 5494 3636 or giddyandgrace.com or OV Boutique contact information on page 63. Swarovski, Swarovski New York Gold Bangle, Silver Shop, Shop 393, Level 1, Sunshine Plaza, Horton Parade, Maroochydore, 5452 7577 or Shop 104, Sirocco Resort, The Esplanade, Mooloolaba, 5444 7260 or silvershop.com.au

LouenHide

Swarovski

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Meredith

mountain mystic Rug up, head to the hills and surround yourself with luscious mountain air. Stay warm with layers, thick jackets and knee-high boots. Scarves will become your new best friend as you hike along tracks or enjoy a spontaneous picnic in a field.

Pako Litto

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Body Elk

Arcopedico

Available at: Meredith, Gingers Boutique, contact information on page 64 or Minx and Max, contact information on page 63. Pako Litto, House of Ritz, The Gloucester Centre, corner of Gloucester Road and Main Street, Buderim, 5445 2059 or ritzonbuderim.com Body, Summer & Salt, Shop 2/214 David Low Way, 5448 3700 or summerandsalt.com.au Elk, Carmelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Designs & Homewares, contact information on page 63 or Essential Style Boutique, Shop 7, 23 Cotton Tree Parade, Cotton Tree, 5479 4785 or Soul Diva, 45 Burnett Street, Buderim, 5456 4111 or souldiva.com.au Citrus from Arcopedico, Get Set Footwear, 230 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, 5447 1755 or 82A Bulcock Street, Caloundra, 5492 7185 or getsetfootwear.com.au Boom Shankar, 2/47 Gateway Drive, Noosaville, 5473 0307 or boomshankar.com.au or Soul Diva, contact information above.

Boom Shankar

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CITY LIGHTS Zoom into the cityscape, dressed to impress and ready to take on the town. Wine and dine in elegant dresses that can take you from a five-star dinner to a chic lounge bar without any drama.

Lemonade on the Lawn

Available at:

Maiocchi

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Maiocchi, Soul Diva, contact information on page 67. Lemonade on the Lawn, Essential Style Boutique, contact information on page 67.

Gerry Shaw

Swarovski Available at: Gerry Shaw, JulieAnn Boutique, contact information on page 63. Swarovski, Swarovski Reflection Pendant, Silver Shop, contact information on page 65. NY2K, Sterling Silver Red Carnelian Ring, Shop 5, Rovera Plaza, Cotton Tree, 5443 1955 or ny2k.com.au

Gerry Shaw

NY2K

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Boom Shankar

CULTURAL AFFAIR Stroll through art galleries, catch a live band or head to the markets in comfortable get-up with unique flair. An inquisitive mind and easy vibe are the best accessories a cultured girl could wear.

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Boom Shankar

Available at: Boom Shankar, contact information on page 67 or Soul Diva, contact information on page 67. Ellis & Dewey, Giddy and Grace, contact information on page 65 or Essential Style Boutique contact information on page 67. Buffy by Dansko, Get Set Footwear, contact information on page 67. Maleny Showcase Jewellers, Lemon Coloured Vintage Glass and Sterling Silver Ring, Shop 4, Riverside Centre, Maleny, 5494 3477.

Ellis & Dewey

Maleny Showcase Jewellers

Dansko

Metalicus

romantic rendezvous Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about you, him and cementing your bond with a weekend getaway. Flatter your figure with soft fabrics and gentle colours. Grab a pair of oversized sunglasses for a touch of glamour and romance the days away.

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Pako Litto

NY2K

Available at: Metalicus, OV Boutique, contact information on page 63 or Soul Diva, contact information on page 67 or Summer & Salt, contact information on page 67. Purple Ginger, Watermelon Red, Shop 12, Pacific on Coolum, Birtwill Street, Coolum, 5473 9550 or watermelonred.com.au Pako Litto, House of Ritz, contact information on page 67. Trussardi, Noosa Optical, 1 Lanyana Way, Noosa Heads, 5447 3711 or noosaoptical.com.au Pheobe by Klouds, Get Set Footwear, contact information on page 67.

Trussardi

Klouds

Purple Ginger

Katherine

GO WEST Denim, floaty skirts, fringing and Aztec prints are perfect for a trip away from the coast. Feel the freedom of open spaces and relax into a carefree routine of waking with the sun and sleeping with the stars. Finish off the look with unruly bed-hair and natural make up.

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Susie M

Available at: Katherine, Gingers Boutique, contact information on page 64 or OV Boutique, contact information on page 63. Hot! Sydney, Gingers Boutique, contact information on page 64. Susie M, House of Ritz, contact information on page 67. Maui Jim, Noosa Optical, contact information on page 73. Gerry Shaw, JulieAnn Boutique, contact information on page 63.

Maui Jim

Hot! Sydney

Gerry Shaw

Luxe Deluxe

Maleny Showcase Jewellers

JE WELS OF THE DESE RT

Anne Everingham

Opals Down Under

Swarovski

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NY2K

Opals Down Under Available at: Anne Everingham, Gold, Tahitian Black Pearls and Tibetan Glass Bead Necklace, by appointment, 5442 8051 or everingham.com.au Maleny Showcase Jewellers, Vintage 1940â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s era French Cut Crystal and Japanese Enamel set in Sterling Silver Pendant, contact information on page 71. Luxe Deluxe, Minx and Max, contact information on page 63.

Face the chills with jewels that would warm up any outfit in a heartbeat. From calming opals to vintage glass and Swarovski coloured stones, these gems are a must-pack for all your getaway occasions.

Susie M

Available at: Opals Down Under, Sterling Silver Ring featuring Boulder Opal and Sapphire, and Sterling Silver Pendant featuring Queensland Boulder Opal and Garnet, 11 Ballantyne Court, Palmview, 5494 5400 or opalsdownunder.com.au Swarovski Rupture Bangle and Swarovski Montaigne Necklace, Silver Shop, contact information on page 65. NY2K, Sterling Silver, Red Carnelian Pendant with Citrine Beaded Necklace, contact information on page 69. Susie M, House of Ritz, contact information on page 67.

Swarovski

BOLD VISIONARIES

Beauty in plain sight words & photos claire plush

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In a large shed on a modest property in leafy Diddillibah, craftsman Fritz Schwarz is hard at work realising a vision – a vision that, funnily enough, also helps others to see more clearly. Fritz is the mind and hands behind innovative eyewear label Fritz Frames, specialising in spectacles and sunglasses made from wood. Whilst the label was officially launched in 2010, the foundation for Fritz Frames was laid many years before. Raised on Ruegen, Germany’s largest island and main tourist destination for Germans, Fritz’s younger years were spent carefree and outdoors. “The special thing about that place is that it’s former East Germany and it was a nice little free enclave,” he says. “So, you are able to live very freely compared to other places in the republic.” Days unwound by the sea, playing sport and restoring old boats alongside his father. “My dad had a sailing club and back then we got all these old boats given to us and then had to restore them,” Fritz recalls. “Growing up in East Germany you had to make or restore things as there was fairly little available. “There was a whole different mindset of sustainability.” This spotlight on sustainability was the reason Fritz first dabbled in eyewear design at the tender age of 16. “It was recycling most of all,” he says. “I’d break my metal frames and I thought I would at least try and experiment. So I made a frame and stuck the lenses on the back.” After school Fritz left his idyllic home for West Germany where he completed a boatbuilding apprenticeship. “The yachting culture was not developed in East Germany as much,” he says. “And they didn’t have nice wooden sailing boats. “Where I went in West Germany, they had 3000 boats for 300 people.” It was during his apprenticeship and the years that followed that Fritz developed an even wider skillset, delving into many roles as a boat builder. “You’re a carpenter, an engineer, a builder, a fine wood worker and a metal architect,” Fritz says of his boatbuilding days. Landing on our shores in 2006 with his Australian wife Mary, Fritz used his craftsmanship and knowledge of wood to create timber furniture and shortly after, kiteboards. “Whatever you figure out in your head you can make with a certain amount of skill,” he says. It took two pairs of wooden glasses, one he made for Mary’s birthday and the other for himself, before Fritz began to consider pursuing a career in eyewear design. “She was working in a restaurant with those glasses and getting 10 compliments every night,” he says. Around the same time a friend approached Fritz to help create a prototype for a fitness machine. >

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“We went and saw marketing specialists to see if it was feasible to make this machine on a commercial basis,” Fritz explains. “And they said ‘well the idea is pretty bad but I like your glasses. You should make those!’” The intrigue and positive reaction to the wooden glasses from strangers led Fritz to make frames for family and friends. Almost two years on and Fritz Frames specially crafts sunglasses and spectacles from around 30 different types of timber, all of which are milled in Ipswich. The elegant eyewear range is stocked in select optometrists throughout Australia including local distributor Noosa Optical. “We’ve got a few models which are great but we want to develop them to the next step, tweak certain parts and make them better,” Fritz says. The unisex frames vary in shape, size and colour and have been waterproofed with a hard coating for protection. Each design is sturdy and durable yet stunningly thin and lightweight. “We can only achieve such thin rims by using composite fibres that are embedded between the tender layers of timber,” Fritz says.

The hinges are another nod to the uniqueness of the glasses and demonstrate the meticulous planning that occurs during the design process. They bend up and down as well as in and out. The thin rims and special hinges helped Fritz Frames win an award for excellence at the esteemed Optical Distributors and Manufacturers Association’s trade event last year. The design and functionality of the glasses have provided a noteworthy backbone for the brand, but it’s the unassuming beauty found in each pair that is truly defining. “I like to surround myself with beauty,” Fritz reasons. “That would be the basic driving force behind it all – to have pretty things around that give off a charge for the day.” Similar to his time in boatbuilding, Fritz now jumps between a variety of roles within Fritz Frames, from sales to design to manufacturing. He says the diversity of his work brings satisfaction. “I’d probably describe myself as slightly hyperactive,” Fritz says through a laugh. “I wouldn’t want to sit at a desk somewhere.” fritzframes.com

BEAUTY Jane Iredale Zap & Hide $58. Available at Ikatan Spa, 46 Grays Road, Doonan. 5471 1199 or ikatanspa.com

Kevin Murphy Fresh.Hair $34.95, 250ml. Available at Eco Organic Hair and Body, 3/1 King Street, Cotton Tree. 5451 1300 or eco-organic.com

thalgo collagene cream

$79, 50ml. available at the spa room, the esplanade, mooloolaba. 5326 1710 or thesparoom.com.au or aqua day spa, contact information on page 83.

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STOP! Beautify yourself in minutes with these quick-to-apply, fast-working products. Spend less time preening and more time enjoying the results. STYLING CLAIRE PLUSH

Op Therapy sea salt glow: cinnamon and lime body scrub $49.95, 300g. Available at Watermelon Red, Shop 12, Pacific on Coolum, Birtwill Street, Coolum Beach. 5473 9550 or watermelonred.com.au

Waterlily Refining Hibiscus Serum $62, 30ml. Available at Spa Anise, Spicers Tamarind Retreat, 88 Obi Lane South, Maleny. 1300 809 361 or 68 Balmoral Road, Montville. 1300 252 380 or spicersgroup.com.au

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Zoya Nail Polish

in Charisma $19. Available at Nails @ Noosa, Shop 5/ 29 Sunshine Beach Road, Noosa HEADS. 5447 3380

BEAUTY SPOT Noosaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading day spas are joining forces for Noosa Destination Relaxation, bringing you unbeatable specials. Find out more on page 14.

Yon-Ka Serum

$76, 15ml. Available at One Spa RACV, 94 Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads. 5341 6900 or racv.com.au

Rooibos and Aloe Eye Serum $25, 15ml. Available at Saya Factory, Shop 6/41 Gateway Drive, Noosaville. 5473 0257 or sayaskin.com

Eminence Firm Skin Acai Moisturizer $100, 60ml. Available at The Spa, Noosa Springs, Links Drive, Noosa Heads. 5440 3355 or noosasprings.com.au

thalgo wrinkle control eye patch mask $73. available at aqua day spa, sheraton noosa resort, hastings street, noosa heads. 5449 4777 or sheraton.com/noosa or the spa room, contact information on page 82.

CUT & DYE

Crowning glory revealed words frances frangenheim photos anastasia kariofyllidis

At 8.30am on the dot I arrive for my hairdressing appointment at smyths inc. on Noosaville’s Gympie Terrace. Co-owner Cameron MacGowan greets me with a big grin and a warm handshake. He listens with gentle understanding as I mutter my usual apology to hairdressers for the dire state of my hair, which is today pulled up into a dishevelled knot posing ineffectively as a messy French bun. He’s a likeable guy and his relaxed yet professional persona sets the tone for the salon. I have the first appointment of the day but already there are six staff members buzzing around the 10-seat salon, lending a contented energy that is infectious. Cameron shows me to a swivel chair at the front window. It’s the perfect vantage point to take in views of the Noosa River and watch passersby relaxing at cafés, walking their dogs and shopping at the many boutiques. On the mirror bench in front of me is a one-page questionnaire designed to help the team learn about their clients’ hair routines (or – in my case – lack thereof). Cameron introduces me to hairdresser 84

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Shannyn Cameron-Smith who he explains will be doing my foil colour today. “Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?” Shannyn asks sweetly. I request a peppermint tea and before I can blink a neat little tray arrives and on it a steaming silver teapot, teacup and shortbread biscuit. I dive in, enjoying the simple ceremony of pouring my tea from a teapot – something I never take time to do at home. Cameron pulls up a stool beside me and we chat about the two salons he co-owns with Liz Heaton under the smyths inc. brand. For the past five years, Cameron explains, he and Liz have owned this original Noosa River salon, which was launched by founder Colin Smyth 25 years ago. Cameron notes its customer base is strong and their ages are diverse, with many clients visiting since its early days. Cameron and Liz – who each have more than 20 years experience in hairdressing and salon management behind them – opened their Hastings Street salon in June last year. “It’s evolved into a very social salon,” Cameron explains of their new venture in Noosa Heads. “I find, because it’s a small space, clients and staff all talk together and across one another. It’s great fun.” On most Saturdays, both salons are a “blur” of activity with wedding groups and individual clients. Shannyn returns to discuss my foil colour and, upon her advice, I decide on a warm, honey blonde tone to soften my face as winter

WHERE IS IT? Islander Resort, 187 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, 5449 8877 or Shop 2, Ocean Breeze, 52 Hastings Street, Noosa Heads, 5447 4422 or smythsinc.com

WHAT IS SPECIAL? smyths inc. offers an extensive menu of hairdressing styles, colours, cuts and treatments for men, women and children at its Noosa River and Hastings Street salons. Wedding parties also book group appointments almost weekly throughout the year. Co-owner Cameron MacGowan says the 12-member staff team pride themselves on nurturing an easy-going, friendly yet professional atmosphere in both salons and it’s obvious the team is a tightly knit bunch that enjoys each other’s company. Cameron says it’s also important that the smyth inc. team help their clients learn how to get the most out of their hair. “We’re only too happy to share our knowledge and passion for hair with our clients,” he says. “We run info nights every now and then with small groups on different hair styling topics. For example, one of the sessions helped teach clients how to style their own hair with their own products. It’s a bit of a laugh and a relaxed way to learn new styling tips while meeting new people. Just like a doctor gives you advice on your health, your hairdresser should share tips on how to care for your hair.”

WHICH TREATMENT WAS ENJOYED? A 2½ hour appointment consisting of a half-head of foils for medium length hair; a cut; a rinse, shampoo and conditioning pampering including a Goldwell express@basin treatment; and a blow dry for $220.

FINAL TIPS If you’re craving some extra pampering, treat yourself to the “Inner effect indulgence” treatment at the washbasin, which includes a neck and scalp massage with aromatherapy oils.

approaches. We chat amicably as she works swiftly on the fiddly business of foiling my hair. Once the foils are in, I wait the required 30 minutes for the colour to set, devouring a stack of the latest magazines and listening to happy chatter around me as the salon fills up quickly with clients. After 30 minutes I am invited to the washbasin for my hair to be rinsed, shampooed and conditioned. I’m also treated to an express treatment and head massage. The treatment will seal my hair cuticles and help prolong the colour’s brilliance, while the massage sends me into a gleeful dreamlike state. Delightfully, I discover the chair has an in-built massage mechanism and it too weaves its magic on the tense muscles in my upper back. I head back to my swivel chair with a sleepy smile on my face. Cameron combs my wet mop and gives it a cut – a simple straight trim is all I need to tame the wispy ends. He then applies a shot of conditioning mousse and a few drops of nourishing Moroccan oil before giving it a blow dry. When I next look in the mirror I find my frizzy lacklustre hair has been transformed into gorgeously smooth, tamed, healthy locks. I feel my confidence boost and make a silent promise to make more of a daily effort to style my hair.

HEALTH

art of healing words karina eastway

Boxes of colourful art materials line the walls of a Sunshine Coast counselling room, full of paper, string, shells, feathers and magazine cut outs. Charcoal and pastel drawings are pinned to the walls or lie haphazardly across the floor, flanked by plasticine models, clay and collage. It appears at first glance to be residue from an art class, except this is where life-changing therapy occurs, a place where creative expression gives rise to profound healing through the practise of art therapy. Art therapy uses creative expression as an alternative to talking, harnessing non-verbal expression to work through emotional and mental health issues from stress and anxiety to behavioural problems, mental illness, self-esteem and relationship problems. In art therapy, it’s the process of creating a piece of artwork such as drawing, painting, collage, sculpture and modelling that allows clients to achieve wellbeing. The therapy enables a client to physically represent an emotion or issue in a non-threatening way, and consequently, in a way that enables them to deal with it. It can be used to help anyone of any age and from any walk of life. 86

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Uniting Care Community Maroochydore counselling coordinator Nicola Turschwell’s passion for this form of treatment is palpable. “Art therapy is such an exciting tool and such a powerful tool. We love it,” she says. Nicola says one of the most exciting aspects of art therapy is the flexibility to be able to suit each client’s needs and that there are no guidelines on outcome. In fact, Nicola says that the people who struggle with it most are trained artists. “Artists are more concerned about the outcome. Their projection is very different,” she says. “With our training there are specific things we watch out for but there’s no right or wrong in expression, there’re no right or wrong colours. We often instruct that – we see people pausing and they’re judging. You can’t get this wrong.” Nicola says the ways to use art therapy with clients are endless and every method has its value, but she is a fan of Initiatic art therapy, which is based in Jungian psychology and employs a more holistic approach. “Some people will just be given a canvas and told to paint. Ours is more directed in personal development and therapeutic process. It’s guided,” she says. “It’s the same as the talking therapies. It’s about constantly assessing what people are comfortable with or what they’re ready to move into. We will support them in changing their moves a bit.”

Creative, colourful care • Uniting Care Community Maroochydore, 37 Duporth Ave uccommunity.org.au • Original Self Art Therapy workshops, facebook.com/originalselfarttherapy • Heart 2 Art workshops, heart2art-therapy.com.au • Australia New Zealand Art Therapy Association anzata.org.au/therapist-directory • Egyptian Dream Retreat, egyptiandreamretreat.com.au

Nicola explains that art therapy works by increasing a client’s self-awareness. A client will be able to identify and express an issue themselves that may have been otherwise difficult to describe verbally. “Instead of us just talking, there’s another entity in the room, another opportunity to project, which means they can talk about [the issue] like it’s ‘that’ rather than themselves. They don’t have to own ‘it’ initially or even name it. “I’m astounded they will always say, ‘It’s this big and this shape’ and they can so easily describe it in visual terms.” Original Self Art Therapy co-founder Rebecca Kellahan agrees. She says that art therapy gives clients an alternate language for self-expression. “It’s giving them another language to describe what’s going on,” she says. “Often people can’t think what the issue is, but they can relate it to a particular colour or shape. They’re working directly with the issue instead of the therapist trying to work out what the issue is verbally. “I’ve had far better results using art therapy. It’s been really profound and quite remarkable, and that’s what happens over and over. Anyone can do it and I don’t think [clients] would have been able to flourish as much without it. “A lot of people are deterred when they hear the word ‘art’ but it’s not about the client being artistic. That’s where it gets misinterpreted because it’s about the process of creating, the client’s interpretation and their own conclusions.” Another major benefit of the therapy is the client can address problems without the need to confront them head-on. Issues can be dealt with even if they are hard to define or pinpoint. “That can be as simple as identifying an issue and then externalising it in the artwork,” Rebecca says. “Then by looking at it and reflecting on it, clients can move onto changing it, for example making it lighter or smaller. It can be really personalised – their own meaning is attached to the art. “Clients will also find particular colours supportive and colours can bring in that support. Colours can also express emotions that are hard to define.” The idea of using colour as a means of therapy has been around since early Indian, Mayan and Egyptian civilisations. Egyptian Dream Retreat owner and therapist Dalila says colours have their own powers. “We have energy centres in our body which resonate with different colours. As the body is exposed to these colours, it goes through a process of healing and achieves balance,” she says. “Even if you’ve done everything else possible to achieve wellbeing, this still works.”

ARTISTS

Beauty found in the everyday WORDS a l e x f y n e s - cl i n t o n photos c l a i r e p lus h

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Creativity is at the core of Sunshine Coast artist Wayne Markwort’s very being. One step inside his Witta home, nestled near the sweeping hills and lush pastures of Maleny, is the proof in the pudding. Inside, eye-catching graffiti-style works on canvas immediately draw the eye. Downstairs in the studio, pictures of his amazing stone carvings and public installations litter his desk. And outside, perhaps his most interesting piece – a fullsize, Trojan horse-style work crafted from the remains of a tree felled in his backyard. “I noticed the tree had fallen down, so I got the chainsaw out and started chopping it to bits,” he says. “I’ve done a few works using pegs and different cuts of wood. The idea of the horse just came to me and I think it turned out quite well.” Originally from London, Wayne has been on the Sunshine Coast since September. He’s travelled the world creating and exhibiting a wide range of work, but has forged a reputation for bold threedimensional designs. “When I was a kid I used to do a lot of mucking around with a pad and pen and thought I’d become a graphic designer or something,” he says. “When I went to art college at 19 I was expecting to do something pretty standard, pretty boring. “I ended up making my first wooden sculpture and it was just wicked. It was one of those exciting moments where you just think ‘bloody hell, I could do this for the rest of my life’.” Wayne’s lightning bolt moment led to him pursuing his passion at a time when a more modern approach was in vogue.

Wingbaby by Wayne Markwort

northern city, really industrial. I always wanted to make moody work, so it was great. “I ended up meeting my now wife while I was at art college and we went to Spain on an exchange. “They have a huge stone yard and we were shown traditional stone carving techniques – working with beautiful black marble out in the Barcelona sunshine. It was bloody wicked.” While fatherhood, travel and spirituality have been driving forces in the forging of Wayne’s creative identity, a deep desire to provoke thought with his work remains important. His work radiates with expressionism, plain and simple. “Inspiration comes from a point where you just have to make something,” he says.

“In the UK, all the art colleges were all trying to be really contemporary. Lots of glass box stuff and really minimal work. It wasn’t for me,” he says.

“Everything I make comes from these burning desires I have to express something. Too often you get these designers who’ll make a piece of public art that doesn’t actually express anything.

“I moved up to the north of England, in Leeds, which is much more gritty. A real

“They’re ticking boxes – it’s stainless steel, it sits in a corner, it’s not offending anyone. >

“Art is not about that. It’s about communicating ideas. Sometimes it’s aggressive and sometimes it’s really lovely and mellow, but it’s always about a connection.” Coolum painter Pam Walpole shares a love of travel with Wayne, but her greatest strength lies in interpreting the bold environments around her. Originally making her name in advertising, it wasn’t until after her full-time professional career ended that she found a calling in art. “I started off going to Brisbane Tech College in George Street, now QUT, studying commercial illustration,” she says. “I did it for years. I was a studio artist. I hadn’t got into the fine art side of things at all. To me, that was for the people who didn’t have to start a job and earn a living. “When I [left full-time work] to be home with my children, I did a course majoring in sculpture. I loved it and once I was there, got interested in all the other areas.” But as is the case with many great creatives, Pam’s natural flair for drawing ran deep in her veins. “My grandfather was a black and white cartoonist for The Bulletin [in Sydney],” she says. “I can remember looking through the glass door of his office, working away at his desk and I wasn’t allowed in there. “I’d go in [when he finished] and go through his waste paper basket looking at his sketches. While I can’t remember drawing more than anybody else as a child – it all happened later – I guess you could say [art] runs in my blood.”

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Devil’s Marbles II by Pam Walpole

Pam’s adventures act as a catalyst for her art, with journeys as far reaching as Antarctica helping to shape her identity as a painter.

boulders just loom out of the desert. I just wanted to paint them as large as possible,” she says.

“A sense of space grabs me,” she says. “I like to bring vast environments to the abstract in a way, or semi-abstract. I like to think you can always see something in it, but maybe that’s only me.

Wayne’s sculpture was influenced partly by his children and partly by his own spiritual journey.

“I get out west a lot and I did three weeks in the Antarctic, which was amazing. It was just a big desert – full of interesting colour and pattern. “I like to bring [environments] down to the bare minimum.” Both Pam and Wayne are nominees in the Sunshine Coast Art Prize, for 2D and 3D categories respectively. Pam’s work, a minimalist landscape piece, was inspired by a trip through the rugged Queensland west. “After travelling through flat desert for many days, these big

“I made this little figure when my daughter was two, kind of like a baby taking its first steps,” he says. “Then I added wings – there’s a lot here about hope. I like to use narratives in my work. Something you can relate to.” The Sunshine Coast Art Prize 2D exhibition will run from August 15 to October 7 at Caloundra Regional Gallery, 22 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra. 5420 8299 or caloundraregionalgallery.org.au The Sunshine Coast Art Prize 3D exhibition will run from August 17 to October 7 at Noosa Regional Gallery, Riverside, Pelican Street, Tewantin. 5449 5340 or noosaregionalgallery.org

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OFF THE WALL

Big, beautiful nature captured WORDS f r a n c e s f r an g e n h e i m portrait c l a ir e p lush

Brisbane-based artist and adventurer

Ando can often be found perched on a beach at the crack of dawn, at dusk and on the full moon.

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“There are such beautiful sunrises on the Sunshine Coast and if you go over to Moreton Island you can get a sunset because you’re looking back across the bay there,” he shares, detailing some of his favourite spots from which to draw inspiration. Completely self-taught, Ando’s style is innovative and unique, leaping effortlessly between small-scale and colossal works. He trained as an engineer and has worked as an artist for the past 25 years, enjoying sell-out exhibitions of his intricate realist paintings of landscapes and wildlife, mainly native Australian birds, and recently his “From Palate to Palette” series featuring contemporary realism wine art paintings

Encore

where every bottle looks real enough to drink from. He has also been recognised internationally for creating the world’s largest artwork, titled Mundi Man, and the world’s largest canvas painting, titled The Big Picture. Mundi Man covers almost four million square metres on the Mundi Mundi Plains near Ando’s birthplace of Broken Hill in New South Wales. It is essentially a line drawing of an Australian stockman that is etched into the Australian landscape and can only be seen in its entirety from the air or on Google Earth. With the help of his wife, Canadian Christine Righetti, Ando “painted” the image, using modified farm equipment with tines that could create furrows measuring 10 metres across. Mundi Man was revealed via a mini-documentary in 2001 to coincide with the launch for Australia’s Year of the Outback celebrations. Meanwhile, Ando’s The Big Picture is painted onto a wall and measures 100 metres long and 12 metres at its highest point. The intriguing artwork is located in Broken Hill at the Silver City Mint and Art Centre and has become a major tourist attraction. It gives viewers the unbalanced feeling of walking into a painting of an outback scene, which Ando painstakingly created by blending landmarks such as the Flinders Ranges, Wilpena Pound, Heysen Range and Lake Frome. Ando says he’s ready for a fresh challenge. “I want to do another large painting because it’s been 10 years since The Big Picture and I think I’ve had enough rest … These big projects keep giving back to me because so many more people enjoy the experience of that one painting, which is an incredible feeling.”

Ando first picked up the paintbrushes at age four and began exhibiting at age 15. He embarked on a career in engineering but threw it all in to become an artist. It was a wholehearted yet risky move. “Growing up in Broken Hill, everybody went and worked in the mines. But there came a point – I was 26 or 27 – when I really thought I should paint. I thought I’d give it a year and if I could survive after a year I’d give it another year. And I’ve never looked back … You’ve just got to follow your passion.” Ando is a self-confessed workaholic – he is often in his studio before 5am and will paint all day. “But my partner has introduced me to a new found love: gardening. I am frequently out in the afternoon hours fixing up the acreage,” he says. Ever the adventurer, Ando also loves to scuba dive, ski and hike and often travels to seek inspiration for new artworks. “Currently, the paintings on my easels are of very diverse subject matter: a seascape sunset, a kookaburra, the outback of Mount Sonder and a Penfold’s wine. All images will be in Landsborough Galleries soon.” Ando has been a feature artist at the Sunshine Coast gallery for the past three years and likes to personally deliver his works, including originals and limited edition prints, to gallery owners Jack Olive and Giovanna Cattoi. Ando says he is grateful to be an artist, “that I can make a living from something I love doing. People who have bought my paintings or prints explain to me that every time they look at my work, they find something new to enjoy – that having my art in their home brings them joy. That is humbling and exhilarating at the same time.”

ART DATES

ART DATES Eye candy. Food for the mind and soul. Take a moment to peruse some of the finest works of art from some of the best galleries on the coast through winter.

June

Mungo Campfire by James Fearnley

QUALITY INVESTMENT ART Servicing clients on the Sunshine Coast for more than 20 years, this gallery’s featuring artists include Whiteley, Olley, Storrier, Shead, Lindsay, Sawrey, Boyd, Crooke, Dickerson, Hart and many more. when Now to mid-September where Tiffany Jones Fine Art Gallery, 138 Burnett Street, Buderim. 5450 1722 or tiffanyjonesfineart.com.au

RON CAMERON Ron believes that for a painting to be successful, it must not only create a pleasant mood for the viewers with the clever use of temperature and light, but it must also tell a story. when July 1 to 31 where Montville Art Gallery, 138 Main Street, Montville. 5442 9211 or montvilleartgallery.com.au

KAYA SULC Czech-born, Sunshine Coast-based Kaya Sulc explores the complexity of human figures through his paintings and sculptures. when Now to mid-September where Landsborough Galleries, 27 Caloundra Street, Landsborough. 5439 9943 or landsboroughgalleries.com.au

INTAGLIO WORKS Local artist Judith Rosenberg’s body of hand-coloured prints and etchings capture her impressions of our ecological situation, the delusional effect of materialism on society and concerns of the duality of consciousness and unconsciousness. when July 4 to August 12 where Noosa Regional Gallery, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin. 5449 5340 or noosaregionalgallery.com

MAITLAND & GLASSBOROW John Maitland and Stephen Glassborow are presenting their latest works in a joint exhibition. when June 23 to July 14 where Art Nuvo Gallery, 25 Gloucester Road, Buderim. 5456 2445 or artnuvobuderim.com.au

July

A RIPPLE EFFECT Most life on earth is invisible. The microscopic structures of diatoms are the catalyst for much of Shona Wilson’s recent work. when July 4 to August 12 where Noosa Regional Gallery, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin. 5449 5340 or noosaregionalgallery.com

CITY TO SURF David Hinchliffe’s latest exhibition features works that are personal vignettes of life and travels through the cities of Brisbane, New York, Paris and Venice as well as coastal vista of the Sunshine Coast. when July 1 to August 31 where NeoGallery, 24 Berry Court, Mount Coolum. By appointment only, 5471 6175 or neogallery.net

FORM-REL-ATION This showcase of 15 sculptural works are representative of Marni Koster’s most recent portfolio and explore various themes in stone, steel, bronze, perspex and wood. when July 11 to August 12 where Caloundra Regional Gallery, 22 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra. 5420 8299 or caloundraregionalgallery.org.au

JACK ABSALOM Jack’s intimate knowledge of the Australian bush is expertly depicted in his paintings, with the brilliant colours enticing us to look for ourselves. when July 1 to 31 where Gallery at No.10, 10 Bade Street Nambour. 5441 6638 or kerrmullercollection.com.au

VENETIAN VISIONS Using charcoal, Catherine O’Donnell explores the Venetian landscape, its culture and its history through her large-scale charcoal drawings. when July 11 to August 12 where Caloundra Regional Gallery, 22 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra. 5420 8299 or caloundraregionalgallery.org.au

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Blue Ray by Barry Fitzpatrick

AUSTRALIA AND AFRICA MEET IN ART Helen Hely and Sue Needham are having a combined exhibition where Helen explores the vibrancy of Africa and Sueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paintings are best described as ethnic in origin. when July 12 to August 5 where Studio 4 Gallery, 25 Seaside Boulevard, Marcoola. 5457 0298 or studio4gallery.com.au THE COLOUR OF LIGHT Kevin Oxley explores the full spectrum of colour in a range of magnificent new artworks. when July 14 to 29 where Art on Cairncross, Cairncross Corner, Maleny. 5429 6404 or artoncairncross.com.au

August

JULIE HUTCHINGS Julie uses vibrant colours and strong lines to capture the moods of her subjects, which include graceful female nudes and thoroughbred horses. when August 1 to 31 where Montville Art Gallery, 138 Main Street, Montville. 5442 9211 or montvilleartgallery.com.au ROBYN COLLIER Robyn is considered one of Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest wilderness artists, portraying remote places and concentrating on World Heritage areas. when August 1 to 31 where Gallery at No.10, 10 Bade Street, Nambour. 5441 6638 or kerrmullercollection.com.au HERE AND THERE John McVeigh-Brown uses watercolours to depict Australian and UK landscapes, showing the finesse of restraint of knowing how much detail is enough. when August 4 to 31 where Art on Cairncross, Cairncross Corner, Maleny. 5429 6404 or artoncairncross.com.au

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LOOKING AT LANDSCAPE WITH A DIFFERENT VIEW James Fearnleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new body of work goes beyond the surface and explores the interconnecting patterns and colours, filtered through his feelings and personal observations. when August 9 to September 2 where Studio 4 Gallery, 25 Seaside Boulevard, Marcoola. 5457 0298 or studio4gallery.com.au 2012 SUNSHINE COAST ART PRIZE 2D Featuring the work of 40 Sunshine Coast Art Prize finalists, this esteemed exhibition is a showcase of contemporary 2D practice by leading local and national artists. when August 15 to October 7 where Caloundra Regional Gallery, 22 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra. 5420 8299 or caloundraregionalgallery.org.au

Noosa hybridiatom by Shona Wilson

2012 SUNSHINE COAST ART PRIZE 3D An exhibition of the 40 finalist entries vying for the non-acquisitive art prize that includes $15,000 plus a four-week arts residency on the Sunshine Coast. when August 17 to October 7 where Noosa Regional Gallery, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin. 5449 5340 or noosaregionalgallery.com

September RON VAN GENNIP

Ronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sensitive figurative oil paintings frequently feature children as a focal point and are deeply rooted in the romantic, impressionist tradition that reminds us of lost innocence. when September 1 to 30 where Montville Art Gallery, 138 Main Street, Montville. 5442 9211 or montvilleartgallery.com.au

LEONARD LONG Leonard was the last of the Heidelberg Art School and sublimely captures the light, the morning haze or large gum trees. He is truly a master of the landscape. when September 1 to 30 where Gallery at No.10, 10 Bade Street, Nambour. 5441 6638 or kerrmullercollection.com.au

Treescapes by Johanna De Maine

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THE PURSUIT OF ESSENCE Barry Fitzpatrick delves into the complex systems of marine life and presents wonderful enigmatic works featuring stingrays, cuttlefish and sharks. when September 1 to October 31 where NeoGallery, 24 Berry Court, Mount Coolum. By appointment only, 5471 6175 or neogallery.net

Simpsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gap NT by Ron Cameron

RHYTHMS OF LIFE This exhibition showcases the work of Pamela Eldridge and features natural stones moving together in timeless rhythms of where we live. when September 6 to September 30 where Studio 4 Gallery, 25 Seaside Boulevard, Marcoola. 5457 0298 or studio4gallery.com.au KENDALL & MONTE LUPO To celebrate the Buderim Open Gardens weekend this exhibition of floral fantasy in artworks leads you through to the gallery gardens where there will be ceramic works by the Monte Lupo creative arts team. when September 15 to October 6 where Art Nuvo Gallery, 25 Gloucester Road, Buderim. 5456 2445 or artnuvobuderim.com.au

The Couple and I by Kaya Sulc

SAILING MY UNIVERSE Porcelain and lustre artworks by master ceramicist Johanna De Maine provide a unique opportunity to view world-class work. when September 22 to October 7 where Art on Cairncross, Cairncross Corner, Maleny. 5429 6404 or artoncairncross.com.au

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ART SPACE

SKIN DEEP artist Stephen Glassborow medium Cast bronze size 1050mm high price $10,500 Art Nuvo Gallery, 25 Gloucester Road, Buderim. 5456 2445 artnuvobuderim.com.au

TREE HUGGER artist Michelle Pike medium Acrylic on canvas size 600mm x 600mm price $1500 Michelle Pike, Eumundi Square, 1-7 Napier Road, Eumundi. michellepike.com

CORAL CAY, BARRIER REEF artist David Brayshaw medium Oil on canvas size 1020mm x 910mm price $8500 Gallery at No.10, 10 Bade Street, Nambour. 5441 6638 kerrmullercollection.com.au

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ART SPACE These artworks, featured on saltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own gallery space for winter, inspire, challenge â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and give pause for thought.

BACK II (1981) artist Brett Whiteley medium Limited edition lithograph â&#x20AC;&#x201C; No. 7 of 30. size 970mm x 640mm price $14,000 Tiffany Jones Fine Art Gallery, 138 Burnett Street, Buderim. 5450 1722 tiffanyjonesfineart.com.au

STILL LIFE artist Vanessa Porter medium Acrylic on canvas size 840mm x 840mm framed price $1200 Highly Strung Picture Framing & Art Supplies, 2 Low Street, Eumundi. 5442 7044 highlystrung.com.au

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IN YOUR DREAMS

Building on natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gifts words frances frangenheim photos anastasia kariofyllidis

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When Sunshine Coast builder Rob McCready was tasked with building his parents’ home on Peregian Beach, he let nature guide him. Having lived on the hillside property with his wife Leigh for three years before embarking on the new project, Rob was in tune with the site’s natural beauty – its tranquillity, gusty sea breezes, ocean views, native bushland and resident wildlife, including goannas, sulphur-crested cockatoos and rainbow lorikeets that feast on the banksia flowers. Rob was intent on building a modern coastal home that would enhance the natural landscape rather than compete with it. Pairing up with local architect Dan Sparks, a long-time family friend, Rob set about building a beach haven for his parents, who had decided to make the sea change after 32 years living on their country property – an old pineapple farm in the hinterland. Rob admits he relished the opportunity to channel his creativity and passion into a new abode for his parents. “It’s a real treat for me to be able to give back to them,” Rob says. “They feel very at home here. Initially they thought the house was too good for them but they’ve fitted in – it’s a very relaxed place to live.” >

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Surrounded by bushland and just a short stroll from the beach, the property indeed inspires a stress-free lifestyle. “It’s so private no one knows it’s there,” Rob explains of the home’s enviable location on Peregian Esplanade. “In essence, its front yard is a couple of hectares of native coastal dune bushland and swampland with a duck pond. There’s a family of ducks that has been there forever and they keep coming and going, and shrinking and growing.” The property’s previous home, which was built by former Noosa mayor Noel Playford in 1980, had been in the McCready family for 15 years. Rob felt it was past its use-by date and failed to make the most of the special site. The new home celebrates the “tricky” hillside block and stretches over four storeys: the basement level, lower ground floor, ground floor and mezzanine. A wow factor is the viewing tower on its northern side that captures views stretching north to Noosa Heads and south to Point Cartwright. Awe-inspiring ocean views are also enjoyed from the ground floor yet Dan Sparks believes each of the four storeys has its charms. “Although it is a large home, I wanted the spaces to have an intimacy and warmth, and a relaxed and casual feel,” Dan says. “The nature of the site offered a far richer experience than simply the ‘big ocean view’.” The four bedrooms, including a private master suite, are located in the basement and lower ground floor levels, which are tucked in under the forest of melaleucas and banksias. Dan explains that the outlook

changes as a person moves up through the home. “From looking through the forest canopy, then over it and finally, when in the ‘look out’ nest, you experience the entire stretch of the Sunshine Coast.” A variety of materials is creatively used, including light and dark timber beams and decking (crafted from plantation spotted gum and recycled red iron bark), walls of glass, and polished concrete flooring, ceilings and bench tops. A talking point is the elaborate, curved roof that appears to play with the landscape of ocean and dunes. “It was more like a parabola,” Rob says of the roof ’s unique sweeping design, “so we engaged an ex-naval architect that designed ship hulls so we could get this thing fabricated. He’d never seen a roof like it.” Inside, the design is clean yet warm. The open-plan living room, dining room and kitchen look out to the forest and ocean through a wall of glass sliding doors that can be retracted to welcome the breezes off the deck. An eclectic array of artwork and mementos adorn the walls, including a striking three-metre tall bark sculpture by Aboriginal artist Gunybi Ganambarr. Eco elements were important too, and Rob proudly notes the home is energy neutral thanks to features such as solar panelling and a 90,000-litre rainwater tank. Recycling is a constant theme in the home. Rob points out the beech wood used in the television cabinet, the ethanol-powered fireplace and a dining table that was once part of a 120-year-old barn that was tumbling down on the family’s hinterland property.

“Mum and Dad wanted to take a bit of their old house they’d lived in for more than 30 years into the new house, so we pulled up floorboards of the old shed and milled them down.” But what Rob loves most about the house is its energy. “The way I like to describe it is that even if you know absolutely nothing about architecture, you walk into this building and immediately feel happier. It lifts your soul,” he says. FOR EXTRA SALT visit saltmagazine.com.au to see more photos of this Peregian Beach home.

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HOMEWARES

Colourful Gypsy print plaques $37 each. Available at Bliss Homewares, Shop 1 and 2 Seaview Terrace, Moffat Beach. 5492 8816

Orson & Blake serving bowl $39.95. Available at Giddy and Grace, Shop 2, 1 Maple Street, Maleny. 5494 3636 or giddyandgrace.com

exotic

infusion

Add a little spice to your space with furniture and homewares infused with a hint of the exotic. Let the unfamiliar colours, tones and textures take you on a journey to distant lands without leaving the comfort of your own home. STYLING CLAIRE PLUSH

Handmade Persian carpet $990, 170cm x 92cm. Available at Gnu Cargo, 17 Rene Street, Noosaville. 5474 2490 or gnucargo.com

Frida Khalo cushion $49.95. Available at Vintage Beach Shack, 33 Gateway Drive, Noosaville. 5473 0070 Jali two-door cupboard $3990. Available at Watermelon Red, Shop 12, Pacific on Coolum, Birtwill Street, Coolum Beach. 5473 9550 or watermelonred.com.au

Large tea pot $37 and glass tea cup $16. Available at Metal Tiger Tea Emporium, 253 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville. 5440 5735 or metaltigertea.com.au 104

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Terra pitcher $24.95. Available at The Cooking Company, 20 Lanyana Way, Noosa Heads. 5447 4480 or thecookingcompany.com.au

Vintage Kantha armchair $2000 plus delivery. Available at Carole Tretheway Design, Shop 8b, 14 Sunshine Beach Road, Noosa Heads. 5447 3255 or ct-design.com.au

Recycled Spanish glass vases $9.95. Available at Carmelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Designs & Homewares, Shop 20, The Peninsular, Mooloolaba. 5444 6946 or Shop 1 & 2, 212 David Low Way, Peregian Beach. 5471 3332 or 21B James Street, Burleigh Heads. 5535 9255 or carmelsdesigns.com.au

Festival $750, 90cm x 90cm. Available at Summer & Salt, Shop 214, David Low Way, Peregian Beach. 5448 3700 or summerandsalt.com.au

African Bamileki stool from $750. Available at Add + Noosa, 10 Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville. 5449 9677 or addplus.com.au

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MEET THE DESIGNER

Many homes, many talents words & PHOTOS CLAIRE PLUSH

Draped across the wrist of Millie Fairhall is the word “freedom” in Filipino. Its permanence is a testament to how the 29-year-old approaches life and her creative label. A gypsy-soul with olive skin and a ready smile, Millie classifies living out of a suitcase more “home” than the house she lives in. “I’ve always felt that anytime I’m about to go somewhere, it feels like I’m coming home,” she says. Gathering inspiration from the places she’s visited and the people she’s met along the way, Millie launched her self-titled label last year, shortly after closing another. “I did it for eight years,” she says of her previous fashion-focused label Eillim (Millie spelt backwards). “And I wanted to start fresh with a new concept. I was involved in so many different facets that I thought it would be good to bring it all under the one label and work from there.” Millie now designs and hand makes a range of unique homewares, relaxed sea-inspired clothing, jewellery and detailed illustrations and prints under her umbrella-like brand. Growing up on the Sunshine Coast, Millie discovered her creative flair through painting as a child, and later sewing. “My mum and my aunties sew, so I learnt from them,” she says. After finishing school, she began a fine arts degree only to realise the restrictions and guidelines were holding her back. “I got bored, so I quit,” she says simply. 106

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Unsure of which direction to set sail, Millie signed up to a creative project that showcased her work and led her to be discovered by an international surf, skate, snow brand. “Volcom saw my stuff and then I got invited over to the States,” she says. “I was mainly doing artwork for their advertising.” It wasn’t long, however, before Millie felt trapped and disillusioned. “When I was working over there I thought ‘why am I working for somebody else when I can just do this for myself?’ So I came back and started my previous label.” Over the following eight years Millie would regularly travel between her mother’s homeland of the Philippines (she also has a Navajo Indian and Hawaiian background) and Australia, creating constantly and soaking in her surroundings. “I think that subconsciously my mixed background has influenced me,” she says. “I found that out whilst travelling around the Philippines and America, because I’d see elements of my own work in that culture that I’d never noticed before. “I love exploring and learning about new elements of culture and nature, seeing and experiencing people and places in their most raw and real form.

“I was sketching and listening to a Tom Waits song, Fish and Bird, and it inspired me to create the whale tea towel design,” she says. It’s not unusual to see natural earthy tones across the homewares line smacked with punches of fluoro colour. All of the cushions and tea towels are made thoughtfully with organic cotton or from quality vintage fabrics sourced from op shops across the region. Soy-based inks are used during screen printing to achieve a more sustainable and earth-friendly process. “I like the way they turn out, but it’s mainly an environmental thing because a lot of the printing inks are really toxic,” Millie says. Each homewares design or piece of clothing is a limited edition, with five copies usually the cut off point. “I’d rather have one or two pieces going around and someone feeling really special because not many other people have it,” she says. With an eye on her footprint, the other on the horizon and her thoughts flitting between clothing, homewares, jewellery and illustrations, Millie’s rambling love of life makes her a favourite among creative circles and market goers.

“Being thrown out into the world, into the unknown, is like my bliss.”

But modest Millie can’t quite grasp why people gravitate towards the things she produces.

Another form of bliss for Millie comes from her recent transition into the homewares arena.

“It’s still strange that people would actually choose to buy my stuff,” she says earnestly. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.”

“Working with recycled timbers and general junk from beach combing to tip shops has always intrigued me,” she says. “And this year I’ve finally started working with those things to create new pieces.”

The future looks bright for this self-professed wanderer who only now has the creative freedom she yearned for all along.

The Millie range includes handmade cushions, tea towels and rustic wooden cheeseboards.

“I want to keep Millie handmade and small but at the same time, grow,” she says. “I still want it to have a DIY aesthetic to it, because that’s just how I roll.”

Nature has been a constant source of inspiration, and so at times has music.

Millie can be found at Peregian Beach markets or at millie.bigcartel.com

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GREAT OUTDOORS

Wild times on wheels words leigh robshaw PHOTO CLAIRE PLUSH

There are more than 30 skateparks scattered across the Sunshine Coast, each offering a variety of features and a vibe all its own.

From glitzy beachfront to cruisy rural parks, they feature diverse design elements to suit skateboarders, BMX riders, rollerbladers and scooter riders of every skill level. Here are 10 favourites:

4. Caloundra

1. Peregian BEACH

Description: According to Maleny skater Jack Anderson, this is a “fun park you’ll probably get hurt in” (is that a good thing?). This park is described as “epic” by some skaters for its series of huge bowls with unlimited lines, transfers, hips and grinds. There are quarter pipes, nine-foot spines and a long, thick handrail – very enticing for skateboarders. Caloundra skater Elliot Swanson says its appeal “depends on what kind of skating you’re into” and that it’s better suited to BMX riding.

Location: Kingfisher Drive, Peregian Beach Description: Peregian skatepark enjoys a prime location right next to the beach, and is absolutely pumping when Peregian Originals is on in the adjacent park (every first and third Sunday). The large shadecloth and the smooth surface make it a comfortable park for skating and scooting, and there’s a seven-foot-deep main bowl, with smooth transitions, as well as a block and a handrail down a set of stairs for the skaters. 2. Alexandra Headland Location: Alexandra Parade, Alexandra Headland Description: Alexandra Headland skatepark is one of the coast’s coolest and most visible, so it’s an excellent place to show off. A highly popular park, it attracts well-known skaters as well as scooter riders, BMX riders and rollerbladers. Some of its features include a wedge ramp, seven-foot half pipe, four-foot mini half pipe, fun box, quarter pipe with banks, manual pad, mini launch ramp, grind box and grind ledge. It’s well lit at night, so the action doesn’t have to stop when the sun goes down. 3. Coolum BEACH Location: Tickle Park, Coolum Esplanade, Coolum Beach Description: This is one of the coast’s newer parks, built in 2004. Apart from its nice, smooth surface, its highlights include a handrail down a bank, a double block, a very impressive main bowl with a nine-foot extension into a vertical, flat ledges and mini-quarter pipes and curved ramps with metal pipes on top. The Coolum scene is friendly and relaxed, and less hectic than Alexandra Headland. 108

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Location: Caloundra Aquatic Centre, 81 Arthur Street, Caloundra (Price: $4 children, $4.80 adults all day, includes pool use.)

5. Yandina Location: Wonga Park, Farrell Street, Yandina Description: This skatepark was upgraded in 2011 with input from local skaters, and it has subsequently become one of the Sunshine Coast’s most frequented parks. It offers a mix of ramp and street elements, including two vertical ramps, a mini half pipe, rail, mini launch ramp, grind ledge, wedge ramp, coping and a flat bank. 6. Meridan PLAINS Location: Parklands Boulevard, Meridan Plains Description: This is a concrete plaza park specifically designed for skateboarders, though it does attract scooter riders too. It’s designed to mimic a street scene and features a quarter pipe, banks, flat bar and ledges. Whilst its setting may not be as exciting as Alexandra Headland or as pretty as Peregian, it rates highly with serious skateboarders. 7. Nambour Location: Petrie Park, Nambour Description: Whilst it’s not as shiny and new as other parks, Nambour offers something for skaters, BMX riders, rollerbladers and scooter riders, and has a recently added transition platform, transition wedge, central slide rail, quarter pipe and grind box.

Alexandra Headland skatepark

8. Beerwah Location: Roberts Road, Beerwah Description: A favourite with skateboarders and BMX riders, this is an ultra-fun park with a smooth new surface and great features like big banks, fun boxes, a seven-foot half pipe with three entries, two grinding blocks, three quarter pipes and two grinding blocks. One local skater says the “drop-offs are a bit hectic”, but otherwise it rates highly on the fun scale and it has a large shade which keeps the Sunshine Coast sun off riders’ faces. 9. Maleny Location: Maleny Showgrounds, Maleny Description: Whilst it may not be as flashy as its coastal cousins, Maleny skatepark offers some decent features for skaters, BMX riders and scooter riders (although locals complain that it’s too small and there’s not enough room to stop). But what brings skaters from around the coast to Maleny is its six-foot metal half pipe, best ridden in the afternoon as morning dew can make it slippery. There’s also a smooth mini bowl, coping, two grinding blocks, a declining quarter bank and a 16-foot wide mini ramp. Other good features are a beginner’s area and three undercover sitting areas. 10. Boardstore Indoor Skatepark, Kawana Location: 10/10 Capital Place, Kawana Description: At the time of writing this new state-of-the-art indoor skatepark ‘The Woods’ was due to open on June 2. Owned by Boardstore, there will be separate session times for skateboarders and scooter riders as well as skateboarding lessons. Yearly memberships will be offered as well as one-off sessions, and the centre promises to be an awesome air-conditioned all-weather facility.

TOURIST INFORMATION

BACKWARD GLANCE Can you guess where and what year on the Sunshine Coast this image was taken? Visit the READ SALT page on saltmagazine.com.au to find out.

climate

No wonder it’s called the Sunshine Coast, with an average of seven hours of sunshine daily (one of the highest amounts in the world). Winter (June to August) days are always popular with visitors with an average temperature between 13°C to 20°C and an ocean temperature of 19°C. Temperatures in the hinterland can be several degrees cooler.

travelling distances Brisbane to Caloundra........................ 100km Brisbane to Mooloolaba...................... 105km Brisbane to Nambour......................... 110km Brisbane to Noosa ............................. 148km Noosa to Montville.............................. 56km Mooloolaba to Maleny........................ 41km Caloundra to Kenilworth..................... 77km school holidays June 23, 2012 to July 8, 2012. emergency telephone numbers Ambulance, Fire Brigade, Police, Coastguard, Rescue.......................000 Poisons Information Centre...............131 126 Ambulance Transport........................131 233 markets Cotton Tree St Market, King Street, Cotton Tree, every Sunday, 7am to noon. Eumundi Courtyard Village Market, 76 Memorial Drive, Eumundi, every Saturday 8am to 2pm, Wednesday 8.30am to 1pm. Caloundra Markets, Bulcock Street, Caloundra, every Sunday, 8am to 1pm. Caloundra Country Markets, Central Park, Arthur Street, Caloundra every Sunday. Kawana Waters Farmers’ Market, Stern Street (Sportsman Parade end), every Saturday, 7am to noon. Noosa Farmers’ Market, AFL Grounds, Weyba Road, Noosaville, every Sunday, 7am to noon. Maleny Market, Maple Street, every Sunday, 8am to 2pm. Fishermans Road Sunday Markets, Fishermans Road, Maroochydore, every Sunday, 6am to noon.

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Image courtesy of Sunshine Coast Libraries.

surf safety patrols (Times vary between 7am – 5pm) Year round 7 days/week Noosa Heads, Sunshine Beach, Peregian Beach, Coolum Beach, Twin Waters Resort, Maroochydore, Alexandra Headland, Mooloolaba, Dicky Beach, Kings Beach. To stay safe at the beach remember: Too much exposure to the sun can cause serious damage to your skin. Make sure whenever you are going in the sun that you take adequate precautions. slip, slop, slap and wrap Slip on a shirt (preferably a long-sleeved shirt). Slop on the sunscreen (30+ and reapply as needed). Slap on a hat. Wrap some UV protective sunglasses around your eyes. It’s also a good idea to avoid direct exposure to the sun during the hottest part of the day – between the hours of 10am and 2pm – and try to take advantage of shade when possible.