Geelong Coast Magazine Winter 2016 by Star News Group

ISSUE 17

THEY, ROBOT LOCAL TECHNOLOGY REHABILITATING CHILDREN

CARPET

TIMBER

RUGS

VINYL PLANKS

www.gcmagazine.com.au

LAMINATE

FASHIONABLE CAUSE BPW HITS THE CATWALK FOR REFUGEE GIRLS

LOCAL LOVE HOW LAURA AND RHYS GOT HITCHED

GREEN THUMBS GEELONGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PASSION FOR PELARGONIUMS

HOLY CHIC FROM CATHOLIC CHURCH TO CURLEWIS COMFORT

IN CONVERSATION WITH

1224447-CB21-16

MADI ROBINSON

WINTER 2016 AUS $5.50 (inc GST)

We’re all on this ageing journey together. What’s most important is that we don’t lose the one thing that really matters, just to get the care we all eventually need. I mean, what’s life without freedom – the everyday freedom to come and go and be and do as you please in the privacy and comfort of your own home. Why live alone when you can surround yourself with wonderful new friends in a vibrant, caring community that celebrates every day to the full and treats you with all the kindness, decency, love and respect you deserve. That’s what I call freedom. If you would like to know how this can be a wonderful time of life, visit 6 Matthews St Grovedale or call 1800 984 840 today. 1234453-CB25-16

Come in and try our NEW Express Lunch menu

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the food the view the name ...simply iconic

Book your next event in our Private Upstairs Function Room - seats 10-25

5222 4100 Call NOW to make a reservation

2012 Fine Dining Specialist

Fishermenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pier Restaurant Bay end of Yarra Street, Geelong www.ďŹ shermenspier.com.au

contents

20-21

46-49

We love

Brush company cleans up

Artist in residence

23-25 Hot in the kitchen

26-29

This season

Fashions for a cause

8-11

32-35

In conversation

Local love

60-61

36-37

64-67

They Robot

38 Gig guide

Geelong Coast magazine is a Star News Group/Geelong Independent publication.

History repeated

Green thumbs

Local sounds

14-17

52-53

Home bodies

75 Calendar

Geelong Coast Magazine is printed on environmentally friendly paper.

MANAGING EDITOR: Tony Galpin WRITERS: John Van Klaveren, Emily Robinson, Luke Voogt, Paul Millar PHOTOGRAPHY: Louisa Jones CREATIVE: Creative Services Manager: Chris Beale Graphic Designers: Mark Dinnie, Virginia Hester ADVERTISING: Advertising Manager: Steve Clark steve.clark@gcmagazine.com.au Sales Executive: Marianne Valitutti marianne.valitutti@gcmagazine.com.au

Printed using vegetable based inks on FSC ÂŽ certified paper under ISO14001. Environmental Management System framework. FSC ÂŽ Chain of Custody certification ensures traceability and verification of paper from well managed forests throughout the manufacturing process to the end user.

COVER PICTURE: Lyndon Marceau for 1OM at Chapel Fitness www.gcmagazine.com.au facebook.com/gcmaggeelongcoast

GEELONG COAST MAGAZINE Level 1, 78 Moorabool Street, Geelong 3220 (03) 5249 6717 (03) 5249 6700

@GeelongCoast ISSN: 2200-6605 ABN: 55 006 653 336 ACN: 06 653 336

All material appearing in Geelong Coast magazine is subject to copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material. Geelong Coast magazine takes all care to ensure information is correct at the time of printing, but the publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of any information contained in the text or advertisements. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or editor.

1232790-HM26-16

2 Capital Drive, Grovedale www.modglass.com.au

… Wathaurong Glass artworks It’s great to know these exquisite products are all made by Indigenous Australians, creating jobs and opportunities for local Aboriginals. Patrons of Wathaurong’s glass creations also know they own a special piece of artwork for their home, content in the knowledge it’s the only one of its kind.

… Clarinda’s Cupcakes The creativity of Clarinda’s Cupcakes is limited only by the imagination. Clarinda creates a range of 3D cakes, cupcakes, cake pops and cookies for every occasion.

Wauthaurong Glass products extend beyond art, with the company also able to make products for applications such as trophies and home decor. Part of Geelong’s Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative, the business directs any profits straight back to the local Indigneous and broader community.

She offers a personal touch, speaking with customers to suggest customised decorative designs. “A lot of wedding cakes elsewhere are mass-produced and lack finesse. No two cakes of mine are the same,” she says. Clarinda’s specialty is a vanilla pudding cake, while her mud and white chocolate and raspberry cakes are popular. Phone 0421 336 495 or email clarindascupcakes@gmail.com for more information.

… The Ebony Forest The Ebony Forest offers traditional and contemporary home decor. Opened just 12 months ago, the Newcomb-based business caters for a variety of tastes across all age groups. Owner Andrea Coltish’s range includes artwork prints, ceiling lighting, cushions, vases, ornaments and indoor sculptures. With an indoor cafe area, customers can take a seat and relax with a coffee after browsing the store. The Ebony Forest opens 9am to 5pm weekdays and 9.30am to 2pm Saturdays. The Ebony Forest is at 48 Watsons Rd, Newcomb, phone 5248 7661 or visit its facebook page for more information.

… Charles Rose’s hand-made jewellery Hand-making and repairing fine diamond jewellery is a vanishing art that produces products of vastly superior quality. But thankfully the tradition remains alive at Geelong’s Charles Rose jewellers. With a small team of master craftspeople, the Geelong workrooms are an important branch of Charles Rose operations. Services include repairs, remodelling and making as-new jewellery – the team’s favourite. Charles Rose is open 10am to 5pm, later on Friday, at 98 Moorabool St, Geelong, but is closed Sundays. Phone 5229 9088.

THIS SEASON YOU SHOULD Enjoy a Fisho’s Wine Dinner Geelong’s favourite waterfront restaurant hosts two of its popular wine dinners in coming months. The Pipers Brook Vineyard Wine Dinner, on 28 July, will feature five courses paired with wines from the award-winning winery and sister label Ninth Island. Patrons will enjoy a Katnook Coonawarra Wine Dinner at 13 October, also presenting five courses with the makers’ recommended accompaniments. Numbers are strictly limited for both $120-a-head dinners, so bookings are essential.

Pamper your wheels Now’s the time to treat your car to North Geelong’s The CarWash Based at 11-15 Douro Street, The CarWash makes any vehicle look sensational for prices as low as $25, all while customers wait in a pleasant courtyard/atrium with coffee and drinks. Full details are available at thecarwashgeelong.com.au, The CarWash Facebook page or email murrellgroup@bigpond.com Bookings are highly recommended, phone 5278 9699.

Catch the exciting exhibitions at Seaview Gallery Self-taught artist Kate Smith glorifies in depth of colour from the use of pastels and mixedmedium techniques. Sweet shades of light embrace the women in her works, on display in Smith’s Black Inspiration exhibition at Queenscliff’s Seaview Gallery until 23 July. Internationally recognised and award-winning Australian multi-media artist Emma Hack will appear at Seaview for an artist talk and high tea on 14 August after finding international fame with her body-painting techniques featured in a hit music video for Gotye.

Try Borgata’s online pre-ordering system The newest addition to Lara’s foodie scene features authentic Italian cuisine. Borgata offers dine-in and take-away options, with customers able to order online at borgatarestaurant.com.au Appetisers, mains including pasta, risotto and pizza, the in-house special, and a kids’ menu are available. Customers can even select from soft drinks and beer lists or BYO wine. Borgata is at Tenancy 1, 2-4 Waverly Road, Lara, phone 5282 4565.

See stunning scarves at the wool museum The 13th annual Scarf Festival exhibition is open at Geelong’s National Wool Museum until 3 September. Running this year under the theme Myths and Legends, the festival’s competition for hand-made scarves has attracted entries from around Australia. Hundreds are on display, including the festival judges’ choice as Scarf of the Year. Some of the scarves are also for sale, offering a unique opportunity to obtain a one-of-a-kind garment ideal for the winter months.

[in] conversation

Madi n o s n i b o R

With the ANZ Championship finals coming up and the Melbourne Vixens sitting third in the Australian Conference, Geelong Coast journalist Luke Voogt had a chat to Geelong netball star Madi Robinson.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT NETBALL? The friendships I make along the way. My best friend – Renee Ingles – is on an opposing team and was my bridesmaid. She’s also one of my fiercest competitors. But that’s the wonderful thing about netball – you can make some amazing friendships even if you’re not on the same team. We usually don’t speak to each other leading up to the game though. YOU’VE WON SEVERAL AWARDS, SUCH AS VIXENS MVP AND INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR. WHAT WOULD YOU RATE AS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT? I guess playing a team sport my biggest achievement would be winning the Commonwealth Games and Vixens Premierships in 2014. But those individual awards are nice bonuses along the way. My biggest individual achievement would be the Liz Ellis Award. I’ve been lucky to win that twice. WHAT WAS IT LIKE GROWING UP PLAYING NETBALL? I first played local Saturday netball for Newcomb and came across to South Barwon under the head coach Shirley Fagan. She was a big part of shaping my netball game as a junior. I think I played my first seniors A Grade game at the age of 15. That was the best thing about the South Barwon squad – they had a great culture that bred success. I got to play juniors in the morning, I’d go watch some footy or help out in the canteen, and then seniors in the afternoon. There was a lot of netball on a Saturday. They put me through my paces at training and Shirley taught me a lot about my game. As well as my mum, who was an assistant coach at the club.

PICTURE: LYNDON MARCEAU FOR 10M AT CHAPEL FITNESS

>>>

WHO WAS YOUR IDOL PLAYING NETBALL AND WHY? Shelley O’Donnel. It’s quite a funny story. I’d just turned 18 the year that she was retired and was invited to come to a training session with the Kestrels. I loved the way she moved the ball and her creativity. It was bittersweet because I loved watching her play, but her stepping down gave me an opportunity. A lot of people say I play like her and I say “yeah, because that’s all I’ve ever watched”. Who knows, maybe there’s some young girls watching videos of me and hoping to play like me one day – that would be cool. YOU WERE FIRST SELECTED FOR THE AUSTRALIA DIAMONDS IN 2007 BUT MISSED OUT ON THE DELHI COMMONWEALTH GAMES IN 2010 AND NETBALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SINGAPORE 2011. HOW DID THAT MOTIVATE YOU? That was pretty hard but it was the extra motivation to do what I had to do make sure I was there in four years. WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING A COMMONWEALTH GAMES CHAMPION IN 2014? It had been eight years in the making. I’d been very close in 2010 and missed out. Just getting 10

there I just wanted to soak it all up – it was so amazing. I don’t think Australia had done it for 12 years, so it was a huge historic moment for Australian netball. I had some of my family over there watching and sharing in the moment which was incredible. THAT SAME YEAR YOU WON THE ANZ CHAMPIONSHIP WITH THE MELBOURNE VIXENS. HOW DID THAT FEEL? It was a massive whirlwind year for me. My mum was saying “it’s like you’ve got the Midas touch Madi. All you’re doing is turning to gold!” When you love what you are doing and love the people you are doing it with, it’s something special. HOW DOES YOUR TEACHING FIT IN WITH NETBALL? Most girls in the team either work or study full time or part time. One is studying law, another girl is studying physio – we’ve got accountants and some teachers. It’s kind of a good and bad thing. Most of the girls have to do other jobs to put food on the table but it gives us a balanced lifestyle. WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG THING FOR YOU? Last year when I did my right ACL and had a reconstruction, I thought it would be nice to have my own products. In a couple of months I am launching my

netball through Gilbert. I love writing things about health and skin care. I’d love to pursue those things and see where they take me and while pursuing my netball career at the same time. The biggest thing coming up is the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE RECENT PUBLICITY FOR WOMEN’S SPORT, LIKE FEMALE CRICKETERS AND SOCCER PLAYERS GETTING A PAY RISE, OR THE AFL STARTING A WOMEN’S LEAGUE? Female sport is on a huge rise at the moment. I think it’s great for girls to have multiple role models and not just a handful. When I started I was only on $1200. Now our minimum wage for a rookie is $15,000. Even in my sporting career (11 years), to see that dramatic jump is amazing. Next year our competition is having a huge revamp. It’s fantastic to see female athletes getting a pay rise. But we’ll always be fighting for the equality.

WHAT’S SOMETHING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU? I don’t own a microwave. I said it to my team-mates last year and they were like: “What?! How do you even function!” I said you can cook anything with pots and pans on the stove. Every now and again my team-mates will be like: “how do you cook this?” I love craft activities – go figure – like making my own macrame pot hangers. There are so many inspirational things on YouTube. When I get some spare time I’ll sit down and have a go at any sort of crafty thing. Some people say “Really? I don’t find you the crafty type”. WHERE DO LIKE TO GO IN GEELONG?

HOW’S MARRIED LIFE GOING? I married Todd two years ago but I’ve been with him for nearly 10 years. He came over to Perth with me. He’s been a huge support, as well as my parents. He used to do triathlon so he loves to stay fit and healthy like me. He’s a paramedic and he’s studying his masters of teaching as well. I’d love to start a family but I want to have another crack at Commonwealth Games (2018) and World Cup in Liverpool (2019) first. I missed out on the World Cup in Sydney last year, so that’s the one thing on my netball bucket list I haven’t achieved. By then I’ll have had 14 seasons of netball and that will probably be enough. Then we’ll look at the next chapter of our life.

King of the Castle – I always go down there. They’re lovely people and I always have a good feed and coffee. DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS? My dog Ruby. We never really got to have pets as kids. As soon as I moved out I got a dog with my now-husband. Now I wouldn’t know what it would be like without a pet. WHAT DO YOUR FAMILY THINK OF YOUR CAREER? We have about 10 Melbourne Vixens memberships so they all drive up the highway to watch. Last year my sister Kelsey got called in to replace me. One of our world’s came crashing down, but one of us got an amazing chance.

PICTURE: LYNDON MARCEAU FOR 10M AT CHAPEL FITNESS

“

When you love what you are doing and love the people you are doing it with, it’s something special… 11

[social] network

Geelong Mums Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Luncheon at Mt Duneed Estate 1

1. ANGIE HILTON, KATE BETTS AND SAM COCKING. 2. SARAH MCLEAN, CATRIONA ROWNTREE AND ALLI MCDERMOTT. 3. EVA BEAGLEY AND CHRISTINE WHELAN. 4. JODIE REID, ANNA SPURLING AND RACHEL RUDD. 5. KATRINA HAYES, GEORGIE ROSS AND MICHELLE RIXON. 6. FELICITY WALMSLEY, EMMA MALONE, ANNE TAYLOR AND LOUISE CAITHNESS. 7. PAT EASTWOOD, MONICA HENRY, LAINIE BROOKMAN AND JAN MADDEN. 8. SIMONE MURPHY AND ANN MARIE DIMASI. 9. JANINE HUDSON-COLLINS, MELINA CONTE AND LEE HILTON.

PICTURES: LOUISA JONES

10. SARAH SCOTT, NICOLE LING AND SARAH GALBALLY. 11. MARGARET BUNTING AND KATE TISCHLER. 12. JADE AUGUSTINE, SUSIE WARD AND SONYA BATTY. 13. HELEN SPURLING, PAM MCLEAN AND JAN MCCORKELL. 14. HELEN TISCHLER AND VICKI SCHILLING. 15. NAOMI GOLDING AND MEGAN DENDRYRER. 16. MATT BAIRD. 17. SUSAN SKUZA, ROCHELLE WILLIAMS AND SARAH JENNET. 18. SOPHIE BEGGS, CAROLINE FITZGERALD AND FARRYN BURRILL

They,

Robot

FRIENDLY: NAO comes in male and female versions.

A Geelong business is developing robots to assist children in rehabilitation, with surprising results. JOHN VAN KLAVEREN processes the data... THE future is robotic, if a father and son team behind a unique and innovative Geelong business is right. And so far their excursion into the world of robotics and digital technology is proving a hit, especially in the fields of education and health. But it’s less about robots of the Hollywood blockbuster variety and more about interactive technology, The Brainary co-founder Jonathan Kingsley says.

THE TEAM: Jonathan Kingsley, second from left, with members of the NAO team from Swinburne University and Royal Children’s Hospital.

The business is the brains behind the innovative use of robotics in children’s rehabilitation, kickstarting the concept of using a humanoid robot to help young Victorians recover from major illnesses and injuries in a worldfirst trial at the Royal Children’s Hospital. Jonathan says the project built on work the business had already done with assistive technology and children on the autism spectrum.

“

This type of technology can change lives, so it’s exciting to be involved in it…

The humanoid robot, NAO (pronounced Now), is a 58 centimetre tall, friendly, cute robot that moves, recognises and hears people and responds. Jonathan says NAO had revolutionary applications for healthcare, rehabilitation and special education. “NAO helps break down communication barriers, especially for children on the autism spectrum, because it simplifies everything. “With the rehabilitation project we’ve taken it a step further, working with Swinburne University and the TAC.” Experts from Swinburne University worked with rehabilitation therapists from the Royal Children’s Hospital to program NAO to deliver tailored rehabilitation programs to young patients. The project was funded by a $25,000 Transport Accident Commission grant.

NAO is being trialled on children with conditions ranging from brain and spinal cord injury to cerebral palsy. It has found that children are better motivated and engaged with their rehabilitation programs, primarily physiotherapy, when delivered by the talking robot. Jonathan says The Brainary’s work with NAO showed it could be programmed to do just about anything. “So we wondered how to get the robot engaged with motor accident victims,” he said. “NAO performs exactly the same each time and it doesn’t get bored or tired. “It’s a great story of collaboration between the private, university and hospital sectors backed by government funding. “For a fairly small Geelong-based business it’s great to be working with the likes of Swinburne, the TAC and Royal Children’s Hospital.” Mr Kingsley said Swinburne University would carry out further research into the benefits of the program. “Anecdotally the kids are really receptive to the robot and it helps to motivate them and so improve the quality of the rehabilitation. “It’s partly the novelty but it’s also because it’s amazing, it’s noninvasive and non-threatening, because NAO is smaller than most kids.

“The program is based on game play, engaging kids to have fun while doing rehabilitation. It takes it out of being a chore into something that’s fun.” While NAO’s usefulness in rehabilitation has taken the spotlight, Jonathan says it has wider implications for education along with other aspects of assistive technology. The Brainary has also developed a disability product called TapIT, an interactive learning station comprising a screen able to be easily moved around and adapted to various uses in the disability field. It can be used for computerbased learning applications utilising the Internet, educational software or communication devices and can even be controlled through eye-tracking.

“

Noosa Library Service was the first Australian public library to recruit NAO to provide fun and practical robotics and computer programming training for adults and young people.

FOLLOW ME: NAO helps a young RCH patient through his rehab paces.

Named Dewey, he helps Noosa Library Service by presenting robotic demonstrations, programming workshops, cyber safety messages, storytelling and special appearances at all three branches. “This type of technology can change lives, so it’s exciting to be involved in it,” Jonathan says. “For instance we helped a rehabilitation client to do even simple things like read a paper and make phone calls which she couldn’t do before.” And when it comes to fears of robots taking over, Jonathan laughs. “Part of what schools and other organisations are using NAO for is to teach programming, so when it comes to that, the programmers will always be in control.”

“

It’s partly the novelty but it’s also because it is amazing, it’s non-invasive and nonthreatening, because NAO is smaller than most kids…

[social] network

National Council of Women Geelong branch annual luncheon 1

1. SHELIA BYARD AND JANICE LATHAM. 2. HILARY PRIDEAUX AND BETTY DOLHEGUY. 3. GEORGIA CARTER AND PATTI MANOLIS. 4. ELISABETH NEWMAN AND ELIDA BRERETON.

Hundreds of handcrafted scarves on display, most are available for purchase. Craft demonstrations daily 10am - 3pm.

3 June-4 September

26 Moorabool Street, Geelong Tel: 03 5272 4701 nwm.vic.gov.au 1231351-CB25-16

PICTURES: LOUISA JONES

5. JILL GRAHAM AND LORRAINE OTWAY. 6. VAL TRINDER AND JANICE BINNS. 7. MARY LEWIS AND MARYLIN CARR. 8. DOROTHY UNDERWOOD, ELEANOR HOLDEN AND JANET PARK. 9. HELEN CARUTHERS, JAN JONES AND PAULINE BUTLER.

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The Geelong Brush Company headquarters at Breakwater with team members Ida Durran, Ross Durran, Jamie Pywell, Dave Pywell, Brad Clifford, Greg Saraci, Mitchell Perry, Sean Brockett, Michael Sprigg, Kevin Rickard, John Begg, Gavan Kelson, Connie Ganino, Justin Sharma and Steve Hames.

Brush company

cleans up

ONE Geelong company is flying the flag for manufacturing despite the sector’s recent closures and downturns across the city. The family-owned Geelong Brush Company has large contracts with leading retailers like Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and Bunnings – and its products are made locally. The family’s commitment to local manufacturing is evidenced by the investment Geelong Brush Company has made in taking advantage of world’s best practice technology and production processes.

WORDS: JOHN VAN KLAVEREN PICTURES: LOUISA JONES

It stands as the last bastion of local manufacturing capability for many brushware product lines in the Australian marketplace.

General manager Ross Durran says people will buy products that are Australian made. “We have been part of the Australian made campaign for years,” Ross explains. “We derive great satisfaction in making our products locally because we realise we need to value add to create wealth for the country. We can’t just be services based. “Anyway I just like the idea of making it here.” The commitment to local manufacture extends to using local suppliers as well, like JT Dixon for its packing cartons and Viva’s Geelong refinery for the plastics used in many of the lines. Even the brush filaments come from close by, with a Ballarat company suppling those. With a background as an aerospace engineer, Ross says he enjoys the product development aspect of the business, even though more administrative challenges often arise. “We can turn a product around really quickly. We can do a new product in a week including bar coding,” Ross says. Using skills he developed while working with Boeing and ASTA, Ross has installed state of the art equipment.

“The equipment is expensive but it is much more efficient and helps keep costs down so we can continue to manufacture locally,” he says. Despite the innovations Geelong Brush Company retain a number of traditions handed down by founder Victor Durran who started the business in 1936.

rivalled by our domestic and international competitors. “Many of our locally made products are the best sellers across the country, even in the face of increasing competition through imports.”

“We still make a timber brush. Not many manufacturers still make those,” Ross points out. The business has recently inked a new deal with expanding German supermarket chain Aldi, which has ordered four different lines totalling 120,000 units. While some components are imported, the products are all made onsite at Geelong Brush Company’s Leather St, Breakwater factory. “These days we have to be strategic to meet the retail challenges. The large corporate players are squeezing all the time. “That’s why we are constantly updating and improving our product range and we continue to invest in the latest technologies and manufacturing facilities in Australia. “We now have a modern and versatile plant that enables large orders to be delivered within very short lead times, at a price and volume which cannot be

Dave Pywell on the job.

Ross Durran and Ida Durran in the boardroom with products.

Hot in the

kitchen

It’s a long way from the classrooms of Joeys to the cafes of Dubai. PAUL MILLAR meets a Geelong man who’s made a success of the transition.

“

It was all a bit daunting, there was a lot of screaming and yelling and it was not reality television, it was the real thing… DUBAI might not be everybody’s cup of tea but a Geelong man is creating a mini empire with a grounding in coffee. Former St Joseph’s College student Tom Arnel is flourishing in the stifling heat of UAE, has four eateries in his portfolio and plans to open several more barrestaurants in the coming months. It’s far cry from the days he was knocking on doors, looking for work and annoying one of the top chefs in the world at his Melbourne restaurant. Arnel has a good Aussie work ethic and that reputation counts in the cut-throat kitchens of the globe’s best restaurants.

After leaving St Joseph’s in 2003 he quickly gave up any ideas of a career in accounting and started as an apprentice chef at the Lorne Hotel, subsidising his income by working in a sushi outlet.

“I was told to go away but I went back three times – they probably got fed up with me and took me on,“ he tells GC on the phone after a swim to cool down from Dubai’s 45C heat.

He attended TAFE at the Gordon and is full of praise for the institution, saying it gave him a good grounding, not only in catering but also in life.

“It was a special place to be, as it was named the best restaurant in Australia three times in a row.”

However, he knew that to advance his career he’d have to take the initiative and in 2006 he moved to Melbourne and battered on the back door of internationally renowned chef, Shannon Bennett’s, Vue de Monde restaurant

“They decided to give me a trial, they were all British and French chefs at the time and I was the first apprentice that they took on. “It was all a bit daunting, there was a lot of screaming and yelling and it was not reality television, it was the real thing.

>>>

“There was also a big turnover there, we were working 16 and 17 hour days, I did that five days a week for three years.” The experience helped Arnel realise he could mix it with the best, and that his work ethic would take him places. When he eventually left he was building a solid reputation and received a call from Bennett, asking him to head up an operation in Singapore – he was only 22.

The cooking superstar obviously trusted the Geelong boy, maybe Bennett saw something of himself in the quick-learning chef. It was only a six-month contract, a steep learning curve but it was a building block.

“It was amazing and was listed as the seventh best restaurant in the world,” Arnel says. From Spain he moved to Oman and underwent another clash of cultures and not from the Middle East.

He then had a spell in San Sebastian, Spain under the cooking wizard Juan Mari Arzak at his legendary restaurant.

It was there that he met a Russian girl who later became his wife and the mother of his daughter.

However, it was a no-pay job, he was there for the experience.

He brought Irina back to Australia on a six-month sabbatical to show her the region he still loves.

“

Home is a great place to draw inspiration from, the beaches, the weather, I do miss the feeling of a cold breeze, the fresh air on your face…

Job offers followed and although some were hard to refuse he was now planning for the future. He was offered a post at the Fat Duck, one of the world’s best eateries, described as “Heston Blumenthal’s renowned temple to innovative modern British cuisine”. “The pay was poor, though it was regarded as a privilege to work there,” Arnel says. He was also concerned that he might be out of his depth working with the world’s best chefs. “I was very worried that I would not get noticed and, while I might have been a fantastic chef, I was not in the best-in-the-world category and realised I knew more about business than cooking.” 24

Instead, he moved to Abu Dhabi and at 24 became the youngest executive chef in the region while working for expanding Australianbased outlet Jones the Grocer, known for its coffee selection, cafe-style dishes and artisanal groceries. He was driven, helping build seven restaurants for them in three and a half years. “I realised that I was making somebody else a lot of money and decided I had to try it,” he says. He and Sergio Lopez left the Grocer, with the pair gambling heavily on their industry knowledge and sense of adventure. In November 2013 they opened Tom and Serg. But not in any trendy café precinct – they opted for an industrial area. “It was a first for Dubai, very radical, Australian-style, café culture. We focused on having good staff, many of them Australian” Arnel says.

”It was packed every day with every nationality, it was what was needed. “We made enough money to open the Sum of Us, a 230 seater and it’s been just as successful.” The duo always have lamington and Pavlovas on the menu and an adventurous twist in the drinks department. “We introduced a Vegemite milk-shake. Funnily enough, the locals really like it,” Arnel laughs. He has no plans to slow down, with a new outlet, Common Ground, opening at the end of September.

“

We introduced a Vegemite milkshake … Funnily enough, the locals really like it…

“I hope that’s not grand final day,” he quips. “Then we plan to build seven more over the next 18 months, more bar and restaurant style.’’ The locals, he says, are accepting of Australians but he loves to come home. “Home is a great place to draw inspiration from, the beaches, the weather, I do miss the feeling of a cold breeze, the fresh air on your face.” 25

FASHION The latest looks from some of Pakington Streetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading boutiques went on show for a Business and Professional Women (BPW) Geelong Ageless Beauty fashion show fund-raiser at the Mercure Hotel in June. Proceeds from the event went to a special mentoring program for Karen refugee girls in Geelong.

Fashions cause for a

HARLEY and ME

BENNING BOUTIQUE

THE LABORATORY

BENNING BOUTIQUE

PICTURES: PAM HUTCHINSON PHOTOGRAPHY MAKEUP: FLAWLESS BEAUTY FASHION

BENNING BOUTIQUE

MODELS: ELLEN BENNINGTON, MARIANNE VALITUTTI, MANDY LOVETT, ANABELLE SALEH, PAOLA DE-GRACE BEGG, LISA CHANTEL EMANUEL SHOES: SERGIO SHOES GLASSES: EYE GALLERY HATS: ALICE GOES OUT

FASHION BENNING BOUTIQUE

BENNING BOUTIQUE

THE LABORATORY

HARLEY and ME

THE LABORATORY

HARLEY and ME

BENNING BOUTIQUE

1224451-MD25-16

Lord of the

Rings Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for eternity or to celebrate a special event, rings have special meaning. MARCUS ROSE explains... EVERY life is finite, unique and unrepeatable. The joyous moments in life become treasured memories, often commemorated with the giving of precious gifts. It is established custom that we mark our important milestones with the giving of eternity rings and celebration jewellery, indeed people have been doing this for centuries. It is natural for us to honour our anniversaries, our marriages, the birth of our children and achievements in life. Eternity rings are considered the ultimate celebratory gift. They stem from the Egyptian idea of an eternall ring, ring a continuous circle that can never be broken. This concept continues to define the modern eternity ring and this is where its name is derived. The name symbolises love and commitment. The eternity ring is designed and made for easy-wear, skilfully crafted to securely hold a matched set of diamonds of equivalent colour, clarity and cut. Made from precious metals and indestructible diamonds, they are the perfect metaphor for everlasting love and everything that endures. Charles Rose has a fine range of eternity styles and also craft bespoke eternity rings. These made-to-order designs have two main advantages: they fit perfectly and are the correct height and shape to prevent damage from rubbing between rings and they are a perfect match, taking design cues from the ring they are to sit next to. These rings are all originals, worthy of celebration and joy. For over three generations Charles Rose artisans have crafted handmade pieces worthy of the title heirloom; to sparkle for eternity and be handed down for generations to come. The first step in making the eternity ring is to draw the design. Then it is necessary to source the finest materials. Finally, the item is crafted by hand. Charles Rose also features a range of pret-aporter diamond jewellery that is original and exquisite, down to the finest detail. Superb customer service, a beautiful range to select from, or have made-toorder, and a lifetime guarantee.

[local] love

Laura and Rhys Being on opposite sides of the planet never stopped them from being together...

WORDS: EMILY ROBINSON

HOW THEY MET It must have been Irish luck. Neither of them was meant to be out that evening, but in 2012 Ireland’s Laura McCann and Geelong’s Rhys McConachy locked eyes at a Melbourne bar. “It was a very random night out,” Laura reflects. “He was watching the Geelong Cats playing and I was out with some friends.

“We bumped into each other on the dance floor – it was a very chance meeting,” Laura says. Not long after Laura decided to go home to Ireland. During that time, Rhys flew to Ireland to visit her. “We decided we couldn’t do long distance forever. So we made the decision that I would move to Australia and Geelong would be our base,” Laura says. 33

>>>

THE PROPOSAL Rhys took Laura out for breakfast in Jan Juc. “After breakfast we went for a walk and were standing at a lookout,” Laura says. Rhys had originally planned a walk along the beach, but the rain had other plans. “So he dropped down on one knee at the lookout – it was a real surprise, I didn’t see it coming!” Laura says. “He proposed with a ring, it’s absolutely beautiful,” Laura says, describing the princess cut diamond ring which features diamonds in the band. THE PLANNING Laura embraced the planning stage by herself and had everything ticked off her list in 14 months. “I enjoyed taking my time and didn’t feel rushed into decisions,” Laura says. For the wedding invitations, Laura came across Tara from Thanks for the Invitation and knew she’d be able to create just what she had in mind. And her bonbonnieres? “I actually made them myself. They were little bird cages with green loveheart chocolates and gold coins inside – they were a nod to Ireland,” Laura says. HENS AND BUCKS For her hen’s day, Laura and her friends spent the day at the Yarra Valley. 34

“We did a winery tour, it was just beautiful,” Laura reflects. “Rhys went to the Geelong races with his friends two weeks before the weeding, they had a great day.” THE WEDDING ATTIRE A new bridal shop, Embrace Bridal, opened in Geelong two months before Laura went shopping for her wedding dress. “The dress was one of the first dresses I tried on,” Laura says.

a hairdresser in the family. “My hairdresser, Maryanne Stuchbery, is Rhys’s cousin’s wife – we are very connected and close,” Laura says. THE FLOWERS Emma from Flair To Make You Stare worked her magic on Laura’s big day. Her bouquet and bridesmaids bouquets featured a mix of roses and foliage in a romantic pastel colour palette. “I highly recommend Emma – she was unbelievable,” Laura says.

“I just loved it – it was very lacy and comfortable and didn’t have much weight for a wedding dress.”

“She really goes the extra mile with the planning.”

Laura also wore a veil to the ceremony which featured matching lace.

Emma also created a hanging floral installation which made an impact without distracting from the scenic view.

Her best friend from Ireland travelled to Australia to be her maid of honour on the day.

“The floral arch she made was just so beautiful,” Laura says.

“Sheila came here with her husband – we’ve been best friends for 22 years. “My other bridesmaid was Rhy’s older sister, Jacinta – we’ve become very close. Rhy’s family have welcomed me with open arms,” Laura says.

THE CEREMONY AND RECEPTION On 2 April 2016, Laura arrived at The Pier Geelong in a sleek black Chevrolet. Both the ceremony and reception were held at The Pier Geelong.

Both girls wore blue full length dresses.

Laura describes the service as “high class from start to finish”.

Rhys, his best man Brett and groomsmen brothers Brett and Paul all wore navy blue suits.

“I couldn’t fault it. The terrace at the pier was so well decorated and the setting was just phenomenal,” Laura reflects.

HAIR

The reception was held for 80 guests.

Laura was lucky enough to have

“It was just perfect,” Laura says.

THE ENTERTAINMENT Laura chose Irish band Zeon, based in Melbourne. “They’ve played in Geelong before – they’re very entertaining,” Laura says. The couple chose to have their first dance to Queen’s Crazy Little Thing Called Love. “It’s very up tempo, probably not a common first dance song,” Laura explains. “My dad died five years ago and he was a massive Queen fan. “It was a nod to my dad because he loved it. We really enjoyed dancing to it.”

Laura's dream team: DRESS: Embrace Bridals, Geelong SUITS: Ferrari, Melbourne HAIR:

The rest of the night consisted of lots of “Irish jigging and dancing.” THE CAKE Sonja from local business LoveIt Cakes created a three-tiered beauty. “Geelong has real talent – our cake was beautiful and very tasty. “We had three flavours, white chocolate, white chocolate and raspberry and melt chocolate,” Laura says.

Maryanne Stuchbery, Geelong

THE PHOTOGRAPHY

INVITATIONS:

Laura and Rhys met Louisa Jones at a local bridal expo.

Thanks For The Invitation, Geelong FLOWERS: Flare To Make You Stare, Geelong VENUE: The Pier Geelong

“We clicked straight away. She’s lovely and very professional. “We’re really happy with the work that she has done – she’s also reasonably priced,” Laura says.

THE HONEYMOON The happily wedded pair went to Hamilton Island for their honeymoon. “We stayed at the Beach Club for five nights.

PHOTOGRAPHY:

“Then we stayed three nights in Noosa,” Laura says.

Louisa Jones Photography

IN REFLECTION

CELEBRANT: Denis Minogue, Melbourne

Laura says her and Rhys’s wedding day was “magical”.

CAKE:

“It was more than I ever dreamed of.

LoveIt Cakes, Geelong BAND:

“The bridal party laughed and smiled so much that day – that’s what we wanted.”

Zeon, Melbourne

The couple now live at Grovedale.

[local] sounds

the

THERE aren’t many three-piece bands around these days, but for Geelong funk outfit The Kite Machine it’s the perfect set up.

kite MACHINE

“A three-piece is perfect for working together,” declares founder and guitarist Levi Anderson.

“There are no clashes, we all share ideas and it’s a lot easier to do that as a threepiece.” “It’s not really three parts but three tuned into one,” chimes in drummer Kane Sherriff.

The lens captures their infectious energy as the band performs its electric live show to a packed house at The Studio in Geelong.

Adding keyboards to Liam Brennan’s bass duties adds the extra dimension the band might need from time to time.

“But now we want to push it out. Our goal this year is to develop a Melbourne fan base.”

But for a band priding itself on tight instrumentals filled with licks and riffs, keeping it together as a three-piece is the way they like it.

The Kite Machine are destined to be Geelong’s next exciting music export, taking its funky but loud and ballistic shows on the road.

Like many bands, it all began out of high school with a few mates for Levi, followed by a stint at TAFE, where he formed Grand Elusive.

“We take pride in being a great live band. When we write our songs we are writing for our live shows,” Levi explains. It was through that experience that he learned the positives of keeping things small and tight, forming The band has been though some The Kite Machine as a three-piece version. evolutions but has settled as a three-piece with drummer Kane After some line-up tweaks The Kite Machine found Sherriff and bassist Liam Brennan. its niche in live gigs, a vibe it is now working to transfer to the studio. The additions enable The Kite Machine to soar with vocals over “We wanted it stripped back instead of just a tight groove and manic riffs as adding stuff for the sake of it,” Levi says. their signature. The tight-as-a-drum three piece group have Earlier this year The Kite Machine been working hard on their sound and it embarked on a national tour to shows in the new release Charlotte. celebrate the release of new “Our philosophy is that it’s worth putting in single Charlotte, with gigs in the time and effort into it to make sure we Melbourne, Sydney and their get the quality we want,” Levi observes. hometown. And the approach seems to be working, with the band receiving radio airplay, including hitting number one on Triple J Unearthed, rave reviews and lots of social media hits. “We’ve got a great fan base in Geelong, which is fantastic. When we wanted to film our live DVD we got such a good crowd,” Levi says. WORDS: JOHN VAN KLAVEREN

GigGuide 30 July

Seth Sentry – 1969 Campaign Trail Tour

Carter & Carter, Jayne Denham, Luke Austen & Anthony Taylor

After releasing the fourth single off album Strange New Past, Australian hip-hop artists Seth Sentry will bring his 1969 Campaign tour to Geelong. After an ARIA award for best urban release and a series of summer music festival appearances, Sentry will be in town with support act Remi. The Wool Exchange Geelong

These four multi-award-winning acts present a taste of Tamworth at its best. Each act brings a unique form of country music to the stage before teaming up for a fun filled finale. Gateway Hotel Corio

31 July Soweto Gospel Choir Soweto Gospel Choir brings together some of Africa’s finest singers in a joyous performance of soaring harmonies. Performing a repertoire of traditional African songs, the choir has performed for everyone from Nelson to the British royals and played alongside the likes of Bono, Stevie Wonder and Celine Dion. Costa Hall Deakin University

14 August Trio Anima Mundi – Friends and Lovers 2 Trio Anima Mundi’s concerts feature a diverse repertoire ranging from the great masters of music to little-known works by obscure talents. Combining seasoned performers with a reputation for excellence, the trio’s Friends and Lovers 2 explores works by three composers of the romantic period who expressed their musical ideas with a classical elegance. Geelong College Newtown

31 August Elvis To The Max Elvis Presley’s memory and legend lives on in this special show. The King in Concert features successful Elvis impersonator Max Pellicano, whose uncanny resemblance and equally chilling performance has mesmerised Australians over the past two decades. Critics have described his performances as Elvis “resurrected” and “reincarnated”, with even the costumes made by Elvis’ personal tailor, Bill Bellow. The Playhouse Geelong Performing Arts Centre

3 September California Dreaming – The Music of The Mamas and The Papas. The fun show celebrates all things Mamas and Papas. Part concert, part biography and set on a stage reminiscent or the Ed Sullivan Show, the show features all the greatest hits of the ‘60s group that sold 100 million records. Patrons will hear favourites including I Saw Her Again, Dream a Little Dream, Monday Monday, San Francisco and California Dreamin’. The Playhouse Geelong Performing Arts Centre

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[social] network

Geelong Business Network June breakfast

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[social] network

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1. DOUG TRIGG WITH LEO, PETER, SAMUELE AND CHRISTIAN VOLPE. 2. JAMES AND CHRISTINE GALEA. 3. JIMMY, MI AND JEREMY NGUYEN. 4. PIERRO FOX AND ALLEN NG. 5. PING YANG AND ROBERT BOLLARD. 6. THAI OHTSUKA WITH SIMON AND PING YANG. PICTURES: MARIANNE VALITTUTI

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Airey's of

JOHN VAN KLAVEREN meets the locals staging a winter-long festival on the Surf Coast. MANY of the one million plus annual visitors to the Great Ocean Rd often overlook one of the cutest towns along the journey. Many visitor guides point to Torquay, Anglesea and on to Lorne – but make no mention of Airey’s Inlet. “It’s a pity because we have a lot worth stopping off for,” as Anne Dansick, organiser of the Love Winter in Airey’s festival, points out. The festival was the brainchild of a number of traders in 2007 and has since grown from a single weekend to a three month series of events. “We wanted to put Airey’s on the map and not be overlooked,” Anne says. “It seems to have worked.” The festival outgrew its initial weekend format, with more and more businesses and organisations asking to add events and activities. “The only way to accommodate everyone was to have a longer festival, with a series of connected events, not only for visitors for also for the locals,” Anne explains. “It gives the local community something to get excited about during winter and its certainly helped the businesses. “Some have stayed open during the winter months instead of closing during down the off-season. “Plus we have Aireys pub hosting events and we nearly lost it which would have been a tragedy.

The bumper program for this year’s festival, now in its fifth year, offers an eclectic range of events and activities to the coast until the end of August, promising entertainment for visitors and locals every week throughout winter.

The program includes the popular Winter Ball at Fairhaven Surf Club, Wintersong at the Aireys Pub and the intimate Danny Spooner Afternoon House Concert at Cimarron.

WEARABLE ART: The festival’s artrageous event is popular.

With a local tennis tournament, trivia nights and literary gatherings, the Love Winter in Airey’s festival presents community events across a wide range of genres. “We’re thrilled with the number and range of events scheduled for this winter because there is something on the program for everyone,” Anne says. “Whether you prefer to sing and dance or enjoy international cuisine, or just like to sit and watch and take it all in, you’re bound to find an event that appeals. This year’s extensive program also features book launches, wellbeing and yoga workshops, live music, artist trails, international food and a family movie night. “We’re thrilled to have such diversity and events that educate as well as entertain,” Dansick says. For all event details and bookings, visit the Airey’s Inlet website at aireysinlet.org.au and check Facebook for regular updates and news. WORDS: Festival co-ordinator Anne Dansick with partner David, left, and performer Danny Spooner, centre.

UP IN THE AIREYS: Lighthouse tours are one of the fun family events.

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[artist] in residence

The

within JOHN VAN KLAVEREN visits the studio of Sara Paxton, a Geelong artist with a novel technique thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s turning heads.

GOING back to her childhood opened up a new artistic world for Newtown oil painter Sara Paxton. Discovering pigment sticks enabled her to achieve effects impossible with brush alone as she experimented with the new application. Pigment sticks or oil sticks as they are also known are actually oil paint in an easy-to-use stick form, resembling a crayon from everyone’s childhood. Made from highly refined pigments and linseed oil in a pure wax, pigment sticks are easy to apply and can be blended with brushes, knives, and paint wedges. Most importantly for Sara, they deliver a smooth texture and vibrant colour. “Colour is the thread for me,” Sara explains. “I’m drawn to works that are bright and attractive.”

“I do sometimes like to try different things and do some experimentation but when I saw the pigment sticks in an art supplies store it opened up a new world for me. “They are like crayons and it was like going back to my childhood.” At just five years old, Sara was already copying illustrations from a book of dog drawings. “My treat was to go to the art shop once a week and buy a new colour pencil,” Sara laughs. “It didn’t take long and I had a complete set.” Sara’s journey to accomplished artist represented by a slew of galleries around Australia, and locally by the renowned Seaview Gallery in Queenscliff, had its twists and turns. 47

>>>

“My family was always creative. My brother is a photographer and he’s even photographed the Queen,” Sara recalls. Like many students with an artistic bent, Sara did art in school and when she graduated she was accepted into art college. But the economic realities of trying to eke out a living as an artist intervened. “I realised you have to be on the top echelon of artists to be able to make a living out of it,” Sara says. “So I dropped it for 20 years and worked as an exhibition and trade show organiser instead. “I got back into when we moved to Geelong. I had three young kids and didn’t know anyone so I enrolled in an art class and picked it up again.” As she developed her style and produced more works, Sara did the rounds of the galleries. “As an artist it takes just one gallery to give you a break and that gallery for me was Seaview, so I am grateful to Colleen (Kenwood) for taking me on. “We have developed a friendship and she is honest enough to tell me what she likes and what will sell. “I am represented by eight or nine galleries now so I am always busy keeping up the supply of works as they sell and doing annual exhibitions.”

Far from the artist who gave up her dream to earn a living, Sara now paints daily and often receives commissions. “There’s a balance between the artistic and commercial realities. I’m not so precious that I ignore what people like, but I still only paint what I like. No-one dictates to me. “But I often receive emails from buyers letting me know how much they love my work and that seeing one of my paintings on their wall every day makes them happy. “That’s a reward for me.”

Sara Paxton at home in her studio. PICTURE: LOUISA JONES

Colour is the thread for me … I’m drawn to works that are bright and attractive…

Seaview Gallery

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queenscliī

86 Hesse Street - Queenscliī - VIC - 5258 3645 www.seaviewgallery.com.au email: seaviewgallery@eŌel.net.au Open 10.30 am-5.00pm daily - Closed Wednesday Contemporary, tradiƟonal Įne art, glass and jewellery.

Colleen Kenwood at Seaview Gallery.

THE

art OF LIFE

SEAVIEW Gallery owner Colleen Kenwood considers herself fortunate.

but each room has a different feel to it. Each has its own ambience.

“I get to see all these wonderful works, with fresh pieces coming in all the time,” Colleen says.

“I select the artist to suit the gallery and the room and I usually select on what appeals to me. If you don’t love it yourself you can’t really sell it.

“Sometimes it’s hard to part with a piece you really love. But then something else comes along and I fall in love with that.” Colleen has been running Seaview Gallery for 15 years and has amassed a great store of artistic knowledge in that time. The gallery now represents more than 40 established artists, among them body artist Emma Hack, whose art appeared in Gotye’s music video for Somebody That I Used to Know. Seaview Gallery’s enduring success lies in the diversity of works on show, from glass and ceramic pieces and jewellery to a wide range of artistic expressions encompassing traditional to contemporary styles. The gallery, in historic Seaview House, in Hesse Street, Queenscliff, lends itself to a variety of styles as it flows from room to room. “It’s a lovely old building and gets lovely light

“When I’ve hung a room with new pieces I stand back and take it all in and it makes me feel good.” Colleen runs one or two continual exhibitions but the rest of the gallery is rehung each month, to keep it fresh. “The ever-changing exhibitions at Seaview Gallery feature paintings by both awardwinners and new emerging artists,” Colleen explains. “New visitors often express delight at the range of work, while there is always something new for our many loyal clients to discover on return.” As an art lover Colleen has dabbled in painting and drawing, but it’s nothing more than a hobby, especially compared to the talent she exhibits in the gallery. “Maybe when I retire I might have a play around,” Colleen laughs.

[history] repeated

Oscar the grouse

He wrote a West End hit, but few know his name. LUKE VOOGT discovers Oscar Asche, one of Geelong’s greatest playwrights.

WHEN people think of Geelong acting stars, Portia De Rossi and Guy Pearce spring to mind.

“

But few remember Oscar Asche – a Geelong boy who wrote one of the greatest West End plays of all time – Chu Chin Chow.

He was a brilliant actor and producer but he was hopeless with finances, a gambler who flew by his heart and not his head… The play ran continuously at His Oscar Asche as Abu Hasan in Chu Chin Chow.

Majesty’s Theatre for five years, a 40-year record. Asche made 200,000 pounds for writing the show alone ($36m in today’s money) and 500 pounds a week as its lead actor and producer ($92,000). Flamboyant and bombastic, Oscar’s huge appetites would see him fade into obscurity, despite being one of the West End’s greatest playwrights. Maroochydore historian Chrissy Fletcher travelled to Geelong and England in search of archives, newspaper clippings and birth certificates to write a biography of Asche. “He was a brilliant actor and producer but he was hopeless with finances, a gambler who

flew by his heart and not his head,” she said. Oscar Asche was born in Geelong in 1871 and spent his first six years in Yarra Street, while his parents ran Mack’s Hotel overlooking the waterfront. He lived at various hotels his parents owned and managed in Melbourne and Sydney, meeting travelling actors who inspired his fascination with theatre. Oscar’s father wasn’t keen on the idea. According to his autobiography, Oscar “just missed a right-hand swing” when he suggested a stage career. At 18 years of age Oscar was a large man, and had won several heavyweight amateur boxing bouts. After a lucky win at the races, he took to country NSW with his horse, greyhound and wirehaired terrier, and a pocket edition of Shakespeare’s plays. When he returned home Oscar and his mother put on private theatricals at their Sydney home. Just after his 20th birthday, Oscar moved to Norway, then England, to pursue his acting career. His father was forced to sell the Royal Hotel in Sydney during the 1890s depression, and stopped Oscar’s weekly allowance.

Oscar lived on the street and slept under bridges, according to his autobiography. “I don’t know how much creative license he’s taken in his autobiography – you’ve got to remember he was a playwright and an actor,” Chrissy said. Oscar joined a Shakespearian theatre company where he rose to fame and met actress and future wife Lily Brayton. Together, they created a theatre company, and Oscar launched his playwright career, with Kismet, an oriental spectacular which captivated the public. He searched futilely for years for his next big hit, until he and Lily launched Chu Chin Chow at His Majesty’s Theatre in August 1916. The play would run until July 1921 and is still the secondlongest-running West End play. Swarms of soldiers on leave from the war flocked to see the spectacular scenery and scantily clad women. “The glamour, music and vitality was such a contrast to the hardship in the trenches,” Chrissy said. “Over its five-year run, three million people saw Chu Chin Chow.” Oscar directed and played the

lead role of Abu Hasan and Lily played Zahrat al Kulub – roles they would play nearly 2000 times.

Lily Brayton and Oscar Asche at home at St James Wood.

Oscar’s appetites became legend in London theatrical circles. “He was easy fodder for Sydney bookkeepers on his Australian tours,” Chrissy said. “He was eating a 2lb or 3lb steak every night and drinking a bottle of whisky.” He had a taste for luxury too, bringing his Rolls Royce and chauffeur from England to drive across Australia during a tour. Lily refused to accompany him on his last Australian tour after a scandalous affair with Chu Chin Chow chorus girl Rose Martin, with whom he later had a daughter. The downslide into obesity and financial trouble continued for Oscar, after he returned from his last trip to Australia in 1924. Oscar’s theatre company collapsed in 1926 and he filed for bankruptcy the same year. Lily was comfortably settled at Marlow and Oscar turned to her for help, she rented him a house in her garden It was there he died of stroke on 26 March 1936 and his brilliance was lost to the world.

Chrissy Fletcher with her biography, A Theatrical Life: The Many Faces of Oscar Asche.

Troops line up to see

Chu Chin Chow in Lon

don.

Paul Loughnan outside his European Affair workshop.

affair

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OWNING a European car is like having a European affair – ask any owner.

It’s my life, my passion…

And the owner of Geelong’s European Affair, Paul Loughnan, has been having his for more than 20 years. The long-time mechanic and former builder of World Rally Championship cars for Subaru and Mitsubishi knows a great piece of engineering when he sees one. “It’s my life, my passion,” Paul declares. That’s why the European Affair team cares about clients’ vehicles and understands the importance of making servicing and maintenance an easy and enjoyable experience. European Affair specialises in vehicle servicing and maintenance for all European vehicles, including Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Citroen, Fiat, Mercedes Benz, Peugeot, Renault, Saab, Skoda, Volvo and Volkswagen. European Affair handles all minor and major servicing, new-vehicle servicing, brakes, fuel

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s r e be Cheers to

Geelong brewers Little Creatures and White Rabbit presents some of their favourite beers for wiling away the winter blues.

Little Creatures Pale Ale

Little Creatures Rogersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

White Rabbit Dark Ale

White Rabbit Red Ale

A hop-driven pale ale bursting with flavour and aroma Fullbodied yet refreshing, the bitter finish will leave tastebuds craving more. Preservative and additive free, the Little Creatures Pale Ale is live-yeast conditioned for unmatched freshness and character.

Whole-hop flowers used in the brewing process deliver a gentle bitterness and light citrus hop notes that weave together with roasted toffee and caramel malt flavours to create this unique, easy-drinking amber ale.

Expect the unexpected from this lovely malt-driven ale. Rich and flavoursome yet ever refreshing, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautifully balanced by an aromatic lift of hops. Subtle fruit derived from open fermentation complements a strong backbone of toffee and chocolate, all bound together by a reassuring bitterness.

A blend of two beers, the first is carefully aged in wooden oak barrels, taking on an extra depth of flavour. A portion is blended back into a fresh, young beer resulting in tart cherry and red wine like complexities. Available at the White Rabbit Brewery and Barrel Hall in South Geelong.

Beer straight from the source Geelong Brewery & Canteen.

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what's

cooking?

Fishermen’s Pier’s whole roasted rainbow trout served with pan-fried Jerusalem artichoke, kipfler potato, cherry tomato, chorizo sausage, creamy aioli and herbs. METHOD Gently pan-fry the chorizo in a little butter to render out some of the fat and infuse the flavour into the butter. Remove from the pan and gently sauté the onion without colouring until soft. Dice the potato and coat with the turmeric and panko crumb before slowly roast until golden but still slightly firm. Simultaneously roast the artichoke using a small amount of olive oil, salt and pepper. Make aioli or, if unable, turn the roasted garlic into a paste with the juice of half a lemon and fold it through some mayonnaise. Pre-heat oven to 190C. Heat a large oven-proof frypan big enough to fit the whole trout. Season the trout, gently seal on both sides then roast in the oven for about eight minutes. About three minutes before the trout comes out, gently reheat the artichokes, potato, onions and chorizo.

ROQUETTE PESTO INGREDIENTS 900g roquette leaves 120g roasted almonds 2 x garlic cloves 100g grated parmesan Olive oil Salt and pepper METHOD Process roquette, almonds and garlic, adding a little oil bit by bit until smooth but not too oily. Remove from the food processor and fold in the parmesan, salt and pepper until well combined. Add more oil and adjust the seasoning. PLATING Add all the salad ingredients in a small bowl and coat with as much aioli as desired. Remove the trout from the oven and place around the salad and serve with a ramekin of roquette pesto.

the food the view the name ...simply iconic

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Fishermen’s Pier Restaurant Bay end of Yarra Street, Geelong www.ﬁshermenspier.com.au

2012 Fine Dining Specialist

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INGREDIENTS 1 x 400/500g rainbow trout, whole 80g Jerusalem artichoke, diced and slowly roasted 80g kipfler potato, par-boiled 80g chorizo sausage, cut into small bite sizes 4 x cherry tomatoes, cut in half 30g onion, diced ½tsp turmeric powder Panko crumbs Olive oil Salt and pepper ½ spring onion 5-6 continental parsley leaves Roquette pesto Roasted garlic aioli Slow roasted garlic

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LARA VILLAGE - COLES COMPLEX (2-4 Waverly Road-Lara) 5282 4565 Email: info@borgatarestaurant.com.au

www.borgatarestaurant.com.au

Borgata team members Lachlyn Keiller, Denis Patatti, Filomena Fortino, Pierro Fox, Georgia Spence and Scott Tyrell.

Authentic

tastes of Italy

IT MAY be the depths of winter but there’s a warm spot in the centre of Lara brightening up the cuisine standards in the growing town. Borgata is open for dinner, with a succession of locals checking out the wonderful atmosphere created by chef and proprietor – with 44 years of experience – Piero Fox. “You could say it is the honeymoon period,” Piero laughs. “We have a lovely response from our Lara customers. We timed it to perfection as people come in to experience Borgata as we fine tune our staff.

Italian food doesn’t come any more authentic than at Borgata.

“They are all getting used to the system and getting to know the food well to explain our menu to our customers.” Piero sees Borgata, translating simply as “suburban”, as

producing authentic Italian cuisine, and committed to preparing all dishes in the traditional Italian manner. “With over 50 years of experience in the industry and a love of great food, we are passionate and committed to providing our customers with an unforgettable dining experience,” he says. “We take no shortcuts and source the very best fresh ingredients and cook to order, not in advance. “So you can enjoy the perfect Italian meal including mouthwatering pizza, delicious pasta and risotto and much more. “Working beside many talented European chefs, we have developed the culinary skills to prepare an exceptional meal and a keen eye for the flavours that we know patrons will enjoy. “Food quality is assured with our use of freshly cooked meats, seasonal fruit and vegetables, homemade pastas, freshly made pizza dough, home-grown herbs and authentic imported condiments.

exemplary dining experience of a calibre not currently available in the area.” Piero aimed to offer a top dining experience in Lara so patrons no longer had to travel to Geelong. Borgata offers both dine-in and take-away options, with customers able to conveniently order online through its website, borgatarestaurant.com.au

“

I want to pour my love of food into the dishes I prepare…

“It is this quality and authenticity that will set Borgata apart from all other local restaurants.

Borgata is open for dinner only at this point, but Piero says the promising start will be followed up soon with an outdoor eating area to welcome the warmer weather as well as a lunch menu.

“I want to pour my love of food into the dishes I prepare, to provide customers with an

Borgata is at Tenancy 1, 2-4 Waverly Road, Lara, phone 5282 4565. 59

[green] thumbs

WORDS: JOHN VAN KLAVEREN PICTURES: LOUISA JONES

Passion for

pelargoniums Dawn Coltish inspects some blooms.

THEY were once the staple of almost every garden, testament to their amazing number of varieties. So popular were they around the region that Geelong was once known as a centre for flowering plant, the humble pelargonium. That is now part of the history of Geelong Pelargonium Club, recently celebrating its 50th anniversary. Part of the geranium family, pelargonium have been part of the Geelong Botanic Gardens plant collection for many years, grown as general garden plants in borders and shrub beds. The Florence E Clarke Geranium Conservatory was built in 1972 to display the collection. The Pelargonium House displays the diversity of cultivars, with more than 200 different varieties on display. “The beauty of pelargoniums is that they are easy to grow and propagate, with some varieties flowering all year round,” club publicity officer Laurie Cocking observes. “They are often seen in gardens around the house, but thrive as well in pots, say on a veranda or balcony, and can even be indoors for periods of time. “We all love the varieties you can get in pelargoniums, not just the flowers but also the leaves. Some flower all year round. The world renown of club members extends to a number of varieties developed locally, with 31 cultivars boasting the name Moolap in their titles, a reminder of where they were developed. 60

Indeed, the local pelargonium enthusiasts contain among their number a couple of members known the world over for their floral knowledge and skills. Member Cliff Blackman developed a brand new class of pelargonium, named after the suburb of Lara where he lived at the time. “Cliff produced a yellow flowered plant, which won awards and is recognised in gardening circles in England. “Developing a new class of flower is difficult to achieve. It’s very time consuming and needs a lot of attention to detail,” Laurie explains. The club also boasts as a member Brian Nolan, known in world pelargonium circles for his extensive knowledge. “If Brian doesn’t know it then it’s not worth knowing when it comes to pelargoniums,” Laurie declares. “It’s great to have people like that in the club because the rest of us can learn so much from them. “Needless to say, Cliff and Brian are life members. “Some have scented leaves and there are so many different colours and various flower shapes. They even come in miniatures. “They’re good for small gardens and even for flats because they survive well in pots. They’re so hardy.”

George Heather pats a petal.

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Custom design glass panelling for Building - Renovating - Decorating

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Indigenours owned & operated

a glass above

Mark Edwards with a sample of Wauthaurong Glass creativity.

the rest

PROUDLY Indigenous and able to express themselves in the form of glass, it’s not difficult to tell that the team at Wathaurong Glass take their work very seriously. The North Geelong-based business was formed in 1998 to help express Aboriginal art through glass-making. It’s a not-for-profit business and all employees are Indigenous. “The fact that we are community owned and operated,” Mark Edwards said when asked what he thought distinguished the business from the rest. “We’ve been around a lot longer in the business.“ Wathaurong Glass specialises in techniques used to produce its products that includes the use of kiln forming (slumping glass), sandblasting or any other technique the team feels suitable to achieve the desired result. Great pride is taken in producing

unique artwork with a net result of high-quality glass products, including slumped windows and doors glass to Australian standards, kitchen and bathroom splashbacks, artistic platters, bowls and corporate gifts/awards/ trophies etc. They even make the annual ‘Dreamtime at the G’ medal for the best player in the Richmond vs Essendon AFL match. They’ve also given gifts to the likes of the Dalai Lama, supermodel Naomi Campbell and Nelson Mandela.

splashback orders – Sydney, Mackay, South Australia.” The name ‘Wathaurong’ (wathawurrung or wada warrung) is a recognised tribe that consists of 25 groups (clans). The boundaries of Wathaurong are from Geelong, north to Werribee River, northwest to Bacchus Marsh, southwest to Cressy, southeast to Colac, east to Lorne and north back to Geelong encompassing the Bellarine Peninsula.

“We do a lot of sales online,” Mark said.

Wathaurong Glass is not just about homewares, having completed works for the new Bureau of Statistics building in Geelong and the new library. Buying from Wathaurong Glass is putting your money back into the community.

“Young Jarrod developed the website and has done a really great job. We get a lot of kitchen

Pay the website a visit, or visit Wathaurong Glass at 16 Rodney Road, North Geelong.

The company has a terrific website www.wathaurongglass. com.au and gets a lot of orders online.

[home] bodies

The former St Francis Xavier Church in Curlewis.

chic

Holy

A little inspiration and a whole lot of elbow grease have transformed a forgotten Catholic church into a charming heritage home at Curlewis. JOHN VAN KLAVEREN pays a visit to owners Merle and Jim Francis.

FOR many years it was almost forgotten, hidden behind a growing screen of trees and shrubbery. Merle and Jim Francis passed it almost daily, living at the time in Curlewis, and we’re only alerted to it when friends expressed an interest. But when they stopped and peeked behind the greenery, a vision of what the former St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Portarlington Road could be came to them. A decade later, that vision became a reality, not only preserving the heritage contained in the 154-year-old church, but creating a unique living environment that blends the old and the new. Built in 1863, Merle and Jim bought it in 2005 and set about restoring the

church to its former glory, to the delight of heritage authorities. “The heritage people were happy with what we were doing,” Jim says. “It was far better than just allowing the church to continue decaying.” During the lengthy restoration, the pair would often greet visitors to the property who could recount their experience with the church. After the parish no longer used the church for regular services, it was only opened for the occasional wedding. “Many people would introduce themselves and tell us the story of when they got married at the church,” Merle says. The church was influenced by a Basque

French architectural style of the time, so Merle and Jim decided to continue the French provincial theme through the extension. With a keen eye for detail, Merle designed the roofline of the extension at the same angle as the roof of the church. The floor was restored to its original Baltic pine and the original solid marble altar, weighing almost a tonne, was retained and takes pride of place as an island bench in the kitchen. The confessional in what was once the vestry is now a pantry on one side and a fridge nook on the other. “We still have the original sliding panel between the two,” Merle smiles.

The enclosed courtyard with its central fountain.

>>>

Expansive glassed areas are all darkened to add privacy.

Merle and Jim Francis.

“If only the walls could talk.” The vestry itself has been converted into a butler’s pantry complete with Miele microwave, combo oven, dishwasher and wine fridge. A farm-style door leads to a brick paved courtyard with central fountain, sheltered on the three main weather sides. Despite the modernity of the extension, with its creature comforts sparing no expense, the design and décor ensure a smooth transition. Old oak doors re-used from other properties have been fitted to a door cavity to add the provincial flavour throughout. A brick paved floor in the front living space, with its soaring atrium, matches the courtyard, privatised behind dark glass allowing sight out but not in. The line of sight down a long passageway provides the frame to

a perfectly positioned sculpture in the rear courtyard, a second outdoor sheltered area. Mod cons such as hydronic heating, solar powered blinds in the attic space, energy saving lights, security intercom and camera and an audio system have been discreetly included. Artistic touches, such as a stained glass reproduction of the bell boy fresco from the bell tower, abound. Recycled bluestone has been used extensively in the landscaping, with mounds giving the grounds an undulating look. All up the property covers some 70 squares incorporating four bedrooms, three bathrooms, three living areas, a hideaway home office and a huge vaulted roof garage. The property has been listed for sale by Bryan Hanson, director of Eview Werribee.

tell us d n a s e mselv e h t e c rchâ&#x20AC;Ś u u d h c o r e t h n i t ould ed at i w r r e a l p m o t e Many p f when they go o the story

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The heritage former church has been fully restored.

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Cut-Outs A. Using the template provided by the appliance company (see alternative instructions on the DVD supplied) mark the benchtop cut-out*. B. then place masking tape as a guide & protection. C. Drill a hole for the jigsawing (16mm bit). D. Cut out your sink & hotplate appliance holes. *Check that the sink is clear of any obstructions underneath the cabinets.

Step 4

Installation

Step 5

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*Allow 10 minutes for the glue to set. ** The Installation of your NewGrove benchtop should take approximately 3-4 hours.

A. Secure your benchtop segment together by running a line of PVA glue* along the yellow tongue. B. Using the joiner bolts supplied tighten until ﬁrm. With the wood block supplied and a hammer carefully ensure that the join is ﬂat and level. C. Tighten further if necessary. Clean excess glue with a damp cloth. D. Attach the benchtop to the cabinets with the “L” brackets.**

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BUSTLING: Hobart’s Salmanca Market.

SMILE: Daryl and Sharon Murrell’s attempt at a selfie at Richmond, Tasmania.

Where there’s a will there’s a

get-away When you’re running your own business it’s easy to make the excuse that there’s no time for a holiday. But Daryl and Sharon Murrell found a way to break the bind. Canada who accepted our invitation to dine with us that evening at Muirs seafood restaurant on the waterfront.

SATURDAY MORNING: PICKED up by Avalon Airport Shuttle from home to Avalon Airport gave us plenty of time to check-in luggage, avoiding the long trip to Tullamarine and return. Even had time for a coffee before boarding our Jetstar flight to Hobart and a short time later we had landed at Hobart Airport, renting a car from one of the many rental companies at the airport. We travelled directly into the city to Salamanca Market where we browsed the stalls and sampled the food. Sharon even bought a CD from a busker she had bought from last time we were there – 15 years ago.

“

Now all we have to do decide on our next destination from Avalon Airport: Adelaide, Sydney or Gold Coast?

A ferry ride down the Derwent River took us to MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art, which we found a bit different, before returning to Hobart’s city centre. Our bed and breakfast, Clydesdale House in Sandy Bay, was a beautiful old home. After check-in we took a quick trip down to Wrest Point Casino where we enjoyed a coffee overlooking the Derwent River. Back to our digs, we met a lovely couple holidaying from 70

The next day we took the car ferry across to Bruny Island, stopping at Adventure Bay for lunch before wending our way back through Hobart in the afternoon and on to a short trip to Richmond with its historic convict-built bridge and customary photo. A relaxing Devonshire tea readied us for our return to Clydesdale House to freshen up for dinner that evening at the waterfront’s Drunken Sailor.

Monday morning gave us plenty of time to enjoy a beautiful breakfast before making our way to the airport, with the Avalon Airport Shuttle depositing us both back at our desks by lunchtime. We certainly packed a lot in over a short period of time but the convenience of Avalon saved time, to the point that we are keen to do again in the near future. Now all we have to do decide on our next destination from Avalon Airport: Adelaide, Sydney or Gold Coast?

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BPW Geelong’s Ageless Beauty fashion fundraiser 1

1. CAL STEWART AND SHEREE DALTON. 2. TERRY BARROW, JULES BROZINA AND BELINDA LYLE. 3. LIV KRUGER, DALEENE KROGER, MARIE HERNANDEZ, CORREIL DU PLESSIS AND REBECCA NOLAN. 4. LISA EMANUEL AND MARILYN SEMMLER. 5. DAWN CONWAY AND SUE MORTON. 6. NAY KLER PAW HTOO, THA DAH SAY, MOO K’PHRU SAY AND SAY K’PRU DREAMER. 7. SUE MARIA AND ANGE WIEBENGA. 8. TRICIA VAN GRUNDELLE AND LOUISE KING.

PICTURES: PAM HUTCHINSON PHOTOGRAPHY

9. MARY JANE VARONE AND VARSHA APPADOO. 10. JO FORSSMAN AND TRACEY BULL. 11. MORGAN JAMIESON, JULIE BARNES AND KIM LEEDS. 12. LIBBY POLLARD AND SOPHIA SHEN. 13. KAYE WITHAM, JEN GRANT, VEEMA AND JESHMA MOONIAPAH. 14. CRYSTLE AND RUBY KENNEALLY. 15. PRUE MORRISON AND TANIA HANNEYSEE. 16. BRIDGETTE KELLY AND NICOLE STORNEBRINK. 17. FIONA GADD, MELINDA WEST AND JOANNE DOAK.

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CALENDAR of EVENTS JULY Until 25 July

AUGUST

14-17

High School Musical On Stage Based on Disney’s popular TV series, this show promises to transport audiences to East High for a date with their favourite characters. Basketball star Troy, new girl Gabriella, musical diva Sharpay, her brother Ryan and a host of others deal with issues ranging from first love to friends and family while balancing classes and other activities. The Playhouse Geelong Performing Arts Centre

July - September Atmospherics Atmospherics draws together a selection of paintings and assemblies ranging from photorealist landscape through images of the body in space and geometric abstractions, creating varying moods viewing art in new ways. Geelong Gallery Geelong

13-16 Extinction This intriguing stage production presents a story of love, sex, money and power played out against the shadow of global warming and one of the region’s most-threatened species. An injured tiger quoll brings together a passionate environmentalist and an unlikely good Samaritan, both hell-bent on saving the species regardless of the price. Drama Theatre Geelong Performing Arts Centre

Circus Quirkus

Ghost Stories This psychological thriller presents 80 minutes of chilling drama with all the impact of a traditional horror movie. It’s so confronting that the promoters say its unsuitable for children under 13 and possibly also too much for pregnant women and “those with a nervous disposition”. The Playhouse Geelong Performing Arts Centre

29-31

This eclectic, entertaining mix of circus acts has entertained audiences all over the world. Suitable for all ages, Circus Quirkus presents internationally renowned clowns, jugglers, acrobats and others performing funny, engaging and sometimes death-defying acts. The Arena North Geelong

13 Pako Maker’s Market Grab a coffee and wander up to 30 creative stalls at the newly renovated bluestone church in the heart of Pakington Street. The market will feature handmade jewellery, stylish art prints, retro handcrafts, hand-knitted puppets, home decor, invitations, children’s clothing and more. 178 Pakington St Geelong West

GovHack Geelong GovHack Geelong is back as part of a national open data hackathon and competition. Entrants including developers, designers, students, user-experience practitioners, ideas people and entrepreneurs come together to build amazing products using government open data. Waterfront Campus Deakin University Geelong

SEPTEMBER 14-17 Around The World In 80 Days Three actors portray a cast of thousands in this eccentric adaption of Jules Verne’s globetrotting classic. Watch as Phileas Fogg attempts to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days in a madcap adventure of locomotives, steamers and hilarity. Drama Theatre Geelong Performing Arts Centre

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WINTER 2016 AUS $5.50 (inc GST)