TW Magazine Sept/Oct 2018

Issue #3 | Sept/Oct 2018

NARELLE FIGG: WEARING HER STRIPES FOR 14 YEARS AND COUNTING POET’S CORNER MEET THE HOBBITS CHAMELEON PRODUCTS: HELPING YOUTH ONE CHAIR AT A TIME

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Issue #3 - Sept/Oct 2018 Editor’s Note Welcome to Spring!

This is the best part of the year in my opinion and it’s certainly a great time to take advantage of outdoor activities that are normally made difficult in the summer months.

In this issue of TW, we’ve collated some great articles related to Spring. If you are in the mood for Spring Cleaning but are worried about toxic chemicals found in common cleaning products, then take a look at Natalie’s article about the hidden messages found on labels.

If you’d really like to learn more about the #ditchandswitch then come along to our workshop on 14th September at TWHQ. Head to our Facebook to find out more.

Our Cover Star for this issue is one of foundation VIP members, Narelle Figg. I first met Narelle at a fundraiser held in my own backyard and she not only donated her time, but also lucky door prizes. And that sums up Narelle - generous, inspiring and a fierce supporter of her fellow businesswoman. Turn the page to learn more about Narelle and her business.

Til next time, Bec xox

TW Magazine has been collated and published by Bec Townsend for Townsville Women. Images used throughout this publication have been supplied by content contributors, are owned by Townsville Women or are stock images. Do not reproduce any content without express written permission from Townsville Women.

Contents Meet Our Cover Star 4 Why skin care is so important 5 Ancient Wisdom’s Festival 6-7 #DitchandSwitch 8 start.living Workshop 9 Keep your roof healthy 11 Make a Change 12 Lone Wolf 13 Ladies Night In 14 Benefits of Regular Facials 15 The best things in life 16 Making Friends With Money 17 Townsville Holistic Network 18 Get more energy 19 Funny at the Waxing Salon 23 School holiday activities 24-25 Tumeric Latte 26 Self Care 27 RockFest 28-29 Chameleon Products 30-31 Hobby that rocks 32-33 Women Can Fish Too 34-38 The Sea Boss 39-40 Meet The Hobbits 41-45 Bike around Mag.Is 46-49 Poets Corner 50-51 meet the sea boss Page 39-40

For advertising enquiries contact sales@townsvillewomen.com.

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Meet Our Cover Star Narelle Figg my mission..to create more quality time with those I love! Lover of Life, Family is what I live for and I am never bored!

What do you attribute to your longevity?

Every one loves to be wowed by our amazing 4-18 hr LipSense Colours. and of course I love them too, though I am SUPER PASSIONATE about the Skin Care side of my business!! We all know we need to take care of one of our most valuable assets but it’s much easier to fall into bad habits. I like to help people create good healthy skin habits instead!

This leads to my favourite quote “Look after your skin as it will represent you for a very long time” Direct Sales can be a competitive industry to break through in, especially for a product that is as popular as yours. How do you set yourself apart from other Distributors in your particular company?

I am continually thinking of new ways to get the healthy skin message out there. My customers often tell me they can see my passion in what I do!

I guess sharing my knowledge and the benefits my skin has received is a great way of sharing the love!

Spread it around I say haha!

I find getting myself out into my community works well. I often support fundraising events, local ladies nights and festivals etc.. This creates a human connection with my customers. I like to think the fact that I just love helping people is probably what brings a lot of good karma my way!

“I began when I was 26, my first child was about to turn one and I didn’t want to leave her to go back to work! I had started with Tupperware and quickly realised that it lasts forever and I perhaps needed to find a more consumable kind of product to up the frequency of my customers purchasing on a regular basis.

When told about SeneGence. I initially said “No thanks I don’t wear it” and my friend said “CAN I ASK WHY?” Of course I had a number of reasons as I was not the girly girl type, and she seemed to have pretty solid answers to why I should start caring for my skin and even better responses to my questions about what SeneGence can do for ME!!

Well those four little words changed MY LIFE!!”

Narelle Figg Indepndent Distributor for SeneGence Australia Congratulations on being in business for 14 years! That’s a great effort for any small business owner.

Tell us a little bit about your business...

I am a home based business with SeneGence Australia. I began in 2004 and have worked it up from a hobby, to part-time, to full time and everything in between. I love the fact that I can structure my business around my family and our busy lives!

I didn’t really wear makeup because I didnt like the feel of it or the taste of lipstick so I initially said ‘No thanks’ to this idea but something just told me to look further, so I did.

I liked what I saw and then I had all my friends asking what I was doing and it took off from there.

I can go as fast or slow as I need which gives me alot of choice or freedom you could say! .You can’t buy time so I try to have that as 4

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Can you share with us something you’ve learnt over your years in business?

Do it for YOUR reasons not anybody else’s! Persistence is key.

These things take time and you need to realise this if you are going to be in it for the long run. I keep it fresh with the NEW product releases and have fun doing it! It is hardwork sometimes though you will definately get out what you put in!

What advice would you give other people looking to start their own business in the Direct Sales industry?

Think about where your passion lies and follow that!! This is vital in aligning yourself with a long term goal. If your heart is not in it, forget it! I am not defined by my business so always remind yourself that you are your business, not the products.

Where do you see your business heading in the future?

I am definately feeling excited about the future and what it holds for me!

I am planning to expand and include another passion of mine! Very complimentary to what I’m doing now though I can’t say too much just yet, so instead I’ll say ‘Watch this space!!!’

WHY SKIN CARE IS SO IMPORTANT

By Narelle Figg from Townsville Hotlips

Why skin care is so important!

Your skin cells are changing all the time. The skin sheds it’s cells every day, every minute. That means that taking care of your skin is not something you do ‘now and then’, but on a daily basis. Implementing a skin routine should therefore be something you want to do – if you don’t have that already.

How would that look?

– Cleanse: You can use a cleanser product, or simply use water as a lot of dermatologist prescribe. Products make sense for people with extra sensitive skin.

– Moisturise: Your skin loses moisture throughout the day. For the skin to be able to ‘repair’ itself, and at the same time look healthy, moisture is needed. Try different products based on your skin type to see what works best for you.

– Check: As your skin is the largest organ, it also poses some risks. When you spot moles or skin spots that worry you, always check them early. It is most certainly better to be safe than sorry, especially up here with our NQ climate.

The future is now! How your skin will look in ten or twenty years, depends on the way you care for it now. When we age, the skin will start to show signs of that as well. That means wrinkles, lines, and other things you might not look forward to.

So make sure to take good care, but also to not use skin care products that might do more bad than good. Use products that are made for your skin type, and never use anything too aggressive. Find someone that can give you good personal advice.

Look good to feel good! Skin is an important factor for self confidence. When we look good, we feel good. And our skin is a big part of our appearance.

That’s why skin care is so important: it makes you look good, it keeps your skin healthy, and you will feel good.

Thank you for reading and if you’d like to invest in your skin, feel free to connect with me any way that suits you!

Love the skin you are in! Narelle x

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Ancient Wisdoms Festival TW chats with Leonie-May Christensen from Spiritual Whispers about her upcoming event, Ancient Wisdoms Festival...

What is the reason for launching the Ancient Wisdoms Festival?

It has been a dream & passion of mine since 2012, when I opened up my studio “Spiritual Whispers”.

It’s an industry that I wanted to get out there into the world. I wanted to show people that there are alternate and ancient ways to incorporate into this modern world, that can only have great benefit on our whole entire being and for this beautiful planet we live on.

For years now, I’ve been listening to people talk about all the wonderful Spiritual events all around the country, but we don’t get that much here in the north.

Then along came the awesome

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“Spirit & Soul Festival” (S&S) at Hervey’s Rang Heritage Tea Rooms (of which I attend with my stall yearly). However, as amazing as it is and I promote it, I was still hearing people saying they wanted more, and quite a lot of people cannot make the journey up the Range for the S&S Festival.

The aim is to expand the Ancient Wisdoms of old into the modern world. We hope to increase awareness of what is on offer and available to us all right here in North Queensland & indeed right here in Townsville.

Timing had to be right though, and now more & more people are looking for alternate therapies & old ways of wisdom, many of which have been around for centuries. That time is here and I am so very excited to bring this to our beautiful town.

Who are the Festival organisers?

I am the Organiser and have the wonderful assistance of Catherine McGovern from Scarlet Spirit. My family & some friends will also be helping on the day to make sure all goes smoothly.

I am very blessed to have their support in

following one of my dreams.

What can guests expect? How will this festival differ from others?

We are hoping the Ancient Wisdoms Festival will balance our years, with the S&S Festival at the first half of the year and finishing the second half of the year with the Ancient Wisdoms Festival. This year, we are focusing our Festival on showcasing Townsville-based Businesses in the Spiritual, Alternate Therapies, Ancient Methods & Products.

Our Stall Holders and Vendors list is still being compiled and is growing very quickly. You can see a list of them as they are added on the Event “Ancient Wisdoms Festival 2018” on the Facebook Page Ancient Wisdoms Festival.

We are hoping to encourage people to meander through each area of the Festival: The Healing Realm: *Healers of many different Techniques – Reiki / Reflexology / Crystals / Kinesiology / Aura / Energy , just to name a few.

The Insight Circle: *Readers of different Divination Styles - Psychics / Mediums / Clairvoyants and more.

The Market Place: *Home made Remedies & Products *Crystals & Jewellery *Essential Oils & Natural Products *Gifts & Knowledge Stalls *Health & Wellness info & Products *Food & Beverage Vendors The Wisdom Domain : *Demonstrations from various

stall holders sharing what they do and why. *We start our day with a Yoga session at 8am by the awesome Jai Hunter from “The Townsville Yoga Hub” Was there a particular reason behind choosing the location?

The Element of the Ocean is very cleansing, calming and soothing - an important element in the realms of Ancient Wisdom. It’s an element that I have drawn on during my

life and encourage others to take advantage of.

My train of thought was : • The Ocean is - the “Water” element • Which brings us a Breeze – the “Air” element • While we gather on the Foreshore – the “Earth” element • To ignite our Passion for Ancient Wisdoms – the “Fire” element • Which raises our Energies – the “Spirit” element

To find more information on the Ancient Wisdoms Festival 2018 follow the Facebook Page or rsvp to the Event to receive updates and notifications.

If you are interested in applying for a stall please contact Leonie via email myspiritualwhispers@ bigpond.com For information about Leonie’s Business, Spiritual Whispers, follow her on Facebook.

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#DitchandSwitch this Spring

by Natalie Waugh from One Natural Life

Spring Cleaning. Do you relish in these words? Or do you shrink away in dread?

I personally love the idea of getting stuck in and giving everything a bit of shine. And by doing it with the onset of spring, at least there are some areas of our house that get attention at least once a year….am I right? (I’m looking at you window tracks).

While it’s great to get your clean on, it’s worth remembering that our aim here is to make our home environment a healthier, happier place. We shouldn’t have to shirk away from the task because we feel dizzy when we scrub the shower, or our head aches from attending to the oven, due to the fumes we’re inhaling from our

cleaning products.

The fact that so many cleaning products result in us feeling unwell should really raise alarm bells as to what we may be exposing ourselves to, sometimes on a daily basis. According to the EPA, our indoor air quality can be between 2 to 5 times more toxic than the outdoors. And on average, it’s estimated we spend around 90% of our time inside. Therefore, this cocktail of chemical pollutants can have serious health consequences, both in the short and long term. A lot of popular household products contain ingredients that are proven hormone disrupters, skin irritants and carcinogens, just to name a few.

So what can you do?

1. Become educated – Learn WHAT some of the key culprits are, WHY it’s best to avoid them and HOW to identify them in your products.

2. #DitchandSwitch – Check your labels and swap to using safe, natural alternatives.

Beware of “green-washing”.

Greenwashing Cleaners labeled “safe”, “non-toxic” and “green” can contain hazardous ingredients. There should be a law against bogus claims, but there isn’t. Some companies are willing to bend the truth because they can.

Worst offenders: Popular concentrated all-purpose cleaners are labeled “non-toxic” and “biodegradable”. It contains: * 2-butoxyethanol, a solvent absorbed through the skin that damages red blood cells and irritates eyes; * A secret blend of alcohol ethoxylate surfactants. Some members of this chemical family are banned in the European Union.

Worse, the company website instructs the user to dilute the product significantly for even the heaviest cleaning tasks. Yet it comes in a spray bottle that implies it should be sprayed full-strength.

Such use would result in higher exposures.

Want to learn more? Head to the Events page at One Natural Life on Facebook and join me for a class where we’ll run through all the steps above and help you on your way to a healthier home. Or send me a message to book in a class at your own home.

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Can we help you?

Are you:

a woman living in Townsville a new resident to Townsville looking to meet new people a local business owner needing to expand you network feeling lonely looking for something to do hosting an event and need help with promotion or selling tickets a writer or blogger looking for somewhere to get published a member of a community group recruiting new members

We can help!

Website updated regularly Directory listings - free for business & community groups Interactive Events Calendar - search, share, submit your events Active Facebook group to connect online Regular newsletters Social events for women to connect in real life A VIP proogram with great rewards Dedicated Marketplace website to promote local business TW Magazine - our own magazine

Visit the website or follow us on Social Media to stay updated! www.townsvillewomen.com 1 0 | TW MAGAZINE

How to keep your roof healthy all year around

by Deni Knuth from Roofguard

Like everything else in life, looking after your things goes a long way.

Jeff and I have made it one of our missions to educate Townsville property owners on how to look after and maintain their roof.

Why?, you ask, when it’s easier to let the darn thing deteriorate and then just replace it! While that is an option and many homeowner take it, looking for alternatives is also a smart choice and in many cases both the environment and your family budget are better off when you opt out for roof restoration.

When choosing the roof restoration option, you are committing to a holistic approach because from the moment you call us for the free inspection to the moment you step back and look at your newly restored roof, you begin to appreciate the complexity and the importance that your roof plays in maintaining a safe and sound home.

This is the easiest and most peaceful time of the year to check and maintain your roof. There is no rain and no scorching sun, which means less external hazards... you just have to apply extra caution and commonsense!

This is the best time to clean the gutters and check the integrity

and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard.”

Being proactive instead of reactive when it comes to the roof is always a cheaper option... just ask the neighbor who didn’t maintain the roof and his insurance claim for repairs was rejected because of the lack of maintenance!

We didn’t invent roof restoration. We perfected it! of the sealants around the vent pipes, the skylights, the flashing, the pointing and bedding on tiled roofs and rusty screws on metal roofs.

It is also the best time to trim the overgrown vegetation around your roof and prep the area for a safer cyclone season.

OK, the only maintenance you will perform during the wet season is the emergency work that your roof will need because no checks or repairs happened during the winter and water is getting in! “As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft,

Oh, sitting by the pool and sipping Pina Colada while the roof beauticians from Roofguard sweat over the heat-reflective membrane application...ain’t that a living!?

Summer will hit hard and so will the desire for a cooler house.

This summer can be a temperature changer for you if you plan ahead and have your roof checked, gutters cleaned and heat-reflective membrane applied to that tired or hot roof.

Call us today to discuss the condition of your roof and to book in a free inspection!

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Make a Change

Commiting to Change?

I'd love to hear from you -Ph 0447 444 482Doors open when you master your vision!

DATES: Sept 3 - 15th Oct 8 - 20th

Use my seven steps to transform your whole outlook.

6 Modules deliverd online in the comfort of your home Module #5 Workshop @ 488 Ross River Rd. Sat 12-4pm Modules #6&7 Taking Action Go from settling for mediocre to never feeling stuck again.

More than a vision is your ultimate life changing experience allowing you to manifest the life of your dreams.

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The Benefits of Regular Facials

by Linda Ferarr from Beau Shea Massage & Beauty Most of us follow a daily skin routine which is great and there are so many benefits you get from looking after your skin. A daily skin routine should start from an early age to help prevent those nasty wrinkles, but it is also great to have a trained therapist undertake a skin consultation on a regular basis just to ensure that what you are using on your skin is the right product for your skin type as our skin changes constantly with age, seasons, stress, illness etc.

Not only are facials great for your skin but great for your stress levels as well - they are truly a relaxing treatment.

Prevents Skin Aging Our skin is constantly bombarded with free radicals (pollution, UV rays etc). As we age your skin becomes more prone to oxidative damage from the accumulation of too many free radicals. This leads to inflammation and premature aging. Similarly, there is a decrease in collagen production, so wrinkles and fine lines begin to form on your skin. Facials often make use of topical pharmacological agents with anti-aging properties. These agents include antioxidants (such as vitamins, polyphenols, and flavonoids) and cell regulators (such as retinols & peptides) - great for skin health.

Improves Blood Circulation When blood vessels under the skin have poor circulation it shows in the skin making it look pale and sickly.

Regular facials will stimulate blood flow making it look healthy and vigorous. It also brings oxygen and nutrients to the skins cells keeping them healthy.

Tightens Up It is common to lose elasticity in your skin as you age and the synthesis of collagen slows down.

However, there are certain ways to boost collagen production and tighten up your skin for a more youthful complexion. The creams, lotions, face masks, and chemical peels used during facials (whether botanical extracts or synthetics) have ingredients that help achieve this result.

Increases Absorption Regularly indulging in facials preps your skin to absorb other beauty products more effectively. You may have been spending a lot of time and money buying and trying out different skincare products.

However, in order for these products to actually make a difference, they have to absorb deep into the skin to work their magic. These products often only superficially spread throughout the epidermis, so they don’t make much of a difference at all.

Hydrates As we age sebum (oil) production slows down causing dryness. Dry skin may also be genetic or caused by wrong products that strip the skins natural hydro-lipid barrier.

The hydro lipid barrier keeps the hydration (water) in. Skin contains 64% water and, much like our body and brain, needs water to stay healthy. Think of your skin like a sponge. When a sponge is dry it is contracted, shrivelled and wrinkles up. Put that sponge under water and it expands and becomes flexible.

Skin is no different. A lack of water dries up our skin causing flakiness, and over time, wrinkles will develop. A moisturiser suited to your dry skin will act as the skins barrier to retain the hydration levels within, however evaporation does still occur and your skin needs constant hydrating therefore drinking water is one of the best options for your skins health.

Treats Acne Professional facials use products suited to your skin, therefore not aggravating acne and the exfoliation and extractions help clear out pores that have become clogged.

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The Best Things in Life Are Free...

by Leisa Quagliata from The Financial Divorce Chick

...until they come out of your belly that is!

I was admiring my Caesarean scars this morning and was not lost on the ironic fact that the two of them made a strange lopsided grin. In that moment I smiled fondly… Maybe they were trying to tell me something. It got me thinking about how much I love my kids and no matter how much they may cost me in real dollar terms ie food, clothing, sport, school etc. the best part of my kids has and always will be FREE. As any parent out there would know, the way your child can melt your heart with just one tiny smile is priceless.

But what about the other costs. How do we balance the things that are free with the stresses of raising children?

According to ASG Planning for Education Index (2018) the cost of education in Australia has soared 61% in the past decade and could cost a staggering $475,342 to educate one child through the private system; $240,676 for faith-based education and $66,320 in the public system. And here I was thinking public education was free!

While we don’t like to think about “worst case scenarios” do you know how you’d pay the bills if you could not work due to injury or illness?

According to Rice Warner’s 2015 Research Report Underinsurance in Australia a typical household’s debt and insurance looks like this…

But the average Australian household insurances (per month) look like this…

Have you ever considered that NOT ONE of the above insurances would pay your bills if you no longer could? Can you afford NOT to have a PLAN B when it comes to ensuring your children get the education and life they deserve?

Don’t you owe it to your family to make sure you have the right protection plan in place, just in case?

Lastly, not all income protection policies are created equal, so it is best to speak to a licensed financial adviser or insurance broker to discuss what is right for you and your family.

Leisa Quagliata aka The Financial Divorce Chick is a licensed Financial Adviser who has a passion for helping Single Mums get back on their feet after divorce. She is also the creator of Financially Free Money Mindset.

Exclusive offer: If you’d like a complimentary assessment on your family’s income protection needs, please contact our office today and quote Townsville Women Magazine.

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Making Friends With Finance Unique event brought to you by The Financial Divorce Chick and Townsville Women

11th Oct 2018 - 6pm-9pm $39-49pp Metropole Hotel, Palmer St, Sth Townsville "Beginner's Guide to Financial Freedom" Join The Financial Divorce Chick Leisa Quagliata as she takes us through a power workshop with advice, strategies and real-life examples of how we can start to take control of our financial situation. You will learn actionable tools to use on your journey to becoming a financially independent woman!

Social Networking The 2nd part of the evening will be for making friends. Bec from Townsville Women will introduce her unique style of networking to the night with an Ice Breaker activity or two, designed to have you meeting as many people as possible.

Drink on Arrival Take Home Workbook Photobooth Goody Bags for Early Bird Ticket Hoders Food Platters

On Sale Now!

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Townsville Holistic Network is a non-profit organisation that aims to create collaborative opportunities and growth through networking for all alternative wellness business owners in the local Townsville and North Queensland Region.

Want to learn more? We have a FB Group for Local Practitioners!

Our Network is for all Local Wellness Practitioners (and any interested local business!) to Network, Connect & Support each other as we discover creative ways to connect mainstream with soul and increase the profile of holistic wellness in our local community.

Discover more about Townsville Holistic Network Events and Memberships by emailing TownsvilleHolisticNetwork@gmail.com

The Network committee members will work to deliver this vision via a two year strategy of projects and initiatives, that will ultimately create greater awareness of the benefits of holistic wellness throughout the community. These events will provide an opportunity for the community to discover more about the services that are available to them right here in Townsville. Basic, Standard and Premium memberships are available, with each membership level offering fantastic opportunities for both individuals and businesses.

We have such a diversity of talent in our local community that can support anyone on their respective health and wellness journey - our hope is to create a wider network of wellness opportunities for all.

Our next networking event will be held on the evening of Thursday 20 September. Check out the Local Practitioner FB Group for more details as the date approaches.

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https://www.facebook.com/ groups/251134758766304/

Website: https://townsvilleholisticnetwork.org/

HOW TO GET MORE ENERGY EVERYDAY AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FOOD AND YOU DON'T NEED TO SPEND ANY MONEY

3 TIPS FOR GETTING MORE ENERGY FAST

TIP #3

TIP #2

TIP #1

The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body.

The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results.

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

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BEAUTY BY B SVENSON

Professional Make Up Artist & Lash Technician

Specialising in Classic Eyelash Extensions & Professional Make Up Services.

BOOK NOW 0437 728 537 beautybybsvenson@gmail.com beautybybsvenson.com

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A funny thing happened at the waxing salon...

by Allison Mitchelson from Get Gorgeous Studio

Why do they call me the Brazilian Queen?

Well, back when I started my own salon in Mareeba in 2006, the majority of my business was believe it or not – Brazilian Waxing! I had so many ladies tell me horror stories of getting burns and experiencing terrible ingrowns that I decided to do a little research into what was the best wax for performing Brazilian waxing and I believe I’ve found it!

But first let me tell you a little story about the first time I ever did a Brazilian wax – my teacher had lined up a girlfriend of her son to be my first “victim” & I was literally freaking out at the prospect of putting hot wax near anyone’s lady bits!

So up onto the bed she hops and my teacher demonstrates the first placement of wax and then it was my go…I slather on the wax and get ready to pull it off…and all I could think was – I need to get this off as quickly as possible so it doesn’t hurt…I grab the wax and I ripped it off so quick and it flies outa my hand and straight into the clients face!! The next 10 seconds seem to go in slow motion…I just put wax with pubic hair on my clients face!! Then she starts laughing and we all start laughing and she says “well that the first time I’ve had my face in my own bits!”

I know having a Brazilian wax can seem intimidating and even a little scary, but I’ve come a long way from that first wax and can offer a very relaxed and professional experience based on a lot of feedback from ladies who have been getting waxed for years.

I also provide a tips & tricks guide for all of my Brazilian waxes so you have the best outcome and experience. So book in...come experience a home salon experience & feel completely at ease.

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Keep the Kids Busy T DIY ACTIVITIES With a few materials and some imagination, you can create your own activities Activity Board A Pinterest Favourite!

Head to the local hardware store (or raid Dad’s shed!) and create a fun centre for younger kids with items such as: doorbell; padlocks & keys; chains; pulleys; small boxes; PVC pipe; and ping pong balls.

Easy to make, simply get a piece of plyboard or masonry board and paint.

Once dry, layout your elements to decide what will work best before fixing into place. Think about how different pieces can work together to inspire kids to get creative.

For example, on the pictured board created by Jaytee Babysitting Service’s Jackie, there’s a pulley system that kids need to implement in

order to move keys closer to a padlock. Jackie will often hide small toys inside the green box to the right of the board to really ignite kid’s excitement and exploration.

If your kids love loud noises then we definitely recommend the Spring Door Stops - they are LOUD but kids love them! A Doorbell with different tunes makes a fun addition too.

Once everything is fitted to the Activity Board it can be quite heavy and the weight is obviously all at the front, making it very susceptable to falling over.

As Jackie’s activity board is designed to be transportable it has a carry handle and a custom built metal stand to keep the board upright. For boards that are placed permanently in playrooms or cubby houses, it’s commonplace to fix the Activity Board to walls using screws to ensure they don’t fall forward onto the kids.

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These School Holidays Nerf Gun Targets Made using decorated paper plates, and a few extra materials - guaranteed fun for hours! Visit www.frugalfun4boys.com/2016/11/10/makenerf-spinning-target/ for instructions.

Collage Raid the craft cupboard, use recycled items such as bottle caps and toilet rolls, magazines, or or collect leaves and twigs to create a collage or diorama.

Print or draw a silouette of a bald head and have your kids use grass, leaves and twigs to give the head some hair!

Quoits (Ring Toss) Easy to DIY! Fix two timbers together in an X shape, add some dowel poles and craft hoops out of rope. Paint and add Scores to finish. Visit www.thecraftygentleman.net/2017/08/24/diy-

ring-toss-game/ for full instructions.

Make Your Own Bath Bombs, Play Dough, Slime and Paint are an inexpensive activity for kids. Wrap nicely and present to loved ones as gifts or use for other crafts.

Bath Bombs- https://www.redtedart.com/bathbombs-recipe-gifts-kids-can-make Finger Paint- https://www.redtedart.com/how-tofinger-paint-recipe/ Playdough- https://theimaginationtree.com/bestever-no-cook-play-dough-recipe/ Geocaching or Painted Rock Hunting Visit the Geocaching website or join the QLD Rocks Facebook Group (see feature article on page ...) for info on these free outdoor activities.â˜ť

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The World’s Best Turmeric Latte

by Kelly Nicolson, Naturopath at The Healing Home Holistic Therapies

Caffeine Free – Dairy Free – Sugar Free – Good for the Whole Family If you are not incorporating turmeric into your daily routine you are seriously missing out! Turmeric is an AMAZING spice that has a long traditional history and holds many health benefits.

Turmeric was first cultivated as a dye and then as a condiment and cosmetic. It was often used as an inexpensive substitute for saffron in the 13th Century. It was used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of inflammatory conditions and digestive disorders.

In Ayurvedic Medicine it was used to treat many disorders including rheumatism, skin conditions, inflammation, worms, hepatic disorders, gastrointestinal complaints including dyspepsia, diarrhea, constipation and colic.

Current research has focused on the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial / antimicrobial, hepatoprotective and anti-carcinogenic actions of turmeric. Is has shown promising effects for symptomatic relief in numerous inflammatory conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, peptic ulcer, psoriasis, various cancers, diabetes and eye conditions (Braun and Cohen, 2015).

I have adapted and adjusted this recipe many times according to what I have in the spice rack.

You can change it to suite your tastes, don’t be afraid to experiment!

Just beware of the white bench tops! Turmeric DOES and WILL stain!

Ingredients: 2 tbsp Turmeric Powder 1 – 2 tsp Cinnamon 1 tsp Cracked Black Pepper (do not omit this ingredient. Black pepper plays a role in increasing the bio-availability of curcumin!) ½ tsp Star Anise ½ tsp Cloves ½ tsp Nut Meg ½ tsp Cardamon ½ tsp Ginger 1 tsp Vanilla Bean paste to sweeten hot drink (optional).

Non-dairy milk: My fave is Coco Quench! But you could try it with Soy, almond or another nut milk!

Method: Mix all dry spices together and keep in jar for future use. Use ½ to 1 tsp per drink serve depending on taste.

You can add and adjust flavours according to your taste buds.

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Option one: lightly heat ½ – 1 tsp of spice mix in a small pot. Add vanilla bean paste if desired and dairy free milk. Bring to boil stirring often. This method will fill the room with healing aromatic spices.

Option two: add 1/2 to 1 tsp of spice mix (add vanilla bean paste if desired) to milk and steam the milk.

Whilst the aroma will not fill every corner of the house it will still smell delicious and it is great for when you’re in a hurry!

Reference: Braun, L. and Cohen, M. (2015). Herbs and Natural Supplements: An Evidence-based Guide. Vol 2. 4th Edition. Sydney, Elsevier Australia.

Self Care

by Lois Lovegrove from Here to Heal

Looking after yourself, and taking time out for your self isn’t selfish, it’s sensible and necessary. Taking time out for yourself, without feeling guilty (you know that list of “I should be doing… that keeps popping up, and stopping you from relaxing), needs to be an important part of your day to day life.

If you are feeling any of these: stressed to the max; snappy at home; grumpy at work; feeling tearful; short-tempered; keep injuring yourself; keep getting sick; verbally fighting with others - these are all signs that your life is out of balance and that you need to start doing some Self Care, quick smart, before you burn yourself out and end up in big trouble.

Eventually your body will find ways to slow you down and force you to slow down, and it won’t be pretty.

These reasons (excuses) for not doing Self Care need to be kicked to the kerb.

•You put your needs last and feel guilty for spending time/money yourself •Too busy doing everything for everyone else, never saying no.

•The kids need me •My partner needs my help •My job takes up too much time •I have to do the housework •I am too tired •I am too busy •There isn’t enough money left over, for me to do anything The more self-care you do, the happier your life will become. Set some boundaries to ensure that you take time for yourself, you are worthy and deserving of that, say no to others.

If necessary block out time in your Calendar/Planner for ME TIME, and take it.

Remember to love yourself and look after yourself, because you are important, your needs are as important as everyone elses.

Click here for Lois’ 30 WAYS TO SELF CARE tips!

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Country by day, Rock by night Townsville Rock Fest is back again for 2018 but this year brings together two popular, albeit very different, genres of festival music!

Headline acts, Troy Cassar-Daly and The McClymonts are bringing a touch of Australian Country Music Royalty when this year’s Rock Fest ‘Goes Country’.

“Country music has a huge following, so we thought why not bring the best of both worlds to our concert?”

-Luke Wilson, Event Organiser

To complete the round up and also bring in the Rock element once the sun goes down, Troy and the McClymonts will be joined by Tony Cook, Brooke ‘Josie’ Roberts, Judah Kelly, Homegrown and the just-announced, Bad Influence.

Event organiser Luke Wilson says “We are sure the stellar line-up will entice people to travel to Townsville from all over the region to attend the Festival this year,” Mr Wilson said. “We have spent the past months researching and the feedback from all our focus groups was to combine the both.”

The Rock Fest began life as live music event Not 2 Old 2 Dance when a Townsville local was told to sit down at a concert because he was “too old to dance”. In following along the original format, Rock Fest is marketed as a ‘night of great live music and nostalgia for 18+ festival– goers’ and of course, dancing is very much encouraged!

“We haven’t gone away from our original intent for this festival, which is to make a platform for charities to raise money, and to buy local and support local business.

Everything generated from this concert will have a direct economic and social impact on our beautiful city,” says Luke.

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Troy Cassar-Daly Troy Cassar-Daley is regarded as one of Australian country music’s finest singer/ songwriters. His career has spanned 10 studio albums over 30 years.

Throughout this time he has been awarded numerous accolades including 4 ARIAs, 36 Golden Guitars, 2 APRA Country Song of the year awards, 9 Deadlys (Australian Indigenous Artist Awards), 4 CMAA Entertainer of the Year awards plus 2 NIMAs. In 2017 Troy was the 50th inductee into the prestigious Australasian Roll Of Renown, such an incredible honour for Troy.

He has sold in excess of 500,000 albums and received gold and platinum records. He has achieved a staggering 31 number 1 chart singles.

The McClymonts The McClymonts have long been Australia’s best loved and most successful country group; with a stunning 20 hit singles, 2 Gold- Certified albums, 13 Golden Guitars – including 5 for Group or Duo of the Year – and 2 ARIAs for Best Country Album to their credit, along with a US Country Music Association Award for Global Artist of the Year.

The trio’s last four albums each soared to the No. 1 spot on the Australian Country Albums Charts and broke into Top 10 spots on the ARIA All-genre Albums Charts.

Small Paws Hairdressing Specialising In Small Breed Dogs

By Appointment Only 0402 293 713 47 Timbury Way, Mount Louisa

Book Tickets from townsvillerockfest.com.au or tecc.net.au Follow Rock Fest on Facebook for updates TW MAGAZINE | 2 9

Chameleon Upcycled Products Chameleon Upcycled Products is the not-for-profit social enterprise that supports Queensland Youth Services Recycle Your Dreams Program.

Recycle Your Dreams (RYD) is a 14 week program for disengaged youth between the ages of 15-24. RYD is designed to assist participants to overcome barriers to employment, provide on-the-job training through engagement with a social enterprise and work experience with local employers. Recycle Your Dreams also assists participants to improve their job search skills to ultimately find full time employment.

The program is fully supported with trade mentors, youth workers and trainers.

Throughout the 14 weeks, participants also engage in Alcohol and Other Drug counsellingand sessions surrounding self-awareness. They also have the opportunity to get their learner licence.

The social enterprise, Chameleon Upcycled Products, focuses on recycling or upcycling unwanted materials into furniture. By working in a fully operational workshop, participants learn to use basic hand tools, power tools and machinery, as well as employability skills that are transferable across all jobs: Communication; teamwork; problem solving; initiative and enterprise; planning and organising; selfmanagement; learning; and technology.

Over the past 12 months Chameleon Upcycled Products has evolved and is starting to grow. The current focus is on reusing oil drums and pallets to create functional and affordable furniture pieces. The social enterprise is adaptive and the products produced are continuously evolving depending on the supply of waste materials and the demand for the products.

To continue to be successful, Recycle Your Dreams and Chameleon Upcycled Products relies on community support through sales and donations/pricing assistance and through partnerships with local employers and businesses to provide work experience and entry level roles for our young people.

Ethan 3 0 | TW MAGAZINE

Amos

Since May 201 initiative with range of ind hospital

Candace

Before I joined RYD I was couch-surfing, I now have my own unit, a roof over my head, my learner licence and I have learnt that I can do more than I ever thought I could.”

Candace, July, 2018

Riley & Myron Jude

17, 75 young people have commenced in the some securing employment across a broad dustries and roles including construction, lity, retail, web design and aged care.

Coffee Table Set (top left) - $300 Sawhorse Shelf (above left)- $75 The Shovel pot plant stand/outdoor room divider (above right) - $275 The sunflower hanging herb garden (below left) - $120

All products are available for sale through the Chameleon Upcycled Products Facebook Page, or in person at the Queensland Youth Services Workshop, 3/19 Keane Street, Currajong.

Adam

Office hours are Mon-Thurs 7.30am–4pm and Fri 7.30am–2pm TW MAGAZINE | 3 1

A Hobby That Rocks!

Rock Dropping is a family friendly hobby that is quickly growing momentum in Australia.

Facebook group, QLD Rocks, boasts over 9600 members and is just one of many Rock groups popping up on social media.

What is Rock Dropping?

This game of Hide’n’Seek is simple in nature and attracts participants of all ages and walks of life.

The hiders paint & hide rocks around their local area, the seekers go looking for rocks (and often rehide in a different location) and then you have those who do both!

Group Admin, Phoebe, writes that it’s “A little bit of creativity and nature play for kids and parents... Go hunting for painted rocks in your local park, or paint some and hide them for others to find and help to spread some joy in your community.”

What are the costs?

This depends on how you choose to participate. It doesn’t cost you a cent to seek and re-hide. If you are wanting to paint then there is a small investment for rocks, paints and/or markers, and a sealant coating.

above: “Ive been rocking for about 18 months now and I love every aspect of it!” - Naomi below: “It is rewarding to see how happy and excited the kids are when they find one and the sharing experience when they rehide or paint their own is invaluable.” - Chellie

Why join the Facebook Group?

Joining a Rock group on Facebook will allow you to connect with fellow rock-droppers, find out common places to hide and/or seek, and get valuable advice and inspiration for painting your designs. You can post photos of rocks that you find too.

Can I keep rocks that I find?

Yes! Kids especially like to keep their finds and that’s ok! It’s still fun to take a photo and post in the group. If you do re-hide your rock though it can be very exciting to see where it ends up!

As Kerry says, “(I) met the idea with a find in WA while on holidays, kept going once back home in Airlie. Have had some rocks go to Perth, Melbourne, Great Wall of China, Buckingham palace, Noosa, Whitsunday island, Whitehaven Beach lookout.

I’ve even taken a rock painted by someone from a UK group on a sailing tour around the Whitsunday Islands and to see pink in Melbourne!”

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left: “I love painting rocks, it is so relaxing and the joy it brings children is heart warming.” - Grace right: Love it when someone finds one of our rocks and posts a picture” Cathy

right: “Our family recently started participating in rock painting after being added to local rock painting groups on Facebook. My kids and I enjoy the experience of getting outdoors and exploring for some special treasure. It is lovely watching how excited they are when they find a painted rock. We also enjoy painting and hiding rocks for others to discover.” - Kylie left: “I love that they spread joy... the kids get so excited.” - Tiffany right: We share different ideas and techniques and give each other inspiration no matter if you’re a budding artist or amateur like myself. It’s about getting kids off the couch and back into the playground and sharing time with family.

right: I started painting rocks only a few months ago but am hooked. I love getting together with my kids, (both big and small) and creating fun pictures. I also love thinking of the smiles on people’s faces when they find them.” - Kez far right: We have found some amazing rocks and spread heaps of joy and it’s totally addictive! Should come with a warning” - Amanda

left: It’s over a year since I started painting rocks with the grandkids.

It’s fun , relaxing and I have met some wonderful people from this hobby. Still rocking! below right: “Rock painting is therapeutic, rock dropping goes hand in hand with exercise” - Gail

left: New to Yeppoon all the way from WA. Painted more than 1000 rocks in WA and as soon as I’m settled and unpacked, I will start to paint again!” - Amanda TW MAGAZINE | 3 3

Women Ca

Fishing should be a recreational past time that is accessible to all: men, women and children. So how do we fare in the fishing equality stakes in Australia?

Well let’s start with the media. Australia has an abundance of fishing shows, IFish, Hook Line and Sinker, Fishing Australia, Escape with ET, Creek to Coast, Fishing Australia, Fishing Addiction (and the list goes on!). These shows all have one thing in common, they are hosted by men and filmed from a male perspective using male gender noun and pronouns. Rarely do you see women on these shows and if you do catch a glimpse they are usually either bikini clad models or introduced as somebody’s wife.

So, what is my point? Well guys believe it or not women can fish (in their own right, on their own, without male assistance) too! Now do not get me wrong, I am not a raving feminist that thinks all men are oppressors of the female species.

Quite the opposite actually. I have a very supportive husband who is very patient with my fishing obsession event though he does not share my degree of passion for the sport (he 3 4 | TW MAGAZINE

is long-suffering). I also realise that physically there are some things I cannot do as well as men (such as use brute strength to undo a jar of jam). But I can fish! I love fishing, I would be out on the water 24/7 if my bank balance (and marriage) allowed.

So, what can we do to address the gender inequality in the fishing world?

Let me share with you my experience of being a woman who lives and breathes fishing in a male dominated region of Australia.

an Fish Too! Boats

I found my love of fishing in Darwin. We moved to Darwin in 2007 and no sooner had we settled in we decided that we should buy a boat.

Well why not? The only safe way to enjoy the water in Darwin is in the confines of a boat (due to the big lizards with teeth they had up there).

In truth I did not know that many people in Darwin and certainly knew less about fishing.

Once on the water I quickly realised that fishing was my thing. I would convince my husband to take me out as much as possible onto the pristine waters of Darwin Harbour where we fumbled around trying to work out the best places and ways to catch fish. I must say not many fish were caught in the four years we were in Darwin, but it did confirm my feeling, that fishing was my passion.

I would do anything to go fishing (well almost anything!). I was lucky enough to have a couple of work colleagues who also went fishing with their partners so I could share fishing stories and ask for tips and pointers on how to improve. After a few years the girls at work decided

by Tracey Holmes

Pozzies Around Australia

that a day out fishing (girls only) was just what we needed. After organising who, where and what we were going to do we left the fellas at home and headed out bright and early one Saturday morning to a beautiful billabong for a day’s fish.

Bang that was where I caught my very first Barra, thanks to an all girl crew, and become even more obsessed with fishing!

This was when I realised girls can do this stuff! It was also when I realised that the boat needed to transform and I needed to lift my game in the fishing stakes.

Fishing Clubs

We moved to Townsville in 2011 and I got very worried. I had left my fishing chicks in Darwin and moved to somewhere that was so much busier, too many boats on the water. How was I ever going to find the right places to fish, where could I go, who could I go with. My trusted husband was there of course and he put a lot of time and effort in to get me out on the water and find me places to fish. In fact, he was the one that suggested we join a fishing

club, so that is exactly what we did.

We joined the Townsville Fishing Club and I became very aware that there were only a couple of women in the club who actively fished (and enjoyed it!). I became firm friends with one of the women and also made friends with a few of the fellas. When a few of the members moved clubs, we joined them and became members of the Alice River Fishing Club. This, again, was a male dominated club but I was made to feel welcome and slowly the club evolved into a more female friendly environment.

Clubs are a great way to meet like-minded individuals that share your passion. It can be daunting to join a club that is male dominated, but there is just something about fishing that makes most men forget your gender and talk to you like a normal human being. My advice would be to go and get involved, go to club meetings, speak to people (including the dreaded men) and get as much information from them as possible. Many times, I have been in a situation where my love and passion for fishing has seen me meet TW MAGAZINE | 3 5

new people and break down the stereotypical views that some men hold on women and fishing.

Women Can

I was a little fortunate in the fact that I learnt a lot of my boat driving skills in Darwin where it was sparsely populated and so I did not feel the pressure as you would on some of Queensland’s busier waterways. I learnt very quickly how to drive the boat on the trailer, due to a healthy respect for the big toothed lizards in the water up in Darwin.

This would stun a few blokes at the boat ramp (especially the ones that were holding and manually winching their boats on to the trailers). I 3 6 | TW MAGAZINE

have lost count of the times some bloke stopped and stared as I drove the boat up onto the trailer, some congratulating me on my skills, some just too dumfounded to speak (omg it was chick that did that!). For me, to be able to do these things is a matter of female pride and I have to admit I get a great sense of achievement when I do it right. I do not always get it right though, I still miss the mark sometimes and pray that no one is watching, but I do breathe a sigh of relief when it all goes well when I have an audience.

Although, I must admit that I am absolutely hopeless at backing the trailer down the boat ramp! I defi-

natley need a lot more practise at that before I am allowed to do it in public, (typical female I hear you cry!)

I also had to learn to look after my own tackle and tie fishing knots. As previously mentioned my husband is not really that keen on fishing, so he would drive the boat and I would rig his rods and lures as payment for his services. I spent a lot of time practising knot tying and I must say some have failed me through the years. I also spent a fair bit of time in my local tackle shop (Fishing Warehouse in Townsville). Now I have to say these guys at the shop are amazing.

They give me so much assistance

and impart their knowledge to me on what bait/lure to use, where to use it, how to use it etc. They are an amazing friendly bunch even if they are all blokes!

It pays to get in with your local tackle store. They have a lot of local knowledge and will even assist you in how to rig your bait, lures and line etc. Make the most of the “woman� thing and pump them for their expertise!

fish. I met my current fishing buddy through friends in Townsville. Mad Mel they call her (and for a very good reason I might add). She is your typical independent, passionate fisher. She is very outgoing and is not afraid to get out there and give everything a crack (so much so she scares me at times!) She owns her own boat called Miss Adventures, because she is very accident prone and goes fishing on her own a fair bit.

Now we are polar opposites. I am an original pom, not too fit, bit of an Fishing is always better when you can enjoy it in good company. I have academic, work in project developbeen fortunate enough to have a few ment, base career is an accountant, outdoorsy in a comfortable way. She good female friends who love to

Find a Friend

on the other hand is an original trueblue Aussie, gives everything and anything a go, pretty fit, very independent, scrubs dunnies for a living (her words not mine) and calls me a bit of a princess (just because I have my finger nails painted on the boat!) We only really have fishing in common, but the friendship works!

We work well together on the boat (that is mainly because she bosses me around and I let her!) and we get out there and have a crack.

We started entering fishing competitions together and I must say we have an absolute ball. Many of the fishing comps in our area are male dominated so we take great pleaTW MAGAZINE | 3 7

sure at turning up on sign in night to see a room full of men go silent as we walk in. You can almost hear a pin drop and you can see what is going through their heads … “hey love, looks like you are in the wrong place!” or “well this should be fun, what would chicks know about Barra fishing!”

But being the fearless ladies that we are we get in, get on and mingle with the guys. I must admit that once they are aware of how much we love fishing we become part of the clique in no time. Luckily neither of us are shy so we just start talking to the other competition entrants and eventually get accepted.

I do have an ulterior motive in that these guys usually know a lot about fishing so playing the unknowledgeable female can usually score me some good tips and pointers.

And the Point Is?

The morale of the story? Ladies put yourselves out there! There is nothing in our DNA as females that stops us from learning how to drive a boat, back a car, rig rods, tie knots or find fish. If you love fishing and want to enjoy the great outdoors, as Nike said, JUST DO IT! And if you need any help or a bit of encouragement, I am willing to impart my vast array of knowledge (just joking I don’t know that much, I will refer you to Mad Mel).☻ Check out Mad Mel Fishing at https://www.facebook.com/Madmelfishing/ Tracey Holmes is the author of new blog ‘Pozzies Around Australia’, an adventure blog about fishing, camping, 4wd, exploring and relaxing in beautiful places around Oz. Read more at www. pozziesinoz.blog 3 8 | TW MAGAZINE

31sT aUg - 2nD sEpT 2018 Reid Park, Townsville

Open: Friday, Saturday & Sunday: 8:30am to 4:00pm

Adults $12, Seniors Card $10, Children 16 and under are free with an Adult.

For conditions of entry, visit the event website.

DON’T MISS THIS EVENT!

Over 100 ExhibItors on Display!

www.TownsvilleExpo.com.au

TownsvilleExpo

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IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS, PLEASE EMAIL VOLUNTEER@RIZEUP.COM.AU FOR MORE INFORMATION TW MAGAZINE | 3 9

The Sea Boss

Born from a frustration with stereotypical fishing shirts, Sea Boss Apparel is the brainchild of Nicole Hawker.

We learn more about her brand, how to enjoy a spring day in Townsville, and how we can all join the world of boating and fishing...

Hi Nicole, Congratulations on launching your own clothing label Sea Boss Apparel! What led to the decision to start up your brand?

Thank you Bec! I started Sea Boss Apparel because I was always frustrated by the lack of women’s outdoor apparel options in stores and online – they were either overpriced or lacked any style. So from that, I decided to set out and design my own brand just for Australian women. After all, that’s what women do, isn’t it? If we have a problem we fix it ourselves.

The brand echoes my lifestyle too, I spend every spare moment outdoors so it was a perfect fit really. My message to women is simple – get out, chase the adventure and do what you love doing.

Your collection focuses on beautiful clothing for women who enjoy outdoor sport and recreational ac4 0 | TW MAGAZINE

tivities. What is it about your range that makes it different from others on the market?

Sea Boss is different in that it’s made by women for women. Our signature shirt came from listening to what ladies wanted and that led to our unique design using natural bamboo blended material. Regular fishing shirts are made from polyester material which is a man-made fabric, whereas bamboo is a natural fibre that is soft and breathable, moisture-wicking and antibacterial so it provides excellent protection and comfort no matter the season.

When I started I was conscious of not wanting to be ‘just another clothing brand’ and add to the world’s waste problem. It has always been important to me that Sea Boss has an environmentally-friendly attitude to help drive change. Everything I do in the

business has to be sustainable, from ethically sourcing material to our packaging. It really was a no-brainer to use a material that derives from a natural sustainable resource and our garments are produced by a manufacturer that delivers fair pay to its workers. Our packaging is also both recyclable and reusable so our customers have a guilt-free shopping experience and know that they’re supporting something that supports

the environment.

You’re a very outdoorsy type of person, what sport/activity do you enjoy most?

Yes I love the outdoors! I spend a lot of my weekends and holidays out on the boat fishing, free-diving, exploring the local islands and camping (both on land and in the boat!) and I always enjoy day trips to new places and exploring new swimming holes.

I think within the first 6 months of living here I had explored more of the Townsville region than the average local.

Fishing, in particular, is still widely viewed as a male orientated sport. What advice would you give women who are wanting to join the action or are wanting to break into the industry?

I think more and more it’s becoming apparent that fishing isn’t just an activity enjoyed by men. Every time I go out I love seeing other ladies enjoying a day out on the water with their partners and family having a go, and more often they’re even showing up the boys!

I think the first thing would be to get yourself set up with a decent rod and reel and some tackle. You don’t need anything expensive, just something that is reliable and the staff at your local tackle shop can guide you on what is best for you. They’ll even be happy to share some good fishing spots for you to try out.

Next thing would be to join in with friends or family who already go fishing. Ask to join along and if they can show you the ropes and you’ll get the hang of it in no time.

Of course having a partner who’s keen on fishing is helpful too – I didn’t know a thing about fishing, diving, boats etc. until I met my partner and to his credit he’s always been patient in showing me things.

As well, there are a number of local’s groups on Facebook where you can ask to join a boat crew, often people are looking for others to join in to help share fuel costs for a day out and it’s a good way to make friends and get out on the water without having to own a boat.

Just remember, it’s all about practise – just because you might not catch anything one day doesn’t mean you never will! And the day you do you’ll be hooked! (no pun intended haha) Springtime in Townsville provides us with some amazing weather. In your opinion, what outdoor sports/ activities are best enjoyed at this time of year?

I love spring and winter in North Queensland because it’s the perfect temperature to be outdoors with the warm days and cool nights. One thing I love doing during the coolers months is camping with friends and family, hanging around a fire and catching a North Queensland sunset is always fun and relaxing.

Hiking would be another one as you’re not doing it in 30-40 degree heat, it’s bearable at this time of year!

Aside from selling your gorgeous clothing range, your website has a blog where you write about your own travel adventures.

Where are you hoping to travel to in the near future?

I recently got back from a 2 week trip with family and friends up to Cape York (the tip of Australia) and that

was pretty amazing! It had been on my bucket list for a while so it felt pretty surreal when we reached the top. My next trip will be next month out to Central West Queensland to spend a week at my brother-in-law’s property doing some exploring and lending a hand with mustering. We do it once a year and it’s a bit of a change to our usual coastal trips.

After that we are thinking a trip to the Kimberley region in 2019 might be next on the cards!

What’s next for Sea Boss Apparel?

The feedback on our products so far has been amazing so I am excitedly working on a couple of new designs for a ladies tee and there’s a few other little surprises coming soon. I’m also working on getting Sea Boss into more local stores so women can have more access to our products.☻

Visit Sea Boss Apparel online at www.seabossapparel.com.au or follow them on social media.

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M The H

We chat with Sofia Fortunato from Adventure Blog, OutdoorHobbits about how they got their nickname, where she loves to go hiking and what led to starting a blog in the first place...

Hi Sofia! Introduce the ‘Hobbits’ and tell us where the name Hobbits has come from...

Our nickname, the hobbits, was born in the land of the Vikings, far to the North, on the West coast of Norway, in a town called Bergen.

Fourteen years ago, I moved from the warm Caribbean land of Venezuela to Norway. I crossed the sea in a plane searching for a new life adventure to continue my career as biologist. Meanwhile, in the other side of the world, down under, Sam (Papa hobbit) decided to make a journey to Europe. He ended up in Norway too. We met 4 2 | TW MAGAZINE

while studying at the University.

We started our relationship and it did not take too long for our friends to call us the hobbits.

I guess, I do not need to tell you what a hobbit is. Hobbits are a fictional character created by J. R. R. Tolkien. Like hobbits, we are short in stature compared to the other humans, especially compared to Norwegians. However, unlike hobbits, we do not have big hairy feet, or pointy ears. On the contrary, our feet are plain and small. Soon after we met, a little hobbit girl was born. We decided to stay in Norway to do our doctorate degrees. Three years after another baby hobbit girl was born and

we became the hobbit family of Bergen.

However, our nickname not only represents our size, it means much more than that. Our nickname represents our outdoors way of living. We, like the main hobbit characters, are adventures,

Meet Hobbits

persistent, we have courage and we love being in nature.

What was the inspiration behind starting up the blog?

We started our adventures in Norway, inspired by the Norwegians. After a long time in Norway, we decided to move to Australia, Sam’s homeland. When we did, we took with us the life style of going outdoors to explore mountains. We took with us the magic of the term gå på tur (going hiking or bushwalking in you are Australian).

We continued our hiking adventures here in North Queensland and the beauty of this land inspired

me to create the blog. Also, we created the blog, because many circumstances in our life led to it.

For three years, Sam couldn’t get a job in Townsville. He became a stay home Dad and one day, he decided to grab my camera to learn photography. Sam went around photographing our trips and his photos were amazing. I had already a lot of photographs for the past and these photos were just building up in our computer. I wanted to share the photos somehow. Then, I have been away from my homeland for so long that I thought a blog would be a good way to communicate with friends and family.

Finally, I did it because It was hard

to find information of hiking trails to do with kids all in one place.

I was always searching in many websites and became a bit frustrated with this. So, I decided to put all together in one place and created Outdoorhobbits.

The website is a space to inspire parents to go hiking. A space for parents who like nature and bushwalking but are not sure where to go on a weekend. We give tips and tricks to have an enjoyable time outdoors with children, based on their own experiences.

We have made a commitment to find and explore as much of North Queensland’s beauty while our kids still want to hang around us.

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How long have you lived in North Queensland and when did you start the blog?

We have been in Townsville for three years and a half. I created the blog in November 2017 and launched it on March this year. We also opened an Instagram account and later a Facebook page.

If you had one place to recommend we visit, where would that be and why?

This is a hard question because North Queensland is such a magical place. I love so many places that it is hard to pick one.

The Mount Halifax trail, Paluma Range National Park, have been my one of my favourite places.

This trail is amazing. We haven’t done it all the way to the top because it is a challenging trail for our girls.

Along the trail, you can find magnificent waterfalls and an emerald blue tone water hole. As I walk in, I feel in an enchanted

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wood. My girls said they feel in Jurassic Park.

There are also many special passages. You can pass across a fig tree or climb a rope up to the rocks, to get to the other side of the trail.

The Outdoor Hobbits blog features a lot about hiking as a family. What are a few key pieces of advice you can give parents of young kids who would like to start hiking?

That is a very good question. Both our girls started bushwalking at a very young age and we have gradually “trained” them.

Do not expect them to walk much at the beginning. You can do short trails of only few meters. On the website, you can find options of trails and walks for parents with little ones, I called them “Beginner” level. I would also recommend taking a carrier with you for when the get tired.

We try to beat the heat and start our walks early in the morning. We

also like playing with them as we walk. It distracts them for a while and it is fun. For example, our girls like collecting items on their walks.

Take as many stops as you want, there is no rush. It is not a race.

Give them a snack when you do.

We never leave for a walk without biscuits. Alessa did the Mount Marlow trail recently and I wasn’t sure whether she could do it. She made it all the way to the top and back. She was exhausted and on the way back. She started crying.

We stopped for a while, gave her a lollie and then, I decided to distract her by playing our game “tell me

You can find the outdoorhobbits in the following locations:

a story” (you can find information of this game in our website). She played the game and continued walking. I can proudly say that she walked 11km that day.

Be patient and if you didn’t make it to the top or the other end, it doesn’t matter, there will always be a next time.

Instagram: @outdoorhobbits Facebook: @outdoorhobbits Web: www.outdoorhobbits.com

What are your plans for the blog moving forward?

Creating outdoorhobbits has been quite an adventure for me. I didn’t have any experience creating websites, blogging, advertising, or promoting. I have learnt everything all by myself., therefore we are still on an early phase of the project.

We are also trying to sale photos in our website. Sam has taken amazing photos of the Townsville area. I don’t think we advertise this that much. So, if you live in Townsville and need a landscape photo or want to give a present to someone special, you can buy nice prints using our website. We are trying to get as much people as possible into

our website.

We will expand and post more trails as we discover North Queensland.

We would like more people to share our site and connect with us to share their adventures. It would be great to create a local community of parents going on hikes with young children here in Townsville. My main goal is to get funding to write a guide book of North Queensland trails for parents with young children.☻

Sofia Fortunato (Mamma hobbit) is the creator, and writer of Outdoorhobbit. She is a biologist, an artist, and is currently writing children books. She loves swimming and finds time to do swimming teaching too.

Sam Penglase (Papa hobbit) is the main photographer and editor of the website. He is also a lecturer and researcher at James Cook University.

He likes gardening and making jokes.

Alessa (big sister hobbit) is eight years old and goes to school. She likes writing, signing, playing violin and swimming. She loves animals and walking in nature.

Laila (little sister hobbit) is five years old and goes to school. She likes painting, sucking her thumb and playing with her big sister. She loves walking outdoors and collect sticks.

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6 REASONS TO GO ON TO MAGNET

Intrepid tales o

by Melissa

Y

ou might be thinking, “Stuff that! I go on holiday to relax, not work out!”, but would you be surprised when I tell you that I’ve never been more relaxed in my life on a trip than when I was on my recent cycling holiday to Magnetic Island?

I bet you’re sceptical. I can see you, rolling your eyes, like yeah right?! There’s many more benefits to a cycling holiday than relaxation though. This is why I wrote this article - to tell you about the reasons I believe everyone should at least go on one cycling holiday in their life.

But first, I feel the need to explain why I chose a cycling holiday in the first place. I’m a tightass that’s basically it. I don’t mind spending money when I can see the value in it, however, I loath parting with my hard-earned cash when I cannot see the benefit. I’ll go into more detail of the financial gain to cycling holidays in my first point, so I won’t rabbit on about that here.

But I was pleased to discover the many other side effects of a cycling holiday that I hadn’t anticipated

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benefiting from. The following points are the 6 reasons (lessons I learned on my trip and now believe are good reasons for everyone to try it) you should try a cycling holiday:

1. Cheaper

No flights, no petrol, no bus/ train tickets, no worries! For the example of getting to Magnetic Island - saving a bucket load on the ferry price! To take a standard car on the barge to Maggie (as us locals

affectionately call it) you’re looking at approximately $200 for a return trip. However, if you go onto the car barge as a walk-on passenger it’s only $14 each way per person.

That’s a total of $28pp for a round trip! Call me crazy, but that’s a bargain in my eyes.

This is where the bicycles come in.

You’re allowed to take your pushbikes onto the car barge...for free!

Not only will you save a bundle in ferry prices, but you now have free

N A CYCLING HOLIDAY TIC ISLAND

of a Quirky Girl a Littlejohn

transportation for the duration of your stay on Maggie. Winning.

2. Quicker than the bus

By bus, I mean the local bus on Maggie itself. We stayed on the island with friends and one couple had a car, we rode our bikes and the other couple relied on the bus to get around. Of course the car got to every destination first, but we beat the bus every time!

While the buses on Maggie are relatively cheap, they are not too frequent so much of your time will be spent waiting for it to arrive.

Why wait when you can pedal?!

3. Relaxing

But what about all that exercise and the hill climbs?! I was worried that my legs would konk out as I’m not a seasoned cycler, however, I had nothing to fear. The best part about a cycling holiday is that if you’re tired you can slow down or stop and have a rest. It’s not the Tour de France so if you’re not feeling the beast-mode, stop and relax. This is especially easy to do on Maggie as it’s such a small island that you never have to travel far anyway to

get to somewhere new or nice to stop to admire the view.

There is something to be said about riding along with the wind on your face, the sun on your back and praying to God on that hill climb that some bastard doesn’t drive past blowing cigarette smoke out of the window sucking away any oxygen that was left! That last part only happened once...I got off my bike and walked until I caught my breath back.

Speaking of hill climbs, Maggie has quite a few...and they’re steep!

The trick is to get into the lowest gear you have and pedal for the best. Once you reach the point of you just can’t go on, and you will, just get off and walk. Let your legs recover then get back on and pedal again. And remember, what goes up must come down. Cruising down the other side is worth the challenging climb you endured to get to the top.

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4. Freedom to go where you want when you want

Bicycles will go wherever you want to take them...mostly. If you go to Maggie on a mountain bike you will be overwhelmed with all of the trails to explore. There are more mountain trails than there are roads, so if you’re comfortable off-road on a bike then it makes sense to make use of this mode of transport on Maggie.

There is no relying on cars, buses or other people when you go on a cycling holiday. You want to go look at that beach right now? Go. You want to see where that path takes you? On your bike, go! It’s brilliant.

5. Simplicity

K.I.S.S = keep it simple stupid.

There is only so much you can pack on a bike, so you have to keep

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it simple. Cycling holidays force you to pack only what you need.

Unless you’re going somewhere remote you’ll always be able to buy that thing you forgot...if you actually need it.

If you’re camping on your cycling holiday then you have to be extra meticulous with your packing so you can fit your tent! Luckily, we stayed in an Airbnb house, so we didn’t have to worry about a tent this time. We’re already planning our next cycle trip and we intend to camp this time, so watch this space…

I like to look at cycling holidays as minimalistic travel. Less stuff = less worries.

6. It’s just fun

How else can I say this except, it’s just fun! It’s a different way to travel. It gets you out of your

comfort zone. It gives you stories from along the road that you normally wouldn’t experience if you drove or took some other mode of transport.

For instance, my bike was new when I went to Maggie, and I had no idea how he’d fair. I decided my bike is a boy and his name is Floyd.

Floyd had me laughing at every bump in the road because every time we traversed a rough patch his would ring his bell. My travel buddy and life partner-in-crime, Ash, thought for most of our first day that I was just excited and kept ringing my bell! Silly Floyd.

On the second day we tackled the steepest hill on Maggie - the road from Arcadia Bay to Horseshoe Bay. It was tough, but the downhill ride into Horseshoe was worth it. We stopped for a break at the skate park and when we took off

again I noticed my pedal was a bit wobbly. The ride was too much for Floyd because he decided to drop his pedal. I looked everywhere for the nut that had come loose, drawing a crowd of onlookers questioning what I was searching for. No luck. Floyd had won, but I was determined to not be beaten.

I got up momentum much like on a scooter, and with the help of the occasional push from Ash, we made it to Horseshoe Bay. We later reattached the pedal with a new nut from the hardware store so our holiday could continue. Problems are simply the funny stories you’ll have to tell when you get home from your adventures.

While these are two simple examples of stories that I wouldn’t have if I had have gone on a traditional road trip, they are examples of what made this holiday more fun and interesting. I actually couldn’t wipe the smile from my face each time I took Floyd out.

If you haven’t been on a cycling holiday before, do it! Just once, try it. It’s different, fun and exciting. You’ll experience things you wouldn’t otherwise. You’ll be challenged in ways you never thought of. But at the end of the day, you can sit back, relax (maybe have a little stretch) and be proud of yourself for what you accomplished

that day.

Prior to this trip I hadn’t ridden a bike in almost five years. I rode almost 70km in three days on this holiday. If I can do that, so can you.☻

For more stories like this one visit www.intrepidtalesofaquirkygirl.com or follow on Instagram @intrepidtalesofaquirkygirl

For more stories like this visit:

@intrepidtalesofaquirkygirl

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Poet’s Corner

Written by Chloe Dow Follow her on Instagram @hello_ my_nameisyellow

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Drought-dry Drought-dry Devoid of gr Their friable undone And rootless Blown by bi Across outba As life succu And bleachin While you, P urbanite

The Devastation of Drought

y y paddocks sit brown and bare, rass and seared by the sun e soils fragment, crumble

s, they lift into hot dry air. itter winds, dust clouds flare ack towns and cattle runs umbs to a burning sun ng bones lie bereft of care PETA, arrogant, ignorant,

You, who live in comfort through oblivious days You, who shop for bloodless foods, prettily pre-packaged You dare to vilify those whom death stalks, unites, Who look into dull, glazed eyes and euthanaise Day after drought-dry day? Shame on you and your sacrilege!

by Jill Staunton TW MAGAZINE | 5 1

This issue of TW Magazine was made possible with the help of the following people & businesses Beloved Bohemian Narelle Figg Tracey Turner (Enjo) Shez Freeman (Small Paws) Townsville RockFest Cynthia - Nutrition Warehouse, Idalia Kelly Nicolson Chameleon Upcycled SoniProducts Admin & Members of Qld Rocks Facebook Group Tracey Holmes - Pozzies in Oz Nicole - Sea Boss Apparel Sofia and family - The Hobbits Melissa Littlejohn - Intrepid Tales of a Quirky Girl Kristy Morgan - Fan Dangles Collective Townsville Holistic Network Jaytee Babysitting Service Sonia Ward RizeUp Australia Townsville Expo Shontelle Smythe Jill Staunton Chloe Dow

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