Is it easy to get this balance right? No, it is very difficult at times. However sometimes just being aware of what is wrong is half the battle, it is the beginning of awakening.
What would you consider your greatest achievement so far? Finding how to enter the ‘now’ which, as a result, enabled me to appreciate that I am not what I do for a living.
Who do you find inspiring? My wife and partner Catherine Prentice and my spiritual teacher Eckhardt Tolle. The spiritual side of my life has been and will always be far more important to me than a career.
What’s the motto you live by? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
What has been your most life-defining moment? Nearly dying from cancer twelve years ago! When you are so close to death, you appreciate just how unimportant so many of the things that we stress over are.
IN B U S IN E S S
Where do you see yourself in five years – personally and professionally? Personally; far more highly developed as an ‘awake’ person; a person who works for others. Professionally, handing over the ‘business’ aspects of what I have created in my publishing company which will enable me to focus on personal development and subsequently teaching others how to connect their own lives to nature.
IN B U S IN E S S DI R E CTO R Y
Steve Parish: Leave only Footprints by Belinda Hopper
Introduced to nature through the underwater world at age nine, Steve Parish soon became a spear-fishing enthusiast. At sixteen, Steve met his mentor, underwater photographer Igo Oak. It was then his fascination with marine life was transferred from hunting with a spear gun to recording his discoveries on film. He says, “Despite being young and inexperienced, the idea of being able to share my discoveries with others was captivating; although my earliest efforts were on the blurry side!” That was fifty years ago. In the decades since, Steve Parish has become synonymous with Australian Wildlife. He has a library of over 500,000 photographs and his own publishing company, which he started in 1985. His range of books includes; educational and fun kids fact books, activity books and storybooks. He has a range of guides, maps, calendars, posters and souvenirs and has won every children’s book award under the sun. Thanks to weather halting his day’s work in the Blue Mountains, Steve was able to give us a glimpse into his life and passion.
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KiDs on tHe CoAst – MARCH / APRIL 2012
Where do you live and why? I live on a three acre block of subtropical woodland with a creek and gully of rainforest, just west of Brisbane. We chose the block because of its connection to Brisbane Forest Park and also because of its high diversity of wildlife. We have five species of possums, several microbat species, seven species of frogs and numerous bird and reptile species. I work in my studio at home or at my Company Head Office in Brisbane, depending on what projects I am working on. Can you give us a snapshot of your family? I am married to Catherine, my business partner and the mother of her three daughters Jessie, Elly and Trish. Jessie is the youngest and she is a fashion nut who works in our head office, she is 22 years old. Elly is 25, and she is a Marine Biologist who is studying marine turtles at the moment. The eldest, Trish, is 30 years old and she is an Indigenous Art Lawyer based in Sydney. Keeping everyone on their toes is Quincy, the German Short Haired Pointer. He is seven-years-old and loves tennis and swimming, oh yes and sleeping and eating. What was your motivation for the concept “Leave Only Footprints”? By ‘leave only footprints’ I mean tread lightly on our planet. I have always promoted our connection to the earth we share with tens of thousands of other living creatures. We are only just starting to discover how very important all life is and more importantly how important so many natural elements are to our own survival. As basic a concept as it is, it could be argued that the importance of nature connection is rarely, if ever, brought into conscious thought by the greater proportion of people. Society is separatist in its thinking and most believe - if they were to have considered the issue at all - that their lives are lived apart from ‘the natural world’. For many, nature is ‘out there’ apart from where they are. I would argue that the fundamental concept of natureconnection is the single most important issue of our time. It is certainly something worth devoting ones’ life to. What is your passion and how has it shaped your career? My passion since childhood is to experience nature and share those experiences with others. It began for me as a young child of nine. By the time I was nineteen I was publishing photographs and now, fortyseven years later, I am still passionate about sharing
nature and especially about teaching others how to photograph their own experiences and share them even more widely. Of course today sharing images is one of the most popular pastimes on the planet! Can you tell us a little bit about your current project? I am just finishing an e-book on Australia’s best National Parks and have been spending a lot of time in the field re-photographing Australia with some of the latest and best digital cameras. I am also launching an online and paper-based-magazine and taking my now large range of products into our own retail spaces. We have also just released an online art gallery www.steveparishgallery.com.au. The next great big project is to develop a wider range of children’s readers, both as books and in digital format.
handPICKED
OU R S E L E CTION O F MAD E AT HOM E F IND S Warm and fuzzy fruit and more Fairyland has created a range of beautifully handmade knitted toys, from fruit to pirates and bears to fairies. Priced from $5 www.facebook.com/Fairythread
What does a typical day look like for you? In the field I am always up well before sunrise, having planned what I will be shooting the day prior I finish when the sun goes down. So field days are long and busy. At my computer I often start the day with social media at 5am and finish it in much the same space in the evening… my laptop comes to bed! During a studio day I work with editors and designers developing new projects. My week doesn’t have a weekend, it’s my life and has always been a seven day ‘job’
Impressions to be remembered
Strung up! Create a unique feel in your home with these fabulous pieces from Paper Owl Designs. Prices start from $3.95. Check them out at Café Lolli in Buderim or via paperowldesigns@me.com
Forget-Me-Not Impressions 3D impressions of loved ones. Great or small. We come to you. 0407 196 231 www.fmni.com.au
Cuddle me Pretty Poppet Boutique has created the “Stevie” doll, she is so sweet, has sky blue eyes, a removable skirt, slipper, crocheted top and handbag, perfect for dress up play. Priced at $40 at www.facebook.com/PrettyPoppetBoutique
What advice has had the biggest impact on you? Two things: a quote, “Whatever the mind can conceive, and truly believe, it can also achieve”. As a child I had trouble believing in myself because my education was lousy. And later in life, the work of Eckhardt Tolle in, ‘Power of Now’ and ‘The New Earth,’ have been very helpful. Living in the now and not lamenting the past or worrying about the future is the path to true happiness. I have also learned how important it is to confide your dreams only with people with a positive outlook on life.
Recycled memories Eddie+Eve turn their love of vintage and kooky books into beautiful, practical and functional diaries, journals, sketch & graph books. With original pages from the books included - these make great gifts. Priced from $22 at River Read, Noosaville or www.eddieandeve.com.au
How do you balance family and work demands? At the age of sixty-six, having had three broken marriages and been in business for myself for a quarter of a century I can speak with some experience in saying that the best balance is.... 1. The care of mental and physical health 2. The care and maintenance of personal relationships 3. Professional/commercial activities. www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
Bambino Cakes Nappy Cakes make the perfect gift for new parents! www.bambinocakes.weebly.com
Elle J Gorgeous clothing & accessories just for babies and kids! www.ellej.com.au
Fairy fun Whimsical fairy twig furniture hand made by Coast kids Samara Welbourne, Ella & Ned Woodgate. 10% of all sales goes to Sippy Downs Animal Refuge. From $10 at Cafe Lolli Buderim or by phoning Cherrell 0408 025 407
www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
Funky Photography Fresh, Fun and Funky Photography across the Sunshine Coast www.funkyphotography.com.au MARCH / APRIL 2012 – KiDs on tHe CoAst
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