SYDNEY - ISSUE 77 | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2016
DON’T GO BROKE WHEN COSTS RISE AND YOUR PRICE REVIEW CLAUSE JUST DOESN’T STAND UP Page 20
HAPPY NEW YEAR… I QUIT! Page 22
Surfing the Pacific
YOUTH INSEARCH 30TH ANNIVERSARY How? to If
BiziNet Magazine
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Editor and Publisher: Dmitry Greku Cover Story A. Charles Smith Cover Photo (l-r) Heath Ducker, Stephen Lewin, Garry Rothwell & Jared Goodwin Contributing Writers: Charlie Lynn Angry Anderson Bekir Kilic Daniel Moisyeyev Craig McCallum Wayne Ryan Cher Campbell Nicole Baines Steven Brown Art Director: Svetlana Greku Executive Officer: Daniel Moisyeyev Director of Public Relations: Angry Anderson Cover Design & Cover Story Layout: Xabier Goñi, XDesigns
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The opinions expressed in this journal do not necessarily reflect and are not to be regarded as the official opinion of the editor, publisher or their agents. All information contained within this journal is provided for general information purposes only and on the understanding that none of the content herein constitutes professional advice. The editor, publisher or their agents accept no responsibility for any claim, loss or damages arising out of or in connection with any materials contained in this journal. Readers should not rely on the publications in the journal and seek appropriate professional advice in respect of their own circumstances.
Contents Cover Story
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Youth Insearch How? to If A. Charles Smith
Regulars
08
EDITOR’S LETTER
Seven Reasons They’ve Got the Wrong Job
24
DIGITAL CORNER Who is Watching You? Bekir Kilic
Dmitry Geku
16
LEADERSHIP
Abbott Should Agree with the Left – or Shut Up!
32
SOCIETY & LIFE Truth
Angry Anderson
Charlie Lynn
18 20
WORKFORCE A Life Shaped
Craig McCallum
BUSINESS ADVICE
Don’t Go Broke when Costs Rise and Your Price Review Clause just doesn’t Stand Up
Features
28
Surfing the Pacific
30
The Bella Vista Business Alliance is Where it’s at for 2016!
Wayne Ryan
Nicole Baines
Steven Brown
22
Happy New Year… I Quit!
26
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) – A Misunderstood Term & Service
Cher Campbell
Watch More @ bizinettv.com.au
Daniel Moisyeyev
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Introducing Our Contributors
Bekir Kilic Bekir Kilic is the Managing Director of PRO IT. Founded in 1999, PRO IT’s objective is to provide an alternative to the conventional IT support and outsource services model for banking, finance and the media industries by focusing and understanding the clients core needs, can do attitude and close client/vendor relationship. IT support and outsource services is delivered throughout all major cities located in Australia and New Zealand. Today PRO IT provides data centre “smart & remote hands” for many multinational organisations.
Cher Campbell Steven Brown Charlie Lynn Charlie Lynn served in the Australian Army for 21 years. This included tours of duty in Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and the United States. Charlie has led adventure treks across the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea for 21 years and has just completed his 78th crossing. Charlie was elected to the NSW Parliament in 1995 and was the NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Veterans’ Affairs from 2011 until his retirement from Parliament in 2015. Although retired, he continues to lead treks across the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea!
proit.bizinet.com.au
PRO IT Pty Limited p | 1300 727 553 www.proit.com.au
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Steven Brown founded Etienne Lawyers in 2003. They are best described as having an ‘International Reach with Small Firm Personal Service’. With qualifications from Sydney and Macquarie Universities, Steven has gone on to have over 30 years in the law. With his own practice and a passion to help others succeed, Steven is a total professional, informing and educating along the way. Steven specialises in all aspects of helping businesses to stay out of trouble and grow. He enjoys the cut and thrust of litigation and is a balanced negotiator for all alternative dispute resolution methods.
etiennelawyers.bizinet.com.au
Charlie Lynn p | 1300 783 303 www.kokodatreks.com
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Steven Brown p | 02 8845 2400 www.etiennelawyers.com
Cher Campbell commenced her recruitment career in 1999 and has worked across an extensive array of positions and industries. “I’m really proud of the fact that our business has been built entirely on referrals and repeat opportunities which is exactly what we had in mind when we started iPlace Recruitment. Having been in the industry for over 15 years I have seen enormous change and I have also witnessed how wrong it can go if you don’t spend the time getting to know what our client is looking for and what the motivators are for our candidates.”
iplacerecruitment.bizinet.com.au
Cher Campbell m | 02 02 8865 9200 p | cher@iplacerecruitment.com.au www.iplacerecruitment.com.au
Bella Vista Business Alliance Coffee Morning When:
9 February 2016
12 February 2016
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When:
17 February 2016
5:30 - 7:30pm Where:
Bella Vista Hotel
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5:30 - 7:30pm Where:
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9 March 2016
12:00 - 2:00pm Where:
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Contact: 1300 889 132
Contact: 02 9635 002
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#77 Jan-Feb’16
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EDITOR’S LETTER
Seven Reasons They’ve Got the Wrong Job Dmitry Geku, M. Sc. Editor & Publisher - BiziNet Magazine
Various business “gurus” and “business/ life coaches” regularly publish articles exposing their business knowledge on this particular topic - “If You have the right job”. You – not them! My article is not one of those. Usually, gurus are desperate to help you organising your life and business in the best possible way. They know better than you – they are gurus, after all. That’s why they charge you for their services and knowledge. This is fair enough – it’s a free country. My thoughts are here for free. They come from my life experience as an ordinary person. My Seven Reasons are more to help all of us, perhaps, if some people would get their right jobs not only for themselves, but also in sake of all of us and make our lives happier, better and our future brighter and more prosperous. These thoughts come to my mind after communicating with some of these people who need another job. They just don’t know about this yet. Usually, they are just regular members of our community. Most of them are just regular mums and dads. The question is – Should they hold a job/position they are holding? So, who are those people holding the wrong job? 1. A mid-level council manager has a salary of $200,000 per annum. This is just plain wrong on every level – without even taking into consideration the current economic climate and wages of business owners. I can’t imagine any situations where a government employee
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should be getting this kind of money. It is not a surprise for me that these people lost their sense of reality and started thinking that they are amongst the hardest working, innovative and in charge with everything and everyone. Sometimes we can even hear this shameless declaration from them – “I pay taxes too!” 2. A person holds a government position or a position in a government-funded organisation and, at the same time, owns a private business where this government organisation (or organisations this person has access to) is a client. This is called a corruption in the whole world. I’m pretty sure the Australian law says the same. There are people like this all around us and you know them. We just need to stop pretending this is not happening or can’t be happening in our country. 3. Government bureaucrat (politician), or people’s servant, or a person employed by people (read: by taxpayers) doesn’t seem to have the time to respond to calls and requests. Reasons are always the same – “Too busy”. But what are they busy with? They are busy visiting kindergartens, schools, business gatherings, opening new commercial parks or buildings in those business parks. All day, every day they report to their communities about their great achievements and on those communities’ brighter future. Are those actually their achievements and do they have anything to do with our possible brighter future? The reality is that they never planned or took a risk in building any of those buildings. They cannot influence our future, in a good way anyway. Stop pretending and count poll points and start doing something real for people who voted for you. 4. Media personalities (e.g. the employees of free to air TV channels) who regularly lie and turn facts upside-down. Some are very comfortable on a salary provided by large media conglomerates and some enjoy tax payer funding. These ladies and gentlemen have got nothing to do with media as such. They do and say what they’re told to do and say. So, you better do something real for the
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society you are trying to look worry about so much. 5. People who ask you one of those questions – “Don’t you do this for free?” or “Why do you charge me for this?” or “We are a not-for-profit, don’t you do this for free for us?” And please don’t get me wrong, there are people in some organisations who we are pleased to provide help to as much as we can. Usually they are the most honest and genuine individuals who are trying to help those ones in real need without thinking about themselves at all. But there is another kind whose wages and wages of their spouses depend on moneys collected during last month of their “charitable activities”. Or those who I don’t even know and they send me requests to do something for them for nothing because of their sense of entitlement or other reasons. 6. Those who are in charge with large organisations and they think that they can put some pressure on a small guy and win. This is a real bad attitude and they will never win. It’s just because of their outstanding stupidity and a massive lack of understanding of how things work in this world. 7. People who start their response to other people’s opinion with a phrase – “How dare you?!” They seem to have forgotten that this is a free country and people are free to do what they want to do and say what they wish to say. Unless it is against the law. Otherwise, North Korea is the next stop for a society where people only dare to express a pre-approved opinion or an opinion which is comfortable for the herd. My message is to you - honest people. Please don’t be too quiet, say something when you see corruption, unlawful use of political power to a financial advantage or when someone simply thinks they can do as they please with no consequences. G
e | editor@gwpmedia.com.au
Sunday Breakfast 8 a m - 1 1 p m
U s i n g o r g a n i c a n d l o c a l ly s o u r c e d p r o d u c e F a m i ly F r i e n d ly 13-15 Lexington Drive Bella Vista | 02 8884 2800 | www.bellavistahotel.com.au | Find us on BiziNet Magazine
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PROUDLY PRESENTED BY
GWP MEDIA Four legends - (l-r) Heath Ducker, Stephen Lewin, Garry Rothwell & Jared Goodwin outside the Youth Insearch office, December 2015
How? to If If you can trust yourself when all men doubt You, But make allowance for their doubting to,...
Rudyard Kipling’s immortal words have fired the imaginations for generations. “If” captures strength and vulnerability. Overcoming the impossible, stilling the urge to complain, forgiving those who have wronged you, part of growing in the walk of life. But unlike the suggestion in the poem, not all have that steadying parental figure to guide them. To the thousands who have turned to Youth Insearch (YI), they regard this experience as pivotal in swapping the misspent for the productive. Founded at Riverstone in New South Wales in 1985, YI operates an early intervention program involving counselling support and mentoring for young people in the 14 to 20 age group. Many are at points in their lives where the consequences of continuing unaddressed behaviour will lead to long-term incarceration.
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Garry Rothwell has been YI’s chairman for three years. A trained architect and very successful unit complex developer, Garry describes how he became involved. “I was shocked at the high level of youth suicide after reading Steve Biddulph’s book. I had three sons of my own. It’s insane that a modern functioning society like this one tolerates such a statistic.” Fifteen years ago he decided to do something to stem this scourge. Soon after he was introduced to Youth Insearch. Since then, Garry has marvelled at the ongoing success of the program. There practical advice and solutions are presented to heal and then provide answers for youth when inevitably they have to face the world. YI recognises that young people
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can’t be cocooned but they can be equipped. Invariably, those who access the service are beset with distressing experiences. YI’s mission is to draw out the pain and frequently, the multi-faceted abuse. The first step involves creating a friendly, caring and trusting ambience. “Participants need to know they are being heard and understand that each one of them remains integral to finding his and her own solution.” Because of a group setting, listening to the stories of others is a vital incident of the process. Far from it being distracting, experience has shown that this makes an important contribution. “Hearing from others affords insights into
GREAT AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE the individual’s own life, ‘that same thing happened to me as well,’ is a recurring reaction,” says Garry. So turning people away from despair occasioned by destructive behaviour before it is too late has worked well and transformed lives.
YI also conducts group leader training courses. The training is intensive and thorough spreading over twelve months. A number of highly credentialed trainers, psychologists and presenters are involved in the course.
“Adequate funding is important. The more we receive, the less pressure on those running the programs to be diverted away from their tasks by fundraising.” The most persuasive evidence of YI’s success comes from its graduates.
An annual ceremony occurs at Government
Amongst attendees at the program, there is a high incidence of broken and dysfunctional family backgrounds. Drug and alcohol abuse, offending behaviour, low self-esteem, suicidal ideation and sexual abuse are common threads in the lives of those seeking help. Referrals are made from the courts, police, teachers, parents, counsellors, government agencies and many other groups. No one is compelled to attend. Last year 800 to 1000 were inducted. The regular camps are supported by 200 volunteers and ten fulltime staff. When the program started, police were startled. The local Inspector reported an immediate drop in crime in Riverstone. The gutsy toil is undertaken at the week-end workshops. The four locations are at Lake Keepit and Toukley in NSW, Bundaberg and Esk in Queensland and Rawson in Victoria. These are conducted between 6pm Friday and 3pm Sunday. A typical workshop involves sixty-five candidates, comprising groups of around ten, with support staff, and there is a team of ten to fifteen.
Jared & wife Jenni at the Youth Insearch 30th Birthday – Nov 30 2015
The objectives are to engender trust develop communication skills in a safe environment and invoke an atmosphere that encourages frank discussion respecting issues of concern. This includes providing support to those suffering personal trauma and empowering participants to find possible solutions by drawing on the experiences of their peers. The camps are designed to address issues of family conflict, neglect, domestic violence, alcohol and drug abuse, indecent dealing, grief and loss, self-harm, bullying and suicidal tendencies. Many who go through the program express a desire to become leaders themselves. Young participants relate well to other young people especially where there are shared experiences. Garry says that this is one of the key attributes of its success. “Young people not far removed in age from those who are hurting, share their own journey of healing.”
Stephen & Christy Lewin
Heath Ducker & Sonya
House where graduates are presented to the Governor of New South Wales. YI funding is sourced from a mix of government, corporate and individual donations, but there is always a need for more.
Heath Ducker is one of those. He grew up in a Housing Commission house in Oatlands, the second eldest of ten children. Just he and his younger brother shared the same biological Dad. The other eight had a procession of fathers. None of those ever lived in the house on a full time basis.
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PROUDLY PRESENTED BY
GWP MEDIA Youth Insearch 30th Birthday – Nov 30 2015
“One only stuck around on week-ends for a while,” he says in a manner that would be amusing at a comedy show retrospective. But this was an account from a man who, as a boy, suffered a profound deprivation that no child should have to bear. Windows broken and remaining unfixed for years, no blankets and not even a towel with which to dry off. It is difficult to imagine the degree of scavenging this would entail in a house full of untended children. “I would come home to nothing, bare cupboards and an empty fridge. It made me angry and I fought with my little sisters and mother all the time.” If that was not enough, Heath was sexually abused when he was eleven and twelve years old. “My best friend’s father sexually abused me when I was eleven and twelve years old. I did not have a clue what to do.” Eventually he found YI and thereafter, selfbelief found him. “It was the first time in my life that I believed I could do anything.” The YI experience impelled him to confront the awful, dark secret. Heath describes it as furnishing the ‘courage to come forward’ and report the abuser to the proper authorities. “Something happened at court. I looked into his [the abuser’s] eyes. It was then that I took the power back and saw this human being afraid of what was going to happen to him. But it is what happened to me that was cause for joy. I forgave him. And, at that moment, the pain, the guilt, the shame and the unutterable sadness left me. Hey, I did not have to deal with it anymore!” Telling that element of his story at the YI camp left listeners dumbfounded. “People were astonished that I could forgive him. But I did and it gave me an overwhelming feeling. In a flash, I had been liberated.” Heath’s experience of the camp was evocative. He was determined to make something of his life. Fine having the ambition, but he needed to study, achieve a good outcome and get to university. That was easy to conjure up in abstract thought processes, but much more difficult in its implementation. Back at the chaotic house, he had to find a refuge, so he climbed on the roof, books and pens under one arm. It worked for a while
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but could never be enough with its obvious limitations.
It probably doesn’t and just goes to show what the YI experience can have in store.
In his final year at high school, he moved to an Uncle’s house, craving peace and quiet. This proved to be the fillip he needed.
Heath lauds YI as giving him the tools to open his life to vast opportunities. He credits the organisation with providing him the opportunity for success. “YI does not offer ‘feel-good’ seminars. It is about changing lives.”
One of his great ambitions was realised when he became a YI leader. Being presented to the Governor at the graduation ceremony was a very proud moment. But an even greater thrill awaited him, through his association with YI and people he met in the organisation. “I actually sat down in the Prime Minister’s office. There John Howard and I conversed about the problems of young people. Does it get any better than that?”
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And what are his goals now? “My experiences have made me who I am today. I have been endowed to appreciate that the past does not equal the future. I want to get married, have a family, be a good father and signal the fact that I have completely broken the cycle.” But he is not alone in his YI adventure. Jared Goodwin is a former employee of YI and was its chairman for eighteen months. What a
GREAT AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE distance he had to travel to get there.
questions later,’” he recalls mischievously.
At fifteen he was experiencing difficulties in a single parent home. His mother worked a lot doing her best to provide He rebelled and started using marijuana. As the habit grew, he frequently was absent from school. He was kicked out, drifted into a seedy crowd and began stealing. Finally he was caught in a stolen car and faced 10 charges relating to petty crime and theft. “It sure opened my mother’s eyes. She had no idea what I’d been up to.”
Of course that did not happen and in a room he sat and listened to the stories of others like him.
A police officer directed him to YI and in 1997 he attended his first Youth Insearch program just outside of Lithgow, NSW. “When I arrived and they said it was time for the first session, I thought, ‘cool, good way to give up drugs, we smoke them first,
Jared & family at the wedding where Jorja & Sheriden were flower girls
Heath & Garry cutting the birthday cake at the Youth Insearch 30th Birthday, November 30 2015
The renowned Christian psychologist Chuck Swindoll once related a story of a wild and angry young man who he was counselling. Poignantly the fatherless twenty year-old, asked him, “Please sir, can you teach me how to be a man?” In remarkably similar language Jared told his story to the group. “All the emotions I had bottled up for years just left me. I never had a father. I always craved a father figure around. I just wanted to do ‘blokey’ things.”
Jared says that the experience at the YI camps drove him towards getting on with life. He too wanted to be a youth leader. “Of course I had to give up drugs and crime and repair the relationship with my mother. It meant saying goodbye to lots of my friends. Going through a time like this you also realise who your true friends are. Many disappeared, the others are still amongst my closest friends today. There is little doubt that the process tested him. His epiphany arrived when he saw many of these former mates locked away. He found that one of the really impressive tenets of the camps at YI was its free-flowing atmosphere. Others in the course spoke from Caption their own experience. “That’s what makes young people click.
Stephen Lewin at his desk
Heath Ducker at his CEO’s office
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PROUDLY PRESENTED BY
GWP MEDIA
There are options for betterment. And best of all, you don’t have people preaching to you out of a text book.”
John Howard presenting at Youth Insearch event
One very rewarding experience for Jared was to walk the Kokoda Trek with someone he had always held in high esteem, Charlie Lynn. He has been a significant contributor to the YI leadership training program. Jared walked this with his “great mate” Heath where he learned so much about history and himself. “It really helped me put things in perspective; here I was with little on my back, not much to worry about and not fighting a war. It made me reflect on the adversities I had overcome and that I could use these to push through the tough times. Youth Insearch is all about teaching you to turn your disadvantage to your advantage. Jared is now thirty three years old, married to Jennifer whom he met through YI and they have two daughters. He has held senior sales and managerial positions and is Senior Business Development Manager at Bowermans Office Furniture and currently remains on the board of directors of YI. Yet another account of the YI revolution for young people is Steve Lewin’s story. He takes you through a litany of psychological experiences that for the uninitiated are almost beyond comprehension. As a child he suffered behavioural problems.
from
serious
“I had been to counsellors, therapists and then the family doctor told my parents I was a, ‘devil child.’” Undoubtedly stubborn and inventively resistant to methods proposed to correct his behaviour, he refused to clean his room. To ameliorate such attitudes, his parents were told to stack the rubbish on his bed. “That didn’t work because I slept on the floor.” Leaving clutter all over his room also failed to alter his rebelliousness. Things went from
bad to unfixable. He resorted to threatening behaviours with knives, sometimes joking, sometimes unclear as to his intentions when in conflict with siblings. He had zilch social skills. The family lived on a remote farm outside of Wagga and were at a complete impasse. Sent to a youth refuge in town, trouble followed him there. He was removed for smoking pot and absenting himself without explanation. In company with a friend they pinched a tent and lived by the river. Then it became cold and he stole blankets and camped outside the showgrounds at Tolland. In and out of houses, he was eventually placed back at the refuge. That experiment was short-lived as he refused to obey the rules of the house. Desperate for a roof over his head, Steve took up with a group of boys, manipulated
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into criminal activity by a latter-day Fagin figure. “I was no Oliver Twist though. No one abducted me and forced me to do it. We stole cars and broke into shops. He gave us drugs and shelter in return.” Individuals were robbed of modest possessions and even the accoutrements of Christian worship were purloined for gain. Nothing was sacrosanct. One in the group ended up killing someone. “We were scared of this older fellow. He had been in jail and, as a means of keeping us under subjection, mentioned that he had maimed people who had got in his way.” As with all such enterprises, the end came suddenly. Steve co-operated with the police
GREAT AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE when they pounced. The options for him were limited.
A collage of photos taken with Heath Ducker & Jared Goodwin walked the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea in 2004
“I was only seventeen. It was not difficult to accept a stint at YI in company with a suspended sentence rather than juvenile detention.” The decision became a dye-marker in his development. A sense of belonging and acceptance for who he was began to strip away the inconnected state that characterised his schooling. “I had never socialised at school. I did not speak at the camps either until I became a leader. But I realised I wasn’t the only ‘psycho kid’ out there and that mended me inside more than anything else.” He finds it easy to say this now with some humour. After the camps, he maintained contact with a support structure at Wagga. That people in the group assisted each other was of fundamental importance to his transformation. He was determined to create a positive destiny. Working and focusing on keeping out of trouble characterised this period of his renaissance. The next step was leadership training. Graduating into this role gave Steve the confidence he had found so elusive until that time. He was involved in Rotary youth leadership at twenty. By then he gained the confidence to tell his story with a view to helping others. There were motivational talks at the Department of Education, Rotary Youth Enrichment programs and he even spoke at Parliament House in New South Wales. “It was there that I met Charlie Lyn, a Member of the Legislative Council. He paid for me to undertake the Kokoda Trail trek.” That was a phenomenal challenge for him. He was not one to sit back and imagine it would be a cakewalk. In the weeks leading up to the trek, he took to running six kilometres a day. Once into the arduous climb, he found himself frustrated by the slower ones who had not done the preparation he had. “That’s where Charlie came in and it taught me a lesson for life. He told me, ‘It doesn’t matter how fit you are. You’re only as fit as the weakest link so work together to get through.’ And so we did. Man, was that good advice!” A latent ambition had now come to the forefront of his thinking. He had always wanted to be a commercial pilot. He set
Jared (top left) at his first Youth Insearch camp in 1996 held at an old Gaol in the Newnes State Forest, person with their head down in a cap is the police officer who strongly recommended Jared attends about trying to realise this and secured his restricted licence before discovering a chronic kidney impairment that ruled him out of further flying attainments. Steve moved to Wollongong with his family to establish another career. He was married and the father of two children. Nineteen years on, having worked at DOCS as a youth worker, managed Disability and Home Care Services for the NSW Government, he has obtained his MBA and returned to YI as General Manager, to help create a sustainable future for this amazing organisation. His parents and other family moved to Nowra and reconciliation with them is complete. He has acquired a distinct contentment and love of life. “Where once everything from my youth was to the forefront of my mind, now I really have
to try hard to recall it all. That’s a sign I’m healed. Without YI this would never have occurred. His words harken back to Kipling’s unforgettable concluding lines of “If”:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it And - which is more - you’ll be a Man, my son! G
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LEADERSHIP
The Hon. Charlie Lynn
Abbott Should Agree with the Left – or Shut Up! Peter Fitzsimons patronising call for Tony Abbott to ‘put a sock in it’ and shut up is the latest attempt by the left to appease those who seem to share a hatred of the values our forefathers established over time and our veterans fought and died to protect. I have read Tony Abbott’s articles and speeches on the threat we face from Islamic extremism and I believe they represent a well-balanced insight into the most serious threat of our time. The most contentious issue seems to be Abbott’s claim that our Australian culture is superior to that of Islamic State. It would be interesting to conduct a nationwide poll to see how Australians view this assertion. All they would need to do is tick one of the boxes to see which culture they regard as superior. The one that allows freedom of choice, freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom of opportunity and equal rights regard of gender, race or creed; or one that subscribes to human terror involving the indiscriminate slaughter of innocents, public beheadings, sexual slavery, rape, female genital mutilation and the superiority of Sharia law! Australians don’t need to be reminded that hundreds of thousands of servicemen and women sacrificed their lives and their futures in defence of the freedom we enjoy today. Many find it ironic that Fitzy has pocketed more than a few million dollars telling their stories. Nobody would argue that he has not made a valuable contribution to our national wartime story. This was acknowledged by the Gillard Government who put him on the Board of the Australian War Memorial which is the official custodian of our military history. A little over a year ago Professor Peter Leahy, a former General and one of our most informed strategic commentators warned that Australia needed to ‘prepare for an increasingly savage, 100-year war against radical Islam that will be fought on home soil as well as foreign lands’. Professor Leahy advised that Australia was ‘ill-prepared for the high cost of fighting a war that would be paid in “blood and treasure” and would require pre-emptive as well as reactive action’.
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Leahy’s call is reminiscent of one of his predecessors, General Vernon Sturdee, who predicted in 1933 that Japan would pose the major threat to Australian security and that ‘the Japanese would act quickly, they would all be regulars, fully trained and equipped for the operations, and fanatics who like dying in battle, whilst our troops would consist mainly of civilians, hastily thrown together on mobilisation, with very little training, short of artillery and possibly of gun ammunition.’ This is the introductory quote in Chapter 2 of Fitzy’s in his best-selling book ‘Kokoda’. One can only wonder if he would have told Sturdee ‘to put a sock in it’ had he been round at the time because history records that our political leaders ignored his warning. As a result thousands of Australian lives were lost because the appeasers triumphed and we were unprepared for the Japanese onslaught that began with the bombing of Pearl Harbour in 1941. Many were slaughtered in circumstances reminiscent of what we are witnessing in Islamic State today. I have had the good fortune of knowing Tony Abbott prior to his election to Parliament. He is one of the most fair-minded and respectful blokes one could wish to meet. I have also shared the Kokoda pilgrimage with Fitzy and I know he is proudly committed to telling our Australian story. I have also led young Muslims, male and female, across the Kokoda Trail and shared the stories of our veterans with them. They were as proud and any other group of young Australians I have led over the past 25 years and I believe they would be just as concerned about the extremist threat posed by Islamic State in the name of Islam. I also believe they would be willing participants in any debate about why some interpretations of Islamic texts incite terrorism.
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The need for the debate seems to be supported by influential Muslim leaders such as President el-Sisi of Egypt, Prime Minister Najib of Malaysia and other Islamic scholars. If debate is stifled because leaders and scholars with an opposing view to the commentariat are told to ‘put a sock in it’ tensions will inevitably increase. I cannot recall former Liberal Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, ever being told to ‘put a sock in it’ whenever he expressed his views – which he often did. After losing the election in 1983, his trousers in 1986, and his bid for the Liberal Party presidency in 1993 Fraser turned to the left for friendship. He soon became their darling because of his diatribes against John Howard and Tony Abbott and his support for Sarah Hanson-Young and David Hicks. Fitzy would be better advised to suspend his campaigns to undermine our national symbols, such as our Westminster system of Government and the flag our diggers raised on the Kokoda plateau on 3 November 1942, until the threat of terrorism in our midst has subsided. He should focus instead on the symbols and values that instil pride and have encouraged waves of immigrants from around the world to become proud Australians. G
For more topics and to contact Charlie Lynn, please visit www.charlielynn.com.au/blog.
BiziNet Magazine
#77 Jan-Feb’16
17
WORKFORCE
Craig McCallum, Director Marketing and Media, TAFE Western Sydney
A Life Shaped She seemed confident when she first walked through the doors of her local TAFE campus, but Chantel’s* bravado masked a history of significant hardship. Chantel’s disadvantaged background and early foray into motherhood meant that she fell well short of her academic potential. But her young daughter was the impetus for Chantel to rise above her sphere of disadvantage and seek help from TAFE.
Many find through their TAFE studies that a pathway opens up for them to complete their desired university studies and that they flourish there because of their TAFE backgrounds.
Enrolling initially in the Certificate III in Hospitality at Mount Druitt College, Chantel embarked on training to gain employment in a restaurant or club. Her teachers were aware from the outset that Chantel needed to gain a whole swag of skills. Seeing a diamond in the rough, they took her under their wings and provided training to suit her needs. Presentation, language and social interaction were discussed on a weekly basis, along with hospitality skills. Soon Chantel took on a whole new persona as she sought to behave in a professional manner. She was shocked when, in return, customers spoke to her with respect and courtesy. Her teachers describe this as an ‘a-ha’ moment in Chantel’s development. Chantel has continued her positive trajectory, gaining employment and continuing on to further studies. She is thankful for the patience and expertise of her teachers and for the experience she gained by studying at TAFE. At TAFE Western Sydney, we see many students like Chantel, who, with guidance and support, make great gains for their futures by undertaking vocational training. They get experience and practical skills. They gain confidence in their abilities and become employable. Others just need some specific job skills and experience to succeed along their own pathway. Some come to us to prepare for further studies or gain language, literacy or numeracy skills which allow them to flourish.
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At a recent staff event for TAFE Western Sydney, I spoke about the valuable work in which our teaching and support staff are involved. It is a source of pride for me that I work for an organisation which is genuinely helping to shape the futures of a diverse range of people. I am also frequently astounded by the sheer ubiquitousness of TAFE graduates. Wherever I go there are TAFE graduates who are underpinning the smooth running of society, be it through enabling my car to run, keeping the air conditioning functioning or creating the furniture for my office. TAFE has been there for these graduates, providing practical and relevant training and ensuring their employers that competencies have been achieved in a high quality training context. TAFE is a well-established organisation but it is not stagnant. TAFE Western Sydney has evolved over the years and will continue to change to meet the
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needs and expectations of the community by supporting the skill needs of individuals, employers and the community. We want to make sure that the right training is available where it is needed. An example of this is our development of Skills Exchanges where we can provide onsite training at major worksites such as Barangaroo, Darling Harbour. We are also in negotiations with some other major parties to add more Skills Exchanges. As we evolve however, what will not change is our commitment to quality practical education and which trains students for real jobs. As we commence this new year, we continue afresh in this goal. In 2016 TAFE Western Sydney will be able to continue to offer fully subsidised partqualifications and pre-apprenticeships in areas marked as a priority by the NSW Government, that is, skill areas which have been identified as being required by employers. These courses are fee-free for those who meet eligibility for Smart and Skilled and can be a great way for students to ‘try before they buy’. We will also continue to offer our full qualifications and customised training for enterprises. Now is a great way to consider how your skill needs can be addressed in 2016. G
TAFE NSW - Western Sydney Institute (WSI) p | 02 9208 9304 e | craig.mccallum8@tafensw.edu.au www.wsi.tafensw.edu.au
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#77 Jan-Feb’16
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BUSINESS ADVICE
Steven Brown, Etienne Lawyers
Don’t Go Broke when Costs Rise and Your Price Review Clause just doesn’t Stand Up “The price is subject to review as costs increase” and “the parties must meet and agree on a revised price” are not enforceable price review clauses. Price review clauses are used to adjust the price or cost of goods and or services supplied under a long-term contract. Structure of a price review clause Price review clauses commonly contain the following features: 1. Trigger event, 2. Procedure for arriving at the adjusted price, 3. Description of the factors or guidelines to be taken into account when adjusting the price, 4. Consequences if an agreement on price is not reached, and 5. Description as to how the adjusted price is to apply under the contract. Price review clauses can be either: • Non-prescriptive: a clause based on an agreement to negotiate in good faith an equitable revision to the price if market circumstances have changed; or • Explicit and prescriptive: a clause requiring arbitration with adjustments only to be made with reference to pre-defined criteria). Trigger events A trigger event describes the circumstances in which a party can initiate a price review under the contract. Events that are often used as triggers include: 1. A stated date (e.g. every second year), 2. A stated date to take account of CPI rises, 3. On the occurrence of external events constituting a change in the circumstances which existed between the parties, or 4. When one party believes that such an external event has occurred. Factors to be taken into account when adjusting price Price review clauses describe the way in which the price will be adjusted. A process of negotiation coupled with ‘fair’ adjustment to the price leaves plenty of wiggle room and is unlikely to result in a prompt adjustment.
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A review based on factors such as the state of the market or a basket of contracts and expert evidence as to the price based on that evidence can also be a time consuming exercise.
An expert may decide the issue on the basis of their own experience without hearing the parties, unless the agreement provides to the contrary.
How adjusted price will apply Price review clauses should clearly set out what price is to prevail while the outcome of a price review process is pending.
Arbitration is different. An individual holds an inquiry and hears the respective cases of the parties and decide upon evidence laid before him.
An objective process should be set out which provides an obligation on either: 1. The buyer to pay any incremental amounts due as a result of a higher price being agreed or determined, or 2. The seller to set-off any overpaid amounts by the buyer if a lower price is agreed or determined.
A significant differentiator which arbitration offers to parties involved in a price review mechanism is the access to certain court procedures including, most importantly, the ability to obtain evidence through the issue of subpoenas.
Procedure for arriving at adjusted price Most price review mechanisms provide at the outset, for the parties to meet and seek to agree between themselves on a fair revised price. Failure to agree an outcome requires deadlock-breaking mechanisms, such as expert determination or arbitration. Deadlockbreaking mechanisms are required as agreements to agree are not legally enforceable and can result in the entire contract being ended for it being void (unenforceable) upon the grounds that its terms are too uncertain. Negotiation An obligation to negotiate in good faith without anything more is not capable of being enforced. However, if there is a method of resolution should agreement not be reached, for example by reference to third party to determine the price in accordance with certain criteria this is enforceable. Expert determination juxtaposed arbitration There are considerable differences between expert determination and arbitration. Expert determination is generally the relatively ‘quick and dirty’ option.
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When to use arbitration? • Where information is in the possession of non-parties • Where analysis of market prices or a limited basket of contract prices is required When to use expert determination? • Production costs are in the possession of the party providing the commodities • Using an index based review • Information is publicly available To avoid costly and lengthy litigation ensure you price review clauses are clearly drafted and have a clear review mechanism. G Etienne Lawyers are experts in drafting, negotiating and litigating price review clauses in contracts. Call us to discuss your price review clauses. Your first consultation is free. Pick up the phone and speak to one of our experts today. Etienne Lawyers p | 02 8845 2400 www.etiennelawyers.com
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BiziNet Magazine
#77 Jan-Feb’16
21
BUSINESS ADVICE
Cher Campbell, Director, iPlace Recruitment
Happy New Year… I Quit! So another year of Christmas and New Year celebrations have drawn to a close and as we try to shrug off the post celebratory blues, now is probably one of the most critical times of the year when it comes to knowing what your staff are thinking and where their heads are at. Christmas bonuses have been paid and annual leaves starts. Time to reflect on what they love or loathe about their job has never been more perfect. The euphoria of recent celebrations starts to fade and returning to the office is imminent. If unhappy in their current role, this is about the exact moment your employee has just made a New Year’s Resolution – Find a New Job. The reality is, in today’s market you need to work hard to retain quality staff. It’s a constantly evolving process. In a world where it’s never been easier to make approaches to people via social media and networking platforms those who hadn’t even thought about leaving their current role are likely to be flattered and intrigued about opportunities presented to them: “...I’m happy but I guess it can’t hurt to take a look at the job description. You mean they want to offer me? Sorry Boss – here’s my resignation”. It happens that quickly. I was chatting to a client the other day about this exact topic. Productivity is usually low at this time of the year and we were talking about how people are often sluggish and unmotivated when they return from the festivities. January tends to be a quiet month for many businesses which leaves the door open for staff to pop onto employment websites and see what’s out there. Thankfully all is not lost…iPlace Recruitment recently conducted a candidate survey and the response was overwhelming. Apart from the almighty dollar the top four ways to keeps your team loyal were: Stability - These days the word redundancy gets thrown around more than “what’s for lunch”. One day you’re ticking along just fine and the next you’ve been called into a meeting to be told the entire division is relocating. When I first started in this industry over 16 years ago I remember meeting the odd candidate who had
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been made redundant and it was clear they were “made redundant” as a way of getting rid of them. There was a stigma attached to it. Not anymore. Fast forward sixteen years and it would have to be the single most common reason why candidates are applying for our roles. Work/life balance – Let’s be clear about this one. By throwing around this term we are not suggesting people work less – just smarter. Earlier starts to avoid traffic, working from home options, flexibility. These are all things that will lead to a deep appreciation for the job and the business they work for. We are happiest when we feel like all aspects of our lives are in control so if you can avoid sitting in traffic for 3 hours a day just because standard office hours are 9am – 5.30pm it’s an absolute no brainer.
are about to go up. Not having to pay for your own private health insurance is a perk and something that has swayed many a candidate to take one role over the other if there’s not much to separate the two. Don’t get me wrong - it’s definitely a two way street and your staff also need to come to the party and turn up each day. But sometimes that’s easier said than done and if you can in any way make the New Year transition a little easier you will enjoy a strong unified team culture which can only mean great things for your business. G
The team at iPlace Recruitment would like to wish all of our wonderful clients and candidates a Happy New Year and a safe and successful 2016.
Respect and appreciation – While we would like to think this too is a no brainer it’s really easy to get caught up in the pressures of running a business and forget the small things that go so far. That simple gesture that reinforces to your team what a great job they’re doing. A quick team lunch, a nibblies platter to share in the afternoon during your weekly meeting, or telling someone to knock off an hour or two early on a Friday because they’ve had a great week. The gesture doesn’t have to be huge. I think back to a boss I had in a previous life. It became a running joke. Every year I would be told what a great Christmas gift I was going to get:“… don’t you dare buy that because we’re getting it for you for Christmas”. And each year – zip, zilch, nadda. It’s the feeling of being taken for granted that eventually chips away at you and inevitably your motivation becomes as non-existent as that gift you were promised. Health benefits – Because we’re all sick of those all dreaded commercials at tax time about how our health insurance premiums
#77 Jan-Feb’16
iplacerecruitment.bizinet.com.au
iPlace Recruitment p | 02 02 8865 9200 e | cher@iplacerecruitment.com.au www.iplacerecruitment.com.au
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BiziNet Magazine
#77 Jan-Feb’16
23
DIGITAL CORNER
Bekir Kilic, Managing Director, PRO IT Pty Limited
Who is Watching You? Hacks are turning your wireless IP surveillance cameras against you? Thousands of wireless IP cameras are vulnerable to remote attacks. At a recent security conference, researchers showed how to exploit the devices in “To Watch or Be Watched: Turning Your Surveillance Camera against You” and released a tool to automate the attacks. Security cameras are supposed to offer security, not provide surveillance footage for anyone to view. Businesses may be fine with that, but cameras that are not truly locked down in homes invite privacy invasions. In this case, it’s not just one manufacturer. IP Cameras are embedded with a web based administration interface, which can be considered as a textbook example of an insecure web application and easily leads to an exposure of not only sensitive personal information (such as wireless network, FTP and even email access credentials), but also provides an eye to an inside of your house. Apart from the flaws in the web interface, the cameras also use questionable security practices when it comes to securing the firmware, which leads to even more interesting attack vectors.” A website with indexing tools was able to link to over 73,000 unsecured security IP camera locations in 256 countries to demonstrate the dangers of using default username and passwords. The site, with an IP address tested from Russia, is further broken down into insecure security cameras by the well-known manufacturers, where some listed only as “IP cameras,” as well as NVR & DVRs. Over 11,000 of the links were to U.S. locations, more than any other country; one link could have up to 8 or 16 channels, meaning that’s how many different security camera views were displayed on one page. There were lots of businesses, stores, malls, warehouses and parking lots, but it was horrifying to see the sheer number of baby cots, bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens; all of those were within homes where people should be safest, but were awaiting some creeper to turn the “security surveillance footage” meant for protection into an invasion of privacy.
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HOW TO PREVENT IP CAMERA HACKING Preventing your IP camera from being hacked comes down to six simple steps. 1. Secure your internet network 2. Password protect your cameras 3. Avoid port forwarding to your IP camera 4. Change the default password of your router 5. Update your camera with the latest firmware 6. Research online forums the model of camera for flaws Before we get into the six steps, it is important to have some understanding about your connectivity. The vulnerable part of this process is a) the internet network you’re using and b) how is your camera footage is shared on the internet. 1. Secure Your Internet Network If you’re using an IP camera at home, the ‘internet network’ refers to your home WiFi. The best thing you can do to protect your internet network is to have a strong password and limiting the amount of people you give your password out to and this includes friends. Regularly change your password. If someone has access to your home Wi-Fi, it’s not just your cameras you need to be worried about, but your computer and all its contents. 2. Password Protect Your Cameras Most IP cameras come with software that is pre-loaded to make remote viewing possible. The problem is that when the software is loaded by the camera manufacturers, each camera is given the same default username and password. While most people change the default password when setting up their camera, many don’t. This leaves cameras accessible to anyone via the internet, especially those with the same type of camera who know the default password.
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3. Avoid Port Forwarding to Your Camera The modem/routers comes with built in security that blocks certain applications from accessing your home network. Port forwarding is a way to tell your router what device or computers inside your home network of how the incoming connections should be directed. People choose to set up port forwarding for devices such as an Xbox, but when it comes to IP cameras it’s not recommended you do this. 4. Change the Default Password of Your Router Just like your camera comes with a default password, so does your router. Again, most people change this password when setting up their home Wi-Fi. 5. Update Your Camera’s Firmware Similar to an app on your phone, IP camera manufacturers will update your camera’s firmware from time to time with small enhancements. The problem usually arises when a camera manufacturer discovers a flaw that might expose the camera to hacking. When this happens, updating the firmware is strongly advised. Updating your IP camera to the latest firmware version is different for every camera so it’s best to refer to the camera manufacturer. Check the website of your camera’s manufacturer and search for information on firmware. 6. Research Online Forums Research online forums the model of camera for vulnerabilities to hacking and security flaws. PRO IT Pty Limited p | 1300 727 553 f | 02 872 4 3311 www.proit.com.au
PRIVATE
ISL AND
BiziNet Magazine
#77 Jan-Feb’16
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BUSINESS ADVICE
Daniel Moisyeyev, B.IT, GWP Media
Search Engine Optimisation – A Misunderstood Term & Service Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is one of the most popular buzzwords in the marketing industry. It is also one of the most misunderstood terms, very much overused and often incorrectly implemented. In this article I would like to clear up some misconceptions and misunderstandings. 1. Search Engine Marketing (SEM) and Search Engine Optimisation are distinct and unrelated services SEO is a completely different service to SEM. SEO generally refers to action a web developer or a SEO professional can take to improve the Search Engine Result Position (SERP) of your website. This generally refers to organic website rankings, i.e. search results that do not incur a cost per click (CPC). SEM involves placement of your advertisement in paid search results – e.g. the widely-known Google AdWords service. This could also refer to paid advertisements placed through online publisher networks. The key difference is that with SEO, you should be paying for improvements to your website that work and build up over the long term. With SEM, you are paying for an immediate marketing campaign. SEO can not deliver a result tomorrow – while a SEM, at least in theory, should. SEO is a long term strategy and SEM is simply a service with a positive or negative return on investment (ROI). 2. Getting on the first page on search engines Unless, you are in a very niche industry with very few competitors, getting on the first page of search results is akin to climbing mountain Everest. It can be done, but the resources required will be gargantuan and out of reach. If your business is one of the more popular services (e.g. real estate), getting to the first page will simply be impossible and making any sort of progress will require nothing short of a full-time employed webmaster (or many) working on your website. The truth is, websites in the more competitive industries that are popular actually do have employed personnel working on updating content and making improvements on a daily basis. If anybody comes in and offers to get you on
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the first page on Google, think again. The SEO industry is rife with dishonest operators with no credentials that are only too happy to take your hard earned money. If it was that simple, everybody would be on the first page. 3. There are only a few shortcuts Although there are quite a lot of correct moves and techniques that can be taken during the development of your website, there isn’t much post production quick fixes or adjustments per se. SEO is a process done from the ground up with quite a bit of planning, and there isn’t much you can do to existing websites. The best course of action is to start over with good development practices and take effort to save the link juice that has already been built up with previous efforts. 4. Black Had techniques do exist Good and ethical SEO practices are generally referred to as “White-Hat SEO”. There is also another realm called “Black-Hat SEO”. Black-Hat SEO involves specifically building a website to be read by Search Engines – and not humans, thus achieving higher results. A quick search on the internet quickly brings up a whole list of techniques SEO experts use to aggressively manipulate search results. Black-Hat SEO practices are frowned upon Search Engines and may lead to a penalty against your websites. It takes a small mistake to trigger a manual review of your website and undo a lot of hard work. 5. Your website can “dance” for a while – if it’s new It takes a long time for your website to settle in search results. This has a special term and is referred to as a “dance”. While search engine algorithms are kept a wellhidden secret, observation tells us that new
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websites are definitely inflicted with an artificial penalty for a long time before they are moved up to their proper position in the search results. The lesson to take from this is to definitely plan your SEO process ahead. If you are expecting your website to generate leads, start early and give plenty of time. 6. Most websites have no visitors And the most important point is that most websites out there have virtually no traffic. i.e. less than 5 genuine visitors a day. The truth is such that most of the website traffic that analytics software registers is pure garbage. There is a long list of software automatically scouring the internet 24/7 – search engine spiders, various tools, robots designed to post comment spam, etc. A lot of this traffic is disguised as genuine and real visitors (I will forgo on the techniques and principles to keep the article simple) for both malicious and honest reasons. If one is to implement a tool into a website that allows manual review of each hit/session, it is possible to spot and identify some of this false traffic by patterns. The rather grim news, is that while the Internet is quite a popular place, it can also be very lonely for new entrants. It takes a phenomenal amount of work to create a website capable of generating leads on its own. False expectations only lead to disappointment down the track. G Does your business need web design, development or SEO? Get in touch with GWP MEDIA for a discussion about your needs. GWP Media p | 1300 889 132 e | daniel@gwpmedia.com.au www.gwpmedia.com.au
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#74 #77 July/Aug’15 Jan-Feb’16
33 27
Surfing the pacific FEATURE
by Wayne Ryan
The art of surfing or wave sliding with a wooden board originated in Western Polynesia over three thousand years ago. The first surfers were fishermen who discovered riding waves as an efficient method of getting to shore with their catch. Eventually catching waves developed from being part of everyday work to being a pastime. This change revolutionised surfing. Many believe that it was the Hawaiians that gave birth to surfing, but this is often debated by the Tahitians and the Samoans who where the power house of the Pacific back in those days. Even many Hawaiians will give credit to the Samoans as the fathers of surfing who would sail their boats by the stars for weeks to visit and who knows maybe even surf with their Polynesian brothers and sisters. One thing is for sure that Hawaii has continued on and has truly embraced surfing as a major part of its life style and culture unlike most of the many other Polynesian countries that left one of the world’s oldest sport behind to give way to modern day sports such as rugby and other sports and past times.
Captain James Cook Captain Cook, the great English Navigator and explorer who sailed the Pacific back in the late 1700s could not only be credited for “discovering for the mother country” new lands including Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti, The Cook Islands and much of the Pacific but many of the best surfing destinations to surf in the world.
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Early historical records of surfing appear in the late 1700s, when Europeans and Polynesians made first contact in Tahiti. Captain James Cook described how a Tahitian caught waves with his outrigger canoe just for the fun of it: “On walking one day about Matavai Point, where our tents were erected, I saw a man paddling in a small canoe so quickly and looking about him with such eagerness of each side. He then sat motionless and was carried along at the same swift rate as the wave, till it landed him upon the beach. Then he started out, emptied his canoe, and went in search of another swell. I could not help concluding that this man felt the most supreme pleasure while he was driven on so fast and so smoothly by the sea.” Cook made many references to surfing as a joyful pastime as did Sir Joseph Banks who was Cooks botanist. Many drawings where done by Cook’s team of surfing in the Pacific on their travels in the 1700s. The question has to be asked - Why did it take the rest of the world to figure this out? The sport of kings (surfing) has come a long way since the ancient days in Polynesia where boards where made of wood, just over one inch thick, no wax for grip, no fins to help turn and no leg ropes to save your board from being washed in by the waves away. Surfing in ancient days was a way of showing bravado, not much has changed to today. The main difference is that a big wave in ancient days was about three foot reef break compared to the 80 feet waves that some ride today.
#77 Jan-Feb’16 January / February
Modern day surfing in the Pacific It is hard to believe that even today most of the waves in the Pacific are yet to be found or rode. The biggest ocean in the world with thousands of islands. Many considered some of the most isolated places on Earth. It is worth noting that Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, PNG, Solomon Islands were not even on the map as potential surf trips or holidays twenty years ago. Today we know that there are waves in most islands including Vanuatu, Norfolk Island, New Caledonia, Marshall Islands, Kiribati and much of Micronesia.
With storms and that travel for hundreds of miles, to finally break in warm waters, with perfect-shaped reefs, points and beaches, brushed by the soft warm trade winds off the land, with pristine lagoons, palm treelined beaches, mountain back drops with rivers and waterfalls and the gentle friendly smiles of the locals what are you waiting for. For the real hardcore travel who might have a lot of time and money to explore you can, but the good news is that you don’t have to any more.
get the best waves with a minimum of fuss, like Maninoa Surf Fales in Samoa where daily guided boats take you to many of their world class waves and bring you back to meals on the table. So what are you waiting for? Your dream surf trip is waiting for you.
Surf travel companies like Line Up Surf Travel in Sydney are excepts on all things surf travel. Making it easy so that you and your tribe sorted for the next surf adventure. There are many resorts and surf camps set up right throughout the Pacific that specialise in making sure that their guests
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BiziNet BiziNet MagazineMagazine #77 #77 January Jan-Feb’16 / February
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FEATURE
Nicole Baines
The Bella Vista Business Alliance is Where it’s at for 2016! Last year saw the birthing of a new business alliance in the Hills. The brainchild of Bizinet’s Dmitry Greku, Bella Vista Business Alliance started as a social gathering place for business owners, but as the year came to a close, members were asking for more! True to Dmitry’s vision of creating a relevant product offering, being responsive to member requests is high on the agenda for Alliance organisers. From listening to the feedback about the frequency of gatherings to looking at how to add value to membership packages, the Alliance has fast tracked its growth and popularity amongst key business stakeholders in the area. The Alliance’s initial After Five events have been set apart from other networking events by their warm, inclusive nature, by high profile speakers who share stories about life rather than a business presentation, and all with minimal pomp and ceremony. The focus on people rather than on deals and selling is a refreshing change for many, and with events being held every 6 weeks, people are always keen to get along and catch up with their mates.
Bella Vista Business Alliance Coffee Morning
Celebrities such as Pru MacSween and Paula Duncan have shared their life stories, (both have interesting twists) and a few local business people have had the honour of being invited to share their stories as well. Guests have always been welcome to attend the After Five events without joining as members, but as visitor numbers increased throughout the year, so did the number of requests for information about member benefits. This created a need and an opportunity, and from November 2015, monthly Information Sessions are now being held to answer potential member questions and to provide another more intimate opportunity for connections to be made. Held mid morning every month, the Coffee Mornings will commence again in February 2016 and are free for potential Alliance members to attend. Other events that have also proved popular are Wine & Cheese Appreciation sessions and CEO Luncheons. These will be held quarterly in 2016. The full calendar of events can be viewed on the Bella Vista Business Alliance website.
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Membership benefits also include a generous range of media opportunities courtesy of Bizinet. The value of these inclusions alone make membership an easy decision for most, and all ideas for new opportunities are welcomed. Being involved with the alliance has been a wonderful experience for my company, All My Admin. We are only a small local business, and we have only been operating for three years. Our network is large and our client base is growing. It’s harder to connect with my clients as often as I used to, so I invite my team and many of our clients to come along to these events. It gives us an opportunity to connect with a few of them in the one place, to have a chat over a glass of wine and check that everyone is doing ok. Opportunities always present when
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we come together and the Alliance has given me a low key way of doing that with minimal expense and fuss. I love it! I am so looking forward to meeting and connecting with you at one of the great events planned for 2016. G For more information on the Alliance, call Dmitry on 0429468510. Bella Vista Business Alliance p | 1300 889 132 e | info@gwpmedia.com.au www.bellavistabusinessalliance.com.au
Bella Vista Hotel & GWP Media Present Flexible Membership Options From $385 p.a. Unique Membership Value Variety of Events: Traditional After Hours Exclusive Private Boardroom Lunches Guest Speaking Opportunities for Members
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Join Other Business Owners in the Best Venue in The Hills!.. 17 February 5.30pm To find out more contact us on 1300 889 132 www.bellavistabusinessalliance.com.au BiziNet Magazine #77 Jan-Feb’16
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SOCIETY & LIFE
Angry Anderson, AM
Truth The Oxford defines it thus, ‘Truth’ the quality or a state of being true or truthful: what is true.
Aaahh truth, That most beautiful of all human traits. Truth in its purest form is a key to true happiness. It is a foundation stone for all humanity, knowledge and is a cornerstone rock upon which a truly civilised society can be built. Truth then is a fundamentally, necessary component of any human endeavour that seeks to elevate and beautify the soul. In other words, any and all efforts to truly serve ourselves and our fellow man. The first victim of war… is truth! And we are at War! A lie told often enough with conviction can seem to be, or become, the truth!
“Mankind is facing extinction” if we didn’t believe him, he said. He told us these things asking us to believe that they were the truth. He wanted us to believe his truth! Did he lie? There is enough scientific evidence that suggests that he did, knowingly or unknowingly, did not tell the truth, so he must have lied. Lie’’: The Oxford defines as: an untrue statement with intent to deceive; something that deceives or misleads to speak untruthfully.
And we are being lied to!
Did he knowingly lie? We may never know the truth of that.
An inconvenient truth, is a phrase we have come to know and use.
Suffice to say that none of his predictions have come to pass.
An inconvenient truth being a truth that is inconvenient to hear.
Perhaps in retrospect, his only mistake was to give it a definite timeline “within our time” he said.
We first heard that phrase widely used by Al Gore on his ‘crusade’ to ‘sell’ his idea, nay his ‘truth’ of global warming, to the masses. “We are all going to suffer from extreme weather conditions brought on by global warming” he said.
Is it any wonder that our young are worried, depressed and anxious about the future? I’m not because I do not believe his truth. “Multiculturalism is the cure for all Man’s ills” they say, well some say. “Multiculturalism is the way of the future” some say.
“The polar caps are melting” he said. “The seas will rise,” he said. “Swallowing up whole coast lines, whole Islands and displacing millions of people” he said. “Catastrophic world-wide droughts and fires of never before seen magnitude would mercilessly ravage and destroy whole countries” he said.
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A widely diverse society is naturally the way forward for all mankind they say. A ‘brown’ world population will break down all cultural, racial and ethnic barriers they say. White Anglo Saxon people are the source of all evil they say... well some say.
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This then is their truth but is it true? Multiculturalism can and does work where the minorities want to fit into the host country. It works when the newcomer and the host population work towards finding common ground and establish a working rapport with the desired end result being for both parties, the adding to and strengthening of the new society that between them they can, or wish to, create. Politically correct multiculturalism, on the other hand is doomed to fail because it encourages and fosters division not diversity. The most obvious example of this very division, dressed up as diversity, is the Lefts’ obsession with Islam. Last time I wrote to you I expressed my frustration with Muslims who live in Australia, who have not demonstrated well enough, to us, the host populace, that the majority of them want to integrate into our society. This they must do this in order for all of us to live harmoniously together, if that is at all achievable. If it is true, it can and will happen. If it is not the truth, then it can’t and won’t happen. The repeating of a lie, no matter how often or however convincing, can never make it the truth. Some want us to believe that we can all live together with these divisions. I do not believe this to be true therefore to me it is a lie. I cannot say, as many are beginning to say, that I have many Muslim friends. I only have one and I count him as a good friend. He is a man I admire, respect and love in the way one man loves another because of the way he lives his life, his beliefs, his truths.
He is a man of Muslim faith who sees himself as Australian, as belonging, so he is and he does. I admire, respect and love him because he lives his truth and it’s a truth we share.
Everyone needs a helping hand some time...
He is a living example of why we can and should work together to allow this good thing between us to work.
We can help you with:
I will say again that I do not have a problem with Muslims per se because a Muslim is a person, an individual not an ideology and we all know that there will always be good and bad on both sides. They may practice their faith and I will respect that as long as it does not interfere with me practising my faith, whatever I choose that to be. So far I have not seen this happening and I need to see that happening to be supportive of them or their aspirations to become part of Australia. I have found my truth I hope you have found yours. Your friend, Angry.
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LAND A BETTER DEAL AT LANDER TOYOTA The Lander Toyota better buying experience starts from the moment you enter our stunning showroom. Our professional consultants will discuss your needs and present all the options available to you from the exceptional Toyota range.
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