2515 DECEMBER 2014

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DECEMBER 2014

www.2515mag.com.au

5 1 COAST NEWS

jack patison

AU LEGESNTI D!

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Clifton | Scarborough | Wombarra | Coledale | Austinmer | Thirroul

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2515 CONTENTS LETTERS 03 From the Eds Merry Christmas to one and all!

NEWS 04 A Blast from the Past Austinmer surf club 05 Art Show Exclusive Egg & Dart exhibition 09 Snap Happy!

Local photographer’s work gets upsized at IGA 10 Pet Power Unleash Our Beaches LIFESTYLE 06 Cover Feature Meet Austi legend Jack Patison

08 Dr Rip What to do if you’re caught in a rip 11 Dog psychology Look out for fireworks ahead 12 Gardening Have a green thumb Christmas 14 Nature The grand journeys of animals on land BUSINESS 19 Marketing Promote your business on a budget SPORT 22 Tides 23 BMX How to get started 24 MTB! Downhill action at the East Coast Titles

Cover image by Anthony Warry Photography; www.anthonywarry.tumblr.com

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS Annelies Voorthuis Dr Rob Brander

– aka ‘Dr Rip’ – is a coastal geomorphologist and Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. A resident of Stanwell Park, he’s been studying beaches for 25 years, starting in Canada where water temperatures convinced him come to Australia to do his PhD. He is an international expert on rip currents and runs a beach safety education program called The Science of the Surf (www.scienceofthesurf. com). He wrote Dr Rip’s Essential Beach Book. Read his column on page 8.

SARA NEWNHAM

is a passionate horticulturist with nearly 20 years’ experience. Starting as a landscaper, she soon discovered a love for plants and design.

She has managed nurseries around Sydney. While raising four children, she worked and studied subjects such as natural area restoration. Sara now runs Creativescapes, a garden design and maintenance business (0451 196 646, creativescapes@iprimus.com.au).

Read her column on page 12.

Creativescapes garden service

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15 COAST NEWS

is a business advisor at the Enterprise & Training Company.

Prior to working for ETC, she ran her own business, In2Careers, which provided specialised recruitment services for Aboriginal people. This business won a NSW Health award for its innovation placing Aboriginal people in employment in General Practice. She has also worked for a not-for-profit establishing social enterprises and started her career as a primary school teacher in the Northern Territory. Read her article on page 19.

Philip Comans

is a local dog behaviour therapist and trainer with the Illawarra-born and now the world’s largest international dog-training organisation Bark Busters.

His region covers Helensburgh to Gerroa and inland, including Goulburn.

His mission is to save dogs from being surrendered and euthanised when all they need is a little training. He believes every dog deserves to be trained so that it can enjoy a relaxed, fulfilled life in its human/dog pack. Contact 1800 067 710. His column on page 11.

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COAST NEWS

Editors

Genevieve Swart, Marcus Craft

Art director Brendon Wise

Ad design Wendy Gergos

Regular contributors

Rob Brander, Sara Newnham, Anthony Warry

Contact

2515mag.com.au 2515mag PO Box 248, Helensburgh, 2508.

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Email editor@2515mag.com.au

Editorial

Community participation is welcome. Please contact editor@2515mag.com.au with story ideas. Letters should be a maximum of 200 words. The editors reserve the right to edit submissions. Contributors should include contact details.

Deadline

15th of the month prior to publication.

2515 is published by The Word Bureau Pty Ltd. ABN 31 692 723 477.

2508 Read our sister mag for the postcode around Helensburgh, 2508mag.com.au Disclaimer: All content and images remain the property of 2515: Coast News unless otherwise supplied. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.

The views expressed in letters and other submissions do not reflect those of the editors.

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MPD Unit E1, 46-62 Maddox Street Alexandria NSW 2015

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2515 LETTERS

celebrating our community Please send your letters, photos and notices (including memorials, births, thank yous) to editor@2515mag.com.au

letter from the editors

It’s been an exciting year to be an independent local magazine publisher. Since we started 2508: District News in January 2014, the monthly magazine has grown to 52 pages.

This is the second issue of its new sister title, 2515: Coast News, and we are looking forward to expanding the mag next year.

We’d like to thank all our advertisers and contributors, some of whom have continued to file monthly reports come rain, hail or shine, international travel, sick children or surgery.

Special thanks to Rob ‘Dr Rip’ Brander, Sara Newnham and Tim Robson.

We’ve learnt our small coastal community has a huge heart and, as it’s the season of giving, would like to recommend a local fundraiser.

Need A Feed is holding its Christmas dinner on December 4, from 7.30-9.30pm at Samaras restaurant in Woonona. A three-course meal is $75pp. There’ll also be a raffle, lucky door prizes and belly dancing.

Samaras is donating 50 per cent of profits to Need a Feed, which works in partnership with other organisations to supply food and support to local families. Call 4284 9422, needafeed.org.

Finally, a big thank you to our readers. Merry Christmas all! Have a safe and happy holiday.

Genevieve and Marcus The Editors 2515

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2515 NEWS

Photos: From the collections of the Wollongong City Library and the Illawarra Historical Society

circa... 1950 Surf Life Saving has a long, proud history along our coast.

For this month’s cover story, we spoke to the current president of Austinmer Surf Life Saving Club. Here, we take a trip back in time.

These photographs of show the launching of the Jack Cahill surf boat at Austinmer Beach, circa 1950.

Cahill was president of the Austinmer Surf Life Saving Club in the 1940s and the club’s website still proudly quotes him as saying, “They (the life savers), are the life insurance of our beaches. They are the protection of bathers against fear, as also they are the guardians of life who enable parents to loll upon the sand in deep contentment while their children splash in the surf.

“So for every reason, each little thing that can be done to help these boys in their work should be undertaken by the public.”

The historic Austinmer club was founded in 1909. More info: austinmersurfclub.com.au 2515

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2515 NEWS

You’re invited to opening night Thirroul’s Egg & Dart Gallery will launch its Christmas show on the evening of Friday, December 5.

Head down to the gallery from 6-8pm for a first look at more than 150 artworks by 20 artists.

Each was invited to do a minimum of six artworks at the miniature size of 12 x 12 cm.

“They’re good stocking fillers,” the gallery’s Aaron Fell-Fracasso told 2515.

Prices will range from $150 to $250, he said.

Artists from the Thirroul, Bulli, Woonona area include: Frank Nowlan, Catriona Stanton, Robert William Reid, Gabrielle Adamik, Mignon Steele, Aaron Fell-Fracasso, Gregory Hodge, Clare Thackway, Gillian Day, Leoni Watson, Zuza Zochowski, John Bokor Rob Howe and Ashley Frost. Also look for works by Belinda Gunn (Sydney), Lee Bethel (Bundeena),

‘No. 4’, by Thirroul artist Frank Nowlan

Filomena Coppola (Melbourne) and Sofi Lardner-Häggström (Stockholm, Sweden). The exhibition is on until December 23. Egg & Dart is at shop 2, 1-3 Raymond Road, Thirroul.

Contact: 4268 4885, egganddart.com.au 2515

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2515 REPORT E AT URE COVER F

wave master

Meet Austinmer SLSC’s Jack Patison, Australian Surf Sports Coach of the Year Jack Patison is wearing a bloody huge grin like it’s an Olympic gold medal. When 2515 meets Jack he’s busy preparing his charges – on this afternoon, it’s the Austinmer Surf Life Saving Club’s open women’s surfboat crew – for a training session in the surf. He’s sweep for this crew and others. He’s busy – as always, we get the impression – but he’s stoked. He was named NSW Surf Sports Coach of the Year not long before our photo-shoot with him and he would later be named Australian Surf Sports Coach of the Year at the 2014 National Awards of Excellence in Sydney.

Jack’s a champion athlete and coach – no surprise really, because it runs in the blood – and, having displayed plenty of patience while taking instructions from 2515’s photographer and answering our questions, it’s clear he’s also a top bloke to boot.

Photos by Anthony Warry Photography; www.anthonywarry.tumblr.com

the tradition

“I basically started at Austinmer as a cadet – so under 14 – and I paddled boards and skis and did the Ironman until I was old enough to either go and get a job or couldn’t swim train every morning.

“I’ve got a ski and board background- and I think a lot of good sweeps that are coming up now are from a ski background - just reading the ocean and stuff like that.

“My father [Dennis] has been sweeping for as long as I can remember so it was sort of in my blood – he told me ‘Why don’t you have a go [at sweeping]?’ when I got my apprenticeship and couldn’t swim train and it started from there.

“My father and myself are life members of Austinmer surf club.”

the training

“We’re just starting to get into the swing of thing. We’re starting late this year because the

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Australian titles are later – so we’ll probably be slow to move in the first quarter of the year but we’ll hopefully time it right to come good when it really counts.

“We’ve got an open men’s and open women’s crew competing in the Ocean Thunder, the professional series [which started on November 15], then they’re basically a month apart [December 13, January 10 and February 7] so we’ll do our best this round and then try to be up there good enough to get some good points.

In a month’s time we’ll be right to race well, so we’ll see how we go.

“Really, this time of year you don’t want to sprint the sides on race day, you really want to do the long-distance stuff, get a good base … if you’ve got that base then you’ve always got something to fall back on and you can create some speed when it counts at the end of the year off that.”

the challenges

“Probably boat speed [is the biggest chal-

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2515 REPORT lenge] – I’ve got open men who are the fastest in Australia at the moment and I’ve got a junior crew just starting, so to judge getting out the surf without taking too much water on-board [is a big challenge].

“I’ve got six crews of a weekend and I never stop going out; you’ve just got to know whose beneath you – to judge the distance between waves and what boat-speed you’ve got … that’s the difficult thing on the day. “[With training, the challenge is] time, but I do have help from my rowers and my father Dennis and also Mark Davies helps me.”

the knowledge

“I do the majority of the time in the boat but the knowledge that Mark Davies and Dennis Patison have got – I’ve learnt off them, so you get good at it.

the crew

“Head-strong’s everything [when it comes to winning races]. Yes, they’ve got to be fit but you see some crews this time of year and I think ‘Where are they going to go?’

“If they get sick they’re going downhill or … they seem to get tired.

“We’ve had a pretty good off-season, celebrating last season, so we’ve got plenty of work to do.” 2515

The secrets to great coaching Jack’s tips for better leadership: “Be able to say the same thing a thousand different ways to everyone so they get it.

“Everyone’s different and some people pick things up quicker than others. It’s really got to be clear as. What works for one mightn’t work for another but once you know they get it, you know they’ve got it.

“I try to make it as fun as possible … I’m not a negative coach. I’ll have a few positive words that’ll work: for example I might say ‘hand speed’ instead of ‘you’re too slow’ or something like that – you can always put a positive spin on something.”

Jack Patison and the open women’s crew in training

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2515 COLUMN

Dr Rip’s Science of the Surf always persistent rips against reefs and headlands. Third, learn how to spot them as this is the only thing that may keep you safe if you go swimming on an unpatrolled beach.

When it comes to rips think “white is nice, green is mean”.

Spend five minutes looking at the surf for Rip currents are the narrow, dark gaps, almost like paths, between biggest hazard on Australian beaches. the whitewater of the breaking waves. Also They cause more fatalities each year on look for large bowls, or embayments carved average than bushfires, cyclones, floods and into the sandy shoreline. sharks combined! Tens of thousands of people If you get caught in a rip, please don’t panic get rescued from them every year and all of our because rips don’t pull you under and won’t local surf beaches have them, so you need to take you to New Zealand or into shark-infested know what they are and how to avoid them. waters! In fact, there’s a good chance they’ll Unless you are an experienced surfer using a bring you back into shallow water in a few rip to get out the back, don’t get in one in the minutes. Relax, float and signal for help. first place.

If you are a good swimmer, swim towards The best way to do this is by swimming the whitewater of the breaking waves where between the red and yellow flags, which are set it’s shallower, you may be able to stand up and up away from rips. Second, it’s important to the breaking waves will help bring you back to understand how they work. Rips are rivers of the beach. the sea and carry water brought towards the Whatever you do, keep reassessing the beach by breaking waves back offshore, situation, conserve energy if you feel usually in deeper channels between tired and don’t swim directly back to Did you know? sand bars at speeds faster than most the beach against the rip. 2515 people can swim. Most rips are If caught in a rip, try Coastal geomorphologist Dr Rob Brander is to relax, go with the about 10-30 metres wide and on long the author of Dr Rip’s Essential Beach Book. flow and signal for beaches are spaced about 100-200 For more information on rips, see help if you are in metres apart. There are almost www.scienceofthesurf.com trouble.

All our local beaches have rips.

Knowing how to spot one could save your life, writes Rob Brander.

Spot the rips ... how many can you see at Stanwell Park?

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2515 NEWS New look… IGA store manager Eli Meers next to Brad’s photograph in the hallway.

big picture Local photographer Brad Chilby is thrilled that the recent IGA makeover gave him a chance to display his work on a grand scale.

IGA has installed a 25m x 3m photograph that Brad took at Sandon Point boat sheds in the hallway. “I am extremely happy to see it

up,” Brad said. “In return they are now selling my photos, calendars and postcards, all of the area from Sandon Point to Stanwell Tops.”

IGA’s refurbishment has included increasing the store’s grocery range, installing a new cheese counter and deli. IGA is also now baking bread in store and sourcing meat from a butcher in the Illawarra region. 2515

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2515 NEWS

ruff tactics The Unleash Our Beaches campaign is a local sensation. 2515 reports.

Wollongong City Council’s proposal to ban offleash dogs at beaches such as Sharkeys, McCauleys and Little Austinmer sparked a remarkable resistance movement.

It started in August as a Facebook page, then morphed into a group of concerned residents, the Illawarra Dog Community. Next came a creative and well-run publicity campaign that has won much media coverage.

The group has a striking colour (green, to symbolise offleash zones), a cheeky slogan (“Unleash Our Beaches”), plus posters, T-shirts and doggy bandannas. In September, they organised a mass dog walk from Thirroul to Bulli attended by about 2000 people.

Last month, about 60 protestors and pets rallied outside council chambers to deliver a “pet-tition” stamped with paw prints. “Any alteration or closure of Green-zone beaches in the current Dogs on Beaches Policy will result in approx. 10,000 unhappy, under-socialised

Petition signator … Stella, a blue heeler-border collie cross, and her owner.

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A boy’s best friends…Gus Doyle, 4, has two dogs called Walter and Murray. All photos: Shane Bennett

problem pooches in Ward 1 alone,” it stated.

The Illawarra Dog Community has a committee of 12: David Hurley, Bernie O’Donnell, Cherin Sherro, Kathy Gore, Peter Gore, Candice Greenwood, Diana Messum, Sarah Goss, Richard Martin, Shane Bennett, Donna Bennett and Dr Rick Prowse, owner of Austinmer Veterinary Hospital.

Spokeswoman Donna Bennett said, “The Illawarra Dog Community will evolve over time. We aim to be a group that holds other events to educate the community on being responsible dog owners … We are definitely here to stay!

“One event we thought of was a monthly ‘PUP Day’ (pick up poo day) where we’d get together as a group of volunteers and collect dog poo from our grassed areas and walkways (and beaches, although it’s not as much of an issue). Over time, we’d hope this would encourage those dog owners that are not currently picking up after their dogs.”

Council received 1748 surveys and 231 written submissions about its Dogs on Beaches policy review. Shortly after 2515 went to press, councillors were due to discuss the Save proposed changes. For the latest news, Northern Illawarra’s Dog Friendly Beaches. 2515

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2515 COLUMN

help dogs cope with big bangs thunder storms and fireworks can terrify pets, writes Philip Comans.

Many dogs have a fear of thunderstorms and fireworks. The problem is that they just don’t understand what makes those big scary noises and lights, and without effective leadership at home they take it upon themselves to worry about it.

When a pup is young, try to expose them to thunderstorm and fireworks noises in a non-threatening way. Don a raincoat and take your dog outside to play in the rain when there’s a storm. Or buy a sound-effects CD that has thunder on it and play it while distracting Fifi or Fido with their favourite toys indoors.

Try not to react yourself to the storm. To the dog, it’s a case of “If Pack Leader isn’t too

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worried, then I don’t need to worry either!”

If your dog is grown up, then management is the key. Provide your dog with a safe crate, den or small room to wait out the storm. Make sure they have water, and leave a radio on loudly to help drown out the noises from outside.

If Fido scratches at the door, don’t open it. If you do, you’ll just reinforce the scratching by rewarding it with your presence.

Remember: a really frightened dog can have super-canine strength. We’ve seen them break through closed doors or, worse, crash through plate-glass windows to escape the noise.

Many dogs escape from their homes and end up in council shelters after New Year’s Eve or big storms. So make sure they have a collar tagged with their name and your number on it.

If Fido feels safe and protected in his home “pack”, he will not worry nearly as much. 2515 Philip Comans is a dog behaviour therapist and trainer with Bark Busters Illawarra & Southern Highlands, 1800 067 710.

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2515 OUTDOORS

Gardening with sara Buy a native conifer, paint gum nuts gold or make a wreath of native mistletoe.

Sara Newnham is full of ideas.

Christmas is fast approaching – it’s time to deck the halls!

Luckily, decorating is easy when using flowering shrubs; many are putting on a Christmas show at this time of year.

Try native plants to give an Australian touch to your festivities, such as the stunning NSW Christmas Bush (Ceratopetalum gummiferum).

The plant, with its distinctive red sepals, grows throughout our area. It is used for cut flowers, but can also make a beautiful small feature tree in a garden or pot, enjoying full sun or dappled shade.

I love grafted gums that are out now. Their spectacular, bird-attracting pompom flowers come in vibrant reds, oranges or pinks, and turn into giant gum nuts that are great to use as Christmas decorations. I’m getting the kids to paint them gold to wire up for our wreath and hang off the Christmas tree.

For a traditional-looking Christmas tree, try a native conifer, such as the Daintree pine (Gymnostoma australianum), which even has its own bobble-like cones at this time of year. Or go for a Port Jackson pine (Callitris rhomboidea). These can be

Daintree pine.

brought indoors for seven to 10 days and kept in a pot, so you can use it for years to come.

Wollemi pine is a prehistoric conifer originally found in the Wollemi National Park.

It has a perfect conical shape – great for decorating – and will last well as a indoor tree in a well-lit room.

Adenanthos, the native woolly bush, has incredible soft, silver-grey foliage. It makes a statement in a feature pot by your front door or as a centrepiece on your Christmas table.

If you’re after a true pine-tree smell, there are many non-native varieties on show at your local nursery. The most common Christmas trees are Pinus radiata, Douglas fir or Norway spruce – these are not native and should be kept in pots as they can grow into large trees. Don’t over-water them or they will drop their needles.

For something different, why not use a nice old tree branch and cover it in living air plant decorations, either attached to the branch or hanging in glass globes.

Use Tillandsia, Spanish moss or bromeliads.

All you need is some fishing line to tie them and a spray bottle to mist them lightly every four to five days.

Your local nursery is full of great ideas and

did you know we have 60 types of native mistletoe? It is a parasitic plant that grows in the canopy of many trees

NSW Christmas bush, Ceratopetalum gummiferum.

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2515 OUTDOORS gifts to suit everyone. I love the idea of interesting twists on traditional Christmas ideas and I like to use what we have around us – did you know we have 60 types of native mistletoe?

It is a parasitic plant that grows in the canopy of many native trees, such as eucalyptus, living off its host but usually without harming it.

It is tricky to spot – look out for a clump of foliage in the tree that is different to the rest.

Usually branches are slightly weeping compared to the rest of the tree. It also produces flowers and fruit that are different to its host and irresistible to birds and animals.

The plant is spread via seed dispersal, usually from droppings left on branches quickly germinating into its host bark, making this parasitic plant just the thing to pash under in true Aussie style this Christmas. But you may need an arborist to harvest it for you.

Merry Christmas, happy gardening, happy New Year!

Tricks of the trade

Water your plants well before 10am or after 4pm every one to two days over summer,

Christmas has come to the Thirroul nursery.

especially after dry winds. Don’t forget pots dry out very fast and may need more water than plants in garden beds. 2515 Sara runs Creativescapes Garden Design, which goes everywhere from Sydney to the South Coast. Contact creativescapes@iprimus.com.au or call 0451 196 646.

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2515 NATURE

incredible journeys

The tricky question is: how did Old Slowcoach know it was there?

“Probably during the warm start of the spring and summer, a number of your readers would have seen freshwater turtles crossing the road,” Martyn says. “In some cases there’ll be a dam or a creek nearby and they’ve just come up to the edge of the road because it’s the only Australia’s best overland migrator is the red clear spot where they can lay their eggs. But in kangaroo, which moves in response to rain. other cases you’ll see them very “They can detect a fall of rain, reputedly, determinedly walking along – they are hundreds of kilometres away – did you travelling to a new area. With their possibly by the odour, possibly they know? little, short legs, you’d think they also pick up the reflection of lights Sea turtles can pick up polarised wouldn’t get very far, but they can and things like that,” Martyn says. light reflecting on the travel kilometres.”

One day an area may be dry and underside of clouds Scientists are not sure how turtle empty, then suddenly after rainfall it that indicates there is water below.

GPS works, but can hazard a guess will be packed with roos. “They’ve based on studies of sea turtles. “The all been travelling during the night to sea turtles can pick up polarised light reach this new site, because as soon as reflecting on the underside of clouds that the rain falls out west, you get a sudden flush indicates there is water below,” Martyn says. of new growth and it’s well known that the red “They get a fix on that particular point and kangaroos seek out the new growth,” Martyn when conditions in the spot where they are explains. “As a result they are highly nomadic.

They get most of their moisture needs as well as currently living change – like the pond might dry up or it might get overcrowded, or there their nutritional needs from this new growth might be a male and no females – they’ll leave because it contains a lot of water.” and they’ve already got a destination in mind Locally, we have some rather surprising and nothing will dissuade them from that path. land travellers.

“That’s why if you see these turtles out SLOW BUT STEADY crossing the road, don’t put them on the nearest Why did the turtle cross the road? side, work out which way they were heading To get to the water source on the other side. and put them on that side of the road. Because That’s an easy one. if you turn them around, they will immediately

Our three-part series tackles the big question: how did life get there? This month, 2515 asks Australian Museum naturalist Martyn Robinson how creatures travel via land.

Travels for kilometres… the eastern long-necked turtle (Chelodina longicollis).

Photo: Martin Schulz

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2515 NATURE spin back again and go back on course and get hit by the next car.”

Turtles migrate to spread their genes and ensure genetic diversity, but human barriers mean many die en route. Martyn says: “They’ll continue to try to find a way through mesh fences till they shrivel up and die. Perhaps the saddest ones are the ones that try to cross the railway tracks. They can usually make it over the first rail, but then there’s a lip on the inside of both the rails in between … so they can only walk up and down that space in between the tracks and so they just keep walking until they die. You find lots and lots of turtle shells in amongst the railway tracks in areas where there is a lot of water around.”

SLIPPERY CHARACTERS

Another surprising local example: eels. They can travel many kilometres overland to reach a new body of water.

“The little elvers wriggle up the creeks or rivers and if the creek or river has got an impenetrable barrier stopping their upstream progression, then they will leave the water and

wriggle out onto the bank, usually in a group, they will wriggle overland past the barrier and then back into the water again.”

Eels may pick up polarised light reflection, or have some other means of detecting water too, Martyn says. “It’s always a bit of a shock when you find an eel in a farm dam or some other body of water quite some distance away from the nearest creek. They wriggle there usually as one of these tiny elvers … they have to wait until either a very heavy dew fall or a period of rain or showers, to travel over the wet ground.”

HELLO, HITCH-HIKERS

Thorns like to hitch a ride. Martyn says in parts of Sydney the spread of bindis may be linked to postal deliveries. “The postal workers on their motorbikes, they go from out the front of everybody’s lawns, from letterbox to letterbox, and if they run over a patch of ripe bindis, they get all the seeds in the tyres, which then break off as they go. And it spreads in a line, so you can virtually draw a map from letterbox to letterbox of the path taken by the postal workers.” 2515

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Happy birthday, big guy.

& a Happy New Year from all the animals at Symbio Wildlife Park

kato’s cake

For Kato’s 13th birthday, the staff at Symbio baked him a special cake.

It was made of blood, mince and cat milk, frozen into layers. Yum! The 150kg tiger was captive born in 2001, hand-reared at Dreamworld and has lived at Symbio since 2012. “He is one of our most affectionate animals and clearly loves his home and the special care (sometimes referred to as spoiling) we provide,” writes the zoo’s managing director, John Radnidge. Kato is also an ambassador for his endangered species, down to as few as 3000 in the wild. Call the Helensburgh zoo on 4294 1244 for tiger feeding times.

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www.symbiozoo.com.au 15

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2515 COLUMN

mindful v manic mama Tis the season to be hysterical, writes the multi-tasking and multi-talented Louise Charman-James.

“Yoohoo, where are you?!”

Silence. Mindful Mama takes a few steps down the hallway and peers into the kitchen.

She notes the half-drunk cuppa on the table, the pile of washing up in the sink, the cascade of Christmas catalogues spilling from the recycling bin.

She looks up suddenly as she hears a scraping noise from the roof. Surely not... it couldn’t be... not yet...?!

Then a disembodied voice floats down like gentle snow: “Is it over yet?”

Mindful Mama pulls down the loft ladder and regards her friend cowering in the dark.

“Is what over?”

Manic Mama sticks her head out of the roof cavity, her hair garlanded with cobwebs, her eyes wide with fear.

“Christmas!” she whispers hoarsely.

Mindful Mama chuckles. “Still to come, I’m afraid.”

Manic Mama sighs. “Not cancelled due to bad weather?” she asks hopefully.

Mindful Mama laughs. “That hasn’t stopped it for the past few years. I’m afraid you’ll just have to give it a whirl, same as always. What’s the problem?”

“What isn’t the problem?” moans Manic Mama. “The shops are full of rubbish even before Halloween, it’s supposed to be about Jesus’s birthday but apparently he was really born in April and they moved it to December to coincide with a pagan festival; Santa Claus is actually a Dutch saint, his red suit was a marketing ploy by Coca-Cola in the 1930s and let’s not even get started on elves and toy factories at the North Pole.

“Every year I get sucked in to buying a bunch

of plastic, battery-operated toys and then have a major guilt trip about sweatshops and landfill.

How am I supposed to explain all this to my kids who think it’s just about writing a shopping list and eating vast amounts of chocolate?”

Mindful Mama ponders the problem for a moment.

“I think you need to focus on the core values of Christmas like generosity, charity, kindness, community and so on, and encourage your littlies to do lots of lovely sharing, particularly of toys they don’t play with any more or the really noisy ones that give you a migraine.

“Plus Christmas offers endless opportunities for craft which can only be good for fostering their creative talents. Why not have them design their own wrapping paper, then wrap and deliver the presents to a local charity? Who wouldn’t love a present covered in squiggles, glitter glue and several metres of sticky tape? Hours of fun at both ends of the equation.

“And you can get creative too, Mama – how about making some Christmas tree decorations out of your jewellery, now that you don’t go out to posh places any more? Or wrapping paper out of all those shiny catalogues? It’s really up to you what you make of it.”

Manic Mama brightens a little. “I suppose you’re right. Do you fancy a cuppa and a piece of Christmas cake? I’ve got a lovely Lions Club one left over from last year. Fantastic how they don’t go off, isn’t it? Now that’s what I call sustainable!” 2515

'Santa Claus is actually a Dutch saint, his red suit was a marketing ploy by Coca-Cola in the 1930s’

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Louise Charman-James blogs at manicmamamindfulmama.wordpress.com

CELEBRATE the SUMMER SOLSTICE

On Sunday, December 21, Louise has organised a celebration of the summer solstice at Govinda Valley in Otford. There will be a picnic and seasonal activities “I hope that despite the craziness of Christmas, others will join me and my family,” she says.

More info: 0417 244978, louise@soulsignature.com.au

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2515 BUSINESS

summer style Australians love cruises. We are no. 1 in the world for cruises per capita. But the big question is: what to wear? Wendy Roche advises.

“Kaftans reign supreme on a cruise,” Wendy says. “Cotton or silk – natural fibres are always best because it dries quickly, you can wear it over a cossie and it’s still dressy enough to wear to dinner at night. And you’re not going to sweat to death like you would in polyester. The good thing about silk is you can just rinse it out in the shower with your shampoo, hang it up in the shower and it’ll drip dry in no time.”

Wendy recommends Inoa Australia (inoafashions.com), an Australian brand that has won awards for its unique, India-inspired digital prints. “They have just taken off overseas. They are an Indian family ... they do beautiful opaque silks that don’t always require a slip. It’s just like wearing nothing, it’s so lovely.”

Inoa kaftans are also “reasonably priced”, Wendy says, at under $200 in her store.

Ocean-inspired colours are in, she has noticed.

“I’m seeing a lot of lavenders and blues, soft greens.” Bamboo fabric has become enormously popular, Wendy says. “The benefits of it are it’s UV protectant, it’s anti bacterial, highly breathable, insulating, hypo-allergenic and it’s eco friendly, because its produced in an eco-friendly way, without using a lot of chemicals the way they would do with cotton.”

Waterproof shoes are a must. “People going on cruises ask for shoes that are stylish but can get wet,” Wendy says.

She recommends Wendy & Holly Australia, makers of jelly shoes that look like little lacy sandals. “They are made from recycled fabric and they are recyclable. They are durable too and comfortable to wear. The soles are non-slip.

[They’re made of] a polymer gel – you leave them on your feet for about five minutes, they start to soften and mould to your feet.”

This is great news for anyone with lumps, bumps or bunions, Wendy says. 2515 Wendy Roche owns Boho Chic boutique, next to Palms Cafe in Stanwell Park (bohochic.com.au, 4294 3111).

Boho Chic clients enjoyed a day of champers, chocolate and discounts last month.

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2515 BUSINESS

Q&A with...

Red Talks co-founder Adriana Forte Naili.

What are the Red Talks?

It is a conference designed to motivate women to see their fertility cycle in a whole different light. Red Talks is a platform to facilitate the sharing of wisdom between women.

What’s your role?

I’m the founder of Red Talks together with Jane Hardwicke Collings, a teacher, midwife and a pioneer in trying to raise awareness for natural birth in Australia.

Why do we need to listen up?

In our society women (and men) have become increasingly disconnected. We are all very busy doing our own thing, working, raising our kids in our nuclear family units and

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SPECIAL!

Readers, please type 2515 code when purchasing your ticket via eventbrite.com.au for a 15% discount.

Adriana with her daughter, 11-month-old Asha Rose.

what I see around me is a longing for connection. As women we are particularly wired for connection. We love spending time together and learning from each other.

Having women that have gone through something before us as a “mentor” can have a tremendous positive impact.

Will taboos be broken?

Yes, I guess, it is a taboo-breaking platform in a way. Red Talks hopes to teach us all that the fertility cycle is actually a tool for empowerment and not something to be ashamed of, or just disregarded. Many of us are even embarrassed of saying “menstruation” out loud. It is crazy.

Who can come?

Our first conference is created to inspire women of all ages. We’ve got mums coming with their teenage daughters, mums with babies, women going through menopause and wanting to learn more about the positive side of it, or women who are tired of trying to suppress their PMS or battle with “infertility” issues. 2515 Red Talks is at Govinda Valley Retreat in Otford, Saturday, December 6, from 10am-5pm. $120 includes lunch. Book via eventbrite.com.au or visit www.theredcentre.net.au

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2515 BUSINESS

marketing on a shoestring On a budget?

Annelies Voorthuis has some advice.

As a small business owner, it’s essential that people know your brand.

Quite simply, the more people you reach, the more sales you’ll make.

However, it’s important that you get your marketing strategy right and don’t blow your budget in one area. You need to make sure your marketing reaches a wide, targeted audience.

Here are some ways to market your business on a shoestring budget.

Convert your customers into promoters

Potential customers are a million times more likely to use your business if it’s been recommended by a friend. So turn customers into brand ambassadors. Give them a discount on products if someone they recommended buys something from you. That way they’ll be singing your praises. Think how you choose a supplier… The first thing you do is ask your friends for a suggestion!

of a button. Encourage customers to fill in a form with their email address on it whenever they buy from you and have a “Sign up for more information” field on your “Contact us” page on your website. This will help you build a list of email addresses to contact whenever you have a new product or offer.

Try and win an award

Entering for an industry award can be easy.

For some, all you need to do is write an application. If you’re successful, local press may be interested in speaking to you and it’s another accolade to put on your website or business card. It also gives customers confidence in your business.

Small Biz Connect can help you implement any or all these ideas! 2515 Annelies is a Small Biz Connect business advisor. Visit www.etcltd.com.au or phone 4223 0316.

Use Facebook

PR Most IZES FOR The R Creative : & eal B east

Set up a Facebook page for your business.

Upload photos of your products and update your status. Dapto’s Pretty Shiny Shoes operates mainly on Facebook and is selling lots of shoes! Have a look and see how she is doing it.

Run a competition

Give something away and get people talking about your business.

Start a blog

This could encourage people to spend longer on your website and will encourage repeat visitors. You should style yourself as an expert on your particular field or industry. It’s the perfect way to enforce brand messages and engage with customers. If people read and like your posts, they’ll respect your brand even more.

Have you seen the Illawarra’s legendary black panther?

Send photos to info@sublimepoint.com.au

WIN! Sublime Point Restaurant and Chilby Photography are giving away meals for four, guided bush walks and a portrait photo shoot. sublimepoint.com.au & chilby.com.au

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2515 TIDES

port kembla tidal chart  

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                                                                                                                                                                                         

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   The Bureau of Meteorology gives no warranty of any kind whether express, implied, statutory or otherwise in respect to the availability, accuracy, currency, completeness, quality or reliability of the information or that the information will be fit for any particular purpose or will not

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infringe any third party Intellectual Property rights.

The Bureau’s liability for any loss, damage, cost or expense resulting from use of, or reliance on, the information is entirely excluded.

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it’s a real thrill ride Join a bmx club and have fun, BMX star Kai Sakakibara writes.

Southlake BMX Club, based in Albion Park, within the Croome Sporting Complex, is a very popular local club. Both Saya [Kai’s world champion sister] and I are a part of this club. It is one of NSW’s biggest BMX clubs and has more than 200 members.

Racing takes place most Fridays. You can find out more information about Southlake BMX Club at www.bmxnsw.com.au/ southlakeillawarra/en-us/clubhome.aspx.

We are quite lucky in this region to be located close to several BMX tracks/clubs. Liverpool BMX Track, Macarthur BMX Track (Camden), Penrith BMX Track and Monster BMX Track (Sydney Olympic Park) can all be driven to within or just over one hour. Any of the above clubs will be very willing to help you get started in the sport.

BMX Australia (BMXA) is the sanctioning body for all BMX clubs in Australia, and memberships are offered in various forms: ● Club membership allows you to compete at your local/home club only; ● Open membership allows you to ride and

IT’RSE! HEDS A FR3O9M! $ www.2515mag.com.au 2515

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Kai Sakakibara in action.

Photo: Martin Ward

compete at all clubs in Australia; ● The four-month membership allows you to compete at any track in Australia at club and state level, excluding state titles and national events. At the conclusion of the period you will be eligible to become a full member with a $20 discount off the cost of a full membership.

BMXA started the four-month membership drive in response to the growing interest in BMX in Australia.

All that you need is a BMX bike, full face-helmet, closed-in shoes, gloves, and a long-sleeved shirt and pants.

Contact your preferred club or turn up for an event – everyone will be more than happy to help you get started!

For more information on local BMX visit the website at bmxnsw.com.au/southlakeillawarra, and also “Like” Southlake Illawarra BMX on Facebook. 2515

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downhill demons Elite winner Thomas Crimmins tames the Greenvalleys track. Photo: Wollongong Mountain Bike Club

The Illawarra’s first major downhill mountain bike event was awesome. Tim Robson reports.

More than 70 mountain bikers defied wild weather to compete in the East Coast Titles on November 15 and 16.

Mountain biking is enjoying a resurgence in popularity in the region, thanks in part to the tireless efforts of the local mountain bike club to secure a permanent venue for local riders.

After hosting events at a purpose-built facility in Appin for more than a decade, the Wollongong Mountain Bike Club was barred from hosting further events after a change in land-owner management in 2012.

Since then, club members have secured access to private land at the base of Macquarie Pass, where volunteers have created a network of downhill and cross-country trails.

Greenvalleys Mountain Bike Park is a multi-discipline facility currently open to the public only on nominated ride days and during race events. General admission is planned.

The East Coast Titles attracted a host of rookie racers, including more than 20 U15

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(From left to right) U19 racers Josh Lea, Connor Mackne, Jarrod Wynn and Connor Surgeoner.

Photo: Wollongong Mountain Bike Club riders, over the two-day meeting.

“For some this can be a daunting experience.

Even with all the new riders, a tricky track and crazy riding conditions, it was great to see the first aid and bike mechanics sitting around with next to nothing to do for the weekend,” said Michael Jones from the Wollongong Mountain Bike Club.

Organisers, with strong support from local businesses, are planning more events.

For more info, visit www.wmbc.asn.au. 2515

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