Alive Magazine - Edition 20 - March 2022

WIDE BAY

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MARCH 2022 EDITION #20

Empower

Edition

Running for love and life

WELLNESS FOR WOMEN

Bay dad beats brain cancer prognosis

Breaking generational barriers for change

Full story on pages 10-11

ONLINE MAGAZINE - WWW.ALIVEMAG.COM.AU

Full story on pages 04-07

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Committed Trusted

Quality Healthcare Dr Benjamin Omowaire MB. CHB:FRACGP:DIP AESTHETIC MED.(AAAM)& SKIN CANCER MANAGEMENT

Dr Benjamin Omowaire is a specialist general practitioner and a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. He holds bachelor’s degrees in both Medicine and Surgery and has a post graduate degree in pediatrics. Dr Omowaire has undertaken skin cancer training at the University of Queensland and Skin Laser and cosmetic training at the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine. With interests in all aspect of general practice, skin cancer, cosmetic and therapeutic skin lasers and rejuvenation. For more information on skin go to www.herveybayskin.com.au

Introducing Dr Clara Marin Zapata MBBS Dr Clara Marin Zapata has commenced working at Fraser Shores Medical & Hervey Bay Skin.

Originally from Colombia, Dr Clara has been practising here in Australia since 2006 and one of her favourite locations is Darwin in the Northern Territory.

She has worked in Queensland and New South Wales, and lectured at a medical school in Newcastle NSW. Special interests include: Gynaecology, Sexual Health and all areas of general practice.

Dr Clara is currently taking new patients.

AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

Dr Joseph Elengikal Dominin

Dr Flor Alba Sotto Rodriguez

MBBS MD DNB FANZCA DCH SACRRM

MBBS FRACGP

FACRRM

Dr Henry Sabondo

Dr Sonia Joseph

MBBS

MBBS FRACGP

OPENING HOURS

Monday to Friday 8am - 9pm Saturday 8am - 2pm Sunday Close

Book Appointment Online

www.frasershoresmedical.com.au Suite 9 / 1-17 Hershel Court, Urraween 02

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EDITOR’S WELCOME

E

mpowerment embraces the process of becoming stronger and more confident person, especially when it comes to controlling your life and claiming your right to be who and what you want.

When someone is empowered, they have the ability to accomplish something - and they know it, giving them the confidence needed to succeed.

All the remarkable people featured on our pages this month have accomplished so much in their lives because they have had the will to do so.

I walked away from my interview with Richard Ball feeling not only teary but incredibly inspired. After being told he had 15 months to live, he never once gave up hope.

He was never going to become a statistic.

Fifteen months after brain surgery he is cancer free and has outlived his prognosis.

He is now training for a 42km marathon in May this year.

During adversity, he has been triumphant!

Deborah MacGillivray has been running Family Midwives, her own private practice, for the last 13 years with the last two in the Wide Bay.

Deborah’s journey into the profession started with the birth of her fourth child, after being fortunate enough to have a midwife along for the journey.

She felt empowered by the experience as she was given choice rather than having to follow procedure in the mainstream hospital system.

ONLINE MAGAZINE ON THE GO www.alivemag.com.au

Tina Davie is another inspirational woman I had the pleasure of meeting this month.

THE ALIVE TEAM

Having known life on the streets as a young girl, Tina is now the CEO of the Hervey Bay-based Bayside Transformations Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre.

Her will to give back is literally transforming the lives of the men and women who turn to the centre for help during their darkest days.

They are a not-for-profit organisation that is making positive change in the Fraser Coast community.

Editor KERRIE ALEXANDER editor@alivemag.com.au

Founder / Creative Director JOY BUTLER info@alivemag.com.au

Deputy Editor LEANNE ESPOSITO

Digital Editor LIZZIE MACAULAY

Advertising Manager LOUISE HOLMES advertising@alivemag.com.au Phone 0477 094 335

Advertising Executive DARREN STIMPSON darren@alivemag.com.au Phone 0408 122 050

Advertising Representative KAREN WHITE karen@alivemag.com.au Phone 0418 197 386

Head of Distribution JAMIE BUTLER Phone 0428 137 968

Finally, with International Women’s Day on March 8, we celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

Our cover star Sonia Raco (not to forget her super cute therapy dog Leo) has made it her life’s mission to empower as many women as possible through a multitude of channels.

Her movement empowers and inspires women to care for and prioritise their mental health.

Your future is your choice. Nothing is permanent. Let’s make the most of it!

Kerrie

Deborah is now in hot demand with families booking in for the freedom to bring their child into the world how they want and where they want.

UPCOMING EVENTS

All editorial and advertising in Alive Magazine publications are published in good faith based on material, verbal or written, provided by contributors and advertisers. No responsibbility is taken for errors or omissions and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. All material in Alive Magazine is subject to copyright provisions. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

Feedback or suggestion?

Send to: info@alivemag.com.au

6 Mar

CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY When: Sunday, March 6.

Where: All around the Fraser Coast

What: Fraser Coast residents, schools and community groups are urged to get in quick and sign up for the country’s largest community-based environmental event, Clean Up Australia Day. Those wanting to get involved this year should log on to the Clean Up Australia Day website -cleanupaustraliaday.org.au to register their event.

12 Mar

FRASER COAST ANTIQUE AND COLLECTABLES FAIR When: March 12-13, 9am to 6pm.

Where: Maryborough Showgrounds

What: This event showcases products and services like pottery, antiques, memorabilia, and collectables.

8 Mar

ZONTA: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY BREAKFAST When: March 8, 6.30am to 8.30am.

Where: All around the Fraser Coast What: Fraser Coast residents, schools and community groups are urged to get in quick and sign up for the country’s largest community-based environmental event, Clean Up Australia Day. Those wanting to get involved this year should log on to the Clean Up Australia Day website -cleanupaustraliaday.org.au to register their event.

19 Mar

HOWARD STATE SCHOOL FAIR When: March 19, from 11am.

Where: Howard State School, William St, Howard.

What: Join all the fun of the fair and help raise funds for the school. There will be rides and activities with pre-sale unlimited ride wrist bands available online at trybooking. com.

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03

COVER S TORY

by Leanne Esposito

SELF-WORTH SELF-LOVE SELF-ESTEEM SELF-MOTIVATION SELF-CONFIDENCE =

SELF-EMPOWERMENT Memo to self: Always believe in yourself, even in those moments when you think nobody else does.

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n the flip side, try to remember there is always another woman ready to lift you up when you’re feeling down. There’s a whole world of women cheering you on and who values your worth.

This year International Women’s Day sees a number of missions to help forge a general equal world by celebrating women’s achievements and increasing visibility while calling out inequality.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8 it makes perfect sense that we would dedicate our cover story to a woman who has made it her life’s mission to empower as many women as possible.

In 2015 Sonia Raco founded the Executive Women’s Wellness Society, while working in Sydney. As a National Administration Manager and Senior Executive Assistant in the male dominated 04

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engineering and construction industry, Sonia identified a major issue for working women.

“Women were burning out, working seven to seven and sacrificing precious family time. Their family and their own lives were being impacted,” Sonia said.

“I created a movement that empowers and inspires women to care for and prioritise their mental health.”

With this first step, she discovered her life’s calling and has since dedicated herself to learning and sharing all that she can.

“I strongly support and encourage women to strive in leading a happy, healthy, creative, successful, and fulfilling life,” she said.

It certainly wasn’t an easy juggle. It never is for women who have for centuries been tasked with the role of homemaker, and now breadwinner; equally dividing their resources between the two.

Sonia, blessed with beauty and brains, believed that her mission included a reimagining on the role of women in the workplace. Transforming outdated perceptions, she commenced a holistic journey of self-discovery through education.

Sonia’s power shifted from commercial to caring. The transition from corporate executive to holistic healer was a massive leap. But like an Olympic gymnast she successfully straddled the two worlds. Adding hypnotherapy, Neuro Linguistics Programming (NLP), Emotional Freedom Tapping (EFT), kinesiology, mindfulness, and meditation to her armoury she was prepared to go to battle for women.

It was an amazing feat which gave rise to a movement empowering women’s wellbeing in the corporate world.

Women flocked to her speaking events.

“My first one was a free event at Customs House in Sydney.

I had a lot of self-doubt so you can imagine my excitement when over 70 women came to that event wanting to learn more about their health and wellbeing,” Sonia said.

That may well have been the first stop at Sonia’s wellness station and now her truth train is still chugging well along the tracks of empowerment and gathering momentum. Women climbed on board. Tickets to the events were selling like proverbial hot cakes. While in Sydney, she was hosting some 250 women at annual breakfasts where guest speakers would discuss topics of health, wealth, love and spirituality. It’s what women wanted but more importantly Sonia believed it’s what they needed. Then covid hit and more crises followed.

Sonia retreated to Hervey Bay and into the loving arms of her family of strong Italian women.

“I had been coming here since I was 12holidaying with my family. My parents retired here. I was also going through a very difficult time personally,” she said.

If you ever needed proof that there are strong women ready to lift you up, then the Raco family story is it.

Empowering others appears to be a strong family trait. You only have to look to their matriarch. Sonia’s mother Connie bucked traditionally imposed gender and cultural roles. As an Italian mother she pursued opportunities and was a strong role model to her three daughters.

She built her community childcare business and was a homemaker. Fortunately, her kind and loving husband believed in her from the start. He walked beside her, demonstrating how a successful male female partnership could work.

“My mother has always loved being involved in the community, working with children and in her local church. She also did volunteer work with the school and from there her passion to care for children came alive.

“That’s what I love about my mum she always pursued what she wanted to do. She managed a home, raised a family but also pursued an entrepreneurial passion. My dad, although initially reserved, became one of her biggest supporters proving that age old perceptions can be challenged and changed.

“I lost my dad 10 years ago. I have watched my mum do it all, build her community day care business, become a foster mother to many young and vulnerable children and help look after her own family. She is a powerhouse of a woman,” she said.

Today Connie and her three daughters work daily caring for others. Josie is the founder of Fraser Coast Disability Services in Hervey Bay and the youngest Gabriella, who is hearing and vision impaired, is the bookkeeper.

Sonia says that Gabriella runs rings around them in the office.

She is seen as the epitome of strength and resilience. Sonia tells me that Gabriella has never allowed her disability to hinder her life. It seems that mum Connie has been instrumental in shaping her daughters’ strength of character.

“Every time I feel like life has knocked me down I turned to my family for support. Growing up my mum often said to me never allow your mental health to be jeopardised or broken. That is yours and yours to protect, always make it your number one priority to look after it.

“Her words stayed with me and empowered me through hardships in relationships and toxic workplaces. I discovered my emotional and mental resilience. It empowered me and I feel I have a duty to share that knowledge with the community,” she Alive Magazine Wide Bay |

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said.

Sonia has now added a few more strings to her bow with Harmony Pathways, her therapy business offering support and assistance with anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, grief, loss, trauma, domestic violence and more.

“I have started a personal group of 20 women who meet every month. It is a free session. We discuss and share on topics that women are feeling as a whole. It could be on how to avoid stress and burnout, managing anxiety and depression or not feeling good enough. I coach them emotionally within their businesses, careers and personal life on mental and emotional resilience and breaking limiting beliefs. Some of those women have turned around their business, careers and personal life completely because we dig deep and do the internal work by empowering their subconscious mind. Breaking generational change and thoughts of not being good enough.

“I’ve seen a lot of women who I support whether it’s been in a personal crisis, in their careers or business. I help them shine and get through. It has personally taken me years to build my success and I work at it every day.” she said.

In September 2021 Sonia was appointed the President of Myriam Cottage, a refuge for vulnerable women. Marie Gibbon is the founder of the house in honour of her late mother whose life’s dream was to help women facing homelessness and struggling with their mental health. Sonia is a driving force who doesn’t just warm a committee chair, she gets out there and does it all from coaching and mentoring to community fundraising.

“Marie and I go to the neighbourhood centre where the tents are up. We scout out and look for women over 18 (we can assist). The house is built to transition an individual from homelessness to finding a safe space of their own. I coach and mentor residents and help them re-build their lives.

“Our committee started with five and I built it up to have ten.

We are involving the community in events. A walk to the pier for Myriam event to raise money for the house. I advocate within the community to get more donations and support.

We do whatever we can to help vulnerable women within the community,” she said.

As a holistic wellness practitioner Sonia works on the mind and body in numerous ways. The positivity with which she does is now underpinned by her publication, the Strong Mind, Fearless Heart Journal. It’s another tool in the Sonia’s bountiful box to empowering women. It is a beautifully designed positive affirmation journal created to support and empower women on their life-long health and wellbeing journey. The all Australian designed and printed journal was no overnight idea or money grab, it was a labour of love for Sonia during an extremely difficult time.

“It was a self-exploration journey. A creative outlet. I was working in corporate at the time when I was running a wellness lunchtime group of 15-20 women each week. Once I did the research I received feedback from them. I created and designed it to leave with the women between the sessions.

They would write in it and we would discuss their writing at the next session. I believe in these affirmations which I created and how they are an instrumental and holistic tool for healing mentally and emotionally,” she said.

Now the journal can be found at various outlets across Hervey Bay, The Dayman General Store, Pocket, Tinkerbells, Go Girl and Replenish Refill.

All of this work may seem like a lot but it’s just a day in the life of Sonia Raco. She is a livewire. It doesn’t stop with the Executive Women’s Wellness Society, Harmony Pathways or Myriam Cottage - there is more. She goes about sharing her empowerment and wisdom with all, including her sister Josie’s client’s at Fraser Coast Disability Services.

“We have a ladies’ night of about 10-15 women every Wednesday night. We do karaoke, dance and sing all while encouraging them to make friendships and have some fun. We call it Josie’s place.

“I am coaching them mentally and emotionally. Helping them break through their barriers living with a disability. Josie’s work is empowering. My sister decided we have really capable clients.

She has encouraged them to be paid for their work and to start

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new businesses, like photography and pet minding.

“The community are really believing in the program. Josie has a program called ‘Rising Stars’ and they are gaining in selfconfidence. Before they would isolate. With us they are loved supported nurtured and empowered. We want them to be in a safe and loving space and succeed at whatever they choose,” Sonia said.

Sonia’s women’s wellness program is eclectic and unique. As a holistic practitioner she works wonders on the mind and body by smashing self-sabotaging and limiting beliefs. Sonia digs really deep working at the level of the sub-conscious.

“Self-love is not only a long hot bath or going to the gym to exercise. They are practices we put in place to act out self-love.

“Self-love is actually where we consciously start to be aware of our self-talk, people and protecting our personal boundaries. It is reframing and mastering our mindset to ultimately become a better version of ourselves.

“Everybody has a story. Everybody has limiting beliefs. But how do you deal with that as a person? By being your own cheerleader and believing in yourself.

“A lot of people struggle with trusting themselves. There were times when I doubted myself too.

“But the difference is that doing the internal work is very powerful, reframing my self-talk to be positive because whatever is coming my way I trust myself enough now to know I can handle it,” she said.

Even today Sonia acknowledges the additional power of surrounding yourself with positive strong women is super empowering.

“My family remind me all the time of where I want to be.

Being around women who are empowering your goals and not protecting their own is important,” she said.

Sonia’s world is all about empowerment. I am reminded that her words mirror those of the great poet, author and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou who suffered terrible disempowerment because of her gender and race. Who as a child was so afflicted by traumatic events she did not speak for several years but who made up for those lost linguistic years, forever after writing brilliant eloquent prose.

You may not control all the events that happen to you but you can decide not to be reduced by them.

Sonia Raco wants you to remember that this is your world, that you are strong, you are fearless and you are more than enough!

She can help you take control and shape it before somebody else does.

It has been a privilege to collaborate with: Hair & Makeup: Emily Wilson Cosmetic Fashion Styling: Pocket Hervey Bay

Shooting Location: The Pop-up Party Co.

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07

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INTRODUCING ORTHPAEDIC SURGEON DR ANTHONY MURRAY

TH E P ROF ILE

Surgeons and Fellow of the Australian Orthopaedic Association.

Dr Murray graduated from his medical training at James Cook University in Townsville and Cairns in 2012.

Dr Murray went on to complete a subspecialty Hip and Knee Fellowship on the Sunshine Coast with Dr Daevyd Rodda, and further post-fellowship training in other centers with highly regarded Orthopaedic Joint Replacement and Trauma specialists in various prestigious hospitals in Sydney, Melbourne, and Newcastle.

DR MURRAY’S SPECIALISATIONS

He specialises in delivering the highest quality of surgical results in hip and knee replacement surgery, arthroscopic knee surgery, and orthopaedic trauma surgery. Dr Murray employs techniques including Direct Anterior Approach hip replacement, Kinematic Aligned Knee Replacements and Patient Specific Instrumentation, delivered with his team in a caring, compassionate, and professional environment to reduce patients’ pain, restore function and improve their quality of life.

“It’s evident through the relationship formed with my patients, and their post-operative outcomes, that my passion is to see that they have the best quality of life and not have their pathology hinder them from movement, and what they love to do,” Dr Murray said.

“I’m extremely excited to immerse myself in the Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay and surrounding areas and look forward to meeting and working with you in the coming months.”

MAKING AN APPOINTMENT WITH DR MURRAY

S

unshine Coast Orthopaedic Group (SCOG) is incredibly excited to introduce you to

Dr Anthony Murray, MBBS GDAAD FRACS FAOrthA, who will be joining our team from February 2022.

As Australia’s first Indigenous Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. Anthony Murray brings a great deal of experience having completed his specialty orthopaedic training in New South Wales, culminating in his admission as a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of

Dr Murray accepts referrals via fax, email or medical objects. He will be consulting from the Sunshine Coast Orthopaedic Group rooms at The Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital, Buderim Private Hospital and Nambour Selangor Private Hospital. He will also travel fortnightly to Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Gympie, and Northlakes and is available with minimal to no wait times to see patients in his consulting suites at these locations. Dr Murray also offers tele-health services at all locations.

At Sunshine Coast Orthopaedic Group we pride ourselves in providing the highest quality multi-disciplinary approach to orthopaedic care, where the patient is central to everything we do.

For more information, please contact us on 07 5493 8038, reception@scorthogroup.com.au or visit www.scorthogroup.com. au.

Are you considering orthopaedic surgery?

Dr Anthony Murray is a highly experienced and innovative orthopaedic surgeon who is now consulting from Hervey Bay and Bundaberg.

Dr Murray specialises in minimally invasive total hip replacement, knee replacement, orthopaedic trauma and sports injuries.

Dr Anthony Murray Orthopaedic Surgeon

Contact us today to discuss your treatment options. No wait times.

Phone: 07 5493 8038 | www.scorthogroup.com.au Alive Magazine Wide Bay |

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09

H OME GROWN

by Kerrie Alexander

EVERY REASON TO RUN 10

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here are moments in life that define who you are and reveal undoubtedly where you belong.

For Hervey Bay’s Richard Ball, that moment came in November 2020 as a young RWBH neurosurgeon sat by his hospital bed with sad eyes.

He delivered the confronting news that while the surgeons believed they had successfully removed a 55mm Glioblastoma Multiforme brain tumour, the average postsurgery survival time for this kind of cancer was 15 months.

Richard’s little boy had just celebrated his 5th birthday, his wife – after three years of unsuccessful IVF – was pregnant and Richard was happy in his career as a schoolteacher.

The couple had just bought their dream home overlooking paradise in Point Vernon – the perfect spot to raise a family.

He was the fittest he had been in his life, after making the decision a year earlier that he wanted to be able to keep up with his son, who he describes as a “Prep Sprint Champion”.

This goal had gradually progressed into the dream of completing a marathon.

With all this to live for, Richard wasn’t about to become a statistic!

Now, 15 months later and cancer free, he has officially outlived his prognosis.

“It was my boy’s 5th birthday the second day I was in hospital,” Richard said.

“The young neurosurgeon brought in a card, got all the nurses to sign it and presented it to my five-year-old.

“Then after the surgery he had to look me in the eye and tell me I had 15 months to live.

“I told him I would come back and see him on my son’s 18th!

That’s what I told him.”

“Of course, I’m aware of the reality- that the numbers don’t look good, but amazing things can happen. Maybe it’s only a 1% chance- but there’s no reason I’m not in that 1%.”

A family of faith, Richard and his wife have always had a strong belief that God has a plan for them, especially after the miracle birth of their second son, whose chance of survival in the womb was very low.

He’s now 11 months old.

The decision to lose 15kg and get back into shape was likely a big factor in Richard’s successful recovery and so was the way he decided to train.

“I had previously tried to start running a few times, but I’d always break down… I’d run too fast, hurt something and develop an injury and it was all over before it even began,”

“I found a Podcast about MAF (Maximum Aerobic Function) training, where you essentially run a lot of distance at an easy pace, keeping your heartrate really low… little old ladies are running past you when you first start,” he said with a laugh.

“A year later I was able to run much faster at the same heartrate, my fitness had steadily improved, I lost a heap of weight and my body felt stronger.

“In hindsight, the whole time I was doing this gentle running thing, there was a tumour in my brain growing larger and larger. If I had tried a more vigorous or high impact training approach, it would have all come crashing down.

“I am so thankful that I ended up being as fit as I’ve ever been, like I was 17 years old again, at the precise moment when I needed to survive brain surgery, endure cancer treatment and begin the recovery journey.”

The family was able to return home, with Richard’s treatment programme of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and threemonthly MRI’s all being available locally in Hervey Bay. He said the outpouring of support from the community had been overwhelming, including some financial support from local charity Rally for a Cause.

“There were endless decisions to be made, stacks of paperwork to complete, bills to be paid and in the midst of this storm, my wife wasn’t getting any less pregnant.

“It was at that moment that Cass from Rally for a Cause gave us a call and it was quite amazing! We felt like we were in the right place.

“Our community is the best and it’s why we choose to live here; we wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

Richard’s inspirational journey continued with training even while he was having the chemotherapy.

The final treatment was given in December and with just over three months left to train, Richard is hitting the pavement with more determination than ever to complete the Noosa Marathon.

“I told my eldest boy (who is now six) that he is the reason I am running this marathon. I want him to know that in our family, we don’t shy away from a challenge; we work hard, we believe in ourselves, and we come out champions! He’s going to be at the finish line in Noosa and I’m going to love charging up the home straight to grab him in my arms!

“Running is my proof that I’m doing better than just surviving.

My legs start pumping and I begin to glide. My breath quickens, my heart pounds and I let the dreams flow. But dreams aren’t meant to be easy.

“When I toe the start line of the 42km Noosa Marathon on May 28th, I will have completed more than the endless miles of training. I’ll have overcome brain surgery, thirty days of radiation and eleven months of chemo to be there and still, it’s gonna hurt!

“This is no ordinary run.”

Richard has had a second chance at life and he’s not about to waste it. For anyone who is having a bad day or worrying about something trivial, this is his advice to you.

“The sad fact is that nobody lives forever. And just because the doctors reckon my days might be numbered- that doesn’t stop me from living a meaningful life. The value of a life can’t be measured in years, or days, or minutes. If I get busy living and loving and wringing the joy out of every moment, my time on this planet will be wonderful.

“Of course, it’s not just me. Any one of us could be flattened by a bus tomorrow. So you have to make sure that you’re surrounded by your best people, today. You have to let them know how much you love them. You have to invite them to walk with you, as you put one foot in front of the other and step ever closer to your dreams.

“Why wouldn’t you? You’re alive!”

Anyone who would like to sponsor Richard’s run and help raise funds for Rally for a Cause can visit https://frasercoast.dungaderby.com.au/donations

leave the ‘Allocate donation’ field as ‘No team’ and type ‘RICHARD RUNS’ into the ‘Donation Message’.

“Thanks for helping to calm the storm for another family in need.”

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11

WI S E WORDS

by Kerrie Alexander

Choice in childbirth E

mpowering women with the choice to have the birth they want, where they want and how they want with little intervention.

That’s the holy grail of outcomes for Deborah MacGillivray – a well-known midwife who has been running Family Midwives, her own private practice, for the last 13 years with the last two in the Wide Bay.

Deborah’s journey into the profession started with the birth of her fourth child, after being fortunate enough to have a midwife along for the journey and continuity care from conception to birth and beyond at the Royal Women’s Hospital’s Birth Centre in Brisbane.

With her first three births in the “mainstream hospital system”, Deborah said with her fourth, she felt empowered by the experience as she was given choice, not instruction.

Along with their expertise, midwives bring a nurturing, emotionally oriented approach.

They practice in private homes as well as hospitals, clinics, and birth centres.

“My passion lies in educating women for the birth they want,” Deborah said.

“Women are the most amazing, powerful, intuitive, creative and courageous beings. Not only can they conceive and grow another human being, but they can also birth them.

“Often, we walk into a medical system and the doctor knows best because we’re raised that way.

“Women should be able to have choice in their care. Being pregnant, we’re not sick. We are healthy and I think it is 12

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important to take responsibility for our own care.

“If we do that for women now, we are setting the precedence for them raising their children, making decisions for their child from the beginning.”

Deborah, in her own birth could choose to move around in the shower or lay on a bean bag to give birth rather than the hospital bed, decide if her child would receive the Vitamin K shot.

It was the first time that she was actually handed her tiny little human before the cord was cut.

“When he was born, I was kneeling over a bean bag, and they passed him up to me between my legs. It was the first time I had ever seen one of my babies still attached to the cord,” Deborah said.

“Every other birth I had, as soon as the baby was born they cut the cord, took the baby away, cleaned it up, weighed it, gave Vitamin K, wrapped it up and handed it to my husband.

“I was just in awe of this moment. It was so surreal. For me it was the most powerful thing. I thought, oh my God this is what every woman should have.”

It was in that moment that Deborah decided to become a midwife.

“Even though I had been toying with the idea a bit, it was at that moment of his birth that concreted that idea for me.

“He was born in June, and I had applied to University by the end of that year and started a three-year degree.

“I had four kids under 10 and studied full time with my

husband working away.”

this bath. It’s their space.

She offers Continuity of Care across the pregnancy, birth and up to six weeks postpartum. This is for women choosing to birth at home.

“Stepping away from the hospital system is learning to keep my hands off and allowing the woman to do it. That’s the biggest lesson I’ve learnt.

Deborah has supported hundreds of births over the years with many of the women calling “as soon as they pee on the stick”, Deborah said with a laugh.

The first home birth she attended was about 13 years ago, where she assisted a good friend to have the birth she dreamed of.

Deborah described it as “the most magical experience of her life’.

“I can’t explain it, it was just so beautiful.

“She had the baby at home, outside on the deck with her older boys there, they made a bed for her outside. After the birth she sat feeding the baby overlooking the dam in the bush. Both their mums were in the kitchen making French toast … It was just surreal.”

With no other access to water births in the Wide Bay, Deborah now has three inflatable birthing pools to cater for the growing demand for home births and is also assisted at each birth by fellow private midwife Tere from All Things Birth.

She said research has shown that water offers great pain relief and the buoyancy helps the woman move around more freely.

“Women are choosing to have home births more and more to have access to water.

“We don’t carry gas so it’s like the epidural of home birth.

“They also feel safe, like a cocoon. No one can touch them in

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“Attending home birth was my biggest learning curve. I actually don’t have to do an awful lot for the women … they birth their own babies.

“Seeing the look on their face when they birth that baby or having the husband or partner help lift the baby out of the water is just amazing!

“Every single birth I attend I come away in absolute awe.”

To find out more visit Family Midwives on Facebook or the website familymidwives.com.au.

You can also tune in to The Dreaded Midwives monthly Spotify podcast where Debbie and two other practitioners cover all things birth.

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13

C OMMUNI TY CON N E CT I O N

by Kerrie Alexander

T

ina Davie has walked a mile in the shoes of the broken men and women who turn to Bayside Transformations in their darkest hour.

The CEO of the Hervey Bay-based charitable residential drug and alcohol recovery program had a history of drug and alcohol issues, childhood trauma, was made a ward of the state at of 13, was in and out of welfare homes and incarcerated into a juvenile detention centre for a couple of years from the age of 14.

It was while Tina was in a group home at the age of 15 that she decided she wanted to make change happen, not just in her own life but in the lives of others who had suffered the trauma of physical, psychological, or sexual abuse, neglect, or abandonment.

Tina found solace in her faith and the champions that helped piece her life back together, to the point where she started her own recovery program, charitable street van and counselling centre in Brisbane in the 1990s.

She worked alongside good friend Darren Yates for eight years before moving to Mackay to complete an Undergraduate Degree in psychology and Graduate Diploma in counselling.

A true success story!

It wasn’t long before she received a call from Darren in 2008 - who in that time had visions of starting a men’s rehabilitation centre in Hervey Bay - asking for Tina’s help.

The centre was open by 2010.

Twelve years on and Tina says she is exactly where she is meant to be.

“I came from a broken home and experienced sexual abuse and was incarcerated and things like that I my life,” Tina said.

“Coming from such brokenness to finding that healing process, I can now actually give back to other men and women and help empower them to find hope, and to discover a new life and find what they are passionate about and develop and facilitate that process.

“I ended up discovering who I am, and this is my purpose.”

The team, including Tina’s protege Lisa Love, started the not-for-profit centre with nothing in the bank nor any 14

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BREAKING THE CYCLE

resources which was an incredible feat, considering it is now a million-dollar organisation that does not, or never has, received any Government Funding.

Lisa had very little experience in work place and helping others but has now worked her way up to General Manager, learnt how to do the financials of the organisation, and is now doing her degree in counselling, oversees the therapeutic side of the program and continues to show great potential of eventually running the organisation.

The Hervey Bay program has 24 beds available for men seeking help, who live on-site to complete the 12-month program.

A further 10 beds are available to women at another centre in the region.

Tina said the core concept of Bayside Transformations Therapeutic Model is the use of the peer community to promote constructive social and psychological change in individual residents.

Group work encompasses educational, therapeutic and support groups addressing topics which include anger management, guilt, shame, social skills, assertiveness training, relapse prevention, nutrition, and self-worth.

There is a “Love” sign that Tina placed in the back yard of the centre which has great significance.

“On my journey I discovered what love was and that’s why I put that canvas there.

“A lot of people haven’t received or been given love. From this brokenness, they have been abused, and neglected and people in and out of prison; men who are fatherless and a lot of brokenness from families.

“Many of them are from families with parents suffering from mental health and addiction themselves, so they are going to raise that generation the same way.

“I want to stop that line going down those generations and that’s what we do.

“They didn’t ask to be in a situation where they get abused. I understand the pain of abuse, sadness, anger, abandonment, fear and loneliness in which an addict covers up these feelings by self-medicating using drugs and alcohol.

“We want them to be different fathers, different husbands and our programs offer that.

“They learn how to communicate, self-love and how to listen … everything about our program encompasses things for them to become functional.”

do with him, so he was forced to come here because he had a court case before him … he had such attitude.

“He was this tough guy, but he came and did our program and never looked back.

“He’s now part of the Board of Management of Transformations and he works as a consultant and counsellor at another Recovery Program called Salt.

“Someone like him no has an overflow effect and has helped so many other guys. This is the domino effect. He has helped facilitate change in their lives.”

Several graduates are also now employed in the on-site Vegetable Production Kitchen where they cut, peel and pack vegetables that are sold and delivered to pubs, clubs, and cafes all around the region.

“We have had many successful women and men come through the program who are now working in the field of community services or have returned to work of their choice.

“We currently employ five graduates in our business ventures, and we have about 20 volunteers who help in different areas of the organisation.”

The men and women pay 80% of their Centrelink income to take part in the program and the rest of the organisation’s outgoings are paid by fundraising, donations, small grants, and profits from the business ventures.

However, with their sights set firmly on continuing this vital service and buying the land, rather than leasing it, Tina said they are in desperate need of community assistance.

Anyone who would like to help can join the Partner for 5 initiative, which sees the sponsor donate $5 per week or a sum of their choice.

“We offer a lot in the program and of course we would love the public to sponsor us.

“We are the only service of our kind between here and Townsville and we’ve helped a lot of people in the Wide Bay region.

“It costs $110,000 to put one person in jail. It costs us $40,000 to rehabilitate a person.

“When it comes to mental health, families, and unemployment … we are changing the way our community looks.

“I believe we are a very important resource here in the Wide Bay region.”

To find out more, visit baysidetrasnformations.com.au or phone 4194 6621.

Tina said finding out where everyone’s strengths lie is an imperative part of their path to becoming fully functioning, healthy members of society.

“They might like admin; they might like helping people or motivational speaking.

“We start to work on directing them for course work or upskilling with trades for people who like to work with their hands.

“They have time in this program to work with that. It’s their talents in them.

“Because of their past, many have used drugs and alcohol to cover up the pain and when you strip all that back and start again you can find who they really are.

“It just could be one person that could change the world or go out and do something incredible!”

With a 65% success rate, it’s clear the centre is transforming lives and helping the community by reducing the cost of mental health patients in hospital, keeping people out of prison at a cost of $110,000 per year and reducing unemployment.

A perfect example of making change is the centre’s “poster boy” Ashley Bottrell.

“He was in and out of jail and his parents didn’t know what to

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15

LO CA L MUSI CI A N

EMMARA MENDOZA

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Have you always been musical?

For as long as I can remember. During primary school and high school, I was always a part of something to do with music.

Having such awesome music teachers influenced me and helped me improve my music skills. Shout out to Miss Harper, Mr Gornall and Mrs Rostedt. I have had the occasional gigs at cafes over the years, and performing on stage with other local artists.

What/who are your musical influences?

I love the 80’s! even when I’m driving or working at Su Jus Bar, you’ll always find me jamming to it. I also grew up listening to the Gorillaz, I love their unique approach to performing and their style. 80’s/90’s power ballad performers such as Stevie Nicks, Celine Dion, Air supply, REO Speed wagon, Journey, Phil Collins just to name a few. There’s too many.

What/who are you listening to right now?

At the moment I’m listening to Bazzi, Omar Apollo, Tame Implala and Foreigner mainly. I find their music has a really nice vibe to it, and recently I’m finding their songs relatable. And of course I listen to my own songs. Each song of mine is a memory or a want I have expressed into a song, so its nice to listen, reflect and dream.

Favourite line from a song?

“Please don’t hate me now, I cant help what I have found, I know its not the same, people change in this way” What I’ve found by Chichii. Yes, it’s my song, but that line is really powerful to me, regarding what I have been through for the past two years. Love sucks sometimes, it either works out or it doesn’t.

Do you practise regularly?

If you consider singing at random points in the day practise?

Then yes. But I also take the time to practise new songs for performing and singing karaoke with my friends.

Which instruments do you play?

During Highschool, I played the drums, bass guitar and guitar for the school bands. I really enjoyed playing bass so I would love to get into that again. For the moment I mainly play guitar and sing, but even though I don’t know how to play it, I think the piano is such a beautiful instrument, I will get into that as well.

What gig past, future or present would you like to have been to/go to?

Being at an MJ concert would have been so magical. He has been such a major influence for the music industry, he’s a true music legend.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years in the music industry?

Having a virtual concert on Fortnite, not because I like Fortnite, I just think its funny.

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17

L OCA L A RTI S T

by April Spadina

@AprilSpadinaArt

PAINTING WITH SOUL GINA DAVEY

W

hen Gina Davey sent her artwork to Sydney to contend in the prestigious Archibald Prize, she had no idea it would be the subject of a massive man hunt over a period of months!

Gina’s gigantic painting of the then Acting Prime Minster Warren Truss was lost in the halls of the Art Gallery of NSW and over the next few months it evaded the frantic search party, completely unbeknown to Gina.

Gina will never know the adventures her painting went on, but she will always have that impressive story to tell and enhance the fact she was chosen as a contender in the prize that thousands of Australians strive to achieve annually.

Gina is up there with the best, and as a multi awardwinning artist, she is delightfully humble and shy about her achievements. There is no need for her to boast of her talents, her art speaks for itself with richness and depth.

With a background in dance and ballet and a love for bonsai

gardening, it’s understandable Gina would have a meticulous eye for detail. Her exquisite paintings are full of emotion and soul, a quality she achieves by only choosing subjects that stir her own emotions. Her technique involves layer upon layer of brushstrokes and working in oils means the paint must dry between each layer, therefore it can be months or even years before a piece is complete.

Equally her pencil and charcoal drawings are intricate and time consuming with layers of cross hatching to build up the contours and bring the art to life. Her wildlife paintings are so intricate, you feel you could reach in and run your fingers through the bristly fur. Her human portraiture contains a depth of character that tells a story. She has a way of capturing something behind the eyes, a fleeting moment of thought, a glint of light, a hint of suggestion, those things that make you stop and ask questions of the subject. That is what sets Gina’s artwork aside and gives her another layer of richness to her paintings – the emotional layer.

Gina has mastered the art of creating looseness in her style, amid all the control and attention to detail. This can only be achieved by “destroying” her first stage of the painting by splattering, scraping, and messing up the detailed initial layers.

She then rebuilds, only allowing the pieces that makes her heartstrings tremble until she has seen the full effect of her reinvention. This technique is how she makes you fall into her art and swim amongst the layers.

Gina so perfectly describes her whole process as “a dance of art” and through music, painting, sculpture and pure heart, she creates a beautiful ballet on canvas. @ginadavey.artistpro

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WIDE BAY

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

ALEECA WATERMAN Q: What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

This is a powerful day because it brings focus to so many topics, so many issues that need to be discussed and addressed to continue to give women the power to have choices in their lives.

Personally, it means giving myself inner permission to say ‘Yes’, to so many things, without a need to self-justify or question my right to take what I want in life.

Q: How did I start and what are the highlights of my career?

Currently I balance my career goals between comanaging our Restaurant and a separate career in Marketing and Events. The life in hospitality was set from childhood as my mother ran her own busy catering business in the Bay. She taught me to work independently and professionally in this industry, to think ahead for event planning and how to co-ordinate various teams to achieve a smooth service. The skills I learned were incredibly useful as I moved to university, studying Marketing, Visual Communications and Design, During this time I finished my Duel Bachelor Degree, opened a restaurant, bar and function venue with our family and welcomed my two beautiful girls into our world. Setting up the support needed to study, open a business, and raise children in a flexible environment was a challenge but one I will not regret.

Under a year ago my husband and I together opened our own restaurant, the concept of Banksia Seafood and Grill had been with us for quite some time and as the Fraser Coast has begun to develop in recent years, we could really see the potential for a dedicated venue that focusses on regionally sourced high-quality produce. Our success would be nothing without his love and dedication to cuisine but my role behind the scenes to manage and coordinate the business is rewarding as I can be as flexible as I need to be within our family life.

Q: What does an equal future world look like?

Just that, Equal. A future where women do not need to address the issue of unbalanced work representation, unequal income opportunities and biased social expectations.

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WIDE BAY

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Q: How did you get into your current position and what is a highlight of your career?

It all started when I finished high school in 2002 and had completed a work experience position at TESS (Training Employment Support Service) in Maryborough. Dawn Smith who was my supervisor at the time had some real estate dealing with Wal Pavey Real Estate. She recommended me for the reception position they had available, and I then continued my studies and became a Property Manager within 12 months. To this day Dawn and I are still friends and are involved in Toastmaster Clubs across the Fraser Coast.

Coming into 2022 I remain in the Property Management Industry and have gone from being employee in 2002 to employer in 2019 starting Active Agents Hervey Bay. As much as many didn’t know it at the time, I could see Hervey Bay was ready for a paperless property management experience and released Active Agents to the community in April 2019. It was bold and risky at the time but knew Hervey Bay was ready and it has certainly created a more efficient approach with communication between all parties in the rental property transaction.

Q: How can we encourage future women leaders?

Women thrive from a network of champions including mentors, sponsors, and coaches.

This can help women leaders gain a clear understanding of the network they have, compared to the network they need. New relationships and new connections can be built with both the short- and long-term success in every individual.

Q: What does an equal future world look like?

Girls and young women are equally represented in decision-making opportunities and have the power to influence the crucial decisions affecting their lives.

People often associate ‘power’ with strength, domination or with the ability to impose one’s will.

But this is a limited view of power. A more complete definition of power is: the ability or capacity to effectively communicate an idea, influence people and take action. These types of power can be experienced individually or collectively. These are the values I instil in my two daughters Isabelle and Sienna daily and trust the work we do today will assist in creating a better tomorrow for our next generation of female leaders.

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WIDE BAY

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

JACQUI HIKUWAI Q: What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

It’s a day to celebrate women from all over the world, not just in the business arena, but to salute women from all cultures, in sport, politics, motherhood. It’s also a day to recognise how far we have come in gender equality.

Q: How did I start and what are the highlights of my career?

From a very young age I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mind, I would bite off more than I could chew and chew like crazy. You just need to find the way, and there’s always a way. One of the highlights in my business career is providing a platform for our local Indigenous community to share their beautiful culture with our guests onboard. Between our Butchulla guides and guests I see something click, it’s a connection to culture and nature. It’s such a beautiful thing to witness and for me personally that gives me great joy and pride to be a part of that.

Q: How can we encourage future leaders?

As women in business we need to lead by example, become a mentor to guide and encourage future generations. The strong and successful women in business that I know support each endlessly. I would also encourage businesses to employ women in what may typically be considered a male role and not underestimate what women are capable of achieving given a supporting environment.

Q: What does an equal future world look like?

Where it will become the new normal to employ staff based on their skillset and personality, where training and support is given to either gender without second thought.

People are equally remunerated and promoted into leadership roles regardless of gender.

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WIDE BAY

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Q: What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

I think it’s lovely to have a day to celebrate women’s accomplishments, but also to show other women who have not yet found their passion don’t give up, it’s there, small steps and you can do whatever you put your heart into. A dream is just a goal you haven’t brought to life yet. No matter your background, financial situation, education, or age, it’s never to early or late to start. Find people who support your goals.

Q: How did I start and what are the highlights of my career?

I actually started with Balinese massage, after completing that course I was so inspired that I went searching for all other styles, completed a diploma in beauty therapy, and have continued to study and grow over the last 3 years, I’m still studying more now. The highlights of my career?

They happen every day, to see a client feel better when they walk out than when they walked in is a highlight, I am very blessed to be able to help people in my work.

Q: How can we encourage future leaders?

Talk, inspire, give them tools they can use, tap into their passion their fire and encourage them. I have had so many other jobs in the past, I have raised my children on my own for 15years, we have lived pay check to pay check, “can’t” can not be part of your self talk, nor “but what if” don’t ever be scared to fail the first time, or the tenth, that’s how you nut out what works and what doesn’t. Help them make goals not dreams.

Q: What does an equal future world look like?

Equality is happening, it’s equity that also need to be focused on, finding ways for women to be able to achieve their passion. An equal future would consist of patience, flexibility, adjustment, encouragement and open opportunity for all. It’s so important we all support each other and help find ways to make goals achievable.

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WIDE BAY

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

24

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KATHY PAGET

Q: What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

GENEVIEVE DE SZOEKE

IWD is a time for us to recognise and celebrate each other in our local community, as well as women around the world, for our contributions to society. It’s also a reminder of the importance of gender balance in business opportunities, employment and wealth.

Q: How did I start and what are the highlights of my career?

I started our business in 1996 and I have watched it grow from a start up business with 1 staff member, to now having 4 offices, a highly qualified, experienced team of advisers and a fabulous support network inside and outside of the business.

I love being a business owner and working with our clients to help them to grow and protect their wealth, keeping them on track and accountable to what’s important to them, with clear goals of achieving and living their ideal lives.

My highlight is having strong, innovative, dynamic business partners who share the same values and commitment to our clients, our staff and our business, as I do.

Q: How can we encourage future leaders?

I believe that women are natural leaders, but sometimes they just don’t have the confidence or the environment to back themselves and to shine.

We have 12 women in our team, all different ages, married, single, mothers and grandmothers, who each bring their special skills and life experiences to our business every day.

My role as their ‘leader’ is to lead by example, recognise their strengths, and encourage them to be the best that they can, regardless of what they choose to do or be.

Q: What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

For me, IWD is a day where we can reflect on our personal achievements, our contribution to the community that we live in as well as acknowledge and honour the other women in our lives.

With our lives being so busy, it is important that we stop and reflect on how far we have come.

Q: How did I start and what are the highlights of my career?

The position that I am in now has been a journey spanning 20+ years. There have been milestone achievements along the way that are celebrated, such as accolades and award winners within our profession.

The highlight in my career is more around the simple things, around being part of our clients’ lives, provide advice and guidance around their financial situation, and the difference that we make.

Q: How can we encourage future leaders?

Encourage means give support, confidence or hope to someone.

We need to encourage each other, through the good and the bad. Support each other when opportunities come their way, or decisions need to be made and empower and pass on confidence to let them know that they can do what they set out to achieve.

Q: What does an equal future world look like?

It is allowing women to have a voice, and the freedom to choose what is right for them, in all facets of their life. Giving them the support that they need (regardless of gender) so they can make a difference in the lives that they touch.

Q: What does an equal future world look like?

An equal world is where gender does not come into the conversation. Where we are encouraged to live our dreams and back ourselves.

To recognise that we are all different, but that we ‘all put our pants on one leg at a time’.

Where we strive to be the best version of ourselves and give more than we take – the rewards will come to those who implant these values in everything we do.

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25

DUNGA DERBY

by Kerrie Alexander

A

EXTENDING THE LOVE

bout 330 very special humans from the Fraser and Sunshine Coast came together in 2021 to raise a monumental $510,000 for the annual Dunga Derby.

The teams smashed the previous six years’ worth of record fundraising efforts out of the park - an effort that could only describe as extraordinary.

A total of just over $1.8 million has now been raised for the Dunga Derby’s charity, Rally for a Cause, which has helped 152 local families and individuals affected by life-limiting medical conditions or who have had their lives turned upside down by sudden death or disability.

With such an outstanding amount raised, the RFAC committee decided to extend the success of the charity to the Sunshine Coast in 2020, with a further 5 families now being assisted in their time of need.

Kristina Barrenger is one of those recipients. Despite now being terminal from a brain tumour, Kristina continues to try and live life to the fullest with appreciation for every extra precious day given.

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Rally for a Cause Sunshine Coast has given this battler some much-needed help in way of financial support for her treatment and everyday bills.

Here’s Kristina’s incredible story:

G

rowing up in Canberra meant life wasn’t very exciting. There wasn’t much to do on the weekends and the weather was always ridiculously hot in summer and freezing cold in winter. There was no in-between! We had always wanted to live somewhere near the beach with more stable weather. So over about a 10-year period, my family always spoke of moving to the Sunshine Coast, QLD. There was always something holding us back or making it near impossible to do this until finally January 2021 my aunty bought a second house on the Sunshine Coast and offered it to us as a rental.

We jumped at the opportunity and move in date was May 29, 2021.

I left my amazing job and colleagues that I absolutely loved, and we were on the road. I was beyond excited to further my career as I had just completed a Diploma of Early Education and Care and had a job lined up.

Within days of being at our new house I started to experience some strange feelings. I was dizzy and feeling unbalanced and was having some double vision in my right eye.

I also was having trouble breathing but thought this was because we had just moved from a house, we were in for 30 plus years and the dust had triggered my asthma.

My stepsister and I decided to climb Mount Coolum and the higher we got, the worse I got. I was having trouble breathing and had to keep stopping for breaks, I was tripping over more often, and my eyesight was not quite right. I put this all down to having mild asthma and being my usual clumsy self.

One morning, I had got up out of bed and fainted. My stepdad took me to a GP where I had my inner ears checked and we basically put it down to having something slightly off balance in my ears, so he gave me some physio exercises to do at home and recommended I get my eyes checked with an optometrist and said I have perfect vision.

The next day was Thursday, June 10 and my family and I were out on a walk to Buderim waterfalls. I fell, I stumbled, and my vision was at its worst. Suddenly, my left leg started to go numb, and it was this point my parents decided it was time for the hospital. Little did I know within the next two hours I would be diagnosed with a brain tumour.

We presented to Nambour emergency room where they took me straight in and ordered a CT scan, followed by a second CT scan with contrast. The results came back showing a tumour on my brain stem.

I went into complete shock at this point and don’t remember much of what the doctor said, except that we would need to be transferred to the Royal Brisbane and Woman’s Hospital for an MRI first thing in the morning to find out more.

It was the results from this MRI that changed my life forever.

A 1.30am, one of the neurosurgeons came to my bedside and told me my diagnosis. It’s called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. It’s highly aggressive and difficult to treat. It occurs in an area of the brainstem called the pons, which controls many of the body’s most vital functions such as breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, swallowing, weakness, problems with walking and co-ordination, eyesight problems and speech.

It is fatal and the average survival time is nine-12 months post diagnosis. Radiation and chemotherapy are the only known treatments, which can only slow the growth, there is no cure.

Symptoms usually reoccur around three months post radiation and then you are offered Palliative Care.

I asked her, “Am I going to die from this?” and she said, “Yes. It’s terminal. I’m sorry.” And off she went to perform another brain surgery.

Mum and I sat there in silence for the remainder of the night, in complete shock. The next morning, I had many different doctors visit and explain more about it to me and explained it’s too dangerous to biopsy as there is too many healthy cells mixed up in the tumour, that the risk of paralysis or death is

extremely high if I choose to risk the biopsy. I declined, and they organised my radiation and chemotherapy start date.

I had six weeks of radiation daily Monday to Friday, during this time mum and I had to stay at the hospital accommodation nearby as the Brisbane Hospital is 1.5 hours from home. We stayed here for six weeks and went home on the weekends. I also had started daily chemotherapy.

During this time, my thumb began to appear a purplish colour, it was painful and swollen so we presented to emergency. They had concluded it was a blood clot but an extremely rare case of it being in an artery, rather than in a vein. It was a mystery how it happened, and doctors were mind boggled. There was talk of amputation if the treatment of blood thinners didn’t work. So, I started my 12-week journey of self-administering blood thinning injections twice daily. This worked a miracle, and my thumb is all back to normal now, no amputation necessary.

I finished my six weeks of radiation and was able to go home finally! I desperately wanted to start getting my life ‘back to normal’ and decided to start nature walks again. Within five minutes of the walk, I fell and fractured my leg! Three days later I fell and sprained my other ankle. It was here when I realised there is no ‘back to normal’ and life is going to be very different. I simply don’t have the strength to do the things I used to love doing.

Before we knew it, it was time for an updated MRI. The nerves were sinking in with thoughts flooding my mind. What if it hasn’t shrunk? What if it has progressed?

The three days wait for the results felt like forever! Finally, the news came in that the tumour has shrunk from 40x39x38 mm to 36x35x34 mm and was stable. Best news ever! I no longer experience symptoms, except the double vision which I now have glasses to help.

It was also around this time I was having many scans of my lungs and heart still investigating what caused the blood clot. Eventually they discovered a hole in my heart, and they concluded this is what caused the blood clot. They also decided it is necessary to close the hole so that it doesn’t cause more serious blood clots or a stroke. So that brings me to today – waiting for a date for surgery when they will close the hole in my heart.

There are some major risks involved in this surgery, but also equal risks if I don’t have it. It’s such a strange feeling knowing death is a risk for me whether I do something or nothing.

Waking up every day not knowing what could happen that day is daunting.

I wake up every day and face the unknown. I have always been grateful for each day but now I treat waking up every morning as a gift. Knowing I could die any day has made me grateful for every single day, good and bad.

Every day I am aware I am going to die well before I should, but I push these thoughts away because I don’t want to live what life I have left being overcome by the negatives because I still have a lot of positives to live for.

It has been one wild journey so far, with a lot of bumps in the road. The pandemic has made hospital stays, tests, and procedures very isolating and an incredible difficult experience without my loved ones by my side. My sister, her husband and their two children are living in Geelong, Victoria and are doing everything they can to relocate here as soon as possible.

My sister Katherine and my niece Riley are two of the most important people in my life and the hardest thing about all this is not having them here with me.

If it wasn’t for Rally for a Cause being able to provide some financial relief, then this journey would be very financially stressful for us, on top of everything. I am no longer able to work or drive myself around. We are incredibly grateful for the support they have been able to provide us and been able to ease that stress these last few months. Thank you so much Rally for a Cause.

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27

The Mercedes Benz GLE a picture of poise and composure.

Sensual surfaces, muscular forms and clear lines define the design of the GLE. It is hard to imagine a more elegant and dynamic expression of power.

Call Mercedes-Benz Hervey Bay on (07) 4194 4444 to book at test drive and experience the Mercedes-Benz difference.

www.mbherveybay.com.au Cameron Bates

Sales Manager Mercedes-Benz Hervey Bay

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Mercedes-Benz Hervey Bay 96 Boat Harbour Drive, Hervey Bay 07 4194 4444 LMCT 3585388 www.mbherveybay.com.au

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SM A RT MO NEY

by Kodie Axelsen

POWER & MONEY M oney=Power. It’s an age old statement. But does it ring true? I think money helps create empowerment because money can give you options. The option to buy that house, buy that car or go on that holiday. You automatically relate it to this ‘loaded’ lifestyle but what about the basics.

We have an issue of homelessness at this very moment.

Had these people have had money they could have purchased themselves a home or paid higher rent to gain a roof over their heads. Obviously that is a very blanket statement leaving the nitty gritty behind but the message is there.

If you have experienced having nothing or coming close to having nothing you would understand the options that having money can bring you. In domestic violence situations women can have trouble leaving as they cannot afford to do so for many reasons. Money buys us food, clothing, a home for ourselves and our children. I’m talking basic necessities. It is a tool used to progress in the world which takes me back to the money=power statement.

You could almost class it as a fact. With the pandemic we have seen people let their morals and their right over their body take a backseat because they require their job to keep their income to protect their families. That is how important this commodity is.

Now more than ever in this technological world we have so many ways to build a second income stream, even more so doing something that we love over choosing just ‘whatever job we can get’. I’ve seen what having nothing can do. It can affect your confidence, your worth, your mental health.

We rely on it so heavily for survival in this world that not having it can be so detrimental that it can cause an end of life situation. It’s why I write this column to teach people the importance of money, the options it can bring you and the independence it can afford you if you can harness it correctly. It is used as an exchange on a daily basis. It can be used and it can be abused. My question to you is how can you afford not to harness the power of money?

@cofinancecompany

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Authorised Credit Representative Number 478413

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29

MEET OUR REALWAY TEAM RealWay Property Consultants Hervey Bay has been servicing the Fraser Coast since 2004.

The RealWay Culture is and always will be “The Client First”. We listen to what you want to achieve, we listen to what your needs are, we seek to understand your position and we will have constant communication with you.

Our boutique style office has an aim to provide our customers and their properties the complete attention and professionalism they deserve. Our team brings with them a wealth of knowledge and experience.

We work as a Team and we believe that the rental, purchase or sale of real estate should be a positive experience. We believe that RealWay is an ideal choice for those who appreciate hard work and loyalty.

The Realway Team are here to help with all your Real Estate needs from Property Management to Sales.

Real Service – Real Results – RealWay

LEANNE GRIFFITHS

Our Principal Leanne guarantees personal client care and involvement in both Property Management and Sales, all backed with extensive professional knowledge and experience. Combined with determination and drive to succeed and her friendly, down-to-earth approach to everything she undertakes makes any client feel comfortable. With her personal experiences and 20+ years in the industry she will bring clarity, understanding, compassion and above all positive results.

Megan boasts over 14 years’ experience in Property Management in both Hervey Bay and the Darling Downs. Megan is an experienced professional with excellent communication and negotiation skills, a strong knowledge base and a strong work ethic and offers quality service to clients and customers. Megan has a “no fuss” approach to helping her customers and clients MEGAN PILLEZ achieve the best possible return from their investment property.

Lisa moved from running the family building business into property management in 2008, and in 2017 she made the natural move to sales. With her excellent communication skills, empathy and patience she quickly earned the reputation of not being a “typical real estate agent”. In 2021 her clients voted her one of the Top 5 Agents in Hervey Bay on Rate My Agent.

LISA SMITH

SYLVIA RALEIGH

RUTH MACDONALD With over nine years working in the real estate industry & experience in both buying & selling investment properties, rural land & her own homes, Sylvia has gained the necessary expertise to assist clients through the buying and selling process. “Making people’s dreams come true” is Sylvia’s philosophy and she works hard to facilitate a successful sale for a client and a successful purchase for a buyer.

With 30+ year’s experience behind him Dirk can offer you the service and solutions to your buying and selling needs. Dirk has a passion for the industry that keeps him driven and focused. Offering his clients the total package with extensive local knowledge plus enthusiasm supported by commitment to honesty, integrity and excellence.

www.herveybay.realway.com.au 363 Esplanade, Scarness | 07 4128 4255 30

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Dael & Tracey both have extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of office administration. Highly organised, efficient and combined with their strong work ethics provide support to all of our Team. They run our office with precision DAEL PETTIFER which ensures the background of our business runs smoothly.

Client service is of utmost importance to them both and their pleasant, welcoming demeanour is one you will experience when coming through our doors.

TRACEY SCHWARZROCK

DIRK VAN DEN HEUVEL

www.alivemag.com.au

Ruth recently joined the Realway Team coming from WA with a strong customer focused administration management background. Having owned investment properties Ruth is considerate of all aspects of property management. She is committed to making your experience with RealWay smooth and professional, encouraging input and working towards honest and respectful communication.

SK I N C ARE

THE POWER OF POSITIVE FEELINGS

‘T

o give the authority or power to do something. To make (someone) stronger and more confident.

To empower a person to take control of their life and claim their rights.’

Beauty for many women around the world means confidence, empowerment, and freedom to express themselves.

How beautiful is this word? Empower! As a beauty therapist I see and hear every single day how women judge themselves, pick themselves apart and wish they could change very small minute details about themselves, that mostly, others would never notice.

Our self-worth is a direct correlation to our confidence.

What I find most empowering in my industry are women who are now investing in ‘beauty’ or ‘self-care’ are allowing themselves to feel worthy.

Just by practising self-care we are empowering ourselves.

Empowering ourselves to feel, loved and cared for. Once one

by Kirsty Chenery

feels all of these positive and powerful emotions how could you not want others to feel the same. It’s a knock-on effect.

What things do you do to empower yourself? What practices can we incorporate into our daily lives to ensure we remain empowered and empower others.

Here at Mineral Earth Wellness Spa, we focus on inner beauty and health as much as outer beauty.

Our team strives to support women in all areas of beauty and bring a diverse range of expertise to provide nurturing treatments that restore inner peace and connection that help you to feel in control of your life.

When we feel confident it’s as if anything is possible.

Confidence encourages us to make those life changing decisions, to stand up for what we believe in and to take those calculated risks that allow us to live the life we want to live.

By taking the time to invest in yourself and have those treatments that make you feel amazing you can create confidence from within and that is powerful!

@mineralearthhb

FANCY A

Sp a C oc kt ail GETAWAY WITH YOUR FRIENDS?

75 mins of pampered bliss

$155

per person

- Relaxing Massage - Soothing, Nourishing Facial - Cleansing Hand & Foot Exfoliation - Dreamy Scalp Massage Plus...

A complimentary seasonal fruit platter with a glass of champagne (Minimum of 3 people)

The Oaks Resort Urangan (Enter through Hibiscus street) 07 4194 9860 info@mineralearth.com.au www.mineralearth.com.au Alive Magazine Wide Bay |

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31

FA SHI ON

by Kate Manley

Be the change

D

o you know that you are empowered to change the world, even in the smallest of decisions? If, for instance, you were to support ethically made, sustainable, pure organic fabrics, slow fashion and local businesses then you would be making a difference. In the fashion industry many philanthropic designers are leading the way.

Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS is quite remarkable in that for every pair of shoes sold, he donates a pair to a child in need. To date, TOMS have given away some 600,000 pairs of shoes! His vision was birthed while he was vacationing in Buenos Aires and learned that children there couldn’t attend school simply because they didn’t have shoes.

In a similar way, you too can be inspired to follow that dream and pursue what you are passionate about. This month, we are featuring a few of our favourite stockists who preference fair trade and pure design ethics.

1.

1. Fog Linen loofahs & eye-masks 2. Ethically made scarves by oncewaslost.com 2.

GET READY FOR TAX TIME We have provided professional, quality Accountancy and Taxation Services to the Maryborough and Fraser Coast Community for 25 years.

Income Tax Preparation Business Activity Statements Auditor – Clubs & Associations Business Advice Management Accounting

263 Albert Street, Maryborough Phone: 4121 5588 Email: janet@janetchildsassoc.com.au www.janetchildsassoc.com.au 32

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4.

3.

5.

7.

6.

3. 100% Cotton throws / shawls from Turkey 4. Handmade paper journals & notebooks 5. Fog linen teatowels & drink coasters 6. Handmade wooden platters from Java 7. Locally grown cotton cushions from Ethiopia 8. Handcarved rustic stool from Morocco 9. Handwoven blanket from Ethiopia

9.

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40% TO 70% OFF SELECTED STOCK IN OUR BACK ROOM

ARTIST

QUALITY ITALIAN CLOTHING

572 ESPLANADE, URANGAN HERVEY BAY

WWW.LUXEHERVEYBAY.COM MON TO SAT 10AM - 3PM Alive Magazine Wide Bay |

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33

HOME PROJECT

by Kim Harris

DIY EMPOWERMENT-

CLAY SOUL KEY

@messyzen @diykimi

@rockpaperflow @messyzenart

F

inding one’s personal empowerment through healing sounds about as fun as looking for a carpark on Christmas Eve…

Soulfusion Therapies is different, making the process dynamic, energetic, and sometimes a little bit fun!

Trawling through the stinky stuff of your life can be challenging to traverse. I would not have known where to start or made the time or commitment to see what I was really feeling. Having support and guidance made the process of navigating change and difficult emotions feel safer.

When I first made an appointment at Soulfusion Therapies I needed help navigating change. I was very sceptical and booked a massage with Sophia for our first session. I wanted to gauge if she was ‘the real deal’ before committing to the kinesiology WOO WOO healing modalities on offer. That was six months ago!

Sophia helps you see and feel the pain, disappointment, grief, loss, and heartache. At first it felt like the opposite of empowerment. My personality tires of repetitive experiences, but sessions never felt boring. I always have a quirky story to take back to the family after seeing Sophia.

My biggest learnings were focused around supporting myself, to be strong enough to weather the storms. Learning the Hawaiian Ho’oponopono way of accountability and forgiveness in relationships.

Connecting with my intuition, releasing self-sabotage made way for acceptance. The acceptance felt uncomfortable at first, slowly a softening happened.

Sophia might stroke your arm with a kind ‘there, there’ giving you just enough encouragement to wipe a tear - then look at you with her fierce sparkly eyes, make a joke, then instruct you to get ready to slay your next gremlin.

The journey with Sophia is personalised; the body decides the tools Sophia uses to assist in healing, and every person responds in their own way.

A warm glow, giving myself some credit, cutting some slack – feeling optimistic, knowing It’s going to be okay.

A-ha light bulb moments guided the way!

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Sophia describes the process as serious but emphasises that it can also be fun! You can feel Sophia’s playful energy, helping to cut the tension and allowing cheerful qualities of my personality to appear in sessions.

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That joy is DIY!

Sophia was never soft on me, nor hard. She knows how to apply the right pressure to crack open the parts of your soul that you need to see - then heal.

Sophia & I made a key, you can too. DIY

Materials

Journal or Art book / Pencil / Air Drying Clay / Wire and wire cutters

Any random pieces of collage that catch your eye to possibly add or use for patterns.

One slow piece of music and one fast piece of music.

Process

Place your hands over your heart and take three deep breathes in through your nose and out through your mouth.

Connect in with your heart, feel it’s warm, safety and embrace.

Whilst in this space bring to mind a time that you achieved something significant and chose to not stop and celebrate your success, or achievement.

Spend one minute writing your story down; what happened, who was in the story, your age, your experience of it. Just let the story flow out.

Now reconnect with your heart and notice where this story sits in your body blocking you celebrating your awesomeness.

Putting on your slow track and move that story around your body – feel into it, notice its colour, if it is dark, hidden, what are its qualities? During this slow music ask your block what it needs to dissolve. Just allow what comes to mind to flow unattached to the messages.

Connect with your heart space again and gift that blockage the gift that it needs. In your imagination place the gift into that place in your body so that it integrates and heals and dissolves.

Now, put on your fast track and shake the new energy into every cell in your body. Shake out and into the space your

time of celebration. As you move and dance, you can feel proud of all you have succeeded in. Pull that energy into your body, up through the top of your head, up through your feet allow your light to shine bright.

It is time to create your Soul key. This represents your journey here and now and as a reminder to embrace all that you do from the small daily achievements to the bigger goal orientated ones.

Using the clay, or any other material that resonates for you, create a key that reflects anything and everything that you saw or felt as you used your dissolving powers. Maybe an animal came to mind, or a colour or word – you can jot these down to help you remember.

Finally have a chat with your completed key.

What permission do you now give yourself and what will that look like?

How will you celebrate your future successes?

Give yourself permission to unlock your authority. Your authority to celebrate yourself. How would you re-write the story that you started this process with?

Finish up by placing your key on the healed part that had the block and just breathe and connect in with each other as you celebrate the work you have both just done.

TIC HOLIS LL WE

Healing can be

N

ES S

PR

ACTITIONER

WITH SOPHIA WILLIAMS-MARTIN

Phone: 0405 463 584

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35

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY & MUSIC FILM Love is a powerful thing, it gives me goosebumps.

My heart is over-joyed to be able to create breathtaking keepsakes for you. It is a passion that lies deep within my soul that allows me to give you something special to adore. A moment in time, that is created through the beauty I see in you. It gives me such pleasure to sit with my clients and show them what my eyes saw through the lens and watch their faces light up when they too see, what I saw.

JOY BUTLER

AN BUTLER

PHOTOGRAPHER

CINEMATOGRAPHER

F A M I LY . P O R T R A I T . F O R M A L . C O M M E R C I A L WWW.JOYBUTLER.COM.AU 36

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|

EMAIL: INFO@JOYBUTLER.COM.AU

L I FE C H A T W I TH M I CHELLE

FINDING THE ME IN EMPOWERMENT W

elcome to March’s edition of Life-Chat.

This month I’ve been on a personal quest.

My quest has been to hold a sense of internal peace, despite the choppy ocean of emotions that surrounds me.

Sometimes I feel like I am a small island, threatened by an encroaching tide. I wonder if you can relate to how I have been feeling.

It can be a challenge, in a climate of pervasive anxiety, to feel balanced and serene. When we are continually bathed in media messages that provoke concern and fear, inner peace is a fleeting guest.

Hence my goal of creating and sustaining peace within myself. It’s the only rational place to start.

My quest has reminded me of several important truths.

It took me a few decades to realize it but accepting responsibility for myself is the most important responsibility of all.

After a marriage breakdown in my early 40s, I discovered that a gnawing sense of self-doubt inhabited the spaces where confidence once belonged.

Re-establishing that confidence took dedication and several hard life-lessons. The most important lesson involved empowerment. Discovering that empowerment always begins within me was the catalyst to my recovery.

The other essential aspect of this lesson was that empowerment does not necessarily mean getting what we want. Sometimes we are faced with choices in which no outcome feels okay, and yet, how we respond to those choices is where our empowerment lies.

Recently I ran into a friend who reminded me of this. She was deeply distressed by a breakdown in the relationship with a close family member. The original trigger had seemed trivial, but unfortunately the estrangement grew wider and the hurt on both sides cut deep. Although she

by Michelle Robinson Bach. Counselling.

Dip. Clinical Hypnotherapy

had grounds for feeling wronged, my friend decided to buy flowers and seek peace with her family. She did so even though she knew the likely outcome would be the door would be closed to her and her love rejected. She did so because she knew that she could never feel she had been true to the love in her heart, and the person she was, if she didn’t try to repair the relationship.

There were no good options. My friend’s choice was made according to her values and deepest convictions. That’s empowerment.

When her offer of peace was rejected, she consoled herself with the knowledge that she had acted with integrity, dignity and love. As I said before, sometimes, empowerment does not result in getting what we hope for. However, it’s a life-raft in difficult times, and is enough to keep us afloat while we scout for dry land once more.

My quest for internal peace involves a determined effort to remain aware of what is happening for me in the present moment. Many people call this ‘mindfulness’, but it’s a strategy that stops me worrying about the past or anticipating problems in the future. I also remind myself that no matter what life brings me, I can cope. There are no guarantees in this unpredictable journey, but I have confidence that I will cope with the twists, turns and challenges my life offers.

My wish for you this month is that you also have a steady sense of self belief – an internal compass that helps you find peace within. Regardless of the external climate, you can always gift yourself that.

If you would like to stay connected with me to receive positive tips for life each morning, feel welcome to join my free Facebook group “Your Intuitive Gifts At Work.” Here is a direct link where you can join my group https://www. facebook.com/groups/yourintuitivegiftsatwork Until next time.

www.facebook.com/groups/yourintuitivegiftsatwork

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37

OUTSTANDING SCHOOL

OUTSTANDING OUTCOMES 10 MARCH 2022

TASTER DAY All Year 5 & 6 students are invited to experience a day at St Mary’s College!

There is no cost, and all visiting students will receive a Taster Pack

PRINCIPAL TOURS AVAILABLE

Looking for an exceptional education for your child?

We invite you to join us for a tour.

Discover an Outstanding School at St Mary´s College!

Leading the region with Outstanding Outcomes, students are supported with unique education programs, advanced Senior Schooling opportunities and direct pathways to University.

Feel supported with inclusive fees covering a leading Individual Laptop Program, Camps, equipment and more.

Let your child grow into a confident and successful individual at St Mary´s College.

Years 7 - 12 www.smcm.qld.edu.au (07) 4190 2200 38

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P A RE N TING

by Amanda Coop

NAVIGATING INDEPENDENCE “T

his parking situation is getting ridiculous,” I told the kids as we sat waiting with all the other school traffic queued through the carpark and surrounding streets.

“I think, one of these days, we might have to start walking home.”

“Walking?!” Mr 6 responded in a tone that made it sound more like I’d just suggested he jump off a cliff into a sea of hungry piranhas. “I don’t want to walk.”

“Me neither,” added Miss 10 in that surly, after-school, I-don’t-want-to-do-anything tone.

OK, I kind of get it. The weather’s still hot. His backpack is nearly as big as him and hers is nearly as heavy as her, thanks in part to her gigantic new water bottle that could probably sustain us all for a week if we did wander horribly off track on the way home and get stranded in the unforgiving suburban wilderness (read: a bit of overgrown grass here and there). They’re always tired at the end of the school day and ready to just flop down for a while.

But, as I reminded them in that annoying parent-y tone, we would actually get home quicker most days by walking rather than driving.

And, as I also like to remind them in that annoying parent-y tone, I used to ride my bike to school on my own when I was Mr 6’s age. Well, actually, that’s not true. I did have the supervision of my then-eightyear-old brother.

Now besides the fact that it’s probably illegal these days to walk unaccompanied at their ages, my kids have much busier roads to traverse than those of the sleepy town where I spent my early years. So, I’m not necessarily suggesting they should go it alone. Given I’m also not doing any paid work at the moment and

have both the time and ability to take them to school, it seems a bit … dare I say … irresponsible to send them off like tiny but less nimble Sherpas with their huge packs.

But am I actually doing them a disservice by not shoving them out into the big, wide world to fend for themselves? In this particular instance I’d say no, I’m not, I’m just keeping them alive, which is, I imagine, parenting goal number 1 for most people. It does make me think, however, that it’s time to loosen the apron strings in other departments, and maybe we could start by walking home from school together, even if that does require me making the ultimate sacrifice (exercise, that is, not death, although I imagine the two feel quite similar).

We all want not just to look after our kids, but to give them the ability to look after themselves when the time comes. When they’re very little it’s easy because they just go everywhere with you. Navigating their independence as they get older is trickier. I feel it’s somewhat disempowering to be everywhere with our kids, whether that’s physically or at the other end of a mobile phone, but on the other hand I see my kids so much more confident and articulate than I was at their ages and I think it can’t be all bad. Each can approach a shop assistant, ask and pay for things on their own and speak clearly and politely with adults, whereas I peed my pants in Grade 1 because I was too shy to interrupt the teacher to ask to go to the toilet.

So perhaps I shouldn’t be worried about them walking without me, perhaps I should be worried about walking without them. We might need to stop and ask directions to the nearest bathroom.

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OTHERS MAKE WE CREATE

DELICIOUS PIZZA

DINE IN OR TAKEAWAY . NO BOOKINGS REQUIRED

446 THE ESPLANADE, TORQUAY Thur to Mon 5:00pm to late | www.paolospizzabar.com.au 40

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Photo credit: Tourism and Events Queensland

DE STI N A TIO N

THE PERFECT ESCAPE

by Kerrie Alexander

HAMILTON ISLAND W

hen the opportunity came up to spend seven days on Hamilton Island in the breathtaking Whitsundays, I had no idea what to expect.

My OCD went into overdrive with questions; How big was the island and could you walk it, was the apartment we were booked in really just a stones throw from the iconic Catseye Beach, what restaurant did they have and would they cater for kids?

Would Mr 8 be bored, or would we need to send him to the Clownfish Kids Club?

No amount of Google searches could prepare you for this exquisite destination.

The holiday feels started as soon as we boarded the airport shuttle bus to our accommodation at the Whitsunday Apartments. The spacious one bedroom, fully self-contained apartment was a home away from home.

The million-dollar views from the balcony, and the hundreds of feathered friends that came to say hello each day, had to be seen to be believed.

We had a four-seater and there was no training required. The island is almost car-free so instead of car parks, there’s buggy parking all around the island and charging stations at your accommodation.

Most of the pools are adjacent to the hotels … our favourite was the Bougainvillea pool, where there’s a bar with delicious apple mojitos and hot snacks.

I was also told by veteran Hamilton holiday makers to book the restaurants well in advance even though it was off-peak.

Again, it was a good move. You can view the menus online and decide which suits you best.

The more up-market venues weren’t popular with my fussy crew, but that’s not to say the meals weren’t nice. Just different!

I highly recommend the Marina Tavern for some awesome classic pub-style meals. It was also the only place on the island where we could get Mr 8’s go-to chicken and chips. You can just stroll into this venue at your pleasure. No booking is required.

To save a few dollars, providing you book a hotel with a kitchen, you can opt to do your own cooking by shopping at the Marina IGA, with a bottle shop right next door. The prices were very reasonable.

What I also didn’t know before we arrived is that there’s a pizzeria, fish and chip shop and bakery for when you’ve had enough of restaurant meals.

Mid-week of our adventure just happened to fall on my 40th birthday. While we had originally planned for a day of quite cocktails by the pool, a last-minute decision was made to book a super special helicopter flight over to Whitehaven Beach – named number one beach in the world.

Mr 8 had never even been on a plane before, let alone a helicopter, but he took it all in his stride. There was absolutely nothing to fear. The pilot gave us a tour over the incredible Whitsundays before landing on the beach. He set up an umbrella, picnic blanket and a bottle of champagne for us to relax with while he flew off to collect his next passengers.

He arrived back to collect us about an hour later. We made some wonderful memories that day.

At check-in the only rule they had was to keep the balcony door close while we weren’t there. Well, we forgot one day and paid the price with the cockatoos having a field day with every bit of food they could find off the kitchen bench!

Many of the blogs I visited beforehand recommended hiring a golf buggy a few months in advance to get around in for the week and I’m so glad we did! It gave us the freedom to do a self-drive tour around the island, which was so much bigger than I expected.

If you want the whole experience like heading to One Tree Hill for the spectacular sunset and cocktail every afternoon, go-kart racing, mini golf, a day at the spa, lunch time drinks at the Tavern, a visit to the wildlife park to pat a koala or a throw a ball down the bowling alley – the buggy is a must!

It’s like a tropical township, not a resort.

What makes Whitehaven so unique is the 98.9% pure silica sand that graces the 7km long beach. Silica sand comes from eroding quartz, so there is much speculation about where the sand came from, as it is the only area in the Whitsundays that consists of this fine powdery substance. You could feel the silicon on your skin!

We packed in a lot of holiday fun over the seven days, including an Explore sunset cruise on board a catamaran.

There was a little bit of chop on the water, but nothing could spoil such a spectacular sunset.

Downloading the Hamilton Island App before you go will ensure you don’t miss out on the daily activities on offer. You can also view maps, book a restaurant, book tours, view menus, and heaps more.

Hamilton Island gets the full five stars from me!

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TH E B I G CAT CH

FISHING FOR BETTER WEATHER The past month’s wild weather has seen many days in the shed doing maintenance for Fraser Coast boaties. Let’s hope things settle for March and we get out amongst a few fish.

Local Reefs

The Burrum is running fresh at present and working the lower reaches will see the best results. Queenfish, barramundi, whiting, flathead and trevally have been reported. Tuna have been about around out the front of the Burrum and the Burrum 8-Mile, along with the odd spotted mackerel.

Urangan Pier

Burrum

Platypus Bay

Platypus Bay has seen tuna move in the bay over the last few weeks. Working stick baits, soft plastics and metal slugs has seen the best results. Spotted and school mackerel have been found under the tuna along with golden trevally. Anglers looking for a feed can find good numbers of scarlets at night on cut baits.

by Andrew Chorley

Recent flood waters from the Mary River system have fired up the inshore reefs. Grass sweetlip, parrot, cod, coral trout and blackall have been reported. Soft vibes and prawn imitation lures have been working well on the reefs.

The dirty water will suit anglers looking for whiting off the Pier and local beaches. Live yabbies have been the best baits for the whiting. Bream, barramundi, GT’s and flathead have been other captures from the Pier.

Sandy Strait

The strait has seen a big influx of fresh water over the last few months. Reports of some good barra fishing have come from the Mary River and strait, with fish over a meter being captured. Salmon have been reported down the strait around the Diamonds and Ungowa. Whiting have been caught on the western flats along Fraser Island with grunter and flathead also about.

Hervey Bay Fly and Sportfishing

www.herveybaysportfishing.com.au

Hervey Bay Fly and Sportfishing owner and guide Andrew Chorley takes some time out to show how it’s done, catching this massive thread fin salmon in the Mary River.

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B RA NDI NG DES K

LET THEM LOVE YOUR BRAND

by Marta Hackett

P

eople need connections more than ever. They want to build a relationship with you and connect with your business like a friend. As a business owner, it is your responsibility to learn about your customers and deliver their needs. Knowing your customers’ needs and desires will help you serve them and let them love your brand. Here are a couple of ways you can learn more about them: Explore demographics & psychographics

Age, gender, lifestyle, occupation, income, what magazines they would LOVE to read and even what they would DREAD to read. Festivals they would attend. Even their hair colour. Be specific.

Emotion is the highest driver for connection

First impressions matter, how do you want your brand to make people feel? Stronger emotions evoked always equal a deeper connection.

Tip:

List the emotions you would love people to feel when using your product or engaging in services. Now you can reverse engineer your brand messaging and hone marketing efforts.

E.g. if you want people to feel ‘cared for’ then you can add a new policy within your business that provides an extra level of care to all new customers with high levels of customer service or even a genuine gift.

@the_solutionist

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Now create a list of the actions you want your customers to take when they come across your business. E.g. sign up for a newsletter, purchase a product, enrol in a course and more.

Make it as specific as possible. If you have more than one list each one.

These little actionable exercises will give you a clear, pocket sized road map for developing your branding and marketing efforts.

Empathy is key

People need to feel heard and understood. Discover the pain points of your ideal customers and let them know you hear them! Paint a picture of how they feel, what they deal with and your unique solutions. This builds connection and a genuine foundation of trust.

Have self-sovereignty & conviction

This attracts those with similar values and can even build a community. Don’t fear pushing people away who do not share the same values as you. They may not be your target audience and are better suited for someone else. Your perfect customers are abundant and out there looking for you! Free yourself of misaligned relationships so that you can make space to welcome new clients and customers.

If you have any burning questions, send me a DM! I’d love to help.

H E A L TH H UNT ER

BREAKFAST BURRITO

by Rhian Hunter

SERVES 4

FOR THE SCRAMBLED TOFU:

FOR THE VEGGIE FILLING:

Method:

½ tsp. of Cumin (ground)

250g Cherry Tomatoes (halved)

2. Place a sheet of paper towel on a plate, and place tofu on top. Cover tofu with another sheet of paper towel to try and squeeze out any excess moisture.

300g of Organic Firm Tofu ½ tsp. of Curry Powder

½ tsp. of Turmeric (ground) ½ tsp. of Cayenne Pepper ¼ tsp. of Salt

1 TBLS. of Nutritional Yeast Flakes 1 tsp. Olive Oil TO SERVE:

Gluten Free Tortilla

Coriander Leaves (torn)

1 Red Capsicum (sliced, thinly)

3 Cloves Garlic (chopped, fine) 1 Red Onion (sliced, thinly)

½ Bunch Kale (leaves torn)

4 Baby Potatoes (chopped into tiny sized pieces, skin left on) 1 tsp. of Cumin (ground) Salt & Pepper (to taste) 1 TBLS. of Olive Oil

*1 tsp. Chilli Flakes

1. Preheat oven to 200°C.

3. Toss all of the veggie filling ingredients except kale together until combined and evenly coated in oil and spices.

4. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, (add the kale at 20 minutes, and cook for a further 7 minutes).

5. Heat a tsp. of olive oil in a non-stick frying pan, add the spices and nutritional yeast to the pan, and cook until fragrant.

6. Remove the paper towel from tofu, and mash it up with a fork until it resembles scrambled egg.

Add the scrambled tofu to the frying pan, and continue to cook until tofu is completely coated in the spices. Remove from heat.

7. Assemble your burritos with both the veggie filling and scrambled tofu. *OPTIONAL

@healthhunternaturaltherapies

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MARCH inspiration

INSPI RA TI ONS

by Alison Dunlop

This month’s quote sums up Empowerment!

“How would your life be different if … You stopped allowing other people to dilute or poison your day with their words or opinions? Let today be the day. Stand strong in the truth of your beauty and journey through your day without attachment to the validation of others.”

- Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free See you next month.

Capricorn Dec 22 -Jan 19

Cancer June 21- July 22

You have been sitting comfortably for way too long. You have so much potential! Start believing in yourself and just go for it!

Is it time to put the past in the past, and forgive. Life is too short to carry grudges.

Connect with your heart and find inner peace. Be patient with yourself.

Affirmation: I move forward with positivity and ease!

Affirmation: I forgive those that have disappointed me in the past and move on peacefully.

Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18 Have you been in two minds about something of late, or perhaps sitting on the fence and feeling unsure? A decision will have to be made, so gather all the facts and be guided by your intuition.

Affirmation: I always make the right choices for me

Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20

Good luck is coming your way this month! To enjoy abundance, be appreciative for what you already have.

A generous mind attracts abundance.

Enjoy a fruitful month!

You are given the opportunity this month to create a new beginning for yourself. It is never too late to start something new like job, study, or take on a new point of view. It is your time, so get moving!

Affirmation: I welcome new opportunities that improve and enhance my life.

Virgo

Aug 23 - Sept 22

Virgo, time to spread your wings and find your freedom; Get in touch with that gypsy within and leave your troubles behind. So dance like noone is watching, drive with the windows down and feel the wind in your hair. Enjoy!

Affirmation: I am safe and happy in all my experiences.

Aries Mar 21 - April 19

Libra

Affirmation: I only attract positive opportunities and I am strong.

Taurus

April 20 - May 20

This month is about connections.

Either you will reunite with old friends, or you will find your new tribe. It will be a month of coming together of like minded souls. Enjoy!

Affirmation: I honour my commitments, connections, and good friends

Gemini May 21 - June 20

Time for you to have fun and connect with your inner child! Cut yourself a break, you are way too hard on yourself. Start by spending 10 minutes a day on self-care.

Affirmation: I take time to have fun and connect with my inner child.

Alison Dunlop Kinesiologist. Find out more at: www.alisondunlopkinesiology.com.au (Cards are drawn from The Modern Oracle of Essential Oils by Katy -K.)

Alive Magazine Wide Bay |

July 23 - Aug 22

Affirmation: Money and blessings come to me with grace and ease.

Be particularly intune with your intuition this month. If something doesn’t feel quite right, it probably isn’t. Be aware.

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Leo

www.alivemag.com.au

Sept - 23 - Oct 23

This month, work on resetting the body and soul. It is time to ground,reevaluate, and declutter, so you can take off again. Be patient with yourself, and take your time with it. Take some time to walk in nature.

Affirmation: I take as much time as I need to make the right decisions.

Scorpio

Oct 24 - Nov 21

Scorpio, guess what? You are blossoming, and transformation is coming. Please be honest with yourself, and make the changes you have been wanting to make. You are unique, it is time to shine!

Affirmation: I am always improving and transforming for the better.

Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21 Better times are coming this month! No need to carry stress and anxiety. Surrender your worries to the universe, and feel free to do your thing. Be fearless!

Affirmation: I release all my worries and cares to the universe and know that everything can improve.

Crossword of the month

RE A DE RS ’ G ALLERY

ARTWORK OF THE MONTH

Last month’s solution

‘ I don’t want your flowers’ by Debbie Trotter

RECLINE YOU DESERVE IT Ask box office for more details Starts 3rd Mar

128 Boat Harbour Drive, Pialba

Starts 10th Mar

Starts 17th Mar

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