Alive Magazine - Edition 32 - March 2023

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IVE

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Magazine WIDE BAY

MARCH 2023 EDITION #32

Greenthumb Edition

Full of life

CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY The success stories of local businesswomen

The Ewa Beitch story

Full story on pages 18-25

Full story on pages 04-07

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St Stephen’s Hospital

Urraween Rd Madsens Rd

Dr Benjamin has undertaken Skin Cancer training at the University of Queensland and Skin laser and cosmetic training at the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine. He is an expert in skin rejuvenation, skin pigmentation, chemical peels, cosmetic injections, vascular disorders of the skin, and understands how best to utilize the state of the art technology he has at the Hervey Bay Skin Clinic to achieve the results his patients are looking for.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

THE ALIVE TEAM Founder / Creative Director JOY BUTLER info@alivemag.com.au Editor KERRIE ALEXANDER Deputy Editor LEANNE ESPOSITO Digital Editor LIZZIE MACAULAY Advertising Executive DARREN STIMPSON darren@alivemag.com.au Phone 0408 122 050

A CHANCE TO

WIN 2 TICKETS

Mar 12 WE’RE GOING TO GRACELAND – THE SONGS OF PAUL SIMON When: Sunday, March 12 - 7:30pm

follow us on Facebook for details: AliveMagWideBay

Where: Brolga Theatre

What: Grace Knight and Wendy Matthews are two of the most iconic and beloved singers in Australian music……they’re both multi-award winning artists with a swag of Countdown, MTV & ARIA awards between them and a bundle of platinum albums under their belt.

Along with an all-star band Wendy and Grace will take you on an unforgettable journey across the hits and crowd favorites. We’re Going To Graceland – The Songs of Paul Simon and Simon & Garfunkel showcases the vocal talents of these two music industry giants and they will thrill audiences with their interpretations of an iconic collection of songs.

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Advertising Representative KAREN WHITE karen@alivemag.com.au Phone 0418 197 386 Advertising Representative KIM HARRIS kim@alivemag.com.au Head of Distribution JAMIE BUTLER 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.

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HERVEY BAY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY BREAKFAST 2023

FRASER COAST ANTIQUE COLLECTABLE FAIR

SUMMER SALT

Where: Hevey Bay Boat Club

Where: Maryborough Showgrounds

What: SummerSalt is coming to Queensland’s Fraser Coast this summer with a unique lineup of some of Australia’s finest!

When: Wednesday, Mar 8 6:30am - 8am

What: Be inspired by a panel of local leaders in advocating for Technology to Embrace Equality, chaired by Dr Ann Moffatt, the IT girl.

Purchase raffle tickets for fabulous prizes donated by Kingfisher Resort, Bunnnings, Hervey Bay Boat Club, De Lorenzo and many others.

Cost: $40

When: Saturday, Mar 11 - 12 from 9am What: Fraser Coast Antique and Collectable Fair showcases products like Antiques, art, books, games, jewellery, furniture and much more etc.

For further information email alej3@bigpond. com or call 0488 197 167 Cost: Adult $8, Children under 14 FREE

When: Saturday, Mar 25 1pm - 10pm Where: Hervey Bay Seafront Oval

This beachside festival event showcases a dazzling line-up featuring XAVIER RUDD, JOHN BUTLER, BOY & BEAR, KATE MILLER-HEIDKE, BUSBY MAROU, and STEPH STRINGS. Kick back or dance the day & night away!

Cost: Adult from $129.90, Children from $99.90

MURAL OF THE MONTH - MARYBOROUGH MURAL TRAIL LADIES OF THE EXCHANGE

This mural shows telephonists working the manual exchange in the Post Office in 1958.

In 1975 Telecom Australia was formed and subsequently the Postmaster General’s Department became known as Telstra. This mural has been placed on the current Telstra exchange building, which has been home to the automatic telephone services since 1960.

SCAN TO SEE THE TRAIL MAP

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03

COV E R STORY

by Russ Benning

FULL OF

Life 04

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A

s a greenhorn green-thumb, I came into the interview for this month’s featured guest with a healthy dose of enthusiasm to learn more about the topic. I’m familiar with, and resonate with, the concept of oneness—permaculture per se, was something I was looking forward to understand in more depth.

If you were to ask me to describe what I thought a Polish born, German raised, horticulture designer and educator based in Howard, Australia were to look like, I’d probably nail, within five percent accuracy, our new friend Ewa Beiesch. Greeting Joy (owner, designer, and photographer at Alive Magazine) and me with a big, warm smile, Ewa welcomed us onto her property.

Her big, floppy sun-hat and light, flowing clothing reinforcing the theme of a person who spends a lot of time, probably a majority, in her natural, functional habitat. Thirty five acres boasting over 140 different varieties of edibles in fact! I noticed that her woven basket was just half full with a few plants I didn’t recognise.

I also noticed a sort of humming sound coming from a large shed nearby.

She lead us through her ‘food forest’ to a cute little shaded spot just passed the feature pond.

”Don’t fall into the pond!” she exclaimed in jest.

We shared a light-hearted giggle as we took our seats in our new setting. Learning quickly that this wasn’t to be an interview, we transitioned seamlessly into a conversation, fuelled by genuine interest and fascination with the topic and our subject. Her voice was pleasant and comforting. An upward inflection hinted at a positive approach to life.

I was fascinated to learn that as young child, Ewa and her family, living in communist Poland had no choice but to grow and preserve their own food.

“There was no food in the shops,” she shared.

We spoke briefly about the nature of a pagan lifestyle; working with seasons, moons, soil et cetera, the oneness and connection to the earth apparent in such a way of life. She went on to share that she always loved nature and gardening. Even when she lived in the city she would spend every free minute at her Granddad’s farm. She also shared that after moving to Germany where growing food was no longer a necessity. Ewa said she chose to grow her own.

“Because I simply didn’t like the taste of the store bought stuff”.

I probed to find out if she enjoyed it as much now as when she was a child.

“Of course, you can see it!” Ewa replied.

Curious to know if one led to the other, for example, her upbringing and her current immersion into the lifestyle; it seems that the two are indistinguishable. To me this is simply Ewa’s soul signature. Even her name means, full of life, or she who brings life to everything depending on translation and culture.

Horticulture is not just a hobby for Ewa—it’s a complete lifestyle. She shares her considerable knowledge with the world via her own website (www.permaculturehaven.com), facebook and telegram groups (Self sufficient living Australia - Practical solutions) which is growing with around 500 new members per week, as well as countless local initiatives, communities, and swap groups.

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05

Not just a passion, Ewa has done considerable study to be a certified member of the sustainability community. She is a certified permaculture designer and educator, has a degree in sustainable living from the University of Tasmania and has a certificate in Food as Medicine from Monash University. I was delighted to hear, that as well as wanting concrete certification, she had an even greater reason for undertaking the qualifications. Adorably she tells me.

“So I can explain how to do the things in English.”

We discussed the importance of organic foods and how much healthier home grown plants and animals are for our consumption. When I asked how much difference it makes to nutrient density Ewa replied.

“It’s a lot. Naturally homegrown food is much more nutritious.”

A recurring theme that came up regarding benefits of growing our own food was summed up eloquently by Ewa. “We can trust our own food.”

When I asked which speaks more loudly to her between people having better health or people having their own natural food sources, she looked confused and explained.

“One is not separate to the other.”

As I began to understand more, I discovered I really loved the concept of the Edible Landscape Design. A big part of her message is that you don’t necessarily need an abundance of space or time to make positive changes in this arena.

Many of her previous clients have had very little time and she has been able to create a setup where the ongoing process takes no more time than it would to maintain a regular garden and/ or lawns.

“If I do the gardening let me have something from it, not just the look you know,” Ewa tells me.

She has created all types of edible landscapes and Food Forests, a term that I now love to bits.

She continues to discuss working with clients and laughs while she’s at it.

“Before I create a design for a customer, I ask lots of questions. Some like a nice and neat garden, some like more natural and wild like my place.”

“The three basic material rights – continuity, mutual obligation, and the pursuit of happiness.”

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ure Haven

Photo: Permacult

She goes on to mention some of the important factors when considering your own food forest such as: soil, temperature, water supply, and orientation.

We continued our discourse as we explored more of the beautiful and plentiful property. It was like a running commentary of the relevant flora as we gradually made our way around, pausing intermittently for Joy to snap portraits for the feature. I noticed that Ewa’s basket was no longer half full, she had been progressively adding to it with todays mini-harvest; a photographers dream to have a subject actively assemble the most aesthetic ‘props’ if you will!

We met with Ewa’s husband Seb on the way back to the car and got closer to the humming sound I’d noticed earlier. As it turns out, there had been a road accident and all power was completely cut. The sound we were hearing was the backup generator that was powering the property. A quick glance into the shed and I got sight of a spectacular looking truck being converted to an off-road freedom machine.

These things combined helped me build a picture of exactly how self-reliant this couple truly were! The sense of freedom they must feel. Not only is the food incredibly nutrient dense, it’s also the love and attention that goes into the process.

Photo: Permaculture Haven

“It’s so rewarding,” says Ewa.

When I asked her for one message to the reader she took a pause for reflection, then answered; then answered again, and again, and so on! Some dot points, in Ewa’s words for anyone interested in beginning their journey into horticulture and sustainability would be as follows: • Start growing food and don’t stop.

• Everything is about the soil.

• Spend more on quality soil instead of expensive plants.

• You don’t have to have green fingers to start. You just need chicken sh*t and passion!

I walk away from this experience with much more understanding of the importance of what Ewa is so clearly passionate about. I now get to implement what I’ve learnt in an effort to increase, not only my connection with the earth, but also to improve my health using what I feel we’ve all known deep, deep down; Food IS medicine.

I’m also excited to report I got to meet a champion of what it means to be truly Alive (pun intended!).

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07

HOME GROW N

by Kerrie Alexander

HEALTH AT HOME 08

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G

rowing medicinal herbs may seem difficult and preparing teas or tinctures from them might appear complicated and time-consuming.

But the truth is you don’t have to be a skilled gardener to grow a few basic medicinal herbs successfully or be a trained pharmacist to easily prepare them for use.

In the process, you may save some money and reap the health benefits from the fruits of your labour.

Hervey Bay’s Kim Whitmee-Flexney is testament to that.

When I first walked into the remedial massage therapists Bask Holistic Health Clinic on Islander Road, there was a jug of the most beautiful coloured homemade purple pea tea chilled on the desk for clients after their massage.

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You see, this is no ordinary clinic. There are no four white walls, crisp white linen, dimmed lights, or the smell of Denco Rub wafting from the massage room.

Instead, you will find a quirky little cottage as an office and a bright and an airy purpose-built massage room.

It overlooks the back garden that is home to hundreds of herbs, fruit trees and medicinal plants.

Kim describes the front garden as “chaotic” but beautiful in all its overrun glory being filled with a plethora of different plants used to make tinctures like sage, peppermint, arrowroot, King of Bitters, stinging nettle, ginger, thyme, lemon balm, lemon myrtle and so much more.

There’s strawberry’s, beans, peas, and an avocado tree that Kim saved and is slowing sprouting some leaves after some TLC.

She uses many of the plants, flowers and roots to make herbal extracts for the tinctures, creams and rubs with most of them used during therapy sessions or bought by her clients to use a complementary therapy for varying ailments like stress, anxiety, pain, cancer, digestive issues and more.

What are tinctures, I asked Kim with great intrigue.

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09

She explained that tinctures are concentrated herbal extracts made by soaking the bark, berries, leaves (dried or fresh), or roots from one or more plants in alcohol.

The alcohol pulls out the active ingredients in the plant parts.

“Depending on the person the oils can clash with blood pressure and other medications and things like that.

Tinctures have been around for millennia and are a key component of traditional herbal medicine.

“We started learning how all those chemical constituents that make up the plant is what the pharmacists will single out and then give it a more technical pharmaceutical name.”

“The tinctures have a life-time lifespan,” Kim said.

“You see a pharmacist and you see all these big names and you’re like ‘we could never do this ourselves and we need to rely on them’.

“It stays just as good as growing in the ground. It’s as fresh as like it’s just been picked on the day.”

“Because of the way the medical world has gone it feels like it has to be made in a factory and has to be a process, but it doesn’t have to be.

It was the start of a gardening love-affair for Kim who remembers picking flowers and drying them out to make perfumes.

Kim and her three children moved into the Islander Road home 10 years ago and the yard went from an empty piece of land to almost every inch taken up with greenery.

The liquid is then stored in a dropper bottle so clients can drop the ingredients under their tongue for instant benefits.

“If they are kept in mother form, most of them are in an alcohol base that’s over 90% and it will never go off because it sustains the spirit and all the chemical and constituents of the plants in the alcohol.

Kim had a love of gardening from a young age and was always by her mother’s side while tending to their three-acre Creekside property in Mullumbimby.

“Mum said she could never get me inside. I was always in the garden.”

The family made the move to Byron Bay where Kim fell in love with the beach and nature.

The use of alternative plants and medicines was prevalent in her circle of friends and local cafes.

“Mum had also done an herbal course so that was something I paid attention to,” Kim said.

It was during her study for a diploma in remedial massage 15 years ago that the truth about medicine really hit home.

“We learnt the basic remedial massage techniques, then added on Bowen Therapy, sports, lymphatic and aromatherapy.

“With the aromatherapy I had to do the test twice because there were such big names; it was more pharmacology to get to the chemical constituents that made up the plant that was going into the oil.

“We learnt that certain things affect different

10

conditions.

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Then the “light bulb” moment happened.

“But the light switch came on through learning in my diploma that all those chemicals do exist, and we can grow them.

“That’s the thing about natural health… it’s achievable for everyone!”

Some of Kim’s favourites and best seller is the Stinging Nettle that’s a fantastic anti-inflammatory for arthritis and pain management.

“It’s really high in iron that’s good for anaemia, gout – a uric acid that builds up in people’s joints - prostate, muscles and joints,” Kim said.

“It’s a bit of an all-rounder and an old age cure. As we start aging these are the things that seem to affect people the most.”

A similar one touted as “a miracle plant” is Gotu Kola which being used as a complimentary therapy for certain cancers.

“It’s a detox and it really works at a cellular level that helps break down masses.

“I just pick the leaves and eat them. It’s really great for wellness and health.”

Another favourite is lemon myrtle that is high in zinc and vitamin c and has super anti-inflammatory properties.

“I use my essential oil for massages all the time, mainly lemon myrtle.

Herbal Tonic to aid metabolism. King of Bitters for cold and flu. Bone Knit to help heals breaks and sprains.

“It also has antiviral properties and it’s really helpful for your muscles.”

“It’s a favourite. I put it in my coffee and if I really want to dose it up, I’ll mix it with honey and have a spoon of it.”

“I just use it on everyone now, so every massage has that aromatherapy element.

Comfrey is another plant taken and infused into an oil that Kim has seen work its magic firsthand.

Plus, turmeric, the king of the anti-inflammatory.

“One of my clients had really bad knees and was on the way to an operation.

“Some of my clients take it in capsule or tablet form and they haven’t noticed the benefit, so I gave them the turmeric in its natural form and they see it works so much better.”

“The praise she gives me now is very rewarding.”

“I pick little bunches of whatever is left over to give people and they just love it.

“She was just a mess. She takes some of my plants, she buys some of my tinctures and creams and oils and she’s got no pain in her knees anymore.

Kim’s clients are often on the receiving end of goodies from her “dirt cupboard”.

There’s also ashwagandha foliage that boosts strength, vitality and memory and great to add with a morning coffee.

“It’s quirky and that’s me.”

To find out more about Bask Holistic Health phone Kim on 0417 639 598.

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11

LIZZIE LE ARN S TO

by Lizzie Macaulay

LIZZIE LEARNS TO...

CARE FOR PLANTS S

o today I’m going to be writing about one of my favourite destinations on the Fraser Coast.

It has made a huge impact on myself and my family, and is the home to so many happy memories.

We’ve adventured there.

We’ve taken pieces of it home with us from the incredible nursery.

But what we’ve never done is take a sneaky peek behind the scenes.

Lucky for me, this is the order of the day for this month’s adventure for Alive.

I’ve been a regular visitor to Bamboo Land Nursery and Parklands over the last decade, and with every visit I’m surprised by either how the place has a) been re-shaped or b) grown.

The familiar creak of the skyscraper-tall bamboo is one of life’s great simple pleasures.

The gentle movement of the Burrum River gliding by is deeply soothing to sit by and admire.

This spectacularly secluded sanctuary is home to all sorts of magic, and of course it starts with the nursery

12

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and parkland’s owners, Janne and Tarissa Nilsson.

The pair work tirelessly to bring their vision to life, and were kind enough to open their doors to us to understand what it really takes to run an operation of this magnitude.

(And trust me, magnitude is the right word!)

We all know the dirt road that leads us to the entrance.

You turn left, you park and you wander about in the wonderland Janne, Tarissa and the crew have sculpted and curated over time…

But have you ever looked to the right instead?

Across the road from the main gardens is where a different kind of magic happens.

Rows and rows of greenhouse-style structures are brimming with every type of tropical plant imaginable.

Lush. Green. Happy.

You’d be surprised to discover the amount of technical prowess used to keep these plants alive and thriving…

They’re watered, nurtured and monitored to the point that if something doesn’t go according to the normal plan, you’d instantly know about it, and have the ability to make whatever tweaks needed before there’s a problem.

I suppose that must be both the blessing and the curse

of living on-site… Janne and Tarissa’s work is never done. But there’s likely a lot of satisfaction in knowing you’ll always be there to pitch in where needed, and step in before little things become big things.

Next, we got to meet some of Bamboo Land’s 30 members of staff.

It was so clear that they were super contented in their work, and I totally got it. It’s a physical job, sure, but with that amount of fresh air and nature surrounding you every day, I’m quite sure you’d leave every shift feeling fulfilled and happy in the knowledge that you were doing something that was truly a privilege.

I spent some time with Wendy, who was rehoming some of the Bamboo Land indoor staples. They’d gotten too big for their pots, so it was time to give them a little bit of room and a lot more opportunity to grow.

I think there’s some sort of allegory about life in general in that. Something along the lines of: When you’re feeling stuck and suffocated, it’s a sign you’ve been growing and it’s time for a bigger metaphorical pot!

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13

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Wendy had a giant mound of soil in front of her.

And I’ve gotta tell you, as I watched her work, floods of memories of gardening with my dad as a kid came rushing back and that rich, earthy aroma enveloped us.

Leaving Wendy and her peers to get on with what they do best, the conversation turned to the future for Bamboo Land.

It’s changed so much since its inception.

But what’s more, even with how far the space has come already, there’s still so much more to come for Bamboo Land.

Janne shared a little of the plans for the future; how much space they still have to work with, how their vision for the giant steel structure we’re all so curious about is finally going to be realised, how the secret orchard behind the rail carriage is going to keep getting bigger (and less secret).

And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited to see it all play out. Everything that’s to come is not only going to be a plus for Bamboo Land itself, but is also the exact thing that puts the whole Fraser Coast on the map once again as a destination for forwardthinking, unmissable brilliance. Great food, a great setting, and of course, great people to boot.

Before we ended our time out in the wilderness, we had one last highlight to tick off the list – saying a big hello to world’s friendliest dog, and Bamboo Land’s unofficial mascot, Ruby. There’s nothing

quite so joyful as Ruby gratefully receiving a loving belly rub, or curiously following after you to see what fun and games might be afoot amongst the wilderness.

With all the sights seen, and conversations had, it was time to say goodbye and head home from this hidden piece of tranquillity.

While we may have only visited for a short time this time, one thing is for sure… we’ll be back again, and again, and again…

If you haven’t made it out there before, or even if you have, it’s time to pay Janne, Tarissa and the team a visit, restore yourself in their unique surrounds, and dream of all the possibilities that life spent with nature can offer.

With deep gratitude to Janne and Tarissa for sharing their incredible space with us.

You can visit Bamboo Land seven days a week at 77-87 Old Coach Road, Torbanlea QLD 4662. If you can’t make the journey, you can still bring the magic of Bamboo Land straight into your garden by shopping at their website: bambooland.com.au

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15

C O MMU NITY CON N ECTI O N

by Kerrie Alexander

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I

t was clear from the get-go that Alison Chappell was a veteran gardener with her version of a cup of tea being fresh lemon grass and basil picked then and there and piled into a tea pot of boiling water.

It was delicious!

With a degree in horticulture and a passion for growing her own food, the volunteer has been a brilliant asset to the Halcro Street Community Garden since it opened 10 years ago.

Alison was inspired to garden at an early age by the ABC documentary Global Gardner hosted by the founder of permaculture, Bill Mollison.

“I have always loved to garden, and I just love growing my food,” Alison said.

“It’s also interesting to learn what you can grow in the different seasons.”

Knowing just what to grown and when to grow it is a major piece of the puzzle that beginner gardeners struggle with and Alison is more than happy to share her mountain of knowledge with anyone willing to give growing a go.

“You have to start small and only grow what you really want to eat,” she said.

“There are so many things that can go wrong at the start and you have to give lots of tender loving care loving care. It’s not a five-minute job!

“That’s what’s great about this community. You can ask other people questions.”

The site that is now home to several different ‘garden plots’ was once an old Telstra depo gifted to council and converted into a thriving community hub for Seniors in Focus Project activities and gatherings.

The Community Garden was first established in 2012 with the help of a Healthy Lifestyles Grant to build all the infrastructure and countless hours of planting by volunteers.

It is now a thriving space that five volunteers use to promote healthy food behaviours and reduce social isolation among a number of at-risk target groups in the Hervey Bay area.

This includes seniors, people with a disability, lowincome earners and those who are new to Hervey Bay, or residents who simply don’t have enough space to grow a garden of their own.

There are several plots that are available for people to hire with any money made going back into running the centre’s programs.

There are five volunteers that visit regularly to do general maintenance on the gardens and those with a hired plot just come and go as they please.

A local disability group have also just put their name down to transform and maintain two of the raised garden beds.

Or like Julie, another valued volunteer, you can simply give your time to help plant fruit and vegetables and tend to the garden with water and weeding of a Thursday morning.

“It’s very relaxing and you get to switch off from what’s going on in the world,” Julie said.

“I just love getting away from everything and I think it’s better than being in your garden because you’re focused on what you’re doing.

“It’s just like a time out.

“It’s also inspired me in my own garden. The ideas and the inspiration I get here, I can put back into my garden.

“I also love meeting people that like the same thing.”

Alison said another great aspect of the garden is that produce grown is often donated to garden members and Community Centre patrons.

“The bits and pieces we grow in the main areas, we share it with the seniors groups and anyone who comes and asks nicely.

“When everything is in season we tend to get a lot of fruit that we hand that out.

“The dragon fruit are coming along; last year we had two buckets full.

“We also have three mulberry bushes and they get loaded so rather than go to waste anyone can come and help themselves.”

Alison has her fingers crossed that the centre will be a recipient of a State Government Community Grant this year with up to $50,000 per garden up for grabs.

“What we want to do is raise the garden beds because one of the real issues we have here is grass; it just invades and smothers everything.

“If we get those beds up and running we can advertise to people who have always wanted to grow their own vegetables to come along and learn how to do it.”

Now that it’s coming to the end of the season Alison said the volunteers will start the process of clearing out a lot of the vegetables including eggplants, corn, cucumbers, Asian greens and snake beans, just to name a few.

So, there’s plenty of garden therapy on offer if anyone is willing to volunteer and give it a go.

“If there’s anyone who wants to come and take over and area, feel proud about it and look after it, they are welcome.”

Give the Halcro Street Community Centre a call on 41942441.

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17

#IWD2023

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”

Kerrie, Editor of Alive Magazine

“Now is the only time we have. Don’t hold back, chase every opportunity with your whole heart, and believe you’re capable of anything you set your mind to.”

Lizzie, Digital Editor of Alive Magazine

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“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

Leanne, Deputy Editor of Alive Magazine

“Living with passion and purpose.

It’s NOT about money. It’s about shining your light in a way only YOU can do it in this world!”

Joy, Founder of Alive Magazine

KRISTY WRIGHT

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

International Women’s Day to me is a day to celebrate the success of those who have come before us who were the driving force of change, along with continuing the discussion on issues facing women today. Women have fought and continue to fight to establish their identity and worth in a fast changing world.

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

I have never taken the easy road, 14 years ago I saw an opportunity to do things differently and I went for it. I have a tendency to act on my instincts and quite quickly. This has served me well but has also led to some unnecessary mistakes. My biggest highlight for me is that no matter what challenges come my way, I face it head on and work my way through it.

Q: How can we encourage future women leaders?

We need to lead from the front, by advocating for women today we lessen the bias and create better opportunities for the next generation.

Q: What does an equal future world look like?

An equal future would be equal opportunities for women within the workforce and where women’s attributes & skills are viewed as assets and not a weakness. The next biggest challenge will be to create more opportunities for women in leadership positions and abolish the gender pay gap.

We must remove the excuse of women not being paid equally because she did not “hustle” or make demands for higher wages- if we have the same qualifications and are performing the same position we should not have to “ask” for itit must be a given!

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19

MICHELLE WARREN Q: What does International Women’s Day mean to me?

International Women’s Day means celebrating my life as a woman, applauding the work that women in all walks of life do every day and recognising the achievements and the impact made by the brave, trailblazing women who fought for the things we take for granted today. It also gives us a chance to talk about how far we still have to go.

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

For most of my career, I worked in corporate administration and then the past 15 years, alongside my husband, running businesses in transport, heavy haulage and civil. I am also a mum to 3 amazing kids, the youngest of whom lives with Autism Spectrum Disorder which sometimes adds a little extra ‘trickiness’ to my life. But as crazy and hectic as my life already was I had a craving for something more, something for me, an urge to fulfil my creative side and follow my passion or ‘do what lights me up’.

In 2019, Holabox was born after trying to source a gift to send to my sick grandmother in hospital. There was an obvious gap in the local market and that was my lightbulb moment. I could fulfil my creative heart and bring joy to others at the same time.

Holabox was initially an e-commerce business, but overcoming thyroid cancer in 2020 gave me the push to realise my longheld dream of opening a shop space. So the bricks and mortar journey of Holabox began, firstly within SIP Cafe in Walker Street and then our move to a bigger and more accessible location in Bazaar St, along with a rebrand to House of Holabox with the introduction of homewares and fashion to our gifting range, another gap in our local market.

The highlight of my career is the evolution of Holabox to what it is today, and the happiness of our customers for having brought such a beautiful space and unique shopping experience to my much loved hometown.

Q: How can we encourage future women leaders?

We can encourage women to embrace their innate value, step into their power and defy their doubts. Its important that we cheer on women to succeed, raise awareness of equality and motivate each other to reach our potential. I strongly believe in the importance of role models - seeing people succeed who look and sound like you helps.

Q: What does an equal future world look like?

An equal future would is one where every person is seen, heard, loved , respected and championed - no matter their gender, their race, their religion, their ability - they know that they have equal opportunity. We will know it when every girl or woman is able to live in their full power, choose their own pathway, define their own dreams and live life on their own terms - safely and freely.

Mum CELEBRATING

Shop 1 / 264 Bazaar St, Maryborough Email hello@holabox.com.au | Phone 0438 141 125 20

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HOLABOX.COM.AU

KIRSTY CHENERY Q: What does International Women’s Day mean to me?

For me, International Women’s Day is a chance to celebrate females from all parts of life, cultural backgrounds and ethnicities.

It is a chance to reflect on how far we have come and look to the future at how we can still improve equality between genders.

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

I started studying at the Australasian college of natural Therapies in 2003 and have worked in the beauty industry in different fields since then. The highlight of my career was completing my Associate Degree in Dermal Science. It has given me the opportunity to expand my knowledge, my business and the ability to broaden the treatments I am able to offer to help people with all types of skin conditions.

Q: How can we encourage future women leaders?

I believe encouraging future women leaders starts with both women and men supporting women in the workforce. Finding good mentors. Female leaders offering support and guidance, instead of competing with each other, collaborate and share your knowledge.

Q: What does an equal future world look like?

An equal future world for me would be where women and girls would have the freedom and choice to work, marry, study, speak up and live their lives without the threat of violence and harassment. A world where women are equally represented in positions of power and have the ability to have a say in arenas where decision making is affecting their lives.

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21

GRACE MEARS Q: What does International Women’s Day mean to me?

Celebrating different women’s achievements around the world.

Celebrating who they are, where they came from, sharing their cultures, their dreams and successes. Their freedom and their contributions to society. Embracing diversity and coming together to acknowledge women’s success in a variety of fields and careers. Working on our future for our children, for our sisters, but also acknowledging the culture and beliefs we have to pass onto the future generations, so they still have a strong connection to culture and each other.

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

I completed my cert III in Childcare in 1998 and moved to Toowoomba and worked there for 3 years and completed my diploma in Children’s services. Then I started working in Beach Road Childcare in 2001. This is where it all started, I started as an employee until 2007, when I became a business partner. My husband and I took over the company in 2015, we managed the business for a few years and eventually relocated to Fraser Shores which is now our current premises. Since relocating, the Business grew from 66 places to 75. We are now catering form birth to 5 years and have gone from 10 to 20 employees. The highlight of my career was relocating the business to a larger premises for more opportunities and to provide care for a larger number of families.

Q: How can we encourage future women leaders?

We need to support each other and grow from there and never give up, you might come across a few obstacles along the way but if you have that will, it will happen. With enough hard work, you will get there. knowing the group of women that will support you and help and guide you through.

Believe in yourself. Its not the end of the road, it only a curve, you just have to keep going. If you have that dream, go for it, don’t let any setbacks stop you from moving forward. Listen to your intuition, it will guide you. Because the world doesn’t always want you to win, so you have to want yourself and your sisters to win, and you have to support and help each other to achieve individual success.

Q: What does an equal future world look like?

I think an equal future world would mean that everyone should have the equal opportunity to pursue their dreams and careers.

Regardless of their status, gender, religious belief, culture etc. This should not stop anyone from achieving their goals.

Everyone is working together and supporting each other. Society will embrace and accept everyone for who they are. There should not have any poverty, everyone should have the right to a good education. There should not be anyone suffering or starving. There should not be a limit to anyone in an equal future world.

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CARLY CLARK Q: What does International Women’s Day mean to me?

International women’s day for me is about women supporting and celebrating other women and their achievements without judgement, jealously or agenda. I believe in the past women have been made to believe that we must battle and compete with other women on the work, family, and social scene to make out as though we’re capable of juggling all balls at once and don’t need help. In a world full of stepford wives it’s refreshing to see more Beth Dutton’s. Fierce, independent and who can hold their own but don’t necessarily have it all together.

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

I started with a strong worth ethic. I was a farm kid who wasn’t afraid to get dirt under my fingernails. My first job at 13 years old was picking up eggs at a battery hen farm in rural NSW. I worked three jobs until my early twenties and went on to have illustrious radio career before moving back to Sydney in 2008 to work as the Live Events Manager for The Wiggles. Sounds amazing, however I left it all behind in 2011 when I fled Sydney due to domestic violence at the hands of my ex-husband. I left my career, my friends, and my ex behind. After getting back on my feet as a single mum, I met my (now) husband Ashley in Bundaberg and we set out to create Splitters Farm. We had the vision to raise our kids on a cattle property that might one day become a boutique farm stay. I was so determined that our vision would become reality that I used to talk to anyone who would listen about my dreams and goals. I’m sure everyone thought I was crazy.

The highlight of my career was when a lady came up to me one day in the street and gave me a hug saying that I had sat next to her on a plane once and told her of my plans to build Splitters Farm and that she wanted me to know that she was so proud of me because I had done exactly what I had set out to achieve.

Q: How can we encourage future women leaders?

I think the best way to encourage future women leaders is to just be real. Don’t be afraid to show the good, the bad and the ugly and the reality that we all drop a few juggling balls along the way because we’re not perfect. We all experience highlights and lowlights but it’s your journey that builds character and defines who and how you treat others.

Q: What does an equal future world look like?

I think an equal future world is one where we no longer need to have a ‘special day’ to celebrate women, or other minority groups for that matter because oppression is a thing of the past. We will just celebrate the achievements of all.

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23

DEANNE & JULIE Q: What does International Women’s Day mean to me?

Deanne: I think it’s a day that makes me remember that our small business is run by women and is also supported by women. Women are by far our biggest customers in the shop. We also have a nice little network of shops in the area with strong women in the businesses. We should appreciate how much women contribute to our community.

Julie: International Women’s Day helps us to remember to pause, reflect and appreciate the women in all areas of our lives. Women we respect and why we respect them so highly. The day is an opportunity that highlights that we are so much stronger when we are supportive, encouraging and determined to reach our goals.

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

Deanne: My first job was in the neighbourhood minding other people’s birds and animals when they went on holidays. It was basically being paid to play with other people’s animals. Certainly, the shop is a highlight, working in partnership with Julie and it doesn’t feel like work either. Lots of talking to lovely people and creating a beautiful space to be in. Also, my first Kindergarten teaching/Director role felt important as the kindy was such a special place for children.

Julie: I got to a point in my life when I started to want more from my career. I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone both creatively and intellectually. That’s when I started my first business. My highlights have been seeing the visions for my business become a reality and then a success. Now my highlight is working with Deanne in a successful partnership in our gift store.

Q: How can we encourage future women leaders?

Deanne: I looked up Taryn Brumfitt because I hadn’t heard of her when she just won Australian of the Year and watched her film “Embrace”. It’s about the effect body image messages have on everyone but especially on young girls.

She really is inspiring I think for future female leaders in getting people to think about what is important, how we think about ourselves and what we value. I do think we treat female leaders more harshly than male ones.

Julie: I believe I have been positively influenced by women who understand their worth, so I think you encourage the future by starting with yourself. Don’t undervalue or talk down about yourself. I think we are all works in progress so know when you need to keep learning and improving. If you show this you may encourage future female leaders to back themselves and keep working towards their goals.

Q: What does an equal future world look like?

Deanne: I think young people that I talk to already seem to be much better than our generation at gender equality. They seem more accepting of differences, more aware and certainly call out issues when they see them. So hopefully in the future we be easier for women in leadership roles.

Julie: I agree with Deanne’s comments totally. Each generation seems to be working towards gender equality a bit better than the last. An equal future for me is any person achieving what they set out to do through their own hard work, persistence and dedication then being recognised for it because of it.

Salt Precinct, Shop 1 / 569 Charlton Esplanade, Urangan, Q 4655 @theibisnextdoor 24

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SUSAN & NADINE DODD Q: How did I start and what are the highlights of my career?

Sue: In my current role of managing director of Nurse next Door Fraser Coast which is a franchise my daughter and myself started in May 2022. My best highlight to present is knowing that I have a business that helps so many people in our community have the best home care nursing service so that they can get the best health care at home and am able to help make this happen. Our Motto Making Lifes Better. I am also able to work with my daughter everyday to achieve this goal.

I am also one of the founders and managing directors with my girlfriend Michelle Lockwood to establish Weve Got You Foundation which is a new non profit organisation that we have set up to Support the Fraser Coast Region with Health and Transport Needs.

Nadine: I am a Hervey Bay local, and I started studying nursing straight after school, I have had many highlights in my career. But my most significant would be working alongside my mum, Sue and opening Nurse Next Door Fraser Coast.

And knowing that we are contributing to our beautiful community every day. We have an amazing team supporting us with our vision of being able to assist locals in their health care goals. And assist the much needed health sector within our community, by reducing workload on the hospitals and other services.

Q: How can we encourage future women leaders?

Encourage women to pursue leadership roles by providing them with mentorship, coaching, and access to role models who have already broken through barriers in their respective fields. This can include connecting them with successful female leaders in their industry or community, who can serve as role models and provide guidance and advice.

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25

FASHION

by Kate Manley

EASY BEING GREEN

W

1.

ith this month’s edition focusing on cultivating your own garden and having an appreciation for nature, we are highlighting green as our favourite colour this season.

From chartreuse to emerald the colour green in light of trends 2023 has morphed from a rather safe and classic olive green to a bolder, more electric palette.

You can easily add a pop of these verdant greens to your basic wardrobe of neutrals and black. Just by choosing a cami, jumper, pants, jacket or even a bag, you will automatically add an excitement and power packed punch to your everyday dressing.

On March 8th this year we celebrate international Women’s Day, it is interesting to note that the chosen colours for the feminist movement are green and purple: green as a symbol of hope and purple which represents justice. In respect of this day, I love the quote: ‘A strong woman knows she has strength enough for the journey, but a woman of strength knows it is in the journey where she will become strong.’

So take a leaf (no pun intended) out of the poem by Luke Easter and boldly step out in your choice of vibrant green this season!

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27

HOME PROJE CT

by Kim Harris

The Maker’s State

@loveeatstay

JOURNEY TO THE GARDEN WITHIN M y love of gardening has been a slow burn but somewhat preordained when I think about it.

As a child my mother was often found working or watering in the garden on our semi-rural property.

I remember times when Mum had put a lot of work into the garden – if she was happy with the results, Mum would enter the roses in the local garden competition. Perhaps mum was somewhat obsessive about growing roses, I assumed every house had 30 rose bushes!

Roses lined every garden bed – white, pink, red, yellow, lilac, candy stripped - roses climbing over arches that my father had built for her. I loved the archways: They felt like a portal to another world and were fun to climb as a child.

I have never really understood Mum’s love affair with roses, but I do fondly remember the amazing scent of certain rose varieties and the thick velvety feel of the massive petals.

I would playfully pull off the petals one by one, then tear apart the centre filament and hip – dissecting the delicate anatomy. It was fascinating. It was exciting pulling big scary thorns off the stems on the bush. The bushes varied in size, but I recall them to be big, taller than me and with thorns around one centimetre. I would pinch the thorn on a certain angle, hopefully get a clean thorn removal. If I did correctly, I could achieve a perfectly smooth extraction and not damage the stem. It was very satisfying. I don’t remember ever getting spiked by the big thorns. It was the little sneaky ones that caught you unaware.

I did notice the beauty of Mum’s roses when they were in bloom, but I find it hard to look past the off season when the stems all stand thorny, sad & baron, without even a leaf. Looking almost dead.

Gardening started with Mum’s roses then lay dormant until I bought my first home in Townsville.

I wasn’t really into gardening, but probably more so than most other 23-year-olds. I planted mainly tropical plants like ginger and various heliconias, low maintenance, which mostly looked after themselves, growing quickly in the tropical conditions. I got adventurous and planted a night jasmine at the

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entrance to the house which had a distinctive sweet and strong scent. I can still picture and smell it! The location in which I grew the Jasmine wasn’t great in hindsight, but I was 23 and having a go at playing house.

After selling the Townsville home, I moved to the other end of the country settling in Melbourne.

A different state with unique climate to match.

Gardening was nothing like in the tropics. It was time for a beginner’s mind - again.

Starting a family, and doing a renovation left not much time to plan a garden. The yard was really ordinary and needed lots of work.

I would see plants at the nursery I liked and planted wherever I could find a spot which was a recipe for plant murdering right there! Hydrangeas, palms, strawberries were sacrificed in the lesson of learning.

As the years rolled on with two little kids running around I planted dwarf citrus trees, passionfruit vines and an olive tree. Fruit trees are wonderful if you have young children. Picking fruit from the tree is rewarding.

Like any fruit tree, citrus requires lots of tender loving care and water. Homegrown sometimes tastes bitter, but you grew it, so you eat and pretend to like it.

Children often aren’t as courteous!

The front driveway needed redesigning and replacing, which made way for my first garden space that was bare bones. Excited and nervous I asked for advice at my local nursery. I love nursery folk. They are my people.

I learn so much from talking to people at the nursery. Workers are usually busting with knowledge and plant passion. They definitely want to share with anyone that will listen.

Sparks of love for gardening started here. Designing a garden from scratch was really rewarding to me.

I decided to use mostly Australian natives which I didn’t know much about. I was learning fast. Having a vision to utilise distinct height variations, colours, textures and alternate flowering times makes for orchestra which you essentially plant and play. The Melbourne summer can be brutal on non-established plants with temperatures soaring to nearly 45 degrees. This kind of heat quickly kills plants that don’t receive enough water, shade, or attention. After killing a few plants, I installed irrigation which really was great in the summer.

2-metre-tall sunflower plants with heads like big dinner plates.

King parrots came to my patch, as well as a butcher bird I befriended named George.

Kookaburras laughed on the fence and worms found their way to my soil. It was alive with nutrients and life.

The sunflower garden changed me. I learnt a lot about myself from those seeds and the stump. I learnt that I like being covered in sweat and dirt. I learnt that I am made of more than I gave myself credit for. I learnt that a few tears while digging is healthy, singing while gardening is good, talking to birds and animals is fun. I learnt that a garden is somewhat akin to a religious or meditative state.

The garden reads your energy and offers whatever you need. If you first understand the garden’s needs and care for it, you are both healed when you work together.

I harvested the sunflower seeds after growth had finished and planted them at my current house, which I moved into last year.

I completely replanted the garden at my current place removing countless yucca and hedges – improving the soil first, working on breaking the clay base with gypsum.

I thought the kids would enjoy a DIY project to personalise the front garden so I purchased basic raw concrete round pavers from the hardware. I carefully broke up some tiles in old towel and used glass stone pebble packs to each make our own piece of history. You draw a rough pattern first with pencil then affixed stones or tiles using a heavyduty glue followed by a UV stable waterproof outdoor sealer. It’s a fun little project that adds a talking point and character to your space.

Fast forward a tad and I unexpectedly landed a gig as a fulltime single mum where I was happy to be back in my home state of sunny Queensland and Hervey Bay. Long story, I’ll save that for my book I think!

I found myself in a rental house with tropical established gardens but there was a patch of unkept garden bed around 4m x 4m under a Poinciana tree that I was allowed to use for gardening.

The location was good, and had a tap not too far away. Two issues – massive mango tree stump full of termites in middle of garden and the soil was dead. Bone dry with no nutrients, or signs of life except termites and thousands of ants!

This garden was more than a garden, it became something somewhat spiritual to me. I dug the stump out myself with sheer determination blood, sweat, sunburn and tears.

I got rid of the ants completely and hauled in bag after bag of potting mix, sugar cane mulch and fertilizer. I planted flowers that felt happy and bright like marigold, geranium and a crop of

Australian natives occupy the most real estate.

A cactus garden makes me smile and attracts attention from curious children. There is a couple of fruit trees, a chilli bush that won’t stop fruiting, Kangaroo Paws aplenty and, passionfruit and choko vines, which are both driving me crazy. I have a fern garden that offers a relaxing view from inside, community herb patch with free herbs to DIY cut. Wattle tree, banksia and olive tree take centre stage.

A healthy population of green tree frogs visit nightly and an increased number of native birds snack on our native nectar. The garden is always changing, doing something interesting, flowering, growing and in need of something to be done. I suppose we have a symbiotic relationship.

I like to water the garden’s barefoot enhancing connection with the cool energy of the earth. It feels good on sore, tired feet.

I have lots of plant friends. It’s a big job making them all happy. Sometimes I fail and a plant dies.

But I don’t believe I will ever get irrigation again.

Sometimes I don’t “feel” like I want to water, or I “think” I’m too busy, but I know when the plants need me and I go. I always get more than I give.

I always stay longer than I intended. I always feel better off for the exchange. Fraser Coast sunsets included free most days.

We are done time travelling. We are in the here and now.

So the big question after gardening for 20 years.

Have I grown a Rose Bush? No.

I longed to do my life differently from my mum but as time rolls on, I realise we are ultimately very similar women sharing many common interests and traits.

The trick is not only loving the rose when it blooms but appreciating the thorns, understanding dormancy, and all that happens in between when the bush is very much alive, growing & preparing to bloom again.

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29

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My favourite musician would definitely be Butch Walker, He's an amazing singer, guitarist, songwriter & producer.

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My main instrument is the guitar, I've been playing since I was around 10 years old.

Although I mainly sing and play guitar at my gigs, I also like to play the bass guitar, piano, drums & harmonica as well.

If you could play any gig or venue, where would that be?

I've seen some of my favourite artists play live at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. It would be amazing to share that stage with any artist.

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Yes, I do. I have a new single releasing on February 24th titled "Further From My Youth." It is currently playing on community radio stations around Australia and it recently reached #8 on the Amrap regional chart. My Facebook page: www.facebook.com/aaronwestlakemusic is the best place to see where I'm playing and everything else I'm up to.

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31

T H E W AV E RIDE R

by Celine Louie

V

ABUNDANCE MARCH

egetables have taught me a whole lot about riding this wave we call Life.

further.

Now I know that’s an odd statement to make, but bear with me for a moment so I can explain

You see I’ve just spent the last 10 years of my life supplying beautiful organic fruit and veg to our local community. As a small business owner I spent time getting to know the people who supported me, as well as being taught many life lessons dealing with an extremely variable product. Fresh produce is laden with nutrients, incredible smells and abundant life force; but it also comes with many blemishes and imperfections.

Have you noticed that the happiest, kindest people in this world are the ones that look beyond a blemish?

They seem to cruise through life, unwilling to let a little imperfection ruin their day. They have an unwavering ability to see the beauty in all of life, and that transmits out like a wave to everyone they come into contact with.

A bruised apple simply means a good excuse to make apple crumble for dessert instead - and boy do we love apple crumble!

Living with such ease makes riding the wave so much easier. Rather than wasting energy on things completely out of our control, there is a wonderful flow to life that comes when we remove the judgements and expectations in our lives. We can simply flow with what comes by and in doing this we beam out positivity that brightens up the lives of all of those we come into contact with. It all comes down to a simple choice.

Moment by moment we have the ability to choose how we interpret the world around us. Either we can see the apple or the blemish.

Eating seasonally also allows us to live in the flow of life, filling us with the perfect nutrients we need as we travel through the seasons. Fresh, sweet watery fruits in summer to dense, Vitamin C laden oranges in winter.

Allowing nature to guide what we eat, ensures we get the perfect foods right when we need them.

Don’t be deceived by what’s in the supermarkets, rather head to your local produce supplier or farmers markets to see what is growing in your local community at the time. Your body will thank you for it!

In the end, we live in a society that has taught us to expect perfection at every turn. From the perfectly sized, wax covered apples lined up on the supermarket shelf, to the photo-shopped models on every magazine and billboard. It takes effort and perseverance to snap out of the need to expect perfection in our own lives, and not be disappointed when we don’t find it.

We only need to look beyond our modern world, to the natural beauty that surrounds us for a perfect reminder that there is no ‘normal’ in this world. Everything comes in all shapes and sizes and life changes constantly, how we decide to navigate this perfectly imperfect world is up to us.

I hope you choose to see the apple too!

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L I FE C H A T WI T H M I C H ELLE

MY KHAKI THUMB

I

t’s interesting that the theme this month revolves around the notion of a ‘green thumb’.

When it comes to the wellbeing of plants that are gifted to my care, my friend Jewel says I should offer them a funeral immediately and save them the suffering. She pronounces that I don’t even have a ‘khaki thumb’, let alone a green one.

Sadly, based on my past experiences, she’s been right.

However, my recent track record suggests that while I definitely do not have a green thumb, perhaps there’s a touch of khaki trying to break through. This is only down to Jewel’s persistent generosity and guidance. Let me explain.

by Michelle Robinson Bach. Counselling.

Dip. Clinical Hypnotherapy

Put the pots inside in a sheltered spot where they will get a little sunlight.

Turn them from time to time.

Water them once a week, and don’t get the leaves wet.

Apart from that, Do Not Touch Them! Leave Them Alone!

(This part of the instructions received stern verbal reinforcement on a regular basis.)

Let’s return to my khaki thumb.

Towards the middle of 2022 I discovered my sister-in-law had managed to keep Mum’s African Violet alive since Mum’s passing in 2014. It was in Mum’s original pot and still flowered regularly. The news gave me a pang in my heart.

A plant nurtured by Mum’s own hand still lived.

In the same moment, I was acutely relieved that my sister-in-law had taken responsibility for it, as I was certain the outcome would have been different if I had been in charge. That didn’t stop me feeling nostalgic though.

It was Jewel who offered me a lifeline.

“African Violets can grow from a leaf,” she explained. “Ask Kaye for a few leaves, and I will pot them up for you in the correct growth formula and potting mix. Leave them with me for a couple of months and let’s see what happens.

No promises, but I’ll do my best.”

Enthusiastically, I arranged to borrow the hallowed African Violet and carefully transported it to Jewel’s home. Not only did she re-pot the overgrown original plant for my sister-in-law, but she tenderly tended to four little pots with one leaf each. There were two pots for me and two for my daughter. We hoped something positive would spring from at least two of them.

Five months after receiving stewardship of my two African Violets, each plant is still thriving. My daughter’s two plants are thriving as well. They are multi-leaved, well-established and to my untrained eyes, still a healthy green frog-like colour.

I have diligently followed the instructions I was given, to the point of wiping a leaf dry and apologizing to it if I watered it by accident. That must be the key to my success, right?

If I had more space, I could share how I recently acquired a cutting from Mum’s favourite Camellia tree. This tree still grows outside what used to be Mum and Dad’s bedroom window, though the home was sold twelve years ago.

Jewel has potted two tiny twigs from the one small Camellia branch for me, so fingers crossed. Perhaps my khaki thumb will succeed again.

Friends, may your thumbs be evergreen, and until next time, have a wonderful month.

Remember, 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.”

Months passed, and finally I was joyful to learn that every one of those little pots brought forth a baby African Violet plant.

Finally, I was allowed to take them home. There was an email with instructions from Jewel that I was asked to print and display. The instructions went something like this:

Client: HMR Contact: Loren & Chris Job: Logo desig Version: 1.0 Designed by: Joy Butler

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33

I NSPIRATIONS

MARCH INSPIRATION

by Alison Dunlop

Why is it that we feel so good when we are amongst trees, or while we walk barefoot on lush grass?? Could part of the reason be that we are surrounding ourselves with the colour green. Green is actually grounding and balancing for our energies. We also feel more vital, and tranquil when surrounded by green. A great way to recharge our souls is to garden!

Gardening not only connects us with mother earth, but is also a form of mindfulness. It’s a win-win all around.

Capricorn Dec 22 -Jan 19

Cancer June 21- July 22

Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18

Leo July 23 - Aug 22

Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20

Virgo Aug 23 - Sept 22

Aries Mar 21 - April 19

Libra Sept - 23 - Oct 23

Taurus April 20 - May 20

Scorpio Oct 24 - Nov 21

Gemini May 21 - June 20

Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21

Are you listening to what your intuition and body is telling you? This month do not allow your head to totally be the boss when it comes to making decisions. A bit of quiet time is required to connect, and contemplate your options. Follow what you know is right in your heart.

Look for harmony this month Aquarius and watch out for conflict. Instead, time to step up, find some middle ground, and choose to look at things from a different perspective. Also, if you have been trying to cope alone, be brave and ask for help if needed. There is no shame in that.

This month live each day to its fullest! You are stronger and more capable than you know, so start believing in yourself. You are indeed amazing!! Shoulders back, stand strong and keep moving forward because you have got this. Well done!

Matters of the heart are the focus for this month Aries. Is it time to let go of past betrayals? Forgiveness is key, not only for others, but for yourself. Show yourself compassion, breathe deeply and feel empowered.

You are certainly strong willed. How about this, use your will to set some clear boundaries for yourself. If you do tend to overreact, March is the month to change this. Start a new practice, to encourage uplifting thoughts and behaviours, and put your focus on achieving your goals.

March is looking blissful for you Gemini.

Perhaps you are having some time away.

Be sure to enjoy some quiet time, collect your thoughts, and feel refreshed. It is also a good month to let your hair down, and get creative. The sky’s the limit!

Alison Dunlop Kinesiologist. Find out more at: www.alisondunlopkinesiology.com.au (Cards drawn from The Power of Chakra Deck by Fiona Toy)

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The colour green is highlighted for you this month. You are getting the green light for something you have been thinking about.

Follow your heart on this. It is also indicated to spend more time grounding in nature.

March has great potential for your desires to actually come to fruition. It is now time to action your plans. Start with some foundations. What is the first step that you need to make? Is it researching something, gaining skills, or asking advice. Make it happen!

Be on the communication lookout this month Virgo. There is a possibility of communication breakdown, either literally with internet/phone issues, or in relationships. It is important to respect your relationships, by communicating with kindness from the heart.

The cards indicate there may be an important decision to be made this month.

Yes, you do have freedom of choice, but consider carefully how your decision will impact others. Follow your intuition and own it!

Be open to receiving this month. Good luck is on your side Scorpio. Did you know you can manifest positive outcomes this month?

It’s true! Don’t hold back because you are indeed deserving. Also, the cards suggest getting your creativity on. Have fun!

Be cautious of indulging too much Sagittarius. The cards indicate indulgence is an unhelpful pattern, for you, from the past.

It is now time to take stock, forgive yourself, lose the guilt and rise above it all. Hey, life is short! Live it to your highest potential.

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Sketched by Kerry Harrison

We are the Maryborough Qld chapter of Urban Sketchers!

The Urban Sketchers mission is to raise the artistic, storytelling and educational value of on-location drawing, promoting its 22 practice and connecting people around the world who draw on location where they live and travel.

“See the world, one building at a time”.

Down 25 26 n’t finished, with my computer 2 Love this rose arrangement!

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