Style magazine Toowoomba - June 2023

TOOWOOMBA JUNE 2023

MAGAZINE

Bank of Queensland: neighbours you can bank on

FA SH I O N

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S H OP P I N G

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H E A LT H

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BE A UT Y

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HO ME

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T R AV E L

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FOOD

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EVEN TS

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ARTS

CAJUN QUEEN PIUMA

SANKEY FRASER | Your One Stop Shop for the last 100 Years

Ruthven Street, Toowoomba | www.sankeyfraser.com.au

TRUE PRINCESS

SANKEY FRASER | Your One Stop Shop for the last 100 Years

Ruthven Street, Toowoomba | www.sankeyfraser.com.au

Welcome to June and welcome to winter, Stylers! After the balmy start to the supposed cooler seasons throughout March and April – and even a little of May, let’s be honest – the team were getting a little worried that Toowoomba wouldn’t experience our trademark cold winter this year. But, after a few false starts, it seems that the traditional winter weather is here to stay.

If you’re feeling a little cold, though, we’ve got some cracker stories to warm you up.

There’s your definitive guide to winter outerwear (p14), some incredible recipes perfect for cold days (p30), and some useful tips to keeping your hair healthy all season long (p15). If you’d rather curl up with a good book or movie, check out our reviews of Book Club: The Next Chapter (out in cinemas now) and books Flowerheart and The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi on page 47.

One of our writers also had a chat to the organisers of Toowoomba’s Winter Shelter, an annual program kicking off for 2023 on June 1, which supplies homeless people with a warm place to sleep, shower, and eat over the winter months. You can read all about this important endeavour, the challenges and the victories, on page 8.

Finally, we hope you enjoy this edition of Style as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you, and keep warm!

Til next time, The Style team xx

Bank of Queensland Toowoomba’s Suzanne and Jamie Mason with Melissa Wells. Photo by Oh Tilly Photography

@stylemagazinestoowoomba

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Looking for the perfect outerwear this June? Style shows you how to find your ideal coat

JOURNALISTS Melanie Collins, Jessica Kramer, Alyssa Welke, Jenna Martin, Hayley Hinze, Savaira Ratukula, Kate Salemme, Katrina Sichlau SUB EDITORS Jessica Kramer, Kirsten Wilkins-Holloway, Monique Gill DESIGN Paul Hunter, Justine Costello GENERAL MANAGER Erika Brayshaw STYLE MAGAZINE TOOWOOMBA CONTACT DETAILS mytoow.ads@news.com.au Level 1/5 Keefe Street, Toowoomba City PO BOX 40, Toowoomba QLD 4350

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Warm your stomache and soul with these delicious recipes

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Enjoy the delights of Esperance and Western Australia with these traveling Toowoomba locals

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COVER FEATURE Neighbours you can bank on

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BEAUTY Healthy hair all winter long

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ADVERTISING FEATURE Your guide to financial wellbeing

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GARDEN COMPETITION Prepping makes perfect

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FEATURE Safe spaces for the homeless

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BEAUTY Polka dot perfection

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FOOD Heat up your winter cooking game

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BUSINESS The beauty of a book exchange

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WEDDING Trudi and Sam tie the knot

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RELATIONSHIPS Friendships the key

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HOME & LIVING Scams to watch out for

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EVENTS Discover what’s on this June

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FASHION Reap what you sew

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WELLNESS Getting mobile

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SPORT Going the distance

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SOCIALS LifeFlight Gala brings the crowds

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From left, Teagan Bleumink, Kevin Trebby, Brent Barton, Michael Wells, Jamie and Suzanne Mason, Melissa Wells, Amie Johnson, Ash Diefembach, and Sarah Darni.

Neighbours you can bank on

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s the world of banking becomes more automated with fewer physical branches open to customers, the Bank of Queensland (BOQ) has found an innovative way to bring in-person service back to local communities like Toowoomba – in the form of its owner-managed branch model.

The unique model challenges the way Australians experience banking by having locals own and operate the branches to ensure customers receive a more personalised experience, thanks to local know-how and understanding. This is STYLE 6

particularly important in rapidly growing rural and regional centres that rely on inperson services to conduct day-to-day business transactions and manage cash payments.

For husband and wife duo Jamie and Suzanne Mason, who own and manage the BOQ branches in Rangeville and Toowoomba, making banking more personal is a challenge they’ve proudly accepted.

Suzanne’s long history in retail management and employment consultancy combined with Jamie’s 18 years of banking experience make them the perfect pair for the job.

“Even during these increasingly digitised times, we know so many Australians are still choosing to visit their local branch,” Suzanne says.

“Time and time again we hear from our customers how much peace of mind they get from knowing their local bank branch is located just around the corner to assist them with whatever they need.”

As owner-managed branches, Suzanne says they are not only supported to stand by the communities they operate in but, in turn, are able to connect with locals to help them achieve their financial goals – wherever they might be.

Did you know BOQ’s Owner-Managed Network ● 125 of BOQ’s 150 branches nationwide are owner-managed businesses. ● The bank’s owner-managed to corporate branch mix has grown to over 83% during the current financial year. ● The average tenure of BOQ’s ownermanagers is more than 10 years.

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team led by commercial lenders Kevin Treeby and Marlen Swinford, who have many years’ local small business experience, with all of them sharing immense passion for helping locals achieve their financial goals.

“We recognise the positive impact of our physical branches as an essential service for many in the community. We see our branches as part of the fabric of the local community and are proud of how we have been able to support our customers over the years and give back,” Suzanne says.

Supporting the local community beyond the walls of the bank is also extremely important to Suzanne and Jamie.

“We are a community-minded establishment with a big heart,” explains Suzanne. “We’re always seeking opportunities to raise money and give back and support our local charities, such as the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation, Hope Horizons, Protea Place Women’s Support Centre and other small local non-for-profit groups.

“We’re a big advocate in supporting the community that’s been so loyal and believed in us,” she says.

For those on the search for a bank that provides personalised, face-to-face customer

From left, Suzanne Mason, Victoria Stehr-luyt, Jamie Mason, Naekisha Sayers, Marleen Swinford, Brenda Tarlinton, Peta Donovan and Michelle Rochford.

Jamie and Suzanne Mason; right, Melissa Wells; and, below, Jamie and Suzanne Mason with Melissa Wells.

Suzanne and Jamie, who have been working alongside one another, began running the Rangeville BOQ branch in 2020.

In April 2022, along with colleague Melissa Wells, they took over the previously corporate-run Toowoomba branch too.

“Now Jamie and I are helping Melissa with the branch, and we’re all working together to support the success and growth of BOQ in Toowoomba,” Suzanne explains.

While they have big aspirations to grow both branches, Suzanne says the key focus will remain on providing quality customer service.

The dynamic trio have a team of 22 passionate and knowledgeable local employees working across the two branches.

Both branches boast an experienced lending

We’re a big advocate in supporting the community that’s been so loyal and believed in us service, look no further than BOQ Rangeville and Toowoomba branches.

With competitive rates and simple, easy-tounderstand banking solutions, the experienced teams at Rangeville and Toowoomba are ready to assist you with your personal or business banking needs and reach your financial goals – whatever they might be.

“Whether you’re looking to purchase your first home, are ready to refinance, are interested in opening an award-winning savings account, or want to chat business banking, the BOQ Rangeville and Toowoomba teams are here to help,” says Suzanne.

“We are really proud of the work we do and would love the opportunity to be on the top of your list when you’re next thinking of banking.”

To experience the BOQ difference today, pop into the Rangeville or Toowoomba branches or give us a call.

Rangeville Shop 15, High Street Shopping Centre (07) 4571 3713 Toowoomba Shop 0015, Grand Central Shopping Centre (near Kmart) (07) 4615 1300 7 STYLE

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Safe spaces The Winter Shelter Toowoomba initiative is changing lives and building community connections

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ith winter rapidly approaching, one local Toowoomba initiative is changing the lives of local residents in need by providing access to essential services and practical support during the coldest months of the year.

Winter Shelter Toowoomba – a community collaboration between Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland, the Toowoomba Housing Hub, and local churches and community volunteers – offers support for the city’s homeless population throughout June, July and August.

Rotating across seven churches and offering up to 10 people a bed for the night for 92 evenings throughout 2023, the Winter Shelter provides a safe place to sleep, hot showers and laundry facilities. It also connects those in need with government services like the Housing Hub, and runs evening games, movies and other entertainment, as well as a family-style dinner between volunteers and guests.

“The Shelter gives guests a safe place to stay and have a good night’s sleep and a good meal, which then puts them in a better frame of mind over time,” says Peter Rubie, one of the Shelter’s founding organisers.

Thanks to a partnership with the Housing Hub, a number of the guests from 2021 and 2022 have been able to transition from the Winter Shelter into long-term housing.

“It’s extremely successful,” Peter says. “It’s had quite a profound effect on some people’s lives.”

Mark Schmitt, a researcher who studied the success of the Winter Shelter in conjunction with the University of Southern Queensland agrees, calling the model “a really holistic way of dealing with social issues”.

Having interviewed guests from the first and second years of the project, Schmitt found an overwhelmingly positive outcome for participants, and the community more broadly, thanks to the initiative’s unique point of difference.

“Most support services require measurable outcomes, and so it’s a bit of a surprise to guests that there’s no expectations placed upon them and they’re not being told what to do at the Shelter,” Mark says.

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about themselves; it’s a space where the guests can come, meet and share on a level playing field.”

Peter agrees, saying: “We’ve had a lot of feedback from guests and one of the things they appreciate the most is just having some normal conversations. They’re often avoided when they’re sleeping rough, but this gives them a lot of normal interactions and creates that family environment.”

In addition to linking guests of the Winter Shelter with housing services, volunteers receive training to ensure adequate support is available when needed. Now, many of those guests who have transitioned to permanent housing are looking to return to the Winter Shelter again – but this time as volunteers.

“A lot of them really want to give back to

“The volunteers come because they want to meet people and care in a really authentic way and just want to help out.”

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 20,000 Queenslanders are experiencing homelessness. With the growing cost of living crisis and housing shortages putting additional pressures on Queenslanders, more and more people are being affected. In March 2023, a report released by the Queensland Council of Social Services revealed homelessness across the state had increased by almost three times the national average.

While the majority of the Winter Shelter’s guests were male in 2021, Peter says that in 2022, the split was almost 50/50 between men aged between 30 and 50, and women aged in their 50s and 60s, which mirrors government data on those most at risk of experiencing homelessness.

In Toowoomba, where temperatures can get close to zero degrees overnight, the need to sleep somewhere warm and safe is essential, and something the Housing Hub was all too aware of in the years leading up to the launch of the Winter Shelter.

“The Hub staff were having to put a lot of people back on the street because there was no solution and that was quite distressing, so they started looking for a solution,” says

Peter.

From the outset, the response from local churches hosting guests has been “overwhelmingly positive” and only grown since. “Nearly every person I spoke to was extremely supportive of it and has remained so,” he says.

Mark says that, in part, the success is thanks to the simple powers of a full stomach and good night’s sleep – things that are often taken for granted by so many.

“A lot of emotional and physical energy is taken up on the day-to-day aspect of survival when you’re homeless, especially when it’s cold. By freeing up those resources and getting a good night’s sleep and nutrition, you then have a better physical base for change,” he says.

More than a bed or a shower though, both Mark, through his interviews with guests, and Peter, through his time on site, say one of the biggest transformational experiences is the nightly family-style meal where guests and volunteers all sit down together to eat.

“A lot of participants said how important a good night’s sleep and food was, but all of the participants said sitting down for a family meal and having a sense of connection again was very, very powerful for them,” Mark says.

“The underlying premise was that the Winter Shelter changes how people feel

The Hub staff were having to put a lot of people back on the street because there was no solution and that was quite distressing the program and have stayed connected in one way or another,” Peter says.

This is something Mark also found in his research. He says guests of the Winter Shelter experienced “a significant amount of optimism for the future and a desire to be altruistic.

“The genuine altruism from volunteers transferred onto the guests and now many of them want to help others in the future, and that’s a really powerful thing for someone who has little or nothing to want to help other people,” he says.

Find out more about the Winter Shelter or donate to its 2023 fundraising appeal by visiting lifelinedarlingdowns.org.au/ appeal/winter-shelter-toowoomba.

Toowoomba's Winter Shelter supplies warm bedding, toilets and showers, a hot meal, and more for homeless people over the three months.

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The details Trudi Bartlett and Sean Rice Venue: Goondiwindi Cultural Centre Dress: Luv Bridal Gold Coast Hair: Hannah’s Hair Corner, based in Goondiwindi Make-up: You at Georgie’s, based in Goondiwindi Flowers: O’Tor du Flowers, Hampers and Gifts

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Entertainment: Phil O’Shea and Sam Brown Photographer: Wayne Pratt Create Photography Videographer: Nil Celebrant: The Shelleybrant – Shelley Burchett Caterer: All Good Things – Jodie Jeans Cake: Emma Robertson (groom’s sister)

wedding

Trudi an d Sean This local couple tied the knot with a casual, fun day at Goondiwindi

What was the date of your wedding? Any particular reason why you chose that date?

Saturday, March 4. We chose that date because it’s not too hot and not too cool, as we wanted lots of open air socialising - plus the venue was available.

Where was the ceremony and reception?

Why did you choose that space?

Both the ceremony and reception were at the Goondiwindi Cultural Centre. We chose Goondiwindi as we now live there, plus it was central for family travelling west from Kingaroy and east from Bourke. We also wanted a space conducive to a casual networking style and with the ability to take photos quickly on site so we didn’t lose time being with family and friends.

How many guests did you have?

130 with the furthest travelling from Sydney.

How did you meet your husband?

We met briefly years ago when he was the acting CEO at Paroo Council and I was the Director of Regional Development Australia (RDA). Neither of us were interested in the other at all plus we both were in other

relationships. In 2021, Sean joined the RDA board and quickly had to step down as he soon started dating the director.

How did he propose?

We were on a holiday in New Zealand and he thought he’d get me to hike to the top of a mountain and then propose. After going for a leisurely stroll around Lake Wanika he realised I wasn’t going to do any hiking while on holiday so his plan B was to propose in the spa on the deck of where we were staying. He went inside to get the ring, he put on our song Yours If You Want It by Rascal Flatts and then came out to see that I was no longer in the spa. He found me chilling in the cold air on a deck chair enjoying the view of the lake so he decided that was then going to have to do as our proposal place.

When organising your wedding, what were some of the most personal and important aspects to get right on the day?

We wanted a non-formal fun day spent with our fave people. We had finger food, no sitdown formalities and a short and sweet ceremony. As we have ten kids between us and loads of guests with children, we had

entertainment for the kids, a jumping castle and a photo booth. I organised a secret personal touch with Sean’s sister who made our cake with layers representative of the Penrith Panthers colours (Sean’s favourite team). We also personalised our drinks with all the wine being from Amisfield (our fave NZ winery) and all the soft drinks being Rice’s soft drinks from Bourke which has been owned by Sean’s family since 1907.

bridesmaid dresses?

My dress was from Luv Bridal Gold Coast with adjustments – removed a bow from the back, added detachable straps (one popped off during the ceremony) and had meters cut off the bottom as the bride is height deprived.

The bridesmaids all picked their own dresses from Little Bit Lush with the only stipulation being that it needed to be a shade of blue and they needed to feel great in it.

What were some of your favourite parts of the day?

I loved the lead-up to the wedding. So many people travelled, so we had 19 for dinner at our place Wednesday night, 35 on the Thursday night and 60+ on the Friday night with all guests invited to a recovery breakfast on the Sunday. I loved the getting ready at an Airbnb with my bridesmaids, flower girls, my mum, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and one of our boy’s partner. On the day I loved seeing people who didn’t know each other 24-48 hours earlier getting along and having a great time. The impromptu speeches were beautiful with lots of tears of happiness.

Who supplied your flowers, table settings etc?

Flowers were from O’Tor du Flowers, Hampers and Gifts. We were blessed to chose Jodie Jeans from All Good Things as our caterer, who became more like an event manager coordinating all the rest so we could just enjoy our time with family and friends.

Where did you get your dress from? Your

Did you have a distinct wedding theme?

How does this relate to both of your personalities and family history?

We didn’t specify a theme but were wanted it to be a relaxed fun day. Easy going, no dramas and very focused on our love for family and appreciation of our amazingly supportive friends.

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Above: Sally Scarlett of Sensational Sewing; Right: So Many Pockets owner Emma Carland, 19, in her creations.

Reap what you sew

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ewing is the handiest hobby to have, and a host of locals are making this known. From fun classes that have beginners sipping and sewing their way to a new skirt, to quality and quirky small business creations, handmade clothing is everywhere.

“By making your own clothing, you can guarantee that your garments are one-of-akind made just for you. It’s the ultimate form of self expression through fashion,” says founder and sewing teacher at Sensational Sewing, Sally Scarlett.

Creative and customised In a sea of generic shirts and one-size-fits-all dresses, handmade clothing is the stylish standout.

“Sewing your own clothing gives you the opportunity to explore your creativity and style in a unique way – one that shopping at general retail stores doesn’t provide,” Sally says.

Whether you’re tailoring a custom-fit top or replicating designer brands, sewing opens the door to a wardrobe that’s original, creative and bound only by your imagination.

“When sewing your own clothes, you become the fashion designer of your own personal style. It’s about creating customised pieces that are tailored to you,” Sally says.

Many trending and designer pieces have simple patterns, which Sally says can be easily recreated at home.

“Often designer brands release pieces that STYLE 12

have simple designs or constructions, but are crafted from quality fabric and with an eye for detail,” she says.

“For example, trending silk slip dresses are often a really simple pattern, and it’s the way a garment is cut from the fabric that creates a stylish and well-fitted look.”

Following a failed mission to find a wellfitted pair of overalls, 19-year-old Emma decided to make her own.

“I was looking everywhere for a pair of overalls and couldn’t find any that fit or had a cool print,” she says.

“Then I got addicted and started making more with different prints. People would ask where I got them from and suggest I start selling them.”

Not only a staple in Emma’s wardrobe, these funky overalls can now be customordered from Emma’s market business, So Many Pockets.

“Handmade clothes are made exactly for you – I love that I can make sizing adjustments and pick whatever print or colour I want,” she says.

Sustainable fashion It’s no secret that handmade clothing takes time – but in the name of quality and sustainability, Emma says it’s time well spent.

“If you either invest the time yourself or invest the money to pay someone to make clothes specifically for you, you’re going to take more care of clothes and get more life out of your wardrobe,” she says.

Have a go Sally’s tips for sewing beginners: ● Start simple and build your skills to create confidence ● Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, as you can always unpick them ● Don’t use the sewing scissors on anything other than fabric ● Double check before cutting your material – measure twice and cut once ● The best way to learn to sew is by doing it!

In what is undeniable handmade quality, Emma’s cousin wears hand-me-down overalls from years ago, while Emma’s wearing the still-perfect condition clothes that were made and worn by her grandma and great grandma.

“It’s about quality over quantity, because a handmade piece will last you forever – you’ll love it, you’ll take more care of it and it’s better for the world we live in,” Emma says.

Unlike fast fashion, sewing is slowing the clothing life cycle in a move that’s good for both the environment and your budget.

“With a creative approach, sewing can be as affordable as you like,” Sally says.

From second hand sewing machines to thrifty fabric shopping, sewing is the inexpensive way to upgrade your wardrobe.

“Repurposing clothing and fabrics from second-hand outlets or thrift stores is a creative and effective way of keeping costs low, and not to mention sustainable too!”

Sally says.

Meanwhile, Sensational Sewing hosts fabric swap events to share resources and foster sustainability.

“Our community members were invited to donate extra fabrics or resources, and could swap them for materials that inspired their next project,” Sally says.

How to start More than a step-by-step, Sally says learning to sew is about building on the basics.

“Start by learning the basic straight and gathering stitches, as these are some of the foundational stitch types you’ll use throughout your sewing projects,” she says.

“Then, it’s a matter of learning more skills or skill-stacking on what you’ve learned previously.

Although it’s easy for beginners to feel overwhelmed, I’m still learning new things after more than fifty years of sewing!”

Between YouTube tutorials and tips from her family, Emma learnt to sew through trial and error.

“My grandma and mum taught me to sew from early primary school age, and from then I pretty much taught myself through trial and error,” she says.

“YouTube is an awesome resource for looking up tips and tricks, and they’ll often feature free patterns too.”

fashion But after hours spent decoding patterns and sewing lingo, Emma recommends inperson guidance if it’s available.

“If you know someone who knows how to sew, definitely ask them first,” she says. “I find someone explaining something so much easier than trying to read a pattern.”

Join a class Whether to whip up a new handmade wardrobe or learn the basics of mending and altering, Sally recommends the inspiring and collaborative environment of a sewing class.

“Sewing can be such an individual hobby, so it’s nice to share the joy of making and crafting with others,” she says.

“The focus is on creativity, not comparison.

As each student is often working on a different project, it means they can learn from one another and share inspiration.”

While Sally’s students sew everything from pyjama shorts to aprons, alterations can also add a handmade touch.

“Tailoring skills like sewing on a button or hemming pants are surprisingly simple things to learn and can bring a lot of satisfaction,” Sally says.

Not only a more timesaving way to customise clothes, Sally says simple alterations can give old clothes a new life.

“Making mending a priority can be a great way to reduce your involvement in the fast fashion cycle,” she says.

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fashion

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ummer may boast lazy beach days and balmy nights on the balcony, but winter is all about cosy fires, snuggling up with your loved ones… and coats!

From a timeless trench to animal print blazers and cushy puffer jackets, coat season has something for everyone. And while fashion trends will come and go, here are six styles that are both bang-on-trend for winter 2023 but will also give you bang for your buck, because these styles are here to stay.

A built-in scarf coat Why buy a scarf AND a coat, when you can have two for the price of one? These built-in beauties are chic, stylish and streamlined and mean you’ll never again lament your cold neck because you left your scarf hanging on the hook by the door.

Go for something classic, like a beautiful blush number from Shein, or for the ultimate three-in-one, ASOS has a gorgeous copper ensemble which combines puffer, coat AND scarf. This is a new trend, but one we can’t see going out of style, simply for practicality. We’re frankly surprised it took this long!

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woolies ... everyone should have in their wardrobe

A shearling coat The epitome of cozy chic, shearling coats are traditionally made of sheepskin and lined with wool or fur, offering complete warmth and comfort.

They were spotted everywhere in the northern hemisphere winter of 2023 and if you haven’t invested in one for your wardrobe yet, now is the time. Available in a range of styles and lengths, you can go for the genuine article, whether that’s a sheepskin coat from Ugg, or a more budget-friendly faux fur option, like the ones available at The Iconic. Either way, buying yourself a shearling coat is an investment in your winter wardrobe, and one you’ll be patting yourself on the back for making in years to come because it will never go out of style.

Something with animal print “Leopard is a neutral” … that’s the catch-cry of all those who declare animal print the most important pattern in their wardrobe. And there’s no doubt the striking contrast of blacks, whites and browns does tend to match almost everything. So why not let your wardrobe take a walk on the wildside this winter? From classic leopard to chic and modern snakeskin, there are STYLE 14

plenty of different looks to suit your mood. If you’re after a dramatic statement piece, Unreal Fur’s Alpha Coat will definitely fit the bill. Or, make your casual wear a little more fabulous with a blazer sure to elevate any outfit like Marks & Spencer’s relaxed animal print look. if you’re not quite ready to commit to the full safari experience, perhaps opt for just a touch of animal print somewhere – like a scarf, gloves or even a beanie. Either way, animal is in, this year and every year.

The MVP: A Puffer Jacket There was once a time when the donning of a puffer jacket meant you had just returned from an overseas holiday where you shopped up big at Uniqlo… but these days, pretty much every store has their version of the humble puffer. And with good reason. Not only are they super duper cosy and warm, they also come in endless designs and colours. Uniqlo still has arguably the largest range, but whether you’re after cheap and cheerful, something sporty or a

luxurious, longline coat, there is a look for you.

The best thing about a puffer? It’s completely versatile – rock it with your favourite pair of jeans or dress it up for a night on the town. Some even come with their own handy bag for stuffing into when you don’t need it. Lightweight, packable and forever on trend – the puffer is here to stay and everyone should have at least one in their wardrobe.

Beyond basic black Black will never go out of fashion, but it’s always worth having another winter option in your wardrobe. Whatever style of outerwear you rock – puffer, trench, classic coat or business blazer – consider subbing out your neutrals for something a little more eye catching. From The Iconic to Zara, Myer to DJs, colourful coats are popping up everywhere and frankly, we’re here for it.

Choose a classic cut in an eyecatching colour, like hot-pink from The Iconic, or go big and bold in a hue to brighten even

the dourest winter day, like this mustard number from ASOS. Or make a simpler statement with a bold blazer like this gorgeous green from Sportsgirl, perfect with matching slacks for work or skinny jeans for off-duty elegance.

The trench Chic, timeless, effortless and always elegant, from the moment Audrey Hepburn strolled the streets in search of baked goods in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the trench has reigned supreme when it comes to the ultimate coolweather accessory. These days, trenches come in all shapes, colours and sizes and pretty much every major store has excellent options in stock. Shake things up with a sportier look from PE nation, embrace your dark side in this leather number from Ena Pelly, or go classic in this option from Lover. Perfect for date night, work, travel and offduty errand running, the trench will never go out of style.

beauty

Mosta Hair delivers luxury Toowoomba’s most iconic hair salon entrepreneurs launch innovative optimal hours super hairdressing site in shopping centre, writes Alyssa Welke

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usan Zammit and Joel Watson are two of Toowoomba’s most successful entrepreneurs, known for their much-loved hair business, Joel’s Barbershop, in central Toowoomba.

Susan and Joel have now opened Toowoomba’s most exciting new concept in hair – a premium combined super hair salon in Eastville Shopping Centre featuring Joel’s Barbershop and a new business, Mosta Hair.

The super salon optimises opening hours to enable shift workers, parents, and those needing a haircut early in the morning or late at night to access the service they need.

The large next-generation luxury salon

Mosta Hair, Eastville Toowoomba comprises a main reception area that welcomes clients and then leads them through to salons on either side – the women’s salon, Mosta Hair, and the men’s salon, Joel’s Barbershop.

“We are incredibly excited and looking forward to welcoming everyone to our new salon. It is the first of its kind in Toowoomba,” Susan says.

I was lucky enough to experience the

luxury at Mosta Hair, and boy, do they deliver on the promise. Not only is the salon beautifully designed, all of the stylists are warm, welcoming and so professional.

Salon manager Talia looked after my cut and colour and after setting me up with a cup of tea and a delicious biscotti, I answered a series of simple questions about the condition of my hair, what my hair goals were and any areas of concern I have about my

hair health, it was down to work.

Talia, who has more than 13 years of industry experience both in Australia and internationally, and I talked about what I wanted at the end of my service and she expertly delivered a fresh cut with curtain bangs to frame my face and a ¾ head of foils to achieve my desired ‘elevated’ natural look.

Talia and I discussed which colours we were going to use, the benefits of the products used in the process and after care to ensure my colour maintains its vibrancy.

It was a wonderful experience and I felt pampered throughout the whole process – from the chilled water on arrival, to the amazing head massage, and to the bouncy blowout Talia gave me, I felt like I was worth a million dollars by the time I walked out.

And the compliments I received on my new do were outstanding.

The new business will employ some 16 people and open from 7am until 9pm on most days to meet the needs of shift workers, busy parents and those who need flexibility with their time availability.

To book your appointment, call 4569 4216 or go to mostahair.com.au The writer was a guest of Mosta Hair at Eastville Shopping Centre

Healthy hair all winter long Don’t let cold wind and low temperatures mess with your hair – with a bit of TLC, you’ll make it through the season with healthy, glowing locks.

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inter is upon us, and with it a change in climate that can wreak havoc, not only on your skin, but your hair, too.

Exposure to harsh elements and low temperatures can sap moisture from your hair, leaving it dull, dry and susceptible to damage.

Here are some ideas to help you look after your hair – whether it’s short, long, straight or curly – to ensure you make it out of the cooler months unscathed and feeling great.

Add some hydration It’s not only the rapidly dropping outside temperature that can lead to damaged locks. More time spent inside in airconditioning and in front of heaters not only leaves your skin feeling dry and dehydrated but your hair, too. The first step in combating the weather is adding extra hydration by investing in a good-quality shampoo and conditioner with

moisturising properties. Using a hair mask once a week is a great way to add some extra moisture to your hair. While there are plenty of nourishing hair masks available, your regular conditioner will do the trick.

Simply apply to the lengths of your hair, wrap a hot towel around it, and leave for at least five minutes. Rinse and voila – DIY hair mask.

Ingredient list When it comes to ingredients to look out for, argan oil is rich in essential fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamin E, which are all ultra nourishing.

Argan oil forms a protective barrier around the strands to prevent moisture loss.

Another popular ingredient in hair care is shea butter. A natural emollient that helps lock in moisture and improve the hair’s elasticity, it also contains vitamins A and E, which promote a healthy scalp and hair growth. Coconut oil is well-

known for its moisturising properties. It works by penetrating the hair shaft, reducing protein loss and increasing moisture retention – it’s a saviour for repairing damaged hair.

Use protection It’s ideal during the cold months to reduce heat styling. Excessive use of heat styling tools, like hairdryers, curling irons and straighteners, can further dry out your hair.

Another source of dehydration is overwashing. Washing too frequently during winter can strip away natural oils and leave hair brittle and prone to breakage. Instead, try to reduce the frequency of washing (perhaps now’s the time to try a beanie?) and use lukewarm water instead of hot water, which can also be drying.

Maintenance is key Split ends are more common during winter due to the lack of moisture, so schedule regular trims to help maintain healthy, lustrous lengths. Looking for another upgrade?

Invest in a satin or silk pillowcase, which reduces friction and prevents hair breakage while you sleep.

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THE HELEN AUSTIN PROPERTY DIFFERENCE The property market may be in a constant state of flux, but there’s one thing that hasn’t changed – the quality of service provided by Helen Austin Property. For over a decade, through all types of market ups and downs, we have been providing exceptional real estate services to clients in the local area.

is why we are committed to providing our clients with personalized and professional service every step of the way. With our expertise, experience, and dedication, we can guarantee that you will receive the best possible outcome for your property transaction, regardless of market conditions.

We understand that selling or buying a home can be a stressful process, which

Contact us today to discover the Helen Austin Property difference.

“Helen and Hannah listened and responded respectfully when marketing our home in the designated historic section of Toowoomba. Helen explained and then detailed her marketing process, in writing. This gave us great confidence. The video presentation was sophisticated, engaging, explanatory, personal and very true to the character of the home. We very much appreciated the respect and care which Helen, Jon and Hannah, gave so generously. Yes, we’re smiling!”

SELLER, EAST TOOWOOMBA

SOLD BY HELEN AUSTIN PROPERTY

$1,200,000 4A PHILLIP STREET, EAST TOOWOOMBA

PRICE WITHHELD 11 CURZON STREET, MOUNT LOFTY

$2,500,000 100 PRINCE HENRY DRIVE, PRINCE HENRY HEIGHTS

$2,300,000 34 COOLOOLA DRIVE, RANGEVILLE

PRICE WITHHELD 2A MAUREEN COURT, COTSWOLD HILLS

$1,475,000 1/2 KELSALL COURT, RANGEVILLE

helen austin 0439 962 801 JON austin 0408 828 760 helenaustinproperty.com.au

beauty

Polka dot perfection BEAUTY HACK ALYSSA WELKE

D

The dot make-up steps

ot make-up hacks have been taking the internet (and TikTok) by storm for the past 12 months, so I thought it was about time to give

it a go.

Now, there’s something you need to understand about me – I am definitely a less is more girl when it comes to make up, and would describe myself as an absolute novice, particularly when it comes to highlighting and contouring.

Not only do I like less product on my face, I also like to spend the least amount of time possible on doing it, especially on those busy mornings rushing around getting everyone ready for school and work.

So when an email about the dot make-up hack arrived in my inbox, I volunteered as tribute to try it out and report back.

I’m not going to lie, when I first watched content creator Chloe Morello’s (@chloemorello on TikTok) Viral “Single Layer” Makeup Technique Explained!

YouTube tutorial (forgive me I’m old, and not on The TikTok) I was intrigued.

So in true older millennial fashion, I watched it again and this time I took notes on how to execute the look.

And then it was time to put the plan into action – I dotted my liquid and cream concealer, foundation, concealer, blush and bronzer and gave it all a quick spray with setting spray to help with the blending.

Then it’s time to get blending from lightest to darkest with a foundation brush. The final step was to pat your preferred translucent powder over to help seal it.

And boy, was I surprised by the end result – I really wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out but I was happy with the light natural coverage I achieved, and it took me no longer than my standard make-up application.

STEP 1 CONCEALER

STEP 2 FOUNDATION

STEP 3 CONTOUR

STEP 4 BLUSH

STEP 5 BRONZER Style writer Alyssa Welke using the dot make-up technique and the final result.

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relationships

Why friendships are key to wellbeing Research has found that friendships have more impact on our wellness than previously thought, writes Kate Calacouras

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e all know to increase our wellbeing we should eat better, exercise more, and maybe go to bed on time instead of bingeing a whole season on Netflix.

But a team of researchers in Spain have found one of the most important things we can do to improve our wellbeing is to invest time in our friendships.

The group analysed the data of dozens of studies on friendship dating from 2001-2019, and found that in general, the quality of adult friendships predict wellbeing levels.

That means more than a superficial catch up – we need to support our friends on a deeper level, celebrate their achievements, and be with them when they are struggling.

The findings, published in the Journal of

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Positive Psychology earlier this year, show just how important it is to prioritise these relationships.

And one of the best ways to actually do that is developing friendships with people in your local community.

Beyond having people you can call on in times of need, having close friends living in your town makes life much richer. It’s the difference between highly coordinated plans with people you only see twice a year, and those last minute social gatherings that

become a highlight of your week.

It’s something the team at Relationships Australia have been promoting for years, encouraging us to take active steps to get to know our neighbours.

Nick Tebbey, the National Executive Officer of Relationships Australia, says his organisation has found that people with close friendships within their local communities have reduced loneliness, and better physical health.

“Research shows that those who are socially connected and have numerous respectful relationships in their lives have better mental health and wellbeing outcomes, and that those people are generally more resilient against the ill effects of loneliness,” Nick says.

He added that not only can we enrich our lives by making an effort to develop local friendships, but we will have people close by when we need them most.

“One thing is clear across the nation: there is immense value in getting connected and staying connected. If there is one thing Australians do right, it’s supporting those around us in both good times and tough times,” Nick says.

wellness

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Financial effects of pregnancy, parenting Pregnancy has a significant financial impact on women & families.

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here it is possible to plan, it is a good idea to consider financial impacts, including the additional needs for baby, the time off work for one parent in the first

period after baby is born, the health related costs of pregnancy and post birth and – generally – how parenting will impact your household long term.

There are many great calculators around that provide an overview of the costs, but to break them down and dissect a little more detail it is worth sitting down with an accountant or financial planner and looking at both the short and long term impacts.

Mostly one parent – more often than not it

is the one who physically has the baby – takes a period of time off work. Depending on who is the major breadwinner this may have a minor or a very significant impact on the household budget.

Where families have not planned for this it is definitely worth examining what parental leave the employer provides, what is available from government resources, and what you can do to save in the short and medium term. For some families, childcare

and paid work are hand-in-hand but for some, the costs associated with childcare are not offset by the income received for work.

This has to be carefully weighed up.

Sometimes it is possible to alter patterns and place of work, with some work being conducted outside routine hours (allowing both parents to work and alternative childcare) and sometimes work from home in a part time capacity can still occur alongside a significant parenting role.

Pregnancy can also be a great time to consider additional money making exercises – that side hustle you have wanted to explore or set up as a going concern – or using some of the career break to do some additional training or education online at home. It is important, though, to balance out the whole family’s needs and to not overstretch things.

The second important area to consider is the actual costs of maternity care.

There are options: Care in the public sector is (generally) free and also may afford some of the best alternatives for models of care.

Midwifery group practice (MGP) will offer continuity of care, is free and provides some of the best outcomes for both mother and baby. MGP books out quickly, so it is critical to inquire and put your name down for care early in pregnancy.

Outside public hospital care, GP services may or may not bulk bill. Private midwifery practices also may have bulk billing options for part or all of their care. Obstetricians generally require some level of private health insurance for admitted care for birth but outside of this, out-of-pocket costs vary and it is critical to do some homework around this before choosing a care provider.

Finally, the actual costs of ‘baby gear’. Here is where things can either ramp up or be very frugal. A baby will need, at a minimum, a way to be transported (generally a car seat and/or pram or carrier), clothes and somewhere safe to sleep, so you can see that this can be an expensive exercise to prepare for a baby.

Possible options if you are on a tight budget could be buying second hand or considering if you really need that $3000 pram.

If you would like to know more about the costs of private midwifery care, talk to the My Midwives friendly team on 1300 982 951 or email toowoomba@mymidwives.com.au

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wellness

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The robotic advantage St Vincent’s Hospital enhances robotic surgery capability

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t Vincent’s Private Hospital Toowoomba is building its robotic capacity with clear benefits for certain surgical patients.

The recent purchase of the world-class da Vinci robot system and accompanying Trumpf operating table has heralded a new era for St Vincent’s.

St Vincent’s Hospital CEO Kathryn McKeefry said the da Vinci robot will mean patients have the benefits of less invasive surgery, increased precision and improved recovery times.

Results for patients undergoing general, colorectal and other abdominal surgery will be optimised by the new surgical system.

The performance of the da Vinci surgical robot is further enhanced by integrating with the Trumpf operating table which moves in harmony with the robot.

Director of Clinical Services, Malcolm Casey, said a special training day was held for clinical staff and specialists to allow them to explore the capacity of the da Vinci system and to ask questions.

“There is a clinical nursing specialist with extensive experience in theatre robotics who will oversee training and support for staff assisting clinicians.

“In addition, a theatre is wholly dedicated to the da Vinci robot,” Mr Casey said.

Fittingly, two of Australia’s experienced da Vinci robot system mentors, Dr Anthony Cerqui of Women’s Health Only and Dr Brendan Miller of Blue and Pink, will be using the robot at St Vincent’s.

Dr Cerqui performed the first gynaecological procedure in late April and urologist Associate Professor Devang Desai of Toowoomba Specialists undertook the first urological procedure in early May.

General, urological, colorectal and other abdominal surgeons from the Darling Downs and beyond stand to benefit from training on the da Vinci robot at St Vincent’s.

On the technical side, the da Vinci system translates the surgeon’s hand movements at the console in real time, allowing intuitive motion which acts like the human hand, but with a greater range of motion.

The da Vinci vision system also delivers highly magnified, 3D high-definition views of the surgical area.

The instrument size makes it possible for surgeons to operate through a few small incisions, thus helping patient recovery and pain management.

Above: St Vincent’s clinical and perioperative team with the new da Vinci robot.

Left: Associate Professor Devang Desai (centre) with the da Vinci robotic surgery team (from left), anaesthetist Dr Alan Rouse, clinical nurse (urology) Eve Wilson, surgical assistant Joshua Paul and clinical nurse (robotics) Maddie Carlisle.

We are here for you.

We have been providing safe and expert care to the Darling Downs and South-West Queensland for 100 years.

If you or your family have any medical concerns, see your GP and ask for a referral to a St Vincent’s Private Hospital Toowoomba specialist.

07 4690 4000 | www.svpht.org.au 21 STYLE

HOW YOU CAN HELP US BECOME A FUNDRAISER SUPPORT OUR EVENTS VOLUNTEER WITH US

DONATE TODAY

PURCHASE FROM OUR CAFE

www.toowoombahospitalfoundation.org.au Proudly supported by STYLE 22

wellness

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Nursing future in safe hands St Andrew’s joins in special international day to celebrate hardworking caregivers

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very special day on the calendar each year at St Andrew’s Toowoomba Hospital is International Nurses Day. Marked on May 12 each year to coincide with the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, International Nurses Day allows us also to appreciate one of the hardest working, selfless, trusted and respected professions in the world.

With this year’s official theme for the day being “Our Nurses, Our Future”, St Andrew’s had the opportunity to reflect on the important role our hospital plays in developing and nurturing the future generations of nurses and care-providers.

As part of official celebrations at the hospital, the St Andrew’s executive team had the pleasure of serving a special lunch for all staff, to acknowledge and thank the team of

close to 700 for their continued commitment to proving first-class care.

The day also featured the premiere of a new video starring nurses from across the hospital’s vast service offering, discussing

what a nursing career has to offer for those looking to pursue or already pursing this profession.

Our nurses, and indeed our entire team, epitomise our mantra: “Our People Do

Amazing Things”.

International Nurses Day video: watch now on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube

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wellness

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easy mobility exercises to do at home

● Repeated sit to stand ● Positional holds (such as resting squat, child’s pose, downward-facing dog) ● Neck rotations ● Chin tucking and shoulder retractions (push shoulder blades together) ● Side to side rolls (lying on your back on the floor or bed) ● Knee to chest hold ● Lateral lunges

Getting mobile

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hether you want to improve your performance in the gym, relieve tight muscles, reduce pain or improve your overall wellbeing, mobility training can help you reach your goals.

The newest trend in fitness, mobility training is a mix between strength and flexibility. It increases your range of motion, joint control, muscle strength and even has a positive impact on your mental welfare.

“There is a lot of good quality research that says it helps with general mental health and specific conditions associated with mental health,” says physiotherapist Michael Kerrigan.

As people spend more time sitting, whether it’s in the office, working from home or bingeing a series on Netflix, a sedentary lifestyle can not only lead to health issues, but stiff and sore muscles and joints.

“If we’re staying long periods seated we

can develop unhealthy habits with excessive posturing through the back, which can lead to onset of pain, stiffness and tightness in muscles and compensatory patterning.

“If we can keep flexibility in our general joints and bone health then it’s better for the long-term,” Kerrigan says.

It also helps to relieve pain, whether it’s from tight muscles or chronic problems.

“There are benefits in continuing to move rather than not moving,” Kerrigan says.

“Resting isn’t always the main beneficial treatment, it’s a lot more about starting from a baseline movement perspective. It might be something as simple as moving your legs from side and then you can start to build up your pain-free tolerance.

“It’s also beneficial in chronic pain presentations and trying to get people out of fear avoidance in terms of ‘I’ve got a sore back so I can’t do that’.

“Mobility is a great introductory pathway to getting people used to specific types of movement that may be able to (help) and restore more independence.”

If you love strength and weight training or going for regular runs, mobility training is an essential tool to improve performance.

“Before you can start to hit elite performance you need to have a strong foundational base and that starts with mobility or flexibility,” Kerrigan says.

“If you don’t have full mobility or full functionality or range of motion of a joint, then you’re not going to see the full benefits of doing strength or resistance training.”

It also helps to prevent injuries and makes completing day-to-day tasks or jobs around the home easier, such as cleaning and gardening.

“A lot of daily living requires having a decent amount of mobility, even hanging out the washing,” Kerrigan says.

“If you’re able to maintain mobility and functionality makes life a bit easier and doing some chores around the house less cumbersome.”

Holistic continuative care in all areas of Women’s Health including Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Physiotherapy.

Caring for women through all stages of their life’s journey.

Dr Matthew Stinson, Dr Christina Stevenson & Dr David Chettle

At Evolve Women’s Health your needs come first Find us on Facebook or call our office for an appointment.

P: (07) 4688 5533 www.evolvewomenshealth.com.au | St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Toowoomba STYLE 24

INSIDE: ● Making the most of your tax return ● Tips for EOFY in small business ● RB Finance

Your guide to

f inancial wellbeing 25 STYLE

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Tax hacks and tips for small business The end of the financial year is approaching, which means it’s time for Australia’s small businesses to give some serious thought to getting the best tax return possible, writes Kirrily Schwarz

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mall businesses make a huge contribution to our economy.

According to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission, about 96 per cent of registered companies are small businesses with less than 20 employees.

Small businesses create jobs for about half of our workforce and contribute a fifth of our gross domestic product. They’re essential for our families, our communities and our society.

As such, we asked a number of tax experts to share the top tips and tricks for savvy small businesses should keep in mind as June 30 approaches. Of course, this advice is of a general nature only and not to be taken as advice, but it’s a good starting point before you go and see your tax accountant.

Stay up-to-date with tax developments The recent federal budget included an announcement that the existing instant asset

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write-off would be increased and extended, which is significant for small businesses.

Basically, it means that businesses with an annual turnover of less than $50 million can claim a deduction of up to $30,000 for the purchase of new or second-hand assets purchased and used or installed between April 2 and June 30.

Mark Chapman is director of tax communications at H&R Block, a tax accounting firm which has offices all around Australia. He says that now is the perfect time to start planning for the end of the financial year.

“The instant asset write-off is a great way for small businesses to increase their profitability and efficiency by investing in new assets that can help them do business more effectively – whether it’s buying a new laptop, a new vehicle, or new tools.

Any of those items that you use on a daily basis, you can write off the cost against your tax straight away which is a really useful tax break.”

He also says that now is the time to start going through your invoices and receipts and making sure all of your books and records are up-to-date and accurate.

“If you’ve spent anything as part of your business during the course of the year, make sure you’ve got the receipts or invoices to prove it, otherwise you can’t make a claim,” he says.

“Again, taking that back to the instant asset write-off, as we get to the end of the financial year, that’s the best time to take advantage of it because you minimise the time between spending the money and making the claim.”

Basic tax strategy is all in the timing George Morice is a managing partner at

financial wellbeing

The instant asset write-off is a great way for small businesses to increase their profitability and efficiency

End of financial year tax hacks and tips for small businesses

The other thing to consider is sitting down and making a full financial plan for the year ahead.

“Go and get the calendar and sit down and think about what your business is going to do over the next year. What are your goals? What are your KPIs? Start the year firing. Tax minimisation is important, but so is growth.

Don’t forget the bigger picture.”

Know how your business is tracking

Prime Partners, an accounting and financial planning firm. He has five simple tips that can make a big difference at this time of year: 1 Prepay expenses up to 12 months in advance 2 Be strategic about the timing of your invoices 3 Make sure your superannuation contributions are correct – both for staff and

yourself.

4 Check debtors and write off noncollectable ones.

5 Evaluate your trading stock and make adjustments for obsolete or old stock.

“You can prepay expenses up to 12 months.

A great example of that would be insurance.

You might be paying that on cars or on your business and you can pay the next 12 months

now instead of paying it when it becomes due,” he says.

Then, when it comes to income, he says you should evaluate your financial position now and make a tax plan. For you might delay invoicing clients to lower your income this financial year or consider bringing them forwards if you expect next year will be bigger.

The Australian Taxation Office provides data on small business benchmarks which is a fantastic way to stay up-to-date with your industry so you know what the average business is doing. You can drill down into areas as specific as “kebab shops” or “cabinet makers” or “picture framing retailing” so it’s a great way to see how you are tracking compared to competitors and other like businesses.

Thea Voogt is a senior lecturer at the University of Queensland with expertise in tax law says it’s important to stay informed and up-to-date about your exact financial position – not just at tax time – so you can know how to best use your money and put realistic plans in place.

“Many small business owners use one bank account for both their business and their private expenses. There’s nothing wrong with that, accountants can see what’s a business expense and what’s not, but it can be a struggle for busy small business owners to know at any point in the given year what you’re actually spending on yourself.”

She says this time of year is also the perfect opportunity to consider things like gifts or donations.

“Small businesses are very good at making contributions to their communities. There is a strong link between communities and small business owners. This is a great time to think about gifts to deductible gift recipients.

That’s a good way to reflect on a good year.”

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financial wellbeing

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ow is the time when we pull out the winter woollies, suddenly start eating soup and daydream about tropical holidays – it also is that time of the year when we start to get our receipts in order for tax time, and plan how to spend our returns.

Dr Di Johnson, a lecturer in the Griffith University Business School, says don’t be tempted to splurge it at the EOFY sales. A rule of thumb is to have at least two weeks’, but preferably six months’, worth of expenses set aside as a buffer.

Chip away at any personal debt, like credit cards or buy now, pay later accounts. “If your return is large enough to get those few things covered off – like the emergency fund and paying down a bit of debt – then tax time will feel a lot more rewarding,” says Dr Johnson.

“Now, we just need to get all of those receipts in order.”

But there are also some simple ways to make your tax return work to make even more cash.

investing Even if you’re not the Wolf of Wall Street, there are easy steps to getting a feel for investing in stocks and shares. One way is through exchange-traded funds – or ETFs – where you can make sure you spread your money over different sectors easily buy and sell via the ASX STYLE 28

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Use your tax return to get ahead Make your ATO cheque work for you – by making you more money. Penny Hamilton looks at clever and simple ways to get your extra cash working harder These can be particularly appealing to those who don’t want to invest much – even just $1000 – and you don’t need to access the capital for a couple of years. ETFs can help to diversify easily to spread the investment risk.

ETFs can also help ease the mental load we have in our busy lives by taking away the effort of having to actively pick individual stocks. “Do your homework, do your research, and if you’re not sure, get advice,” says Dr Johnson.

SKILLING UP The last few years have also sparked a flurry in people returning to the books, hoping to skill up and future-proof their careers.

“Qualifications cost time, money, energy, but are often directly related to higher salaries and better career prospects, particularly over the long-term,” says Dr Johnson.

“Perhaps you have an interest in starting a social enterprise and want to skill up on how to approach that, or you realise in your field

that knowledge has been updated. Even in generalist disciplines such as management, where data insight for example is growing rapidly.”

Future-proofing your career is one of the best financial goals you can have, says Dr Johnson, as lots of people have to retire earlier than they intended.

“You can even skill up in a certain area with a microcredential,” she says. “A lot of people have had to really rethink their career – particularly if it’s tourism focused – and at uni we’re seeing a lot of domestic students selecting microcredentials like coding or particular written skills.

“Others take full degrees, like nursing, but that costs time and money so people have to think if doing that is going to be enough of a return.”

START A BUSINESS With the sharp spike in online shopping, maybe it’s time to use that tax return windfall to start your own online business?

Launching from the kitchen table can be fairly low-risk, given the low amount you have to fork out for overheads and staff.

Consider turning something you already love – like your hobby – into a side hustle, and that tax return can help go towards buying your first products, your time to create something from scratch or paying for a custom website.

financial wellbeing

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Putting your finances first RB Finance help you discover what is possible for your future security

power in the conversations.

“We are also vastly different to most other brokers in that we have a commercial banking background, so we understand at a deeper level how the banks price their lending, how they perceive and manage risk and how we can help our clients navigate through this process.

“We also strive to take a holistic approach to our interactions so that our clients have the right structures in place for their current and future requirements.”

As well as providing valuable insight into maximising opportunities, RB Finance provides no-nonsense advice to enable clients to take charge of their finances.

Ryan said there were a number of ways people can improve their financial health, achieve their goals and be prepared for any unexpected emergencies.

“The key is to pay attention to where your money is going,” he said.

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oowoomba finance brokers RB Finance pride themselves on providing quality financial advice and maximising their clients opportunities.

As finance and financial advice is RB Finance’s sole focus, the team, headed up by managing director Ryan Baddock, are not distracted or conflicted in their advice or guidance to benefit another part of their business.

“We are not going to try and provide you with accounting advice or sell you insurance,” Ryan said.

“Finance is a specialist area and hard enough as it is; we know what we’re good at and we stick to it.”

Ryan said he and his colleagues know finance inside out, and help their clients make sure they are taking a strategic

The RB Finance Toowoomba team. approach that will serve them well into the future – no matter your goals.

“There are options available to people beyond just accepting what the banks tells them and at RB Finance we are seeking to

show our clients What’s Possible and help them maximise their opportunity,” he said.

“We like to think we are assisting clients to level the playing field when in negotiation with the bank and help them obtain more

If you’d like to know more about improving your financial health, get in touch with the team at RB Finance today on 4633 9825 or visit https://rbfinance.com.au

WHAT’S POSSIBLE FOR YOU? List of services: • Home Loans • Agribusiness • Commercial Finance

(07) 4633 9825

loans@rbfinance.com.au

www.rbfinance.com.au 29 STYLE

Heat up your winter cooking game

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ith the sudden burst of cold weather, we’re all reaching for those foods that warm us up from the inside out, be it a big bowl of soup, a deliciously creamy pasta,

or a hearty curry.

With these meals inevitably come leftovers, and with leftovers comes needing to know how to freeze them correctly.

And it isn’t just leftovers you can pop in the freezer – using your freezer can help you prolong the life of other foods.

We’ve put together this handy guide to help you get the best out of your fridge and freezer.

And on the following pages we offer some tasty recipes to help keep you nourished and warm throughout winter.

THE PROPER WAY TO STORE AND FREEZE FOOD Is your fridge full of spoiled perishable foods at the end of the week? Follow our best tips to keep fresh ingredients lasting longer as we show you how to store and freeze food properly.

HOW TO FREEZE LEFTOVERS Store foods in airtight containers and freeze in individual portions. Don’t forget to label cooked foods and date them. Only defrost food in the fridge or microwave otherwise bacteria can form, leading to foodborne diseases. Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave, oven or stovetop.

prevents freeze burn and ice crystals from forming on your frozen foods, which can alter the taste and texture. If you’re freezing foods like mince, place it in a freezer bag and flatten to remove excess air. This will help make it last longer and be quicker to thaw.

If you’re keeping meat in the fridge, don’t store it in a plastic bag, as it will sweat, causing it to go off quicker. After purchasing any meat, transfer it to a glass or ceramic dish and cover loosely with plastic wrap before placing it in the fridge.

HOW TO FREEZE MEAT TO AVOID FREEZER BURN To freeze raw meats, place portions in freezer bags and push out as much air as possible. This

HOW TO STORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Keep vegetables such as beans and mushrooms in separate bags in the fridge to keep them dry. Wash and dry salad leaves before transferring them to a paper towel-lined airtight container in the fridge.

Tougher greens such as silverbeet and kale can be wrapped in a damp cloth and put into a crisper, while root vegetables such as potatoes prefer a cool, dark place. Foods with a high water content such as lettuce and cucumbers can’t be frozen.

It’s best to blanch vegetables such as corn, green beans and broccoli before freezing. Cook in boiling water, drain, then plunge in iced water before putting them in snap-lock bags in the freezer. If you have time, freeze veggies in individual portions for stir-fries and soups.

Always store fruits and vegetables separately.

This is due to the hormone emitted by produce as it ripens, which causes other vegetables more sensitive to the hormone to wilt. A good rule of thumb is if a fruit grows in a tropical climate, such as bananas, it can be kept in a fruit bowl. If the fruit is ripening too quickly, move it to the fridge

It’s best to blanch vegetables such as corn, green beans and broccoli before freezing STYLE 30

winter warmers

HOW TO STORE BREAD IN THE FREEZER Wrap bread in plastic wrap, followed by foil and place in the freezer. For stale bread, remove the crusts and blitz in a food processor to make breadcrumbs. Store in snap-lock bags in the freezer.

HOW TO STORE FRESH HERBS

so it will last a few extra days. For fruits such as strawberries, blueberries and raspberries, arrange on a single layer and freeze to retrain their shape.

Once frozen, store in snap-lock bags or in clear containers.

Wrap mint, chives, thyme and oregano in a damp paper towel and store in a plastic bag in the fridge. The same goes for basil, but wrap bunches in a dry paper towel, as moisture will turn the leaves limp. Place parsley and coriander bunches upright in a glass filled with 1 to 2cm of water, covering with a plastic bag and store in the fridge.

To freeze fresh herbs such as mint, rosemary and thyme, chop and place into ice cube trays and top with olive oil or butter. Once frozen, they’ll be ready to use straight away in your winter soups and stews.

31 STYLE

Australian roast pumpkin soup Serves 8 Prep 15 mins Cook 1 hr Australian roast pumpkin soup is packed with real flavour, thanks to the added apple and nutmeg.

Serve with

Irish soda bread Seves 6 Prep 15 mins Cook 35 mins

Ingredients

Ingredients

● 2kg kent pumpkin, cut into wedges and deseeded ● 2 brown onions, peeled and chopped into 6 wedges ● 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and roughly chopped ● 5 garlic cloves in their skin ● 100ml extra virgin olive oil ● 1 tsp cinnamon powder ● Salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper ● ½ tsp nutmeg ● 2 litres chicken style liquid stock ● Oil For the garnish ● 250g creme fraiche, sour cream or cream ● 1 Granny Smith apple, sliced into fine batons ● 50g roughly chopped hazelnuts ● 30 sage leaves

● 4 cups flour ● 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda ● 1 tsp salt ● 60g butter, cubed ● 2-2 ¼ cups buttermilk

Method 1 Heat oil over high heat until hot. Flash fry the fresh sage leaves for 30 seconds. Carefully drain on paper towels. Set aside.

2 Preheat the oven to 180C. 3 Add pumpkin, onions, apple and garlic to a STYLE 32

Method 1 Preheat oven to 190C. Line a tray with baking paper. Sift 4 cups flour, 2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda and 1 teaspoon salt into a large bowl.

2 Rub in 60g butter, cubed. Mix in 2-2 ¼ cups buttermilk to form a dough. Bring together on a floured surface to form a ball.

3 Shape dough into a 20cm round. Place on the tray. Cut a cross in the top. Bake for 35-45 minutes.

large baking tray. Toss the veg in the olive oil.

Sprinkle over the cinnamon, salt and pepper and grate over nutmeg. Toss again.

4 Bake your vegetables in the oven for 30-40 minutes until cooked and nicely softened.

Remove your baking tray from the oven and leave the veg to cool a little.

5 When they are still hot but safe to handle, take the skin off the pumpkin and squeeze garlic from its papery skin.

Transfer all baked ingredients to a large pot – garlic, pumpkin, onions and apples. Add your stock and bring to the boil.

6 Reduce heat to a mild simmer and allow the soup to reduce for a further 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and blitz until smooth. Season to taste.

7 If you want a silky smooth soup, pass it through a fine sieve using a wooden spoon but to be honest, I usually cannot be bothered.

8 To serve, dollop a generous amount of creme fraiche on soup followed by apple batons, sage and hazelnuts so you have a little pile in the middle of the soup.

9 Oh, and don’t forget to season with a little flake salt and a grind of black pepper.

Notes Remember not to cut the apple batons until you need them because they’ll oxidise.

food

Malaysian lamb and potato curry Serves 4 Prep 10 mins Cook 30 mins Aromatic herbs and spices will waft through your kitchen as this lamb and potato curry cooks until the meat melts in your mouth and the sauce is bursting with flavour. The creamy potatoes soak up the sauce and pair perfectly with the lamb.

This mild curry is infused with the taste of Malaysian cuisine and can be enjoyed on its own or with rice. Serving with roti that’s been warmed in a hot, oiled frying pan for a minute each side is a great way to round out the meal with that delicious golden bread.

You can pile on the lamb and potatoes or use it to mop up sauce. Either way, the kids will love the excuse to eat with their hands!

Ingredients ● 2 (about 500g) medium Desiree potatoes, cut into 3-4cm pieces ● 1 tbs olive oil ● 1 large red onion, thinly sliced ● 4 garlic cloves, crushed ● 1 tbs grated fresh ginger ● 500g lamb mince

● 100g (⅓ cup) Malaysian Nyonya curry paste ● 2 vine ripened tomatoes, coarsely chopped ● 150g (1 cup) frozen peas ● ½ cup chopped fresh coriander leaves and stems, plus extra fresh leaves, to serve ● Warmed roti to serve ● Natural yoghurt, to serve

Method 1 Arrange potatoes on a microwave-safe plate. Cover with 2 sheets of wet paper towel.

Microwave on high for 8 minutes or until just tender.

2 Meanwhile, heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic and ginger. Cook, stirring, for 3-4 minutes or until softened slightly. Add mince. Cook, using a wooden spoon to break up any lumps, for 8-10 minutes or until golden. Add curry paste to pan. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until aromatic.

3 Add the potato, tomatoes and 125ml (½ cup)

water. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat.

Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Stir in the peas. Cook, uncovered for a further 3-5 minutes or until peas are heated through. Stir in chopped coriander. Season well. Sprinkle with coriander leaves. Serve with warmed roti and natural yoghurt.

Notes What is Malaysian cuisine famous for?

Because of its location and history, Malaysian cuisine is reflective of the country’s multiculturalism. It’s become a melting pot of influence from neighbouring countries and the indigenous culture, creating an aromatic, rich fusion of tradition and innovation filled with herbs, spices and meat that melts in your mouth.

Is this curry spicy? If spice is of concern to you, I recommend adding less curry paste.

Why cook the potatoes in the microwave?

Microwaving potatoes lowers the cooking time significantly! This is sure to be a help for those who are a little short on time.

One-pot creamy chicken ravioli Serves 4 Prep 10 mins Cook 20 mins For a quick and easy dinner, try this creamy 30-minute chicken and bacon pasta.

Ingredients ● 120g smoked shortcut bacon, chopped ● 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced ● 500g chicken mince ● 125ml ( ½ cup) white wine ● 375g pkt spinach cheese ravioli ● 375ml (1 ½ cups) salt reduced chicken style liquid stock ● 300ml ctn thickened cream ● 120g pkt baby spinach leaves ● 40g ( ½ cup) finely grated parmesan, plus extra, to serve ●3 green shallots, trimmed, thinly sliced

Method 1 Heat a large non-stick frying pan over high heat. Add the bacon and garlic. Cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes or until the bacon is golden. Add the chicken mince. Cook, breaking up any lumps with a wooden spoon, for 5 minutes or until the mince changes colour.

2 Add the wine to the frying pan. Simmer for 2 minutes or until mixture is reduced slightly.

Add the ravioli, stock and cream. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes or until the mixture is thickened and ravioli is tender.

Season.

3 Stir in the spinach and parmesan. Sprinkle with shallot and extra parmesan.

Notes You can use any vegetarian ravioli, such as pumpkin and feta or basil and ricotta.

33 STYLE

food

Air fryer brie Serves 4 Prep 5 mins Cook 10 mins Comforting, creamy and gooey, this air fried brie will be your next cool weather staple.

Ingredients ● 125ml (½ cup) honey ● 125g soft & juicy dried figs, quartered ● 1 fresh rosemary sprig, leaves picked ● 1 sourdough baguette, sliced ● Olive oil, to serve ● 300g double cream brie

Method 1 Place the honey, figs and rosemary in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 2-3 minutes or until figs are plump. Remove from heat. Set mixture aside to cool completely.

2 Place baguette in the air fryer basket.

Drizzle over a little oil. Season with salt. Air fry at 180C for 5 minutes or until golden.

3 Place brie in a small ovenproof dish or ramekin. Place in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 180C for 6 minutes or until soft and gooey.

4 Drizzle the honey mixture over the brie.

Serve with bread chunks for dipping.

STYLE 34

10-minute Japanese chicken ramen Serves 4 Prep 5 mins Cook 55 mins After a raid of the fridge and pantry, any vegetables and noodles you have on hand will work perfectly to prepare this last-minute soup.

Ingredients ● 30g packet Japanese instant aka miso soup ● 375ml (1 ½ cups) vegetable liquid stock ● 3cm piece ginger, peeled, cut into matchsticks ● 150g (1 cup) podded frozen edamame ● 4 x 120g ramen noodle cakes ● 2 barbecued chicken breasts ● Sesame seeds, toasted, to serve ● Gourmet Garden Lightly Dried Chilli, to serve

Method 1 Put the kettle on. While the kettle

boils, empty the 3 sachets of miso soup into a large saucepan.

2 Add the stock, ginger and 500ml (2 cups) tap water. Cover. Bring to boil over high heat. Add the edamame and cook for 2 minutes or until just tender. While the stock mixture comes to the boil, fill a large stockpot one-quarter of the way with tap water. Cover. Pour the water from the kettle into the stockpot. Cover and bring back to the boil. Add the noodles and cook for 2 minutes or until just tender.

Drain.

3 Thinly slice the barbecued chicken breast. Divide the noodles among four serving bowls. Ladle the soup mixture over the noodles.

Top with the sliced chicken and sprinkle with sesame seeds and chilli.

INSULATING YOUR HOME “Do it once, do it right!”

L

ast month in Style magazine we discussed the reasoning behind — and the benefits off — orienting your home, unit, or commercial building to suit the climate.

Now, to further improve the environmental outcome and the comfort of your living spaces, these buildings need to be fully insulated to a standard that reflects local climate conditions.

What is insulation Insulation is a material that resists or blocks the flow of heat energy. Insulation is used to reduce heat inside the home from escaping in winter, and to reduce heat outside the home from entering in summer.

These insulating materials are therefore strategically placed in the entire envelope of the building. Directly under rooves, above the ceilings, inside external walls, wrapped over the external walls, and inside internal walls separating garages from the living areas.

Why is Insulation Important?

Insulation acts as a barrier to heat flow and is essential for keeping your home warm in winter and cool in summer. A well-insulated and well-designed building not only provides year-round living comfort, but significantly cuts your cooling and heating bills, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

For insulation to be effective, it should work in conjunction with good passive design as we have previously investigated. Winter heat losses in an uninsulated building can be up to 35% through the ceilings and 25% through the walls. Summer heat gains in the same uninsulated building can be very similar.

There are a wide range of insulation products available.

Bulk Insulation uses air pockets trapped within its structure to resist the transfer of conducted and convected heat. Its

thermal resistance is essentially the same regardless of the direction of the heat flow through it. Bulk insulation products come with an R value for a given thickness, and include materials such as: • Batts of glass wool, natural wool, polyester, and others.

• Rolls of the same various materials • Loose fill of natural wool, cellulose, and others.

• Rigid boards of polyisocyanurate, polyurethane, and others.

All these use the same principle of trapped air in still layers within its structure.

Reflective Insulation mainly resists radiant heat flow because of its high reflectivity and low emissivity (ability to re-radiate heat). The thermal resistance of reflective insulation varies with the direction of the heat flow through it.

Reflective insulation redirects heat back to its source, and if the reflective insulation is double sided it does not re-radiate heat on the opposite side of the original heat source. Shinny side always faces the heat source.

Composite Insulation is a combination of both bulk

insulation and a reflective surface. Examples include foilfaced boards, reflective foil-faced blankets, and foil-backed batts.

All these materials have what is called an R value which is its measure of thermal resistance.

The ‘total R value’ is the addition of the R values of the various insulation components; under the roof, on the ceiling, in the walls, and under the floor. Total R values are used when calculating energy ratings to measure thermal performance.

Good insulation that works effectively requires the selection of correct product for your climate. The right insulation fitted correctly will make a significant difference to the comfort and energy performance of your home, unit, or office for the life of the building.

If you would like to know more, simply arrange a time to visit me at my Design Centre at 20 Stradbroke Street Toowoomba.

— Geoff Gibson

Smart Design... Smarter Living.

Geoff Gibson 0407 965 261

facebook.com/geoffgibsonhomes

geoffgibsonhomes

DESIGN CENTRE: 20 Stradbroke St, Toowoomba (Off North St) | Office phone: 07 4634 4550 QBCC 100 5734 | www.geoffgibsonhomes.com.au | geoff@geoffgibsonhomes.com.au

home & living

advertising feature

Max rental property tax deductions

By Ros Burton, principal The Real Estate People

management fees can include charges for advertising your property, conducting tenant screenings, collecting rent, and liaising with tenants on your behalf. We’ll provide you evidence of the fees paid via a summary of fees charged throughout the year.

I

don’t think there’s too many people out there who enjoy paying tax, so this time of year is always a welcome opportunity for landlords to recoup some of the costs they incur to maintain, manage, and improve their property.

It’s crucial to note that not all expenses are tax-deductible, and the ATO has strict guidelines on what can and cannot be claimed, but here are a couple of important ones to keep in mind.

Insurance Premiums Landlords can claim the cost of insurance premiums for their rental property, including building, contents, and landlord insurance policies.

Council Rates and Taxes

Mortgage Interest

Depreciation

One of the most significant tax deductions for a rental property in Australia is the interest paid on your mortgage. If you have taken out a loan to purchase your rental property, the interest portion of your mortgage payments can be claimed as a tax deduction. However, it’s important to note that only the interest portion is deductible, not the principal repayments.

Depreciation is another key tax deduction for owners. Depreciation refers to the decrease in value of your property’s assets over time due to wear and tear. The ATO allows property investors to claim depreciation on both the building itself (capital works) and the fixtures and fittings within the property (plant and equipment). To claim depreciation as a tax deduction, you’ll need

to obtain a depreciation schedule from a qualified quantity surveyor. This schedule will outline the depreciation rates for your property’s assets and provide an estimate of the tax deductions you can claim each year.

Property Management Fees If you engage a property manager to manage your rental property (like us), the fees you pay are generally tax-deductible. Property

Council rates and taxes are also taxdeductible and include charges such as water rates, sewerage rates, and land taxes levied.

By following these guidelines and avoiding common mistakes, you can confidently navigate the Australian tax landscape and make the most of your rental property investment. But there are plenty of other claims you can make as well, so always seek professional advice when necessary to ensure you’re maximising your tax benefits and building wealth through property investment.

Landlords… does your property manager offer: 9 Detailed routine inspection reports every 3 months 9 Tenants paying water consumption 9 One on one communication 9 Market appraisal at every lease renewal 9 Flexibility with chosen trades

If not, then it’s time for you to get a new property manager.

Looking after your investment shouldn’t be ‘set and forget’.

What is important to you is important to us, so call us today and see how easy it is to make the change.

289 Herries St, Toowoomba 07 4633 8899 (just up from Glennie School)

www.therealestatepeople.com.au STYLE 36

home & living

Scams to watch out for Don’t get caught out, writes Savaira Ratukula

Y

ou may have heard of warnings to be aware of COVID-19 scams or remember the news reports surrounding the Optus data breach.

Scam activity has been increasing over the last few years and is becoming more sophisticated and harder to spot.

Harrowing accounts from victims who’ve been preyed upon, given false hope, tricked, threatened or robbed are becoming commonplace.

Scams are fraudulent schemes aimed at tricking people into handing over their money or personal information to scammers, using text messages, phone calls, social media or email, and pretending to be a person or from an organisation you trust.

There are a number of scams, but being aware of the most common ones could help towards identifying potential threats to you.

Since the beginning of this year ACCC’s Scam Watch reports, more than $142,000,000 has been lost to scams and more than 86,000 reports made.

Kev Morris Builder Adaptable Living Homes

According to the ACCC’s Scam Watch, the top 10 scams by reports for 2023 are overpayment scams, investment scams, remote access scams, rebate scams, hacking, classified scams, online shopping scams, identity theft, and false billing with phishing scams the most reported so far this year.

Scammers use phishing to attempt to gain your personal information.

Under its umbrella branches a few fraudulent types. For instance, spear phishing is targeted attacks on businesses and organisations attempting to get confidential information, while whaling targets high profile members within an organisation.

Email spoofing tricks users by sending an email from a forged sender address made to look like it came from a legitimate source, while smishing and vishing involves text messages or phone calls attempting to gain your sensitive information.

Pharming involves redirecting you to a fake version of a legitimate website by infecting your computer with malware.

This can cause you to be redirected to the fake website, despite typing the real address or clicking on your bookmarked link.

Independent Builders Network Builder of the Year 2022 Kev Morris Builder

Got a project you want to discuss with an expert local builder?

We’d love to hear from you.

Kev Morris and his team are an award winning Builders with over 40 years of building experience, creating stunning architectural, custom built and new family homes across the Toowoomba and Darling Downs region.

From the Independent Builders range explore our range of vibrant and beautifully designed homes, in our virtual display village.

As a member of the Independent Builders Network, we offer you a range of home designs with stylish facade options – all at a competitive price.

Building an Independent Builder home design on your existing block gives you the benefits of contemporary design, quality finishes and the luxury of a floor-plan that perfectly fits your lifestyle.

We know that no two families share the same needs, which is why our homes offer a range of incredible options to help you find exactly what you’re looking for, and we can work with you to further customise and personalise your home to suit you and your family’s wishes.

Come visit our display home at 97 Cronin Road, Highfields Qld 4350.

0417 641 383

As the most reported scam this year, here are several common indicators of a phishing scam you should be on the lookout for according to the Australian Cyber Security Centre: An email address closely resembling one from a legitimate business with a few characters having been changed.

Use of generic greetings such as ‘Dear valued customer’ or ‘Sir/Madam’ along with limited contact information in the signature block.

Spoofed hyperlinks and websites made to look identical to a legitimate site with the URL having variations in spelling or a different domain to the legitimate site’s URL. The layout has bad grammar and punctuation, misspellings, and inconsistent formatting.

Receiving suspicious attachments out of the blue or from a source you do not recognise asking you to open or download the attachment.

If in doubt about a text, call or email you have received, contact the organisation directly or visit their official website to find their phone number – do not use the contact details or links within the message sent to you.

DO IT ONCE, www.kevmorrisbuilder.com.au DO IT RIGHT

Benefits Of Building An Adaptable Living Home Homes will be designed with comfort, safety and ease of access as core design features. These features make it easier for parents to manoeuvre prams, easier to carry the shopping into the house, easier for people with a disability or temporary injury to move around and create a more spacious environment for the ageing.

These features will allow key living spaces to be more easily and cost effectively adapted to meet the changing needs and abilities of home occupants such as ageing baby boomers and people who have or acquire disability.

A few design aspects that best explain this: Easy to enter Easy to navigate in and around Capable of easy and cost-effective adaptation Responsive to the changing needs of home occupants 37 STYLE

sport

Going the distance At 61, Toowoomba’s Gillian Edwards joins a select group of world athletes to have complete the six major marathons, writes Kate Salemme

G

illian Edwards is unstoppable.

The Toowoomba local is one of only 126 women in Australia and one of 3941 women in the world to achieve an incredible physical and mental feat – completing the six major marathons in the world, Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.

What makes it even more incredible is she’s is 61 years old.

In April this year, Edwards crossed the finish line in the Boston marathon, achieving the Abbott World Marathon Six Star award – a feat she’d been chasing since 2014.

“We’re often told as we get older we should be doing less and less and not achieve as much but I just felt it was symbolic of the fact that as women get older, we can do just as much as when we were younger,” Edwards says.

“It’s a hard goal to achieve but if you really work at it you can get there.”

Unsurprisingly, there have been many physical and mental challenges along the way.

The 42.195km New York marathon was the first ticked off the list in 2014, remarkably when Edwards was aged 51, in a time of 5:10:10, before heading to Berlin in 2016 to complete that in 4:53:28 and London in 2018 in 5:09:59.

STYLE 38

In 2019 Edwards completed in 4:57:26 before Covid hit, putting her plans on hold.

Then injury in the form of hamstring tendinopathy struck.

But Edwards was still determined to travel to Tokyo and Boston this year to finally achieve her goal. She got the treatment she needed, completed her rehab and trained hard.

In March, while still battling injury, Edwards couldn’t wait any more. She travelled to Tokyo to tick that one off. As it turned out, it would be her toughest challenge yet.

Edwards got sick, but not even that could stop her. She still completed the Tokyo

It’s a hard goal to achieve but if you really work at it, you can get there marathon in 6:21:22. “(The illness and injury) impacted my time a lot but I got there in the end. It was probably the hardest marathon I’ve ever done, it wasn’t much fun,” she says.

“I ended up with a slight case of osteitis pubis as well, so my leg ceased up at about 15km, so it was a bit of a hobble fest from there to the end.”

One month later, Edwards was crossing the finish line in Boston in 5:38:42, marking the momentous moment her goal was achieved.

After nearly 10 years, she’d run and finished all six major marathons around the world.

“I just cried, I just bawled my eyes out,” she says. “There was a sense of relief – I was just like ‘Oh my gosh, you’ve done it! It’s taken 10 years but you’ve done it!

“I just felt really proud of myself to be honest.”

Edwards has always been a runner. From the age of 16 she’s been running and enjoying the solitude and thinking time it provides.

But why marathons?

“It’s really hard but it’s that sense of accomplishment. I love having goals, I’m someone that thrives on goals and getting

over the finish line knowing you’ve done it to the best of your ability, even though you’ve had injuries, it’s a real sense of having done something big,” she says.

The Melbourne marathon was the first Edwards ever completed. After talking with the like-minded people she’d meet when competing, she got wind of the Six Star award.

Strength training and sleep have played integral roles in her ability to do it in her 50s and 60s.

“Consistency with your training and you’ve got to do a lot of strength training at this age because everything starts to fall apart,” she says.

“Keep your diet really good, and sleep a lot.

You have to get sleep in, it makes a big difference.”

But how does she get the motivation to complete the enormous physical and mental challenges of running marathons?

She credits her trainer, Troy, and friends

who also compete for helping her along.

“Only 11,000 people have done it and I feel grateful that I have been able to be one of them,” she says.

“You know people are supporting you, so you want to do the best you can to show them gratitude for their support.”

Edwards says the secret is breaking the run into small goals.

“I think in terms of distances – I want to get to 5km in (a certain) time and then 10km, so I break it up into little bits,” she explains.

“Or if you’re running with somebody or you see somebody ahead of you, try and stay with them and focus on them, I find that really helps.”

A mother of two – son Daniel is 35, and daughter Stephanie, 33, and wife to husband Dave, Edwards’s family couldn’t be prouder.

“They’re really proud of me,” Edwards says.

“Dave is just so supportive; he’s been really good. I think he thinks I’m crazy but he’s supported me with it.”

The Chronicle Garden Competition

Prepping makes perfect Garden guru Mike Wells shares his tips for winter garden care

T

hinking of entering The Chronicle Garden Competition? If not this year (don’t forget, entries close August 11) perhaps next year? Start getting ready now and you’ll have a garden ready to show off come spring.

This year, Style magazine is bringing you a series of articles and advice from renowned

gardener and Garden Competition entrant liaison Mike Wells. He’ll share his tips and tricks on getting your garden competitionready – it’s not as daunting as you might think!

Getting into the garden in June means it’s time to think about cool-weather protection.

Hunting down the right fertiliser and mulch to give your garden what it needs to get through winter in great shape.

The good news for gardeners is that it’s also time to go shopping for bare-root shrubs at your local nursery.

Start preparing for winter with Mike’s six tips.

4

Rake up and mulch any late-falling deciduous leaves.

5

Speaking of mulch, winter is a great time to top up your organic mulches, such as sugar cane, lucerne or pea straw.

1

Protect frost tender plants with a physical barrier, such as old curtains or sheets, or use an anti-transpirant spray like Envy or Yates Wiltnot.

6 2

Plant larger seedlings (such as “10Pot” plants) now to ensure flowering in early spring.

Lynn and Robyn Vandersee, 252 Greenwattle Street.Chronicle Garden Competition 2022. Carnival of Flowers.

3

Apply a liquid organic fertiliser to your annual seedling beds every two weeks.

Prepare planting spots for deciduous trees and shrubs by incorporating composts and old manures into the top 15cm of soil.

7

Check your local nursery to see when their bare-root, deciduous shrubs and trees will be delivered and order yours!

We Have Moved!

New Address: 1 Newington Street, North Toowoomba (Behind the Royal Hotel)

07 4632 5953 • www.concept-kitchens.com

Renovations & New Homes | Commercial & Residential Joinery | Innovative 3D Design Artwork 39 STYLE

business

The beauty of a book exchange For the love of a good read, Jeremy’s Book Exchange is giving secondhand books a new and sustainable life, writes Hayley Hinze

P

acked with literary classics, popular titles and rare finds, the shelves of Jeremy’s Book Exchange offer a second life to Toowoomba’s pre-loved books.

Whether recommended by a friend or simply plucked from the shelf, these books tell the story of a thriving local community.

“I get to see books cycle through the community in all sorts of interesting ways, whether it’s passed through a family or through a retirement village, taken on caravan trips out west, or coming back to the store with its pages filled with sand from a beach trip,” owner Jeremy Rhode says.

The premise is simple – the donated, secondhand books are all $8 to buy (with some multi-buy exceptions). Any book bought in store gets stamped, and has an exchange value of $3.

“I saw that people were buying books that they were just reading once and sitting on shelves for years, putting in boxes and forgetting about, or just putting into landfill.

“I wanted to find a way to keep books circulating through the community,” Jeremy says. “I wanted to keep prices affordable because it’s important to me to get as many people reading as possible!”

Or for the low cost of no price, the store’s new zine library provides free zines for people to borrow, read and return in their own time.

“You never know what book you will find in-store and we’ve received a lot of feedback recently that the quality of our book selection is above and beyond expectations,” Jeremy

says.

What was once a garage operation back in 2017, Jeremy’s Book Exchange store at Uni Plaza now offers a sustainable and affordable alternative to buying new books.

“People love having a place where they can bring in the books they just cleaned off their shelves, then take home a new bag of books to replace the ones they brought in,” Jeremy says.

With packed shelves and bustling base of regular book exchangers, the store fosters a personable reading experience.

“Some days the customers help each other out with book recommendations and it’s been really rewarding watching our regulars expand their reading horizons,” Jeremy says.

“Customers have told us that coming to the store has helped them reignite their passion for reading and has even helped to get other members of their family reading too.”

Between the new readers, lifelong book lovers and even a few local authors, Jeremy’s Book Exchange attracts a range of community members.

“Not only do I love the idea of exchanging books for a small fee, rather than dumping them or giving them to others who may not appreciate them,” says local author Heather Reyburn, “but Jeremy offers all local authors an opportunity to keep our own books on his shelves without having to pay commission.”

Heather has volunteered at the store for four years, and loves the process of rehoming books.

“I have gathered books from old friends who have had to downsize and move house, families who have moved to the use of ebooks

in preference to paper or hardbacks, and from my own groaning shelves at home,” she says.

For Jeremy, the store is simply a reading haven he loves to share with others.

“The bookstore is really just my cubby house and I love that I get to share that with people,” he says.

“I come to the store to relax, read and smell the books, and it’s really special to me that other people feel the same way.

The people who come to our store are real booklovers and have said they’re just so happy to find a place where they can relax, have a cup of tea and talk about all things books.”

In 2020, these casual conversations were reimagined as the resident Book Club. Made to bring people together, these monthly meetings started out small but were quick to fill up.

“Our book club is a little bit different because we get together once a month to talk about whatever we’ve been reading, instead of having to all read the same book,” Jeremy says. “That way, people can participate in whatever way works for them, and I really like it because it means we all get to learn about books we might not otherwise read.”

After each meeting, Book Club member Lyndall Hill leaves with plenty of recommendations and some welcome additions to her reading pile.

“The first Wednesday of each month seems to come around quickly, but I really enjoy the company and book recommendations in the cosiness of the shop after hours,” she says.

I wanted to keep prices affordable because it’s important to me to get as many people reading as possible

HELPING QLD SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGH THE MAZE OF FINANCIAL COMPLIANCE

Proactive service on Accounting, Business Advice, Business Books, Succession Planning, Wealth Planning and Personal Insurance

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travel

Wild west Emily and Glen’s adventures continue with westward exploration

O

ur last few stops in Western Australia didn’t disappoint. We rode our bikes around Rottnest Island, snorkelling and spotting cute little quokkas. We took a tour around the old gaol in Fremantle.

We heard stories of the many men and women who were imprisoned and how one continued to find different ways of escaping. Glen and I made a point to visit as many historic gaols as we could around the country.

After many months of talking and hearing about the incredibly picturesque beaches in Esperance, it was finally time to experience it for ourselves. The beaches did not disappoint, and this was one of my favourite parts of the trip so far; to fly the drone around and capture some beautiful photos.

Driving along the Nullarbor was our next bucket list experience of our trip. We spent two full days travelling along the country’s straightest road. We camped right on the edge of the Great Australian Bight and underestimated how intense the wind can get. We eventually had to move behind some sand dunes if we wanted any chance of getting some sleep. Thankfully we had a couple of hours in the morning where the wind wasn’t too strong for the drone so I managed to get some great pictures and video.

Western Australia was as good as people say.

Besides the wind, there are so many natural wonders that the state has to offer. I hope to be back one day soon.

Get to know DOWNS&WESTERN VISITORS GUIDE your own backyard FREE better 2023

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For a quick weekend escape, or an all-out adventure, check our FREE guide for the perfect place to go.

Or available from Visitor Information Centres.

Destin ations ● Perth

● Rottnest Island ● Fremantle ● Esperance ● The Nullarbor

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events

Queensland’s quirky festival Jumpers and Jazz in July is back for another colourful year

W

arwick’s unique winter event has returned for 2023, and the organisers have outdone themselves yet again.

Taking place over 10 days from July 20-30, and bookended by two full weekends, Jumpers and Jazz in July is a communityand volunteer-led celebration of all things woolly and wonderful.

“We’re looking forward to giving a warm Warwick welcome to all our visitors,” Bette Bonney, media and marketing manager of the Management Committee, says.

“There will be world-class textile art and yarn bombing everywhere, diverse ‘get up and dance’ jazz genres, and plenty for families to enjoy.”

The themes for the annual tree jumper

competition – the festival’s distinctive feature recognisable by people across the state – are ‘Pathways’ and ‘I Love to Yarn’, while the Yarntopians have brought their renowned textile artist installation up yet another level this year, with the ‘Curiouser and Curiouser’ maze. Visitors can make their way through the entrance of Kings Theatre on King St to journey with Alice ‘down the rabbit hole’ of incredible, whimsical yarnbombed creations.

Follow through into King’s Theatre for a smorgasbord of visual and tactile delight at the Jazzy Crafters Pop-up Emporium.

In addition to all this, the JJJ ticketed signature events for 2023 include top class concerts, the Local Flavours Long Lunch in the Park, and cooking and tasting demonstrations from celebrity chef Matt

Bella Cameron and Karen Uhlmann showing off their epic crocheted outfits last year.

Golinski. There will also be guided walking tours available at various locations to showcase the Ateliers precinct.

With over 100 event experiences through the Southern Downs Region for the festival, you are sure to find something that everyone in the family will love.

People coming from out of town can also stay and enjoy the full Warwick experience –

visit www.jumpersandjazz.com.au/visitorinformation for details for day trippers, RVs and caravans, alternate accommodation ideas, and more.

The Jumpers and Jazz in July full program is live online now at www.jumpersandjazz.com.au/ where you can also book your tickets and get updates on all the details.

Tree Jumper Exhibiton

Book your festival

Signature Event Tickets now

www.jumpersandjazz.com.au/ticketedsignatureevents

musicians bio & schedule

www.jumpersandjazz.com.au/musiciansbio-schedule

YARNTOPIANS www.jumpersandjazz.com.au/yarntopians

20 - 30 JULY 2023 www.jumpersandjazz.com.au

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events

toowoomba

Shani WHITE / Gold Prize 2022 / acrylic & 24kt gold leaf on cradled timber board / 20 x 20cm / © Shani White landscape images have been captured across the Region’s vibrant and distinct seasons. Join Paula for a Meet the Artist Day on Saturday, 3 June 2023 from 10.30am – 3.30pm. This is a free event, with no bookings required.

Rosalie Gallery at 89 Mocatta Street, Goombungee is open Wednesday to Sunday 10.30am – 3.30pm.

CROWS NEST GALLERY Flock Together Shani White 31 May – 25 June 2023

TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL ART GALLERY

Margaret OLLEY / Oranges 1964 / oil on composition board / 74.8 x 100.3cm / Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery – Toowoomba City Collection 033 / Reproduced with permission of the Margaret Olley Art Trust.

Paula HEELAN / Firefighter: Captain Julie Proud Crows Nest Fire Station 2023 / Photograph / 55 x 75cm / © Paula Heelan

Moment in Time: Still Lifes from the Collections 20 May – 9 July 2023 ‘Remember you must die’ (memento mori): still-life artworks are often associated with reminders of the shortness and fragility of life.

But the artworks themselves may outlast many human lifetimes. They hang in limbo between brevity and the endless future.

Selected from the Gallery’s three permanent collections, this exhibition presents still lifes in various mediums. As women, traditionally, often had to suspend their fine arts practice or aspiration to fulfil domestic arts like cooking, cleaning and sewing, the exhibition foregrounds still lifes by women artists that reflect on moments and monotonies in their lived experience.

Featured artists include Janet Deboos, Joachim Froese, Gwyn Hanssen-Pigott, Marian Hosking, Elfrun Lach, Lionel Lindsay, Rosemary Madigan, Merv Muhling, Margaret Olley, Lloyd Rees, Ellis Rowan and Normana Wight.

The works remind us, we can live more fully through art.

Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery at 531 Ruthven Street is open Wednesday to Sunday 10.30am – 3.30pm.

ROSALIE GALLERY

People & Places in the High Country Paula Heelan 31 May – 25 June 2023 Paula Heelan’s photographic exhibition

celebrates people and places in the Toowoomba Region’s high country.

With a simple, authentic approach, her environmental portraits of people at work include a firefighter, a chef, farmers, a vet, a farrier, a horticulturalist, artists, rodeo competitors, cordial makers, sports people and many more.

Her powerful portraits and striking

Shani White presents a collection of native birds painted in a realistic or illustrative nature on a bare background drawing attention to the subject itself. Shani’s style of painting is expressive with brushstrokes and colour to bring attention to the feathers and character of the subjects.

Each painting contains gold leaf embellished into the background or the plumage of the birds to portray a jewel or prize-like finish to each piece.

Areas such as Crows Nest National Park, Hampton, Cabarlah, Ravensbourne National Park, and the three surrounding lakes are home to various species of birds.

The Atlas of Australian Birds lists more than 300 species of birds in the Region, almost half of the total for mainland Australia.

The intention of Shani’s exhibition is to bring attention to and engage the viewers in appreciating the natural surroundings of the local area with reference to the abundance of beautiful bird life.

Join Shani for an Artist Talk on Sunday, 11 June 2023 at 11am. This is a free event, with no bookings required.

Crows Nest Gallery is located at the corner of the New England Highway and William Street, is open from 10.30am to 3.30pm Wednesday to Sunday.

Entry is free at the three galleries 45 STYLE

stars GEMINI May 21 – Jun 20

with some much needed attention? Actions speak louder than words.

Well what a pickle you are in at present. Sometimes it’s best to leave sleeping dogs lying as they either wake up and bite you or get overly excited and do zoomies around the house.

Your goal in June, apart from having a smashing birthday, is to remember that when it comes to the crunch you are as hard as concrete.

This means that hard decisions don’t come easy, but if they have to be made then go for it headlong.

Work will be very rewarding as your team behind you has your best interests at heart.

SCORPIO Oct 23 – Nov 21 Time to get your groove on as it has been a while since you dazzled on the dance floor. You are never too old to bust out a boogie or twist the night away, just remember that you are a little older and wiser so take things a little easy. No one wants to see you in Emergency with your back out!

So dig out those flares from the ’70s and a tie-dyed T-shirt or your discofever outfit and enjoy life.

CANCER Jun 21 – Jul 21 Planning for your birthday has never been easier: think great food, good company and great drinking buddies who will make sure you get home in one piece. Never has there been a better time to trip the light fantastic.

If studying, your rewards will mean that it may be easier to decide on which career goals you intend to pursue.

Do something daring for your birthday month (no, I don’t mean skydiving naked), but perhaps go on a cruise, relax by the pool and dance the night away at one of the many shows they have on offer.

LEO Jul 22 – Aug 22 Winter is coming, Lions, so be prepared to embrace the cold. No one enjoys winter more than a Leo as they never get the chills.

Make sure there are enough blankets and clothing to ensure that you are both fashionable and warm. Sloth around in your Ugg boots, grab a book and sit by a window enjoying the sun.

Warm cups of hot chocolate go a long way to satisfying your cravings. Did I say cravings? Perhaps there is a secret that you are hiding from someone. Time to come clean.

GEMINI VIRGO Aug 23 – Sep 23 Your life is moving in a different direction for the remainder of the year. You are so much in love with love it is impossible to get anything done, but I do see lots of caring moments towards the end of the year. Perhaps a new beginning could be a new location, new career goals or taking your life by the horns and dreaming big. I do hear the patter of little feet so hope you are prepared to be a mother. Of course, you are earth mother… it will bring joy and laughter to your family.

LIBRA Sep 23 – Oct 22 Try not to tightrope walk this month because you do need to have a level head when it comes to big decisions.

June will see you being thrown into the spotlight, which is where you are most comfortable, but for how long? Being the centre or everyone’s attention is a big boost to your confidence, however is there any area of your life that could do

Hairy does the Job A Chartered Accountant with a sense of humour STYLE 46

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 – Dec 21 You can expect big news this month to do with your career. Are you on the move to a new role? Well, success awaits. You have learnt many skills in your last career, so put them to good use and aim for the top of the leaderboard. So much is happening this month that you may well need a holiday to unwind after all of your madness. Your eyes are on the prize, so use the drive you possess and let the hunger games begin.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 – Jan 20 When one door closes, another one opens, which is usually a sign of success, wealth and forward planning. Capricorns are known for their stubborn nature.

Usually, if you try to butt heads with a Capricorn you’ll come off second best. If you’re looking for a new direction in your life, this could be the month to make that move. You will need to air any grievances so that you can walk away feeling like a winner.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 – Feb 18 June will see you chasing dreams that are bigger than you ever would have

contemplated before, however rest assured you are ready, willing and able to achieve thanks to amazing opportunities that will arise. Health and fitness are important to you right now, so keep up the good work. It’s good for both your physical and mental wellbeing.

Timing is everything in June, so be ready.

When the alarm goes off just jump out of bed and get busy.

PISCES Feb 19 – Mar 19 It is plain sailing for you in June, so if you’re planning a cruise remember to pack the sunscreen. If you need help attending to family matters then this will weigh heavily on your mind. You have worked too hard to not enjoy some time out, so give work the heave-ho for a week or two and enjoy your travels. It will be here waiting for you when you return.

Money is coming into your life very soon, so make sure you have plans for how to spend it wisely.

ARIES Mar 20 – Apr 18 Rams will be undergoing changes this month – it could be on a personal level or even renovation of your current home.

This is perfect timing as it is long overdue.

Now you are able to splurge a little cash making your home more in tune with your comfort zone. Besides, if there are hunky tradesmen around that can only be a bonus also. Think pastel colours to fit in with your laidback style.

TAURUS Apr 19 – May 20 Taurus there are many things to consider this month, your birthday is over and with it the realisation that you are another year older… but are you wiser? Careers are looking great, and you are being noticed for all the right reasons.

Promotion may be on the cards or are you being headhunted for a role as a trainer in your field of expertise? If your partner is going through a crisis you will need to stand firm and help them plot a plan of recovery.

Lunar

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what’s on

What’s new in entertainment READ...

READ...

Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi

by S. A. Chakraborty

Reviewed by Jessica Kramer

Reviewed by Jessica Kramer A truly impressive debut, Flowerheart is a cosy yet simultaneously exciting young adult fantasy romance. As a standalone novel – unusual for the fantasy genre – it’s perfect for readers who don’t like the commitment of multiple books in a series but still want some light fantasy in their reading.

Clara’s magic has always been wild and uncontrollable, but never dangerous – until the day it poisons her father. The only way to heal him is to perform a spell that can only be done if you have full mastery of your magic, and the only person willing to help Clara is her ex-best friend, Xavier. But Xavier is a different person to the one Clara knew as a child, and asks for the ultimate price in return for help.

Add to this terrible secrets and a darkness spreading throughout their kingdom, and it’s a race against time to not only heal Clara’s father but also stop everything coming to ruin.

What impressed me most about this story was the portrayal of mental wellbeing, mental illness, addiction, and tools for managing strong emotions. Readers familiar with Cognitive Behaviour Therapy will recognise some reflections in the techniques Clara uses on her magic, which is tied closely to emotions in the book’s world.

The story itself brings a unique twist on the ‘witch goes on mission to heal loved one’ plot with intriguing characters, the language of flowers incorporated into magic, and a poignant discussion of mental health in a magical world.

Flowerheart is published by HarperTeen and is available in bookstores now.

WATCH...

Book Club: The Next Chapter Reviewed by Jessica Kramer If you enjoyed the original Book Club movie, released in 2018, you’ll like its sequel.

Set in real time – so five years after the events of the first film – Book Club: The Next Chapter reunites us with Vivian (Jane Fonda), Carol (Mary Steenburgen), Diane (Diane Keaton), and Sharon (Candice Bergen) as they decide to take a girls’ trip to Italy as a hens party of sorts for Vivian’s upcoming wedding to Arthur.

Remember watching murder-mystery Rosemary & Thyme in the episodes where the duo are abroad, and realising you were watching as much for the scenery and atmosphere of Europe as

for the actual premise of the show? Book Club: The Next Chapter is reminiscent of this as the foursome traipse through Italy in their impeccable outfits, from driving through the countryside to going down the Venice canals.

News.com.au reviewer Wenlei Ma describes it as “Sex and The City crossed with The Golden Girls crossed with The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants” and I couldn't say it better myself.

The four women, all accomplished actors in their own right, elevate basic characterisation and an overdone premise into a film that is enjoyable.

Overall, it’s a movie that can be watched as mindless entertainment and for a few good laughs, amazing actors, and – of course – Diane Keaton’s incredible clothing style.

See Book Club: The Next Chapter at Event Cinemas

The best-selling author of The Daevabad trilogy is back with the start of a new series, and it doesn’t disappoint.

Our tale follows the titular Amina al-Sirafi, a retired pirate with a legendary and scandalous career behind her on the Indian Ocean’s seas. Amina has survived several husbands, a demon, vengeful merchant princes and backstabbing rogues, and is now peacefully experiencing motherhood and family life.

That’s until the exceedingly rich mother of one of Amina’s former crew tracks her down with one final mission: rescue her kidnapped granddaughter for a sizeable payment sum.

One last adventure, help out an old friend, and get a fortune that will set her and her family up for the rest of their lives?

It’s an offer Amina can’t refuse. But the further she and her crew go on their adventure, the more she starts to realise that nothing is as it seems and that the stakes are even higher than Amina knew.

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi is a fantastic tale with all the elements I love: heists, magic, pirates, forbidden artefacts, historical mysteries, high stakes and danger.

It’s a welcome second introduction to Chakraborty’s work, and has the reader hooked until the very last page.

It will be interesting to see what the other two books of this trilogy hold for Amina and her crew.

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi is published by Voyager and is available in bookstores now

LAUNCH INTO MAX! Up-size your movie experience with V-Max – our biggest screens and our widest choice of seating.

Go big with our June Blockbuster movies.

Secure your seat at eventcinemas.com.au

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Events

MARKETS

june

Yarraman markets Every Saturday, 7am – 12pm (later start in winter) Corner D’Aguilar & New England Highways (Toomey & Margaret Streets), Yarraman

Elders Farmfest

Nobby country morning tea and markets

8.30am to 4.30pm Tuesday and Wednesday and 8.30am to 4pm Thursday.

Carpark gates open from 7.30am daily.

WHERE: Kingsthorpe Park, Toowomba WHAT: Elders FarmFest plays a vital role in Australian agriculture, showcasing and demonstrating a vast range of new products and services, highlighting new technology and innovation and providing information to professionals on the land. More than 2000 individual companies and organisations come together, delivering an exceptional field day experience for Queensland’s farming professionals and their families.

June 3 (first Saturday of month), 8am to noon Tooth Street, Nobby (locations and times can vary slightly – check Facebook)

Forest Song & Don Quixote presented by Grand Kyiv Ballet of Ukraine

Cabarlah Country Markets

Tuesday, June 6, to Thursday, June 8

Toowoomba Farmers’ Market Every Saturday, 7am – noon The windmills next to Cobb+Co Museum, 27 Lindsay St, East Toowoomba

Toowoomba PCYC market Every Sunday, 7am – 12:30pm PCYC Toowoomba, 219 James St, Toowoomba

Sunday, June 25, 7.30am – 12.30pm Cabarlah Sports Grounds, 9856 New England Highway, Cabarlah

Thursday, June 15, at 7.30pm

WHERE: Empire Theatre, 54-56 Neil Street, Toowoomba WHAT: From the trauma and heartbreak of war in their country, to the major cities of the USA and Europe, and now to the stages of Australia, comes Forest Song. This legendary ballet, which for over 75 years remains the pride of Ukraine, is a magical love story, full of mysticism alongside the conflict between the human world and nature. This flamboyant and festive Spanish ballet tells the story of a courageous but troubled man’s quest for love.

COST: Empire Cardholder $92, Adult $108, Concession $98, Child U15 $58, Group 8+ $98. A transaction fee of $5 applies per transaction for phone and internet bookings.

Toowoomba Secret places of World War II walking tour

Sunday, June 18, from 10.30am to 12.30pm WHERE: Laurel Bank Park, Hill Street, Toowoomba WHAT: During World War II, Toowoomba played a small but significant role as a centre

The Makers Markets war history – much of it still clearly visible if you know where to look. This walk concludes with a complimentary drink at a hotel in Russell Street.

COST: Adult $45, Child $38, Concession $38, Family $145. Contact 0413 724 846 or book via https://www.trybooking.com/CFWAO.

Stars of Charlotte Plains

From Friday, June 23, to Monday, June 26

for training, rest and recreation, logistics, medical services and much more. What is the association between Toowoomba and submarines? Why was the defence of the East Coast of Australia planned from Toowoomba and not Brisbane? Where were the 18 Air Raid shelters built? Join local guide Paul Herbert on an exploration of Toowoomba’s fascinating

WHERE: Charlotte Plains Station, 7 hours west of Toowoomba, 40km from Cunnamulla WHAT: One of Queensland’s most photographed outback stations is gearing up to welcome more than 500 visitors in June to help celebrate a major milestone by giving guests an authentic taste of outback life. Best known for its stunning artesian baths that have attracted visitors from around the world, Charlotte Plains station will hold its first annual Stars of Charlotte Plains from June 23June 26. The weekend festival includes live

Sunday, June 11, 8am to 1pm The Goods Shed, Victoria Street, Toowoomba

Queens Park Markets Sunday, June 18, 8am – 1pm Queens Park, Hume St (Frogs Hollow), Toowoomba

music, a (muddy) fun run, country-style food, a talent show, a petting zoo and the famous Charlotte Plains yabby delve – all set against the backdrop of stunning sunrises, sunsets and campfires.

COST: Tickets for Stars of Charlotte Plains start at $190 for an adult up to $595 for a family of six. Tickets include three nights camping at an unpowered site and access to all events and facilities over the weekend. Full details are available at www.charlotteplains.com.au/event/stars-ofcharlotte-plains/

CARAVANS & MOTORHOMES WANTED CALL OR DROP IN TODAY! Joe’s Caravan Sales is a family owned and operated business BUYING and SELLING a quality range of used caravans, motohomes and pop tops.

With over 25 years experience in the caravan industry, our friendly staff are more than capable of answering any questions you may have about caravans.

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WE COME TO YOU

Phone: (07) 3812 3553 94 Berry Street, Yamanto, QLD, 4305 bluexe@gmail.com joescaravansales.com.au

events

Zoe Locke and Kate Venables

Paul McVeigh, Megan James, Paul Antonio and Brian Pidgeon

Dan McNamara, Emily Pullen, Caitlin Crowley and Kat Lynn

TSBE Enterprise Evening

EVENT

On Thursday, April 20, Toowoomba’s business people gathered at The Oaks for TSBE’s latest Enterprise Evening. Wagner Corporation executive general manager Damian Bell shared insights on the recent success of securing Bonza airlines for a regular flight schedule from the Garden City.

Dallas Hunter, Milton Bazley and Denis Wagner

Damian Bell, Ali Davenport, Greg Bowden and John McVeigh

Buy direct from the Farmers Markets Fabulous experience Great savings!

EVERY SATURDAY, 7am to 12noon Under the Windmills at Cobb & Co Cnr Lindsay & Campbell Sts, Toowoomba www.toowoombafarmersmarket.com.au 49 STYLE

events

Colin and Jacqui Gunn

(From left) Nicole Pengelly, Owen Kleidon, Christine Kleidon and Tarla Judd

Luke, Megan, Abbey and Matthew Boulus

scene Steve and Georgie Wilson

Pat and Alex Gillespie

Will and Celeste Soutar with Alberto and Melanie Calzavara.

Bec Borger, Wendy Roche and Julie Stewart.

LifeFlight Toowoomba Gala More than 650 locals dressed to the nines converged upon The Goods Shed in Toowoomba City on Saturday, May 6, for the LifeFlight Toowoomba Gala. The event successfully raised a total of $747,998 for the foundation.

Pctures: Kevin Farmer STYLE 50

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