Brilliant-online-magazine-april-2022

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Matthew Hyde,

Harold Vickery & Sons

The

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HERITAGE & HISTORY Issue

INSIDE: We visited businesses with a long history and learnt how they had evolved over time.

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✦ Celebrating history and heritage.

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elcome one and all to April’s edition of Brilliant-Online.

It is that time of the year once again when we all enjoy the numerous splendours that Easter has to offer – typically spending time with family and loved ones, enjoying a hearty meal, Easter egg hunts with the kids and, of course, indulging in our fair share of chocolate eggs and bilbeys!

This month we’re going back in time with a focus on heritage as we take a peek into the back-stories of local businesses such as Harold Vickery & Son, the Douglas Vale Homestead and Winery, Wauchope APEX and the Hastings District Flying Club. We also learn more about the acclaimed Mrs York’s Garden and serve up a history lesson on the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.

learn some of the more curious, often humorous and sometimes downright dangerous traditions for celebrating the occasion. My Blue Tea shares a scrumptous recipe for Hot Cross Buns and we check in with Wauchope Creative Hub’s recent Purple Rain exhibition winner Alycia Lipovac. Last and perhaps least, yours truly shares a personal history on the generationslong heritage of being a sports club fan.

Advertise your business on Brilliant-Online and be seen. ✦ Contact Chrissy ✦

+61 412 137 621 chrissyjones@brilliant-online.com Brilliant-online.com

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NOTE FROM OUR EDITOR

We hope you enjoy the eclectic range of stories we have brought you this Easter, preferably while getting stuck into a yummy chocolate egg – go on, it’s Easter after all!

Ben Tirebuck

Elsewhere, we catch up with Port Macquarie’s own soon-to-be flying physio as we chat to aspiring pilot Alasdair Thomson of PhyxYou. TG’s tells us about their “Munch & Move” initiative, and Dr Namira Williams, CEO of disAbility Maternity Care, offers some invaluable maternity advice for parents with disabilities.

With Easter upon us, we also take a whirlwind trip around the world to

Brilliant-Online makes people and businesses famous. It is an empowering read for progressive individuals and dynamic businesses pushing for a better world in the digital era. Born witty, Brilliant unveils an online magazine featuring a variety of digital interactive content that makes it similar to the magical Daily Prophet newspaper from Harry Potter.

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ABOUT BRILLIANT

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IN THIS ISSUE 1

Matthew Hyde, Harold Vickery & Sons

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Greenbourne - For All Your Gardening Needs

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Note From Our Editor

Brilliant

BUSINESS

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10 Common challenges facing Family Business

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The burning questions for the masses…

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Is your business ‘making it rain’ and yet you’re wondering why you’re still bone dry?

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A Family Business where community comes first!

Brilliant

HISTORICAL MONTH

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A Bridge Back in Time – tracing the history and facts of the Sydney Harbour Bridge

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Wine and Oysters - two of the main industries in the Greater Port Macquarie region in the 1800’s.

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The story of Mrs. York's Garden - Labour of love is a legacy being preserved

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APEX'S triangular emblem - a recognised community symbol around Australia for decades

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The History and Evolution of the Postal Service

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19 years young - the Micro Business Network is the home of the entrepreneur

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Got a dream to fly - Join HDFC TODAY!

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160 years of age and still in business today

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Brilliant

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INVESTMENT

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Cyprium Metals Limited (ASX: CYM) is an Undervalued Copper Producer

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A Gold Producer Arising in Aurumin Limited (ASX:AUN)

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Tempest Minerals Ltd (ASX: TEM) is reaping its VMS reward for believing management

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Red Dirt Metals Limited (ASX:RDT) is a Lithium Gem within a Gold Mine

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Greenland Zinc - Ironbark Zinc Limited (ASX:IBG) has its BFS Completed and Offtake Ready.

Brilliant

HEALTH

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“Good for Kids” and “Munch & Move” initiative recognises TG's Meals

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DisAbility Maternity Care changes the conversation for parents with disabilities

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Meet Port Macquarie’s Flying Physio - Alasdair Thomson!

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Brilliant Interactive Advertorials tell stories that make people and businesses famous

Brilliant

SPORTS

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The Heritage of a Football Fan

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Get your Commercial Pilot License in Beautiful Port Macquarie with AIAC

Brilliant

COMMUNITY

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Celebrating Easter Around the World

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Easter is a time to dress up your tree

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Pandan Coconut Hot Cross Buns Recipe

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New look for Hastings Farm Gate Tour

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Book Review on Fractured Souls by Desley Polmear

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Purple Rain winner Alycia Lipovac loves art in all of its forms

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Been to Yippin Creek and had a ride on the scale trains?

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Love, Home, Work, Life - the essence of Crystal Tantricity

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Hollows, koala corridors, Environmentalist of the Year and Biodiversity Matters

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Port Macquarie Museum - New Journeys Broad Horizons

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Brilliant BUSINESS ✦

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10 COMMON CHALLENGES FACING FAMILY BUSINESSES ✦ Family businesses, are they a blessing or a curse? This month, as we celebrate Heritage in Port Macquarie and the Hastings, for those of us in business we can use this opportunity to reflect on both our successes and those things we could do differently to help set us up for a brighter future in both our families and our businesses.

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cKinsey & Co, the large consulting firm reported:

The 10 common problems affecting family businesses

“As well as the usual reasons businesses might fail, family conflicts over money, nepotism resulting in poor management, and infighting over succession can result in the failure of family businesses and the breakdown of family relationships.”

1. Family problems

Are our business decisions being affected by our family dynamics? I expect we all know what buttons to press to aggravate our siblings, our parents and our children.

6. How to get capital and resources to grow the business

A PricewaterhouseCooper survey on Family Business in 2021 showed 70% of business and wealth transfers failed when they occurred between family generations.

2. Informal culture and structure 3. Pressure to hire family members 4. Lack of training 5. High turnover of non-family employees

7. Lack of an external view 8. Misunderstanding the value of the business and how it is to be divided 9. Who will take over the business 10. No exit plan

Multi-generational family businesses are often rewarding both personally and financially. Your professional advisor can help you achieve your family and business goals.

As always this advice is general in nature and you should seek specific advice concerning your particular situation from your professional adviser.

Contact John Clarke, Success Tax Professionals on 0481 039 851 for family business planning.

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THE BURNING QUESTIONS FOR THE MASSES… ✦ Daniel “ Chook” Fowler from Greenbourne Nursery shares some gardening inspiration.

Well, as I write this I am actually looking at bright sunshine through the window. It has been the big wet… again. All the best to those in areas where the clean up has begun, our thoughts are with you.

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o our ever-loyal customer base who have continued to frequent the nursery, with their umbrellas and their gum boots, we thank you.

We are a resilient bunch us horticultural types, even though the lawn might be completely soddened we still squelch our way over it to get to our garden beds to tend to them.

With the continued steady flow of people coming through the nursery, the Greenbourne staff have noticed a band of continual, consistent questions. So, as we begin to dry off, it is a good opportunity to answer these reoccurring questions and communicate them to the broad majority. Hopefully you find some answers and tips among them…

What is eating my lawn!

Without a doubt this is the most common question being asked at the nursery at the moment. Many people have been attending the nursery with photos of devastated lawn areas, samples of small grubs and also the odd tear. While there are numerous critters that enjoy feasting on our lush lawns, the answer to this question at the moment is pretty simple. It is army worm. Army worm is actually a caterpillar.

They are the larval stage of the moth Spodoptera Mauritia. A crazy fact about the moth is that it can lay up to about 1000 eggs in three days! Once the caterpillars hatch they will then go on a 20-25 day eating frenzy. They feed overnight and hide beneath the grass layer through the day. They are really only prevalent through the warmer months of summer. So, how do we stop them? The good news is that army worm very rarely destroys a lawn entirely.

They will leave it looking a little unsightly, however most lawns have great energy storage in their rhizomes (roots) and will bounce back fine. If you do need to treat

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Annual colour

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them there are pesticides on the market that will work on them. Searles does one which is called ‘Dead grub pro’. It a granulated product that you simply shake over your lawn.

One of our customers also devised a great method using dishwashing detergent.

During daylight hours she added a small amount to a watering can and then applied it to the lawn area.

The army worm are forced to the surface as they are unable to deal with the detergent underneath the grass and soil area. The lady then retreated inside her house and watched from a window as the birds went to work. She swears by the method…

Can I plant citrus in pots?

With all the extra rain around at the moment it seems that certain plants are a little prone to having ‘wet feet’. Citrus can sometimes be attacked by various pathogens that live in overly wet soil.

While garden beds can be corrected by raising them or adding different ingredients, a lot of people are interested to know if they resolve the problem with pots. The answer is yes. Citrus actually perform extremely well in pots as long as you do a couple of things right. The pot size is most important.

The best way to plan for growing a citrus in a pot is to never repot it again. Select a nice large pot. A minimum diameter of about 60cm is a good place to start. The bigger the better if you can, The bigger the better if you can, though a 60cm sized pot will see a citrus live happily for 15-20 years.

When you are initially potting the young citrus make sure you use a premium potting mix. The premium potting mixes are designed to last for good periods of time as well as provide a good deal of initial nutrition. Make sure the pot you purchase has exceptional drainage.

The premium potting mix will hold the adequate amount of water for the plant, however any excess must be able to drain away. It may simply mean you have to drill extra holes in the base of the pot. Fertilise regularly.

I have found that using organic based fertilisers like manure pellets seems to work the best. The pellets not only feed the plant but as they break down they feed the micro-organisms and form a soil compound within the pot.

➸ Citrus

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What vegetables and annual colour do I plant right now?

It is now right on the seasonal switch where the day lengths and the temperatures are beginning to both shorten and decrease. It is an exciting time as it now allows our gardens to comfortably welcome new varieties in. On the vegetable front it is Brassica time. So go and grab your punnets of cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli.

Snow peas and garden peas also will perform fantastically this time of year.

All the perennial herbs will continue to still grow and provide you with flavour for your cooking. Add a splash of colour into your garden with flowering annuals such as Pansies, violas and Primulas. These three species will give your garden a colour explosion even as the weather cools.

autumn favourite. If looking for a bit of climbing height, please make sure you plant some flowering sweet pea. The colours available now are extraordinary.

The vibrant orange and yellow colours of Calendula will shine like smalls suns all through your beds. Dianthus will provide complex colour combinations and Snapdragons are always an

Sometimes we have larger projects to complete in our garden that need very large numbers of plants to create the desired effect. While 140mm pots in most nurseries aren’t

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Herbs

I have a large area to mass plant, can I buy smaller plants cheaper?

➸ Vegetables

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too expensive, when we start to talk hundreds of plants it certainly can add up. Greenbourne nursery does sell various grasses at the nursery in ‘super tubes’, at very reasonable prices that are certainly targeted toward the mass planting projects.

The super tubes give you a plant the same size as a 140mm pot does, however they take up less room on the nursery (so we can fit more in).

There is also a sprinkling of tube nurseries that you can access online that sell plants in bulk. One of the very best is The Plant Hub. Theplanthub.com.au sells a vast selection of plants that are dominantly used on mass.

Categories of plants such as hedging and landscape grasses are also dominantly used in big numbers.

So, if you do need to purchase large quantities of plants please do consider online tube nurseries like The Plant Hub. So, there it is, a few questions that have been asked regularly at Greenbourne nursery recently.

Hopefully you took some information on board. As for me now, I’m heading out into the nursery to meet some lovely people and enjoy this magnificent sum. Remember never hesitate to drop in or call us for some advice or just a friendly chat.

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Visit The Plant Hub

➸Super Tube

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IS YOUR BUSINESS ‘MAKING IT RAIN’ AND YET YOU’RE WONDERING WHY YOU’RE STILL BONE DRY? ✦ After years of hustling, late nights, challenges and innovation, many business owners find themselves in the situation where their enterprise looks profitable, and yet doesn’t feel as financially successful as it should.

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e can all admit to not paying ourselves enough when we reach this point, relegating ourselves to a minimum wage bracket or ‘what’s left over’ even though we occupy the CEO position in our own business.

So how do we begin the detective work to find where all our profits are hiding, so we can start to see more ‘leftovers’ at the end of every month?

Or even better, give ourselves a wellearned pay rise?

Check the facts on your costs When we’re caught up in the daily doing of our businesses, we can sometimes miss small details that can have a big impact on our bottom line. So now might be a great time to review your figures on what it takes to

do your ‘thang’ in business, right from the start, and how they play into your final profit margin: •

Has the price of your base materials increased recently?

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Has the cost of freight gone up?

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Are you missing a tax or fee along the way that should really be attributed to being a cost of production?

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Have you invested in new software, hardware or services that should really be factored into your cost of goods?

You might be surprised at how long it’s been since you reviewed this aspect of your numbers, particularly if you’ve just reached the other side of a surge in growth. This likely saw you bring on team members, upgrade your website, maybe put another vehicle on the road or level-up your tech.

All of these are costs in the doing of business, so make sure your expenses and margins on your finished product are accurate.

Have you outgrown your current levels of use?

Many of the software and services we use in business today have tiered pricing structures, ones that reward bigger players with lower per unit rates. This could be anything from your accounting software, inventory, shipping, communications and marketing platforms.

Spend some time - or perhaps get some key team members to give you some feedback - on your current use of these products and programs versus their current pricing offerings. These providers will offer different packages and more competitive pricing as time

➸ Making Better business decisions, Liz Jarvis

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B RILLIA NT B USIN E SS goes on and more competitors enter their markets. So reviewing the companies you’re investing in to ensure you’re getting maximum value can be another great place to dig for untapped profits.

Are factory settings giving you an unclear snapshot of your business?

This is one of my favourite tech / financial cross-over topics, and my goto way to give new clients a massive download of clarity.

When it comes to the software we use to track and report on our numbers - think MYOB, Xero, Quickbooks these often come with a series of default categories we can sort our incomings and outgoings into. This is so they can appeal to as broad a market as possible, but the trade off is that these categories (your ‘Chart of Accounts’ in fancy pants lingo) won’t often accurately reflect your business right out of the box.

The secret: get super detailed on how you manage the categories in your chart of accounts for some next-level insights into your business.

media content, email marketing, printing and more to a standardised ‘Advertising’ account. But imagine if you took the time to create an account for each of these expenses?

Then, you could put your detective hat on, jump into the backend of your website and review where most of your traffic is coming from, and more so, the traffic that leads to a transaction. You might be under the impression that Google Ads are doing all the heavy lifting, when really most of your customers are clicking and converting off your weekly specials email, with a little help from Facebook retargeting.

This would then allow you to shift your marketing investments around, or even save money with a clearer idea of: •

Where you’re actually spending your money and

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What’s actually more likely to trigger a sale.

The added benefit of going all Marie Kondo on your data management is when it comes time to bring someone else into the loop. Like when you’re working with a lender for a loan.

We all know how much banks love lending money to small businesses (*snort*) BUT imagine the difference walking into the bank with reports you’ve generated that get super specific on: •

Your exact revenue streams training, group coaching, platinum package - which showcases exactly what you do to the bank rep (rather than just ‘Sales’)

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Your exact expenses - transport,

Not blown away yet? Walk this way.

Think of your marketing expenses as an example. Most of us will write off Google ads, Facebook Ads, social

support material, premium packaging - all of which can clearly be measured against the income streams they support (rather than just ‘Cost of Goods’) The bank teller can’t understand the business of every applicant they see, so make it easy for them to see the strength of your operation with detailed reports that offer a crystal clear snapshot to the most casual observer. This level of detail may also allow you to level up the conversations you have with your accountant, as they too can better understand your operations on paper.

Time to get your detective hat on If you’re eager to dive in and discover some hidden gems in your numbers - but you’re not sure where to start - this is a process I love walking my business clients through. Head over to my website and book a FREE 30 min chat with me, and we can develop a game plan for profit hunting in your business.

Free 30 minute session with Liz

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A FAMILY BUSINESS WHERE COMMUNITY COMES FIRST! ✦ Lighthouse Beach Post Office is owned and operated by husband and wife team, Robert and Tania Taylor; the essence of the business is customer service.

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roviding not only top notch postal services, they also offer banking, bill paying facilities and parcel pick up to Port Macquarie locals.

The hard working couple are backed up by son Oliver. You may recall the story Brilliant-online featured on Ollie’s Flying Scholarship with HDFC a few months back.

The couple have been in charge of the Post Office for just over two and a half years and they have grown the business. Little wonder, as when you walk in you are greeted with a friendly smile and a quick 'hello can I help you?'

They are all only too willing to assist their customers, or even a passerby that pops in for directions.

Tania told us, “The community supports us immensely so we support them back.” Apart from the extremely efficient postal services, a diverse array of giftware, homewares and apparel is also on offer.

Some advice when sending parcels…

COVID has affected the postal service not only in Australia, but worldwide.

Delivery can be delayed, and the odd

parcel does get misplaced. Tania says, “Probably the best advice I can give for sending parcels is to keep your tracking numbers, keep your receipts, because that's the only way that we can find your parcel.”

She told us a lot of people have anxiety when sending a parcel. “I am often asked, where is the parcel I sent last week? When it's out of their control people get anxious, they may have sent something valuable, be it monetary or personal. We can only reassure people, but we can't do that unless we've got a tracking number.”

➸ Robert and Tania Taylor from Lighthouse Beach Office, with son Ollie

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B RILLIA NT B USI N E SS Parcels and postage going overseas can take a long time to arrive. Tania told us, “They are slow to be delivered, but that's because they're being held, a lot of them are being held in Sydney, at customs. Australia Post had to rely on freight planes during the onset of COVID, because most of the mail used to go on passenger jets overseas.

That’s why it was efficient and quick.

But now because there's not many passenger jets, sending anything overseas takes a fair bit longer than in the past.”

And that's where the delay is. Because obviously Australia Post is going to wait till the freight plane is full before sending it. And then it's got to go across the seas, then get sorted, then go to the destination country and then that country's got its own restrictions and sorting centre shutdowns to do with COVID-19.

➸ Compact in providing the best service

“Everybody just has to continue to work together. “Tania said, “We all need patience during these times, and a tracking number.”

The Friendly Post Office The Taylor family pride themselves on their friendly, efficient customer service.

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Robert told us, “We concentrate on getting people served quickly, because everyone's impatient. Everyone's in a hurry, they have things to do and places to go. We respect people when they come in our door because they're supporting our business and that's important to us.

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Provide friendly service

GO WOW!

From

SNAP PORT MACQUARIE 1/106 Horton St (02) 6583 7544 portmacquarie@snap.com.au

To

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Brilliant

HISTORICAL MONTH ✦

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A BRIDGE BACK IN TIME – TRACING THE HISTORY AND FACTS OF THE SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE ✦ It is one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, an image people regularly and immediately identify with Australia and certainly a universally recognised symbol of the country’s largest city, Sydney.

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he Sydney Harbour Bridge, also affectionately known as the ‘Coathanger’, recently celebrated its 90th birthday so we thought, as part of our focus on history and heritage this month, it would be appropriate to take a peek into the bridge’s past and its significance.

Despite aspirations to construct a bridge connecting the north and south shores of Sydney Harbour stretching back many years, it wasn’t until the government passed

the Sydney Harbour Bridge Act No. 28 in 1922 that things really got moving. The contract for design and construction was secured by UK-based Dorman Long and construction proper started in September 1926 – but not before around 469 private homes and commercial buildings on the north shore were demolished, with little or no compensation being paid to those inconvenienced!

After just over two years of hard toil, work began on constructing the famous arches that architects Dorman

➸ The old Harbour Bridge

The Reconciliation ➸ Walk across Sydney

Harbour Bridge, May 28th, 2000.

Photo Credit: Karen Williamson, OZ Land Photos

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However, the official opening ceremony that day was initially plunged into controversy as, immediately prior to premier Lang cutting the ribbon on the bridge’s southern side, a man on horseback dressed in military uniform rode up and slashed the ribbon with his sword, claiming he was opening the bridge in the name of the people of New South Wales. He was promptly arrested and a replacement ribbon was quickly assembled so the official opening ceremony could go ahead.

A similar ribbon-cutting ceremony

by North Sydney’s mayor Alderman Primrose was conducted on the bridge’s northern side, luckily without any similar incident!

The atmosphere that day was said to be very jovial, with decorated boats, floats and ships cruising in the harbour waters below the bridge and up to 1 million people getting involved with the festivities.

endured by Australian Aboriginal children forcibly placed into the care of white parents in a little-publicised state government scheme.

Estimates state that between 200,000 and 300,000 people walked across the harbour bridge that day in a symbolic gesture of crossing a divide.

Songs were written and performed and three postage stamps were issued to commemerate the occasion.

Once the opening ceremony had been conducted by officials, people were permitted to walk across the newly opened mega structure now dominanting their harbour shore and skyline.

The bridge was added to the NSW State Heritage Register on June 25th 1999 then, on the date of its 75th anniversary on March 19th 2007, to the Australian National Heritage List.

Nowadays you can climb the southern arch of the structure through an official tour operator and, of course, the bridge has often been the centrepiece for cultural and sporting events held in the city. The fireworks extravaganza held every New Year’s Eve has seen some incredible displays over the years and the bridge became a global icon during the 2000 Summer Olympic Games.

Just before those Olympics, on May 28th 2000, the “Walk for Reconciliation” took place, highlighting the plight of widespread suffering

On February 5th this year it was officially announced that the national Australian flag, the New South Wales state flag and the Aboriginal flag will now permanently fly on flag poles above the bridge.

As the ‘coathanger’ approaches its centennary it unquestionably stands as an iconic and symbolic piece of heritage that Aussies all over are rightfully proud of.

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Long had based on the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne back in their homeland. The southern section of the project was started first and on August 20th 1930 the arches were successfully joined together. Work on the road surface in addition to laying tracks for trains and trams was completed a year later and the bridge was eventually officially opened on March 19th 1932 by the then New South Wales premier Jack Lang.

➸ Francis de Groot

Olympic Rings ➸ on the Sydney Harbour Bridge

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WINE AND OYSTERS - TWO OF THE MAIN INDUSTRIES IN THE GREATER PORT MACQUARIE REGION IN THE 1800’S. ✦ One of the remaining success stories from that period to this day in its original surroundings is Douglas Vale Homestead and Winery, albeit on a smaller allotment.

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he original property was 46 acres and took in the Westport High School and TAFE grounds where they stand today. By 1990 there were only 10 acres left of the original property as the Education Department had acquired the land.

At that time, the last of the family

descendants who was still living at the Homestead was an old gentleman called Patsy Dick. The proviso was he could stay, but then he passed away in 1993. Following Patsy's death the TAFE then put a fence around the house.

Over the next 12 to 18 months, people jumped or went through the fence

and totally trashed the house. This caused so much community concern about what was happening, that there was a public meeting called for in Port Macquarie.

By 1995, the Douglas Vale Conservation Group was formed from that meeting and continues to this day, as a group

➸ Douglas Vale Vineyard entry sign

Margaret ➸ Joss & Patsy,Dick’s son’s

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Old Cellar

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of volunteers restoring and conserving the old homestead as a working house Museum from the 1800’s. The museum takes in the house, gardens and vineyard.

The Homestead Listed by the National Trust, the home is quite significant. Douglas Vale Vineyard was initially established in 1859. The homestead, the oldest timber building in Port Macquarie, was built in 1862 on what was then the "New England Road".

It was lived in for 132 years by four generations of the one family and is filled with original and eclectic items from that family.

Douglas Vale Homestead was built

by George Francis and named after his wife Margaret, whose maiden name was Douglas. Margaret’s family originated from Scotland.

It was passed down from one generation to another, being expanded and promoted all over the world.

On the death of her father, in 1898, George’s daughter, Margaret Wilson, continued to maintain Douglas Vale as a successful vineyard until the last vintage in 1918. Its wines were exhibited in Amsterdam, London, and even Calcutta.

When Margaret Wilson died in 1932 the ownership of Douglas Vale then passed to her daughter, Margaret Ethel Isabella Dick, the widow of Earnest Dick.

His father had been responsible for establishing the oyster farming industry on the Hastings River.

Margaret Dick was joined by her youngest son, Patsy, who remained living in the homestead after his mother’s death. In later years the State Government progressively resumed the land, mainly for educational purposes.

The homestead has been the subject of much conservation work.

Authentically restored, the Homestead and outbuildings are classified by the National Trust of Australia. Within the homestead is a dedicated museum containing a unique collection of artefacts depicting early Colonial lifestyles; the families who lived on the property were pioneers of both the wine and oyster industries in Port Macquarie.

Set on seven magnificent acres including an established vineyard and orchard, the well-kept gardens still display old trees, shrubs, bushes and a 150 year old Heritage bamboo glade entrance.

Unique in Australia, Douglas Vale is the only volunteer-run, not-for-profit

From the archives, ➸ Douglas Vale Homestead

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enterprise, producing six exclusive wines, including the famous Portabella Port from original vine stock.

In the centre of Port Macquarie, a unique historic tourist attraction has been developed by the local community to bring back and interpret the last remaining fabric of a successful wine industry of the 1800's.

In recent years since the "rebirth" of the property and its rescue from the wrecking ball, Douglas Vale has once again commenced producing a variety of wines which are for sale through its Cellar Door. As for the wines, they are produced off-site, but the profits earned from selling them go directly to the Estate for maintenance purposes.

Made up of 30 to 35 volunteer members that actively visit (WORK) at the Homestead two to three times a week, the Douglas Vale Conservation Group aims to keep it going forward.

They have restored the outside of the homestead, but are conserving and interpreting the inside.

The museum has a very strict collection policy. They do not want anything that doesn't relate to the Francis family and the homestead.

Volunteer Recruitment Campaign In Action Now - Your Help is Needed At the moment a recruitment campaign is in motion seeking more volunteers.

People are invited to work alongside the existing volunteers. To keep Douglas Vale open to the public there are certain jobs that have to be done, there is a big variety of jobs.

If you're new to Port Macquarie, or a local that wants to meet new people, if you want to be part of the community, Douglas Vale welcomes you with open arms.

Contact : https://www.douglasvale.com.au

➸ volunteers picking grapes on Douglas Vale

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THE STORY OF MRS. YORK'S GARDEN - LABOUR OF LOVE IS A LEGACY BEING PRESERVED ✦ Mrs. York’s Garden official opening on a Tuesday afternoon in May, 1968 by the then Mayor, Ald. C. C. Adams, following the garden being blessed by Archdeacon A. E. Warr, was in recognition of Amy Bertha York’s labour of love.

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old five years prior that nothing could be done with the headlands due to the northeast winds, she set about, at great personal effort and expense, to prove the pessimists wrong.

She thought the mass of weeds across the road from her home at the corner of Stewart and Grant Street, was an

ugly blight on such a beautiful piece of coastline.

From Allman Hill to Goal Point, Mrs York transformed the area into a beautiful "Floral Reserve", admired by people from all over Australia and creating a major tourist attraction for Port Macquarie.

At the opening ceremony Mrs. York thanked everyone for their praise, and told them she had as much pleasure in establishing the garden as townspeople and visitors had in enjoying its beauty.

She said it made her very happy when sick or troubled people gained solace in her garden, or when garden lovers came to see what can grow on the foreshores.

➸ A large group gathered for the garden opening in 1968

York with well wishers at the ➸ Mrsopening of the garden in 1968

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➸ Community groups enjoy the new shelter At the time, the land was held by the Department of Lands. Following a request by Mrs.York, with the support of the local Municipal Council, the area was gazetted as a Floral Reserve.

From then on Mrs.York took over the beautification of the Reserve contributing almost all of the finance necessary to establish the lovely garden for the benefit of the community as a whole.

A small grant was secured to establish a fence and kerb and gutter from the Department of Public Works and the Council contributed on a dollar for dollar basis.

In October 1968 the Australian Women's Weekly published a two-page article featuring the garden. Late 1970, due to declining health, the garden came under the care of the then Municipal Council.

Over time the garden fell into disrepair and remained that way until October 2014 when the “Friends of Mrs York's Garden” was formed.

The formation of the group was a result of older local citizens

commenting on the Facebook site “You're From Port Macquarie If You Remember”. They began restoring the area in February 2015, replanting it with littoral rainforest plants, the endemic plant species for the East Coast of Australia.

The Friends of Mrs.York's Garden is a volunteer , non-profit community group that originally formed under the Port Macquarie Hastings Council “Shaping Our Place program”.

Comprising over 40 active or supportive members, including Glenys Pearson, a granddaughter of Mrs York and experienced Horticulturalist. The group also has members who have valuable experience with Landcare, Business Studies, Engineering and Project Management, Finance, Marketing and Plumbing.

Committed to the long term improvement and maintenance of the area, they are unfunded and have achieved work to date through volunteer labour, donated materials, their own fundraising and Local and State Government Grants.

The Friends of Mrs.York's Garden are seeking Grant Funding and sponsors to enable the project to continue into the future.

Achievements so far A lot has been accomplished by the group including site preparation, planting of approximately 6000 endemic littoral rainforest and coastal headland plants and mulching, weed management and watering to the bank below the Grant Street car park, along Stewart Street, the Clarence Street waterfall bank, rainforest gully and the bushland corridor to Town Beach.

They are regenerating a critically endangered ecosystem and connecting a corridor between the North Shore and the Sea Acres Heritage Listed Gondwana pockets of rainforest.

Contributions of over $500,000 in voluntary labour, placement of interpretation signage and plant identification signs throughout the garden, restoration of the Quota seat that was originally located in the Windmill/ Waterfall Garden, the list goes on.

Further works completed are an all abilities path to the garden, two boat themed shelters and picnic settings, steps, log seating, boardwalks, steps for Mrs York’s Walk from Allman Hill, through a bushland track, to connect with the Coastal Walk at the skatepark

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Anne busily ➸removing couch

grass from the pathways

President, Dianne Davison told us, “We have developed a Master Plan with Port Macquarie Hastings Council (PMHC) for future projects. In addition we need to maintain the existing plantings including weed removal and regular mulching.”

and the restoration of the waterfall, originally constructed in 1970.

Decision time, ➸planting options

Funding from a State Government SCCF grant in 2020, allowed the completion of a stunning viewing platform off the Grant Street carpark, with magnificent views of the river, coastline and the garden.

Recognition of Community Support The community has shown great support for the project, with the group has over 7,000 Facebook supporters, some from overseas; that post hundreds of comments of support on their page. Frequent positive comments of passersby are received, in kind and financial support of local residents, Councillors, Council staff, businesses, other community groups and family members of Mrs York are greatly appreciated.

Local school students have participated in planting and are committed to a continuing involvement which stands the garden in good stead for future years.

the new pathway ➸ Volunteers planting between the shelters

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➸ Volunteers enjoy working in the garden

✲ “We have had five high profile opening events attended by the Mayor and local MP’s, the NSW Governor (April 2021) and have had media exposure through a number of outlets,” Dianne told us.

“We were nominated in the Community Group of the year awards in 2016, won the award in 2018 and received a major Keep Australia Beautiful award in 2019."

Objectives of “The Friends of Mrs. York’s Garden” The main aim for the group is to retain the area as a place of natural beauty where residents and visitors can come to enjoy exercise, picnicking and relaxing and for education about the littoral rainforest ecosystem.

They also hope to set an example to the community in using native species in their gardens.

'The Friends' love that the garden has again become a space that is well used and enjoyed by the community and is a meeting place for all age groups, abilities and cultural diversity.

The garden today is very different to that which Bertha originally created, but it is the essence of her original vision for a community space of beauty, that would bring solace and a place to enjoy this stunning headland area, that the Friends have captured in recreating this space.

Working bees take place each Wednesday morning from 8.00am.

“We would like to connect with members of the business and corporate community, as well as individuals. Those who may wish to help in this restoration by donating funds, offering in kind help or sponsoring a project that we have in mind. The Friends of Mrs. York’s Garden believe our project is a very worthwhile one that business and community members would benefit from being associated with and committed to its progress,” Dianne said.

Some sponsorship opportunities unities are the provision of in-kind materials, plants, soil, mulch and fertiliser to help keep the garden healthy. Help from Engineering and Architectural Services with the plans that are needed to be drawn to Council specifications. Help with labour for woodworking, concreting, brickwork, paving and landscaping. Help with stationary needs; printing of flyers, postcards and business cards, help with marketing merchandise; fridge magnets, carry bags, calendar, pens, help with consultation services; marketing, legal and environmental.

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APEX'S TRIANGULAR EMBLEM - A RECOGNISED COMMUNITY SYMBOL ROUND AUSTRALIA FOR DECADES ✦ Wauchope APEX has been Building Better Communities for 64 Years in the Hastings Valley.

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e spoke with James Wallis, Service Director of Wauchope APEX to learn about the philosophy behind APEX, its history in Australia and the Wauchope Club’s activities in the local community.

James told us APEX is a volunteer community service organisation.

Historically for young people over the age of 18, the Club offers active Australians an opportunity to learn more about themselves, gain new skills, make new friends and help those in need.

Heather and James ➸Wallis' fundraising BBQ

APEX members work in local clubs across urban, regional and rural Australia to raise awareness about social justice issues, assist the needy in a practical way and contribute resources to causes as varied as cancer research or youth public speaking.

James Wallis awarding Max Clarke ➸from Tacking Point Public Scool for

Public Speaking

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➸ The Apex team at Wauchope Show

Starting out as an organisation for men between the age of 18 and 40, the age limit was raised to 45 as membership started to decline, then women were inducted to help bolster clubs. Now clubs can vote to raise or remove the upper limit of their own club if they desire.

People are led to help and better their community wherever they can. As a part of a larger organisation, you have access to larger pools of money and people power to get things done.

James encourages others to join.

“Being a part of any community organisation allows you to better your community any way possible.

Wauchope APEX wants and needs new members. Anyone interested in joining is welcomed with open arms.”

Some of James’s fondest APEX memories are Interclub visits to Port Macquarie, Camden Haven and Gloucester to catch up with other clubs and friends he has made over the years via his Apex activities.

He told us, “Camden Haven APEX Club’s Train that we used at the Bain Park and Andrews Park Christmas Celebrations in Wauchope, we also took it to Gloucester for their street carnival one year, was a really fulfilling community activity. The kids absolutely loved riding the mini train.”

Wauchope APEX contributes in many ways to their local community The club runs fundraising activities throughout the year and helps out other community organisations when asked. “We are involved with the Beechwood community with the running of the Beechwood Billycart Classic for many years," James told us. "It’s a fun, family event held annually that sees the small country town come to life. It’s a fantastic community event with not only the billy cart races, but market stalls, kiddie rides and fundraising activities.”

Further activities include the club running public speaking competitions involving the local schools, where every month the club holds what is called 'cash for cans'. This is a great

initiative where the community can bring their crushed or uncrushed aluminum cans to the APEX collection site at the Wauchope Showground and they are paid per kilo for the cans.

At Christmas time they usually join in with the Chamber of Commerce Christmas Celebrations in Bain Park and run a ham raffle. Funds raised by the club’s activities have seen many needed items purchased for the Wauchope Hospital, schools and sporting clubs.

GET INVOLVED Join an APEX Club near you, or support them through your business to help make a difference in the community.

“First you need to attend a few meetings to see what APEX is about.

If you decide Apex is for you then we are happy to induct you,” James tols us. “We meet on the second and fourth Monday of each month at various locations.”

Read Full Story

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APEX is celebrating 90 years - how has it lasted so long?

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THE HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF THE POSTAL SERVICE ✦ “A letter is an unannounced visit, the postman the agent of rude surprises. One ought to reserve an hour a week for receiving letters and afterwards take a bath.” Friedrich Nietzsche

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emember the good old days when writing and receiving letters was one of life’s most treasured pleasures? Awaiting correspondance from a loved one, family member or pen pal, it didn’t really matter as the joy of receiving a hand-written letter from far-afield was unique and, often, unbounded.

Long before the advent of the internet and text messages, the role of the postal service in history was critical in transmitting news and information to all four corners of the globe. Billions upon billions of letters, parcels and postcards have been sent, received and returned globally since the legalisation of private mail services in

England in 1635. The postal service keep people at war on the front line in touch with their loved ones and allowed new colonies far afield to remain connected and aware of wordly developments.

The art of letter writing may have diminished greatly over recent years but we still receive goods via post,

➸ Jannali postwoman Daisy Larkin delivering mail by horse, 1950.

➸ Vatican post box

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➸ Saigon post office

A history lesson...

Like so many successful innovations, the first semblence of a postal service was originally conceived by the Romans when, in the first Century A.D., Emperor Augustus established Cursus publicus, the state-run courier and transportation service of the Roman Empire.

The first recognised postal service in the UK was first created in 1516 when Henry VIII knighted the first Master of the Posts, Sir Brian Tuke. Just over 100 years later in 1635, Charles I made the Royal Mail service available to the public with the passage of the Post Office Act in 1660 which saw postage being paid by the recipient for the first time. Postal rates being determined

by weight was introduced in 1840 by Sir Rowland Hill who brought us the 1d Penny Black stamp, and the iconic postboxes in the UK first appeared in 1853.

Over in the United States in 1775 the Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin to be the first United States Postmaster General and the US Postal Service Act of 1792 established the United States Post Office Department.

In Australia, former convict Isaac Nichols was appointed as the nation’s first postmaster in 1809, opening the country’s first post office at his house in George Street, Sydney.

The 1825 Postal Act had previously seen fixed postage rates established and the 1902 Commonwealth Post and Telegraph Act saw the creation of the national Postmaster General’s Department, which held responsibility for the nation’s mail and telephone services. One penny became the uniform domestic postage rate when in 1911 the UK’s domestic postal rate of 1d per half ounce extended to Australia as a member of the British Empire.

Today, Australia Post owns a diverse and heritage-rich range of over 1,200 properties across the nation comprising of historic buildings from the Colonial era, through to post-Federation and more recent, post-World War 2 structures. All serve as destinations offering postal and related services to the many communities throughout the country.

It is inevitable that technology will continue to shape the way the postal service operates and, whereas there will no doubt remain a demand for goods being sent by post, at least for the forseeable future, the art of letter writing is, sadly, a dying one; ask a Gen-Y or Millenial to write a letter and you’ll no doubt be met with a blank look! However, for those of us that used, and continue, to delight in the art-form, maybe we should do more to maintain it as best we can – why not pick up a pen and paper and write a letter to someone dear right now? It would no doubt make their day!

Read Full Story

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of course – infact, as the ecommerce industry continues to boom and pandemic-enforced lockdowns of late have restricted our movements, the advent of shipped goods and deliveries has increased dramatically, hitting record numbers infact, and as such the role of the postal service is, arguably, as relevant as it has ever been.

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19 YEARS YOUNG - THE MICRO BUSINESS NETWORK IS THE HOME OF THE ENTREPRENEUR ✦ What’s one of the biggest differences when you own your own business compared to working for someone else? A sense of pride from building something of your own.

M

icro Business Forum Members appreciate both the opportunities and the issues which micro business owners come across day-to-day. Their mission is to assist, support and encourage as you grow your business.

The first business get together was in 2003 and they called themselves the “Home of the Business Hub.“ Fiveyears later on February 8, 2008 the group changed the name to the “Home Business Forum" (HBF). Over the years, memberships broadened to include micro business owners and the self employed, so HBF was

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renamed as the "Micro Business Forum" or MBF on February 22, 2013.

Membership comprises a diverse cross section of innovative, creative and business savvy businesses offering products and services that contribute to the prosperity of the Port Macquarie Hastings region.

Small business owners meet once a month for coffee

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✲ Forum members understand the importance of taking time away from the daily routine to work on your business rather than in the business. Meetings are always enjoyable and informative. Deeper learning workshops and coffee connects provide an opportunity to provide

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The business designs Wastewater Treatment systems, specialising in conventional and non-conventional systems in unsewered areas and Site Classifications. What’s that you may ask? Lyn told us, “Basically, it's testing the soil under buildings, to provide Engineers with the specific soil conditions so they can accurately design footings for those buildings.”

Clients are mainly property owners, planners, builders, plumbers, engineers, draftspersons and architects to name a few.

A family business that has grown from trust Lyn credits not just the building boom on the Mid North Coast for her business longevity and growth, but also word of mouth recommendation.

“People know they can trust us to provide excellent, reliable service. It is a wonderful feeling when a client refers us to their clients, family and friends,” she told us.

An MBF Member for 19 Years Lyn has been a member of the Micro Business Forum from its inception.

She told us that the network has been a big part of her business growth.

“MBF has given me backup and the confidence to run a business. I have also made many good friends over the years from this group. It is said they are the friendliest network in the Hastings and that is very true!“ Initially she joined the network as she was in the NEIS program starting her business and needed to learn about the other factors of business, not just what she was qualified to do. She sought information like tax, customer interaction, marketing/advertising and keeping up to date with technology.

Following her investigation into MBF she found the network had it all.

support, networking and learning activities.

MBF’s main aim is to always offer opportunities to explore business ideas, learn from subject-matter experts and speakers, create worthwhile business alliances, share insights, build relationships and most importantly - have fun!

One business woman that has been there from the start back in 2003 is Lyn Richardson from Rosewood Environmental Services Lyn lives in Wauchope, is married, has two beautiful daughters and two gorgeous grandchildren. She is a Geotechnical Consultant working on the NSW Mid North Coast for the past 25 years, 21 of those operating her own business, Rosewood Environmental Services.

➸ Family Business

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“The guest speakers are always highly experienced in the areas they are presenting and extremely generous in sharing their tips and tricks. The interactive sessions and deeper learning workshops are professionally run and are really fun, being a great way to get to meet the other people in the group."

provide members with regular events such as meetings on the first Friday morning of every second month that includes a guest speaker and the interactive sessions. Deeper learning workshops are held every third Wednesday evening of every second month and a free coffee connect on every second Thursday morning of each month at various cafes to get to know the members of the network in a social setting.

Check out MBF events for the year

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So she joined and has remained in the forum ever since for the same reasons she joined. Lyn told us, “You never stop learning and keeping up to date with the changing ways of running a business is important,” she said.

Growth and the Importance of Networking Why is it important to join Lyn explained that MBF has grown over a business network and the time from being supported initially how does it help leverage by the Community College to becoming a not-for-profit incorporated entity your business? run by volunteers who are dedicated to helping other home, micro and small business owners to grow their businesses.

“I have constantly seen the selfless sharing of valuable knowledge throughout the years and it still amazes me of how fortunate we are in the Hastings area to have the opportunity to access this talent amongst us.”

The committee works endlessly to

On asking Lyn the above question, she replied: “When in a micro/home or small business you are often by yourself and have no one to learn from and network with. It is an essential part of business to learn all aspects of running a business and at the MBF meetings everything can be provided as well as support to gain confidence in yourself and develop your business to aid you to become successful.”

✲ “Joining this business network has helped my business to be successful by giving me the confidence to push on as I have others to draw guidance from and I am not alone. The wealth of experience and knowledge that is within the MBF is amazing and I am extremely grateful to all those that have contributed to me being able to keep going through hard times and come out the other end. I am very proud to be part of the MBF and feel I am able to give back what I have learnt over the years to fellow members.”

➸ Small business owners meet 6 times a year to learn and connect with each other.

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s

Check out Events JOIN MBF

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GOT A DREAM TO FLY - JOIN HDFC TODAY! ✦ The Hastings District Flying Club (HDFC) Port Macquarie has been bringing aviators, their family and friends together to share their flying dreams for 64 years.

History of the Hastings District Flying Club

F

ormed on September 8, 1958, the club provided professional flying training out of Port Macquarie Airport with a hangar and club house on site.

The inaugural President and CFI was Joe Lee who finished his aviation career with QANTAS training CLIPScommercial intake pilots on DC3s. Charlie Collins was installed as President while Joe remained as CFI to focus on preparing and implementing flying training programs.

Foundation members of HDFC included Barry Cunning, Greta Yabsley, Joe Lee, Frederick Higgins, George Hartley, Mervyn McCudden, John Kirby, Dal O’Grady, Col Bailey and Peter Taylor.

Prior to the formation of the club a few things did have to happen first Clearing of the land started in 1947-8 with extensive weekend working bees (tea was made in a 4-gallon

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kerosene tin so numbers of participants were significant).

There were two small tractors with a chain between them pulling over the smaller trees, and a D4 bulldozer, equipped with a winch, handled the larger trees. Gelignite was used as well to assist.

With the site cleared, operations may have been suspended awaiting further authorisation or funding or the 1949-50 floods may have left the site waterlogged for a number of years; reasons vary, but there was a delay in time until the Port Macquarie Airport was opened in 1955.

HDFC thrived under strong leadership Back in 1960, Chief Flying Instructor Barrie Abbott vigorously promoted the club and the beautiful district of Port Macquarie, through many social events, including air pageants.

Club members were encouraging older people to learn to fly, though the emphasis was particularly on younger people keen to progress to commercial aviation. Flying students ranging from 15 to 94 years of age were welcomed.

Here's a summary of HDFC history in video, made at that time to celebrate HDFC's 60th Birthday

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➸ Everyone was welcome, you just needed a love of aviation. To this day, the intent remains the same.

Many firsts, milestones met and dreams come true The first flying scholarship was advertised in the Port Macquarie News on 27 July 1961, with the first flying scholarship from HDFC being awarded to 17-year-old Jimmie Higgins on Monday, 14 October 1961. It was recorded that he had "outstanding promise and an above average approach to flying knowhow". Jim later became a pilot with Bush Pilots Ltd. Another first was when the mother of six children, Kaye Hutchinson from Wauchope, learnt to fly and went solo in February 1963!

In January 1964, night flying resumed after complaints were

The HDFC clubhouse still stands today

sorted out. It was so popular that advance bookings were necessary.

A milestone of sorts was reached in 1966 when HDFC bought a new Cessna 172, VH-PMD for $15,760.

Within a month, there were 30 students enrolled to fly in the Cessna. It clocked an average of 130 flying hours a month. To date, HDFC owns two Slings with a third aircraft on order.

1968 was a momentous year which saw the Club sponsor a pageant of national significance in conjunction with the Port Macquarie sesquicentenary celebrations.

In February that year, "The first Big Round Australia Flight" was advertised, attempting to set new long distance flights records. And in October, the club had a "Monster Air Show" that attracted 6,000 visitors.

✲ To-date, HDFC may have awarded a total of 36 flying scholarships.

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The year 1971 saw HDFC reaching 130 members. The flying Membership fee was only $5 per year while the social membership fee just $2 per year. Also the Port Macquarie Air Pageant took place on April 1. Flying memberships are now $100 per year.

The Hastings District Aero Club organised this display and it followed the usual pattern with aerobatics, crop-dusting, gliding and skydiving.

Highlight of the afternoon was the aerobatic and gliding demonstration

by Alex Oliver in his vintage Klemm Swallow VH-UUR. Now every Saturday morning, we get to enjoy.

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Bobcat Formation

Club house extensions were carried out in 1973 due to "growing pains" to incorporate a further 10 feet, including a room for ground briefing.

It was officially opened in 1974 with the club hosting a Hawaiian night complete with a piping hot roast pig.

Flight instruction classes increased by 500% over the next 12 months and it was rumoured that the credit went to the very good looks of Trudy White, a part time female flying instructor who encouraged more women to fly. At that time, HDFC charged $27 an hour for flight instruction.

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Achievements and Awards 2021 April 1984 saw further extensions of the clubhouse started and The Ultra Light Flying Club was formed and affiliated with HDFC. By August 1985 the club house extensions were complete.

The event of the year in Port Macquarie was held on the 5th of January 1986, the First Port Macquarie Airshow. The event warranted an eight-page pullout newspaper supplement on 4 January 1986, featuring photos of participating aircraft and advertising support from businesses all over the region.

Friday night social drinks started that year and continue till this day where members enjoy bingo, scrabble, mahjong, and quizzes.

➸ Hastings District Flying Club

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HDFC pilots, family and friends enjoyed the club's 30th anniversary dinner held on 10 December 1988 at the Port Macquarie Bowling Club, an event attended by 130 people.

November 2001 saw HDFC purchase a Cessna 172 VH-FPT which immediately became a popular aircraft with members.

The following year, the Fly and Spy event commenced, the brain child of Rod Davison, with the Hastings Council contributing $500 sponsorship.

In 2007, HDFC Club President at the time Rod Davison had a vision and grand plans. He believed that the Club must put in place programs that encourage involvement. Programs that were attractive for pilots, their families, social members, aspiring pilots, visiting pilots and members of the general public. He and his

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committee set about doing so and reviving the vibrancy set by Barrie Abbott.

Plans included timely and effective social communications through HDFC Propwash newsletters, the media and leveraging technology, wherever possible. Over time, club members, their families and friends have become passionately involved in fulfilling Rod’s vision and it is now a club where people who believe in flying dreams come together.

There is an obvious air of camaraderie in HDFC due to the range of social and flying activities on offer. Pilots, their families and friends get together regularly in club activities like Pilot Proficiency Day, Tri Club Competition, Fly and Spy, Sausage Sizzles, Restaurant Nights and many more social get togethers.

Friday night is Club Night from 5pm, with a sausage sizzle every first Friday of the month and visitors are always welcome.

HDFC celebrated 50 years in 2008 with a book launch entitled "Come Fly With Me"

by Elaine van Kempen.

Bob Needham, Life HDFC Member says the Hastings District Flying Club is the best flying club in the world!

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160 YEARS OF AGE AND STILL IN BUSINESS TODAY ✦ There's a lot to be said for a business that has proven its resilience and endurance by standing the test of time.

Harold Vickery & Son was established in 1862 and pride themselves in carrying on the company tradition of producing Australian made, custom designed, heavy duty leather products that are built to last.

When the business was created, there was no internet, no computer and many deadly viruses like polio and H1N1 influenza (the root of the Spanish Flu pandemic) with no vaccine. This business weathered the Great Depression, World War II and more.

Specialising in heavy duty products made to last for the mining, industrial, engineering and construction industries including protective belts, bags and pouches, Harold Vickery & Son operate out of a factory in Wauchope, regional NSW, Australia. They supply some of the biggest mining and construction companies in the world and distribute both Australia wide and internationally.

In the meantime, one of his best friends had done a hand making leather course, and the way she talked about it made Matthew think of the roll of leather gathering dust on the shelf in garage.

Ideas were floated about what to make out of it, and his lovely wife overheard the conversation and set about enrolling him in a leather making course.

She had found the gift to give the person who buys all his own things. It was something she knew he wanted, but probably would never do for himself. On his first fathers day he received a gift card, and his fate was sealed.

So Matthew completed the course in Sydney learning traditional leather crafting skills. How to saddle stitch, how to do stamping, how to join two flat objects together into a 3d shape.

It soon became his new hobby, after work in the evenings once his son had settled, to sit in the garage cutting leather and honing his skills. When it was time to sew, he’d set up out in the backyard under a portable light, hammering into the leather to start the stitching process.

New owner carrying on the tradition and craftsmanship Taking an opportunity to purchase a business of such stature and presence in not only Australia, but also renowned internationally, Matthew Hyde stands proudly at the helm for the past 12 months.

➸ Matt at work

Together, Matthew and his wife made a sea change, relocating their young family to the Hastings Valley and set to work to nurture and grow the 160-year-old business.

Prior to taking over, Matthew was employed in local government in Sydney, and before that he was working as contaminated land consulting in the private sector. But, but in his spare time he loved to tinker in his garage making things. Along came their first child and he wasn’t allowed to use power tools in his garage anymore - too noisy!

A new hobby needed to be found that was a little quieter. One day whilst carrying out his day job doing a site inspection, he came upon a roll of leather in a vacated building. He admits to being a bit of a collector, and the owner of the building said he could take it home if he could find a use for it. It sat in a corner for a while, waiting for the perfect design to use it on.

➸ Matthew Hyde enjoys leather work

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It became an outlet for him, away from the hustle and bustle of the city grind. He even joined various Facebook groups that furthered his interest in leather goods.

Port Macquarie was calling the couple they regularly visited family and friends in the area. They sought a more relaxed place to raise their family, close to the beach and bush, they sought a sense of freedom.

Four years ago they purchased a home in Port Macquarie and started looking for jobs so they could make the move.

Finding a job was the trick.

Whilst researching job prospects, Matthew came across Harold Vickery & Son in Wauchope, just a short drive from Port Macquarie, and the business was for sale. Matthew and his wife, who was expecting their second child at the time, called Grandma to look after baby number one, and jumped in the car and set out to check out the business.

They both thought the business had untapped potential. It was being run from a 1950’s perspective, they could see room for expansion and modernisation. Machinery was still being used from the 70’s: it was great, still running and doing the job, but they thought it didn’t allow them to think in a different kind of fashion. To think about the way things can be done in 2020, 2021, 2022 even 10 years from now.

Matthew's mind went into action instantly. This place needs a laser cutter as a first thought. He told us, “I didn’t want to stand here and cut leather by hand all day, I'll look into a laser cutter for sure.”

But reality soon set in, the pandemic hit and Matthew continued with his hobby in the garage. Locked down in Sydney, he worked from home giving him an extra three hours or so of time saved from the normal commuting to his day job. He used the time wisely, researching leather materials and products, who’s making what already.

Matthew immersed himself crafting belts, bags, and card wallets. He was learning.

Friends and family started asking for him to make them things; a toiletry bag, a notebook cover, bags, custom size leather belts for a mates wedding. He was finding that they appreciated the effort that goes into making something

by hand. Eventually he even figured out what to do with the extra roll of leather, he turned it into a beach bag for their weekly trips with the kids down to lighthouse beach.

Eventually, life started to come back to some sense of normal, restrictions eased, and the decision was made to purchase Harold Vickery & Son Yes, the name has remained. Matthew said, “I think the name is an important part of the story of the business, yes the machines’ from 1972, but the name is from 1862.”

Customers have also stood the test of time. People have been buying products from Harold Vickery & Son since World War I, before the Boer War, he told us. “Harold Vickery is reliable. A reliable product, reliable order system, you get what you asked for and on time.”

The strength of the brand is the name, the quality product it references and of course reliability in supply. The knowledge that product lines remain, they are manufactured in the same way, using the same machines has guaranteed the brand has stood the test of time.

Modernisation will take place, it has to for the name to continue for another 160 years, but the brand and ethic will remain true.

The majority of the machines used are old, there are even some museum pieces sitting under dust covers out the back. They aren’t in use because parts are no longer available, the manufacturer has gone out of business or their supplier has. This will eventually be something the business won’t be able to support into the long term. New machines will need to be introduced.

For example Matthew showed us the 50th anniversary edition of the Singer Compound Sewing machine. “It still runs, it still does work. It’s a beast, but it's not a machine that we rely on a daily basis,” he said. “New machines have been purchased along the way.

There’s a couple of Japanese sewing machines that were bought about 15 years ago. Big industrial machines that don't really wear out and they're really hard to break, thankfully.”

How do you bring modernity and innovation into an old business?

By using a perspective of how would the problem be solved today? How would you go about it if you were to walk in with fresh eyes and set to work? How would you do it if you had all the tools available that are out there today?

“The setup of the manufacturing business was all done pre-computers, all done with a slide rule, so to speak.

I've got designs here that are from an external technical drawing expert, that's how it was done back then; we can do that in-house now.”

44 Nowadays, with computer aided design, 3D modelling can be implemented with reference to the original designs. The product that the customer needs to be made can change, and that change can flow through to our designers. Faster throughput is achieved by using a computer number controlled machine, and the technical work of making a 3d object out of flat materials is left to expert humans.

“That also brings the ability for product adaptation on a larger scale," commented Matthew. "We can make products to customers' unique specifications. Computerised methods are something we are implementing as we speak.”

Future vision for the business Twelve months in and Matthew wants to take the business to the next level.

Work on the e-commerce side of Harold Vickery & Son. Sell directly to the public.

“In the past, the business has been predominantly wholesale, orders would be 30, 100 belts at a time. Bulk orders.

But if you don't work for a mining company for example, or you don't have an ABN, the barriers to being able to purchase our products were fairly significant.”

Matthew wants to take down those barriers, enabling individuals to purchase products straight from the new website. “These are time tested pieces of kit. People have been wearing them for 12 hours a day for years. If they weren't comfortable, they wouldn't buy them by the 100, and we will be offering them in the retail market via our site.”

The site will be live by the end of the month.

Matthew sums up his 12 month ownership of the historical business Nobody can ever prepare you for being a parent, or owning a business. There are things and challenges that you just have to go through, he told us.

“I have consolidated what the business has been doing. Decided what we don't want to do anymore, what isn’t reasonable or cost effective to make, and then we have got in and got done what we want to keep doing.”

Matthew wants to be more involved with the community and is putting his

➸ Pocket knife pouch

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B RILLIA NT H IS TO RIC A L MO NTH foot forward by taking a trade stall at the Wauchope Show, something the business has not done in living memory. He realises that there are a lot of people doing it a bit tough at the moment and wants to help if he can.

He wants to support those that are learning new trades, apprentices.

“If you're an apprentice going to the show, come say hello. Let us know what you’re doing, be it a plumber, welder or the like, say I'm an apprentice and we'll give you an apprentice discount.”

History & Pride of Yesteryear Harold Vickery & Son was established

by James Vickery Snr, an English migrant with a vision to manufacture and supply the highest quality leather goods for Australian businesses and individuals. Within the coming years, James Vickery Snr had found his place in Australia and history recorded that some of the finest leather goods could be viewed at his business in Saywell Street, Chatswood.

Harold Vickery followed in his father’s footsteps and developed a passion for the Australian leather industry. By 1917, Harold succeeded as the head of the company, retitled the company as Harold Vickery & Son and relocated to larger premises in Dunning Avenue, Rosebery.

By 1948, Harold’s son Jim Vickery had become the head of the company.

Jim broadened and extended Harold Vickery & Son’s distribution, becoming specialists in quantity production

➸ Custom made leather belts as contractors to government departments and without overlooking day-to-day items, Harold Vickery & Son became famous with their Vixtan baby harness.

For over 160 years Harold Vickery & Son have supported a wide variety of clients from a range of industries including mining, construction and engineering and boast a catalogue of over 480 items all individually hand finished in Australia by Australians

and all still made with the highest quality materials and the pride of yesteryear.

For all your commercial bulk or individual custom leather product requirements don’t hesitate to contact the friendly staff at Harold Vickery & Son and see what they can do for you, or call into the local retail stockist, Hilberts Hardware in Hastings Street, Wauchope.

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Photo Credit: ➸ Venture Minerals Limited

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Brilliant

INVESTMENTS ✦

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CYPRIUM METALS LIMITED (ASX: CYM) IS AN UNDERVALUED COPPER PRODUCER ✦ Barry Cahill, Executive Director of Cyprium Metals Limited (ASX:CYM) brings some positive news of the company's progress.

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Mr Cahill updates Noel Ong, CEO of Samso on the company's Restart Study, which could change some minds on the real value of the company as a copper producer.

Cyprium's Nifty Story is one that's interesting to follow. Especially with the release of their Restart Study, there is much to come as the company progresses down the path of mining and delivery copper plates.

Barry cahill, Executive Director of Cyprium Metals Limited (ASX:CYM) brings positive news of the company's progress on mining and delivery of copper plates

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Nifty copper project restart study This was announced by the company on 11th March.

Highlights Current copper price ~USD4.60/lb

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Oxide C1 costs of USD1.91/lb and C3 costs of USD2.82/lb

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Average production of 25,000 tpa copper cathode

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Oxide cathode production 146,100 tonnes copper metal

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Pre-production capital AUD149M

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Positive engagement with Financiers now accessing final study and extensive data room

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NPV @7% of AUD277M with an IRR of 37% (post tax)

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Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) to include 2021 drilling & inferred resource conversion

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Oxide mine life 2023-29 at ~6.3 years (pre-MRE upgrade) with sulphide potential +20yrs

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Metallurgical testwork confirms 85% recovery in Retreat and 90% in Oxide Pit material

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Free cashflow AUD544M

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Payback in 3 years

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Regulatory approvals submitted and on track

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Sulphide heap leach metallurgy testwork commenced

Next steps •

Finalise the Financing of the project during Q2 2022

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Update the Mineral Resource and in pit inventory, including expansion options

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Complete financing and final government approvals post FID

Contact Cyprium Metals Limited :

➸ Cue Copper Project •

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Commence refurbishment and construction post finance and government approvals

About Barry Cahill

Plate copper metal in the second half of 2023

Mr Cahill is a mining engineer with over 30 years’ experience in exploration, operational mining and management.

It's not the first time Mr Cahill has dropped in for a coffee chat with Noel, and the way stories grasp us is it makes us want to find out what's been happening since the last time we connected, and what's going on right now.

Mr Cahill has some happy news as he updates on how the Cyprium business will take shape in the coming 18 months. Basically, the company is planning to be in production in 2023 and this is effectively shaped by their Nifty Copper Project Restart study.

There is much to unveil in the Cyprium story, what with all the approval stages being met and in the process of being submitted.

The process of extracting the copper is also not arduous, and funding at this stage for the start should not be an issue.

+61 8 6374 1550 https://cypriummetals.com/ Unit 1 Ground Floor 437 Roberts Road Subiaco Western Australia 6008

Executive Director

In particular, his experience covers management of project development and construction from exploration drilling through project funding, commissioning and development.

He was the Managing Director of Finders Resources Limited from 2013 until its takeover in 2018.

Mr. Cahill has previously been Executive Director of a number of public companies including Operations Director at Perilya Limited and Managing Director of Australian Mines Limited and Norseman Gold Plc.

Read More

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A GOLD PRODUCER ARISING IN AURUMIN LIMITED (ASX:AUN) ✦ Brad Valiukas, Managing Director of Aurumin Limited (ASX: AUN) talks about the company's aspiration to become a mid-tier gold miner.

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¨We know where the ounces are, we are going to try and deliver a result.¨ - Brad Valiukas, Aurumin Limited.

Mr Valiukas updates on how the company is stepping up and delivering on its path ahead.

Neol Ong, CEO of Samso speaks with Brad Vallukas, Managing Derector of Aurumin Limited (ASX:AUN) about the company's aspiration to become a mid-tier gold minner

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✲ They have completed their Sandstone acquisition so management is going to plan the work that will take place over the next 12 to 18 months.

➸ Auger rig at Central Sandstone Project Range. Mr Valiukas shares about all the work the company still has to do on them.

About Aurumin Limited (ASX: AUN)

There is some juicy ground here for investors, and in true-blue Samso style, Noel advocates getting into DYOR mode and engaging with Mr Valiukas to find out what his thoughts are and learn why Aurumin acquired Sandstone.

Aurumin Limited (ACN 639 427 099) (Aurumin or Company) is an Australian company incorporated on 28 February 2020 in Western Australia as a mineral exploration company to allow the reorganisation of projects held by Aurumin Mt Dimer Pty Ltd (formerly Acertim Resources Pty Ltd) (Aurumin Mt Dimer).

About Brad Valiukas -Managing Director BEng (Mining), GradCert (Econ), Member AusIMM Sandstone is clearly a big value add to the company. Still, we need to bear in mind that markets have a mind of their own in how they value companies. For Noel, looking at what is in the project with the Two Mile Tonalite, he believes that if management can make it work, the company could have a game changer on their hands.

While the Sandstone project is a step up for the company, they are still working on their core projects such as Mt Dimer, Mt Palmer and Johnson

Mining Engineer and experienced executive with over 20 years operational, management and executive experience covering underground and open pit operations across multiple commodities around Australia and internationally.

Brad's most recent position is that of Manager – Technical Services for Northern Star Resources. He was previously COO at Focus Minerals, COO at ABM Resources and held senior roles at Mincor Resources

+61 8 9200 0435 Contact Aurumin Limited :

https://aurumin.com.au/ ua.moc.nimurua@nimda Suite 2, Ground Floor, 17 Ord Street , West Perth WA 6005

In particular, the Company was established to enable the restructure of the Mt Dimer, Mt Palmer and Johnson Range projects into separate project entities and further consolidate additional tenements, and to progress these gold exploration projects in the Southern Cross and Kalgoorlie regions.

Since incorporation, the Company has acquired 100% legal and beneficial ownership of Aurumin Mt Dimer and Aurumin Mt Palmer Pty Ltd (formerly Mt Palmer Gold Pty Ltd), and has entered into a further 3 tenement acquisition agreements and applied for further tenements such that it now has an interest in 29 tenements across 4 projects.

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TEMPEST MINERALS LTD (ASX: TEM) IS REAPING ITS VMS REWARD FOR BELIEVING MANAGEMENT

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Tempest Minerals is in the spotlight on the ASX now, with many companies watching their progress with envy.

On 28th March 2022, Tempest Minerals Ltd (ASX:TEM) made an announcement that is making the ASX sit up and take notice of them.

Read announcement here

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✦ Don Smith, Managing Director, Tempest Minerals Limited (ASX:TEM) shares the company's story of an exciting discovery in a previously ignored location.

Don Smith, Managing Director, Tempest Minerals Limited (ASX:TEM) shares the company's story of an exciting discovery in a previously ignored location with Noel Ong from Samso

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✲ The essence of the announcement is this the 709m drill hole that has come up with massive sulphides is in no doubt a discovery hole. Also, this is a Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) system, and all that remains is to ascertain its potential size, the endowment and if this will be an economic system.

For Don Smith, Managing Director of Tempest Minerals Limited, this is an exciting time for the company.

The company formerly known as Lithium Consolidated Limited is now riding on its exciting announcement.

The location where the discovery took place was actually not thought of to be productive. Thanks to their management that discovered that the greenstones that hosted the Golden Grove VMS deposit may have diverted to the tenements that the company holds, they have found themselves a happy discovery. This could make the difference in creating a new mineralised province.

One has to get out there and explore and dig. An area like this that had never been pegged, thought of as not mineralised and ignored by previous explorers is now turning out to reveal something quite different.

About Don Smith Managing Director Don is a geologist and entrepreneur with over 20 years in the mining industry. He has worked in operational, development, exploration and consultant roles for junior through to multinational firms spanning over 10 countries and numerous commodities including base and precious metals and energy minerals.

Don’s corporate experience includes project acquisition, financing and development and company management. Don has been the founding director of a number of private and public resource companies including the successful listings on the ASX of Platypus Resources and Alderan Resources.

He is currently involved with several start-ups and consults to the industry.

Don has a Bachelor of Science from Newcastle University and a Master of Business Administration from the Australian Institute of Business. Don is also a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists.

+61 8 9200 0435 Contact Tempest Minerals Ltd :

https://tempestminerals.com/ info@tempestminerals.com Level 2, Suite 9, 389 Oxford Street, Mt Hawthorn Western Australia 6016

About Tempest Minerals Ltd (ASX:TEM) The Company listed via initial public offering (IPO) in 2017 under the name Lithium Consolidated Mineral Exploration Limited (Li3) with the goal of feeding the rapidly growing battery mineral industry. Li3 went on to acquire multiple lithium projects on 3 continents and had a string of successful exploration and divestment transactions.

In 2019, faced with a challenging lithium market, the board decided to expand the strategic focus of the company into a more diversified direction and began looking at other commodities such as copper.

At the end of 2019, Li3 acquired private exploration company Warrigal Mining and have subsequently continued developing an exciting portfolio of precious and base metals projects in Western Australia to complement the existing energy metal projects.

In August 2020, shareholders elected to rebrand the company to Tempest Minerals Ltd to better reflect the evolved business and its more diverse commodity focus.

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RED DIRT METALS LIMITED (ASX:RDT) IS A LITHIUM GEM WITHIN A GOLD MINE ✦ Matthew Boyes, Managing Director of Red Dirt Metals Limited (ASX: RDT) shares the story of Mt Ida.

Hitting pay dirt takes on new meaning with their Mt Ida acquisition in September 2021.

Video 1Back in May 2021, when Noel Ong, CEO of Samso had his first conversation with Matthew Boyes, the company was known under a different name then - TNT Mines Limited.

Mr Boyes shared with Noel about the direction the company was on then. That first conversation revolved around the company's attempts to drill and increase the value of an old historical gold mine, and Mr Boyes explained the ins and outs of mineral exploration.

➹

Listen to the Remaking of the Eureka Gold Mine here

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Matthew Boyes, Managing Director of Red Dirt Metals Limeted (ASX: RDT) shares the story of Mt Ida with Noel Ong from Samso

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As exploration essentially requires time, the value adding process is slow but worth following. So it is always interesting to have thought leaders return for a new conversation, and see where the company is at now.

Today, Noel and Mr Boyes catch up on the developments of the company under its new name. A whole rebranding process has taken place and the company is now busy developing a Lithium project.

Red Dirt Metals Limited acquired the Mt Ida project in September 2021 (Mt Ida Acquisition, Capital Raise and Presentation) and completed the transaction on 24th September 2021 (Completion of Mt Ida Acquisition).

The Mt Ida story is one we want insights to, simply because the movement in share price and market capitalisation have been remarkable. During this recent period, it has a value of AUD212M, which, according to Mr. Boyes, is somewhat undervalued.

Does this all ring a bell? Perhaps the Mt Holland story comes to mind, but as is often said in this industry, only time will tell.

Boyes has significant experience in product evaluations and financing with a focus on the junior market sector.

Will the Mt Ida lithium story bring happy fortunes for shareholders of Red Dirt Metal?

About Red Dirt Metals Limited (ASX: RDT)

About Matthew Boyes Managing Director Mr Boyes is a qualified Geologist and Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy with 25 years industry experience with a strong background in minerals resources, project development, construction and operations management.

Mr Boyes has recently served as COO for AIM listed Patagonia Gold successfully overseeing the development and construction of two standalone Gold-Silver heap leach projects in southern Argentina. Mr

Red Dirt is focused on the development and evaluation of underexplored brownfields exploration assets in Western Australia.

Mt Ida Gold Pty Ltd is the holding company of the Mt Ida Gold Project, comprising 19 tenements in the historical Mt Ida gold mining district, located approximately 100km northwest of Menzies in the WA goldfields.

The project tenements cover an area of 155km2 and include the historic Timoni Gold Mine and others, which have produced greater than 300,000 oz gold at 17.2 g/t head grade.

+61 8 6109 0104 Contact Red Dirt Metals Limited :

https://reddirtmetals.com.au/ info@reddirtmetals.com.au Suite 4, 6 Centro Avenue, Subiaco WA 6008

Highlights: Acquired from Ora Banda Mining in September 2021 for $11M cash A current gold resource of 318,000 t @13.8g/t gold for 141koz calculated under the JORC 2004 guidelines Evidence of occurrences of Lithiumbearing pegmatites with Tantalum Exploration activities to commence immediately October 2021 The Mt Ida project has total resources of 318,000 t @13.8g/t of gold for 141koz, Indicated resources total 136,000t @ 18.6 g/t gold for 81koz with 182,000t @ 10.3 g/t gold for 60koz in Inferred category. All resource currently stated at Mt Ida are calculated under the JORC 2004 guidelines with no material change to the existing resources since estimation.

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GREENLAND ZINC - IRONBARK ZINC LIMITED (ASX:IBG) HAS ITS BFS COMPLETED AND OFFTAKE READY. ✦ Michael Jardine, Managing Director of Ironbark Zinc Limited (ASX: IBG) explains what's coming up next with their ready made project.

The Citronen Zinc-Lead project is one with all its ducks lined up...and ready to fly.

The company's Citronen Zinc-Lead project in Greenland is an intriguing one.

This is because it has all the factors in place for mining and production to happen immediately. This sounds like everyone's dream project, and projects like that don't grow on trees. Furthermore, their Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) which was released in July 2021 showed really positive signs. Another plus point to add to the project.

And yet, nothing is actually happening.

So that's where one's interest is piqued. What's happening here? Or rather, why isn't something happening here?

Michael Jardine, Managing Director of Ironbark Zinc Limited, drops in for a conversation with Noel Ong, CEO of Samso to share updates about the company and project.

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Michael Jardine, Managing Director of Ironbark Zink Limeted (ASX: IBG) Explains what's coming up next with their ready made project with Neol Ong from Samso

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About Michael Jardine Managing Director Mr Jardine has a strong background in Corporate & Project Finance, Strategy Development and Minerals Marketing and his previous experience includes Board & Executive roles at a number of junior ASX listed resource Companies.

Mr Jardine has previously served as a Director of Atrum Coal Limited (ASX:ATU) and Pegasus Metals Limited (ASX:PUN, now Scorpion Minerals Limited). Mr Jardine also served as the General Manager, Corporate Development for formerly listed General Mining Corporation (ASX:GMM) from 2013-2016, and Eastern Goldfields (now Ora Banda Mining, ASX:OBM) during the same period.

About Ironbark Zinc Limited (ASX: IBG) Ironbark Zinc Limited (ASX:IBG) is developing the 100% Owned Citronen Zinc Project 30 Year Mining Licence Granted

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Bankable Feasibility Study Complete

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Pathway to Funding

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Supportive Partners – Nyrstar & Glencore

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Strong Zinc Price

Ironbark is focused on developing its 100% Citronen Zinc-Lead Project in Greenland. In late 2016, a 30 Year Mining Licence was granted by the Greenland Government and in September 2017 Ironbark released a cost update to its 2013 Feasibility Study. The results of the study demonstrated compelling economics of an NPV of US$1,035M (US$909M post tax), IRR 36% (post-tax 35%) and life of mine revenue of US$6,364M.

The Feasibility Study Update (2017) was based on the original 2013 Feasibility Study but has incorporated a recent review of capital and operating costs. Several major changes that have been highly favourable include improved global benchmark smelter treatment terms, lower fuel prices (which represents one of the Projects´ largest forecast costs of operation), and the longanticipated recovery in the zinc price. There have been some cost increases, including wages and some materials, however, the result is a far more robust project than ever before

+61 8 6146 5325 Contact Ironbark Zinc Limited :

http://ironbark.gl/ admin@ironbark.gl Level 3, 22 Railway Road Subiaco WA 6008

which is reflected in a post-tax NPV of US$909 million, placing Ironbark in a strong position to become a major new zinc producer.

Learn More

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ON PROGRESS...

➸ Emmaup cooking a storm

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Brilliant HEALTH ✦

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“GOOD FOR KIDS” AND “MUNCH & MOVE” INITIATIVE RECOGNISES TG'S MEALS ✦ When they experience growing their own food in TG's gardens, children cultivate a sense of appreciation and responsibility for what they eat.

P

ractical knowledge and humble appreciation then become food for the soul. This philosophy has been recognised by the “Good For Kids” and "Munch & Move" initiative.

About Munch & Move Munch & Move supports NSW Early Childhood Education and Care services to adopt health promoting practices.

It is a NSW Health initiative that supports the healthy development of children from birth to 5 years by promoting physical activity, healthy eating and reduced small screen time (e.g. watching TV or DVDs, playing on computers and small hand-held games devices).

The initiative has a belief that establishing sound eating and activity habits from an early age gives children the best chance of leading a healthy life and maintaining a healthy weight.

Healthy Meals for Positive Development Meal time is a fun time at TG’s Child Care and children are encouraged to be curious and open with their food preferences. Educators talk about the children's experiences in the garden and what they have learnt about the food they have eaten.

Daily achievements with their food preferences are celebrated and shared with their family at home.

TG’s Child Care also shares healthy, delicious recipes in their newsletters for families to try out at home with the children or suggest food challenges where children get to help wash, sort, chop vegetables at home.

Having fun with cooking and building awareness of good nutrition happens both at TG's and at home. All with an element of fun!

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B RI LLIA NT H E A LTH Both the educators and families are proud that TG’s Meals are recognised by “Munch and Move” and “Good for Kids”.

A burst of flavour, the creamy combination of chicken, mushroom and gnocchi is one to try at home!

Ingredients (serves 4) •

500g chicken breast fillet

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1 cubed onion

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1 egg whisked

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4 mushrooms sliced

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500ml cream

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2 tbs sour cream

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1 tsp garlic

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1 large cup grated cheese

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500g gnocchi

Method •

Step 1.

Add cream, and sour cream and simmer for 10 minutes.

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Step 2.

While stirring, add the egg mix and grated cheese.

Cook all together for 3-4 minutes.

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Step 3.

Cook gnocchi as per packet

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Step 4.

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Step 6.

Add cooked gnocchi and toss until combined

Add cooked chicken, onion, mushroom and garlic, mix well.

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Sit down with the family, relax and enjoy!

Step 5.

Cook chicken pieces, onion, mushroom and garlic.

Contact TG's Child Care :

https://www.tgschildcare.com.au/ Armidale | Uralla | Wauchope | Urangan

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DISABILITY MATERNITY CARE CHANGES THE CONVERSATION FOR PARENTS WITH DISABILITIES ✦ Dr. Namira Williams, CEO, disAbility Maternity Care

B

eing a parent is hard at any time, but having a disability makes this even harder.

Not only because the type of disability a person has can affect their movement, sensory or cognitive abilities, but especially because many people in the general community don’t think people with disabilities can become parents.

It’s this stigmatisation that makes parenting much more difficult.

Research shows that parents with disabilities can succeed, given the right support in ways that are acceptable to them.

But many parents miss getting this support for various reasons: either because they are distrustful of services; or because health and support services may not know how

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to provide support that will best meet their needs.

✲ At disAbility Maternity Care, our vision is for parents with disabilities to be equal and empowered citizens.

Even though parents with disabilities are starting to see changes, they are limited to date.

For equality to occur, changes are needed in a range of areas. As my research showed, change is required in several areas, and at the same time.

Our business is built on creating changes in each of these so that together they work to change the conversation.

Over the next few months we will be focusing on specific aspects of how we are creating change. In this article, I describe our organisational vision and approach.

Dr Namira Williams is changing the conversation for parents with disabilities

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with vision impairment ➸ A mum is finding support through DisAbility Maternity Care

“Our vision is for parents with disabilities to be equal and empowered citizens” As champions for change, we see that there are three main areas in which change needs to occur, and these underpin our Organisation’s Strategic Priorities:

restructuring in how things are done and how these parents are better supported within health, disability and community organisations.

We are also informing the conversation as we raise awareness of the issues that these parents face, and the need to reduce stigmatisation.

Educate

Inform

We educate others about the need for change, and provide training for both health and disability providers around maternity care for parents with disabilities.

We create change as we Inform the conversation and do this by undertaking or engaging in research projects with collaborative partners.

This gives these providers a better understanding of how they can learn from, and work with disabled parents to support them better.

In an era of evidence-based practice, policy change needs to be supported by relevant research. When policies are changed to focus on positive outcomes as defined by parents with disabilities, policies enable

Connect We connect parents with services. We do this through our organisation https:// www.disabilitymaternitycare.com/

dmc-support/, providing parents with specific support services.

As the third supporting pillar of disAbility Maternity Care’s vision, having a knowledgeable workforce that focuses specifically on assisting the transition to parenthood is essential.

Our small team at disAbility Maternity Care has either lived experience of disability themselves, as a person, or a carer, or has worked within the disability field.

Next month, we will be focusing on the importance of education in reframing the conversation for parents with disabilities.

We provide regular newsletter and information about what’s going on in this space.

Connect with disAbility Maternity Care

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What is important for us at disAbility Maternity Care?

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MEET PORT MACQUARIE’S FLYING PHYSIO - ALASDAIR THOMSON! ✦ The Flying Doctors are, of course, an Australian institution, one of the largest, most comprehensive and revered aeromedical organisations in the world.

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ell very soon Port Macquarie could have its own Flying Physio as locally-based physiotherapist Alasdair Thomson nears the end of his light aircraft training and seeks to complete and pass his official examinations!

Our careers can take us to many different places, domestically or overseas, and one of the perks of vocational relocation is it can be a great way to discover pastures new. Sometimes it can lead to a not so preferable destination, prompting an almost instantaneous yearning to want to return home, or at least elsewhere. However, sometimes we find ourselves in a place that we almost instantly identify with, that we feel settled and welcomed in and, subsequently, decide to lay down roots.

This is essentially how Sydney-sider Alasdair, better known as Al, ended up declaring Port Macquarie home.

In 2019, Al spent the final year of his Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree from the University of Newcastle on placement at various clinics and hospitals in the Port Macquarie area and, after graduating at the end of the year, decided to stay.

Al, his partner Hannah and their new addition to the family, pet dog Arlo, now call Port home and are enamoured by all it has to offer – with Al’s lifelong love of aircraft and a dream to learn to fly recently becoming a reality!

✲ “Part of the course I studied at Uni meant taking on a practical placement in a rural area during the final year,” Al told us. “It involved a combination of studying, exams and practical learning at a variety of clinics and hospitals. It was a really exciting experience and an invaluable learning opportunity, actually being out there dealing with people and having a wealth of expertise to help guide and mentor me. I was constantly stimulated and learning new things, taking little pieces of information that ultimately contributed to who I am today.

I chose Port Macquarie for my year-long placement and was so taken by the place that I decided to stay!”

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Alasdair Thomson, Physiotherapist at Phyx You Port Macquarie

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Al grew up in Sydney and typically was active in a variety of sports while at school – cycling, rowing and rugby union were his favourites, with many hours spent watching and imitating the Waratahs and the Wallabies.

This appetite for sport was a partial influence on his chosen career path, particularly in regards to treating injuries, of which Al says he copped more than a few over the years, especially on the rugby field!

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Check out our Health, Fitness and Sports Stories

“Both my brother and I both gravitated towards wanting to work in health care which was quite unprecedented as nobody in the family had trod that path as a profession before us,” he says.

Four years at Newcastle Uni later, including that crucial final year placement in Port Macquarie of course, Al worked in various private practice, clinical research, and hospital settings before joining Leah Burton and the team at Phyx You Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation.

A dedicated team of Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists, Phyx You provides quality injury and sports rehabilitation encompassing areas such as sports physiotherapy, clinical exercise, women’s health, rehab, workplace health and exercise physiology, amongst others.

Al felt at home and one of the team immediately and clearly loves, respects and appreciates the environment he works within on a daily basis.

“It’s truly a great place to work,” he beams. “The whole set-up and culture is geared towards making you the best possible professional physio you can be. The team is very driven but in a wholly positive way, constantly striving to get the best out of you which, in turn, means the patient is getting the very best in treatment.

We are constantly undergoing new training methods which we share among one another to ensure everyone is working at the top of their game, which we need to be, especially when dealing with patients who are athletes and whose livelihoods are very much dependent on being in peak physical condition.

“It’s also a very innovative place, regularly investing in the best equipment and educational support. There is so much better quality research being conducted and published nowadays and new findings and developments are always occurring. As such we are regularly being trained and educated on bestpractice approaches which, ultimately, benefits our patients.

“Many of the more senior team have their Masters Degrees in Sports and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and are constantly passing on invaluable knowledge and serving as incredible mentors.

It’s a really inclusive place with a definite knowledge exchange where everyone learns from eachother there’s a fantastic team mentality and environment.”

Al adds that Phyx You are not only limited to providing professional support but also encourage their team members to pursue and indulge in personal hobbies and endeavours to find that crucial work-life balance.

For Al that main personal pursuit is flying.

➸ Al enjoys helping patients

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A fascination with flying since childhood “Ever since I was a young boy I was always transfixed with mechanical machinery and aircraft such as Spitfires – I would watch old movies with them for hours on end, totally mesmerised and also build countless model planes” he says.

“My mother was a history teacher, a subject I have always loved, and I was able to access lots of information about World War II, specifically in relation to the Spitfire planes, which further fuelled my passion.”

Al carried this passion all throughout his life until one day last year he awoke one morning and decided to actually do something about it, to turn the dream of flying his own small aircraft into reality. This led him to approach Hastings District Flying Club and School where he enrolled for lessons under the expert tutorship of the resident pilots.

“It is a very surreal experience being up there in a small aircraft,” Al says with a smile. “Very different to what most of us are used to when on a large passenger jet. It’s surprisingly calm, even in choppy weather. You realise how impactful the weather can be, even if it’s just light winds. The realisation that you are in total control is a great but strange one – that if I tilt the wing this way or that then the plane responds accordingly.”

Al pauses for a brief moment of reflection: “It’s a brilliant sensation” he says emphatically!

He completed his first solo flight on January 22nd 2022 and has recently entered into the final stage of his training. Slightly inclement weather of late has meant he has been grounded more than he would have ideally liked but he is currently planning for the final theoretical and practical exams and hopes to have his full license within the month.

There is always something really heartwarming in people pursuing and achieving their dreams and Al is very much on the cusp of realising his, at least for now as no doubt there will be many more achievements to come.

“I just think you should try and do as much as you possibly can in life, get as much experience as you possibly can as you are almost certainly guaranteed to stumble across something that you will realise is your passion,” he says.

“Working in the healthcare industry as I do, you very quickly come to realise that the old adage of ‘life is short’ is absolutely true. So don’t be afraid to take risks or follow your dreams. Likewise, I always try to maintain a positive attitude and look on the bright side of life, try not to necessarily take all things too seriously. Life is short and you’ve got to have fun!”

➸ Al pursuing his hobby of flying

LEARN TO FLY WITH HDFC

A Discovery Flight is a fantastic way to experience what flying is all about. With one of our professional flight instructors at your side, you will actually get to fly our Sling aircraft across the coast and town of Port Macquarie!

BUY A DISCOVERY FLIGHT GET IN TOUCH WITH US: 02 6583 1695 enquiries@hdfc.com.au www.hdfc.com.au Oliver Dr, Port Macquarie NSW 2444

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BRILLIANT INTERACTIVE ADVERTORIALS TELL STORIES THAT MAKE PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES FAMOUS ✦ A key feature that stands out in our Brilliant-Online advertising package is that your advertisement includes your ad featured across multiple channels.

We are the only interactive advertising company that has a multichannel or omnichannel advertising package.

One package, one price - we don't charge each item separately because we know this kind of advertising works more effectively than single adverts.

The magazine content is interactive for higher reader retention and engagements Readers can click on interactive articles and advertisements ( we use videos, podcasts, QR Codes etc.) and go straight to the source to find out more about advertisers products and services. Just one step.

We make sure there is strong SEO so that the subject can be found quickly on searches.

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Our highly experienced Journalists write stories that make people and businesses famous. The way the story is promoted gets you seen and heard across our Omnichannels.

Brilliant-online helps you succeed in building positive brand perception and reach a wider audience.

Performance We believe storytelling your brand, products and services is a way to sell more without selling.

Advertising with Brilliant-Online is no-brainer! Some of Samso's videos have had 10,000 – 30,000 views (those that used Brilliant), while others have had 50 -200 (those that did not use Brilliant)! - Alex, NWR Communications

Read how multi-channel and omnichannel advertising deliver RoI

More Info

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N

ot only is your advertorial showcased in our Interactive Brilliant-Online Magazine, which is published in issuu.com and emailed to 19,668 subscribers, it is also shared across our social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter and Google My Business).

My Blue Tea advertises with Brilliant-Online interactive advertorials.

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Brilliant SPORTS ✦

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THE HERITAGE OF A FOOTBALL FAN ✦ Do you remember the first major sporting event you attended or how you became a passionate fan of your favourite team?

T

he Heritage of a Football Fan. Do you remember the first major sporting event you attended or how you became a passionate fan of your favourite team?

The role of a sports fan is a curious one, lifting us to euphoric highs, crashing us to devastating lows, almost always laced with a sizeable dose of frustration.

Heralding from the UK, football (yes, I insist on using the correct term as opposed to soccer!) borders on a religion for me, as it does millions more. I have been following my club side Birmingham City for over four decades now and have experienced far more lows than highs.

I was taken to my first game at St Andrews, Birmingham’s home ground, on March 21st 1981 when I was merely six-years-old. I can’t remember much aside from the holding my Dad’s hand

really tightly as we made our way to the ground through the masses of supporters, the noise when in the stadium, the smell of pipe tobacco and onions from the burger van.

Sitting on hard wooden seats and the explosion of noise when we scored, which we did twice in a 2-0 victory over Manchester City.

It was magic and I was hooked. In subsequent years, the team would sink to real lows on and off the pitch, dropping down the leagues and almost going into bankruptcy on several occasions. Our previous owner is currently in jail and we are now owned, reputedly, by members of the mainland Chinese mafia.

But that is the very point of being a true football fan. Traditionally, you never really had a choice. Kind of like your name or nationality. Supporting Birmingham has been in my family for generations, it is our heritage

as football supporters, something I cannot, and would not, change.

My Dad had followed a similar journey, attending his first game around the age of six with his Dad and their next door neighbour, a man called Bill Clinton (no, not that one!) who was actually the groundsman at St Andrews. My Dad often fondly recalls a game against a Manchester United side boasting legends such as Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best. Birmingham lost and were relegated as a result, thus setting off a trend of lifelong disappointment for him!

His Dad, my grandad, started going in the late 1930’s and his favourite side was the immediate post war one who won promotion in 47/8. My Dad’s Uncle Jack often recalled his favourite player as Alec McClure, a centre half who played from 1912 to 1924.

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Supporting a team was always based on family tradition and where you were born – nowadays, with the saturation of online marketing, social media and a general penchance for celebrity culture, young fans are increasingly gravtitating towards only the biggest and most successful teams. Does this diminish their value as fans? Arguably, but it certainly doesn’t have the same communal grass roots connections as it used to.

Led by our father, my brothers and I have followed Birmingham home and away all our lives, often travelling hundreds of miles at a time to games.

We donned fancy dress for an end-ofseason game in 1989, unfortunately were exposed to terrace unrest when hooligism was at it ugly peak, and sat in the rain, dejected on many an occasion. But we never wavered or considered following another team.

There have been good times too, of course; beating our bitter rivals Aston Villa on several occasions, beating the football royalty of Arsenal in a Cup Final, gaining promotion to the promised land of the Premier League in 2002 and many more – memories I will never forget and cherish until my dying day.

These are experiences that can be relayed to almost any fan of any sport and it is part and parcel that you take the rough with the smooth. Having that identity, that affiliation with something bigger than you, sharing the experience with friends and family alike is unlike anything else.

Back to the current day and my team Birmingham are still in poor shape, treading water. I have lived away from the UK for many years but still eagerly seek their result every game and get regular match updates from my Dad. As the official club anthem states: “As you go through life, it’s a long long road, there’ll be joys and sorrows too. Though the way be long, let your heart beat strong. Though you’re tired and weary, still journey on... keep right on ‘til the end of the road.”

Read Full Story

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Amen to that!

➸ Birmingham City fans

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GET YOUR COMMERCIAL PILOT LICENSE IN BEAUTIFUL PORT MACQUARIE WITH AIAC ✦ Gerard Byrne (Ged) is the head of operations at the Australian International Aviation College (AIAC) RTO: 45675, a flying training organisation specialising in Integrated Flight Training based at Port Macquarie Airport.

O

ne big benefit of AIAC is that they offer diploma courses under the RTO structure.

Most of the larger flying schools in Australia are registered training offices (RTO’s), therefore they can offer a diploma in Flying under the Skills Network. Up until now AIAC’s primary market has been the Chinese market.

But moving forward, if the pandemic taught them anything it’s don't put all your eggs in one basket.

So, while the Chinese market will continue to be a valuable market, AIAC is keen to also enroll both domestic and other international self-funded students.

They are also able to enroll international students individually through the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) system.

Students can obtain a visa and come study with us as a self funded student

AIAC has the capacity to offer courses to people both domestic and self funded international students as well.

AIAC has been training students for over 30 years, and many of their cadets have gone on to fly with major airlines in Australia and Overseas Since 2014, AIAC has specialised in training foreign students and is registered under both the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia (CASA) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

AIAC offers Nationally Accredited courses to Domestic and International students under the Australian Quality Framework (AQF), the RTO Standards and Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) regulations.

➸ Training on the flight simulator

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➸ Australian International Aviation College (AIAC)

At the moment the AIAC fleet stands at eight aircraft, comprising DA40, DA 20s and the 142, the twin for instrument rating training and multi engine training. All flight training is carried out in Port Macquarie with a maximum number of students being 50 over the training period of 12 to 15 months.

Ged told us, “The student number is due to the reality of a single runway and the infrastructure that we've got.

Plus we're living in an environment

The full integrated CPL course is a 13 month course. Some candidates have gone through in 12 months, and they have had some candidates that have taken a good two years to complete for various reasons.

Flight training is competency based, you would expect that people are going to take it on board differently.

Plus, factor in other things that are outside of your control, fires, COVID lockdowns, things you can't control that will interrupt a schedule.

Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships (RRES).

Prospective domestic students may apply for a Regional Scholarship under the QTAC RRES

program to help with tuition fees.

Students will need to meet eligibility criteria including, but not limited to: course commencement date, residential, and financial criteria.

Visit :

RRES Program

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AIAC Aircraft and training facilities

now where accommodation is scarce in town as well. So we're going to factor in the other things that we need to accommodate people who are here for a 12 to 15 month period.”

So anyone interested in your commercial flying training, what do they do?

The best course of action for anyone who's interested is to go to our website All the information is there, contacts, profiles on the instructors - it’s the best place to start.

AIAC College Read The Full Story

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You may have questions and concerns about the Aviation Industry and the potential to find work after your studies given the current challenges.

AIAC hopes to reassure you that now is the perfect time to start your pilot training as the market continues to improve and demand for pilots increases.

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eggs in ➸DecoratedGermany

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Brilliant

COMMUNITY ✦

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CELEBRATING EASTER AROUND THE WORLD ✦ Celebrating Easter Around the World

W

hether you’re of a religious persuasion connected to the historical narrative or just someone who enjoys an excuse to over indulge eating chocolate eggs, there’s no doubt that Easter is one of the most popular public holidays in the calendar.

Easter is, of course, a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The Easter holiday period is not a fixed date, like Christmas, although in the western world it always falls on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25. This year Easter Sunday falls on April 17.

Traditional ➸ celebrations in Israel

Traditionally in many western countries, Easter will involve a hearty family feast, fun games such as egg hunts, maybe a trip to church but definitely lots of yummy treats like chocolate eggs and hot cross buns! In Australia, of course, it isn’t just chocolate eggs that dominate at Easter with the ubiquitous Easter Bilby taking a prominent, cultural stand too.

However, have you ever wondered how Easter is celebrated elsewhere in the world? There are some pretty strange, comical, sometimes dangerous and occasionally downright squeamish ways that people embrace the occasion.

Many Christians in Israel flock to Jerusalem and emulate the walk Jesus was believed to have taken prior to his crucifixon, several actually carrying a wooden cross over their shoulder Kites adorned with images of Christ symbolising his ascent into heaven are flown in Bermuda on Easter Sunday and hard-boiled

➸ eggs representing the stones at Jesus’ tomb are traditionally rolled down hills in Scotland.

Colourful carpets adorn the streets in Guatemala during the Holy Week immediately prior to a Good Friday procession, and a “death dance” is performed by people in skeleton costumes in Spain to reenact Christ’s crucifixion, known as the Passion (the latin word for suffering).

A Death Dance in Spain

Water, often considered to symbolise cleaning or healing, plays a big part in Poland on Easter Monday, or “Wet Monday” as it is fondly referred to, as people try to drench one another with buckets of water or by using water pistols.

In Germany, decorated eggs are hung in trees throughout the land, much in the same manner that a Christmas tree is adorned with ornaments and

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accessories. Similarly, trees outside of churches in Paupua New Guinea are decorated – only, strangely, with tobacco leaves and cigarettes instead of chocolate, which tends to melt in the tropical heat!

Revellers in Norway indulge in a good old crime novel or watch crimethemed TV shows, Christians in Ethopia endure a lent period of 55 days known as Faskia and church bells stop ringing in France for three days over Easter as it is believed they have ventured to the Vatican to get blessed!

The 350-year-old tradition of “Scoppio del Carro” takes place on Easter Sunday in Florence, Italy where the Archbishop of Florence lights a fuse on a cart laden with fireworks outside the Duomo resulting in an impressive, if not slightly dangerous, display of pyrotechnics.

It is in the Philippines, however, where things get a little out of hand. As one of the most devout Catholic nations on the planet, Filipinos take Easter very seriously. The most extreme tradition is witnessed in San Pedro

in ➸ Wet Monday Poland

Cutud in the north of the country where a few hardcore believers are actually nailed to wooden crosses to commemorate and honour the crucifixion of Jesus. The Catholic Church may frown upon such a practice but it is a popular tradition that attracts thousands of tourists each year.

That being said, we advise sticking with your chocolate eggs and hot cross buns this Easter and hope you enjoy the occasion, whatever it brings!

del Carro ➸Scoppio in Florence, Italy

tradition ➸Extreme in Philippines

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EASTER IS A TIME TO DRESS UP YOUR TREE ✦ With Easter coming up, even trees can have a bit of fun!

i

t's not just during Christmas that trees get to dress up and be all decked out. Easter is also a good time to let your trees have a bit of colour and decoration!

Perhaps you've heard of the Easter Tree tradition? It originated in Germany, and while that is quite a way off from Australia, the fun and joy of this tradition can still transcend time and space.

At Accomplished Tree Management, we like to think that trees like to have a bit of fun too.

Origins of the Easter Tree The traditional image of this is a dogwood tree with pretty little Easter eggs dangling on its branches.

In Germany, this is known as Ostereierbaum, or Easter egg tree.

You can also find this tradition in other European countries such as Poland, Austria, and Hungary.

The dogwood tree can be found in Australia in the south east of Queensland and eastern New South Wales. It is also known as Jacksonia Scoparia, and has a strong odour when burning. It is a small tree and has beautiful white blossoms in spring.

Legend has it the dogwood was once a tree as large as a great oak, and it provided the wood used to build the cross on which Jesus was crucified.

Because of this, God cursed and blessed the tree.

It was condemned to be small forever, with narrow and crooked branches which was not useful for building purposes. At the same time, it was also graced with beautiful flowers each Easter, and its petals form the shape of a cross to remind everyone of what happened.

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Fast forward to present times and we see families decorate the dogwood tree with pretty eggs at Easter. Eggs are a symbol of life, and Easter is synonymous with the rebirth of Earth with the coming of spring (not quite the case in Australia, but halfway across the world it is!).

Perhaps decorating this symbolic tree with eggs is a way to declare,´Welcome spring, welcome life!‘ This is when flowers bloom with joy and you see and hear busy little animals coming out to explore after a long hibernation.

And yes, we won‘t deny it, Easter eggs are really pretty when used to decorate a tree, and we would not say no if they were delicious chocolate eggs!

Dressing up your easter tree Making your own Ostereierbaum is really quite simple.

1. You'll need some branches (unless you do have a real live dogwood tree in your garden!).

2. Rope in the children and whole family to paint some eggs. You can use coloured wooden eggs or hollowed out eggshells (it's a good reason to make a nice cake or two so you can have the eggshells).

3. Attach some pretty ribbons to the eggs when they are dry, and

decorate the branches with the eggs. Some people use chocolate eggs as well, which can make it quite a challenge not to finish them before you manage to decorate the tree with the eggs.

4. Some people add garlands or fairy lights on the branches to jazz it up, while others place some symbols of Easter around it.

Most of us have had good practice decorating our trees at Christmas, so here is another chance to give your creativity a go.

tips to get started

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Springing to life

decorate your Easter Tree

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PANDAN COCONUT HOT CROSS BUNS RECIPE ✦ My Blue Tea shares a drool worthy recipe for Easter from Chef Jeffrey Liew of Cheffery's Kitchen

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ot Cross Buns... Hot Cross Buns... One a penny...Two a penny... Hot cross buns...

Now we've got that nursery rhyme stuck in our heads, and we can't get enough of these beautiful warm hot cross buns from Chef Jeffery Liew!

These little sweet buns may look simple but they're actually filled with spices and all kinds of fruits like currants, raisins, candied citrus etc. There is the classic white cross on top of each little bun and it's not a random aesthetic choice of the very first baker of hot cross buns.

These little white crosses represent the crucifix. Sometimes they can be marked on the dough or decorated on top with icing. Hot cross buns are a traditional Easter food, usually eaten on Good Friday.

Everyone loves a classic hot cross bun, but we are also intrigued when My Blue Tea told us about this amazing recipe from one of their featured chefs, Jeffery Liew from Cheffery's Kitchen. This version of hot cross buns is given a lovely twist by adding Pandan and Coconut!

I think we're all more than ready to sink our teeth into one of these soft sweet buns, so here's the recipe!

➸ Chef Jeffrey Liew

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Ingredients: For the buns •

1 tbs dry yeast

•

10-15 grams @my.blue.tea Pandan Powder (dilute in 1 cup coconut milk - see below)

•

1 cup coconut milk – use 10 grams @my.blue.tea Coconut Milk Powder (dilute in water)

•

4 cups plain flour

•

1 tsp nutmeg

•

1 tsp ground cinnamon

•

1/2 tsp salt

•

1/3 cup castor sugar

•

80g butter, slightly softened and chopped

•

1 egg, beaten lightly

•

1/3 cup warm water

•

180g sultanas

For the piping 1/2 cup plain flour 1 tsp olive oil 100g water For the glaze 2 tbs castor sugar 2 tbs hot water

Steps: 1. Add the dry yeast to the cup of warm milk and whisk together.

Place the cup in a warm place for 15 minutes or until the mixture has become frothy.

2. In a large bowl, sift the flour, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt.

Add the castor sugar and mix to combine. Add the butter and rub together.

➸ Pandan hot cross buns 6. Divide the dough into 12 equal sized portions. Roll each portion into a ball. Place 6 balls, 1cm apart in a greased 20cm square tin. Place the remaining 6 balls in a separate greased 20cm square tin, 1cm apart (using 2 separate tins makes it easier to handle and allows the balls to spread).

3. Pour in the yeast mixture, the egg and the warm water (dilute Pandan Powder in warm water and mix in with the coconut milk). Total using 1 cup coconut milk and 1/3 warm water. Sprinkle over the sultanas.

Stir together until the mixture forms a round dough ball.Grease a bowl with cooking spray and place the dough ball into the bowl.

Cover with a tea towel and leave in a warm spot to rise for 45 minutes or until doubled in size.

7. Set aside for a further 15 minutes to prove.

4. Preheat oven to 220 degrees celsius (200 degrees celsius if using a fan forced oven).

10. To make the glaze, mix the hot water and sugar until sugar dissolves. Brush the tops of the buns with glaze.

5. On a lightly floured board, place the dough and knead for 5 minutes.

8. Make the piping by sifting the flour into bowl and adding enough water to make a paste. Pipe the crosses onto the buns using a piping bag.

9. Make the piping by sifting the flour into bowl and adding olive oil and enough water to make a paste.

Pipe the crosses onto the buns using a piping bag.

11. Place the Hot Cross Buns on a wire rack to cool and enjoy.

Tips 1. As a gauge, you can use 10-15 grams of Pandan Powder for each tray of 12 buns.

2. Try substituting with other jams, or honey, maple syrup, golden syrup or any other shiny syrups.

Here's a little suggestion to amp up the enjoyment of the hot cross buns - enjoy them with a warm cup of Blue Tea or any Blue Tea blends e.g. Blue Herbal Tea, Blue Goddess or Goodnight Sweet Dreams.

That's what a perfect afternoon tastes like!

A big thank you to Chef Jeffery Liew of Cheffery’s Kitchen, Adelaide for sharing this delicious recipe!

Chef Jeffery is taking orders for Pandan, Kaya and Traditional Hot Cross buns and Macarons for those living in Adelaide, so get in touch with him if you are getting hunger pangs!

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NEW LOOK FOR HASTINGS FARM GATE TOUR ✦ From 2022 and beyond, the Hastings Farm Gate Tour will be run under a new notfor-profit Incorporated Association (Earth Logic Incorporated) based in the local area.

The Hastings Farm Gate Tour was brought back to life in 2021 due to demand from the community and work by volunteers from Port Macquarie Hastings Sustainability Network (PMHSN).

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President of the newly formed notfor-profit, Jacqui Murray, said the team are incredibly excited about this new direction for the Hastings Farm Gate Tour.

“We are thrilled at this opportunity to support local food producers who

Hasting Farm Gate Tour 2022

are out there every day, passionately caring for the land and animals in an effort towards a sustainable food chain for us all.”

Learn more and register your interest.

Visit

Read The Full Story

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Originally a Landcare initiative

This event ran over the three days of the June long weekend and provided 230 carloads of visitors (approximately 840 individuals) the opportunity to experience local produce and regenerative practices by touring 16 local farms and sustainable businesses.

Delegates could see sustainable food production in progress and in some cases buy and consume this produce.

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A

n annual event which began in 2013, the Hastings Farm Gate Tour is a celebration of quality locally grown produce. The tour, run over the June long weekend, allows locals and visitors to experience farm life across the Hastings, Port Macquarie and Camden Haven region via a self-drive tour.

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BOOK REVIEW ON FRACTURED SOULS

BY DESLEY POLMEAR ✦ Fractured Souls is Desley's latest book, published in November, 2021 and inspired by the story of Lewis Edwards and his daughter Miriam.

Where was he? Does he ever think of the family he left behind? Was he still alive?

Despite the early set-backs, Miriam made a good, successful life for herself after her Aunt Daisy took in the trio and raised them as her own.

From pre WW2, Wales, UK, to the turn of the century in Sydney, we are taken on Rhys Collins’s

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journey of adventures, strife and multiple identities.

As he encounters people from all walks of life, and turns his hand to different jobs, he often wonders about his growing children he left behind in Wales, his place of birth. But his transgressions, and encounters with people on the wrong side of the law make him afraid to find out.

Will Miriam and her siblings find their missing father before he becomes completely lost in the constant dramas of his own making?

Read More

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iriam O’Connor’s father was a hot head and it got him into trouble. She adored him and wondered for years why he abandoned her and her six year old twin siblings after their mother died on her 13th birthday.

Fractured Souls by Desley Polmear

✶ What a great read. One of those books you can't put down and it had me enthralled until the end. Characters became real for me. A touching ending. I look forward to a sequel to see how life pans out for the family. Well done Desley Polmear. Keep the books coming.

- Joan Gray

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PURPLE RAIN WINNER ALYCIA LIPOVAC LOVES ART IN ALL OF ITS FORMS ✦ A love of drawing, nurtured at high school studying visual arts, learning about art history, discovering different artists and their ideas encouraged Alycia to pursue her love of art.

Why did she enter the art exhibition at Wauchope Creative Hub? Originally hearing about the Wauchope Creative Hub at a market day she has a stall at sparked her interest to check out the artist collective. A lady noticed the hand painted cards she was selling and mentioned she should look into the hub, as she had a friend who was selling similar things there.

Always on the lookout for another venture, Alycia found Wauchope Creative Hub on Facebook. She found the information about the Purple Rain exhibition, thought it looked like a great opportunity for exposure and the theme was such a fun idea!

The inspiration for the Purple Rain winner The theme was definitely a consideration. She pondered painting lasiandras in honour of the festival, she does often paint flowers. she told us, “I couldn't ignore the connection to Prince's song Purple Rain and spent some time thinking about what I might want to do with it," said Alycia. "I looked through some purple references until I found my idea."

As she was sketching it up initially, Alycia was thinking about how to exactly interpret the theme. “Even though the painting has actual purple rain, I wanted it to be more than that. I started to see my subject listening to the song. I played it often as I worked too, and as she appeared, I felt like dancing along with her,” Alycia said.

An unsuspecting winner, wonderful feedback received and painting sold!

There were so many amazingly talented artists and works which she thought for sure had a chance at being the winning piece, Alycia did not have any preconceived notion of being the winner.

"You never know what the judges will like - art is so subjective and one person can see something in a work others may not. Honestly, when it was announced, I had reached the peak of my nerves; the combination of the excitement and pride, being asked to speak and accept the prize, put me a bit out of body. You don't expect it will be you. Having people recognise your work and celebrate it is surreal.”

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Alycia Lipovac

Particularly online, Alycia has received wonderful feedback from her entry and subsequent win in Purple Rain.

Having a lot of family and friends both near and far who follow what she is doing with my creative pursuits on Facebook, she received many supportive comments from people who loved the painting.

We asked her if she would enter again, Alycia replied: “I would love to enter again! Should the competition run alongside the Wauchope Lasiandra Festival again next year I would certainly be interested in participating.“

Read Full Story

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She told us, ”Now that I've visited the hub a few times, I can see it becoming one of my favourite places.”

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BEEN TO YIPPIN CREEK AND HAD A RIDE ON THE SCALE TRAINS? ✦ A generation of parents and children have! They have enjoyed the train rides conducted by the Hastings Valley Miniature Railway at Yippin Creek, at family outings and parties held in the park each month for ten years now.

Heard about it, but not been, or wondered how it came to be and how it works?

O

ne of the members of the Hastings Valley Mini Railway, Mark Stoker told us, “The railway started over twenty years ago and in 2012 moved to the Yippin Creek Reserve. It is run by the members of a non-profit society as a hobby. It exists due to the work of the members and a large amount of community support.”

The railway has received significant support from its neighbours at Yippin Creek, Wauchope Lions, many local businesses, the local council and state government. The railway exists due to the work of the members and so many community oriented groups.

The trains have been built by members as a hobby Many are scale models of real trains and the steam locomotives are miniature versions of the real thing.

It can take years to build a working train and years to build a working railway to run it on.

The original 230 metre track that opened in 2012 has been extended to include a bridge loop and many working sidings. Later a permanent carriage house and station shelter were built.

Currently a duplication of the entire track is being built, with two of four sections completed and work continuing on the thirdsection with the help of a PMHC Community Grant. It is hoped to be varying the train journey over these new sections later this year. The signalling system will be upgraded to handle the additional track and provide further interest to passengers.

The Hastings Valley Miniature Railway furthers interest in trains, model engineering and small steam models Members experience all facets of designing, building and operating the railway.

There is an extensive Safe Working Practice in place and members are trained to fill the many roles on the railway in accordance with these guidelines. It is a challenge to complete the many training roles from signals to train driving and firing the steam locomotives. The railway has never been static, but is always improving. There is always room and a welcome for new members.

➸ Miniature Steam Locomotives

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LOVE, HOME, WORK, LIFE - THE ESSENCE OF CRYSTAL TANTRICITY ✦ An endless search to find a bangle for her partner Tony, one that would not break, started the Crystal Tantricity journey. Now there is a 24/7 bangle!

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usiness owner Julie King decided to work on an alternative, design and test simple, elegant, stainless steel jewellery. She wanted jewellery that could be worn in all conditions without breaking at a price that everyone can afford.

She was sick of spending up to $100 for a bangle, only to have it come apart sometimes within days. After 2 years of sourcing quality materials and undertaking vigorous testing mission accomplished!

Bangles, pendants, mobiles, tea light holders, earrings and more After three years of sourcing quality materials and undertaking vigorous testing, the 24/7 bangle is designed to be left on and is an affordable way to wear crystals every day, keeping them close to the body to absorb their healing properties.

Julie enjoys wire wrapping crystals, designing as she goes and creating

unique one-of-a-kind pieces including crystal crowns.

She told us, “The interchangeable pendant mala design is popular with people who are more informed about invoking the power of crystal by setting daily intentions through simple meditation. We also create mobiles made to hang in your home, crystal in resin bowls, tea light holders, crystal lamps, bookmarks, key-rings and crystal in resin jewellery including earrings.”

Crystal Tantricity also makes a luxury essential oil and crystal candle

➸ Bangles, simple and elegant

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B RILLIA NT COMM U N IT Y range. Displayed in recycled vintage glass bowls and dishes of all sizes with burn times from 6-200hrs, including custom made large centrepiece candles for celebrations, bridal tables and dinner parties.

Inspiration from an addiction of crystals She has always loved crystals and collected them in one way or another her whole life. Intuitively, she regularly carried a tumbled stone in her jeans pocket back in the 80’s long before this practice became popular.

Julie confesses,” Collecting crystals is most definitely addictive. There is such a variety of amazing crystals available of all sizes, colours and textures, all with unique properties. I just love it when I discover a new crystal to add to my collection or create a piece of jewellery with a crystal combination I have never made before.”

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Crystals , all sizes, textures and colours

➸ Crystal in resin bowls

Elegant crystal and ➸stainless steel jewellery

➸ Wire wrapping crystal

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New Hubstar at Wauchope Creative Hub Word of mouth led Julie to Wauchope Creative Hub. She told us, “My beautiful neighbour popped in to see me late last year very excited to have discovered the Wauchope Creative Hub. On her advice, I popped in and fell instantly in love with the feeling of community and creative energy within the space. After meeting with Stu and Christine to discuss my creations, I was delighted when they invited me to join the team of Hubstars.”

Read More

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Julie loves spending time at the Hub and is very happy to work there when needed. Her biggest problem is buying beautiful handmade items from other Hubstars when she’s there!

Pendant Necklace

Tea light holder

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HOLLOWS, KOALA CORRIDORS, ENVIRONMENTALIST OF THE YEAR AND BIODIVERSITY MATTERS ✦ Landcare is leading the way in Bushfire Recovery by providing hollows and creating koala corridors.

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hat is a hollow? Put simply, a bedroom, hiding place, nursery or shelter provided to hundreds of Australian animals.

But, they face threats such as land clearing, development and climate change.

Protecting or providing hollows is a way of protecting local native wildlife. Landcare’s “Hollows in the Hastings” project is seeing nesting boxes and hollows installed to provide additional habitat for wildlife. Boxes of different sizes and shapes to mimic different types of hollows and therefore accommodation for a range of different native species, are being installed across the Hastings Valley.

➸ A shelter for native animals

More information

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This Landcare Led Bushfire Recovery project is being supported by the Australian Government’s Bushfire Recovery Program for Wildlife and their Habitat.

Koala Corridor Planting

➸ Hiding place

In 2020, Hastings Landcare held a community planting day, where koala food trees were planted to create habitat linkages for koalas.

The project aims to create a corridor between two state forest parcels across private farmland to allow koalas and other wildlife easy access across the landscape.

The photos shown here illustrate the progression of the project so far.

Many of the trees are over 2 metres tall already.

➸Koala corridor

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B RILLIA NT COMM U N IT Y This project was made possible by funding from Landcare Australia as a part of their “Post Fire Koala Habitat Program”.

She also recognised the efforts of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, Hastings Landcare, National Parks and Wildlife Service and contractors.

If you are interested in holding a community planting day at your place feel free to get in contact with Hastings Landcare.

The Dunbogan Bushcare Group was formed in 1999 with two major aims

Sue Baker receives 2022 Environmental Citizen of the Year For more than 20-years, Sue has shown a dedication to environmental projects,this has earned Sue the Environmental Citizen of the Year honour in the Port MacquarieHastings Australia Day Awards.

Thrilled with the award, Sue acknowledged her two exceptional volunteer teams involved in longrunning projects at Dunbogan and Crowdy Bay National Park.

"They are just so extraordinarily hardworking and committed and I couldn't possibly accept the award without acknowledging their contribution," Sue said.

"It is also great to have the work itself recognised."

They formed to eradicate a severe bitou bush infestation along Dunbogan breakwall, and in conjunction with the local council, build an access track to Gogley's Lagoon.

The work has expanded into areas not even on the radar in the early days with about 12 volunteers dedicated to the project.

More than 5000 seedlings have been planted in the most degraded areas and an erosion control project has also been undertaken at Gogley's Lagoon. An estimated 90 tonnes of prickly ears has been cleared, plus 2600 rainforest seedlings will be planted in two degraded areas over the next 14 months.

Sue told us that roughly 20 hectares of habitat had been restored and the track had opened up public access to

the Gogley's Lagoon swimming hole.

"We are all just so thrilled to see the areas we have worked on come to life and the birds return," she said. "The place is just thriving."

Bush regeneration at Crowdy Bay National Park - dates back to 1999 Sue has also coordinated a significant bush regeneration program in the Diamond Head-Kylie's Beach area working closely with National Parks and Wildlife Service planning and executing a large-scale restoration of Crowdy Bay National Park.

"From hand weeding by volunteers on Diamond Head, together with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, we progressed that project to aerial spraying of bitou bush north along Dunbogan Beach and south all the way to Crowdy Head," Sue said.

NSW Environmental Trust awarded three grants, totalling $300,000 and each spanning four years, for work in the Dunbogan-Crowdy Bay National Park habitat corridor.

"There is no way we could have achieved what we have without those funds," she said.

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Brilliant-online were asked to publish the following: Open Letter to Port Macquarie Hastings Council from Hastings Landcare President Peter Fitzroy Biodiversity Management Landcare is a grassroots movement of groups and individuals across Australia with a shared vision to protect, enhance or restore the natural environment in their local community through sustainable land management and conservation activities.

Volunteers and workers in Landcare support environmental principles like habitat protection, biodiversity, sustainability, and bush regeneration.

On the ground, this support is evidenced by targeted weed control, replanting degraded landforms as for example, river banks, and stewardship of ecologically sensitive corridors linking habitats. These principles also resonate in most, if not all, of the community groups in the Port Macquarie Hasting Council footprint

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Fallen trees

We in the local landcare and community groups note with growing alarm the rolling back of many of these values by either the direct actions of the council, like the disbanding of the bush regeneration teams, or by the failure to have timely implementation of state government legislation, like the Coastal Management Act of 2016.

We also note that there is increasing degradation of environmentally sensitive areas by the lack of management in restricting urban runoff, particularly heavy metals, surfactants, and phosphates.

Additionally, we are finding that critical storm and wastewater infrastructure, particularly in older subdivisions is no longer coping with the now more frequent storm events, adding to the damage inflicted on our lakes, streams and estuaries.

dunes ➸ Replantingtoonstabilise

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B RILLIA NT COMM U N IT Y We are very concerned with the actions of the new council in rescinding the climate change emergency declaration, in favour of economics over science, and particularly, the recent statements by the Council’s Chief Executive and the elected councillors local relating to management of our ICOLL’s.

We request action on both the environment policy, the Costal Management Plan, and a report on the key performance measures in the Biodiversity Strategy.

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HASTINGS LANDCARE

Finally we are concerned that ecologically unique landforms like the Comboyne plateau and rare and endangered species like the koala, platypus and the North Brother Wattle are not getting the resources they need to preserve and sustain these remnant populations contained within the LGA

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LAKE CATHIE LANDCARE

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WAUCHOPE LANDCARE

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PORT MACQUAIRE LANDCARE

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DUNBOGAN BUSHCARE

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BONNY HILLS LANDCARE

We note that the council has restated its commitment to the 5 principles outlined in the previous environmental policy, and we also note that the Biodiversity Management Strategy of 2018 is still in force. However, there has been little or no progress in implementing that policy, or the strategy, or the long awaited Coastal Management Plan.

➸ Lake CathieweedLandcare, control

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Iron Floc Sampling after acid sulphate release, Lake Cathie

For and on the behalf of:

PETER FITZROY PRESIDENT HASTINGS LANDCARE Ph: 0407 643 346

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Two years on

bloom in ➸ Algae Lake Cathie

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PORT MACQUARIE MUSEUM - NEW JOURNEYS BROAD HORIZONS ✦ The Port Macquarie Museum is pleased to announce the opening of a new creative exhibition. New Journeys Broad Horizons is the work of Port Macquarie art practitioner Lucy Frost who was commissioned for the project.

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he exhibition focuses on bringing selected items from the Museum’s collection to life in the 21st century.

“The exhibition concept was inspired by a metal trunk in our collection that belonged to Marjorie Fanny Frost. Marjorie Frost taught English in Australia and overseas before travelling the world in her retirement”, says Debbie Sommers, Port Macquarie Museum Curator.

“When I first met Lucy and heard her background story, the metal trunk came to mind and the idea for the exhibition evolved from there”.

Following a series of community art workshops held earlier this year, Lucy Frost has responded to five items chosen from our collection, including Marjorie Frost’s trunk”, says Ms. Sommers. “Lucy has explored process, form, colour, texture and content, and used a range of techniques to develop new works that showcase, reimagine and reinterpret the original items for contemporary audiences.”

commissioned for ➸ Lucy Frost new creative exhibition

The exhibition considers both the journeys of the objects and Lucy’s personal journey, and includes interactive elements Lucy’s works and the original items are displayed together.

“Lucy Frost’s artistic talents extend far beyond the visual arts. She is an accomplished circus performer, producer, set and costume designer to name but a few of her many creative achievements”, says Ms

➸ Floral Paintings from 1910 Sommers. “Lucy has created an engaging and fun exhibition which can be summed up in one word joyous and we certainly need some happiness and joy opportunities at the moment. I highly recommend it!.”

The exhibition is supported by Create NSW’s Arts and Cultural Funding

Program. The program supports innovation, vibrancy and creativity within the NSW arts and cultural sector. The project funding enabled the Museum to work with a local professional artist on new creative community and audience engagement initiatives.

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