Brilliant-Online | Brilliant Sports | July 2021 Issue by brilliant-online

ONLINE July 2021 Issue

Photo credit: Andy Cheung

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THE POWER OF BRILLIANT SPORTS BEN TIREBUCK, EDITOR-AT-LARGE A very warm welcome to the latest edition of Brilliant magazine, where this month we focus on the wonderful wide world of sports.

Sport is truly unique in the way it unfies, a global language that transcends boundaries to connect people and cultures like nothing else. It can run one through the entire register of raw emotions, from scintillating highs to devastating lows. For most of us sport is a way of life, whether we are keen participants or casual observers. Sports, however, had been somewhat different because of the COVID pandemic. Nonetheless, this Brilliant July

edition is a bumper month for sports. Euro 2020 and Wimbledon have both just finished and the Tour de France has been a pulsating affair. The biggest sporting occasion of them all, the Olympics, kicks off on July 23rd in Tokyo, behind closed doors without spectators. In this issue, we catch up with professional sports photographer Andy Cheung, with a particular focus on one of his most photographed subjects throughout his career, tennis legend Rafael Nadal. We look at Rugbytots, rugby for toddlers that is turning out to be an exciting gap in the early childhood development sector. After being cancelled due to COVID last year, we look forward to the Port Macquarie 3Rivers Mini

Marathon, scheduled for August 29th and also have engaging features on Wauchope Thunder local football and mountain bike riding. There is so much choice that there really is no excuse not to get involved with the wonderful wide world of sports this month! Enjoy Brilliant and write to me at editor@brilliant-online.com

DROPKNEE SESSIONS - PORT MACQUARIE

CONTENTS RAFAEL NADAL - COVER SUBSCRIBE AND WIN MY BLUE TEA EDITOR’S NOTE - BEN TIREBUCK DROPKNEE SESSIONS VIDEO MICRO BUSINESS FORUM

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BRILLIANT SPORTS

THE BALL IS BACK IN THE COURT FOR RAFAEL NADAL AND ANDY CHEUNG DROPKNEE SESSIONS COLLABORATING WITH SILVER QUINN PRODUCTIONS RUGBYTOTS - A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME PREPARE FOR THE 2021 3RIVERS CHALLENGE KYOKUSHIN KARATE PORT MACQUARIE DOJO HEAR THE WAUCHOPE THUNDER ROAR! HASTINGS VALLEY MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB

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PURCHASE ANDY’S PHOTOS

THE BALL IS BACK IN THE COURT FOR RAFAEL NADAL AND ANDY CHEUNG ANDY CHEUNG - SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many activities to a standstill and, for athletes around the world, the very idea of not training or competing is unimaginable. Sports came to an abrupt halt in 2020 with no end in sight. Sports is not something you can transfer to an online platform and do virtually and expect to get the same adrenaline pumping. Muscles need to be out there moving, training, pushing for the limits.

Athletes all over the world missed the feeling of their feet hitting the ground, their hands gripping a racquet, their arms slicing through water, the texture of chalk on their palms. They missed exploring their physical challenges and competing with their peers to get beyond their comfort zone. Mostly they missed their fans cheering for them at the playing field.

quarantined in your living room. Sports photographers are slowly returning to the sports scene as well. Government hotel quarantine restrictions for travellers have put an additional challenge on covering international events and made it very trying and tedious for them. Many have found themselves having to miss some of the major global sports events this year.

KEEPING HIS EYE ON THE BALL

hours of waiting, or even after a whole day of being baked in the sun you return with nothing satisfactory. It simply means you return again the next day, with camera and tools in tow, a rested and fed body, ready to start again.

THE STORY BEHIND THE LENS Sports photography is not about simply capturing actions or what the sportsman is doing. That is more a spectator’s point of view, sitting in the stands, wanting to soak up every single movement and not miss anything. When you get behind the lens, however, (and that is the magic of photography and a camera), your point of view changes, maybe even your brain changes how you see things when your eye is confined by the lens to focus on a specific area, blocking out the rest of the distractions around you.

Andy Cheung from ArcK Photography is a professional sports photographer who specialises in tennis. He has been courtside at venues all over the world for more than 12 years and has photographed more than 20 worldwide Grand Slam Championships and other Interestingly, the sports player tennis events. Andy has won numerous awards for his work such as the prestigious AIPP NSW Sport Professional Photographer of the Year Award on two consecutive occasions in 2016 and 2017. Andy now works as the official photographer of UK Tennis Magazine. He is accredited for Tennis Grand Slam Championships as well as other ATP/WTA tournaments for 13 years.

THE 3 PS IN SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY

2021 has been a little kinder and parts of the world are slowly opening up, albeit with caution and trepidation of yet another outbreak. Diehard sports fans are also eager for sports to return to their lives again and so are enthusiastic sports photographers. Capturing live action in a single shot and being able to transmit the excitement and tension of the moment is a skill that cannot be replaced by taking a shot of your placid armchair while

For Andy, sports photography is not about being quick with his finger and hoping to get that frozen-in-the-air moment shot. It is not about having some secret formula either. Persistence, if anything, is what he leans on. This, along with Patience and Perseverance, is what has become key to survival during the pandemic: the 3 Ps.

per se is not necessarily the protagonist in sports photography. The sports player has to share the limelight with other elements such as light and shadows, new perspectives and angles. For Andy, he is also drawn to look for split second emotions. Perhaps the true protagonist is actually The Story. Andy wants to use his photography to tell stories. With one single shot, what narrative can you convey? What feelings have been captured and what feelings resonate with the person looking at the photograph? Andy has spent the past 10 years developing his senses to be able to capture a story in a single frame.

FOR YOUR PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTACT ANDY CHEUNG, ARCK PHOTOGRAPHY www.arckphoto.com.au hello@arckphoto.com.au www.instagram.com/arckphoto

Perhaps that is what budding sports photographers need to inculcate. The 3 Ps. You need to keep returning to the sports scene and risk many shots knowing that none may turn out the way you want, and sometimes the very shot you want comes only after

FOREVER NADAL Rafael Nadal has been one of Andy’s most photographed subjects over the course of his career. At a mere 35-years-old, Nadal is already considered a tennis legend who has won 20 Grand Slam titles. In Spain, Rafael Nadal, or ¨Rafa¨ Nadal as he is affectionately known, is wellloved by everyone and stands out not just for his tennis skills but for simply being a super nice guy, on and off the court, the type you want to bring home to your parents who would probably hold him hostage with delicious homecooked food and smother him with lots of pampering. The nation adores him for his professionalism and his impeccable sportsmanship. He brings an element of respect, grace and humility without losing the drive and excitement of going beyond one’s best in the sport.

In spite of a very early start in the gruelling world of competitions, Nadal has managed to retain a simplicity that explains why he is so loved by the nation. He began competing at the age of 8 and he has beaten 12-year-olds competing against him. As an adult, he now toggles between No.1 and No.2 positions in the Association of Tennis Professionals. For Nadal, the best year of his career was 2010 when he became the only male player in the history of tennis to have won the Grand Slam titles on three different surfaces in the same year. Nadal is not one whose life is constricted to only the court - he is very involved in his country and is especially fond of his hometown of Mallorca. When the area was devastated by flash floods in 2018, he was there personally to help in the relief effort in the

municipality of Sant Llorenç. He also offered the facilities of his Rafa Nadal Sport Centre and Rafa Nadal Academy, providing rooms for those who needed accommodation. Giving back is second nature to Nadal and he has his Fundación Rafa Nadal which aids children and youths in Spain and India through sports and education. He is also involved in the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Small Steps Project. Injuries are part and parcel of an intense professional sports career and Nadal has his list of injuries he has been battling over the years patellar tendinitis in both knees, a back injury and a wrist injury.

They are a humble reminder of the short-lived career of an athlete, and sports photographers in their own way, are trying to capture their short dazzling career and the defining moments that make these athletes stand out as a human putting in all they have got to make that moment count.

QUIRKY FACT: A Star is Born ... Nadal has an asteroid in his name! Pull out your telescope from the dusty box and look for Asteroid 128036Rafaelnadal, which is a

main-belt asteroid named after Rafa Nadal in his honor. The next time you go to a sports match, why not try looking at the event through your camera? Even starting with a simple mobile phone camera, you may just see the competition differently what story can you tell? One day you may be a visual storyteller like Andy, showing the world a different side to sports and engaging the viewer’s senses to have a unique experience of the image in front of them. (Source: https://playersbio.com/rafael-nadal-bio/)

Photo credit: Andy Cheung

DROPKNEE SESSIONS COLLABORATING WITH SILVER QUINN PRODUCTIONS WHAT IS BODY BOARDING? You’d probably be thinking that it’s something that your kids do between the flags on a hot summer’s day, right? Most people would probably not think of the sport of Bodyboarding as a business supported by a robust business model and adhering to strict budgets.

In fact, most would probably not even know what Bodyboarding is. Commonly known as the poor cousin of surfing, Bodyboarding has been ever so slowly making its presence felt not only locally but on an international scale since the late 80’s. WHAT IS DROPKNEE IN BODY BOARDING? Well, the best way to describe Dropknee is you grab a wetsuit, flippers and a 42’ piece of purposely shaped foam (bodyboard) and you try to ride waves with one knee on the back of the board with the other foot on the front (like the wedding proposal stance). Doing this at such a high skill level requires immense balance, knowledge and ability and that is what the riders bring to this event.

DROPKNEE SESSIONS There is a specialised event called Dropknee Sessions on the pristine beaches of the Mid North Coast, NSW, Australia. The iconic Port Macquarie-based event has been in operation since 2002 and has hosted riders from around the globe. Focused solely on the discipline called Dropknee, this event gives riders that practice that allows them to showcase how skillful their riding ability is. Local Port Macquarie bodyboarder Clayton Pickworth is the brains behind Dropknee Sessions, which

he initially created in 2001 after close talks with many of the national tour competitors. At that stage of the bodyboard touring events, Dropknee riders were constantly being left behind at events and being put out in the more ‘unfavorable’ conditions of the events. So, as all great Aussie inventions happen over a few beers and a long conversation, Clayton came up with the idea of hosting a Dropknee Only event that allowed the riders to showcase their skills and abilities in the best possible conditions available along with their choice of how the heat draw for the event would run.

The success of this event stemmed right from the get go with the inaugural DKS event being hosted at Port Macquarie’s Town Beach in December 2002. The event sold out and hosted riders from around the country including Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria. As the years went by, DKS built such a reputation that the reach of riders started coming from around the globe. In no mean feat, DKS hosted riders from New Zealand, Hawaii, Canary Islands, Peru, Chile, Europe, South Africa, Japan and even Israel! So for the event to flourish, progress and offerand rider satisfaction, Clayton had to be business savvy and create a model that he could follow to ensure its survival. Factoring in costings, payments and professional standards that covered the whole event months in advance to months afterhas enabled DKS to be viable and allowed Clayton to plan for the future. That planning soon created a team of individuals from local and interstate areas that all play a vital role in being artistic and inventive in many areas of events management, from ground breaking design and screen printing, website development, killer artwork dedicated just to the event and more which created the DKS Collective. Approaching it’s 20th anniversary next year, DKS has demonstrated it has a sound business model in place in addition to the creation of an environment that the riders value and can buy in to. The past few years have been so successful that the ‘sold out’ sign has been put up in record time - this year’s event was filled up just 2 days after its announcement, for example. Selling out so far ahead of time also allows event planning, ordering, media engagement, online socials and video production to be organised and completed well ahead of schedule.

VIDEO CONTENT CREATOR Since 2019 Silver Quinn Productions (SQP) has been onboard with DKS and has been the Content Creator for the event.

Steve has been instrumental in driving the marketing of the event with video and working with photographers to post across Social Media Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Website. SQP has been great in building emotion that could be conjured when partnering this with music, voice over, silence or candid conversation. “There is something so special about capturing a moment that is real and raw,” commented Steve. “Enabling businesses to create key motion messages for that platform and showcase their unique offering to target audiences is something that SQP does best. “We have found that the DKS event is more than just that - it is a coming together of the community that provides excitement for competitors from around the world.”

As a content creator Silver Quinn Productions has the ability to shoot all the angles for sports video with camera angles from the shore, sky and even in the water so it has been exciting for the competitors and the event organisers to see exciting video content. “We have been so lucky to have Steve onboard with our event as Silver Quinn Productions has been nominated for Creative Services Business of the Year 2021 which we believe there is no one better.”, says Clayton.

SO WHERE TO FROM HERE FOR CLAYTON AND THE TEAM?

“Just keep going, it’s that simple. Keep to the core of the event but at the same time inventing and moving into the future. I think if events move too far out of their realm, they will lose their audience and their most important people of all, their customers, in this case, that’s our riders and I certainly don’t want that”. READ THE FULL STORY

www.silverquinnproductions.com

www.dksessions.com

silverquinnproductions@gmail.com

info@dksessions.com

www.facebook.com/SilverQuinnProductions

www.facebook.com/dksessions

www.instagram.com/silverquinnproductions/

www.instagram.com/dksessions/

RUGBYTOTS - A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME WHAT COMES TO YOUR MIND WHEN YOU SEE THE WORD ‘RUGBY’? Rugby takes on a whole new meaning and look when you visit Rugbytots. Forget the image of the tough, sweaty men. Here you have a field full of delighted toddlers who are experts in their own right at rugby! Yes! Tots and rugby. Strange bedfellows but it totally makes sense when you watch the little experts at Rugbytots at work. Fun is spreading around Australia as Rebecca and husband Israel took the full Rugbytots Master Franchise position in 2018 for Australia. Two years before that they started Rugbytots in the Mid North Coast. The big kid in Israel loves the fun at work, while Rebecca is the pillar behind the scenes, making sure the operations run smoothly and she is the one to handle problems outside the playing field.

Children love Rugbytots. It has become a place where they can enjoy expending their energy with other children, not to mention picking up amazing coordination skills and teamworking skills as well. Some are even getting better than their fathers at dodging and are able to give a useful tip or two to their old man and help daddy improve in his game! The joy of each child is the priority at Rugbytots and parents are loving watching how their children develop confidence in what they love doing.

RUGBYTOTS IS GROWING BIG AND STRONG. Rebecca and Israel have coaches helping them run the classes. With Rugbytots growing so fast, they have had to move the Port Macquarie classes to the Hibbard Sports Club on Boundary Road in order to expand what they are able to offer to parents. They are planning to open up more classes in other areas this year. Rebecca and Israel are always on the lookout for like-minded, sports-loving people to join their team. They want Rugbytots to grow big and strong on the Mid North Coast. And who knows where it could grow to next? READ THE FULL STORY

CONTACT RUGBYTOTS PORT MACQUARIE: www.rugbytots.com.au israel@rugbytots.com.au www.facebook.com/RugbytotsMidNorthCoast/ 12 Burrawong Dr, Port Macquarie NSW 2444

PREPARE FOR THE 2021 3RIVERS CHALLENGE PADDLING TOGETHER ON 29TH AUGUST 2021 Port Macquarie Rowing Club (PMRC) is pleased to announce that on Sunday 29th August it is time to hit the water again for the Port Macquarie 3Rivers Mini Marathon, after the popular long running event was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID restrictions. This is a fun event open to all self-propelled watercraft including kayaks, rowing boats, surf skis, surf boats, outriggers, canoes and SUPs. The action will commence at Log Wharf Reserve under the Telegraph Point Bridge and proceed downstream along the beautiful Wilson, Maria and Hastings Rivers from which the event takes its name. Event marshals will be present along the

course to monitor progress and safety. The 25km Mini Marathon ends at the Port Macquarie Rowing Club on Hibbard Drive where paddlers can relax and enjoy music and a BBQ lunch while reliving their adventure with family and friends. Like all community sports clubs, the 35-year-old Rowing Club has experienced new challenges over the past year, with COVID restrictions impacting both social rowing activities on the Hastings, and travel to state and regional regattas. Club members have still performed very well at the regattas they were able to attend, with two first-year rowers winning the NSW D Grade double scull championship title in Sydney in April 2021. The Port Macquarie Rowing Club is keen to welcome new rowers of all ages to the sport for

exercise, social recreation and/ or competition. Because rowing is such a low impact sport, age is certainly no barrier, with several club members enjoying a stimulating rowing lifestyle in their 70s and 80s.

ROW, ROW? Anyone interested in learning to row can come to the Port Macquarie Rowing Club on Saturday mornings at 7.30 am. Registration for the event opens on July 12.

3RIVERS INFORMATION

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL BOB MOWLEM 0408 656 376 www.revolutionise.com.au/pmrc/

HEAR THE WAUCHOPE THUNDER ROAR! WAUCHOPE THUNDER RUGBY CLUB Sport plays such a key role in the community, providing a fabric to connect people socially, be it as an active participant or enthralled spectator. It is a great way to stay fit and can serve invaluable lessons to youngsters on discipline, structure, respect and mateship. Rugby Union is a game for people of all ages, genders, sizes and abilities with a number of different formats on offer. Wauchope Thunder is a local rugby union club currently playing in the Lower Mid North Coast Rugby Competition. We spoke with a couple of the organisers to find out more about the local rugby scene. Wauchope Thunder was officially formed in 2014 when a local man named Peter Daley entered a junior rugby team for his son and his son’s mates into the

Port Macquarie Friday night competition. The next year a group of rugby tragics met at the Hastings Hotel and a committee was formed. At that time there was an increase in the scope regarding the number of teams participating in the Mid North Coast rugby competition which also contributed to the Wauchope Thunder being founded. Local teams Hastings Valley Vikings had been running for 20 years and Port Macquarie Pirates for 40 odd years, so initially it was challenging for the fledgling club having such established clubs on the door step. However, with the population of Wauchope, Beechwood, King Creek and Thrumster growing, numbers have and continue to slowly but surely gain momentum each year. The actual name Wauchope

Thunder came about after a series of suggestions from club members who decided on a combination name. ‘Wauchope’, of course, took its name from the local area the club originated from. ‘Thunder’ was suggested by club members who are Big Bash cricket fans (Sydney Thunder) and in reference to the rolling thunder often heard over the top of Bago Mountain, which is also featured in the teams logo. The Club has continued to grow from its founding years with a senior men’s team participating in local competition since 2015 and a senior women’s team active since the inception of the women’s competition in 2017. The juniors played between 2014-2019 but sadly, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, were unable to field teams in 2020 or 2021. They are, however, working hard and confident this will change

and a competitive team will be in place and ready to go in 2022. The women play rugby 10s, a version of the game played on the same size field as the men but with five less players. Sharing the same fundamental rules and concepts, but having only 10 players on the field at any one time, there is a bit more space for the speedstars! Interest in the sport has varied between genders. Generally, senior mens across the entire sport is shrinking, with most teams in the competition struggling more than in previous years to fill spots week in week out. Women on the other hand have embraced the sport and Wauchope Thunder have seen year on year growth, something reflected nationally. The overall future of the sport is bright though, with rugby union now on Stan Sport and Channel 9 along with new Wallabies and Wallaroos coaches and the game represented at the Tokyo Olympics. Growth and interest in the sport will benefit at the community level and hopefully continue to flourish.

ACHIEVEMENTS Despite being a relatively smaller club, Wauchope Thunder

have had their fair share of achievements. The girls team have played in the grand final every year since 2017. This year the club had 10 of their girls make the Mid North Coast representative team, with four of them going onto make the NSW Country team. Furthermore, two of those girls will go on and play Super Rugby this year in the Super W selects team. The Thunder men last year played semi-finals rugby for the first time which was a huge accomplishment from where they started back in 2015.

VALUED SPONSORS The club couldn’t do any of it without their amazing sponsors, so a huge thank you to them all! Major sponsor Hastings Hotel looks after the team both on and off the field. Some of the other amazing local sponsors include TG’s Child Care, Holy Cow Butchers, Port City Glass, Good Shepherd Medical and Dental, MNC Maintenance, and McDonalds to name but a few. To help the sport continue to grow locally, we urge you to follow Wauchope Thunder on social media, and go to games at Andrews Park. But most of all the Club needs to get people involved as volunteers in the great local

family club. Volunteers make any club go round, help is needed in a variety of ways, from setting up the field to working the canteen to managing or coaching a team – volunteers are key and there can never be too many. Wauchope Thunder’s big focus in 2022 is around getting juniors back on the paddock, so anyone that would like to get involved as a player, parent, volunteer, coach or supporter please get in contact, go to a game, the club would love to hear from you! The teams home ground is Andrews Park, Cameron Street, Wauchope. Rugby is played on Saturdays across the Lower Mid North Coast. Clubs participating in the local competition consist of Wauchope, Old Bar, Taree, Wallamba and Forster.

wauchopethunder@outlook.com www.facebook.com/WauchopeThunder

This article is sponsored by TG’s Child Care. tgschildcare.com.au

HASTINGS VALLEY MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB DESPITE COVID, MOUNTAIN BIKE RACING IS POTENTIALLY ONE SPORT WITH A CERTAIN FUTURE Hastings Valley Mountain Bike Riders organise many social rides and are involved in many away races throughout the year. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the club’s activities, but it seems mountain bike racing is potentially one sport with a certain future in the local area. There are plenty of local trails across the Port Macquarie/ Hastings region, but the club’s main racing trail area is located in the Queens Lake State Forest at the Jolly Nose Mountain Bike Park. The club has tentatively marked August 8 and 9 as their next race days at Jolly Nose Mountain Bike Park. Club president Mick Fullbrook says that the club will adapt the same format as recently run competitions in Newcastle for this

event and the next cross-country series, an event that encompasses a 10 kilometre loop, to be staged the following week. All club competitions will adhere to strict COVID-19 restrictions. By following the guidelines, the club will play host in September to a number of schools from around the North Coast that are taking part in the XCO Coastal Series Enduro race. The club are lucky in that all trails at the Jolly Nose Park can be run separately, hence enabling the COVID restrictions to be followed, having only 200 riders at the most per day.

MAKE FRIENDS AT HVMBR

have a common interest to talk about, compare bikes, trails and equipment. Mountain bike enthusiasts are passionate about their sport. You could end up being a part of a community of mountain bikers. Mountain biking is an activity that appeals to many different types of people. It can be enjoyed individually or with the entire family. LEARN MORE ABOUT HVMBR

CHECK OUT THE CLUB’S FACEBOOK PAGE www.facebook.com/HVMBR

Mountain bike riding is good for making friends, you will

JOLLY NOSE MOUNTAIN BIKING WITH HVMBR

BRILLIANT BUSINESSES

EXCEEDING INTO THE FUTURE WITH TG’S CHILD CARE WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND SERVICES TO BE GIVEN A NOD OF APPROVAL? An example of this would be to achieve the ranking of Exceeding National Quality Standard (NQS). Exceeding NQS is going above and beyond what is expected at the Meeting NQS level. (Source: acecqa.gov.au)

WHAT IS NQS AND WHAT DOES EXCEEDING THAT ENTAIL? Australia’s National Quality Standard (NQS) sets a high national benchmark for early childhood education and care and outside school hours care services.

WHAT ARE THE 7 QUALITY AREAS? The NQS assesses and rates early childhood education and child care services to promote continuous improvement in the quality of the education and care provided. This also includes improving knowledge and access for families to make informed decisions about their children’s education and care. As part of the National Regulations, the NQS includes 7 quality areas essential to a child’s learning and developmental outcomes.

3. Physical environment - children play in a safe and well-maintained environment 4. Staffing arrangements - there are enough qualified staff to give children the attention they need 5. Relationships with children - children are made to feel supported and welcomed

6. Collaborative partnerships with families To be rated Exceeding NQS overall, and communities - local all Quality Areas must be at least community involvement 1. Educational program and Meeting NQS, and four or more and respect for the beliefs practice - children are Quality Areas must be Exceeding and values of families supported to participate NQS, with at least two being in play and learning Quality Areas 1, 5, 6 or 7. 7. Governance and The NQS comprises of 7 quality areas that are important outcomes for children.

2. Children’s health and safety - children are protected from illness and hazards

leadership - children are cared for in a positive and well-managed environment

TG’s Child Care, an award-winning early learning preschool and long day care provider for children 6 weeks to 6 years old, is one of those who has been given an Exceeding rating by the NQS. TG’s services are assessed and rated against the NQS by the state or territory regulatory authority. They are given a rating based on each of these seven quality areas and an overall rating based on the results. TG’s High Street Wauchope and Armidale centres in New South Wales and Urangan in Queensland have been awarded Exceeding. This is a strong endorsement of its leading role in the early learning sector, as well as a recognition of TG’s trusted reputation by families in the community.

In a summary of the assessment and rating of TG’s Armidale, the NQS assessor commented: “Your service is commended on its achievements in providing quality outcomes for children. In particular, careful planning, reflective practice and willingness to collaborate with families and other community organisations to enhance children’s learning and wellbeing and the consistent critical reflection on all quality areas demonstrate the commitment to quality by educators at your service.” Choosing a preschool for one’s child can be a daunting and overwhelming task for families. When an early childhood care and service is given this nod of approval from the NQS, it is a way for families to trust and value a community resource such as TG’s. Families can place their children here without worry or guilt, knowing they have found a place that provides a sound foundation for their children’s future, and where they can grow in an environment that fosters a love of learning. There is a reason why TG’s is recognised as the trusted stewardship of the children’s

future. With these seven quality areas as a guide for both TG’s and for families, it ensures everyone is on the same page with regards to how they see the children’s future. Furthermore, TG’s is a warm and welcoming place. Their doors are always open for families and children to visit and experience for themselves how TG’s just ‘feels so right’ when they come through their doors.

HOW TG’S DOES IT What is TG’s doing that makes them stand out and manage to achieve these ratings on not just one but on two of their campuses?

1) QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN (QIP) TG’s has a Quality Improvement

Plan (QIP). They use this as a guide to ensure they are delivering the best quality education and care possible, and to help identify opportunities for improvement. At TG’s, the educators and management are constantly selfassessing their performance. An interesting point to note here is that TG’s families also contribute to their QIP! Families form part of the partnership at TG’s, and they are highly involved in their children’s growth at TG’s. Those who know TG’s often say that TG’s is their extended family. Families are engaged in their children’s learning journeys at TG’s. Families help by answering monthly QIP questions, weekly family input sheets and also

in daily discussions with TG’s educators. Families are always welcome to view and contribute to TG’s QIP. It is this loving collaboration and trust TG’s has that helps TG’s to continue to grow.

2) EDUCATOR-CHILD RATIO TG’s has a healthier educator-child ratio. The number of educators to the number of children is an important factor that can affect the quality of education. This ensures a more meaningful connection where each educator can really focus on fully engaging in each child’s unique learning experience. Educators are not stretched beyond their capacity. There is time and energy to fully observe each child’s development, notice their unique gifts and tailor-make activities that really speak to the children. This makes learning much more effective as children’s curiosity is engaged and they are willing and eager to participate.

Most importantly, with a healthy educator-child ratio, children are adequately seen and heard. What children at TG’s have is a solid support system where they can experience the love, care and respect of the educators around them. Where there is stability and consistency, children feel safe and free to explore and build relationships. This in turn is also an assurance for families that this is a safe and loving place where their children are part of a family unit. Here, they are seen, recognised and acknowledged as a unique individual with their own experiences, interests and gifts. A home away from home.

3) NURTURING EDUCATORS G’s is very proud of their T educators. The Assessment and Rating process of the NQS is not an easy one, and TG’s educators took the opportunity to grow and shine,

where every situation is a gift. For TG’s educators, such challenges are opportunities to get curious and ask questions. This comes easily and naturally to them because the TG’s Family is a very supportive one. Each educator’s learning journey is respected and nurtured. This in turn inspires the educators to embrace their roles as educational leaders. They ensure the children’s learning and development are guided by the learning outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework and/or the Framework for School Age Care, among other learning frameworks. Every TG’s educator is a leader and a mentor and they are trusted to lead the development and implementation of an effective educational programme in the service. They keenly observe the children and enjoy creating fun activities that are relevant to each child. There are always opportunities to enhance the

programmes and practices at TG’s. There is a famous saying at TG’s about paddling the canoe together. Here, educators work together as a team and they know they have each other’s backs. Each educator’s unique strengths and gifts are recognised. TG’s is always ready to support their career growth and development. When educators are well taken care of, they naturally shine and give their all when they take the children under their wings. Achieving an Exceeding rating is also a testament to how these educators’ fullest potential is being recognised. TG’s standard and expectation of highly qualified educators is key to the continual growth of TG’s Child Care. They have also gone a step beyond to ensure their educators are as valued as the children, and are as well taken care of as the children. Educators are given opportunities to do and give their best in each child’s unique learning journey.

TG’s achievement of an Exceeding rating from the NQS is a testament to how their unique culture of love, trust, respect, compassion and fun has helped so many people grow. It is not surprising why families and communities welcome TG’s wherever they go and grow! TG’s does not stop at simply achieving a score. They go beyond numbers, and the concept of ‘Exceeding’. TG’s style means that it really sees each and every child, educator, family and community as individuals who matter and make a difference. TG’s has a very warm and loving side which cannot be measured by a score. TG’s has been supporting the Wauchope Thunder Rugby Club for many years. One of TG’s children lost a parent who was a player at the club, and throughout the difficult period, TG’s stepped in to ensure the child continued to feel the love and stability of a second home and extended family at TG’s. Supporting the Wauchope Thunder Rugby Club is how TG’s keeps the memory of a loved one alive and growing. In 2017, one of TG’s children passed away having been involved in an accident. TG’s respectfully and lovingly put together a gentle and simple ceremony to remember Georgia Lawson by singing her favourite song Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and releasing pink balloons. Everyone in the community who knew stepped in to hang little star car mirror hangers made by her father. No one is ever forgotten at TG’s. This is the true ‘test’ and meaning of Exceeding by Going Above and Beyond. This makes TG’s truly a loving place to grow and return to. Every day and beyond.

Playing is Learning for Life At TG’s Child Care Magical Gardens Armidale

Wauchope Hastings St

+61 (02) 6772 7810

+61 (02) 6585 1033

armidale@tgschildcare.com.au

hastingsstreet@tgschildcare.com.au

tgschildcare.com.au/armidale

tgschildcare.com.au/wauchope-hastings-st

Wauchope High St

Uralla +61 (02) 6778 3369

+61 (02) 6585 3331

uralla@tgschildcare.com.au

highstreet@tgschildcare.com.au

tgschildcare.com.au/uralla

tgschildcare.com.au/wauchope-high-st

Wauchope Riverbreeze

Urangan +61 (07) 4184 2282

+61 (02) 6585 2981

urangan@tgschildcare.com.au

riverbreeze@tgschildcare.com.au

tgschildcare.com.au/urangan

tgschildcare.com.au/wauchope-riverbreeze

Early Learning Centres across Australia For children 6 weeks to 6 years ENROLL AT TG’S CHILD CARE

FREE BUSINESS HEALTH CHECK JOHN CLARKE, TAX AND FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING ADVISORY I don’t know if you’re like me but staring at pages full of numbers often isn’t very helpful in making business decisions. I worked in one organization where the profit and loss statement the Board had been getting before I started was nine pages and meaningless as a tool for decision making. The organization had three main sources of income and expenditure. I provided a onepage breakdown showing for each of these sources of income and expenditure so the directors could make better decisions. To help draw attention both to areas that were going well and needed attention I used emoticons. I also use charts to identify trends. My dream is that instead of businesses thinking of their numbers as figures for the tax return, that they look at what they mean for the business.

7 CRITICAL LEVERS FOR YOUR PROFIT AND CASHFLOW

1. How much money is owing to the business (receivables or debtors 2. How much money is owing by the business (payables or creditors)

point might be different to your neighbour’s. One of you might have slow payers, another might not be turning their stock over quickly enough.

FREE BUSINESS HEALTH CHECK

4. How much stock (inventory) the business is holding

During July and August 2021 Success Tax Professionals Port Macquarie office would like to offer a confidential no-obligation free one-hour business health check to businesses in Mid North Coast to help you make sense of your numbers.

5. The price you are selling goods or services for

FREE BUSINESS HEALTH CHECK

3. Overheads

6. The volume of sales 7. Cost of goods sold Pain Points for Your Business One size doesn’t fit all. Your pain

READ THE FULL STORY

HAPPY COLOURS FOR BEAUTIFUL SOULS UTOPIAN LIVING ACRYLIC ARTS MICHELE COOK, THE ARTIST BEHIND THESE UNIQUE ART PIECES. For Michele, painting became her place of solace. She had not painted for 16 years and her mental health situation brought her to seek some stability and peace among her canvases and brushes. The more she painted, the more the art stoked the creative fire inside her. Michele spreads happy colours of acrylic paint onto her canvass and teases the strokes with brushes and hot air. The result is a wave of contrasting colours and your imagination determines the subject of the painting.

SMALL ARTWORK SOLD ONLINE Smaller artworks are available online. Size 20 x 25cm. SHOP SMALL ARTWORK

LARGER ARTWORKS SOLD IN WAUCHOPE Larger artworks are displayed and sold at Shop 5, 7 High Street, Wauchope, NSW 2446, Australia. For commissioned artworks, contact Michele directly. Waiting time up to six months.

utopianliving.com.au Michele@UtopianLiving.com.au facebook.com/MichelesUtopianLiving instagram.com/Utopian.Living +61 413 764 129 Shop 5/7 High St, Wauchope NSW 2446, Australia

SUSHIKO MANAGING TO STAY AFLOAT IN TOUGH TIMES NAOMI AND KOICHI SATO The widespread flooding experienced in northern New South Wales and south east Queensland in March of this year was unprecedented in its scale and impact, leaving families, businesses and entire communities reeling from the effects of its devastation. One such local business affected was Sushiko, the well known and well-loved Japanese restaurant situated in Short Street, Port Macquarie. Tragically, this was the second time the acclaimed restaurant had been devastated by severe flooding. In November 2013 the business was overwhelmed by heavy rains and subsequent floods that resulted in a heart-breaking setback.

Coping with the first flood in 2013 was stressful and painful but Naomi and Ko managed to pull through. Getting hit again earlier this year was almost catastrophic. The flood waters reached a metre high and gutted the entire restaurant and kitchen. Tables, chairs, cabinets, dishes, fridges, freezer, food, everything was ruined. “When I opened the door everything was upside down,” lamented Naomi. “We had to throw everything out.” The floods had caused extensive damage and Naomi estimates overall losses to the business between $40-45,000. Without their kitchen there was no way to store, prepare or serve food and consequently no income being made through the restaurant. However, after the initial shock had subsided, Naomi and Ko decided to start the rebuilding process once again. It was a slow,

painful ordeal but, thankfully, help was at hand as the community rallied around the couple, insisting that the local landmark reopen.

‘COMMUNITY SPIRIT’ It is often said that out of adversity comes strength and the community spirit that was demonstrated to help Naomi and Ko was beyond impressive - something that clearly touched the restaurant’s owners. “On behalf of Ko, Naomi and the wider Sushiko team, we would like to thank the community for their support and generosity throughout this difficult time,” the Sushiko Facebook page posted on May 17.

“We would not have been able to reopen our doors without the ongoing support and love of our wonderful Port Macquarie community, we are eternally grateful.” Sushiko reopened its doors for business on May 18, much to the delight of the local community. Naomi and Ko have introduced a few tweaks to their business that they believe will not only improve the quality of their offerings and service but also leave a positive impression on the environment.

“We reopened with a focus on using recyclable food containers for our takeaway boxes which are made from corn and sugarcane and are delighted to be able to provide a more environmentally friendly and sustainable offering,” commented Naomi proudly. “We are also using more natural ingredients for our sauces and marinades, which we believe is a positive,” she added. Sushiko is open on weekdays for lunch between the hours of 11am to 2pm. The opening times may be limited but you will not hear anyone within the local community complaining. In fact quite the opposite, they are delighted that this family-run business has managed to rise above the waters of uncertainty and establish itself once more as one of the most beloved restaurants in the area.

READ MORE ABOUT SUSHIKO

LUNCH AT SUSHIKO sushiko.cafeleader.com www.facebook.com/Sushiko +61 2 6583 3333 U 3 21 Short St, Port Macquarie, Australia

GOURMAND INGREDIENTS IS THE COMMUNITY’S SPICE OF LIFE MARYLINE GREEN With the explosion of interest in home cooking and alternative cuisine, the demand for more exotic and unusual ingredients has blossomed as budding home chefs look to elevate and expand their cooking experience. Port Macquarie-based Gourmand Ingredients has been in a position to help for over a decade now, ensuring that home cooking can be anything but boring with an array of exotic ingredients and goods from all over the world. Situated in shops 3 and 4 at 39 Short St, the business was established in 2010 by husband and wife John and Maryline Green. Whether people are looking to cook South East Asian, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, African, European or any other exotic cuisine, the shop almost certainly has the right ingredients to stock up on.

Maryline explained.

“People were working 6-8 hour shifts, with squeegees and buckets, on their knees scrubbing the mud and cleaning, removing the damaged goods from the bottom shelves and However, earlier this year the business was placed under serious discarding them into the bins. jeopardy. ‘WAR ZONE’ The devastating floods that were experienced in northern New South Wales and south east Queensland in March this year wreaked havoc, leaving families, communities and businesses in complete disarray. Gourmand Ingredients was just one of many local businesses hit hard.

“We had flood waters about 48cm deep,” said Maryline. “It wiped out a lot of stock and caused a lot of damage to the shop. The whole place looked like a war zone.” Thankfully help was at hand in the form of volunteers from the community. “We had about 15 to 18 people show up offering to help with the clean-up effort,” a grateful

“It was very humbling that people offered to do that of their own accord,” Maryline added.

‘GOOD SAMARITANS’ With such invaluable help, Gourmand Ingredients were able to reopen within a week, which was quite remarkable given the extent of the damage they and others in the area had experienced. “It would have been more likely four weeks of closure had it not been for the wonderful help and support from our good samaritans in the community,” Maryline commented proudly. “People in the local community understand and appreciate what we bring to them,” she added. “They appreciate there is more to retail grocery than just the Coles and Woolworths of this world. We provide more than just goods; we

provide a service. We offer help and advice to people who are often trying new things for the first time. We can give personal recommendations and tips to help them.” Many small owned family run businesses may have been tempted to shut up shop once and for all after the devastation the floods brought. But not Gourmand Ingredients.

“Small business is the life blood of towns up and down the country,” Maryline says, acknowledging how community and small business are so intrinsically intertwined. “It’s the people. It’s all about people,” Maryline says in conclusion.

READ THE FULL STORY

SHOP AT GOURMAND INGREDIENTS giportmac@hotmail.com www.facebook.com/gourmandingredients/ +61265846268 Shops 3 & 4, 39 Short St, Port Macquarie NSW 2444, Australia

MICRO BUSINESS FORUM

A FRIENDLY BUSINESS NETWORK THAT ALLOWS SMALL BUSINESSES TO GROW BIG TOGETHER The idea of running your own business and being your own boss can sound liberating and empowering… until you actually do it and realise what a very different playing field it is, requiring another mentality and level of skill sets.

One of the biggest challenges for small business owners is feeling the responsibility of the business entirely on their shoulders with nobody else to brainstorm with or make decisions with. You are the brain of the business, and when you first start out, you are expected to take on all the roles - director, administrator, accountant, cleaner, salesperson, customer service, marketing, supplies… it can all get rather overwhelming. And when you do get the business off the ground, you alone take on the worry and stress of staying afloat, bringing in the profits, innovating, and navigating past competitors in your industry. Family and friends can offer moral support and perhaps chip in with some skills. Small business owners can still feel vulnerable and unsure of decisions and risks and are susceptible to so many uncontrollable and unforeseeable circumstances. What if there is a place small business owners can go to for support, for networking and to learn from other people’s experiences?

THE FRIENDLIEST NETWORK IN TOWN The Micro Business Forum (MBF) was created with this in mind. It is the only professional network to support solopreneurs and micro business owners with fewer than five employees.

MBF allows small business owners to connect with like-minded individuals in a similar situation. It takes the sting out of the loneliness of running one’s business and provides a networking opportunity to help one another grow. It is an empowering space for small business owners to know there is support to help them thrive. There is nothing like stepping into a space and meeting people who know exactly what you are talking about and how you feel, and who have taken a similar journey. MBF has gone through a few rounds of christening after it started in 2003 as the Home Based Business Club. Later, the name was changed to Home Business Forum (HBF) and membership has grown since then to include micro business owners and the self-employed. On 22 February 2013, it finally took on the name of Micro Business Forum (MBF) as it is known today.

As a testament to the success of MBF in what it has set out to be, it is now affectionately known as The Friendliest Network in Town and businesses recognise it as the Home of Entrepreneurs.

droughts, bush fires, a pandemic, floods. The psychological toll on a single business owner to get the business afloat through all that is immense.

Together, small business owners support and encourage each other, pool together their talents and experiences, and A BUNDLE OF STICKS brainstorm and share tools, strategies and resources, MBF has a whole new take on the concept of doing business. Instead precisely during the most of focusing on stereotypical ideas difficult periods. Nobody of ambition and competition, is alone or left behind. MBF brings businesses together, Ultimately, the whole connects people, and shares community thrives because experiences and skills in order to everyone is growing. grow together. MBF has proven that doing business can be happy, friendly and supportive.

Aesop’s story of the bundle of sticks is what MBF is doing by bringing together small businesses. Alone, a small business owner has to rely only on themselves to survive. As a single stick, it is easily breakable and there is no support system to help one single business ride through a storm. Just think about the last few years when Australia has endured so many challenges -

LEARNING TO GROW Having an open and learning mindset is what helps businesses grow, and MBF is rich in its opportunities to provide education, networking and support. Whether it is a start-up or an established micro-business, people can come here for regular events to learn, grow and succeed in what they do. Members of the MBF love

sharing their expertise and skill sets. A single person cannot do everything and excel at everything. MBF has more than 40 members who each bring in their talents and knowledge. You can start a casual small talk with someone at an MBF event, and what starts off as a simple conversation turns this person into exactly what you need to help your business take that one more step ahead. Talk about serendipity! Conversations bring businesses together and each person’s complementary skills can help businesses grow. MBF boosts a rich diversity of innovative products and services and the members are all contributing proudly to the growth of the Port Macquarie Hastings region. There is an amazing range of skills and experiences MBF members bring to the table. You name it, they’ve got it - taxes, environment, graphics, gastronomy, counselling, history, photography, marketing, wellness. Get to know the members here and you may be inspired to attend the next MBF event just so you

can get to meet all these amazing people and learn about what they do! One of the challenges of running a small business is making sure owners take time off from the daily running of the business to actually work on themselves in terms of learning and upgrading of knowledge and skills. Without a support system, small business owners will have to put in the extra effort to hunt all over to meet this need, and going for a workshop here and an event there can feel sporadic and lacking in structure. MBF has made it easy for business owners to fill this need - their meetings, deeper learning workshops and coffee connects allow business owners to have everything in one location, and the activities have been specially selected and organized by people who understand what they need. At MBF, there is a sense of structure, togetherness and stability. There are plenty of opportunities for members to explore business ideas, learn from subject-matter experts and speakers, from worthwhile business alliances, share insights and build relationships. And the big bonus here is, people actually have fun! Business and Fun can go together! If you have

never experienced what a fun business event is like, it would be well worth spending a day at MBF’s numerous events to see for yourself!

BEING ACCOUNTABLE

Another interesting aspect of networking at MBF is how it introduces the concept of accountability. Anyone can attend endless workshops and build up knowledge but that alone is not enough to make a small business grow. As your own boss, who is there to make sure you really go out and do what you said you would do? And when the going gets tough, who is there to keep you on track and keep going? At MBF, its friendly and supportive environment allows its members to stand by each other and keep each other accountable. They share their ideas and plans, and keep each other on their toes in order to move their businesses forward. In fact, there are “accountability buddies” at MBF! Sometimes one just needs a little nudge to get us off our chairs to make something happen, and the best people to do that are the ones who are on the same journey

and can understand what is needed to motivate a fellow small business owner not to give up. MBF facilitates being accountable in how they provide spot on and relevant topics for small business owners to learn about and experiment with. It is provided in manageable doses and there is something business owners can implement after a workshop or event. Members learn about how to make an effective email campaign, how to build their own WIX website, how to track cashflow, how to tell their brand story, how to manage taxes etc. Members can pick and choose what is most relevant to them and use these sessions to identify what is missing in their business. The next step is to give it a go, which can be a scary thing to do, but having a supportive environment at MBF means members always have someone they can check in with as they implement new strategies or tools in their business. The value of MBF is how they guide members into topics that may feel confusing, complicated and which cause business owners to feel dread and procrastinate on. It is given in bite-sized, supportive and fun events and there are opportunities to dive deeper in when members are ready to do so.

SHARING OUR STORIES Port Macquarie Hastings is home to 84,525 people, supports 29,368 jobs and has an annual economic output of $9.545 billion. It is a region that is growing in popularity and the NSW government has plans to transition it into a true Regional City. Every face you meet at an MBF event contributes to these numbers. MBF continues to grow through the years and there is a healthy mix of new start-ups and mature small businesses from all industries. What makes the ambience at MBF so special is how people come together to share and listen to each other’s stories. When a small business is invited to speak at MBF, it is not just about sharing strategies and useful information. It is also about hearing someone else’s journey, being inspired by how they grew through challenges,

and seeing how another person’s journey can be applied to our own circumstances. Small business owners feel a sense of connection and understanding at MBF and it is their home base to return to through their small business journeys. So is it worth it, running your own business? MBF helps to make the journey and experience a rewarding one - what drives people to do it is a sense of pride in building something of their own. Having a community of likeminded people who are on the same journey and can boost your spirits and keep you going is the motor that drives the economy of the region. MBF is proud of what their members have achieved and are helping others to achieve. It is a cyclical paying it forward of experience, encouragement and skills that keeps members staying on and growing at MBF. Here, no business is too small to be insignificant, and every single business that thrives adds to the growth of the region.

So yes, it is all well worth it! A cup of coffee at MBF, anyone? JOIN MBF

MBF EVENTS

MBF MEMBERS

CONTACT MBF: www.microbusinessforum.org.au membership@microbusinessforum.org.au www.facebook.com/microbusinessforum 0407 779 828

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN THE MICRO BUSINESS FORUM - PORT MACQUARIE

FOR BUSINESS NETWORKS IN PORT MACQUARIE-HASTINGS, COMMUNITY COMES FIRST BUSINESS NETWORKS ARE EVOLVING TO INFUSE HUMAN-NESS INTO BUSINESSES The concept of the village is back in fashion. Individualist thinking and survival of the fittest have become outdated ways of living. Community is now the buzzword for the challenging times we are living in. And that is a way of thinking that is growing in businesses. Doing business is no longer about being the biggest shark and swimming in dangerous waters, or using underhanded tricks to get the cash register ringing, and it is no longer about being the predator or prey in a dog eat dog world. It is humanity or humanness that is being infused into businesses now, which is making businesses stand out and grow. It is a powerful and necessary element to have in an increasingly digitalised world.

A CHAMBER OF CONNECTIONS Mark Wilson is executive officer for the Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce, and he has seen how businesses are developing, responding and adapting to the fluctuations we have been experiencing around the world in recent years. At the Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce, Mark is involved in organising their monthly events, newsletters and communication between the members. There are about 18 or 20 networking events and lunches where presenters on various topics are invited throughout the year. It has about 300 members, and priority is given to communication and networking for local businesses through the Chamber. For Mark, the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the natural catastrophes that have hit Australia over the last few years, have driven home

the stark reality of how important local businesses are, and how vital it is to support each other in business if we are to survive, not to mention, thrive. He has also seen an increase in the trend of people wanting to know other businesses in their communities, and a keen interest in wanting to relate to each other and network together. The Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce fulfills exactly that need, by holding events for businesses to connect and meet at least once a month. The simple act of getting people together to shake hands, sit down and have a chat can be the catalyst for amazing growth. At the Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce, people can come together to Learn, Grow and Connect. This is where doors open up for people to find their ‘soulbusinesses’ that match what they need, and for getting their voices out there so people know about their offerings, skills and services.

ADAPTING FORWARD The Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce like so many other businesses around the world, has adapted to the dire challenges that have come our way. They have also transported their events online on Zoom. It is a temporary adaptation, and a way to keep going but it is not the definitive way. Flexibility and adaptability are key elements for businesses to move forward. While bringing events online is a way to keep the momentum going, it is also starting to wear on people and having real face-to-face contact is still something people want to return to. For Mark and Veronica, it is about keeping the balance and finding a way that works for our current situations.

Adaptability is a key focus

in this year’s business awards and the shift is moving away from focusing on pushing up numbers and cashing in profits. Given the current climate, what they are focusing on this year is stories about adaptation, change and what businesses have been doing to survive. This is what judges are looking for, and businesses that have that agility and creativity to get through a challenging period and look ahead to changes that may happen in the future are the ones that will get people sitting up and taking notice. Mark is surprised by the large number of businesses in Port Macquarie and the diversity of sectors as well, and all this in spite of the pandemic. There are new businesses coming up and some of these are created by people who do have employment

but are working on their own individual new business projects from home. The pandemic has brought problems sweeping across industries and countries, and it has also, strangely enough, caused a lot of micro businesses to mushroom everywhere.

BUSINESS AWARDS 2021 The Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce’s Business Awards is now in its 15th year, giving local business owners in the Greater Port Macquarie-Hastings region the opportunity to be acknowledged by their business peers and the community. They have been hosting the Business Awards since 2007. The awards are a way to spotlight the growth and success of businesses in the area. What is uplifting about the Business Awards is how it celebrates the range and diversity of both large and small businesses in the Greater Port Macquarie area, with many businesses run by husband-and-wife teams or extended family members. It

is a way to give a voice to the many small businesses in our communities that are all trying their best to grow and thrive, and it is a way to let them be seen and heard. The awards celebrate the invisible daily grind, the hard yakka, the determination and achievements business owners undergo to deliver goods and services to the local community and beyond. These businesses, in their own humble and quiet way, have demonstrated how they, in spite of their small size, have weathered the COVID storm, demonstrated resilience, and made an impact on communities. With the onslaught of challenges that have knocked the wind out of one’s sails, local businesses now more than ever need to position for the future. There is no one single magic formula or guru manual that businesses can simply follow, and allow themselves to sit back and get comfortable. Running a business means always being on one’s

toes, working the adaptability and creativity muscles of the business so it can be prepared for anything that could come. A healthy business system has to be open enough to be able to change and flow. The Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce is fulfilling the purpose of helping businesses with events and network opportunities, all with the aim of bringing businesses together to learn from each other, to grow as a community and to use the connections to make the community stronger and thrive. The Business Awards enables business owners to showcase their products and services to the local community. Participating in the award is free and business owners can enter the category that best suits their business structure and size. Any business in the Hastings region who have premises and employ locals is eligible to enter. There are 33 categories in the 2021 Business Awards including Hair & Beauty Services, Creative Services & Communication, Restaurants & Cafes, just to name a few. The

categories change through the years depending on the offering. Last year, the Business Awards 2020 was cancelled due to the pandemic. Now as businesses in the region get back on their feet again, this year’s awards will be a particularly emotional one for everyone. Even for the judges who are there to be impartial and scrutinise every single entry, it is also a touching experience where they can see all at once the number of businesses (and the very real humans behind them) that are all trying so hard to innovate, create and keep going. It will be a particularly tough year for judges to decide, because every single business has been doing their best to survive. Perhaps in the minds of the judges, every single business that has participated in the Business Awards 2021 is already each a winner in their own right. Entry into this year’s Business Awards closed on 15 June 2021. The panel of independent judges are hard at work. The community voting closed at midnight on 5 July 2021. Port Macquarie gears up every year for this event, and this year it will be even bigger

with everyone coming to support each other’s win. However, due to current COVID restrictions, the results which will be announced at the gala dinner on 31st July 2021 may be postponed. I suggest you follow Port Chambers social media to check when tickets for the Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2021 will go up on sale.

EVER READY FOR THE FUTURE The Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce has evolved considerably over the past four to five years. It continues to invite all businesses in the region as members, and they are focused on business owners and how they can represent and support businesses. It is a welcoming and inviting space, with no nosein-the-air mentality. This is a place where business owners can engage in networking opportunities to grow their business and collaborate with likeminded businesses. They regularly engage with Council, State and Federal Governments to discuss opportunities for business

development and growth in the region. They aim to help businesses increase their financial activity and improve the local economy. The Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce has been advocating for businesses in the Port Macquarie region for more than thirty years. In fact, they are the longest serving network in the region. They have seen how the region has developed from a humble little fishing village into the vibrant modern hub it is today. And they continue to grow strong, pandemics and natural catastrophes notwithstanding. Businesses in the community can rest assured, they have the Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce behind their backs to support what they do. They are the glue that keeps the community of businesses growing and thriving. When you next pass by the Chamber, why not pop in for a cup of tea and a chat? You never know what business opportunity may be waiting there for you after a little conversation with someone. www.portchamber.com.au

ADVICE ON DECIDUOUS BY GREENBOURNE NURSERY DANIEL ‘CHOOK’ FOWLER ADVISES ON PURCHASING AND CHOOSING A DECIDUOUS TREE, BOTH FRUITING AND ORNAMENTAL At this time of the year in New South Wales, Australia, it may be best to plant trees when they are dormant (because you aren’t as likely to disrupt their growth), so you need to consider if the tree is deciduous. Daniel ‘Chook’ Fowler is an expert horticulturalist at Greenbourne Nursery to advise you on the appropriate varieties to suit your conditions.

Red Maple ‘Autumn Blaze’ “This well-structured and very adaptable tree features some of the best autumn colour of the hybrid red maples. Most useful as a medium to large shade tree.”

Most of the nurseries throughout our great country would be in the midst of receiving their bare-rooted trees from various suppliers in central and southern zones. These elegantly shaped gifts comprise of both the delicious selection of fruit trees and the wonderfully stunning ornamental deciduous range.

ORNAMENTAL DECIDUOUS TREES

So many magical reasons for growing these, such as the stunning Autumn displays that carry the colours of summer into the new season; it may be the early abundance of brightly coloured blossom that awakens us out of our wintery slumber or possibly the structure and security of strong upright trunks guarded by a sheath of rustic bark. The selections on offer are truly a gift from nature. Ginkgo biloba

Golden Ash ‘Aurea’ “Good medium sized tree suitable for many uses. Reliable autumn foliage and distinctive yellow bark on young branches provide year-round interest.”

“The Ginkgo biloba is a large, slow growing deciduous tree. The common name, Maidenhair tree, refers to the leaves which are a soft green changing to a spectacular clear yellow in autumn.”

FRUITING DECIDUOUS TREES “It bursts with vigour as the sun warms, the energy is here. With appetite fed by soil, the bounty is now near”. So is true of the deciduous fruit tree as it

strategically rests throughout the winter, simply awaiting the change in season so it may efficiently use its energy to reproduce itself. That reproduction is in the form of a seed which more often than not comes with the bonus offering of sweet, delicious fruit. There are many choices available to only mention a few, from the apples, plums, nectarines, peaches and figs. Everyone has a favourite they look forward to each summer.

Pomegranate “Wonderful” “A small growing, bushy rounded shrub, it has brilliant showy red blooms that flower over many weeks followed by large red edible fruit that tend to sweep the branches down in a graceful habit.”

Golden Queen Peach “Used for fresh fruit, juice and preserving and cooking. A true favourite for bottling and an excellent eating peach, especially if a firm-fleshed peach is desired.”

PURCHASING AND CHOOSING A DECIDUOUS TREE

Golden Delicious Apple “Beautiful, medium to large, green-yellow skinned apple. Sweet flavour with a sprightly tang. Used for fresh fruit, cooking and drying.”

If you haven’t done your research prior to going into your local nursery to select your deciduous tree, please do go in with an open mind and with the flexibility to change. You should always consult one of the trained horticulturalists on-site as their knowledge is invaluable. They will run you through key necessities to send you home with the appropriate varieties to suit your conditions. The main circumstances are climate and pollinators.

CLIMATE Your local nursery horticulturalist will be able to recommend appropriate varieties that will perform well in your climate zone. It would be a shame for you to go to all the effort to plant a beautiful tree only for its delightful foliage to be crippled by too much heat or wind exposure in a situation that didn’t match its cultural conditions. You might risk reducing the optimal foliage colour of certain species because, in some areas, the Autumn condition is just too mild. The deciduous fruit trees have very specific ‘chilling hours’ that must occur during winter to enable them to obtain good fruit set in the summer period. ‘Chilling hours’ refers to the total amount of time a fruit tree needs to be exposed to effective winter temperatures to help them break dormancy so they will flower and set fruit normally. Some varieties require only 200-300 hours through winter at low temperatures whereas others require

over 1000 hours. Your local nursery horticulturalists will be able to guide you in the right direction.

deciduous trees home from the nursery there are a few steps to consider.

POLLINATORS

If you are purchasing them quite early in the season there is a good chance that there has been minimal growth to both the foliage and the root system. When you remove the tree from the pot the majority of the potting mix will fall away leaving you with basically a bare-rooted plant. Do not let this worry you, this is completely normal. I have lost count over the years of how many phone calls I have received from very anxious customers in a panic about this issue. The season is right to plant these trees like this.

With regard to deciduous fruit trees, it is important to have the appropriate pollinators available to enhance the quantity of fruit your trees will yield. Without getting too complicated about pollination (we can have that discussion indepth on another occasion), we can break it down into two groups:

1. Self pollinators - trees that are in this category are able to successfully produce fruit on their own. They do not require a second tree to achieve pollination. Examples include most peaches and nectarines. 2. Trees requiring a pollinator - trees in this category require a second variety to achieve pollination. Planting within 20 metres of each other will allow for appropriate wind and bee pollination. Examples include apples and cherries. Once again your local nursery horticulturalists will be able to guide you in the right direction. PLANTING When you take your gorgeous

To fit the root system into the bag the nursery worker has more than likely given the trees a mild root prune. It is recommended upon planting to do the same to the dormant canopy. If it hasn’t already been done in the nursery it is a good idea for you to prune up to one-third of the branches off the tree. This will guarantee that the smaller root system isn’t overwhelmed when the warm season presents itself. Finally, to discourage any early season diseases, spraying the dormant trees with a lime sulphur solution. This is highly recommended. This will help to treat the exposed wounds you have created when pruning the trees. It is a good annual task to get in the habit of each year to keep your deciduous plants healthy. Most nurseries will

have this product on the shelf throughout the year. Once the season begins to change the trees will be provided with longer day length and warmer temperatures. Stand back and admire your trees as the elegant architecture of their bare limbs transforms before your eyes.

Delicate foliage pushing out from awakening timber and soul lifting blossom from bursting buds. The deciduous tree is something to truly behold. Here at Greenbourne Nursery, we have a massive range in stock for you to come and look through. Look forward to seeing you. SHOP INDOOR PRODUCTS

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CONTACT GREENBOURNE NURSERY, WAUCHOPE PLANTS & LANDSCAPE SUPPLIES FOR ALL YOUR GARDENING NEEDS: +612 6585 2117 www.greenbournenurserywauchope.com.au greenbourne.nursery@midcoast.com.au www.facebook.com/midcoast.com.au 239 High St, Wauchope NSW 2446

BRILLIANT INVESTMENTS

CHALICE MINING CONFIRMS JULIMARSTYLE MINERALISATION FOR JV THOR PROJECT ANDREW RADONJIC UPDATES US ON THE THOR PROJECT JOINT VENTURE THAT VENTURE MINERALS HAS WITH CHALICE MINING LIMITED (ASX:CHN) The EM program is part of the first stage of the JV earn-in where Chalice Mining Limited (ASX:CHN) can earn up to 70% by spending $3.7 million on exploration over 4 years.

stage is set for the drill rigs of the project to see some rocks.

What is also exciting about the company’s project is it is sitting on a new frontier that is ripe for new discoveries which have Only around one third of the total been previously neglected due to planned 42-line km MLEM program commodity pricing, funding and has been completed to date as wet market appreciation of these areas. weather has been causing delays. “Venture is extremely encouraged Andrew Radonjic, Managing by the success of the early work Director of Venture Minerals done by our JV partners Chalice Limited (ASX:VMS) shares with Mining on our South West Project,” Noel Ong, CEO of Samso what has said Andrew Radonjic, Managing been happening with the search Director of Venture Minerals for Julimar. They caught up over Limited. Rooster Talk Episode 43. “The ground EM program, though The unique nature of the drill and only one third complete, has geophysical results that were already yielded new EM anomalies generated by Venture Minerals with one sitting adjacent to a is strong evidence that fits the previously drilled hole containing Julimar style mineralisation. The significant disseminated sulphides

with elevated PGE levels. “The majority of the Thor ‘Julimar lookalike’ target that already hosts several airborne EM anomalies is yet to be tested by Chalice’s EM program and the company looks forward to results from this work and potential follow up drill testing in the near future.”

ventureminerals.com.au admin@ventureminerals.com.au +61 (08) 6279 9428 Suite 3, Level 3, 24 Outram Street, West Perth, Western Australia 6005

THE ELUSIVENESS OF COMMODITY PRICING - WHERE ARE THEY HEADED? INVESTMENT INSIGHTS BY NOEL ONG, SAMSO Commodity price movements are something that continue to baffle investors. The pandemic has created both chaos and also one of the strongest moves in commodity pricing for decades. How is this possible? The commodity price movement is making the mineral exploration sector soar right now. This is clearly represented by the price charts in Figure 1. Before the onslaught of the pandemic, the common narrative on metals such as nickel and copper was that there was a shortage at the LME (London Metals Exchange). This means the pricing must soon reflect deficit. But when that did not happen, it left a lot of investors baffled. You can understand the reason for the market excitement when you look at the ASX 200 (Figure 2). (This is now currently higher than the high prior to COVID, at the time of writing). Recovery was observed in all sectors. Rick Rule, Senior Managing Director, Sprott Inc., and President & CEO, Sprott U.S. Holdings was also surprised at the rate of recovery. He is someone I turn to for these conversations to get insights:

Commodities and Equities: Advice from Rick Rule. Gold, Equities, Sprott Management and

Figure 1: A summary of metal pricing since the Covid-induced crash in March 2020. (Source: www.lme.com)

Figure 2: ASX 200 chart for the last 5 years. The S&P/ASX 200 (XJO) is Australia’s leading share market index and contains the top 200 ASX listed companies by float-adjusted market capitalisation. It accounts for 88% (December 2020) of Australia’s equity market. (Source: www.marketindex.com)

Australian Gold Exploration - Rick Rule Markets and Commodities with Rick Rule Mr. Rule mentioned that he had underestimated the rate of recovery, but I think the pull back in gold price earlier this year shows that even the market knows that things are moving too fast for its liking. The current mood among industry people is that the market is slowing down. For me, slowing down is actually a good sign. I offer some clear insights on why this is so. Here are some clarifications on the optimism in mining in the future of world economic growth. The electrification of the world is already here and with the onset of the Green Movement, I am expecting to see a lot of pivoting of businesses. Also, with the need for the basic building blocks of mining and changing the way people do things will create more anti-electric actions. The minerals involved in the EV revolution, as well as the lesser-known metals such as Molybdenum, Nickel, Copper, Aluminium and Silver that are required to build the infrastructure to create the new world. With an increased need for metals for ‘clean energy’, I see a greater demand than supply can provide.

Mining is no walk in the park. It is a complicated process and made even more so by the process of proving mining viability and maintaining its sustainability. Factors such as ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), Sovereign Issue and an artificial demand to make the EV revolution happen are going to lead to a big strain on supply.

TODAY’S INSIGHTS TAKES A DEEPER DELVE INTO:

1. Molybdenum - one of the quietest metals in the recent commodity rush that is now treading at levels near the last iron ore boom of 2010 1. Copper - an important indicator of market progress 2. Tin - a humble metal forgotten from the past that is set to play a more important role due to the effect of ESG In my 30 years in the mineral resource industry, I have never felt that this continuing run of good fortune may actually have longevity. When you have seen as many boom-bust cycles as an exploration geologist as I have, you are constantly in disbelief of any market rise.

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Clear information that is balanced and sustained by the experience and knowledge of thought leaders in the industry can help investors make well-informed decisions. Read today’s Insights to learn more about the movement of commodity prices and the myriad of factors at play here.

TODAY’S INSIGTS

SAMSO HELPS EXECUTIVES TELL THEIR STORIES TO PIQUE INVESTOR INTEREST. +61 490 092 814 samso.com.au noel.ong@samso.com.au

BRILLIANT HEALTH

LEA BAILEY TALKS ABOUT BREATHING AT CALMBIRTH® At Calmbirth®, the breath is pivotal to understanding the Calmbirth® techniques. ¨With knowledge comes confidence¨ is what Calmbirth® goes by, and their aim is to empower women with the knowledge, tools and skills they need about their bodies and the birthing process to ensure the birth is as natural and as nurturing as possible. Birthing is about the joy of welcoming new life and feeling the connection between the baby and the parents. It is not about armouring up and getting ready to do battle. Many mothers-to-be can feel a lot of stress and anxiety about the pain of the process. At

Calmbirth®, women are not left to be defenceless in anticipation of the terrifying day. They are active participants in preparing their bodies and minds and building a trust in their bodies natural abilities to nurture new life. There is a strong mind-body connection that is taught at Calmbirth®, and breathing is a way to initiate this connection. Mothers learn to use the breath to bring awareness into their bodies. Simply put, Calmbirth® teaches a yogic style of breathing that slows down the body’s processes and puts it into a gentle, steady, calm and open state. It takes the stress and anxiety off the mother and the baby. It helps to optimise the gas exchange in and out of the air sacs within the lobes of the lungs. This gentle cycle brings oxygen

to the baby because of improved blood flow. It is like giving the baby a fresh, gentle boost of hormone “O” oxytocin. It provides a healthy environment for the baby to be in during pregnancy and through delivery. When the right breathing technique is applied, the brain releases polypeptides which neuro protects the baby. It also releases the ‘feel good hormones’ i.e. oxytocin, creating a gentle, calm and safe environment for the baby to develop. The Calmbirth® Conscious breath technique allows parents to work with their breath, and work with the birth rather than forcing it, dreading it, or going against it.

Navigating being pregnant during a pandemic was a bizarre experience and an added stress. With so many medical appointments and tests it all starts to become overwhelming, especially when you have to attend them alone and with COVID protocols. The Calm Birth class with Lea, being able to attend it via zoom and in the comfort of my own home was a huge relief! Lea teaches from the Mid North Coast and we’re in Sydney. Lea is so knowledgeable, kind and calming! After every lesson my husband and I felt reassured, educated and less anxious! We felt like we could actually do this, bring our beautiful baby into the world. Even though I had a highly medicalised labour as I had to be induced, we used the Calm Birth techniques and skills that we had learnt and felt confident to express ourselves in the sometimes stressful hospital environment. We were so blessed to have had Lea as our teacher, I can’t recommend Lea and the Calm Birth experience enough! It was the warm reassuring hug that we needed just before our lives changed forever! Lauren, Steve and Baby Eloise

Parents who have experienced Calmbirth® antenatal program can feel their confidence and joy increasing through the birthing journey and they are encouraged and supported to be proactive in what they can do. At Calmbirth®, mothers learn to trust their bodies. They tap into their natural strength and feel empowered to nurture and deliver life. And when the baby arrives, that is when parents can sigh and let the experience simply take their breath away.

LISTEN TO WHAT LISA PRICE SAYS ABOUT LEA BAILIEY, ALL ABOUT CALMBIRTH

Now you can book a Calmbirth® appointment from anywhere via ZOOM! ALL ABOUT CALMBIRTH

All About Calmbirth® teaches a yogic style of breathing that slows down the body's processes and puts it into a gentle, steady, calm and open state. It takes the stress and anxiety off the mother and the baby.

All About Calmbirth® offers and face to face appointments for Calm Births Foot Reflexology, Accupressure available by appointment

Contact Lea Bailey: 0438978500 allaboutcalmbirth@bigpond.com optimalmidwifery.wordpress.com www.facebook.com/optimalwidwifery

LIFTING SPIRITS WITH BUTTERFLIES MENTAL HEALTH 2021 WITH ASHLEY WHITTINGTON WHAT IS ‘THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT’? ‘The Butterfly Effect’ began for me in early 2017. I was spending my day walking through a town in Mudgee. I came across a man and after engaging in the niceties of casual conversation he revealed to me that he was experiencing a challenging time in his life. We spoke for a while and then went our separate ways. I wished that there was more I could do for him. I walked to the park, picked a flower and folded an origami butterfly from a stack of sticky notes in my bag.

Then I went back to where I had met the man and I gave them to him, wishing him better days to come. Observing the positive shift in his demeanour felt like an important moment for me. For me, it is the subtle details that hold the most meaning. It was then that I decided to try to replicate that moment throughout the Mudgee community. That was how ‘The Butterfly Effect’ was born. - Ashley Whittington, Young Volunteer of the Year 2020 ‘The Butterfly Effect’ is a project aimed at promoting mindfulness for positive mental health and was created by Ashley, through her own experience of mental health. With every loving fold, a simple piece of paper is transformed into a beautiful butterfly, while at the same time, positive conversations about mental health, resilience building, strength and connection gently unfold.

WHY IS FOLDING BUTTERFLIES IMPORTANT? Every butterfly a person makes and gives away is a way to create an opportunity for connection. The value is in the heart and thought put into every fold

and tuck. The butterfly project brings individuals together to connect with each other. It also represents the local mental health organisations which these people may be able to access. The hope is to bring people out of the dark, if only for a moment. ‘The Butterfly Effect’ is built on the ripple effect simple acts can bring to our community. It takes very little to spark a smile in another. More than a project or an event, the goal is for kindness to spread its butterfly wings.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE BUTTERFLIES FOR THIS PROJECT? The origami butterfly was chosen for this project because of its simplicity. Though some folds can be a challenge and it can take a few tries to master, the butterfly is a quick and effective origami piece. That means many people can be involved. The butterfly also represents hope, change, and transformation which we all deserve to experience in our lives. For every butterfly folded and every kind word shared, there is a little more hope and transformation in our community.

‘THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT’ IN 2021 Last year, Ashley Whittington was named Young Volunteer of the Year for her Butterflies for Mental Health Campaign. And she has not stopped flitting through the community to bring hope and transformation. 2020 saw the world go through challenging times and it has brought to the forefront the importance of mental health. This year, Ashley is back with ‘The Butterfly Effect’, bringing together services from the Port Macquarie region to fold 10,000 origami butterflies for mental health. The butterflies will be collated by 8 local artists to form part of a rainbow artwork for Artwalk 2021. Over 1000 butterflies were folded in 2020 by mental health services and the public at a series of folding events at Port Central, Port Macquarie. The butterflies

were formed into artworks and displayed at a special gallery night at Charles Sturt University. The project is being supported by Lifeline Mid Coast, Endeavour Clubhouse, Mid North Coast Local Health District, Headspace, Werin, Neami, New Horizons, Liberty and CSU who meet each month to plan for ‘The Butterfly Effect’. The project occurs during September, which is Mental Health Month and is in its third year now and has been kindly supported by The Westport Club for this year. Over the last few years, Ashley has proven that being creative can be an effective conversation-starter for people wanting to share their own personal stories. “When people are enjoying doing something creative, they are more likely to talk and to listen,” Ashley said. “I wanted to provide an opportunity for people to come together and engage in a mindful activity in a social setting.”

“The activity gets people talking about mental health. We bring into the conversation that origami is a mindful activity, which means that while doing it, people focus on the moment. That is a really good way to start talking about the positive impacts of mindfulness on mental health.” This year, each service that is involved will be folding 1000 butterflies. Each service will be creating an “Instagram Wall” that can be visited by members of the public, bringing awareness to mental health services in the area. “The Endeavour Wellness Walk” will feature a map that will be made available to the public, so community members can ‘trail’ through the services, ticking off one photo at a time. A large artwork will be constructed by local artists and form part of Artwalk 2021 and provide a talking point about mental health. Members of the public will have the opportunity to do some origami and talk about

mental health during the month of September. This will take place at several locations around Port Macquarie, which are to be announced in the coming month.

Butterflies represent transformation, endurance, change, hope and life. Some people associate their recovery with butterflies - emerging from cocoons after a period of rest and finally changing into the glorious creature that everyone is and can be. Everyone in the community is a part of this ripple effect of kindness. We can generate it and we can also receive it. Passing it on is how we move forward together as a community, and nobody gets left behind. If you feel inspired to experience what is like to create a tiny butterfly in your hands, why not sit down for a little conversation with others who are also gently transforming a piece of paper into their own butterflies? You may be surprised what a little butterfly and a simple conversation with someone next to you could lead to.

ABOUT ASHLEY WHITTINGTON Ashley Whittington is an inspirational and creative Young Volunteer of The Year and a Charles Sturt Bachelor of Social Science student. She is also the founder of the Butterflies for Mental Health Month Project inspiring conversations and the creation of thousands of miniature origami butterflies to create awareness around Mental Health.

FIND OUT MORE BY FOLLOWING BUTTERFLIES FOR MENTAL HEALTH, PORT MACQUARIE www.facebook.com/Butterflies-For-MentalHealth-Port-Macquarie

FORSTER TUNCURRY PHYSIOTHERAPY & ALLIED HEALTH PHYSIOTHERAPY MANAGEMENT OF SPORTS INJURIES Physiotherapists are university trained health professionals who provide diagnosis and management for sports injuries in the acute, subacute and chronic phases. A timely and accurate diagnosis is essential to ensure that the injury is approached from a best practice perspective to achieve maximum results in both the short and long terms. Physiotherapists work closely with the patient’s General Practitioner when they feel that interventions such as medication, or diagnostic imaging like x-rays, ultrasound, MRIs or onward referrals to a specialist doctor are needed.

the severity of the injury and the long term prognosis.

After the assessment and The commonly injured structures initial treatment phase, the in sport include: physiotherapist will progress the treatment according to the • Ligaments: These are patient’s response. In consultation integral to joint function with the injured athlete, a and essentially connect treatment pathway is developed to bone to bone. Commonly maximise recovery and minimise injured ligaments include the chance of recurrence. Various treatments are utilised to treat sports injuries, depending upon the nature, severity and duration of the condition. In the acute phase ice, strapping, splinting, elevation and rest are commonly used to control swelling and pain. Once the injury starts to settle the physiotherapist will progress the patient along the treatment pathway and utilise a variety of options which may include soft tissue stretches, joint mobilisation, strengthening and conditioning and proprioceptive retraining. There are then various options that can be tailored to be sports specific such as strength and conditioning rehabilitation programmes and clinical Pilates to achieve optimum long term results.

the anterior cruciate in the knee and the lateral ligament in the ankle.

• Tendons: Connect muscle to bone with the Achilles (ankle) and Supraspinatus (shoulder) commonly affected. • Bony injuries: Fractures of varying severity can occur due to either a large force or over use as in the case of stress fractures. Bone bruising can also occur with high impact forces. • Muscles: Common injuries include tears eg hamstrings or contusions (corks) such as in the quadriceps.

All sports injuries benefit enormously from an accurate diagnosis which enables a Sports injuries vary enormously in terms of which structures involved, treatment pathway to be

implemented in a timely fashion to ensure the best possible outcome which minimises time off sport and the chance of recurrence.

FORSTER TUNCURRY PHYSIOTHERAPY AND ALLIED HEALTH AND MID COAST REHABILITATION www.ftphysio.com

RODNEY TYTER (DIRECTOR) rod@ftphysio.com 02 6554 5225

CAPE HAWKE SPECIALIST CENTRE 02 6554 5225 Suite 6, 10 - 12 South St, Forster NSW 2428

MID COAST REHABILITATION 02 6554 7670 99 MacIntosh Street, Forster NSW 2428

BRILLIANT TRAVEL

PHUKET’S FOOTSTEPS IN THE SAND TOWARDS A NEW POST-COVID WORLD BEN TIREBUCK Thailand has long been established as one the premier tourist destinations worldwide, with a rich and vibrant history and colourful culture that appeals to all. Visitors are welcomed with a wide array of activities to immerse themselves in, be it relaxing on the stunning beaches, snorkelling or diving in the crystal-clear ocean waters, trekking through picturesque mountains, indulging in the sumptuous cuisine or pampering in a 5-star spa resort. All served with the inimitable Thai hospitality that gave the country its moniker of “Land of Smiles”.

Phuket has very much been the jewel in Thailand’s crown for several decades, welcoming millions of tourists each year from all over the globe. In 2019, the tropical island paradise was voted 14th in Mastercard’s list of “Global Destination Cities Index” (Bangkok was ranked first). It has something for everyone and has become an increasingly popular destination for young and old alike. Beautiful beaches, outdoor activities galore, five-star

international resorts and charming boutique hideways, bustling markets and festivals, magnificent and curious wildlife, delicious food and extensive entertainment options, Phuket literally has it all. That was until the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic struck early last year.

DECIMATED As most countries closed their borders and denied inbound and outbound international travel, the tourist numbers into Phuket dried up completely. Thailand itself closed its borders and implemented a range of rules and restrictions aimed at combating both the importation and subsequent spread of the disease. The tourism industry which Thailand is so dependent on was left decimated, something experienced no more rudely than in Phuket where it annually accounts for 90% of the island’s revenue. In Phuket, local district lockdowns were implemented, schools were closed and all entertainment venues including bars, pubs, clubs, restaurants, massage parlours, cinemas, and sporting venues were shuttered for extended periods of time. The once bustling

nightlife hub of Patong very quickly became a ghost town as did all other popular spots which were previously habitually populated by international guests. With little support from the government, people suffered in a big way. Many who had lost their jobs and therefore their income stream decided to return to their home provinces, prompting a mass exodus from the island. It is estimated in May 2020 alone that over 40,000 people departed, approximately 8% of the island’s total population. Businesses were closing in every direction you turned. Life savings were ravaged if not completely depleted. People were struggling for food and bare essentials prompting a host of charity projects, largely initiated and driven by the expatriate community, that sought to raise funds to acquire basic goods and food that were then distributed among local villages. Most tragically, suicide rates increased dramatically with a unnerving number of people pushed beyond despair.

FLIP-FLOPPING The central government in Bangkok came under heavy criticism with many claiming they

bumbled their way from one haphazard policy to the next, dumbfounding many with what was perceived to be poorly thought-out and ill-advised decisions. Even more perplexing was the penchant to constantly reverse these decisions with the continual flip-flopping leaving baffled. The policy on vaccine acquisition and distribution was equally criticised as limited doses of the much-maligned Chinese-manufactured SinoVac were eventually secured, then the British-Swedish AstraZeneca vaccine, and both offered as a solution although the quantity was not there, not to mention the quality or the option of choice for people. At time of writing, approximately 10% of the national population of 66 million had been vaccinated. In Phuket it was decided 70% of the resident population needed to be vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity against at least the initial strain of the virus, which equated to 466,587 people. At time of press, this number had not been achieved.

SANDBOX

Amongst all the confusion, Phuket was pinpointed as a priority destination in the process of reopening the country to international tourists and the “Phuket Sandbox” scheme was born. Phuket would lead the way for the rest of the nation by allowing visitors from “lowor medium-risk” countries to enter the province without any need for quarantine. It would be a gradual process to test the waters that, if successful, would be emulated across the rest of the country as the government strived towards a national reopening date of October 1st. However, there would be a shopping list of conditions any visitor coming in would need to comply with. First and foremost this includes proof of being fully vaccinated and being able to produce receipt of a negative COVID test not more than 72 hours prior to arrival. A Certificate Of Entry (COE) would need to be acquired from a Thai embassy in the travellers home country and medical insurance cover of a minimum US$100,000 required. On arrival, tourists would be required to undergo health screening including a COVID RT-PCR test which they will pay for. Two further tests would be administered during the first 10 days. Tourists who are younger than 18-years-old and unable to be vaccinated must be RT-PCR tested before coming. Additionally, visitors must download and operate a tracking app that would follow movements at all times when on the island. All travellers would only be permitted to stay in a

hotel approved by the Safety & Health Administration (SHA) for the first seven nights, which needs to be paid for in advance. Tourists are not permitted to leave the island and venture into other parts of Thailand before 14 days has passed.

BALANCE Critics argue the conditions are over kill, advocates counter that it is an inevitable and necessary requirement when trying to establish a balance to allow borders to reopen whilst doing everything possible to safeguard public safety and wellbeing. Whichever perspective one adopted, it was widely agreed that something had to be done to halt Phuket, and in turn the country, sliding backwards at an alarming rate. The Phuket Sandbox launched on July 1 to much fanfare. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha flew down from Bangkok to personally inaugurate the occasion and the first international flight arriving from Abu Dhabi was welcomed with a water fountain and its 25 passengers greeted with warm applause from airport staff. Phuket residents “should be proud of their mission for the country,” said the Prime Minister as he waved goodbye to the island after his visit.

“The Phuket Sandbox is not only a matter for Phuket residents,” he added. “It’s about the people of the whole nation, so that the country can move forward in accordance with the mission of re-opening borders in 120 days.” Prayut stressed that whilst he felt confident there was also a need to exercise caution, stating the reopening “must be done

carefully and we must accept the risks together”. Flights from Paris, London, Frankfurt and Singapore all arrived across the opening weekend and the official figures state just over 2,000 tourists arrived in the first week of the project. Of course this is nowhere even remotely close to the prepandemic figures but it is, at least, a start.

CATCH-22 However, any celebrations were largely muted very quickly after it was confirmed one of the visiting delegation in the Prime Minister’s party tested positive for COVID-19, sending the nation’s top official into a self-imposed 14-day quarantine. Not a good look. The following day it was confirmed that a passenger arriving into Phuket on a flight from the UAE tested positive for COVID-19 and was taken into hospital to quarantine. It was the last thing the authorities needed and a sobering reminder of how frail the much lauded project may be. Authorities have stated that if more than 90 cases of infection are recorded in one week on the island then the Sandbox project will be abandoned and widespread restrictions will come into use. Even as numbers of inbound tourists continue to rise, it is highly unlikely this scenario will become a reality but news of the double setback left many people apprehensive. Phuket has very much taken on the role of guinea pig for the rest of the country, indeed for much of the region if not world, in taking the tentative steps to reopen its borders and try to edge towards a semblance of normality. The Phuket Sandbox is a test project with inherent risks but is something where the potential

rewards seem to outweigh the negatives – in fact it is not misplaced to state there is little or no choice but to burden the risk and soldier on head first. Critics argue it is prioritising economics and profit over health and well-being but the reality is there is no choice; a destination that relies so heavily on one commodity to operate and survive finds itself in a cruel Catch-22 scenario.

ROLL THE DICE It is for this very fact that Phuket should be recognised and applauded. The island’s residents, the everyday people that make the place what it is possess tremendous resolve, resilience and bravery. They have accepted the fact that there is little choice and are willing to roll the dice. They simply have to. The cold hard facts are that COVID is here to stay. Any country setting a target of zero cases is desperately clambering at a mythical ambition. The reality is we have to move forward, mitigating any serious threats the disease poses as best we can, but not allowing it to halt proceedings to the devastating extent it has in the last 18 months. Phuket is trying to do exactly that and, again, should be lauded for its efforts. Sure, there will be speed bumps along the way, but the very fact it is trying is admirable. Someone has to be brave, to go first and take that step into uncharted territory. Hopefully people will acknowledge this fact and not be deterred from visiting Phuket in future. One day soon, once the right balance has been achieved, the island will be welcoming back people from all over the world to savour all the wonderful offerings it has to offer.

LUXURY GLAMPING AT TOMS CREEK NATURE DOMES READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO BECOME WILDLY ATTRACTED TO THIS PLACE AND EXPERIENCE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS WHEN THEIR HOLIDAY ENDS. As parts of the world started opening up, people are looking for alternative ways to have a getaway that does not involve packed beaches or crowded city tours. For those who are living in Australia and not affected by COVID restrictions, there are precious holiday gems waiting to be mined. And Toms Creek is one of them. Toms Creek is a little haven tucked away waiting to be discovered, and those who have found it have a hard time tearing themselves away to return to their lives. You have been warned.

THE PERFECT GETAWAY Being environmentally friendly and adopting sustainable practices is not something you can only do when you are at home. Even when you are on holiday, you can choose a different way to contribute to the planet’s health and well-being. And Toms Creek offers that beautiful possibility. You can get away from the madding crowd, plus you are being gentle with the environment. The Perfect Getaway does exist. Toms Creek is tucked away in a private valley of 110 acres of lush rainforest, waterholes, streams and waterfalls. This little haven is surrounded by untouched native Australian eucalyptus bush in the foothills of the Yarra Mountains.

ENJOY... SUSTAINABLY Across the rolling greenery of Toms Creek, you can see unusual domeshaped structures. These are the latest in geo-design. They are Toms Creek’s unique self-catering accommodation. These Nature Domes are a way to experience sustainable living with all one’s creature comforts provided for.

Here, Luxury meets Nature, and you are cosily cocooned in these beautiful domes, surrounded by nature. When you are in a place as beautiful as Toms Creek, you want to discover as much as you can of outback Australia. Going off the grid is something to be experienced at least once in our lifetime. Here, there are no harsh city lights, no dusty air, no loud traffic noises that grate on your ears. Here, there is peace and quiet, the gentle breathing of the trees and plants, the light footsteps of little animals. After a refreshing night’s sleep in the dome, you can step out and meet your new neighbours - goats, lambs, chickens, alpacas, dogs, wallabies, echidnas, goannas, platypus, koalas, possums, bower birds, king parrots, kingfishers, honeyeaters, and majestic wedge-tail eagles. If some of these sound alien to you, you are in for a treat when you visit Toms Creek.

And, believe it or not, Toms Creek is just 45 minutes from Port Macquarie.

Here, you can cook by the fire, have a barbecue or have a dip in the lavish outdoor hot tubs. Or simply just lie outside in nature’s embrace and marvel at her velvety blanket of stars.

It is literally right on your doorstep. You can simply grab a bag, hop in your car and a couple of songs on the radio later, you are ready to recharge in nature. Holidaying cannot get any simpler or convenient than that.

We are living in an age of responsible travel and choosing a sustainable holiday is a way to still treat ourselves to a lovely getaway and not worry about the impact we have on the environment.

Photo credit: Toms Creek Nature Domes

The beautiful minds at Toms Creek have curated a unique holiday experience - a luxury country getaway that you can personalise according to what you need. Planning to propose? Perhaps someone wants a different sort of honeymoon. Or it could simply be a thirst for adventure. Others are tired of city life and feel the need to recharge in nature. Whatever the style, the common denominator is, you are doing it sustainably.

DELICIOUSLY HEALTHY It is not just your senses that are soaking up the healthy atmosphere at Toms Creek. Your entire body is being treated to a beautiful holiday inside out.

At Toms Creek, fresh and local ingredients are on hand so you can create a delicious variety of meals. And easy recipes are also provided for you to experiment with. There is also the option of madeto-order lunch and dinner options if cooking is not on your agenda. Plant-based food and meals are the speciality at Toms Creek.

Even the most anti-vegetable child would keel over when they try a gorgeous garden kebab at Toms Creek made with freshfrom-the-garden selection of eggplant, mushrooms, red onions, cherry tomatoes and zucchini delightfully seasoned with rosemary and mustard and served with quinoa and dressing. Your tastebuds can also delight in artisan muesli, locally produced quince paste or chutney, fresh seasonal soups… all natural, clean, fresh and power-packed with healthy goodness.

quarters, so it can be chilling cold in winter. There’s a heating blanket on the bed though.

AN ELECTRIFYING EXPERIENCE

Lee’s other major contribution is to give people something that they would not expect from a holiday - a minimal footprint that does not harm nature. A lot of thought has gone into making sure everything they do at Toms Creek is done with a minimal impact on the environment.

What is special about the Nature Domes at Toms Creek is how they are actually offgrid. There are no connections to a central town power, so everything relies on independent power sources. There have been power shortages in the region due to being on the grid. At Toms Creek, the Nature Domes do not face this potential problem which can be detrimental to the business. They have their own power and it supplies their WiFi, satellite etc. so it is like a little electric ecosystem they have going on there. They also tap into solar power to boost their supply. That means Nature Dome has limited heating within its living

Lee Forsyth is one of the owners there and, as an electrical engineer, he was the one who built all the designs for the Nature Domes at Toms Creek. He has more than twenty years experience with solar panels and wind turbines in Scotland. He is trained in renewable energy in Australia as well as having worked internationally with big power stations.

GROW… SUSTAINABLY There are plenty of exciting plans coming up at Toms Creek. It is not just about getting visitors to come here, stay in a dome, pet some cute goats and then go home. The whole idea of sustainability includes taking away with you something enduring - a bit of curiosity, a slice of knowledge, a

chunk of responsibility and empowerment and oodles of passion for taking care of our living, breathing planet. There are workshops and tours at Toms Creek. Spend a weekend here and you can pick up skills like clay building, beekeeping or learning to work with seeds. This is a space where people can come and gain some sustainability tools and knowledge - how they can apply companion planting in their gardens, how to minimise bug invasions, how to get started on plantbased cooking etc. The recent floods have caused the area to be shut off for six weeks, which has drastically affected the business. Being sustainable also means keeping the faith that even after a setback, all we need to do is take a deep breath, put one foot in front of the other and keep going. We are quite ready for a weekend getaway to Toms Creek and pamper our senses with nature’s rejuvenating touch. And if you do not hear from us for a while, you will know why! And you will know where to find us!

HOW TO GET THERE To gain access to Nature Domes, Toms Creek, you will drive along private and unsealed roads, which are well maintained and generally in good condition but, when a storm hits you may encounter small water crossings. The best way is from the Oxley Highway. Once you reach the property you will need an AWD or 4x4 vehicle to gain access to your dome. Nature Dome offers a pick-up and drop-off at the entrance gate or for a small fee from Wauchope and Port Macquarie or you can hire a helicopter to fly you there! BOOK A ROOM

CONTACT TOMS CREEK NATURE DOMES +61 401 730 268 www.naturedomes.net naturedomestomscreek@gmail.com www.facebook.com/naturedomes www.instagram.com/naturedomes

THERE IS SOMETHING MAGICAL ABOUT THE BLUE MOUNTAINS LISA WILLOWS When planning a week away, the Blue Mountains is a perfect choice as it offers a world heritage wilderness that is a short drive west of Sydney. My family had not been away for two years and were excited to have some fun, adventure, and new cultural experiences. We collectively decided on the picturesque village of Leura and rented a little Airbnb there as a base, spending a week discovering and exploring the area.

There is something magical about the Blue Mountains which were formed over 50 million years ago. You can feel the energy of the area and looking at those impressive rock formations and the vast, epic wilderness that covers thousands of kilometres, is completely mesmerising. The four of us arrived to a prelit, cosy fire, at our Airbnb in Leura which was a split level, open plan, Strawbale Cottage with beautiful views of natural bushland out of every window. The accommodation was so special that we would have been happy staying in for a week! The self-contained cottage had been constructed by hand and featured stained glass French doors, reading loft nooks, claw foot bath, books, games, DVDs and more. Leura is a picturesque and charming village with a mall that was only a five-minute drive away from our accommodation, so we spent the first two days discovering and shopping in Leura and found some fantastic retail outlets. One in particular called Teddy Sinclair really captured our hearts and imaginations. Owned by an artist, the store was a piece of art in itself. We love browsing in retro and antique shops, and Katoomba really delivered with several

Photo credit: Airbnb

emporiums full of vendors, sprucing their goods. 15 minutes further North, we visited the town of Blackheath. The town had an extremely relaxed atmosphere. The eclectic shopping scene is all about local and retro. While there, we visited the Victory Theatre which has been transformed into a spectacular antique centre, the Hat Hill Gallery, a local record shop and more boutique shops. We ventured out to the Gordon’s Falls, The Three Sisters and stood on the edge of the lookout situated at the grand white edifice of the Hydro Majestic

Hotel at Medlow Bath, taking in some mind-blowing views. If you are the outdoors type, it is easy to immerse yourself in nature by climbing down to the valley floor and up along rugged escarpments, to discover waterfalls and breathtaking views. Another day we took a drive down to the Norman Lindsay Gallery which is in Faulconbridge. We wandered through the gardens and were lucky enough to catch an exhibition “Between Friends” that featured Norman and his muse Margaret Coen.

We loved the warm fires, the comfort food offered at local cafes, the friendly locals, and the cold was not as bad as we had anticipated with most places being well heated. This is a highly recommended family holiday. We will have memories that will last a lifetime. With blue horizons, stretching as far as the eye could see, we learned that the Blue Mountains get their name from the oil in the eucalyptus trees, which when dispersed in the air, gives off a blue hue. We will see you again!

FROM A TOURISM OPERATOR TO OPERATORS! ATTENTION TOUR OPERATORS. HERE’S SOMETHING TO LEARN ABOUT MARKETING YOUR TOURS BY MARK ENNOR. Mark Ennor of BookitDoit was the initiative founder of 52+ Things to Do in Port Macquarie so he knows what good and bad advertising means.

The most successful operators move with the times. The definition of a successful Tourism operator is the one who is busy most of the time, not just in peak periods.

REGIONAL AUSTRALIA NEVER BOOKED SO GOOD!

FIND IT. BOOK IT. DO IT! 0414 595 180 www.bookitdoit.com.au info@bookitdoit.com.au

READ HOW TOUR OPERATORS CAN LEARN FROM HIS TOURISM MARKETING EXPERIENCE

Facebook.com/bookitdoitau Instagram.com/bookitdoit

Photo credit: Wauchope Tavel

BRILLIANT ENTERTAINMENT

THE LYRICAL PERFORMING AT VIBEZ IN THE VINES, CASSEGRAIN WINERY ON SATURDAY, 2ND OCTOBER 2021 Karl Smith has been performing since 2000, starting out as a busker in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. Back in his hip-hop crew days, a fellow rapper, Day Know, jokingly described Karl as “The Lyrical Shaman” and he has been trying to live up to that name ever since. The Lyrical cut his teeth on the streets busking three nights a week and quickly became a wellknown music champion to the thousands who stopped to dance and play along over the years.

“I love busking,” says Karl, “It’s the best way to talk to everyday people with your 70

music, and when you busk, you hear the real truth about it. If people don’t like it, they tell you! If they think you’re inspiring, they tell you that too. It’s great!” This authentic feedback has translated into a wonderful stage presence, a one of a kind gig and the audience’s appreciation is clear! Growing up in the Solomon Islands, a lot of his music is influenced by his early years. Not just traditional music of the islands, but arguably dated pop

music and Disney songs he was exposed to as a kid. While living in Honiara he began playing and creating music with his neighbour Tommy (a.k.a. Solomon from Flow Etiquette). They developed their passion for music together, sitting near the radio whilst copying the music with their mouths because they had no instruments. “If we weren’t doing that, we were drumming on cardboard boxes with chopsticks or blowing through a plastic pipe,” Karl says of his childhood with a reminiscent laugh.

“I didn’t actually even learn guitar till my older brother gave me one around 10 years ago and to this day I cannot read a note of music.” Twenty years later The Lyrical has transitioned to main stages, delighting people with his unique tunes and upbeat energy and has topped the Triple J Unearthed charts seven times.

“With an infectious blend of roots, reggae and hip hop in tow, The Lyrical commands a strong stage presence as he spits his politically charged and socially conscious expressions” - themusic. com.au “The Lyrical” has become a rising star of the live music scene. Following in the footsteps of Ben Harper,

Bob Marley, Michael Franti and Xavier Rudd, “The Lyrical” reflects the ingenuity and musical aptitude it takes to be a great artist. The “Unique blend of beat-boxing meshed with folk guitar and socially conscious lyrics is fast becoming the hottest ticket in town,” (City News). The Lyrical has toured Australia and internationally and released a hugely popular self-titled album, “The Lyrical,” to critical acclaim. He has shared the stage and played with the likes of Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals, Angus Stone, Jack Johnson, Michael Franti and Blue King Brown and has graced many festival stages including; BIG DAY OUT, Bluesfest, Caloundra Music Festival, Red Deer Festival, Sprung festival,

Party in The Paddock, Island Vibes Festival, Grotto Fest, Festival Of The Sun plus many, many more. See The Lyrical and his band perform in Port Macquarie on Saturday October 2nd at Vibez in the Vines, at Cassegrain Winery with GANGgajang, Karl S. Williams, Salt and Steel, James Bennett, Slippery Gypsees, The War Room, Ruby Blunt and the Dhoongang Dancers.

GET YOUR TICKETS

FOLLOW THE LYRICAL thelyrical.com www.youtube.com/user/TheLyrical02 www.facebook.com/thelyricalofficial www.instagram.com/thelyrical/

THE LYRICAL FT. KARL S WILLIAMS - DOMINOES

BENJE TRAVIS ON DARK ALLEY SESSIONS MUSICAL POETRY Contemporary indie folk singersongwriter and guitarist Benje Travis entrances audiences with his incredible voice and compelling tapestries of acoustic compositions. You could say a pure folk troubadour whose intimate performances fill rooms with sounds of musical poetry.

Benje’s song writing is raw and emotional, captivating, often dark and sometimes funny, accompanied by breezy sounds which serve to lighten melancholic moods and poignant lyrics. His one-man show is beguiling and brilliant to hear and watch, as Benje uses his musicianship as a vehicle to talk to people about his acoustic “Love Earth Gang” movement. Born in Surry Hills, Benje started playing the guitar at a very young age and started writing his own songs at eleven. Raised by a music-loving mother who exposed him to singer-songwriter artists from the sixties and seventies at an early age, he was subsequently strongly influenced by Bob Marley and the reggae movement Playing guitar and stompbox, Benje Travis captures audience emotions and breaks away from the structural norms of live performance. “Sometimes one song will turn into two or two songs into one. I like to feel my way through rather than have a ridged plan. So sometimes I’ll play the guitar and then swap to keyboards, depends where the mood is.” With an impressive number of shows now under his belt, the year’s highlights have been the Wildwood Music Festival and Port Macquarie’s Tastings on the Hastings, seeing him play to over 2000 people and alongside artists such as Montaigne and Blue King Brown.

He has the wariness of a social and spiritual outsider who broods his way to graceful defiance. His songs will attach themselves to your heartstrings.

You may have caught him around town playing his unique style of thumping acoustic with insightful lyrics… or thrashing in his slightly louder punk band, Merkin... where the lyrics are still insightful, but a little more about cutting off your own head!

Thanks for giving this little town a good dose of culture!

we are treated to two original tracks and a great cover of Tracey Chapman’s “Crossroads”, which fits Benje’s vocals like a warm, snug pair of slippers on a crisp winter morning. Both originals showcase his slick moves on guitar, dancing around that thumping, unique bassy rhythm, and his obvious talent for storytelling through lyrics.

Enjoy the session!

DARK ALLEY COLLECTABLES IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PORT MACQUARIE ORGANISM. In Benje’s Dark Alley Session,

Benje Travis owns Dark Alley Collectables, the funky records and collectables store that plays host to the Live Music Series “The Dark Alley Sessions”. Every town needs a store where the grownups can find their old favourite vinyls, and the young’s can explore the wild subcultures they can get weird and dive into. Benje and his partner, Lisa have built this temple of nostalgia for all to enjoy. Benje has played music for most of his life, starting when he was just a little Flynns Beach grommet.

This session concludes a SIX episode run, proudly sponsored by Port Macquarie Hastings Council. Thank you for the support @ pmhcouncil!

Brad & Josh Dark Alley Sessions Audio - Josh Thompson Video - Brad Collins

Benje’s song writing gives you the feeling of sitting down on your nana’s lounge, flicking through an old, dusty family album, reminiscing on childhood memories you’d thought had slipped away. It feels warm and nostalgic, yet melancholic at the same time.

BENJE TRAVIS, DARK ALLEY SESSIONS

DARK ALLEY darkalleysessions.com darkalleysessions@gmail.com www.facebook.com/darkalleysessions www.instagram.com/darkalleysessions

DARK ALLEY COLLECTABLES www.facebook.com/darkalleycollectables www.instagram.com/darkalleycollectables

BENJE TRAVIS www.facebook.com/benjetravis

BRILLIANT COMMUNITY

GROW SUSTAINABLE LIVING MAKES SUSTAINABILITY ACCESSIBLE SUSTAINABILITY IS THE BUZZWORD NOWADAYS But what does it really mean to be sustainable and more importantly, what practical habits can we adopt to make this a part of our lifestyles? It can sometimes be confusing for consumers who are looking for a healthier and more environmentally-friendly way of living. Ecological products or food can be expensive or difficult to come by in certain areas. The marketing for health products can also be misleading if people are not well-educated about what it means to be truly healthy and sustainable. We want to bring a bit of greenery into our lives but how do we do it in a way that is efficient and not energy-draining? We spent a beautiful day with Leanne Butler and Cardia Forsyth of Grow Sustainable Living at Toms Creek who are on a quest for a new way of living that is in harmony with the environment around them. They go beyond merely romanticising the idea of keeping things natural. They look honestly at the difficulties and challenges of making the change - how they can make this change doable and accessible to their community.

“Getting the community and local businesses, producers and artisans involved is key to our idea of sustainability. Provenance is important and it involves getting like-minded people to collaborate. Getting the right people takes patience and time. It is also about the ethos of each business - are they totally sustainable, is everything completely natural, is everything reusable or can be recycled and have they been created with a minimum of production (to 76

save energy)? These are questions we have to consider when we think about the partners we would like to have with us on this sustainability journey,” says Leanne Butler who specialises in making beautiful Green Plant Based Foods. “Cost is the other challenge. It would not make much sense putting natural or ecological products out on the market if they are so expensive and exclusive that most people cannot afford them. It is really about making sustainability accessible, not just geographically in terms of where it takes place in the community, but also economically accessible, for us to offer it, and for others to receive it.”

Leanne and Cardia are also big on education and they are incredibly generous souls who want to share their knowledge with others in the community.

“Sustainability is also about passing on the message and sharing the good stuff we have got here. “We have some beautiful hiking trails that can serve as a wonderful respite for people. We are now launching WILD Recharge Retreats for people who need a break but want to do more than sleep and meditate to make some changes in their lives. “We are really excited about people learning from our team of experts about sustainable practices such as beekeeping, permaculture, and creating plantbased food at our workshops. This is where people can come and learn about a new way of living and eating. “We are creating an outdoor kitchen so we can conduct demonstrations and teach people how to prepare healthy food such as everyday dishes and botanical cocktails made from natural plants around them, and also for those with a sweet tooth, we can also do some baking and desserts. People can come for a morning or afternoon to see for themselves how to make different foods, enjoy a tasting, and take home some products. “Eating healthy is not about punishing ourselves and it is not about denial and punishment. One of our chocolate cakes is made from pureed chickpeas and coconut flour and topped with fresh lavender. The chocolate ganache is made with cocoa, maple syrup, coconut cream - nothing but good ingredients. A power-packed healthy chocolate cake. And delicious to boot.” Grow Sustainable Living is empowering people with the knowledge and tools to make that change. Their micro-courses teach people how to incorporate sustainability into their lifestyles regardless of where they live, and it is a way to expand one’s perspective on clean and green living. When the stress of modern life gets too much, there is always something at Toms Creek to escape away to, whether it is a picnic, a goat tour or a farm tour. Living sustainably is easier than we think, and it is a philosophy for life!

READ THE FULL STORY

GET IN TOUCH +61 401730268 growsustainableliving.com www.facebook.com/growsustainableliving www.instagram.com/grow_toms_creek/

THE WAUCHOPE CREATIVE CLUB IS AN ARTISTIC COLLECTIVE STUART (STU) DOHERTY, WCH Stuart (Stu) Doherty moved from Sydney to Wauchope during the COVID Pandemic to bring art back home to Wauchope. The Wauchope Creative Hub (WCH) made its debut on 10th July 2021 at 87 Cameron Street, Wauchope, giving artists an opportunity to display their work in a professional retail space. “It will give the artists a regular, secure space to display their art,” says Stu. He wants to bring back the respect for art, where artists can charge what their talent and effort deserve. In today’s mass-produced-and-imported style of consuming, people are used to paying little and not thinking twice about what goes into creating something. It is a challenge to place art right in the happy medium where it is not cheapened and neither is it made ultra exclusive. Stu wants to give artists a place where they can be proud to display what they have created, and where their families and friends can also be involved in by coming to their exhibitions. Artists are not shy hermits who create and hide away. They want to share what they have created with others and there is nothing more powerful than to have one’s family walk in, point to an art work and proudly declare, ‘My mom made this! Is she cool or what?’ or ‘That is my husband’s work. I am so proud of him’. It is a way to build community, and to bring artists together, to give them their own artistic community. It gives people support, encouragement and inspiration. Art often attracts people and WCH is going to provide another reason to visit the area, while serving as beautiful addition to the unique boutique shops that Wauchope is famous for. Stu came from a fashion and workwear designing background. WCH is where he will display and sell his water colour paintings and run regular water colour painting workshops.

CONTROLLING WATER Water colour is Stu’s favourite medium. It is slow and gentle and suits his laid back personality. Stu may be an artist, but he is far from being wild and flamboyant. Stu is quite the opposite - calm, methodical and process driven. For those who understand and appreciate the medium and behaviour of water colour, it is a beautifully slow process of building up of layers. It is not something you can splash on at one go and leave it to dry overnight and call it a day. Stu enjoys every single layer he applies, he waits to see how the colours behave and where they spread, how they unfurl or retract. It is very much a live, living process where you grow with the painting and the end result is like seeing the painting with new eyes. It is not necessary to have formal training to get started on a water colour palette and a canvas. It is as much for people who want to explore their creativity or for those who favour a more therapeutic approach to relaxing with their paints. Water colour uses different techniques and simply watching the water and colours move around on the paper with a mind of their own is rather mesmerising and even hypnotic.

READ ABOUT STU DOHERTY

CONTACT WAUCHOPE CREATIVE HUB 87 Cameron Street, Wauchope, NSW 2446 www.facebook.com/Wauchopecreativehub/ www.instagram.com/wauchopecreativehub/

LET’S GO ARTING WAUCHOPE CREATIVE HUB

WCH opened on Saturday 10th July with several hundreds streaming through enticed by the brilliant handcrafted fashion, arts and food items.

GIFT CARDS FOR LOCAL PEOPLE WITHOUT A HOME HOMELESSNESS WEEK IS ONLY A MONTH AWAY! Last year we collected toiletries. This year we will be collecting gift cards. These cards will be distributed to rough sleepers, people living without a home, and vulnerable people in our community.

If you would like to purchase a gift card for someone less fortunate than you, we will ensure it gets to someone who needs it. If you would like to leave a positive note with your card, that would be even better.

The gift cards will be distributed during Homelessness Awareness Week August 1st to 7th on a travelling roadshow that will visit Wauchope, Port Macquarie, Lake Cathie and Laurieton.

Examples: $10 iTunes Card, $10 Coles Card, etc. (Please refrain from making any judgement on how it will be spent, people become homeless for a wide variety of reasons).

Cards can be dropped to the following services. We thank them so much for their participation. • Port Macquarie Lifeline Shop Gordon Street • Port Macquarie Central Road Lifeline Shop • Wauchope Lifeline Shop • Port Macquarie Neighbourhood Centre • New Horizons, Gordon Street Port Macquarie

JONAH COOKS MAKE PANDAN KAYA (PANDAN COCONUT JAM) SCHOOL HOLIDAYS RECIPE Introducing 5-year-old Jonah who aspires to be a chef. He loves to cook and bake. Jonah suffers from a birth defect, skeletal dysplasia but that does not stop him from inspiring others to never give up. You see Jamian, Jonah’s little brother in the video too. Jamian shares the same love for cooking and baking and you will see more of him in Jonah Cooks videos. Support Jonah by subscribing to Jonahs Cooks on YouTube SUSCRIBE TO JONAHS COOKS

JONAH’S PANDAN KAYA (Express Version for Kids) with only 5 Ingredients!

Get your 100% Pandan Leaf Powder from My Blue Tea SHOP PANDAN LEAF POWDER

Ingredients 1 tps - Pandan Powder 200g - Coconut Milk 1 - Egg 1 tbsp - Sugar 1 tbsp - Corn Flour Thank you My Blue Tea for sponsoring the Pandan Leaf Powder!

CHECK OUT MY BLUE TEA: www.mybluetea.com.au/ info@mybluetea.com.au https://www.facebook.com/myblueteaAU https://www.instagram.com/my.blue.tea/ +61 478 413 573

JONAH’S PANDAN KAYA (EXPRESS VERSION FOR KIDS)

BRILLIANT WALKS SIDE BY SIDE WITH BUSINESSES THROUGH A PANDEMIC STORM BUSINESSES PUSHING FOR A BETTER WORLD WITH BRILLIANT-ONLINE Brilliant-Online is six months into its creation and it is growing in its drive to Push for a Better World in our Digital Era.

We were born during a pandemic, and we continue to hold the fort and grow through the viral storm. And we are not doing this alone - a better world cannot emerge without the tenacity and drive of the businesses we support. It has been very trying and turbulent times across the world. It is even more important that we share people’s stories through these times. Every single business we have met and spoken to has a powerful story to share. At Brilliant-Online, apart from our technical wizardry, the core essence of what we do is to empower the human in all of us.

WHY TELL STORIES? People love stories. And we respond to stories and remember them. Stories have the power to trigger an emotional reaction in us. It is also what makes something delicately human and identifiable. People resonate with stories. Especially during our unpredictable and challenging times, be it a pandemic, natural catastrophes, civil unrest, all the more humans need a source of stability and a way of making

sense of the world. Each person’s narrative is their way of grounding themselves to what is happening around them, and a way to help them take the next best step. At Brilliant-Online, we are walking beside the small businesses in our communities. We continue to reach out and we want to listen to and share their stories. “Stories... protect us from chaos... Implicit in the extraordinary revival of storytelling is the possibility that we need stories — that they are a fundamental unit of knowledge, the foundation of memory, essential to the way we make sense of our lives: the beginning, middle and end of our personal and collective trajectories.” - Bill Buford, nonfiction writer and former fiction editor at The New Yorker What is even more uplifting is the fact the community wants to hear our clients’ stories. That is why Brilliant-Online goes one step further in making storytelling ads that are interactive - this creates an even more powerful attraction and engagement than static ads. It is like giving businesses the flesh and blood it needs to be a real presence and not just a font on a page.

Brilliant-Online is an omnichannel interactive advertorial platform. This is where our professional journalists, visual communications and modern marketing experts narrate and present accurate and valuable client stories. This is how our clients can Sell without Selling and effectively Promote Positive Brand Perceptions. DIGITAL MAGIC

What does Brilliant-Online have that makes it stand out? Brilliant-Online’s entire platform is highly innovative, leveraging heavily on a combination of technologies to personalise experiences. What Brilliant is doing here is having the creativity, audacity and passion in setting new pathways. Our interactive advertorial platform is what Harry Potter’s Daily Prophet Newspaper would look like, and that makes our

work so exciting because it is like making magic real. Harry Potter had a traumatic childhood and the magic in his life gave him the power to grow beyond his difficulties. As an interactive online monthly magazine, readers can access videos, podcasts, QR codes, links, and forms directly in the magazine itself. This means readers can engage immediately within each article. This real-time connection is what encourages readers to want to (easily) connect with the featured person or product. There is no need for them to move away from the magazine to hunt down the service or product and risk being lost or feeling frustrated with a search. We have banner ads on our website that link to clients’ stories. Brilliant-Online is the only one that accepts video banner ads. What people get in the market is the standard static images or GIFs. And at Brilliant, we love to take that stride forward and do something different and go beyond. Our featured blog stories on our website come power-packed with SEO, giving clients a visible boost with more than 300,000 monthly impressions and steadily increasing. Brilliant-Online includes eMail snippets that reach out to more than 10,000 subscribers and 22,000 readers. All over the planet. This is a whole new level of engagement that is made possible with technology in our times.

they are targeting and engaging with them more effectively. Clients finally have peace of mind, knowing that every penny they put in is converted into something that really works and is measurable. No more groping in the dark and second-guessing. We understand the concerns and worries of businesses, and this is how we step up in accountability and own every action.

”I am absolutely thrilled When a story goes up on Brilliant- with my experience so Online, it does not just stay far with Brilliant-Online. there. The stories are shared Chrissy is just wonderful, everywhere on social platforms. Social platforms have become the not pushy at all and she virtual version of a tribal gathering knows her stuff! Veronica’s foresight with Brilliantaround a fire where elders passed Online is exactly that... on stories to future generations. brilliant! I know that my And what brings the most marketing for my small reassurance and confidence business Utopian Living is to clients is knowing the in safe competent hands... performance of their ad spend. which means I can get Clients can request for reports on with what I do best... with demographics, reach and creating! Thank you!” engagements, giving them real Michele Cook leads and insights as to who 84

GROWING BRILLIANTLY TOGETHER As they say, no man is an island, and Brilliant-Online keeps growing thanks also to amazing partnerships. Recently, we partnered with Samso, who took on BrilliantOnline as their distribution channel to deliver ASX announcements through interviews that pique investor interest. Knowing that investors come from all walks of life with varied topical interests, these ASX companies are keen to reach out to new audiences. We love stories, and hearing the journeys of different businesses across communities is part of how Brilliant-Online grows together with so many others. We feature businesses that contribute to the following regular topics that make a positive difference to those who come in contact with us and them. It is not just simply putting up any old story or

business. We want to partner with businesses that reach into the hearts and souls of communities, who are all trying their best to make a positive change for their communities and the world.

• Brilliant Businesses • Brilliant Health • Brilliant Communities inspiring hope, love and healing because we treat everyone and everything with respect • Brilliant Entertainment with focus to promote upcoming artistes • Brilliant Travel • Brilliant Investments • Brilliant Properties • Brilliant Personalities We delight in filling a gap in the global marketplace for a new type of publication. And each month of Brilliant’s growth brings us even more delights. We are driven simply by the joy of what we do.

FLESHING OUT THE HUMAN IN THE DIGITAL AGE

2. We are Community Friendly

1. Being Eco-Friendly

We practice social sustainability.

Our Brilliant Magazine is online. We do not print our magazines for distribution. We are paperless and friendly to the earth. Saving paper saves trees. So every Brilliant Magazine you read helps keep Mother Earth safe and growing. In any given year, we estimate our tree-hugging publishing community saves over 3.8M trees! That means lots of fresh oxygen getting pumped into the air for everyone to enjoy. We love telling stories about businesses with sustainable practices, like Optex who manufactures eyewear with bio acetates right here in Port Macquarie; TG’s Child Care who infuse eco-intelligence into early learning; Utopian Living who makes jewellery from natural materials in Wauchope or ethically-sourced real food on the Great Lakes Food Trail.

That means being inclusive and being able to give our community a voice. Brilliant promotes and inspires positivity. This also means no fake news, which can be spread easily in the infinite vastness of cyberspace. We are guided by a Moral Compass and our core values that are central to how we live as an individual and how we conduct business. Brilliant shares stories about mental health, something that is very much needed considering the world is going through a pandemic and in Australia we have had natural disasters one after another. We share stories about how people are making a difference, such as Dr. Namira Williams who supports Mothers with Disabilities; Israel Smith, Well-Being and Emotional Resilience Coach, and organisations such as Lifeline Mid Coast or Healing Paws and Love

BRILLIANT VALUES We are so proud of our Brilliant Values. They are what we believe in and guide how we behave as an organisation. These values inspire us to be Community Sustainable. Our values are: • AUDACITY: being passionate and bold in setting modern pathways • IMPACT: making a positive difference to those who come in contact with us • ACCOUNTABILITY: owning every action • KINDNESS: treating everyone and everything with respect

Kuching Project. In our own way, we can each do something to make a change in our own lives and in those of others. We love growing together as a community, and that means bringing communities together by promoting activities like Hastings District Flying Club’s recent opening of their new hangar including a special interview with the RAAF Roulette Pilots; opening of the new viewing platform overlooking Mrs York’s Garden and RIU Round-Up Sydney Conference for investors. There is something for everyone.

3. Build business sustainability We help grow the local economy wherever we are. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people lost their jobs and bravely took the opportunity to create their own jobs. Since April, we contributed $7,000 worth of advertising each month to businesses affected by the floods. Getting businesses to

recover became our priority. We are all interdependent on each other. Nobody is immune from surviving challenging times, and we understand the struggles of businesses that were simply trying their best to stay afloat. We want to do our part to lift businesses up. Sharing their stories and giving these businesses a voice helps to create a sense of community, a sense that everyone matters, and it is a way to encourage everyone to keep going. Brilliant-Online does Business Walkabouts. We want to hear about their concerns, challenges and business readiness. This is an opportunity for us to get to know the businesses in our communities and to give them a voice. We have all gone through waves of lockdowns and opening up again and we want businesses to know they have our consistent support. If you have an interesting story to tell, we are interested, and we can do a walkabout for your business

and share your story. We can also learn about you with a phone interview. Just contact us. By doing our business walkabouts, we have brought new artistes in entertainment, art and culture into the limelight such as sessions at the Dark Alley Collectables, Macquarie Dance Academy, and Yamba Art Space Gallery. We understand how hard it is to get started, and how overwhelming and scary that experience can be. If there is something we can do to give people a brilliant start to their business or career, we are there for them. Anyone who has been new at something remembers what a morale boost it is when someone is there to give them a leg up and cheer them on. We reach out to so many more people with our adept use of technology. We create unique and deeper interactions that are also reaching extensively to clients and communities. Through Brilliant-Online’s platform, people get to hear about the amazing things businesses are doing in our communities. It connects

people to businesses, and it helps businesses to be seen and heard, and to thrive.

PROUD TO BE BRILLIANT What goes round comes round, and even as we do our best to support our communities and businesses, we are also getting support from businesses large and small wherever we are. With our diverse content that caters to business professionals of different backgrounds, we are gaining the support of our clients. Many businesses have signed up for our 6 to 12 month advertorial series. This was especially clear as Brilliant-Online was born right in the midst of the pandemic, in January 2021. Three months later, the floods came. There was barely time or room to breathe and recalibrate from the effects of the pandemic. When we finally managed to have our Brilliant Shower in May 2021 to celebrate Brilliant-Online, our clients turned up to support what we do, and it

was a touching moment to meet everyone in the flesh and come together to celebrate everyone’s efforts. We are proud to be resilient and compassionate. We were fortunate that our online platform allows our staff to work from anywhere with minimal interruptions and get work done. That helped us to survive the onslaughts of the pandemic and natural disasters. During turbulent times, navigating one’s way can be a challenge. Guided by our values, Brilliant is able to grasp opportunities in the midst of crisis delivering a unique product offering - an omnichannel interactive advertorial platform filling a gap in the global market for such a publication by leveraging technology to humanise connections. Brilliant-Online has the audacity to set modern pathways. We want to make an impactful positive

difference to our clients and be accountable. Above all, we are kind. Our Brilliant Baby is 6 months old and we know we will be celebrating many more birthdays in time to come. Brilliant-Online is an empowering read for progressive individuals and dynamic businesses pushing for a better world in the digital era through any storm. Will you join us on our brilliant magical journey? REQUEST AD PACKAGE

FOR ALL ENQUIRIES ABOUT ADVERTISING WITH US, CONTACT CHRISSY JONES: chrissyjones@brilliant-online.com +61 412 137 621

SEND YOUR PRESS RELEASE TO: editor@brilliant-online.com

BRING YOUR ADS TO LIFE WITH BRILLIANT-ONLINE

Brilliant-Online | Brilliant Sports | July 2021 Issue

Articles inside

BENJE TRAVIS ON DARK ALLEY SESSIONS

THE LYRICAL

BRILLIANT WALKS SIDE BY SIDE WITH BUSINESSES THROUGH A PANDEMIC STORM

GIFT CARDS FOR LOCAL PEOPLE WITHOUT A HOME

THE WAUCHOPE CREATIVE CLUB IS AN ARTISTIC COLLECTIVE

GROW SUSTAINABLE LIVING MAKES SUSTAINABILITY ACCESSIBLE

THERE IS SOMETHING MAGICAL ABOUT THE BLUE MOUNTAINS

LUXURY GLAMPING AT TOMS CREEK NATURE DOMES

PHUKET’S FOOTSTEPS IN THE SAND TOWARDS A NEW POST-COVID WORLD

FORSTER TUNCURRY PHYSIOTHERAPY & ALLIED HEALTH

LIFTING SPIRITS WITH BUTTERFLIES

LEA BAILEY TALKS ABOUT BREATHING AT CALMBIRTH®

THE ELUSIVENESS OF COMMODITY PRICING - WHERE ARE THEY HEADED?

CHALICE MINING CONFIRMS JULIMARSTYLE MINERALISATION FOR JV THOR PROJECT

ADVICE ON DECIDUOUS BY GREENBOURNE NURSERY

FOR BUSINESS NETWORKS IN PORT MACQUARIE-HASTINGS, COMMUNITY COMES FIRST

MICRO BUSINESS FORUM

GOURMAND INGREDIENTS IS THE COMMUNITY’S SPICE OF LIFE

SUSHIKO MANAGING TO STAY AFLOAT IN TOUGH TIMES

UTOPIAN LIVING ACRYLIC ARTS

EXCEEDING INTO THE FUTURE WITH TG’S CHILD CARE

HASTINGS VALLEY MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDERS

HEAR THE WAUCHOPE THUNDER ROAR!

Kyokushin Karate

PREPARE FOR THE 2021 3RIVERS CHALLENGE

JOHN CLARKE, TAX AND FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING ADVISORY

RUGBYTOTS - A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME

DROPKNEE SESSIONS COLLABORATING WITH SILVER QUINN PRODUCTIONS

THE BALL IS BACK IN THE COURT FOR RAFAEL NADAL AND ANDY CHEUNG