Brilliant-Online Magazine | The Movember Issue | November 2021

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Featuring Ben Tirebuck, our Editor and his fabulous mo!

MOVEMBERIssue

INSIDE: Brilliant-Online is celebrating stories focused on natural health and the community and how local businesses are supporting these topics.

This Christmas, give a Discovery Flight Voucher $150 A Discovery Flight is a fantastic way to experience what flying is all about. With one of our professional flight instructors at your side, you will actually get to fly our Sling aircraft across the coast and town of Port Macquarie!

During your 30 minute hands-on flight, you will learn the basics of taxiing, take-off and maintaining straight and level flight. Best of all, you can log the flight time in your pilot's logbook if you decide to continue flying training.

BUY DISCOVERY FLIGHT VOUCHER

Get in touch with us: t/ 02 6583 1695 e/ enquiries@hdfc.com.au w/ www.hdfc.com.au a/ Oliver Dr, Port Macquarie NSW 2444

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ED ITO R ' S N OTE

NOTE FROM OUR EDITOR ✦ Grow a Mo, save a bro!

Of course, November is the month when millions of men worldwide decline from shaving their upper lip in support and celebration of Movember. We stand proud in support of this cause which continues to shine a crucial light on the topic of men’s health and are delighted to support local resident Brendan Sheppard in his month-long venture!

Finally, we receive advice on how to best prepare ahead of the bushfire season with some invaluable tips from experts to safeguard our families and properties.

There’s much more, of course, and we hope you enjoy reading the variety of stories as much as we enjoy bringing them to you!

Ben Tirebuck

We take to the skies with the Bobcat Formation and learn about the magnificent men in their flying machines and, with the Port Macquarie Hastings election coming up on Dec 4th, take a peek at an intriguing email exchange between a concerned local member of the community and the current Mayor Peta Pinson.

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

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IN THIS ISSUE 1

Featuring Ben Tirebuck, our Editor and his fabulous mo on the cover

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HDFC - Discovery Flight Voucher

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Note from Our Editor

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About Brilliant

Brilliant BUSINESSES 8

Walk into the Future with the Indigenous Peoples and TG's Urangan

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Sancrox Real Estate Says the Market Is Hot in Wauchope

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Infineon to Help Asia’s Startups Deliver Commercially Viable Innovations

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How a Hashtag Changed the World by Anna Mcafee

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Tracy Driscoll Helps Leaders Reimagine Their Future

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Commonwealth Bank of Australia Leads US$100 Million Funding into Global AI Company H2O.ai

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Michele Coins “Me Fashion”

Brilliant INVESTMENTS 26

Investments and Tax

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Nova Silica Sand Project - A Tier 1 Industrial Mineral Miner Coming up on the ASX

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Abujar Gold Project's Definitive Feasibility Study Shows Tietto Is a Money-making Machine

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Galileo Mining Limited (ASX: GAL) Searching for Palladium in Norseman

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The Blackstone Way Is About People and Passion for the Business

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Blackstone Sustainability Report - Insights into an Industry-leading Business

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I N TH IS ISSU E

Brilliant HEALTH

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Grow a Mo, Save a Bro!

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Barbara Smith, a Health Advocate

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Tackling Japan’s Complex Mental Health Puzzle

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Dr. Ivana Moudry's Acupuncture

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The Secrets of Nature’s Golden Nectar

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Could a Normal Thyroid Function Test Be Hiding Something More Sinister?

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Subscribe & Win My Blue Tea Superfood Packs!!

Brilliant COMMUNITY 58

Port Macquarie Bobcat Formation

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Introducing Port Macquarie’s Quiet and Introspective Photographer, Mick Sheppo

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Local Elections, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, NSW

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Niko First... Hastings First!

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Local Port Macquarie-Hastings Politics

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Why Planning Is Key When Preparing for Bushfire

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Stephen Prohm, Lifeline's Disaster Recovery Coordinator

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Greenbourne Nursery about Propagating in Spring

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Wauchope Creative Hub Has a New Addition!

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Become a Telephone Crisis Supporter for Lifeline Mid Coast

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Hop on a Joyride This Grandparents Day

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Let There Be Light!

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Badam (Almond) Burfi Diwali Recipe

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Brilliant Christmas Offers

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Brilliant Birthday Celebrations

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TG’s Child Care at Urangan QLD invites you to their Open Day on 15th January 2022 Register for Open Day

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Brilliant BUSINESSES ✦

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WALK INTO THE FUTURE WITH THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND TG'S URANGAN ✦ At TG's Child Care Urangan, Playing is Learning for Life takes place everywhere. It is nurtured within TG's beautiful award-winning gardens and playspaces, and it also takes place beyond TG's to Urangan's community.

six centres as a way to boost their sustainability values and help children go even further in eco and social intelligence. And in true blue TG's style, all their activities are fun, creative and keeps the children excited and delighted!

Let's Go to the Beach!

TG's children learn about how they can impact the environment, social aspects and economy of their locations. No one person is too small to make a difference, and TG's educators engage the children in activities that are relevant and identifiable for them. When children are aware they have the power to make a difference in caring for the planet or their communities, it makes them hungry to do more.

This is how TG's children become well-rounded young citizens who form meaningful connections with their world through belonging, being and becoming.

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G's Urangan is harnessing the ancient wisdom of indigenous cultures to support the children in building a sense of identity - this is where they learn how everything and everyone fits together in belonging, being and becoming.

This is thanks to TG's Urangan's Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) where their Heal Country commitment features strongly in their programs and curriculum.

TG's has been implementing indigenous programs in all of their

Every fortnight, the children at TG's Urangan go on a Beach Kindy excursion. It is one of the highlights of the activities at TG's, and it is often met by squeals of delight! The children know they are in for a treat and they are going to love exploring the great outdoors and simply soak up the lessons nature has for them.

Every element of the coast, the sand, the sea has something mysterious and magical to reveal. When you look at things through the eyes of a child,

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the beach becomes more than just a place you go to bathe, suntan and have a bit of a paddle. Experience a Beach Kindy with TG's children and you'll see what a rich world there is in every grain of sand and every wave brings you a little miracle you have seen a million times but never really noticed.

TG's Urangan's Beach Kindy really helps you open your eyes.

Do you know where corals come from? TG's children do!

They know why it loses its colour and they are even little experts at the anatomy of a fish! Sir David Attenborough would be highly impressed by what TG's children have learnt from their Beach Kindys!

These outings are when learning is brought to life, and the entire world becomes a fertile ground for the children's learning journeys. Even TG's educators openly admit they love being on these trips where they can participate in the children's excitement as they watch where crabs tunnel in the sand, and how they get curious about oyster shells. It is like making time stand still when you hold a piece of nature's miracle in your hands with a child and marvel over every texture and every shade of colour in it.

Most importantly, going on Beach Kindys allows the children to get out into the community and it nurtures a deep, loving appreciation of the land. The children wisely know they only leave footprints. That is what Butchulla lore teaches them.

(And of course, they also leave a lot of smiles and laughter there, which is perfectly welcome and does not harm the environment! Laughter is pollution-free and eco-friendly!)

The richness of a Beach Kindy does not just stop there. The children learn important life skills such as how to be safe in public, what road safety is all about and also how to be safe in water. The children learn how to take care of themselves and watch out for each other, and what it means to respect the community they are in.

The joy of running on the beach with one another is something every child should have the opportunity to experience and enjoy. There is plenty of room to stretch their legs and develop their gross motor skills. The next time you go to the beach, really feel how the sand moves beneath your soles, how warm and ticklish it can feel when waves lap against your feet. Salt water when it dries leaves a special feeling on your skin, and simply being out in fresh air and the sun makes your body feel strong and open. (Perhaps we are not too different from plants…we need a bit of sunlight to grow well!)

Basically, you will never see the beach or the sea in the same way again after you've experienced one of TG's Urangan's Beach Kindys!

A Fun Trek through the Bush TG's Urangan's other fortnightly indigenous-culture-inspired activity is their Bush Kindys.

Australia is rich in a variety of landscapes and there is so much to explore, all we need is the time to do it!

The older children go to the Botanical Gardens for their Bush Kindy excursions. There is a small park where the children have fun practising their balancing and coordination skills

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TG's Child Care is an award-winning garden and follows the philosophy of Playing is Learning for Life, what TG's is doing every day is nurturing growth in the children, the communities and the environment.

walking on the swinging bridge and log stumps. They also make music with the big xylophone and they even learn how to pump water! It is easier when you have a friend to help you do it! Fun shared is fun doubled! The activities are endless and the children are fully engaged in exploring, experimenting, being curious and having fun!

Visits to the Butchulla garden is something the children love. This is where TG's educators talk about the native plants, what Butchulla lore says and the children learn what can be eaten for bush tucker. As designated and trusted little gardeners for TG's gardens, the children are familiar with learning about all kinds of plants. It makes them open and ready to get even more curious about new species of plants they do not recognise. They also get to see and learn about native

animals such as native stingless bees (yes, they are friends, and the sugarbag honey these bees produce are a highly appreciated food of the Aborigines), kookaburras and cockatoos. The children learn not just what they look like, but also how they sound, what these animals like to do and how they behave. So if you need a little expert on Australia's indigenous flora and fauna, tap on the shoulder of one of TG's children, and they may just sit down with you and delight you with amazing information about a special plant or animal.

TG's Urangan's Beach and Bush Kindys provide a rich learning experience where the children are engaged in real life. It helps them feel connected to their communities and the environment. They can see everyone's place in it, and how each tiny little thing contributes to making

the entire ecosystem or community work smoothly. They also develop their gross and fine motor skills as well as learn valuable social, language and team work skills.

The beauty of it is, the children always come back from their Beach or Bush Kindys with many exciting stories to tell and every excursion brings something new and different.

Even families look forward to these excursions, because they know there'll be an interesting talk at dinner time and they'll learn a thing or two from the children!

The Magic of Friendships Incorporating Butchulla culture into TG's Urangan's curriculum helps to nurture the relationships the children have with their peers, educators and

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people in their communities.

The children form beautiful friendships during these excursions - perhaps it is being in the loving embrace of nature and indigenous culture that enriches these connections even more. These friendships help the children with communication and socialisation development. And of course, what is just as priceless… oodles of giggles and happy memories!

TG’s supports the children to grow strong friendships and the bond they form with one another helps them feel safe, connected, loved and supported. Childhood is a magical time for friendships, and it forms part of TG's magic and sensation of how it 'feels just right' when you step into TG's gardens and playspaces. The children are part of generating this magic too.

Taking Indigenous Wisdom into the Future As Butchulla's three lores align perfectly with TG's sustainability values (social, economic and environmental), TG's Urangan has been going full steam ahead with their Heal Country commitment.

The 3 Butchulla Lores are: 1. What is good for the land comes first.

2. Do not take or touch anything that doesn’t belong to you.

3. If you have plenty, you must share.

The children build a sense of pride and responsibility learning they have the skills and knowledge to take care of their environment. It is an empowering feeling when a child realises there is so much they can do, and size really does not matter.

Each of us can make a difference. The beach and the sea may be there for us, and we are free to explore the sand and sea life, but it is also important to have an awareness of the impact our actions can have. The children have incorporated a genuine respect for their environment, and it is something that comes naturally to them now. What TG's Urangan is so proud of is how the children, in their own unique way, are all leaving beautiful footprints on the land.

TG's children have become the trusted stewardship of their planet's future. We trust in these little but strong hands, and they are becoming confident leaders who are supported by the ancient guidance of Australia's indigenous peoples.

A Beach or Bush Kindy this weekend, anyone?

(07) 4184 2282 urangan@tgschildcare.com.au tgschildcare.com.au/urangan 61 Miller St, Urangan, QLD 4655

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SANCROX REAL ESTATE SAYS THE MARKET IS HOT IN WAUCHOPE ✦ So is it time to sell?

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he impact of COVID-19 is starting to ease and confidence in the property market is increasing.

Realestate.com.au has recently reported that based on five years of sales, Wauchope has seen a compound growth rate of 6.1% for houses and 6.3% for units.

Median property prices over the last year range from $480,000 for houses to $425,000 for units.

For those who are considering downgrading or seeking a new lifestyle, this may be the best time to sell.

If you’re still sitting on the fence on whether to sell your property or not, we get it. It’s a huge decision that deserves all your careful consideration in weighing up the advantages and disadvantages for either scenario.

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Chris and Tanya Gill, Sancrox Real Estate

Interest rates are at their lowest, giving buyers the capacity to borrow.

However, we've also seen APRA, the national lending regulator, step in with measures to reduce buyers' borrowing power as of November, and they may take further measures to slow the housing market in 2022.

What can Wauchope sellers expect from Sancrox Real Estate?

Talk to Chris and Tanya Gill at Sancrox Real Estate who can help you with your research, provide perspectives and value your place to the highest possible sale price.

Westpac economists Bill Evans and Matthew Hassan say that "while the market upturn has weathered the latest COVID disruptions very well and is clearly carrying strong momentum, the boom is entering trickier territory."

Chris and Tanya Gill operate with integrity, honesty and with over 13 years of real estate expertise in the local area, they are definitely highly skilled and committed to delivering exceptional results every time for the client with guarantee of service.

So while it's likely property values will continue to rise to a lesser extent in 2022, the bulk of this boom cycle looks to be behind us.

What we’re seeing is the city lockdowns are lifting, vaccination rates have hit target, and spring/ summer seasons mean buyers will be out in full force.

Figure from ➸ realestate.com.au

Being so familiar and passionate about the local area, they are able to attract the most number of real potential buyers in the shortest time frame to achieve the highest possible sales price for each and every client.

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✻ "Westpac economists Bill Evans and Matthew Hassan say that "while the market upturn has weathered the latest COVID disruptions very well and is clearly carrying strong momentum, the boom is entering trickier territory."

For Wauchope buyers and investors With 33.7% of Wauchope’s population consisting of older, established elders and families (over 40 to 65), Wauchope becomes an attractive abode for healthcare professionals commuting to Port Macquarie Hospital and other healthcare facilities with a shorter travel time by avoiding the Port Macquarie traffic.

If you are looking for an investment property, consider houses in Wauchope rent out for $463 PW with an annual rental yield of 5.0% and units rent for $370 PW with a rental yield of 4.5%.

Below are view points from realestate.com.au

view of ➸ Summary Wauchope Units

Summary view of ➸ Wauchope Houses They are easily found via their Facebook page, Instagram or their listings throughout Realestate.com.au and also Domain.com.au

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INFINEON TO HELP ASIA’S STARTUPS DELIVER COMMERCIALLY VIABLE INNOVATIONS ✦ At its third annual OktoberTech Asia Pacific 2021 event, the company signed separate collaborations with CapitaLand Investment and Hyundai Motor Group to give a boost to startups with innovations that can make life easier, safer, and greener.

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At the OktoberTech Asia Pacific hybrid event, VIP guests listened intently about autonomous mobile robot in a smart factory environment.

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erman semiconductor giant, Infineon Technologies, announced on 27 October, 2021 separate collaborations with Asian industry giants, CapitaLand Investment of Singapore and South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group, to empower startups in Asia to develop innovations in sustainability, future mobility, smart cities, and smart factory.

Speaking to reporters at a hybrid media briefing, President and Managing Director of Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific

Mr. C.S. Chua, said that this marked the first time Infineon is collaborating with these titans of the industry to help startups deliver innovations that can make life easier, safer, and greener.

Here is the complete breakdown of why Infineon’s collaborations with CapitaLand Investment and Hyundai Motor Group are stirring up excitement within the startup community:

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1. Possible real-world applications by CapitaLand Investment and Hyundai Motor Group In order to appreciate the significance of these collaborations, let us first try to understand what these companies actually do.

Listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE), Infineon makes products that include sensors, microcontrollers, memories, power semiconductors, and connectivity for use in Wifi, bluetooth, and USB. CapitaLand Investment, listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX) securities trading, is one of Asia’s leading listed real estate investment managers (REIM) and one of the largest REIM in the world. Its markets include Europe, Asia such as Singapore, China and India, and the United States.

Hyundai Motor Group is a global company with business in automobiles, steel, and construction, and is present in nearly 48 countries around the world.

With the help of the collaborations, Infineon can help startups develop technologically possible products into marketable products – yes, that’s a way of saying technological products that are reliable and are of good quality, performance and value – while CapitaLand Investment and Hyundai Motor Group can guide the startups on the real-world application of their innovations in various areas of smart cities.

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2. Startups won’t lose their intellectual property but what will they get?

The kind of support that startups will receive include guidance and support that is entirely non-monetary.

Infineon’s Mr. Chua had made it clear in the media briefing that the company will not be pursuing a stake in the startups.

While explaining what Infineon and Hyundai plan to do, he said: “As a start, Infineon will work with Hyundai to nurture selected startups from Singapore and Korea in order to discover innovative technologies for Southeast Asian markets. We will be looking at startups with innovations that can incorporate Infineon’s microelectronics. Our experts will provide technological support and mentoring to the startups before they go work on proof-of-concept projects with Hyundai.”

“From Infineon’s and Hyundai’s communities of startups, we will offer the opportunity to a select group to be part of Infineon’s Co-Innovation Space in Singapore. This CoInnovation Space is a 12-month commitment during which Infineon’s experts will provide startups with insights into how they can improve and ready their innovations for the global market. For these startups, this experience will be highly valuable as they want to deliver solutions with high quality, reliability, performance, and value for the global market.”

Thumbs up to the Infineon and Hyundai Motor Group collaboration.

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He added: “Our experts are highly experienced in our own internal R&D projects and manufacturing such as the smart factory here in Singapore.

We are even willing to share our customer or partner connections with these startups whenever necessary. This is an important point as one of the biggest challenges that startups face is producing a product in very small quantities, as no one wants to make it.”

In short, startups who are eventually selected by Hyundai, CapitaLand and Infineon can turn their prototypes into products for commercial use in specific real-world environments.

Essentially, Infineon’s strategy has been guided by global megatrends shaping the world today and tomorrow. These megatrends include demographic and social change, climate change and scarce resources, urbanization, and digital transformation. Based on these megatrends, the company is placing its bets on growth areas such as energy efficiency, mobility, security, Internet of Things (IoT), and big data.

While all that sounds fanciful, what it means is startups who have innovations that can enable a specific user, let’s say, an urban farmer, to make better use of energy and water for their crops, can also aim to be part of CapitaLand Investment and Infineon’s innovation ecosystem.

Mr, Chua said: “From Infineon’s perspective, we will evaluate if

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Mr. C. S. Chua (far left) announced the collaboration with CapitaLand Investment witnessed by the Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry Mr. Gan Kim Yong (centre).

these innovations can incorporate Infineon’s microelectronics such as sensors, microcontrollers, memories, power semiconductors, and connectivity into their solutions.”

and has other global names such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Cisco Systems, Johnson Controls, Schneider Electric, TPG Telecom and Vizzio.AI as its partners.

The collaborator, CapitaLand Investment, on the other hand, will evaluate if these solutions by startups could be applied for industry deployment in any of their urban environments.

So, if you’re a startup with successful prototypes geared towards sustainability, future mobility, smart cities, or smart factory, you might want to be part of Infineon’s community.

Wait, it gets better - the startups selected by CapitaLand Investment and Infineon could potentially use CapitaLand Investment’s Smart Urban Co-Innovation Lab as a living lab for their solutions! For those who do not know, this Lab created by CapitaLand Investment in Singapore Science Park

Contact Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific

All the best!

www.infineon.com/cms/en/

Register for Co-Innovation Space

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3. The real-world environments: Sustainability, future mobility, smart cities, and smart factories.

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HOW A HASHTAG CHANGED THE WORLD

BY ANNA MCAFEE ✦ Bridging the human connection gap in a post pandemic world

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lobal movements have to start somewhere and often start on kitchen tables, which this one did. And hashtags tend to be born on Instagram, but this one did not. #LinkedInLocal stunned the followers of this social movement.

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Anna Mcafee

Back in June 2017 a single LinkedIn user, Anna McAfee in Coffs Harbour, Australia, started a local meetup hashtagging it #LinkedInLocal. Within hours her post was seen by Erik Eklund in Brussels, Alexandra Galviz in London and Swish Goswami in NYC who all followed Anna’s lead, and swiftly after by 650 cities in 92 countries in less than two years.

So what is #LinkedInLocal? Well it’s a simple request that you down your sales pitches and embrace the people who live on your doorstep for who they are and not their often too polished LinkedIn profile.

The response was ridiculous but Anna and the other co-founders had the mantle to respond, providing the support, encouragement and enthusiasm that was needed to make this movement global, truthful and free.

LinkedIn users created a grassroots global user community united by the idea of getting to know the people behind the LinkedIn profiles, highlighting the importance of connection in our hyper digital world.

The impact on careers and building a sense of belonging was profound, and demonstrates how a group of thoughtful human beings can unite communities and use social media for good. The book shares over 50 human stories of authentic connection, profound career change, and social impact at a local and global level.

LinkedIn picked up the gauntlet in March 2019, and whilst its value system has been watered down with the release of its guidance terms, it continues in individual cities across the world. Many groups during the pandemic have moved their meet ups to online, or launched new online gatherings. Some are now emerging again back in person and are engaging and supporting their networks locally in a different way.

‘How a Hashtag Changed the World’ is a book shares the lessons for building user communities, activating local ambassadors, and how we can view social media in the future - as a vehicle to embrace diversity and bridge the human connection gap in a post pandemic world when we are able to gather again.

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TRACY DRISCOLL HELPS LEADERS REIMAGINE THEIR FUTURE ✦ Leading in the "Never Normal" World

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he world is changing, very quickly, and very unpredictably, especially with the COVID-19 crisis.

Leaders are compelled to rethink ways of working, leading recovery and reimagining a future that is better for customers, employees and perhaps even society at large.

Most people get stuck at this point.

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Tracy Driscoll

✺ “I walk comfortably between the two worlds – the practical business world, and everyday life and family issues; and the incredibly vast energetic and spiritual world. I’m like a bridge between the two. All I have to do is tune in, focus, listen, observe and then share what I see.”

- Tracy Driscoll

It's a heavy responsibility to have on one's shoulders. As leaders, people are looking up to them to reinforce areas within an organisation to pivot, recover and grow.

This is where Tracy Driscoll comes in.

As a coach, consultant and facilitator she has been helping leaders in multinational businesses implement new life goals and make resounding changes that last for over a decade.

Not Walking Alone Tracy Driscoll is skilled at helping people navigate through the pitfalls of life onto a higher ground of fulfilment.

So many have discovered that they do not have to struggle alone and in silence while putting on a brave front.

This can take a toll on people's mental health.

Tracy has worked with individuals and leaders of diverse businesses internationally, re-configuring their personal lives and goals to better engage with the demands of day-today life and leadership.

She does this by analysing individual needs and aligning personal and professional goals, helping people unveil their own personal story - what is really important to them, their values, and their life purpose.

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For more than two decades she was based in Beijing, China and was a business leader herself so she draws a lot from personal experience. Since 2019 she has been working virtually from Bonny Hills and her clients are now both local and global. By helping people to obtain clarity, connect the dots and ignite the spark they need to not only envisage a new future but to commit themselves to making the changes to achieve it, she is a true manifestation partner for those she works with.

Safe to Clear the Past What makes Tracy so different is her strong personal empathy, her focus on each individual's need to connect with their greater world, her ability to listen accurately so she can help people understand what they really want and provide a safe space for her clients to open up, go deep and really explore. Tracy helps people bridge their personal and professional sides, guiding them to achieve harmony in their lives and turning things around to achieve palpable changes and success. The skills that she helps people to grow builds their emotional and mental muscles to create the future that they truly want.

For Tracy, her work is a holistic procedure of sensing the relationships between people and their connections with the wider world that goes much, much deeper than simply coming to terms with personal qualities and aspirations.

“People experience clearing when they have coaching with me – clearing of blocks, past hurt, trauma, pain. They’re able to voice what they need to voice and then let it go mentally, emotionally, and energetically so they can be more present. This in turn allows them to tune in to their true self and to dream and create a better future for themselves, their families, their organisations – to step truly into the flow.” - Tracy Driscoll Interestingly enough, in spite of the highly personal nature of the process, most of Tracy’s coaching is carried out through online coaching sessions. This was the case even before COVID-19 and Zoom when she was based in Beijing. Transformation can happen via any channel, and Tracy is bringing the possibility of changes to people all around the world.

Gifts of a Multipotentialite Tracy is a multipotentialite - she takes to new skills and information quickly, she adapts easily to different sectors and she is driven by a variety of interests. And she has blended all of that to create her own unique coaching method with the 5 Stages of Explore, Inspire, Create, Act and Reflect. She combines the empathic with the pragmatic.

She acts as a bridge to connect the personal with the professional and her multipotentialite nature allows her to fully understand people from all backgrounds and walks of life.

Tracy never stops developing her own coaching muscles and is always hungry to absorb more and give back her skills and experience to her clients. She has refined her skills and expertise working with The Leadership Circle, coaching’s renowned global leader in the theory and research of leadership development.

Early in her coaching career she certified for the Myers Brigg Personality Assessment (MBTI) and she was then invited to run the Beijing office of MDS, a leading Greater China coaching organisation and licensee of MBTI North Asia.

Tracy has also certified for the powerful leadership programme Coaching Circles and uses many other recognised coaching tools throughout her work.

“I walk comfortably between the two worlds – the practical business world, and everyday life and family issues; and the incredibly vast energetic and spiritual world. I’m like a bridge between the two. All I have to do is tune in, focus, listen, observe and then share what I see.” - Tracy Driscoll Perhaps it is time to get off the hamster wheel, clear out the emotional debris of our minds and realise we do not have to get back on the wheel because there is another future we can create.

When we can bring about a healthy change in ourselves, we are then able to lead a positive change in the environment and with the people around us.

Are you ready to reimagine your future?

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COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA LEADS US$100 MILLION FUNDING INTO GLOBAL AI COMPANY H2O.AI ✦ Serving our communities with Artificial Intelligence (AI)

✳ “Commonwealth Bank and H2O.ai are led by our core belief that we can make the world better by serving our communities and customers with AI.” -Sri Ambati, founder and CEO of H2O.ai

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Sri Ambati, founder and CEO of H2O.ai

n November 8, 2021, H2O.ai, an artificial intelligence (AI) cloud company announced that it has closed US$100 million in Series E funding. This funding is led by Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), Australia’s largest bank. The capital will be used to scale partnerships, sales, marketing, and customer success globally.

“This strategic partnership between the leading global AI Cloud movement and Australia’s largest bank will unleash the juggernaut of co-innovation and will further democratize AI with trust and freedom,” said Sri Ambati, founder and CEO of H2O.ai.

“Commonwealth Bank and H2O.ai are led by our core belief that we can

make the world better by serving our communities and customers with AI.” Matt Comyn, Commonwealth Bank of Australia CEO, said that the bank processes and makes decisions based on millions of data points collected every day, and credits AI for improvements to Commonwealth Bank’s customer experience.

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Dr Andrew McMullan, CBA’s Chief Data & Analytics Officer

“The investment in and strategic partnership with H2O.ai extends our leadership in artificial intelligence and ultimately boosts the bank’s ability to offer leading digital propositions and reimagine products and services to customers,” said Matt.

Can artificial intelligence technologies help to predict and mitigate the destruction caused by wildfires and bushfires?

Well, H20.ai certainly thinks it can. In fact, the company is inviting innovators everywhere to join its H2O.ai Wildfire and Bushfire Challenge.

1. What is H2O.ai Wildfire and Bushfire Challenge?

It’s a global hackathon challenge to help reduce the economic and climate impact of wildfires and bushfires.

According to CBA’s Chief Data & Analytics Officer Dr Andrew McMullan, the bank is building an AI-powered organisation for customers. “We are not just helping customers make better decisions about their finances, but also about how they can reduce and offset their energy usage and carbon emissions.”

2. What does this Challenge aim to do for communities face with such fires?

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, H2O.ai operates the cloud-based machine learning platform, H2O AI Cloud, and employs a number of the world’s top data scientists. As of November 8, 2021, H2O.ai has raised over US$250 million and is valued at US$1.7 billion.

3. Who can participate in this Challenge?

4. When does the Challenge closes?

The Challenge is open now through January 15, 2022.

5. Any other important dates that I need to remember?

The first submission is on December 15, 2021.

Wildfire Challenge Details

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Learn More about H2O.ai

Individuals and teams of up-to 5 participants can compete.

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H2O.ai is the trusted AI provider to more than 20,000 global organizations, millions of data scientists and over half of the Fortune 500, including AT&T, Citi, Capital One, GlaxoSmithKline, Hitachi, Kaiser Permanente, Procter & Gamble, PayPal, PwC, Reckitt, Unilever, and Walgreens. CBA, Goldman Sachs, NVIDIA, and Wells Fargo are not only customers and partners, but strategic investors in the company.

The Challenge aims to provide first responders, local leaders, businesses, and the public with new AI applications that can be used to help predict and mitigate the destruction caused by fires.

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MICHELE COINS "ME FASHION" ✦ Book a styling session with Michele Cook from Utopian Living.

✦

Michele Cook

Book A Styling Session

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"As a fashion retailer and stylist, it is important for me to do what I do with integrity and heart. That's what really drives my creativity. I need to create fashion that is real and speaks to people's authenticity. You know how sometimes you find a piece of clothing or accessory that you put on and you immediately feel at ease, at home, comfortable… a sense of 'Yes, that's me.’”

Utopian Living is about wearing unique, hand-crafted jewellery that has been harvested from authentic materials with a loving hand.

Nothing in Michele’s creative space is mass produced. Her creations have an identity and a soul. Michele understands the nature of her materials and is able to extract the beautiful essence of each material and combine them to create striking pieces that catch people's hearts. She takes her time to create and nothing is rushed.

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B RI LLIA NT I N V E S TM ENT S

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Brilliant

INVESTMENTS ✦

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INVESTMENTS AND TAX ✦ The investor has two great benefits from the tax legislation in Australia

T

he first is Section 8.1 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 which states: “You can deduct from your assessable income any loss or outgoing to the extent it is incurred in gaining or producing your assessable income.”

The second is the capital gains discount introduced by John Howard in 1999.

Section 8.1 Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 At first glance Section 8.1 looks as if it can cover almost anything.

But further on the section says:

✷ John Clarke

1. You can’t deduct losses or outgoings of capital or of a capital nature (eg: the amount of the principal repayment on a mortgage payment); 2. You can’t deduct losses or outgoings of a private or domestic nature (eg: clothing, most travel to and from work); 3. If a part of the taxation legislation prevents you from claiming it (eg: travel to residential investment properties to inspect or carry out repairs).

Learn about Investment Property Tax with John Clarke Here

So, if you borrow money to buy an investment property which you are going to receive rent from or to buy shares that pay dividends the interest expense will normally be tax deductible. The important question is what was the money borrowed for, not what is the bank or credit union using for security.

One fee that people might not be aware that can be claimed is the expenses of ongoing financial advice which leads to, or is directly associated with, a specific investment which produces assessable income.

So the initial cost of getting a financial plan drawn up is regarded as a capital expense because it is before you earn financial income. Generally the ongoing fees would be tax deductible.

Capital Gains Discount From 1985 to 1999, Australians paid capital gains tax based on the actual gains after inflation. So if you bought something for $100,000 and the consumer price index increased 20% resulting in an indexed cost base of $120,000 ($100,000 plus 20% of $100,000), you paid capital gains tax on any excess you received above $120,000. If you received $150,000

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the capital gains tax was calculated on $30,000. You claimed a loss if you sold for less than $100,000 based on the cost price of $100,000. If you sold between $100,000 and $120,000 then you weren’t subject to capital gains tax.

In December 1999, John Howard introduced a law that meant indexation did not need to be considered, but that if you hold an asset for more than 12 months any capital gain can be discounted by 50%, so in effect 50% of the gain is tax free.

So if my cost base is $100,000 and I hold the asset for 5 years and sell for $200,000 I have made a gain of $100,000. As the asset has been held for more than 12 months 50% ($50,000) of the gain is disregarded and I pay tax on the remaining $50,000.

Traps for the unwary 1. The investment isn’t earning income. If I borrow money to buy shares in a company that doesn’t pay dividends (eg: an early stage mining company, Tesla, or Berkshire Hathaway) then I am not receiving assessable income from the investment and I cannot claim a deduction for the interest on the borrowed money.

2. Similarly many digital currencies do not produce income so if you borrow to invest in them the interest on the borrowings is not a deduction.

3. Capital losses can only be applied against capital gains. Capital losses cannot be deducted against income. So if I earn $100,000 and have a capital gain of $50,000 I pay tax on $150,000. If I lose $50,000 on an investment that does not get deducted from my income so If I earn $100,000 I will pay tax on $100,000 and the $50,000 gets carried forward into subsequent financial years until there are capital gains it can be applied against. So in the tax year you are making capital gains you should also consider if there are any investments you have made a loss on. If so, you might want to sell them in the same financial year so you can claim the capital losses against the capital gains.

4. At least ‘12 months’ excludes the date the asset was acquired and the date it was disposed of, so if you buy something on 31 December and dispose of it the following 31 December you have not owned the asset for at least 12 months.

As always, this article provides general taxation advice only, and you should consult a tax agent or accountant for advice that is specific to your circumstances.

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NOVA SILICA SAND PROJECT - A TIER 1 INDUSTRIAL MINERAL MINER COMING UP ON THE ASX ✦ Robert Martin, Executive Chair of Suvo Strategic Minerals Limited (ASX: SUV), talks about positioning the company as a Tier 1 Industrial Minerals Miner.

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October 2021 The Nova silica sand project has 216Mt Inferred Mineral Resource comprising silica glass sand, silica flour and coarse silica sand from approximately 15% of their granted tenure. It will allow the development of various products for a wide range of both domestic and international markets.

Coffee With Samso: Robert Martin, Executive Chair of Suvo Strategic Minerals Ltd (ASX: SUV), talks about positioning the company as a Tier 1 Industrial Minerals Miner.

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B RI LLIA NT I N V E S TM ENT S

Suvo is now taking the step to mining Silica Sands - the missing link in the company's strategy.

Interestingly enough, the company has had this asset since their IPO but they have not made a move on it till now.

Mr. Martin wants to build mines. Yes, you read that right.

And that involves creating a Tier 1 Industrial Minerals Mining machine. He has built a profitable mining services company, so this is exciting news he is revealing.

Suvo's shareholders are going to benefit from their Silica story. Their natural silica flour is one that will add significant value to the company and give it that market value that is unique to the Nova Silica Project. There are clear signs that many are eager and interested in the Silica Project, as can be shown by the daily calls the company is receiving about it.

The industries and applications that this project will serve include: • Glass Making (Float, Containers, Architectural, Thin Film) • Metal Casting (Automobile Parts)

• Paint and Coatings (Brightness and Durability) • Chemical Production (Silica Gels) • Construction Sand (Concrete) • Filtration (Water Production) • Recreational (Inert growing media, Golf Bunkers, Beaches) Noel Ong, CEO of Samso often says that exploration is a marathon and you need both luck and science. What we need to bear in mind about the Nova Silica project is it is not like finding gold or nickel or copper. Silica is more like iron ore, coal, and clay.

What this means is, once you have discovered a presence, the chances of finding a resource is very high. This is the reason when companies resource coal, their drill spacing does not need to be close. Some of the spacing can be hundreds of metres apart. And you stand a good chance of a lucky strike.

This resource statement from Suvo shows an exciting next step in the company towards a final solution. When it comes to new and exciting developments in ASX stories, you can be sure Noel will be on it. We are eagerly awaiting more news here.

• Oil / Gas Well Stimulation (Frac sand / proppant)

Suvo Strategic Minerals Limited (ASX:SUV):

+61 8 9389 4495 info@suvo.com.au suvo.com.au Level 9, 182 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA 6000

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ABUJAR GOLD PROJECT'S DEFINITIVE FEASIBILITY STUDY SHOWS TIETTO IS A MONEY-MAKING MACHINE ✦ Mark Strizek, Executive Director of Tietto Minerals Limited (ASX:TIE) says the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for the Abujar Gold Project is knocking people's socks off.

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Mark Strizek, the Executive Director of Tietto is pleased with the numbers that have been coming up with the company's Abujar Gold Project in in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa.

With the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for the Abujar Gold Project, the numbers are really making people sit up and take notice. The report has boosted forecast production in the first year by 30% from the PFS to 260,000 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of US$651 per ounce. Mark Strizek says the

Coffee With Samso: Mark Strizek, Executive Director of Tietto Minerals Ltd (ASX:TIE) says the DFS for the Abujar Gold Project is knocking people's socks off.

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✲ The 54% global resource upgrade from a Pre-Feasibility Study that was released earlier shows how strong the Abujar Gold Project is. The AISC for the first year is less than USD$900 and the next six years of production is at less than USD$1000.

DFS metrics are clearly compelling – all PFS measures have materially improved, from production to finance.

The 54% global resource upgrade from a Pre-Feasibility Study that was released earlier shows how strong the Abujar Gold Project is. The AISC for the first year is less than USD$900 and the next six years of production is at less than USD$1000.

And investors want to know more...

Mr. Strizek is a familiar face and voice on the Samso platform, and he returns today to talk about the recent release of the DFS. Noel Ong, CEO of Samso, started his very first coffee chat with Mr. Strizek and invited him to celebrate their milestone 100th episode of Coffee with Samso with another episode. It is wellworth tuning in to Noel's previous chat with Mr. Strizek to get a background to what they are talking about today. Back then, Noel had already identified Tietto's project as essentially a Simple Gold Mining Story.

If you want an example of what a good gold project should look like, follow Tietto's developments.

Contact Tietto Minerals Limited

+61 (0)8 9420 8270 admin@tietto.com www.tietto.com Unit 7, 162 Colin Street West Perth WA 6005

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GALILEO MINING LIMITED (ASX: GAL) SEARCHING FOR PALLADIUM IN NORSEMAN ✦ Brad Underwood, Chair and Managing Director of Galileo Mining Limited (ASX: GAL) talks about going full steam ahead with exploration.

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What Galileo Mining Limited has is a systemic approach which they are using now to test their palladium prospect in Norseman, Western Australia.

And for Noel Ong, CEO of Samso, that is music to his ears. He is a firm advocate of companies that actually spend the majority of their funds on getting out on the field and exploring.

This is one of his sound pieces of advice that he shares with investors in the Australian Stock Exchange or ASX Limited (ASX: ASX). With so many companies out there, how do you know who to begin focusing on?

Coffee With Samso: Brad Underwood, Chair and Managing Director of Galileo Mining Limited (ASX: GAL) talks about going full steam ahead with exploration.

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The key is to focus on their exploration stories.

About Galileo Mining Limited (ASX:GAL)

Galileo Mining listed on the ASX in May 2018, raising $15 million in IPO funding.

For those that need further convincing, suffice to say that since early 2018 when the company listed on the ASX, Galileo Mining Limited has already undergone 14 drill programs.

And that is enough to make one sit up and take notice.

Galileo Mining is a resources company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) under the code GAL and is exploring for base metals in south-east Western Australia. The company has 100% ownership of its Norseman Project and has Joint Ventures with the Creasy Group over highly prospective tenements in the Fraser Range.

Mr. Creasy continues to be the largest shareholder, controlling approximately 31 percent of the company. ASX-listed miner Independence Group (ASX: IGO) and Mineral Resources’ founder Chris Ellison are included within the Company’s top five largest shareholders.

Brad Underwood, Chair and Managing Director of the company is no stranger to Noel's Coffee With Samso, and he is back for another exciting conversation with updates about the company. He shares about the technical merits of Galileo's projects as well as the exploration thinking behind the drilling in Norseman. That is where Galileo is seeking a potential Ni-Cu-PGE target.

We are talking about a 10,000m drilling program and already the targets are starting to look interesting.

The geophysical anomalies appear to be guiding towards a possible source.

Something that is worth taking note of is the Jimberlana dyke in Norseman. It has always been a potential exploration target but has so far been ignored in the company's tenure.

The Jimberlana Dyke is similar to known geology that has sources of Palladium.

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Read Galileo's ASX Announcment

The Norseman Project is located adjacent to the regional town of Norseman in an infrastructure-rich area of Western Australia. A bitumen highway runs parallel to the project area and is less than 10km from the Company’s current JORC cobaltnickel resources. The Norseman Project includes numerous areas with potential for further cobalt discoveries as well as additional nickel and copper prospects.

The Fraser Range Project covers two zones of the extensive Fraser Range geological belt. The Fraser Range is known for the world-class Nova nickel-copper-cobalt mine discovered

by Sirius Resources in 2012. Galileo’s northern Fraser Range tenement is 80km from the operating Nova mine while the southern tenements are just 30km from the mine.

Galileo is targeting Nova style nickelcopper-cobalt mineralisation in the Fraser Range and has a deep level of experience in the region.

The company was originally privately owned by renowned prospector Mr. Mark Creasy, and Galileo Managing Director Mr. Brad Underwood spent eight years as General Manager of the Creasy Group’s exploration at the Fraser Range and Norseman.

Contact Galileo Mining Limited

Galileo Key Milestones • 2003 – Registered as a private company wholly owned by Mark Creasy • 2004 – Acquired the Norseman project • 2006 – Initial drilling conducted at Norseman • 2017 – Maiden JORC Resource completed at Norseman • 2018 – Acquired interest in the Fraser Range project • 2018 – Launched on the ASX as a public company

About Brad Underwood Chair and Managing Director Brad Underwood is the Chairman and Managing Director of Galileo Mining. Mr. Underwood is a geologist with over 18 years of experience in exploration, prospecting and mining.

He has been involved in copper, gold, nickel and cobalt discoveries and the development of numerous prospects over a variety of commodities.

+61 8 9463 0063 info@galileomining.com.au http://www.galileomining.com.au 13 Colin St, West Perth, WA 6005

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THE BLACKSTONE WAY IS ABOUT PEOPLE AND PASSION FOR THE BUSINESS ✦ Scott Williamson, Managing Director of Blackstone Minerals Ltd (ASX:BSX) on why he likes Blackstone and how they are positioned for the EV battery market in Vietnam

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It is befitting that Scott Williamson is back to round up the Blackstone Story in Samso's Special Series on the company over the past few weeks. He is here to share some feedback about the series of videos and coffee chats.

The Special Series for Blackstone has done a good job in showcasing the most important aspects of the Blackstone Business.

First there is the messaging, which is led by Tessa Kutscher who is the brains behind the branding. Tessa shapes the message of the business so this affects how the company is seen and received by the public. Learn more how Ms. Kutscher handles the branding and social media in the minerals resource sector here. Her part of the job is at the top of the value chain.

Coffee With Samso: Scott Williamson, Managing Director of Blackstone Minerals Ltd (ASX:BSX) on why he likes Blackstone and how they are positioned for the EV battery market in Vietnam

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After the messaging comes the other equally vital parts of the business, so we are looking at the Social and Environmental compliance, the downstream business that delivers the product and the upstream source of resources.

What Samso has done is to give a comprehensive coverage of the Blackstone Story, and it is clear the audience has been captivated by the insights into the company - how it works, its values, its developments, what is coming in the future.

Mr. Williamson shares the Hows and Whys behind the interaction of the audience with the special series videos. The videos have helped to spread the messaging to potential investors and stakeholders, so Blackstone's Story is being seen and heard.

The main takeaway here is audiences have a clear understanding of Blackstone as successful at what they do mainly because of their People and their Passion for the business. You can't fake authenticity here.

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BLACKSTONE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT - INSIGHTS INTO AN INDUSTRY-LEADING BUSINESS ✦ Anna Cranney, Social Performance Lead for Blackstone Minerals Limited (ASX: BSX) talks about bringing ESG from theory to practice.

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Anna Cranney, as the Social Performance Lead for Blackstone Minerals Limited (ASX: BSX), returns for another coffee chat with Noel Ong, CEO of Samso, to help us better understand the contents of the Blackstone Sustainability Report. When you look at the contents of the report, it may feel like a heavy document with information you have to wade through. Anna helps to put the report in a context which investors would understand and be interested in. And the good news is, there is much to rejoice in in the report.

Blackstone is looking to make a statement which is inspiring confidence. In fact, the release of this report is indicating to investors that the end is near, and that the company is putting out the transparency of their activities. Take note of Blackstone - they are all set to become an industry-leading business.

Coffee With Samso: Anna Cranney, Social Performance Lead for Blackstone Minerals Limited (ASX: BSX) talks about bringing ESG from theory to practice.

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"Blackstone is looking to lead the industry and show through its transparency its intent on creating an ESG relevant, ESG leading business that creates a truly sustainable investment which has a World leading responsible nature for all stakeholders of the business." Samso

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Tune in to find out how Anna Cranney and the Blackstone team will deliver the ESG platform from theory to practice.

"Blackstone is looking to lead the industry and show through its transparency its intent on creating an ESG relevant, ESG leading business that creates a truly sustainable investment which has a World leading responsible nature for all stakeholders of the business."

- Samso

Blackstone is set to lead the industry with its transparency on how they do ESG.

Anna explains how the Blackstone team is ready to deliver the ESG platform from theory to practice: 02:16 The Sustainability Report 03:32 Is this Report a New Concept?

14:56 How is Blackstone backing up with their claim to be an ESG champion?

19:20 Is it hard to get all stakeholders to conform to the Report?

23:20 Balancing the needs of local Vietnamese community against corporate.

26:35 Is the implementation of the report harder in reality?

27:14 What is the cost of ESG? 36:10 Sustainable Responsible Investments is ESG.

Contact Blackstone Minerals Limited

+ 61 8 9425 5217 admin@blackstoneminerals.com.au www.blackstoneminerals.com.au Suite 3, Level 3, 24 Outram Street, West Perth, WA, 6005

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Mick Sheppo, Photographer ✦ Send your Mo’s photo to editor@brilliant-online.com ✦

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B RI LLIA NT H E A LTH

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Brilliant

HEALTH ✦

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GROW A MO, SAVE A BRO! ✦ How to help change the face of men's health? The answers are right under your nose.

W

hat do Merv “The Swerve” Hughes, Magnum PI, Salvador Dali all have in common?

Not only are all regarded as legendary entertainers in their respective fields but all sported some of the finest and most celebrated moustaches of all time!

There are many more, of course: Albert Einstein, Charlie Chaplin, Burt Reynolds, Sam Elliott, Groucho Marx are just a handful who are renowned for their trademark upper lip facial hair.

The moustache, or ‘Mo’ to use the parlance of our times, has led a varied life - mocked and derided in certain quarters over the years yet thankfully, almost in a comforting way, always there with selected style makers and trend setters.

In recent years, the Mo has taken on important symbolic significance in raising awareness for men’s health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men’s suicide.

November was chosen as the month and, when fused with the shortened version of moustache (Mo), resulted in Movember, an annual event with the goal of changing the face of men’s health.

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The movement initially started back in 1999 in Adelaide when a group of mates casually came together over a few beers with the idea of growing their moustaches throughout the month of November all in the name of charity and raising funds and awareness of men’s health.

Their efforts were enthusiastically received as the trend spread across the country, prompting a group in Melbourne to ultimately form the Movember Foundation which was in

Ben Tirebuck with a fabulous Mo

➸ rockingChester his Mo!

TG's Child Care Best Mo

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time granted official charity status in Australia.

In subsequent years the movement spread worldwide and became a cultural phenomenon, with over 6.5 million participants raising over US$1 billion and funding more than 1,250 men’s health projects across more than 20 countries.

Over the years the Foundation has forged several key partnerships with the likes of US-based Prostate Cancer Foundation, Prostate Cancer Canada, the UK’s The Prostate Cancer Charity, Spain’s FEFOC, the Irish Cancer Society, the Cancer Society of New Zealand, the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, the LIVESTRONG Foundation, and South African-based CANSA. Funds raised by the Foundation have contributed significantly to pioneering research in the ongoing battle to understand and hopefully find a cure for many of the illnesses that claim so many lives every year around the world. In 2009, for example, the University of Michigan’s Comprehensive Cancer Center made a significant research breakthrough identifying that there are 25+ different kinds of prostate cancer.

Two years later, thanks to Movember funding, the world’s first Prostate Cancer Genome Mapping Project was completed, expanding the understanding of how prostate cancer works.

Ultimately, despite masquerading as a bit of harmless fun and opportunity for mockery, Movember sheds light on a crucially important topic while helping countless people throughout the world in the process. So, if you haven’t done it already, let that upper

lip hair grow throughout the month of November and help contribute to a hugely worthwhile cause.

Grow a Mo and save a bro!

Make A Donation

Read The Full Story

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There are countless inspiring stories that have been shared over the years from men who have been impacted by and struggled with men’s health issues and how the Foundation has helped. First and foremost it has brought a topic that was for so long often dismissed or deemed not not appropriate or comfortable to talk about. After all, the first step with dealing with any problem is to actually raise it and talk about it.

And that is exactly what has happened over the years as the movement’s reach and impact has increased. Nowadays there are all manner of outlandish designs being created and competitive dynamics being created between mates or coworkers. Indeed, there is even a style guide provided to help inspire choices (page 6 of the pdf).

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By 2017 the Movember Foundation was ranked 49 out of the top 500 nongovernmental-organisations around the world and in 2019 Movember was announced as the official delivery partner for the Rugby League World Cup 2021 (postponed until 2022) - the first ever international sporting event to have a mental health charter.

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BARBARA SMITH, A HEALTH ADVOCATE ✦ We are winning against cancer

Meet Barbara Smith, Computer Roving Trainer...

✶ Barbara Smith

B

arbara Smith, or Barb as we call her, is a very cheerful, mindful and positive person.

An active character, she swims and surfs every morning, and runs two businesses.

A Health Wellness and Beauty Consultant with her own online store and a boutique computer agency called The Roving Trainer she is kept busy helping people with the health of their body and training people to get the best out of their technology be it their computers, phones or devices.

Additionally, Barb supports a number of business networks like the Micro Business Forum and volunteers at the Olympics Games. Arguably Barb's greatest triumph of all, however, is her recovery from Stage IV cancer and her subsequent standing as an inspiration to many who suffer from the disease.

Here's a recollection of what she went through.

Can you give me a general timeline? I seem to remember that you were diagnosed early in 2004 and then it was July when they told you you didn't need to go through chemo just yet.

Yes I was diagnosed in April 2004. And yes, about eight weeks later I was told I had a 50% decrease in the tumours and that chemo would be put aside for the moment.

What was your initial reaction when you were diagnosed? Did you right away consider trying to find an alternative to chemotherapy?

When I first found out I was very numb - it was like being in a movie looking in at it as an outsider.

I immediately considered finding ways of helping me cope with the

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cancer and the inevitable chemo. I believed that I would need to be in the best health to help me cope with the extreme treatment chemo is.

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Apricot seeds are rich in vitamin B17

What is the official name for the cancer you were diagnosed with?

The cancer is called Indolent NonHodgkin’s Lymphoma and there is no known cure. As you may know, you get staged when you get diagnosed with cancer so all clinicians know how to handle you. I was given Stage IV bilateral being on both sides of the abdomen and huge tumours in the neck.

The timeline of surviving was not given longer than 18 months with the distinct possibly of not seeing the Christmas of 2005 unless I started chemo immediately. However, even then there was no guarantee of success.

What made you decide to take matters into your own hands?

The fact that the prognosis was giving me such a short time made me decide that I was not going to let just one doctor be involved in my fate. I had also previously lost four of my family to cancer and /or its treatments. I had nursed my mother, who died at 55, and I was determined that her death and what I learned about the hospital system should not be in vain.

She died in 1983 and I remembered the dreadful diet the hospital gave her. I bought in my juicer and blender and fed her myself, even though the doctors thought I was mad! I genuinely believe that we could have saved her if we knew what I know now and was prepared to tough it out with all the weird and wonderful things I have done. It could not be worse than chemo.

So, taking matters into my own hands seemed logical. But at the time we did not know that I also had a broken rib.

My husband Laurie took me on a work trip that he had scheduled just after I was diagnosed. The trip was to Hawaii and the doctors thought it would do me good.

Whilst Laurie was working at the conference, I went surfing and somehow my Malibu board (which are huge) came back and hit me in the ribs. I thought I was just out of shape when I kept complaining about the soreness and lack of breath. And of course everything is put down to the cancer and the menopause.

When we got back from the trip we went straight from the airport to the hospital for a bone marrow test.

Unfortunately this test went horribly wrong and I bled internally and got a large haematoma on my left back hip where they had injected me. I have since learned that the doctors and nurses should have drained the blood away and packed me in ice to reduce the swelling. Instead I was sent home and ended up in a wheelchair and living upstairs for nearly a month because the pain of getting up and down the stairs was excruciating.

Of course, that coupled with a broken rib made it the hardest time of my life. However, God sends things in different packages and that was the best thing to happen as it slowed down the chemo process because I could not get out of the house easily.

So, once I could sit up, I got on the internet and the phone and my research began big time.

I decided to get a team of people around me. These people included acupuncturist, masseuse, naturopath,

and an integrative medicine doctor to administer injections of Vitamin C. There is a clinic in Manly Beach in Sydney that gives Vitamin C injections.

It takes about one hour, and they can put extra vitamins in the mixture like Vitamin B.

Can you give me a general rundown on your diet?

I remember you telling me that the vitamin B17 played a large role in selecting to eat apricot kernels, and that you also had some sort of root shipped to you for making tea. What did you eat generally for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?

Yes at first I was terribly tired, probably from the shock of being diagnosed with cancer but particularly the short time frame given to me. The other symptoms I had were excessive sweats, particularly at night time. The other doctors had told me this was my menopause at work and to learn to live with it. I am so glad the glands came up in my neck otherwise I would not have gone to the doctor until it was well and truly too late.

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➸ For the diet, I was learning and reading all the time so my ideas were evolving. One thing I did do was start juicing straight away.

I would juice carrots and celery and drink that for breakfast. I would wash up the juicer and by then I was so tired I would need to have a lie down. Virtually every three hours I would juice with either carrots or apples and beetroot. In between that I would make green tea and sip on that. I would also filter water and drink as much as four litres a day to flush my system out.

When I read about B17 I bought apricots and ate them and then dried the seeds and crushed them and ate them.

Some people told me that I would get cyanide poisoning, but this is merely a myth that even some doctors believe in. Some research suggests that B17 can break down the exterior part of the cell and then Vitamin C can hopefully mop up the mess – a very simplified way of explaining it.

I also drank a tea that had its origins with the North American Indian women. It is called ESSIAC tea. A woman named Rene Caisse came across the recipe and had used it to help heal many people who had cancer. The four main herbs that make up Essiac are Burdock Root, Slippery Elm Inner Bark, Sheep Sorrel and Indian Rhubarb Root.

I also took vitamins A,B C E, calcium and magnesium, co-enzyme Q10, and bee pollen.

Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins that help detox and heal the body

❖ “I treated myself like an athlete preparing for an event not preparing for death. I prayed a lot and meditated and read about death and dying and, even though I was terribly scared, I found that once I had faced this demon and looked it in the face then being upset was going to make what ever time I had left a lot harder to do. The cemetery is not far away from our house and in fact is near where I go to get our groceries/vegetables. I had to make a decision was I going to focus on the cemetery or focus on the vegetables which were going to give me health?”

- Barbara Smith

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Also my herbalist made a mixture of Selenium and also something to help me sleep.

I bought many books too so I would have a balanced reference range to make any judgements.

How did your body feel on the diet?

The internet has everything but not all of it is correct. However, by reading many different sites a lot of the same information about curing cancer kept emerging.

At first I felt a little more sick as I think all the rubbish was leaving my system. You feel worse at first and then fantastic! Stopping coffee and some processed foods does give you withdrawal symptoms and I did have headaches and aches and pains for a while. After a few days, however, that subsided and I started to feel more comfortable.

They say toxins sting twice: on their way in and on their way out.

Was the information you found easily accessible?

Yes, but only because of the internet.

During the whole process, no doctor, nurse or health care professional gave me any books or literature to read. I had to find it all myself.

How did you get through the day-to-day of it all?

What was your support system?

I wrote a list of all things I needed to do for my health. I focused on doing these things even though I was very tired.

I treated myself like an athlete preparing for an event not preparing for death. I prayed a lot and meditated and read about death and dying and, even though I was terribly scared, I found that once I had faced this demon and looked it in the face then being upset was going to make what ever time I had left a

lot harder to do. The cemetery is not far away from our house and in fact is near where I go to get our groceries/ vegetables. I had to make a decision was I going to focus on the cemetery or focus on the vegetables which were going to give me health?

How did the cancer and your treatment method affect your life, your family, and your career?

Financially it was very hard. I am self employed and, despite having income protection insurance, my insurance company said I was not debilitated enough for them to give me any money. I had to have chemotherapy and be hospitalised for a certain amount of time before they would help out.

We borrowed money from Laurie’s brother, Russell, to help us through and to take a holiday when I got better.

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We had some real estate and sold a property to pay Russell back. I feel for those people who do not have this option.

Upon learning I was sick, one of my clients dropped me like a hot potato. Other clients were absolutely fantastic and asked if I wanted to do some work at home, such as write courseware, which would be fine with them.

As a family it has made us all a lot closer, particularly with my brother, as it has actually helped our relationship. With my gorgeous husband Laurie, it has only made us closer and solidify our wish to grow old together.

Laurie was a great support and, after the initial shock, was so positive all the time. I think he got some counselling through his work.

My treatment of trying to save myself has made me watch what other people eat and what they do with amazement.

I now eat meat and have coffee again, but I do not over do it. As soon as I feel a little bloated, I give myself a few days back on the juicing or just raw food and I feel a lot better.

I know I should be stronger and, although it is hard in western society to eat a cancer prevention diet all the time, I do try.

Do you have any regrets about the choices you made concerning your treatment?

No. The one thing I would have done extra was taking enemas. The bowel, I believe, should have been cleaned out first. Just imagine it is a plug holding in all the poison and toxins. So to clean the bowel makes sense. There is a lot of information available now about how to do it and there are colonic cleansing clinicians available to do it for you if you don’t fancy doing it in your own bathtub.

What advice would you give other people facing the same decisions you were?

• Explore all avenues and never give up.

• Only allow positive people around you.

• Only allow positive news to reach you - do not listen to the TV news, it is too upsetting, and generally I didn’t have the emotional energy to do so • Buy a large spiral bound writing book, say A4 or Foolscap size, and write down all the details from each practitioner you visit. Break it up into sections and this way you have the phone numbers, dates and times of each visit when another practitioner asks you for details.

Also write down your questions on one side of the page before you go to visit the doctor and then write the answers on the other side of the page.

• Take a family member or friend to the doctors with you.

Tell the doctor they are on the team. Even ask the doctor whether can you record the appointment because your memory is not so good.

• Treat the disease as the project and tell your team “we are winning”.

• Keep a journal of your condition from day to day.

• Perhaps keep a journal of your feelings.

Barb helps anyone who needs to set up their vaccine certificates on their mobile phones.

Barb also helps anyone who needs to set up their vaccine certificates on their mobile phones and connect all their government services. She does mainly one on one sessions with businesses, business executives and seniors and fills in the gaps of their knowledge. She trains online and can access your computer whether you are in the Hastings region, in Australia or overseas.

With many people working remotely without an IT help desk sometimes she says you just need a little guidance to fix a problem and then you are ready to go again.

Let her 30-year knowledge of computers help you get the assistance you need without you having to learn what her study and experience has taught her.

On the health side Barb has been able to keep healthy and is available to offer advice and products to get you in ship shape for the summer season.

Contact Barbara Smith

+61 410 420 799

Independent Health Consultant and Computer Trainer at Roving Trainer

rovingtrainer@gmail.com www.rovingtrainer.com.au

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TACKLING JAPAN’S COMPLEX MENTAL HEALTH PUZZLE ✦ My Body My Pilates is one organisation that supports mental health in Japan

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hereas there have been huge strides made in recent years in highlighting, understanding and tackling mental health issues, there are still many places where the topic is considered a stigma and those that suffer from it are very much marginalised.

Despite being such an advanced nation in so many respects, Japan is one such place.

According to the Japan Health Policy Now, although the number is trending downwards, Japan has the most people hospitalised in psychiatric wards on a per capita basis in the world. Shockingly, the number of people living with mental health issues in Japan is greater than the number of people who have been diagnosed with cancer, stroke, acute myocardial infarction, and diabetes combined.

Exhausted, stressed and lonely Factors contributing to these staggering numbers include poor mental health, mental illness, and social and economic pressure and stress factors; Japan is renowned as a country often characterised by extremely hard work ethics, long hours and immense stress. The millions of white collar workers, known as “salary men”, who show overriding loyalty and commitment to the corporation within which they are employed are often overworked to the point of exhaustion, are stressed and very lonely.

Natural disasters such as the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, Japan’s property and stock market crash of the early 1990s, the global financial crisis of 2008 and the all-consuming COVID-19 pandemic of the last few years have also taken their toll. The latter derailed and deflated Japan’s plans for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics which did go ahead but in a much more solemn manner. Unemployment also rose significantly due to COVID with an increase of 34.5% for women and 31.8% for men losing their jobs, according to statistics provided by the World Economic Forum.

Stigma One major hurdle is the fact that mental health has long been regarded as a stigma in Japanese culture where its citizens are conditioned to believe that a mental health disorder is shameful and signifies a lack of willpower.

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Help is at hand...

However, sustained efforts are constantly being made to address mental health issues and reverse these alarming statistics and a growing number of support groups

are now at hand such as the NPO Bond Project which offers help to girls and women facing challenging problems.

Another group stepping up to face and alleviate the challenge of mental health is Tokyo-based My Body My Pilates who offer free or donation based pilates classes twice a month (the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month at 6pm Tokyo time) so that more people can benefit from pilates and achieve a healthier mental state. Subscribers to their 30 Day Pilates Challenge receive a daily email with an instructional video on how to carry out the practice safely and effectively. It means no matter where you are, you can benefit from the practice in a matter of minutes each day and make a start on the path to a healthier mind and body.

Ultimately, with the emergence of such support groups and a slow changing of attitudes and improved policy at government level, it is hoped Japan can continue positively on its ongoing journey to deal with the complexities of mental health and ensure its people are on track to be healthier and more content both in mind and body.

Read The Full Story

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This oppressive stigma has resulted in many Japanese people not believing that mental illnesses require professional treatment with almost two-thirds of sufferers never seeking help from a health professional and therefore suffering in silence. This, sadly, undoubtedly contributes to the high number of suicides witnessed in Japan each year, amongst the highest in the world; in October 2020 alone, 2,100 suicide-related deaths were recorded.

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DR. IVANA MOUDRY'S ACUPUNCTURE ✦ Acupuncture your way to fertility

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ew to holistic healing? If so, acupuncture may seem a bit scary. You may ask how could pressing needles into my skin possibly make me feel better?

Won’t it hurt?

Acupuncture Acupuncture is an ancient way to health, studied and practiced for over 2,500 years.

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Dr. Ivana Moudry

Advocates swear by acupuncture, citing it as a “miracle” that has improved their quality of life, it has been claimed to treat many ailments from tennis elbow and depression to morning sickness and cramps.

If you listen to devotees, the prickly treatment sounds almost like a fantastic cure-all — but is it? Let’s take a closer look.

Health-FertilityPregnancy Dr. Ivana Moudry from the Centre for Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture offers an integrated approach to optimal health incorporating both Eastern and Western Medicine

practices in a safe and nurturing space.

We spoke to Ivana to find out more about the ancient practice where she focuses on Women’s Health, Pregnancy and Fertility support.

Is Acupuncture scary?

The short answer is No. People who are new to acupuncture sometimes assume there will be pain, but in fact, many of my patients ask me “are the needles in? I didn’t even feel them”.

Most people feel an overwhelming relaxation sensation after a few minutes and some even fall asleep during their treatment. It’s a bit like a siesta while at the same time the body repairs.

How Does it work?

One of the functions of acupuncture is that it stimulates the central nervous system which then releases biochemical changes to help bring the body into homeostasis. These biochemical changes are believed to stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well being.

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What are the benefits of Acupuncture?

Acupuncture does not use chemicals or medications so there are no adverse reactions but rather it stimulates your own body’s healing ability to promote things like increased blood flow, the release of endorphins, etc. It treats the body as a whole rather than just treating individual symptoms. As an example, someone may seek treatment for digestion and then they notice that their anxiety, menstrual cycle and headaches have also improved with treatments.

What do you specialise in?

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For over 16 years in Port Macquarie, my clinic has had a sole focus on Women’s hormonal and reproductive health. I provide holistic healthcare for women experiencing fertility issues, IVF and pregnancy support, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), irregular cycles, endometriosis as well as emotional issues such as anxiety and stress, along with chronic fatigue and digestive issues.

Acupuncture together with TCM stimulates your own body’s healing

What is involved?

In addition to Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine I perform a differential diagnosis using a Traditional Chinese Medicine framework while also integrating it with a Western Biomedical framework. I also provide diet and lifestyle advice to develop a comprehensive individualised treatment strategy.

What outcomes can clients expect?

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Acupuncture does not cause any pain, most people don't even feel the needle.

Every person is different and so everyone can expect an individualised treatment plan which addresses their unique constitution. If for example, someone comes in for fertility issues, they may get a completely different acupuncture treatment with different Chinese herbal therapy and diet/ lifestyle suggestions as to another person also coming in for fertility issues.

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THE SECRETS OF NATURE’S GOLDEN NECTAR ✦ And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, what is sweeter than honey? - Judges 14:18

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Diane Elliott

❇ Royal jelly is highly nutritious and may have antibacterial, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory properties. These properties may be responsible for many of the health claims about royal jelly. People usually consume it orally or apply it directly to the skin.

e are all more than familiar with the health properties of honey and that it has been used as both a food and a medicine since ancient times.

However, many people are unaware of exactly how fond people were of the golden nectar way back in Biblical times and that it is even mentioned frequently in the Bible itself.

That’s right, the holy scriptures have over 65 references to bees and honey across books such as Genesis, Exodus, Job, Ezekiel and Matthew, amongst others.

Interestingly, honey bees are always used in the context of good, abundance and blessing. There are frequent references to “a land flowing with milk and honey”, and it is sometimes referred to as a precious gift. As such, it would be fair to say that honey is indeed heaven sent - a God sent even!

Back to the present day and honey is now used as a natural health supplement in a variety of ways.

High-quality honey contains many important antioxidants, including organic acids and phenolic compounds like flavonoids. The phytonutrients in honey are responsible for its antioxidant properties, as well as its antibacterial and anti-fungal power.

They’re also thought to be the reason raw honey has shown immuneboosting and anticancer benefits.

Within moderation, honey is a great natural substitute for refined sugar and can help lower blood pressure in those that suffer from the condition. It is also believed to help improve your cholesterol levels and be used to treat niggly coughs as a natural alternative to contemporary medicines and to ensure a good night’s sleep. Some scientific studies suggest honey can help people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

53 Native to Australia and New Zealand, Manuka honey is made by bees that pollinate the native leptospermum scoparium bush. The word mānuka is the Māori name of the tree and the honey produced is considered a high grade product with its potent antibacterial properties that set it apart from traditional honey.

Manuka honey can be used to treat wounds (see more below) and enhance oral heath by attacking harmful bacteria associated with plaque formation, gum inflammation and tooth decay. Research suggests that Manuka honey may help treat gastric ulcers, improve digestive symptoms and help soothe sore throats. It can also help people who suffer with cystic fibrosis and be used to treat acne by keeping skin free of bacteria, which could expedite the acne healing process.

Royal Jelly Royal jelly is a creamy white substance with a high nutrient content that young bees make to feed queen bee larvae and their young – it is often referred to as a nutritional powerhouse. There are claims that it offers a range of health benefits, such as easing the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and supporting wound healing.

Royal jelly is highly nutritious and may have antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties may be responsible for many of the health claims about royal jelly. People usually consume it orally or apply it directly to the skin.

Indeed, using honey to treat skin wounds or burns is an age-old process due to a unique pH balance that promotes oxygen and healing compounds to a wound. According to a literature review published in the journal Wounds, the acidic pH of honey encourages the blood to release oxygen, which is important to wound healing. Additionally, the natural sugar present in honey has the effect of drawing water out of damaged tissues (known as an osmotic effect) which reduces swelling and encourages the flow of lymph to heal the wound. Honey has also been shown to have an antibacterial effect on bacteria commonly present in wounds.

However, before considering using honey to treat wounds or burns it is highly recommended to consult a professional doctor first.

Secrets of the Queen Bee One company that specialises in leveraging the health properties of honey to create balms and skin healing products is Brisbane-based, family-run QueenBEE Secrets.

After suffering a serious illness in 1992, QueenBEE Secrets founder Diane Elliott embarked on a path of discovery in the field of Aromatherapy. It was 10 years later when she acquired a lavender farm that she truly began to understand the healing properties hidden in the farm’s beehives and before too long she was developing a range of skincare balms that she initially produced for herself, her family and a few customers.

The business has grown organically since then and today

produces 14 different balms with plans to add more as customer demand grows. All products are handcrafted in Australia using 100% natural ingredients such as royal jelly, Manuka honey and beeswax and can be used for a variety of treatments such as dry and irritated skin, anti-ageing, arthritis, bug bites, and muscle and joint relief.

Further information on the full range of products QueenBEE Secrets offer and the health benefits they entail can be found at their website or YouTube channel. *Please note this is entirely an opinion piece and should not be considered as providing any form of medical advice, guidance or guarantee. Please always consult with a professional physician before embarking on any form of health or wellness pursuit.

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COULD A NORMAL THYROID FUNCTION TEST BE HIDING SOMETHING MORE SINISTER? ✦ The Lucy Rose Clinic

Left unchecked, this can lead to 'hidden' suboptimal hypothyroidism. In this situation, the TSH test reads

normal, yet symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, body pain, and brain fog steadily get worse. This can happen to people on thyroxine medication as well.

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hyroid hormone is converted in the body by specialised enzymes and used for energy inside every cell. Most people with a ‘normal thyroid test’ who have any symptoms will have issues converting thyroid hormone to the most biologically active form called FreeT3.

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Every Saturday morning, Port Macquarie, Lake Cathie and Bonny Hills look forward to the Bobcat Formation Photo Credit: Veronica Lind

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PORT MACQUARIE BOBCAT FORMATION ✦ The Magnificent Seven in their Flying Machines! An exclusive interview with Bobcat Formation Leader Dr. David Cooke

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Dr. David Cooke, leader of the Bobcat Formation Photo Credit: Veronica Lind

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f you look to the skies every Saturday morning when in the Port Macquarie, Lake Cathie and Bonny Hills areas then, weather permitting, you will be treated to a dazzling air show performance by some of the most experienced and impressive pilots around!

The enthralling and daring performance is thanks to a collection of pilots known as the Bobcats who soar through the clouds in their colourful aircrafts in impeccable formation, thrilling observers on the ground.

The Bobcat Formation was started in 2009 by former flying doctor and Airforce pilot Dr David Cooke.

David was joined by friend and former Navy pilot Alan Bradtke and

✤ “After my father died, my mother married another pilot in 1945,” explains David. “He was killed and then she married a third pilot. The day I came home at the age of 16 and said to her that the Air Force was teaching me to fly she burst into tears!”

- Dr David Cooke

the two members of the Hastings District Flying Club would indulge in casual formation flying, more as a hobby than anything else. After a chance meeting with fellow pilot Greg Kemp back in 2013, the nucleus of the Bobcat Formation evolved in time into the seven-strong set-up it is today.

“I’m pilot number one,” says David with a smile. “That doesn’t mean I am any more important than any of the other pilots, just that I lead the formation and am therefore the first pilot to take to the air.”

Flying has always been in David’s blood and his family has a rich tradition in the aviation industry; his grandfather was an instructor in Bristol Box Kites during the First World War and his father

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The Bobcats are only 1 second apart from each other, thus full concentration is required from each pilot Photo Credit: Mick Sheppo

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was a Spitfire pilot in the Second World War. Both his boys are jet captains.

“After my father died, my mother married another pilot in 1945,” explains David. “He was killed and then she married a third pilot. The day I came home at the age of 16 and said to her that the Air Force was teaching me to fly she burst into tears!”

David, a GP for 55 years who also served as a Flying Doctor, was recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to medicine and aviation in the Queen's Birthday honours list last year – something he is, understandably, incredibly proud of.

Masters of the Skies Today, in addition to David in his DeHavilland Chipmunk aircraft and Alan in his KR2 which he built himself, there is Bobcat 3, Rod Hall in his Sling 4 who used to perform aerobatics in his jet fighter, and Bobcat 4 John Hayler in his RV7 who practised formation flying in the Zimbabwean Air Force; Bobcat 5 is navigated by Steve Woodham who built his own Sonex aircraft, Bobcat 6 is flown by Peter Fowler and Bobcat 7 by Anthony D'Angelo.

“Although there are seven of us in total, we only ever have six taking to the skies at one time,” commented David. “Who flies each weekend often depends on who

Learn to fly with the Hastings District Flying Club LEARN TO FLY

GET IN TOUCH WITH US: t/ 02 6583 1695 e/ enquiries@hdfc.com.au w/ www.hdfc.com.au a/ Oliver Dr, Port Macquarie NSW 2444

❖ “When you’re flying so close to one another you need incredible concentration levels,” says David. “Unless you’re leading the formation you are not constantly looking at your instruments but instead focusing on keeping your wings level with the pilot next to you – all you concentrate on is the plane next to you and nothing else. You’re about half a second from potentially running into him so the highest levels of concentration are required, particularly when conditions are a bit bumpy.”

- Dr David Cooke

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is available although we never take more than six planes up.”

These masters of the skies absolutely know their craft and they truly understand the dangerous nature of what they undertake.

“Despite having different backgrounds, all the pilots are experienced and really know what they are doing,” says David.

“Alan is ex-Navy who still does aircraft maintenance work. Rod Hall used to sell jet fighter rides here in Port Macquarie, John Hayler is a retired Airbus captain from Cathay Pacific with 24,000 hours of flying time under his belt who learned formation flying with the Rhodesian Air Force and Steve Woodham built his own Sonex aircraft and therefore has intrinsic knowledge. Similarly, Anthony Angelo and Peter Fowler are both senior instructors.

“We originally had Greg Kemp fly with us as well but he moved to Queensland so he is unable to join us anymore. He was an instructor for the Australian Aviation College in Port Macquarie.”

‘Incredible concentration levels’ Planning is key to the formation’s success as the different aircraft have different speed performances, unlike in the Airforce where every craft is uniform. The Bobcats often fly only one second and 15 metres apart and so need to be fully synchronised in establishing and maintaining the correct speed and distance to avoid any potentially disastrous mishaps.

“When you’re flying so close to one another you need incredible concentration levels,” says David.

“Unless you’re leading the formation you are not constantly looking at your instruments but instead focusing on keeping your wings level with the pilot next to you – all you concentrate on is the plane next to you and nothing else. You’re about half a second from potentially running into him so the highest levels of concentration are required, particularly when conditions are a bit bumpy.”

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Pilots: Bobcat 1 David Cooke, Bobcat 2 Alan Bradtke, Bobcat 3 Rod Hall, Bobcat 4 John Hayler, Bobcat 5 Steve Woodham, Bobcat 6 Peter Fowler, Bobcat 7 Anthony D'Angelo Photo Credit: Mick Sheppo

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The Bobcats fly across Port Macquarie every Saturday morning Photo Credit: Mick Sheppo

Photo Credit: Mick Sheppo

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❋ “As part of the planning process, the pilots will have an in-depth briefing session every Saturday morning prior to them taking to the skies. The addition of an iPad app has helped with the planning, from the order of take-off positions to any mid-flight manoeuvres when changing position.”

- Dr David Cooke

Typically David leads the formation out and usually Rod will lead back in to landing, although whoever takes the lead is the one in control with the paramount position of responsibility.

“Whoever is leading calls the shots at all times and the rest of the formation follow,” adds David. “Sometimes I will lead, sometimes Rod, John or Steve and we will often change mid-flight. But whoever leads will set the formation, set the tempo and call out to any other traffic in the area.”

As part of the planning process, the pilots will have an in-depth briefing session every Saturday morning prior to them taking to the skies. The addition of an iPad app has helped with the planning, from the order of take-off positions to any midflight manoeuvres when changing position.

“It helps considerably when aligning the aircrafts next to or behind one another,” comments David. “Sometimes we arrange in an arrowhead formation and we will often have two planes pull up and come back down again. The route each Saturday morning is relatively standard whereby we

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Pilots briefing

64 will head out over the town and the river mouth area, over Lake Cathie and then turn up along the coast to the lighthouse then back over the general area around the town for about half an hour before we come back and form a smooth long line in order to land.”

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Bristell

Photo Credit: Mick Sheppo

Any new potential pilots looking to join the Bobcats need to have undergone thorough training before even being considered.

“There is a basic course of five hours with an appropriate instructor first and foremost,” explains David. “Some will head down to Maitland in the Hunter Valley to train although several pilots have been trained locally by John Hayler. However, we wouldn’t consider anyone new joining unless they have had at least 10 hours of formation specific flying. We would then undertake practice sessions, perhaps just two planes up there so the person can get used to flying so close to another plane. Any new pilot would then be added to the end of the stream when we go up. And then gradually as we get to trust the new pilot, and they get to trust us, we can move him or her into position.”

Flying Events David and his colleagues are all incredibly proud of the Bobcat Formation and how it entertains countless observers each weekend and on special occasions such as ANZAC day – they have even performed as part of funeral.

‘Cool names’ The final question we pose to David is around the actual name Bobcat itself and how it came about.

“Bobcat comes from Alan,” he replies with a laugh. “Whereas I started the whole thing, Alan was a military guy where it has always been the norm for cool names to be assigned to pilots rather than numbers, which can get confusing. It’s like in the movie

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Chipmunk

Photo Credit: Mick Sheppo

Top Gun where Tom Cruise’s character is called Maverick. Alan was named Bobcat when he was in the Navy and we just adopted that name. It’s funny as I didn’t know until recently that the bobcat is actually an animal!”

Animals aside, thanks to the passion and skill of pilots like David there are now seven Bobcats, a maximum of six of whom are up in the skies each Saturday morning so make sure you take time to marvel at these magnificent men in their flying machines at the first chance you get!

Radio interview: Bobcat Leader Dr. David Cooke & ABC's Peter Rasmussen from the air

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“When you’ve got a formation going over, where someone has died, you take one of the aeroplanes out and you leave that space and it’s called the missing man and you fly like that. It’s a mark of respect.”

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Photo Credit: Mick Sheppo

Photo Credit: Mick Sheppo

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INTRODUCING PORT MACQUARIE’S QUIET AND INTROSPECTIVE PHOTOGRAPHER, MICK SHEPPO ✦ Mick Sheppo captures worldly images of nature, people, bands, and everything in between through the lens of his camera.

And Birds! I really love birds! If you get the chance to befriend the birds then you must!, for the feathered friends will teach you stuff about them that you need to know.

What are your artistic influences?

Not sure how to string the words together for this question, hey... hadn't really thought about it till you asked but in terms of photographic influence I guess the main one would be my dad. The best photographer I know!

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or the past 30 years, local Port Macquarie artist Mick Sheppo has been capturing worldly images of nature, people, bands, and everything in between through the lens of his camera. His body of work flows in and out of time. We were fortunate to be be able to pose him a few questions about his life and work.

Where did your love of photography come from?

Maybe my “love” of photography kinda developed mostly in the last 1015 years, I reckon. I've taken pics on and off throughout life since I was five (cheers to my most amazing parents

Mick Sheppo

for the introduction!) but ... in the last few years learning how to see the world as it should and must be seen is very much how I've approached the capturing of all these wonderful moments in time.

Also this passion for making photos comes from capturing artistes doing what they do. Port and surrounds has such a wide and amazing demographic of talented artistes! Live art is hands down the most important medium for the sanity and well being of our minds and bodies and the sooner that connection can be reestablished the better for us all! How much do we want the music back, right!??

Other influences...? Ok... Our Actual Mother... Earth!

She is the embodiment of all we can see and hear, taste, touch and feel, The original influencer and still the best by a long shot! There's some musos and painty peeps too yes!

Ok.. the artist Mel Casey! Kinda love her brain for birds. A photographer by the name of William Mustafa, he does a lot of street work and really knows how to capture a story within a scene, and of course music - way too many to list here that's for sure but where would we be without it?

We hear that you’ve photographed some local music events - can you tell us a bit about that?

Right here is where my heart is! The level of awesomeness brought to the people through music in our region

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is top shelf and a wonder to behold. There have been so many amazing local music events, shows and festivals over the past years and I've been lucky enough to get the chance to be there with a camera which helps me cement all that through pictures in a wildwood, a livelane, lots of howling at the moon, some Red Earth, The Artwalks yes! a Magic Castle, music at the Black Duck!, Riding the Wave, Butterfactory Blues and even an Electric Stew.

Photo Credit: Mick Sheppo

There have been many more events, all giving us exactly what we need at the time... COVID can go away now as we really need the music back!

“He has an amazing ability to capture the moment” - Travis Fredericks, Dark Alley Collectables

We hear that you use a variety of vintage cameras. What’s your favourite?

To clarify, there is a bunch of vintage cameras I have acquired but my motivation is for the glass so I can adapt it to digital. Would love to say I'm shooting film but I'm not... it's a time thing, hey. One of my favourite lenses though is an 85mm Canon Rangefinder from the 1960s, currently in need of repair but beautiful in every way none the less.

From your viewpoint, what makes a great picture?

I was gonna just say composure but I think there's way more to it than that. There needs to be a connection between subject, photographer and viewer. It's not just the picture itself but how the image makes you feel when you see it. Yes, a lot of my photos are of remembrance value as my memory is not what it used to be but I guess the bonus is I can share the scenes that make me happy or sad or whatever with everyone, then they too can feel an emotional connection to that moment in time. After all, if there's no feeling then what's the point?

Photo Credit: Mick Sheppo

What projects do you have coming up?

All of the events that were 'coming up' for 2021 have been cancelled due to COVID... weddings, festivals, all art related goodness! Sadness ensues although the footy still happened... grumble, grumble!

Photo Credit: Mick Sheppo

Recently, Mick Sheppo photographed the Bobcat Formation, a group of six pilots who fly across Port Macquarie, Lake Cathie and Bonny Hills in formation every Saturday morning.

Checkout Sheppo Pics

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“He’s a pure artist, gentle soul and a pleasure to work with” - Lisa Willows, Howling Moon Blues Festival

Photo Credit: Mick Sheppo

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LOCAL ELECTIONS, PORT MACQUARIEHASTINGS COUNCIL, NSW ✦ The Count Down Is On To December 4! Get to know your candidates.

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f you go for a drive around the Greater Port Macquarie Hastings region you can’t miss seeing the election posters that have sprung up. With just a few weeks before we go to the polling booth on December 4, the Local Government Election Campaign is hotting up.

There are 8 Councillor seats on the Port Macquarie Hastings Council to be filled as well as a popularly elected Mayor, all electors enrolled in the Council area are eligible to vote.

The Electoral Commission's current register of candidates indicates there are 27 nominees already in the running for the Port Macquarie-Hastings council elections.

NSW Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock, postponed the local government elections scheduled to take place on September 4 earlier this year. It was the second time, due to COVID, the elections were put on hold,.

They were originally to be held in September 2020.

Voters will be able to participate in the December elections in person, by post or online and pre-poll voting will begin two weeks before election day.

When you vote, you take back your power to choose, to speak up, and to stand with those who support you and each other.

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* Candidates in ballot paper order

Ungrouped

Groups

• Jon Bailey - Independent for Camden Haven

Group C The Greens

• Stephen Gates - Independent (running for mayor)

- Lauren Edwards, Stuart Watson, Drusi Meggett, Les Mitchell

• Raymond Linney - Independent

Group A Fighters for Our Region

Mayoral Candidates

• John Saunders - Independent for Camden Haven

• Peta Pinson • Steven Gates • Rachel Sheppard • Lisa Intemann • Nik Lipovak

- Lisa Intemann (running for mayor), Kingsley Searle, Stewart Cooper, Narelle Milligan, Paul Bradford Group B Hastings First

Brilliant-online has interviewed some candidates in past editions, we chat with Nik James Lipovak this edition and bring you an email trail from Peta Pinson from a concerned resident.

Mayoral Candidate Nik James Lipovac Correspondence: Russell Delforce and Peta Pinson

Key information Where to vote and other important locations: • Voting centre locations before election day • Voting centre locations on election day • Location of the office of the returning officer Saturday, 4 December 2021 - Nik James Lipovac (running for mayor), Kerry Fox, Linda Lenord, Michael Clarke, Justin Hardie

8.00am - 6.00pm Add Election Reminder to My Calendar

Learn more

- Peta Pinson (running for mayor), Adam Roberts, Sharon Griffiths, Danielle Maltman, Josh Slade Group E Team Sheppard - Rachel Sheppard (running for mayor), Gregory Freeman, Linda Elbourne, Ethan Francis

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Group D Team Pinson

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NIKO FIRST... HASTINGS FIRST! ✦ The countdown has begun to the local Government Election on December 4.

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e spoke with Mayoral Candidate Nik James Lipovac to get his take on his team, Hastings First and the Community responses so far.

Hastings First is a group ticket, led by local radio personality Nik James Lipovac (Niko), who is contesting the top job of Mayor. He is backed up by Kerry Fox, Linda Lenord, Michael Clarke and Justin Hardie.

When asked how the campaign been going Nik told us, “It's been an amazing rollercoaster ride so far but incredibly worthwhile to meet so many passionate community members and groups over the past couple of months.

We're delighted to have been drawn out as GROUP B on the Ballot Paper so all we're asking is for those who are looking for a genuine change amongst their Council representatives who will focus on unity, transparency and getting things done, then support the "Hastings First" Team by Voting 1 ABOVE THE LINE. Our combined skills and experience in

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Business, Education, Finance, Infrastructure and work in the Community through Volunteering is second to none.

Some key issues you have been made aware of by the community? You have attended many community meetings, what have you learned from this?

Not surprisingly, the issues and concerns of residents in this incredibly diverse Local Government Area varies from town to town. What's important and needs attention in Laurieton is different to what's required in Kew, Wauchope, Telegraph Point, Northside, the Port CBD, Greenmeadows, Innes Lake, Lake Cathie and Bonny Hills. To summarize, locals are desperate to see action being taken and results being achieved. Better planning and infrastructure, improvements to roads, footpaths and sporting facilities, sustainable development, supporting local business, protection of the environment and working towards providing affordable housing.

HASTINGS FIRST - Left to Right: Justin Hardie, Kerry Fox, Nik James Lipovac, Linda Lenord, and Michael Clarke

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With the election fast approaching Nik has this message for the community“Make sure you select the candidates who will do what's best for the community and not just what is best for themselves and their personal agendas.

Select the People who put Hastings First.

Support those you know and trust in conjunction with their skills, experience and community involvement and not just vote for those who have the most signs and make the most noise.

If you're not happy with how Council has operated over the past term or over the past 2 decades then make the change. Vote 1 NIK LIPOVAC for MAYOR and Vote 1 Above the Line for "GROUP B" - LIPOVAC, FOX, LENORD, CLARKE and HARDIE."

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Meet the Hastings First Candidates

✶ "I have known Nik Lipovac for many years. Niko’s commitment to the Hastings and its people is always at the forefront of his words and actions. He is honest, compassionate and always willing to lend a hand.

I believe Niko is an outstanding Mayoral candidate who, alongside a proactive and cohesive team of counsellors, has the talent, commitment and capacity to listen and act for everyone in the Hastings."

- Caleb Rose, Chief Executive Officer, YP SPACE Mid North Coast

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LOCAL PORT MACQUARIE-HASTINGS POLITICS ✦ With the Local Government Elections fast approaching some would say so what!

Those elected don’t listen to the community anyway. We beg to differ.

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ayor Peta Pinson's responses to a concerned citizen, Russell Delforce

Brilliant-online has been given permission to publish the following email correspondence from a concerned community member, Russell Delforce and current Port Macquarie Hastings Mayor Peta Pinson.

Take from it what you will #. Original email from Russell Delforce with Mayor Pinson’s responses on the 22nd October, 2021 in red.

N.B. email addresses have been omitted for privacy reasons.

From: Russell Delforce Sent: Wednesday, 20 October 2021 8:59 AM To: Mayor Peta Pinson Subject: Election topics Hi Peta, with the upcoming local government election coming up I would like to share some concerns with you.

1. I was finally prompted to send this email when my wife had a medical appointment over at Innes this morning and with all the traffic problems now in Port on Ocean Drive and the Oxley (to be sure) she left Lighthouse at 7.45am for an 8.30am appointment. Turns out she got there no problems this morning and cooled her heels for 30 minutes. How crazy that we now have to think like this in Port Paradise.

Why have the roads and traffic been so ignored by this council? Why have we now all having to think about when we move around in Port to miss these Sydney type delays ? Have you been out to see the disaster the roundabout at the hospital is at peak times? It must be impossible for emergency vehicles trying to get say to the hospital.

[Mayor Peta Pinson] Ocean Drive is due to be duplicated from Mathew Flinders Drive to Greenmeadows. Council resolved to borrow 30 million dollars to add to the State Government investment of 60 million dollars. Ocean Drive was not a priority of Council before I entered into Council. I brought it to the table and it was a huge priority for the State Member, Leslie Williams, plans are now well underway to deliver this project. As for the Oxley Highway, I do not wish to appear to be passing the buck but this road is State owned and their responsibility. Engagement has taken place by Transport for NSW about a solution to this massive gridlock problem.

2. With all this uncontrolled development in and around Port why is nothing being done to get the infrastructure to support it like roads, dam capacity etc. You can bet that next time we have a drought our water restrictions are going to be horrific with all these extra people using water. Every time we drive down to Laurieton and see all those eye sores and the trouble we will have from all those extra demands on infrastructure I get angry about the lack of council forethought. Traffic on Ocean Drive, we ain't seen nothing yet !

[Mayor Peta Pinson] Agree, we have not been visionary in our future direction. We need a Council that will focus on ensuring our region is growing responsibly and that we have a brave Council that pushes back on poor development proposals.

Past Councils including this one have not prioritised delivering the infrastructure at the time of development. You may ask what is my responsibility in this situation over the past 4 years, I have not had the numbers in Council to support me in my desire to support the community vision. Cr Griffiths is the only Councillor who has been of any support to me. I must also say that the State Government is the lead Government when it comes to planning and development and passes legislation to allow developers to clear land for housing. I get angry on past Council forethought also.

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3. Why are our roads in such terrible condition? Apart from potholes everywhere have you driven the road to the airport or out to Settlement Point. They are goat tracks !

[Mayor Peta Pinson] Years of underinvestment Why with something like $340,000,000 in the bank are we not getting all these things fixed ? Can't be the interest council receives !

[Mayor Peta Pinson] The Councillors with the numbers have not prioritised this. Many of these Councillors have been in their position for 9 years.

We moved up here from Sydney 20 years ago and I remember driving around with a real estate person prior to buying who explained that land was scarce in Port BECAUSE THE COUNCIL WOULD NOT RELEASE NEW LAND TILL INFRASTRUCTURE WAS UP TO THE MARK. What a great idea. I remember being so impressed after living with a Sydney council how things up here just happened before whatever became a problem. The now much overloaded Ocean Drive going through was an example of happening at the then time it was needed and when now will something be done about Ocean Drive. It seems that just making extra lanes will not help much with all that traffic coming up from south all of which will be soon much worse when all those new horrible developments are up and running.

Didn't the State Government kick in money for this - What happened to that money ?

[Mayor Peta Pinson] The State Government pledged 60 million dollars and Council resolved to borrow 30 million dollars to fund the project which is in preparation to begin in early 2022.

All in all I have to say we are extremely disappointed in this current council and this is a common theme amongst those we know.

[Mayor Peta Pinson] I share your views and am restanding and asking for a new Council team to drive community views and values.

Please, I do not mean to offend but I am one of those people who thinks that if I don't try definitely nothing will be done rather than complaining to everyone but not doing anything because they think it a waste of time and nobody will listen. This is a common thing nowadays.

[Mayor Peta Pinson] I assure you I have been listening and understand your frustration.

I hope you can find time to reply.

[Mayor Peta Pinson] Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback it is much appreciated.

Regards Russell

Responses from Russell Delforce and Mayor Peta Pinson with reference to the above From: Russell Delforce Sent: Friday, 22 October 2021 2:09 PM To: Mayor Peta Pinson Subject: Re[2]: Election topics Thanks your excellent reply Peta and yes I suspected most of this.

I imagine you will give us all a list of who you would like to be in council and we can get rid of those who are not doing the best for Port.

Re the State Government, can we get Leslie on side to try and stop them approving these horrible crazy developments. I imagine the two of you have tried but with your permission I will take it up with her as well. She does a great job generally and I think I can imagine she might be a little frustrated too.

Let's get rid of those road block councillors. I will do my best with friends to get that job done. What happened to all the councillors from the Rob Drew era ? They all knew how to make things work. Pity you couldn't get some of them.

Regards Russell

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Port Macquarie-Hastings.

Photo Credit: Alex McNaught

From: Mayor Peta Pinson Date: 23/10/21 7:18 am (GMT+10:00) To: Russell Delforce Subject: RE: Re[2]: Election topics Thanks Russell and really appreciate your support. Team Pinson has a plan to bring back the days of common sense decision making and focussing on the community projects that will make a difference to all of our lives. Yes please reach out to Leslie and share your views and frustrations.

Plenty of energy in the tank to keep fighting for the issues that really matter.

Have a great weekend!

Peta Pinson Mayor From: russ Sent: Saturday, 23 October 2021 9:23 AM To: Mayor Peta Pinson Subject: RE: Re[2]: Election topics No worries Peta but one more question and will then leave you alone. Question I know I will be asked is why with all that money in bank does council need to borrow 30 million for Ocean Drive ?

Good luck Russ From: Mayor Peta Pinson Date: 26/10/21 12:54 pm (GMT+10:00) To: russ Subject: RE: Re[2]: Election topics Thanks Russell, because the money has been derived from developer contributions and must be allocated to infrastructure delivery in the vicinity of where the development occurred.

The Ocean Drive project does not qualify for that.

Take care for now J Peta Pinson Mayor

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Russell believes it is essential that we have a Mayor with honesty and courage to make things right

❖ "As a result of Peta Pinson's excellent response to my emails, I will now be voting for her and her group, along with many others who agree with me. From things I have heard recently, the points covered by her were proven correct and following revelations from ABC 4 Corners program, it is essential that we have a Mayor with honesty and courage to make things right. It seems that this may be a very big job and hopefully Peta can achieve this for us all."

- Russell Delforce

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TEAM PINSON: Josh Slade, Mayor Peta Pinson, Cr Sharon Griffiths, Adam Roberts and Danielle Maltman

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PREPARE FOR BUSHFIRES

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Helicopter fire bomb Photo Credit: Richscape Photography

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WHY PLANNING IS KEY WHEN PREPARING FOR BUSHFIRE ✦ Fire safety

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ven though COVID-19 has dominated everyone’s lives for the past 18-months or so, it is time to turn our attention to the impending summer season and with it the potentially harrowing threat of bushfires throughout the country.

The devastating fires of 2019-2020 are still fresh in the minds of many and serve as a reminder of how destructive a force they can be and how much havoc they can reign down on communities, wildlife and the natural environment.

We can all take definitive steps to minimising the threat and thus safeguarding our safety and that of those around us. And the key to achieving this is preparation, preparation, preparation.

Assessing one’s own property and understanding best what can be done to prepare the property and the vegetation surrounding the property by clearing anything that could potentially fuel a fire is the first and most important step.

This includes regularly trimming the lawn, cutting long and dry grasses and any shrubs or thick undergrowth close to the home. Removing weeds and fallen leaves, twigs and debris that may have gathered, particularly in gutters, on roofs, downpipes and the base of trees, ensuring garden beds

are kept moist through appropriate mulching or by using crushed rock or garden pebbles around plants.

Replacing timber edging with stone and moving planter boxes are recommended and making sure any wood piles are ideally stored away from the house, preferably in a fireproof metal container.

Assessing nearby trees on the property utilising the Quantified Tree Risk Assessment (QTRA) system is particularly effective as it limits the risk of harm from tree failure while maintaining the benefits that trees provide. One local company that is fully QTRA qualified able to lend professional assistance is Accomplished Tree Management.

Roofs can serve as an invaluable first line of defence against fire but they deteriorate over time so investing in a professional roof inspection is prudent. Likewise, installing metal

screens and shutters on windows and doors, on roof vents and subfloors.

Rob also encourages people to draw up a bushfire survival plan in advance so families know full well what to do and how to react. As he says, it is better to have prepared and be familiar with response routines than be faced with having to make critical decisions in the literal heat of the moment.

Bushfires are an unfortunate inevitability but how we prepare dictates how we are able to react and hopefully minimise damage to property, the environment and its inhabitants and, ultimately, ourselves and our families.

Learn more

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Rob Webb, Director of National Projects and Innovation at the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC), urges people to start thinking seriously and becoming aware of direct threats, encouraging people to visit the Rural Fire Service website to access tips on what can be done to control and contain any threats.

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STEPHEN PROHM, LIFELINE'S DISASTER RECOVERY COORDINATOR ✦ Lifeline Mid Coast has a new kid on the block. His name is Stephen Prohm and he’s the new Disaster Recovery Coordinator for Lifeline Mid Coast.

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ollowing a confronting year that included floods which followed hot on the heels from last year’s bushfires and the continuation of COVID, the name of Stephen’s role was changed from Bushfire Recovery Coordinator to Disaster Recovery Coordinator this year, to reflect the change in scope for the delivery of service.

The continuation of community disasters enabled Lifeline Mid Coast to create the new role with the program being designed to identify and support natural community

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leaders who are active in re-building their towns and communities after a disaster, supporting the growth of community resilience and mental health awareness.

Tell us a little bit about your role as the Lifeline Disaster Recovery Coordinator “I commenced in February 2020 following the Black Summer Bushfires, since then I have been doing lots of

Stephen Prohm talks about Lifeline Mid Coast

outreach mainly up around Kempsey, Bellbrook and Willarin. As far as we are aware, they were the hardest hit and most vulnerable communities on the Mid North Coast. I also visited areas that were impacted and those included Lake Cathie, Laurieton, Johns River, Pappinbarra, Hollisdale and out past Long Flat. Wherever I was needed during those time, I would turn up, I would also represent Lifeline at programmed community resilience events.

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B RI LLIA NT H E A LTH

✱ “I provide non-clinical support by listening. I also let people know of Lifeline’s and other agency services.

It works well because I’m also building awareness in the community that Lifeline does not only provide suicide prevention and crisis services, but we do many other things.”

- Stephen Prohm, Lifeline Mid Coast

During 2020-2021, Lifeline Mid Coast continued to respond to communities impacted by the bushfires, as well as engaging in the flood recovery efforts being coordinated by local councils, where torrential rain and floods impacted the communities of Kempsey, Mid North Coast and Taree/ Manning. In some instances, families who lost homes and/or animals in the bushfires were again devastated by such losses during the floods.

well on their own, with psychological support. I was able to look after and provide support for the partners who were having difficulties, rather than have to bring the submariner home.”

By June 30 2021, Lifeline paid and volunteer staff had made 110 site visits to 30 trauma affected communities covering 7034 km.

Visited the Lifeline Shops that were depleted due to COVID. Despite restrictions, the training team (lead by Di Bannister) delivered Psychological First Aid and Accidental Counsellor workshops.

What’s happening now for you?

How did you get chosen for this role?

“It was an internal hire; I was already a Telephone Crisis Supporter for Lifeline Mid Coast and had been volunteering for the past five years. More recently I had been assisting facilitators in a volunteer role, for the Crisis Support Training for the new cohorts.”

What do you do?

“I provide non-clinical support by listening. I also let people know of Lifeline’s and other agency services. It works well because I’m also building awareness in the community that Lifeline does not only provide suicide prevention and crisis services, but we do many other things.”

“We have provided targeted training in understanding and responding to trauma; the provision of ongoing support in skills development; and opportunities to engage in debriefing and supervision.”

What is your background and how did it equip you for this important role?

“The Telephone Crisis Support and I had been in a human factor role in the Australia Navy for 20 years serving in both Australia and overseas. My final three years in the navy were spent in a service organisation where I was part of a team that assisted people with entitlements and importantly connecting the partners of submariners, who were not coping so

If you have attempted suicide and would like to join the Eclipse group, please give Kelly a call on 6581 2800 or email suicideprevention@lifelinemidcoast.org.au

“Prior to Lifeline Mid coast, my most recent role was in Quality, Safety and Environment.”

Stephen Prohm has always played the part of support person in relational leadership.

I am part of the Community Resilience and Community Support Network, and I am continuing to coordinate The Accidental Counsellor training for community members. As my role and the program continues to evolve, I am working with Lifeline volunteers and the SES to prepare for future major disasters. As a result of community needs workshops (in 3 LGA’s) a need was identified to seek out those who may not have sought or were not ready to seek psychosocial assistance.

This gap will be addressed next year.

What’s your take away?

“Reaching small communities, identifying gaps that services are struggling to meet and coordinating networks to meet some of those gaps within the community.”

“Recognising that most of the communities have the strength and the trust within the communities to do it themselves, so I am just here to support their skills”.

Thanks for your time Stephen and all the great work you do in our local communities.

(02) 6581 2800 admin@lifelinemidcoast.org.au lifelinemidcoast.org.au PO Box: 5030 Port Macquarie NSW 2444

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GREENBOURNE NURSERY ABOUT PROPAGATING IN SPRING ✦ Creating plants is one of the true joys in horticulture.

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he raw excitement of Spring has begun to ease off. We all now attend to our recently acquired plants that we obtained in a dizzy state of euphoria that the onset of the growing season always brings.

We now reassess our gardening priorities from a frenzied bout of planting into a rhythmic balance of feeding, weeding and watering. While watching the garden is why we garden it seems us gardener types always like to be doing something more with our vegetative buddies … so we propagate.

Creating plants is one of the true joys in horticulture. There are many techniques and methods that we have access to.

Seed The simplest method of plant propagation. Always an exciting journey to see the emergence of a small plant as it arrives out of its sleeping cocoon.

I have found memories of a great gardener once talking to me about a seed. He would remark how IBM (the computer company) would claim to have developed the first microprocessor …this is the first one he would say as he held a tiny seed in his gnarled, well-aged fingers.

And how could you argue with him, within that tiny seed casing was all the information that was required to create something absolutely amazing.

There are great seed raising soils at the nurseries these days. They are nice and fine in particle size and have ingredients that retain the optimum moisture levels. There are also specific germinating kits that contain

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Germinating seed

peat plugs that allow you germinate seed individually within a mini-igloo environment. When germinating seed like this you can minimise transplantation shock as the roots have little disturbance.

There are two terms that you may come across when you read literature on seed germination. Scarification and stratification, these are pretreating methods. Scarification involves breaking down the hard seed coating that some varieties have. This can be done physically by rubbing seed on sanding paper or shaking around in a container with small stones in it. Hot water is an effective method for some types as it aids in cracking and softening the seed coating. Stratification is a method where we are attempting to mimic a seed's natural environment. Storing some seed types in the refrigerator creates an artificial winter which helps the seed to break its dormancy.

A final tip when germinating seeds, particularly in containers, is to cover them. There are many critters that will feed on both the ungerminated seed and the newly emerging seedling. So, cover with wire or a clear container to give them the best possible chance.

Plant cuttings When taking cuttings from plants to propagate with, always have clean, sharp, sterilised secateurs, this will minimise any chance of infection and enable a nice untorn cut. The use of a rooting hormone will greatly increase your success rate. Rooting hormones contain natural and synthetic auxins which encourage roots to form. They come in either a powder or gel, simply apply them to the southern end of the cutting prior to inserting it into the propagating mix. Again, your local nurseries have great propagating mixes which are well designed to give

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B RILLIA NT A R T S , ENTER TAIN M ENT & COM M U N IT Y your cuttings the best chance. Once your cuttings have been inserted into the propagating mix it is best to store them away from direct sunlight in a moist, humid environment, ideally an igloo like situation. Keep the cuttings well misted with water during the first few days.

Plant cuttings are basically classed into 3 distinct categories: Tip (softwood), semi-hardwood and hard wood.

Tip (softwood) cuttings A cutting made from the current season’s immature growth. Take cuttings about 5-10cm long, cutting just above a node. The cuttings are liable to wilt if not dealt with immediately, best done in the early morning. Great species to try are Coleus, Aster, Chrysanthemums and Fuchsia.

Semi-hardwood cuttings A cutting made from the current season’s growth just as it begins to harden at the base. Take cuttings about 10-15cm long. They are firm to touch at their base but still active in growth. Great species to try are Callistemon, Azalea, Camelia and Daphne.

Hardwood cuttings A cutting made from the fully ripened tissue of a woody plant. They are firm to touch all the way through the length of the cutting. Take cuttings 10-20cm long. Great species to try are Rosa, Viburnum, Prunus and Morus.

While seed and cutting are the most popular methods for home gardeners to use, nature has been kind enough to offer us an abundance of ways to reproduce certain varieties, here is a quick summary of a few methods of note.

Division A super economic way to reproduce plants. Really effective with a lot of clumping plants such as the ornamental grasses. Simply dig up the clumping plant (or remove it from the pot) and begin to ‘tease out’ the root

ball. By removing the soil from the roots, the separate plants will begin to come away from the main clump, simply giving each individual plant a minor root prune and pot separately.

Rhizomes/bulbs/corms/ tubers Many plants store energy and their genetic imprint beneath the soil in modified root systems which fall into various categories. These can be dug up and used to produce more plants.

Rhizomes and corms can be cut up into sections and replanted to form new plants, whereas bulbs and tubers can be separated from each other and divided up into individual pieces to create a host of new plants.

Layering This process can be done two ways, ground layering and air layering.

Ground layering involves pining an attached limb of the plant to the ground and submerging a nodal piece beneath the soil. When done with appropriate species the plant will produce a root system from the node.

From here the piece can be removed

from the parent plant and potted up with its new root system. Air layering works without pinning a piece to the ground but bringing the soil media to the limb. A clump of peat is best used, it is moistened and then wrapped around a nodal point on a plants’ limb. The peat is then held in place with a moist bit of cloth or in some cases foil. Foil works really well as you are able to mould it around the peat ball and the limb. Over time a root system will begin to form within the contained peat ball. When the roots are sufficient enough in size the piece can be pruned from the plant and potted up with its new root system.

The plant kingdom really does provide us with year round entertainment.

Propagation is just one of the many stimulating tasks we can perform in and around our garden. Please get out there and give a few of these techniques a go and share a few small gifts with family and friends. As I have mentioned before, the act of creation certainly gives you an amazing and satisfying feeling. Pop out to the nursery for any extra advice you might require or as always just for a friendly chat.

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Chrysanthemums

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WAUCHOPE CREATIVE HUB HAS A NEW ADDITION! ✦ Welcome Kalido!

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auchope’s creative co-op welcomes Kalido the koala from the Hello Koala sculpture trail.

Wauchope Creative Hub director Stu Doherty is proud to join the Sculpture trail he told us, “the Hello Koala Sculpture Trail is a perfect fit for Wauchope Creative Hub, they showcase the depth of amazing artistic talents on the Mid North Coast and we are all about celebrating locally artists”.

Kalido is designed and created by Wauchope Hub member Francessca O’Donnell Francessca told us Kalido Koala is cousin to PK Sparkles, another amazing Koala creation.

His coat is covered in the same quirky performing arts motifs dedicated to the large local community involved in theatre, music, dance and singing, woven into a patchwork of colour.

Artist Biography Francessca has worked locally for over 25 years in the performing arts arena and is also "addicted to mosaic".

It was therefore no surprise that the two mosaic sculptures created

by Francessca for the Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail - Kalido and PK Sparkles the Performing Koala - were inspired by her desire to recognize the talent of so many young people that have left the region and pursued outstanding careers in the performing arts, both nationally and internationally.

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Francessca's vision was to create a pair of fun, colourful mosaic koalas that would inspire delight and wonder. The two designs include quirky performing arts icons of dance, drama and music and a bandaged leg in recognition of the wonderful work done by the Koala Hospital.

She also wanted to pay respect to country and the indigenous community by the addition of particular colours and concentric circle symbols which appear on the back of the Koala.

Happily, both designs were selected and so began the first of two koalas.

Transferring the design from her A4 original, to the larger 3D sculpture took Francessca longer than expected as the curves effected the shapes and design. The first sculpture was completed in 6 weeks.

Francessca's work covers mosaics in both 2D and 3D forms, jewellery, painting, etchings and sculpture. She loves to explore and experiment, try new materials, new ideas and play with different materials, colours and textures.

According to Francessca, inspiration for designs is largely from nature, exploring shapes and forms that intertwine and flow with colour the driving force. Other themes she has explored are the curves of the human form and ancient symbols and shapes from Chinese, Maori, Mexican and Mayan mythology and the earth and its many layers.

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Francessca O’Donnell designed and created Kalido

Exploring various materials has added texture and a certain tactile quality to many of the pieces that draws people in to want to touch and explore the surfaces. The use of both flat and textured finishes and use of glass and reflective tiles also add a fascinating new dimension with the play of light and shadow. Francessca has also worked with pebbles, sea glass, wood and driftwood.

The rich colours of the various tile, pebbles, glass, beads and mirror are intensified by the choice of coloured grout which ties the final piece together.

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Dedicated to the performing arts

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BECOME A TELEPHONE CRISIS SUPPORTER FOR LIFELINE MID COAST ✦ We exist so that no one in Australia has to face their darkest moments alone.

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ue to the incredible stressors our nation has faced in recent times, Lifeline Mid Coast as part of the Lifeline network, has answered more calls than ever before and we need your help. Are you interested and ready to become a Lifeline Crisis Supporter?

It is with the commitment of our dedicated team of Crisis Supporter volunteers and staff that we have been able to step up to meet the increase in calls to the Lifeline 131114 crisis line.

Our Telephone Crisis Supporters come from all walks of life, communities and cultures and are a good range of ages. No previous training or counselling experience is required, just the desire to help others and give back to your community.

So, what is the benefit to you?

You will enrich your own life through personal growth, new life skills, professional development, meeting new people, connecting with your community, and saving lives.

As a volunteer with Lifeline Mid Coast, you will undertake a comprehensive, highly regarded training program that prepares you for your work as a Lifeline Crisis Support Worker. You will be trained to listen (it’s harder than you think) and in skills needed in emergency situations. Your role will be extremely rewarding, and you’ll be making a difference, the ripple effect of supporting someone is crisis is ongoing.

Once trained, you will attend a regular fortnightly shift of four hours, which amounts to 92 hours a year. There are additional requirements for ongoing supervision and skills development.

Every year Lifeline Mid Coast trains around 40 volunteers in Telephone Crisis Supporter Workplace Training (CSWT), a Nationally Recognised Training program on behalf of Lifeline Australia (RTO 88036). Once trained, these dedicated volunteers take calls on Lifeline’s twenty-four hour, seven day a week Telephone Crisis Support Line 13 11 14.

Last year Lifeline answered over a million and with Lifeline Mid Coast answered more than 21,000 callers in crisis support as part of the Lifeline network.

By volunteering your time and skills to Lifeline Mid Coast you will be supporting people in crisis, reducing the risk of suicide in our community. Some of the crisis our callers experience includes suicide, mental health issues, traumatic life events, loneliness, domestic and family

violence, addictions, family and relationship issues, natural disasters, bereavement, and day to day life stresses. When you volunteer for Lifeline Mid Coast you will be making a difference to the lives of over a million people who contact Lifeline every year.

There will be an information night on Thursday February 3rd, 2022.

If you would like to register your interest call Liz at Lifeline Mid Coast on 6581 2800 or email: admin@lifelinemidcoast.org.au For interviews, with our Training Manager, Di Bannister or a Crisis Support Worker, please contact: Lisa Willows, Marketing, Public and Community Relations, Fundraising Lifeline Mid Coast NSW.

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Supported by the NSW Health Ministry Lifeline relies on financial support from the community.

To make a donation please visit www.lifeline.org.au or phone 1800 800 768

Lifeline Statistics Lifeline is Australia’s largest suicide prevention service provider.

• Each year, over 1 million Australians reach out to Lifeline for support.

• Lifeline’s 13 11 14 crisis support line receives a call every 30 seconds.

• Lifeline’s network of 40 centres, 10,000 volunteers, and 1,000 employees provide a lifesaving national infrastructure for those experiencing immense pain and anguish.

• There are 4,500 Crisis Supporters working with Lifeline so that no person in Australia has to face their darkest moments alone.

Suicide Statistics

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What it is like to become a telephone crisis supporter for Lifeline Mid Coast

• Over 65,000 Australians make a suicide attempt each year.

• In 2019, 3,318 Australians took their own life.

• Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians between the ages of 15 and 44.

• The suicide rate in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is twice that of their non-Indigenous counterparts.

• People in rural populations are 2 times more likely to die by suicide.

• Nine Australians die every day by suicide. That’s more than double the road toll.

• LGBTI+ community members experience significantly higher rates of suicide than the rest of the population.

• 75% of those who take their own life are male.

• For each life lost to suicide, the impacts are felt by up to 135

If you have attempted suicide and would like to join the Eclipse group, please give Kelly a call on 6581 2800 or email suicideprevention@lifelinemidcoast.org.au

people, including family members, work colleagues, friends, first responders at the time of death.

• Males aged 85 and older experience the highest age-specific rate of suicide.

• Same-gender attracted Australians are estimated to experience up to 14 times higher rates of attempted suicide than their heterosexual peers.

• 1 in 4 Australians are lonely and have no-one to speak to. Lifeline is here to listen.

(02) 6581 2800 admin@lifelinemidcoast.org.au lifelinemidcoast.org.au PO Box: 5030 Port Macquarie NSW 2444

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HOP ON A JOYRIDE THIS GRANDPARENTS DAY ✦ Grandparents Day was first instituted in 1978 in the United States when President Jimmy Carter signed into law, designating the first Sunday of September for the celebrations. This article is contributed by Yong Shan Juan.

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ince 1979, Singapore has taken the inspiration from the United States by setting the fourth Sunday of November (this year, it will be 28th November 2021) to honour one’s grandparents.

Prior to COVID-19, Grandparents Day celebrations in Singapore used to be large scale community events. They were mainly organised by grassroots organisations and charities that support causes for the family and seniors.

The events would include visits to local attractions and parks, holding carnivals and group activities that encourage intergenerational participation for example, kite flying, picnics.

With COVID-19 restrictions in place, organisations have gone online to conduct workshops on making gifts and cards to express one’s appreciation to grandparents. Home delivery of grandparents’ favourite food would be a fail-proof option, or a simple call to wish them “Happy Grandparents Day!” on the day itself would make their day.

Outing with grandparents is still an option for the family but within the current regulation of conducting outdoor activity in pairs, including dining in. However, there is still a unique treat for grandparents that is worth exploring – a joy ride for the seniors on a trishaw.

Why the trishaw?

For this part of the world, especially in Singapore, the trishaw was the ubiquitous and affordable mode of public transport since the late 19th century. From the man-pull rickshaw of old to the present day foot-pedal trishaw, every senior especially the current cohort of elderly would have ridden on a trishaw; if not regularly, at least once or several times in their lifetime.

A trishaw ride will evoke memories of life in their early years.

Cycling Without Age (CWA) To understand about the idea of offering free rickshaw rides to seniors (trishaw in Singapore context), we need to look to Denmark. Ole Kassow, a cycling enthusiast, had a serendipitous encounter with an elderly man, Thorkild Thim, a resident of a nursing home in his neighbourhood in Copenhagen. For two weeks, Ole saw him seated at a bench with his walking frame morning after morning, enjoying the outdoors.

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Ole Kassow’s encounter with Thorkild Thim (seated) inspired him to start and pilot Cycling Without Age into a global movement.

While flipping through photos of old Copenhagen in the 1930s which captured hordes of cyclists on the road, it occurred to Ole that cycling would have been Thorkild’s daily mode of transport then, and he likely enjoyed cycling too.

So, Ole thought that it might be possible to let seniors such as Thorkild experience cycling again with a crazy new idea – taking them on rickshaw joyrides!

The first person to try Ole’s new idea was a senior in a local nursing home, Gertrude, and one of the home’s staff member. On Gertrude’s request, he brought her to the Lenelegad Broadwalk at Copenhagen Harbourfront.

This famous harbourfront had been an intimate part of Gertrude’s early life and held special and precious memories for Gertrude which she shared with Ole.

87 “After an hour, I felt like I had almost a magical bond with a stranger Gertrude. It almost felt as if I have been on a time journey with her,” Ole marvelled.

Ole would never have imagined the impact of a simple ride on an elderly resident, nor the subsequent floodgate of requests, interest and participation from all walks of life.

The next day, he had a call from the manager of the nursing home questioning him what he had done to Gertrude. The manager subsequently explained how Gertrude was transformed after the ride and the rest of the residents wanted to ride too.

Support from city authorities poured in and coverage by the media stirred up a storm of cohesion across all spectrum of age, ability and background. A national movement of kindness was sparked and people rallied in funding and organising more trips.

Ole shared how the rides “…gave them (the residents) a whole new mobility, and gave me an insight to my city that I have never experienced.”

New communities of care and share were formed, reaching and touching lives. Through cycling, whether in ferrying others or being ferried

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on the humble rickshaw, ordinary folks found purpose, passion, connection, empowerment.

Ole thus founded Cycling Without Age in Denmark. That was in 2012. Today, CWA has spread and been adopted in 50 countries across the globe.

Hear more of this inspiring and catalytic act of humanity from Ole himself where he chronicled his journey of engaging, enriching and enlivening lives through CWA

Cycling without age | Ole Kassow | TEDxCopenhagenSalon - An initiative which gives senior citizens the opportunity to get out of nursing homes and experience the city and the nature by rickshaw.

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Gayl Tan - Making a difference through cycling In Singapore, we chatted with Gayl Tan, aged 63, who volunteers with various senior care centres and nursing homes.

Trained as a trishaw cyclist with Singapore chapter of Cycling Without Age, Gayl has been supporting the cause in earnest. Since March this year, she has clocked six trips, and counting, whenever the COVID-19 situation in Singapore permits.

Gayl enthused: “In the one-hour ride, the seniors and their loved ones get to enjoy quality time. For these seniors, they can explore a new place in Singapore or revisit old places which have been refreshed or rebuilt. We get really great conversations as the seniors reminisce memories of old or trade stories of personal experiences and encounters. For some, they simply soak in the sights and sounds of the surrounds in companionable silence. It is very satisfying to be able to engage with folks from different walks of life and hear their stories.”

Gayl lives by the motto – Always find time for things that make you happy. She is the main caregiver to her 88-year-old mother with severe eye impairment and a 70-year-old sister who is bedridden with advanced stage Alzheimer’s disease. Despite her caregiving responsibilities, she still finds pockets of time to destress, through exercising and volunteering.

Three years ago when she turned 60, Gayl resolved to pursue an active and healthier lifestyle and started gentle hiking. But this solo hiker went from walking the modest Bukit Timah Hill in Singapore to conquering Mount Langtang in Nepal and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in just one year! Those were her wellness breaks from her familial caregiving duties.

When COVID-19 landed on Singapore shore, Gayl found new hobbies in kayaking and biking.

It was her twin passions for exercising and volunteering that she learned of CWAS. “I am happy to have made a difference in the seniors’ lives, even just for an hour. I also gain the added benefit of exercising through cycling,” she added.

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Longevity Ambassador, Gayl, with a client cruising along a park connector.

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Safe ride this Grandparents Day Despite the rising COVID-19 infection rate in Singapore, volunteers and seniors are still determined to have fun. CWAS has implemented a set of strict safety measures to ensure safe rides for all.

These safety measures include mandatory masking throughout the rides, and sanitising everyone hands and the rickshaws before and after the rides. With all these, both the volunteers and seniors can enjoy their outing with peace of mind.

Support CWAS

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Grandparents Day would be refreshingly different with a joyride on a CWAS trishaw. In fact, any day is a good day for a fun ride, be it a celebration or simply a day excursion with a loved one, or alone. Try it. It will definitely make your day!

Explore, Collaborate & Innovate Gayl's motto

Cycling Without Age Singapore (CWAS) CWAS joined the local charity scene in 2016 with the aim to connect people socially, promote health and wellbeing. Its programme and services provide a platform for intergenerational interaction while exploring a local attraction on a trishaw.

There are three programmes for volunteers: • For youth volunteers aged between 16 and 35 years, there is the ‘Moving Generations’ programme where the young have opportunities to learn from seniors through conversations and activities together.

• For volunteers above the age of 50, there is the ‘Strengthening Generations’ programme which lets them serve as advocates of active ageing. These volunteers, known as ‘Longevity Ambassadors’, are given training so that they can help other seniors lead purposeful lives.

• For youths-at-risks, there is the ‘Building Generations’ programme in which they can learn practical life skills, gain self-confidence and grow empathy as they interact and communicate with seniors.

CWA In Your City

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If you share similar passion for cycling and a desire to make a difference, do check out more details on your local chapter of CWA.

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LET THERE BE LIGHT! ✦ Celebrating the Festival of Lights all around the world

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fter what has been such a sustained period of darkness and gloom dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, it does seem somewhat timely that we are able to turn our attention to a series of events and festivals globally that celebrate light, goodness, positivity, hope and rebirth, serving as a reminder of brighter days ahead.

Light and Christmas go hand in hand.

When we think of the festive period, we immediately conjure up visions of Christmas trees adorned in lights, of houses decked out in impressive light configurations and dazzling light shows in our cities and town squares.

As families are hopefully able to convene after extended periods apart to share gifts, cheer and love, and consume fine food and drink, it will all be done under ubiquitous Christmas lights.

Of course, cities all across the world have become famous for their Christmas light displays and related celebrations but arguably none quite has the iconic romance of New York. The Christmas tree lights at Rockefeller Center, the dazzling lighting throughout Manhattan’s long avenues and streets and the worldfamous window displays in the likes of Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s make Christmas in New York a truly magical experience in the Big Apple.

London is another city that truly comes alive with light during the festive period with famous landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, the House of Commons, Big Ben and the London Eye all adorned with spectacular lights. Furtherafield, stately homes such as Blenheim Palace and The Festival of Light and Sound at the Eden Project in Cornwall provide unforgettable festive experiences.

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Christmas

91 In Canada, there is the Winter Festival of Lights celebration held at Niagara Falls that coincides with Christmas. The country’s largest lights festival leverages the aweinspiring water falls, adding strobe lighting, projected images and dramatic music to illuminate a 5km area which leaves over one million visitors each year marvelling.

Unrelated to the festive season but arguably the most famous celebration of light of all is Diwali. The five-day festival, known as the Festival of Lights honours Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and is regarded as a celebration of the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. It is celebrated by over one billion Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists all around the world and in India is regarded as the biggest and most important holiday of the year.

Also in November, we have the world renowned Chiang Mai Lantern Festival in Thailand. Revellers make wishes for good fortune as they launch paper lanterns known as khom loi into the sky to symbolise the release of negativity and bad luck during the previous year.

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Diwali/Deepavali Taranaki Festival of Lights

There is also the annual Berlin Festival of Light and in Kobe, Japan, a light festival is held every December to commemorate the devastating Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995 where over 200,000 individually hand painted lights are lit each year with electricity generated from biomass in order to stay environmentally friendly.

In New Plymouth, New Zealand we have the Taranaki Festival of Lights which has been running since 1993 and, last but not least, we have Vivid Sydney which has very much become an iconic occasion in recent years thanks to its light sculptures, multimedia interactive work and building projections that transform various buildings and landmarks in and around the central business district into an outdoor night time canvas of art.

Read The Full Story

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So, as we can see, despite a terrible past year and-a-half, there are so many illuminating events out there that can provide so much reason for cheer and optimism. Whether you are lucky enough to be in a location where you can enjoy first hand the splendours of a Festival of Lights or not, remember there is always light at the end of the tunnel!

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Vivid Sydney

Photo Credit: Karen Williamson, OZ Land Photos www.ozlandphotos.com

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BADAM (ALMOND) BURFI DIWALI RECIPE ✦ Badam (Almond) burfi is a popular Indian sweet prepared during Indian festivals such as Diwali/Deepavali. It is made with powdered almonds and sugar syrup. Enjoyed by all :)

INGREDIENTS:

INSTRUCTIONS:

6. Once the mixture begins to boil, add a tbsp of ghee.

• ¾ cup almonds

1. Peel the skin of the almonds - to do this, pour boiling water in a bowl with the almonds and soak for 5 mins. Then rinse the almonds with cold water and start removing the skin.

7. Mix continuously until the mixture starts to separate from the pan.

• 1 cup hot water • ¾ cup sugar • ½ cup water • 2 tbsp milk • 4 cardamom powdered • 2 tbsp ghee/clarified butter *Tip: if you are not a fan of almonds, you can use cashew nuts instead!

2. Pat dry the peeled almonds and set aside to dry.

3. Once dry, transfer the almonds to a blender and blend to coarse powder.

8. Transfer the almond dough onto baking paper and let it cool for 5 minutes (Don’t leave it for too long as the dough will harden).

9. Add the remaining ghee and knead the dough for a minute until smooth. (Take caution as the dough will be hot)

4. Prepare the sugar syrup - to do this add sugar and water to a pan and stir continuously on medium heat.

Boil the sugar syrup till it forms a string consistency.

10. Roll the dough with a rollingpin to a thickness of your choice and then cut the dough into bite size squares or a shape of your preference (traditionally they are cut into diamond shapes).

5. Add the almond powder, milk and cardamom powder to the sugar syrup and mix continuously keeping heat on low to medium.

*Tip: You can decorate the burfi with silver leaf/silver vark and chopped almonds on top.

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