Brilliant-Online Magazine | The Spring Issue | September 2021

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Featuring Steve & Cora Brbich on Australia Father’s Day Photo Credit: Steve Brbich

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The

SPRING Issue

INSIDE: Brilliant-Online welcomes you to enjoy the wonders & colours of Spring. Ben brings you a summary of Paralympics and showcases Australia’s brilliant products and services.

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ED ITO R ' S N OTE

NOTE FROM OUR EDITOR ✦ A Spring in our step!

This has subsequently prompted the vaccine debate with many unhappy that a divided society could be created and certain privileges and rights be denied to those who have not been vaccinated. Our article “A tale of two citizens in a pandemic world” takes a peek into what that landscape may entail.

Spring in Australia is a beautiful time of year so lets enjoy and look forward to a brighter future!

Ben Tirebuck

Brilliant-Online is more than a one dimensional read. 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.

FOLLOW US @brilliantonlineinternational @BrilliantOnlineInternational

✦ Contact Chrissy ✦ for an advertorial:

+61 412 137 621

chrissyjones@brilliant-online.com Brilliant-online.com

But for now let’s enjoy the wonders of spring in the lead up to the festive season where Brilliant-Online will be highlighting Christmas specials

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A huge sigh of relief welcomed the news on September 11 that regional lockdowns were being lifted and the government promising further easing once 70% of the population has been vaccinated against COVID-19.

being offered by many local retail businesses that have been forced to go online. Contact Chrissy for more information and to claim your $100.

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Claim your $100 advertising dollars to feature your next ad Claim $100

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pring is upon us and with it a slightly brighter outcome not just weather wise but in terms of how we may be able to go about our daily lives after the recent gloom of lockdown.

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IN THIS ISSUE 1

Featuring Steve & Cora Brbich on Australia Father’s Day on the Cover

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John Clarke, STPTAX - Investment Property Tax

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Note from Our Editor

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About Brilliant

Brilliant SPRING 8

Springing Back into Life!

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The Joy of Fatherhood!

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Nature’s Anti-depressant Is Colour

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Fighters for Our Region

Brilliant AUSTRALIAN BUSINESSES 20

Colourful Spring Fashion at Utopian Living

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What Makes TG’s Child Care Big Family of Educators Special?

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Plant Earth is Hurting

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Lusty about Sustainability!

Brilliant INVESTMENTS 32

Everything You Want to Know about Investment Property Tax

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Alternate Source for Nickel in the Albany Fraser Province

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Taruga Minerals Limited Is Making a Difference with Their IOCG Story

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Mr. Line’s Latest Company Announcement - the Drill Results and Exploration Update of the WYACCA Project

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A Simple Gold Mining Story from Tietto Minerals Limited

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Samso Celebrates 100 Coffee With Samso Episodes!

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I N TH IS ISSU E

Brilliant HEALTH

44 62 72 82 94

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Kim Staples Art Therapy Touches Hearts and Empowers Lives

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Hope for a Better Future with Art Therapy

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For a Holistic Mind and Body, Telehealth with Erin Miller

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Lifeline Unveils a Virtual Garden for World Suicide Prevention Month

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Why Diets and Food Restriction Don’t Work for PCOS

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Postpartum Confinement Myths and Benefits

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How to Cook Hakka Confinement Chicken by Jackie M

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Be Brilliant Today Subscribe & Win My Blue Tea Superfood Packs

Brilliant SPORTS 64

Paralympic Heroes

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Aussie Coaches Giving Global Football a Kick

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Zara Rutherford Flying Solo at 19

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Trevor Kee Appointed President of Isis Flying Club

Brilliant COVID-19 STORIES 74

A Tale of Two Citizens in a Pandemic World

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Vermilion Pinstripes - How to Get New Customers in the Never Normal World

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Teenage Lockdowns, Rock N’ Roll and Homeschooling During the Pandemic

Brilliant ART & ENTERTAINMENT 84

Lisa Willows Is Port Macquarie’s New Music Curator

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A.g (47) - James Schafer

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Meet Francessca O’Donnell, Out There Design and Mosaic

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Wauchope Creative Hub Workshop Updates

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Vermilion Pinstripes - We Help Businesses Thrive With Confidence

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Overview of Brilliant-Online Multichannel Advertising Reach

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Brilliant Christmas - Claim Your $100 Advertising Voucher

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TG’s Child Care - Playing Is Learning for Life - Back Cover

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Many thanks to Richard Shaw for his macro photos on insect life.

Photo Credit: Richard Shaw, richscapephotography.com

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Brilliant

SPRING ✦

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SPRINGING BACK INTO LIFE! ✦ Spring around the World

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sk many people what their favourite season is and, whereas you’ll no doubt get a mixed bag of responses, spring is often amongst the favourite choices.

Spring is the season where we transition from the cold, winter months into a warmer, brighter period. It very much represents a fresh start of sorts, a time for rebirth and renewal when flowers bloom, baby animals are born and nature reawakens.

Photo Credit: Richard Shaw, richscapephotography.com

Photo Credit: Richard Shaw, richscapephotography.com

Of course in Australia the contrast between winter and summer is nowhere near as harsh as in many northern hemisphere countries but it is still as affectionately embraced as people look towards the warmer months and the endless list of activities that will allow. This year, arguably, the onset of spring is even more eagerly anticipated than usual due to the gloomy months of lockdown brought upon us by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To welcome spring this year BrilliantOnline takes a look at how the season is celebrated and ushered in via some of the more unusual customs and traditions across various countries around the world.

We have the explosion of joy and colour that is the Holi festival in India where a sumptuous blend of sounds, smells and colours signify the arrival of the season.

Likewise in Thailand where the energetic Songkran festival sees revellers gorge on a festival of eating, drinking, loud music, firecrackers and extensive water fights!

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There are flower festivals in The Netherlands where elaborate floats made of tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils travel the streets and crockery smashing in Greece to welcome in the new season while warding off bad spirits.

Snowmen are built then burned in Switzerland to represent ushering out the cold winter months and straw dolls are assembled then thrown into local waterways in Poland to symbolise the riddance of winter and the embrace of spring.

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The Holi festival in India signifies the arrival of Spring.

Eggs are symptomatic with spring in many parts of the world, be it in the chocolate form in places like the UK or in scrambled form as in parts of Bosnia. In the US it is not really spring until the official White House Easter Egg Roll has taken place.

Revellers reach for the sun in Mexico at ceremonies such as that witnessed annually at the Teotihuacan Pyramid and the month-long Nowruz festival takes place across much of Central Asia.

Japan is a country arguably best associated with spring as the world famous cherry blossoms usher in the new season, marking a time that has become one of the most popular tourist destinations.

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Cherry blossoms signifies the arrival of Spring in Japan.

Read the Full Story

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There are many other customs in many other countries welcoming in the spring season that have been practised for generations. One thing is clear – wherever you celebrate the onset of spring, immerse yourself in the local culture and customs and, above all else, enjoy!

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THE JOY OF FATHERHOOD! ✦ Steve Brbich talks to us about what fatherhood means to him.

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Steve Brbich with his adorable daughter Cora

Photo Credit: Steve Brbich

ather’s Day may come around once a year but it is a special day where families all across Australia place their patriarch front and centre and show how much he means to them. It’s Dad’s “day off” where he can put his feet up, crack a beer, watch the footie and relax!

The disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic this year only served to enhance the occasion in its significance and made all of us appreciate what is important in life: family and loved ones.

Brilliant-online applauds fathers the world over and was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to catch up with one local Dad to get his take on being a father and the value of family in general.

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✽ “Being a father to me means that I will provide unconditional love, no matter what, a father will accept and understand if their special little person comes to them and tells us their deepest concerns. It is so important to me to be able to inspire my daughter to be kind, creative, mindful and most of all appreciate the simple things in life that provide the greatest joy. For me, most of all I want to see my daughter as a happy and confident person. This is what it means to be a father.”

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Steve Brbich with his lovely family!

His wife Emma & daughter Cora Photo Credit: Steve Brbich

- Steve Brbich

‘Unconditional love’ “What I love most about being a father is that you have created a little person who is not just your blood but has traits of your personality and is dependent on you for their future,” beamed Steve Brbich when asked what it means to be a father.

“Being a father to me means that I will provide unconditional love, no matter what,” he added. “A father will accept and understand if their special little person comes to them and tells us their deepest concerns. It is so important to me to be able to inspire my daughter to be kind, creative, mindful and most of all appreciate the simple things in life that provide the greatest joy. For me, most of all I want to see my daughter as a happy and confident person. This is what it means to be a father.”

Steve is Creative Content Director at local media production company Silver Quinn Productions. He and his wife Emma have been married for over five years and their daughter, Cora, is just about to turn four.

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Steve Brbich with his lovely family!

His wife Emma & daughter Cora Photo Credit: Steve Brbich

“We are a close knit team and love our outdoor adventures,” Steve comments. “You will often find us at the beach, playing in the park or cooking up a storm!

“Our family works together really well and we have Nanna Jenn just around the corner,” said Steve, referring to Emma’s mother Jennifer who provides regular support.

“Cora goes to Childcare from Monday to Thursday and on Fridays myself and Emma share looking after her while she works, or I have projects.”

Finding the right balance and being organised is crucial, says Steve. As much of his business focuses on the wedding industry he is often working Saturdays with shoots. If the job takes him further afield, the family will often make a weekend trip out of the occasion.

“We are super organised and have our weeks planned out to ensure that we can maximise our time together as a family. It is a juggling act and some days it is a total disaster, but for the most part we are cracking through our goals and having a lot of fun along the way,” Steve said with a smile.

‘Life choices’ COVID-19 has impacted us all and Steve and his family are no different. But family remains the all important uniting constant at the centre of their lives, despite the disruptions. It has also emphasised priorities, something Steve is clear on when asked about his daughter’s future.

“Health and Safety is the number one priority,” Steve replies. “But I just wish for my daughter to go with what she loves to do, what she is truly passionate about. I just want her to be happy with her life choices and will support her with those choices.

“Above all else, my wife and I just want our daughter to express kindness, find happiness in each of her days and create experiences that will bring herself joy and create opportunity.”

Read the Full Story

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Previously based in Sydney, they now call Port Macquarie home, where Emma grew up. Merlo, the cross-breed Schnauzer/Poodle known as a Schnnodle, is the fourth member of the family who joined a year before Cora was born.

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✦ Happy Fathers Day To All The Brilliant Fathers Out There ✦

✳ “I just wish for my daughter to go with what she loves to do, what she is truly passionate about. I just want her to be happy with her life choices and will support her with those choices.”

- Steve Brbich

➸ Steve Brbich gets a loving kiss from his daughter Cora

bonded with his reccently ➸born Étienne ➸ daughter, Victoria in Luxembourg

Greg French had the Best Father’s Day ever, spoilt rotten by his girls!

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NATURE’S ANTI-DEPRESSANT IS COLOUR ✦ We hear from Greenbourne Nursery on bringing flower power in bright colours.

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hile we are all spending a lot more time at home (because of lockdowns) there is a way to bring instant joy and happiness into our lives by planting nature’s antidepressant… COLOUR. Now just as we need it, the perfect season for garden colour presents itself, Spring, thank goodness for Spring!

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Petunias

Apart from just general happiness, scientists have found that the vibrant colours which can also be accompanied with scent is responsible for triggering an endorphin release within the body. Studies suggested that people were naturally calmer when in the presence of various colour groups and ultimately had a longer and more restful sleep at night. The studies even found that people had positive emotive responses even when they planned on attending a flower market or nursery.

Let’s hear from Greenbourne Nursery on bringing flower power in bright colours.

Petunias Petunias will provide you with an absolute abundance of colourful trumpet shaped flowers. Gone are the days of simple pinks and reds, Petunias come in nearly every colour imaginable. Some have stripes and some have speckles.

Marigolds Marigolds are a cheerful, easy-to-grow annual plant with daisy or carnation-like flower heads that are produced singly or in clusters. Don’t forget to deadhead your marigolds to keep the blooms coming. These flowers are the spendthrifts among annuals, bringing a wealth of gold, copper, and brass into our gardens. Also, the underground workings of the marigold are known to repel harmful nematodes (microscopic worms) that attack the roots of garden vegetables.

Perennial power Plants that give you colour year after year and by definition live for more than two years. They’re easy to grow, and once you plant them, they’ll keep on coming back every spring to fill your landscape with their beautiful flowers and foliage.

Plants range in size from ground-covering and clump-forming varieties just a few centimetres high, right up to statuesque giants a couple of metres tall.

➸ Marigolds

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Lavender They grow in a well-drained, sunny position. Do best protected from frost and are quite drought friendly. They are available in an amazing variety of new and different forms that include both single and double flowering varieties. The scent is universally familiar and the delightful blooms are an absolute magnet for the bees. Keep them regularly pruned and you will be rewarded year after year.

“So please embrace the new season of Spring. Allow it to help you both reset and re-energise your soul. Use the conditions to add colour to your life. Use the change to add vitality to your garden. Use the new season to bring calmness into your life… and finally use the colour of Spring to remember what is truly important - HaPpInNess.”

- Daniel ‘Chook’ Fowler

Daisies Plant them in full sun for the best and most rewarding blooms all season long.

Bright, cheerful, and easy to grow, the flowers are readily identifiable and are mainstay for gardens. Gone are the days of the old, overgrown daisy plant sitting in the back corner of Grandma’s backyard. The new and improved varieties on offer at nurseries now are well and truly worth planting in your garden today.

➸ Daisies

Azaleas

Check out Greenbourne Nursery for all your gardening needs:

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+61 2 6585 2117 greenbourne.nursery@midcoast.com.au www.greenbournenurserywauchope.com.au 239 High St, Wauchope NSW 2446

Read More

Azaleas

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Azaleas do well in full sun or part shade. Planted in full sun, azaleas will be more compact and produce more flowers. When planted in part shade, they will stretch toward the sunlight and form a more graceful habit. Most varieties look best in a shaded or woodland border, or in pots. This is another species that has come a long way in recent years. Specific varieties that are more compact and that flower more consistently over the season.

They are now certainly worth a look at your local nursery, if you haven’t been a fan, they will be certain to win you over.

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FIGHTERS FOR OUR REGION ✦ #TeamIntemann Fighters For Our Region believes Less Talk and More Action

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his group of political candidates for Port Macquarie-Hastings Council definitely understands how the Gen Z and millennials work with hashtags! I hope they will have a #BrilliantFollowing :) But nothing comes without a challenge.

The group of councillors and mayor elected to lead the Port MacquarieHastings local government area for the next three years will face significant challenges on a number of fronts.

Some of the major issues confronting the incoming council include, solving the current growth crisis, maintaining the integrity of our beautiful lifestyle and the natural beauty, meeting community expectations, better communication, transparency along with the delivery of real solutions. And this is just a short list!

One group of five long-term residents – Fighters for our Region #TeamIntemann – says it has the experience, proven track record, knowledge and passion to meet and exceed those challenges on behalf of the community.

The five are, current deputy mayor and long-term councillor Lisa Intemann – who is also standing for mayor; Kinsley Searle; Stewart Cooper; Narelle Milligan; and Paul Bradford.

They are proven local champions and leaders who are well-established in the community.

Cr Intemann is the leader of the group and brought together the four candidates who had the skillsets to provide effective leadership for Council.

The group understands the need for teamwork throughout council and within the community with working

effectively and constructively with state and federal government representatives on common ground issues.

Fighters For Our Region is united in their desire to solve the current growth crisis that is threatening what every resident loves about our region – its delightful lifestyle and phenomenal natural environment.

While there is always the need for job creating opportunities, the balance is to ensure planning is undertaken and implemented that gives due consideration to community needs while ensuring that the necessary infrastructure is in place prior to development being undertaken.

Fighters For Our Region believes in the motto: Less talk, more action!

This is achieved through building trust with the community through transparent communication and driving the delivery of real solutions;

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The members of Fighters For Our Region are as diverse as the Port Macquarie-Hastings LGA they represent.

All five understand there are differing needs and requirements across the local government area.

Port Macquarie has the dominant population with all the needs of a growing city but it is also important to

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understand that our smaller coastal towns, villages and rural areas have similar level priorities. Fighters For Our Region understands those very different requirements and will act with understanding and balance to meet expectations, no matter where you live.

Find Out More

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joining forces with all key stakeholders to plan, manage growth and ensure key infrastructure is delivered ahead of developments; and, delivering core services (Roads, Sewerage, Water, Garbage, etc).

Stewart Cooper, for Councillor talks about Fighters For Our Region objectives and why he is running for council.

When you vote for Fighters For Our Region #TeamIntemann, you will be electing a group of five long-standing residents with the necessary experience, knowledge and understanding to serve every resident equally with respect and understanding, and lead the community forward to a thriving future.

Get in touch to learn more:

fightersforourregion@gmail.com www.fightersforourregion.com www.facebook.com/fightersforourregion www.twitter.com/fightersforour1

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Michele Cook, Utopian Living on Spring Fashion

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Brilliant

AUSTRALIAN BUSINESSES ✦

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COLOURFUL SPRING FASHION AT UTOPIAN LIVING ✦ Let’s bloom during #lockdown. An interview with Michele Cook, owner of Utopian Living at Wauchope, NSW, Australia

I’m so excited here at Utopian Living… Spring has arrived!!

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s we emerge from lockdown in regional New South Wales, it’s such a joy to see colourful flowers blooming, birds singing, the sun shining and to feel the touch of Spring sunshine on our skin!

Lockdowns have been the case for so long now so supporting small local businesses, like mine, is just so very important if we are to come through this pandemic with our doors open.

✤ “Whatever it may be and wherever we may be, let’s all spread Kindness, Patience and Love.”

- Michele Cook, Utopian Living

B RILLIA NT AUS TR A LIA N B USIN E SSE S I love this time of the year, shopping and making things with you in mind.

Spring is all about colour and I’m busily beading gorgeous new colourful necklaces to accessories with all the gorgeousness that is arriving!

New Spring colour Sari Silk has arrived for our ever-popular Silk Wrist Wraps… and some super cute anklets are being made in the studio as well!!

Shop Jewellery

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During Lockdown, our fabulous Turkish silver earring collection has been so popular online… the feedback has been so lovely from all corners of our beautiful country and beyond!

Colourful Spring Fashion at Utopian Living is for Every Body The fashion in store is taking a fabulous transformation with bright colours in cool natural fabrics. The new labels are a “One Size Fits Most”.

There are a few other labels that have sizes ranging from 6 to 20.

So yes, Utopian Living Fashion has something for everyone!!

I have enjoyed the whole process of shopping for Spring with ALL sizes and shapes in mind!!

Utopian Living Studio In the Studio, a new art collection will emerge as I have been painting in new bright colours. Art is the perfect way to create a Spring feel inside!!

What inspires me?… new Art on the walls… flowers in vases… windows open… music playing…

Shop Clothing

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You can tell how much I love this time of year! :)

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Gratitude My heart is filled with gratitude.

We live in such a beautiful part of the world.

I send out my heartfelt thanks to all who have supported Utopian Living online throughout the lockdown. I appreciate and encourage you to support small local businesses. It will be joy if we are to come through this pandemic with our doors open.

I am hoping we will be out of it by the time we go to “digital print” with this article. If not, let us all take care of each other.

• Check in and “visit” someone with a simple phone call, especially to those who live alone.

• Does the elderly neighbour next door need bread or milk while you’re out buying your groceries?

• Maybe write a letter or send a card… the old fashioned way!

In my little shop, I am consciously buying and making pieces to suit all budgets - every little bit counts, not only in the till at the end of the day formy business but for the customerswho have been doing it tough as well.

Whatever it may be and wherever we may be, let’s all spread Kindness, Patience and Love.

Welcome to Spring!

With Love,

Shop Spring

Check out Utopian Living and the many handcrafted works by Michele Cook:

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Michele, Utopian Living

0413 764 129 Michele@UtopianLiving.com.au utopianliving.com.au Shop 5, 7 High Street, Wauchope, NSW 2446 Australia

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WHAT MAKES TG’S CHILD CARE BIG FAMILY OF EDUCATORS SPECIAL? ✦ Families who have been in TG’s Child Care have often commented that it is a place that feels ´just right´.

TG’s Child Care at Wauchope

Laura Mowle

- Area Manager for Wauchope

Crystal Majeski,

- Centre Manager at TG’s Riverbreeze

Alicia Moody

- Centre Manager at TG’s Urangan

Toni-Lee Paine

- Centre Manager at TG’s Hastings Street

Meg Barnden-Hyde - Centre Manager of TG´s Armidale

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amilies who have been in TG’s Child Care have often commented that it is a place that feels ‘just right’. They can’t quite put a finger on it, but just being in TG’s playspaces and transition areas you feel right at home.

In fact, this warm, loving feeling starts right at the very door of TG’s.

TG’s Educators are there to greet children when they enter

Linda Hutchinson

- Centre Manager at TG’s High Street

Bron Byers

- Centre Manager at TG’s Uralla

in the mornings, so there’s always a warm smile waiting for every single child. TG’s Educators make up the TG’s Family, and they are at the core of what makes TG’s magic work so well through the generations and across campuses.

When you are in each of TG’s communities, it’s easy to spot who the TG’s Educators are. Start a conversation with them and you’ll notice these four beautiful characteristics of TG’s Educators!

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TG’s Educators do not consider going to TG’s as going to “work”. For them, it’s their extended family and second home. So it’s not just the children who are jumping out of bed and eager to get to TG’s every day. The educators are the same!

What makes TG’s stand out is how it supports and nurtures their educators with the same importance as the learning journey they create for the children.

TG’s is a home away from home for the educators because here, they are heard, valued, respected and cared for. Anyone who has experienced the loving and nurturing environment at TG’s will find that going to TG’s is what they love doing every day. It’s not work, it’s not a chore, it’s going home!

2. Children are their World TG’s Educators are highly committed to really understanding the world of a child, and this involves being attentive to every single child and noticing their interests, preferences and unique gifts, taking into account their experiences and respecting their individual learning journey, noticing how they are growing and celebrating their milestones. And that happens every day, in every activity!

TG’s Educators are also hungry to learn more so they often do not stop at one certification and want to keep improving themselves in the area of early childhood education.

And TG’s is there behind them to support their own individual professional development.

TG’s goes the extra mile for their educators. For TG’s magic to work, it is not enough to only look after the children’s needs. TG’s team leaders

TG’s Child Care offer Preschool and Long Day Care services for children from 6 weeks to 6 years. Check out one of TG’s Child Care near you:

are there to look after their team as well, so each TG’s educator is also well taken care of and supported to reach their fullest potential and grow through leadership opportunities.

A beautiful example of this can be seen in Bron Byers, Centre Manager of TG’s Child Care Uralla and Meg Barnden-Hyde, Centre Manager at TG’s Child Care Armidale.

They were both parents at TG’s and they (and their children!) loved the experience so much they didn’t want it to end. They trained as educators and worked their way up to being team leaders and now they are proud Centre Managers with a team of educators under their wings!

They give a whole new meaning to the idea of TG’s extended family. In fact, Bron and Meg are affectionately known as Mother Hens at TG’s! They love being mothers and that does not stop when they go to TG’s. They are mothers to the children and to their team.

3. Personal Learning Journey Because TG’s Educators are so wellsupported at TG’s, they never stop growing and see every opportunity as a gift.

Their personal learning journeys are important to TG’s. TG’s Educators have a lot of drive and passion. They know what they want and how to get it. Because TG’s Educators paddle the canoe together, they support each other’s growth and have each other’s backs. When an educator achieves a milestone in their personal journey, their team is there to celebrate their success. It’s not about being better.

It’s about being better together.

Studying while working (and having a family) is no walk in the park. TG’s makes it easy for educators by being

www.tgschildcare.com.au Armidale, NSW Uralla, NSW Hastings St Wauchope, NSW High St Wauchope, NSW Riverbreeze Wauchope, NSW Urangan, QLD

flexible and most of all, encouraging and loving in helping educators achieve their goals without burning out. This enables educators to give their absolute best in all areas of their lives, and they’re not put in a situation where they have to sacrifice one thing for another.

TG’s Educators are as eager as the children to learn and grow every single day!

4. Letting their Inner Child Play TG’s Educators are so good at what they do because they recognise what children enjoy and need.

What makes an educator stand out is how they are able to keenly observe what each child’s unique needs and interests are, to identify their gifts and create different opportunities for the children to develop these gifts.

To be able to do that, educators need to remember what they themselves loved doing as a child, and to be able to tap into that valuable skill of knowing what it was like to be a child.

This puts them in the shoes of the children, and they can see the world from their eyes.

After all, Playing is Learning for Life at TG’s, and educators are also excellent experts at play, just as the children are.

So when you next strike up a random conversation with someone on the bus or on a bench in the park, see if you can identify who is a TG’s educator who has these characteristics - home is also TG’s, their passion is helping children grow into their fullest beautiful selves, they never stop learning, and they are great at playing! That’s TG’s unique recipe for making an amazing TG’s educator!

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1. Home away from Home

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✦ PLANET EARTH IS HURTING ✦

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recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) effectively announced “a code red” warning. It is now or never, the report intimated, in regards to taking decisive and immediate action on climate change and the planet’s future.

It stated that humans have pumped around 2,400 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere since 1850, creating concentrations of the gas that have not been seen on Earth in the last 2 million years.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out we as a species and our planet are in a serious bind and something needs to be done. There are countless think-tanks and meetings at government level that attempt to identify a solution and a roadmap for recovery but much is just talk and no action.

So what can we on an individual, family or business owner basis do to contribute positively to helping Earth at least try and heal?

One word provides much, if not all, of the answer: Sustainability.

It is a buzzword word that, understandably, has become much more common in recent years. Even large investment banks and financial institutions have been heavily focused on green and sustainable investment platforms for years now. And you know if the guys on Wall Street are backing it then it has to be big!

Gen Z in the driver’s seat For Generation Z (those born since 1997) and millennials sustainability is a huge deal, something that is important enough to define their lifestyle and them as a person. A recent UK survey revealed that 90% of Gen Z consumers have made changes to be more sustainable in their daily lives and they would be willing to spend 10% more to acquire sustainable products. They are also likely to make purchasing decisions based on values and principles that are personal, social, and environmental.

Gen Z’s advocacy of a more sustainable world is also reflected in business with countless examples of new enterprises driven by ethical choices.

This is something that Brilliant-Online strongly supports and is always happy to promote, particularly on a local scale.

That is why Brilliant-Online does not print our magazines for distribution. We are paperless and friendly to the earth.

Saving paper saves trees. So every Brilliant Magazine you read helps keep Mother Earth safe and growing. In any given year, we estimate our tree-hugging publishing community saves over 3.8M trees! That means lots of fresh oxygen getting pumped into the air for everyone to enjoy.

Write to us about your company’s sustainability efforts editor@brilliant-online.com

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✺ “That is why Brilliant-Online does not print our magazines for distribution. We are paperless and friendly to the earth. Saving paper saves trees. So every Brilliant Magazine you read helps keep Mother Earth safe and growing. In any given year, we estimate our tree-hugging publishing community saves over 3.8M trees! That means lots of fresh oxygen getting pumped into the air for everyone to enjoy.”

- Brilliant-Online

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B RILLIA NT- ON LIN E SEP TEM B ER 2021

LUSTY ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY! ✦ If one thing the COVID-19 pandemic and all its ensuing restrictions has arguably taught us it is to live a simpler life.

W

e have learned to do less, spend less, and waste less. It has unquestionably left many people realising that a more sustainable lifestyle is very much attainable and needn’t be painful.

When we are then constantly reminded of the state of planet Earth and the issues facing the environment through global warming and climate change, the option to become more sustainable makes even more sense.

The pandemic has left many of us reevaluating many things with the health of our planet very much at the top of the list of priorities.

Sustainability is absolutely becoming a more popular way of life, something that also extends to the workplace. An increasing number of businesses large and small are centering themselves around a robust approach to social and environmental sustainability practices.

Locally we have met the likes of Grow Sustainable Living at Toms Creek, My Blue Tea, Dinki Co and Tiny Away, all strong advocates of sustainability.

The latest Aussie made small business passionate about flying the sustainable flag we caught up with is Lusty Solutions.

✧ “To help you reduce your impact on the environment, we ensure that your products don’t go to landfill at the end of life. We will take back your product at the end of their life and turn them into a new product.”

- Lusty Solutions

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Uppercup is designed to keep your coffee or tea hot and your fingers cool!

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B RILLIA NT AUS TR A LIA N B USIN E SSE S Led by Felicity Ford and Claudine Fessey, Lusty Solutions specialise in reusable coffee cups and filter water bottles. Their Uppercup and 321 Water products are Australian made, B-Corp certified. The business aims to be as sustainable and ethical as possible and, as such, choose to operate and manufacture all within a 25km radius in Melbourne.

Did you know an ordinary disposable coffee cup takes 30 years to decompose?

Uppercup was designed by baristas for people who love coffee with the conical bottom ensuring you can have a perfectly poured coffee every time. Uppercup also has a clever double-wall design to keep your coffee or tea hot and your fingers cool!

The company also provides a customised Swap Cup and Container program which allows organisations to meet CSR requirements. The system helps to remove all nonreusables from the workplace and implement a full suite of reusable and sustainable Uppercups.

Zero waste As a certified B-Corporation, Lusty Solutions are committed to being a Zero Waste business. They can

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The 321 Water Bottle is the only one of its kind that filters via a French press action.

recycle your old Uppercups at the end of life, thereby closing the loop and enabling the preservation of our environment and reducing the pressure on recycling.

By choosing their products, you are making a substantial contribution to eradicating single-use products while supporting Australian small businesses and jobs.

“We aim for all of our products to be circular by design,” their website states. “To help you reduce your impact on the environment, we ensure that your products don’t go to landfill at the end of life. We will take back your product at the end of their life and turn them into a new product.”

Innovative Reusable Product Solutions.

Get in touch to find out more:

Learn More

➹

321 Water is a beautifully designed water bottle with a unique patented filter tree plunger mechanism. The 321 Water Bottle is the only one of its kind and filters via a French press action. The filter is made of activated carbon, a natural, highly porous filtering material that is made from organic materials such as coconut shells to high temperatures and steam.

(03) 8362 3781

www.uppercup.com

hello@lustysolutions.com

www.321water.com

www.lustysolutions.com 1-13 Kalimna Avenue, Mulgrave VIC 3170, Australia

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B RILLIA NT- ON LIN E SEP TEM B ER 2021

REGISTER FOR THE INVESTMENT PROPERTY WEBINAR

➹

OWN AN INVESTMENT PROPERTY?

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Homes Photo Credit: Scott Hawkins, scotthawkinsphotography.com

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Brilliant

INVESTMENTS ✦

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B RILLIA NT- ON LIN E SEP TEM B ER 2021

EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT INVESTMENT PROPERTY TAX ✦ “I’ve got an Investment Property”

✶ John Clarke

M

any of us think the road to financial freedom comes from having an investment property, letting the tenant pay the mortgage and writing off any losses on our tax.

However, there are a number of tax traps for the unwary. I can’t advise you whether having investment properties is good or bad, but I can open your eyes to some of the tax issues.

What names should the property be bought in?

Joint ownership Many couples think, “OK, we own our house jointly, we will own all our investments jointly.” They buy the investment property jointly. At the time they are both in the workforce. A couple of years later they have a child and Mum or Dad takes a year off work to look after the new baby.

Obviously, in that year the parent who is caring for the child at home earns very little income. The family comes to get their tax done and says Stan’s income was only $10,000 because he was looking after our bundle of joy. We want to claim all the losses on the investment property against

Kirrilee’s income. Sorry, the Tax Office says the income and expenses from a rental property need to be allocated in proportion to the ownership of the property. So if Stan and Kirrilee each own 50% of the investment property, then that’s how it has to be shown in the individual tax returns.

Family Trust Well then how about buying using a family trust? If the trust makes a tax loss on the investment property, that loss is locked up in the trust.

Beneficiaries in the trust can’t claim any part of the trust’s losses in their income tax return. You’ve just got used to that idea and then you get a letter from the Office of State Revenue.

“Dear Stan and Kirrilee’s Trust. Here’s a bill for land tax.” Family trusts pay land tax on the land held in the trust at the maximum rate for land tax.

Repairs You’ve been looking at houses and you’ve found your investment property. It’s in pretty good condition but it needs a few things done to it: For example, it needs painting. It’s going to cost $10,000 to get the house painted. So we’ll get that done and

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B RI LLIA NT I N V E S TM ENT S claim that on the tax. If you’d had the investment for several years and then repainted, the cost of painting would generally be tax deductible. But you’ve just bought the house. The Tax Office takes the view that most repairs you do soon after you buy an investment are repairs that are needed so you can rent the house out. These repairs called “initial repairs” are not deductible but form part of the cost base of the property for capital gains.

The Tax Office will allow you to claim $250 a year for the next 40 years.

A few years down the track you decide the wooden verandah needs to be repaired. You concrete it. This is not a repair but a replacement so the cost can’t be deducted as a repair.

Interest You’ve been working hard. You’ve put your overtime pay for the last few years into your loan on the investment property and now it’s time to treat yourself. So you’re $30,000 ahead on the loan and you redraw it to buy a caravan or go on an overseas trip. You see your tax preparer at the end of the year and they say, “you’ve paid more interest this year than the previous year.” You say, “No worries, Igot ahead on the loan and I withdrewthat extra money to go overseas.”Your tax preparer is then going to say,“Sorry Kirrilee, the interest on theamount you withdrew is not goingto be deductible”, to which you reply, "hang on, that can’t be right. It’s still on the loan and it’s the extra payments I put in.” Your tax preparer then says “The tax law looks at what the loan is used for. It treats your redraw as a new loan which is not being used to produce assessable income.”

Capital gains Where do we start? It’s important to

keep good records. I had a client come in last year. Anna (not real name) said I’ve sold a couple of properties and I know I’ll be up for capital gains. So I asked a few questions. She’d bought one to live in. She moved in as soon as possible after settlement and lived in it until she moved into a second property she’d bought. She’d moved into the second property as soon as she’d settled and lived in it as her main residence. She’d then moved to Port Macquarie and within six years of moving to Port she sold that property.

She hadn’t bought a property in Port to live in. So I said, OK, you won’t have to pay capital gains tax on the second property as we can use the main residence exemption. Now how was the first property used after you moved out. She said her son had been living with her and he stayed in the flat after she moved out. The son hadn’t paid rent. So I said to Anna we can reduce the capital gains tax as we can add the cost of expenses you have paid like strata fees, rates, insurance premiums, repairs you’ve paid for to the cost base. She didn’t have that stuff? Why should she, but she got busy and after a fortnight or so she had got the information from the council, strata, water board and insurance. As a result her capital gains tax reduced from $12,000 plus to about $5,000. But wouldn’t it have been easier if she’d kept it all or had scanned it?

A free kick Depending on when your investment property was built you might be able to claim building write off based on the construction cost of the building at the time it was built. There are a lot of rules about calculating the construction cost so it can’t be guessed but needs to be done by a quantity surveyor or other qualified professional.

The report will probably cost around $600. The cost of the report is tax deductible.

One quantity surveyor I spoke to was amazed at the number of people who don’t think it is worthwhile to get.

However, an example I have is a client in Western NSW. He bought a small industrial building for $135,000. At that time it was quite common for property to sell well below replacement cost. He got a quantity surveyor to drive out to assess the property. He asked the QS to not only provide the construction cost, but also the replacement value for insurance.

The construction cost was $236,000 – so $5,900 a year could be claimed for the next 30 odd years, as the buildings were a bit under 10 years old. The replacement cost for insurance was just under $400,000.

Now the loan is paid back he gets after expenses are paid about $2,000 a month in rent and can then claim almost $500 a month in the building write off. So he gets $2,000, $500 is tax free (the building write off) and pays tax on $1,500.

People in that town often say to him “You’re mad. Why did you buy that?” to which he just smiles and talks about something else.

Property tax webinar As you can see I have just skimmed the surface here. I will be holding a property tax webinar on Wednesday. 29 September at 7.30 pm for about one hour. Please submit any questions you have when registering for the webinar.

Free gift 0481 039 851 John.clarke@stptax.com www.stptax.com/practice/port-macquarie/ 6/114 William Street, Port Macquarie

Register for Webinar

➹

Disclaimer: The advice here is general in nature and readers should seek their own advice for their specific circumstances. Contact John to find out more:

Attendees at the webinar will receive my free eBook Property and taxes for the investor.

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ALTERNATE SOURCE FOR NICKEL IN THE ALBANY FRASER PROVINCE ✦ Brad Underwood, Managing Director of Galileo Mining Limited (ASX: GAL) shares how the company is not afraid to drill.

Galileo Mining is one company that is not shying away from finding Nickel Sulphides. Are their recent drilling results showing more evidence of a potential new source of nickel sulphides?

Since Galileo Mining Limited listed on the ASX, they have undergone 13 drill programs. And this is from early 2018. They are clearly not shying away from finding the good stuff.

Their recent drilling results is paying off as well, as it is showing more evidence of a potential new source of nickel sulphides.

➹

Coffee With Samso: Brad Underwood, Managing Director of Galileo Mining Limited (ASX: GAL) Tells us why Galileo Mining is robust and worthy of investment.

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About Galileo Mining Limited (ASX: GAL)

Investors in the Australian Stock Exchange who are looking for a company that actually spends the majority of their funds on good exploration should look at Galileo Mining Limited (ASX: GAL).

- Brad Underwood, Galileo Mining Limited

Brad Underwood, Chair and Managing Director of Galileo Mining Limited (ASX: GAL) talks about the technical merits of their projects and about the potential source of a different source of nickel sulphides in the Albany-Fraser Range. For Mr. Underwood, exploration is all about doing the work, and this includes the Black Art of Geophysics.

Mr. Underwood talks about: • What the recent results mean in realising a potential new source for the nickel sulphides.

• The need to understand the “Black Art” of geophysics • What is the Ni-Cu-PGE story?

• The reasons why the Galileo story is robust and is worthy of an investment for ASX investors.

As we speak, the company is undergoing its first diamond drilling program at its Fraser Range Nickel Belt in Western Australia.

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.

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 cobalt-nickel 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 nickel-copper-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.

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

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.

Read The Article

➹

Galileo Nickel Exploration

Contact Galileo Mining Limited:

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

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B RILLIA NT- ON LIN E SEP TEM B ER 2021

TARUGA MINERALS LIMITED IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH THEIR IOCG STORY ✦ Thomas Line, Chief Executive Officer of Taruga Minerals Limited (ASX:TAR) says their projects have good reasons to fascinate investors.

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Taruga Minerals Limited’s projects have good reasons to fascinate investors, and the company is giving us new perspectives and a different way to look at things.

It is not every day that Noel Ong, CEO of Samso, gets so fascinated by a company’s projects and developments. His recent chat with Thomas Line,

Coffee With Samso: Thomas Line, Chief Executive Officer of Taruga Minerals Limited (ASX:TAR), From making a difference with IOCG to ESG and why all land is important to the Aboriginal People.

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B RI LLIA NT I N V E S TM ENT S CEO of Taruga Minerals Limited got him excited to know more about the company’s IOCG (iron oxide copper gold ore deposits) projects and how their projects are going beyond what is expected of the size of their company.

There is a reason why Noel tends to take things with a pinch of salt whenever he hears about a company that talks about IOCG. The simple, practical reason being small mineral explorers just do not have the funding power to pull through the project.

But with Taruga Minerals Limited, Noel is piqued by how their projects are developing. There is something different about them and that is always very exciting to learn more about.

✴ Native Title is a boundary that was put in place. It was not a boundary pre-colonisation.

Native Title land is not the only land that is important to the Aboriginal people. All land is important to the Aboriginal people.

- Thomas Line, Taruga Minerals Limited

Taruga Minerals Limited has projects which are showing characteristics more typically seen in much bigger companies. This is what makes this company so fascinating to dissect.

Aboriginal people need to be engaged to talk about NonNative Title land as well as Native Title land.

• The passion and the reason why Thomas Line is doing this.

•

Why South Australia and why these projects?

• The potential of the geology of the Gawler Craton and how it has secrets that have not been discovered because it has been greatly misunderstood.

Why Investors Should be Interested in Gawlor Craton

➹

• What are the components of the projects that Investors should take note of?

ESG (environment, social, governance) is on everyone’s lips nowadays, and Mr. Line is bringing something valuable to the company that is much needed - his unique understanding of ESG. It is one thing to merely talk about it, but Mr. Line is actually one to do it and make a difference: Native Title is a boundary that was put in place. It was not a boundary pre-colonisation. Native Title land is not the only land that is important to the Aboriginal people. All land is important to the Aboriginal people.

Contact Taruga Minerals Limited:

Noel values what he gets out of a good discussion. And what makes investors stand out is their ability to listen and be open to learning as much as they can about a company and its developments.

We cannot know everything, so when there is the opportunity to listen to what companies think and do, that is when investors can gain insights which can help them see the big picture and have the confidence to make informed decisions.

About Taruga Minerals Limited (ASX:TAR) Taruga Minerals Limited (Taruga or the Company) is a mineral exploration company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:TAR) with a focus on acquiring and developing highly prospective Gold, Copper and precious metals exploration projects in Australia.

CEO Thomas Line is supported by a highly credentialed Board, and has provided the Company with exposure to the exciting, under explored, High-Grade Flinders, Torrens and Mt Craig Copper-Gold-Silver Projects on the margin of the Gawler Craton, South Australia.

+61 (8) 9486 4036 admin@tarugaminerals.com.au tarugaminerals.com.au 13 Colin St, West Perth, WA 6005

Read More

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Mr. Line reveals the company’s story here:

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B RILLIA NT- ON LIN E SEP TEM B ER 2021

MR. LINE’S LATEST COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT - THE DRILL RESULTS AND EXPLORATION UPDATE OF THE WYACCA PROJECT ✦ Thomas Line, Chief Executive Officer of Taruga Minerals Limited (ASX:TAR) is bringing to light a potential Giant Copper deposit.

➹

Mr. Line explains why the company is confident with finding a giant motherlode based on the results so far.

If you have a deep curiosity about geology, then you would be keen to listen to Thomas Line’s interpretation of the copper mineralisation of the Wyacca Project, as he explains VTEM and using Plate Modelling to differentiate non copper bearing sulphides.

Mr. Line breaks down what the VTEM™ (Versatile Time Domain Electromagnetic) figures mean and how they are helping to model the company’s ongoing

Thomas Line, Chief Executive Officer of Taruga Minerals Limited (ASX:TAR) talks about Wyacca Project on the Adelaide Fold Belt with Noel Ong, Samso

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B RI LLIA NT I N V E S TM ENT S exploration strategy. What helps build confidence is also the importance of having a systematic process of understanding and executing a good exploration plan.

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Wyacca Project The Wyacca Mine (Cu) is located in the northern portion of the MCCP, Adelaide Fold Belt and was the first operational small-scale mine in the MCCP area.

Contact Taruga Minerals Limited:

+61 (8) 9486 4036 admin@tarugaminerals.com.au tarugaminerals.com.au 13 Colin St, West Perth, WA 6005

Read More

➹

Learn more about the Wyacca Copper Project

- Thomas Line, Taruga Minerals Limited

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The Wyacca Project area now expands over a 4.7km long by 1.5km wide alteration zone, where multiple layers in the stratigraphy, not just the Tindelpina Shale, are now known to be mineralised.

Wyacca has the potential to be a major copper discovery. Historical High Grade Copper mining at up to 40% Cu.

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B RILLIA NT- ON LIN E SEP TEM B ER 2021

A SIMPLE GOLD MINING STORY FROM TIETTO MINERALS LIMITED ✦ “Drilling is important.

If you do not drill you cannot grow,” says Mark Strizek, Executive Director of Tietto Minerals Limited (ASX:TIE)

➹

Mark Strizek tells us a Simple Gold Mining Story Mr. Strizek shares about the company’s journey which I have been following since 2018. Now in 2021, the company’s results are bearing fruit for their shareholders. Lots to celebrate today indeed. Today’s story has a very simple nugget of wisdom.

Interestingly enough, this simple gold mining story takes place in the Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. We are talking about the Abujar Gold Project.

Caigen Wang is the founder of Tietto and he went about finding and now developing the Abujar Gold Project. Caigen saw the number of people working in the mine and immediately realised the potential of developing this mine.

Mark Strizek, Executive Director of Tietto Minerals Limited (ASX:TIE) brings clarity to the company’s journey with Noel Ong, Samso

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Cote d’Ivoire is a place that is rich in minerals and is blessed with greenstones (See Figure below under Abujar Project) similar to what is seen in the Kalgoorlie Goldfields.

So far, there have been numerous multi million ounces of gold discovered in the country and the pro-economic government is a bonus.

Tietto is serious with ESG ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) is one of Tietto’s challenges to make the mine a reality. Mr. Strizek gives an update on their current situation. So far there have been no deal breaking events in front of the company as they progress aggressively to get the first gold bar poured for shareholders.

Following an aggressive drilling campaign, Tietto announced an increase in its Mineral Resource Estimate at the Abujar Project in July 2021. This included a growth in gold resources to 87.5Mt @ 1.2 g/t Au for 3.35Moz including: • AG mineral resources total 50.3Mt @ 1.5 g/t Au for 2.45Moz (+7% oz Au) • APG mineral resources total 36.7Mt @ 0.7 g/t Au for 0.87Moz (+24% oz Au) These results boost the Abujar Indicated Resources by 49% to 43.4Mt @ 1.3 g/t Au for 1.85Moz of contained gold, representing more than 55% of the Abujar project ounces.

Learn more about the Abujar Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa

Tietto is taking ESG seriously and the company has even contracted RPMGlobal to provide specialist ESG advice for their Abujar project. An Ivorian company, Envitech, has been engaged to conduct the baseline fieldwork to compile an environmental and social impact assessment.

Contact Tietto Minerals Limited:

Learn More

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

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“Tietto Minerals (TIE) saved over USD60M by having their own drill rigs. This is money Tietto’s shareholders have saved since 2018.” - Mark Strizek

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B RILLIA NT- ON LIN E SEP TEM B ER 2021

SAMSO CELEBRATES 100 COFFEE WITH SAMSO EPISODES!

I

started the Coffee With Samso journey in September 2018, kicking off the first episode with Mark Strizek and I am so delighted to celebrate Episode 100 with Mark Strizek again this time as Executive Director of Tietto Minerals Limited talking about the Abujar Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa.

Episode 100 with Mark Strizek

✦ Noel Ong

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✦ That’s many happy caffeine shots!

As a geologist and an investor in the ASX for more than 30 years, I wanted investors to understand the intrinsic values of exploration in a way that was simple and clear, and not be confused by “complicated” ASX announcements like geology, statistics, procedures etc.

As we savour our 100th cup of coffee chat, I want to celebrate the voices that have built our platform and who have given it an extensive spread of information that also goes deep, and those who have lent their ears to our stories and who keep returning for more.

And thanks to Mark Strizek for returning to our 100th episode. I’d like to think that Samso has been growing with our companies and investors through our coffee chats.

❇ “On this Coffee With Samso platform, investors no longer have to drill through mountains of technical jargon to get to the gems. And companies who come on our coffee chats always have a good time. We know we are going to have a great conversation - companies get to share their stories in an innovative and engaging way that is completely natural, investors get their unanswered questions clarified and they go away with a more solid understanding of projects, and I am continually learning and building up my understanding of the industry.”

- Noel Ong, Samso

Don’t stop brewing.

Samso helps executives tell their stories to pique investor interest.

Get in touch with Noel Ong:

+61 490 092 814 noel.ong@samso.com.au www.samso.com.au PO Box 1609, Booragoon, Western Australia 6954

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✦ Checkout the infographic detailing all 100 episodes here ✦

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Egret spirit bird Photo Credit: Kim Staples, Art of Life

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Brilliant

HEALTH ✦

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B RILLIA NT- ON LIN E SEP TEM B ER 2021

KIM STAPLES ART THERAPY TOUCHES HEARTS AND EMPOWERS LIVES ✦ “Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.” - Pablo Picasso

K

im Staples is an Award-Winning Artist and Art Therapist. Born in Paddington, Australia, Kim Staples now lives in the beautiful Mid North Coast, Port Macquarie with her husband.

Kim draws her inspiration from the colours and beauty of her natural surroundings. Her work is influenced by her life experiences, inner emotions and intuition, taking this mindset into all the mediums she explores including water based mixed media and sculpting. Kim Staples’ art explodes with colours. When you see Kim, you know she is an art of life!

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Geisha Maiko

Humpback whale diving

Bluey the ➸Kookaburra

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Kim Staples, Award Winning Australian Artist & Founder of Art of Life talks about how she started Art Therapy and why you should try it.

Those who have taken Kim’s Creative and Reflective Art Classes leave feeling lighter, more empowered, and so much more hopeful about the future. They walk away with their unique artworks which, beyond the aesthetic value, is also proof of their courage and effort in being able to sit with their difficult emotions and allow them to surface, no matter how painful it was.

"Art to me is a therapeutic tool," says Kim. "It allows the artist to tell a creative and expressive story. It is an incredible tool in the visual world of healing. When one has no words to express their experiences and emotions, art can be the channel they can use to express themselves. It helps to release emotions that have been too unbearable to deal with. Some of these may go back many years and unearthing these emotions can be very painful and frightening. With the help of art therapy, people are gradually able to put aside these fears and start sharing their stories and experiences."

No matter what one’s situation is, art therapy offers a ray of hope for change. And many have experienced Kim’s gentle guidance as she helps people to begin to want to live life with joy again. And they are doing this one brushstroke at a time. Everyone is doing their best to paint a new and beautiful future for themselves.

Read More

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Kim provides a safe, open and warm environment to support people to achieve, improve and develop healthy emotions through the arts. Her clients include youth, adults, Alzheimer’s sufferers, people with disabilities, special needs and other challenging conditions in the community. Some of her special needs students are under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

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✾ “Art to me is a therapeutic tool. It allows the artist to tell a creative and expressive story. It is an incredible tool in the visual world of healing. When one has no words to express their experiences and emotions, art can be the channel they can use to express themselves. It helps to release emotions that have been too unbearable to deal with. Some of these may go back many years and unearthing these emotions can be very painful and frightening.

With the help of art therapy, people are gradually able to put aside these fears and start sharing their stories and experiences.”

- Kim Staples, Art of Life

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Enzo at one of Kim Staples’ Art Therapy class

Get in touch with Kim staples to learn more about Art Therapy:

0408 550 950 kstaples1@bigpond.com www.kimstaplesartoflife.com www.facebook.com/Art-of-Life-Kim-Staples

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HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE WITH ART THERAPY ✦ This article was written by Brilliant-Online in support of World Suicide Prevention Day, Friday 10th September 2021

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C

reating art is actually something natural to humans. We see children do it naturally and parents proudly display their toddler’s masterpieces of friendly dinosaurs and happy princesses on their refrigerators. For some reason, as adults we see and treat art differently.

We see it as something intellectual, difficult, requiring special training and talent.

Truth is, we are all natural born artists.

Letitia Kimmorley, Life’s 4 Living

❊ “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”

- Picasso

If we could tap into our natural artistic side, it could actually offer us solace, healing and recovery from traumatic experiences in the past and coping with challenging situations in the present. Ultimately, what it offers is hope for a better future. People do not have to stay stuck in unhappiness, loneliness, depression or anxiety.

If we could tap into our natural artistic side, it could actually offer us solace, healing and recovery from traumatic experiences in the past and coping

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Art therapy is a tool for mental health recovery. It allows one to create something concrete to give a voice to their experiences and feelings.

When we are stuck and not able to express how we feel, art therapy is like a key that opens up the doors and allows us to look at what is inside us without fear or judgement.

People who have experienced the benefits of art therapy find themselves developing self-awareness and selfesteem. They see a change in their social skills. They start noticing a shift in how they manage their behaviour and symptoms. It is about giving the choice of having a different perspective of our problems instead of being stuck and not being able to move through difficult emotions.

In the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, there are several artists who dedicate themselves to this cause. And they are making a difference by giving support, tools and hope to so many.

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Letitia Kimmorley, Life’s 4 Living

Life is for Living... Well and Happily

Healing Hearts through the Arts

Letitia from Life’s 4 Living has created a safe space where she combined her passion for art, nature and helping people.

For Kim Staples, art is not just something she does for herself. In fact, it is a key part of her artist life to share it with youth groups, Alzheimer’s sufferers, people with special needs, disabilities and other challenging conditions.

Art stimulates the happy endorphins and dopamines which stimulate us to continue doing something we enjoy and have fun with. Life’s 4 Living is a person-focused, non-judgemental, safe and secure space to experiment, express and create.

Letitia is an NDIS and Aged Care provider who provides one on one sessions and group sessions, at their homes, in a centre or simply out in nature. To extend the help available, she has also turned to sessions on Zoom to be able to continue offering sessions.

Kim is an Australian artist, art tutor and art therapist.

Through her Art of Life, Kim is healing hearts through the arts using imagination, intuition, creativity and selfdiscovery. For Kim, artistic expression is the key to one’s soul. If we just let our art and creativity flow, there is much we can discover about ourselves.

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Kim Staples, Art of Life

lifes4living.com.au www.facebook.com/letitiakimmorleyart www.instagram.com/lifes4living

www.facebook.com/Art-of-Life-Kim-Staples

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A Collective Creative Hub

Symbol of Transformation

It is a creative hub that is open to everyone, offering a wide variety of art workshops such as watercolour painting, chocolate workshops, felting classes, mosaics workshops etc.

Ashley Whittington’s The Butterfly Effect project is aimed at promoting mindfulness for positive mental health. People get together to make origami butterflies while having positive conversations about mental health, resilience building, strength and connection.

Stu Doherty is someone who turned to art and found a new lease of life. Art became his refuge and his solution.

The Wauchope Creative Hub is an artistic collective formed

by Stu and his sister, Christine. The Wauchope Creative Hub is a place that is reaching deep into the community and encouraging people to access their creative nature.

Stu Doherty, WCH

www.facebook.com/Wauchopecreativehub

A Mosaic of Colours Out There Design and Mosaic is committed to including indigenous culture and reconciliation.

➸ The Butterfly Effect Project

Ashley Whittington, The Butterfly Effect

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Hope for a Future ECLIPSE is a group for adults who have survived a suicide attempt. People meet and talk to others who have survived a suicide attempt. It is a safe space to learn new skills that can help participants manage their feelings and thoughts of suicide.

Change is possible, and in this non-judgemental atmosphere, people can find someone able to and willing to listen.

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Francessca O’Donnell, The Out There Collective

www.theouttherecollective.com www.facebook.com/outtheredesignandmosaic/

lifelinemidcoast.org.au/eclipse

Why not rummage through your cupboard for some old paints and markers? Even a paper and a pencil are enough to get you started on exploring your personal inner journey.

Let your Inner Artist express itself.

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FOR A HOLISTIC MIND AND BODY, TELEHEALTH WITH ERIN MILLER ✦ Erin is the owner of the Nutrition Network clinic in Forster, NSW, Australia.

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rin, as an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) & Nutritionist, aims to mend the gap between knowing and doing by teaching you how to have a healthy relationship with food, understanding your health conditions and by providing dietary and lifestyle advice individualised for you.

Erin's recommendations for improving your health and optimising your immunity include: • Eat regular meals and snacks • Aim to eat something wholesome every three hours.

Erin Miller

• Have planned snacks and try to eat from a bowl or plate • You tend to overeat from a packet, as it removes the visual cues on how much you have consumed.

• When you eat out, pick something wholesome and look for local produce like at Plunge café Forster. They source local ingredients from farmers and growers.

• Take a look at your portions • Bigger the plate- the more you will eat!!

• Use your hands as a guide for better portion control • A protein serve is no bigger or thicker than the palm of your hand.

Check out The Nutrition Network to learn more tips on having a healthy relationship with food and your body:

• A serve of fruit is the size of your fist when it is clenched.

In partnership with Rebecca Hurtrel, the two cultivates wellness through Suivre Le Soleil Wellness with a philosophy to awaken your own inner sunshine, by guiding you to find your inner glow through movement, nutrition, meditation, connection, breath work and community.

Read More

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• This allows for a slower release of energy, which keeps your blood sugar levels more stable.

www.thenutritionnetwork.org www.instagram.com/thenutritionnetwork www.facebook.com/thenutritionnetwork

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LIFELINE UNVEILS A VIRTUAL GARDEN FOR WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH ✦ Whilst we may not be able to share the warmth of connection face to face for World Suicide Prevention Day, we hope this garden will be a place to come together, united in knowing you are not alone.

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o mark World Suicide Prevention Day on Friday September 10, Lifeline has unveiled their Out of the Shadows virtual garden. With the ongoing concern of large gatherings and COVID-19, the organisation has replaced their annual Out of the Shadow candlelight vigil with the online garden.

“This year we are transitioning to an online program that includes three components; an individual walk, a virtual garden and nine stories of the lived experience of suicide.”

The campaign has had to pivot this year. “This year we are transitioning to an online program that includes three components; an individual walk, a virtual garden and nine stories of the lived experience of suicide,” says Lifeline’s Marketing Coordinator Lisa Willows.

Donate a Flower

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- Lisa Willows, Lifeline Mid Coast

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Out of the Shadows is an annual national Lifeline event designed to raise awareness, remember those lost to suicide and for family and friends to unite in a commitment to prevent further deaths by suicide. Since 2012, Lifeline has been observing World Suicide Prevention Day with Out of the Shadows a series of local walks around the nation providing a safe space for communities to come together and remember those lives lost to suicide, and support those impacted by suicide.

✳

Lifeline Virtual Garden Open 24 hours, anytime, anywhere.

A garden of remembrance, a garden of reflection. Here you can plant a flower, hold a personal silence, smile or shed a tear knowing you are amongst friends.

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❖

➹

Archie Smith, AFL player talks about speaking up and how his little brothers’ suicide affected him.

“The sad statistics are that in Australia, 9 people take their own lives every day. That’s one, every 3 hours. Suicide is the leading cause of death amongst those aged 15 – 44yrs, with men being 3 times more likely to die by suicide than females. It’s important for people thinking about ending their own life to understand that they are not alone, and help is available.”

- Catherine Vaara, Lifeline Mid Coast

The campaign also features nine stories of the lived experience of suicide.

Every year, more than 65,000 make a suicide attempt. More than 1 million contacts are made to Lifeline for support. Through connection and the voices of others, we unite to raise awareness and overcome the stigma surrounding suicide and suicide prevention “The sad statistics are that in Australia, 9 people take their own lives every day. That’s one, every 3 hours.

Suicide is the leading cause of death amongst those aged 15 – 44yrs, with

men being 3 times more likely to die by suicide than females. It’s important for people thinking about ending their own life to understand that they are not alone, and help is available,” Lifeline Mid Coast CEO, Catherine Vaara said.

In the last reporting period, there were 3,318 Australian lives lost to suicide. Losing a loved one to suicide is different to any other loss as the stigma surrounding suicide is still very real. Often those who are grieving or experiencing suicidal ideation can experience tremendous marginalisation. The COVID-19 restrictions are exacerbating isolation, with many left to grieve or struggle with their thoughts alone. Through Out of the Shadows, Lifeline aims to ensure that people feel connected and aware of the support and compassion that is around them.

Please send us a message using the contact form below or call (02) 6581 2800.

In case of an emergency please dial 000 immediately.

The virtual garden is open from now until October 10, World Mental Health Day.

Visit Virtual Garden

Lived Experience Stories

➹ ➹

Members of the community are invited to visit the garden where they can make either a free or nominal donation, choose a native flower and leave a message. The message may be one of hope, support or in memory.

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

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WHY DIETS AND FOOD RESTRICTION DON’T WORK FOR PCOS ✦ Coach Nush on PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)

❖ Anushree Mahajan

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f you have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and you’ve been searching for solutions to your symptoms, it’s more than likely that you’ve encountered dieting and food restriction as a main way to manage your condition.

However, though it might seem counterintuitive, there are many reasons why this is NOT the best approach to managing PCOS. A key reason is that dieting and food restriction is not sustainable.

Meaning that most of us are not able to go more than six months following a strict diet or cutting out specific foods. Even if we manage to go more than six months, in order for this restrictive way-of-eating to really be a solution to our PCOS, it has to be something we can keep up with life-long.

❃ “The important thing to note in this discussion is that weightgain is NOT a cause of PCOS, but instead it’s a symptom of the condition. Meaning that, having excess weight on your body didn’t cause you to develop PCOS - having PCOS is what caused you to gain weight in the first place.”

- Coach Nush

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PCOS is not a temporary condition PCOS is not a temporary condition.

It’s one that you essentially have to keep in check throughout your life. If you’re relying on a restrictive diet to help you do so, then at some point or another, it will become difficult for you to sustain. Hence, when you fall off track with your diet you will also undo whatever improvements you’ve seen in your symptoms thus far and will be back to square one.

This is not to say that it has to be hard to manage PCOS, but instead, it’s to recognise that if you cannot sustain something for at least the next few years, then you need to reevaluate if it’s really the right approach to addressing your PCOS. Then why is it that doctors, everywhere you look online, and all the information you’ve read point to cutting out sugar, carbs, gluten, and dairy to reduce PCOS symptoms?

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This is largely because there is a hyper-focus on weight-loss for PCOS management and though these food restrictions may help you lose weight in the short-term, they don’t determine the long-term implications for your PCOS - especially since restriction is not sustainable.

The important thing to note in this discussion is that weight-gain is NOT a cause of PCOS, but instead it’s a symptom of the condition. Meaning that, having excess weight on your body didn’t cause you to develop PCOS - having PCOS is what caused you to gain weight in the first place.

By losing weight, you are not addressing the root-cause of your condition, and instead are just using a band-aid solution. When you don’t address the root-causes of PCOS, your symptoms eventually come back even though you initially saw improvements from whatever it was you were doing.

For example, let’s say you cut out carbs and sugar and lose a ton of

weight - initially you might feel really good and your symptoms may improve, but eventually, you may start feeling worse, and then symptoms and even weight might start to creep back in even if you’re doing the exact same thing as before.

This is because PCOS is a condition driven by hormonal imbalance and metabolic dysfunction (slowed metabolism). Without addressing these two aspects of your health directly, you won’t be able to experience long-term success with PCOS management. More often than not, dieting and food restriction makes hormonal imbalance and metabolic dysfunction WORSE. This is why Coach Nush takes a very holistic approach to PCOS in her coaching practise by addressing sleep, stress management, supplementation, and mindset in addition to nutrition and movement.

This is the only way to sustainably reverse symptoms.

Taking a holistic approach to PCOS can help sustainably reverse symptoms

To learn more about PCOS and Coah Nush’s PCOS Transformation Program check out her socials:

www.instagram.com/coachnush/ www.facebook.com/coachnush/ www.linkedin.com/in/coachnush/

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POSTPARTUM CONFINEMENT MYTHS AND BENEFITS ✦ Those living in Asia or familiar with Asian cultures and practices would be familiar with the term “confinement”.

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ostpartum confinement is a traditional practice following childbirth and it involves being secluded (confined) and undergoing special treatment which could last for a period of time from a month to 100 days. It is a kind of postnatal recuperation and there are some interesting myths surrounding it as well as useful benefits that we can get from this.

Confinement can be seen as the early part of maternity leave.

The human body has undergone major changes over the nine months of pregnancy and the final delivery requires the body to perform an amazing feat. The body needs rest and care and it is also simply a gentle time for the new parents to enjoy being with their newborns and to learn the ropes of caring for their child. No matter how many books you read about pregnancy and childrearing, even if you have your mother and mother-in-law right next to you, it is still a steep learning curve being first time parents.

Some mothers hire confinement nannies or doulas to support them in the first weeks after birth. They provide informational support about feeding and caring for the baby. They provide physical support by cleaning, cooking meals, and filling in when a new mother needs a break.

They provide emotional support by encouraging a mother when she feels overwhelmed. They are definitely a great help.

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Just born, Victoria with Mum Liz

Confinement Myths

2. Wrap up and Avoid the AC

We look at some myths related to confinement and also the benefits that confinement brings (which is why many cultures continue to adhere to this practice of confinement).

Again, this is to prevent the elusive “wind” from entering your body. You may be breaking out in a sweat but the Air conditioning (AC) is a definite no no.

And don’t even think about blasting the fan in your face.

1. Do not shower

Even after childbirth, the body continues to make changes as it adjusts to not being in a pregnant state anymore.

Hormone levels can change and result in fluctuations in body temperature. It is the body’s natural process to sweat more to get rid of excess fluid, and night sweats can prevent a tired mother from sleeping well, which is going to affect the quality of her life. Postpartum sweating is common and while it may be annoying, we don’t have to worsen it.

Help new mothers stay comfortable and

The belief is that (cold) water causes “wind” to enter the body which could cause headaches and arthritis.

Truth is, and as common sense would tell us, maintaining good personal hygiene is a very sensible and healthy thing to do in any given situation. In fact, it is especially important to keep the perineum area (between the genitals and the anus) clean and dry. This helps the wound to heal and avoid infection.

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3. No Reading. And Absolutely No Crying.

The reason for this myth is because childbirth was thought to make the liver weak. And the liver is linked to the health of our eyes. That is why in traditional Chinese medicine, mothers are not encouraged to strain their eyes during the confinement period either by reading or crying.

Crying is a very healthy and cleansing thing to do. Being a new mother brings about very strong emotions and crying is a way to detox and release those pent-up emotions.

4. Do Not Move

Confinement Benefits It will be an added bonus if you have a doula or confinement lady to help new mothers during this time. Take note that you may have to book them at least six months ahead.

1. Time for Bonding Confinement allows mothers to have quiet, quality time to bond with their newborns. Being born is an intense experience for the infant. Bonding with the mother helps to assure the infant and keeps it feeling safe, supported and connected.

4. Nourishing the Body

Confinement is the time when mothers are able to get some quality sleep. Some may have experienced sleep difficulties during their pregnancy and now is the time where they can get periods of sleep in between being with the newborn.

Sound quality sleep can help improve breast milk production and aid in the recovery of blood loss during the birth process. With someone around to help with miscellaneous things around the house, the mother does not need to wake up early or go to bed late trying to be superwoman multitasking and taking care of everyone else.

Eating well is vital during the confinement period. We have all heard of the fashion of slow food and confinement is definitely a time to eat well, enjoy and go slow. Mothers need a balanced diet to regain her strength and help her body build itself up again. Pregnancy may have caused mothers to be averse to certain foods and crave others. Confinement is a good time to bring back that balance in their meals.

Check out our confinement recipe:

Hakka Ginger Chicken Recipe

3. Treating the Body Right The body has gone through an intense experience and regardless of how tough we think we are, it always pays to treat the body right.

Postnatal care is vital for the physical and emotional health of both mother and child, and this can have a knockon effect on the rest of the family members as well. Confinement is a time to help your body recover and ease into a new state after delivery.

Some go for gentle massages to help with stimulating blood circulation and promoting relaxation.

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Pilates 30 day Challenge

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My Body My Pilates offer post natal Pilates classes which sometimes treat conditions like Diastasis Recti

2. Beauty Sleep

Confinement is no longer a dreary, sordid concept from the past. It is a gentle, restful time for mothers to be fully present with their own bodies, with their newborns and for families to fully enjoy and welcome this new phase in their lives.

A happy, healthy infant starts with a positive confinement experience.

Read the Full Story

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This myth really takes the cake. It is believed that since the body has undergone such a big change, it is now weak and fragile. Walking and moving about would only weaken the muscles. Generally doctors recommend new mothers to start doing some light movement once they feel comfortable. In fact, some light movement can help decrease the risk of deep vein thrombosis.

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HOW TO COOK HAKKA CONFINEMENT CHICKEN BY JACKIE M ✦ This recipe is highly recommended to postpartum confinement mothers. Many thanks to Jackie M and My Blue Tea for sharing this recipe.

✺ Jackie M

• 4 large chicken drumsticks • ¼ cup ginger, shredded • ¼ cup Chinese rice wine •

½ tsp sesame oil

• 2 tsps cooking oil • ½ – 1 tsp salt • 1 tsp chicken powder (optional) • 3-4 Tbsp honey (if you’re going low GI like I was) or sugar • ½ cup water • 1-2 tspn My Blue Tea Dayak Ginger Crisps Note: Dayak Ginger Crisps are so good on its own, we use them as snacks!

METHOD: 1. Heat cooking oil in a saucepan, then add shredded ginger and sauté for about one minute, or until aromatic.

2. Add chicken legs and cook for a further minute.

3. Add all other ingredients, cover and simmer on low heat until the chicken is cooked through (about 15-20 minutes).

4. Partially open the lid to reduce the sauce a little towards the last 3-4 minutes.

5. Remove from heat. Garnish with Sarawak Dayak Ginger Crisps and serve with warm steamed rice.

Use BRILLIANT15 to get a 15% discount off all regular priced items in My Blue Tea online shop.

Shop Dayak Ginger Crisps

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INGREDIENTS:

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Be Brilliant Today SUBSCRIBE & WIN SUBSCRIBE TO BRILLIANT

➹

MY BLUE TEA SUPERFOOD PACKS!!

BRILLIANT-ONLINE.COM

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Brilliant

SPORTS ✦

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PARALYMPIC HEROES ✦ The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics were an absolute triumph in so many ways with an array of stereotype-defying, record-shattering performances witnessed.

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he Tokyo 2020 Paralympics may have come after the Olympics on a timeline perspective but there was no doubt that the competing athletes and their tales of triumph over adversity were at least on parity after a pulsating 13-day festival of sport in the Japanese capital.

The COVID-19 pandemic that is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to derail and disrupt so much may have delayed the Games by a full year but it could not, ultimately, stop the event and all the wonderful stories that emerged from happening.

It was a genuine marvel to witness so many gifted athletes plying their trade despite serious impairment and a reminder to the world during difficult times that, no matter what your challenge may be, you can always rise above it and prevail.

The Games not only had breathtaking feats on the court, the track, in the pool and elsewhere but was littered with sub-plots that only added to the magical spirit of the occasion.

There was the story of two Afghan paralympians who feared they would be trapped in their homeland under the newly-established Taliban regime and miss out altogether on their dream of competing in Tokyo.

A last minute “secret evacuation” after a video plea saw the pair finally arrive in Japan via Paris. One of the athletes had arrived late and missed his discipline but organisers arranged for him to participate in another event so as he could realise his dream.

There were tales of veterans from Afghanistan competing. Australian canoeist Curtis McGrath, who lost his legs while serving, won his second

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2020 Tokyo Paralympics - Day 12 Tokyo , Japan- September 05: Hossain Rasouli and Zakia Khudadadi of Team Afghanistan during the Closing Ceremony on day 12 of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at Olympic Stadium on September 05, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.

Photo Credit: Alex Davidson/Getty Images for International Paralympic Committee

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Paralympics gold in the men’s KL2 canoe sprint and American Brad Snyder, who was blinded while serving in country, became the first American man to win gold in the triathlon in the Paralympics or Olympics.

Team GB cycling legend Sarah Storey became Britain’s most successful Paralympian after winning her 17th gold medal, a full 29 years after winning her first and the men’s wheelchair basketball team upset the odds to win gold.

There was British badminton player Krysten Coombs stepping into a starring role to win bronze in the men’s competition. Coombs was used to the big occasion having served as a part-time actor in hit TV show Game Of Thrones!

Love was most certainly in the air when blind runner Keula Nidreia Pereira Semedo of Cape Verde received a marriage proposal from her partner and guide runner of 11 years Manuel Antonio Vaz da Veiga.

Semedo admitted she had been considering retirement but that the proposal made her rethink. “Now I have an additional motivation to carry on after the Games, always with him by my side,” she said.

Australia had countless athletes with tales of triumph such as Port Macquarie’s Ryley Batt in the men’s wheelchair rugby and road cyclist Stuart Jones who was lauded when he slowed down in his race to offer words of encouragement to another athlete in a different race who was visibly struggling.

It was a moment that summed up all that was great about the 13 days of competition with respect, sportsmanship and camaraderie top of the list of priorities. Not all athletes won medals, of course, but each and everyone of them came away a true hero with a notion of triumph no piece of metal could ever provide, no matter the colour.

✷ “Quite simply, every single athlete that competed at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games is a hero and deserves huge recognition, even if they didn’t quite manage to score a medal. Every single event and athlete that contested it was a triumph, regardless of the outcome and the final classification. It is therefore almost impossible to review a 13-day competition consisting of thousands of participants. So what we have tried to do here is pick a few of the highlights that lit up the competition and the living rooms of so many enthralled spectators watching from home all across the world.”

Read the Full Story

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- Ben Tirebuck

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AUSSIE COACHES GIVING GLOBAL FOOTBALL A KICK ✦ In keeping with Brilliant-Online's continual focus on and celebration of all things ‘Aussie Made’, we take a closerlook and profile a couple of football coaches who are making waves globally.

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ootball, or soccer to use its local colloquialism, may never surpass Aussie staple sports such as AFL, NRL or cricket in popularity terms but there is no denying it has grown exponentially in recent years. This has been evidenced by a number of top-grade players progressing to ply their trade in prestigious and lucrative foreign leagues in the likes of the UK, Europe, Japan and the USA. Progression hasn’t been merely limited to the playing personnel, however, as a number of promising Australian managers and coaches such as Ange Postecoglou, Kevin Muscat and Pete Cklamovski are proving.

The trailblazer Postecoglou unquestionably leads the way and has been very much the trailblazer for aspiring Aussie football coaches

for many years. He managed domestically in Australia and also took charge of the Socceroos, leading them to win their first ever Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

He then took up the hotseat at Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan’s J-League and guided the club to their first J-League title in 15 years, becoming the first Australian manager to win a league title in Japan in the process.

It was, however, Postecoglou’s next move that truly brought him to the attention of a global audience when, in June this year, the then 55-year-old was appointed manager of Scottish giants Glasgow Celtic, one of the most successful, popular and widely respected professional clubs in global sports with an estimated worldwide fan base of close to 10 million people.

Depsite a shaky start, the team is now on a winning run, playing some of the finest football witnessed at the club

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It is still early days but the signs are extremely positive for Postecoglou as he continues to forge a path for aspiring Aussie coaches to follow by becoming the most successful coach the country has ever produced.

The apprentice One man very much following in Postecoglou’s footsteps is Peter Cklamovski.

Cklamovski worked as assistant manager under Postecoglou and knows his former boss better than most, having operated in his shadow for 16 years, studying his mentor closely, watching, listening and taking notes.

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Australia vs China PR2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier Doha, Qatar - September 02: Tom Rogic of Australia strikes the ball during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Australia and China PR at Khalifa International Stadium on September 02, 2021 in Doha, Qatar.

He is now managing J-League second tier side Montedio Yamagata where he has collected 31 points from a possible 33 to propel the team from 17th place in the table up into fifth to save a season that looked like an expected relegation battle into a genuine push for promotion.

Photo Credit: Mohamed Farag/Getty Images

“The J2 is really interesting,” says Cklamovski. “It is a ding dong every week. I love it.

“I push myself to be the best I can,” he adds. “My motto is to focus on the day and get better. That’s it and where that takes me, we’ll see.”

It is a motto that has resulted in sterling work being done by both Cklamovski and his mentor Postecoglou which is charting the way for future coaches from Down Under “I am not sure why Australian coaches have been overlooked before,” said Cklamovski. “I just know that everyone will keep working hard and getting better. This is the Aussie mentality.”

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Melbourne Victory Training Session Melbourne, Australia - March 28: Peter Cklamovski gives instructions during a Melbourne Victory

Read the Full Story

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A-League training session at Gosch’s Paddock on March 28, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia.

Photo Credit: Robert Prezioso/Getty Images

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ZARA RUTHERFORD FLYING SOLO AT 19 ✦ Zara Rutherford encourages girls and young women to chase their dreams

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his extraordinary young woman is flying solo, around the world. And she’s only 19 years old.

Zara started her journey on 18th August 2021 from Belgium heading west. She will be covering 52 countries across five continents.

She will be passing through the UK, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, USA, Latin America to Colombia. She will then head back north via Alaska, to Russia, China, Indonesia, India, Middle East and back to Belgium.

The journey is expected to end in early November when she’ll return to Belgium.

Two things drive Zara’s passion - aviation and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). By making this solo journey around the world, Zara hopes to encourage other girls and young women to chase their dreams, whether it is to start flying, enter STEM-related careers or anything that they are capable of imagining.

For someone to take on this round-the-world challenge, you’ll have to really love flying. And for Zara, flying is as natural to her as walking or running. Her parents are experienced pilots, so Zara grew up learning about flying and planes and it really wasn’t surprising that once she was of age she got on a flight training program and got her qualifications last year.

When Zara finishes her journey around the world, she will become the youngest woman to have ever achieved the feat.

The aircraft Zara is flying in is a Shark Aero. It is a high-performance ultralight aircraft manufactured in Europe. This aircraft is incredibly fast, reaching cruising speeds of 300 km/h. It has been specially prepared for a long journey such as the one

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Baby pilot Zara, all set to fly!

Photo Credit: Fly Zolo

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Zara Rutherford talks about being the youngest women flying solo around the world at the age of 19!

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Zara has embarked on. It was designed and constructed as a fast cross-country airplane.

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Zara at 19, all set to fly!

Photo Credit: Fly Zolo

Read the Full Story

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When Zara returns from her journey, her next dream is to become an astronaut. We wonder which planets she will be visiting then. Amazing role models like Zara make you believe that anything is possible. Thanks to Zara, many more girls and young women will be dreaming of an amazing future, and making it happen.

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TREVOR KEE APPOINTED PRESIDENT OF ISIS FLYING CLUB ✦ The Isis Flying Club manages and maintains the Childers Aerodrome on behalf of the Bundaberg Regional Council

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revor Kee is known in the community as the magic designer and visionarybehind TG’s Child Care’s award-winning gardens that have been providing the space for children to enjoy so many beautiful moments of Playing is Learning for Life.

Beyond his talents in landscape designing and creating natural spaces teeming with green life, Trevor’s other skill is way up in the air.

Trevor has recently been appointed as President of the Isis Flying Club.

We spoke to him about his other passion - flying.

What is this flying club about?

✶ Trevor Kee

The Isis Flying Club essentially manages and maintains the Childers Aerodrome on behalf of the Bundaberg Regional Council. The club services the recreational aviation community of the Isis District in Queensland, including Childers and its surrounding areas.

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It is a magnificent 1000m all weather (east/west) grass runway with well set up club rooms. There are currently 14 owner/occupier hangars onsite, with future development sites available. Members can lease the land for their own hangar from the club at $200 per annum (so that’s less than $4 per week)!

What kind of activities are conducted at the club?

The Childers Aerodrome is an Ultralight flying community. However, we do not discriminate against general aviation. There are many active recreational aviators and clubs in South East Queensland nearby as well.

There is a very special activity that takes place at this club.

“Old Farts Day” is what Childers is famous for.

Every Wednesday morning, up to 30 pilots from all around converge on our airfield to chew the fat and catch up together.

Gayle and Trevor Kee with Chris Hollis at Orchid Beach, Fraser Island

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B RILLIA NT SP O R T S It’s a great get-together we all look forward to, and in good old-school fashion, everyone brings a plate for morning tea. You must be wondering why in the world did we name this weekly routine Old Farts Day - that’s because “old farts” (we feel very young!), make the best leaders, entrepreneurs and pilots because of our experience and maturity!

There are usually activities on the airfield most days of the week. On weekends we are a lot busier as hangar doors are opened, planes are re-fuelled and people take to the skies.

What are your plans for the club?

I want to foster fun, friendship and flying in our club.

(We know where that FUN BUG comes from - TG’s Child Care right?). And it’s also really important we help maintain the physical environment to the high standards of the past.

We have quite a big event coming up as well this month (September) which is our 30th anniversary of the club.

So we’re busy preparing for that, and what’s really fun is that day also happens to be international “Talk like a Pirate” Day!

Now that you are President of the club, how would you do things differently?

I’d start by finding the club a better president! Actually, I want to extend an open invitation to anyone to drop in to experience good old country hospitality at its best, Queensland style. Can’t get it anywhere else!

Can you tell us a bit about your personal flying history?

I was four years old when I started flying. I had my Batman suit on and it lasted all of 1.6 seconds. It was a bit of a rough landing with my mouth full of dirt and a broken right arm.

That was a bit of a rocky start but in Easter 1994 I did my first hang glider solo flight in a Moyes Mars 190 off “Mystic Hill” in Victoria. And I couldn’t stop flying since then. I moved from trikes to recreational flying and I achieved my Pilot Certificate on 26th July 2017, so that was a really big moment for me. My wife Gayle flies with me as well and she has been with me on nearly half of all my flying hours over the years.

What interesting moments have you experienced in your flying?

We purchased a Vixxen so that was a proud moment.

It’s not quite the same as buying a car. For me, a plane is like a trusty friend for life! It allows me to go on lots of weekend adventures with fellow aviators - once we even found a shipwreck!

Gayle and I were on one of our weekend pleasure flights over Fraser Island and we were just dumbfounded when we spotted the shadow of the luxury liner S.S.Marloo in the waters. It sank in 1914 and when we saw all 2,268 tonnes of it just lying quietly in the waters, it was unbelievable. It makes you want to take your plane up there and explore many more places! Who knows what you’ll find! That find made us famous. We were on the news and on TV! What a wonderful effort to add yet another incredible aviation achievement to his arsenal of skills. Trevor is not a newcomer to aviation as he has been flying his own Trike Aircraft for many years. However to adapt from ‘weight shift’ control to ‘three axis’ control is no easy matter as control is maintained with completely opposite movements.

Trevor did his flight test this afternoon in quite rough flying conditions with a brisk crosswind but these conditions didn’t really pose a problem for our seasoned pilot. Well done Trevor.” - Ray Lind, CFI, 26 July 2017 (Passenger Endorsement - 2nd Nov 2017)

www.facebook.com/isisflyingclub

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Brilliant

COVID-19 STORIES ✦

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A TALE OF TWO CITIZENS IN A PANDEMIC WORLD ✦ To vaccinate or not to vaccinate?

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hat, indeed, is the question as we slowly adjust to a new normal lifestyle that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about.

Countries are at differing stages of managing the pandemic and its disruption to society, but the one unifying factor is the importance of vaccination against the virus.

However, this is nowhere near as straight forward as it may initially appear and how exactly the vaccine debate is likely to impact us as a global population remains to be seen.

It is still early days but the general trend from governments around the world is an impatient desire to have their citizens vaccinated as quickly as possible so a semblance of normality can return. Put simply,

if you are not vaccinated then there could be a whole host of challenges awaiting you.

This article does not seek to analyse the ethics of choice per se, of one’s right to opt for or against the COVID-19 vaccine. That’s another debate for an altogether different day.

Instead it strives to peek behind the curtain being drawn by governments around the world who are introducing an increasing number of conditions and restrictions which are and will continue to shape the everyday lives of the vaccinated and unvaccinated members of our societies.

‘Us and them’ One thing that is clearly evident early on is that a divide has, and continues to be, created between those who

have been vaccinated and those who have not. It is very much creating an “us and them” mentality which could, in time, become troublesome.

So what will the divisive world of the vaccinated and the nonvaccinated actually look like?

The answer is, simply, it is still too early to say with any degree of accuracy and one can only speculate at this stage. However, the early indication is that societies will become even more disrupted, divisive and controlled than before, perhaps worryingly so for some.

Being required to produce documentation in order to be allowed to carry out duties and tasks that we previously took for granted such as

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to visit shops or restaurants, board a plane, visit another country, engage in certain leisure activities, visit loved ones or apply for a job sounds like something from a second-rate disaster movie from years gone by or from a hard-line communist state. But this is the very real future we are facing.

Vaccine Passports We have already witnessed several countries around the world implementing subtle but very real restrictions to citizens who have not yet received their vaccination.

In the USA, it is compulsory for all federal government employees to sign confirmation forms proving they have been vaccinated, likewise for all military personnel.

Although the Biden government is against a “vaccine passport” at national level due to concerns over privacy and citizens’ rights, several states such as New York and California have enforced that proof of inoculation be required from employees and customers of indoor eateries, gyms and entertainment centres, to cite just a few examples.

More establishments, businesses and states are certain to follow.

Likewise, major organisations in the corporate sector have introduced mandatory rulings for their employees; Chevron, United Airlines and CVS Health recently announced they would require COVID-19 vaccinations for the majority of workers. Delta Air Lines stated that unvaccinated employees who have company-provided health insurance will face US$200 monthly surcharges starting from November. Tech giants Google and Facebook have hinted that workers will need to be fully vaccinated before returning to the workplace. Whether it becomes mandatory in Australia to be vaccinated in order to return to or start work remains to be seen.

In the UK, proof of vaccination will be required to enter places regarded as high-risk such as nightclubs and venues that house large crowds. At time of press this did not extend to sports venues but there have been murmurings that this could change in due course.

It has been the case in Belgium which introduced a policy that segregates spectators at football matches, with separate stands in place for those who are unvaccinated.

France has so far exhibited the most stringent approach whereby a vaccine passport must be produced in order for people to access sports venues and entertainment venues such as cinemas, nightclubs, museums and festivals. President Emmanuel Macron has intimated this will extend in time to restaurants and bars, and selected public transport.

Thailand and Singapore have been mulling over introducing vaccine passports of some description for some time now. The challenge seems to be less for the latter whose much smaller population are generally prudent and compliant when it comes to health and safety measures for the good of themselves and others. The latter has already initiated a process whereby the COVID status of an individual will be stored in an app which will be used in due course to permit and restrict certain activities which have, thus far, yet to be confirmed.

❋ “NSW has developed technology to allow us to check in and show our vaccine in one go.

My message to everyone is that if you want to get back to normal, get your vaccine. If you want to do things, vaccination will be key as part of that process.”

- Gladys Berejiklian, NSW Premier

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An easier life Although Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said that COVID-19 vaccination will not be made mandatory for citizens, it is more than clear that life would be a lot easier for those who opt to receive the jab than those who refuse and that harsher restrictions will be imposed on the latter.

“If you get vaccinated, there will be special rules that’ll apply to you,” Morrison said after announcing a four-phase plan recently.

“Why? Because if you’re vaccinated, you present less of a public health risk. You are less likely to get the virus.

You are less likely to transmit it. You are less likely to get a serious illness and be hospitalised, and you are less likely to die.

“We’d have to have more restrictions on people who are unvaccinated because they’re a danger to themselves and others,” he added.

Australia has only very recently emerged from the throes of an extensive nationwide lockdown and thus remains in a somewhat vulnerable state. Another spike in cases could well see a return to that as the government strives to achieve its goal of 70% of the population being vaccinated in order to create a herd immunity level.

This scenario may still be some time off, with Morrison himself stating he is unsure whether the country would be ready and able to reopen fully by the end of the year. But once it does, expect daily life to be different to what we have previously been accustomed to and the divide between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated to be glaringly apparent.

Vaccination is inevitable NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on August 24 that proof of vaccination is inevitable and that unvaccinated residents should prepare for a world where they are unable to enjoy post-lockdown freedoms that will be afforded to their vaccinated counterparts.

“There is no doubt that in the future, as (chief health officer) Dr (Kerry) Chant said, we can assume that many private organisations for a long period say you can only come to my premise or fly on my plane or do X, Y and Z if you have the vaccine,” she said.

“NSW has developed technology to allow us to check in and show our vaccine in one go. My message to everyone is that if you want to get back to normal, get your vaccine. If you want to do things, vaccination will be key as part of that process.”

Ms Berejiklian added that she and Dr Chant are currently discussing what freedoms fully vaccinated NSW residents will be able to enjoy as restrictions are hopefully eased in time.

The Tasmanian, Victorian and the Northern Territory governments are also collaborating on ideas for how vaccinated people could be exempt from any existing COVID-related restrictions, and will present their suggestions to the National Cabinet soon.

The early signs do support Ms Berejiklian’s statement that proof of vaccination will be compulsory in order to undertake many of the activities we all previously took for granted. Visiting bars, restaurants, cafes and entertainment venues, be they under the condition of lockdown or not, will be one of the main areas of focus.

Businesses operating in these industries are, naturally, keen to avoid lockdowns, said Innes Willox from the Australian Industry Group - and if that meant only being able to service vaccinated customers, then so be it.

“Obviously, vaccination is going to be a key part of that strategy,” Willox said. “And then, how we treat differently those that have been vaccinated or not vaccinated, that’s the next step in the equation.”

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B RILLIA NT COVID - 19 S TO RIE S Venues NSW, which manage major sporting venues in Sydney such as the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Football Stadium, Olympic Park and other stadiums, has suggested anyone going to events such as rugby league fixtures next season will be required to provide proof of vaccination.

Freedom of movement Starting to see a trend developing?

It seems that if you want to get back to the lifestyle you’ve always known and enjoyed then you need to have received the jab.

There’s more though. Obtaining proof of vaccination could also extend to greater freedom of movement and exemption from state border closures or lockdowns.

In fact, travel will be one of the most obvious, and arguably justifiable, areas where being vaccinated will be an absolute prerequisite. Migration of people, after all, is how the virus spread from its origins in Wuhan, China to pretty much every corner of the globe.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said back in March that he believed “governments are going to insist” on proof of vaccine for international travellers. Since then the airline has made it mandatory for all of its 22,000 workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

COVID passports are inevitable and will pretty much become an extension of our traditional passports, typically accessible via an app on your phone although also still in paper form, if necessary.

A “vaccine passport” is being introduced across all 27 member nations of the European Union (EU), plus Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein in order to permit travel. Canada recently launched a “proof of vaccination passport” and the UK has its own version which ties back to the National Health Service (NHS) and shows proof of inoculation. Whereas Thailand is closed to foreigners currently, the island of Phuket is exempt as long as visitors can provide proof of a viable vaccine and that they are COVID-free.

Australia’s tourism minister Dan Tehan has said that permitting more freedoms to people who are vaccinated would encourage more to get the jab.

“Obviously, there’s a very good incentive - you don’t want to get sick,” he said.

“But as another further incentive, enabling people to be able to move freely, initially, within our own country - and then potentially once we open up, to be able to move more freely overseas - I think is another very good incentive as to why Australians should want to get vaccinated.”

When we get to that point, vaccinated people arriving from abroad would almost certainly not be required to undergo any form of quarantine.

Those who have not received the jab would still be confined to a hotel room or designated quarantine space, however.

Home schooling One major area that has been affected over the past 18 months is children’s education with a huge switch to home schooling in many countries during lockdowns and school closures. This creates a natural burden on both parents and children and can amount to a very overwhelming and challenging experience.

For residents in the Port Macquarie region, TG’s Child Care is now providing a creative care package for TG’s children and families to help them through yet another difficult COVID lockdown period.

The packages are put together by the educators for families to use and do during the week meaning that, even when the children are not physically at TG’s, they continue to engage. Topics cover science experiences, mindfulness practices, cooking experiences, story times, and music and movement and provide invaluable support at a most testing time.

What, if any, requirements vaccination wise will be detailed in order to return to the classroom again remains to be seen. Australia recently announced children aged between 12 and 15 will be included in the national COVID-19 vaccine rollout but gave no indication to those below that age.

This is the age group that has been established in the USA, Canada and France while the UK has take a slightly more cautious approach and said it will only vaccinate children in that age range that are considered vulnerable.

France also confirmed that only unvaccinated children will be sent home if a classmate tests positive to COVID-19, serving as an incentive of sorts for parents to ensure their children are vaccinated.

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✫ “Denied or limited access to government and private business goods and services should not be based on one’s medical status, and the idea of a domestic ‘vaccine passport’ is a dangerous one that can create a class of citizens.”

- Eric Abetz, Liberal Senator

Being behind the curve in respects to the progression and impact of COVID, Australia will no doubt continue to watch these others countries then set their stall out based on the respective successes and failures.

There is clearly ground for concern, even at this early stage. Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy has aired concerns about creating “two classes of Australians” and a society of exclusion.

One area that has not yet been discussed is the “no jab, no pay” childcare policy where a COVID-19 jab will become mandatory for children in the same manner other vaccinations are in order for families to qualify for the Family Tax Benefit scheme or child care fee assistance.

“Where I have expressed concern around restrictions for unvaccinated people is regarding the small percentage of the population who are medically unable to get the vaccine,” she said.

Waiting game When all is said and done, what future do we envisage once the dust from the COVID maelstrom has settled, if it ever does fully, and how will life differ for the vaccinated and the unvaccinated?

As alluded to at the outset, it is too soon to speculate fully and the various implications are so complex and messy, much in the same way the pandemic has left our daily lives and routines.

“I would not want to see vulnerable Australians excluded from society.

If people do have genuine, religious or cultural reasons for not being vaccinated, then they shouldn’t be restricted as a result of that,” she said.

“As long as they can show that they’ve been tested and they are free of COVID-19. Because that’s the other answer to it… either you’ve been vaccinated, or you can prove that you’ve been tested and you’re COVID negative.”

Liberal senator Eric Abetz agrees.

“Vaccine passports should not be a blunt instrument to force people to be vaccinated by locking them out of society,” he said.

“Denied or limited access to government and private business goods and services should not be based on one’s medical status, and the idea of a domestic ‘vaccine passport’ is a dangerous one that can create a class of citizens.”

Political bias aside, one cannot help but shudder at the irony that countries across the world are being forced into adopting population control measures and strict policies on freedom of choice and movement much in the same way as the country where this pandemic started and was allowed to spread.

Ultimately, we cannot see into the future so only time will tell what transpires and what a “New Normal” will entail exactly. The early signs certainly suggest that being vaccinated is a far better choice than not and should mean that our lives and societal constitution can carry on without any huge changes.

For now we sit and wait to see how our tomorrow pans out...

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TEENAGE LOCKDOWNS, ROCK N’ ROLL AND HOMESCHOOLING DURING THE PANDEMIC ✦ Quan-Teenager, Lola Willows in lockdown

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hat’s it like being home-schooled during the pandemic and how are teenagers really coping with being locked down with their parents. We spoke to Lola Willows about what it’s like being a teenager in lockdown.

Lola Willows started High School last year. It was a brand-new school, with brand new teachers and brandnew students. It was also completely overwhelming. Lola had come from the small and protective school environment on offer at the Port Macquarie Adventist School, which had provided an idyllic Primary School experience. Adjusting to a large High School was going to be hard considering the Year 7 class alone was bigger than Lola’s whole previous school, and then came the pandemic.

Transitioning to online learning during the first wave saw the style of remote learning pivoting twice, and following a year of turmoil, integration, hard work and resilience building, by the end of the year, Lola had finally found her crew and was starting to enjoy going to school.

Fast forward to this year, Year 8, and the country enters its unprecedented distance learning experiment for the second time, there’s been a growing contingent of students who’ve found themselves enjoying their cyberspace syllabus as much as the physical version.

We spoke to Lola Willows about homeschooling and what it’s like being stuck at home as a teenager.

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Lola Willows homeschooling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How are you finding this lockdown, Lola?

At first, I was really excited to hear that I wouldn’t be attending school and that I would be homeschooled for a couple of weeks. Year 8 is much harder than year 7, so I thought it would be like a little break and I could work at my own pace.

As the weeks go by, I’m not enjoying it so much anymore. I’m really missing my friends and I’m finding the amount of work I’m receiving overwhelming.

I am missing being able to ask

questions in the classroom. At Regional High School I am offered homework support and I miss that. I go to Kip McGrath every Wednesday to help with Maths and that is now online also.

I enjoy doing the Zoom classes and must check in with my teachers and they are all really supportive. We can email questions and it’s really streamlined. They have just offered me online homework support, so that’s a big relief.

I still miss connecting with friends and working on school projects together.

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What things are you doing to cope with the lockdown?

I am eating plenty of fresh food. I’m probably not getting enough exercise and I am staying up late speaking with friends online. I ask Mum to take me for a drive every afternoon when online school is finished, and we pick up a drink at the local shop and that makes me feel much better.

On a positive note, I’ve taught myself the bass guitar and drums in my spare time and I bought myself an electric guitar last week, which I’m learning basic chords on. My brother plays drums, so sometimes we go to our jam shed and I play bass and Jett plays drums. Sometimes we can convince Trav to come out with us and he plays the guitar. Our neighbour’s dog Pearl comes and visits every time we have a jam.

Alternatively, Lola’s brother Jett is thriving “being an introvert, in an online classroom I don’t have to feel apprehensive, I’m calm and safe in my space at home. I’m charging through my schoolwork and enjoying gaming online with my friends in my spare time. I like the flexibility that home-schooling provides.

I’ve been able to focus on my schoolwork without the constant commotion around me.

I don’t have to worry about background noise or people bothering me.”

What’s it like being a ‘quanteenager’? Do you feel like you’re missing out?

It’s hard without the predictability of normal life. I have developed a deep love for Motley Crue during this lockdown, so I’ve been busy learning their songs, dressing up in their fashion, making scrapbooks and I’ve watched their movie “The Dirt’’ around 9 times already.

I do miss structure and I feel sad and anxious sometimes. Mum just keeps reassuring me that it’s ok to feel this way during this time and I’m learning to go with the flow. Both her and the school do ‘wellness’ checks with me.

There’s no point worrying about things we can’t change.

What’s the first thing you’re going to do when lockdown finishes?

I’m going to visit every op shop from Port Macquarie to Forster looking for Motley Crue inspired ‘fits’.

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Lisa Willows Photo Credit: Brad Collins

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Brilliant

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ✦

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LISA WILLOWS IS PORT MACQUARIE’S NEW MUSIC CURATOR ✦ Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has announced the Live and Local program, to be delivered in the local government area in partnership with the Live Music Office.

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ive and Local is a comprehensive capacity-building program which responds directly to the need to increase participation in Australia’s local live music scene and provides a platform for delivering live music activity that is innovative, flexible, and sustainable.

As the Program Curator, Lisa will take a census of existing local live music venues and live music performers, as well as seeking out non-traditional venues for inclusion. Once they have the data, the program will create a series of microfestival music events across the Local Government Area.

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Lisa Willows Photo Credit: Brad Collins

“The goal is to see live music venues reactivated and a thriving music scene re-established on the Mid North Coast. We hope to stimulate employment opportunities for local musicians, with a focus on youth and emerging artists, ideally creating sustainable new music venues in which they can perform and practice. We believe this will support economic and cultural development, cementing our area as a cultural destination for music lovers from all over Australia.”

- Lisa Willows

How do local venues and musicians get involved?

We would love to hear from all musicians, businesses and venues who would like to be part of our region’s live music scene. Contact us:

Even if you have not previously hosted live music or played locally yet, we encourage you to express your interest.

Find Out More

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lisa@rawrmusic.com.au

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A.G (47) - JAMES SCHAFER ✦ We are talking to James Schafer from Port Macquarie band A.g (47)

guitarist James is a big fan of progressive rock, classically trained Dean, Oli on Bass and metal drummer, N.O completing the outfit. The self-described “Frankenstein of sounds” somehow works well, bringing us a fresh new sound.

The entire project is a hybrid of styles sitting outside the box and features a mash of genres all fleshed into one brilliant outfit. Fire spitting vocalist Arman drawing influences from rap and hip hop, punk rocker and blues

Find Out More

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ort Macquarie’s A.g 47 mix metal, hip-hop and industrial into one aggressive beast of a machine.

In the process they laid the groundwork for their debut “Traits of a Snake” released in August 2020.

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A.g (47)

Photo Credit: Sowelu Studios

➹ Listen to Traits of a Snake by A.g (47) Find their Music “We’ve got music across all the major platforms, such as Spotify and everywhere in between.

You can also follow us on most social media including Tik Tok at @ag47band.

The best bet is to visit our website as that’s where we consolidate all our channels, so you can vibe with us in the best way that suits you.”

www.ag47band.com youtu.be/FU6TIyuT0rI www.facebook.com/AG47band www.instagram.com/ag47band

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MEET FRANCESSCA O’DONNELL, OUT THERE DESIGN AND MOSAIC ✦ Francessca O’Donnell is well known in the Greater Port Macquarie region for her incredible mosaic installations

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rancessca O’Donnell, a lady of many talents. She is well known in the Greater Port Macquarie region for her incredible mosaic installations including those found at Long Point Vineyard, various schools about the area including St Josephs and St Peter’s Primary Schools and at several children’s parks. In her rustic studio on the edge of the small country town of Beechwood, Francessca shares her creative talent teaching the art of mosaic to many. Creating visual art and mosaics makes her heart sing, she loves it.

About Francessca O’Donnell After graduating from Sydney College of the Arts with a BA in Design and three years in the Riverina, Francessca moved to the Mid North Coast in 1987 with her

✦ Francessca O’Donnell

Photo Credit: Emma Siossian

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‘Focused’ - mixed media mosaic by Francessca O’Donnell

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B RILLIA NT A R T S & ENTER TAI N M ENT family and started Francessca-Louise Academy of Dance and Performing Arts which she ran for 25 years.

Whilst she loved teaching students to dance, she always felt a loss for time to dabble in visual arts. Eventually, pushed along by her two sons, she started attending workshops in many visual art forms which began to fill an empty part of her creative soul.

What is mosaic?

A mosaic can take many forms in either 2D or 3D form. A traditional mosaic often uses hand cut, small pieces of tesserae including glass, ceramic, cinca and marble to create an artwork. Mosaic has a range of styles of cutting and laying these tesserae to form the design. Francessca’s personal favourite style of mosaic is the more contemporary style, using mixed media of a range of tesserae (materials) including, glass, ceramic, pebbles, millefiori, slumped glass, sea glass, found objects, hand made forms and natural pieces such as Echidna quill and unusual shapes and pieces from the ocean.

A passion for mosaic that stemmed from her travels

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In the late 90’s Francessca travelled to Italy and discovered mosaic, an art form at the time she knew little about, but inspired her to learn more.

After her skill set grew she eventually opened Out There Design and Mosaic and is delighted to have had ongoing commissions since 2008.

Between private commissions, and teaching, she is currently creating mosaics for public display for the Port Macquarie Hastings Council, the Kempsey Council and the Lockhart Shire Council, in the Riverina.

Inspiration drawn from collecting She is a person who collects, not just feathers, shells, driftwood and seed pods, but ideas, colours and images that inspire her. Most of Francessca’s artworks tend to have a story from nature, that is expressed in shape, line, colour or form. Often when she is working with a client the images for the design will come, sparked by a word or idea they mention.

Sometimes it is simply just playing with a range of ideas and doodles that bring the final idea together. She admits that whilst she does draw designs up before commencing, the final rendition becomes pretty organic depending on the materials she is using, or the shape or focal subject inspires a little play with design execution.

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Kalido one of four Koalas created for the Hello Koala Trail: hellokoalas.com

Peacock created from hand cut glass tiled for a local clients

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Mosaic is something anyone can do Mosaic is one of those art forms that even a beginner can create something really special once they have a basic understanding of the techniques. It is ridiculously addictive and Francessca says her students often say how meditative and relaxing it can be.

You don’t need to be artistic or creative, you just need to want to learn and create and mosaics will give you the wings to fly.

Francessca’s workshops She holds three mosaic classes each week, Tuesday and Thursday mornings and Tuesday evenings. Each session is three hours and each term runs for eight weeks, roughly to school terms.

Normally she will also hold 4-6 weekend mosaic workshops throughout the year. With the constant changes with COVID-19 she has held off planning for the moment until there is more clarity and less restrictions. She also feels frustrated that her catering for the weekend had to be limited to wrapped individual snacks, rather than a more lavish spread of delicious dishes to choose from.

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This was one of two paintings selected by Wauchope Chamber of Commerce and the Birrapi Community to be put on the weather Station on the Riverside Walk in Wauchope.

Over recent years, she has also travelled and taught in community mosaic workshops, both locally and in the Riverina and you can also find her most school holidays, at Port Central for a few days teaching children’s art classes.

Not only teaching art and mosaic workshops, Francessca’s main business is called The Out There Collective, which includes both Out There Design and Mosaic and Out There Escapes, which is her picturesque property in Beechwood, in the hinterland of the Greater Port Macquarie region.

Out There Escapes includes five acres of beautiful gardens, majestic trees and stretches of lawn looking over Bago Mountain.

Special events like Boutique weddings and elopement ceremonies have been held in the past at the picturesque venue.

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This mural was painted as one of the large gratitude murals for regional areas that was created as a thank you to all professional and volunteer support for our 19/20 fire season

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There is also a luxe BnB and she holds numerous retreats, special occasion creative workshops for businesses such as Soul Sister Surfing, Project Goddess and specially curated creative get togethers for small groups and friends like girls' weekends, birthday celebrations, naming ceremonies and baby showers etc. Having an in-house chef Gaye, from Infinity Co. Evolve, makes planning unique and individually fashioned events all the more easy!

The COVID-19 Pandemic and the workshops Unfortunately, during lockdown all classes and workshops have had to stop, but business wise, Francessca has more students than ever before.

As people have been made to slow down and the pace of life allows for us to have a little more time to think, many people have looked to find creative pursuits to add fun and inspiration to their lives.

Francessca dabbles in other art forms

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Aerial View of Out there Escapes in Beechwood

Photo Credit: Matt Gilligan

costumes for a number of new productions the company has put together over the last seven years.

It has been a long time in coming, but last year she finished writing and illustrating a children’s book which will hopefully be published later this year.

Involvement in the Wauchope Creative Hub

She loves to paint and her style is similar to her mosaics, often colourful and lots of fine detail in lines and shapes. Sculpture and jewellery making have been an extension when the mood takes her and she has time to play.

One of the artists/artisans and craftspeople involved in this exciting new adventure, Francessca rents a space within the building to display both her artworks and jewellery. She is on site most Mondays, something that will resume once we come out of lockdown.

Francessca’s son Tim is the resident Choreographer for the Milwaukee Ballet Company in the US, she has also had the pleasure of designing

When asked whether she thinks the Creative Hub is good for Wauchope she responded that she feels Wauchope is slowly becoming what

Get in touch with Francessca:

Bellingen is to Coffs Harbour and Bangalow is to Byron Bay, a smaller creative community close to a larger centre, where creativity thrives and is supported and nurtured, which becomes a tourist draw card and thus elevates the economic well being of the Community.

Wauchope is a little gem on the Mid North Coast as it is between the stunning coast and the breathtaking hinterland. For years we have had the best music scene on the coast with amazing musicians at Wauchope Arts.

Visitors are drawn here as the creative and visual arts compliment the local natural and commercial icons, such as Rocks Ferry Reserve, Old Bottlebutt, Broken Bago, Cowarra Dam, Burrawan State Forest, Timbertown, Bago Maze and Billabong Zoo. The Wauchope Creative Hub will be another inspiring stop for visitors to enjoy!

chessca@gmail.com www.theouttherecollective.com www.facebook.com/outtheredesignandmosaic www.facebook.com/outhereescapes

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✦ Creativity is our Secret Weapon

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