Cairns Life July Issue

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CairnsLife

5 Family Affair CairnsLife talks to some of the prominant family’s around the Cairns region to see how far they have come from humble beginnings

22 Michelle Rattray gives us her take on her latest book.

We also reviewed Dymocks top 5 of the month.

18 Mr. Brooks Introducing one of the most colourful characters on the Cairns social scene.

GM of the iconic Gilligan’s.

24 Anthony Morotsis He’s the baby-faced, sharp talking barrister who is leading the charge to revitalise the Cairns economy.

20 Christopher Daunt Watney Amanda Cranston talks with the head of TAS and his passion for education

CairnsLife magazine published by CairnsLife Pty Ltd. Shops 7 & 8 The Walk. 84 Lake Street. Cairns. 4870 T: 4041 6981 F: 4041 6889 www.cairnslifemag.com.au

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EDITOR’S NOTE…

left to right: Riyani, Jacqui, Alex

As one of my fav mentors Sir Richard Branson says “you need to have a good team around you.” So this month I want to quickly introduce you to just three of the ‘good team’ I have around me at CairnsLife.

Our full-time Fashion and Beauty Editor, beautiful Riyani Martorejo and fun loving Alex Drewniak Eat, Play, Drink Editor & Sales Executive. I am very lucky to have these two beautiful girls as full-time staff. They bring so much energy and creativity to the office. Thanks girls.

Editor Jacqui Nolan Contributors Amanda Cranston Carly Sinos Andrew Griffiths Vlasta Eriksson Leanne Peard Pip Miller Craig Squire Brett Claxton Stephen Borzi Display Sales Jacqui Nolan Business Lifestyle Riani Martorejo Fashion Beauty Alex Drewniak Eat Play Drink Julie Guite Home Property Graphics Stephen Borzi Geordi Avila Photography Brad Newton Danial Blake Christopher Baker Accounts Justine Nicoles Subscription/Internet Elysia Hawkes

Plus someone I have been begging to introduce and finally permitted. He is an inspiring, generous, quite achieving business man with a heart of gold that I am blessed to call my business partner and friend. So, with great pleasure (drum roll please) I introduce my CairnsLife co-publisher, Lance.

Lance has been in publishing for well over 30 years and his experience is phenomenal.

I cannot express the delight I feel being Lance’s business partner in the re-launch of his baby, CairnsLife.

Lance started CairnsLife magazine in 1992 as a weekly letterbox newspaper to 30,000 homes around the region from Palm Cove to Gordonvale. By 1996 it had grown into a monthly glossy magazine and could be found as far reaching as Port Douglas to Mackay.

The renaming of “C” magazine to embrace the new name CairnsLife is as simple as Lance wanting his old familar CairnsLife masthead back in the community that he has lived in his entire life.

Welcome back CairnsLife.

Jacqui Nolan

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Special Feature

FAMILY AFFAIRS BELIEVE IT OR NOT BUT FAMILY BUSINESSES ACTUALLY ACCOUNT FOR 70 PERCENT OF BUSINESSES IN AUSTRALIA, BRINGING IN AN AVERAGE TURNOVER OF $12 MILLION PER YEAR. CAIRNS LIFE MAGAZINE CAUGHT UP WITH SOME WELL-KNOWN LOCAL FAMILY BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN PART OF THE CAIRNS COMMUNITY FOR YEARS AND ARE JUST AS PASSIONATE AS EVER.

Interviewed by Amanda Cranston

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THE CHAPMAN GROUP

AFFAIRS

FAMILY

A BORN ENTREPRENEUR, GEORGE CHAPMAN STARTED UP HIS FIRST BUSINESS AT THE AGE OF 23 WHICH WAS A SURVEYING PRACTICE. A FEW YEARS LATER HE VENTURED IN TO LAND DEVELOPMENT AND CONTINUED TO BUY LAND OVER THE YEARS IN CAIRNS, BRISBANE AND THE GOLD COAST. SOME OF HIS MOST WELL-KNOWN DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS INCLUDE SKYRAIL RAINFOREST CABLEWAY, TJAPUKAI ABORIGINAL CULTURAL PARK AND HARBOUR LIGHTS APARTMENTS. George was a substantial founding shareholder in Tjapukai and his company, The Chapman Group, built, owns and operates Skyrail. “Someone else originally wanted to build Skyrail but couldn’t get the project up and running,” George says. “So I became involved and then all the other partners went broke so I bought them out and went ahead with the project myself.” Spanning 7.5 kilometres over heritage listed tropical rainforest, the six-person gondola cabins provide a unique tourism experience. It is no wonder Skyrail has been voted Australia’s Best Major Tourist Attraction and a leader in eco-tourism. Premier Anna Bligh recently honoured George for his significant contribution to the community and the state of Queensland, commending him for his commitment to tourism in far north Queensland. In 1967 he co-founded the Cairns Regional Development Bureau which is now known as Tourism Tropical North Queensland, which was established to encourage opportunities in this growing region. “I got involved in tourism because I wanted to progress Cairns and I could see it was one of the main opportunities up here,” George explains. Today three out of four of George’s children work in the business which employs around 100 staff in Cairns and 30 to 40 people in Townsville and Brisbane, with eldest son Ken running Skyrail, daughter Karen a director of Skyrail and managing the building side of the business, and daughter Helen overseeing Harbour Lights full time. “The kids all

went away to university and worked elsewhere before joining the family business,” he says. “But it’s great having them work here because you can always rely on family and we are all have the business’s best interest at heart. Besides it will all be theirs one day anyway,” he laughs. Son Ken is actually a qualified medical doctor, Karen studied science and maths, Helen is a lawyer and David did his Bachelor of Business, so George and wife Margo are incredibly proud of their children’s achievements. The family is very close and both George and Margo who recently celebrated 50 years of marriage live at Harbour Lights, and daughters Karen and Helen also have their own apartments in the building. However, they are all conscious of not bringing work home. “Believe it or not we don’t talk about the business outside work unless there is something that needs to be discussed,” he says. Besides, George has always made time for outside commitments and has been on the board of Telecasters North Queensland (TNQ) which was later delisted and restructured as Ten Network Holdings, the Board of Trustees for Cancer Council Queensland, The Great Barrier Reef Foundation and was chairman of TAB Queensland and later director when it became Tattersall’s Limited. Now chairman of the Chapman Group, George enjoys working with his children by his side. “It is a huge compliment to have your kids join the family business and you can’t ask for anything more than that,” he smiles.

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George Chapman

HARLEY’S

AFFAIRS

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FAMILY

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HARLEYS’ EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES STARTED OUT AS PROUDMAN’S BOOKSHOP IN 1976 AND LATER CHANGED OWNERS AND NAMES A FEW TIMES BEFORE KEVIN AND JENNY AUSTIN BOUGHT THE BUSINESS IN 1993. MOVING TO CAIRNS FROM KARUMBA, THE AUSTINS WERE LOOKING FOR A NEW CHALLENGE.

The Austin Family Left to right: Kristy, Nova, Shellie, Corey, Jenny and Kevin “We wanted a business we could grow with and one that would make a difference,” Jenny says. “As parents we always had a strong belief in nurturing our children so we were attracted to Harleys with its focus on educational products.” Over the years Jenny and Kevin have grown the business, renovated the building from a small office space with bare cement walls to a spacious warehouse with attractive shop fittings and a wider selection of quality stock. Selling to schools, teachers, students, tutors, childcare centres, family day care and parents, Harleys take great pride in the selection of learning products and games they sell. While Jenny oversees the running of Harleys with daughters

Nova and Kristy, Kevin now runs their other family business, Visual Obsessions, with son Corey from the adjoining rear building. Specialists in multimedia production, Visual Obsession offers everything from website design and 3D animations, through to television commercials and documentaries. Both adventurous cinematographers, Kevin and Corey work well together and love being able to share their passion for photography.

Daughters Nova (currently on maternity leave) and Kristy, both mothers now themselves, love working with their mum, and Corey’s wife Shelley also works for the business. “It is a real family affair,” Kristy says.

“And who else but family could you

have a laugh with over silly things like forgetting to shut the back of the van when its loaded with brand new stock, driving up a steep hill and looking back to see all the stock falling out on to the road?” she laughs, her mum joining in. “Yes we always have a good laugh, you have to enjoy work,” Jenny adds. The Austins also own a third family business, Airport Car Storage, and they have around 30 staff across all three businesses. “It can be full-on at times with us all working together, but everyone knows their boundaries,” Jenny says. “We all bring something different to the table, we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and it is nice knowing we are all working towards the same goal.” Kristy says

the staff have won some great awards over the years, as well as Jenny winning Cairns Business Woman of the year in 2000. It is easy to see why the staff are like extended family. “We won’t deny there aren’t challenging times, especially dealing with the Global Financial Crisis, but you have to keep going and stay positive,” Kristy says. “We all need to support local business and help each other out, that is the way Cairns has always been and now is no different.” Jenny agrees and says there are days she would love to retire and just be a grandma, but she loves the business too much. “And my grandkids are in here all the time anyway so I have the best of both worlds,” Jenny laughs.

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AFFAIRS

FAMILY

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Left to right: Jim, Paula and Steve

Wallace’s Jim and Jo Wallace never planned to be one of the region’s biggest tourism operators, but 32 years after buying their first boat to take tourists to the reef, the Wallace family now run Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises, Crocodile Explorer and Cairns Sunset Cruises. Jim says when they started in the business back in 1979 they rang the department of transport for permission to take passengers to the reef, but were basically told it was fine if the lighthouse keeper on Low Isles (off Port Douglas) agreed to it. “Of course he did and the rest is history,” Jim laughs. “The industry was very different back in the early days.” The Wallace family launched Quicksilver Connections in the 80s to meet demand, introduced wavepearcing catamarans and started up Reef Bio Search trips where tourists visit the reef with a marine biologist. In 1989 Jim

and Jo sold the business and a year later bought Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises. Over the years they have won many awards including being recognised in the Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards as best Major Tour and Transport Operator in 2004, 2006 and 2007, and in 2008 they were inducted into the Hall of Fame for this category. They have also had many celebrity guests on board their cruises including Prime Minister John Howard, Peter Allen and a host of musicians, sports stars and politicians. While Jim and Jo’s two sons have chosen different career paths, their daughter Paula couldn’t wait to join the family business and is now the managing director overseeing all aspects of the company. “I started working as a hostess on the boat when I was 14 but after school I left Cairns to go

travelling,” Paula says. “When I came back I worked in reservations and marketing for Quicksilver and then when we sold it and bought Big Cat I became manager here.” Paula’s husband Steve Davies also works in the family business and manages operations, human resources and maintenance.

“Steve actually worked for Big Cat before we bought it, he left for a while and then came back to work for us,” Paula says. “He also shared a flat with my brother so we knew each other for years before we got together.” When asked how they manage to work so well together, Steve laughs and says they all have their own roles within the business and this helps.

“Plus we have very clear rules at work, Paula’s rules,” he jokes, proving that a sense of humour is vital when you work with family.

Steve’s sister Kylie also works at Big Cat as sales manager doing

BIG CAT CRUISES

international and domestic sales & marketing. While Jim and Jo have stepped back from the daily running of the business letting Paula and Steve manage it, they are still incredibly passionate about it and say there is nothing better than working with family.

“We have a great set up and there is a total trust between all of us,” Jim says. “And a lot of our staff are like extended family. Neil Shelley and Sandz Fryz-Jerrett have been with us for 20 years and Sue Lergessner for almost 30 which is nearly as long as us.”

Looking ahead it seems the love of boats runs in the family as Paula and Steve’s six year-old daughter Ella wants to drive their boats when she grows up, and their eight year-old son James wants to be the money counter. It seems the family business will continue!

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AFFAIRS

FAMILY

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Left to right: Paul, Bob and Jason

THE FOWLER’S GROUP

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BOB FOWLER IS A DEDICATED AND PASSIONATE BUSINESSMAN WHO COULDN’T BE MORE PROUD OF HIS KIDS. THREE OF THEM HAVE JOINED THE FAMILY BUSINESS AND THE FOURTH IS ABOUT TO LAUNCH A NEW JAZZ CD IN BRISBANE. Almost 40 years ago Bob started the Fowler’s Group when faced with the option of staying in Cairns or moving to Sydney with MLC. The choice was easy.

Today the Fowler’s Group is one of the most respected advisory firms in Australia. “At the time there was no way I would leave Cairns so I got into life insurance and then into financial planning” Bob reflects. “I had always hoped one of my sons would join the family business one day so in 1994 when my eldest son Jason decided to quit his job and join the firm I was thrilled.”

Then a few years later Paul Fowlers left his job as a motor mechanic to join the business and learn the ropes. Bob’s daughter Natalie also worked for the firm before heading off overseas for a few years. She now lives in

Brisbane with her husband and kids but still works for the firm on a part time basis remotely. Paul Horn, a good family friend also joined the business, bring new areas of expertise that increased the services that the Fowler’s Group offered.

“To be honest it is fantastic working with family, just seeing them all become successful and get excited about the business is really rewarding” Bob says. “I listen to what my sons have to say because their ideas are often different to mine. A lot of our success has been a result of changes the boys have made.

Although I admit I don’t agree with everything they suggest and I sometimes get frustrated that my views are seen as old fashioned, at the end of the day I can accept change and

acknowledge that through change we will grow.”

Bob says that in 2003 his sons Jason and Paul, along with Paul Horn, all bought into the business. Collectively they own 40 percent of The Fowler’s Group. “My sons had to buy their way into the business, I wasn’t going to hand it to them, and we have now formed a new company,” said Bob. “We all have our own areas of expertise in the business. Jason is the overall manager of the operation but he also offers investment advice, Paul handles risk assessment and life insurance and Paul Horn oversees superannuation and technical planning” said Bob. Bob says they all work hard at maintaining good client relationships and keeping their

client’s focused, especially during the tough times. Bob says he has also tried to step back from the business a bit to spend time with wife Jill, and he continues in his role as Chairman of the Northern Pride, Chairman of the Red Shield Appeal and other community work.

“So what’s next? Well we are in process of developing an investment fund where 20 to 30 percent of superannuation funds invested will be reinvested in to the region to help stimulate the local economy,” Bob says. “This is just what Cairns and the far north needs. It’s time to be thinking about the next 40 years, that’s certainly what we are doing.”

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CAIRNS STEEL FABRICATORS / CENTURY CRANES MEL YELASKA WAS A VISIONARY AND OVER THE YEARS HE MADE THE MOST OF OPPORTUNITIES AND CREATED A FAMILY EMPIRE. A BOILERMAKER BY TRADE, MEL WANTED TO START UP HIS OWN BUSINESS SO ESTABLISHED CAIRNS STEEL FABRICATORS (CSF) IN 1979 IN A SMALL SHED IN TOOHEY ST. NOW EMPLOYING APPROXIMATELY 100 TO 130 PERSONNEL, CSF EMPLOYS BOILERMAKERS, CERTIFIED WELDERS, FITTERS, RIGGERS, DOGMEN, CRANE OPERATORS, DRAFTSPERSONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.

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AFFAIRS

FAMILY

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YELASKA Left to right: Scott, Paul, Semone, Wade, Karina and Sean

CSF also owns Century Cranes, a venture that started when Mel saw an opportunity to expand the business and now boasts 24 cranes ranging from 10 tonne to 200 tonne capacity.

While Mel and his wife Vera are still directors of the company, much of the daily running of the business has been handed down to family members. CSF General Manager and Director Sean Adams, who is married to Mel and Vera’s daughter Karina, says being part of the family is no guarantee of a job.

“Everyone within the family is given an opportunity but then has to earn their position, it is certainly not handed to them,” he says. “When Mel first asked me to join the business I admit I was hesitant at first because I thought there were too many family members already running the business. But after 10 years working in Brisbane I decided

to come back to Cairns and join the business after all.” Sean’s wife Karina is the administration manager, her sister Semone works in payroll, her brother Paul is a project manager and her cousin Wade is a project manager and estimator. Then there is Mel and Vera’s niece Bianca who runs Century Cranes and her husband Scott who is the fleet co-ordinator at Century Cranes, so it really is a family affair. “We are also quite a young management organisation as I’m the oldest at 36, but because of our youth we have really dug our heels in to get the job done and we share the motto that failure is not an option,” Sean says with a laugh. He acknowledges that a lot of businesses have been affected by the Global Financial Crisis but says CSF were not as hard-hit as some through diversifying the business as much as possible. “We try not to

rely solely on either business and we now also transport our own steel, we do blast and paint blasting with experience in marine, industrial, commercial and architectural painting applications, and we also do steel detailing,” he explains. “While we do want to diversify, we don’t want to grow the business too much more because CSF is already one of the biggest in Queensland and it can be difficult to maintain the volume of work so we would rather grow by diversification.” Sean says it is great to work alongside family because they all share the same passion for the business.

With everyone having a vested interest, Sean says it brings the family closer together and makes them more united. Although he admits sometimes they can spend too much time together. “There are many members of the family who aren’t involved in the business so we do make sure we don’t talk shop when we’re not at work. We get together outside work a lot with family barbecues, birthdays and sports events, as well as spending time up at Mel and Vera’s lakehouse outside Yunguburra so it’s lucky we all get along,” Sean laughs.

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AFFAIRS

FAMILY

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Mark & Judy Evans WHEN MARK AND JUDY EVANS VISITED PARONELLA PARK AS TOURISTS BACK IN 1993 THEY COULDN’T BELIEVE SUCH A MAGICAL PLACE EXISTED AND FELL IN LOVE WITH IT INSTANTLY. “WE HAD A REAL ESTATE AGENT LOOKING FOR A LOCAL BUSINESS FOR US, WHILE WE LIVED IN OUR CARAVAN IN CAIRNS AFTER TRAVELLING AROUND AUSTRALIA WITH OUR KIDS. When he rang and said there was a castle for sale with a waterfall we were definitely intrigued,” Judy laughs. “Then when we saw Paronella Park for the first time we loved it, we didn’t know what we would do with it but we knew we had to have it.” After years living and working in Singapore, the Evans family had wanted to move back to Australia and bring their kids up with lots of space and the Aussie way of life. But just six weeks after the Evans family took over ownership of Paronella Park, there was a big flood resulting in much of the estate being under water with debris and rubbish washed down from further up the river.

Since then Paronella Park has made it through Cyclone Larry and Cyclone Yasi, but with each

disaster the Evans family has come through it stronger and more determined. Judy and Mark’s three children Matthew, Luke and Katharine, all grew up with the business and helped out through school. After moving away to pursue other interests they have all since come back and are very active in the family business. Matthew, a photographer with his own business, also takes the photos for Paronella Park and manages the website and advertising.

Luke is involved with sales and marketing, submissions for tourism awards, works as a tour guide and is helping set up the new cabins. His wife Bridget also manages sales and marketing for the business.

Katharine is the operations manager, and Mark and Judy

meet and greet and do a bit of everything. “We have had to learn to step back from the business a bit since the kids have come on board, and we have had to brush up on our negotiation skills because while we come up with a lot of the ideas for the park we have to run them by the kids first for their approval,” Judy laughs. But jokes aside she says they have learned a lot since buying Paronella Park.

“Our background was marketing and computers and we thought because we had travelled so much we knew all about tourism, but in hindsight we didn’t know much. Now we employ about 30 staff including Japanese and Chinese tour guides, run daily and nightly tours, provide a backdrop for

weddings and professional photo shoots, run the cafe and have also built a museum dedicated to Jose Paronella,” Judy says. “We have also built new amenities for the adjoining caravan park and are putting in new cabins.” All the family agree that the best part of working in a family business is that they all share the same passion for the business. The kids went to school over the road and grew up with most of the staff that work at Paronella Park today. “We are like one big family,” Judy says of her staff.

“And basically around here the only place to get work is at the pub, the school or here, so of course we all know each other,” she laughs.

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By Jacqui Nolan HE IS THE CHARMING, CHARISMATIC RAT-BAG BEHIND THE LARGEST BACKPACKERS HOME IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE; THE ILLUSTRIOUS, ICONIC ENTERTAINMENT MECCA GILLIGAN’S BACKPACKERS HOTEL AND RESORT. Anthony ‘Brooksy’ Brooks rocks up fashionably late to our coffee catch up, with a large smirk, standing 6ft something, in his relaxed attire of thongs, shirt and shorts, he certainly has set into the Cairns lifestyle leaving behind the fast paced city of Sydney, he once called home. The son of a successful QC, Anthony had a well-educated privileged upbringing. No doubt his father would have preferred he join the law fortuity, however Anthony had other ideas.

Anthony’s life is fascinating, yet mysterious, he’s come along way from his first paid job as a Manly Beach Lifeguard. Having travelled the globe and spent two years in Seville, Spain and five years in South America where he not only learnt some smooth talking Spanish but where he was inspired to develop his interest in the entertainment and hospitality industry. The Kangaroo Pub in Spain, the world’s largest live music venue in ‘92 provided Anthony with a real taste of the backpackers market. The pub, a colossal outback shed with over two hundred and fifty employees, serving over one hundred kegs of beer per night gave Anthony the idea of setting up a similar concept in Australia.

Next stop was South America installing and overseeing twenty thousand poker machines for Mr Brooks’, before turning his sights on home. His vision was a “backpacker oasis” - a buffet for backpackers catering to all their travelling wants and needs.

Anthony and colleagues went in search for the idyllic location to set up the concept. Travelling along the east coast making their way to the Backpacker haven of Cairns where Anthony saw a gap in the market for the venture. After eight months exploring and studying the market Anthony had almost given up on the idea coming to fruition. “Cairns just didn’t seem

to have an ideal property for us to build on. It wasn’t till we were walking through Rusty’s markets and a store holder said the property was in receivership and this is where it all began” to Anthony’s excitement.

Thirty million dollars and two years later Gilligan’s Backpacker Hotel and Resort was built on Grafton Street. Today Gilligan’s employees over one hundred and twenty staff, with six hundred and twenty beds and injects millions of dollars into the Cairns economy each year and is marketed all around the world. The iconic brand in backpacking Gilligan’s created the flash-packer (an up market traveler with a back pack).

“Backpackers spend more, travel further, and stay longer than any other traveler to Australia. This is a billion dollar industry and a vital industry for Cairns in general, and why we need to look after them” states Anthony.

CairnsLife managed to get Anthony out of his thongs and ready to go for a candid photo shoot. The boy inside the man started to appear, his shyness took me by surprise. Inside The Attic, Gilligan’s sister club that re-launched in 2010 with a 1.6 million dollar upgrade is where Anthony first set eyes on his beautiful partner of four years Sarah. The Attic design has a real theatrical, burlesque feel that is surrounded by beautiful antique furnishings, dim lighting and striking wallpaper. Such an amazing venue, we had to feature our July fashion spread.

A week in the life of Anthony Brooks does not include much time for rest. How he manages to balance a seventy-hour working week, spend quality time with his gorgeous partner Sarah and energetic three year old son Charlie is quite a juggling act. “My family keeps me sane” says Anthony.

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BROOKS

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HIGH

by Amanda Cranston

ACHIEVERS

RUNNING A SCHOOL SUCH AS TRINITY ANGLICAN SCHOOL TAKES SOMEONE WITH A PASSION FOR EDUCATION, THE CHURCH AND A LOVE OF LEARNING. CHRISTOPHER DAUNT WATNEY IS NOT ONLY WELL QUALIFIED BUT IS THE PERFECT MAN FOR THE JOB! Taking on the role of principal at Trinity Anglican School (TAS) in January 2008, Christopher Daunt Watney came with years of experience in similar roles. His previous positions included Headmaster at Sydney Church of England Co-Educational Grammar School in Redlands, Head of English at Pymble Ladies College in Sydney, Head of English and Senior Housemaster at The Armidale School, and Head of History as well as teaching english and economics in Kenya, where he was born.

His thirst for learning began at an early age and he went on to complete university degrees at UQ and UNE where he majored in english, history, french and journalism, as well as completing his Master's degree is in education.

Through his experience both in Australia and overseas, Christopher believes the focus of schools should be on the individual. “It should be about fostering each student’s personal growth as they strive to achieve their best in the pursuit of excellence,” he says. This is the ethos of TAS. When TAS opened its doors in 1983 the school had 67 students, today it has more than 1,000 students across both campuses, White Rock and Kewarra Beach. For those who don’t know the history of the school, it was actually established by the Anglican Diocese of North Queensland to fulfil a growing need for independent local education, and the school’s foundational ties to the

Anglican Church mean the school aims for academic excellence as well as providing a nurturing Christian environment. “Parents took their first steps towards founding the school in 1980 expressing concern that there was need for a 'Protestant Grammar School' in Cairns as there was no alternative to the Catholic High Schools which were themselves struggling to keep up with demand,” Christopher says. “There was also the fact that the cost of sending children to boarding school in Brisbane or elsewhere was prohibitive for most families. The original concept was for a coeducational primary and secondary school beginning with grades 7 through 9. Many people wished to have the choice of an Anglican school.” Today the school has a wellearned reputation and is considered one of the best schools in the region.

There is no denying that TAS is a school for achievers, as the school’s main focus is on ensuring every individual child is given the best opportunity to fulfil their potential.

“Children at TAS know that the school's expectations of them are high and that their teachers and parents will always work to help them to achieve the best that they are capable of,” Christopher says.

“TAS students leave the school prepared for the next step in their lives, they have the determination and the commitment to do well and the confidence with which to pursue their lives as young adults.”

While the school has a disciplined

learning environment, it also offers and exposes students to a wide range of sporting and cultural experiences, which is what the original founders of the school had envisaged.

Encouraging students to keep sport in the right perspective and nurturing individual talent and supporting team sports, the school’s facilities have expanded over the years and now include an Olympic size swimming pool complex, a new indoor sports centre, athletic tracks, five ovals, a fully-equipped gym, and tennis, basketball, netball and volleyball courts. TAS also runs outdoor education for students taking them camping, hiking, canoeing, rock climbing and abseiling. “TAS has an excellent outdoor education program, including the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme which celebrates individual achievement,” Christopher explains proudly. “It also enhances the school's involvement in the Round Square program which is a worldwide organisation of schools committed to preparing students for life with a focus on internationalism, democracy, environment, adventure, leadership and service.” Christopher is very passionate about both of these programs and the opportunities it provides TAS students.

The art, drama and music program at TAS is also of a high standard, and as a result of the enthusiasm and dedication of the students the school is establishing a great

reputation in the arts. With talented teachers and fantastic resources and facilities, students perform events throughout the year including musicals, concerts, a fashion parade, a theatre restaurant, as well as participating in the eisteddford and school music festival.

“It is important we offer a quality education within a disciplined learning environment which includes opportunities for students to excel in a wide variety of academic and co-curricular activities,” he says.

There are many reasons parents choose to send their children to TAS. “We have dedicated and committed staff, a supportive community; likeminded children who are supportive of one another; a strong emphasis on pastoral care which provides social, emotional, spiritual, physical and intellectual development of each child, and the absolute commitment to focus on each individual student,” Christopher says. His passion for the school and in the development of his students is evident, with the school constantly ranking as one of the top highest achieving schools in Queensland.

Through his love of education Christopher still finds time to write for several educational publications, present at conferences, speak out in the media on issues such as cybersafety and bullying, and he is a member and on the board of many educational organisations.

Christopher’s passion and enthusiasm for the school and its students prove TAS is in good hands.

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Christopher Daunt Watney

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LIBRARY DYMOCKS TOP 5 of the Month

Passion: Fallen Book 3 Lauren Kate Before Luce and Daniel met at Sword & Cross and fought immortals at Shoreline, they lived many lives. . . An incredible new instalment in the series that has taken the world by storm.

The third book in the Number 1 bestselling Fallen series serves up what readers are dying to know. . . Passion not only gives answers and insight into who Luce and Daniel were before we first met them, but also seamlessly moves ahead the main plot, setting up an incredibly thrilling and climactic introduction to the fourth and final chapter in the Fallen series - coming in 2012.

Jamie's 30 Minute Meals Jamie Oliver I'm going to show you how to put a whole meal on the table in 30 minutes flat! Not just one dish, a whole spread of beautiful things.

If, like me, you love food, and have hungry mouths to feed when you get home after a long day, then allow me to let you in on a totally revolutionary new way of cooking. In this book I'm going to show you how to make a complete meal in the time you'd normally spend on one dish. What you'll be able to achieve in just 30 minutes will absolutely blow your mind.

It's certainly blown mine!

This is not about compromising on quality. It's about being organized, working fast and using shortcuts and clever tricks to put insanely delicious plates of food on the table in no time.

Each of the 50 meals inside has been carefully written so there's no faffing about - just good, fast cooking. I've created complete menus of food that go beautifully together and planned the recipes in a really unique, easy-to-follow way. This kind of cooking is all about using every minute wisely, having fun, and reclaiming your kitchen for the job it was meant for.

You might think it can't be done, but I promise you it can. Have a look inside to see the sort of meals you're going to get. Once you start cooking this way, not only will you absolutely love it; you'll never look back.

Calebs' Crossing Geraldine Brooks In her new novel, Caleb's Crossing, Geraldine Brooks once again takes a shard of little-known history and brings it vividly to life. In 1665, a young man from Martha's Vineyard became the first Native American graduate of Harvard College.

From the few facts that survive of this extraordinary life, Brooks creates a luminous tale of passion and belief, magic and adventure.

The voice of Caleb's Crossing belongs to Bethia Mayfield, growing up in the tiny island settlement of Great Harbor amid a small band of pioneering English Puritans.

Possessed of a restless spirit and a curious mind, Bethia slips the bounds of her rigid society to explore the island's glistening beaches and observe its native inhabitants.

At twelve, she meets Caleb, the young son of a chieftain, and the two forge a secret bond that draws each into the alien world of the other.

Bethia's father is Great Harbor's minister, who feels called to convert the Wampanoag to his own strict Calvinism.

He awakens the wrath of the medicine men, against whose magic he must test his faith in a high-stakes battle that may cost his life, and his very soul. Caleb becomes a prize in this contest between old ways and new, eventually taking his place at Harvard, studying Latin and Greek alongside the sons of the colonial elite.

Bethia also finds herself in Cambridge at the behest of her imperious elder brother.

As she fights for a voice in a society that requires her silence, she also becomes entangled in Caleb's struggle to navigate the intellectual and cultural shoals that divide their two cultures.

What becomes of these characters - the triumphs and turmoil they endure in

The Bourne Dominion Robert Ludlum, Eric Van Lustbader Bourne's enemies are gathering force.

Severus Domna, a secret and ancient cabal, has called forth its members from around the globe, with one objective: to vanquish the last person capable of destroying their bid to de-stabilize the world economy - Jason Bourne. But how can they possibly succeed where so many others have failed? By turning Bourne's most trusted friend into his greatest - and most deadly enemy. Boris Karpov has reached the pinnacle of his career. He has taken over one of the most powerful security organisations in the world - but at a price.

Karpov agreed to a devil's pact with the former head, and now he has to deliver.

But it's far worse than anything Karpov could have imagined - he must kill his oldest friend, Jason Bourne. Now Bourne finds himself in a world where friend and foe go hand-in-hand. Bourne's journey will lead him down a path of brutal murder and destruction - one from which there is no escape...

embracing their new destinies - is the subject of this riveting and intensely observed novel. Like Brooks's beloved narrator Anna in Year of Wonders, Bethia proves an emotionally irresistible guide to the wilds of Martha's Vineyard and to the intimate spaces of the human heart. The narrative travels from the sparkling harbors of Martha's Vineyard to the mean, drafty dormitories of early Harvard and, as ever, Brooks buttresses her richly imagined fiction with the fascinating and meticulously researched detail that has brought her legions of readers, and a Pulitzer Prize.

Geraldine Brooks is the author of three novels, the Pulitzer Prize winning March and the International bestsellers, People of the Book and Year of Wonders. She has also written the acclaimed nonfiction works, Nine Parts of Desire and Foreign Correspondence. Born and raised in Australia, she lives on Martha's Vineyard with her husband Tony Horwitz and their two sons.

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“What I’m Reading now” Channel Seven reporter and blonde beauty, Michelle Rattray, reveals her dark side, taking time out from the newsroom to give CairnsLife the low down on what has made it to the top of her reading list this month... Run Baby Run. Life’s often too busy to have time to read, but I picked this one up when my Grandmother recommended it.

It’s set in New York in the 1950s, where gangs rule the streets and even police are afraid. The city’s most feared gang leader, Nicky Cruz, gives a powerful account of his life in Run Baby Run. It’s an uplifting story of a hopeless, hate-filled existence being transformed.

A Puetro Rican immigrant rebelling against authority, including his parents’, Nicky drops out of school and finds himself homeless in Brooklyn - a concrete jungle with an animalistic mentality. Gangs stab and steal for thrills. To avoid becoming a victim, Nicky joins the notorious street gang, the ‘Mau Maus’.

He climbs the ranks to become President, and is trapped in a world of violence, crime, drugs and poverty.

The details are both fascinating and confronting. Nicky doesn’t glorify his violent past, but describes his inner turmoil with honesty.

In the midst of a downward spiral, everything changes when he encounters a skinny man preaching on a footpath. Nicky sees other gang members sobbing on their knees and vows to kill the preacher, but instead finds a new life. God’s love breaks through, and transforms his heart. Nicky eventually persuades other gang members to put down their knives. No matter what your thoughts on religion - I found it a gripping and inspiring story.

Dukan Diet Dukan Pierre It's been a best-seller in France for years, but now The Dukan Diet is getting attention on this side of the pond. It's no wonder: The book claims to have helped 5 million French people lose weight. And singer Jennifer Lopez and model Giselle Bundchen are reported to have lost their post-pregnancy pounds on The Dukan Diet.

The Dukan Diet was created by French physician Pierre Dukan more than 10 years ago as a treatment for

obese people.

Essentially, it's a four-phase, highprotein, low-calorie diet plan. There's no weighing foods or counting calories. You eat as much as you want, at any time of day - as long as what you’re eating is lean protein, at least initially.

In fact, protein is the centerpiece in all four phases, along with oat bran, lots of water, and a 20-minute daily walk. Vegetables are allowed in the second stage, followed by small amounts of fruit and whole grains.

Sound familiar? It's much like the

first Atkins diet. Dieters lose weight rapidly - as much as 1-2 pounds a day during the first phase -- which Dukan says helps to instill lasting motivation.

He promises that hunger will disappear after the third day.

However, the book warns that dieters may suffer from bad breath, constipation, dry mouth, and fatigue - all consequences of low-carb, high-protein diets.

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24 CairnsLife

by Carly Synott

Anthony

MIROTSIS HE’S THE BABY-FACED, SHARP TALKING BARRISTER WHO IS LEADING THE CHARGE TO REVITALISE THE CAIRNS ECONOMY. ONCE A SPORTS-LOVING KID FROM THE NORTHERN BEACHES OF SYDNEY, ANTHONY MIROTSIS' “FIRM” CATHOLIC UPBRINGING HAS SERVED HIM WELL IN A CAREER WHICH SPANS FROM SELLING HIP REPLACEMENTS TO SPENDING HALF THE YEAR IN TRANSIT HEADING A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR COMPANY. It is this natural flexibility and ‘gungho’ attitude which makes Mr Mirotsis the astute businessman he is today.

Nine months into the top job as President of the Cairns Chamber of Commerce, he shares with CairnsLife the personal and business philosophy which lies at the heart of his success and it all comes down to one word Positivity. There’s not enough of it, the people of Cairns are crying out for it and it all starts with the city’s leaders.

“The fish is always rotten from the head down,” Anthony says.

“As leaders of organisations we need to inspire people within our organisation. You don’t do that by whinging, by being negative. You need to motivate people, you need to give them some sense of a? positive future”.

It's not just about inspirational messages and open-ended promises though, Mr Mirotsis says the city’s leaders must have a realistic vision, not a figment of “fantasy land”. In recent times he's made the headlines, fed-up over the stalling of

projects which are vital if we are to kick start the local economy. He says it is the bite-sized, achievable projects starting with the revamp of the CBD that will get the economy rolling.

“Enough is enough. Stop the rhetoric, stop the talk-fest, stop the roundtable discussions. People want to see deliverables, they want to see results, they want to see shovels in the ground, they want to see yellow pieces of machinery turning soil over,” Mr Mirotsis says.

“Focus on a pipeline of projects that are going to be delivered to the Cairns area. Now, is the Entertainment Precinct one of those? Then let’s stop talking about the Entertainment Precinct, let’s build the damn thing”.

Mr Mirotsis is not about to let the decision makers take all the blame though. He says small and large business owners are leaders in their own right and are just as accountable for their success. That is why Mr Mirotsis is heading a fifty-point plan, giving struggling Cairns businesses practical steps to improve their staying power. While it isn’t due to be

released until late July, Mr Mirotsis gave CairnsLife a few pointers.

Where does the problem lie?

You can’t move forward until you have analysed your business situation. Who are your customers? Has your customer base shrunk? Is there too much competition in the market? Are your outgoings too high? Prices too low? You need to know exactly where the problems are occurring.

Eat Humble Pie Seek help from the Chamber of Commerce, government organisations and other businesses.

Network Aggressively Network like you’ve never networked before! Think outside the box and identify new opportunities with other businesses. Always be in the mindset of selling your product.

It isn’t the Same Rule for Everyone How you approach the situation will depend on your business. A fish and chip shop for instance will be

completely different to a hardware store.

Clean it Up Improving the image of your business can go a long way and Mr Mirotsis isn’t just talking about soap and water here! Whether you are selling newspapers or selling houses, excellent service is the cornerstone of a good business. Improve the engagement of your staff with customers, they’re the ones keeping you in business/a job.

Stop Complaining Your employees are your greatest asset and you can’t allow them to feed on negativity. Look after them, pay and train them well and you will be surrounded by successful people. And remember, a change in attitude starts at the top.

“Doom and gloom is like a virus. It subliminally works its way in and then it sits there, then all of a sudden it turns to cancer. You can’t let the cancer set in. We only have ourselves to blame”.

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Anthony Mirotsis

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26 CairnsLife

Wheels with Kay Little

Name: Kay Little Nickname: Kaos Suburb: City View

What do you love about your job?

The people - both my colleagues and clients. I love that every deal made provides a different outcome. Its gives me a chance to meet people from many walks of life. It’s a fast paced and dynamic environment which I thrive on. I take the role seriously as I feel buying a car is a statement and an extension of your personality. I took on this role having never sold a car before and with a relatively new brand it was a daunting prospect, however I've been very lucky to have such an experienced and well-rounded Sales Manager in Steve Kelly, who has been showing me the ins and outs of the car trade. Having

been in the media industry (which helps with my Marketing role here) selling advertising for 10 years, I didn’t really know what to expect…You think a women in the motor industry.. Isn’t it a man’s world? But in your home, who makes the buying decisions? That’s a question for you to answer. But so far wow!! Customers should have a great buying experience from their initial enquiry to years down the track and that’s why I’m here to bring it to them. Buying a car is a huge decision, it makes me happy to make people happy. Life’s too short!! I want to create a lifestyle with the brand.. I am honoured and proud to sell Citroen (amongst other brands) with new and exciting growth opportunities happening every day.

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Normally $42,800.. Now $39,990

Car Featured: Citroen DS3 – ANTI RETRO

What type of person would be interested in this car?

Someone who wants performance, quality and is an individual and looking to set themselves apart from the rest of the market.

Why do you love this car?

Secretly I don’t want to sell this car. It sits in the showroom and brightens up my day. Almost every person who walks in has a look and says how cool the car looks and asks how much? I like the car because it’s both unique and exciting, it brings a real, modern creative alternative to the market. The Citroen DS3 focuses on it's distinctive design and cutting edge performance.

After a hard day at work, I look forward to jumping into a car that makes me feel safe and sexy...it drives beautifully.

Give us a rundown of its special features?

It's handling is second to none with the bonus of little fuel consumption. A 'floating' roof was designed to emphasis its low waistline. Uniquely, it also features set-back LED daytime running lights, mind you they're the coolest lights I have ever seen! Body-hugging bolstered seats, leather steering - with a choice of sporty chrome or aluminium inserts. Air-Conditioning, CD player with MP3 compatibility, eight-speaker Hi-Fi system, cruise control with speed limiter, ESP, ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution) and EBA (Emergency Brake Assist). 6 airbags, carrying a five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating, chrome trim for the grille, tailgate and double exhaust pipe, drilled aluminium pedals and 17-inch diamond-tipped alloys, a rear spoiler with an integrated third brake light, fuel consumption 6.7 l/100km. 0-100km/h run in a claimed 7.3 seconds, with a top speed of 214km/h. Bluetooth and USB connection, revering sensors plus loads of additional features. It's all class!

303 - 309 Mulgrave Road. Cairns. 4870 Telephone: 07 4046 6333 Fax: 07 4051 9311 www.motoco.com.au

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EVENTS 15th of July - 15th August

21st of July is Statespeare, a play presented by the Shake and Stir Theatre Company and performed at the Cairns Civic Theatre. This play explores the question “Is Shakespeare still relevant?” through excerpts of some of Shakespeare’s greatest works including: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, Titus Andronicus and more! Tickets cost $20 and can be purchased through Ticketlink: www.ticketlink.com.au or 1300 855 835. The show starts at 12:30pm.

21st July

The Cairns Regional Gallery this month sees the continuation of the three exhibitions popular during June: Cairns Emerging Contemporaries, Menagerie: Indigenous Sculpture and Graffiti Highway: Sam Vatovey.

On the 21st the delightful Clare Bowditch comes to Cairns on her national ‘Winter Secrets’ Tour. Unlike gigs where to go to see and watch the performers, this tour is an interactive night that encourages active audience participation from both the artists and the crowd.

The purpose is to ‘unlock the creativity of people around Australia’, which is just the reason why Clare Bowditch is bringing Lanie Lance, to explore and discover together this collaborative venture. Lanie Lance is a Sydney singer known for her rockabilly swing-folk music.

“The shows will reveal a shared collage of intimate performances, inspiring stories, songs, comedy, questions and answers, secrets, random audience participation and even group singing sessions with the two talented ladies.” Tickets cost a bargain $25 and can be purchased through Ticketlink: 1300 855 835 or www.ticketlink.com.au. Doors and Bar open at 6:30pm with the show starting at 7:30pm in Tank 5.

Also being launched at the end of July is the exhibition Wiseman’s Cape, a collection of graphic paintings by Tim Ellis. Taking inspiration from retro-Chinese posters and film stills, this comical and colourful collection of large, theatrical paintings is a delight or the eyes. “Chinese graphic posters are typically huge, produced for the streets and carry a message to the masses. My paintings don’t. Whatever messages they contain are personal, but they suggest something profound,” says artist Tim Ellis of his artwork. Described as being “bold, bizarre creations, full of mystery and charm” I highly recommend a visit to the Tanks for this exhibition. Set up in Tank 4 this exhibition is available to view from 9am to 4:30pm daily and is FREE!

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On the 20th of July at the Cairns Civic Theatre is Raymond Crowe. “Australia's only Unusualist. For those not in the know, an Unusualist is a master of intricate shadow puppetry, dancing jackets, ventriloquism, world-class magic and brilliant audience participation. His signature piece 'The Shadows' has become an Internet phenomenon with over one million hits worldwide and features his astounding and intricate hand shadows to the Louis Armstrong classic 'What a Wonderful World'. Raymond was the first ever Australian to perform on the now famous NBC TV Special - "World's Greatest Magic", he was Spicks and Specks favourite guest, and has since appeared on the Tonight Show with David Letterman and in front of the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance in London. Popular with the public and his peers alike, Raymond's exceptional performance at the 2003 World Magic Convention earned him a standing ovation from over 3000 magicians - arguably the toughest audience in the world!

Raymond’s unique brand of light hearted comedy, mischievous ventriloquism and exquisite shadow puppetry will guarantee belly laughs and gasps of amazement to those of any age.” The show starts at 7pm with tickets costing $34.95, available through Ticketlink: www.ticketlink.com.au or 1300 855 835. To check out one of Raymond’s shows go to You Tube and enter Raymond Crowe… his shadow puppets show is the first hit and it’s really good.

On the 22nd is Bondi Cigars (in conjunction with the Tanks Blues Series). “They have a distinctive sound and indisputably Australian voice which makes them instantly identifiable and utterly unique. Still at the top of their game after two decades of performing, the Bondi Cigars are led by the talented and productive team of Shane Pacey and Alan Britton, rounded out

by Eben Hale and Frank Corby. The Bondi Cigars have a reputation for fantastic live shows to packed crowds, delivering a unique sound that blends soul, funk and pop – the essential and long lasting ingredients of the Cigars’ sounds, from the very beginning.” Doors and the bar open at 6:30pm with the show kicking off at 7:30pm in Tank 5. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased through Ticketlink: www.ticketlink.com.au or 1300 855 835.

Back over at the Tanks Art Centre on the 29th of July is the opening of the exhibition Offshoots III: Hannibal and Spud by Julie McEnery. Inspired by the beauty in the adjoining Cairns Botanic Gardens, and capturing the rare bloom of Hannibal and Spud (the plant Amorphophallus titanium) this exhibition began with a residency at Tanks Art Centre and Botanic Gardens in 2009.

Now, an annual exhibition, Julie McEnery builds on the body of work for Offshoots each year, work that relates to and reflects the plants in the Cairns Botanic Gardens. Open in Tank 4 from 9am to 4:30pm daily this is a FREE exhibition!

Finishing off the month of July on the music scene is Gomez on Friday the 29th of July. The legendary UK band is back on Australian shores on their Australian tour before performing at Splendour in the Grass. Performing songs from their latest album ‘Whatever’s On Your Mind’, they are joined by special guest Leader Cheetah.

Set to me an awesome night of music, this is not one to miss!

The doors and bar open at 6:30pm with the show kicking off at 7:30pm in Tank 5. Tickets cost $58 and can be purchased through Ticketlink: www.ticketlink.com.au or 1800 855 835. This is a standing only event for those over 15 years.

Although it’s not a typical backpacker gig, some of you may be interested in La Traviata at the Cairns Civic Theatre on the 2nd of August. Yes, this is opera, however, it is important to

bear in mind that whilst your travelling the world and broadening your horizons with skydives and East Coast road trips, this too, is a new and different experience that you can tell all your family and friends when you get home. La Traviata explores how “money makes the world go round” “This is the bleak truth behind Violetta Valery's life of champagne, silk dresses and extravagant parties.

No matter how she feels inside, when the music plays and the admirer pays, she must perform.

So when she finds herself falling in love, her very livelihood is threatened. Can the beautiful songbird escape her gilded cage?

Can she leave her past behind?”

The shows are on the 2nd and 3rd of August at 7:30pm, tickets cost $56 and can be purchased through Ticketlink: www.ticketlink.com.au or 1800 855 835.

A Move to Oz is the first Australian solo exhibition by Tracy-Ann Rees Mortimer and follows the progression of Tracy’s from the beginnings of the creativity as a student at the Ontario College of Art and Design through to her arrival here is Australia. In this exhibition Tracy’s aims ‘to show Australia through the eyes of a newcomer, creating abstractions of her new home’. “They reflect my amazement at the beauty and the unknown I am surrounded by everyday. As part of this show I have also created images, which serve as a reminder of my homeland left behind. They are snapshots in time of what I feel to be truly Canadian: The ever-socold winters and the dazzling display of colour with the changing of seasons into autumn.”

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32 CairnsLife

Where are they now...

Tommy

PYNE

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THE MAN BEHIND THE ESPLANADE LAGOON, THE RELOCATION OF THE COUNCIL OFFICES AND A BOARD MEMBER ON THE COPPERLODE DAM PROJECT, IS NONE OTHER THAN LOCAL ICON TOM PYNE AND HE IS MORE THAN HAPPY TO ADMIT HE HELPED PUT CAIRNS ON THE MAP.

The former mayor of Cairns has always has a passion for local issues and representing his community whether it ruffled a few feathers or not, but how could he not pursue a political career with politics in the blood? Tom’s great grandfather was not only the sea captain of The Freddy which brought the first sawn timber to Cairns, but he was also on the first Cairns Divisional Board Council. Tom followed in his footsteps and was also keen to make a difference from a young age and joined the Trade Union while working at Queensland Railways before joining the Australian Labour Party (ALP) at the age of 18.

While he was born in Babinda, Tom says he spent much of his childhood in Deeral where his family owned a sugarcane farm and he enjoyed a typical country upbringing as the youngest of five children. His family later moved to Edmonton where he attended Hambledon State School before leaving at age 14 to do an apprenticeship at Cairns Technical College. “Mum always wanted me to have a trade so I applied for an apprentice wood machinist job at AH Kent and got it, and was paid 37 shillings and 6 pence,” Tom says. “AH Kent had a great reputation and being employed by them put you in good stead for whatever job you went for later on. After the premises burnt down I transferred as a wood machinist in to carriage and wagon building at Queensland Railways.”

Tom left after being called up for national service. After completing the required training Tom decided he quite liked it and was about to transfer into the regular army when he was asked to run for council and won. This began a political career that spanned 39 years and made Tom a household name. Over the years he worked as a campaign director to many state and federal members, he was elected councillor of Mulgrave Shire Council in 1961, was elected

deputy chairman in 1976, was elected to The Chairmanship of Mulgrave in 1979, 1982, 1983, 1988 and 1991 and was chairman of the Campaign Against Forced Amalgamation group prior to the Mulgrave and Cairns shires amalgamating. Tom then became the mayor of Cairns. “I remember very clearly stating to the people of Cairns that if I was elected I would build separate council offices which would house everyone in the same building, as both councils had just been amalgamated,” Tom says.

“The main council offices then were in the building we later converted into the City Library. People in local government were located all over Cairns and it made more sense to house everyone together, although there were many out there who said it was political suicide to announce such a project.” Tom laughs at the reactions he received back then labelling the relocation of council chambers to Spence Street as ‘Tom’s Taj Mahal’ and a memorial to himself as mayor. “We were told it would be a White Elephant with many arguing it was too big and too expensive, but today the building is fully utilised and completely occupied and I doubt anyone would even remember who was mayor when it was built,” Tom laughs.

Tom was also instrumental in the Esplanade Lagoon, walkway and foreshore development, creating a much-needed and vibrant hub for Cairns. “Back then visitors would

look at a map of Cairns and see it was on the beach and would expect to be able to swim there when they arrived,” Tom explains.”

Unfortunately many backpackers couldn’t always travel to the northern beaches so it became apparent we needed something else to attract them back into town and down to the Cairns foreshore. We put forward our proposal and the usual naysayers and knockers complained about the need, or lack thereof, for a lagoon. Now it is safe to say that the Esplanade is one of Cairns’ most important assets and a real drawcard for the region.”

With many key projects and developments undertaken during Tom’s time in office, he says sometimes councils just need to make decisions and move forward in order to make a difference. He says he certainly faced opposition on many projects, but at the end of the day there will always be those that won’t support change. Looking back, Tom can reel off many projects he is proud of, including putting in a road out to Yarrabah. “Before the road was laid the only access to Yarrabah was by boat and this of course made it quite difficult for easy access,” he says. Tom was also involved in building Copplelode Dam, which holds two thirds of the water in Sydney Harbour and provides Cairns with its water supply. “It was originally going to cost $1.2 million dollars to build the dam and treatment plant and we struggled to find the funding after

being knocked back by around 30 different lenders. Eventually the state government set aside $3 million for the project, and it ended up costing between $6.2 to $6.5 million,” Tom says. “But when you look back it was worth doing because there are no pumping costs which means water is fairly cheap in Cairns and residents now reap the rewards.”

With such a growing population in Cairns, Tom says today’s council needs to continue to be proactive in building facilities to cater for the growth and also attract people back in to the city centre. “The Cairns Cultural Centre is a bloody good project and in a good location. If you build something as big as this it will last for a long time and will provide confidence that Cairns will grow,” Tom says. “It will be there for many generations to come, it will enhance the use of the present convention centre which is one of Cairns’ best assets and it will define Cairns as a performing arts capital.”

While Tom retired in 2000, claiming to have never been defeated in an election, he says he is sure he made many mistakes over the years but he also made a real difference to the development of Cairns and will always be proud of that. Looking back he says there are so many memorable moments spanning his career, but a few highlights would have to be meeting Bill and Hillary Clinton, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and of course The Queen and Prince Phillip. “I actually had a conversation with the Queen when she was in Brisbane,” Tom reflects. “I was introduced to her as the mayor of Mulgrave, which I was at the time, and she asked me if that was the sparsely-populated local authority outside of Cairns and I was gobsmacked she actually knew where it was.” Celebrity-hobnobbing aside, Tom says he is now proud to watch his son Robert Pyne continue the family name in politics through his role on the Cairns Council. “It must be in our blood,” he laughs.

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LOCAL HERO Question and Answers

Q&A Name: NINA ADWICK Career Title: Festival Administrator

Why do you choose to call Cairns home?

I have been a gypsy all my life, but when I arrived in Cairns even though it was rainy and gray, I knew instantly that it would be my home. 18 months later I am still here and feel blessed to call it my home. It is full of nature, wonder and I have met some of the most beautiful friends I have encountered in my whole life…

How did you get into your profession?

I have had many professions but I always get drawn back to being a PA...

I enjoy working in creative environments for inspiring bosses and I love organising other people’s lives for them and the business of the role. Being a PA you really get to know about EVERYTHING...

Tell us your favourite part of your job?

Making people smile; making the office an environment of happiness and positivity... a smile can change a persons day... its that easy... There are so many facets to the role at Cairns Festival and I enjoy them all immensely. Most of all I want to make the world a happier and shiner place. We spend such a big parts of our lives at work, we need to make the most of every second and enjoy ourselves as well as working hard, of course!!

What are you looking forward to during the Cairns Festival?

I am very happy to have secured Tjunana Cartel... I have seen these guys many times and they rock, they are ending their tour with Cairns…so it is going to be very exciting and also a little local group called Beat Rootz… they are amazing drummers and will be having fun with the gremlins... oh and having 2 nights of fireworks this year.. I adore fireworks...they make me extremely happy!

What is the best festival you have ever attended?

It has to be Lyndhurst, South Australia on 4th Dec 2002 - it was a ‘Total Eclipse’ festival. To see a total eclipse is a life changing experience! It is aweinspiring. There is going to be another one on the 14 Nov 2012 at 6.40 am near Port Douglas... Make sure you are there! We are so very lucky to have a total eclipse in such beautiful landscapes! I also adore Glastonbury due to the sheer line up of musical geniuses. I am most happiest dancing… I could dance all day, every day!!

The thing that might surprise people about me is: I am the lady with the dragon tattoo…

The best advice my mum gave me: My mum is my ultimate guru…she is out of this world. She has many pieces of advice, but the ones that stand out are: 'its nice to be nice' and 'manners don’t cost you a thing'.

She is like a living Mother Teresa… Mum you rock my world!!

Favourite CBD Restaurant: Ganbaranba. I lived in Tokyo for 4 years and when I step into this restaurant I feel I am back in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Make sure you try the gyoza, they are made in heaven and the service is second to none.

Favourite spot to shop in Cairns: I’m an Op Shop queen, so I love anything vintage. I love 'I love Lucy's’ shop at the back of Caffiened... Lucy has the most amazing pieces, at the most reasonable price and always has time for a yarn and a laugh...

Lucy, I love you! I want to own a shop just like yours one day...

I can’t stop listening to: I often go the library to get new music... I have to listen to music all day at work to create an ambience. I have a huge diverse collection of music but I love Ludovico Einaudi, La Scala. He is an Italian classical pianist and his music actually makes me cry with its beauty. I also love rocking out to Kruder & Dofmaster, Faithless, Unkle and Lamb.

The last book that blew my mind was: I am into a guy called Osho - he was an Indian HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysticism"mystic, HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru"guru, a professor in philosophy and spiritual teacher who has a huge international following. He has written over 900 books so I still have a lot to read through....but I learn so much from him to take into this life!

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Reality Bites Reality TV. Like it, love it or loathe it, there’s no getting away from it. These television shows are becoming increasingly popular, with new ones constantly popping up on our screens. Interested in tattoos? Bounty hunters? Or even Hollywood housewives? Reality seems to be a winning formula, appealing to the masses and covering seemingly every topic imaginable.

The dish of the day seems to be cooking-themed reality TV, with these shows taking centre stage in recent years. As viewers had become accustomed to the many celebrity television chefs, the next logical step was to combine that interest in cooking shows with the ultra popular reality genre.

So, how did I find myself in front of the cameras in the first series of MasterChef Australia? It’s a question I’ve been asked many times since.

Well, being a ‘foodie’ I was an avid viewer of the UK (and original) version on cable; week in, week out I was glued to the TV watching amateur cooks battling it out in a cuisine colosseum. So, naturally, when I saw they were calling for contestants for the Australian series I jumped at

the chance. I loved cooking and at that time I was at a crossroads in my life; I figured, if nothing else, it would be a challenge and it was definitely a chance to step out of my comfort zone. I actually surprised myself by even getting through the application form - it took me about four hours, typing out my whole life story into the wee hours of the morning!

I must have done something right, because a few weeks later I received the call that I had made it to the final 700 to audition - whittled down from 7,800 applicants. Things moved fast and the next thing I knew I was at the airport with fellow Cairns-ite Katie Archer and we were on our way to Brisbane for the Queensland auditions. All I can say is that was a long and interesting day! Meeting

some great fellow foodies along the way.

Incredibly, I made it to the top 50 and within a matter of weeks I was arriving in Sydney! Along with the other top 50 contestants I was collected from the airport and headed straight into an intense week of challenges, massive on-screen food fights and eliminations, in what was as much a mind game as it was a cooking contest. Down-time between takes and set preparations was spent outside the studio chatting, smoking (not personally) and playing any game we could make up involving the many pebbles and stones scattered throughout the car park. Interesting indeed! If it was snack time, we were supplied with chocolates - baskets of them - and, although George and

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CairnsLife 37

Stephen Borzi

Gary are both big sweet-tooths, I believe it was to raise our blood sugar levels and evoke some heightened emotions. Makes for great viewing!

After my wild week in the MasterChef studios I definitely have a newfound respect for reality TV contestants. Our days were very long and pretty exhausting; we were collected from our hotel at 5am and sometimes didn’t return until midnight, but this didn’t stop us enjoying a few drinks at the pub across the road – which, conveniently, didn’t close until 2am.

On the days we finished early we would venture into the city, expanding our palates at the many fine restaurants of Sydney - from ‘2 hat’ award-winners to out-of-the-way ethnic establishments hidden in the back streets.

It was an experience I will never forget! I even managed to win one of the three challenges during the top 50 week, and was lucky enough never to be in the bottom six. My time there ended, however, when I decided I didn’t want to enter the house in the top 20, after being told we’d be in lock-down for three months without any phones or email (due to the secrecy of the outcome). Perhaps there was a tinge of regret, but, in the end, I was happy to be on a plane and on my way back home.

it's cuisine carnage out there and I reckon maybe I had a lucky escape!

Either way, it seems it is here to stay.

But I have to say that although it has sparked the stay-home dinner party trend of today, I for one hope we can all still find time to go out and sample some of the great dining establishments we have here in Cairns and perhaps not be so critical, but instead look to expand our palates – I reckon we’ve got the world on our plates!

Buon Appetito!

So there you go! In the world of TV, reality does, in fact, bite; and if you're not careful it can chew you up and spit you out the other end too. In terms of my experiences, I guess I was only nibbled slightly around the edges, but

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by Stephen Borzi

“Stepping up to the Plate” Following last months article, I want to thank you all for the great feedback I received.

It’s refreshing to know there are so many passionate foodies out there! As I mentioned, I went around and had a chat to a few of the guys around town to get a feel of their thoughts on the current economic climate. We were unable to print all, but a big thanks to Craig Squire of Ochre Restaurant and Brett Claxton from Havana Music Café.

How is the current agree with economic climate everything TTNQ effecting your do or don’t do, I business? have been a silver Cairns has suffered an member for many extended downturn years and I believe which is out of sync with more business most of Australia and should be members. more in line with trends I am a member of around the globe.

Parker Travel Tourism has been poor Collection which for 3 years now which assists my business has changed the sales in and markets the the restaurant, for destination. example our inbound Obviously I get group business has really annoyed Craig Squire Chef Director, dropped by over 100% when I read the Ochre Restaurant and Catering since 2007. Independent derogatory letters international tourism is about tourism also down from pre GFC business being years, the high Australian dollar is the bludgers and ripping off locals, if only biggest problem in this market. Local they knew what we do for this town. corporate business has been quiet, there Unfortunately the Restaurant and haven’t been as many new business Caterers Association is weak and offers launches and client parties etc, so the little, I remain a member, but wish they catering in this area is lower, however our were more effective in lobbying and there catering is growing consistently over the was a strong local branch. The industry years and conferencing is stronger this has had a run of impediments from year which really helps. We are working government in the last few years, I hard to provide locals with a quality believe there should be a moratorium on dining experience both with the catering new legislation, it just seems the and in the restaurant and haven’t lifted bureaucrats create new laws to keep prices for many years. This is paying off themselves employed. Then members of and local trade is good. Overall the parliament stick their hand up, say yes to turnover is reasonably stable over the last new legislation without understanding 4 years, but it is very up and down, the the consequences to business and first half of this year was horrible, this community. Liquor Licensing, health makes it hard to maintain staff levels and regulations, The ‘Modern’ Award have plan with confidence. all added new costs to doing business during the GFC. What are the 3 main issues effecting the food and wine Do you think reality cooking shows industry here? are changing the way people relate Lack of tourists, over regulation, too to food and restaurants? many restaurants and many other issues.

In a way the plethora of tv cooking In my particular street I am very shows is making the public more aware concerned about the plans for buses of food and gourmet cuisine, more aware crossing Shields St. The department of of what time and effort goes into fine transport have got this very wrong, it is dining. At the same time it seems half assed and will negatively affect the everyone is an expert because they watch CBD forever. The council should stand some fabricated nonsense on telly! Most up and get a better result for the city. reality cooking shows are rubbish and not reality at all, some of the time lines on In what ways are you addressing Masterchef are hilarious, I crack up these issues as and individual and watching George pound his fist saying is there anything we can do “yous got 30 seconds” and then the shot collectively? cuts to the sweating contestant with at The main issues are almost impossible to least 10 minutes work to do, then tackle individually. Yet even after 18 years suddenly in the next shot there’s the in business one has to change with the finished plate. Haha!! Yet people watch it times and present your business to the and love it and that’s great because I’m markets that have the most potential. I advertising on Masterchef, that’s my way spend good money on marketing locally of presenting my business to the market and into tourism and even though I don’t with the most potential.

Brett Claxton Owner Operator Havana Music Café

How is the current economic climate effecting your business?

The current economic climate in Cairns is quite remarkable indeed. In my 23 years of doing business here in Cairns, I have never seen it so bad actually. In saying that, I was crazy enough to open this restaurant with the 'foresight' that the economy here would bounce back after such a bad year in 2010. I have now been bastardised by both foresight and heinsight!! "Living the dream on struggle street" I call it.

There is not enough money or moral in this village of Cairns for the economy to flourish, so therefore there is by no means enough people to go out to dinner, and help me pay back my debts! I am sincerely hoping we will turn the corner before too long...

What are the 3 main issues effecting the food and wine industry here?

I think the main issues effecting the wine and food industry is first and foremost the economy, and the lack of confidence in the Cairns business arena. This is no doubt the blanketing problem, and all other problems relate somehow to this.

There is also a lot of 'same same' stuff going on in Cairns.

Not a great deal of variety in dining experiences. There are a couple of established restaurants changing their menu at the moment with some new 'left field' dishes however. This is good, thinking outside the square...

In what ways are you addressing these issues as and individual and is there anything we can do collectively?

Havana Music Cafe has something with great point of difference to any other restaurant here in Cairns, and indeed north of Brisbane. The cuisine of based upon Caribbean deliciousness, with some other dishes that will broaden our target market for those not as adventurous to be tempted with our Caribbean delights. The Caribbean community of Cairns have mostly been in and given us all thumbs up.! We are sporting a wonderful return customer, with an increase of 44%, we just need to let more people know that we are here. The recipes I have brought back from the Caribbean, with the help of Maser chef Lou Alan who tweaks them for our uniqueness. We also have live music 4 times a week supporting local musicians and combining live entertainment with a dining experience.

Do you think reality cooking shows are changing the way people relate to food and restaurants?

As for reality cooking shows... just in the last week we have had 3 sets of regular customers seeking help as they are having Caribbean dinner parties at their houses! I guess in these days of economic harshness, dinner parties at home are a fashionable get together. They will no doubt be boosting Coles and Woolworths sales for such occasions...

I am still confident that we will remain the premier Caribbean dining experience here in the North!

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A DAY IN THE LIFE of A The life of a news reporter is unpredictable and changes from one day to the next depending on where the news is and what is happening locally, nationally and internationally.

Channel Seven Cairns producer and reporter, Trent Evans, caught up with CairnsLife to give us some insight in to a day in the life of a news reporter.

While Trent relocated to Cairns just over a year ago, he is no stranger to the busy newsroom environment. Trent worked as a news reporter for Channel Seven Melbourne for many years before taking up the position of producer for Sunrise and The Morning Show in Sydney, where his mornings started at midnight to have news ready for the show’s 6am start. Since moving to Cairns in search of a slightly more laid back lifestyle and better working hours, Trent’s passion for news hasn’t diminished in any way. “I’ve always loved news and I believe everyone has a story to tell. Up here stories are always huge, weird or both. The snakes are always big and the crocs are big, everything is bigger than down south,” Trent says. “That’s the great thing about news. There are so many incredible people up here and we love to cover their stories.” After working for ABC, channel 10, channel seven, Prime TV, the Herald Sun and Leader Newspapers, Trent knows how to find a good story.

On the day CairnsLife caught up with Trent he was fielding non-stop calls from producers all over Australia, chasing information about a breaking story.

“I actually received a tip-off phone call late today so I sent a camera crew down to the scene, and surprisingly we were the only television station that knew and broke the story on the evening news. As soon as we aired the story our phone started ringing and hasn’t stopped,” he said. Trent received calls during our interview from Sunrise producers and the Sunday night program, but for Trent, fielding such calls at all hours comes with the job.

Before this story broke, Trent’s day had started with a phone call at 6.45am about a story in the Tablelands

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by Amanda Cranston

f A NEWS REPORTER

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A DAY IN THE LIFE of A NEWS REPORTER and an enquiry about getting a helicopter up there. Arriving at the office by 7.45am he went through the day sheet draft he had prepared the night before of stories for that day, then organised for a reporter and camera crew to be sent out to the first story while another reporter headed out to the reef for another story. Then the day really began...

9am - Conference call with all channel seven bureaus in Queensland to discuss news and any crossovers. Check emails, make daily calls to the police, fire and ambulance departments and usual contacts to see if there are any news stories worth following up, fielding calls from the public about possible news stories, write the morning news updates to be aired after lunch and read by Rosanna Natoli and allocate stories and camera crews to reporters.

10.30am – Reporters out on stories, sourcing vision and graphics for all stories and providing support for reporters.

12.30pm – News in about a helicopter crash in Mossman in which the pilot was the father of a Seven News cameraman in Melbourne that Trent had worked with. Camera crew from Cairns sent to

continued...

cover story, in office write updated news bulletins to be aired at 4pm. News in about two injured from chopper crash being flown to Cairns Hospital and all camera crews out so reporter and editor head to hospital with spare camera to get some footage.

4.45pm – Tip off about breaking story, cameraman just arrived back from Mossman so sent straight out to scene.

5.00pm – Decision made to air the breaking story in 6pm news.

6.00pm – Broke the story as live read, and becomes apparent channel seven is the only news station with this story.

9.00pm – Trent still taking calls as this story is breaking news around Australia.

What started as a possible slow news day became the opposite. “Some days it is busier here than in a metropolitan news room. It is brilliant for reporters here though as they get a chance to do some really good reporting,” Trent says. “And what a year it has been up here with the cyclone and floods, but even after all the devastation it is still a beautiful place to live.”

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Acts of Greed and Stupidity As we continue to trade in this down market and bounce along the bottom, my daily conversations with people revolve around so many what if ’s, when’s and how to.

As is the case when a market is down no one can imagine it being up and also when we were at the peak no one wanted to hear that it will eventually turn down. The doomsday preachers say we are anything from 5-10 yrs away from improved conditions. Fortunately I can report that nearly all of these people are always on the sideline and rarely buy anything and miss one opportunity after another and scoff at anyone else’s success. I know people who have been waiting for the right property for the past 25yrs. Give up folks and just look at your money in the bank. Property isn’t for you.

This commercial market will see fortunes made and as the saying goes “ you make your money when you buy” and believe me now is the time to buy. I have a dozen classic stories of property deals gone wrong through greed and stupidity. One of my favourites is the owner who bought a piece of land on the Northern Beaches before 2002 (the start of the boom) for less than $1million. Spent a further $1m on plans and premarketing on what was essentially a dud project. Late 2006 at the absolute peak of the market they knocked back an offer for $6.75m -decided that $7.5m was an acceptable price. Buyer laughs, I cry, owner shrugs his shoulder and confidentially tells me he will get his price. Today it’s worth less than $1m. To understand why will take a lot more explaining but the point I make is success is all about knowing when to take the money and run. Greed takes over and all so often the opportunity is lost.

There are many instances that if owners sought a bit of advice from professionals, then they could more confidently make better commercial decisions.( Daikyo were the kings of failing to seek local advice).Often property has been handed down or someone accidently owns a location that for reasons outside of their control ends up in a golden position. All of a sudden they become experts and fail to seek advice. Bad decisions and missed opportunities follow. This is quite common typically in and around the CBD. As an Industry we also bear responsibility for our own image. Regrettably Agents don’t enjoy a great reputation and we don’t always get it 100% right but we can give you the advice based on experience and if you speak to a few people you will soon get a pattern from which to form an opinion. Remember one golden rule- the person that tells you the highest price is not always the right person. The easiest thing for me to do as a commercial agent is tell you what you want to hear.

Danny Betros CB Richard Ellis

Empower Employees to Motivate Themselves Finding the ideal people for employment in your company is only the first step to creating a productive workplace. Companies of all sizes and backgrounds should strive to make sure that their long term and new staff hire positions are filled by individuals that not only have the proper skill set to handle their duties but the motivation to continue to improve.

Vlasta Eriksson Signature Staff

Praise Often, Not Occasionally This does not mean managers and supervisors have to make a daily ritual of telling its staff members that they’ve done a good job. The key is to avoid only praising an employee after completing a huge project or reaching a milestone. Positive reinforcement should be a regular part of the process. For example, let one of your employees know that you appreciated his/her feedback during a company meeting. Such a statement can easily turn their day from a good one to a great one.

Remind Them of Their Value Employment agencies and those in human resources deal with job seekers and employers on a regular basis, which allows them to recognize how important the relationship is between a company and those they hire. If you’re the owner of a business who has been fortunate enough to work with a group of individuals that regularly contribute to your business’s success, make sure to remind them that their efforts do not go by unnoticed. This approach is especially helpful if

you have an employee that has hit a rough patch or is experiencing frustration with their job. Explain how their job duties contribute to the success of the company and while there are areas where they can do better, they should take the initiative to be the best at their job they can be.

Encourage Growth It is important to recognize that content employees are not always happy employees. To boost their motivation, encourage them to take steps to advance in their position. Should a promotional opportunity come up, make contact with the employee that you feel has the best shot and let him/her know that if they really want to flourish, they should take advantage of the offer.

Helping them envision a better working situation is a great way to get them to invest in themselves not only for the good of the company but so that they feel good about their efforts and talents.

Looking for staff to fill certain positions is no easy task. If you’re having a difficult time finding individuals to meet your company’s criteria, working with a recruitment agency may be just the right solution. With expert knowledge in the recruitment process, this type of company can help you secure people that will not only fulfill their responsibilities but help your business grow and thrive.

For a Free 10 Point “Recruit Right” checklist email us HRSupport@signaturestaff.com.au

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Time Management on Social Networking Sites Have you ever logged on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube with the intent of only staying a few minutes to update your status, read a few tweets, or watch a couple videos, then logging off ? The next thing you know hours have passed and you're still on the site? Well, if that has never happened to you, then it's definitely happened to someone you know.

Today people confess to wasting so much time on Social Media sites that it's become one of the biggest distractions in everyone's workday.

If you're one of those people who just can't seem to get enough of social networking, then here are a few tips to help you stay productive throughout the day, while still getting your online fix .

Set a schedule This may sound ridiculous; however, for some people it's just that serious.

Set a time each day that you will allow yourself to log on and do whatever you need to do. When your time is up, you have to log off and get back to work. Remember, the key is to stay on schedule.

No Reading If you feel that you must update your status, then make it a rule to do that and avoid reading any posts. Once you start reading you're hooked.

Update your status and immediately log off. Save all the reading until later.

Use it as a reward Tell yourself after I finish this task, I'll reward myself by reading a few tweets or watch a couple videos. If you're a writer you may say I'll write 1000 words then take a Facebook or Twitter break. Stick to your goal and do not cheat.

Hide yourself Facebook has an option where you can chat with people instead of messaging back and forth. It's a good idea to keep yourself hidden by going to chat--options--Go offline. Even though you'll really be online, everyone else will think you're offline.

This will help to eliminate a lot of distractions. Once you get caught up in a chatting session with a friend or family member it's hard to stop.

Set a Limit Limit yourself on how many tweets

or posts you can read at a time. If the magic number is 20, then read those 20 and log off. Stick to whatever number you feel is manageable and won't be such a struggle for you to do.

Avoid time waster activities Facebook has a lot of different games and groups now. Unless it's something that's going to help you get further in business, do not participate. Not during the day anyway. Once you're winding down and looking for something to do, then you may choose to play Farmville or Sorority Life, but not while you're working.

Many people will not debate that social networking sites have completely taken over and causing a lot of people to miss out on valuable work time. Keep reminding yourself that the people who own or invested in those sites are rich, you still have to work. Don't let their site cause you to lose what you have. Focus on work now and play later.

This Month I have finally hooked up with Jo Barnes from London and I am pleased to Offer FREE FAN PAGE Video Tutuorials and

Leanne Peard Social Media Plus Templates..

Go to http://socialmediaspecialist.com.au/ blog/sna-welcome-page/ to have full access, any questions or concerns can be posted on my facebook page www.facebook.com/socialmediaplus.

Look forward to helping your business Grow!!

Working with family, friends and lovers.

Andrew Griffiths

If you own your own business, it is generally only a matter of time until you find yourself working with either family members, friends or a lover or two. In many ways business has always been that way. Family members in particular were enlisted to work in the “family business”, simply because they were there, they could be trusted (generally) and they would work for very long hours for little money.

Now there are some wonderful upsides to working with family, friends or lovers. I worked with my former wife in our marketing company and it really was great. We were both totally committed to the business, we had lots of fun, every single day, and we had each other’s best interests at heart. Unfortunately we were better at working together than we were at being married. In saying that no one had every taught us how to work together, we were just figuring it out as we went and like most couples who work together, we made plenty of mistakes.

Today I work with many family based businesses.

It might be a husband and wife team, or a father and son combo or mother and daughter team.

There are certainly great upsides, but there are some pretty big pitfalls along the way. Likewise most small businesses in particular need extra help from time to time and business owners are more likely to employ someone they know, a friend generally, to lend a hand. Once again, there are many upsides to doing this, but be warned the dangers are lurking close by.

For more on this article and other great ideas, check out Andrew’s NEW book, out this July.

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PR ADVICE STRONG PUBLIC RELATIONS in tough times

TAKE CARE OF EVERY DETAIL & DON’T FORGET YOUR MANNERS

Pi p M ill er

Over the 20 plus years I have worked in public relations or PR, there are many things I have learned – not the least of which is attention to detail and professionalism – or - dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s while minding your p’s and q’s. And it didn’t always come easy to me – it is something I work at and it is only when I review other people’s work that I realise how I value its importance.

Just this week I have been working hard with my lovely work experience person to finalise itineraries for visiting journalists to get a taste of Cairns Festival and what our region has to offer. It has been a very time consuming, but enjoyable business – and hopefully it will prove fruitful with some great publicity to boot.

While this type of work and the importance of being meticulous is part and parcel of being a travel agent – it is also true of a PR person. Ensuring the correct spelling of names and accuracy of flight details is a good start, but so too is the recording of information from a venue’s name and address to its telephone number. This carries on in my day to day work that largely consists of media relations. Writing and distributing some 200 plus press releases a year for the past 17 years has meant fine tuning my eye to errors while proofing and editing.

We all make mistakes and I will give you the strong tip, don’t rely solely on spell check. It is always a good idea to have someone else read over your work before sending it anywhere and I have a policy that nothing is sent to media unless it has been read through and approved by the client.

I do remember a very awkward

situation in my early days as a public relations consultant where I incorrectly captioned a photograph that was being sent with a personnel promotion release for one of Sydney’s top advertising agencies. It all came down to not double checking the information being sent with the client – but in those days, we didn’t use email – it was fax or mail – so much harder to check. Suffice to say, I got in all sorts of trouble with the egos at play.

I cannot emphasise the value of checking, and then checking again and urge everyone to employ a degree of fastidiousness in their work. Be thorough and go the extra mile in your delivery and people will thank you.

Which brings me to the p’s and q’s bit. P’s and q’s or please and thank yous are taught to us all from an early age and believe me – as a parent, it is the most underused word in the dictionary and the ‘training’ part is not as easy as it sounds. It is so frustrating when your own children forget their manners and so endearing when you hear those words from one of their friends. It is a fast track to my good books and an excellent form of pr at a very domestic level.

The significance of good manners extends to the work place and it is

surprising how many young people, especially, are missing the fundamentals.

Think about your last visit to the supermarket check out. Was it you or the person who gave the money to that said thank you? Hopefully both, but my bet it was just you who used their manners. This is really common in restaurants and shops and it amazes me how many people don’t believe the customer is always right – and don’t bother to thank them for their custom.

Somehow it is the customers that feel they should be the one doing the thanking – ironic, isn’t it?

Another one of my pet loves is looking people in the eye – and shaking their hand – it shows the person that you are interested in them and care enough to ‘give them the time of day’.

In our jobs we are so busy and all the time vying for results. It is from one thing to the next. Often we forget to say thank you – or please.

I do try, but not always remember, to recognise the support I receive from my colleagues – even if it is just in the form of considering a story idea or angle. The ‘media’ can be as much ‘feared’ as they are ‘used’ for achieving a means to an end. They, like everybody else,

likes to be thanked every now and again – and no, you won’t be thought of as a brown-noser – being polite is much cooler than being impolite.

Putting one’s feet in another’s shoes is an excellent thing to do – and I often find myself considering the other person’s point of view before I begin an email or start a conservation. This is what PR is all about – practicing strategic and managed communication.

At a glance: • Check spelling – and be especially thorough with people’s names, titles and places.

• Check detail – times, dates, phone numbers.

• Be careful to caption photographs and images correctly.

• Be consistent with formatting text and always justify.

• Always ask and don’t demand when dealing with media.

Understand the nature of the media you are dealing before pitching any story ideas.

• If someone does you a favour or helps provide a result – no matter how big or small, take time to thank them.

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&beauty

HAIR

ALLURE HAIR BOUTIQUE

Left to right: Lisa, Jess, Rylee

JESS MARCH OWNER/STYLIST ALLURE HAIR BOUTIQUE

by Riyani Martorejo

At 23 Jess has what most girls would dream of, her own business. Situated in the beautiful Conservatory precinct Allure hair boutique is only nine months old. After six years of training at the famous Reds salon and spa Jess’s experience is extensive. With a positive push from her partner Rob and a desire to be her own boss Jess launched her hair boutique with the concept that clients need to have confidence and an honest relationship with their stylist.

“Being such a small town word of mouth is very powerful” and Jess believes strongly in starting small and allowing her business to grow steadily. At the moment she has a very bubbly apprentice Rylee who will qualify shortly and another very experienced stylist, Lisa. The three beautiful women create the harmonious and classy atmosphere that is Allure hair boutique.

We entered the salon in the early hours of

the morning for our photo shoot and the fresh, modern feel reminded me of salons back in Melbourne. Black leather seating and minimal fittings create a contrast to the historic building. A separate washbasin room behind a tinted window and a mezzanine level add interesting features to the salon. The immaculate product shelves and the sparkling workstations were all signs of a well-managed salon. A self claimed “typical Virgo” Jess prides herself on keeping the salon looking perfect.

Jess believes keeping up with current trends is important but creating a look that her client looks great and feels comfortable is her priority. “Just because something is in style doesn’t mean it will suit you.” She likes to get to know her clients and create looks that work with your “personality, style and face shape.”

Lake Street Cairns.

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photos courtesy of Tropic Photo Cairns

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Model: Nicole Hope Jennings Hair: Jess Allure Hair Boutique Make-up by Phennapha Location: The Attic

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Chamber of Commerce June Networking Luncheon

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