COAST magazine Spring 2022

SPRING 2022

WILDFLOWERS ON THE CENTRAL COAST EXPLORE YOUR CREATIVITY HOMESTYLE TRENDS FOR SPRING DRIVING ESCAPES: WOLLOMBI & THE HUNTER

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RELAX • UNWIND • ENJOY • STAY Enjoy an idyllic STAYCATION at one of Australia’s most distinctive boutique resorts.

Bells at Killcare is designed with Hampton’s inspired cottages set on beautiful acreage with manicured grounds, native flora, running streams and ponds – all just minutes from the golden Bouddi beaches and one of the state’s most acclaimed walking trails – The Bouddi Coastal Walk.

Enjoy a gastronomic dinner at their hatted restaurant, The Wild Flower Bar & Dining, overseen by creative executive chef, Sean Connolly. Use your spa credit at the serene Bells Day Spa, a luxurious sanctuary and a true haven for guests (in-house and locals) to de-stress and unwind.

COMPETITION PRIZE Two nights midweek boutique accommodation in best available cottage Complimentary $200 Spa credit to use during your stay Complimentary on-demand movies 24/7 Three-course dinner for two people in the restaurant on one evening Full hot breakfast both mornings Tell us why you’d like to receive this two-night boutique getaway by entering online at coastmagazine.com.au, or simply use the QR code. Please read the Terms & Conditions on the entry form on the COAST website.

The winner will be announced in the next issue of COAST magazine.

CONTENTS WELCOME

6

DISCOVER THE CENTRAL COAST Map: Central Coast National Parks and State Forests Wildflowers on the Central Coast

8 9

Loving LOCAL

Spring’s fashion feast New store openings Freshly baked

DRIVING ESCAPES Follow the early settlers’ route to historic Wollombi

Home Style & HOLIDAY LIVING What to look for when designing your next bathroom The newest look in furniture this spring Design matters A private sanctuary in Long Jetty A granny flat can be the answer for first-home buyers GARDENS OF THE COAST A Lilliputian forest garden

Well being: BEING WELL

Elle Nielsen: working wellness into your life Weight loss, fad diets and the joys of eating Sarah Fisher Dobbin: how music therapy can change a life

18 20 24

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30 34 36 39 44 46

52 54 56

Eat and DRINK

Making even unhealthy food healthy 8 at Trinity: a Parisian salon by the lake lures diners A creative craft: beer brewing at its best

Coast VIBES

Artisan Estate, Somersby: from pecans to glamping, music and blacksmithing Books on the Waves: book reviews Jennifer and Guy Jamieson: making art accessible Happenings on the Coast DRIVING ESCAPES 48 hours in the Hunter Valley

Weddings & EVENTS

How we met: Megan and Pat, Kantara House How we met: Sarah and Joel, Greenhouse Retreat

Families ON THE COAST

A busy parent’s guide to springing real food on the table Fun for kids How children’s art makes creative thinkers of the future

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72 74 76 78 84

88 91

94 96 98

PEARL FARM TOURS

PEARLS & JEWELLERY

PEARL MEAT & OYSTERS

BROKEN BAY SHELLAR DOOR

12 Kowan Road, Mooney Mooney, just off the M1 north of Sydney www.brokenbaypearlfarm.com.au | 0488 361 042

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© JENNIFER HARTICH

COAST PUBLISHER Catharine Retter editorial@coastpublishing.com.au SUB EDITORS Helen Hayes • Caroline Riches ART DIRECTOR Jude Rowe, Agave Creative Group PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHERS Steve Daggar • Jennifer Hartich • Lisa Haymes • Grace Lutwyche • Grace Picot PRINCIPAL WRITERS Megan Arkinstall • Angela Bennetts • Poppy Bevan • Jennifer Ennion • Suzy Jarratt • Joanne Karcz • James Lutwyche • Mandi McIntosh • Angiee Redden • Catharine Retter • Luke Talbot • Paul Urquhart • Julie Wright ILLUSTRATORS Maps: Guy Holt • Lauren Merrick ADVERTISING Anissa Vineburg 0408 692 129 Lyndal Keyzer 0432 800 150 advertising@coastpublishing.com.au SOCIAL MEDIA Haley Sing, Vine PR admin@coastpublishing.com.au

With spring comes a rare sighting of the peacock pelican in all its magnificent plumage.

Seen in the Woy Woy Channel by photographer Jennifer Hartich.

DISTRIBUTION Alex Tkachenko admin@coastpublishing.com.au ADMINISTRATION admin@coastpublishing.com.au COAST is published by Coast Publishing ABN 11 145 976 049 PO Box 6407 Kincumber NSW 2251

It’s spring, with all that means: gardens bursting back into life, our national parks and forests alive with new colour and new life. The anticipation of warmer weather, beach visits and fun on the water. We couldn’t resist bursting into the joys of spring a little ourselves in this issue – starting with our front cover and then featuring some of the best wildflower walks in our beautiful bushlands.

Spring also brings new fashion trends and colours that you can read about in our Loving Local pages.

Our design and style writers have been busy bringing you trends and tips to create a welcoming look and feel to your home that will stand the test of time.

For the inner you, there are ways to unleash the creative beast within.

And to feed that other inner you, the foodie side, we visit an amazing restaurant by the lake at Trinity Point, and at home find ways to keep you feeling energised and healthy. c

COPYRIGHT AND WARRANTIES The editorial content, photographic content, design and graphic art (including design of any advertisements by Coast Publishing) are all subject to copyright and must not be reproduced in any form without written permission from Coast Publishing.

While we strive to ensure information contained in this magazine is correct and current at the time of printing, details may be subject to change and we recommend contacting venues or event organisers before planning your visit. The information contained in this magazine has been provided by contributors, interviewees and advertisers and their sources.

No warranty is given by Coast Publishing as to the accuracy of this information nor any liability arising from any reliance upon the information contained herein.

FIND US ON Facebook Instagram @coast_publishing Receive COAST online, free, in your inbox each month by subscribing at coastmagazine.com.au We wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Awabakal and Darkinjung peoples and their Elders past and present. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land.

ELYSIA WELLNESS RETREAT COMPETITION WINNER Congratulations to Carolyn Roberts on a well-deserved luxury break at Elysia Wellness Retreat in the Hunter Valley.

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ON THE COVER Coast boronia against a scribbly bark gum in Brisbane Water National Park. Photo by Steve Daggar.

Central Coast Holiday Escapes beach bay bush

Explore the Central Coast’s beautiful Bouddi Peninsula, whilst staying at one of our various holiday homes to suit all your different needs.

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CENTRAL COAST

National Parks & State Forests

DISCOVER THE CENTRAL COAST

Wildflowers

ON THE CENTRAL COAST

© JENNIFER HARTICH

Conospermum, also known as coneseeds or smokebush plant.

The Central Coast bushland is home to more than 850 native plant species and, more than two years after the bushfires, they’ve never looked better.

WORDS JAMES LUTWYCHE

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DISCOVER THE CENTRAL COAST

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Banksia and grasstree.

Two and a half years on, the bush has not only recovered but has never looked so fresh, vibrant and healthy. It is green and in full flower. El Niño finished with the fires and La Niña has brought the rain to refresh and replenish. The tall blue gums (Eucalyptus saligna) and the spotted gums (Eucalyptus maculata) are in flower. You can smell the pollen and hear the bees.

The endemic Gymea lilies (Doryanthes excelsa) stand like green swords, with towering candle-like flower stalks holding flaming red flower heads up high.

»

© MERRILEE REDDEN

Metallic green carpenter bee with grevilleas or spider flowers.

©KIM COLE

I

n early December 2019, wildfire burned through Yengo National Park and McPherson State Forest, devouring almost every living thing in its path. International media coverage said ‘Australia was on fire’. Our social media feeds were flooded with images of firefighters giving koalas bottled water, and vets and wildlife carers administering first aid to badly burned wildlife.

We didn’t immediately think about the bush, about who is going out to replant millions of hectares of towering gum trees, wildflowers and tiny orchids. About who is going to put it back the way it was.

Fortunately, we don’t have to. Australian wild flora has been preparing itself for such catastrophic events over thousands of years by evolving and adapting to the ever-challenging patterns of climate change.

The Australian bush sometimes actually benefits from bushfires.

It resets the balance somewhat, destroys the encroaching weed infestations, helps germinate dormant seeds and opens up the seed capsules on species such as banksias and hakeas.

Within two weeks of the fires, hope was already returning to the blackened forests. On the trunks of the burnt gumtrees, new epicormic shoots sprang out. From the charred ground, tiny seedlings started shooting up, and from the base of the burnt banksias, new growth appeared from the lignotubers.

Watching a forest recover is something of a spiritual process, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes.

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©GRACE LUTWYCHE

DISCOVER THE CENTRAL COAST

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Gymea lilies and waratah.

COAST

© STEVE PASSLOW

© JENNIFER HARTICH

DISCOVER THE CENTRAL COAST

Fringed lily.

The grass trees (Xanthorrhoea australis) are particularly impressive with their now-blackened trunks, vibrant new growth, long spear-like flower stalks and sweetly scented creamy yellow flowers.

My favourite would have to be the vibrantly coloured waratah (Telopea speciosissima), the mighty state emblem. I have never seen so many flowers at any given time. I’ve been trying to grow them in my garden for years with dismal results, but what a difference a bushfire brings to this amazing plant species.

One final shout-out must go to the small and insignificant species, the ones you can miss or even step on while you’re gazing upwards. They are the intricate and amazing macro plants, the orchids and tiny little twiners that cover the forest floor. We have an impressive line-up of indigenous and endemic groundcovers, including the purple flowering sun orchid (Thelymitra) and dainty pink flowering trigger plants (Stylidium).

These little miracles truly deserve a kneel down to admire.

Others worth looking down at are the amazing flannel flowers (Actinotus helianthi). These are plants that truly regenerate after bushfires and appear along the rugged coastlines and ridgelines of the Central Coast. Their simple daisy-like white flowers are special to view in the bush and can grow en masse a couple of years after fires.

»

Coast-loving flannel flowers.

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© JENNIFER HARTICH

HEADING

Narrow-leaf drumstick.

The Central Coast bushland is classified as belonging to the greater Sydney–Hawkesbury sandstone basin and has microclimates that sustain more than 850 native plant species.

Common and botanical name

Habitat on the Central Coast

Flowering season

Gymea lilly (Doryanthes excelsa)

Coastal sandy forest

June to September

Flannel flower (Actinotus helianthi)

Common in dry rocky places or on sandy well-drained soil

Spring

Waratah (Telopea speciosissima)

Rocky places on sandstone, in woodland

September to October

Native fuchsia (Epacris longiflora)

Sheltered woodland, on rocky ground

Winter and spring

Pink wax flower (Eriostemon australasius)

Heath and woodland, on sandstone plateaus

Spring

Sydney boronia (Boronia ledifolia)

Sandstone heath and woodland

July to September

Christmas bells (Blandfordia nobilis)

Moist open heath, on sandstone

December to February

Red spider flower (Grevillea speciosa)

Heath and woodland, on sandstone

June to September

Broad-leaf wedge pea (Gompholobium latifolium)

Heath and woodland, on sandstone

Spring

Information courtesy of The Australian Plants Society Central Coast Group austplants.com.au/Central-Coast

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DISCOVER THE CENTRAL COAST

THE BEST WILDFLOWER WALKS There are so many places along the Central Coast where you can get out and explore, and a lot of the walks have been featured in previous issues of COAST magazine.

I have not been on one walking trail on the Central Coast that has not featured at least one or more of the plants mentioned here. Even the roadsides in the hinterland are full of amazing specimens, but sometimes you just have to get away from the popular spots and start exploring.

Here are just a few of my favourite places: In the hinterland, stop at the roadside growers’ markets then head for a picnic at Mangrove Creek Dam. For the more adventurous, the Hominy Creek walking trail to Emerald Pool in Popran National Park is a must, especially if you’re partial to a wilderness swim.

In the south, the quintessential Central Coast flora is found in the Bouddi National Park along the Bouddi Coastal Walk and Bullimah Spur. Kincumba Mountain is always beautiful, and the Daleys Point track can surprise. There is also stunning colour and diversity within Brisbane Water National Park, including the Patonga to Pearl Beach track with its awesome views, or even the classic Piles Creek Loop track.

In the north, there are Wybung Head and Frazer Park in the Munmorah State Conservation Area, and Catherine Hill Bay. In Wyrrabalong National Park head for the Burrawang walking track to Lilly Pilly loop and the Red Gum trail.

© STEVE DAGGAR

And please remember that even though wildflowers and plants have the capacity to recover after bushfires, they do not survive being picked. And birds and native bees depend on them to survive. Our native plants are protected, so please abide by the bushwalkers’ code to ‘take only memories, and leave only footprints’.

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DISCOVER THE CENTRAL COAST

THIS LITTLE QUOKKA IS AMONG THE HAPPIEST ANIMALS ON EARTH — AND LOVES BEING IN SELFIES.

H

er name is Coco, she’s the head honcho quokka at Australian Reptile Park and her nearest cousins are her fellow marsupials – kangaroos and wallabies. As a quokka, she is classed as vulnerable in the wild, but that doesn’t stop her species from also being known as the happiest animals on earth!

They have a permanent smile that ranges from tiny to big and fronttoothy grins. Coco and her housemates are also quite content to share their cheery outlook with the more prickly characters at the Reptile Park: their neighbours, the echidnas.

Quokkas are super cute, they eat flowers and, like their cousins, carry their young in a pouch. They have little or no fear of humans (who just tend to smile back at them and take photos). Coco’s favourite food is sweet potato (a tad less photogenic than a flower) and her mate is Baz (Basil, if you haven’t been formally introduced). They had a joey together, called Cinnamon, who has moved out of home to be with a mate of her own, leaving Coco and Baz as empty nesters for the time being.

The quokkas’ primary habitat in the wild is on Rottnest Island in WA, out of reach for foxes and feral cats, and it’s here that quokkas have become something of an internet sensation, with their friendly smiles and willingness to pose for selfies. So, when you’re at the Reptile Park, why not take a selfie with Coco and spread the happiness (you’ll find it’s contagious).

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Loving LOCAL SPRING’S FASHION FEAST: Colour is back!

MIKI FINN

WORDS ANGIEE REDDEN

T

his year’s fashion has been screaming the ’90s and we love it! And this spring is coming in even hotter with some bolder citrusy choices as if the ’70s and the ’90s had a love child and called it ‘Spring 2022’.

Melbourne’s recent Fashion Week saw lime greens, blood oranges, peachy pinks and limoncello yellows bouncing in and creating a buzz.

It’s time to pack away those grey winter knits. Spring’s colour mix is stirring up the runways with vibrancy, bold stripes and patterns, and pairing unlikely yet striking colours together.

So how can we incorporate these colours into our outfits this spring?

Colour-block your wardrobe with flashy pantsuits and some must-have staple pieces. Style a pink cropped-singlet with a playful orange pantsuit to shake up your next event.

Traditional spring florals are also being brought back by popular demand. Team floral staple pieces with a pair of tan Chelsea boots and a soft-oak wide brim fedora, and this look will be the perfect OOTD for a vineyard tour at the Hunter.

Mix citrusy tones with pastels to get the look that’s set to blossom this spring in beautiful French blues, soft lilacs, and baby spears pink.

And did I mention that fluffy and holographic accessories are also to make a return? Goodbye to staid handbags!

Spring’s fashion resurrection is a dream fashion-flick wardrobe for we rom-com fanatics, and I know I speak on their behalf when I say we can’t wait to get our hands on these stellar spring outfits.

MIKI FINN, Terrigal and Long Jetty Miki Finn – located in the bustling boutique avenues of Terrigal Beach and Long Jetty – is a chic, coastal clothing store that stocks many known and loved brands, such as Mink Pink, All About Eve and Wrangler. If you’re after a classic weekend vibe outfit, Miki Finn is your go-to for the essentials and statement piece finds. mikifinn.com.au

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LOVING LOCAL

FRANKIE LIFESTYLE

FRANKIE LIFESTYLE, Norah Head If you are looking for those more relaxed coastal vibes, then Frankie Lifestyle in Norah Head is your go-to best friend for spring favourites. Florals, cotton staples and fresh spring colours can be found at this gorgeous beachy boutique. frankielifestyle.com.au

LA BOHEME, Terrigal Do you want to give your free-spirited soul some muchneeded retail therapy, then look no further than the beautiful La Boheme. Located along the Scenic Highway in Terrigal where you’ll find yourself surrounded by the vibrant and harmonious colours of spring fashion. If bright bold patterns or those much-needed spring staples are what you seek then La Boheme is the best friend we all need. laboheme.shop

SADIE LOU, Long Jetty If you are seeking a pop of colour this spring or a few linenlook pieces, then Sadie Lou at Long Jetty has your back.

The inspiration behind this beautiful boutique is making women feel good about themselves, and their items are sure to make you feel special.

SADIE LOU

LA BOHEME

SHADOW BANG

sadielou.com.au

SHADOW BANG, Long Jetty Located in the hustle and bustle of Long Jetty, this bohemian boutique focuses on health, happiness, and higher consciousness for fashion. If the coastal trend is the vibe you are looking for this spring, then Shadow Bang is the place to be. shadowbang.com.au

PLAIN JANES

PLAIN JANES, Long Jetty Part of the essential vibe that is Long Jetty, Plain Janes is a mix of the owners’ favourite stores from around the world. Here you’ll find beautiful, fashion-focused everyday comfort clothing from quality brands that will always have you capturing that Long Jetty style we love. plainjanesstore.com

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LOVING LOCAL

NEW STORE OPENINGS on the COAST WORDS MEGAN ARKINSTALL

BUCKLE MY SHOE, Terrigal This new children’s store will transport you to yesteryear, filled as it is with colourful toys such as vintage pedal cars, whimsical handmade night lights and wooden push carts, as well as premium clothing and footwear.

Owners Medina and Francesco place a strong focus on sustainability and ethically sourced products, which are designed to last so they can be passed down through the family. You’ll find unique toys that are handmade and non-toxic, Australian-made clothing, and beautiful limited-edition shoes that are endorsed by podiatrists and fitted perfectly to your child’s foot.

94 Terrigal Esplanade, Terrigal bucklemyshoe.com.au

TIKI LA LA, Long Jetty Thrift shopping at Long Jetty was amplified with the arrival of this much-loved vintage store, formerly located at Ettalong, but has recently made its way to ‘the Jetty’ where it slots right into place. Owners April and Heath curate an ever-evolving collection of high-end vintage pieces such as mid-century furniture and retro homewares, pre-loved clothing and accessories, vinyl records and knick knacks that you might recognise from your mum’s buffet back in the ’80s.

304 The Entrance Road, Long Jetty tikilala.com.au

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LOVING LOCAL

ROWSIE LANE, The Entrance Rowsie Lane is a beautiful melange of two local creatives: Grant Molony, the artist behind some of the Coast’s most iconic murals, and partner Chloe Jean Grant, who owns fashion brand Mrs Millahs and floral store Rowsie. These two clever locals have combined art and flora in a gorgeous light-filled space at The Entrance. Here you can purchase limited edition prints, unique and vibrant botanical arrangements, one-of-a-kind hand-painted vases and pots, join a workshop, or host a kid’s party.

11 The Entrance Road, The Entrance rowsie.bigcartel.com

KIANA THE LABEL, Terrigal Whether it be a statement outfit for a special event or a staple for your wardrobe, this premium clothing store is the place to pick up some unique and quality pieces.

You’ll find a small selection of affordable high-end brands, including fashion-forward Runaway The Label and playful resort wear label Lokoa, as well as local brands Imara & I and The Valentine Club. Owner Tara Steinwede is currently designing her own range of seven exclusive pieces, which will be released early next year.

Shop 3/16 Church Street, Terrigal kianathelabel.com

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30/7/2022 6:52 pm

CALL 02 4385 1555 CALL 02 4385 1555 EMAIL EMAIL ADMIN@TERRIGALPACIFIC.NET.AU ADMIN@TERRIGALPACIFIC.NET.AU

NSW NSWVOUCHERS VOUCHERSVALID VALID UNTIL UNTIL9 9OCTOBER OCTOBER2022 2022

LOVING LOCAL

Freshly Baked Fuelling our collective baked good obsession, these three stores are bringing us more delicious morsels fresh from the oven.

BURNT HONEY, Long Jetty Following the success of their Copacabana café, Burnt Honey owners Hayley and Jo have opened a second store in Long Jetty because you can never have too much of a good thing. You’ll find the same melt-in-your-mouth handmade pastries and premium sourdough, as well as delicious focaccia sandwiches and a pantry stocked with gourmet goodies (Pepe Saya butter, honey and preserves) and gifts such as cookbooks, organic tea towels and baking utensils. Same rules apply in the Jetty: get in early before the shelves are bare.

298 The Entrance Road, Long Jetty burnthoneybakery.com.au

MAMI GATO, Ettalong Francophiles can get their French pastry fix of beignets, Madeleines, and financiers (for those who don’t speak French pastry, that’s donuts, small sponge cakes and friands) every weekend at Mami Gato. Previously an online store only, these delicious treats are now available at a bricks and mortar store in The Galleria Ettalong. There are also other French treats, as well as ice-cream and drinks. This store opens from 9am until they are sold out: depeche-toi. (Hurry!)

Shop 28, The Galleria Ettalong mamigato.com.au

SONOMA BAKERY, Terrigal The founder of this renowned Sydney-based bakery, Andrew Connole – who originally hailed from the Central Coast, believes bread is more than a staple, ‘it’s a way of life’. One loaf of its famous sourdough takes 36 hours to make by hand and now Coast locals can stock up on this artisanal bread at the newly opened Terrigal store. Handcrafted baked goods such as pies, sausage rolls, croissants, cakes and more are also on the menu as well as pantry essentials including granola, jams and coffee beans.

2/15 Church Street, Terrigal sonomabakery.com

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MADE FOR SPRING S H O P T H E L AT E S T T R E N D S AT E R I N A FA I R

DRIVING ESCAPES

Follow the early settlers’ route to historic

WOLLOMBI

WORDS JOANNE KARCZ NEED TO ESCAPE THE NOISE AND RUSH OF MOTORWAY TRAFFIC? IF YOU’RE HEADING NORTH ON THE M1, EXIT AT CALGA AND FOLLOW TOURIST DRIVE 33. YOU’LL MEANDER ALONG A COUNTRY ROAD WITH ITS EVIDENCE OF CONVICT-BUILT WALLS AND CULVERTS, AND END UP AT THE HISTORIC VILLAGE OF WOLLOMBI. THE DRIVE TAKES YOU THROUGH NATIONAL PARKS, FOREST AND FARMLAND, AND REVEALS LOCAL SECRETS THAT PROVIDE THE INGREDIENTS FOR A PERFECT DAY OUT.

ROYALE ORCHIDS Keep a lookout for Brieses Road about 8km from the M1 where our first stop is an orchid nursery. Signage for Royale Orchids is easy to miss. There are exotic and exquisite orchids — from the shy to the spectacular. When I visit, rows of strappy green leafed cymbidiums fill the greenhouse tunnels, their spikes promising a colourful display. Helpful staff happily advise and share their extensive knowledge. royaleorchids.com.au

FRESH LOCAL PRODUCE A delight of this day trip is stumbling across the few remaining roadside stalls along Peats Ridge Road. Selling the freshest seasonal produce, many rely on trust and honesty boxes.

Sciberras Fresh, more a shop than a roadside stall, offers a broad range of fresh homegrown and locally sourced delights. (Sciberras Fresh is closed on Tues.) sciberrasfresh.com.au

Next is the Mountain Growers Markets, where you can choose from a selection of local cheeses, sourdough and preserves. Relax with a coffee and toasted sandwich from the cafe, and take time to browse the range of old wares and collectibles. (The market is open from Fri-Sun between 8am and 2pm.)

1109 Peats Ridge Road, Peats Ridge

THE SPRINGS A mere 300 metres further down the road on your left is The Springs, perfect if you fancy a round of golf on one of the Central Coast’s best courses, or a farm-to-plate lunch created by executive chef Dan Capper at its Sitting Duck Restaurant.

(Lunch is available Fri-Sun; bookings required.) the-springs.com.au

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SELLING & LEASING LIFESTYLE PROPERTIES ON THE CENTRAL COAST

ERINA

27 Portsmouth Road

SOLD

$3,700,000

GOSFORD

1301/159 Mann Street

SOLD

$2,000,000

ST HUBERTS ISLAND LEASED

67 Helmsman Boulevard $1500 p/w

For an obligation free, confidential discussion call Stephen Gittoes today on 0416 295 174.

At GITTOES you will enjoy the difference.

61-63 Victoria Street, East Gosford 02 4323 3811 gittoes.com.au

DRIVING ESCAPES

PETER RUSH SCULPTURES Continue along George Downes Drive and you’ll discover two Peter Rush sculptures made from local plant stems and Gymea lily leaves. They’re along the roadside near Jerry’s Café in Kulnura: a 3.5m-tall Laughing Owl and a towering Giraffe.

1154 George Downes Drive, Kulnura

THE CONVICT TRAIL © JOANNE KARCZ

Never dull, the scenery alternates between vast stretches of bushland with scraggy eucalypts, and fertile fields with grazing cows. Look out for convict-built remnants of the Great North Road (built 1826-1836). The hand-carved stone works are easy to miss. Ramseys Leap is a 100-metre-long dry-stone wall north of the Bucketty intersection. Walk around Fernance’s Crossing Culvert and further on you’ll find Murray’s Run Culvert, which was built to prevent water flooding the roadway.

RUSTIC LAGUNA VILLAGE Russell, a huge rusty rhino sculpture, signals the approach to Laguna. Swing into the Great Northern Trading Post for a coffee and snack (open every day until 4pm, with dinner available on Fri and Sat nights). Its veranda is the ideal spot to enjoy a fairy wren trilling and flashing his bright blue plumage. While you’re there, browse the unique offerings at Laguna Luxe, stroll through Gallery 33 for pottery, art and jewellery, or stock up on local artisan produce at the Laguna Providore. laguna. gntp.com.au.

© JAN BOWMAKER

HISTORIC WOLLOMBI

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A few minutes further down the road is historic Wollombi, with its charming sandstone buildings, police cells and timber cottages.

Visit the Wollombi Endeavour Museum (check website for opening times) housed in the old Court House, where you can pick up a map and stroll through history on the 1km Heritage Walk. Browse local Aboriginal artworks at the not-for-profit Little Yengo Gallery at the nearby Wollombi Cultural Centre.

Or step through red barn doors into a corrugated iron shed that houses the Roadside Gallery (open Sat–Sun until 3.30pm).

Owner Stephanie Vella offers a range of 3D works by local artists that suit most budgets. For lunch, relax on the veranda at Myrtle and Stone Café, where a cheeky blue faced honeyeater may just pop by to say hello (open daily for breakfast and lunch, for dinner on Thursday and Friday). visitwollombi.com.au; roadsidegallerywollombi.com; myrtleandstone.com

DRIVING ESCAPES

Russell the rhino at Laguna Village

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& HOLIDAY LIVING

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN DESIGNING YOUR NEXT BATHROOM PHOTOS BIANCHI PHOTOGRAPHY When it comes to bathrooms, it’s literally the perfect place to let your hair down and let your true personality shine through. It’s where you want to wash off the stresses of the day and relax in a calming and clean space.

Nowhere is that more evident than when you visit the home of Jerome and Tenika Hough, owners of the Highgrove Bathrooms stores at West Gosford, Newcastle and Heatherbrae.

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Jerome started at Highgrove in 2005 after working in a local surf shop on the Central Coast, and loved it so much that six years later, ‘he bought the shop’ – three, eventually – opening their first store in Newcastle in 2011.

‘Most people only plan on renovating a bathroom once,’ says Tenika who started in management and is an accomplished interior designer in her own right. ‘So for longevity, keep your

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HOME STYLE

look on trend and neutral, and design it in a way that it flows throughout the home.

The Hough’s home is set in an expansive bushland setting in Picketts Valley on the Central Coast so Tenika’s colour choices bring the natural setting indoors.

‘I like the feeling that the décor flows with the environment and brings a sense of the outside into the house,’ she says.

‘We’ve gone for lots of natural light: large windows (some frosted for privacy), louvres and skylights in our home. And I’ve always been keen on textures: stone, timber and metal elements.

We’ve added a dramatic use of colour in our powder room with a deep, lustrous green for the wall tile to create a beautiful feature without it becoming dominant. In the main bathroom, we’ve used venetian plastering, textured wall tiles, tile sheets on the floor, and a porcelain slab tile and natural quartz for the vanity top.’

Curved walls, in textured tiles you can’t resist running your hands over, provide added privacy and design interest as you enter their bathrooms. And the rounded flow of the walls is seamlessly echoed in the arched mirrors above the vanities.

‘Features such as ceiling-mounted showerheads lend themselves to a minimalist look. Or, instead of a showerhead on a rail, go for an elbow fitting,’ says the ever-practical Jerome.

Tenika is based mainly at their West Gosford store and loves putting her interior design skills to good use to assist customers in their design choices. Because the stores carry a range of around 5-6,000 bathroom products, it means she can help them create versatile looks for a wide range of styles and budgets.

‘A timeless elegance and simplicity can never go astray in your design choices,’ she recommends.

HERE’S HOW TO LET YOUR HAIR DOWN WITH THE LATEST BATHROOM IDEAS: Fluted glass shower screens Brushed brass and nickel tapware Natural colour palettes Stone benchtops in finishes from luxe marble to concrete look Timber vanities Arched and round mirrors Concrete and solid surface basins Freestanding baths

highgrovebathrooms.com.au

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Create Your Dream Bathroom Today HEATHERBRAE Unit 1, 8 Griffin Street, Heatherbrae, NSW 2324

NEWCASTLE Unit 1/5 - 7 Pacific Highway, Gateshead, NSW 2290

WEST GOSFORD 210 Manns Road, West Gosford, NSW 2250

Products Featured: REFLEKTA Pencil Edge Arch Mirror 800x500mm, FINE LINES EDEN Bench Mount Basin Matte White, SPIN Tall Basin Mixer Brushed Brass, OLIVER Wall Hung Hamptons Vanity 1500mm Matte White

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HOME STYLE

The newest looks in furniture this Spring Minimalist, open plan homes with a tonal décor have been all the rage, but will this trend continue into the coming season? We reveal the hottest furniture trends for spring and how they can transform your living spaces.

After enduring a long cold winter season spent cooped up by the fireplace, it’s time to revel in the outdoors and new beginnings with light and airy home interiors.

Spring is all about having a fresh look and feel, using vibrant colours and bringing the outdoors in with greenery and florals. Natural textures are making a huge impact this season through handcrafted rattan furniture that create rooms with an organic feel. Rattan can also be injected into your décor with baskets and lamp shades to continue a coastal theme.

We’ll also see slip-cover fabric sofas serving both looks and functionality. Easy to clean and offering the perfect relaxed look, slip-cover lounges are a staple for any home in the warmer months of the year.

Finally, the use of vibrant décor will be the main shift away from winter homes through oversized artwork, vases, table centrepieces and, most importantly, food! Decorating with food items is a great way to inject colour into your space, especially around the kitchen or dining areas. Think of citrus tones through a bowl of lemons, oranges, grapefruits and more, and they also double as a refreshing snack.

Shop instore or online at OZ Design Furniture and discover the latest sofas, dining, storage, homewares and more!

A coastal theme is created here with OZ Design’s Airlie side and coffee table alongside their Weave floor lamp.

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OZ DESIGN FURNITURE GOSFORD & TUGGERAH A U S T R A L I A N O W N E D & O P E R AT E D

HOME STYLE

Design matters

with POPPY BEVAN

The downfall of the downlight Lighting has more than purely functional benefits. It can provide atmosphere, subtly delineate different living zones (important in open plan homes) and amplify the character of a space.

Many people may be surprised to learn that the popular go-to for Australian lighting, ‘the downlight’, is a fixture that is very rarely seen in European and American homes nor, in fact, in most homes around the world.

Downlights were invented in the US in the late 1940s and 1950s to provide concealed, intense spot and broad floodlighting to warehouses, retail spaces, and showrooms. They clearly work in these settings and, indeed, are designed to be an industrial rather than a residential lighting choice.

Australians are obsessed with brightness, with most people’s homes awash with maximum light regardless of time of day, function, or the ideal mood for a space.

Three very useful lighting styles to consider in your home in place of downlights are pendants, wall lights, and lamps.

Different lighting for different rooms

© JOSHUA HOGAN

• Gathering spaces such as kitchens, dining rooms, lounge rooms, TV rooms, and outdoor rooms are ideally lit by ambient light. While there might be some argument about kitchen lighting, for me this space is primarily about being together with friends and family, so the focus should be on comfort lighting. Pendants over the counter should provide enough task lighting without being awkwardly bright.

• The above rule also extends to private spaces such as bedrooms, studies, and libraries, which are best mood lit with individual task lights, such as reading lamps that can be added as needed.

• Solitary spaces often need brighter task lighting: bathrooms, walk-in-robes, butlers’ pantries, laundries, and service areas all do well with downlights. Bathrooms, though, also benefit from decorative lighting.

The House on the Hill, design by Poppy Bevan Design Studio

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For those renting or developing a home, installing permanent decorative lighting may not be possible, or the choices too daunting to appeal to a broad market. This can especially be the case for wall lights interlinked with furniture arrangements. In this instance, either table or wall lamps will happily fulfil the need for mid-height, atmospheric lighting that is easily adaptable.

HOME STYLE

LIGHTING TIPS How bright?

Light is measured in lumens or lm (not watts, which measure the power used to supply the light source).

I recommend the following for inviting, cosy living spaces: • Kitchen and dining pendants: 500 lm (40 watts) especially with two or more pendants • Wall lights: 250–500 lm (25–40 watts) • Standard lamps and floor lamps: 600 lm (40 watts) • Reading lamps: 600-800 lm (40–60 watts)

Getting the lighting task right • Ensure that your architect, interior designer, or builder specifies a maximum of 2700K warm white fixtures for your home (the higher the number, the cooler the light).

• If you can’t do away with downlights altogether, make sure you can switch them on individually so that they’re only on when you really need them.

LED lights Most lights for sale these days are powered by LEDs and use substantially less energy whilst lasting much longer than old fashioned incandescent or halogen globes.

Poppy Bevan, Architect Registration no. 11866 poppybevan.com

Experience the difference.

Truly tailored architecture & interiors.

40 Ocean View Drive, Wamberal, 2260 - 0401 557 805 - www.poppybevan.com NOMINATED ARCHITECT: P. BEVAN 11866

A 6% pay increase over two years for Local Health District Staff, with $1.76 billion committed to improve front line ambulance care, including new ambulance stations at Kincumber and Lisarow!

$20.2 million to fund projects from the Central Coast Strategy including infrastructure upgrades such as a Warnervale Town Centre Water and Sewer Plan, widening of the Pacific Highway at Lisarow, and delivery of the new Intercity Fleet of Trains.

$18.2 million investment into the new University of Newcastle Campus in the heart of Gosford.

$93.7 million to deliver the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.

2022-23 NSW Budget Highlights Across The Central Coast Introduction of the First Home Buyer Choice as part of a $728.6 million package, with $500 million to unlock land for housing and infrastructure.

Adam Crouch MP Parliamentary Secretary For The Central Coast Member for Terrigal

Providing all university students and apprentices a prepaid $250 Travel Card.

Supporting Central Coast women, offering those looking for work grants of $5000 from a $32 million investment, as well as free TAFE and advice funded by $15 million.

02 4365 1906

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HOME STYLE

A PRIVATE SANCTUARY in Long Jetty WORDS CATHARINE RETTER PHOTOS GRACE PICOT

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HOME STYLE OPPOSITE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT A curved entry path leads past the secluded swimming pool to the home's front door; The natural stone wall behind the fireplace is close-stacked without grouting, creating an eye-catching feature in the open-plan living area; In the kitchen, a quartzite stone benchtop finishes in a waterfall edge, while opposite a centre island is softened by curved features. The stacked windows open the benchtop area as a servery to the outdoor barbecue.

At the rear of the kitchen, a concealed entry opens in the butler’s pantry.; The bathrooms walls are finished in grey-blue Moroccan tiles whose colour and subtle shine were inspired by the ocean view. The curved timber cabinets and mirror frames continue the natural tones.

They lived in the house for a year while planning the new build. Michael describes their inspiration as ‘a Palm Springs look with touches of Hamptons’. But then Covid hit, Amanda became pregnant with daughter Goldie (now one year old), and

When your day job is creating high-end fit-outs for architectdesigned commercial, industrial and hospitality venues, and then you fit-out your own new home, it shows. The professionalism and outstanding quality shines throughout this Long Jetty house.

Three years ago, Michael and Amanda bought a small, traditional beach shack in an area they’d fallen in love with. The cottage had asbestos throughout, but it was situated at the front of the block, leaving a big backyard with lots of potential.

‘We knew we wanted to build a unique home, a modern beach house that took advantage of the lifestyle the area had to offer,’ says Amanda.

An entry intercom at the front gate ensures privacy to the entire property.

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somewhere in between, just days before Christmas, Michael was rushed to hospital for open-heart surgery.

This didn’t deter them. In fact, it crystalised their wish to make their new home a haven for their growing family.

Shelly Beach architects Etchells Building Design were given the task of making their vision a reality. Michael and Amanda’s brief was a one-level building with high ceilings (up to four metres in height), lots of natural light, good ventilation and a front entrance that felt like you were walking into a sanctuary.

It’s hard to tell where their vision and Etchells’ inspiration begin and end. The outcome is a fusion between modern, sleek roof lines and living spaces immersed in sunlight that welcome sea breezes throughout the day.

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The north-facing front garden hides behind a rendered masonry wall where you’ll find the front doorbell to Michael and Amanda’s haven. Through the gate, a curved boardwalk allows the very tall, all-glass front door to maintain its privacy. The water feature in the front garden’s pool blocks out any street noise, adding to the immediate sense of tranquillity.

Inside the house, several skylights throughout the house allow light in to play.

Two pivot doors that are almost invisible, until you press a hand against them, open quietly to reveal a family and media room.

Hidden surprises are a feature throughout the home.

Around a curved corner of the hallway, the house opens onto the living area with a splendid four-metre ceiling and high windows. The stone wall behind the fireplace is close-stacked without grouting, and echoes the external stone pillars at the front of the property.

A touch-screen control panel on a living room wall dims the lights, adjusts the temperature and controls airflow by opening and closing the highlight windows.

Tall, sliding glass doors transition the living space smoothly through to a covered patio and beyond that, the pool. The European oak flooring throughout the house gives way to vibrant outdoor paving in Turkish limestone.

Back inside, a galley kitchen with a quartzite stone bench features curved corners, as well as a waterfall edge. To one side, the butler’s pantry cleverly hides behind a wall that opens as a doorway with the touch of a hand.

The kitchen has modern, shaker-style cupboards, their fluted glass insets another favourite feature. It’s a theme that continues into the bathroom cabinets and shower screens. They not only visually ‘muffle’ what lies behind, but are a beautiful change from the clear glass shower screens we’re used to.

The bathroom walls are finished in handmade Moroccan tiles whose colour, inspired by the ocean, dances between shades of green, blue and grey. Two skylights provide additional light without sacrificing privacy.

‘When choosing the colours and materials, we wanted them to be earthy, natural and textural,’ says Amanda. ‘Quality and subtlety were important to us in aiming to create a home that is loved for years to come.’

All in all, the property is living proof that — as their architect says — ‘a beautiful design becomes an outstanding home only with the absolute commitment for perfection by architect, builder and owner.’

Having created their dream home, it’s hard to imagine that Michael and Amanda would ever want to move elsewhere, but that’s exactly what they’re doing.

‘It’s my passion to continue to build and curate beautiful homes,’ says Michael. ‘And we want to continue to do just that.’ gcbuilt.com.au

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The open front door entrance into the house.

TRADE SUPPLIERS Architect

Etchells Building Design

Builder

GC Built

Interior design

GC Built

Carpenters

Oakmont Carpentry & Wood Coastal Projects

Electrical

FMD Electrics

Plumbing

Applause Plumbing Solutions

Painting

National Painting Group

Pool

Perfect Plunge Pools

Timber floor

Havwoods, European Oak in Aspen Raw

Kitchen benchtop

Avant Stone, Palazzo

Bathroom benchtop

Avant Stone, Mont Blanc

Bathroom wall tile

Amalfi Tiles, Moroccan Handmade Zellige 100x100

Bathroom floor tile

Amalfi Tiles, Creos 600x1200

Carpet

Godfrey Hirst, Petra 520

Recycled outdoor bricks

The Brick Pit

Outdoor stone floor

Gather Co, Kesi Turkish Limestone

Stone cladding

Eco Outdoor, Bokara

Garage

JA Doors

Interested in a Principal Kitchen quote or just have a question?

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HOME STYLE

A granny flat can be the answer for first-home buyers WORDS LUKE TALBOT

G

ranny flats are becoming a more and more popular way for first home buyers to share the soaring cost of a first home with parents and, at the same time, provide ongoing independent living for older family members. And for a grandparent to enjoy the closeness of grandchildren when they come along. It’s also a solution for multi-generational living where children are staying at home longer than ever (or returning home just when you thought you were empty-nesters ready to set off into the great unknown as grey nomads).

A granny flat can also be a great way to build equity and even provide a recurring investment income.

If you are considering a granny flat as an option, there are two common ways to arrange the money you need: accessing the equity in your property or taking out a construction loan.

USING EQUITY The simplest way to secure funds for your new granny flat is to use the equity in your current home. It’s relatively easy to arrange

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a home loan to build a granny flat if you have enough equity in your existing property and you have sufficient income to support the new loan.

USING A CONSTRUCTION LOAN If you don’t have enough equity in your property, another option is to take out a construction loan. These are usually approved against the value of the existing property plus the value of the granny flat build contract.

You should be aware that the lender may want to control the progress payments to the builder and also undertake their own inspections throughout the process.

The first step, though, is to check with the council to make sure you are working within permitted parameters and regulations, including the rules around using a granny flat as an investment. coastfin.com.au

Home loans with a personal approach The savvy loan technicians, with simple money solutions.

CoastFin - Central Coast Finance and Mortgage Solutions 10/148-158 Fountain Plaza, Central Coast Hwy, Erina 02 4326 8843 www.coastfin.com.a

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GARDENS OF THE COAST

A Lilliputian forest OUR REGION HOSTS A NUMBER OF PLANT CLUBS DEDICATED TO VARIOUS SPECIALITIES AND NONE IS MORE MAGICAL THAN BONSAI, THE JAPANESE ART OF GROWING TREES IN POTS.

Duranta ‘Sheena’s Gold’, an easy to grow shrub, develops black and gold leaves in cooler weather.

WORDS PAUL URQUHART

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PHOTOS LISA HAYMES

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GARDENS OF THE COAST

B

onsai is a true artform. The aim is to observe nature, the patterns of branches and the dimensions of real, fully grown trees — and to replicate that through pruning, shaping and containing the roots using small pots. Sometimes the tree doesn’t even have a pot but is grown on a slab of stone or with its roots over a rock, just as you would see on a cliff or over a rock shelf.

A well-grown bonsai is a perfect evocation of a wild tree: lovingly cultivated, fed and watered so that it grows healthily and happily.

A central focus of bonsai culture is perfecting the technique of growing but also refining their display. Bonsai are meant to be shown off and this is also essential for good growth. They need light, sun, air and space. They should not be crowded or shaded because that affects the health of the plant, its foliage and its potential for flowering or, if deciduous, its colourful autumn display.

The Central Coast Bonsai Club is an active group of around 100 members who meet once a month at Mingara. We visited the garden of one member to see how to grow and display these artful miniatures.

BONSAI IN THE GARDEN This garden has been created over 20 years and displays bonsai on group benches or individually on plinths.

The benches themselves are quite simple — treated pine sleepers with decking boards on top or pine posts. To ensure uniformity and protect the timber, they are painted a neutral grey so as not

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Acacia howittii sticky wattle is a native substitute for exotic willows.

Jade plant from South Africa is a common succulent that lends itself to bonsai.

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GARDENS OF THE COAST With our climate, most of these species are within our grasp, but increasingly popular are native species such as banksia, acacia, tea tree and even eucalypts. All of these are well represented in this garden. The banksias are a real triumph, both old man banksia and coastal banksia. Their gnarled trunks and small leaves lend themselves to this culture and the owner has grown many from seed.

THE BASICS OF GROWING BONSAI Don’t judge the beauty of bonsai by the ‘sticks in pots’ at the hardware store. True bonsai really look like mature trees; the trunk tapers from a thick bole at the base to a finer tapered top with branches increasing in thickness as you view them up the trunk.

To get this effect, plants are grown in larger containers and when the right bole width is achieved, the height is drastically reduced and from here new shoots grow. These become the new branches. Left alone they will want to grow straight up, so they are wired to make them grow horizontally.

Once the overall shape is achieved, plants can go into ornamental shallow pots and training continues.

Because the roots are constrained, they grow densely in the pot and need regular repotting and root pruning. Feeding continues through the growing season. The owner of this bonsai garden uses liquid feed such as Charlie Carp or Powerfeed, with some Seasol at repotting time.

Deciduous trees are pruned and repotted in winter while subtropical trees and natives like figs and umbrella trees are pruned when growth starts in late spring. Tip pruning continues through the growing season. The top shoots are pinched out to encourage branching and smaller leaves. Figs and some deciduous trees are also leaf pruned in summer to reduce leaf size more in keeping with a miniature tree.

5 TREES FOR BEGINNERS TOP A collection of figs, banksia and schefflera blending with the garden plants.

BOTTOM Taxodium distichum, the bald cypress, comes from swamps in southeastern United States and is as popular as a deciduous conifer.

to compete with the trees themselves. Some benches are even twotiered, allowing space for smaller bonsai. The benches themselves are arranged in rows with a central access path.

The bonsai garden is integrated into the whole garden but because it’s located at the rear of the property, is also separated.

The outdoor living areas face a neat square of lawn where the trees feature as if on a stage.

The range of plants suitable for bonsai varies. Plants commonly grown in Japan and the northern hemisphere include the various forms of conifer from pines, cypress and spruce, as well as deciduous forms like taxodium or swamp cypress and larch. In tropical countries, figs are popular, as are tropical trees such as schefflera (the common umbrella tree), tea or camellia species, raintrees from Brazil and bougainvillea.

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Port Jackson fig – Ficus rubiginosa Jade plant – Portulacaria afra Trident maple – Acer buergerianum Umbrella tree – Schefflera arboricola Coast banksia – Banksia integrifolia

MORE INFORMATION The best way to learn about bonsai is to join a club and attend workshops. Members are highly knowledgeable and keen to offer advice. Clubs also have potting mixes and tools for sale.

Contact Central Coast Bonsai Club centralcoastbonsai.com.au Meetings are held on every second Tuesday of the month (except January). Their annual show is held in March at the Mingara Club.

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Wellbeing

BEING WELL ELLE NIELSEN Working wellness into your life

WORDS MEGAN ARKINSTALL AT JUST 27 YEARS OF AGE, ELLE NIELSEN IS AN ENTREPRENEURIAL DYNAMO. THE PASSIONATE HEALTH AND FITNESS COACH NOT ONLY HELPS AND INSPIRES WOMEN TO MOVE AND FUEL THEIR BODIES BETTER THROUGH HER WELLNESS WARRIORS PROGRAM, SHE LIVES AND BREATHES IT. SHE IS ALSO OWNER OF THE BOWLARAMA SMOOTHIE BOWLS FRANCHISE, DEVELOPER OF FWD FORM NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS, AND MUM TO HER ALMOST TWO-YEAR-OLD SON, MAX. I was always a happy, sporty kid. I danced, played soccer, joined nippers and was school captain in primary school. But due to years of bullying, when I reached high school my struggles with anxiety and depression began. When my parents divorced, it really felt like my life was in a constant downward spiral. I joined the gym with my mum as a form of stress relief, but I turned to food to relieve the feelings of loneliness and depression [and] my weight ballooned.

When I first started going to the gym, it was a daunting and overwhelming experience. I created Wellness Warriors [WW] to give women a comfortable space to move their bodies, build their confidence and feel supported. As part of WW, I run strength and conditioning classes at Body Movement gym in Kincumber [owned by Elle’s partner Scott Madden] and provide nutrition and supplement guidance. I also offer mums and bubs classes.

When I was 16, my mum suggested I watch The Secret.

It’s a documentary about manifesting positive things in your life through the power of positive thinking. Despite my protests, I did watch it, and then even went to seminars about the laws of attraction. My mind expanded tenfold.

Choosing wellness is a daily practice. My ideal morning starts at 4.15am, to get in a workout before a morning of personal training clients and coaching classes. Then I love to walk into Terrigal with my partner Scott and son Max to grab a coffee from our go-to café, The Laneway. Then it’s either back to the gym for more clients or to the office to work on my businesses.

I started to see the world differently. I saved my money to go and see a naturopath, I lost 17 kilograms, I even joined a bodybuilding competition. I became a national bikini champion and was featured in fitness magazines. Never did I expect my life to be where it is today.

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I love being productive. It not only keeps me motivated but it also keeps me feeling empowered and calm. The rest of my days are filled with my other businesses Bowlarama and FWD FORM, whether that be content creation, operations, marketing,

WELLBEING BEING WELL

team meetings or product development, packing and sending FWD FORM orders, or working on personal brand collaborations, my latest being a fun one with Rebel Sport.

Bowlarama started from our obsession with smoothie bowls. Scott and I travelled to Bali to eat our way around town, sampling and critiquing all the smoothie bowls we could find — what worked, what didn’t, how it tasted, the thickness... Our brand is pink, bright and tropical, which instantly reminds you of summer. It’s a journey we are so proud of and never would have thought Bowlarama would turn into a franchisable company, nor lead us into formulating our very own supplement range. We now have three stores on the Coast in Kincumber, Terrigal and Long Jetty, with another coming in Newcastle this spring.

We are excited to see more stores pop up around Australia.

When it comes to nutrition, if I can’t understand or easily research an ingredient, I know it’s not meant to be in my body! Scott and I launched our natural supplement range FWD FORM in early 2022 after spending our months in lockdown planning, designing and sampling it all. Our sciencebacked formulations have been created by Australia’s leading naturopaths, clinical nutritionists and formulation experts so the quality, texture and taste is premium. We like to think of FWD FORM as an extension of who we are as individuals: driven by goals, leaning into the uncomfortable and always growing.

Whether you’re working out or working hard, we want our products to be a key part of your day to support your health and hustle.

We live by our brand ethos of continuous improvement and motivation through the fear of being average. While this is a big part of who I am, I have also learned over time the importance of setting clear boundaries and switching off. I like to think that having a baby has brought out a new softer version of me. My favourite moments are those at home when the candles are lit, music is playing and I’m dancing around the kitchen with my son.

No matter how far away or how long I travel for, the Central Coast is always home. Family time on the weekends will always involve being outdoors and spending time at our beautiful beaches. We love doing the big walk around Tallows and Box Head, which is easily one of the best walks on the Coast.

We also enjoy meeting friends at Terrigal Beach House for an afternoon drink or having dinner at Swells. wellnessbyelle.com; bowlaramabowls.com; fwdformnutrition.com

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WELLBEING BEING WELL

WEIGHT LOSS, FAD DIETS and the

JOYS OF EATING

WORDS DR MICHELLE REISS LIFESTYLE MEDICINE PHYSICIAN – LIFE MEDICAL CENTRE

W

hen you think of weight loss programs, most people think ‘diet’: what to eat, what not to eat, and the nagging notion of missing out on the simple food pleasures in life.

We’ve seen fad diets come and go – and even more so since social media began to rule our lives: keto, paleo, 5:2, the fruit diet, the no-fruit diet, low or no-carbs, diets according to our blood type, our hormones, and even diets according to our star sign! The list is probably longer than the length of time most people stick to a diet.

Fad diets are driven by external motivation, meaning that you are bombarded with micro-goals: to reach a certain weight, to eat only a certain calorie number, to lower the numbers on your bathroom scales, or to drop dress or shirt sizes.

We are typically motivated for a few weeks, then we stray a little and feel we’ve failed. We comfort ourselves with another biscuit, another slice of bread. We self-sabotage. And there begins the yo-yo cycle that is ‘dieting’.

It’s no wonder we ask ourselves what really works?

We’ll let you into a secret. And it’s not one that’s designed to make someone else money!

Successful weight loss and the improved lifestyle that comes with it is not so much about willpower but about understanding how our brains work chemically via the feel-good neurotransmitters of dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin.

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We can all shift some simple habits to ignite those feel-good neurotransmitters and begin to view our food choices as habits that add value to our lives.

Wouldn’t it be wonderfully empowering if a weight loss program was based on benefitting our gut microbiome, made us feel energetic, have more energy, feel more confident, live better, reduce chronic disease, come off medications – the list goes on.

If we made food choices based on these benefits, then instead of the dieting yo-yo we’d be reinforcing what makes us feel good to live our best lives.

When we recognise what motivates us internally, we increase our feelings of contentment, reducing our need to seek instantly gratifying comfort food and treats. A fad diet is no more than a program to limit these gratifiers for as long as we can stick to that diet. No wonder they so often fail, and no wonder they make us feel deprived of the joys of eating.

So, go on, recognise your internal motivations and feed those feel-good neurotransmitters. Make food choices that benefit your gut-microbiome, that make you feel energetic and result in a sense of pride and control over your body.

Food, and the eating of food, is at the core of living a good life, and so it should be. lifemedicalcentre.com.au

In the next issue of COAST: Food to feed your microbiome and those feel-good neurotransmitters.

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WELLBEING BEING WELL

SARAH FISHER DOBBIN:

how music therapy can change a life WORDS SUZY JARRATT

I

t was the reaction of a frail young boy that inspired Sarah Fisher Dobbin to take a very special musical path.

‘In Year 10 I was doing work experience at Yarran, an early intervention service for children with developmental disabilities.

I was playing the violin for them one Christmas and across the room was a little boy whose muscle tone was so weak it was an effort for him to move at all. When he heard the sounds, he turned his head. ‘‘That’s amazing,’ his surprised teacher said. ‘Go over and play to him’. Again he turned towards the music. It seems such a small thing, but being able to make that small but also very significant difference was when I knew what I wanted to do with my life.’

Today, Sarah has a master’s degree in education and in music, plays for the Gosford Musical Society and leads the second violins at Symphony Central Coast. She is one of just 500 music therapists in Australia.

‘In the past I’ve done mainstream teaching but this is what I love,’ says Sarah, who founded Central Coast Music Therapy (CCMT) 10 years ago. ‘I get to make a difference in the lives of my clients, and I’ve never given up on any of them.’

Scientific studies have shown that music crosses multiple regions of the brain, creating neural pathways that can benefit those with developmental delays, speech and language problems, autism spectrum disorder and intellectual, physical or emotional disabilities. Many clients, who range from toddlers to the elderly, fit these categories, and at CCMT each undergoes individualised sessions conducted by Sarah or another dedicated therapist. In recent years, Kayoka, Elaine, Tiffany and Ria have joined this ever-expanding practice, all working with children and adults to achieve specific goals.

Sometimes they concentrate on eye contact, listening skills or

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turn-taking. They sing, use colours and sounds, play guitars and violins — whatever is effective.

Trudi, the mother of 10-year-old Inika, explained to COAST magazine the effect music therapy has on her daughter.

‘She has a rare genetic condition, is developmentally delayed and is non-verbal. Not mute, but she doesn’t speak. The music allows her to communicate in ways she wouldn’t be able to do otherwise.

‘When we arrive, she’s so excited she jumps out of the car and runs inside. Afterwards, she comes back singing and humming — no words but she has the rhythm and beat of the tunes. She also loves creating her own tones on the xylophone and enjoys the feedback in her hands from its vibrations.

‘I’m sure it’s the best part of Inika’s week. She achieves more in that hour than in any traditional therapy session.’

Then there’s 17-year-old Maison. As a youngster, she was diagnosed as having high-functioning autism. ‘When you have a child who’s on the spectrum, you do almost anything to find out where they might excel,’ her father Warren says. ‘Maison focused on music.’ He took her to CCMT. Sarah introduced her to the violin and over the years, Maison’s finger strength and coordination greatly improved. She began to flourish. Maison also attends regular sessions at the Happy Tappers, a dance class for people with special needs. At a recent Central Coast Rotary dinner, she gave a brief violin recital ‘which was a wonderful confidence booster,’ Warren says. ‘She was so proud to do something many others can’t.

‘Her skills are always improving. She’s learning to read music, and she practises regularly, which also calms her. We’ve been going now for eight years and have never looked back.’ centralcoastmusictherapy.com.au

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Eat and DRINK

WORDS JENNIFER ENNION

Making even unhealthy foods healthy With Central Coast locals becoming more health conscious but also time poor, here’s how chef Marty and Megan Bowden found a solution.

With a focus on real food, healthy living and reducing food waste, Marty and Megan Bowden are a Central Coast success story. The couple owns Activate Foods, which supplies locals with fresh, home-style meals via their Erina store or delivery.

The company has been steadily growing since starting in 2016 but continues to hold fast to its original ethos.

Food philosophy Activate Foods doesn’t follow a set diet, although you may notice many dishes meet keto and paleo principles. Instead, the focus is on well-balanced healthy choices, with a range of gluten-free,

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and primarily dairy-free meals. Having been a chef for more than 20 years, Marty creates his menus with balance in mind.

‘Instead of thinking dish by dish having to be exactly fitting a certain style, the entire menu does,’ says Marty. ‘When I look at a menu, I balance out how many different proteins I’ve got, how many varieties of vegetables there are in each dish, and having a variety of high-carb and low-carb.’

Marty and Megan work closely with registered dietitian Nicole Saliba (from Eatsense), who approves the recipes and categorises them as low- or high-carb and if they’re suitable for diabetics.

»

© JACS POWELL

EAT & DRINK

Sourcing A highlight of Marty’s week is heading to Sydney Produce Market, despite having to rise before the sun.

‘I’ve got to the point now where I’ve got relationships with the growers,’ he says. ‘All of the growers and distributors down there know the requirements for each thing that I use.’ And Marty knows exactly where his broccoli, spinach, sweet potato and more come from. He sources ingredients from Central Coast growers occasionally and would like to do more but finds supply too sporadic.

Growing Activate Foods’ customer base has grown year on year, which Marty puts down to locals being more health conscious but also time poor.

‘Because we are home-style cooked, delivered directly to people, they taste the difference,’ he says.

His focus is on making healthy versions of unhealthy favourites such as lasagne and his new dish, barbecue chicken with a homemade barbecue sauce.

Another recent change has been pricing the meals individually, which has given Marty flexibility to use some more premium ingredients.

‘We’ve got an Angus rump steak on the menu now, which I couldn’t have done before because I just could not fit it in the price bracket,’ he says.

There is also a low-carb roasted lamb leg with vegetables and salsa verde. ‘I used to do it when we started but it just got too expensive, whereas now I can put that back on and everyone is loving it.’

For families, there’s a new range, inspired by a desire to cater to his two daughters, aged six and nine, who are often the taste testers.

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Food waste Marty and Megan take a holistic approach to their business by not only focusing on human health but also the environment.

That’s why a large part of their philosophy is keeping food waste down. Every week or two, Marty makes a couple of hundred litres of chicken and beef stock, so that’s where vege off-cuts such as parsley stalks go. Broccoli stalks are trimmed for stir fries, while he often leaves the skins on potatoes. With meat, he works with a local butcher who cuts specifically to Activate Foods’ requirements to fit container sizes, again reducing waste.

Future plans In the near future, Marty hopes to move into a warehouse that will allow the company to get a bigger packaging machine and increase distribution. He would also like to branch out to Melbourne or Brisbane markets. However, he has zero desire to sell into supermarkets, understanding that his customers value his fresh, home-delivered approach.

‘I’ve always said to Megan, I’d get as big as I can where I don’t have to compromise the methods that we use and the quality that we have.’

Check out the current Activate Foods range at activatefoods.com.au or call into the retail store at Shop 2, 222 The Entrance Rd, Erina.

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EAT & DRINK

8 AT TRINITY A Parisian salon by the lake lures diners WORDS JENNIFER ENNION

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EAT & DRINK

I’VE STEPPED INTO AN ATRIUM, WHERE SUNLIGHT GLINTS OFF MARBLE AND BRASS TABLES, POTTED PALMS AND SUCCULENTS BRING THE OUTDOORS IN, AND LAKE MACQUARIE’S NEWEST MARINA BECKONS BEYOND 6.5-METRE-LONG ALL-WEATHER BLINDS. AM I IMPRESSED? MOST CERTAINLY. YET I HAVE ONLY TAKEN A FEW STEPS INTO THE MUCH-TALKED-ABOUT 8 AT TRINITY RESTAURANT IN THE UNASSUMING SUBURB OF MORISSET.

Natalie Johnson, Managing Director of 8 at Trinity

A

40-minute drive up the M1 from Gosford, this is a restaurant worth travelling for, and many do. Weekdays may attract a swathe of Lake Macquarie and Central Coast locals, but on weekends it’s largely Sydneysiders and Novocastrians filling the seats. And what lovely seats they are, all custom-designed and made. As I sink into one of the marineblue lounges at 11.30am, the restaurant begins to fill with diners of all ages, including young mums with prams. Some visitors are here for birthdays, others for a ladies’ day out, and at least one for a few nibbles while he taps away on a laptop in an enviable work-from-home situation.

It's clear that 8 at Trinity Managing Director, Natalie Johnson, has a background in interior design; the restaurant has a Parisian salon air about it. That’s largely thanks to the impressive marquee and boundless greenery, but also to the finer touches, such as the delicate cocktail glasses. The cocktails are reason alone to lure you here, with the syrups made in-house. I highly recommend the Clouds of Passion with vanilla vodka and white chocolate liqueur.

‘We’ve got a huge cocktail list and it’s very complex,’ Natalie says.

‘Visually (the cocktail) looks amazing, it tastes amazing and we’re giving value for money in quite a large glass.’

As for the food, it’s flawless. Burrata cheese fans will be delighted to see it feature in a number of dishes, while carnivores will be thrilled there’s a tomahawk steak on the large modern Australian menu. I sample melt-in-your-mouth handmade gnocchi, tender scallops and the best kingfish ceviche

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(with zesty finger lime) I’ve ever eaten. Then there’s the de-boned ocean perch in tempura batter – it’s served whole and is a head-turner. To finish is a silky reinvention of the cheesecake that’s better than the classic.

The attention to detail is arguably unrivalled in the region.

‘Nothing from the bar or kitchen goes out without my tick,’ Natalie says. ‘I have to be crazy about it for it to go on the menu.’

The former chef has ensured there is plenty of variety for the 1,000 people that visit each day. There are hand-cut chips and pizza for those seeking scrumptious simplicity, several seafood options (the crab spaghettini is popular), and premium red meat. Although Natalie’s chefs may be challenged to perfect so many dishes, she is passionate about pleasing her customers, and ensuring there’s variety. In spite of our stunning surroundings, she assures me 8 at Trinity isn’t fine dining but ‘resort casual’.

‘If you’re here with your family and your kids and you just want to buy a $25 pizza, you can afford to come here and have an amazing experience, or you can come here and have a nine-plus score wagyu tomahawk (1.5kg) and a Grange if you want,’ Natalie says.

»

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Seafood platter; Tomahawk steak; Vanilla steamed cheesecake; Delux affogato

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EAT

STAY LOVE

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EAT & DRINK

‘It’s something for everybody – that is the secret – without feeling intimidated.’

‘It’s something for everybody – that is the secret – without feeling intimidated.’

As impressed by the restaurant as I am, it’s only a pop-up.

In about three years, it will all be redesigned as part of a fivestar hotel that will also include luxury apartments, two large restaurants, outdoor areas and a pool. The marina will eventually have 188 berths, with half currently built. There will also be a floating pontoon tennis court and a helipad as part of the 23-hectare project that will revitalise the region and see it become a destination, more than it already is. Natalie’s vision is to create a place where people feel like they’ve gone overseas.

‘I wanted people to feel that they’re not in Morisset, that they’ve gone to another country. So when you walk in you feel like you could be anywhere in the world.’

8 at Trinity is open for lunch and dinner, Thursday to Sunday.

Check out the menu at 8attrinitypoint.com.au The writer was a guest of 8 at Trinity.

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EAT & DRINK

A CREATIVE CRAFT: BEER BREWING AT ITS BEST WORDS JENNIFER ENNION

LOLLIES, COFFEE LIQUEUR AND RUM ARE EXAMPLES OF THE QUIRKY INGREDIENTS GRANT BUCKHAM AND HIS BREW TEAM ADD TO THEIR FUN RANGE OF CRAFT BEER AT BAY ROAD BREWING. Monsoon Monster, Motor Boat and Passionfruit Pool Party are just some of the beers behind the bar at Bay Road Brewing. The playful names and unusual ingredients — from Red Skins, coffee liqueur and rum — are helping the Central Coast microbrewery make a name for itself, with the team winning gold, silver and bronze at the Australian International Beer Awards 2021.

For Grant Buckham, creating and experimenting with unique flavours is what he loves most about the business.

‘That’s actually where my passion in brewing comes from,’ he says. ‘If I could just do creative ones all the time, I would.’

Just steps from the Central Coast stadium, new waterfront development and Mann Street, Bay Road Brewing is a lightfilled microbrewery with a strong artistic flare. You only need to check out the Sylvester Stallone-inspired label on their hazy IPA First Blood Orange to get their vibe. Put simply, it’s a cool place to hang, which is no surprise given the business is run by three mates who clearly know how to have a good time while working hard.

Grant, Darren Barber and Sam Kennis opened Bay Road Brewing in 2018. They settled on Gosford because it has a

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EAT & DRINK

grungy, industrial edge, is a major commuter hub and the southern gateway to the Central Coast – and has a promising future, with plenty of development underway.

Although he was not a local, Grant has been visiting family on the Coast from Sydney since he was a boy. His uncle is famous photographer Ken Duncan and his cousin is fellow talented photographer Glenn Mckimmin. Now a local himself, Grant recognises how much potential this once-forgotten suburb has and he wants to be at the forefront of its growth.

‘All it takes is a few people to really get behind each other and help support that growth, and create a little niche pocket of cool, trendy things to do,’ he says.

The importance of community seeps into his business model, with a brewery that’s not solely for ‘craft geeks’ but families and women too. Once a month, Bay Road Brewing hosts a Comedy Club, with local restaurants and food truck owners supplying a tasty rotation of meals.

But let’s get back to the beer and those Red Skins lollies.

‘We literally peeled 20 kilos of Red Skins and put them into the

beer,’ Grant says with a laugh. ‘The beer was called My Name is Red and it was a huge hit across the whole brewing community.’

Aside from adding lollies, Grant says yeast plays a big role in getting interesting flavours, and he’s moving the brew team towards focussing more on different strains.

‘I would love to create our own yeast strain, so that we have that signature,’ he says, adding that strains help consumers connect beer to brewery, no matter where they are in the world.

Until that time though, you can continue to expect plenty of ‘new, awesome, fun styles’ from Bay Road Brewing.

Check out the Bay Road Brewing range at bayrdbrewing.com.au or call into the taproom at 89 Donnison Street, Gosford.

GRANT’S BEER PICKS For the craft beer lover: The Monsoon Monster NEIPA (New England IPA). A hazy-style beer with an intricate taste and profile. It has a higher alcohol percentage that’s hidden among the flavours.

For someone new to craft: Wave Runner XPA sits between a pale ale and a lager, heading towards a craftstyle beer. It has a lower alcohol content and is easy drinking.

For someone new to beer: The Motor Boat Pale Ale, has a nice bitterness crossed with an ale-style beer.

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Coast

VIBES

ARTISAN ESTATE, Somersby From pecans to glamping, music and blacksmithing

WORDS SUZY JARRATT

M

any Coast locals will remember the Pecan Lady in Somersby with her beautiful plantation of pecan trees ready for visitors to harvest at the hinterland’s annual Harvest Festival. This year, 400 pecan trees prematurely dropped all their nuts in protest at the prolonged wet weather. As a result, they didn’t make their traditional appearance at the Coast’s Harvest Festival.

The origins of the property go back to the 1980s.

‘It was an orange orchard back then, which was replanted with pecan trees by Harold and Myra Hunt,’ explains Myra’s great

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niece, Madeline. ‘Myra lived to be 100, and when her son, Bob, and wife, Wilhelmina, took over they founded the Pecan Lady.’

They retired six years ago and Madeline and Chris Stratford moved to the acreage to look after the trees and help with the harvest. In 2020, they took over the management of the plantation and began creating a unique and diverse destination.

Renamed ‘Artisan Estate’, visitors can now stay in the selfcontained guesthouse, experience a weekend of glamping in a stylish bell tent, enjoy solitude in secluded spaces or engage with others in The Makers Shed.

COAST VIBES

‘This is the site of our blacksmithing classes which we began several months ago,’ says Chris. ‘People have the opportunity to experience the old-world techniques, learn about forging with fire – blacksmithing – and make a variety of items which they can take home. The classes are very popular, attracting men and women of all ages. We recently had someone who was seven years old and another who was 84.’

‘And often there are fathers and sons working together which is really nice to see,’ adds Madeline.

Should learning to make music be more to your liking than hammering metal, then Artisan Estate can also inspire you.

In fact, it was music that first brought Chris and Madeline together.

They met in Chris’s music and coffee shop at The Entrance.

‘I had 220 guitars hanging on the wall,’ recalls Chris. ‘You could sit and play music all day. I didn’t make much money, but it was fun!’

He and Madeline, a skilled pianist who has been studying and playing music for 30 of her 33 years, decided to merge their talents and develop a more commercial enterprise.

In 2011, they took over the Woy Woy School of Music and with a team of tutors they aimed to broaden the Coast’s music community. It was a success. In just two years, student numbers increased from 40 to 200, and the end-of-year concerts sparkled with emerging, newly found talent.

Today Stratford Music’s live events are held on the Artisan Estate with lessons conducted online. This has inevitably widened its network, and tutors are working with students around the world.

‘I have a student in France who’s about to give her first public recital,’ says Madeline proudly.

During the Covid lockdown Madeline continued to develop original concepts. She wrote and presented a Music Theory Course comprising 96 pages and 100 videos.

‘It took me six months and one of my students, who drew the logo, is now working for Marvel Comics,’ she says. ‘The course features practical sessions including writing, drawing, listening, movement, rhythm and ear training. You can learn how to understand and read music from scratch, and I guide the reader every step of the way via the video lessons.’

With all that energy and inspiration enveloping the Stratford’s Artisan Estate, the pecans are sure to return next season.

‘We’re confident they’ll be back,’ says Chris.

ABOVE Chris Stratford with blacksmithing students.

BELOW Madeline Stratford with music book.

Artisan Estate 30 Ulinga Road, Somersby www.artisanestate.com.au

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COAST VIBES

BOOKS on the WAVES

Reviewed by ANGELA BENNETTS and MANDI MCINTOSH

DEVOTION by Hannah Kent From the chart-blitzing author of Burial Rites comes Devotion, a luminous story with the pure and defiant love of Hanne and Thea at its heart. Part of a persecuted group of Old Lutherans, the girls meet in Prussia in 1836 before the community sets sail for the new settlement of South Australia, carrying all the hopes and dreams of a free life under the law of their God. Hannah Kent sets out to conjure a queer love story, free of shame and, considering the era in which the book is set, takes the reader down some unexpected paths to achieve this goal. Brimming with the beauty of language, land and most importantly, love, this is a soul-warming testimony to the powers of devotion. AB

THE BOOKSELLER AT THE END OF THE WORLD by Ruth Shaw Nestle into an armchair with a cup of tea and let the incredible life story of Ruth Shaw wash over you with this charming read that is part memoir, part bookshop vignettes. At the helm of the remote Wee Bookshop in New Zealand’s deep south, Ruth has encountered a few salty characters in her time, but it’s her journey trying to outpace a teenage tragedy that really cartwheels off the page. Whether she is being held up by pirates, running an illegal card game racket in Tahiti, or working with drug addicts and prostitutes in Kings Cross (with notable appearances from Sallie-Anne Huckstepp, Roger Rogerson and more), her trademark humour and resilience shines through. It’s at times heart-breaking, always eye-opening, and most importantly, a crucial reminder of the power of books and stories to save a life — maybe even yours. AB

ENCLAVE by Claire G Coleman This is Noongar writer Claire G Coleman’s third novel and with each one, she has pushed the boundaries of what an Australian novel can be. Enclave is a clever and gripping story that forms a powerful allegory to examine privilege, greed, racism and homophobia in an Australia that is a little different from the one that we’re familiar with. Enclave is set in an isolated walled city where everything is controlled, comfortable and very safe from the chaos of the outside world. Christine has grown up in this city but starts to question her place in it, the place of the brown-skinned servants bussed in daily, and the surveillance of her life. This is a novel that will leave you thinking about our values, relationships, exploitation and the environment, and considering what we are willing to give up for a ‘safe’ life. MM

THE WRONG WOMAN by JP Pomare The fifth novel from award-winning crime writer JP Pomare is a page turner that I finished over a wet weekend.

Despite the author living in Melbourne, this thriller is based in small town America and the setting is used to great effect as we follow a former police officer (now a PI) back to the town he left long ago. Reid is back to investigate a car accident for an insurance company, despite the driver still being in a coma. But of course things are much more complex than they appear as the town is also reeling from the recent disappearance of two teenage girls. Pomare is a clever writer who manages a twisty plot while building characters that we care about. When the likes of Michael Robotham, Chris Hammer, Anna Downes and Christian White are writing cover blurbs for the book, you know that this is going to be a compelling read. MM

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Wild Flower

Beautiful art, lovingly created in the heart of Terrigal

by Australian landscape artist Robyn Pedley

Level 1, 7 Hudson Lane, Terrigal, NSW

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THE-SPRINGS.COM.AU

COAST VIBES

WORDS & PHOTOS JENNIFER ENNION

JENNIFER AND GUY JAMIESON Making art accessible

B

ringing art into people’s everyday lives drives Jennifer Jamieson’s creative business at Centered Ceramics.

‘This space is a platform for everyone to come in and have an opportunity to do something creative,’ she says from the sunny courtyard of her Umina Beach art studio.

It’s a place where community is encouraged, artists of all calibre are respected and where locals, especially students and young adults, can discover that art is an achievable, satisfying pursuit.

Passionate and somewhat wistful, Jennifer continues, ‘It’s about that teenage girl who didn’t know that being an artist was viable, so one of the things I want to do is to be able to have some of the local schools come for excursions here. I want to run workshops with the artists themselves.’

Centered Ceramics is the first bricks-and-mortar creative venture for Jennifer, 42, and her husband and business partner Guy, 45. But the couple has always loved the arts. As a teenager, Jennifer practiced art and drama, but the selective high school she attended didn’t encourage her passions, and she became

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convinced ‘it was a crazy path’ to follow. After school, she worked as a remedial massage therapist in chiropractic clinics, and later as a manager and stylist of a furniture store. Guy, on the other hand, worked in animation and graphic design for 23 years.

The seed for Centered Ceramics was born following a milestone birthday.

‘When you turn 40 you can look back and you’re like: I’ve been an adult for a solid 20 years, I can’t be kidding myself anymore …’ Jennifer says.

‘We’d had children and, in another 20 years, we'll be looking to retire, so what do I really, really want to spend the next 20 years of my life doing?’ she asked herself.

Around this time, a friend invited Jennifer to a pottery course and that’s when everything clicked.

‘I was in that creative space I’d always loved, that felt like my place [and] I was like: this is where I need to be,’ the mother of two says.

CREATIVES OF THE COAST

Inspired to create a similar space, Jennifer and Guy started searching for a studio.

In late 2019, Centered Ceramics opened its doors on the main street in Umina. Despite the hardships of covid, the business has grown from having a small kiln and focusing on evening pottery workshops to running multiple classes and offering a gallery space for rolling exhibitions.

Of the new gallery, Jennifer says: ‘I want it to feel absolutely accessible. It’s not some elite, distant, am-I-allowed-in-there kind of place.

‘It’s community and it’s about seeing artists in our community being professional. And their work [is] held in a beautiful space where it can be respected.’

As for that old narrative about art not being a viable career option, Jennifer and Guy hope their venture makes an impact.

‘To see young people interacting with professional artists, people that have mastered a skill or are in the process, and to come and go “this is a thing”...

‘Being able to see artists work, it makes it feel real and accessible.’

To find out about exhibitions and courses, go to centeredceramics.com.au.

Art Gallery Now Open

CREATIVITY • COMMUNITY • CLAY

h cal artists wit Displaying lo ns monthly. new exhibitio Sunday Thursday to

An oasis of art and creativity. Book a private pottery party, one day workshop or into a term class!

Come try something new and surrender to the joyful mess of clay.

Pottery tools, take home kits, and handmade tableware in store. Serving dine-in Coffee & Chai to our potters and community Wed-Sat 9am-2pm.

Book into a term class, private party or one day workshop

centeredceramics.com.au 02 4346 4459

COAST VIBES

HAPPENINGS ON THE COAST WORDS MEGAN ARKINSTALL

CENTRAL COAST MUSIC FESTIVAL, Gosford, 12–18 September Filling the streets of Gosford CBD with all kinds of musical notes, this inaugural festival will run for a week and feature everything from intimate performances to music writing workshops. Lyons Den will host a La Rumba Cuban Dance Party, Kibble Park will come to life with the sounds of piano thanks to Pianos for the People who install recycled pianos in public places, and a stellar line-up of acts – including ARIA award-winning Dan Sultan and local indie-pop band The Moving Stills – will end the festival with a bang at Central Coast Stadium. centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/centralcoastmusicfestival

CENTRAL COAST PLANT LOVERS’ FAIR, Kariong, 17–18 September Calling all green thumbs: this fair, held at Kariong Mountain High School, offers more than 40 stalls touting a great assortment of species from succulents to natives to carnivorous plants to edible plants, including unique and rare species not usually found at garden centres. There will also be garden products, ornaments, and workshops where you can learn tips and tricks from the experts to help your trees and plants thrive (or simply survive!). Buy tickets online or at the gate. plantloversfair.com.au

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SCULPTURE IN THE VINEYARDS, Wollombi, 10–25 September Celebrating its 20th year, the 2022 Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival is set to be its biggest yet. Featuring 160 sculptures across six indoor galleries, two boutique vineyards, the village of Wollombi and the tiny hamlet of Laguna, festival director Susan Leith-Miller says locals are looking forward to welcoming visitors after the hardships experienced during the pandemic and recent floods.

Visitors can join a guided walking and cycling tour to fully appreciate the art on display, with exhibiting sculptors giving occasional talks. There are also art and sip workshops at Hollybrook dairy farm and a sunset four-course wine and dine experience at Undercliff Winery available to book. sculptureinthevineyards.com.au

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ABOVE Harrie Fasher Voices at Dawn FAR LEFT Ingrid Morely Keeper LEFT Michael Le Grand Cockatoo

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© LISA HAYMES

COAST VIBES

COASTAL TWIST FESTIVAL, 27 September–3 October For seven fabulous days, the Central Coast will be awash in the colours of the rainbow for the Coastal Twist LGBTIQA+ Arts and Culture Festival. Described as ‘a celebration and opportunity to engage across the diverse and divine spectrum of humanity,’ by festival director Glitta Supernova, the program features theatre, cabaret, live music, film, dance, exhibitions and more. Some of the key events include Drag Bingo at Ettalong Diggers, a beach party and picnic at Umina, a Rainbow Youth dance party at PCYC Umina Beach, and the Coastie Carnie Fair Day.

© LISA HAYMES

© LISA HAYMES

coastaltwist.org.au

BOUDDI PENINSULA ARTS TRAIL, 1–2 October Enjoy an art-filled October long weekend by following the red flags around the scenic Bouddi Peninsula to discover some 30 local artists who will open their studios to the public, some for the first time. With stops in Killcare, Hardys Bay and Wagstaffe, the diverse artworks – from paintings to ceramics to jewellery – draw inspiration from living on the peninsula, such as emerging painter Susan Brooks who will showcase her ‘Birds with Attitude’ series. Wagstaffe Hall will also host its annual art show and Hardys Bay Community Church Hall will host a photographic exhibition over the weekend. facebook.com/bouddiartstrail

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COAST VIBES

CHROMEFEST, The Entrance, 21–23 October This will get the engines of car fanatics revving. The Entrance will become hot rod heaven once again for this annual three-day festival. Showcasing the likes of American classics and muscle cars, vintage Fords and Holdens, rebodied vehicles, LowRiders and more, there will also be food stalls and live entertainment by rock n roll and rockabilly artists. chromefest.org

THE LAKES FESTIVAL, The Entrance, 4–13 November At the heart and soul of the Central Coast are its great waterways: lakes, lagoons, beaches and rivers, and this 10-day festival is all about celebrating them.

With more than 30 free events at eight different hubs, spanning sports, family, culture, art and live music, The Lakes Festival is an event for all ages. facebook.com/thelakesfestival

WOYTOPIA SUSTAINABLE LIVING FESTIVAL, Woy Woy, 30 October Go green at this sustainable living festival held at Woy Woy South School. Browse the eco market to purchase organic and environmentally friendly products, join in a gardening workshop or listen to a talk to get handy hints to switch to sustainable living, and enjoy the wildlife show and live music. woytopia.org

CENTRAL COAST EDIBLE GARDEN TRAIL, 19—20 November Do you want to grow your own fruit and veggies but don’t know where to start? Try this edible trail: a collection of private and community gardens across the Central Coast, where healthy chemical-free food is grown using organic and sustainable practices. They will be open to the public to encourage locals to grow more food at home and source locally. The trail will include everything from tiny potted balconies to large backyard plots to gardens that incorporate Indigenous food and cultural practices. Tickets are available through Humanitix and will give access to 10–15 gardens, while some community and public gardens will be free to access. facebook.com/CentralCoastEdibleGardenTrail

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DRIVING ESCAPES

48 hours in...

THE HUNTER VALLEY WORDS MEGAN ARKINSTALL

Oenophiles of the Central Coast should count themselves lucky. Australia’s oldest wine region, which has been cultivating grapes for wine since the early 19th century, is just an hour or so up the freeway.

Its rolling green hills are home to more than 150 wineries and a medley of cellar doors, from sleek and modern spaces to cosy boutique sheds, offering samples of award-winning drops. There’s the iconic semillon, but the chardonnay and shiraz also garner worldwide attention. Add to that a slew of hatted restaurants, a bounty of locally made produce, craft breweries and dreamy stays, and the Hunter Valley is an idyllic and satiating road trip for the eyes and the tastebuds.

Day One 2pm

We travel to the Hunter Valley with another couple, sans our offspring, so we have booked the loft above Tatler Wines in Lovedale. It’s the perfect space for a small group, simple but well equipped with three bedrooms and bathrooms, a full kitchen, spacious lounge and balcony that overlooks working vineyards. Even better is the fact that the family-owned cellar door is located underneath us. It’s a literal hop, skip and jump to enjoy a wine tasting. We spend the afternoon here before retreating to our loft for a cheese platter on the balcony.

TIP: On your way to your accommodation, detour to the Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop in Pokolbin to pick up one of their pre-made platters featuring local cheeses and other goodies. tatlerwines.com.au; smellycheese.net.au

6pm

The Hunter Valley isn’t short on world-class restaurants for dinner. We choose Hunters Quarter, a modern space that overlooks the vineyards at Cockfighters Ghost Vineyard.

Headed by Brian Duncan, who has worked for Michelin-starred restaurants in London, the hatted restaurant serves a three-course menu that’s big on seasonal produce and balanced flavours. Each dish is delicious but the cooked-to-perfection Wagyu rump, with parmesan soubise and king brown mushrooms, is a stand-out for our group. huntersquarter.com

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TIP: If you’re planning to enjoy a few local wines over dinner — sacrilege if you don’t, really — be sure to pre-arrange your transport. Taxis are extremely unreliable in the Hunter Valley, so a private transfer is your best option. We booked Keith (KR007 Private Transfers; 0404 005 904) who was prompt, super friendly and reasonable.

48 HOURS IN …

THE HUNTER VALLEY

Day Two 9am

This morning, my husband and his friend make their way to Hunter Valley Golf & Country Club at the Crowne Plaza for a social 18 holes (tee off on the weekends is 7.45am) while my friend and I make a beeline for Ubika Spa for a massage. Ninety blissful minutes later, we emerge feeling refreshed and ready for a day of exploring. crowneplazahuntervalley.com.au

11am

We head to Brokenwood Wines, which was established in 1970 and is consistently awarded for its vinos. The cellar door experiences on offer here are second-to-none: there’s the $25 per head ‘taste’ or $60 ‘match and dine’ with bite-sized canapes, or you can go all out with a behind-the-scenes VIP ‘soil to cellar’, which includes a winery tour, wine tasting, four-course degustation lunch, a special wine to take home, and more for a humble $1,149 per person.

We have booked lunch at the onsite Cru Bar + Pantry, which is perfectly relaxed and filling. Our group orders the smoked chicken woodfired pizza, cured Atlantic salmon with compressed watermelon and pomegranate dressing, and the wood-fired, oven-baked polenta with sauteed mushrooms and hazelnuts, matched with Brokenwood wines. brokenwood.com.au

1pm

We are on foot now, as we walk to the smaller scale M & J Becker Wines at Roche Estate on the corner of McDonalds and Broke Roads. Owned by husband-and-wife duo James and Meagan, Becker Wines is focused on producing vegan-friendly, sustainable and wild fermented wine with minimal intervention. We spend the next hour here, relaxing at the stylish cellar door and sampling eight handcrafted drops. The light and fresh rosé is a winner for us and we take home a couple of bottles.

For feel-good drinking, Tamburlaine Organic Wines is one of the country’s largest producers of certified organic wines (it’s about a 15-minute walk down the road). For a donation of five cents on top of your wine purchase, customers can help them achieve their goal of achieving carbon neutrality; they also offer ‘cases for a

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cause’ where $50 of every dozen Wine Lovers wines is donated to a fundraiser of your choice. If you have a driver, another great stop along this strip is Usher Tinkler Wines (three minutes’ drive or a 30-minute walk); housed in a converted church, you can enjoy your tasting with a plate of salumi and cheese. beckerwines.com.au tamburlaine.com.au ushertinklerwines.com

6pm

By now we need a break from the delicious grapes we’ve been consuming all day long in liquid form. After kicking back at our loft and watching the sun dip behind the mountains in the distance, our noble chauffeur Keith drives us to Harrigan’s, the Irish pub that has been a local institution for more than two decades.

The relaxed menu is filled with pub grub favourites such as beef and Guinness pot pie and chicken schnitty. There is live music every weekend, and the improvised dance floor is filled with revellers who we happily join by the end of the evening. harriganshuntervalley.com.au

Day Three 9am

We don’t have far to go for breakfast. Mockingbird is located at Tatler Wines, so once again we simply toddle downstairs. The chic café is open for breakfast and lunch; dishes include avo on toast with poached eggs, corn fritters with kaffir lime and chilli jam and red velvet pancakes for the sweet toothed among us. mockingbirdcafehuntervalley.com.au

11am

It’s time to depart, but we decide to swing via the Hunter Valley Gardens first to peruse the shopping village. Among the collection of boutique stores, you can grab gourmet goodies to take home (local honey, chocolates, cookies etc.); beautiful homewares at The Store Pokolbin; last-minute wine purchases as well as the largest craft beer range in the Hunter Valley at The Garden Cellars; and unique gifts at Byvonne (for those who remember, Byvonne used to be located at the Wyong Milk Factory).

If you have time, spend the day wandering the eight kilometres of pathways and 14 hectares at the Hunter Valley Gardens, which comprises 10 individually themed gardens created from both native and exotic plants. huntervalleygardens.com.au

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Weddings & EVENTS

A LONG-DISTANCE LOVE THAT DEFIED THE ODDS

MEGAN AND PAT, Kantara House

Megan and Pat met in an English pub in 2018. Megan had walked into the local pub straight after running a marathon (‘Her words,’ says Pat. ‘It was actually a 10km run for charity.) She was wearing running shorts and a singlet, no makeup, and drinking a well-earned pint!

Pat was an Aussie bloke on a European tour and was in the pub after watching his brother play footy while Meg supported the other team!

‘The first time we met, she was at her worst, but I knew there was a spark there and I had to see her again,’ says Pat. ‘Meg’s mum was there on our first official date – thanks Mum!’ Megan remembers telling her mum he looked ‘dishy’.

‘Little did I know that was him looking at his absolute best,’ says Megan with a wicked laugh.

‘We can laugh with and at each other every day.

It’s what we love about each other.’

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HOW WE MET They lived 17,000 km apart, both had work commitments and totally different lives. And when Pat returned to Australia, they learned to plan their work breaks around being able to say ‘goodnight and I love you’. For two long years, they were forced to express their love in words alone, rather than being able to physically hold each other.

‘People said we could never make it last long distance, says Megan. ‘We made lots of sacrifices, we beat the statistics and we’re still so in love.’

‘Meg adapting to Aussie life could be made into a sitcom,’ says Pat with affection. ‘She is ready to vomit if she sees a cockroach, or to move house if there’s an ant on the porch. She’s afraid of storms. Yet she chases snakes in public places while holding her snake chart to help her identify them.’

The weekend Pat proposed was on a trip to Coffs Harbour.

Before they left home, Pat said he had to drop into the office to send an email.

‘Surely someone else can press “send” on an email,’ Megan told him. But what she didn’t know was that Pat was phoning her mum, Amy, and brother, Ben, in the UK to ask for their blessing to propose.

And of course, they said YES! Pat hid the ring in the luggage in the car and while, at Megan’s insistence, they stopped at the Big Banana, played mini golf and tobogganed, his eyes were constantly on the car and their luggage.

‘We planned a picnic on the beach with some wine and cheese says Pat. ‘And Meg wanted to buy the cheap crackers (to save $1) whereas I was trying to make it special.’

Pat succeeded in making it a romantic, candlelit picnic on the beach, and proposed while her favourite song played in the background. She said yes.

They both knew they wanted Megan’s family to be at the wedding, so they waited until the borders re-opened to international travellers, and then planned their wedding in just 55 days.

‘I had always wanted to get married at Kantara House,’ says Megan. ‘From the first time I saw a photo of the Charlotte Chapel, I fell in love. Then plot twist … I ended up working there, managing other people’s weddings, so everything fell into place perfectly!

Venue Kantara House Flowers Lauren Alyce Floral Design Dress Kel-Leigh Couture Suit Peter Jackson Hair Alicia’s Personal Hair Design Makeup Makeup Artistry by Karly Photography Euphoria Films Videography Euphoria Films DJ Stevie Lee Music Cake Cake and Plate

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- STUNNING WEDDING & EVENTS VENUE -

THE RIDGE ESTATE - PEATS RIDGE -

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www.theridgeestate.com.au

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nicole@theridgeestate.com.au

HOW WE MET

FROM NEW YORK, NEW YORK TO THE CENTRAL COAST

SARAH AND JOEL, Greenhouse Retreat

J

oel always thought he’d marry an Italian, or a brunette at least. But that was until he met a beautiful American blonde who stole his heart. Sarah had never considered that she might fall in love with an Australian on a working visa in New York, and that she would move to the other side of the world with him.

They met at the Bbar in New York City. Sarah remembers seeing him across the bar and thinking he was the cutest guy in the room (which she still holds to be true!). Joel sensed a warmth in Sarah that was different to any other girls he’d met in New York. He soon discovered her thoughtful and caring nature. ‘It’s something I will always admire her for,’ he says.

They began dating and discovered a shared love of cooking and making homemade pasta and pizzas together. It came as something of a surprise for Sarah though, that Joel also loved heavy metal drumming.

Echoing movie romances, the Empire State Building holds a special place for both of them. It was where Joel worked and where they walked together each morning, before Sarah continued on to her workplace.

‘Being with Joel was just different to any other relationship,’ says Sarah. ‘He makes me feel beautiful, loved and happy every single day. And it’s true what they say, “when you know, you know”.

‘We were together for four years before Joel proposed but I would say we knew within a year that this was serious. I love his passion, his creativity and most importantly, his sensitivity.’

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HOW WE MET

They both love to travel and were fortunate to be able to travel to Paris, Greece and then Australia to meet Joel’s family before finally moving to Australia in 2019.

‘We’re excited to be able to continue to explore more of the world together,’ says Joel, ‘including honeymooning in Italy!’

The biggest challenge in their relationship was rebuilding their lives when they moved to Australia, finding new jobs and new networks. Then Covid hit, which meant Sarah could not see her family or friends in the US for two and a half years.

‘Throughout it all, we leant into each other. It was testing, but we came out the other side stronger,’ says Sarah. ‘We helped each other navigate the new experiences in our lives together and celebrated each other’s strengths.’

It’s what marriage means to them both too: ‘A loving, mutual respect that’s enduring and unbreakable. That, and lots of laughs!’

Why the Central Coast?

‘It’s always been a special place for me,’ says Joel. ‘I spent a lot of time with my grandparents at Killcare.

‘And when we moved here, we enjoyed exploring the beaches, snorkelling, and the time with family — often with a glass of bubbles in hand!’

‘A wise old man once told us to always point your feet to the sunny side of the street. We knew we wanted to be married on the Central Coast and when we saw Greenhouse Retreat, we loved the essence of it and knew our small family and circle of friends would love to celebrate there.’

Photography White Lane Studio Styling Everlong Events Flowers Mimosa Floral Design Hair and makeup All Made Up Celebrant Peter Bray Venue Greenhouse Retreat Music Adrian Joseph Streaming JC Entertainment Bride’s dress Madi Lane (from Luv Bridal) Jewels Milane Collective Bridesmaid’s dress Winona Reception Avoca Beachhouse

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Th e G u id e by

Central Coast Weddings

Sweets

© WHITE LANE STUDIO

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Celebrant

Florist

Celebrant

PETER BRAY CELEBRANT

THE POSY GARDEN

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Couples choose me to help them get hitched because they want the ceremony to be modern, fun and meaningful and set the tone for the best day ever!

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The Posy Garden is a boutique floral studio, crafted and created from a love of nature and the beauty of its flora.

Dreamy, drifted, rambling and romantic is what Posy Garden strives to embody. Offering unforgettable seasonal wedding blooms, workshops, event floral styling plus more. theposygarden@gmail.com

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Families

ON THE COAST A busy parent’s guide to springing real food on the table

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FAMILIES ON THE COAST

WORDS VANESSA GREEN

MY GOAL WILL ALWAYS BE TO INSPIRE AND RAISE VIBRANTLY HEALTHY KIDS ONE NUTRITIOUS MOUTHFUL AT A TIME. AND WHAT BETTER TIME THAN SPRING, WHEN THE RIPEST AND MOST ABUNDANT NUTRIENTS ARE ON OFFER. Why real food?

Historically, we needed to store food for when it wasn’t growing or available, so processing and preservatives became popular.

Opportunities for food manufacturers resulted in inexpensive, easy to prepare and highly processed foods on our tables. And for a long time, we happily bought them. But shouldn’t the emphasis be on preserving food, not changing it?

With dual-income families also came less time to cook. We slowly slipped into a time-pressured world where fast-food pizzas passed as vegetables.

Today, increasingly, we’ve swung back to becoming more conscious of what we put in our mouths and bodies and how it impacts our health. Like many parents and carers, I’m worried about my picky eater’s nutrition, and the struggle to prepare a family meal that everyone will eat.

Nutrition starts when you shop Each mouthful counts. If rice, pasta, bread and buns are musts for your kids, get the best you can: gluten-free, organic, sourdough and then load up the nutrients. Buy pasture-fed. Whether it’s beef, eggs, milk or cheese, it means you’re one step closer to natural ingredients.

A word on gluten-free: You don’t need to go entirely gluten free unless you’re celiac, but minimising gluten can help digestion. It is generally better to choose naturally gluten-free food rather than processed gluten-free products. The latter can be low in nutrients and high in added sugar or refined grains.

Naturally gluten-free foods include whole gluten-free grains (such as quinoa, corn, rice), as well as lean meats, low-fat dairy, vegetables, fruit and healthy fats.

Tips and tricks We all need tips and tricks, and real fast, feel-good food that won’t turn up noses. So let’s cut to the chase and look at how we can cheat a little, because not all ‘cheat foods’ are created equal.

make from cherry tomatoes and garlic, and toppings such as pastured ham, pineapple, and grass-fed (not processed) cheese. Not to mention the quality of sea salt or other goodies you can think to add.

l ‘Cheat’ hamburgers with grass-fed mince and freshly grated slaw on a bun. Or better still, use the beef pattie as its own bun to upgrade the nutrient density even more.

l Try your hand at upgrading other family favourite ‘cheats’ like tacos, mac-and-cheese or breaded chicken.

l Stuck for meals ideas? Travel at mealtimes through different flavoured cuisines (taco Tuesday anyone?). Get the kids to challenge you with ‘what country shall we eat from tomorrow?’ Or ‘camp out’ for a picnic with your meal in a tent in your lounge room.

l They don’t like greens? Eat the rainbow! Winter’s root veggies now give way to fresh greens in salads but you can still cook veggies and toss them through salads. l Eat the alphabet! Pretty much every letter of the alphabet is represented from apples, berries, cherries, lemons, mandarins, oranges, pears and plums. And we haven’t started on the veggies yet: artichokes, Asian greens, beans, cauliflower, leek, mushrooms, parsley, radish, spinach, tomatoes and zucchini.

Challenge the whole family to see how many different letters of the alphabet they can all eat in a week. Or choose letters that spell out your child’s name.

We’re fortunate on the Coast that we can buy local for the freshest paddock-to-plate experience (not to mention supporting our local farmers, beekeepers and cheese-makers).

And eating in-season fresh fruits and veggies makes the best sense of all.

Vanessa Green is a nutritional therapy practitioner and Fitness Australia registered trainer.

See @fit.by.nature on Instagram.

l Make your own pizzas. They’re still pretty convenient and you can sneakily upgrade them a little. Think gluten-free bases made with eggs from cage-free, pasture-raised chickens, olive oil (extra virgin), fresh tomato sauce that you can easily

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FAMILIES ON THE COAST

WORDS JULIE WRIGHT

© TIM STANDING

FUN FOR KIDS

GET CREATIVE

at The Art House, Wyong

© LISA MAREE WILLIAMS

Children are invited to explore, play and dance with performers as Insite Arts and Compagnia TPO brings Saltbush to the Coast this September. It’s an immersive and interactive journey through the culture and language of Aboriginal Australia and centres on the journey of two friends from different Aboriginal backgrounds.

They cross Australia on foot with the landscape unfolding around them, providing a unique immersive experience. Saltbush combines projection, sensors and infrared cameras, which allow the children to participate in the production.

Coming up in November is the delightful tale of Edward the Emu. From the award-winning creative team at Monkey Baa Theatre Company, this is a brand new take on the much loved tales of Edward the Emu and Edwina the Emu, combining the plights of both emus in one heartfelt, clever and funny new story. thearthousewyong.com.au/

We are spoiled for choice when it comes to markets on the Central Coast, and Long Jetty Farmers Market is one of the newer entrants on the scene.

It’s the perfect after-school spot thanks to the range of free kids’ activities on offer. Like the market itself, all activities are sustainability focused and usually include things like nature-themed face painting, flower and leaf crown making, plant propagating and cutting, planting or pot decorating.

Plus, kids get the chance to meet the farmers and understand where their food is coming from. If you’re lucky, one of them might even bring along their bees, bunnies or other fluffy animals.

There’s everything from meat and honey to wine, bread, dairy and pantry staples. Its weekday afternoon timing also makes it a great midweek spot as your weekend groceries start to run dry.

Long Jetty Farmers Market is held fortnightly on a Tuesday from 3-6pm at The Clam, 204 The Entrance Road, Long Jetty. Check out their Instagram feed to learn more about stallholders and other information. instagram.com/longjettyfarmersmarket/

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© BIANCA KAYES

MEET THE FARMERS at Long Jetty Farmers Market

FUN FOR KIDS

IT’S SEAHORSE CENTRAL at the Marine Discovery Centre

If you’ve got a child who swings from the rafters and springboards off the couch, why not send them off to join the circus?

No, we aren’t kidding.

Roundabout Circus, based in Wyoming, can now be found at some of our most popular Central Coast markets. The team behind Roundabout Circus set up a taster program each month at Avoca Beach Markets (fourth Sunday of the month) and also sometimes at Gosford Waterfront Market too. For just $5 (or $15 for a family of two children and two adults), your little ones can have access to the circus activities for the whole day.

You will find an abundance of circus props allowing kids to explore the world of circus arts and movement. The team provides a fun and friendly space and puts on special shows by the performance troupe and teachers throughout the day.

The Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre has been a go-to for families in and around the Terrigal area for years. It’s a great spot to have fun with the kids while also learning about our local marine life.

This year, in their refurbished premises, they have welcomed a number of new underwater creatures to their waters, including the local Port Jackson Shark and the hugely popular seahorses.

Head down to the centre and you’ll learn all about how the Port Jackson Shark travels a whopping 700km each year from our local waters to the Bass Strait, one of the longest wildlife journeys in the world! Their unique mouth and teeth shape, which they use to crush their prey, will have the kids' faces plastered to the glass.

The introduction of seahorses has also been a huge hit. They survive by being able to camouflage and hide (much like a busy toddler). The team has received a local species of the endangered White’s seahorses, the same that inhabit Tuggerah Lake and Brisbane Water.

Unlike humans, the male seahorse carries the offspring in their pouch before giving birth to tiny millimetre-long babies. Cute!

Coupled with new movies in the theatrette, their everpopular craft area and whizz bang microscope, there is something for kids of all ages at the Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre. Head to their website to learn more.

roundaboutcircus.com/

ccmdc.org.au/

Run away to join the CIRCUS

Spooky spots to get your Halloween fix If there’s one thing kids can sniff a mile off, it’s Halloween. Whether it's the abundance of sugar or the sheer volume of costumes and decorations in the shops, the event’s popularity shows no signs of slowing.

When it comes to hitting the top spots across the coast, parents all over are flocking to the Facebook page ‘Halloween – Central Coast & Lake Macquarie Australia’ to get the latest on where to get those tricks and treats.

A few tips from us to enjoy the community spirit and make this Halloween the best yet: 1. Order those costumes early otherwise you’ll be raiding the toy cupboard come October 30.

2. Plan ahead. If you’re planning on trick or treating, jump onto the Facebook page and figure out the best spots in your area to avoid traipsing around with grumpy kids and empty buckets all night.

3. Once you get home, hide the best lollies and chocolates for your own late night trips to the pantry.

You’re welcome.

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How children’s art makes creative thinkers of the future

‘Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist ....’

Pablo Picasso

WORDS KIRSTY NATHWANI

C

hildren are naturally creative, and their innate urge is to experiment and discover using their imaginations.

Enjoyment is a key component of this learning process so when a child is having fun, they become intrinsically motivated to learn and discover. Creative art allows them to immerse themselves in that process. Art provides children with the opportunity to develop their abilities and to think in new ways, expressing their ideas, identifying issues and problem solving, while having fun. All of these are important life skills which, if developed to their potential, encourage creative thinking and innovation in the adults of the future.

‘By encouraging creativity and imagination, we are promoting children’s ability to explore and comprehend their world and increasing their opportunities to make new connections and reach new understandings.’ Bernadette Duffy, 2006.

Some of the art mediums we love to use at Alkira Early Learning Centre include clay modelling, print making, sculpture, drawing, painting, drama and creating nature ‘treasures’. These

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mediums allow children to experiment with different ways of using resources, adjusting and tweaking their methods as they go. When encouraging children to express themselves through art, it’s important for adults and teachers not to focus on the end product, but to embrace the experience, the process and the learning while having fun.

Creative art helps to develop a child’s brain by connecting neural pathways. It also allows children to develop skills in areas such as fine motor, muscle tone, colour recognition, selfconfidence, literacy, numeracy and science. By teaching children the correct techniques, we give them the necessary skills to flourish on their journey beyond preschool.

Whether or not a child becomes the next Picasso, they will have taken important steps in exercising the creative and innovative side of their thinking, which will help them in the future.

Kirsty Nathwani is artist in residence at Alkira Early Learning Centre and is a qualified early childhood teacher. alkiraelc.com.au

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