Find Geelong - December Edition

Geelong The

DECEMBER 2020

WHAT’S INSIDE: 03

LOCAL STORIES

12

COLUMNIST ARTICLES

26

TAX UPDATES

28

REAL ESTATE - FREE ADVERTISING

36

GEELONG COUNCIL NEWS

48

FIND CACHE

62

FIND COUPONS

SUPPORT LOCAL, BUY LOCAL, DISCOVER GEELONG

The Summer Like No Other

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COLUMNIST CONTRIBUTORS ACCOUNTANT| FOUNDER

TEAM/LEADERSHIP COACH

LOAN SPECIALIST

BUSINESS COACH | MENTOR

WARREN STRYBOSCH

SALLY HIGOE - FACILITATOR

LEE WISNIEWSKI

DEB FRIBBINS

BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM

PAINTING & DECORATING

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BRENDA THOMSON LAWYERS & CONVEYANCERS

VOCAL PERFORMANCE INSTRUCTOR

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SOLICITOR | LAW

ADAM SIMS

Article coming next month.

Article coming next month.

Article coming next month.

Geelong The

EDITORIAL ENQUIRES: Warren Strybosch | 1300 88 38 30 articles@findgeelong.com.au PUBLISHER: Issuu pty Ltd POSTAL ADDRESS: 248 Wonga Road, Wararnwood VIC 3134 ADVERTISING AND ACCOUNTS: advertise@findgeelong.com.au GENERAL ENQUIRIES: 1300 88 38 30 EMAIL SPORT: sport@findgeelong.com.au WEBSITE: www.findgeelong.com.au

OUR NEWSPAPER The Find Geelong was establish in 2019 for the purpose of bringing together everyone in the community in one place.

Our core focus is the support all the Not-For-Profits in the region by providing NFP’s with FREE advertise and helping them raise funds for their respective organizations. A core of business owners attend the Find Network luncheons held one a month to discuss the paper and how best to make it even better fo the local commnunity. The Find Geelong has a strong editorial focus and is financed predominately by the business community.

ALL THINGS GEELONG The City of Geelong is one of Victoria’s largest regional capital cities. Geelong had a population of approximately 230,000 as at the 2019 Report which includes 16,000 businesses.

Geelong’s location is in strong growth corridor, making it an ideal location for businesses to explore options outside of the capital city.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The Find Geelong acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands where Geelong now stands, the Wadawuarrung people of the Kulin nation, and pays repect to their Elders - past, present and emerging - and acknowledges the important role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within our community.

DISCLAIMER Readers are advised that the Find Geelong accepts no responsibility for financial, health or other claims published in advertising or in articles written in this newspaper. All comments are of a general nature and do not take into account your personal financial situation, health and/or wellbeing. We recommend you seek professional advice before acting on anything written herein.

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DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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Warren Strybosch - Founder of Find Geelong - Mitchell’s Front Page

Link Here: Find Geelong on Mitchell’s Front Page Warren Strybosch, founder of Find Geelong joined the program.

“Find Geelong was set up as a community online paper to bring everyone together in one place; to support all things local,” Mr Strybosch said.

“The Find Network is a new network group running alongside the Find Geelong paper. Business owners are encouraged to join to support the Find Geelong initiative.”

“In return for support we provide exclusive advertising opportunities and attendance at the monthly network meeting. It is a network group with a community focus but also with the aim to help the business owner to grow their business through referrals and brand awareness.”

Click the Audio button in the picture to listen on Warren and Mitchell live on Mitchell’s front page “The Pulse 94.7FM”.

DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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FIND GEELONG | DECEMBER 2020

findgeelong.com.au

The Summer Like No Other - We Wish You An Enjoyable Break We thought this summer might be all about the mask and we were wondering how many of us would be returning from holidays with tan marks on our faces from wearing them.

I had to laugh when I saw this meme:

Thankfully, restrictions have eased and it looks like we won’t be needed to wear them as much as we first thought when we were coming up with the front cover illustration.

We want to thank everyone who has supported this paper and for those who have contributed to it. It has been a difficult year to try and establish something new, but we are still going. I don’t think we will ever forget COVID 2020.

I truly hope 2021 is a great year for you all. For myself and my wife we are labelling 2021 as the ‘Year of Completion.’ I hope to complete my post grad studies, our first child will have completed schooling, I hope to have reached our coupon targets for the Find Cards, to name a few.

Have a blessed time with your friends and family, Warren Strybosch Founder of Find Maroondah

International Travel - Banned Until March17

By Warren Strybosch

If you were thinking about an international holiday during the summer break, well this is going to dash your plans.

The government has extended the international travel ban until the 17th of March as concerns about the COVID-19 virus still pose significant threats to the public health of Australians.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the coronavirus situation was still escalating in many other countries.

“The disease is spreading as quickly as ever,” he said.

“The international world remains a challenging and dangerous environment and Australia won‘t be fully safe until the international community is safe.”

The extension will also mean that no cruise ships during this period will be able to arrive in Australia.

If you wish to travel overseas you need to apply for an exemption. Already, over 95,000 exemptions have been granted since March 18.

Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said it was a difficult, but necessary decision.

“We weighed up all of the issues, as the Minister has pointed out, but particularly the ongoing situation internationally and the sort of risks that could come to Australia if we relaxed at this point,” he said.

This announcement was made shortly after the first international flight arrivedin Australian this month. All passengers were taken to quarantine hotels where they will have to remain for at least two weeks under strict supervision. Let’s hope this does not lead to the third wave COVID cases in Australia. If the security guards can keep their pants on, we might have a good chance.

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DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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COVIDSafe Summer - Restrictions apply from 11:59pm Sunday 6 December 2020 From 11:59pm on Sunday, 6 December 2020 Victoria moves to COVIDSafe Summer restrictions.

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These eased restrictions will let Victorians get back to doing the things they love, while also protecting everything we have worked so hard to achieve this year.

This means that: • •

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•

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You must carry a face mask with you when you leave home.

Wearing a face mask is only mandatory on public transport, while in taxis or ride share vehicles, or when going to large retail venues, including shopping centres, supermarkets and department stores.

Wearing a face mask is strongly recommended indoors and outdoors when you can’t keep 1.5 metres distance from other people.

You can have up to 30 visitors to your home per day. There is no limit on the number of households those people come from. Front and backyards are considered part of the home.

Up to 100 people can meet outdoors in a public place. There is no limit on the number of households those people come from.

Record keeping continues to be an important tool for helping Victoria to stay safe and stay open. Businesses that are required to record the details of visitors should use electronic record keeping or QR codes. The Victorian Government has a free QR code service.

•

•

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Restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs can open for seated and unseated service. They must use electronic record keeping and apply the two square metre rule to ensure that customers have enough room to keep 1.5 metres between themselves and others. There are no other limits on the number of customers. Venues can have up to 25 people before the two square metre rule needs to be applied.

Weddings, funerals and religious gatherings can occur with no limits on the number of guests or attendees. To ensure people can keep 1.5 metres distance the venue must apply the two square metre rule. If a service is conducted in a private home, the private gathering limit applies (30 visitors).

Dance floors can reopen in bars and pubs as well as at weddings. The foursquare metre rule must be applied to limit the number of people on the dance floor and there can only be up to 50 people on the dancefloor at one time, if space allows.

There are also changes to the number of people allowed at community facilities such as libraries, sporting facilities (such as gyms), and entertainment facilities (such as cinemas).

Summary of the changes COVIDSafe Summer

Victoria moved to COVIDSafe Summer restrictions from 11:59pm on Sunday 6 December 2020. These restrictions are expected to be in place for summer. The restrictions will be reviewed regularly to ensure they reflect current public health advice.

These changes reflect the need to give Victorians certainty about their summer, while protecting the trend of low cases that Victorians have worked so hard to achieve.

Everyone wants to get back to normal, but we also need to stay safe over the holiday and summer period, so we can stay open. You can help by getting tested if you feel unwell, and following COVIDSafe practices. This is especially important as we see friends and family, celebrate together, travel together and move around Victoria and Australia during the summer. Coronavirus (COVID-19) is still present in Australia and we can all help to stop the spread.

Victoria’s COVIDSafe Restrictions - Downloads • • • •

CovidSafe Summer - How we live Victoria (Word) CovidSafe Summer - How we live Victoria (PDF) CovidSafe Summer - How we work Victoria (Word) CovidSafe Summer - How we work Victoria (Word)

in in in in

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editor@findgeelong.com.au

DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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FIND GEELONG | DECEMBER 2020

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New Rules to Detect, Trace and Block Scam Calls

By Sarah Zemirah

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has today registered new rules that require telcos to detect, trace and block scam calls. The Reducing Scam Calls Code, developed by the telco industry, was a direct recommendation of the ACMA’s Combating Scams Action Plan.

The ACMA has worked closely with telcos and peak body Communications Alliance to develop the new rules and successfully pilot initiatives to reduce the scale and impact on Australians of scam calls. Major telcos report blocking over 30 million scam calls across the last 12 months as they undertook work to trial the identification and reduction of scam calls.

Chair of the ACMA’s Scam Telecommunications Action Taskforce Fiona Cameron said the code is a significant step toward providing better protections for consumers and making Australia a ‘hard target’ for scammers.

“The code is a unique and groundbreaking contribution to global regulatory efforts to prevent the harms caused by scammers. It is a holistic, end-to-end framework for effective scam reduction activity,” Ms Cameron said.

“There is no silver bullet to reduce

scams, but these new rules place clear obligations on industry to do more to protect their customers and build confidence that it’s safe to answer a ringing phone.”

According to ACCC Scamwatch data, Australians have lost $35.6 million to scam calls in 2020 so far. Scam calls accounted for 46 per cent of all scams reported.

“Scams have a devastating impact on their victims and scammers are unscrupulous in taking advantage of people. They quickly adapt to changing circumstances, as we have seen, for example, in scam activity targeting Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Ms Cameron said.

“Industry’s initial efforts to block scams are an encouraging step towards the substantial and sustained work required before consumers will see a real reduction in scam calls.

scam calls with other telcos, and report identified scam calls to authorities. The new rules build on recent scam reduction and awareness-raising activities by the ACMA, including the introduction of new measures to fight mobile number fraud earlier this year and the recent release of comprehensive consumer awareness resources.

“Reports of mobile porting fraud have markedly decreased since new rules were introduced in April this year, however we are still closely monitoring industry compliance with the new obligations,” Ms Cameron said.

Phone scams are a current ACMA compliance priority, and telcos will face penalties of up to $250,000 for breaching ACMA directions to comply with the code.

If you think you’ve been scammed, contact your bank and phone company immediately and report it to Scamwatch.

“The end game is to stop scammers in their tracks wherever possible and the ACMA will enforce this code to make sure telcos are meeting their obligations to their customers.”

For information on how to spot – and stop – phone scams, visit acma.gov.au/ scams

Under the new rules, telcos must also publish information to assist their customers to proactively manage and report scam calls, share information about

For more information, please contact ACMA Media on 0438 375 776 or media@ acma.gov.au.

MR 41/2020

TRADIES - FREE ADVERTISING Email your artwork to editor@findgeelong.com.au If you wish us to create your ad, we will do this for a minimal cost.

Go to www.findgeelong.com.au/graphic-design to upload your details and we will create this for you.

The Dimensions of the Ads are: 53 x 98 mm - 1/8 Small Size

139 x 96 mm - 1/4 Page Portrait

If you have any questions, contact the editor on 1300 88 38 30 or Email warren@findnetwork.com.au *Available until your category is taken when a Tradie joins the Find Network Team.

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DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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Home Builders Extention Details Revealed

By Sarah Zemirah

Insight surrounding the extension to the HomeBuilder program have been announced. On Sunday November 29 2020 the Treasurer announced that the HomeBuilder program will be extended to March 31 2021, though in a changed program.

The initial program offers grants of $25,000 to owner-occupiers renovating or building a new home is available for contracts signed up to December 31 2020. Then after this time the extended HomeBuilder program will apply. The extended homebuilder program offers a $15,000 grant for building contracts signed between January 1 2021 and March 31 2021.

There has also been an increase to the property price cap for new build contracts, in New South Wales the cap is $950,000 and in Victoria $850,000. The existing new build property price cap of $750,000 will stay in all other states.

Requests for an extension on time for construction to start have been given, the start timeframe has been extended from 3 months to 6 months for all HomeBuilder applicants.

The Federal Government noted that there has been a shift in licensing requirements

and registration developers.

for

builders

and

Where an appropriate contract is signed on or after the November 29 2020, the builder or developer must have a valid licence or registration before November 2020.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison Says “HomeBuilder is a key part of my government’s Economic Recovery Plan for Australia. We are keeping people in jobs and putting Australians’ dream homes within reach. It’s critical we keep the momentum up for Australia’s economic recovery.

Extending HomeBuilder will mean a steady pipeline of construction activity to keep tradies on the tools.”

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says “The Homebuilder program has delivered the stimulus the housing sector needed. The sector is worth $100 billion dollars a year to the Australian economy or around 5 per cent of GDP and more than a million people are employed in the sector across Australia. The success of this program has not only meant an increase in work on the ground to keep the pipeline of construction flowing but it has also protected jobs in the construction sector as well as across the economy.”

MP Michael Sukkar also commented saying “that he most recent data showed HomeBuilder had already had around 24,000 applications, on track to exceed expected take up levels. This has been a highly effective programme that’s delivering real results for home buyers and has kept tradies in work throughout the COVID pandemic.

There is no better proof of HomeBuilder’s success than the latest Housing Industry Association’s new home sales data, which shows sales are 31.6 per cent higher in the three months to October 2020 when compared with the same time last year”.

Sukkar followed on to say “This is a temporary and targeted programme and we want to give buyers the confidence and support to enter the market right now at a time when the economy needs it most.”

The statement also builds upon the extension of the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme announced in the Budget, which provided 10,000 guaranteed loans to allow first home buyers to attain a loan to build a new home, or purchase a newly built home, with a deposit of as little as five per cent.

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findgeelong.com.au

Victorian Budget 2020/21: New Homeowners are the winners

The Victorian Government has announced stamp duty concessions of up to 50 per cent for homes valued at up to $1 million.

By Warren Strybosch

The new stamp duty discount will apply to those people who are going to be building new homes or purchasing “offthe-plan” homes. Existing homes that are purchased will only receive a 25% discount. This will go a long way to helping new homeowners obtain a loan.

Treasurer Tim Pallas, stated “With a waiver on stamp duty, we’ll help more Victorians find their home and get more Victorians back to work.”

“We will encourage Victorians back into the property market, by waiving up to 50 per cent of stamp duty on eligible homes, for the remainder of the financial year.”

Also, the government has announced that anyone who purchases a commercial or industrial property from January 2021 in regional Victoria will receive a 50 per cent discount on the stamp duty. They are hoping to entice people to relocate

to regional centres and help build those areas back up that were hardest hit during COVID.

every dollar of Victorian wages paid in 2020-21 and 2021-22 above the previous year’s wages. As a result, the more these businesses re-hire staff and employ new workers, the less payroll tax they’ll have to pay.

Special rules will apply for new businesses;

First Home Buyers Grant Extended The First Home Buyers Grant (FHBG) has been extended up until the 30 June 2021, allowing first home buyers to receive the $20,000 grant if they buy or build a new home in regional Victoria.

This extension gives more Victorians the opportunity to live locally and enter the property market for the first time, while also supporting jobs in regional Victoria,” the Treasurer said.

Additional Tax Relief measures from the Budget: •

New Jobs Tax Credit – businesses with annual Australian group wages less than $10 million will receive a non-refundable credit of 10 cents for

•

Threshold for paying payroll tax annually increased from $40,000 to $100,000 - the State government estimates that over 7,000 extra businesses will be able to pay their payroll tax annually, rather than monthly;

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Build-to-rent sector in Victoria from 1 January 2022, Victoria’s Big Housing Build will provide a 50% land tax discount for eligible new developments until 2040. These developments will also be exempt from the Absentee Owner Surcharge over the same period.

findgeelong.com.au

DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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Chris Hall - Wheel 4 MND Owner

next year. Exactly 5 years after I started Wheel 4 MND. https://www.facebook. com/events/801462690700301. This link will take you to the event facebook. Tickets are in the link. $18 via the link or $20 on the night.

January 30, 2021. 12noon - 11pm

Bands are:

Brunette Red Dress https://www.facebook.com/BrunetteRedDress

My name is Chris Hall. I am a local Geelong man and a passionate advocate for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) awareness and fundraising. In four years of fundraising, I have raised over $32,000 to support research towards finding a cure for the disease. My quest began after a work colleague, Jenny Simko, a nurse at Barwon Health, was diagnosed with MND. She passed away 14 months later in 2015.

doing that target went out the window the first month. The first year I raised $10,000.

During the first year i created a facebook group https://www.facebook.com/ groups/Wheel4MND. As today I have over 1000 members.

I am confined to a wheelchair through Spina Bifida.

Wheel 4 MND is an initiative where people sponsor me for wheeling 50 kilometres each month. I also illustrate the importance of fitness for those confined to a wheelchair. Chuffed became my new fundraising link https://chuffed.org/ project/wheel4mnd.

It all started in 2014 when I found out Jenny was diagnosed with MND after not doing the flu injections one year. I had no idea what MND was. So after a lot of research and found there was NO CURE OR TREATEMENT.

My fundraising has inspired many people in the Geelong region and the MND community, and I have been recognised in 2019 with a Geelong award for People with a Disability and a Pride of Australia Medal.

This upset me greatly.

Along my journey Wheel 4 MND has done numerous fundraisers from Chocolate drives, trivia nights, comedy nights and music gigs with geelong and Melbourne bands. Every November is our yearly music fundraiser at Black Hatt Hotel. Unfortunately this year we had to postpone it due to Covid.

“What can I do to try and raise money for MND I said to myself”, so I decided to combine exercise with fundraising by wheeling 50km per month around my area. I then created a gofundme me page (now deleted), a set a target of $1500 for the year to fundraise was set.

But once people found out what I was

This years music event is now January 30

Chrissy Burrell Music https://www.facebook.com/chrissyburrelmusic/

Pineapple Head Crowded House Cover Band (Crowded House Cover Band) https://www.facebook.com/PineappleHeadCHCB/

Mr. Anderson ( Rock Covers )

https://www.facebook.com/MrAndersonthe band/ DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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findgeelong.com.au

Community Counts

which should have left them breathless for more learning instead turned sour.

The passion for wishing to give back to the community largely lost as a result of social isolation. The ethic of teamwork largely forgotten. Becoming ready to be part of the world around them. They don’t even know what that might look like.

Have no doubt, Victoria is facing a longterm youth unemployment crisis in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, with a decade of data clear that if a young person isn’t in meaningful employment by the age of 22, they’re much more likely to face a future of welfare dependency.

To say nothing of the increased likelihood of struggling with all the associated dire social implications, such as drug and alcohol abuse, petty crime, domestic violence, homelessness and mental health issues.

By Greg Blake

A wildly unpredictable year is drawing to a close. An unprecedented brave new ‘Covid normal’ world looms in 2020’s wake.

Everything is speculative, but a savagely smashed economy all but guarantees deleterious social implications. The aftereffects in hardest-hit Victoria are deeply troubling, particularly for young people.

Young people will cop the brunt of pandemic job and business losses, the youth unemployment rate likely to spike over the next 12 months and opportunities for young people will take much longer to rebound than general unemployment. Of greater concern for communities outside Melbourne – from the smaller rural areas right through to the greater Geelong area – is what will become of all the 2020 school leavers.

Largely denied chunks of a critical final year of schooling and personal development, my concerns are for the longer-term outcomes for many of the 63,000 students who exited the school system in 2020. Being launched into an already unfavourable employment environment is one thing, but the ‘new normal’ is another challenge altogether.

Take the issues of the greater Geelong area, for example, where some 2,500 young people are leaving school in 2020.

With a youth unemployment rate already creeping over 10 percent and predicted

much worse to come, business closures, economic downturn and job opportunities likely to stagnate, literally hundreds of those 2,500 hopeful faces are being consigned to a lifetime of battling uphill. Even the escape route option of moving to Melbourne is far less a viable option than it might have been, so for some young people who deserve much better, there is no escape.

Already reflective of the effects of this Covid year on our kids, mental health services in schools in greater Geelong were ramped up to support the one in every four young people identified as having mental health issues in 2020. The spike in youth suicide is heartbreaking.

I’ve worked in schools for the better part of two decades, but 2020 was a game-changer. For Year 12 students, it was “their year”, just as it was for all of us down the years. They were robbed of that culmination, that official launch into adulthood. Many young people spent their final school year either angry, confused, terrified, resentful or withdrawn.

Many gave up on their studies, many exited early. Most are utterly unprepared for what’s to come.

The critical year when young men begin to mature and respect young women as friends and potential professional colleagues in adult life is lost forever.

Those final triumphs for the sports stars or talented musicians was stolen. The year

The classes of 2020 have been robbed, but its everyone’s responsibility to ensure the future of these kids isn’t stolen as well.

I’ve always maintained that the entire community benefits when every young person gets every opportunity to enjoy a happy, productive and fulfilling life. For some the road is longer or more difficult, but that support should be unwavering and everybody’s business. Take an interest, be kind, care, talk, encourage.

Now more than ever, our young people need us, even if they don’t realise that they do. Community has never been more important.

Greg Blake Co-Founder, Director of Youth Initiatives Gettin’ Ready 4 Life Inc. runaway@gr4life.org.au www.gr4life.org.au 0478 494 094

findgeelong.com.au

DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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States edges closer to Christmas Reopening

By Michael Ramsey (Australian Associated Press)

South Australia looms as the last domino to fall in the return to full interstate travel as Western Australia prepares to open its doors.

WA will reopen its borders to NSW and Victoria from December 8, Premier Mark McGowan has confirmed.

Travellers from those states will no longer be required to quarantine for 14 days, having endured almost nine months of restrictions.

It will leave SA as the lone outpost as states and territories edge closer to tearing down all borders in time for Christmas.

There are 33 cases linked to a worrying COVID-19 cluster in Adelaide, although only 11 of those are still considered active infections.

WA has banned entry to anyone from SA, while Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania are restricting travel from Adelaide hotspot areas.

Mr McGowan on Tuesday said the WASA border controls will be reviewed next week and won’t change until at least December 11.

He added that his government retained the option of reintroducing other border restrictions.

“We will not hesitate to reinstate the hard border if there are outbreaks over east and we get medical advice to do so,” he told reporters.

The premier said he was hopeful of soon reuniting with his NSW-based parents. “”As a country, I’m so relieved we’ve gotten to this point,” he said.

“It’s a credit to all Australians that we are nearly at the point of eliminating the virus in the community.”

Travellers entering WA from NSW and Victoria will still be required to undergo health screening and a temperature check at the airport, complete a G2G pass outlining recent travel and take a COVID-19 test if necessary.

Victoria has already reached WA’s criteria of 28 days without community

transmission to qualify for eased border rules, while NSW has now gone 24 days without a locally acquired infection.

Meanwhile, there were emotional scenes at Brisbane airport as family and friends welcomed travellers arriving on the first flight from Victoria after Queensland eased border restrictions.

The Palaszczuk government lifted its COVID-19 virus hotspot declarations and travel restrictions for people from Victoria and Greater Sydney early on Tuesday morning. Thousands of southerners are expected to start flocking to the Sunshine

State, with hopes it will lead to a muchneeded jobs boom.Prime Minister Scott Morrison hailed the changes, saying Australia “was not built for borders”.

“We said we would work to get Australia open by Christmas,” he told parliament.

“And on the record of the achievements so far, we are well and truly on that path and so I thank the premiers and the chief ministers for the way we have worked together patiently. “There’s been a few disagreements but the outcome is what matters.”

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findgeelong.com.au

Think twice before setting up a SMSF. The ATO cancels hundreds of newley registered SMSFs. ACCOUNTANT

By Warren Strybosch

Director Kellie Grant of the ATO, stated that the Tax Office continues to focus on its compliance work with newly registered SMSFs. “This is a high priority for us to ensure that individuals aren’t setting up funds for the wrong reasons and rolling over their super from an APRA-regulated fund and then illegally accessing it early,” Ms Grant said, speaking at the Tax Institute National Superannuation Conference.

“One of our key compliance strategies remains targeting individuals and promoters who are registering SMSFs with the sole intent of using that fund as vehicle to illegally access their benefits without meeting a condition of release.”

During 2020, registrations had increased for the first time in 5 years. There was a spike during March when COVID started.

This was of a particular concern to the ATO, as the spike was very large and unusual.

Ms Grant explained that when an individual’s register for a new SMSF or looks to join an existing SMSF, the ATO puts them through its “secure front door” process.

“This involves putting them through our risk model, which uses a series of risk attributes to try and identify individuals who may be potentially trying to enter the system for the wrong reasons,” she said.

Of the 22,018 SMSFs registered in the 2020 Financial year, approximately 19.9 per cent or 4,393 of those funds were reviewed because the ATO’s model actually rated those individuals looking to set them up as being individuals that were likely to early release their money, she stated.

“As a result of these reviews, 288 funds had their details withheld from Super Fund Lookup, which means they were unable to receive SG contributions or APRA fund rollovers, and we also cancelled 963 newly registered SMSFs,” she said.

Before setting up a SMSF, it is important to seek professional advice. At Find Accountant, we can provide advice to help you understand whether or not it would be in your best interest to set up a SMSF or if you should consider another option e.g. an Industry super fund. If you have more than $200,000 in super, consider talking to the Find Group and organising a FREE Super Report to compare your options.

Warren Strybosch You can call them on 1300 88 38 30 or email

“Almost 46 per cent of the cases picked up by our risk models had further action taken, and because of that, we were able to actually protect $126 million worth of retirement savings leaving the retirement system illegally.”

info@findaccountant.com.au www.findaccountant.com.au

INSURANCE

HELPING TO PROTECT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY At Find we can help you find the ‘right’ personal insurance. Our aim is to help you obtain and retain the personal insurances that are appropriate for you and at cost that you can afford.

Personal Insurances Include: • Income Protection (IP) • Life Insurances or Death Cover • Total and Permanent Disability (TPD)

• Trauma Insurance or Critical Illness Insurance • Business Expense Cover • Child Trauma Cover

When your insurance are in place, our services do not stop there. We will provide you with an after care service that includes policy notifications, insurance report, help desk, reviews and help at claim time.

We provide ourselves in providing honest advice that you can rely on.

CONTACT 1300 88 38 30

www.findinsurance.com.au

Warren@findinsurance.com.au

248 Wonga Road, Warranwood VIC 3134

Find Wealth t/as Find Insurance Corporate Authorised Representative (No.468091) of Clearview Financial Advice Pty Limited ABN 89 133 593 012 No. 331367

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What Is Corporate Social Responsibility? How Can I Afford It? BUSINESS COACH|MENTOR

By Deb Fribbins

Would you like to see greater benefits both personally and professionally in your business?

Developing a strong Corporate Social Responsibility program for your business can have lasting benefits.

There are many long and short term benefits to your business.

1. Heightened reputation in the market place 2. Increased brand recognition 3. Access to capital more readily 4. Market credibility 5. Increased sales and profit The personal benefits are 1. A sense of satisfaction that you are doing business for good 2. Increased staff engagement 3. Increased productivity 4. Improved lifestyle Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a voluntary business model which many businesses have adopted from the large corporate sector to SME’s alike. The extent of your CSR will depend on business type and your personal preferences. The idea is to engage your businesses to be socially accountable to your shareholders, customers and indeed the wider community. Setting clear CSR strategies, shows that you accept responsibility for the impact your business has on our society. You will conduct your business in a manner which is sensitive to social, economic, and environmental aspects.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were born at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro in 2012.

The objective was to produce a set of universal goals that meet the urgent environmental, political, social and economic challenges facing our world.

For more information on the United Nations Development Program, read https://www.undp.org/content/undp/ en/home/sustainable -developmentgoals/background.html These 17 Global Goals were developed to address the concerns for now and into

the future. They are slowly being chipped away at through the work of the UN with governments and major corporations through the various agreements in different different countries around the world.

Many of these we can impact in our own ways, according to our personal preferences and beliefs reflected in our personal lives and the type of business we own. You can put practices into place in your business to show your shareholders, stakeholders and clientele that you really do care about the future. Everything we do impacts in some small way. We may only be able to work on two or three of these, but we can influence the outcome by simply updating some of our habits at work and at home.

Here are just a few examples of practices we can all support easily. You may already have some or all of these in your business model, and or a suite of other opportunities available to us today.

Environmental 1. Reduce the number of carry bags 2. Sell and Use products that are good for the environment?

3. Use Sensor lighting or Solar as applicable 4. Recycle as many materials as possible 5. Use water saving measures Economic 1. Plan for usage or sell through of products to reduce waste

2. Form allegiances with businesses to partner with, to utilise the waste 3. Improve labour policies to grow your business 4. Buy locally to support those around you Purchase only fairtrade goods if not available locally Social 1. Be an equal opportunity employer 2. Support the homeless rather than waste food, while reducing greenhouse emissions 3. Support humane charities where possible 4. Volunteer in the community with goods or services 5. Create a great working environment and privileges for staff What are you doing in your business?

Marketing of your CSR strategies has shown statistically around the world to have increased customer numbers resulting in increased sales, profit, basket size and brand awareness.

If every SME provided just 1% of their net profit back into these Goals imagine the impact that would have on each of the three areas, Social, Environmental and Economic growth in our community.

Deb Fribbins Developing Excellence in Business 400 524 451 deb@debconsulting.com.au

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Self-fulfilling Prophecy LOAN SPECIALIST

By Lee Wisniewski

Ever heard prophecy”?

the

term

“self-fulfilling

Well, our major economists predicted a decline in house prices in FY21, which was subsequently re-hashed by our reporters as an imminent “housing market crash” and of course we then had a correction given the negative sentiment. Who could blame us, right?

However, the thing that protected us from severe falls was the fact that whilst demand came to a grinding halt so too did supply. Everyone, including sellers and buyers alike, was on the sidelines waiting to see how it panned out.

Well, it’s looking like it panned out OK because now, only a few weeks later they have all done an about face and reporting growth expectations, with Westpac economist Bill Evans, as an example, forecasting a 15% house price growth (in 2022/23) and ANZ revising their 10% DECLINE to a 9% GROWTH next year!

These sorts of statements will no doubt get plenty of airtime and fuel consumer sentiment.

Thus, whilst no one has a crystal ball, you don’t really need one because if everyone believes house prices are going

to rise then they inevitably will. Selffulfilling prophecy.

More people are out looking for property.

FOMO is alive and real and it’s only going to get worse.

Here’s why: •

•

• •

• • • • • • •

As above, many economists have now done an about face on their property price predictions for next year and beyond RBA have lowered interest rates (to a record low of 0.1%) and they are on record as saying that they expect them to remain low for at least the next 3 years.

Lenders have responded by cutting fixed interest rates to below 2%!

It’s easier to access equity in your home now (for a deposit on a purchase) and there’s even lenders giving you $4000 cashback to move to them Auction clearance rates are well up Consumer sentiment is at it’s highest levels since 2013 Government grants have never been higher Borrowing is about to get a whole lot easier Stamp duty has just been cut in Victoria Homebuilder Grant has been extended Building approvals at record high (levels not seen since Feb 2000)

So, if you have been thinking about buying a property but haven’t, now is the time to ask yourself “why not?”

I haven’t seen conditions this primed for growth since I started investing 15 years ago. I certainly haven’t seen the government throwing cash around like this before and I don’t expect them to again in my generation.

You and I don’t have to believe that house price growth is a good idea, or that it will even happen but I guess what I’m saying is when the papers start reporting on all of this and (usually conservative) economists are predicting strong house price growth then it’s only a matter of time before it becomes a reality.

Will the prophecy come true? Are we in for strong house price growth in the near future, or not? And once you have answered that, what should you be doing about it?

Buy, sell or sit….?

Only you (and hindsight) can answer that one…

Lee Wisniewski Mortgage Broker Fidget Loan Specialist 401272505 lee@fidget.com.au

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DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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The Shocking Truth About Time: And How To Get More Of It! RESILIENCE COACH

By Sally Higoe

“The key is not to prioritise what’s on your schedule but to schedule your priorities” – Stephen Covey That can be tricky this time of year. As Christmas approaches, along with a reprieve from COVID confinement, it can be hard to be intentional as to how you will spend your time – meetings, luncheons, EOY gatherings, school activities, planning, finalising... all of it can seem an important way to meet our needs. But you’ve worked hard to get where you’re at and now is not the time to be distracted.

One of the keys to running your business effectively is to know exactly how to prioritise what needs to be done, and when. The alternative is piles of to-do lists, disorganisation, random jobs and tasks, things forgotten and a slower growth of your business.

So why is it that some people ‘have’ time and others never ‘have enough’?

Realistically, every one of us has access to the same amount of time.

Perception. Time and the amount of time we have is based on our perception.

Sharon Pearson of the Coaching Institute states “If you play at the level where you know you do what is important to you, and makes you feel good, and don’t do anything else, you will be able to assess what you value currently in your life and your business.”

As humans, we have a preference for pleasure... we want this more than the feeling of pain. When a task is perceived as challenging, we relate this to pain... it’s going to be hard, I’ll have to concentrate, how long WILL it take me to do? So we justify with reasons to avoid doing it at all... and we take the more pleasurable option – the task that can be achieved quickly or easily and most definitely, more enjoyably.

The results you are getting in your business right now will be a direct reflection of this simple principle.

If you love starting projects, you will likely have lots in the pipeline, some great brainstorming sessions and probably not a lot of profitable results on an ongoing basis. If you love going straight for the profit, at any cost, you will probably not have

many fulfilling relationships around you – culture and motivation will be low level.

You get the idea.

Where we place our efforts, we will see the results. Results are a direct reflection of our efforts.

Is it possible to change what we associate as pleasurable and what we associate as pain?

What if you made a conscious decision to link your efforts to the results that you want?

This can be done in two ways 1. Link huge pleasure to what needs to be done 2. Make a decision to do what needs to be done, even if it causes you pain 1. LINKING PLEASURE TO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE Make a list of all the positives that come of the ‘painful’ activity. For example, if you don’t like goal setting, link more pleasure to it by writing the following; • • • • • • •

It will move me closer to my dreams I will know exactly what action to take I will have satisfaction knowing where I’m headed I will avoid procrastination I will feel more worthy and purposeful as I consistently achieve I will know exactly how to guide my team I will know where to focus trainings

•

I will know where ‘stretches’ are needed

Linking a list of pleasures to the undesired activity certainly makes it more appealing and doable... in fact there is even some excitement built around it and an urgency to accomplish it.

2. MAKE A DECISION TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, EVEN IF IT CAUSES YOU PAIN The only difference between ‘successful’ people and those that aren’t are how they push through, the discipline they can maintain to overcome fear and pain and do what needs to be done (instead of only what they like to do!)

It is this kind of decision-making that will set you apart from the rest. It is discipline.

It’s important to find balance in your role, to maintain the ability to ‘choose’ how you will spend your time, to meet your needs and continue growing.

This technique gives you the freedom to do just that - to own your time and feel good about how you’re doing it.

If you need more information on scheduling your tasks, appointments, weeks... and life!... flick me a message on 0490 388 017 and lets chat.

This is your opportunity to make 2021 your best year yet!

Sally Higoe The Resilience Coach Team Resilience Method 438963718 sally@team-resilience.com.au

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Have You Heard? SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS Is Your Best Bet To Grow

COPYWRITER

By Akasha Konkoly

Do your customers care about sustainability? If so, it’s time to incorporate sustainability values into your business.

The benefits are threefold. First, you’ll exceed the expectations of your customers. Second, you’ll find ways to give back to the environment. Third, your business model will be resilient enough to meet the needs of changing times, whilst boosting your profit.

The UN calls this the Decade of Restoration. That means “Preventing, halting and reversing the degradation of ecosystems worldwide.” We can’t change what’s already been done to create the world today, but we can use our businesses to support restoration and collaborate together for a fairer, kinder tomorrow.

Either in your store or online, soon your customers could be asking questions like “How was that made?” “Is that recycled?”

“What sort of packaging do you use?” and “How can I return it when I’m finished?”

Here are some key ideas for creating a sustainable business designed to meet the needs of tomorrow’s customers.

1. Resource journeys Have your leadership team map out the resource journeys of the materials that make up your business. Where do they come from, and what goes into making them? Once you audit their origins and how they get to you, consider whether there are more sustainable options like materials that use fewer chemicals, are locally sourced, or are part of actual projects to restore the environment?

2. Recycled vs new This Christmas, you might have heard about the movement to make secondhand gifts OK. That’s great for the environment and people’s pockets, but might not be great for your business if you want to sell more. Incorporating products made from recycled materials into your inventory can help you build customer loyalty in the future. For example, if you sell clothes, think about the materials.

Using fabric made from salvaged fishing nets, clearing the oceans, is fast becoming popular in athleisure markets and may be the point of difference your business needs to draw customers in.

3. Waste products As a business owner, you know how irritatingly expensive good packaging is, and what a crying waste it is for it to all go

in the bin. Get creative with your Packaging.

Can you think of packaging that is either biodegradable, can be repurposed or even treasured? Not accepting waste back for recycling creates friction for your customer if they are left to deal with it. If it’s packaging that the customer can bring back for a discount, or refill, you build customer loyalty by encouraging return customers who shop with you and not your competition.

Now that you are set for incorporating environmentally friendly principles into your business, how do you communicate this to your customers? Come and talk to me at strategygoto.com for a free discovery call about how to match your message to your markets for purpose and profit. akasha@strategygoto.com

Akasha Rose COPYWRITER 0487 044 478 akasharozsa@gmail.com

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DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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6 Conveyancing Pitfalls To Avoid When Buying Your Home LAWYERS & CONVEYANCERS

By John Van Beveren

The Victorian government announced it has slashed stamp duty for new homes by 50% and for existing homes by 25%, making homeownership more affordable and accessible despite the current economic uncertainty.

Buying or selling your own home or investment property can be stressful.

Here are six tips that I provide to help you avoid common conveyancing pitfalls.

1. Legal Expertise Buying or selling property is one of the most important transactions you will make and each transaction is unique.

You want to be sure it is handled with legal expertise and has the backing of a lawyer’s knowledge for peace of mind. A conveyancing solicitor can flag any legal advice you might need around tax, stamp duty, self-managed superannuation funds and draft legally enforceable special conditions. If things get complex, even a conveyancer will need to send you to a solicitor. Not obtaining competent legal advice before signing could be costly if things go wrong. Paying a legal expert is the best way to mitigate costly mistakes.

4. Buyer Beware

6. Off-the-Plan

Check that you are purchasing what you think you are before signing the contract.

Is the land fenced the same as on the title?Check the fences are in the right place and measure the boundaries of the block. You don’t want to lose slices off your new investment due to poor fencing and the legal doctrine of adverse possession. Getting Title Insurance will help protect you from any defects in the title you weren’t aware of prior to buying your home.

We highly recommend that you arrange a building and pest inspection either prior to an auction or signing a contract of sale if possible. Otherwise, seek to include a special condition that allows for rescinding the contract if such an inspection identifies structural defects and or infestation.

Purchasing a new home off-the-plan might be very attractive. You will get more input into the property’s design, but a substantial amount of time may pass between signing the contract and owning the property.

Most off-the-plan contracts don’t have a cooling-off period, nor are they conditional on finance. If you change your mind, you don’t want to be caught out by additional charges for nomination clauses to transfer your rights under the contract to a new buyer, and be aware the developer gets the last say in approving any new purchaser.

5. Fixtures Most people know that fixtures are included as part of the contract of sale.

Fixtures are items that are physically attached to the property. However, the large screen TV attached to the wall could

Do you have conveyancing questions?

We will guide you throughout the process to ensure a seamless and stressfree transaction and include unlimited pre-signing contract review for all new conveyancing clients, for your peace of mind. Call today 0429 312 986 or email john@vanbeveren.com. au. Conveyancing packages start from $935 (incl GST) excluding disbursements (property and title searches).

2. Pre-Contract Advice Contracts of sale can be confusing legal documents with many pages of conditions. If you are considering buying a property and have not yet signed, I highly recommend using the services of a licensed conveyancer or conveyancing solicitor who offers complementary pre-contract advice.

It’s important that you receive a ‘plain English’ explanation of the contract and the Section 32 Statement giving you peace of mind that you understand your rights and obligations before you sign.

3. Finances Get your finances together before making offers to a real estate agent. An offer that is unconditional on finance is far more attractive to vendors and may give you room to negotiate over purchase price. Seek a reputable mortgage lender or speak to your bank for pre-approval.

Where possible, keep your offers beneath your maximum spend so that repayments are affordable and you have finances left over for essential renovations or as a buffer for uncertainties.

become an issue unless specifically mentioned in the contract.

It might be assumed that the shiny stainless steel dishwasher in the kitchen works. If you want guaranteed working fixtures, ask your lawyer to put this in as a special condition in the contract of sale.

A thorough building inspection of the property by a qualified inspector should test all the appliances and identify those that need repair before settlement.

Ensure your building inspection does this before engaging them.

John Van Beveren LAWYER 0429 312 986 www.vanbeveren.com.au

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How To Create A Networking Plan The Result The alliance between McDonalds and Disney Pixar studios (Movie figurines in Happy Meals and McDonalds vouchers handed out in movie theatres) resulted in millions of dollars of increased sales for both companies.

So who would you rather meet?

• •

BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM

By Brenda Thomson

As we come out of lockdown and move into the holiday season many small business owners are starting to plan how they should spend their networking time and budget for 2021.

Typically this decision will boil down to answering the question “Where am I going to get the best return on my investment (ROI)?”

However in my experience many new small business owners make a critical mistake in their approach to choosing networking groups to join and networking events to attend. A mistake which can significantly impact their potential ROI.

But if nobody is there to buy and everybody is there to sell (or at least with the hope of a sale in mind) what are the odds of a WIN-WIN? Let me tell you a story Imagine for a moment that Walt Disney met Ray Kroc (founder of the McDonalds Corporation) at a networking event.

Which of these conversations do you think would have been more likely?

Option 1 •

•

It all starts with knowing who you want to meet and why Do you attend networking events because you want to meet people to SELL you things?

Probably not! If you need to buy something you are most likely to ask your existing network who they recommend, rather than going to a networking event on the off chance that you will happen to meet an appropriate supplier. Your chances of success are MUCH higher by doing a Google search. Yet ironically many people think of networking as a strategy for “finding more clients”. Off they go to a networking event with a stack of business cards and their yellow pages ad stuck on their forehead in the form of their sixty second infomercial, looking for people to sell to.

Walt: “I make great kids movies.

Wanna take the family? I’ll give you a great deal since we met at a networking event” Ray: “Not today thanks but if you wanna drop by my hamburger joint I’d be happy to sell you a burger. I’ll give you 10% off since we met at a networking event.”

Option 2 (After asking questions and listening carefully to each other about what they do and who their target market is) •

Walt and Ray: “It sounds as though we share the same target market.

Let’s get together and see if we can work out a way to help each other grow our businesses.”

•

As far as I know this meeting is purely fictitious but what happened next is certainly real and it’s something every small business owner can learn from.

A potential client OR A potential alliance partner who could connect you with tens, hundreds or even thousands of potential clients.

Most small business owners plan their networking around option 1. I have lost count of the number of times people have complained to me that a particular networking group or event was ineffective because “my target market wasn’t there” How much smarter to plan your networking around option 2 and look opportunities to build relationships with potential alliance partners who can connect you to tens, hundreds or even thousands of potential customers and create a WIN-WIN result for both of you.

Better still, rather than focusing only on generating new clients, consider all of your business objectives for next year.

For each goal and strategy in your plan ask yourself the following question:

“Who (this could be a specific person or a category of business, industry or profession) could help me to achieve that goal or implement this strategy more quickly, easily, affordably, profitably and so on?”

Now write down a list of people/ companies/professions who may be able to help you.

Once you’ve worked out who it is you want to connect with and why, you are 90% of the way towards creating your networking plan.

The last step is working out where you are most likely to be able to connect with them...

It may mean completely rethinking your previous ideas about which groups to join or which events to attend.

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DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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Garage Door Safety Tips the Holiday GARAGE DOORS

By Chantal Djuric

Make sure your New Year is a happy one with these simple but effective garage door holiday tips.

When at home •

Garage doors are the largest and heaviest moving item in your home.

They can cause serious harm if neglected. Get your door regularly inspected and lubricated by a qualified garage door technician.

•

Make sure your kids understand that they should never stand, run or play near the garage door, especially when it is open and even more so when it is moving.

•

The garage door remote and the button on the wall are not toys and should only be touched by an adult.

•

Never touch any part of a garage door when it is moving as your fingers and hands could be seriously damaged.

if you don’t want to invest in a new door opener, you can secure the release cord to the body of lift with zip ties, which cannot be pulled using a hook. If you need to pull the release in case of an emergency, simply break the ties by hand.

While out

Preparing for holidays

•

•

•

•

Check to see your garage door is a heavy exterior door. Not only will this improve insulation, but these doors are also much harder to kick in or break down.

Don’t leave your garage door remote in your car, no matter how inconvenient it is. Someone could use it to gain access to your garage without having to bash through the exterior, sides or windows. Some cars or trucks have a garage door open button installed, which means extra safety as it can’t be stolen. If you don’t have that feature in your car, you can buy a keychain remote. That way, any time you leave your car to go shopping or whatever, you’ll have your garage remote with you.

The emergency release, a dangling pull-cord that often has a red handle, allows you to disengage the motor from the garage door, essential if you ever lose power and need to lift your garage door by hand. Newer garage door openers often place the release at such an angle that it’s nearly impossible for a burglar to pull it using a wire hook. However,

•

•

Is your garage part of your home security system? Newer security systems have great connectivity features that you can even control with your smartphone! You can integrate your security system into your garage door lift mechanism, giving you incredible control over how you activate your lift. With a simple tap on your phone, you can raise and close your garage door, very handy if you suddenly remember you left it open! You can also check on your garage door while you’re away on holidays.

Garage door security timers ensure that your garage door is always closed and secure. Door timers automatically close your garage door after an established length of time. That way, if you’re halfway to your holiday destination and can’t remember if you closed the garage door or not, you don’t have to worry about your home and garage being exposed.

working in your garage and closed when you are elsewhere.

Mount a motion detector light on the outside of your garage door. If anyone approaches your garage door, they will be bathed in light, making it hard for them to break in undetected. Also consider install motion detector lights inside your garage so that whenever someone enters your garage, the interior of the garage will be safer to move around in.

A simple and obvious precaution is to manually lock the manual garage door (usually a handle in the lower centre portion of the door) before you leave on holidays. While this will be annoying when you return, activating this security feature will give you peace of mind when you’re going away for a long period of time.

Cruzin Garage Doors wishes you a safe and happy holiday season. We’ll still be here for all your garage door needs.

For 24/7 garage door servicing, give Cruzin Garage Doors a call on 0427 894 603 or email us at sales@ cruzingaragedoors.com.au.

Chantal Djuric GARAGE DOORS 427 894 603 www.cruzingaragedoors.com.au

If you have exterior windows in your garage, consider adding blinds.

These can be opened when you’re DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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5 Easy Ways You Can Turn Painting

5 Easy Ways You Can Turn Painting Your House Into A Success PAINTING & DECORATING

By Steve Dahllof

After three decades working as a professional painter, providing highquality painting services to Geelong and heritage home restorations, I do my best to make sure renovating your home goes flawlessly.

Painting the exterior is normally a straightforward process, and is fairly evident when it needs to be done. It’s not so easy a decision to repaint the interior of your home. There are many considerations when it comes to painting indoors so that the new paint job fits into your lifestyle, your budget, and your house design.

1. Time to paint Will you stay at home or go on holiday?

With COVID restrictions ending, and borders open, now might be an optimal time to paint indoors if you are planning a holiday.

When you repaint a house inside it’s normal for your lifestyle to be disrupted for a few days or weeks. If it’s a big job, it sometimes makes sense to hand over the keys to painting professionals you trust and come back when work is done.

2. Hiring a painter There’s a lot of variation in the quality of work that painting contractors provide.

Look for a professional painter that comes

recommended by word of mouth and good reviews.

Personally, I work mainly on high-end projects where attention to detail is important. Know what kind of painter you are looking for, and shop around with quotes. The quoting process should be free and ask to see an insurance certificate before hiring.

3. Painting and Decorating Will you update your interior design?

Existing curtains and carpets might not go with the new colour scheme you pick.

If you are planning on keeping your flooring and furnishings, take a colour scheme you pick. If you are planning on keeping your flooring and furnishings, take a colour wheel home so you can check what matches, or seek the help of a professional colour consultant.

I highly recommend painting test patches with sample pots so that you can be confident your new colour scheme complements what you are keeping.

Your wallet and your walls will thank you.

4. Prep work My team do all the prep work including sanding, washing, spot priming, and supply of drop cloths. Before the painter gets arrives, you’ll want to have as little clutter in the rooms as possible, so that we can get on with our work. If you are committed to a paint job inside, declutter by finding new homes for household items you no longer need.

5. Choosing paints The paint you choose makes all the difference to your overall satisfaction with the paint finish. When it comes to paint manufacturers I always recommend Haymes, because they are Australian owned and manufactured and give great coverage.

As long as you choose paint products from the top of the line Ultra Premium range of the brand you prefer, the paint you use is low VOC (volatile organic compound) so that you can live comfortably in your newly painted home as soon as possible.

Are you looking for high-quality painting and decorating services in the new year? Contact me for a no-obligation quote in your home that’s free of charge.

We do all projects from large homes, commercial, and heritage restoration.

[Insert business name, phone number, email address]

Steve Dahllof PAINTING AND DECORATING 0407 365 372 kerna1967@gmail.com

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DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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Singing Is...

Shayne Lowe... Do It With Pizazz

VOCAL PERFORMANCE INSTRUCTOR

By Shayne Lowe

Singing is my happy place … since finding an affinity for singing when I was young, creating, singing, and performing have continued to be integral in my world.

Singing is my passion …

“Music is what feelings sound like”. Not a day goes by where I don’t stop what I’m doing to sing along with something playing in my office (or specifically find a song I want to sing that matches my mood) … it can de-stress you, cheer you up and engage your emotions. It builds self-confidence and promotes self-esteem.

Singing is my connection … it is the secret of my energy; it fills up my bucket. In our “Pizazz Junior” & “Inter Pizazz”

groups particularly, there is clear growth in social skill development and connection. “Pizazz” allows me to share in the amazing experiences that happen when people of different ages and abilities to come together successfully to create something special.

Singing is fun … the basis of “Pizazz” is learning through fun … all members are encouraged to put their ideas and personality into our groups and make it their special place to be! We work mostly within “performance groups” which come with their own unique benefits … ensemble singing, in particular, boosts oxytocin levels, helping to control stress and anxiety.

Singing is for anyone …

I am a firm believer that anybody can be an ensemble singer. If you’re a strong shower or car singer but have yet to share your voice within a group, you should definitely give it a go. Singing within a group. even for strong vocalists, brings along lessons about balance, harmonisation and listening that you just can’t learn by yourself. Not to mention the fun of sharing music with others and creating together!

Singing is … for you!

Shayne Lowe VOCAL PERFORMANCE INSTRUCTOR 0429 08 4343 info@doitwithpizazz.com.au

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The Silly Season & Public Holidays & Pay Rate Increases

BOOKKEEPER

By Mary-Clare Switz

There are a few public holidays on the near horizon that businesses need to be aware of. Aside from Christmas Day and Boxing Day, this year Boxing Day falls on Saturday so there is an additional public holiday on 28 December. These 3 days are closely followed by New Year’s Day so in the 8 days between 25 December and 1 January there are 4 public holidays.

Leading into next year, now is a good time to map out public holidays. If you are rostering in advance it is important to have these days pencilled in so the rosters can be adjusted accordingly without any surprises. Depending on the industry you may want to record when the construction industry RDOs fall if they impact your business.

Public holidays past, present and future years can be found on the Business Victoria website: https://www.business. vic.gov.au/victorian-public-holidaysand-daylight-saving/victorian-publicholidays.

RDOs can be downloaded from: https:// vic.cfmeu.org/calendar-created/month.

Pay rates and penalties on public holidays are defined by the applicable award under which staff are employed.

The rates, conditions, minimum and maximum hours, etc., do vary from award to award so it is very important to check the current pay guide for accurate rates.

Pay rates are also set to increase for a range of industries (Group 3) on 1 February 2021. These include the Fitness, Hospitality, Restaurant, Fast Food, General Retail, and Wine Awards plus more. Award rates normally increase on 1 July each year based on the Fairwork Commission’s decision.

The decision made in June 2020 staggered the increases into 3 industry groups with Group 1 increased on 1 July, Group 2 on 1 November and Group 3 on 1 February to recognize the different impacts had thanks to COVID19. Group 3 industries need to be aware that come next July it is likely there will be another increase.

There is a range of software choices on the market that can assist businesses with taking the pain out of managing staff rostering and payroll. As part of Victoria’s Business Support through COVID19 they are offering a Small Business Digital Adaptation Program. With a New Year this could be a good time to source a new software solution that removes the pain points that is funded under the Program.

Win win! It could be your Business’s New Year’s resolution!

Mary-Clare Switz BOOKKEEPING 0422 800 012

mc@biscuitbooks.com.au

findgeelong.com.au

DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

23

Stability within the chaos, with a Webpage.

WEB DEVELOPER

By Adam Sims

As we rapidly approach the new year, customers and businesses alike are experiencing a time of ever shifting regulation, changing expectations and lack of certainty about what the future holds.

In uncertain times, stability through certainty and clarity have become hot commodities.

Building a webpage that sells has been, without a doubt, the most desired outcome over the past 10 years, and rightfully so given the on-going growth across many industries Australia wide.

But what happens when consumer and business confidence takes a hit? In this environment, people crave stability.

Here are our top 5 tips and tricks to help you deliver stability to your website visitors.

1. Be open for business 24/7 by giving customers a self-service portal where they can login, purchase goods or services and again access to key pieces of information and helpful tools, at their leisure.

2. Reduce anxiety produced by excessive page load times by improving your webpages loading speeds through a combination of server performance and content optimisation improvements. This is a much overlooked but impactful way to give your webpages viewers a snappy and dependable experience.

3. Be convenient, enhance your visitor experience by ensuring your webpage looks neat and tidy on a wide range of devices. This is achieved through using responsive and fluid design techniques.

information remain consistent across multiple platforms is critical to avoid confusion.

5. Demonstrate healthy business activity by scheduling regular updates to your webpage. Keep visitors in the loop with regular information and announcements on a predictable and recurring schedule.

Now is a good time to think about ways you can get an edge over your competitors by giving customers and webpage viewers something competitors may be overlooking; stability within the chaos, with your webpage.

Adam Sims WEB DEVELOPER 1300 667 141 adam@awebpage.com.au

4. Be consistent and build trust by integrating your webpage. 80% of businesses have an online presence1 through other platforms. Ensuring your opening times and other business DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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FIND GEELONG | DECEMBER 2020

findgeelong.com.au

What does a COVID-19 Christmas look like in Australia?

Money and Life (Financial Planning Association of Australia) Christmas 2020 will look a little different for many people, but there’s still plenty of ways to enjoy the holiday season with friends and family.

With COVID-19 case numbers currently low in Australia, many of us are wondering just how close to normal our Christmas will be.

Can I travel interstate?

Different levels of restrictions are in place across the states and territories to help control the spread of COVID-19. The rules around entry vary widely from place to place, and are subject to rapid changes, so always check the local health department website before planning your travel.

You can find links to the latest information for each state here:

Can we take an interstate holiday? Will we be able to visit friends and family?

How many people can we have around?

New South Wales

Celebrating the holidays requires a little more creativity and planning than usual this year. COVID-19 restrictions vary widely from state to state, meaning the number of people you can have over, where you can travel and how many people can attend at venues are affected.

South Australia

How many people can I have around?

Western Australia

The great news for many is that social distancing rules have been relaxed in many states and territories although restrictions do still apply.

Northern Territory

Visit the Australian Government website for the latest situation in each state or territory.

Certainty has been in short supply all year, so it pays to build some flexibility into your holiday plans. As we’ve seen, the situation can change rapidly.

For some families, a limit of 20 people at one time means the usual extended family festivities are out. If that’s the case for you, try planning a few smaller Christmas catch-ups instead. Not only will you be doing your part to keep us virus-free, it will really cut-down on the washing up!

Victoria

Queensland ACT Tasmania

How can I have a COVID-safe Christmas?

Make sure you’re aware of local health guidelines when planning any Christmas gatherings. The last thing you want to start the New Year with is a fine!

If you can’t host (or attend) the huge

backyard Christmas party like you’re used to, don’t despair. Technology has been a savior for staying connected all year, so think about hosting an online Christmas catch-up, or plan video calls for different times throughout the day.

Make sure to include those who are living away, or will otherwise be on their own for the holidays.

Enjoy smaller, more intimate gatherings and the extra time you’ll get to spend with friends and loved ones. And if money is tight, look for ways to stretch your Christmas budget further, so you can enjoy the holidays without a debthangover.

Read more: Be a smart gift giver this Christmas It’s no surprise that many people have struggled with loneliness, anxiety and depression this year. Uncertainty, lockdowns and financial stress all take their toll on our mental health. If you, or someone you know, can’t be with their family this Christmas, don’t be afraid to reach out. Speak to your friends and go out of your way to make sure no one is left out.

2020 has been a year like no other and we all deserve a little time out to relax and soak up that Christmas cheer. This is the time to focus on what’s really important, so think about prioritising your health, family and financial goals in 2021.

However you choose to celebrate the holidays, we here at the Financial Planning Association of Australia wish you a happy, safe and enjoyable festive season.

findgeelong.com.au

DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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From Monday 7 December Libraries are opening for more visitors at a time, depending on building capacity. Social distancing requirement still apply.

Win a book with Your Library Christmas Advent on Facebook Think you know all about your library?

You can put your knowledge to the test and win a book with our Library Advent competition. Each weekday at 1pm we will ask a question about libraries live on Facebook. A book prize will be hidden in our advent calendar. The first correct answer will win the book of the day

Visit our Facebook

Library Hours The libraries will be closing at 1pm on Thursday 24 December (Christmas Eve). All libraries except Realm will be closing at 1pm on Thursday 31 December (New Years Eve).

All libraries are closed for the public holidays, except Realm which will be open on Sunday 27 and Monday 28 December from 10am5pm.

The Box Hill Institute Lakeside Campus in Lilydale will be closed for road access from 1pm on 24 December until Tuesday 29 December.

Holiday Opening Hours

DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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2020 TA Personal Income Tax Cuts Brought Forward Previously enacted individual income tax cuts and offset increases have been brought forward in the 2020/21 federal budget. These changes have passed both houses of parliament and awaits royal assent.

Announcement (6-Oct-2020)

The ATO has released updated tax withholding schedules and have advised employers to update their

Consultation (6-Oct-2020)

payroll systems from no later than 16 November 2020. It is prudent for advisers to be in touch with payroll

Introduced (7-Oct-2020)

software providers to ensure the changes are reflected in software as soon as practicable. The tax cuts

Passed (9-Oct-2020)

include a change to the upper limit of the 19% and 32.5% personal income tax brackets, originally slated

Royal Assent (14-Oct-2020)

for the 2022/23 income year. The low income tax offset is due to rise to $700, and the low and middle

Date of effect (1-July-2020)

income tax offset will remain for one final year.

Employers of Apprentices To Get COVID-19 Stimulus Package All eligible businesses who employ apprentices are eligible to receive a 50 per cent wage subsidy, up to a maximum of $7,000 per quarter per apprentice, capped at 100,000 places. This wage subsidy is a stimulus payment announced to combat an expected national economic downturn due to COVID-19.

These payments will be received via the Australian Apprentices Incentives Program. This program currently services employers by providing cash payments when apprentices meet certain targets. The program previously commenced for employers from 1 January 2020 and runs through to 31 March 2021. It has

Announcement (12-Mar-2020) Updated: 16-Oct-2020

since been extended to 30 September 2021. Originally, only small business employers were eligible to participate. As of July 2020, the government extended the measure to include medium-sized businesses from 1 July 2020. And as of October 2020 the measures were extended to all eligible businesses of any size.

Small Businees Entity Threshold to Increase The small business entity threshold will be increased from $10m to $50m for some small business concessions.

These concessions include: •

immediate deduction of certain start-up and prepaid expenses

•

exemption from FBT for car parking and work-related portable devices provided to employees

Announcement (6-Oct-2020)

•

access to simplified trading stock rules

Consultation

•

access to PAYG instalments based on GDP-adjusted notional tax

Updated: (7-Oct-2020)

•

settle excise and excise-equivalent customs duties monthly, and

Passed (9-Oct-2020)

•

businesses will have a two-year amendment period to apply to income tax assessments for income

Royal Assent (14-Oct-2020)

years starting from 1 July 2021, excluding entities that have significant international tax dealings or

Date of effect

particularly complex affairs.

Also, the eligible entity can access the simplified accounting method determination for GST purposes from 1 July 2021.​

Temporary Full Expensing of Depreciating Assets The majority of businesses are eligible to claim an outright deduction for the cost and installation of new

Announcement (6-Oct-2020)

assets. To qualify for full expensing, the asset must be first held and first used, or installed ready for use,

Consultation (6-Oct-2020)

between 7:30pm AEDT 6 October 2020 and 30 June 2022. Unlike prior rules on instant asset write-offs, no limit

Updated: (7-Oct-2020)

applies to the cost of an asset under the full expensing rules. That is, an asset of any value may be fully

Passed (9-Oct-2020)

deducted in the appropriate income year. For a business to qualify for the outright deduction, the entity

Royal Assent (14-Oct-2020)

must have an aggregated annual turnover of less than $5b.

Date of effect (6-Oct-2020)

Loss Carry-back Available for Companies For three income years, many corporate tax entities will be eligible to claim a refundable tax offset when

Announcement (6-Oct-2020)

they incur a taxable loss. This optional offset is available only to business and is a recoupment of prior year

Consultation (6-Oct-2020)

income tax paid, but only available for recent income years. The loss carry-back is available to businesses

Updated: (7-Oct-2020)

with turnover under $5b. Any refundable tax offset is limited to prior year tax paid and the balance of the

Passed (9-Oct-2020)

franking account.

Royal Assent (14-Oct-2020) Date of effect (1-Jul-2021)

AX UPDATES R&D Tax Incentive to Change The research and development (R&D) tax incentive has been amended for income years commencing 1 July 2021. Under the new legislation, the incentive will be based on an uplift of the entity’s corporate tax rate in the particular income year. Further changes apply to companies that have an aggregated turnover of $20m or more. An “R&D intensity percentage” will apply, being the percentage of R&D notional deductions compared to total expenses. Company’s with a higher intensity percentage will have a higher rate of offset for some notional deductions. The offset will apply on an incremental basis. The maximum amount of R&D expenditure eligible for the increased tax offsets will be raised from $100m to $150m.

Announcement (6-Oct-2020) Consultation (6-Oct-2020) Updated: (7-Oct-2020) Passed (9-Oct-2020) Royal Assent (14-Oct-2020) Date of effect (1-Jul-2021)

Coronavirus Supplement Payment Extended Again to March 2021 The Federal Government is extending the payment period again for Coronavirus Supplement to 31 March 2021. It was previously extended to 31 December 2020. However, during the extension periods the level of payment is falling from the original $550 per fortnight. Up to 31 December 2020 is new supplement is $250 per fortnight and this will be lowered to $150 per fortnight to 31 March 2021. The full Coronavirus Supplement amount is payable to the individual, provided they qualify for an eligible income support

Announcement (23-Mar-2020) Updated: (12-Nov-2020)

payment. Other changes to the supplement will include the re-introduction of means testing and liquid assets waiting period. However, original COVID-19 adjustments, such as increased cut-off levels for partner income and reduced waiting times will still apply.

Granny Flat Arrangements Set for CGT Exemption A “targeted” capital gains tax exemption relating to granny flat arrangements has been proposed in the 2020 federal budget. The announcement intends to remove financial impediments to the creation of formal and legally enforceable granny flat arrangements. Often, it is informal arrangements which can inevitably

Announcement (6-Oct-2020)

lead to financial and elder abuse. Any proposed announcement must go through the legislative process.

Updated: (12-Nov-2020)

The proposed CGT exemption will have effect from 1 July in the following income year after Royal Assent.

JobMaker Hiring Credit JobMaker Hiring Credits will be available to eligible employers who hire new employees between 7 October 2020 and 7 October 2021. The credit is available for up to 12 months of employment and is capped at $10,400 per new employee. The new employee will be required to work at least 20 hours

Announcement (6-Oct-2020) Consultation (27-Nov-2020) Intoduced (7-Oct-2020)

a week and previously been receiving JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance (Other) or Parenting

Passed (11-Nov-2020)

Payment. They also need to be under 35 years of age and sign a relevant nomination form. The ATO is

Royal Assent (13-Nov-2020

facilitating the scheme, with quarterly claims commencing in February 2021.

Date of effect (7-Oct-2020)

NT COVID-19 Stimulus Package - JobMaker “Booster” Announced On 10 November 2020, the NT budget announced the JobMaker “Booster” wage subsidy for small businesses in the Northern Territory. This wage subsidy intends to run alongside the federal government subsidy, ensuring that employers will get $200 per week for any new hire during the scheme. This subsidy is on top of the other NT government stimulus packages announced and extended since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Payroll tax exemptions, deferrals and waivers are available for most businesses affected by the pandemic. For small and medium businesses in the Territory that can

Announcement (9-Apr-2020) Update (18-Nov-2020)

show that they have suffered substantial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, payroll tax will be waived for 13 months. Larger businesses will get a 12-month deferral. The Territory Government will also lower power, water and sewerage bills by 50 per cent for businesses until 1 July 2021.

DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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OCTOBER 2020 REALESTATE

REALESTATE FIND AUSTRALIA’S #1 PLACE FOR PROPERTY

COMING SOON

HOUSE OF THE MONTH

findgeelong.com.au

DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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The Impact on Property Due to Covid

By Sarah Zemirah

Pre COVID-19 the average price of a family home was priced from $700,000 to 1.4 Million in the local Maroondah council areas. Post Covid-19 the property market has not changed drastically at all.

David Moskovic, Sales Consultant for Jellis Craig Real Estate Ringwood said “before covid-19 and after lockdown prices have not changed much. Buyers hit the road running when restrictions were eased, people could attend auctions and inspections”.

Jellis Craig Ringwood saw a strong advertise from buyers with multiple offers been made on one property.

David continued to say buyers “have no hesitation and are shopping around looking for great value in a property”.

Sellers on the other hand have not had a smooth transition out of lockdown and post Covid-19. “There is not much property stock, sellers are hesitant to sell. This hesitation comes from what the market performance is due to the economic impact Covid-19 has had on the state of Victoria said David.

Graham and Vicki, Property sellers in Heathmont have recently sold their 5-bedroom home in Heathmont fresh out of stage four restrictions. Graham said, “We didn’t get our desired sale price at Auction and we believe the effects of Covid-19 and no international buyers allowed in the country to buy property has played in the sale price”.

Even though the property market seems steady now predictions are saying 2021 will change the property market due to mortgage repayments on hold. Banks cannot hold repayments long term and Job keeper finishing in March. David Moskovic from Jellis Craig said “next year we may see a dramatic lowering of prices on Property”.

Graham, Property Seller in Heathmont said “we chose to sell while the market was still buoyant before job keeper finishes in March 2021, After March I believe there might be properties that banks foreclose on and that will drive down prices even more”.

The Daniel Andrews Government has released a budget that may help buyers break into the Property Market pledging $500 million Going towards a Victorian Homebuyer Fund for people who cannot afford a 20 per cent deposit and $290 million to halve stamp duty for new homes worth up to $1 million. This can be a lifeline to young families wanting to break into the property market to either invest or owner occupy.

Despite the budget showing support for the property market buyers are encouraged to shop around and sellers are encouraged to understand where the market sits and research how well your property can do in this changing market.

FREE OPEN INSPECTIONS IN THE REAL ESTATE Email your Open Inspections to the Find Geelong each week and we will update your Open Inspections in the online community paper for FREE Contact Warren for all of your advertising needs.

Warren Strybosch 1300 88 38 30

editor@findgeelong.com.au

DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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If you have questions, contact Warren on 1300 88 38 30 or email: editor@findgeelong.com.au

RENTAL LISTINGS Phone 1234 4567 84 Mitchell Street, Bendigo www.realestatewebsite.com.au

REAL ESTATE LOGO Need help with Real Estate? We are here for you.

RENT OFFERS LOCATION

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Want to Advertise your Rental Listings?

Contact: Warren Strybosch Phone: 1300 88 38 30

COMING SOON

COMING SOON

ADDRESS

ADDRESS

$000,000 - $000,000

$000,000 - $000,000

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Agent: Real Estate Company Phone: Agent Name 1234 567 890

Agent: Real Estate Company Phone: Agent Name 1234 567 890

Open for inspection: By Appointment Domain ID: www.websitename.com.au

Open for inspection: By Appointment Domain ID: www.websitename.com.au

Lifestyle: Looking for a first home or quality investment? Consider this recent listing in Huntly from the sales team at Real Estate Company.

Lifestyle: A stately home with impeccable street appeal and streamlined interior. The property has been lovingly maintained by its present owner and is now available for those looking for an elegant, spacious home.

Features: The tiled front entry opens to the formal lounge with bay window and main suite incorporating walk-in robe and suite. Three more bedrooms and the main bathroom occupy a seperate wing. At the heart of the home is an impressive open plan kitchen with

Features: In popular Viwepoint estates, this home was establised just five years ago and comes with a comprehensive builder warranty. The floor plan offers four bedrooms plus ensuite and family bathroom.

Enjoy two living zones, a carpeted lounge as well as fully-tiled family space. Fitted robes, walk-in dressing

ceiling fans, climate control options, dishwasher and pantry storage are include. Undercover alfresco living, a double garage and secure Colorbond fences completed this 476-square-metre property in new residential area.

Location: Viewpoint by Integra offers rural living on the urban fringe for families wanting relaxation and convenience. Huntly has local shops and schools, it’s a five-minute drive from Village Epsom.

timber cabinetry and corner walk-in pantry. The dining area overlooks the rear yard while the family room includes a concealed study nook. Glass sliding door provide access to the paved alfresco area. Also outside is a lovely backyard with sorrounding hefges.

Location: A short walk to everything, such as Strath and Kennington Village Shopping Centre, cafe, medical pratice, Kennington Reservoir, schools, university and sporting facilities.

DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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DISPLAY HOME DIRECTORY

Block No. Lot No. Street, VIC 1234 568 75896

COMING SOON

emailaddress@gmail.com.au www.insertwebsite.com.au

Block No. Lot No. Street, VIC

COMING SOON

1234 568 75896 emailaddress@gmail.com.au www.insertwebsite.com.au

Block No. Lot No. Street, VIC 1234 568 75896

COMING SOON

emailaddress@gmail.com.au www.insertwebsite.com.au

Block No. Lot No. Street, VIC

COMING SOON

1234 568 75896 emailaddress@gmail.com.au www.insertwebsite.com.au

Looking to market your Building Company in Contact Warren for all of your advertising needs.

Warren Strybosch 1300 88 38 30 info@findnetwork.com.au DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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PROPERTIES FOR SALE DECEMBER 2020

132345 Feature Address Place Here A Short Description for this Property.

Offered at $000,000

COMING SOON Feature Header

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REAL ESTATE AGENT

www.findmaroondah.com.au

We invite all Real Estate Agents to list their profiles here. First in, first page. Be known in your local community and help support all things Maroondah.

For listing enquiries call 1300 88 38 30 or email editor@findgeelong.com.au

Agent Name: 1234 568 75896 emailaddress@gmail.com.au

COMING SOON

www.insertwebsite.com.au

Agent Name: 1234 568 75896 emailaddress@gmail.com.au www.insertwebsite.com.au

COMING SOON

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FIND GEELONG | DECEMBER 2020

findgeelong.com.au

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The Greater Geelong Christmas Adventure is a new feature for Christmas in Geelong this year.

Twenty-four locations have come to life with festive decorations from 3D interactive chalk-art to life-sized postcards, a giant Christmas bauble, Christmas trees and more.

Take a self-driving ‘Adventure’ tour around Greater Geelong, snap selfies and collect the letter clues which are embedded at each location.

Once you have all the clues, figure out the secret phrase to go in the draw to win one of four special Christmas hampers filled with yummy local produce and supplies.

There are 24 locations, one for each day of the Advent Calendar. You can do one each day or binge the lot – your call!

The ‘Adventure competition Enter the competition here!

Go on the ‘Adventure for your chance to win a Christmas hamper valued at $250.

We have one hamper to give away every week this December! Four chances to win! Simply collect the clues which can be found at each location. Once you have all the clues, (or enough to figure out the secret phrase), enter to go in the draw to win.

See the locations on the 2020 Greater Geelong Christmas Adventure: Need clues to help solve the competition riddle?

• • •

The phrase is 24 letters long It consists of 6 words The phrase can be found on our Christmas website (www. geelongaustralia.com.au/christmas)

•

Check our City News page each week for other hints!

How to use the ‘Adventure’ map The Greater Geelong Christmas Adventure map can be used on any device, including mobiles. Use it to find the different locations across our region where there are Christmas installations.

Select and click on a red, numbered bauble in the map and you will receive info about what is at that location.

The red baubles with the gold lettering take you visually to the site and have even more info. At these locations (like number 1 - Waterfront Geelong) you can zoom in and out, get a birds-eye view, see photos, video, find jokes as well as the location information.

If you get lost, click the green Start button or click the first of the thumbnails below the map.

Each thumbnail will take you to another location in Greater Geelong. It’s another way to navigate the map.

You can zoom in and out of the map, move it side to side. You’re the captain of this tour!

Enjoy seeing our region a different way!

Summary of the locations to visit: Following is a summary of the locations showcased in the Greater Geelong Adventure clip (above).

1. Floating Christmas Tree - Waterfront Geelong 2. City Hall Precinct, Geelong 3. Little Malop Street, Geelong 4. Union Street, Geelong

Ryrie Street, Geelong Bell Vue Avenue, Highton High Street, Belmont Leisurelink, Waurn Ponds Armstrong Creek East Community Hub 10. Hitchcock Avenue, Barwon Heads 11. The Terrace, Ocean Grove 12. Indented Head (General Store) 13. Drysdale (Woolworths building) 14. The Rotunda, Portarlington 15. Leopold Community Hub 16. The Link, Whittington 17. Newcomb (Library) 18. Pakington Street, Chillwell 19. Pakington Street, Geelong West (Town Hall forecourt) 20. Vines Road, Hamlyn Heights (shopping strip) 21. Cox Road, Corio (Library) 22. Labuan Square, Norlane 23. Waverly Road, Lara (near Bendigo Bank) 24. Lara Library Central Geelong Christmas Trail - a walking tour within central Geelong.

Want to create your own chalk art?

If you want to have a go at a Christmasthemed 3D chalk art at home go to the template from our artist Jimmi Buscombe available to download here at www.geelongaustralia.com.au/ct/ documents/item/8d8916e2ed187ef.aspx When Daily from 01 December 2020 to 24 December 2020 Upcoming dates 07 December 2020 - 11 December 2020

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Where Greater Geelong Cost This is a free event Facilities Chidren’s activities Contact Email: contactus@geelongcity.vic.gov.au Phone: 03 5272 5272 Associated organisation: City of Greater Geelong

findgeelong.com.au

DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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findgeelong.com.au

Report reveals huge COVID hit for local tourism Figures presented to the Council on Tuesday night detail the devastating financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local tourism industry.

Regional tourism board Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine’s 2019-20 annual report reveals that between April and June 2020 alone, the visitor economy suffered a combined $280 million loss.

These losses were spread across the accommodation, hospitality, arts and retail sectors, which were all hit heavily by government restrictions aimed at slowing the rate of COVID-19 infection.

The report estimates that 2187 jobs were lost in the local accommodation and food services industries as a result of the pandemic, with a further 2308 employees reliant on the federal government’s JobKeeper payment.

Prior to the pandemic, the annual value of the Greater Geelong visitor economy had climbed to a record $1.1 billion, with the region attracting 6 million visitors in the 12 months to 31 March 2020.

face of enormous challenges during the last three months of the financial year and into 2020-21.

to the region this summer would be critical in helping the sector begin to recover.

“Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine quickly adapted and put support measures in place to help tourism-reliant businesses as best they could,” Mayor Asher said.

“Until the unprecedented events of this year, Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine had helped the industry achieve consistent and significant growth year after year,” Cr Sullivan said.

“The organisation waived all membership fees between April and December this year while setting up a dedicated COVID-19 web resource centre and moving various events online.

“The 2019-20 annual report paints a stark picture, but we must be optimistic that by this time next year our visitation figures will be back on the rise and the industry will return to its previous upwards trajectory.

“The team deserves congratulations for its efforts in an unbelievably difficult environment.”

“I’m extremely proud of what both the board and the staff of the organisation have achieved in unity during the 12 months covered by this annual report.”

On the last day of the financial year, the Council allocated $500,000 as part of a broader COVID-19 support package to fund targeted marketing campaigns

by Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine.

These will be delivered during the current financial year.

Visitor nights spent in the region were up an impressive 10.3 per cent to 5.5 million, with the sector directly supporting 7551 jobs and indirectly supporting a further 3,713.

The Council allocated a further $133,000 for initiatives to support international students through the Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine-run program, Study Geelong.

Mayor Stephanie Asher said the tourism board had done an admirable job in the

Council’s Tourism portfolio holder, Deputy Mayor Trent Sullivan, said strong visitation

Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine is a partnership between member councils the City of Greater Geelong, Borough of Queenscliffe and Golden Plains Shire, and the tourism industry.

Following the introduction of a new free membership category in May 2020, the organisation signed 112 new member businesses to the end of the 2019-20 financial year, taking total membership to 617 local businesses.

This figure has since climbed to 808 members in November 2020.

Community News and Updates

Arts Industry Commissions annouced

Capacity increased at City pools and gyms

Young peaople drive City’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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Are you Not-For-Profit in Geelong Area?

Advertise your events for FREE on the following pages.

Feel free to send your ads to info@findnetwork.com.au and we will place it in current and/or next months edition.

Geelong

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL NOT-FOR-PROFIT

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What is your Child’s Love Language?

We know that loving our children has a vital impact on developing well-adjusted and resilient individuals, prepared for their future. But how best to express that love and engage with them at a meaningful level is the tricky thing. Each child is unique and they often ‘speak a different language’ when it comes to having their deepest needs met.

Our first child engaged with me best by hitting, catching and throwing balls. Physical activities were his dominant love. Our second child however, engaged best with me through books and art related activities. That was his dominant love. This different way to engage, caught me by surprise and took me longer than it should have to realise how different our first two children were.

To make connections with our children and engage with them where they are at, it’s worthwhile considering what sorts of things make them tick. One helpful strategy for this is to discover their ‘Love Language’.

Some of you will know of The Five Love Languages that Gary Chapman has written extensively about. They can be very helpful in how we can best connect with our children - in the way that is most relevant for them.

The Five Love Languages are:

ͳǤ ʹǤ ͵Ǥ ͶǤ ͷǤ

Physical Touch Ǧ ǡ ǡ Words of Affirmation Ǧ encouraging comments that build a child’s selfǦ Quality Time Ǧ Acts of Service Ǧ ȋ Ǩ☺Ȍ Gifts Ǧ

The principle is that usually we each have a first and second language of dominance. As individuals we are prone to giving out what we most enjoy receiving which doesn’t always hit the mark. For example one of my primary love languages is Words of Affirmation, so in attempting to love one of my children with lots of words when his primary love language is Gifts will not cut to the chase. It will be as if he and I are speaking different languages.

Although we each seem to gravitate to one or two of these love languages, healthy relationships should include all five languages, at least to some extent. For example my wife’s least favourite love language is Gifts, but if I forget to buy her a present for her birthday, she’ll be disappointed.

There’s some very good on line tests and surveys to help determine which of the five love languages are most important for our respective children. Try googling, ‘What is my child’s love language?’ There are also some great follow up ideas and fun activities for each love language. Try this link: Big Life Journal

All the best! Kind regards, Rob. (Leopold PS Chaplain) hunter.robert.d@edumail.vic.gov.au

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“On With The Show” GSODA Junior Players

By Debbie Fraser

When most of the world came to a standstill in March this year due to COVID 19, the GSODA Junior Players were already well into rehearsals for the first of their theatre productions planned for 2020.

Having, at that point, rehearsed over two thirds of the musical, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, they had the brain wave of turning the stage show into a “Radio Play”. Obviously, this could not be done in regular rehearsal fashion so, with some trepidation and a quick upskill in remote meeting platforms, it was “on with the show”.

This very talented group of 65 young people, continued singing, dancing, and acting, albeit in a very different way.

By June, when restrictions were first lifted and we had a small window of opportunity he Junior Players headed in for studio recording sessions at local Studio “Don’t Poke the Bear” with the wonderful support of Oxygen College.

Photos by Jason Wilson

Armed with copious quantities of antiseptic spray, dividing groups of ten members up into safe social distancing, and basically only two weeks of face to face rehearsals, the script and tracks were laid over two weekends.

Using sound effects to create the different places in London and the mystical land of Narnia, through the wardrobe, this story has come to life in a very new way with the technical expertise of our Audio Technician Conrad Hendricks.

On Saturday November 14th, the Junior Players were finally able to meet outdoors in socially distanced groups of 10 to hear their work for the first time at a “red carpet premiere” event.

We are now thrilled to say that the licencing company in London, have given us permission to offer the recording to ten schools in the Geelong region. Not only is this a wonderful opportunity to hear this beautifully written piece of musical theatre, but also to use it as an educational experience. A time when there was no television, no computers, or iPads, just a radio.

Photos by Jason Wilson

The resilience and determination of the Junior Players to continue their love of theatre during such adversity has proved to be a very strong and stabilising “normal”, assisting the Junior Players to stay connected and still participate in theatre.

So, while we have all missed the audience, we have continued to create theatre and a strong connected theatre community, helping to alleviate some of the problems other young people have faced with isolation and loneliness.

The GSODA Junior Players have been entertaining the Geelong community with two shows a year since 1965. With a membership each year of 65 young people aged between 11-17 and a workshop made up of 30 members aged 10-14. The workshop is conducted to give any aspiring young musical theatre performers the opportunity to learn firsthand the skills and commitment needed to be in the main company.

Applications are now open for GSODA Workshop 2021 … for information email workshop@gsoda.com.au

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DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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The Difference One Hour Can Make

By Sally Edgerton

EdConnect Australia works with students (primary and secondary) to support their academic potential and emotional wellbeing in school and in life.

At the centre of EdConnect Australia is a belief in the power of relationships.

For children to thrive, they need to be connected to and supported by an extended network of caring people with the time to listen and provide guidance.

EdConnect is a school based program with volunteers dedicating their time during school hours, on school grounds.

Our services are designed to improve student’s literacy, life skills, self-esteem and self-confidence which contribute to improving learning outcomes and improved student achievements. Without support of this nature many students can become disengaged from school, usually resulting from behavioural and social skills problems or barriers they have developed towards learning.

EdConnect matches volunteers with young people in schools who need additional support – either through oneon-one mentoring or various classroom learning support roles.

The volunteer’s interests are matched with a school that has compatible needs and comprehensive training is provided for the volunteers by an EdConnect Liaison Officer in your local area.

If you have a passion to help young people and can give an hour of your time weekly, please apply online today. http://www.edconnectaustralia.org.au or phone 1800 668 550 to find out more.

Watch this video entitled “The Difference One Hour Can Make” https://youtu.be/ d7xc6PyT0GM to learn more about the difference one hour of your time can make to both you and a student’s life.

Video created with assistance of City of Greater Geelong.

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Our Heritage Our Collection The National Wool Museum has launched Our Heritage, Our Collection a digital exhibition that celebrates the City of Greater Geelong’s Heritage in 50 objects.

The online collection will continue to host exhibitions and communitycurated themes online, with a vision to accompany further displays in the future.

The virtual Our Heritage, Our Collection exhibition features 50 items selected from the themes: War, Wool and Work.

When:

The objects have been handpicked from the City’s expansive heritage collection and honours ANZAC Day commemorations this year. Of the 50 featured items, 11 have wartime connections - including military pins, personal stories, audio recordings, memorials and monuments.

The exhibition adds to our existing suite of online collections and follows Council’s adoption of the Our Heritage, Our Collection report on 14 April 2020.

The report, which was funded by the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund, brings together the City’s heritage collection of 12,000 moveable artworks, objects and artefacts valued at close to $28 million in total. The National Wool Museum Collection features prominently in the new exhibition.

Upcoming dates:

Our Heritage, Our Collection was a major project delivered by the National WoolMuseum and the Arts & Culture Department of the City of Greater Geelong.

Daily from 24 April 2020 to 25 April 2021

09 December 2020 10 December 2020 11 December 2020 12 December 2020 13 December 2020

Contract:

Show more dates (133)

Luke Keogh

Where:

Email: lkeogh@geelongcity.vic.gov.au

Digital Exhibition

Phone: 5272 5272

National Wool Museum

Website: https://www.geelongaustralia. com.au/nwm/default.aspx

Cost: This is Free event

Facebook: http://facebook.com/nationalwoolmuseum Twitter: http://twitter.com/nationalwoolmuseum

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Fund raising to enable our service communities to support local and International organisations has been limited in these Covid times for all NFP’s.

Kardinia Rotary Club in the spirit of supporting our communijty are proud to present a new initiative - Geelong Gourmet Goodies.

These gift boxes of all Geelong and Regionally produced products are injecting much needed funds into local businesses who are also struggling. They are a are perfect solution for: 1. Gifts for family and friends that it are always difficult to buy for at Christmas 2. Businesses to present to a. Their employees in recognation of excellent service in lieu of a Christmas Party b. Their customers of clients for their patronage throughout the year.

100% of the proceeds from the sales supports the Rotary Club of Kardinia’s community service projects.

Geelong Gourmet Goodies • • • • • • •

Beautifully presented gift boxes of Geelong tasty treats Support local businesses Great gift for family, friends, staff or clients Two sizes to choose from - $80 or $120 Funds raised support Rotary projects here & abroad Free Delivery within 50kms of Geelong CBD Deliveries early December or by arrangement

ORDER BY 30 NOV: https://kardiniarotary.org.au/page/geelong-gourmet-goodies Or return the following order details by 30th November to szakielk@gmail.com Name:

Order:

Delivery Address:

$80 Gift Box Quantity

Email:

$120 Gift Box Quantity Total: $

x $80 x $120

Preferred Payment Method: (please tick)

Phone: EFT - Thanks you we will email you an invoice with payment details Credit Card - Type: Visa

Mastercard

Name on Card

Card Number: Expiry:

/

CVV:

Delivery Instructions:

Any queries please call Phil 0408 323 430

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DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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$80

Geelong Gourmet Goodies $80 Gift Box Contects*: Daryl’s Fresh Roasted Peanut Butter

Lighthouse Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Jennings Cold Extracted Honey

Freckleberry Chocolate Tree

Madeleine Rose Spiced Apple & Pear Chutney

Otway Tiny Rock Boiled Lollies

The Fudge Man - Caramel Fudge

Otway Strawberry Preserve

Bellarine Brownie Turkish Delight & Pistachio Rockey Road

Manzillo Tuscan Marinated Olives

$120

Geelong Gourmet Goodies $120 Gift Box Contects*: Screaming Seeds Mixed Spice Park & Recipes

Lighthouse Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Wildings Spanish Onion Marmalade

Freckleberry Chocolate Tree

Daryl’s Fresh Roasted Peanut Butter

Otway Tiny Rock Boiled Lollies

Jennings Cold Extrated Honey

Otway Strawberry Preserve

Madeleine Rose Spiced Apple & Pear Chutney

Wildings Orange & Fennel Sea Salts

Adelia Spiced Pistacho Dukkah

The Fudge Man - Caramel Fudge

Adelia Raspberry & White Chocolate Pancake Mix

Manzillo Tuscan Marinated Olives

Bellarine Brownie Turkish Delight & Pistachio Rocky Road

Most products are Gluten Free * If a product is unavailable it will be replaced with a product of similar value

DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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CACHE

1 2 3 4

BEGIN YOUR FIRST ADVENTURE IN FIND GEELONG

SEEK

AND YOU WILL

CACHE

WATCH AND READ THE CLUES

Find a cache

share you exprience

Each month we will provide clues in the location of the Find Cache.

Once you found the Cache please notify us.

The winner will be published in the next Find Maroondah.

CACHE

ABOUT FIND CACHE Each month we will be hiding a Cache of items around the Geelong area. Your job is to discover where the cache is hidden. The first person to find the container of items gets to keep it.

Each week we will place a clue on the Find Geelong Facebook page to help you locate the cache of goodies. Make sure you Follow and Like the facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/findgeelong)

WHAT’S IN THE FIRST FIND CACHE

Find Cache will start on the next edition

DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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Geelong

Your 2020 Christmas shopping planner at Westfield Geelong It’s that time of year – the presents, the pav and the jolly Christmas carols are out in full force. While we can all agree that this year has been unlike any other, we are committed to making sure your Christmas experience is safe and magical. From visits with Santa to events for the whole family – we’ll be reimagining some of our much-loved Christmas experiences for all to enjoy.

Read on for your ultimate guide to Christmas at Westfield Geelong.

We’re open longer Plan ahead and shop at a time that suits you. We’re open longer in the lead up to Christmas. See our opening hours here.

Say cheese After a year like no other, we could all use another reason to smile – and a photo with Santa is the perfect opportunity.

Santa photography While things will be a little different in our Santa photography sessions, our team will be working hard to make sure the moment is as magical as ever. We strongly recommend booking online to secure your spot – walk-in slots will be limited.

Find out more Sensitive Santa photography This Christmas, everyone gets their time with Santa. We’re offering a Sensitive Santa experience so families can visit our Christmas wonderland and have their photo taken in a relaxed environment, tailored to children with sensory challenges.

Find out more Pet photography Make it a very furry Christmas! Don’t miss out on the chance to get a Santa photo with the whole family - two, four or even eight-legged family members included.

Westfield Plus members get more Great news for our Westfield Plus members – purchase the Santa’s Gift Pack and you’ll receive a second free digital photo, valued at $8.95. To redeem, simply show your member card inside the app at the Santa Photography set before your session.

Not a member yet? Download the Westfield Plus App today to unlock exclusive member benefits from the palm of your hand here.

Find out more

RETIREMENT

LIFESTYLE

ACCOMMODATION

RETIREMENT ADVICE

RETIREMENT We will look after your financial affairs so you can enjoy your retirement.

WHO WE ARE

WHERE WE WORK

Find Retirement is a part of the Find Group of companies offering Retirement Planning, Accounting, Super, and Insurance service to our clients.

We service clients throughout Melbourne, Bendigo and Geelong and surrounding areas. With access to the internet it does not matter where you live.

WHAT WE DO We don’t sell proucts but provide simple retirement planning solutions.

Bendigo | Geelong | Melbourne

info@retirement.com.au

Mon - Fri: 9am - 5:30pm

www.findretirement.com.au

1300 88 38 30

Sat: 10am -1pm

Sun: CLOSED

This information is of a general nature only and has been prepared without taking into account your particular financial needs, circumstances and objectives. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, it is not guaranteed. You should obtain professional advice before acting on the information contained in this publication. Superannuation, tax and Centrelink and other relevant information is based on our interpretation and continuation of law current as at the date of this document.

The information contained in this document does not constitute legal or tax advice. You should seek expert advice in this regard. Warren Strybosch, Find Wealth Pty Limited ABN 20 140 585 075 trading as Find Retirement, Corporate Authorised Representative No. 236815 of ClearView Financial Advice Pty Ltd ABN 89 133 593 012, AFSL No. 331367.

PAGES

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INSURANCE

Special Tax Return Offer

HELPING TO PROTECT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY At Find we can help you find the ‘right’ personal insurance. Our aim is to help you obtain and retain the personal insurances that are appropriate for you and at cost that you can afford.

Personal Insurances Include: • Income Protection (IP) • Life Insurances or Death Cover • Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) • Trauma Insurance or Critical Illness Insurance

$99 Returns - PAYG Only We have made it cheaper and easier for you to get your returns completed & you can do it all from the comfort of your own home.

Here are the steps involved: 1. Email to returns@findaccountant.com.au requesting your PAYG return to be completed. Provide us with your full name, D.O.B and address.

2. A Tax engagement letter will be emailed to you for signing via your mobile (no printing or scanning required).

3. You will be then sent a tax checklist to complete online. Takes less than 5 minutes.

4. We will then require you to upload your documents to our secure portal.

5. Once we have received all your documentation, we will complete the return.

6. We will email you the completed return with our invoices. Once you sign the return and pay the invoice we will lodge the return on your behalf.

• Business Expense Cover • Child Trauma Cover When your insurance are in place, our services do not stop there. We will provide you with an after care service that includes policy notifications, insurance report, help desk, reviews and help at claim time.

We provide ourselves in providing honest advice that you can rely on.

CONTACT 1300 88 38 30 Warren@findinsurance.com.au www.findinsurance.com.au 248 Wonga Road, Warranwood VIC 3134

1300 88 38 30 Important: This offer is only available new clients to Find Accountant Pty Ltd.

Find Wealth t/as Find Insurance Corporate Authorised Representative (No.468091) of

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation

Clearview Financial Advice Pty Limited ABN 89 133 593 012 No. 331367

INDEX PROFESSIONAL SERVICES • • • • • • • • • •

Find Accountant Find Insurance Business Coach Mortgage Broker Financial Planning Painting and Decorating Rental Estate Rentals Solution Based Coaching Bookkeeping Travel

High Performance Team Training .....Imagine a team where each individual is so strong in self that their focus is how to move together as one....

PROGRAM BENEFITS THEORY BASED ON PROVEN MODELS

The Resaliantce Method

CREATE AND DINE ON YOUR 5* CULINARY MASTERPIECE LEARN HOW TO ADJUST BEHAVIOUR

CONTACT US SALLY HIGOE

TEAM GAP ANALYISIS

REAL TIME FEEDBACK

IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON BOTTOM LINE

The Resilience Coach The Resaliantce Method 0438 963 718 sally@theresaliantcemethod.com.au www.theresaliantcemethod.com.au

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Mortgage Brokers Melbourne Award-wining mortgage brokers in Melbourne with established relationships with multiple leaders, a slick process and a bucket of relevant experience.

OUR SERVICES

CONTACT US

• Refinancing • Home Loan • Buying your First Home

LEE WISNIEWSKI Mortgage Broker Fidget Loan Specialist

0401 272 505

lee@fidget.com.au

www.fidget.com.au

• Investing in Property

PO Box 633, Geelong VIC 3000

• Car Loans

Level 20,31 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

DEVELOPING EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS SERVICES MENTORING

WORKSHOPS

COACHING

ONLINE TRAINING

MASTER CLASS

VIDEO PRESENTATIONS

IN-HOUSE TRAINING

CONTACT

DEB FRIBBINS

0400 524 451

Business Coach | Mentor

www.developingexcellenceinbusiness.com.au

deb@debconsulting.com.au

DICOVER MORE ABOUT THE 5D PROCESS

DAHLLOF PAINTING SERVICES Concept to Creation - Perfect From Start to Finish We have been painting for over 20 years. We love to paint but don’t just take our word for it. Our results will speak for themselves.

OUR SERVICES PAINTING SERVICES INTERIOR PAINTING

CONTACT US We are lacated in Geelong, Victoria!

Stephen Dahllof Painting Services Servicing Geelong and Surrounding Areas

0407 365 372

OTHER SERVICES PROJECT MANAGEMENT

kerna1967@gmail.com www.stevedahllofofpaintingservices.com.au

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PAGES

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Meet Your Brand Story Experts We match your message to your markets Be the Business you want to see in the world!

CONTACTS

SERVICES Authentic Thought Leadership Articles Bold Branding Design Strategy Catchy Content Marketing Landing Pages & Leads Magnets

0487 044 478 akasha@strategygoto.com www.strategygoto.com

Customer Experience Design Over twenty years experience helping local and international startips, businesses,

AKASHA ROSE COPYWRITER

and organisations rocket their sales and grow loyal communities.

GEELONG’S PREMIER NEWLAW FIRM WITH A PERSONAL APPROACH. WE PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY, TIMELY & TAILORED LEGAL SOLUTIONS WITH PRICE CERTAINTY AUSTRALIA WIDE. OUR SERVICES

CONTACT US

CONVEYANCING & LEASES

PROBATE

Suite 3, 50-58 Moorabool St Geelong VIC Australia 3220

COMMERCIAL & CORPORATE

CRIMINAL LAW

Available 24 hours

FAMILY LAW

ADVOCACY & MEDIATION

0429 312 986

WILLS & ESTATE PLANNING

IMMIGRATION & VISAS

john@vanbeveren.com.au

Van Beveren Lawyers based in Geelong provide high-quality, timely and tailored legal solutions with price certainty Australia-wide. We focus on quality services, building relationships and forging longterm partnerships. Together, we invest in your ongoing success

JOHN VAN BEVEREN Lawyers & Conveyancers

EVERYONE HAS THEIR THING. OURS IS DOMAIN NAMES. Whatever your thing is, your domain name is an important part. We want to make that part better.

OUR SERVICES

CONTACT US

Full of Video Strategy & Marketing at Video

1/16 Redfearn Court Corio Geelong 3214 430 473 204

zoe@vcc.training

ZOE HOLLINGSWORTH

Ever since Childhood, I’ve been distracted by moving pictures. So it only seemed natural to seek work and education in his field when the time came. After many years working such as director, editor, crew member and camera operator for other video production companies I decided to take the plunge and start my own.

PAGES

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

In Business what you don’t know CAN hurt you!

With the BB4G BIPlan® Business Assessment and Planning System you’ll discover the gaps in your business practices, create a dynamic plan for a BETTER business and contribute to a BETTER world.

All for only $1 a day and in around an hour a month.

BRENDA THOMSON Business Knowledge System

Suite 563, 585 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 (Australia)

brenda.thomson@bb4g.co

0428210447

www.bb4g.co

Biscuit Business Services Helping your business keep track of your bickies!

OUR SERVICES

MARY-CLEAR SWITZ Bookkeeper

CONTACT

BAS Services

0422 800 012

Bookkeeping & Payroll

mc@biscuitbooks.com.au

Services Business Services

7A 9A-11 Leather Street, Breakwater VIC 3219

Biscuit Business Services provides professional, confidential and comprehensive bookkeeping, payroll, BAS and administrative solutions to small to medium businesses. We specialise in working with ‘in the cloud’ bookkeeping and document solutions to effectively keep your business up to date and on track. We believe in a strong team approach when working with our clients and their Tax Agents.

ADVERTISE HERE

DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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PAGES

LOCAL TRADIES

We invite all who provide a Professional Services to advertise in the Find Pages - Professional Services section of the online paper. We want to support local tradies.

Email your ad to editor@findgeelong.com.au

INDEX

DAHLLOF PAINTING SERVICES

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES • Painting Services • Garage Doors • Builder • Electrician • Painter • Plasterer • Property Maintenance

Concept to Creation - Perfect From Start to Finish CONTACT US

OUR SERVICES

We are lacated in Geelong, Victoria!

PAINTING SERVICES

Stephen Dahllof Painting Services

INTERIOR PAINTING

Servicing Geelong and Surrounding Areas

0407 365 372 kerna1967@gmail.com www.stevedahllofofpaintingservices.com.au

We are available for Emergency Repairs 24/7 in Melbourne and Surrounding Areas A Garage Door Specialist you can Trust

Trustworthy 24/7 Garage Door Installation

Regardless of the type of garage door you own, we at Cruzin Garage Doors, have the skills and expertise to either repair or replace your current garage door. For new installations we are also the ones to call.

• Roller garage doors • Security garage doors • Electric garage doors • Wooden garage doors • Garage door locks • Up and over garage doors

We’re a team you can trust when it comes to installation your new garage doors. We work to the highest of safety and is realiably secure.

Not only that, but we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Contact us with you garage door emergencies at any time of the day or night.

Hours of Operation

CONTACT US 0427 894 603

• Mon to Fri: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

sales@cruzingaragedoors.com.au

• Sat to Sun: CLOSED

www.cruzingaragedoors.com.au

PAGES

HOME & GARDEN

We invite all who provide a Professional Services to advertise in the Find Pages - Professional Services section of the online paper. We want to support local tradies.

Email your ad to editor@findgeelong.com.au

INDEX PROFESSIONAL SERVICES • • • • • •

Specialist Tree Services Interior Design Mowing Building Inspection Nursey Flooring

TRADIES - FREE ADVERTISING Email your artwork to editor@findgeelong.com.au If you wish us to create your ad, we will do this for a minimal cost.

Go to www.fingeelong.com.au/graphic-design to upload your details and we will create this for you.

The Dimensions of the Ads are: 53 x 98 mm - 1/8 Small Size

139 x 96 mm - 1/4 Page Portrait

If you have any questions, contact the editor on 1300 88 38 30 or Email warren@findgeelong.com.au *Available until your category is taken when a Tradie joins the Find Network Team.

DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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PAGES

HEALTH & BEAUTY

We invite all who provide a Professional Services to advertise in the Find Pages - Professional Services section of the online paper. We want to support local tradies.

Email your ad to editor@findgeelong.com.au

INDEX PROFESSIONAL SERVICES • • • • • •

Hair Dresser Osteopath Chiropractor Beauty Therapy Gym Massage Therapy

ADVERTISE HERE

SPORTS

We invite a representative from each sporting club to submit team selections, results and any interesting stories relating to your club/sport. For enquiries call 1300 88 38 30 or email editor@findgeelong.com.au DECEMBER 2020 | FIND GEELONG

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GEELONG

Support your Local Not-For-Profit

Find Coffee

Find Dining

FundRaising

Buy 1 Get 1 Offers

Fine, Contemporary & Bistro

Support Your Local Community

Find Travel & Entertainment Fun for All Ages

Great Local Deals

Find Takeaway

Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Offers Up to 50% Off

Fine, Contemporary & Bistro

FREE

Find Brekky, Brunch, Lunch Cafés & Bistro

Contact your Not-For Profit to obtain your Find Card. Only Find Cards can be in conjuction with the offers and must be presented to participating businesses.

LOCAL COUPONS

01 January - 31 December 2020

Up to 50% of generated funds goes to Not-For Profit organisation.

FIND CARD LOCAL OFFERS

S

M A

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PRESENT VALID FIND CARDS Registration of Find Cards Please go to www.findgeelong.com.au/register Please refer to Page 84

LOCAL COUPONS OFFERS

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FIND ADVERTISING COUPONS editor@findgeelong.com.au 1300 88 38 30

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BREKKY, BRUNCH & LUNCH DISCOVER A NEW LEVEL OF TASTE

The best memories are made when gathered around the table.

FIND ADVERTISING COUPONS editor@findgeelong.com.au 1300 88 38 30

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& Lunch

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COFFEE

TODAY’S GOOD MOOD IS SPONSORED BY COFFEE FIND ADVERTISING COUPONS editor@findgeelong.com.au 1300 88 38 30

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Takeaway

Food brings people together on many different levels.

It’s the nourishment of the soul and body: It’s truly love.

FIND ADVERTISING COUPONS editor@findgeelong.com.au 1300 88 38 30

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NEW OFFERS COMING

FIND ADVERTISING COUPONS editor@findgeelong.com.au 1300 88 38 30

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Coupons &

Any changes or updates to these ‘Terms of Use’ of the

Non-Transfer The barter trade, sale, purchase, or transfer of the Find Coupons &/or Find Cards, by any person or entity, including but not limited to business placing offers in the Find Paper, printers, publishers, and distributors of the Find Coupons /Find Card, is strictly prohibited, unless expressly authorized by Find Pty. Ltd. Find reserves the right to make changes to the participants and their offers at its sole discretion. Members will be notified of these changes via email or via the Site.

The Find Coupons and its Offers are intended for the non-profits use of the individual purchaser of the Find Cards &/or Find Coupons.

Additionally, the use of the Find Coupons &/or Find Cards or any of the Offers placed in our Find Paper, for advertising purpose, in any form of fashion, is strictly prohibited. Any use of a Offers in violation of these Rules will render the Offer VOID, and violators will be prosecuted.

Offers may not be reproduced and are void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Find, will not be responsible if any establishment breaches its contract of refuses to acccept the Find Cards / Offers with in the Find Paper: we will however, use our best efforts to secure compliance, Find, will not be responsible in the events beyond its control. © 2020 Find.

Find Cards Policy

e Find Cards and/or Find Coupons can be found here.

Valid Periods Find Restaurant, Find Cafe & Find Coffee offers can be used at participating businesses any time except the following days: *Christmas Eve *Christmas Day *Boxing Day * New Year’s Eve *New Year’s Day * Valentine’s Day *Good Friday *Easter Sunday *Mother’s Day. Some restaurant/Cafe/Coffe establishments will have additional terms and conditions on the page where the business is advertising their offer).

Present Find Card You are required to present your Find Card at any participating businesses if you wish to secure the discount or goods/service being offered.

Customer Signature If you do not have the correct signature on the Find Cards and it does not match the signature on your license or another card with your photo on it, then the business has the right to not provide you with the discount. it is at the businesses discretion as to whether or not they allow the discount to apply if the Signature is incorrect.

PRESENT VALID FIND CARDS

VALID

GEELONG

Valid Find Cards have four folds and contain six different categories. Valid Find Cards will have the Find 2020 sticker placed in the circle and the “Find Ok” stamped on top of the sticker.

NOT VALID

GEELONG

Find Cards that DO NOT display the Find 2020 Sticker in the circle and DO NOT have the “Find Ok” stamp on the top of the sticker are INVALID. They will not be accepted at any participating businesses. Also, your signature must be present. You may be asked to present ID to verify that Find Card belongs to you.

Present the Find Card and ID prior to paying bill. Card is Non-Transferable. Each offer corresponds to a number on the card. Number will be crossed off once offer used. This is not a credit or charge card.

Copyright 2020 Find© Pty Ltd.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

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